Lion's Pride Parts 1-6

How simple it must of seemed, such treacherous and evil thoughts are sometimes lost upon those whose life ceases to end. One who has held Death's embrace, and returned to continue forward. The Light, it meant so many things to so many people. It was safety, power, and hope. But every power comes with its own brutal, cutting edge facing right back at its wielder, waiting for the day their grip upon the hilt might loosen, and cleave the status quo in twain. That day came on the bloody start of the Red War; the day the sky blackened, and the Darkness breached the walls. They all fought so valiantly, with the white knuckled grip of desperation that a cornered animal has. The Cabal were swift, and Ghaul had claimed his prize. What once sat above a blue sky, singing silent songs that radiated its power to the remnants of Humanity, now sat in a blackened carapace, and hope was swept away just as swiftly.

I remember it so vividly, how could I forget it? You live so long that, when you're told this may be your last life, you cling to the traumatizing. We were moving through rubble, myself and Lima-3. I remembered that armor being so insubstantial when I had my Light, it was like a second skin. But holding my silent ghost, still clinging to life like myself, it felt a whole lot heavier. Each footstep between us and the civilians we were escorting out of the City had us jumpy like rats in a pantry. But, not Lima, I'm not sure if she just had an iron will, or during one of her Resets, she asked to have her fear removed. Same for her sense of humor. We came to the Southern Wall, the distant sounds of gunfire weren't from a firefight; they were from a massacre.

"You know the rendezvous point, right Edward?"

Her voice held an accent under the metallic flang I've come to known her having. Something- Oh what did they call it? Middle Eastern; stiff, yet elegant, the neon light that flashed with her words, I may of had a crush. But, she was interested in other things. Her cloak was tattered, a far-cry from her usual self, she was so well-kept and organized, but we were all a little frazzled to say the least. I made sure our group was hiding behind cover as I climbed up the debris from some local architecture to view the City. The smoke pillars, the orange glow that turned the sky a sickening red, our Protector in shackles, it made me sick. But, I remained quiet for the time being, I almost regret doing that, but I nodded.

"Good. Get them safe. Far away from here."

She seemed so curt, short, straightforward sentences, but, I've heard her lecture, she's a brilliant mind inside that blue shell. She began walking away from me, down the debris to go back into the chaos, a sidearm in hand, but I had finally found words, and I stepped forward a few steps after her.

"What are you going to do?"

She stopped, looking away from me at the moment, before slowly turning her head to let those optics stare up at me, questioningly, even if she lacked the parts to do so. But, I swear, she tilted her head on purpose to seem like a smirk, raising the gun in her hand into position.

"To save the knowledge I want saved," she turned to walk, but paused, keeping her gaze away this time, "And bury the rest."

And like that, she was gone, I'm not sure of her fate, but if anyone could of survived something like that, it would of been her. I stayed as long as I could, watching her disappear into the mess of destroyed storefronts and razed streets; I couldn't stay long, not with the civilians. So with a broken rifle, I lead them out, there were enough holes for us to use.

We moved quietly, among the trees, rays of light that bled through as the night grew were harrowing; eyes that searched for weakened prey. I was no hunter, but as we moved, we met more and more escapees, with a common goal. Escape. The Guardians I saw among the rendezvous point, well, there were a lot of abandoned marks, bonds and cloaks. Better to blend in now. We were the rats. We had moved far enough away, some of the group wanted to find shelter, others wanted to get off Earth. I let them bicker. This armor, it was getting too heavy. I don't think they noticed one missing. They didn't need to. I was...

Useless.

How far I went, I can't honestly tell you. But I eventually came upon a poor soul, long claimed by the mountain. Lucky for me, his clothes fit. By now, my Ghost was awake, and was questioning why we weren't with the others. But, after saying nothing, we both realized why. Immortality is a heavy mistress. So confident we grew, they seemed to have never ending numbers, between the four beasts that battered our walls, but we were unstoppable. And after bundling myself up, and putting my armor in the backpack so graciously given to me, we looked back at the blackened Traveler one last time, and disappeared.
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It seems like such a short time, the Red War. A mere blink in the presence of infinity, but in that blink, time seemed to dilate, and those few months felt spread across years. Since I came back, in hindsight, I've been taking the Light for granted. Sure, a Guardian doesn't make it out, their Ghost gets picked off, but, if you fought smart, you were a god. Hell, we killed a God or two. But when I lost my Light, it all suddenly became so real. The gunfire, the explosions, the stomp of Cabal. It was all just background noise, debris flinging and bouncing harmlessly away from the wall of Light I stood as. And with one fell swoop, the wall shattered, and I was only a man with a sentient paperweight. I was a Titan of the First Pillar, I fought at Twilight Gap, and helped build those walls; I fought on every front that the Darkness ever threw at us, and on that day, I ran. Traveler, forgive me. Perhaps when the mask falls and the ruse is revealed, we were all cowards, but I was the biggest one of them all.

