The Grey God

Her gaze went to the unfamiliar horizon as raw pain began to replace her numbness. She would run until she died or until someone killed her. She'd be at peace then, with her daughter.

The Watcher drew her attention as he bent. He peered at the Original Immortal curiously then looked up at her. His eyes were brighter than the moon, greener than any gem she'd ever dreamt of.

"Your fate is with the White God, Jenn," the Watcher said.

Duty, honor, courage, selflessness. The familiar words in her thoughts were chanted in a voice that wasn't hers. Somehow, they lessened her pain again, as if the strange figure before her wrapped them in magic before placing them in her head.

"Do you understand?"

Duty, honor, courage, selflessness. Her pain faded, and she drew a shaky breath as the tension in her chest loosened.

"Yes," she said in a hoarse voice. "I understand."

Duty, honor, courage, selflessness. The pain was gone.

"Ikir, we should find shelter," she said to Damian.

"Yes, shelter," he agreed. "And then you will go forth and find the other Guardians."

"Yes, ikir." She didn't know how to tell him she had no Guardian training yet and wouldn't even know where to find Guardians in the strange world. But she was a Guardian now. Her duty was to her god and her people.

"Farewell," the Watcher said.

"Watcher, wait!" Damian shouted. "You can't leave-"

The Watcher blinked out of existence. The youth was near panicking again.

"Come, Dustin, we'll find a place for us," she whispered and held out her hand to the little boy. He came stoutly, the only among them not immobilized by fear.

Duty, honor, courage, selflessness. She chanted the words as they walked towards the horizon. There was nothing she could do for Talia. Her god and the Guardians needed her. She'd made her choice the moment she took an oath to the Guardians. There was no immortal world to go back to now.

Your fate is with the White God, Jenn.