New NEW Fastoon

Alister Azimuth woke up finally. There was a tan ceiling above him with bright lights. He struggled to move; the blast brought him down hard. With each ache, he felt the environment around him. A soft, comfortable surface was padded underneath him. Then, he saw similar beds next to him.
"I know this place..."
Suddenly, a nurse entered the room, wearing a long, white dress and cp. She spotted Alister, who was staring curiously at her.
"Oh," she smiled. "You're awake. Thank goodness. You've been asleep for days."
The woman had light, yellow fur, ears like Alister's, bronze hair, bronze stripes, blue eyes, and no tail. It only took him three seconds to realize who she was, and what she was.
"Tammy?"
"I'm so glad you remember me," she said pleasantly.
When Alister learned she was a lombax, he began to panic. His eyes shot wide open, immediately sitting up from the bed. He backed away slowly, starting to shake badly.
"Wh-what are you doing here? Where am I?"
"It will become clear to you in time," Tammy cooed. "Just lay back down and rest; it's all over."
Whimpers escaped Alister's throat. He looked away from her, in fear of facing her.
"We've been waiting for you for such a long time," she said. "The others will be so happy to-"
"O-others?" Alister choked. "No. There can't be others. There can't be!"
He sprung out of bed and sprinted out of the room like a madman, with no control over his fear-stricken body.
"Wait!" Tammy called. "Come back! Alister!"
Alister had raced out of the hospital he was in. He was never supposed to see another lombax. He helped their downfall and the destruction of Fastoon, a guilt that had consumed his heart for the rest of his life.
Out of nowhere, he found himself in an all to familiar district.
"Palamu Square? B-but this was the first place destroyed!"
More lombaxes were walking along the streets. Alister leapt into an alleyway to avoid detection.
"This can't possibly be Fastoon," he panted. "I have to get out of here."
There was an entry way to the sewers nearby. Quickly, he tossed the lid away and climbed down. Once his feet touched the ground again, he ran again, searching for a way out. A flash of light stopped him in his tracks.
"Where are you going Sam?" a voice echoed.
"I thought I heard something over here."
Desperately, Alister ran past them, not caring if they saw him or now. He just wanted out.
After several paths, he got his wish. He found an exit around the corner. The doorway led him to a peace park. Many children were playing in the wide open spaces around them. Alister only stared in horror. They were little lombax children; many have died during the massacre.
"Hey mister," a little boy cheered from across the creek. "Wanna play?"
Alister bolted away, almost shrieking. The boy blinked in confusion.

The sun had set upon the land, and Alister was still running. He was familiar with the land, but was so blind. A second later, he tripped over a rock. His body lunged forward into the dirt. He rolled onto his back, lurching in pain. Despite all the running, he was very tired, and on the verge of crying.
"Why? Why am I here?"
He stood up, holding his head.
"I'm not supposed to be with them, but they all died: Tammy, Sam, the children..."
Then, it hit him.
"What if I'M dead?"
He paced around nervously, knowing he must be right. A heaven for lombaxes.
"It's just not right. It wasn't supposed to be this way."
Then, he bumped into a log cabin. Rubbing his nose, he looked through the windows. The living room was perfectly alligned with furniture and antiques, with a wide TV lodged in the wall. Alister gasped.
"Mom's cottage."

He entered his summer home, locking the door behind him.
"No one will find me here... not even her."
He remembered he had been separated from his mother after he had been banished. She was dragged by the other lombaxes to the Court of Azimuth, where they were transported to another dimension. She was calling his name, struggling to be by her son's side. It hurt Alister that she wouldn't be waiting for him here to give him the hug he's always needed.
At least she still loved him.
He went upstairs to his old bedroom. Everything was exactly the same: armor, equipment, toys, weapons, and his big master bed. His mother would do everything to help him relax from a hard day's work.
He laid himself on the bed and pulled the covers over him. He was free to sob in his pillow, with no one to watch him. He stayed until the room became dark.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps from downstairs. They must have tracked him down. Alister threw the covers off him and escaped the only way he knew how: leaping out the window. He fled as soon as the footsteps reached the stairs. He went on another blind run through the vast woods. Soon, he finally recognized where he was headed. He skidded down a rocky terrain and landed on a beach. He took a second to take the scenery in.
This was where he would go when he needed to take time to himself, which he had done frequently in his life. After he befriended Kaden, he shared his spot with him, so they could talk one-on-one like brothers. He let the images of his memory play like a motion picture, two teenagers lounging by the water. Although, he knew there were people looking for him now, and he had a feeling Kaden would be with them. He didn't know what they would do to him if they found him. However, he did know one spot where he could retreat to. He slipped inside the cave carved on the side.

