”She looked down on the world and from her lips came a forlorn whisper; “It’s too quiet.” She turned and walked away. Upon the next solar rotation, she began the preservation of Galbarian life in all its myriad forms. When asked why, she stated, “Would you not save a child from a burning house if you could?” She then lit a fire.
The cobbled streets of Sylann were being ripped out. Workers with large brimmed hats, worn with the sun, piled high and carted off what came before. Whilst the mighty Formed moved the earth, straightening and widening the roads. Foreman barked orders and progress was an ever steady pace. A new invention by the Syllianth, called concrete (a strange mix of aggregates, water and trade-secrets), when poured wet, hardened into thick slabs of rock. Smoothed for wagon wheels and the trendy vehicles of the day. Gobbocarts and Pollytrains, they were called, all the way from the great cities in the East, Tricity at the forefront. Innovation always demanded improvements, after all.
Much was bustling in the great city of late. Grand projects were being completed at astonishing rates. A great amphitheater for the trendy plays of the day, lay down by the river north of the Atelier. The colosseum of Sylann was nearing completion east of the Atelier, one which boasted room for vast thousands, with imported sandstone from the wastes. Though it had put a considerable dent in the budgets, many were satisfied at the opportunities it would bring in. With an ever growing population, the housing market encroached upon the once plentiful fields of Sylann, which shrank day by day. Snouter representatives in the Assembly, were not thrilled with the prospects of ever smaller holdings. There continued to be reassurances of continued trade deals with distant markets and a general push for better habitational places.
Meanwhile the Atelier was ever busy with producing certified craftsmen and the growing academic body of engineering. Syllianth artisans were producing the finest ceramics, textiles, masonry and metalsmithing. Technological advances were occurring at an outstanding rate as Sylann became the beacon of civilization in the western world.
This was in part due to the ever growing College of Sylann. The Goddesses decree that all were capable of self improvement had blossomed into a renaissance of academia. Children from the lowest dregs of society were encouraged to attend school so that they might learn their letters and basic math. Continuing on to higher education, those with the time and energy to succeed are invited to attend the college for higher education. The college itself, sitting in the south of Sylann as a great castle of marbled gold, was a grand apparatus of the city state. Scribes wrote histories, mathematicians studied arithmetic, the politically inclined learned of civic duty and the war college was the busiest of all.
For Sylann as it was, could not continue without great sacrifice.
Hollis rode his brown roan through the gates of the Rosefield estate. A quant manor known for its vineyards and of course, roses. Where once had stood a grand vista of farmland, broken up by a few copses of oaks, now was being subsumed by an ever growing population. Shanty towns giving way to townhomes of fire brick. Hollis dismounted in the courtyard, his horse quickly taken by a groom after a low bow.
He was met by a master servant, a finely groomed wolf-kin. A half by the looks of his brown fur and too human posture. Hollis nodded to him.
“This way Silver Lord, they discuss in the master’s hall.” The servant said in a deep voice. He led him down a hallway with posh statues and paintings of Rosefield’s past. The walls were of a rich wood, Hollis did not know the make. If the Rosefield’s had been wealthier, it would have been made of marble, but alas.
He could hear them before he entered the room.
“...Riots in the streets!”
“We don’t know that!”
“What do you think would happen, you snout brain!”
At the last bit of drivel, the room behind the closed doors erupted into shouting. Hollis straightened his jacket as the servant opened the door. As he stepped through, the room fell silent. Before him sat a mix of assemblymen. All wearing ceremonial robes with gaudy knick knacks to make themselves standout. Rosefield stood at the head of the table, the goblin man red faced and flustered.
“Silver Lord.” he said with a curt bow. The rest followed. Hollis found his seat at the other end of the table, facing Rosefield. The dynamic of the room shifted to Hollis as goblin, beastfolk, and human eyes fell upon him.
“You have a lovely home, Assemblyman Rosefield. Thank you for the invitation.” Hollis said with a nod.
“Thank you, Silver Lord. Care for refreshments after your journey?” he motioned and a servant, a cheetah beastkin produced a platter of fine dainty foods. Being polite, Hollis took a small quiche and began to nibble at it with a fork and knife. Delectable, which was a surprise. Another servant, this one a goblin maid, poured him a goblet of dark red wine.
“Hospitality well received.” Hollis said, “My compliments to your chef.” He took a sip of the wine, too sweet for his liking. “Delightful.” he lied. The others nodded. Hollis gestured broadly, “Please do continue, don’t stop on my account.” The cue to continue.
Rosefield cleared his throat, “Of course, Silver Lord. We were merely discussing the trade tariffs at Arbor. They keep raising prices, some feel inclined to think it might be a bit of a brewing situation.”
“Is that right?” Hollis asked.
The goblin man’s eyes shifted uncomfortably. “A vast portion of our economy resided with trade. Our growing population means more demand for food stuffs and as our farming land shrinks, we have to import more. Neighboring kingdoms keep raising prices ad infinitum. It’s a cycle, Silver Lord.” Many heads nodded at this.
“And what are the current proposals in the Assembly?”
Assemblyman Niter, a fullblood crocodilian beastkin, spoke with a raspy voice, “That we raise our own tariffs in retaliation. Or that we begin enacting tighter immigration laws. Many in the Assembly have never had an empty belly, Silver Lord. They do not understand how the people would react to a trade war.” Niter’s eyes glistened, but yellow slits in the well lit room.
“Fairwater’s cohorts?” Hollis sipped.
“Assemblyman Fairwater and his band of merry fellows, believe the safest approach is to do nothing.” Rosefield snapped, before adding, “Silver Lord.”
Hollis rapped his fingers on the table thoughtfully. “What if I told you that the dear assemblyman is a compromised agent of Thysia?”
“What?” Rosefield began to rise, eyes going wide.
“He was found with incriminating papers, encoded with specific phrases that detailed Sylann secrets. Easily cracked by those with a keen eye.” Hollis sighed, “Sylia herself took him for questioning.”
“You’re… You’re sure?” One of them asked.
“I am not in the business of questioning my God, neither should you be.” he said in a low voice.
“Of course. Apologies, Silver Lord.”
“What does this mean exactly?” Rosefield asked in an excited tone.
“It means, dear assemblyman, your plans may commence with the majority.”
“Thysia…?”
Hollis shook his head. “We leave it for now.” he stood up and the rest followed suit. “A general… Expansion to alleviate the burdens of a growing society. A keener eye will see what must be done. It will be in the best interests of Sylann if such a proclamation should pass.” he began to pat his coat in a frivolous display. “I have other appointments to attend, thank you for your hospitality, Rosefield, Assemblyman.” He nodded and strode out.
The silence was evident.
A week later, troops marched into the town of Fann.
A little update from Sylann.
Sylann is now a bustling hub of civilization in the western hemisphere of Galbar.
Sylann boasts a wide variety of cultures and peoples, with different sections of the city predominantly said cultures and themes. All adhere to the overarching theme of growing imperialism.
The Assembly is the ruling body of Sylann and make laws with majority. Numerous other titles exist in the city, one being the distinction of SIlver Lord, or one who is of high honor, holdings, or Sylia appointed.
The Coliseum will soon be host to gladiatorial bouts and other coliseum things.
The College of Sylann has many branches of study but noticeably lacks any sort of magical school.
DRIVE FOUND... LINK RE-ESTABLISHED... >_uploading_ UPLOAD COMPLETE PROJECT V 001 ACTUALIZED... INITIATE>[Y/N]
>Y
V 001 COMING ONLINE
The darkness was comforting, enveloping; kind. It took away all pain and sensation. All dreams and nightmares, hopes and despairs. There was no need to fight. To kill. To see others die. The darkness was inevitable peace. And end to all things.
Then there came a light. Like lightning it was but brief illumination to the grayscape of despondent wanderers. It flashed again and this time it wasn’t light but water. Water. Crushing, hating, drowning water. Blacker than the darkness, fouler than any peace. It gave life but took it back greedily. A mistake. It had been a mistake!
The water washed over everything. Took in its malignant currents all that could not find purchase of their beloved darkness. It swallowed hungrily into its inky depths. It was not comforting, it was cruel. It brought back sensation. It brought back pain. It wanted a fight. A fight for survival. But it was too good a killer and metal… Metal sank.
A flash of memory. Of drowning. Of giving up. It was hopeless. Take the pain, take the sensation. Don’t give it back!
The walls burned. The beasts came with their sharp teeth and too many eyes. Blood melted from their bones into grotesque abominations. They wouldn’t die, they wouldn’t stay dead! Bones burst into killing tools. The hacking brought only gore, only viscera. It flowed from the walls and down into the city until an ocean of bubbling blood remained, spawning more and more and more. They were butchered over and over and over until the blood rose and swarmed into the open mouth of the sinner damned.
Words bubbled forth, over and over in sick cacophony. “Allianthé forgive me. Allianthé forgive me. Allianthé forgive me. Allianthé forgive me. Allianthé forgive me. Allianthé forgive me. Allianthé forgive me. Allianthé forgive me. Allianthé forgive me.”
They were answered by a simple reply.
”Never.”
Drowning. Drowning. Drowning.
It was deserved.
A silver hand broke through the churning blood. It grabbed the damned one and pulled. Oh it pulled. Up, up, up into blinding light. Into forgiveness.
A sweet voice called, “Vaesna.”
And she became.
The blood of her sins evaporated. She was not on the great white walls, nor was she drowning. It was as if a fog had been lifted from her vision and now she could see clearly and what she saw she could not comprehend.
Bodies.
They lay strewn and ripped apart. Black liquid pooled under steel limbs. Silent empty faces looked out upon oblivion. A light flickered in the far hallway, revealing long gashes in the silver walls. Vaesna felt her head begin to spin. It was only then did she feel the touch upon her shoulders.
“Focus.” The voice said. A voice she knew from a dream?
Vaesna looked up and saw that her Goddess was before her. Instantly a sense of calm washed over her.
“Goddess.” She breathed, before her mind caught the oddness of her voice. It sounded wrong in her ears. “My voice…” She pawed at her throat.
“Do not concern yourself with what was.” Her god said, face devoid of emotion. “You are returned to me.” Sylia spun Vaesna and began to walk. Vaesna saw that they were in a dark room full of large glass cylinders. A dark liquid was within. As they walked through them, lights began to flicker to life, illuminating each cylinder.
An audible gasp escaped Vaesna as she saw what was within- demons.
“They are dead.” Sylia said, letting go of her to walk ahead, hands behind her back. Sylia’s long hair moved as if it had a mind of its own. Silver on silver, it was almost an impossibility yet there she was. But what she said was true. Upon a closer inspection, Vaesna saw that the creature within was quite dead. Floating in a milky liquid, it looked horrific.
“You have been… Away for a long while.” The goddess said, as Vaesna caught up to her. They walked until they came to a large dark wall.
“Away?” she asked in that grating voice of hers.
Sylia did not respond, instead she said, “Much has changed and continues to change. You are needed now more than ever. I need proven heroes.”
“I’m not a hero…” She said in a quiet voice. Her memories were as foggy as ever. And… The hallway…
“Did I hurt anyone?”
“Merely drones. It was to be expected.” Sylia said matter of factly.
“Expected? What do you mean, Goddess?”
Sylia came to a stop before the wall and looked at it. Curiosity took hold of Vaesna and as she walked up once more she felt her breath escape her. It wasn’t a dark wall but a window, somehow, that overlooked the vast orb below. Rich yellows and tans, oceans of sand surrounding what she knew to be the origin. She could see the trees… Trees?
Then she saw something she did not know. A reflection. She turned to see the mysterious stranger but no one was there. She turned back and what peered back, she realized, was herself.
“What…” She said with no mouth. She had no eyes. No face. An pearlescent oval in the shape of a head, a too narrow head, stared back. A laurel of golden leaves was her hair.
How could she see? How could she talk? She brought up her shaking hands and they were not the familiar green but a dark shimmering silver, ornate with gold and like terrible claws. She took a step back and saw that her entire body was much the same, in a shape not remotely Syllianth. She looked down and she had no feet but sharpened points. How had she not heard the sound they would have made?
“What have you…” Vaesna looked at Sylia, who still looked outside. She felt her anger bubble, “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME? WHERE IS MY BODY?”
Sylia turned to face her.
“You were declared deceased, a victim of drowning. Your original body lies buried in Sylann. You’ve been dead, Vaesna, you required a new body.” The kindness in Sylia’s voice had fled, now replaced with cold indifference.
“I… died…” As soon as the words left her, Vaesna felt the memory slam into her. She had gotten drunk. She had gone to see… Althea. She couldn’t take the loneliness anymore, the constant nightmares. So she walked into the river and did not emerge. Vaesna crumpled to the floor and began to sob. Except, it was just the sound of it. She had no tears.
“Adjustment to your new reality will take time.” Sylia said.
“Why?” Vaesna asked in a small voice.
“Why?” Sylia repeated. “I already gave you the answer. I require tested commanders for the Wars to come. Your history made you a superb candidate.”
“Do you know why I… I killed myself?” she asked the goddess.
“You were incapable of dealing with your trauma. You sought to alleviate your symptoms through inebriation. When that ultimately failed, you sought a way out and succeeded.”
The words cut straight to the core. She was right, yet Vaesna could not help but feel angry.
“If you knew, why didn’t you help me?”
“I was eradicating the world of further horrors, so that no person would have to go through what you did. Even if I had, would you have accepted help?”
“Yes.”
The goddess did not answer for a time. When she did, her words were softer, “I will help you, now.”
“How does one grieve their own death?” Vaesna asked.
“Let us find out together.” Sylia said and extended her hand.
The Watcher took it.
PROJECT V 001
>run sub-command DISSOLUTION…
INITIALIZING… >_Constructing sub-command_ CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE… REBOOT? [Y/N]
>Y
An old soul returns from the dead in a new form. Sylia decides to help?
10MP -3 To Revive Vaesna, once a Syllianth who drowned herself to end the pain, now reborn in the body of a Watcher, an ancient Sylian creation. -1 To create the Watcher body -1 To make Vaesna a hero.
“This does not feel right.” Nikan confessed to Moss. The two stood at the edge of the lake. A shimmering tower of light emanated from the middle. Something was out there in the deep. Moss noticed that the light banished all dark from the water. Like a cerulean sea in intense light. She saw the life within, in its myriad of forms. Yet, were those fish dancing? Or was it their shadows? She rubbed her eyes and saw no more.
“It feels… Warm.” Moss said, outstretching her hands. “Inviting even. What makes you feel the opposite?”
“You mistake me. I feel the same. It's because of the strangeness here that I think it's wrong.” he crouched. “I have never seen anything quite like this. No doubt even the elders would be surprised…” He trailed off in thought.
“I feel as if it calls to me.” Moss said, dazed by the light.
She felt a hand fall upon her shoulder. Gentle but firm. She looked up at Nikan, who eyes were not upon her.
“How well can you swim?”
“I grew up underground.”
“And…?”
“I… Can’t swim. Not well at least.” Moss sighed as the water rippled.
