The Merchant The storms were on their way. The air hot and heavy as the cackle of lightning sounded out around the Merchant and his men; it was getting closer. A brief lapse of the clouds allowed for a ray of moonlight to shine down and illuminate the area, a sorry sight for anyones eyes. Deep gouges in the earth filled with rainwater criss-crossed the terrain, granite and marble strewn across the place by the terrible winds that had plagued these lands throughout the last moons. Ahead of his men the Merchant came to a halt and looked out across the desolate place. He had once vowed to never return here; but there was no choice. A sadness filled his cold metallic eyes as memories came flooding back to him, memories of happiness, excitement and joy. Memories and emotions that had no place in the new #life he had created. Composing himself he carries on, balancing himself on the hard ridges of mud when possible and wading through the muddy water when not. He was heading towards the treeline, the silhouette of which loomed above him. As he got closer, his men traipsing sluggishly behind him the sound of a babys wail pierced the air around him; his tight lips curled up into a half smile. He had found what he had come for. Allowing his men to catch up to him the Merchant pointed to a yet undamaged patch of land, not far from where they were stood. "Make camp there for the night, secure everything to the ground and wait for my return!" The barked orders seemed to remove the drowsiness of his men and they set off in the other direction, marching with a new found energy at the prospect of finally being able to rest for the night. For a moment the Merchant watched his men and then turned and set back off towards his destination; his heart was heavy. This would be the last time he would see his crew of loyal workers and friends, they did not know it but he did. The storms would arrive tonight and with them the beasts that revelled in such atrocity; they would not survive the night. The baby's wail sliced through the air again, spurring him on towards it. It would be just him and the boy now. There was no other way.