Fragments Gallery
On Assignment
"Bloody rain."
"Relax Gareth, it'll stop soon enough."
"Is that going to be before or after we're washed off this mountain?" Gareth moodily looked out of the cave's entrance into the pouring rain.
"It'll stop when it stops," responded Gaul.
"Blood. We've been here two weeks and it hasn't let up for more than a day!"
"At least it let up. You're just annoyed because you thought this would be an easy, relaxing assignment."
"Out here on long term recon with only you and Kel for company and leagues away from any commanding officers, especially that bloody sergeant? Yeah I thought this was going to be great. Then it rains. Incessantly."
"Well I can't see it continuing for too much longer. How long can it possibly rain for?"
Gareth grunted but otherwise didn't respond. Gaul and Gareth were sitting in a shallow cave they'd found on the side of the mountain. All of their supplies and equipment were stacked at the back of the cave while their small fire crackled merrily at the front as its smoke drifted up into the clouded evening sky.
In the distance he could see the sun hanging just above the horizon. Soon another day would end, he thought as he shifted his gaze closer to the cave. A forest of towering pines covered the mountains surrounding them; the trees were still and silent beyond the soft patter of the rain and the occasional boom of thunder. Nothing to worry about there. Finally he stood and moved closer to the cave entrance so he could get a better view of the narrow goat trail leading up the cave.
Kel was more than three quarters up the path, she waved when she saw him and he nodded in return. Thunder cracked overhead prompting him to turn his eyes to the sky.
"Well good news Gareth! It looks like the rain is picking up!"
"Stupid rain," muttered Gareth as Kel entered the cave.
"Is Gareth still complaining,"Kel asked Gaul idly and then addressing Gareth she continued, "You know that won't help right?"
"Of course it doesn't help," responded Gareth as Kel lay her soaked cloak out across a rock nearby the fire, "But it makes me feel a bit better."
"Well if that's the case, then you may continue," Kel said with a laugh.
"What did you see out there? Anything new?" Gaul asked.
"Yup, they're getting ready to leave."
"Already? I thought they were supposed to stay for a while."
"This mountain has other plans."
"The mountain does?"
"The plateau they were camped on has started to flood."
"Flood?" said Gaul, "That's not good."
"What about us," broke in Gareth, "Are we going to be hit as well?"
"We're sheltered from it here so we should be fine," said Kel, “But we have to stay here. I think the path out there is going to be washed out. Enough should remain for us to get back down to the ground once this is over but until it's over… we don't want to get caught out there on the path."
Gaul moved to the entrance and looked out into the pouring rain. The sun's lower edge now rested on the horizon, its radiant beams glittered in the hearts of the thousands of falling droplets above the forest. It was beautiful.
Something cracked farther down the mountain pulling his attention to it. Slowly his jaw fell open as a torrent of water carried a gigantic pine down the side of the mountain. The tree hit another pine which splintered and was quickly swept away with the surge. Soon the debris collided with yet another tree pulling it into the deluge.
"Looks like something broke up there, maybe a dam," commented Kel from his side, Gaul could only nod mutely.
It was amazing how such beauty could cause such damage. Amazing and frightening.
Gaul glanced at Kel and remembered that day in the square. Amazing and frightening.
It was going to be a long night.