The cave was long and cold, but that didn't stop him from moving in as far as he could. He reached an open area where he could collapse and collect himself again. The room was beautiful: crystalline, and streams flowing. A perfect place for the poor lombax to let his tears out. He curled up in a little ball and rocked himself as his tears escaped like a raging river. His body was worse than before, aching even more. He looked down at the palms of his hands, and saw that they began to bleed. The soles of his feet were gushing blood.
"Alister!"
He jolted upwards. They were calling him now. He moved further in the cave. Despite how achy and bleeding he was, he got to his feet and ran down another path. Suddenly, he felt his foot trip from underneath him, and he bounced and tumbled down the tunnel. His back smashed against a dead end, leaving him to tremble terribly in the pain he was in. So much pain. He closed his eyes, knowing they would find him soon. He realized he was right when he felt a cover go over him and a hand grasp his side to turn him over.
He couldn't recognize any voices. Not right away. He felt someone lift him up from the floor and prop him against the wall.
"Alister, look at me."
Alister opened his eyes and found his father staring right at him. Instinctively, he scurried back and dug his fingers into the wall like a frightened wild animal.
"No, no. It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."
Alister shook heavily, realizing he had nowhere else to go. This was the end of the line for him. Gently, Suigog laid his hands on his shoulders in an attempt to soothe him.
"Son, look at me."
As Suigog came closer, his voice became clearer. Alister opened his eyes again and saw a look of concern and worry on his face.
"F-Father..."
"That's right, son. Just let it out."
As tough and stern as he had been with him in the past, Suigog had all the best intentions for his only child, and the heart of a devoted father. Alister knew all along, yet he childishly wanted the comfort of his strong arms again. He latched onto his father with all his might; all the pain and suffering he endured found its way through the cracks and escaped in the form of heavy sobbing and wailing.
"Shhhh," Suigog whispered, rocking him back and forth. "It's all right. I'm here. We're all here."
Then, he felt something sharp go into his neck. Suddenly, he began to feel drowsy, but not before seeing Kaden kneeling over him. He was expecting hate from his eyes, but all he saw was worry. He didn't understand, nor did he have time to. Finally, he fell into a deep slumber again.


He opened his eyes again. This time, he saw Tammy there to greet him.
"Hey."
He tried to move, but she held him down.
"Try not to move."
Alister looked up at Tammy with the sadness.
"Tammy... why?"
"We were all worried about you Alister," she replied. "How you act once you wake up affects how you live here. You could've never walked again."
"Why?"
"Why wouldn't we worry about you?"
Alister fell silent.
"Kaden's outside waiting for his turn," she said. "I could go get him for you if you'd like."
"Kaden..."
He remembered.
"He was there. I saw him.... as my father held me."
"Yes," Tammy said. Alister hid under the covers a little.
"I'm scared."
"Why are you scared?"
He'd never forget the last time he saw Kaden. He was so angry, that he struck Alister with his omniwrench and left him, fleeing with his son.
"Kaden... he.... he struck me.... twice... I always felt the hate whenever I thought of him.
Tammy nodded her head.
"Do you want to wait?"
"No."
On the inside, he really wanted to see jim again, because he missed him so much.
"Do you want to see Kaden?"
"Yes."
Tammy left the room to fetch Kaden. Alister buried himself in his pillow, cursing at himself, feeling he made a foolish decision. Then, he heard Kaden walk in. He changed his position, so he appeared more relaxed, but he was still facing away.
"Hi, Alister."
He sat down next to him.
"You put us all on a wild goose chase. I thought we were never going to find you in time."
Alister found it hard to speak to Kaden, even though he wanted to. He wanted to cry in his arms and say sorry as many times as it would take.
"Did Tammy tell you you've been sleeping for more than a week now?"
In shock, Alister turned around.
"What?"
"It's true," he said. "You were asleep for four days before that."
Alister only stared at the wall. He couldn't bear to face him directly, yet he couldn't believe his ears. How could he have been asleep for so long?
"Edith told me what happened. All of it. I didn't stop until you were found."
Kaden reached for Alister's chin.
"Alister, look at me."
Finally, Alister found the strength to look Kaden in the eyes. What he saw surprised him: Kaden was sad.
"I always regretted hurting you. I didn't just watch over my son, I watched over you, too, and what you went through. It's ghastly."
Then, he did something Alister never thought he would ever do. He gave him a hug.
"Kaden," Alister spoke. "What are you doing?"
"Giving you what you've always wanted and prayed for, but you could never feel it, could you? Because of the darkness holding you back." Alister lowered his head sorrowfully.
"I felt relieved when you found my son; I could finally reach you through him." Alister lifted his head in a revelation.
"So that's how..."
"Everyone here missed you, Alister. Believe it or not, your mother isn't the only Lombax alive who misses you, either."
"What?"
"Once you're better, I'll take you down to the well and show you. That's how we can see what's going on in life."
The older Lombax felt the warmth of his younger brother, his right-hand man. He felt overwhelmed by the bond they had shared when they were alive.
"I... I thought you hated me."
Kaden held his hand.
"I'm so sorry, Alister. I never meant for you to feel you didn't have a place anymore. Even when we were alive, I felt I abandoned you, my best friend. You were always there for me when I needed help."
"But I never said anything."
"The signs were so obvious; I could've intervened. I was too stubborn to see what you really needed: love, compassion, and understanding. I always hacked on you for your weight and not owning up to your parents. I feel... I feel I didn't protect you from Tachyon. A simple warning wasn't enough."
"We can't change the past, Kaden."
As painful of a lesson it was, as much as he wanted to go back in time, he knew the pieces fell as they did and that was that.
"But look at you!" Kaden cried. "Look at the insanity period you spiraled into! Don't you remember that?"
"I do, Kaden, but didn't you see Brom coming for me? Healing me? Taking me out at night? Telling me stories? Helping me love myself? He taught me as bad as things got yesterday, tomorrow holds something brighter as it entails mystery. That's what moving on is all about, isn't it?" Kaden wiped his eyes.
"Yeah. You're right." Alister's jaw dropped in shock.
"Are you crying?"
"What?? A man can't cry for another man?"
"You never cried, Kaden."
"I cried for my wife," he said. "And I cried for you. What more do you want from me?" Alister smiled, glad to see Kaden hadn't lost his sense of humor.
"So does this mean we're friends again?"
"Always, Alister."
And so, the two reconciled, and Kaden let Alister sleep off the rest of his injuries, smiling at the fact that he now had a place to call home once again.