The Choices We Make

Regret- we've all had it. Bad choices and poor decisions turn into webs of trouble in their aftermath. For Reuger, his biggest regret was not one he ever thought he'd carry. Given his nature, he suspected that when the rubber met the road he'd be there for anyone who needed him... defend the innocent and the weak. To protect and serve. That was what he was raised to believe and he did think he upheld those values. 

Yet, it was like yesterday - the day he more than just failed to uphold those things he held most dear. His inability to act, or rather his willingness to just stand by in this one moment cost a young colt his life. It was a difficult task to uphold from the start - no one is perfect after all. But Reuger had seen lots of colts and mares come and go through the program and he had never given a second thought to what happened afterwards for those failed cadets. It wasn't until he found out the rejected recruits were killed off... well, it certainly shifted quite a lot of things for him with such a newfound perspective. 

To Reuger's credit he did his best to look out for all the young bloods in training that he could; offering them advice, trying to take the attention off of them when they made mistakes, whatever he could do to increase the chances of them making it. All of them were met with success, and passed their training with flying colors. Reuger was certain he had figured it all out, and that any kid brought to him would make it under his guidance. Yet, the last colt ever brought to him was a particularly difficult para nicknamed 'major'. 

Like all who came before Major, he was tasked to follow Reuger and learn from him. Reuger was determined to see this young boy live, and despite his defiant behavior, the older para couldn't bare the thought of giving up on him. However, Major didn't heed to any of his warnings, or seek after Reuger's advice. Instead, the young colt treated the whole situation like none of it mattered.... and perhaps it didn't to him, but that's only because he didn't understand the stakes of what awaited him should he fail. 

However, by the time Reuger found the courage to tell the boy his fate should he end up failing, the worst result came to be. 

-----

It was just a normal day, Reuger was making his rounds in the urban streets - checking for danger mostly. The sky was unusually overcast, with a slight breeze whipping up a light chill in the air. Major followed close behind him, finally having listened to his advice and his warnings to take training seriously. Major was doing quite well that day too, vigilant and attentive, listening and observing as he ought. Reuger was actually impressed with how quickly the boy had turned things around. Perhaps Reuger was wrong to have withheld that info for so long, if he had issued it from the start, Major may have been his shining pupil given his performance today. 

The pair then rounded the main street, heading back to their main building in which they dwelled - that was until they were stopped in their tracks by a pair of Cryo's. Both stood waiting, looking for them it seemed by their instantaneous focus upon the pair as they came into view. Reuger could barely make out small red lights blinking from familiar human made collars that both Cryo's wore around their necks.  He wasn't sure what they were wanting from them, but just to be on the safe side, Reuger stood himself between Major and the Cryo's. 

"Move aside Para, we are here for the boy." one of Cryo's said, his tone all business. 

"I wasn't told Major was being collected today by the likes of you." Reuger replied calmly, "It's my job to get him back to the stables and that's what I intend to do." 

"the boy has failed the training - thus he belongs to us now." The same Cryo remarked, interrupting Reuger as his tail began swishing slightly from side to side. 

Reuger narrowed his eyes, unsure of what to do. He knew why they were there... and most importantly, Reuger knew what was about to happen to Major should he do nothing. 

"There must be a mistake - Major met all expected behaviors on todays rotation. He can do the work and do it well-" 

"Quit stalling Reuger." The other Cryo quickly piped up, "You'll only delay the process and the result will be the same. The boy comes with us." the Cryo finished with a slight grin, though he seemed to be stifling it some just to keep their intentions less obvious. 

There it was.... Reuger thought, Major's fate had been sealed by someone higher than him.... and what was he supposed to do? Reuger could take one of the Cryo's maybe, but he'd be risking his own neck and safety within this system he found himself a part of. So, as his head held a little lower, Reuger stepped aside - much to the horror of Major who cowered behind him up until now. 

"I'm sorry kid." Reuger whispered, and much to his surprise, Major began walking towards the Cryo's - willingly. 

"You did what you could Reuger, I should have listened sooner." The boy stated calmly, staring down the two Cryo's as if he didn't know what was coming... but Reuger knew he did. 

His heart sank at Majors words, a lump caught in his throat as he tried to respond to the kid, yet nothing came out. It wasn't too late, he could still do something, he could advocate harder, he could take off running with the boy and see if they could make it out of town. But, even his legs wouldn't move from where he stood. All he could do was watch as Major stepped past and was joined by the two Cryo's who began walking off, with the small colt Reuger had come to love, between them. 

-----

It had been years since this incident had happened, Major's face was still seared into his mind - a constant reminder of his failure. And indeed, he had failed that boy. Young, naive, foolish to the real world and all the dangers in it but at the end of the day, Major didn't deserve to face such a fate and for Reuger to not fight for him but rather stand down and stand by as he was led away. Reuger wondered if he could ever live with himself given what he did and in a lot of ways, he couldn't. 

Yet, years later, a young colt suddenly crossed his path again. A boy being chased by a rogue pack of cryo's in the decaying infrastructure of the urban lands. It was striking the resemblance between this boy and Major, that Reuger wondered to himself if he was just imagining it. But, no, this colt was real and needed his help - and this time Reuger wasn't going to step aside. This para was going to live, no matter the cost.