The only sounds where the breeze as it rustled the leaves and the chirping of insects. On occasion their would be a harsh cry, an bird like sound. Perhaps from whatever owls had mutated into, he remembered them from an old picture book. Large eyed night dwelling birds that where prone to asking the question of "who?" and the eerie question posed to a lone watchman sounded much less chilling then the cries that came from the forest.<br/><br/>Though in the lulls and gaps between the cries the night was beautiful.<br/><br/>He'd seen nothing like the view on the opposite side of the wall, not even in the degraded photos of the old world. Pale lavender leaves, sprouted from trees with bark as white as snow. Moonlight illuminated small nocturnal creatures darting about. Playing in tall lush grass and foraging for plants to eat. A long eared predator-that looked like a cross between a rabbit and a fox-lurked in the same grass, bright eyes locked on one of the small creatures that frolicked about.<br/><br/>Not wanting to see the result of the hunt he turned away from the slender gap in the wall and refocused on the city he was protecting...<br/><br/>Though the word made his stomach roll.<br/><br/>Was he really protecting it? What they'd done...he'd promised to protect the weak, the defenseless, and yet that little boy. The way he'd looked up at him all three of his sky colored eyes watering as he clutched at his mother. The lack of understanding in his eyes at what happened. The fear that the same would happen to him as the rifle was aimed at his chest-<br/><br/>No, he couldn't keep thinking about it.<br/><br/>It'd do no good and...maybe if he could just talk about what had happened the weight in his chest would leave. But how did one broach such a subject. No one would ever ask if he was ok. He had no friends, the others in his unit finding his lack of expression eerie as the cries of the night birds. His attempts to speak with people where ignored more times than not. Or polite, quick, answers where given.<br/><br/>It wasn't their fault though. He was just too, too weird.<br/><br/>"Byron!" A loud shout caused his head to snap up. walking down the street was Russell, the red head had his rifle over his shoulder and even in the moonlight the insignia of the Keepers' shone bright. He stopped just in front Byron, "Hey, I need a favor. I'm going to be late taking over guard duty, you don't mind staying a bit longer do you? Maybe...an hour? It's important,"<br/><br/>Byron blinked, but his expression didn't change. His voice an unbroken monotone, "Important? But Commander-"<br/><br/>"Come on, it's not that long and as long as you don't say anything Commander Hawk will never know, so please?" Russell stared at Byron with bright green eyes, and Byron looked away.<br/><br/>"I...I suppose that is fine, if it's just an hour,"<br/><br/>Russell smacked Byron on the back, causing him to stumble, "Great, I owe you, maybe I'll pay you back by helping you get laid. Rose is easy once she has a few drinks in her,"<br/><br/>The red head then darted off back down the street. Byron shifted his attention back to the outside world. He would seem even stranger to the other man if he said he had no interest in his offer, not that he was given time to respond but...<br/><br/>A rustling sound caught his attention and he lifted his gaze, wondering what creature he'd spot this time.