From the Ashes



Chapter 2



Dust was unsure of what had just happened. He could still remember fighting General Gaius, using every skill he’d learned from his travels against the man who wanted to wipe out an entire race. He would’ve made it out with barely a scratch if it weren’t for the explosion. It was poorly timed, yet to Dust, it made sense. Gaius was defeated. His purpose had been completed.



It was time for him to die.



He’d regained consciousness, stunned, but still alive. Lava was pouring all around him and Gaius was shouting Cassius’s name, calling him. He crawled his way over to where Gaius dangled by one hand over a pit of lava. He didn’t want to simply watch him die, even if he was the enemy, but he did all the work for him. As Gaius fell to his death, Dust looked away, exhaustion taking over his body. His arms felt like rocks, and he could barely keep his eyes open. Movement was impossible, and he was too tired to care about the rivers of lava around him.



And then there was Fidget, hovering over him as the volcano continued erupting. They’d said their goodbyes then, and Dust let himself go as the lava flowed over him. He felt the fire blister his skin, but it was over quickly. The darkness swallowed him as his final dreams and wishes passed through his mind.



And now, he was alive once more, in an unfamiliar forest with Fidget sobbing herself silly on his chest as he stared wide eyed at the canopy above. Had he been given another chance? Or was this just yet another round of fulfilling some destiny he wasn’t quite sure of yet?



“Welcome back, Dust,”



He would know that voice anywhere.



“Ahrah...” Dust whispered, his voice hoarse. “How is this possible?” He asked, staring at the blade as it hovered just above the ground as it had when they’d first met.



“It seems as though upon your death, your body was the only thing destroyed.” Ahrah stated. “Your soul lived on, and remained with me until next time you were needed. And it appears as though that time is now.”



Fidget lifted her head just enough to stare at Ahrah, tears covering her wet cheeks.



Dust sat up slowly, catching Fidget so she didn’t fall and holding her close, as she was still clinging to his shirt. “So my life was given back. But why do I still look the way I did before? If my body was destroyed...”



“And indeed it was. The form you have taken now was created from the dust, much like your last one,” Ahrah said. “It is your identity. That is why you take the same form as before.”



Fidget crawled up onto Dust’s shoulder to stare at Ahrah with wide green eyes. “So all this time, he was with you? Why didn’t you ever tell me?”



“Because I too was asleep, Fidget. We both needed rest after that long battle. But as it seems, not much time has passed between our fight with General Gaius and where we stand in the present.”



“It’s only been about a year...” Fidget mumbled.



“U-Um c-can someone tell me what’s going on here?” A voice asked.



Dust turned, seeing a reddish-brown Nimbat with startled green eyes.



“That’s Fenrei,” Fidget told him. “Fenrei, this is Dust.”



“And he was in the sword?” Fenrei asked, staring from Dust to Ahrah.



“In a way,” Ahrah stated. “I was merely a root for his soul to remain in this world. Otherwise, he would’ve passed on long ago.”



Fidget finally achieved the strength to fly once more. “So if Dust’s come back, then the world needs him again?” She asked.



“It would seem that way,” Ahrah said. “Either that, he may have died before his time. There is a chance that upon his death, he was still needed upon this earth.”



Dust bowed his head slightly, his blue eyes shifting just enough to stare at a butterfly as it flitted down to land on a small blue flower. He knew the Moonbloods had created him to save them. That was his only purpose before he’d died in the volcano. Regardless of whether he died before his time or not, his destiny had been completed. But if what Ahrah had said was true, and saving the Moonbloods was only part of his destiny?



“It makes sense,” Fidget said, looking down at Dust. “The Blade of Elsorah was stolen this morning. And there were monsters everywhere. Nobody knows who did it, except it was a male with white fur and pointed ears like you, Dust.”



“Yeah that sounds like a problem,” He said, pushing himself to his feet. He felt unsteady, as though he’d already forgotten to walk. Luckily, it was a skill he easily relearned.



“Dust, the time has come to take me up once more,” Ahrah said.



“Yeah,” Dust said, brushing his hair from his eyes. “I guess so,” He grasped the hilt of the sword, the feeling of the perfect balance making him smile. He loved the feel of the blade in his hand. He felt powerful, stronger, as though nothing could ever stand in his way. But never would he hurt innocents. Never. He was not Cassius. But at the same time his desire to fight didn’t come from Jin.



“Dust, I’m coming with you,” Fidget said, hovering in front of him. “I’ve gotten stronger. You’ll see!”



Dust smiled slightly. “I’m sure you have, Fidget. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”



...



The black Nimbat flew after the figure as it headed through the woods. She’d been tracking it all night, as she’d seen the thief fleeing the forest soon after the sword was stolen. If it had been anyone else’s sword, she might not have pursued it. But Nynia had grown up in the clan that guarded Elsorah, so she felt a sort of attachment to the blade. She wanted to take it back, and she was determined to do so.



The Nimbat whipped past the sword thief and stopped dead in front of him. He looked up, his golden eyes piercing straight into hers. But she felt no fear.



“You took our sword,” Nynia said, her white paws standing out on her fur as she crossed her arms.



