"This is so surreal."
It was barely above a whisper, but Thor smirked.
"Yeah, tell me about it. My old Order was so against anything happening that when the Leader proposed we let our own people attend to crops and give the food away as families needed the items, I thought he was insane. But ya know, none of us have gone hungry yet." He was beyond proud. No wonder they had such a wide perimeter for scouting.
In the short distance I could hear an odd sound. A black and white creature that produced an 'ooo' sound staring at me as it rested against a fence just past a small field. I stopped and stared at it as I tilted my head. It made the sound again but much louder, and I jumped backwards. My body hit a solid object as I stepped back without looking and I moved forward when I realized it was Thor. His laughter rang out and while it was a pleasant laugh, I was not very amused.
"Sorry, that's Tilda. She's one of our milking cows. Most had been wiped out, but this gal is one of the four who live here. Loud lady she is, but she's one of the best. I'm surprised you didn't know what that was, Miss Know-it-all." His brow arched as he smirked at me before turning and leading the way again to the fortress.
All I could do was follow as we continued forward. I was told about the animals that could kill me, not ones that were thought to be gone. The likelihood of me running into an animal like that was rare. Usually, Orders had goats for milk if they were lucky, but Tilda was huge. Four of those could feed most of the people here depending on production. This place felt like it was from a dream, a place that was never to exist here. For a moment, my mind settled on maybe staying for a time. However, that would mean leaving. Good-byes were inevitable in the life we all lived of survival, but that didn't mean they didn't hurt. Being by myself meant that I wouldn't need to go through that or have someone leave me. Perhaps I was a coward, but at least I was alive so far.
"Well, here it is, Eagle Point Order." Thor was pointing to the giant open metal doors, but we still had to cover the distance of the good-sized market and a courtyard. Kids running and playing, women laughing, as they looked at goods at booths. It seemed everything was running from a trade style of commerce instead of rations like most Orders.
"I'll say it's impressive, but don't let it go to your head." I poked him in the back as he slowed his pace to wave at people.
"No promises." He didn't turn to look, but I could tell he was satisfied with that much.
"Hey, Second." I heard someone come up from the side of us from a small crowd.
He was another fit and tall man, very short blonde hair, and his pants and skin were filthy and sweat could be seen on his chest since he had no shirt on. He looked at me and gave a quick small whistle, I could only presume that meant he was impressed, before turning to Thor.
"Who's the lovely lady?"
"She is none of your business. She's here on work per my request. Give her a hard time and I'll see to you myself if she doesn't finish your life first."
A part of me was overjoyed that he was already letting people know to not get used to me being here, the other was annoyed I couldn't make the threat myself. However, there seemed to be more to it than that in his voice. Possessive? Jealous? Annoyed for sure.
"Stingy. I only meant that maybe you finally found yourself a wife since it's not like you're..." He was cut off by Thor clearing his throat and then taking my shoulders, moving me forward with him at an impressive pace.
"He seems nosy," I commented as I removed myself from Thor's pushing. I still kept pace, but I didn't want anyone to think that I would be anyone's wife, partner, or whatever they called it.
"Sorry, that's Felix. He's a few years younger than me and he always thinks with his less than smarter head. Although both are probably equally as stupid." We reached the entrance and he seemed to finally calm down.
"He probably just likes getting under your skin."
Most people like that just seemed to want to get a rise out of someone, and because I was mostly on the outside of situations, I could see moments like that better than some. While it was probably obvious, Thor just gave a half-hearted laugh.
"Just be careful around him. You're a pretty woman, and I'd hate for you to be hurt by that idiot promising things he can't keep."
Pretty woman. The idea never crossed my mind. I wasn't tall, but I was lean. Had to be in this world for the most part unless if someone just couldn't move as well as they used to. I had wider hips but a smaller chest, my hair was almost black and my eyes a light brown. My skin was tanned from living outside and covered in scars from mistakes and attacks. I didn't respond to him, but we kept moving forward into a larger-than-life entry hall.
Inside this hall, people were out of the sun but still active. Children playing with a long jump rope stopped and looked up with curiosity. One of the girls ran up to us and Thor stopped as he waved. The three other girls with her and a young boy followed more cautiously. The one who approached us had darker skin, her hair gathered into a pale-yellow scarf, but her baby hairs had managed to escape the front over her forehead. Her smile was huge as she kept her attention on me. "Do you like to play jump rope?"
"I never played before," I said with a smile as I lowered myself down to her level, resting my rear on my calves.
"We should play sometime. I'm Catalina, and those are my friends. We usually play here when our chores are done."
She sounded so proud and full of energy as she started back towards her friends who were in listening distance now. I waved to her friends, and they waved back a little more at ease now.
"Alright, Catalina, I need to get her to see our Leader, you be good to your mom now. You hear?" Thor said with a smile as Catalina's grin got even wider.
