Find Your Way

The cool, early morning breeze on the bare, drab green rolling hills of New Canada blew forth from the west on this day. A few hills over, the enemy was no doubt preparing to receive our attack. It would end poorly for them. However, the enemy was not the primary reason for my… I would hesitate to call it anxiety. Perhaps… anticipation. Something was coming, and I knew of it. It approached me, like a gnawing, creeping creature, slithering forth from the darkest shadows, the oldest rocks. It was upon me. I turned around, and there it was. There he was.
Mik. He stared at me like a fool, for indeed he was one. But this fool is also my dearest friend, you see. It was apparent he returned from his venture to our field commander, who had summoned him into his presence. The first thing I noticed was his wide grin, beaming with pride. The second thing I noticed was his armor, red and shiny.
       “You have been promoted, Mik!” I said.
           “It’s about time, no?” he replied.
           “Wait, what?” questioned Basab, our stout Unggoy, who sat atop a rock, moving his legs back and forth upon the mossy stone. “Mik’s a major?”
           “By the gods,” uttered Tes, the lance’s Kig-Yar sharpshooter, who had paused checking her rifle to enter into the conversation. She was the most in disbelief of all of us.
           “You heard it here, friends,” continued Mik, gesturing to all of us three with a hand wave. “I am Kai’s equal.”
           “Do not be too hasty, Mik,” I jokingly said. “On a more serious note... you and I both know what this means.” There was a brief silence, where I awaited Mik to speak to the reality of this new development. He said nothing, however, instead having a look of genuine confusion. “Mik, you shall be given a new lance to command, for you are a major now, a leader of warriors.”
           “But the commander gave me no lance,” said Mik. I was mystified by such a claim.
           “This is true?” I asked.
           “Without a doubt,” insisted Mik. “Which means… you’re still stuck with me. Sorry.”
           We shared a chuckle. I was actually quite pleased with this development, for I feel that I am the only one who could properly tame Mik’s fire. Also, him leading warriors? I shudder at the thought. But he need not know this.
           “But…” Mik started, “this day shouldn’t be about me. It should be about you.” He said that while patting me on the arm.
           “For what?”
           “Oh, you damn fool, do I have to spell it out? It’s your hatchday!”
           “Happy Hatchday!” excitedly yelled Basab.
           “A thousand blessings to you, sir,” said Tes.
           Indeed it was. This is what I was referring to when I mentioned that… anticipation.
           “Worry not, my fine friend,” said Mik, wrapping one of his arms around my shoulders. “I know that you don’t want theatrics or a big celebration or anything of the sort, especially since we’re in a combat zone. But please… let’s do something special for you, eh?”
           Mik spoke the truth: I do not relish a grand, lavish celebration for my hatchday, combat zone or no. I tend to think of it as any other day, nothing truly extraordinary. I confess, I did not relish interacting with most of my peers, preferring the peace and solitude of the self in individual contemplation of his surroundings, and his own existence. Today, though, Mik simply would not let it go, and as such, I was willing to indulge in whatever machinations he had planned today. “Very well, follow through with whatever scheme you have concocted,” I said with a nod.
           He smiled and replied with a nod of his own. Moving away from me, from the small of his back he procured a small metal object with glass. Beneath the glass was a needle, with several lines etched around the circumference of the circular object. It was clearly of quality Sangheili craftsmanship.
           “A compass?”
           “So you may always find your way.”
           Mik may not be the brightest warrior, or the most tactically sound. However, he had his incredibly profound – albeit fleeting - moments, and I do believe that this was one of them. My heart, hardened and icy from many days on this world of long, hard fighting, had melted before this act of kindness my friend had performed for me, without expectation of repayment or anything of that sort. He did it because he could. The one thing that startled me the most, however, was his attentiveness in the symbolism of the gift. So I may always find my way. In another life, perhaps, Mik would have been a great man of thought, of culture.
           I still have that compass, you know, on my very person even as I recount this tale. For how could I dispose of such a treasure borne out of camaraderie?
Category:The Weekly