Heskins kicked off the man who wielded the rifle with a knife on top of him, as he shuffled back in the snow. Despite those anti-tarr creations, it didn't take long for the point to get overrun and they had to quickly pull back. Now they were about half a mile away from Termia, as Heskins dashed around the snow, avoiding multiple shots from the soldier. Having the power to move around certain surfaces quicker was really saving his life here, as he ducked in front of the man before kicking him back, causing him to drop the rifle and nearing a cliffside. Heskins wasted no time, as he grabbed the rifle before firing onto the man, as was trying to get up, before collapsing onto the ground and slipping off the cliff.
Panting, Heskins looked around, as others in the Defense Core were getting slaughtered left and right. It would only be a day or so before Termia was lost, and then the rest of Suruthum. He quickly rushed towards the town, as screams from both sides could be heard, alongside tarr fire. He stayed determined, as he reached the town in a few mere minutes with his speed, to see much of it in ruin. Only a few town's people were out, trying to survey the damage and such, as he kept on moving. Looking at one side of the road, he noted a pile of bodies stacking on top of one another, as he closed his eyes in fear. Ula, please be alive.
Jamal would probably kill him, if she and his son were dead, as he reached the street with the cabin. The few houses here were leveled, and Heskins could see the bare structure of what was once Jamal's cabin. Climbing the broken steps, he could see the door blown off, as he entered inside. The building was trashed. Pictures and decor were littered across the ground, as he stepped carefully over the things. The kitchen was non-existent as pieces of the bar and table were gone, including Laken's seat that he sat in. This was not good.
Holding the rifle tightly, he moved towards Laken's room where his crib was destroyed, with the package for his bed essentially gone. There was nothing here that showed a sign of death yet, but he couldn't say so with much confidence. Exiting the room, there was one room that still had a door beside the only bathroom in the place.
He opened the door lightly, not knowing what was inside. In the distance, a projectile from a tarr exploded nearby, causing the home to shake for a few moments before all was calm. Calming down, he entered the room, to see it in better condition than the rest of the place. The windows here were blown out like the rest of the place, but he noticed a large bed in the middle. This must be Jamal and Ula's bedroom, he figured, as he stepped around. There was nothing of interest except a bunch of boxes in the corner of the room.
He moved closer to the boxes to examine them better when he heard footsteps below him. That was strange. This place didn't have a basement or even an attic, so was the sound coming from behind him? Heskins aimed the taboon behind, waiting for anyone to come out, but not a sound from above came except the wind whistling through the house.
Looking back at the boxes, he kicked one of them out the way, to see some wood slightly out of place. He grinned, as he pushed more of them out the way. Ula was one clever woman. Finishing the job, he could see there was a handle to pull up, as he yanked it above. Plaster filled the air, as he backed away before it settled.
"Hello? Ula? Laken? Anyone?" he cried down below and heard nothing.
He could see stone steps that lead down below as he carefully stepped down, creating a soft sound with each step he took. He was close to the bottom when he heard shuffling below.
"Anyone?" he asked, before darkness instantly covered his mouth or nose.
He dropped to the ground, clawing at his face trying to get some sense of breath, as he fumbled for the rifle next to him. He was barely able to see something grab the weapon, as he attempted to climb back up the stairs before he was getting dragged deeper inside. What were Jamal and Ula hiding down here, Heskins questioned as he tried kicking his way out of here.
"Who are you?" a female voice announced, which Heskins recognized before his mouth was temporarily uncovered.
"Ula, it's me. Heskins." he managed to say once he got enough breath.
"Mama, it is him. You can tell." he could hear Laken cry out before Ula gasped.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry!" she cried out, as the darkness instantly disappeared, as Heskins stayed down, breathing in deeply.
"What was that?" Heskin asked as he steadied himself up.
"You didn't know about Mama's powers too?" Laken questioned.
"Those were powers? Imagine what you would have then." he smiled lightly at them both, as Ula lit a candle on, surprising Heskins that they still had some type of light available.
"I thought you died." Ula said as he helped him onto a seat.
"It'll take more than war to kill me. I'm just here to see if you guys are safe. I brought some food too." he noted, taking out pieces of bread.
"Thankie!" Laken said in excitement, as he filled his mouth with the wheat-laden food.
What was he missing here, Heskins needed to know, as he began to ask questions.