“I fear what’s out there.” Nikan confided, “But if what you said is true, about your ordeal with the others, then I should be quick and then we must be off.” he let go of her shoulder. Moss took a step before him and crossed her arms.
“It feels wrong to you but you want to go see what it is?”
Nikan shrugged. “It calls to me too. The water… How can I describe it to someone who does not flow with it as I? Go and see I shall and when I return, we must leave.”
“But where are we going to go?” Moss asked.
“A question for when I return.” And Nikan side-stepped her and dove into the water. Moss swung just in time to see that the water… Had it risen to meet him?
“Strangers and their ways.” She grumbled and plopped on the beach.
Zafrina startled awake. She looked around, expecting to be cold, wet and surrounded by demons. Had it all been a dream? A nightmare? She sat up but found it difficult. Her head was pounding, her mouth was dry and she felt weak. She leaned to the left, pressing weight upon… Pain blossomed like a lightning bolt up her arm and she fell over with a grunt. She found her eyes watering as someone was helping her back up.
“Zafrina? Are you well?” the all too familiar voice asked. Zafrina looked back to see that Teefee had grabbed her and was pulling her back up.
Zafrina opened her mouth to speak but no words formed. Instead she pulled her arm free of Teefee and whipped off the blanket that covered her. What she saw puzzled her.
Teefee said something but she didn’t hear it. Instead she stared and stared at her left arm. It only began to click when she moved it. How she felt what was there but wasn’t. She began to shake her head in disbelief as she brought up her arm. It had been cut off at the elbow.
“No.” She said defiantly.
Teefee said her name but it was muffled. Her own mind had begun to spin. She moved the stump back and forth, feeling it still but not fully comprehending.
“No. No.” she tried to stand up but Teefee cried out with alarm as Zafrina lost her balance and began to fall. Teefee caught her and began to speak but still, Zafrina could not comprehend. Teefee began to yell something else as Zafrina pushed her off, or at least tried too. When did the cat girl get so strong?
“No no no no no no!” she began to say, over and over. Struggling in Teefee’s grip. She needed to… She needed to… She needed her arm back. She needed to get up. She needed to-
“Zafrina!” Rahdayo’s voice cut through the fog of her mind like a knife.
Her brother, looking far worse than she felt, planted himself before her on his knees. Teefee let go and Zafrina fell forward and into his arms. She didn’t want to cry. She was stronger than that. She was…
“W-Why am I alive?” She cried, breaking down in her brother’s arms.
Nikan emerged from the now murky waters. Moss had begun pacing back and forth when the light had faded and with it, the warmth and color she had been enraptured by. As Nikan stood tall, Moss noted that he carried something strange with him. . He held out it to Moss and she inspected it. Within his hands lay a beautifully crafted… Something. At one end it had a grip like a mug of ale, smoothed pale white. The other end was narrow but thick, engraved with small runes. In the center, roughly where a finger might go, was a bent crescent moon type shape with a guard around it. What truly caught her breath was the intricate details and runic work across the base and shaft. The entire thing was a pearlescent white, almost taking the form of a rose. It took her back to when she was small and her grandpap had shown her…
Moss took the thing in her hand and startled as it took shape to her grip. She held it, a warmth blossoming up her arm and into her chest. It wanted to be used. It wanted to be put to work. How she knew, Moss couldn’t figure but the guess of it was right in her hand. She aimed at a tree with quick precision and wrapped her pointer finger around the cold metal crescent moon. It would give with a little- A burst of bright light illuminated the dark sky and then an explosion rocketed forth from her hand, the recoil making her hand jolt back. It dropped from her hand and Moss felt instantly an embarrassed fool.
She picked up the thing and brushed off the loose sand. Sheepishly, she turned to Nikan but the tall man had wide eyes on where Moss had fired. Where she had shot, now only splinters remained. The tree, and several behind it, had been blown to bits. Cinders remained and burning coals. Moss looked at that and then back to the thing that had caused it.
“Boomstick…” She said, flabbergasted.
“I have changed my mind.” Nikan said after a time, never taking his eyes off the destruction. “We make for my village.” he began to walk off and Moss, too stunned to speak at first, followed after him.
Eventually she said, “But your people?”
“They will be made to understand.” And that was all that was said before they reached a very startled camp.
Teefee didn’t know much about boomsticks, only that Teefee wanted one. Ever since Teefee's mistress came back, toting that new shiny, Teefee felt as Teefee once did when big sis Shah had been given a new shiny necklace. It was the most beautiful thing Teefee had ever seen and the worst part was, it wasn’t Teefee’s. Oh Teefee had eventually gotten it, after big sis Shah ‘misplaced it’ but by then, Teefee had found it didn’t shine like it had before. A part of Teefee knew Teefee had to be better. That Teefee shouldn’t take what wasn’t hers. That the great allure of the chase was over once the chased was caught. Yet try as Teefee might, there were just some impulses that couldn’t be shaken. Easily. Maybe at all.
So Teefee tried Teefee’s best. And it was hard.
Days turned to nights and then days again. They traveled through the woods on paths only the shiny man knew and through water that only the shiny man loved. Their goblin buggy was slow on such paths but it beat walking. And Teefee was ever dutiful, Teefee had to be. Rahdayo was weak of body and fragile of mind, even if he tried to hide it with smiles and gentle words. It tugged at Teefee’s heart but Teefee had never been good with words that could mend the deep hurt. The hurt one could not see. So Teefee did what Teefee could for Teefee’s lover. Yes. Lover. How had Teefee ever been in doubt? Teefee remembered the times Teefee thought Teefee would travel in big sis Shah’s footsteps. Get matched. Get sold. Have a large family. What Teefee could never admit to the others, was that Teefee couldn’t actually go home. Not after what Teefee did. So Teefee was free to find Teefee’s own way. And that was the sad eyed boy Teefee sat next to. He had protected Teefee in Teefee’s cowardice. Teefee would now return the favor.
As for Zafrina, who slept, Teefee had been kinder to that one. Zafrina hardly spoke, was worse of body and worse of mind and not even the mistress could get the goat girl to interact for very long. Teefee remembered Teefee’s uncle Pah and how he had lost his tail fighting a great werewrym. Uncle Pah was never quite the same after that. Lost his balance. Teefee began to stroke Teefee's own tail. Hopefully Zafrina would be alright. Zafrina was family, even if the stubborn girl wouldn’t admit it. She’d definitely have to if Rah wed Teefee.
Teefee began to fidget with Teefee’s tail. Teefee’s mind wandered back to the shiny boomstick. Mistress had begun calling it the Rose. Even though it barely looked like a rose. Teefee didn’t know why, Teefee just wanted it. Oh, Teefee had gotten to hold it once, under mistresses’ strict supervision. It hadn’t helped Teefee not want it.
“Mistresssssssss,” Teefee called up to the front.
“What is it Teefee?” Moss sighed.
“Are we there yet?”
“No.”
“Well when will the shiny man get us there?”
“Nikan said, we will arrive when we arrive. You know this. Asking me the same question throughout the day won’t get us any closer, Teefee.” “Teefee knowssss.” Teefee sighed.
“Then why do you keep asking?”
“Teefee is bored.”
“Bored?” Moss said, as the buggy came to a stop. Teefee perked up until Moss shouted forward, “Nikan, hold up a moment! I need to do something.” Teefee began to slink down where Teefee sat as Moss got out of the buggy.
“Come here Teefee.”
“Mistress…?” Teefee mewled, ears flattening.
“Now!” there was an edge to the mistresses’ voice, one Teefee knew better to act against. So Teefee got out. They had stopped in a small clearing under pine trees. The air was crisp and the chorus of life was beating bright.
Teefee looked back at the buggy, to see that Rahdayo was peering out. He had a wane smile on his lips as he watched Teefee. Teefee felt Teefee blush slightly, the beat of Teefee’s heart quickening in response. Teefee couldn’t help but smile at the feelings Teefee felt. But the smile faded when Teefee saw Teefee’s mistress in an all too familiar stance. Teefee felt Teefee’s blood begin to rise in anticipation.
Without warning, Moss ran at Teefee. Teefee barely had time to dance out of the way as Moss flowed with Teefee, jabbing at Teefee’s side. A hiss escaped Teefee as the pain of the blow resonated but it didn’t stop Teefee. As Moss went for another jab, Teefee inched back and struck out, deflecting the blow. Moss came again, a pattern Teefee had grown accustomed too. Teefee deflected a jab and jumped as Moss swept a leg out to trip Teefee. Teefee began to smile as the game progressed.
But then Teefee’s mistress did something unexpected. Moss tackled Teefee and the sudden weight of Moss sent Teefee to the ground. Moss landed a punch on Teefee’s jaw and the blow stunned Teefee. Teefee blinked wildly and for a moment Teefee peered up at rain. Then the tree canopy came crashing back and Teefee brought up Teefee’s arm to block Teefee’s face. Moss jabbed Teefee in the side instead and Teefee gasped.
Thinking fast, Teefee kicked up Teefee’s legs to kick off Moss but Teefee's mistress had Teefee straddled with strong thighs. Teefee began to mewl. A pathetic little noise. All Teefee could do was block the continued punches. Teefee was too weak.
“Think Teefee!” Moss snapped at her. “What does one do when they get on the ground!”
A dozen thoughts filtered into Teefee’s mind like running gazelles. Always out of reach. Teefee was overwhelmed. Teefee couldn’t run that fast. Today was different. Mistress wasn’t going easy. Mistress was hurting Teefee.
Teefee hissed with frustration.
Teefee felt the tears begin to slide down Teefee’s face. Stupid tears. They were angry tears.
They felt like rain sliding down...
Teefee froze. Teefee locked up. Teefee’s vision spun, threatening to black at the edges. Teefee was powerless. Teefee couldn’t do anything.
Teefee was a coward.
The blows stopped. Teefee couldn’t remember when. Mistress was saying something. Something Teefee didn’t hear at first.
“...what I thought.”
The pressure on Teefee went away and Moss stood over her. A look Teefee seldom saw on the mistresses’ face- Pity.
Teefee remembered seeing it before. The day Teefee got banished.
Teefee hated that look.
Moss extended her own hand. Teefee looked at it and lowered Teefee’s own hands in response. Teefee adopted a cold look, the ones Zafrina wore. Teefee got on Teefee’s own feet without help and began to walk back over to the buggy. Moss caught Teefee’s arm. Teefee yanked it free and spun to Teefee’s mistress.
“You froze.” Moss said to Teefee.
“Teefee did not.” Teefee lied through Teefee’s teeth.
“Don’t lie Teefee. You became overwhelmed and locked up. I-”
Teefee cut Moss off with a wave of Teefee’s hand, “Mistress thinks she knows everything. Mistress doesn’t know everything!” Teefee began to stalk off again.
“Don’t go off pouting, Teefee. Sometimes the hardest lessons are the ones we don’t want. Come back here and let me help you.”
“No.” Teefee said.
“If you walk off now Teefee, you will be the coward you think you are.” Moss said in a quiet voice.
Teefee froze. The words cut Teefee deeper than any claw could. And coming from the mistress no less? Was Moss right? A violence coursed through Teefee at the thought. In that moment, Teefee hated the mistress. But Teefee spun around anyways and stalked back over to the goblin.
“Teefee hates you.”
If Moss had been hurt by Teefee’s words, Moss made no show of it. Instead Moss folded her arms and smirked.
“Despite that, Teefee came back anyway.”
Teefee felt Teefee’s anger deflate like a beaver pond after a good rain. The type of rain that breaks the dam. Teefee wanted to hate Moss but Teefee couldn’t find it in Teefee. Oh, Teefee was upset at the mistress, that was true. And Teefee would be for a long time. Probably. But Moss was smart and Teefee…
Teefee felt a wave of exhaustion wash over Teefee and Teefee slumped forward. The mistress caught Teefee and they settled to the ground where Teefee shut Teefee’s eyes for a bit. There was silence in that clearing before Teefee whispered, “Do you think Teefee is a coward?”
“No. I think Teefee is just afraid.” Moss began to run one of her hands through Teefee’s hair. Teefee did not object. “Forgive your mistress for being rash, Teefee. For being needlessly cruel. She is tired and grumpy and should not have taken it out on Teefee. I won’t do it again.”
Teefee said nothing but let the words alleviate some of the hurt Teefee felt. The mistress was good at heart but they all snapped from time to time. Did that make it right to hurt others? Teefee thought not but maybe Teefee would let it slide. Mistress had never hurt Teefee before, maybe it was just an accident? Maybe Teefee deserved it. Besides, the mistress rarely stroked Teefee’s head, why ruin a good thing?
“I think there’s a way to boost your confidence in yourself, Teefee. A way we can prevent you from locking up if we ever get into a battle again. You might still but it could be a start in the right direction. You’ll have to start training with me again and much harder at that. No more shirking if I’m to give you Rose.” Moss said thoughtfully.
Teefee’s head snapped up, eyes wide. “Mistress?” Teefee asked, befuddled.
“I’m too old to learn a new tool. Rahdayo and Zafrina are too weak right now and Nikan is…” she leaned in and whispered, “Not one of us.”
Teefee felt Teefee begin to shake with excitement. A deep contented purr welled up in Teefee’s chest and Teefee couldn’t contain what Teefee felt any longer. So Teefee began to rub Teefee's face against the Mistress in rapt joy.
Maybe a little beat down was good from time to time.
Moss and Nikan find a mysterious artifact. Zafrina wakes up. Teefee gets a slight beating.
Mysterious Might Pool
Start ???
-3mp to create the artifact, the Rose. A runic pistol that shoots exploding beams of light. Beautiful like a rose but deadly as its thorns.
”It was not in her nature to be anything but divine, yet, I saw what the others could not. Paranoia.”
The warm day sent Nefe into a contentable lull. Nefe lounged strung out across Nefe’s favorite rock that overlooked the farm pond. Behind Nefe and down the hill sat the house. Father Nedjem was out tending to the livestock, no doubt with Nefe’s brother’s in tow. Mother Aziza had to be about baking bread with Nefe’s little sister’s and the younger kitten’s who couldn’t do much. Nefe had already completed Nefe’s own chores and now Nefe got to sunbathe. A favorite pastime in the panthera lands.
All had been going well until she heard a voice and her ears prickled.
“Tsk tsk tsk Nefe sister. Again with the lounging? What will our parents think?”
Nefe blinked an eye open and saw Tum with arms crossed and a smirk. It was like looking at Nefe but Tum was a boy, it was in Tum’s build. The way Nefe’s twin carried himself. Orange fur, striped with white. Tum’s green eyes, but slits in the sunlight, flashed with trouble.
“Why isn’t Tum helping father?” Nefe asked, not deigning to move. She shut her eyes too, it wasn’t worth looking at Tum. This Nefe knew.
“Tum did help father. We finished not long ago. Even had the noon meal. Mother wants to see Nefe.” Tum said. Nefe could tell Tum was holding back a smile. Mother would yank Nefe’s ear again and Tum wanted to watch. But why? Nefe had done no wrong. So Nefe questioned. Nefe hadn’t really lost track of so much time surely?
