Greetings Guardians, here's Part Twenty of the Journey Home! Sorry it's been so long, but hey, here I am! In any case, here's [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/226685779]part nineteen[/url] if you missed it, or, if you're looking for a different part, here's the[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/222615264?showBanned=0&path=0] table of contents! [/url]Stay classy, Guardians! Erling walked up to Johanna. Her sparrow floated off the ground, humming. “Ghost?” Erling said. “On it,” Ghost replied. Erling’s sparrow appeared next to him. The main body of the machine was dark blue, while the forward parts were painted silver. He hopped on it. “Ready?” he asked. Johanna put on her helmet, and straddled her sparrow. “Let’s roll.” Erling nodded. He gunned the throttle, and sped off into the forest. A little while later, Erling’s ghost spoke up. “Detecting a lot of movement ahead, Erling,” he said. Erling slowed down, and hopped off of his sparrow. He walked forwards, and came to the edge of a cliff, which over looked a u-shaped valley. He looked down, and what he saw filled him with dismay. What looked like the entire House of Devils was marching through the valley bellow. Five Walkers in Devil colors marched through the canyon, and they were flanked by a never-ending line of Fallen. Johanna squatted down next to him. “Damn,” she said, “you weren’t kidding.” Erling grunted. “There’s gotta be at least a thousand,” he said, “and they’re heading right for us.” Johanna nodded. “A force that large,” she said, “there’s no way they’ll pass you by.” “You see my predicament,” Erling said. “If what you say is true, we can’t go forwards, and we certainly can’t go back.” Johanna sighed. “Just keep heading to the City,” she said. “Hopefully, we’ll fight off the assault by the time you arrive. But if reinforcements like this keep coming in. . .” She shook her head. Erling nodded. The walls had always held against the forces of the Darkness, but even they had limits. Suddenly, he frowned. “Hold on,” he said. He saw something moving around the corner of the valley. “What is it?” Johanna asked. Erling squinted. Then, he cursed. Two Fallen walkers, both with the symbol of the house of Kings painted all over them, and a relatively large force of Fallen, were approaching. “Kings!” he said. He squatted down, hoping that they hadn’t seen him. The Kings were Fallen, but the Fallen houses weren’t on speaking terms with each other. With a little luck, they would pick a fight with the Devils. It would be a fight that the Kings would loose, but they would at least slow them down. However, Erling was eager to not be caught in the crossfire. The Devils caught sight of the approaching Kings, and both columns of Fallen halted. “Here come the fireworks,” Erling said. Then, two Fallen Captains walked up to each other - one from the Devil column, and the other from the Kings. They spoke to each other, but they were too far off for Erling’s ghost to pick up on their language. Suddenly, the King Walkers turned themselves around, and the two columns of Fallen began marching as one. The two Captains walked alongside each other.” Erling frowned. “What’s going on?” Erling asked. “Devils and Kings working together? This doesn’t make any sense!” Johanna sighed. “Actually, Erling, it does.” Erling turned towards Johanna. “What are you talking about?” “We’ve had reports that the other Fallen houses have joined forces, and are marching towards the City,” Johanna said. “Winters. Devils. Kings. Wolves. They’re all coming for us.” She looked towards the column. “All this does is confirm our intelligence.” Suddenly, she squinted. “Wait a minute.” “What is it?” Erling asked. Johanna ignored him. “Ghost? I’m not seeing things, am I?” “No, you’re not,” her ghost said. Quick as a wink, Johanna pulled out her sniper rifle, and took aim at the Fallen below. “What the hell are you doing, Johanna!” Erling shouted. “Do you know who that is?” Johanna asked, indicating towards the King Captain. “No, and I really don’t care!” Erling snapped. “That’s a Baron,” Johanna said. “Specifically, Baron Tyksis. Intelligence suggests that he personally planned the attack on the City.” She looked down the scope of her rifle. “We take him out, we can end this battle tonight.” “Or maybe not!” Erling said. “The Kings and Devils have plenty of Barons