Todd’s old friend Arthur seemed to be quite flummoxed. He said,

“So… we’ve tried customer service, reception, manufacturing and weapons development…” He pushes a button on the tablet he was holding,

“Lifeguard and… Candy Store Clerk? Really Todd? You couldn’t sell candy to children?”

Todd ripples his spikes awkwardly with embarrassment. He said,

“KIDS… WERE… FINE… PARENTS… NOT… SO… MUCH…”

Arthur sighed. He pushed a couple more button on his tablet, muttering to himself. Finally he looks at Todd and says,

“Give me a couple of days to find something for you. In the meantime, you know you’re welcome to stay with me as long as you need to.”

Todd nodded his spikes in acknowledgment before Arthur left. He looked out into the city, the bustling life and frenzy of so many people rushing to accomplish one thing or another. Todd was urchin enough to admit that the sheer activity that was underway was daunting, unlike anything he had ever known. He took an hour, just thinking over the last week. Some of the problems with the work was his own, and others came from those who failed to respect his personal boundaries.

He rippled his spikes reflexively, and the calm assurance of their presence helped to center himself. He was having trouble finding his path here. Todd thought, “I guess I’ll have to wait until Arthur…”

Hold on.

For the first time in a very long while, Todd thought furiously. He realized that this unfamiliar situation had taken hold of him, and he was accepting a passive role.

That is not my path.

His path was one of spikes, of teaching, of combat. He looked around at Arthur’s office and made a decision. He would do what he has always done. Figure it out himself. A flicker of his skill and Todd carved a quick message on the wall for Arthur to see when he got back. It said,

“Went for a walk.”

And then Todd left, deciding to explore the city on his own urchin feet.

In the various jobs Todd tried out, he had already seen much of the main city. The factory district, the suburban areas, the shopping center. He even spent a day in the entertainment zone, where his failed efforts at selling candy was already making the news. Todd knew this because he had heard a broadcast stating,

“Elder Todd strikes again! Ursula’s Candy Emporium was thrown into an uproar today after Elder Todd threw out three different families. Sources state that the Elder thought the children were non-sapient after they displayed, “monstrous” behavior. Turns out… it was just bad parenting. In other news…”

Letting the negativity drift away from him, Todd continued his trek. The city was brightly lit in this covered valley. It looked like whenever they needed more space, they would just dig down. Even still, when he took a tour bus on one of his first days here, he was able to get an overview of the city.

And there, almost tucked away into the corner next to a wall, was a dark area. No lights illuminated those streets, and as he was far away, he was unable to get a closer look to identify what was in that region. When he asked some other people on the bus, they just looked awkwardly away and wouldn’t give him a straight answer.

And so, on foot and with no pressing demands on his time, Todd decided to investigate.

As he rode along on his earthen platform, he gradually left the teeming mass of life behind him. He moved through the suburban areas, and then past the factory zones. Still he continued on, and as he got closer the area grew dimmer. The lamps which illuminated everywhere else was absent or broken. The streets began to grow pockmarked and ragged. Small buildings, what appeared to be derelict homes stretched ahead, shoved together and falling into ruin.

But that was still ahead of him. Scanning the distance, he tried to figure out the reason for why this area had fallen in disarray. As he turned a corner, a strange sight greeted him. A small house, well maintained and preserved amidst the wreckage and debris. Suddenly, a black sled zoomed overhead and landed in the driveway of the house. An otter got out of the drivers seat and looked at him.

“Wha’ the heck do ya think you’re doin’ round here?”

“LOOKING… AROUND…”

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

The otter swam over to him quickly and started motioning him to follow. Todd could hear the otter muttering,

“Stupid tourists, comin’ down to the ol’ city.” The otter turns to him and says,

“Didn’tcha know not ta come ‘ere?”

Todd thought for a second, then replied, “NO.”

The otter spun around and started moving faster towards his house, he whispered to him,

“Gots ta get inside ‘afore some’un see’s ya. I can getcha out o’ here, but you’ll need ta wait fer a bit.”

Todd wondered why he’d need to leave and decided to ask the strange otter.

“WHY… LEAVE..?”

The otter threw his hands up in exasperation and whisper-shouted back to him,

“It’s dangerous! I grew up ‘ere, they know me but the other’s don’t take too kindly to strangers…”

Todd wondered who the other’s might be, and what problems this ruined part of the city might hold… why there might be dangers for someone like him. For the first time in a long time, a thin thread of excitement raced through his spikes.

By this time, they’re past the sled in the driveway and halfway to the front door. The otter moved faster, trying to get inside when a menacing voice calls from behind him.

“Who’s yer friend there One-Eye?”

The otter, One-Eye freezes and slowly turns around. Todd does the same and see’s what could best be described as a motley crew. Two otters are in front, and their fur is matted and sticking to all sides. With them are two fishes, their scales scuffed and dim. Rounding the group off is a seal in the back, scars from slashes and burns evident upon his flesh. Most importantly, the two otters in front are holding some kind of jagged metal pole, the end of which has been crudely sharpened to a point. One-Eye chuckles nervously and moves forward wringing his paws,

“Sorry, sorry. He’s just a tourist. Didn’t know any better. I was goin’ ta take him out of ‘ere, him just wanderin’ in like he did…”

The two otters swam forward, closing the distance until they were within stabbing distance from Todd. One of them spits a dark tar substance into the water and it impacts the ground with the imparted force. The other says,

“Well’s… a friend o’ One-Eye is a friend of ours… ain’t that right boys?”