“Nefe finished her chores this morning. Mother does not wish to see Nefe. Do not lie Tum. Or Tum’s tongue will get the soap.” she chided.
“Nefe does not know what mother needs because Nefe was not at the noon meal. Mother sent Tum to fetch you. Come along now sister. Nefe must be hungry at least?”
Nefe’s eyes snapped open and Nefe rotated her body so Nefe was eye to eye with Tum on Nefe’s rock. Tum had Tum’s arms crossed. No more smiling. Was it serious or was it another trick so Tum could get the basking rock? Nefe narrowed her eyes.
“Go tell mother Aziza that Nefe will come along right after a nap.” Nefe said before licking her arm.
Tum opened his mouth as if to argue further but Tum must have thought better of it. Good. Nefe was older after all. And one could not forget to respect their betters.
“Suit yourself Nefe sister. Tum will go tell mother, then it will be soap in your mouth for not coming along when summoned.” Tum cast a wicked smile, turned and left.
Nefe watched him go and then settled back down on Nefe’s rock. Nefe would deal with any punishments later. For now Nefe yawned, stretched and got comfortable. It was time for a good cat nap.
Nefe felt a bolt of dread flood Nefe as Nefe shot awake. Nefe rubbed at Nefe’s eyes, still believing Nefe was asleep. But no- it had become nighttime. How long had Nefe slept? Why had no one come to wake Nefe? Mother would be mad as a march hare with Nefe. That sent Nefe to climb down the basking rock. Its warmth had faded. Just like…
For the first time, Nefe noticed the sounds of night were absent. No chirping insects or the rustle of foliage as something moved past, nor were the summer croakers challenging one another with their boisterous croaks. Suddenly the emptiness around Nefe felt overwhelming. Nefe couldn’t see the house from where she stood. Nefe would be able to and have a sense of normalcy if Nefe could just see it. It wasn’t far, Nefe would be able to see at the lip of the hill.
So Nefe began to walk as the hairs of Nefe’s body stood straight up and Nefe’s ears were on full alert. Scanning for any noise but the eerie quiet remained.
Something caught Nefe’s eye though. At first Nefe thought it was a large bird, black across the night sky, soaring past. But as Nefe really looked did Nefe realize it was no such bird. For starter’s it was too large, too strangely shaped and it was coming right for Nefe. Nefe began to run as instincts took over. Find cover. There was no cover, save home. Nefe neared the lip of the hill and saw that the lights were on inside. Relief washed over Nefe, followed by dread as she looked up and saw…
A bright beam of light enveloped Nefe and Nefe knew no more.
Nefe awoke to a blinding white light and a terrible noise. Like metal scraping against metal but worse. Nefe blinked at the pain of the lights as Nefe’s head throbbed. Nefe tried to move but couldn’t and as Nefe’s eyes adjusted to the light, Nefe could see that Nefe’s arms and feet were bound to a table with cold metal. Nefe saw that Nefe was in some sort of room. White walls, or was that silver? A glaring light overhead made Nefe wince as Nefe looked up at it. Nefe then squirmed but it was no use. A sense of terror washed over Nefe and Nefe suddenly felt very small. Then a door snapped open before Nefe and Nefe was met with a long hallway. Nefe then lurched forward. Or what Nefe was trapped on lurched forward and it was only then did Nefe notice what was moving Nefe.
If terror had Nefe’s heart, then horror took Nefe’s soul.
A being with no face stared down at Nefe. Polished metal reflected Nefe’s own warped face back at her. Nefe shut her eyes tight and began to pray to all the gods.
“1̸̡̛̣̩̺̖̝͓̗̎͆̓͆͜0̷̯͆̽͑̐̃̂͂̇͝0̵̨̠̬̠̩̫͍́̋̌̄0̸̨̲͙̖͖̣̖̩̮͌̆͂͘͝͠1̸̛̟̥͔̠̟̭͈̌̄0̸͇̫̟̥̔̉̿̍͂̏̚͝0̵̻͙̟͓̈́̑̉̂̓̏̑̕͘͝0̶̼̟͔̹̪͈͌̓1̶͚̬̜͔̓͌̎͂͑̓́̕̚.” It said and Nefe gritted her teeth at the sound.
"N-Nefe d-doesn't..." she tried to whimper but couldn't.
“0̸͇̫̟̥̔̉̿̍͂̏̚͝0̵̻͙̟͓̈́̑̉̂̓̏̑̕͘͝0̶̼̟͔̹̪͈͌̓1̶͚̬̜͔̓͌̎͂͑̓́̕̚.” It said again as they neared closer to the end of the hallway where a door waited.
Footsteps sounded.
Nefe began to cry as another spoke and then the first and it was as if their voices were drilling into Nefe’s very skull. It was too much.
Nefe had come to a stop. Nefe opened her eyes and this time, a face looked back at Nefe.
Silver swirling eyes peered into Nefe’s. A woman’s face, silver upon silver, meshing, flowing, forming shape. Beautiful but terrible. Something that wasn’t born, this Nefe knew. Nefe felt strangely calm as the silver one looked at Nefe. Maybe this was Nefe’s hope? A prayer answered?
“H-Help Nefe. P-Please h-help Nefe.” Nefe pleaded in a small voice. Nefe did not like how she sounded. Nefe wasn’t weak like Tum. At the thought of her twin, Nefe almost choked out a cry. When the woman didn’t answer and instead had begun to poke and prod Nefe with her finger’s did Nefe feel that calm begin to flow away.
Nefe began to shake instead at the cold touch. Nefe felt herself begin to unravel as the touching stopped and the woman moved out of Nefe’s eyesight. Nefe strained to get a look but felt something cold snap over her forehead, restricting Nefe’s movement. Nefe began to breathe fast as panic seeped in. All Nefe managed to make out was the room Nefe was in had a very distant ceiling. The air was cold and there was a lack of any smell, something Nefe hadn’t picked up on before. It only made Nefe feel worse. A wrongness Nefe could not describe.
“N-Nefe will be g-good. Nefe p-promises!” Nefe began to say. “Nefe will listen to m-mother! Nefe will do what mother asks! P-Please h-help Nefe! Please!” she cried as fresh tears fell down Tefe’s face. Tefe tasted the salt as a few found Tefe’s mouth.
The woman returned and cocked her head as she looked upon Nefe. The woman blinked a few times and then reached out towards Nefe. Instinctively, Nefe began to thrash and fight. Nefe would resist! Nefe wouldn’t let this happen! The woman’s hand went for Nefe’s face in what seemed like slow motion. Nefe hissed and snapped Nefe’s teeth but it didn’t work and Nefe shut Nefe’s eyes tight. Defiant until the end. Nefe felt a touch across the corner of Nefe’s eye. Then the pressure subsided.
When Nefe opened her eyes, she saw that the woman had one of Nefe’s tears on the point of her finger. The woman looked at it and then spoke, “Do not cry. Tears are useless in the wars to come.” The woman looked to the side of Nefe and Nefe hissed as that terrible voice from before spoke.
“Acknowledged.” The woman spoke, her voice now cold and unemotional. “Pantherasapien. Female. Eighteen years.” Nefe shied away as the woman walked around her with an ever present gaze.
“Essence negative. Specimen lacks noticeable aberrations in makeup. Parameter requirements met for experimental group. Slate for immediate apparatus induction.”
“Affirmative. Correlation unknown. Further testing required.” The woman came to a stop before her. Nefe did not know what the conversation had been about, such words were lost on Nefe, after all. But Nefe could not shake that something terrible was about to befall Nefe. So Nefe couldn’t stop the tears from flowing once more.
Nefe began to be moved again.
Nefe begged. Nefe cried. Nefe pleaded.
The woman smiled forcefully, it didn’t look quite right, and then said, “You are broken but it isn’t your fault. You are not to blame for how you are. I’ll fix you and you’ll be better for it, Nefe, Aziza’s daughter. Your organic components are but fuel for the enemy, after all. And they can’t have fuel any longer.”
“Have you ever looked at something… something that makes you pause?” Rahdayo murmured as he cradled his sister’s head. He had Zafrina clutched close to his chest, blood stained bandage pressed tight to her stump of an arm. The world was in constant motion around him, a green blur to his eyes. He had to blink every time he lifted his head to look out. How they raced like a demi-god of old.
Zafrina didn’t answer but that was alright. She could hear him. “I once stared out at the mountains back home on a morning like any other, you know? Da was chopping wood. Ma was…” he trailed off as they hit a bump in the road. He could hear Moss and Teefee talking, saying something, but what? He didn’t know. He cared but not enough to look at them. What would they see if they saw him?
He began talking to his sister again, shoving the thought aside. “And I saw nothing out of the ordinary but I felt so strange. I looked at my hands, back at the scenery, back to my hands. They were shaking. I couldn’t quite grasp it but I knew, deep down, something was wrong.” he felt a smile form on his dry lips despite it all. Leaning forward, he rested his cheek upon Zafrina’s warm head. “I came to realize that what was different had nothing to do with what I saw but with how I saw myself.” he sighed. “It was a moment of stark realization. Have you ever had that sister? Ever asked yourself why you were alive? Why you got to breathe mountain air? How you can flex your hand? How you can walk and talk?” He felt something wet slide down his cheek, his voice growing small. “I didn’t feel real at that moment. Like everything had been a lie. How could I deserve any of it? How could I live when… That was the day after… She died.”
He did not like to think about that day. Her face flashed before his eyes. Golden locks and small horns. A blue dress blowing in the wind. A raging river from spring melt. A dare. Cold, cold water and a warm smile despite it all. He did not deserve that smile. But Rahdayo found that, like a snake, it slithered its way into his mind when he least expected it. Those thoughts and memories. Zafrina didn’t know how it still poisoned him. Worse than when their parents… He shut his eyes tight, trying to banish the thoughts. Yet it was no use. He had failed again. He had failed to protect someone he loved. He swore he wouldn’t. He swore! He had done nothing as he had held Teefee. He had smiled, reassuringly, even when he was breaking like glass inside.
“I’m drowning again.” he cried but the world kept moving.
Nikan plunged his spear into the water with precision. He had been waiting an age for such a chance. He brought the spear up from the churning current and frowned. There was no fish on the tip. He muttered a curse under his breath and tossed the spear to the side. He stared at the water rushing past his legs, then fell face first into it. He was content to let the flow take him wherever it pleased. He didn’t care. The water was his friend after all.
He let out a sigh all the same, bubbles rising from his mouth. The old ways were difficult and he couldn't grasp how his father and his father before him had managed to spear any fish. Perhaps they knew a secret he did not? He should have asked. He floated up and turned so that he faced the sky. He took a deep breath as he rounded a curve in the river. The water was cool and the sunlight warm. Nowadays, there were better ways to catch fish. So he let his frustrations wash away. There was no point in being upset when the water called him home.
He drifted to sleep.
It was only later he awoke to shouting.
“...Leave it alone!”
“But Mistressssss, Teefee sees him breathing.”
“Teefee by the love of the gods, come over here now! We have more pressing issues. We can’t deal with a dead man washed to shore.”
Dead?
Nikan sat up.
He both heard someone yelp and another curse.
He looked out at the river, it seemed it deposited him on a nice sandy beach but the lengthening shadows of the day had obscured the sunlight. He spun to see a short green thing and a tall white haired woman looking at him, not a boulder throw away. They looked haggard with worn clothes stained dark. The short green thing took out a knife and pointed it at him. She had the air of a hunter.
Nikan cocked his head and stood up. He towered over the squat green thing and even the white haired woman from where he stood. Oh, she had strange ears. The green woman took a step to stand in between him and her. Not a hunter then, a warrior.
Nikan raised his hands up, and said, “I mean no harm.”
The green woman narrowed her eyes at him. “If you truly mean no harm, then let us depart separate ways.”
Nikan lowered his hands and gave a nod. “Of course. But for curiosity's sake, might I ask your purpose here? It is not every day I find strange people by the river side.”
“We could say the same.” The short woman said, eyes sharp but wary. “But so be it. We are simply travelers taking rest for the night. We won’t linger here long tomorrow before we go on our way.”
“The road has been difficult, I see.” The woman gave no reply as he stroked his chin. The taller woman looked nervous, flighty like a bird.
After a time the short woman said, “We must be going now. Farewell.” And spun to leave. The white haired woman looked after her as she left, then back at Nikan.
“Come on.” The short woman said, glancing back at the girl. Nikan watched as she took a step after her but then paused. She looked him in the eye and said, “Teefee wonders if you are a healer?”
The short woman spun fully, face aghast but surprisingly, she made no outcry.
There was pleading in the white haired girl’s eyes, her expression one of sincerity. Still, the way she spoke of this Teefee? Was it the short woman, her mistress?
“I know some remedies. Is this Teefee hurt?” he asked.
The girl shook her head. “Teefee is fine. Teefee’s friends are hurt. They need help. Help Teefee cannot provide.” Her words were sorrowful, her strange accent reminiscent of a song. Nikan found himself intrigued. He had not expected to find himself in such a strange situation but who was he to go against the river’s flow?
“Show me Teefee’s friends and I will do what I can. I swear upon the river that I shall bring you or your traveling companions no ill will.” She looked back at the short woman, who looked at Nikan with a raised brow. He could tell she thought it was a bad idea. He did not blame her but if there was a chance he could help those she cared about, well…
She nodded.
Pain. Dull, throbbing, pain. She opened her eyes to blinding light and aches. She couldn’t help it, she couldn’t keep it in, so she screamed. But it didn’t come out like a scream, it came out like a dry wheeze. So thirsty. Her eyes fluttered between light and dark, as voices drifted into her ears.
“Zafrina? Zafrina?”
“Breathe, just breathe.”
“It’s going to be alright, just focus.”
“Hold her down. Don’t let her hurt herself.”
The wheeze became a scream at last. Her eyes began to water as they focused, despite the pain. Oh gods, it was terrible.
Then she saw an angel. Or the closest thing she could imagine was an angel. He was tall and looming over her in the sunlight. But his bronzed skin… She had to blink back tears but she could swear in that moment, his skin was alive like light touching clear water. Reflecting and shimmering. It was hard to look at and then his eyes… Crystal blue. He crouched down and said but one word to her;
“Sleep.”
Teefee sat next to Rahdayo with tired eyes, yet Teefee knew Teefee could not yet sleep. Teefee’s friend? Lover? Teefee did not know. He looked as if sleep would bring no comfort. It broke something inside Teefee. Teefee did not know why. Teefee had never felt such a way before and Teefee was no stranger to such terrible things. Teefee was banished, after all.
That was the secret Teefee had not shared with anyone. Not even the mistress. And Teefee wouldn’t. Couldn’t. Not yet. Maybe never. What would big sis Shah think of Teefee? What would Teefee’s other siblings think of the cowardice that bloomed in Teefee’s heart like a jaw that trapped the paw. Teefee leaned against Rah but he made no move to wrap an arm around Teefee.
Teefee pouted but stopped herself. Teefee had to act better. This was not the time for such kitten-like behavior. Teefee was an adult. Teefee had to prove to them. All of them. Teefee could be better. Teefee would be better.