and strategists between them! But do you know what will happen? You’ll bring the wrath of that entire column of Fallen down on me and those villagers!” Johanna continued looking through her scope. “Johanna?” Johanna sighed, and looked away from the scope. “Dammit, Erling,” she said. She strapped the rifle to her back. “Let’s get out of here.” She walked into the woods. Erling sighed, and followed her. Alesha breathed a sigh of relief as Johanna and Erling cruised towards the building, riding their sparrows. As the duo walked into the building, they took off of their helmets. Johanna gazed at the villagers with a look that was something akin to pity, but with a hint of annoyance. “You should make good time getting back to the City,” she said. Erling nodded. “I’ll see you in a few weeks, Johanna,” he said. She walked among the villagers, her face inscrutable. Finally, she by Michael, and frowned. She indicated towards his bandaged leg. “What’s wrong with him?” “A wound became infected,” Erling said. “We used some field medicine and my antiseptic bandages, but I can’t do much for him with a field kit.” Johanna nodded. She knelt next to him. “What’s your name?” she asked. Michael looked up at her, but before he could speak, Sorenson cut in. “Micheal,” he replied gruffly. “His name’s Michael.” Johanna looked up at Sorenson as though seeing him for the first time. “I see,” she said. She looked around. “I can take him back to the City, get him the help he needs. It’ll take a few days, but I can get him there.” The whole village turned to look at her. Even Sorenson went completely slack-jawed for a moment. Then, his face returned to normal. “If you think I’m letting my son out of my sight for even one minute -“ he began. Yvonne touched his shoulder, and quieted him. Then, she looked over at Trisha. “Can you do anything to heal the wound?” Trisha shook her head. “I’ve done all I can,” she said. “It’s up to Michael’s body, I’m afraid.” Yvonne looked over at Erling. “Tell me, Guardian,” she said. “Look me in the eyes, and tell me that the things you have in the City can heal him.” Erling nodded. “The doctors in the city are the finest in the world,” he said. “There’s few wounds that are truly beyond their skill to heal.” Yvonne closed her eyes, and took a deep, shuddering breath. “Alright,” she said. “Take him.” “Yvonne!” Sorenson hissed. “We don’t even know these people!” “We know what will happen if that wound doesn’t heal!” Yvonne snapped. She looked down at Michael. “Mom,” he said, his eyes watering. “Sh,” she said. She knelt down, and held her son tight. “We’ll see each other again soon. I know it.” Johanna nodded. “I should mention,” she said. “The Fallen are besieging the City right now. But,” she said, noticing the looks of worry in Yvonne’s eyes, “hopefully, they’ll have repelled the assault by the time I get there with Michael.” Sorenson turned towards Erling. “Why didn’t you tell us about this!” he snapped. “I only found out an hour ago,” Erling said. “And in any case, the City has weathered Fallen assaults before. Regardless, the safest place for Michael - and all of you, for that matter - is inside the City walls, Fallen assault or no.” Sorenson looked ready to argue, but Yvonne touched his shoulder again. “Michael needs the medicine,” she said. “We don’t have a choice.” Sorenson relented, and looked down at the ground. Then, he bent down, and hugged Michael. “I love you, son,” he said. Then, he stood up. “Alright,” he said. “Take him.” Johanna nodded. She grabbed Michael’s arm, and picked him up off the ground. Alesha walked up to Michael. “So,” he said, “I guess I’ll see you soon?” “Yeah,” Alesha said. She walked alongside him. “I hope the City’s got what you need.” Michael gave a grim smile. “So do I,” he said. They walked outside. “I’ll see you there, Alesha!” Johanna’s ship appeared above them, painted bright yellow. Johanna turned towards Erling. “Good luck, Erling!” she said. The titan smiled. “I’ll see you in the City, Johanna.” Johanna smiled, and then she and Michael disappeared in a flash of blue light. Then, the ship turned around, and flew off towards destinations unknown. Erling nodded. “Alright!” he shouted. “Time to move out, people!” And with that, he led the villagers through the forest. Part Twenty-One: [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/227390005/0/0]Tension[/url]