I'm not sure how far we traveled, my Ghost and I, but we traveled far. Shell-shocked from the utter defeat, the backpack I carried felt heavier than before. I wondered if it was because the content was always this heavy, or if the metaphorical weight was becoming more physical. At times, I almost considered abandoning it, but perhaps the armor that clanked inside the sack with each step was the remnants of my pride. Or maybe I still thought I had some redemption. Would an AWOL guardian be accepted back? Would it be understood, that fear became a driving force for not only myself, but for many others in that trying time? Perhaps I wasn't abandoning my walls, or my fellow Guardians, but this journey, was one I felt compelled to take alone. What was Atlas without the World weighing on his shoulders? His shell was still battered from the battle we survived, his optic still shimmering brightly, us both silently praying to the floating Orb above the City that this was all some nightmare. We hardly spoke as we left the mountains and into the lowlands, neither of us having the effort to put to words how we felt.

In my own mind, I was furious. Not because the Cabal had taken our power, nor the helplessness we found ourselves in, mere mortals now without the edge of the Traveler to smite down our foes; I was furious because I did not understand. So many years of honing my strength, steadying my arms and standing stalwart against all the evils of this universe, all to be washed away by one power-hungry turtle. Now that I think back to that moment as the mountains gave way to trees and forests, I came to realize that beyond my Powers, and the place I held, I had nothing. And when it was taken from me, I realized that I had dedicated all of my efforts into one fleeting thought, one title that once stripped from me, left me a man with nothing. From rags, to riches, and back to rags, this was atonement for my greed, my zealous path along the lines of Saint-14 and others, and in my hubris, I flew too close to the sun.

It was only a few days when I came across my first human settlement. Setting up camp was simple enough, but I'm not certain how or why we came upon this place. It was a small encampment, hidden among a long forgotten quarry, with the inhabitable having caved out their homes within the stone, their presence hidden among the mammoth Bucket-Excavator coated in a fine layer of rust to show its time being static. We had come across this place, standing at the lip of one of its sharp inclines made eons ago by that very equipment, pondering if we should bother. We had spent an extra day sitting in the neighboring forest contemplating this thought. Perhaps it would be best if people didn't know of what I was. We were running low on simple supplies, it was simple. Get in, get what we needed, and get out. How many times could I say the same thing about so many strikes?

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I left my armor behind, in a place I could easily find it after we were done in that settlement. They didn't need to know, and I needed the space. It did hurt, though, when it came to my Mark. Titans were known for their armor, heavy, and invulnerable, with the banner on their hip representing their accomplishments. My own was a long fabric, embroidered with a pillar and layers of walls, to show my dedication to the City. It was worse for wear now, scorched, and dirty, weak like I was. But it still served a purpose, it made a good shawl. My Ghost wished to remain behind with the armor, and for good reason. It didn't matter if I did die or not. But, maybe if he lived, there might be a time where he could return me. But for now, I departed, the sun coming over the horizon to paint the dark blues with a growing yellow. It was almost painful to look at, but at the same time, nice to know it still remained.

Finding the way down was simple enough, the road lead towards the entrance where vehicles once entered to go further down into the quarry to haul out its contents. However, what surely was only a chain-link fence, now resided a more foreboding gate, with sentries station atop, and rifles trained on me. I obliged, and held my hands up to show my lack of hostile intent. My time in the Tower made me ignorant. Sure, I had seen settlements, even helped a few, but they were never to remain as such. The Walls were supposed to be safer, with Guardians more readily available to protect them. But not once, did it occur to me that maybe Humanity was more resilient that we gave credit for.

"Who are you?" The one at the left shouted at me, his aim swirling to his words, while the right remain steady.
"A refugee. From the City." That statement made their gaze look away from me, and to each other, as if to question my words, but, with the way I looked, it must of been pity that made them open their doors.