“Rah?” Teefee asked, looking at him. There were bags under his eyes as he looked at the fire. It reflected in his dark eyes.
He did not answer.
Teefee spoke anyway.
“Zafrina will be alright. Teefee knows this. Large man has helped her, like he helped you.” Teefee tilted her head, hoping for any recognition but still, it did not come. “Rah. Teefee knows you hurt. Teefee wants to help. Please let Teefee help?”
“You already are.” Rah whispered, leaning his head onto Teefee’s.
Teefee felt a bolt of warmth curl around Teefee’s heart. But Teefee wasn’t so sure Teefee was helping.
“How does Teefee help?” She asked, unsure.
“By being beside me.”
Teefee smiled as a purr blossomed within.
Moss slumped against the same tree as Nikan. The tall human was a strange man, with strange ways and the way his skin reacted to sunlight… Moss was wary of him but at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel impressed. He had helped Zafrina, cleaned the wound and put some sort of healing salve on it before bandaging it with leaves. The same for Rahdayo. At least he was conscious but she knew those eyes of his like her own. They would need to talk.
Nikan in the meantime, had asked no questions besides the nature of the wounds and how they came to be. Moss answered truthfully, even if it sounded insane. He took it all in stride. Now they settled into the dusk of approaching night. She felt uneasy but they couldn’t go any further without proper rest. It was a miracle they had even found a healing man. Moss didn’t want to think about the alternative.
For now she looked out at the makeshift camp. Teefee and Rahdayo huddled by the fire, while Zafrina slept.
“I worry about a fever.” Moss said.
Nikan, who had his eyes shut, gave a small nod. “I have done what I can for now. If a fever comes then we must hope the spirits help her to break it.”
“You can’t help if it comes to that?” Moss asked incredulously.
“There is little I can do here. Only the village shaman knows the true healing words. And we are far from her.”
“So what you’re really saying is that you don’t want to take us to your village.”
A smile graced his lips. “Perceptive of you.”
“Why?” Moss asked, crossing her arms.
“Hmmm. How would you feel if someone you knew brought strangers into your home? Even if it was for all the right reasons? You might understand, you might even help, or you might feel betrayed. How dare you bring strangers here. Some of my people would feel this way.” he confessed.
Moss sighed. “I get it. But so what? If a fever strikes her, I won’t be equipped to help her if it worsens. I can’t…” She felt her voice catch in her throat. She cleared it with a grimace, composing herself. “I’ll do anything.”
“Anything is too steep a price.” Nikan said, “But I hear your heart, Moss. It is good. I shall stay with you until we can be certain a fever comes to neither. I shall consider what action to take if the worst comes to pass. Until then, as payment, you will teach me your ways.”
Moss narrowed her eyes. “A generous offer, one I will accept gladly but pray tell, what ways are you after?”
Nikan smiled and opened his crystal blue eyes to look at her.
“Anything.”
Above them, breaking through the darkening sky like a flaming arrow, a meteor fell…
Multiple perspectives after the battle that changed their lives and we are introduced to a new character with strange origins.
Moss held the dagger in her hand tight. The rain continued to beat down in sheets that made the creek rise. Water began to slosh over her feet and she shivered from the cold. This was not how she had envisioned she would die. Certainly not with her pupils- her family, by her side. No, they were going to live far longer than she. Somewhere safe with their own families. Not where civilization never crept and children's stories turned into living nightmares. Moss prayed to any god who might have been listening. But none answered.
The demons came.
Then the bundled sword embedded itself into a charging demon. Cloth and all. The thing screamed as it died, suffusing with a terrible light as it became molten. Moss was too stunned to take a step back. That had not been how Damyl or her cousin Desmond. It was terrible. She watched as the cloth burned away into cinders and the sword ate it all up, hovering in the air as if on a phantom wind. It was a brief flash of light that lit up the world in the pouring rain. Only to be snuffed out by something far worse than any demon. That, she had always known.
It didn’t make it any less surreal.
The sword shot towards another demon, bisecting it as it spun into another, cutting its head in half like a watermelon. There was a sickening sound as the corpses hit the water with a splash. Black blood intertwined with brimming silver, leached from the corpses like paint hit with lacquer. The other demons paused, re-assessing with what little time they had. Evidently, they did not care if they died. For one struck out towards Rahdayo and Teefee, seeking to bypass Zafrina who stood guard over them. As the sword twisted in the air, cutting down the others with grisly efficiency, this lone demon sought those that could not fight back. Moss felt her feet begin to move but she could only watch as it let Zafrina swing at its arm, hacking into the flesh and leaving the limb dangling.
Moss began to shout.
Rahdayo put up his arm to ward off the attack as the demon’s claw swiped.
The sword found its mark true, embedding itself into the side of the creature, penetrating the flesh all the way up to its hilt. The beast dropped dead as the sword slipped out. The sword swirled around and cut in half another demon as it sprang at them. Moss felt a sigh of relief as she got to them. They were unharmed. They were fine. They would b-
Zafrina screamed.
Moss looked at her with wide eyes, she had dropped her sword and now clutched her left wrist. There was a cut there, beginning to flow with silver and red. The goblin cursed as she rounded Rahdayo, who was trying to stand, and Teefee who had pressed her hands over her ears. Pieter flashed before Moss’s eyes. He had been cut. His wound had been a mere scratch and yet…
And yet…
Moss cursed and pushed Zafrina to the ground. She fell to her knees, oblivious to it all as she began to spasm.
“Hold her still!” Moss screamed at Rahdayo. The boy obeyed with fear in his eyes.
Moss plucked Zafrina’s sword from the water and rose it high. “Forgive me.” She cried as she brought the blade down upon Zafrina’s upper arm.
There was a stark silence amidst the rain as the blade cut true. Zafrina’s arm fell off into the water and the dark haired girl lost consciousness. Rahdayo had to hold her up or she would have drowned. He looked at Moss with a mix of terror and anger.
Moss couldn’t think of that now. “We need to bind that wound and stop the bleeding.” She leaned down to inspect the cut, it had been right above the elbow and now just a stump. But she only saw red. Not the poison. Zafrina might end up hating her but at least she’d live. That was if they could stop the bleeding. If she lost any more blood…
Moss ripped some cloth from the lower part of her shirt. A long strip that she tied as tight as she could above the cut to staunch the flow of blood. Rahdayo ripped off half his shirt and began to hold it to her stump.
“Keep it there. Keep it there.” Moss said quickly, falling to her knees before Teefee. She grabbed the cat girl by the sides of her arms and said her name. Teefee’s eyes were shut tight and she was murmuring something to herself. Moss began to shake her, repeating her name. When she at last yelled it, Teefee’s eyes snapped open and she lowered her hands from her ears.
“Teefee! You have to be brave now, do you understand? I need you. Zafrina needs you. Rahdayo needs you.” Moss pleaded.
“Teefee-” She croaked, “Teefee isn’t brave like big sis Shah. Teefee is scared.”
“It’s okay to be scared at a time like this, sweet one. But you can’t let it control you. No more hiding now. Your family needs you.”
Teefee shut her eyes as if steadying herself.
Moss gave her a final push with, “You can be brave like big sis Shah, Teefee. I know you already are.”
Teefee opened her eyes with a look of determination. She nodded in agreement and Moss smiled at her. “We need to get out of the creek and into shelter. Can you help with that, Teefee?”
“Teefee can help. Teefee will help!” She got to her feet and went to Rahdayo, who also smiled at her. They began to drag Zafrina toward the other side of the creek. Moss looked back at the battle but found that the sword was hanging in place above its triumph. Cautiously, Moss made her approach.
The sword glowed softly, its reflective surface like a mirror. She saw herself, a version of herself that was battered and bloodied. She wanted to hate the sword. It was too perfect. Too dangerous. Yet some innate part of her could only feel awe. It had slain the demons, that was evident by the black streaks in the water. Silver-tinged, as the water rose. It was up to her calves now.
The sword seemed to hum as she stood before it. Then it began to speak.
Voices alone, conjoined, loud and soft. Male, female, deep and light. Twisted and angelic.
“Use me.”
“Caress me.”
“Wield me!”
“More, more, more.”
“No no no!”
“Whyyyyy?”
“Stop it!”
“Don’t, please don’t!”
“I hate you!”
“Love me.”
Madness. It was madness. Could a sword even go mad? Moss took a step back. This was beyond her. It was beyond any of them. Where was the voice that had helped her? Why did it not speak? Where was it? The sword’s point was suddenly right before her. Moss froze. Her reflexes hadn’t been fast enough. She was caught. Oh by the gods she was caught. Panic swelled within her.
The sword spoke again.
“Moss.” It was the woman’s voice from before. “I can’t control them.” She sounded strained, as if her focus on the conversation was an afterthought. “So many voices. So much passion. You can’t… Touch me... Bare. Do you understand? I apologize about... friend. The killing was… Is… Almost quenched. We must… Go home. To her. Fix… Control.”
Moss blinked as the blade flashed with a bright light. Before her there came a very strange thing. Her mind couldn’t comprehend it at all at first. A wooden boat that had, mysteriously, silver-like… wheels? It was a buggy! A buggy! A goblin buggy from the lands across the sea! Where goblins lived on the surface in their Tricity and held grand races. Moss felt her heart jump with excitement. A loud thunk shocked her back to her senses. The sword had fallen into the water. How would she… She noticed something white in the buggy. It was cloth.
Carefully, ever so carefully, she wrapped the sword once more and got into the driver seat of the buggy. Truth be told, she had no idea how to use it but she had a vague understanding of how. There seemed to be some strange devices at the front. A smooth bone wheel she placed her hands on. She felt her feet touch something and the buggy lurched forward, jostling her. Moss began to grin stupidly. This was going to be fun.
Yet it was not the fun of it that propelled her forward. After securing her wounded pupils in the back and the sword, Moss had taken them up and out of the creek. It was still dark and there were no roads to speak of, so it was all chance. Well, until Teefee flicked something at the front and light burst forth. After a few stern words with Teefee, Moss had told her not to touch anything anymore. She didn’t want to end up breaking something or sending them into a ravine at a sudden burst of speed. She had no idea how to use the buggy as it was, well, at least properly. She took the path of least resistance. It was a bumpy ride all the same. But at least now, they had a chance.
Moss looked back at Zafrina and Rahdayo. He had her propped up against him in the back, the young man looking sleepy. Zafrina was still unconscious. The bleeding had stopped but she looked too pale. It drove Moss to action. They had to get help. They just had to.
But would it be too late?
The sword saves them from an untimely demise but at a great cost.
Her heart was thundering as her feet carried on. She clutched the sword in her arms, now tightly bound once more. It had been a foolish, stupid mistake to leave it unwatched and now, now they paid for it. She grimaced as a dent in the earth almost made her trip. She picked up her pace once more and looked ahead. The thing about being a member of a shorter race, was that your legs didn’t carry you as far as someone who had longer appendages. As such, Teefee, Rahdayo and Zafrina had a substantial lead upon her and several humans ran in front of them. That wasn’t necessarily their fault however. Everytime they began to slow down, she shouted and cursed them to go faster. The humans never did slow, sure they staggered but the gods had blessed them, it seemed, with unnatural longevity when it came to running. But she knew why, didn’t she?
Something terrible pursued them in that dark night. Baleful howls echoed behind them, pierced time and time again with a very human scream. Moss didn’t know if it was real or not. In the confusion of the camp, people ran every which way. There had been no order, just chaos. She had said run, hadn’t she? Regret was like a bitter root that one tasted too many times in life. Knowable but never forgettable, even if you didn’t think in the moment. She was stupid, she had caused this mess and now, she had to get as many people safe as she could.
She remembered Perry's grief at the loss of Damyl and Pieter's betrayal, who's veins had begun flowing with silver. Coupled with the blood loss, there was no future for him. He and Perry had stayed behind, for Perry could not flee due to a bum knee. She would not forget his kindness. That she swore to herself as the inky black of night swallowed the trio ahead of her. Clouds had rolled in front of the Hand. She was alone and her eyes, unlike the other three, did not work well in the night. Which was ironic since she was born underground. Something screamed behind with sudden violence. She winced as it sent her ears ringing.
“Use me.” A quiet voice whispered into her ear. She jumped and spun her head around but there was no one there.
“Caress me.” The voice came again with feminine candor. Again she looked but there was no one there.
“Wield me!” This time a different voice spoke, more masculine and raging.
She fully whirled and came to a stop to listen as she gasped for breath. She slicked the sweat off her brow and moved wet strands of hair back. She knew she couldn’t speak, for fear of what it might bring. But there was no one around her, wasn’t there?
Unless…
She looked down at the blade and found her hands shaking as they gripped the cloth.
“Maseline.” The voice, a woman’s voice she had heard once before so long ago. Soft but reassuring. It came from the sword. “Duck!” The sword commanded.
Duck?
She fell out of instinct as something sharp sailed in the air just where her head had been. A rush of air followed and Moss felt her body jump into action like a well oiled lantern. With the sword still clutched in her arms, she got on her back and brought the sword up as a shield. And it was well she did, for a creature as dark as the night raked claws into the cloth. She heard a ripping sound and then the thing screamed in pain, before it abruptly turned and ran. She could hear it crashing across the land.
Moss blinked. The entire interaction had lasted no more than a few seconds. Her body and mind didn't even know how to react. Should she be afraid? Exhilarated over not being killed? The sword did not speak but she looked it over and saw that where the thing had swung at it, the cloth was torn. Black blood stained the cloth but not the blade itself. The thing was dangerous and she didn't know if she should be more afraid of it or what hunted them.
Them!
Moss scrambled to her feet, careful not to touch the blade where the cloth no longer covered it and began to run.
Zafrina clutched the handle of her short sword tightly, for if she didn’t, it would shake too much. Her hands were clammy and periodically she'd have to switch holds and wipe her hands on her tunic as they ran. She was sweating profusely by the time they came to a stop to just breathe. She gasped for breath as Rahdayo looked at her, his golden eyes now dark as night.
“Are you alright?” He asked between gasps.
She nodded her head, “Of course. And you?”
He nodded as well, then looked over to Teefee, who was stretching out her arms before touching the ground by leaning over. She barely looked winded. Rahdayo smiled before he looked back at Zafrina. He raised an eyebrow and looked lower. It seemed she had unconsciously placed a hand on her abdomen. She withdrew it and walked past him. That would not be a topic of discussion right now.
“Teefee.” She said in a hushed whisper. The cat girl glanced at her with large pupils, she was sitting on the ground, legs straight before her. She had her arms touching her toes. Teefee's white hair caught a beam of the Hand's light, flaring with brightness before it faded to Grey by an obscuring cloud. The cat's ears twitched with what seemed to be impatience. “You seem to be faring well.”
Teefee flashed a grin. “Teefee's siblings would play tag for days across the plains. Teefee would never get caught.” She seemed to say with an air of pride. Zafrina just frowned. This was the girl Rahdayo was having relations with?
