Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Chapter 2

What makes us empathetic

The nights under a roof and on top of a bed to sleep. How long had it been since she felt her back comfortable on soft sheets, and her head did not hurt because it was not resting on pebbles and old benches; her follower rested on her arms, after exhausting herself by caring for her wounds for hours, expressing her gratitude for having been saved from an unimaginably disturbing and cruel fate by offering her medical gifts without the slightest disgust to her.

She said she couldn't sleep alone for fear of the dangers that surrounded them, and judging by what they had been through together so far, it was understandable. Gràin thought uneasily to herself, how could she find that man again, after achieving here what she had sacrificed so much to risk.

When Neo wakes from his slumber, and frees Gràin 's body from his weight, they both finally stand up.

Hi – Rubbing his eyes and yawning a little, before forcing them open wider to look at Gràin – How's the pain?

Much better, I owe you one.

It is good too.

Well, stay here and don't open the door for anyone – She gets up and puts on her clothes – I'll be back soon.

Where are you going?

Time for a little chat – Locking the door behind her, and pushing the key inside, she addresses old Imcheist ; as usual, he barely notices her presence, even when her shadow looms over his work.

Imcheist .

Good morning girl – He finally takes his attention away from his work, getting up from his old chair that creaked with his absence; he goes to a drawer and takes out a rolled up pile of cloth.

Unrolling it reveals a brown leather eyepatch, taken from some car seat, an iron set of dentures, made with the interior design of a mouth guard, to cover the few teeth he still had left with new iron fangs, as sharp as a knife and as polished as a mirror. And finally, a mask of the same leather as the eyepatch, which covered his mouth and nose, made to hide much of the damage to his face, and his cruel new fangs.

Good job Imchie .

You owe me, again.

I will pay you back, one day.

Haha , of course you will, now open your mouth, I'll help you with this one.

Be careful, it still hurts a little.

You know I'm always careful girl.

Sure sure , still be more careful.

...are you... ready...?

Her face, now covered, gave off a different feeling to those who looked at it, the face of someone who had faced horrors and survived, who remained standing no matter the loss on her back, whose frightening mask served to hide an even worse face of a woman who was not afraid to tell everyone that she had changed along with the world and adapted to its new unfair and sadistic rules: Gràin , The Huntress.

Time to talk to the boss – Looking at her new bandages in a shard of mirror, stroking them over her face as she tied up her long, blonde hair.

Be careful Gràin , whatever you ask for, I'm sure Gregory won't accept it.

That's what we'll see – Placing the mirror on the table, she stands up renewed, confident of her ideals and how she would convince Dìoghaltas – See you later.

She then heads to the upper floors, Ghalt never leaves there, always watching the work of her companions, and is satisfied with the sound of the hammer shaping the hot iron and the heat of the furnaces draining the sweat from the bodies of those who command the fire. As she approaches, she is suddenly surprised by Ghalt 's fixed gaze , who turns to face her.

Beautiful mask – A small smile escapes Ghalt , showing that he is still proud of the destruction caused on Gràin 's face – Imcheist never disappoints.

No, he doesn't disappoint – He walks a few steps to stand next to Ghalt , crossing his arms just like him, watching the burning iron at the mercy of the forge noises on the horizon – I need a favor – The silence is broken with a direct request.

You can't be serious.

I am.

In an ominous silence, Ghalt retreats, leaving Gràin to ponder for a brief second before he follows him – Ghalt , wait.

Don't call me that – Stopping his route to confront Gràin again, annoyed by her attitude – Never again.

Look, I know I don't belong here anymore, and that the ordeal has served no purpose other than to please you, but I'm after someone , and that someone pilots something stronger than all the iron you can shape.

Hm, then go after him with the other deserters.

...They're dead, all of them.

Wow, that's a shame, and how did they die?

That someone blew up everything we had, only I survived.

Dìoghaltas ' expression betrays a bit of surprise at the revelation, to the point of making him stare at Gràin once more. “You guys left with the best of my equipment and vehicles, and you're telling me it all went up in smoke? Over a single piece of shit?”

