Anima: Renton

All characters and plotline ©NiaWaters

This work is not to be reproduced in any way without written consent and proper copyright.





Renton.



There was a soft tink as each rain drop fell into the metal bucket, and a low hiss traveled through the tall grass. I sat cross-legged on the little poof next to a lowered table. Metal scrapped loudly as the door opened, revealing Cat carrying a small tray with tea, and a glass of water.

She lowered it down to the table, and flopped down on the other poof. I grabbed the cold water, and started to sip it, still watching the swaying grass.

“It’s quiet out here, isn’t it?” I nodded,

“It’s nice; I wish the city were more like this. No disturbing scents to pick up or noises to hear.” I sipped the water again. “How long do you think we need to stay?”

Cat squinted her pretty brown eyes, and stared out to the horizon.

“I dunno, maybe just a few more days. Is that smoke?” I turned to stare over at the hill. There was a small cloud, snaking its way skyward. I took in a deep breath, and could smell the scent of charcoaled wood and sharp metal.

“Yes, I think a house might be on fire.” Cat turned her troubled eyes on me. We stood and started running toward the hill.

As we sprinted through the tall grass, the cloud grew in size and became darker. Then the stench of burning flesh reached me. We cleared the top of the hill, and saw that there were at least five houses alight. Firemen and Sorcerers were trying to dowse the flames, but the blaze seemed to be winning.

“I can smell someone inside.” Cat’s eyes widened, and she nodded, running down to join me. By the time we got down to level ground two of the houses were extinguished, and one was burned to the ground. The other two weren’t looking too good. Cat went off to go help the other Sorcerers, and I whiffed the air again. The reek of burning flesh wasn’t hard to pick out over the wild flames.

I turned to face the house on my left and dove in head first through a window. The smoke made my eyes water; taking a deep breath, I held it as I scanned the devastated room. In the far corner to the right was a small closet, where someone was banging and coughing loudly. I struggled over fallen wood pieces and something that looked like a body. The flames roared all around when I finally reached the door to reveal a coughing heap.

The person was trapped under a huge pile of fallen rubbish. I grabbed the bottom of the pile, but couldn’t lift it. I set off to grab item after item and tossed them out of the way until the pile was small enough to haul up and throw aside. The figure was still coughing violently as I pulled it over my shoulders. Larger wood pieces were falling now; the house was going to cave in. Retracing my steps seemed impossible as I stumbled over numerous small piles of wood and the other body. I felt for the neck, but found no pulse. Quickly, I grabbed the collar of the body, and started to drag it out. We reached the window I had crashed through, and I flung myself out.

People took notice and ran toward us. Cat arrived shortly after, and I pointed to the now silent body. Cat carried it off toward the other healers. I sat up slowly, and looked around to see that the house I’d just come out of was already to the ground.

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Once all the fires were out, the village was hard at work tending to the wounded. I got up from the little chair I’d been resting in and headed over toward Cat’s table. She was tending to the boy I had dragged out of the house.

“How is he?” I asked tentatively. Cat frowned, but did not turn away from the boy’s still figure.

“He’ll be fine if he sleeps well tonight. He had a broken leg, but I fixed that.” Her expression now lingered on slight pity. “But he’s lost four fingers on his right hand, and half his left; from the wrist up to the middle finger.” She traced her hand as she spoke

“Oh, how horrible…you can’t—?” Cat shook her head.

“I can’t re-grow what’s not there, but I’m trying to make new ones from metal.” I looked over Cat’s shoulder, to her busy hands, and saw her drawing symbols over the shaped metal pieces resembling the missing sections of the boy’s hands. Cat spoke again,

“Could you dab his head for me?” I went over to the boy, and saw that he had a large gash in his forehead, starting at his right eyebrow that disappeared into his ash-strewn auburn hair. I picked up the small bowl of green paste and dabbed it along the wound.

His face was peaceful in sleep and very young, caught between a boy and a man. The large wound on his face was the only scar I could see, and the bright red of it clashed against his chalky skin and made his freckles stand out. He didn’t stir as I kept dabbing the goop. It occurred to me then,

“Cat, what happened to the other body?” Cat stopped her work, picked up the fingers, and weighed them in her hands.