She turned back to her brother, who was staring off into the dark from which they came. Zafrina cocked her ear to listen for sounds. They had found themselves in a low dip in the land, either side surrounded by trees. Like great silent watchers. Sand and pebbles were beneath her hooves. Yet she could only hear screaming very faintly. Far, far away. The humans they had been following were gone, the trio had lost track of them with such little Hand light. She walked over to Rahdayo and followed his gaze.
“I no longer hear her.” He whispered.
“She said to keep running.” But even as she said it, Zafrina could not hold back the worry in her heart.
“We should go back and find her. What if something happened?” Her brother began to walk but Zafrina sheathed her sword and grabbed him by the wrist.
“No.” She said firmly. “We can't do that little brother. She's more experienced than any of us. She will be fine. We should keep moving.”
Teefee came up and hugged him from behind, leaning against his back as she nuzzled her face into his tunic. Zafrina felt a pang of loneliness at the sight. Foolish at such a time when their lives were in danger.
“Mistress will be fine. Teefee knows this.” The cat girl said matter of factly. For once it seemed she was focused enough to know their situation wasn't the time for games. “Come, Teefee thinks we should keep going. Teefee’s hair is prickly. Which means Teefee is frightened.” she murmured that last bit, almost as if she was ashamed to admit it.
Rahdayo turned and held her tight in one motion. “Hey now, don't be afraid. It will be alright, you'll see.” he placed a hand on her head and Teefee stood up on her toes to press into it. “And yes, you're both right. We should go.” he glanced at Zafrina, doubt in his eyes.
Zafrina nodded. It was the right choice, even if it felt wrong. She had to tell herself Moss would be alright. Yet, try as she might, she couldn’t help but feel it was wrong. She was still shaken up by what she witnessed. Teefee and Rahdayo began to walk. She began to follow but in the moment she took a step, she became keenly aware that it was too late to run. Something descended upon her from above in a silent swoop. With a terrible scream that wasn’t her own, she was pinned to the earth. Her very breath was knocked out of her from the force of the blow. Her eyes bulged as she saw the thing whose claws pressed into her arms. A demon from ancient stories. Sinewy wings flapped, gusting a foul stench that would have made her vomit if she could breath. The thing looked like an overgrown leech. It had no eyes, just a gaping circular mouth upon its flabby head. From the gnashing teeth came pop, pop, pop. The sound of hunger.
She took a sputtering breath as the things drool hit her in the face. Then she screamed, trying in vain to free her sword arm. To free either arm. The thing knew enough to pin her. To keep her from being dangerous. That fact alone made the terror truly sink in as it lowered its sucking mouth towards hers. Then something tackled it with a great yell, Rahdayo, freeing her from its terrible gasp. She wasted no time getting to her feet and pulling her sword out. That was her brother! He was rolling on the ground, the creature slightly larger than he, as they tussled. He had grabbed it’s head, keeping it away from his face but the thing’s muscled bulged as it attempted to tear into him with its taloned feet. Rahdayo yelled out in pain as he was cut. Zafrina began to panic, she couldn’t get in a hit in fear of- There!
She stabbed her blade into the creature’s neck as Rah held it outward. The blade slipped in like butter and the creature reared back, flapping its wings as it freed itself from Rahdayo, taking her sword with it. It began to sputter, black blood coating the ground as it twirled and spun, gurgling with its terrible pop pop pop. Then it collapsed in a heap, muscles quivering as it grew still.
Zafrina went to Rahdayo, who had managed to sit up. She began to look over him as he looked at the demon with a wild look in his eye. He had been cut on the outer part of his thigh, torn straight through his clothing into the flesh. Not deep but it was bleeding.
“We need- we need,” she stammered before taking a deep breath. Her nerves, by the gods her damn nerves were frayed. She gritted through her teeth after a moment, “Teefee, cloth!” When the cat girl made no reply she said it again.
Nothing.
“Teefee?” Rahdayo called and Zafrina looked up to follow his gaze.
The white haired girl’s ears were pressed back, almost flat against her head. Her hair was standing up, like the heckles of a dog or her smaller cousins. This would have been intimidating if not for the fact that Teefee only held a dagger, gripped in both hands as she shook violently. There was a wild mad terror on her face that made Zafrina pity her. It was the same terror she had once felt, paralyzing and all controlling. If she heard them at all, she couldn’t react. Teefee’s knees buckled and she collapsed onto them, still clutching her knife. Seeing this, Rahdayo pushed up and got onto his feet. Zafrina didn’t even try to stop him. It was better to keep his leg moving before it stiffened up. It still needed bandaging and then cleaning before any infection set in but…
She watched as her brother approached Teefee from the side, dropping to his knees beside her. Teefee, at last, glanced at him as he placed a hand upon her dagger and pushed it down. They said nothing as he placed his other arm around her and pulled her to his chest. She dropped her dagger and clung to him. Zafrina looked away and up into the sky. They weren’t safe here. Not anywhere that was open.
She retrieved her sword and noticed her right hand was slick upon the pommel. She prodded her arm and found she too had been cut but there was no pain. Her blood was up, the fire in her veins ready for anything now. She ripped a part of her shirt off beneath her leathers and began to wipe her blade clean, her own cuts could wait. It was stupid to be caught unawares. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
A twig broke and she swung to the noise.
“Take her and run!” Zafrina called out to Rahdayo.
“But Zafrina-” he began to protest but was cut off as a small figure carrying a package twice her height stumbled through the brambles and nearly into Zafrina. She had raised her blade, poised to strike, but had stopped when she saw the all too familiar, and most welcome sight.
“Moss!” she exclaimed, lowering her blade.
Moss looked as if she had been running for days, and her dark hair was plastered to her forehead. She set the clothed blade down and rested her arms on her legs as she huffed a breath.
“Have to keep moving.” Moss managed to say. “Being hunted.” The goblin’s almost glowing eyes fell upon the corpse of the demon they had killed, then she looked back at Zafrina. A look of shock and awe upon her face. “Good.” Moss said, nodding in approval. The praise was welcomed and Zafrina could not help but stand a bit straighter. Moss looked over at Rahdayo and Teefee, who by this point, was crying softly. Moss looked back at Zafrina, an eyebrow raised.
“Battle shock and Rahdayo took a cut on his thigh. She’ll be fine but he might not be able to walk for long.” They both made their way over to them, Moss dragging the bundle behind her. As short as she was, the goblin stood at the same height that they knelt and she placed a hand upon Teefee’s shoulder. The girl paid her no mind.
Moss said softly, “Teefee, there is no shame in it. We all freeze up and I don’t blame you for it. But you cannot let it consume you right now. We have to keep going.”
“She’s right.” Rahdayo murmured into her hair. Teefee’s ears twitched and her head snapped to the side, eyes focused on the silent trees.
“Teefee…” She whispered, “Teefee knows what’s coming.”
“Teefee…?” Rah asked her. Zafrina looked into the trees, the same as the cat girl, who began to shake again. She noticed the girl turn away and bury her face back into Rahdayo’s chest as red eyes pierced the darkness, peering at them. One pair, another, then another.
“Moss…” Zafrina hissed, getting her sword up and into position, going to stand in between the trees and Rahdayo.
Moss cursed under her breath and laid the bundle next to Teefee as she took out her daggers. She came to stand next to Zafrina.
The red eyes came to the edge of the creek bed, looking down upon them but obscured in darkness. Zafrina felt her arms begin to shake in anticipation and fear.
A raspy voice cut through the growing tension, like a rock jutting up through a river. “Gob-lin.” it said, the words sounded forced and wrong. Too much pronunciation on the gob part of goblin. “Give it to ussss.” it hissed. Another pair of red eyes joined them in the treeline. Zafrina could feel her heart begin to beat loud and fast. Could they hear it?
She glanced at Moss, the goblin poised to strike with her ever calm face. “How do you know about it?” she asked the things.
A deep throaty rattle came. Was it laughing? A tree branch broke, making Zafrina jump where she stood.
“We know powerrrr.” It rattled, as if that would explain anything at all.
Moss seemed to nod however. “And you hunt it for what purpose?”
Deathly quiet, then it answered, “To returnnn.”
“Zafrina. When I make an opening, you must run.” Moss said quickly. “Do not look back. Get to the city, whatever it takes.”
“But-”
“Whatever it takes.” Moss’s words hit hard. With a solemnity she had not known she possessed, Zafrina dipped her head in acknowledgement. “Yes, master.”
The beasts attacked, stepping through the trees and down onto the sandy beach. They were as if a human man had been corrupted by some foul runic arts but worse. Too long limbed, with hands that almost dragged upon the ground. Bodies of skin with bone impressions underneath. Wisps of long dark hair tattered around their heads with sunken expressions, hateful and violent. They didn’t look like human men but at the same time they did. Three went for Moss while one was upon her before she could fully react. It struck her on the side as she lifted her blade and pain blossomed as she cursed. It swung again, twitching erratically, aiming for her head. She almost fell backwards to avoid the blow, touching the ground with her free hand to keep herself up. She then kicked out her legs and swept the thing off its feet. It fell to the side with a snarl. Zafrina jumped at it, intending to impale it with her sword, but it rolled out of the way and her sword hit sand.
She brought the blade up and staggered backwards as it swept at her with its claws. It snapped its teeth at her, red eyes with but a pinprick of black that moved in the same erratic fashion. Zafrina took a deep breath as it twisted its leg up into the air and over its head and used that momentum to stand. It was unnatural and horrifying but she had already slain a beast, hadn’t she? The demon lunged at her with deadly precision. Zafrina could only hope to weather the blow, there would be no dodging.
Claws raked her face causing pain and blood. She managed to deflect its next blow but blood obscured the vision in her left eye. She couldn't wipe it away as another blow came, raking her right arm. It lunged with its head, teeth gnashing. Zafrina dropped low so that it went over her and then brought her head up into its lower jaw. Her horns reverberated from the blow and as the thing became dazed, she swung her sword and sliced its throat wide open. It clutched that cut flesh with a claw as black blood oozed from the wound. The thing sputtered and Zafrina swung again and again and again, cutting it open and spraying its black blood across the ground. When it fell down dead she almost lost her balance and joined it on the ground. Her head felt light as she remained on her feet. She blinked and looked over to Rahdayo and Teefee, they hadn’t moved from where they sat. Her brother had gone very pale and Teefee still clung to him like a lost child. He glanced at her and smiled softly. What did that mean? A loud wet sound brought her senses back to the battle. She turned to see that Moss had slain two of the beasts but still fought the other one.
The sound she had heard had been one of the beast's innards, cut wide at the stomach, spilled open. It lay on the ground, crawling toward Moss. Zafrina was amazed that it had any sort of guts at all, being so lean and bony. The other had died from a knife wound to its eye socket. Zafrina noted that her master was slower than she usually was. Exertion was taking its toll at last. She had to move quickly.
Zafrina went over to the crawling demon, coming up behind and decapitated it in one fell swoop. She inched forward, testing the distance as the blood about her eye still trickled hot down her face. They were circling each other. Moss glanced at her, and said, “You must go now, Zafrina. This is the only opening you might get.”
Zafrina hesitated.
She looked back at Rahdayo, who stared up at the dark sky. It began to rain. Thick cold droplets. She shivered as they hit her warm skin.
“We can’t make it without you now.”
The demon lunged at Moss, she sidestepped at the last moment, and stabbed the thing in the back, leaving a long grisly wound. As it recoiled away, Zafrina pounced and managed to cut its arm as it evaded her. Moss kept up the assault with a well flung dagger that embedded itself into the creature’s chest as it had looked at Zafrina. It turned back to Moss and Zafrina lurched forward. It went on like this for several moments, as the demon grew more and more desperate. Finally, streaming blood from numerous cuts, it swung at Moss with groggy speed. The goblin ducked and used her height as an advantage by ramming her remaining knife into the creature’s neck.
It sank to the ground, pulling the knife and then throwing it at Moss. It hit her in the head, pommel side and she cursed. Zafrina got behind it as it gasped for breath and skewered it between the eyes. Gore erupted and it fell over with a dull thud.
Zafrina felt her legs give out and she sank to the ground, breathing heavy. So too did Moss, who lay facing up in the rain. Zafrina likewise looked up, hoping to wash the blood from her face and the reek of the demon’s blood from her nose. After a time, her master began to laugh wildly.
“I thought they’d be harder to fight.” She mused. “Rahdayo?”
"Yes, mistress?” her brother called weakly.
“How are you two holding up?”
“We’ve been better, mistress. We’ve been much better.”
“And you Zafrina?” Moss called to her.
“I’m alright.” She lied. She was not alright. She felt weak and beyond tired. Her face stung with pain and she was pretty sure she’d have a nasty scar. Furthermore, Rahdayo wasn’t any better than her.
“Let’s get out of this rain.” Moss said, groaning as she got up. “Water might rise if it keeps up.”
Zafrina blinked as a droplet splashed into her open eye. She shot up and rubbed at them, before looking out. Her heart stopped as she looked into the trees. Red eyes. So many red eyes. She clambered to her feet in a panic and almost fell as she ran over to Rahdayo and Teefee. Moss had noticed too, curing under her breath. They had been too slow. “And here I thought it would have been easy.” Moss muttered. “Damn it all.”
“Teefee,” Rah began to murmur, “You need to run.”
The cat girl looked up at him, her hair sopping wet and plastered to her small face. She still looked like she was in shock but her eyes hardened a bit as she shook her head.
“Please, for me?” he asked, pleading.
Teefee kissed him. Zafrina looked away, back to the treeline. She touched her belly and shut her eyes. A whisper escaped her lips, sad and forlorn, “I’m sorry.”
Zafrina opened her eyes. She wouldn’t go down without a fight.
The demons came.
Moss and the gang are on the run and end up fighting some old world enemies. What does it all mean and why is it a cliffhanger?
The sun beat down on them as they tread down a decline of rough dirt and coarse grass dotted with wild flowers. Rahdayo and Teefee walked at the front, the two talking and laughing as they went. A budding relationship that she could only feel… What? Excited? Content? Fearful? Moss shook her head. Zafrina walked just before her, carrying not only the wrapped burden on her back but some man's growing child in her womb. A man who would never know it existed. The goblin still wanted to curse her out for her stupidity but it wouldn't really be beneficial. Zafrina had survived twenty-four winters and by all accounts was an adult. She knew the consequences of such an action and now she had to bear it or choose whatever she wished for it. There were other ways, after all. But that would just be between the two of them, for now.
She covered her eyes as she looked up at the Itzala, the sun. Moss always had the strangest feeling that it was watching them and not in a good way. She looked over her shoulder back to endless openless. This hilly expanse of land was almost deserted, save those animals that called it home. Still, she felt like she needed to be alert. One could never be too careful.
Eventually Zafrina had lessened her pace to walk beside Moss. The goblin was always jealous of those with longer legs, being able to walk at whatever pace they chose. Hmphm. She eyed Zafrina, the stoic talyrian looked contemplative as she stared ahead, no doubt at the other two.
“Are you well?” Moss asked her.
“I’m fine.” Zafrina replied, glancing at her.
