The day had been full of work on the farm, some easier than others, but all extremely productive. At noon, another partial harvest was ready, but Rumble and Brad had spent most of it clearing new fields for the new incoming plants purchased by Mia. With any luck, the new produce would set them up for the Summer growing season. By the end of Summer, he hoped that they had new tools, a fixed roof, and possibly a few comforts. It was nice sleeping with Mia snuggled up next to him, but a soft bed for each of them would be even better.
And then it happened, Brads mind went to the time. Dusk was approaching rapidly and Mia had yet to make an appearance. With Rumble having spent the day with him, the thought of newly spawned monsters roaming nearby worried him. Not necessarily for his sake, but rather for Mia’s, especially with the night approaching.
Brad, pacing back and forth from the fields to pick weeds and down to the road looking for Mia, was stressing out with worry. With the skies already darkening, worrying for Mia was driving him mad. With thoughts of something happening or her getting hurt while rushing back… Brad was slowly driving himself to the brink. The only thing keeping him sane was Rumble patting him on the leg occasionally to help him calm down.
“Do you think she is okay?” Brad asked of his familiar.
With a nod and a hopeful emoji, his familiar failed to fully reassure Brad.
“Should we go meet her on her way back? We can head to town and escort her back, just in case.”
With another nod and a thumbs up emoji paired with a real rooty one, Rumble excitedly agreed to the plan.
“Okay, let's go get one of the lights and head that way. No sense in waiting around!” Brad told his buddy while running up towards the house.
Grabbing a light, a blanket, and a few snacks, Brad wrapped them all up and slung them over his shoulder to more easily travel. And so with Rumble at his side, they set down the path before turning onto the road. With one last look back at the house, they set on their way home.
~~~Patrol 5, heading towards Pandora Estate~~~
“Young miss, the estate should be just ahead. It shouldn’t be but another 10 minutes ahead, are you sure that you don’t want us to escort you the rest of the way?”
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“Yes, I’lll be fine. It is not quite fully dark, so I should be fine. Besides, I really would feel awful if you were out all night. I understand that it is close, but hopefully this means you get home a bit sooner tonight.”
“Well, we appreciate it, but you needn’t concern yourself with us and a few extra minutes.”
“I insist Corporal, be on your way and know that I hope you have a safe journey!”
And so with a hesitant look between the patrol members, they said their goodbyes and split from their charge heading West as they went North.
Thinking to herself, she couldn’t help but feel relieved to be alone on her final approach towards the farm. “I hope they didn’t take it the wrong way, but I really don’t want them to be present when I get there. A girl needs to make an impression on a guy that she is chasing, not waste the opportunity awkwardly in front of a gaggle of men following her home.”
And so she continued on her way humming in anticipation, not wanting to delay her reunion anymore.
And so it came as a surprise when monsters started dashing at and past her along the road as if they were fleeing some great predator on their tails. Having already traveled most of the way to the farm, the patrol protecting her was long gone. So with no small amount of fear, she dove to the side of the road in order to avoid the fleeing monsters while at the same time hiding from the monstrosity no doubt on their heels.
As a minute came and went, the stream of monsters faded into the distance, only to be replaced with a larger more powerfully built form strutting down the road. Tucking her head lower, burying herself in the muddy ditch and hiding among the brush that grew there, she could only hope that it passed her by without noticing her down in her cover.
As the seconds passed, she heard steps on the road above her, coming closer then just as they started to pass, they stopped. Stopped right in front of her. Within moments the sounds were rushing towards her and she couldn’t help but to roll onto her feet and to dash off into the weeds.
Within moments, she was grabbed from behind with strong vine-like appendages. She was caught. Struggling to get her knife out of its hip sheath, she only stopped as she was forcibly spun around in order to see two familiar faces… one changed, and one healthier than their last confrontation.
“Brad! Thank god it was you, I was really worried that I was about to die!”
“I can see that… let's get you back onto the road and some more solid ground.”
And so with Rumble’s help along with Brad guiding her up the bank along the road, arm around her waist to help her stay upright, they made their way up onto the more solid ground. Just as the true encounter was about to set off a firestorm of trouble.