“Yes, I did,” The sword thief said, his pointed ears twitching slightly.



“And what gives you the right to just snatch it up and use it for whatever purpose you want?”



The thief stopped, looking towards her, a cold stare in his eyes. “Do you think you could stop me, Nimbat?”



“U-Um...”



The thief pointed the sword at her, the tip of the blade mere inches from her nose. “You might want to rethink challenging me.”



“I-I just want to know! What are you using Elsorah for?”



“What I do is none of your concern.”



“You made it my concern when you stole our sword!”



Elsora jabbed her nose slightly, breaking the skin just enough to cause slight pain. Nynia trembled, closing her eyes as she hoped he wouldn’t gut her right there. Would he eat her? Did the wingless eat Nimbat?



“Fine,” the thief said, lowering the blade slightly so it wasn’t jabbing her skin. “If you must know, I have been sent to destroy someone. The one known as Dust. Do you know of him?”



“Oh, him?” Nynia felt slightly hysteric as she stared at the thief. “Fidget went on about that guy all the time. It was really annoying...”



“Then you, Nimbat, will be my ally.”



“Like hell I-”



“Shall I kill you first then?” The sword jabbed Nynia again, this time in the stomach, making her wince. The Nimbat shook her head, her eyes wide with terror.



“Then take me to this ‘Fidget’,” the thief said, glowering at her.



Nynia nodded, her heart racing in her chest. The thief lowered his blade and turned away from her, starting to walk. Feeling as though she had little choice in the matter, she followed, her paws shaking in fear.



...



The expression of puzzlement and determination was a familiar expression Dust wore. Fidget came to know it as one of the most common emotions he ever showed. He was always asking, always questioning everything as though trying to decode it. Fidget expected he was wondering, just as he had on their last journey, exactly what he was supposed to be doing. But the determination told her that he was ready for whatever it was he needed to do.



“Let’s go talk to the other Nimbats,” Fidget suggested, flying above his head. “They’ll tell us about the sword thief, and then we can go find him!”



Dust nodded. “Alright, lead the way, Fidget,”



She flew ahead of him, occasionally glancing back towards him, excitement fluttering inside her like thousands of little butterflies. He was back!



When Fidget and Dust emerged into the clearing with the Nimbats, they immediately began shouting at him simply because he held Ahrah. The blade countered their arguments, telling them that Dust was his chosen warrior. The swordsman looked embarrassed at the claim, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.



When it was all over, the sun was setting once more. Dust headed into the woods. Fidget followed him, watching as he began to dig a small hole for tonight’s fire. It was so familiar, so welcome that tears welled up in Fidget’s eyes. A small sniffle escaped her as Dust’s fire roared to life, filling their campsite with warmth and light.



This of course, got his attention immediately.



“What’s wrong, Fidget?” Dust asked, looking up at her.



“I-I’m just so happy you’re back,” Fidget sniffled. “I missed you so much...”



Dust glanced away, staring at his fire for a moment. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to go through this.”



“I know. But I had hope. I always had the feeling you were with Ahrah.”



“You were right,” Dust said. “Although I remember nothing.”



Fidget flew down to her friend, settling down on his knee. “What do you remember, Dust?”



“The last thing I remember is feeling happy that you and Ginger made it out safely and the lava washing over me,” Dust said, staring up at the canopy of trees above him.



“Oh Dust...” Fidget’s paws covered her mouth, her ears curled in her sadness. “That must’ve been horrible...”



“I didn’t feel anything, Fidget,” He lied. He could still feel his skin searing from the heat. “One moment I was there, and the next I was gone. Now I’m here. I know I died, Fidget.”



“You were called back to save us again, Dust,” Fidget said, smiling.



“Yes, but what if it’s just that?”



“What do you mean?”



“What if as soon as I accomplish whatever task I’m here for I die again?



“Don’t say that, Dust...” Fidget whispered. “Just don’t...”



“I lived for mere weeks last time, Fidget.” He ran a hand down his face. “I barely had the time to actually live. I took it for granted, and just like that, it was over.”



“Dust, maybe this time will be different...” Fidget said.



“Yeah...” he murmured, lying on his back and closing his eyes.



“I know what you need!” Fidget said, taking to the air and hovering over him. “Tomorrow we’ll go to Aurora Village and see everyone again! Maybe that’ll help you!”



Dust opened his eyes again, a small smile sliding across his face. “Perhaps. But I’ve been gone for a year. How will people react?”



“I know a few of them will be happy to see you again! Like Moska, and...and Ginger! She would be really happy to see you again!”



Dust’s smile widened at the thought of his friends from Aurora Village. Ginger was one of the people he’d cared about from the moment he laid eyes on her. When he’d found out that her brother’s soul was inside him, he’d found a reason for his attachment to her. Simply put it, it was Jin’s love for his sister that made him care about her so much.



“That settles it then!” Fidget said, smiling brightly. “Tomorrow we go to Aurora Village!”



“All right, Fidget. Now get some sleep,” Dust said, still smiling. “It’s not like Aurora Village is right around the corner. We have a ways to go.”



She nodded her head and curled up on the ground near the fire, sighing blissfully at the familiar warmth.