That thing – She marches towards Ghalt , refuting his verbal oppression – is a tank the size of a train car, which shoots lightning bolts that could demolish an entire building. One shot from it, and the head of that turtle we were hunting exploded like a firework...... Ghalt , listen to me, if we can get our hands on that thing, no forge here will ever need to be used again.

Dìoghaltas walked around, observing the work that was going on; Gràin watched him with sweat running down his forehead.

What do you want from me? – Even if he could regret it, Ghalt knew Gràin , and his endless claw.

One group, your best soldiers, weapons and vehicles, and give me at least three gallons of gasoline, we're going to travel a long way.

How do you know that?

I know where he's going.

He knows?

Yes, the road he followed, few follow it, they say that some of those things that came out of the ground and killed people walk on the sand, that's what I heard from the other tribes.

So why would he go there?

Because he kills Turtles, he hunts them, and if there's a Turtle that would be a worthy opponent for him, it's the one waiting at the end of that road.

...I understand.

Ghalt scratches his beard, looks around at everything that belongs to him, and only then looks back at Gràin .

I'll give you what you want - Before any reaction or thanks is shown, Ghalt extends his speech - But there will be three conditions, the first, you have five days, the second, the tank is mine, and the third, Imcheist goes with you.

Why Imchie ?

He will make sure you return with everything that belongs to me.

Okay then.

One last thing – He places his hand on her shoulder – If you fail me, my men will bring you here, and I will personally throw you into the forge.

.... As you wish

Get ready, I'll get your army ready.

Sure.

...

Gràin is left alone, pondering her silent triumph.

Inside his mask, a smile opened hidden, almost unnoticed, but his eye emanated a fire, perhaps it was the glow of the forges reflecting on his iris, but the fire still shone brightly in that eye.

Gràin 's hunt was about to begin.

The morning that had risen triumphant for her had risen equally triumphant for Ghaoil .

They got up in the morning and prepared their vehicles for the hunt; the three lancers were fueled and armed, they had divided the few bullets they still had left, and they no longer had bombs, they would depend entirely on the ace up Ghaoil 's sleeve .

This would be another concern, the dry forest did not allow much wind to run freely to the point of energizing the cannon, so she knew she did not have many charges to attack, she would have to calculate every second where to shoot.

Finally they set off, heading through the shadows of the dry forest towards the beams of light that led to the road, they set off along the swirls of sand that formed along the old concrete. There was nothing to say along the way, Ghaoil and Creideamh barely looked at each other as they drove to the hunting grounds, everything that needed to be said was established before they started.

In the distance, he appears again, larger than usual, his Sìth was so large that it sheltered hidden landscapes on small hills impossible to see beyond, immense cherry trees whose leaves fell everywhere like snow.

A small smoke was noticed forming at the top of the Sìth , traces of clouds caused by a large concentration of water that awaited them inside. Ghaoil stops in the middle of the road to open his huge wagon and reveal the great Hunter XL. The spearmen positioned themselves at the three remaining cardinal points to have a full view of the Mothachadh , Ghaoil 's first shot would start the confrontation.

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The shot comes, but it is not a large sonic blast launched by the XL , but rather an incandescent boom that flashes across the ground in front of Ghaoil ; coming from a tank that reveals itself appearing from the mound of sand that covered it during the night.

Face to face with a vehicle that carried a power as high as hers, but along with a familiar design, which took away her memories of a time of service and war.

Abandon your hunt, the Mothachadh is mine – A deep voice echoes out of the tank, threatening but calm in tone.

Ghao – Creideamh tried to communicate with the spearmen from a distance, without success – we are alone in this.

The silence did not please the Hunter at all, who energized his cannon so that its glow would show those strangers that there would be no second option.

Creid , stay here.

Ghao ? Ghao ! What are you doing?!

