"War?" Littleone asked and her eyes grew larger. Jean nodded and turned around to sigh. He had known she wouldn't want the truth. Why would she? He didn't even want to face the possibility. Albia had had its problems in the past, but nothing like this.
"Yes," he answered quietly. She looked at him with sorrow.
"What is your idea?" She asked quietly.
"Awhile back, I found some interesting items hidden. I think the hand called them metal, I believe," Jean told her. "Maybe it can be of some assisstance."
"Me-tal? What does it look like?" She asked.
"Like the stuff the computers are made out of. I have never seen anything like it!" He muttered and Littleone nodded.
"Let's go see it," Littleone muttered and Jean lead the way. They went through the underground tunnels. It seemed to take forever and creatures that were down there were not very happy. By the time they got there, they were in a lot of pain.
"Littleone, are you alright?" Her friend asked in pain.
"I think so," she answered with a whisper. Her eyes grew large at the sight in front of her. There was so much iron and gold before her. "What are we going to do with this stuff?"
"The hand will hopefully give us the knowledge...Wait the is something written on this paper," he muttered and started to read.
"Metals 'round this place and so, can be made to defeat your fo. Rocks will clashed and the metals will take shape, aided by a silver cape."
"What does that mean?" Littleone asked with worry on her face. She sighed and looked at the ground. "Another one!"
"To make the weapons, fire you need. Heat will truely do your deed. Make the cape out of steel and spin it on a turning wheel."
"These riddles don't make any sense," Jean said angrily. Littleone looked at the riddles again.
"Okay, there are metals around us, and a fo is an enemy. So, the metals will defeat our enemies," Littleone started.
"What about the next part?" Jean asked with anticipation on his face.
"Well, maybe if we pound rocks against the metal, it will make some important shape," Littleone guessed. She tried this, but it didn't work. "Read to me the next riddle."
"To make the weapons, fire you need. The heat will truely do your deed."
"Fire, it gives light," Littleone said and she looked at the candles. She picked on up and held it. It burned her, but she held on anyway. "Give me the metal."
She was wincing as she said it and he ran to get her what she needed. "What do you need it for?" he asked.
"A test," she muttered with pain. She took the metal from him and put it over the candle that she had finally put down. Finally, the metal started to melt She started to hit it with the stone, and it began to shape. She pulled it out for awhile and it began to harden. "Any other riddles?"
"No, but there is a drawing," said he.
"Let me see," she said.
"Do you know what it is, Littleone?" He asked.
"No, I have never seen this before," she answered.
"What do you think it is?" He asked.
"I really don't know," she answered. "I suppose we could make them and find out."
"Works for me," Jean said and got to work. He took the metal and put it over the candle.
"Wait, now what am I supposed to use?" She asked.
"Well, what else are we supposed to do?" He asked with irritation in his voice.
"Give the fire to me," she answered.
"Why?" He asked.
"You'll see," came his answer. He passed her the candle and she threw it in some twigs, out of pure luck. "We need wood," she said and he nodded.
He ran in search of some. He picked up a twig here and a branch there. There wasn't much down there except for the stuff the two of them dragged in. He picked up everything he could find and brought it back to Littleone.
"How's this?" He asked, hoping for an approval.
"Is it all you could find," she asked.
"Yes," he answered.
"Then it will have to do," she sighed.
"It was every single piece of wood I could muster up," Jean said.
"I know," she said.
"You just wish there was more," he spoke for her, already knowing her words.
"Yes," she said. She handed him some of the precious material. They began to get to work. It was hard and the stones fell apart sometime, but in their eyes it was worth it.
"Littleone?" Jean asked and he looked up at her.
"Yes?" She whispered without even looking up.
"Where is your husband," he asked. Littleone stopped what she was doing and looked over at him.
"Why?" She hissed.
"I was just curious," Jean answered.
"I don't want to talk about it," she growled and went back to work.
"How did he die?" Jean asked. Littleone's head snapped up and she got in his face. Her anger was clearly visable. She suddenly stopped. Her head sank betwixt her legs and she started to cry.
"I don't know," she whispered. All of her anger was gone.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up," he said and got back to work.
"Wait," she said quietly. "It was a long time ago. We were playing and he just died. No one knows how it happened."
"Littleone, I am sorry," Jean said and Littleone nodded. She got right back to work.
After the course of a week, they had about 20 swords and a few knives. They each took one and started back toward the incubator. They had stopped for a moment when Littleone heard a sound. It was soft and quiet, but she could still hear it.
"What was that?" She asked and Jean turned to her.
"What was what?" He asked with anticipation. A stone was kicked and this time Jean heard it too.
"That," she whispered. He stood up with her right behind him. Both of them had a sword in their hand. The shadow moved again. Finally it jumped out of the shadows and Littleone screeched.
