Three Months Later

I walked down a nonexistent road in the middle of the desert by myself. I could just teleport in, but I wanted to see how it looked from the outside. Looking all around, all you could see was dirt and desert plants for miles. Smiling though, I took a step forward and ended up somewhere else entirely.

I saw a town of houses and buildings populating a small area, all surrounding a lush green oasis in the center of the town. About two to three dozen carvations of a few different kinds were milling about doing their daily routine of farming, cooking, and other kinds of work to maintain their small town and community.

After saving them all from the science lab a few months back, I used every last ounce of my bargaining power with The Temple to convince it to let them all live, including Adam. It didn’t want them living in The Village though, because none of them were ‘real carvations’ to it. The deal I struck though was to let them live in The Living under its protection though. Even that was still a hell of a time to work out. I’m making it a point to come down here once a month.

As I took a seat on a bench surrounding the oasis in the center of town, a good friend flew down and landed in the seat next to me, crossing his legs. This time though, he wasn’t bare-chested and looking crazed. He was wearing a button down, and was actually the mayor of the town. After a shower and clean up, he looked easier on the eyes.

“Adam,” I said, turning a sharp glance to him. We locked eyes for a second before I outstretched a hand. He took it, and we shook hands with smiles. “You’re a carvation through and through. You’re a brother to us now.”

“Thanks, Gryft, glad to be an honorary carvation.”

“Ironic, isn’t it?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t humans have a story about an Adam being the first man on earth?”

“Yeah, there is.”

“Then you can be the first man-carvation on earth. Fitting.”

“You don’t distrust me? Aren’t I technically human, your mortal enemy to destroy or something?”

“I only kill the ones that have it coming,” I said, rolling my eyes. "Besides, you’re not one anymore. You’re a freak, like me. Nothing human about that is there? Neither of us quite belong anywhere.”

“You’ve got a funny way of reassurance,” he said, the corners of his mouth rising slightly. “But you’ve got a home with us any time.”

“I’ll remember that. How’s the New Village doing since we helped set it up anyway?”

“Doing well. Everyone’s nice, friendly, and the crime rate is zero. Must be doing something right, eh?”

“I guess so,” I said, looking at a particularly old looking carvation.

“Have you found out how the humans made their own carvations in a lab yet?” he asked. I promised him I’d have answers soon.

“Still nothing,” I sighed. “Their research was all gone when we returned. Been trying to track where the woman went, or who she was, but nothing yet.”

“It’s still insane, all of it…”

“Anything you gotta report to me?” I asked. “Any trouble or concerns or anything?”

“Well, I noticed something,” Adam said, scratching his neck. “In just three months, the kids have grown.”

“What?” I asked, furrowing my brow.

“The carvations here, from the lab, they age like humans,” he said. “Just something I noticed.”

“This… will be something to report.” I said. 

“Hey,” Adam smirked. “Next time you come, bring the girl. I still never thanked her for saving my life.”

“Never thanked me for saving your life,” I complained.

“Oh yeah, I’ve got something to thank you for,” he laughed, pulling his shirt up to reveal a red streak across his stomach area. “This scar right here!”

“One of my best works, I think.”

We both had a good laugh before I went around, saying hello coupled with my goodbyes to everyone before I had to take off to the skies. It felt weird to do something that felt so right. Maybe I wasn’t so bad after all… Whatever. I needed a few days to myself.

*   *   *   *   *

When I got back to The Village, it was already nighttime. I finally had a small house of my own with the back porch that I liked to stand on and just watch over the carvation homes. It made me feel at ease.

“You’re up late,” said Moon, descending from the sky behind me. 

“Who needs sleep anyway?” I yawned.

“Did you visit Adam and the others today?” 

“Yeah, they’re still doing just as well as when I last checked on them. Maybe even better now actually.”

“That’s good,” she said, looking off in the distance with me. “What’re you doing? Doesn’t The Temple have work packed for tomorrow?”

“I’ve got the day off,” I said. “The Temple’s gift for doing such a good job apparently.”

“I wish I got those,” she laughed. “Taking care of Iris is almost a full time job.”

“You ever get tired of taking care of her?” I asked. Moon distantly looked off into the night sky. It was a full moon.

“Well… even after all these years, I don’t think so. I like taking care of her. It kind of gives me meaning to take care of people. Before Iris, I took care of Stella, my sister. And I don’t remember a time before then…”

“Maybe you need someone to take care of you for a change.” I said idly. Moon’s face got a little red and I realized what I implied.

“You know,” she said, clearing her throat. “Maybe having someone to take care of me would be a nice change of pace. Maybe if I ever found someone, we could… take care of each other.”

“Everyone needs someone to take care of them.“ I said, and took my chance to wrap an arm around her shoulders as we looked at the stars together in Heaven. She put her head on my shoulder and accepted it.

“Yeah, maybe they do, Gryft. Maybe they do.”