Amidst the notable discussion between the drivers of the truck in front, a sudden action breaks the hostile atmosphere that was spreading: the woman, getting out of the truck and positioning herself a few steps ahead, puts her feet together, keeps her body straight, and places her right arm over her chest, while her left arm hides behind her back.

It was a military salute, Ghaoil bet everything on that act of making the stranger recognize her as an old guerrilla like him. After a silence that surrounded the lancers who were waiting for the signal, and returned to the cannon that was turning off: She had prevented a confrontation, but she still wanted to know more about the mysterious man.

We are not your enemies – She said as she took a pistol from her pocket and placed it on the ground, a sign of surrender.

Abandon Mothachadh , he is mine.

Why do you think you can defeat him alone?

I can – The cannon was still pointed at her and her companions

So help us.

No.

Go back inside Ghaoil – Creideamh was jumping from side to side, alert to what could happen.

Creid Waits – She doesn't move from her position, even if a simple slip would be enough to cause a confrontation.

Five.

Wait.

Four.

We can reach an agreement.

Three.

Listen to me.

Two.

Deputy Squadron Leader of Southwest Thirty-Two, name: Ghaoil Dìon ; Codename: Ghao .

...

And you are?

...

...

Supervisor of the military mechanical forces of the South Center, codename...

Gràin – Standing in front of two chariots loaded with firepower that didn't seem as strong as the two men standing next to them. As strong as Dìoghaltas himself .

Gràin stands beside him, both of them looking at her new squad. “These are my two best men, my two best vehicles, and my best weapons, there is nothing you won't be able to kill, so I don't expect you to come back empty-handed, and I hope that tank is as worth it as you say it is.”

He's worth it, thanks Ghalt – With Neo at his side, carrying his sword – We're leaving! Start the engines! Neo , let's go.

Time to go? – Imcheist follows with a backpack on his shoulders, stopping to whisper a few goodbyes to Ghalt , who responds in the same tone. He then heads to the largest vehicle while Gràin and Neo mount the leading vehicle – Let's go girl.

A forklift drags away the rotting scrap metal that blocks the tunnel leading to the hideout, and the dark corridor lights up with fierce headlights and emits a roar through the engines that accelerate, burning the concrete they pass through.

The two cars tore through the roads, Gràin followed back the path where she lost everything, to reach the road that only those who wanted an end to the battle followed, there, she knew what lay, when one day her eyes fell in wonder at something so large that it would fit not just one, but two cities where she could create her own utopia, she would not obey anyone else, and she would be seen as a goddess, just like those she kept with her.

Will we find Ghaoil ? – Neo was in a depressed state, the longing kept her awake at night and even though Gràin tried to appease this feeling with false brotherly love, it was not enough.

If they always head North as you say, then yes.

I miss her, I miss everyone.

Hey hey – placing a hand on the girl's shoulder, Gràin shows true concern for the first time – She must be missing you too, and will want to see your smiling face, so smile ok?

OK...

... Waste of time

Hey... Tell me another story that this Imcheist told you.

Haha , yes I do....

...

Hunter? Is that your code name? And your real name?

It's none of your business.

They were still arguing, with neither of them taking any action against the other. The spearmen were starting to get impatient, they had been burning in the sun and at the mercy of Ùine 's poison for a long time without even a sign from one of the leaders.

Listen, soldier, I don't know who you are and you don't know who I am, neither of us trust each other, but we're after the same thing, we want to fight that beast over there. At some point I know we've both fought together in the past, so we know we can handle each other, we just need to have a talk and I'm sure we can come to an agreement.

... Have the truck pick up the other vehicles.

... Creed .

What the hell – Creideamh leaves with the truck ahead, there was a long way to go around and call the Lancers back.

Ghaoil stood alone against the unknown man, waiting for his next instruction to stay on his non-hostile side.

The Hunter felt that the situation was out of his control, accepting an incognito invitation to talk from a stranger, taking into account only her family background. The tank hatch opens and from it the Hunter with his terrifying mask appears – Come in.

