Citizen 1070 Ghaith

Ghaith should know better than to accept Pyre’s challenges. They were always tests: something to break him, something to make him stronger, something to prove himself in Pyre’s eyes. As much as it pained him, Ghaith knew Pyre’s challenges were necessary evils, containing lessons that would guide him when he was on his own. The times where he failed and got hurt were his own fault for not paying attention, but he’d stopped making that mistake long ago.

Now, he was… somewhere. Deep in the woods on one of the many lonely isles in the Posian Islands, isolated from anything Ghaith recognised, and the sun was already low in the sky. This was his challenge, his test, to find his way to Pyre’s home from the wilds without his guardian’s help. Though Ghaith had travelled almost constantly since he was young, it was easier when there were physical landmarks, like houses and farms, or ships docked around the harbour, to guide his path. He was good at remembering where he’d been before and had never gotten lost because of it.

But Pyre was an asshole, and his challenges would never be so simple. The island Ghaith had been dumped on was empty of any sign of civilisation, aside from the splintered ship that littered the beach, so Ghaith had no one to ask for directions home. He would have to rely on Pyre’s lessons, if he could remember how to apply them. 

As sunset fell, and the burning glow of day gave way to stars speckling the sky, Ghaith could begin his search home. 

The first thing he had to do was remember the way to Pyre’s home. When they left together, they travelled with the sun on their left as it set, so, Ghaith’s goal was somewhere to the south of where he was. It was a start and he dived in the water, and began the journey.

The black ink of night swallowed up the rich colours of dusk as he travelled, and the stars grew brighter. They were a map of the sky, if only he could read it correctly, and Ghaith was left swimming through their reflection in the waves. Finally, he reached another island and dragged himself up on the sand, his soaked body heavy and exhausted. His chest heaved with every breath as he flopped onto the dirt and took the moment to ease his aching limbs. Glancing up to the stars, Ghaith took a long, deep breath and leaned his head on his hand. 

How long had he been travelling now? Was he even going the right way? The cold of the night air paled in comparison to the terror running down his spine. He could have travelled all this way for nothing. If he was travelling at an angle that was slightly too far away from Pyre’s home, he could miss his goal entirely and become lost in the ocean. Pyre wouldn’t accept that failure. Even if the Rex had taken care of him as a kid, Ghaith was an adult now, and Pyre wouldn’t bail him out this time. He would leave him, abandon him, to the mercy of the open ocean. 

The mere idea had him snarling. No, he would not fail this time. He wasn’t a pup that could be tossed aside anymore. He was strong, he could handle himself, he would show Pyre that this wouldn’t beat him. There was no challenge that could stop him, and no lesson would be too much for him to handle. Claws digging into the dirt, Ghaith stood, even as his limbs protested. He didn’t care. Pyre’s test would not stop him.

With several long strides, Ghaith crashed into the waves again, scattering the reflection of the stars under his paws. His new burning determination and the guidance of the sky led him onwards. He swam with certain kicks, and ran through the islands he stumbled across, without losing sight of his goal. All he had to do was glance upwards, at the patterns of stars in the sky, and he would know he was on the right path. 

There was no space for doubt in this task. At least Pyre hadn’t ordered him to return before a specific time. A lingering worry whispered to him, that there was no time limit because Pyre didn’t believe in him and didn’t think he would return at all. Ghaith scowled. If that was the truth, he would show Pyre just how wrong he was.

Gradually, the landscape grew more familiar. Stacks of rocks on the beach that he knew he’d made. Claw marks on trees where he’s practiced hitting a target, until Pyre told him to practice with a real opponent. Recognition sparked and he bolted onwards. He knew where he was now, the stars had served their purpose. His claws flung dirt behind him as he ran towards the blurry outline of his guardian’s home. As he grew closer, he spotted a familiar Rex, waiting outside in the cold. Pyre had waited for him.

Ghaith didn’t linger on the thought for too long as he raced up to him, skidding to a stop as he took heavy breaths, and he stood in front of the other Rex, a fierce grin on his face. Even in his exhausted, drenched and muddied state, the glow of satisfaction warmed his entire body. “I beat you, old man.”

By paradoxspir1t