"You got it, Second!" She yelled happily as she went back to her friends. "She's a fun one," I said as we walked further into the fortress to a wide hall.
"Always full of energy, her poor mother has her hands full with five others to feed too. She is a good helper, but easily gets into trouble. Little bit of a daredevil."
Running his hands through his hair, I could tell there was a particular story for that moment. However, I was okay with letting it go.
"You seem like you'd have been the same at her age," I said with a smirk as I saw him shake his head and turning to show me a small smile.
"What gave you that idea?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
I simply shrugged as we continued. A few others said their greetings to Thor as they asked who I was. 'Here for work' was the automatic response and no one questioned it. Is this how they brought all the refugees in? Put them with work and let them to their own devices? Interesting method, but I could see where it would be beneficial to see where everyone ended up.
The halls we went through were lit by small lights in bulbs that gave off an inviting light. I was so used to fire light that this light took a few moments to get used to but once I did then I could see where they would be quite the asset. No wax melting at least. The insides were pure compacted earth with concrete with doors every twenty paces or so. Small homes for people that I could only presume had access to the outdoor windows as we were kept in halls without any windows. Going deeper into the hill, we came across a platform big enough to hold twenty or so people. Thor stepped on it and motioned me to follow. His hands went to a lever and when he pulled it down the entire platform moved with a small amount of noise from the gears. To the side, I could see people maintaining metal stairs by replacing some parts with wood. I could only imagine that the ruckus that would be caused if the power were to go out. Solar, hydro power, or wind to power here crossed my mind for their methods. I didn't see anything outright when I came but they probably had their power source kept guarded and safe.
As my mind was lost in thought, the platform halted softly, and I followed Thor off. My stomach was starting to become agitated, feeling like a caged bob cat, I didn't like this. The lights were a bit brighter down here as a grand hall large enough to hold a small city came into view from the hallway. There was a door to the right that Thor knocked on a couple times before hearing permission to enter from inside. As he opened the door, I saw a man with long platinum blonde hair, nearly pure silver, in a braid looking over paperwork. As he turned around, he was even more handsome than Thor. I noticed a large scar across his cheek that went under his jaw that changed his skin tone from darker to slightly lighter. His eyes were a light amber like mine.
"And you are?" He asked as he stood up and raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Milana. Are you the Leader of this Order?" I asked more timidly than I normally would. This entire day took me off guard, but this man's looks were just not the usual.
"I am. Lyron is my name." Looking at Thor, he continued. "Why did you bring her to me?"
"She knows about the time before the Calamity. If she agrees, I asked her to write what she knows. Maybe she can even see what we have and if there's anything that's not right." Thor was beaming as Lyron seemed more than surprised.
Before he could ask his question, I cleared my throat. "My grandmother was a teenager when the Calamity happened. She told me a lot of things from before she disappeared."
"Well, then. I suppose it would be good to verify information. Knowledge is my power and I seek to know more about the time before everything came to be. The history and actions that made everything into this wild world we live in. Did you belong to an Order?"
"No."
I didn't hesitate, and yet he smiled and sighed a breath of what looked like relief.
"A Wild is not new to us. Many who came here are from another Order that exiled them, or they didn't agree with the Leader's methods. I just ask that you probably keep your nomad lifestyle quiet for now, just to avoid a scene while you're here. I presume you don't intend to stay."
While he wasn't incorrect, I couldn't help but second guess myself yet again. "Yes, I would like to leave once I do what you need me to do. Verifying and documenting?" I never did anything like this, but who knows how much they had for me to go through. I could be well in over my head.
"That would be helpful, and of course you are welcome to Second's food supply since he so graciously invited you here. However, if you need anything of the more intellectual level, please don't hesitate to ask me."
"Wow, way to just throw that at me while insulting me." Thor looked tense as I looked between them. Lyron was smiling but I could also tell he was annoyed at something. Perhaps they didn't quite get along as much as Thor led on.
"You are the one who brought her here, so you take responsibility, it only makes sense. But given how you aren't exactly well versed in the organization of my documents then that makes sense that I help her there. I have an entire Order to see to, so between you and Third I leave her in your care until she deems your care inadequate." Lyron didn't leave much room to argue as Thor just ran his hand through his hair before sighing.
"Yeah, yeah I get it." Turning back to me, he opened the door and nodded to go outside of it. Once he closed the door, he flipped his middle finger to it briefly. I tried to hold back a laugh but failed. "Sorry about that. Lyron is an interesting guy, but he is smart so there's that."
"He seems particular, but not a bad guy." Lyron was blunt and smart, but he also seemed to keep people at arm's length. It was Thor's turn to snort a laugh at my response.
"That's probably the best way to describe him with little words. Particular, but not bad. Let's go get you settled in, and I'll show you around."