“She was dead,” She paused, “I think it was his mother.” Her voice was soft with dismay, and I ran my hand through the boy’s hair, hoping that when he woke he wouldn’t feel much physical pain.

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Cat and I talked to the village council, and we were thanked generously for our help. The boy I had saved was Renton Shilpa; he was the mayor’s nephew. It was dusk the next day, and Renton had finally gained consciousness. He claimed to be feeling fine, until he realized that four fingers were missing.

“What am I supposed to do?” His cries reached my ears, and I woke the lightly slumbering Cat. We headed toward the house in which Renton was staying, and knocked softly on the door. Mayor Shilpa opened it to reveal Renton upright in bed, with his hands held out in front of him, examining his remaining fingers and tightly bandaged hand. Cat sat down on the small bed, and started to explain what had happened. I sat down in a small chair next to the bed, and watched as Cat explained the new bionic body parts.

“What are the markings for?” Renton asked.

“They’re like nerves so you’ll be able to feel through them, and they’ll allow you to control the movement.” He nodded, and cautiously held out his right hand on the wooden tray. All but his thumb were missing. Cat carefully placed the little metal fingers next to the stumps, and held her hand lightly above his. “Don’t move.” She said softly to Renton. His dark eyes betrayed a slight pain as what looked liked tiny hooks shot out and started to string together his own skin to the metal.

After a moment the fingers were attached, and Renton widened his eyes to stare down at his new hand. He wiggled his fingers slowly, then picked up the little tray on his lap, and set it back down. His face broke out in a smile,

“Cool.” I let out an amused breath and Cat smiled. Renton turned to me and stared into my eyes a moment too long. They weren’t as dark as I’d thought they were, and in the dim light the blue of his eyes seemed to glow. He dropped his gaze, and held out what remained of his left hand. Cat carefully undid the bandages to expose a desiccated string of the hand containing a thumb, index finger and only half his middle finger and wrist, everything else was cut away. The poor boy’s eyes seemed to bulge out, and his completion became chalky again.

“You’re going to fix this too, right?” His thin voice asked. Cat nodded and began to explain that all the blood was gone from the hand, and the replacement would filter new blood in. He wouldn’t be able to use the hand for about a week.

“I can’t thank you enough, you saved my life. And my hands.” Cat smiled gently.

“You aren’t from around here, though, are you?” He continued; his eyes strayed to me again. I brought my knees to my chest and crossed my arms over them. Mayor Shilpa came over to the bed, and gasped.

“Oh my, would you look at that? Do they work?” Renton nodded, grinning now, and wiggled his new right fingers.

“Sure do.” Mayor Shilpa let out a quiet, deep laugh, and took Cat’s hands in his own pudgy one.

“We can’t thank you enough for your help with everything,” Cat smiled, and Mayor Shilpa turned to me, taking my hands as well making my feet drop to the floor awkwardly, “And you, my dear, how can we ever repay you for saving our boy, Renton?” I glanced at Cat who was watching Renton with growing suspicion.

“It—it wasn’t that big—”

“But it was! Thank you, thank you, we’ll have you stay here tonight, if you’d like? Where are you two traveling to?”

“We’re making our way back to our hometown, and heading out from there again.” Cat informed. I nodded and the mayor smiled.

“Yes, stay for a day or two to rest, it’s the least we can do.” I looked to Cat and she shrugged. I began to explain that we were going to stay in the small campsite we had set up above the village, but the sound of Renton’s voice stopped me.

“Where’s Jorgie?” Fear laced his question and I bit down on my bottom lip as the mayor released my hands. Renton’s thick brows furrowed and he asked again, “Where is she? She was in the house with me. Is she okay?” Cat put a hand to her mouth. No one answered him. For what seemed like ages he searched his uncle’s face, then Cat and finally his azure eyes locked onto mine. I winced, as if I were absorbing his pain through his desperate stare. My voice seemed far as I spoke,

“She’s gone. I saved her body, but…” My voice cracked, and I couldn’t go on. Tears started to pool down his cheeks and he took in a ragged breath, like he’d been holding it this whole time. Cat stood, taking my arm and led me away from him. Renton’s agonizing eyes dropped, releasing me, and he held his still ash-coated hair in his newly equipped hands.