Resurrection of Fire

Part 1
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Quinn lifted his head and sniffed the air, scented with the freshly falling rain. Today wasn't the best of days, nor was it the worst of days, it simply was another day on the earth. Today they rebuilt, they rebuilt like they had
done every other day since the death of the sky born dragon. The sound of
stones hoisted into place, clinking against one another took the place of
giant wings flapping overhead.

He straightened his bare moisture sleek torso, taking a moment to rest his
tired body. A accomplished smile lined his lips as he dropped his head to
the wall at his back, close to completion, mortar holding it strong. There
would be a shelter again, a home, it was small progress but it was progress
nonetheless. Pushing off the wall, he took the steep incline to the canvas
tent below, worn and small - it housed their numbers. The children sat with
Alex, a lesson in history was taking place and he stood and listened.

"...The Cheyenne Tribe used other means of ensuring a plentiful hunt. They
used something called a buffalo jump...." Alex explained, casting her eyes
to the small eager faces around her. It was then that her eyes encountered
an unlikely student, Quinn.

He stood with his arms crossed over his chest smiling encouragingly at her.
Where's Creedy?" He mouthed, trying to reduce the interruption.

She pointed to the east and returned the smile. Sometimes she wondered what a relationship with Quinn would have been like, there were mts its in the past she believed she was in love with him. She imagined it would be intense and passionate, but that was a hard contrast to what she and Creedy had. They had love, had commitment, and a family. In her lap cooing softly was her son six months just the day before.

Quinn nodded his thanks and turned out of the makeshift tent and walked along the perimeter wall. The rain continued to fall in lazy fat drops, soaking his dark mane and dripping down into his face die didn't mind in the least, didn't mind the sting of the heavy droplets against his bare skin, or the chill it caused that went bone deep. It was a sign that he was still alive, that his life wasn't some horrific nightmare that would fade if only he could wake. No, this was life that splashed with a cruel directness into his face.


"Don't suppose you've got my castle built yet!" Creedy called from the watch
platform, a mere twenty feet above.

"Castle?" Quinn shook his head, an amused smile lining his lips. "Hardly, you'll be lucky to have a roof over your head." He waited patiently as Creedy climbed down the scaffolding to the ground, the man jumping that last couple of feet.

"So, what brings you to the wall friend." He chirped, slapping Quinn hard
across the shoulder.

Quinn took a moment, considering the man, taking in the raw red scares that were a fresh reminder of the trial of the short months past. "I have good news..."

"Ahhhh, finally, good news!" Creedy laughed, his head thrown back. The stare from Quinn left him unphased, he had gotten use to the others turning a pitying look, or a concerned gaze on him.

"We move the children back into the keep tonight. All that's left of
rebuilding is that roof." He slapped Creedy on the back, returning the
punishing blow from moments before, and turned. From the perch above a shout came, both men jerked their heads above.

"Got movement!......" A rifle was shouldered and sighted on the approaching column." On the East ridge! Quinn?"

"Relax, Masters..." Quinn shouted back, moving to the ladder upwards
followed closely by Creedy.

"It could be the legions, Quinn. Doesn't do harm to be cautions." Creedy
warned from behind hey hey climbed higher. It was true it could be the Ruins Legion, a army of humans that were dying slowly from the radiation that coursed through their bodies, men and women who were insane and spewed their insanity in the form of death and destruction. The Legion destroyed everything in it's path and Quinn knew that would include them as well. "We'll be certain.."

Topping the fortifying wall Quinn peered out over the desolate landscape.
There in the distance a line of bodies filed towards them. "Too organized to
be the legions." He said absently.

"For Christ sake, who is it then?" Creedy narrowed his eyes, the scarred
skin near his left eye pulled painfullyyingying to bring the forms into
focus.

"We'll find out soon enough," Quinn replied, retreating back to the ground
and ordering the opening of the outter gate. He waited, with arms crossed
tightly over his chest as a man rode forth, yards behind a line of children
marched, a woman leading them.

"You Quinn?" The rusty hair man asked, his brogue thick, stepping from the
big war horse's back, his hand already extended in a greeting.

"Yes, and who might you be?" Quinn's eyes narrowed as he looked over the
younger man's shoulder as the line of children came to a halt behind the
horse.

"I'm Breck..." He lifted his hand and waved the woman forward,coppery
locks floated out softly behind her as she came forward. . "This is
Calgary and those are..."

"What'd ya doing here?" He asked, stepping closer to the two, his posture
became imposing as he glared at them.

"Look, you bloody..."Breck growled, his ire raised. The woman lay her hand
on her companions arm, silencing his harsh words.

" Mr. Quinn...." She began and then broke off choosing a different
collection of words. "Quinn, we're from the northlands, north of Edinburgh
near Aberdeen....." She gave a heavy sigh as her words had no effect on him.

"....We held the Highlands....." It was her turn to motion back to the ranks
Two younger men came forward, almost identical. Sable, shoulder length hair hung around their faces as forest green eyes came to bare on him. "This is Sean, he's our tracker, and a navigator of sorts. And this is Allen, we call him dreamer. You see Quinn, dreamer told us of a resurrection, of a rebuilding. He told us you were building a city of hope and that we had to come..." She gave a relieved sigh as Quinn appeared to relax his stance. Aye, you have to understand, we are the few that went to the belly of the mountains in hopes that there would be some to survive and carry on. And by God's grace there was, and the children came to us. One or two at a time in the beginning and then appearing in numbers more than we could handle. We started out with seventy three children, Quinn, and we're left with fifty two. I'm asking for your help." Calgary locked pleading eyes on him.

Quinn looked the children over for signs of disease, signs of infestation,
and was satisfied that they were clean. He nodded his head and offered his
hand to the woman.

"Welcome to Hope."

TBC