I entered with no contest, I surely wasn't the first with that same statement, and perhaps I wouldn't be the last. I prayed to the Traveler, if it could still hear me, that it wasn't the last. There was no sign of life until I went deeper down, the walls darkening from the shadow of their non-functional Goliath, and the lights were on. Beams of the Sun peeked their way in, but it seemed they were content living below the surface, and inside their holes. There were workers carving new places, with some families huddling inside their rooms, others having kids playing, and enjoying their dark sanctuary. It almost reminded me of the City, with a pained smile under the cover of my guise. There were vendors all about, some seeming to be travelers, others seemed to be local, hunters of meats, pelts, and other things, scavengers of relics long too destroyed for any use in their current state. But in all honesty, I needed a drink.
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Through word of mouth, I came to know this place as 'Alabaster', most likely due to the name of the Bucket-Excavator. Fitting, seeing as they used it as a form of refuge. It made me wonder how long these people had been here, and what kind of hardships they put up with while living in the wilds. In some ways, they seemed fit, and secure, but to what level, I was unaware of at this time. For all I know, with the Red Legion's swift upheaval of the Guardians, it might not be for long. And yet, every Red Legion ship I saw while traveling seemed to be moving towards the City, and towards Europe. Made me wonder that there might be more to this. Something I was blissfully unaware of. That only served to stem my anger. But, no one seemed to pay me any mind, and that was fine by me. I saw only here to be a ghost, to get some supplies, and get out. Boy, I wish I was more prepared. But, I guess that's the funny thing about being a Guardian, you're never fully prepared.

I found what I was looking for, a stiff drink. Supplies could come after, I'd been walking for so long, I almost forgot what sitting and relaxing felt like. My muscles were burning every which way to Sunday, and there wasn't much else to do but relax. It was on the bottom floor of Alabaster, a deeper cave that might of served as the next point to expand the mine, now it just served as a place to unwind and be merry. Though, I think the latter was lacking, due to the current state of the world. These people may of chose to be disconnected from the City, but news like that, spreads like wildfire. Stepping in gave an aura of mixed feelings, but the one I felt the most was uncertainty. People were talking, but mostly in low whispers and hushed tones. The only person that stood out was one in the back corner, in a straw hat. I felt their eyes upon me, but I was either too disgruntled to address it, or lacked the care to investigate.

Instead, among the room of different tables and chairs, of people of all kinds, I made my way to the bar, which consisted of various long-dead generators lined up to separate the bartender from the patrons. The one behind the counter was an Exo, grey hull, with sharp red optics firmly planted on a glass that his fingers worked on cleaning. A rather slim model, opposed to the more bulky kind I was familiar with, but it served a purpose, and I felt the red glaring in my peripherals as I moved an isolated seat off in the far corner. I had the odd look from the patrons now and again, most likely a distaste for strangers, or maybe it was how raggedy my clothes were. The coat itself was most intact thing I had, hardened tan fabric with faded fur along the collar, with a tactical vest that was long past its usefulness, but hell, the pockets still worked. Simple shirt under it all, and some tan fatigue pants to complete the outfit. Whomever I pulled off this outfit surely was just a soldier, and what holes my Ghost could fix were, but the dirt and grime were always hard to remove.

I didn't notice the bartender approaching until a moment later, most of my left-sight, as you can clearly tell, hasn't been working since I first was revived. Traveler's wishes to keep their Guardians in tip-top shape I suppose. But he approached with the intent of, well, his job.

"Don't get many new people around Alabaster. But since the Cabal came stomping in, we've been getting a lot more."

The metallic flanger to his voice was a familiar one. Reminded me of Lima, made me wonder how she was doing. If she was even still alive. But my gaze moved up, moving the tattered mark from my face to reveal the rest of it, and let out a small huff.

"I don't plan on staying long, but that's part of the reason I'm here. Just trying to get as far away as I can."

A low hum rang out from him, if he had skin, I could sworn he would of been an older gentleman, mostly from his tone and how he carried himself. His head shook to my response, but lifted the glass to inspect it, and set it before me.

"Guess it ain't my place to judge. We'd all be running scared. Still, I'd take that mark off if I were you."

That made me pause and watch as he walked over to the cabinet of different poisons to let my sorrows wash away. My eyes narrowed, but that's all they'd get outta me.

"Oh yeah? Why's that?" My inquiry was paused in lieu of filling that glass with a transparent blue substance, to be capped afterwards and set on the 'counter'. He leaned against it, and kept on staring, presumably to keep attention to a minimum. So I obliged by letting my lips be occupied with a sip.