“You know, we never did finish our discussion about those two.” Moss said, lowering her voice. Teefee might not have been the sharpest tool in a shed but she did have good hearing. “Do you want your brother to be happy?”
Zafrina pursed her lips. “Of course I do. She… She makes him laugh. He needs that.”
Moss smiled softly at that. “I haven’t known Teefee as long as I have known you, Zafrina. She may be dumb and prone to her own vices but have you considered she might actually want your brother as a husband?”
The goat girl blinked and looked at Moss incredulously. “Would her people even let that happen?”
Moss considered before saying, “Sometimes Teefee talks about her older sister, Shahari, and how she would be arranged to someone far away. Unless other cat clans exist, I assume it is possible. I mean,” they both looked at Teefee, who had spotted a bird flying past and was now chasing it, much to Rahdayo’s chagrin. “If they’re all like her, I think it would be easy to set up.”
Zafrina's tinkling laugh made Moss look back at her with an eyebrow raised. “To that, I think you might be right, master.” she said before her face slackened. Then she asked, in a very quiet voice, “He should stay with her, shouldn’t he?”
Moss nodded. “Traveling companions often become more on the road. It would be best if he did stay with Teefee, settled down, maybe cook for a living. Your brother is wasted like this.”
Zafrina sighed. “I don’t know. It would be difficult without him. For me.”
“Zafrina.” Moss said in a gentle voice, “You should stay with them too.”
The girl whipped her head to stare at Moss. A flash of pain behind her eyes was evident before they narrowed. She stopped walking, so did Moss as the two fully turned to one another. “No.”
“Zafrina…”
“No. I refuse.”
“Zafrina.”
“You can’t make me leave you. It isn’t fair!” Zafrina bawled her hands into fists, leaning forward as she did. “I’m not cut out for some homebody life.”
Moss held up a hand to silence her. “You have life growing within you. You would be severely hampered on the road when you begin to show. You have to start thinking about more than just what you want but that of your baby, Zafrina.”
The girl’s face contorted with anger but she shut her eyes and then exhaled a long breath.
Moss went on, “If you think I’m saying this because I don’t want you along, that wouldn’t be true. But please, Zafrina, sometimes we all have to make difficult decisions for the ones we love.”
“I don’t love it.” Zafrina snapped. “It’s a stupid mistake.”
“Do you truly believe that or are you just saying it?” Moss asked.
To that, Zafrina did not have an answer. Moss slowly approached her, the girl’s expression downcast. She took her hand and said, “We know nothing of the future right now. Things may come to pass yet that change our decisions. But you must think on what I’ve said. Again, it will be alright.”
Zafrina nodded and the two began to walk again. It seemed Rah had gotten Teefee back in line as well, as the two were now holding hands as they walked. Each time something caught the cat girl’s attention and she would begin to go after it, Rahdayo tugged her along. Her tail swished back and forth but it didn’t look like she was protesting.
When the sun was beginning to dip overhead, and their feet were growing worn of the day’s travels, Teefee was the first to spot it. The two paused in their walk and waited for Moss and Zafrina to catch up.
She pointed up ahead, to a copse of trees, as the land was gradually shifting back to wooded areas, interspaced with long stretches of grassland and meandering rivers.
“Mistress!” Teefee said, “Teefee sees people.”
“Do you now?” Moss looked out towards where she pointed. Indeed, two wagons highlighted by the beginnings of a fire.
“Hmmm. Come on then and be prepared. Let’s see what’s up here.” The three began to follow their mistress towards the fledgling camp, with little protest. She glanced at them occasionally and found that their eyes were ahead. Zafrina behind her, Rahdayo in the middle and Teefee at the end, almost clinging to Rah. The cat looked oddly protective, which was a good sign.
As they got nearer, Moss could smell the smoke and something savory cooking in the wind. It made her stomach growl. The two wagons had been pulled by great lumbering beasts, almost like a horse and a cow had a cross- she had really never seen anything like them as they grazed from the grasses nearby. She could see people too and they had obviously seen them as a few were walking out to meet them.
Moss stopped a respectful distance away in the twilight. Deep purples tinged with the faintest red were upon the horizon. That view never did get old. When the two men stopped, for they were men, humans by the looks of them, she spoke. “Hail travelers! We come in peace.”
A short squat man with a faded hat spoke, his voice older, “Well met upon this fine evening, madam. What business do you have in these parts? Haven’t seen many folk about, if I do say.”
“We could say the same!” Moss confided, “Our business is our own, no offense good man, but we are simply traveling north towards the big cities.”
“The big cities aye? Plenty of those along the coast, strange way to travel across the land to get to those.” the man said.
“Ah but it is! If I had some wealth to my name, I’d have chartered a ship straight to the narrows of Thysia and Sylann but I thought my pupils needed some well worn practice of dealing with foot sores, so here we are.”
The older man chuckled. “Fares fare. You seem a harmless lot but one can never be too careful these days. Come on in, we’ve got food and a fire.” he waved and a relief washed over Moss as she began to walk over.
“I understand that,” Moss nodded, “But I can assure you, you won’t regret letting us sup with you. I’ve two Talyrians with me, who know a thing or two about cooking. They’d be delighted to whip up a trail feast.”
As they met up with the men, Moss could see that the speaker was an older human, as she thought, with a graying beard. The one with him was a youth perhaps the same age as Rahdayo. Both had dark brown eyes and well worn clothes. The younger man had keen eyes on Zafrina, the most girl blushed ever so slightly.
“Names Percy and this is my grandson, Pieter. Now we’ve not heard of a Talyrian before but if they know how to cook, that’s always welcome.”
“They call me Moss, and this is Zafrina, Rahdayo and Teefee.” she pointed at each. “And yes, I’m sure you will have no complaints.”
They all began to walk back towards the wagons. Percy said, “Say, you’re one of them goblins, miss Moss? Haven’t seen one since I was a younger man.”
“Is that so? And here I thought my kind scuttered about everywhere.”
“Me and my folk, we keep to ourselves. Haven't seen the likes of any of your companions before either, truth be told. Ain't anyone's fault.”
“Ah. Yes, I haven't seen much of humans to be fair nor any others that look like my friends here. Teefee hails from the plains of Pantheras, nearer to Thysia than we are now. Rah and Zafrina are brother and sister. Talyrian folk who come from the deep south of the Origin.”
“It's a mighty strange world we live in, full of interesting folks.” Perry said, stopping next to the wagons and jestering for them to follow Pieter. They did so and entered into a most human-like world. All eyes fell upon them, some with fear and others wide with mysticism. Children in small cloth garbs hid behind their parents as Percy introduced them. A wave of tentative relaxation fell over them after that and Moss instructed Zafrina and Rah to help with the cooking. She took Teefee to the side for a brief moment as the camp came to life once more. Someone broke out a flute and drum, beginning to play a quiet soft tune. Background noise for the conversations to come.
“Teefee.” Moss said to her as she grabbed the cat's shoulders and shook her. Teefee let her body sway back and forth as her eyes darted to and fro. There was wide mischievous intent brimming within her. Moss shook her harder and said her name at least three times before she focused on the goblin. Teefee’s eyes dilated as she saw Moss. “Mistressssss.” she pouted, “Let Teefee go, she'll behave. Teefee swears it!”
“Listen to me very carefully girl. Do not,” She leaned in and made Teefee lean down, “Take anything from these people. Keep your hands to yourself. If you do, I will give you a nice scratch later, alright?”
Teefee’s eyes went wider with glee. She began to purr smugly. “Mistress scratches? Teefee will be a good girl for Mistress scratches. Of course. Or course.” Her tail swished to and fro, a mind of its own truly.
Moss patted Teefee’s head and the girl leaned into it, then into Moss altogether. She almost knocked her over but Moss hissed and she backed up a bit.
As the night wove into being and the Hand's light became obscured by clouds, the burning bonfire was the source of many tales. Moss learned that the humans were from a band who had come down from Sylann holdings, after becoming ostracized by Snouters who had taken their lands from them. Thus struck out seven families for a new home. Their voyage had led them far, very far, perhaps farther than any human they knew had gone and still they had not found what they sought. They were kindly people who were in hard times but they were surviving all the same.
As children, with their giggling laughs as they chased and were chased by Teefee, began to settle down for the night, Moss was struck by just how tolerating these people were. Removed by snouters, they had every right to turn her away. To keep their children close and to spit at the food Rah and Zafrina had taken over to cook. But they had not. On the contrary, they loved the food and praised her pupils for it and they had encouraged their children to play while Moss told a few of her own stories. They had welcomed them in without a thought and in such a cruel world at times, it was a breath of fresh air.
“There’s a kingdom south of here called Ahdor.” Moss said, as the conversation had turned to the talk of places. Around the fire now Zafrina sat by her, rubbing pots with a cloth to make them shine. Rahdayo was doing the same, glancing at Moss and Teefee. For the catgirl had done well and now lay her head in the lap of her Mistress, content as Moss massaged her head. She was sure the humans thought it a comical sight but they said nothing. Perry sat with a few of the older men, as most of the women folk had set up tents for slumber and the more able bodied men were standing watch. Moss went on, “You’ll reach Sweetdew first no doubt, nice quaint town. Might even be a good place to call home.”
“Ahh, is that right?” Perry puffed on a pipe, the curls of smoke drifting up in circles. “How do they treat humans, if I might ask?”
Moss shrugged. “Can’t say I say any, but in my experience, if you add and not take from such villages or towns, they welcome newcomers. I take it most of you are farmers? Why else would snouters take your land.”
“Most of us are, that’s true. Some of the women are good seamstresses and old Abrhon was a smithy. Sons are his apprentices. They had to leave most of their things behind to those damnable devils.”
“I’m surprised the local law didn’t aid you, I was under the impression Sylann had a tight justice system.” Moss mused.
One of the men chorted, then hacked on a cough. He spoke, his voice baritone. “The law is only upheld the closer one gets to Sylann. Everyone knows the Assembly only cares for its war mongering and not upholding property law.”
“Well,” Perry added, “I doubt Moss does.”
“You’d be correct.” Moss said, thoughtful. “That sounds just a little concerning.”
Perry nodded. “They say it wasn’t like that at one point in time but with Thysia claiming land north of the river, I suppose the threat was great enough to take seriously.”
The other chimed in, “Oh, there’s never been an open war between the two city-states. It’s all huff and bluff so they can gobble up more land for their own gain.”
“There’s that theory,” Perry nodded. “Another is, ever since the Hand manifested by the Goddess, that she no longer visits the city as much and mortal minds now rule.”
Moss tilted her head at that.
“You mean…” Rahdayo cut in and all eyes fell upon him, “That the Hand,” he looked up at it, or where it should have been visible behind the clouds, “It wasn’t always so?” He sounded puzzled by this, perhaps almost skeptical.
Perry chuckled. “Aye, there was a time when only the stars hung in the night sky. Back when I was around your age.” the old man tugged at his beard thoughtfully.
Rahdayo said nothing more but looked uneasy as others nodded and chimed in. To Moss, it was just something that better lit the night sky. Had not all of creation been created so? It was a strange thought, to be so at ease with the sheer notion of a being capable of such a feat. But hadn't Galaxor created the Dominion and brought time to heel?
“He’ll be thinking on that one for a time.” Moss mused as Rahdayo went back to scrubbing his pots.
“Have any of you ever been to the cities?” She found Zafrina asking.
Perry shook his head. So did the other man. “I saw the great walls of Sylann once but my dad had been in a hurry and we went no further.” Perry confessed. “I don't think any of us have actually been to either. Sorry miss.”
“Strange.” Zafrina furrowed her eyebrows. “I guess I assumed you had, you all seem so learned. Apologies.” She went back to scrubbing, face flushing red.
“Oh now, none of that. No harm in asking questions. As old Nym here says, Sylann's all warmongering nowadays but they still do good. Every child gets to learn. The great university in the city sends out teachers to educate the youths who can't go inside the walls. It's quite a feat.”
Old Nym barked a laugh. “Aye, I'll give them that. At least if you're educated, you can see the perils and flee.”
“But why?” Moss found herself asking. “Wouldn't they want the uneducated for menial labor and farming?”
They shrugged. “What the Goddess wants, she gets and she doesn't want dumb peasants. So now those that back any wars are culpable to them.” Nym said, lips thinning.
“Like any grand place, there is always contradictions and hypocrisy.” Perry added. “We are learned but not enough to have saved our land. Sylann teaches but justice is often not with coming. It's a time of changing winds and we left on them. Still, we are better off than our ancestors out in the wastes, preyed upon by… Well, we shan't go down that road tonight.”
“Fires burning low.” Nym said, getting to his feet. “A pleasant sleep to you all.” He smiled and walked off.
Perry likewise stood. “You may claim this fire as a resting spot for the night. It was a good meal and good company.” He gave a small bow. “Goodnight now.”
They all said farewell to the man, left alone now as the fire dwindled. Rahdayo came over to Moss and Teefee, who by that point had fallen asleep.
“I'll take her.” He said, bending low and wrapping his arms around Teefee. He lifted with surprising ease, cradling her in his arms. She puzzled her face into his chest as they lay down next to the fire. Moss rubbed her hands together and watched as Zafrina lay down on the opposite side of them. Moss was about to lay down as well but hesitated. Where was…? Panic struck her as she looked for the bundle. Not seeing it she went over to Zafrina and hissed, “Where's the bundle?”
Zafrina snapped an eye open and grimaced. “It should be where I left it.”
“And where is that?”
She sat up slightly. “You said start cooking so I sat my pack down and…” Her eyes trailed over to her pack, the bundle was gone. She sat up and they each looked at one another before the search was on.
With Zafrina at her side, they quietly began looking over the camp. Only a few were still awake and they had to act nonchalantly about their business. The only others awake were the… Watchmen. Moss walked to the outskirts of camp and sure enough they began to hear hushed whispers behind the wagons and the dim light of a torch. Several young men stood around an object glowing faintly. The torch cast them in a sinister light.
“See, I told you. I did, I told you.”
“With this… we could take back our land!”
“Get our revenge on those fucking pigs.”
“But what of them? We can't just steal. It ain't right.”
“What ain't right,” came a silky smooth voice, “Is that they carry this around, wrapped up, so no one can see. So go on Damyl, pick it up.”
“No!” Moss shouted.
Moss rushed forward, the sound of her shout made the men turn and jump. “Don't you dare touch that.” She snapped with anger. Two of them took a step back, while the other three looked at her, unmoving. Moss came to a stop before them, her hands moving to her daggers. With any luck, Zafrina wouldn't be noticed moving behind them. “Step away. Now.” She commanded.
They didn't move.
“Why should we listen to some green skinned brat?” One of them said. She hadn't seen him before. A gangly man with long dark hair and sharp features.
“We should do as she says.” One piped up, the same who had been against the stealing in the first place. He was a bit pudgy, thick of face but lean of build. By the gods he was tall.
“Shut up!” Someone hissed, she couldn’t make out which one. The torchlight was beginning to fade.
That silky smooth voice said, “It’s ours now. Pick it up Damyl.”