Without much disagreement, and also lack of options, Ghaoil enters the tank. It was huge, both inside and out, it was clean, with food supplies stored in a chest and weapons hanging on the walls, the floor was his bed, and just in the corner there was a rolled up sheet that he used to lie down.

Incredible - Under the Hunter's instructions, she sits in the co-pilot's seat, while he keeps his distance, opting to sit on the floor in the middle of the tank. After they settle in, a brief silence passes through the air, until it is broken by the Hunter who gives voice to Ghaoil through a hand signal.

Okay, to keep this straight I'll be direct, we can work together to take down that Mothachadh and split the spoils, he's bigger than average so I know there'll be plenty of food for us, you have this tank and I have my group of warriors, that's enough strength to kill that thing.

Apart from your group that is here, how many more of you are there?

They are hidden in the dry forest, counting me there are forty of us.

Hm.

But I still know that there may be enough spoils for everyone. What we really need is water and nothing else, you can keep whatever else is there.

I can defeat that thing alone, I don't need help.

We can too, and yet I'm asking for help, we are soldiers, you and I, we know what happens when we try to take control alone.

...

After that we never had to see each other again.

They were strong words. He took some time to think for himself, smaller whispers discussed among themselves whether joining a pack would be the best approach option, he could defeat the beast, but he also knew the danger of fighting alone.

...Okay, but on one condition.

And what would it be?

We'll wait until tomorrow, the sun will be stronger, and so will I.

I didn't understand.

You don't need to understand.

Hm...Okay then.

The meeting ends with the Lancers opening their doors and surrounding the tank, along with Creideamh . The hatch opens to reveal an unharmed Ghaoil , much to the surprise of the others, and he leaves without saying a word until he reaches his truck.

And so? – Creideamh was relieved to see Ghaoil well, but he could hardly hide his anxiety about how the meeting went.

He will help us, but we will attack tomorrow.

Okay , damn, a waste of planning – Giving the seat to Ghaoil , they begin to make their way back to the dry forest – What is he like? Do you think we can trust him?

He's a man of few words and an authoritarian attitude, I don't trust anyone like that, but our firepower might not be enough to take down that Mothachadh , and fighting that monster he pilots could be even more complicated.

A temporary help then

And after we get what we want, we part ways.

Right – Creideamh looks in the rearview mirror, and notices the huge silhouette following them – He's following us.

I told him to come with us.

Why?

Because he seemed lonely and... and the night looks like it will be cold tonight and... I thought it would be good for our alliance if he saw our camp and felt comfortable.” She hides her face, a little embarrassed, even though Creideamh had walked with her through enough sands to know that it was an instinct.

Hmph , charitable as ever, a single person always reaches your heart.

Creid , I... I don't know, forget about it, we're here.

Gràin 's gang decides to cool their engines by parking them with themselves in an old roadside restaurant parking lot.

The men refueled their vehicles and opened the hoods to cool the engines, then gathered in the center and lit a fire to cook their meal and join each other in a friendly circle of conversation.

But Gràin and Neo , despite their companions' requests, did not leave the car, much to Neo 's misfortune , who ate some overripe fruit while watching the men enjoy meat over the fire.

Why don't we go outside with them? – He placed his hands on his stomach to ease his hunger.

You won't want to spend time with them – She looked out the window at the sky, sitting on her bench, stroking her facial patches.

Why? They seem so friendly – He looked at the men again and pointed to the fire – Look, there's even meat there.

Neo – His tone of voice thickens with loss of patience – How many animals are left on Earth?

What? Ah....

How many have you seen? – She shifts her gaze to look candidly at the little girl.

...None

One more question – Look at the sky again – How do you think this tribe has such ancient members?

I... wait... – His eyes return again to the meat they were devouring... it was so red, in big pieces – Ah... no.

When we left, I didn't see Jack, and I heard he got a good beating from Ghalt for his incompetence as a guard – She leans on Neo 's shoulders , to have a better view from her window of the men at the fire – I bet that's him over there.

Neo 's gaze shudders in disbelief, his stomach churning as the men's ravenous mouths bite into the flesh and swallow it, a little blood trickling from the corners of their lips.