"Rumor has it that there's some people out there looking for Guardian identifiers. Marks, bonds, cloaks, you name it. Ain't my place to rat you out, nor is it my place to inquire 'bout you. But as a word to the wise, with the Light gone, Guardians are easy targets."

I met him with a nod, and reached in a pocket to let the shimmering bits of Glimmer fall upon the counter as payment, and he scooped it up to place in a jar with other bright bits of malleable data. "Jack's got ammo, on the middle tier on your way out. Sure she can help you find some other bits and bobs. Hope you find what you're looking for."

"I do too." I lifted my glass to look inside, watching my reflection wave in the small ripples from my softly quaking hand. "I do too."

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My time in that bar was spent alone, away from the other patrons and for a good reason. Knowledge like that makes a man jumpy. My nerves of steel had softened to a pulpy slag since the Red Legion came marching in, and frankly, I just had no reason to talk to any of these people. I figured they'd rather want me out, than another mouth to feed. And I didn't want to bring any trouble, I wasn't worth it. I must of seemed like such a pain, self-loathing and depressive. Makes it all seem like I was making this up, given current circumstances. But, my mind was filled with doubt. I was still bubbling over from the boiling realization of my lack of character. Without the Light, what were we? Walking corpses brought back to serve a purpose, and when that purposes was taken, we should've shambled back to our graves. I still remember where mine was. Where the blackness of nothing was shattered by a blinding light, and air filled my lungs once more. It was so long ago, and I wondered if I should head back to end it there. IT was a real thought in my mind. And there among the stale air and sharp drink, my mind fell back there.

It was bright when I first awoken back to life. I remember that first breath of air, that filled reconstituted lungs and burned my fresh throat. I coughed like a finely aged smoker, and my vision was blurred all to hell, at least in the eye that still worked. The ringing was beginning to subside at least, and a voice was beginning to take its place.

"Guardian. Wake up. We don't have a lot of time."

The voice was muffled at first, and robotic, but as my eye adjusted to the light, it was the first time I saw my Ghost. He looked behind himself, floating at the same level as my face, and I put my hand to my head as he let me take a minute. He was worried, about what, I didn't know. In fact, I didn't know anything. No Guardian did. It was like my mind was wiped and fresh, which was both a relief, and a burden. How did I end up here? In an open field, leaning against the rusting carcass of a tank, who became a new home to the local flora to consume. He finally turned back to me, and blinked his single 'eye' at me.

"I wish I had time to explain, but if we don't get to safer ground, then this will all be for nothing. Follow me." He started to say, myself speechless, as I watched him start to move, but looked to my side, and rotating his back-section. "Take that, too. You may need it."

My eye looked to what he mentioned, an old assault rifle, covered in dust, but it felt natural when I took it into my hand. My subconscious seemed to know how to operate it, taking out the clip with shallow breaths to examine the content. Empty, but it was fine. With sea-legs I stood up, knees buckling from lack of use. It was like watching a new born fawn learning to stand up. I slumped against the corroded hull of the tank for a moment, panting and giving myself a moment longer. And that's when I hear the distant barks of something...alien. My head turned over my shoulder to try and see, but there was nothing. The noises persisted, and seemed to be getting closer. But the light tap against my head made my gaze return to this thing.

"I need you to trust me. We need to go. There's a bunker not too far."

He started to turn again, but I grabbed him. Not in a threatening way, but there was a burning question in my mind as my synapses started firing again. "W-what's my name?"

He was confused, to say the least, for he didn't know the answer. But, a quick observation as he was caught in my grasp looked at my chest, and blinked, "It says Edward on your chest. Go with that." He looked up at me as I looked down at the Kevlar vest that surely once protected me, covered in dirt and dust, and as I let go and patted away some to the nameplate. There it was. That was all I needed, and we hobbled into the treeline as the roars became louder. I didn't want to find that out, not right away.
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I must of been sitting there awhile, and in my mind's state of blissful remembrance, I had finished my drink. Maybe it was simply my brain trying to remember the happy moments, but right now, all they did was pain me. A thousand tiny needles pressing against my heart, and making me tighten my grip around the glass. The bartender had returned to me, taking the glass as he noticed my frustration, and patted my hand to get my attention.

"Better get a move on, stranger. Don't want you to miss out your chance at getting supplies."