“Why don't you pick it up Pieter?” The one called Damyl chimed back, it was the man with sharp features. He looked hesitant. She shoved that aside as she took in the new name.
“Pieter? But your grandfather-” Moss began before being cut off by a laugh.
“Those senile old men don't know what's best for our people. And it isn't these wilds or some town in the middle of nowhere. My dad was butchered by those fucking pigs, they'll get what they deserve. Pick it up Damyl!” He hissed.
Damyl began to lean over and Moss stepped forward shouting no. The man hesitated as if second guessing himself, Moss threw her dagger, aiming for his hand but it was too late, Damyl picked it up.
He screamed as a great blade cut a swath before him at lightning speed, cutting the dagger Moss threw in a blink and severing the left hand of Pieter. All the men fell to the ground in a panic. Pieter screamed and the camp began to wake.
The sword then lifted itself high, for Damyl had no authority over it, and radiated the grand beauty of its creation. Shimmering silver, like moonlight itself, erupted and bathed them all in its pale glow. “Drop it!” Someone shouted but Damyl only screamed with lungs not of his own. Moss stared in abject horror, unable to do anything. Memories flashed before her. Her cousin picking it up after being told not to. The pain in his face… The same in Damyl’s and then… Damyl’s veins coursed with a bright light, starting from his hand and pulsing down, down, down. Where his veins were visible, the light spread until Damyl was a living star. Just like Desmond, he exploded with a violent burst, sending shards of light outwards.
One cut her cheek as it passed, she didn’t even blink.
When the shards faded to dust, the sword floated back to the ground like a leaf. The only sounds were of Pieter crying. Yet, there was something else… Something that had not happened before. One of the men had not fallen like she had thought, instead, he stood over the sword and then glanced at her. It was the tall one with the big head, except, his face wasn’t quite right. It looked like it was shifting? Were her eyes playing tricks on her? No… She took a step back as the man’s forehead just… Fell away in a bloody splat to the ground. This revealed a thing of pure nightmares as a glowering red eye seemed to form, then blinked at her. His body began to contort and break. People began arriving and shouting in horror.
It opened its mouth and a scream-like wail exploded forth, causing her to grab her ears in pain. The wail continued as the thing’s, for this was no longer a man, tore, then ripped open causing the scream to end with sudden force as it was replaced with a gurgle. The thing fell over, spasming on the ground as it gasped for breath until it stilled.
The worst part of it however, was somewhere, deep in that dark land, it was answered. Moss turned to the travelers.
“Run!”
Moss and gang keep on traveling and talk about the future. Eventually they run into some fellow travelers on the road, humans! And some great conversation takes place. Things take a turn for the worst when Moss notices her bound bundle is missing however…
An old weathered face looked at them with lifeless, cold eyes. Aged it was, covered in vines and half buried by a bed of earth. It was not made of stone but the light from the early dawn cast it in such a way, it looked as if it were. But one quick tap let any see it was of metal, still rust free after countless days passed. An ancient sleeping, waiting, but for what?
Teefee began to climb the head, as all cats were want to do on an object that dwarfed them. Moss snapped her fingers and said to the girl, “Don't.” At Teefee’s puzzled look, Moss explained, “Sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone. Let it rest undisturbed by us.” Teefee pouted but otherwise obeyed. They had reached an old forest where well worn paths had become overgrown, if any existed at all. The morning light barely penetrated through the tops of the trees. It was dark within those gnarled boughs but not so entirely to thwart passage. Interspaced within the woods were large barren patches of earth. Like someone had come along and taken everything living or had cut it all away. Occasionally there would be a large metallic object within the clearing or scattered throughout the woods, much like the old head. Light peered down through the clearings at least and illuminated the surrounding trees, many of which grew… Wrong. They grew away from the clearings, as if unable to touch within. They were gnarled trees of no definite species, almost black of bark with diseased looking leaves, if any grew at all.
Suffice to say, they steered clear from those places. Moss couldn't help but feel unnerved by them and at times they all fell silent when close to one, and she felt the strangest melancholy. She didn't even have to tell Teefee to stay away, the cat girl’s hair always stood on end and she put Rahdayo in between her and the clearings. When they had reached the head, in the night of last, they had assumed it was just a boulder and Moss had decided to take a break for the day.
Only now did they see what watched over them in the night. The path they took was one she had only heard of but it was a shortcut, supposedly, in such uncharted lands. It would take them closer to their destination, if they managed it. So far nothing had happened. The clearings were eerie, yes, but nothing came of them in the dead of night. Granted, they had camped out of sight of any so far and Moss would keep it that way.
“Why is this place,” Rahdayo began as they started to pack up, “So…”
“Strange.” Zafrina finished for him.
Moss took a moment as old memories burst free from their cages, filling her mind with voices she knew as a child. She smiled at that and then said, “Listen for a moment.” She stopped putting away things and placed her hands on her lap. Rahdayo and Zafrina followed suit as Teefee hummed to herself before being elbowed by Zafrina. She hissed low and then fell quiet, most likely more out of embarrassment. It wasn't silence that enveloped them but life itself. Birds chirped and sang their lullabies. Insects buzzed with their melodies. Some animal called out deep in the forest, only to be answered in a tree above them. They looked up, it was only a squirrel.
“Is it so strange?” Came the voice of Moss. “The telltale sign of strangeness is silence all around you where it should not be. Even around those clearings, things chatter and sing. No, this place isn't so strange. You just aren't familiar with such woods. Not yet, anyway.”
“But, mistress,” Rahdayo said, eyes yearning, “What caused those clearings? Why are there so many metal parts strewn through the woods? I've never seen the like of them before.” Zafrina and Teefee nodded in agreement.
Moss started packing again but said, “My father told me his great grandfather survived a great ordeal once. Upon the surface, when home wasn't home. The sunlit world was dangerous after all and my great great grandfather ran from its evil to find shelter in the dark. Monsters sought him, but he tricked them at every turn. It was just a bedtime story. I thought.” She stood and looked at the great old face. “It was only when I knew better did I ask if it was true or not. My father told me there was a time when our world was besieged. That creatures so dark and terrible washed over the land, gobbling up any in their path. Like a fat goblin at a feast. He said the gods fought back, for us mortals who could not on our own. Terrible battles took place and the wounds still exist today.” She turned back to them and smirked, “Great granddad was a survivor. He ran for his life and got lucky. Wouldn't be here without him, so, guess that's good.”
Her three pupils looked at one another before Teefee got to her feet and said, “Teefee knows such tales. Papa Kah would tell Teefee and Teefee’s siblings such stories before bed. Mama did not like when we all scrambled into bed with them at night. Papa Kah got a scolding.” She then went back to her humming and started packing before a butterfly flew past and her attention fell upon it.
Rahdayo looked contemplative but it was Zafrina who spoke next, asking, “If it's true, then the gods must have won right? So what became of the creatures?”
“I imagine they were all butchered.” Moss said. “Just look at the size of that head and tell me the body wasn't built to match?” She waved her hand in dismissal. “And if they weren't all destroyed, then they went into hiding in the forgotten places of the world. Nothing like that will be bothering us. Only bandits. If we're lucky.”
Both Rahdayo and Zafrina blinked. “Lucky?” they both said.
Moss laughed.
It was a most uneventful travel, all things considered. They had left the forest three days ago, after a week within and the country had given way to sparse grasslands, dotted with an occasional hill or deep gully. On one such hill they had been able to see a long way around them. Mountains dotted the distant horizons to the north. The forest was behind them and the Trees were to the east. The trees, their guiding lights. Wasn't it odd how everyone you met instinctively knew where those trees were? Yet no one would have thought so.
Even her pupils didn't think it odd. They just knew, so she was told. This puzzled Moss some but it wasn't that pressing of a concern. Furthermore, her other concerns were more pressing. Zafrina had turned cold towards Rahdayo and they weren't talking. A common sibling occurrence but one that had grown tiring. It seemed that a dispute, one Moss had considered to be extremely stupid, was actually of life shattering proportions for the two. Zafrina had suggested adding a certain tuber to their supper a few nights back. For a more hearty stock and taste. Rah had denied this and was certain it wouldn't mix well with what he had going on. The fight, if you could call it that, was more of a heated argument about the culinary arts and not getting her way, Zafrina stormed off. If there was one thing Rahdayo had backbone in, it was his cooking.
Now she was being brisk with her brother, who felt guilt when he shouldn't. Time and time again Moss had tried to explain to Rah that one did not need to feel guilt for everything but his heart was just too big. And Moss could tell how much it was bothering him. Every subtle facial tweak at her brushing him off. The sad eyes. He was easy to read and Moss wasn't the only one to pick up on that. Teefee made her move, filling in their silence with chatter and laughs. Zafrina’s coldness only grew. For if there was one rivalry in her party, it was between the girls and their want for attention. Moss just cursed her luck.
On a night where the Hand shone brightest, Moss awoke with a chill. Groggy at first before her senses snapped sharp, she realized two things. One being that the fire had grown to embers and that her three pupils were gone. She felt a surge of panic threaten to knock her senses silly, so she calmed herself. Remembered her training. She quickly got dressed and began to look at the ground around their sleeping pads. Indented grass, footsteps that led off into the darkness. They had camped in the shadow of a hill that led down to a small brook. In the light she could make out nothing until the rustle of grass made her draw a knife, poised to throw.
Yet it was Zafrina who stalked back into their small circle. She froze when she saw Moss and then walked forward. She didn't say anything, indeed her face was a mask of indifference as she got under her blanket and rolled away from Moss.
“Fine.” Moss grumbled. “I guess I'll ask then, what's wrong? Where are the other two?”
Zafrina’s biting whisper answered her, “Down by the water.”
Moss waited for anything else but when it didn't come she stalked off, muttering to herself about rude goats. The trip to the creak was short, well usually, but she stopped halfway when she heard the strangest of noises. Like someone was whimpering. Was one of them hurt? Moss felt her heart speed up and she quickened her pace but as she got closer, the whimpering turned to a peel of laughter. Teefee? And then a low moan. Rahdayo? What was she doing to him? Why, she'd wring that cat's neck if she had hu- Moss froze in the pathway. Before her at the brook’s edge were Teefee and Rahdayo. The Hand's light revealed them to be very, very nude. Teefee was on top of Rah. Moving to some hidden rhythm. And it clicked. The whimpering. The moaning. Moss spun and trudged back up the hill, feeling very flustered and foolish.
She reached the camp and instantly attacked Zafrina, jumping on her and shaking her shoulder. “You could have spared my eyes that, you stupid g-” She stopped as Zafrina looked at her, blue eyes watery, rimmed with red and cheeks stained wet. Moss sighed, deflating at the sight. Zafrina stared at her, rubbing her eyes. She looked… Sad? Sorrowful? Moss reached out her hand and touched her pupil's cheek. “Let’s talk.” She said in a soft voice.
After throwing some wood on the fire, Moss wrapped herself up in a blanket and sat beside Zafrina. There was silence between the two and one Moss would have to break, as Zafrina just stared at the kindling flames.
“Zafrina. Please tell me you aren't upset because you wanted t-” Moss began but was cut off as Zafrina turned to her, eyes brimming with a familiar anger.
“You're joking right?”
Moss raises her hands in defense. “Alright, not a great question to ask I suppose.” She smiled and Zafrina rolled her eyes. “Then what's this all about?”
Zafrina sighed and looked away. “He shouldn't be doing that with her. She's… Not right for him.”
“Oh?” Moss asked, putting her hands out towards the fire. It was warm on such a chill night.
“She’ll hurt him. I know it. She's just a stupid girl and he's a foolish boy who can't say no.” Zafrina scowled, anger in her voice as she stood up and began to pace. “Teefee is always going on about being sold into marriage. How she can't wait to go home. And then she goes on leading my brother like this? She'll leave him after using him. He'll be… Devastated. I can't… I don't…” Zafrina looked pained, words difficult for her. This was odd, she was usually so full of quips.
Moss shut her eyes for a moment, thinking about that one time Renny and Delo, her cousins, had been fighting over the same girl. This was strangely similar but still different enough to make her choose her next words carefully. “Zafrina. Why didn't you stop them, then?”
At the question, Zafrina sighed and sat back down. “It would not have gone well if I did. He already hates me.”
“Hates you? Please. He's your brother. He could never hate you.”
Zafrina looked Moss in the eye, “Then why won't he speak to me?”
Moss squinted her eyes. She wasn't serious, was she? Oh for the gods sake, she was. Moss opened her mouth to speak, framing it as delicately as possible, “Zafrina, have you tried to talk to him?”
She opened her mouth to speak but shut it. Zafrina’s eyes cast a look of shame and she looked away from Moss.
“You didn't like when he put his foot down the other day. Over that stew because you thought your idea was better.” Moss said, Zafrina nodded with some reluctance. “Ever since, you've turned a cold shoulder to him. You, Zafrina. You do it all the time. To him. To me. Teefee. It wasn't always like this. This conversation has been a long time coming. So why?”
“Because I'm just a bitch.” Zafrina’s voice was quiet, etched with self loathing.
“No.” Moss blurted but thought better of it, “Well, yes, you can be. So can I. But that's only a symptom of the real cause. So what is it?”
“Thanks.” Zafrina grumbled, before looking up at the night sky. “I guess I…” Her voice wavered, “I'm just angry. All the time. I rarely feel anything else.” She took a deep breath. “I know if I lose my temper I'll hurt the people I care about so I shut them out. It's easier that way. For the both of us. I hate myself, Moss.” She quivered, looking back towards the dying fire. There was something else on her face. Terror.
“I know such anger.”
“No you don't.” Zafrina snapped.
“I do.” Moss said with calm. “My first teacher was murdered in front of me.” Zafrina stilled. “Yes. You aren't the only one in the world to watch people you care about be butchered before your eyes. That anger drove me, consumed me and I ended up hating myself. Just like you. So I tracked down the murderers and I slew them all. All of them and anyone else there at that time, even if they were innocent. After that, my guilt coupled with that anger drove me to a very dark place, Zafrina. I thought about ending it all but time has a way of moving on without you knowing.” She sighed. “My cousin found me, wandering alone. She took me back home. It wasn't pretty at first but it did get better. And you know why?” She looked at Zafrina, whose focus was already on her, “Because they loved me and were patient. I let them in, I didn't push them away. Eventually I left. Not entirely well, never entirely will be but then I stumbled on a couple orphans. The girl, with her blue eyes, she knew them. They had been my own.”
Moss took Zafrina’s hand and squeezed. “I never wanted children. Truth be told. But you've been stuck with me now for a long time and I won't let you suffer in silence anymore. I thought training you would help, perhaps it has, but now comes the hard part. Talking.”
“Tears slid down Zafrina’s face. “How do I start?” She asked.
“Apologize to your brother. Start from there.”
“Okay.” She dipped her chin. Moss squeezed her hand again.
“I am proud of you, you know. You're a brilliant young woman, Zafrina. With so much potential.”
Zafrina said nothing as she nodded and wiped at her eyes. After a time she spoke again, “Moss. There's something else.”
