Earthblood - Crossroads 16 (Patreon)

A chill breeze caresses your cheek. A hint of smoke on the air. A sky tainted crimson by a daunting sunrise.

The ocean thrums against the Reaper as it floats impossibly gently upon the waves. Your hand rests against the cold metal, and it soaks up the pain. A great empty vessel for sorrow. A monster. A beast of burden. A tool. A coffin. What was this thing? And what has it become?

You hear the hiss of air and cranking of steel as the Reaper opens. 

"Is Seri..."

"Shut up, Kheen. Just... just shut up."

"Mikal..."

'I SAID SHUT UP!" Mikal's hand glances off of Kheen's cheek. Kheen doesn't bring his face back around to see the tears in his brother's eyes. 

"Just..." A long sigh. His voice quivers. Mikal crosses the metal chest of the great beast beneath and sits at your side. Fists clenching and unclenching. Long deep breaths. A tear is wiped away with the sweat.

"All we can do now is wait and see." You hold his hand gently, and he squeezes yours almost too hard. 

"What are we doing, Kalu? I mean... what are we really doing? Out here in the ocean. Alone. Hungry. Afraid. Is this, is this the plan? Maybe Nelo is right. Maybe we should go back? Look at us. We're hardly holding on. We don't know what lies ahead."

He stares into the turquoise water. You can't quite read him, but you know he's not okay.

"But... we've come this far. What if there is nothing left to... to go back to?"

He weakly gazes into your eyes and you can see the tears barely held back.

"What do we do, Kalu? What do we do...?"