Athelston held firm to his book.

The journey had been short getting to the outskirts of Thartan. Little to no obstacles for those who'd spent a decade growing accustomed to their new circumstances. Still, they approached with caution. No one here was a novice. No one was allowed to be. Surviving so far ensured that everyone shared that one expertise. It could be argued that the young were not yet as tempered but that didn't mean they would be anyone's willing victim.

Brigette raised her torch.

The night was an unwelcomed circumstance. Their journey was planned so that they arrived during the day. The darkness brought with it many unsavoury threats. The sound of their shoes on the grass-covered patches of the road was mute. Under normal circumstances, there should have been no means for everything to be reclaimed so quickly by nature. It was just ... not natural.

Nothing they had built was... and now it never would be again.

"Nice and quiet, ladies. Don't want to pester the locals now do we?" Oliver whispered from the back.

His words snaking around Athelston and reaching the intended target Brigette. A silent finger lifted and directed behind her was all the confirmation he got. "That's a good lad then..." he rolled his eyes and gripped tighter on his 'cross-guard'. 

If someone had told Athelston years ago that he'd be trusting his back to an ex-choirboy wielding an inverted kendo shinai he'd have likely called them a dreamer. If they told him that he'd be following closely behind a scarecrow of a girl with pockets full of an assortment of trick candles? Why he might have started backing away in a hurry.

"There. That place looks good." Athelston directed the attention of the others to a playground. The group got closer and read a below an oddly clean statue, "Built to commemorate the efforts of- " then moving his finger quickly he rested on. "-2019." 

"Nice call, bookworm." Brigette seemed to ease up now that they'd found the place.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"You think they didn't just repurpose the old structures for the kid's playing area?" Oliver waved his shinai slowly around him. A green hue seeming to trail wherever the wooden shaft once was.

"They could have ... but it's the best bet we've got and we're tired. Going into the buildings now would be suicide. Once it's morning we can head over to the library and check out-" Athel was speaking before being interrupted by the two others.

"- THE BOOKS!" they chimed together while shucking their bags onto a rather complicated looking slide setup. A quiet high five shared between them before the torch was set aside. It seemed to change colours at a whim. Though currently, it felt 'warm' and 'hearth-like'. 

"Funny guys. Especially after the first 50 times. 51 is certainly your best one yet."

"I don't know ... I thought 21 was a keeper." Oliver said in a seemingly thoughtful manner. Brig was in stitches as she pulled out some quilts from her bag. The cloth was warm to the touch despite the cold winds all around them. It was a patchwork of images and symbols. On closer inspection, you'd see the sun. The rain. The snow ... all different weather conditions. Along with them were images of a man, animals and ...

"Well, it looks like both of you are in a chatty mood so I'll take first watch. We change shifts every two hours. No extra time." Athel threatened the other two but it came across as amusing.

"Whatever you say, mon Capiton!" a mock salute and the other two settled around the lamp. Athel kept an eye out for movements and activity. His vigil was shortlived however as soon he was opening his book. The outer casing was that of an Aged Bible and Koran stitched together. He took out a vial of salt and made a line at the start of the slide sectioning it off. He did so again for every way up. Once he'd confirmed that every opening was sealed he opened his book and took out a pen. Inside of it were notes he'd written to record his story over the past ten years. How everyday life fell into ruin.

And how he'd become a Spec. Tackler...