Azae - A World At War

[JoeStrummer]

Sieth walked towards the edge of the cliff, looked down at the valley, and took a deep breath in. "Something is going to happen. I can smell it in the air." he croaked into darkness. Ziek, who was sitting just a few feet from him on the cliff, chuckled to himself.

"You don't smell anything old man." Ziek said as he continued to laugh. After flicking the pebble he was playing with from his hand, he pushed himself to his feet. Ziek stood at 6'1, just a few inches taller than Sieth, but with a slimmer frame. His build hinted that he was both agile and strong. He had short, raven black hair that stood straight up in a matted mess. His olive complexion and dark green eyes showed mixed race origins. The eyes were penetrating and showed mostly apathy. A cool wind blew through the valley and goosebumps crept up and down his exposed, well-toned arms. Scars were scattered all over each of them. Some were from sparring with Sieth, some were from past jobs, and some were much older than that. He wore a dirty white sleeveless shirt with several holes, more of a rag than anything else, and loose fitting black pants with his cuffs tucked lazy and sloppily into his simple brown leather boots.

Sieth was much older than Ziek, and was now in his Sixties. His long flowing hair was now completely a greyish silver. He was a very dark skinned man of obvious Nomasdae origin. His build was larger than Ziek's and appeared to be quite strong for his age. Sieth's eyes were a soft brown hue and showed nothing but kindness. Sieth took one last look over the luscious green valley of Kildra and then walked slowly back over to Ziek, who was now stretching lazily.

"Still smell it?" Ziek teased while finishing his chuckle. Sieth only gave him half a smile as he continued to walk past him. The younger man grabbed his ornate looking spear with his right hand, which he had leaned up against the side of the mountain they were on, and tossed it into his left while walking over to Sieth.

The wind blew calmly as the afternoon dwindled down. The day was hot and the cool breeze felt good against Ziek's face. He was utterly exhausted. How long had it been since he slept now? Three, four days? He couldn't even tell anymore. The dark circles under his eyes were growing day by day. The long trek down the mountain was not helping either. Each step was slow and arduous. Sieth took a quick glance behind him to see Ziek strolling far behind. "What are you doing?" Sieth then stopped and waited for him to catch up. Ziek slowly trudged over to his waiting friend.

On a closer glance Sieth could see the exhaustion in his eyes. With a grimace he questioned his young companion, "You're still not sleeping, are you?" All Ziek could do was sigh and look away.

"I'm fine old man..." Sieth then answered with a sigh of his own and continued his hike down the mountain path. Sleep was the last thing Ziek wanted to do even if his head was aching and his muscles twitched. He was deep in his mind, thinking about not thinking about sleep, when he suddenly walked into a stationary Sieth staring intently into the darkness.

“You hear that...?" Sieth asked as he looked over the cliff into the deep forest. Ziek came to a halt and looked towards Sieth with a puzzled look.

"Wow, you really are getting old. You're hearing things now?"

"That's the thing..." Sieth spoke softly and walked to the side of the mountain. "There's no sound at all, not even a bird chirping. It's like the entire forest went silent at once... It's eerie." Ziek jogged over to the edge of the cliff where Sieth was now kneeling over. He knelt down beside him and looked down. Ziek's own half smile crept across his face as he slowly turned his head to Sieth. "What are you smiling about dumb-ass?"

Ziek answered his mentor with a devious look and by slowly letting himself fall off the side of the cliff.