The End of the World

Her code had directed her. Her purpose had been to protect. But what was there to protect now? She wasn't even protecting her innocence: she had fled, knowing confrontation would fail. What was her purpose if she could no longer defend those she loved, cared for, honored? What was the point of her? Those were questions Kuwindwa faced everyday. Everyday was the same: she had no answer, and her wandering had become more and more aimless... though she'd found a certain fondness for this area, she knew to linger could eventually spell further chaos. Not just for herself, but for others also. Unable to pinpoint her purpose, she made a simple goal: survive. But that could not power her forever. Death was inevitable... not just in the physical sense.

Kuwindwa hungered for an answer, and Áki fed her. His response was more than adequate... but what would she do with the information presented to her? She was learning about a new perspective, and she found it beautiful. The idea of something being infinite - eternal - was difficult for her to accept fully, but she felt a certain draw toward it... she remained silent for the duration of his explanation, allowing him to present his questions and direct the flow of his own speech. Her gaze followed his, then returned to him. She could sense the depth of his belief, his spirit burned passionately within those red eyes - if that was not too strong a word - that she had not encountered here before. Her gaze broke from the man at last, slipping to the horizon where the water reflected the moon's light. For the first time in several months, a smile formed on Kuwindwa's face that stayed for more than a passing second. It was small, but indisputable.

"Beautiful." The woman broke her silence at last, but did not continue immediately or expand on her comment. She pondered over how much to say - how much to share - after Áki had chosen to dispense with so much information about a life that had been so different from hers. When at last she spoke, her eyes remained on the horizon, lost in images only she could see: "My people were warriors. Guardians. We did not train for glory or battle... we were raised to defend the helpless, uphold the righteous. We were honorable." She stopped there, seemingly pulled from some memory. We were honorable... Her smile faded. The Pack had invaded, overtaken, absorbed... it hadn't merely been acculturation. Kuwindwa's family had been forced to change. Perhaps they were lucky not to have been killed outright... and though Kuwindwa had fought to maintain what she believed was an honorable way of life, it was difficult when all that defined that culture had died, and she hadn't all of the knowledge she felt she should.

Bronze eyes turned back to Áki. She hadn't connected with anyone on any level for so long. This was unforeseen, but not unwelcome. To think, any other night she may have simply walked away. "We were taught respect. Life is precious, should not be wasted. The life of our prey is sacrificed that we might live as wolves. We are not the same, but we are joined, hunter and hunted. We live and we die... we never imagined to what end, exactly. At least, I was taught as much," here she hesitated, her gaze leaving the man beside her as it trailed to her paws, then the ebbing surf, "My experience was - is - incomplete." Did she really just admit that? There had been no handy-dandy manual for life as a lone wolf.