The other members of the troupe chuckles darkly. Todd notes that they all appear to be young and damaged in some way or another. He waited patiently to see how this would turn out.

The otter continues,

“And since yer a friend… why… I’ll give ya a discount. Jus’ fork over yer credits and you’s can leave with yer life.”

Oh… it appears they are trying to rob him. What a novel experience. Todd thinks back, and realizes that no, he had never been robbed before. He thinks for a moment longer before replying.

“NO.”

His answer was obviously not the one they were looking for and they appeared almost shocked. The otter in front swings his pole to face him and yells,

“Listen ‘ere! Hands it over or you can get a taste o’ my spike ‘ere!”

Todd looked at the poor weapon, then back at the otter. He replied,

“THAT’S… NOT… A… SPIKE…”

Before the otter could summon some more bluster to throw his way, Todd summoned earthen spears from the ground. He also detached his poisonous spikes and simultaneously positioned them surrounding all five members of the troop. He finished with,

“THIS… IS… A… SPIKE.”

The false bravado of the otter in front of him breaks down and he begins to sputter,

“Listen man… can’t blame a guy fer tryin’ yea? Times are tough, is what they is… no harm right? Jus’ let us go man…”

Todd looked over to One-Eye and saw him with his jaw hanging low. He directed his next words to him.

“THIS… PLACE… EXPLAIN…”

One-Eye quickly regained his wits and replied,

“Err… this is the ol’ city. It’s closest to the wall, closest to the incursion zone. Some years ago, corrupted broke in, destroyed and ravaged the area. The city abandoned it, decidin’ it was easier to build new than rebuild this ol’ area. Now… there’s only gang’s o’ kids in ‘ere. Sometimes with deaths in the military… well… there ain’t always people to take the little un’s…. And sometimes, those parents are worse than none. A lot of ‘em end up ‘ere.”

Todd looked back at the gang of kids in front of him. A few had their heads down, sad and despondent. One of them held a challenging gaze, using anger to deny One-Eye’s accusation. Todd came to a decision. He said,

“DON’T… RUN…”

And lowered his earthen spears and spikes. He looked at the kids and asked,

“WHAT… IS… YOUR… PATH?”

The kids stared at him, dumb-struck as if they couldn’t understand him. Todd decided to try to make it easier. A path might be hard for them to understand as they were.

“WHAT… DO… YOU… WANT?”

Another awkward minute passed in silence before a tiny voice spoke up from the back. A fish, almost scales and bones said,

“I’d like to have food… whenever I want.”

And this simple answer opened the flood gates. The two otters said,

“We want to fight… so that nothin’ could ever hurt us…”

The seal replied,

“I want ta be safe… not havin’ ta worry where ta sleep.”

Todd turned to One-Eye and the others. He said simply,

“FOLLOW… ME…”

Todd walked further into the old city, and as he did eyes poked out of destroyed and abandoned homes. He could detect flickers of movement everywhere. There were more young ones here than he thought. Todd was headed towards a large building he saw off in the distance and as he approached, a gang of older kids rumbled out of the structure. A large Walrus rolled forward and began bellowing…

“Whatcha doin’ ere? You’s want a beatin’?”

Another show of force and Todd gave him a simple ultimatum,

“YIELD… OR… DIE…”

Deciding discretion was the better part of valor the walrus and his gang waddled off and Todd entered the semi-intact structure. It appeared to be an old warehouse, and trash and debris sectioned off parts of it for the use of the previous inhabitants.

Yes… this will do.

Todd walked outside and summoned his mana. Earth flew from the ground, encompassing and repairing the entire building. Where needed it compressed, forming tiles that reformed the roof. The walls were encased in stone and after a half hour of work, the warehouse was transformed. Clean walls and a sloped ceiling shone throughout. The floor was replaced and leveled properly. With a final touch, he made room for a double door and above the entryway engraved a simple sign. It read,

“Elder Todd’s Dojo.”

When his efforts were completed, he turned to look at the crowd of kids that had grown behind him. He couldn’t get an exact count, but there had to be over three hundred of them. Starved, broken, jaded youths stood in a vast wave in front of the refurbished building. Todd lifted himself onto a platform and looked at the crowd.

“YOU... CAN… BE… BETTER…”

Angry muttering broke out in several places. He continued speaking,

“IF… YOU… WANT… HELP… COME… TO… DOJO… WILL… HELP… YOU… FIND… PATH…”

And with those simple words Todd lowered himself from the platform and entered the building. The five kids from before followed him in silence. They looked at him with awe in their eyes and one of them speaks up,

“What can we do ta help?”

Todd looked around, at all the detritus and debris. He looked at the scrawny and underfed kids. He thought for a second and said,

“CLEAN… BUILDING… USE… SKILLS… ONLY… WILL… BRING… FOOD…”

Tasks set out, he turned to One-Eye.

“NEED… RIDE… TO… CITY… HALL…”

As he followed One-Eye back to his home, Todd thought about all the things he’ll need to do from here. He’s established a base of operations. He would train the kids, help them find their path. And with success comes more success. Once they take pride in their work, level their skills, everything would follow. But first? First, he was going to City Hall. Everyone was oohing and awing over the fact that he was so old. Well… actions speak louder than words. And right now? The action he needed was a big pile of food. With a plan made, Todd moved with a spring in his step. An unknown weight was lifted from his spikes and though it would be hard to tell, his insides were glowing with a smile.

Todd had found his path.