Greetings, Guardians, here's part one of my new fan fiction, the Journey Home! This is the story of a little girl, who, with the aide of a titan of the Pilgrim Guard, makes her way to the Last City with her village, the Fallen an ever-present danger at their back. I'm really excited to finally start working on it, now that I've created the final draft for Into the Hellmouth! Also, shout-out to the Muzzy, who gave me the idea for this story! Also, here's a link to the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/222615264/0/0]Table of Contents! [/url]As usual, if you like it, give it a bump, and I'll get more out soon! Stay classy, Guardians! The dreg stood in the forest, it’s shock blades shimmering with electricity. Alesha screamed in terror. The dreg looked in her direction, and snarled. It slowly crept towards her on it’s stick-thin legs. Despite the raging fire in the background, Alesha could hear the shock blades pulsating. She tried to crawl away from the alien, but it felt like her arms and legs were made of stone. The dreg raised the twin daggers above it’s head - Alesha woke with a start. She stared up at the wooden ceiling as the morning light trickled through her windows. She’d had the dream again - or rather the nightmare. She’d had ones like it, right up until she was five. She used to wake up screaming in terror. Uncle Tom would run into her room, and hold her tight until she finally stopped screaming. Her parents had been taken by dregs when she was younger - or at least, that’s what uncle Tom and aunt Beatrice told her. She’d been too young to remember. She’d always thought that that’s what the nightmares had been about. She’d also thought that she’d completely outgrown them. Apparently not. Two months ago, the nightmares had returned. However, this time, they felt. . . different. They seemed more vivid. More real. At least she didn’t wake up screaming anymore. Alesha got up out of her bed, and quietly got dressed. Then, she walked into the next room, where she saw aunt Beatrice cooking breakfast. “Good morning, Alesha!” she said. Alesha sat down at the table. “Good morning, aunt B,” she said. Aunt Beatrice took the pan off of the wood-burning stove. Then, she scraped some of the eggs onto a plate, which she then handed to Alesha. “I’ll have some toast ready in a minute!” Alesha grabbed a nearby fork, and began picking at the eggs. She contemplated what she was going to say to her uncle later that day. She pictured the conversation. “Uncle Tom . I love you, but I -“ Uncle Tom walked into the room. “Is that breakfast I smell?” he asked. Uncle Tom was an older man, with a perpetual smile seemingly ingrained onto his face. “It sure is!” Aunt Beatrice said. Uncle Tom smiled, and kissed his wife. Still smiling, he walked up to Alesha, and ruffled her hair. “And how are you, youngin’?” he asked. Alesha managed a weak smile. “I’m alright,” she said. “Good!” Tom took his hand off her head. “Eat up! You’ll need your strength today! You’ll be helping me out in the fields! You’ll be a great farmer, just like your uncle!” “I don’t want to be a farmer,” Alesha said at last. “I want to be a warrior, like Dad!” There. She’d said it. Aunt Beatrice dropped the pan she’d been holding, and it clattered to the ground. Uncle Tom’s smile faltered momentarily. For a moment, the three simply remained still and silent. “Miss Alesha!” Beatrice said at last. “You know we can’t -“ “It’s alright, B,” Tom said, regaining his characteristic smile. He sat down next to Alesha, and looked over at her. He sighed. “She’s just her father’s daughter is all.” Alesha blinked. She hadn’t known quite what to expect, but this was better than she’d hoped for. “Your father was a good man,” Tom said, “and a good warrior. I can see why you’d want to be like him. But I’m a farmer; I can’t teach you his ways.” “So apprentice me to Oren!” she said. “He can -“ “Now, now,” Tom said. “I need you on the farm right now. Besides, being a warrior is dangerous! Some of their weapons don’t even work half the time! Leave me lying around for a few centuries, and I suppose I wouldn’t work very well either, eh?” “I don’t care about the danger,” Ayesha said. Uncle Tom looked her up and down. “You’re your father’s daughter alright,” he said. “May he rest in peace.” Ayesha stared at Tom. “How exactly did he die?” she asked. “I told you, he was killed by dregs, same as your mother,” Tom replied. “But how?” she persisted. “What exactly happened?” Tom looked thoughtful for a moment, and then sighed. “Ah. It was a bad night, that one.” Tom suddenly looked very sad. “You see -“ “That’s enough!” Beatrice said. “She’s just a girl - she doesn’t need to hear this!’ Tom shook his head. “There’s no such thing as ‘just a girl’ in this world,” he said. “Hasn’t been for a long time.” “She doesn’t need to hear this, Tom,” Beatrice replied. “And that’s final!” “But -“ Alesha began. “Now, now,” Tom said. He patted her on the shoulder. “No need to get angry about it. Besides, you’re young. You’ve plenty of time if you want to become a warrior. Just do me a favor; wait a few years, until you’re older, eh? Then you can make up your mind all on your own.” Alesha sighed. “Okay,” she said. “Good girl,” Tom said. “Now eat your breakfast, eh? We’ve work to do today!” * * * Swish! Alesha scythed the grain, and tucked the freshly-cut stalks under her arm. “Good,” Uncle Tom said. “Now, put it in the cart.” Alesha walked over to the wooden rickshaw that they used to bring the grain back behind the palisade of the village. She hefted the load into the back. “Good girl! Now help me out with the rest, would you?” Alesha looked around at the fields, and saw the other farmers doing their work. Then, she heard shouting. Alesha turned, and saw many of the farmers running towards something. It was a vehicle, it’s back laden with numerous goods. Alesha smiled. “Gustav!” she shouted. “Hm?” Tom said. “Uncle Tom, Gustav’s back!” Tom looked in the direction of the vehicle, and smiled. “Why, so he is,” he said. “Can we go in and see him? Please?” Alesha begged. Tom looked at the rickshaw. “Well, I suppose we have enough grain now to go in for a little bit,” he said. He stroked his chin. “And maybe Gustav will want to buy some of your mother’s bread, eh?” Alesha smiled. “Thanks Uncle Tom!” she said. Tom smiled, and lifted up the rickshaw. “Alright, then,” he said. “Go see what Gustav’s got to offer us this time.” Grinning, Alesha sprinted off towards the village gates. Edit: [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/222615148/0/0]Part Two[/url]