My gaze shot up, looking at his red orbs, before nodding slowly and standing up. By then, it seemed like most of the inhabitants of the bar had vacated, and as I stood up, I took a quick look over, still finding that strange being in the straw hat. I took longer this time examining them. It was a pointed hat, angled downwards to block their face, but wore what seemed to be white robes, kept together with a tied string around the waist. It was difficult to get much details from just that, but I didn't feel like wasting my time. That was a problem now, and so I departed. Heading back out, the sun seemed to have move towards the end of its cycle. The darkness in Alabaster seemed to have grown even more-so, the beams of light now non-existent. But, it was probably a good time to me to depart. Better safe than to risk remaining here. Back up the spiral I went, looking for this 'Jack' the bartender had mentioned.

My dull mind almost didn't the red ball bouncing down the stone path, and the little girl chasing after it. But what caught my attention more so than that, was how close to the edge of the path she was. Thinking to it now, it all seemed like a blur, but you ever get that feeling? When your mind dilates the space around you, to let you try and react? Well, when I saw her loose her footing at the edge, its exactly what my mind did. Gone were the doubts and worries, shattering like glass as I burst forward. I managed to get hold of her overalls, pulling  her back and onto the path as her red ball went bouncing harmlessly down the side of the mine, and perhaps pegging someone in the head. I watched the whole time, blinking as the ball grew smaller and smaller, but what brought me back from taking the same fall was the small, soft crying from the girl sitting on the ground. I didn't think she was hurt, simply in shock, and it was a natural reaction. A small, quiet sigh left me, and I turned to kneel down next to the wee lass.

It didn't seem like a reliable source of water allowed these people to be completely clean all the time, but the blue and white striped shirt under the overalls was quite to large for her. Her hands were wiping at her eyes, staring at the surely startling abyss behind me, but I moved to block her from it, and put on the best smile my face could muster.

"I don't see any feathers, must not of come in yet." I used the end of my mark wrapped around my neck to wipe away the tears falling from her face. "Best hold off on flying until you're older." I kept myself quiet, trying my best to calm her down, her hands moving from her face to my coat, quietly nodding. "Hey. Lets get you back to the nest, little bird." I started to stand up, but she seemed to refuse leaving her planted position. It was endearing, but with a quick hoist, I held her in my arms, and grinned softly. "I'll give you a little secret. I know how to fly. So don't you worry. Which way is home?"

I've carried kids before, and I was familiar with the lean against me she provided. Albeit, in those situations, it was usually more life-threatening. Must of been habit, but I steadied myself, and made sure to keep her safe as she pointed further up. It wasn't too far upwards, but she was silent, save for the little sobs between her breaths. I had no need for thanks, I never did. They were given, but it was my job, it was who I was. A pillar, stability, hope. It became obvious who the parent was. A woman was already running her way down the path, and the second she saw me holding her daughter, she was a heat-seeking missile. "Abagail!" It was the cry of someone who was more happy to see her daughter alive than with a stranger, and the girl snapped her head and held her arms out towards her instead.

I moved no further, and as soon as she was close enough, the transfer was complete, and I stepped back to let the poor mother embrace her child. I almost felt like a Guardian again. I only waited a few moments longer, before moving to walk around them and back up, but I felt a tug on my arm, which stopped, and made me turn. The mother was holding my wrist, a mechanical prosthetic that took place of an actual hand kept me in place, with her other arm holding onto Abagail, who had buried herself against her mom. "Thank you, stranger." Her accent was thick, southern. Reminded me of Amanda. I could see the resemblance in herself to the daughter, short blond hair, and blue hues that shared in the sentiment of her praise. Seemed overalls also ran in the family, though, she had a longer-sleeve shirt, and left oil on my coat after she let go, to hold onto her little one instead.

"No need. I wasn't about to let an angel like her fall. Might want to consider a toy other than a ball." I smirked, sensing her own small smile, but as I tried to walk away again, she joined with me. "I ain't 'bout to let you leave empty handed." Seemed like this might be a problem. I turned my head enough to see her walking beside me, and shrugged softly, "Know where I can find this 'Jack?' " She turned her head to look back up at me, and let her smile grow wider, "Yer lookin' at 'er." Well, what a streak of luck. "Come on, lemme take you to our place." She started to lead, and I followed. I could only hope this wouldn't take long, I could already feel a problem brewing, but from what, I didn't know yet.
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