Jamal was asleep until he heard his name. He was sitting next to Laken, with Ula cuddled up to his side, as they stared down at Saputa City, in its former glory before the war. What a sight he wanted them to see before he heard the voice calling his name. He turned to Ula, whose mouth was closed as the voice called his name again.
"Jamal, mate you dead?!" Lero roared louder.
Jamal's eyes instantly opened up, to a heavy snowstorm outside, as the Ariocaster was still in the air. Did this man even get any sleep, Jamal tried getting up before realizing that he was still buckled.
"Don't even think about pissing all over my bloody beauty, mate. You're getting off in a few minutes."
A few minutes, he questioned, as he looked down below. Jamal couldn't even see the ground, as he felt the aircraft lurch lower. He held his seat tightly until the vehicle stabilized. It was a bit clearer, and Jamal was shocked.
On the ground, there was smoke everywhere, as the town of Termia was littered from such an attack below. At least he knew he was back.
"This must be it then. Yeah mate, not bloody landing there. You gonna have to jump. Don't die after all this." Lero noted as Jamal unbuckled his seat.
He got up slowly, as he grabbed the small bag he had from the rebels with almost nothing but food and a few papers inside. Putting it over himself, he edged himself towards the front, as the vehicle bounced up and down from light turbulence.
"Aight mate, good luck. Take care too. 'bout to get bloody paid too after." Lero grinned, as he pulled a lever to his side, opening the door as snow piled in. "And hurry too, it's colder than a freezing wallie!"
Jamal just nodded back, before he forced himself out of the thing. The wind instantly pushed him down, as he quickly plummeted to the ground. He turned around to see the aircraft beginning to turn around before a small fire appeared in front. His eyes widened as it wobbled in the air, before quickly dropping down past the town. Guess he got out on time, he calmed himself, as he turned back to face the ground.
It was only a few more moments before he decided to engulf himself in flames. Once he did so, he smirked as he slowly began to propel the fire toward the ground, slowing his fall. It was just enough, as he crashed into the ground, causing a light groan but was otherwise okay.
He sucked in a few breaths before he got up quickly to a tarr firing one of its shots in the distance. Jamal flinched at the sound, never recalling it being so close, as he began to study his surroundings. He recognized that he was a mile away from the street he and Ula lived on, as he began to make his way towards the cabin.
He briskly walked, not stopping, despite the battle happening in front of him, as he reached the broken paved street alas. It was not a sight he wanted to see. Much of the houses were in ruins or some type of destruction, including the cabin which was only several yards away. He leaped above the ruined steps, as he noticed the front door was blown off. Could people have looted the home, he questioned as he snuffled out his flames except for his hands.
Looking around the ruined home, he sighed. Everything was gone or essentially destroyed. Photos they had for a few years laid on the ground, as he picked up one with Laken only a few months old. No, he'll rebuild after this conflict ended, he promised, as he placed it to the side.
Passing the destroyed kitchen, he peeked inside Laken's bedroom, to see nothing but destroyed objects everywhere. Turning around, he noticed the door to their bedroom was open, and as he walked inside, he looked around what was once his bedroom. Oh, what he would do for a good night of sleep.
It was ruined too, as the bed was underneath a collapsed section of wood, which Jamal noticed was recently there with the lack of snow on top. But what was out of place were the boxes he left. He had plans to get rid of them, but he felt like they could have been of some type of use in the future. Ula sure did try to make him get rid of them, but he resisted. The only thing out of place was that the door to the basement was easily seen.
Jamal edged towards it, before heaving it up. It came up with ease, as if it had been used constantly, although it would be the first time he was going down there since he first entered the house. Plaster was spread around, as he placed his feet on the first step, it created a loud sound compared to its other surroundings.
"Who's there?" a female's voice rang from below.
Jamal stopped moving, almost tearing up. She was still here, as he continued going down.
"It's been a long time." he called back, as he stopped at the final step.
"That's not a good enough answer." the woman said back before steps approached the corner to the stairway.
Jamal just took a deep breath, as he passed the final step only to be face-to-face with Ula.