Awakening

by Hayden Pearton

  *

  Barsch walked in silence, noting that the green speck on the horizon grew larger as he moved. Judging from the rate it was increasing and adjusting for his walking speed, he would most probably arrive just before nightfall, barring no further interruptions on his journey. The thought of sitting beneath cool shade and drinking chilled water lifted his spirits immensely, and his pace increased in return.

  With every step, his resolve hardened: to make it to the oasis; to reunite with the others; to find a way home. For Barsch, it was one of the strangest periods of his life, as he trekked towards a source of food that may or may not be there. He felt as though he was experiencing every emotion all at once, as if his brain had decided that it was bored and decided to think about everything all at once. He felt guilt over his past mistakes, pride in his achievements, despair at his future, and joy for meeting people who he truly enjoyed travelling with.

  After a while, he almost began to wish for something, anything to happen, as long as it would keep him from thinking. For thinking was all he could do, and Terra's earlier queries had begun to plague his mind, as he sought to uncover the deeper meaning behind his seemingly innocuous questions. He eventually decided that there was no truth to uncover, at least on his own, but his questioning mind almost immediately decided otherwise. These thoughts raged on, trapping Barsch in a prison made from curiosity and self-reflection, which is why he failed to notice the Redback scorpion in his path.

  It had been resting peacefully under an uncovered rock until it had been awoken by the vibrations coming from the giant nearing its home. It had carefully scurried out, trying to find out what had disturbed it and whether or not it would be small enough to kill. Unfortunately, the scorpion had strayed out too far and, Barsch, lost in his thoughts, had nearly stepped on the poor creature. In the ensuing confusion and shock, the scorpion found itself clinging to his left shoe. It was then that instinct took over, and instinct told it to find somewhere unguarded and sting.

  Unnoticed, it scaled his uninjured leg, its versatile pincers easily grasping the rough material. In this manner , it made its way up his torso, finally arriving at his bare neck. It tensed its entire body, raising its venomous stinger and acquiring its target: the prominent jugular vein. Without hesitation, it plunged its death-dealing lance towards Barsch's vital artery. At that very moment in time, however, Barsch tripped forward, an unseen rock dislodging his make-shift crutch. As he tripped, he happened to see the sunlight gleaming off the scorpion's scarlet carapace and, in a moment of pure instinct, managed to dislodge it with a closed fist. However, such a sudden act was too much for his body to handle, especially in mid-fall. Landing awkwardly on his barely-healed wrist, he slid down the dune.

  He lay there for a moment, trying to catch his breath, while wondering if his wish for something exciting had caused his fall.

  “I really have become too used to situations like this. I mean, that's what, four times in two days? How many sand dunes do I have to fall down before I learn my lesson?”

  After brushing himself off, Barsch re-set his chainsword crutch and began the arduous walk up the next slope. The scorpion, for all its trouble, retreated to its hiding place, vowing to never bother a giant again.