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Damien stopped at the edge of the forest, and looked down.The little village was barely even that. He could see maybe twenty small tepees beside the creek, and they were all tiny looking as if to only hold two people. In the fading light he could see figures rushing around preparing for dinner. Children's cries of laughter could be heard just beyond the hill that the village rested on.
The sound of rustling leaves made Damien step back into the shadows. Ready to retreat into the forest again, he started to turn, but stopped when he saw that he was not alone. Behind him was a man he knew well. Even though his skin was darker and his hair hung down to his waist, Damien would forever know those black eyes. Julius was much younger in this life than the last.
When Damien faced him, Julius lowered his bow which had been previously been aimed at his chest. "Only you could sneak up on me Julius," he said to the Cherokee. Julius still had his memories. He knew who Damien was.
"Balik. That is my name now," he said solemnly. His voice was tired and his eyes weary. Damien was not surprised that he spoke English.
Damien nodded. "Of course. How is she?" he asked, getting to the point. She was the only thing that mattered. Balik moved beside him so that he could also look down on the village.
"Happy. She is called Chandrika. She has only seen five winters." Damien envied Julius that he got to spend the years of happiness with her. Whenever she met Damien everything changed.
"Her family?" he asked already knowing the answer. None of her family lived long after she was born except for Julius. Her protector.
"Gone. My father was her uncle." So he was her cousin. Last time he was a brother.
"Can I see her tonight then?" he asked. He would not be able to stay away long. The desire to be near her, to protect her, was sewn into his bones from the moment he saw her. Before even he was assigned as her eternal guardian.
He knew Julius would not approve. He wanted to keep her away from the darkness for as long as possible, but he knew nothing could keep Damien away. Julius sighed and the exhaustion from all of his lives could be heard in that sigh. "Very well then," he said, "I will take you tonight." Damien nodded his thanks and turned back to the forest. When Julius blinked, he was gone.
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