If you throw up in my car I will beat you up.

I... I don't... I won't.

Excellent.

How can they do this? It's so...

Inhuman?

That!

Look around, there are rotting bodies in every corner, dirtying the sand we step on. After killing them and offering them to the God Uíne , they simply leave them behind, a body without a soul, it is just a source of food, this is the principle of the Sin.

With each passing second, the redder the moon became, the more uncomfortable Neo felt among those men, looking at the fire that roasted the pieces of a poor guy, sliced precisely and stored in a small package in their car – Gràin ...

Say – opening his eye to answer the call of the troubled girl, a little dizzy from sleep.

Have you.... ever eaten that same meat?

...The Sin stood out among the tribes for being composed of experts in metallurgy and forging, and were the first to begin repairing ancient vehicles and creating primitive weapons for their members, and even negotiate trades using these creations. Furthermore, they are fanatical about the Uíne , following the principle of sacrifices to extend their life to the letter, that's how they survived and conquered their space. To join the Sin you might think that you need knowledge of bending metal to create useful things for use, but in reality, it's a completely different test. We had to hunt people, innocents, human trash, whatever, and bring them to the Sin , and, in front of Dìoghaltas , we had to show that we were cold-blooded enough to sacrifice and make the best use of the body.

...Devouring...

Yeah... and Ghalt loved to see, one bite and we were already part of the tribe.

Hm...

I deserted the Sin when I felt that staying in that place would degenerate me into an animal, devouring my friends and swinging a knife at anyone who crossed my path. I gathered some friends who thought the same and then we fled with their best equipment. After a while together, we already knew how to survive on our own, until the day we tried to kill our first Mothachadh , when that man appeared and took everything from me.

Neo hugged herself as she thought about the atrocities committed by those men, to delight in that flesh. – Hey, come here – Gràin extends her arm to Neo , who seeks comfort by lying on her embrace – Relax ok, nothing will happen to us.

Over the winds that grew colder as the moon rose reddish over the endless night, until the last flame of the fire was extinguished by the sand that covered it, the silence was almost unanimous, except for the blue-eyed girl who still couldn't sleep.

Gràin , are you awake? – delicate whispers.

I'm going to throw you out of the car – I woke up in a bad mood because of my impetuous protégé.

Sorry... I just wanted to talk for a bit, I can't sleep.

We've talked enough, you better rest.

Yeah, okay ... but I just wanted to ask you something.

Oh, shit.... ask now.

I wanted to know who Elvry , Yggdra and Alkolav are , I heard you praying to them a few times in our room.

They are my gods, who else would they be?

But I can't remember what religion they belong to.

I didn't think of any religion for them.

What? – Neo raises his head to look at Gràin in curiosity.

When I created them, I didn't think of any religion for them.

You... invented them? – Curious, she sits on the bench, leaving the comfort of Gràin .

Oh yes, I created them .

But why?

What do you mean, why? Isn't that how it works? You invent your gods and pray to them, to have some hope, who knows how, there were so many religions in the past, and they clung to any one of them whose foundations coincided with the dirty acts they did using the excuse of being for the sake of their religion.

I don't think that's how it works.

Really? Remember that all the holy books were burned a few days before Fìor? Saoghal ? Well, all knowledge of how a religion works died there, and at that time I was too busy stealing crumbs to survive instead of learning what religion is.

Sorry, I... I can't even judge you, at least you believe in some god.

You don't?

My father believed... and he always told me that when it was his time, he would come by the will of this God – She returns to Gràin 's embrace , so that his comfort eases the pain of remembering her father – But he left too soon, and I know that a God wouldn't do this if he were as benevolent as they say, so I don't want to believe in these things.

I understand, you may not believe it, but it is better to fear some greater entity.

Why?

What happened a few years ago, which threw us into this state we live in, those things that rose up and began to decimate us, the sand that appeared all over the world, which rotted our houses and trees, all of that, was certainly the wrath of a God.

...