“And what's that?” Moss raised an eyebrow.
“I missed my cycle.”
Moss stared at her in disbelief and opened her mouth to say… She didn't know what. Thankfully, or ironically, before she could say anything Rahdayo and Teefee burst through the brush into the clearing, holding hands and giggling like children. When they saw Moss and Zafrina, Rahdayo blushed a deep red and Teefee’s face became extremely smug with triumph. Moss stood up and pointed a finger at all of them.
“That's it! We're having the talk. Now sit down!”
We see our trepid adventurers through a forest of ancient days and they discuss such tales. Later the birds and the bees plus a little anger, get thrown into the mix, oh my!
She couldn't remember her grandparents. Being the youngest of a large family and only a baby when they passed, she could only remember the vaguest impressions of warmth. It was a comfort she clung too when life brought anything but. That wasn’t to say her own parents did not dote upon their youngest and smother her with all manner of affection. But there was always a certain sort of love that only came from the parents of the parents. She would yearn for it in later years, when she grew up with her older siblings’ children and her own parents became grandparents. She would be an aunt to nieces and nephews that could be sisters and brothers in age. Such was her lot in life and with aging parents, she could only see that ache in her heart grow.
So she made a vow. A stalwart promise to herself, to the very gods- She would have no children. It was a contradiction to say the least. Yet she had no desire for growing offspring and no desire to be a parent to them. She saw how her siblings had struggled and the great tolls that were placed upon child and parent alike. If she could have, she would have skipped parenthood and gone straight to being a grandparent. Luckily, she wouldn’t have to be. Once her nieces and nephews began to have their own children and then those with their own(Goblins were prolific, after all), she knew she'd be the best great aunt.
If she ever came back.
The body slumped into the puddle with a splash, churning the water dark in that rumbling sky. Rain pelted the landscape in thick sheets that drenched to the bone but even that wasn’t enough to stop them. Moss rolled to the side, avoiding the blade as it cut through the water and hit the puddle where she had been. It was a sloppy strike, overreaching and she took advantage of that by slicing her dagger across the beastman’s sword arm. He let out a great roar of pain, cursing.
“Goblin bitch!” he swung again, letting anger take over. She leaned back, avoiding the strike and then using his momentum to her own advantage by parrying his sword away with her dagger. He staggered to the side and with her other dagger, struck true into his chest. A wet soppy noise, like air being squeezed out of a waterskin, escaped the beastman. He clutched his chest and staggered backwards. Moss twirled her daggers. Always stay in motion while in a fight, even if you couldn’t move. That’s what master Aish had always said. The beastman’s eyes began to glaze over as the malice left his maw. He coughed blood and his sword dropped into the mud. Then he fell backwards with a splash beside his companion. Lighting rippled across the sky.
Moss prowled forward and slid down onto the corpse, straddling the beastman as she pilfered through his inner pockets. The brown cloak was heavy but she managed to secure a few coin purses and a leather-bound satchel. She almost opened it before realizing it was still raining with a well timed boom of thunder. She had grown numb to the cold after removing her cloak and shirt. Now the only thing keeping her bare from the dreary world was the wet wraps around her chest. Only a miracle by mighty Galaxor did they stay in place, not that she cared about solemnity.
She laid a palm on the beaver-man's chest and pushed off of him. Then she went and inspected the other. Some sort of creature he had been, with green scales along the ridges of his face and pale white fur down the middle. Moss shook her head, unable to place what he was, besides dead. She had gotten him in the throat and now his dark eyes stared up at ceaseless rain, unblinking. She found nothing on him of value after a quick search. With a grumble she stood. The two bandits were novices at best and fools at worst. Their mistake had been letting her remove her shirt but perhaps that was the inherent problem with men. They didn’t always think with the head on their shoulders.
“Should have stayed home.” She murmured to herself as she retrieved her discarded things. Her shirt and cloak were soaked through. Putting them on wouldn’t be pleasant but she did so anyway. The thrill of battle was beginning to fade and with it, the warmth in her limbs. The rain was cool and it just kept falling. So Moss placed the coin purse and leather satchel in her pack and hefted it on. Pulling her hood over her head, she began to walk. She left the bodies where they lay.
“Mistress!” Rahdayo called, waving cheerily from where he sat once he spotted her in the small crowd along the dusty path. The youth got up, his packs full of cookware clattering to life as he bound his way over to Moss, who had stopped under the shade of a tree. His floppy white ears bounced up and down with every step. It seemed he had been waiting for her outside the town. Sweetdew was its name. A nice cozy nook in the middle of nowhere. Only a passing merchant, who just happened to sell maps, had pointed it out to them.
At the time, Moss had other errands to run without the need for others and the bandit encounter only brought her relief at that fact. It was good she sent her pupils to meet her here.
Rahdayo held out his arms as he approached and before Moss could stop him, he gave her a big hug, squeezing tight. She returned it gingerly, scrunching her nose at the smell of spices coming off him. The once gangly youth had been shorter than her but now, it seemed he had hit another growth spurt. He still lowered his short cropped white hair to nuzzle into her face and she sputtered, “Rah! Watch the horns.”
He pulled away, unconsciously touching the two goat-like horns sprouting from his head. They were a grayish color and beginning to curve outward at the sides. “Sorry mistress, I keep forgetting.” he said sheepishly. Which was, of course, ironic. Since he was part goat, after all. Not with any beast blood that was, but modeled after-
“Talyr be praised, mistress!” Rahdayo beamed a smile, it was infectious. “I’m glad to see you. After all, you missed your rendezvous point! I was about to set off to find you but Teefee insisted we wait another day.” he frowned at that, his unique horizontal eyes ringed with gold, glancing at the ground. “I should have gone.” he muttered.
“Nonsense. You did well Rah.” She placed a hand on his shoulder, then murmured, “What have I always said?”
“A day late means wait.” he grumbled.
“And after that?”
“After the second, you better get to checkin’.” he said, mimicking her voice.
Moss shot him a look and the Talyrian winced, before breaking into a toothful smirk.
“And where is Teefee and Zafrina?” Moss asked, placing her hands on her hips.
Rahdayo blushed, his old habit of looking around when trying to be avoidant was all too apparent. She knew something had happened. So she just sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose before asking once again, “Where are they?”
“Teefee’s at the pillory.” he whispered. “Zafrina is… Occupied.”
Moss felt her face furrow with annoyance.
A moment later, Rahdayo was leading Moss into the town. The bustle and hubbub of trading hours were in full swing. Beastfolk, goblins, humans, even an elf or two- mingling about and bartering. Sweetdew was far away from the region's capital, Ahdor, but still well within its protecting influence. There would always be bandits prowling after the unsuspecting but Ahdorian soldiers patrolled the well worn roads and streets within the Kingdom. Hence the pleasant atmosphere. Past Sweetdew however, there were only the wilds between nations. No man’s land, prowling with all sorts of people and terrors.
It didn’t take long for Moss to notice Teefee. In the bustling town square, off to the right side, sat two raised platforms. Weather beaten and stained, a crowd stood around and gawked. On the highest platform sat the empty gallows but beneath that sat two pillory boxes. The one left of the gallows was empty but the right one held Teefee. The beastkin girl had her arms and head in the pillory and she was facing the floor. Her once pristine white hair was stained with bits of fruit and… Well, Moss didn’t want to guess.
“I told her not to do it.” Rahdayo whispered vehemently. “And then I tried to get her out but the guards wouldn’t have it. Said she was a thief and the punishment could have been worse.” Teefee’s cat ears twitched.
“And Zafrina didn’t do anything?” Moss looked at him. The goat boy paled.
Then he gritted his teeth. “Zafrina has been…”
“Mistress?” Teefee called out. “Mistresssssss?” She pouted louder. The crowd's eyes began to wander and then fall upon Moss as Teefee tried to crane her head up to look at her. “Mistress! Teefee is sorry! Please help Teefee!” She whined.
A few guards wandered over and one shouted at Teefee, “Oi! Quite you.”
Teefee hissed, before a low growl emanated from her. The guard didn’t seem to care much, he was a big burly fellow and a lad no older than Rahdayo sauntered up beside him. Moss craned her neck to look up at them, noting how the burly guard favored his right leg and had a relaxed grip upon his weapon. The younger guard’s eyes shifted nervously, the grip upon his spear firm.
“This one yours?” the burly guard asked, nudging his head to indicate Teefee.
“Unfortunately.” Moss said. “What’d she do?”
“Stole ribbon from a merchant this morning. Tried to run but became distracted by some chickens.”
Moss didn’t let the disappointment show up on her face. “How much?” she sighed.
Once Teefee was freed from her confinement, she had attempted to hug Moss but the goblin held her off. Teefee was a sorry mess and she smelled. She began to lick herself in earnest before Moss yelled at her to stop. Then there was a stern talk between master and disciple. About the proper getaway technique and that becoming distracted over chickens was the dumbest thing she had heard of and that Teefee had done a lot of dumb things. She told Rahdayo to go help her clean up at the creek just outside of town and that she’d be there soon with Zafrina.
She just had to get her first.
As with all vices, she found Rahdayo’s older sibling in the tavern. Not just in the tavern but in a room she had to bust the door in on. She was met with an all too familiar sight. A reeking room.
Strewn out on a thin mattress, with a thin sheet covering her lower torso, was Zafrina. Her long black hair was a mess of curls wrapped around her back facing horns. Her ears were cropped, unlike her brothers, and went straight out on either side of her head. Like goblin or elf ears. She snored softly, not even deigning to wake with the intruder in her room. But oh, the man she had been sleeping with had not only woken but had also stumbled to the floor and was sluggishly putting on his clothes. Moss took note of the wrapped bundle leaning against a corner of the room and tension she hadn't been aware of eased off her shoulders.
“Ma’am.” the man said, stumbling past. At least he was pleasant on the eyes.
Moss flashed a knife at him and he picked up his pace after blinking a few times. Then she took out her water skin and poured it on Zafrina’s face. The talyrian sat up with a gasp, a knife coming up with her. She jabbed at Moss, who caught her wrist and bent it at an odd angle. Zafrina cursed and dropped it. Her pupil seemed to accept her fate, not even trying to fight back any further. Moss frowned.
“You’d be dead if I meant to kill you.” she chided, letting go of Zafrina, who by now, registered who her would be assailant was. Her blue horizontal eyes rolled and she sighed, flopping back down.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, mistress?” She said sarcastically.
“That was sloppy, even for you. Was it the drink or the fucking that addled your brain into inaction?” Moss said, putting her arms behind her back.
“Both I guess.” Zafrina said nonchalantly.
Moss gritted her teeth. “You guess?”
“Yes, mistress.” Zafrina put her arm over her eyes, as if to avoid the light streaming in through the hallway.
“Why is it the gods decided to saddle me with an incompetent thief, a lazy pleasure seeker and her golden boy brother whose choice of weapon is a ladle?” Moss goaded, judging Zafrina's face. At the mention of Rahdayo, those blue eyes grew cold.
She sat up and said, “You can give me all the shit you want, Moss.” She waved a finger at the goblin. “But even you know how stupid it is to talk ill of my brother.”
Moss smirked. “And what are you going to do about it, pupil?”
“We've been down this road before. I'd rather not get my ass beat right now.” Zafrina sighed and laid back down.
Moss nodded, satisfied. “Well, at least you're learning and that hot-headedness of your youth is tempering. Not get around, we're leaving Sweetdew.”
“And why are leaving?” Zafrina asked.”Teefee?”
She nodded. “Teefee.”
They found Rahdayo dripping wet as he brushed the very dry (and somehow clean) hair of Teefee as she self groomed in a patch of sun, eyes shut. Rah was humming a simple tune, focused on his work. The water on him gleamed in the light beside the gently flowing creek. In the sand next to the water there seemed to be signs of a struggle. Still, Teefee’s purring was audible as she licked her hands, as were the ways of her kind.
When Moss cleared her throat the two looked up.Teefee's fluffy tail swished at the sight of them while Rah flushed red from embarrassment or perhaps shame, when he saw Zafrina. His talyrian sister had, perhaps unconsciously, begun to twirl a finger in her own hair.
“Save the brushing for camp tonight. We need to start out.” Moss said, folding her arms.
Teefee stood, a full two heads taller than the goblin, her pale yellow eyes but suits. “Teefee is ready to go!” She exclaimed before taking her back from Zafrina, who had luckily kept it with her.
Rahdayo stood after a time, putting a hand through his hair and shaking the excess water off. Moss was surprised at how long he had been able to endure water. Talyrians, and costs in general, hated water. Perhaps it was the more humanoid part of him? As he began to grab his things, Teefee spun and went over to him, before placing a kiss on his cheek. Rah froze as Teefee giggled, running off in the wrong direction.
Once more Rah blushed, turning red as Zafrina walked over to him.
“You'll comb my hair tonight?” It was a question but more of a demand. Moss rolled her eyes. For someone who had forsaken children, she somehow ended up with three teenagers.
“Talk as we walk.” Moss chided and began walking in the opposite direction of the catgirl. “Teefee!” She shouted and the cat changed course. In a moment she was beside Moss, walking backwards to face her. “You owe me you know.” Moss said to her.
“But mistresssss.” She began to whine, a pouty look on her face.
“No buts. We add it to your debt as usual. Looks like you're sticking around even longer.” The goblin grinned.
Teefee folded her arms and huffed. “Once we get to Teefee’s homeland, mistress will be paid and Teefee will be free! Mistress will see. Then Teefee will get to see big sis Shah and papa Kah! Mama Imara will have been worried and all the others will ooo and aww at Teefee's tales!” She outstretched her arms and spun on her heels. “Then Teefee will be sold into marriage and have a family of her own! Mistress will see!” She had an aura of triumph about her.
Moss was about to point out that being sold into a marriage wasn't very free but thought better of it. Would the girl even understand? Moss grimaced as Teefee caught herself from falling. Just from walking. Gods be praised she found her when she did, otherwise Teefee's tales would have been cut very short.
So instead she said, “Whatever you say, Teefee.” Then a mischievous thought popped into her head, “But,” She smiled widely as Teefee looked at her, “But what about Rahdayo?” She half whispered, glancing at the two siblings behind them. They seemed to be in deep discussion about something.
“Rah?” Teefee asked, befuddlement plastered on her face. She paused and Moss saddled up beside her.
“If you are sold into marriage, Teefee dear, what will happen to Rah?” Moss asked with feigned innocence.
Teefee’s left eye twitched. Moss could see her mind making sense of it, coming to some cat reality with each passing moment. Moss began to walk on, the siblings getting closer. The only thing she heard from Teefee was a low hiss, before the cat girl caught back up to her.
“Mistress does not know everything.” She then hmmphed and walked on.
Moss began to whistle. Then she looked back at Zafrina, to the cloth covered item she carried at her back. Her eyes caught Zafrina’s and she looked back at the road in front of her.
“Don’t worry, old friend. We’ll find answers.” Moss murmured to herself, as the road went ever on.
Wherein we meet a group of nobodies on a vague quest to somewhere.
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wintersoldier
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