A collection of short stories and scenes

Journey

He watched the speck grow. Now that it was visible, it was only a matter of minutes. 

He had been traveling with his companions for six months now. For most of it, Galad hadn't felt like they'd moved at all. No matter which window he sought out, the darkness was absolute and infinite. 

He toyed with his amulet as he thought of his family. A frequent occurrence in the past weeks as his destination grew closer.  The last time he had seen his mother, she had gifted him the amulet he now clutched. He had worn it around his neck everyday since. It was a reminder of all that he would miss for the rest of his life. During their last conversation they had both known he wouldn't return when she was still alive. 

Already, his mother had aged a decade on their home world, Agni, while Galad had only gone from 17 and a half to 18. He should be proud, he chided himself. Not many received the privilege to explore and settle new worlds. 

His companions call interrupted his thoughts, the shuttle had been readied. What had been a speck earlier had now grown to a marble. Before he knew it, they were locked in orbit. 

Galad gathered his suit and stepped into it, latching one part to another until he fitted the helmet over his head and all fell silent. Before boarding the shuttle, he performed the cursory checks that his suit was in order. He looked out the window of his ship once more. Now the planet extended from one edge of his vision to another. 

The shuttle began its descent as he strapped himself into his seat.  Galad marveled at how the universe that had seemed so vast just a moment ago was now dwarfed by the presence of this giant rock that could sustain his life. The shuttle shuddered as it entered the atmosphere, he felt it battle with the planet's air as a forge lit around them. 

Galad clenched his arm rests, reminding himself that he was strapped in and that shuttles were fully capable of handling atmospheric entry. They plummeted for what seemed like eternity as gravity pooled heavy in their bodies, before the chute deployed and the shuttle abruptly slowed. His stomach settled as the shuttle descended the last few feet and lodged itself with a brief thud.

 They had landed.