Chapter No.08 "The Sunji Stone"

     Considering the words of the oracle as his eyes dart back and fourth. “ Well good thing you didn’t lead them to the village. We’ll send a search team in the morrow when it is brighter. As for you Yote, why didn’t you say something sooner?” Yote smiles, “ cos oi wanted yew ta ear it firs and my chief. As to not change of de story, jus incase oi missed somefing.” Natutu looks at Yote, then back at his father. Yetzan shakes his head, pleased with what he has heard he smiles, “ alright that is enough excitement for one night. We better rest so we can find a couple of dhanda’s in the morrow.”  As he stands to his feet to usher the other out. Yote standing to his feet is also excited by the news. He follows behind as Giblet and Dwege make their way for the door. Both men reach for the handle at the same time. Giblet stops, “ I’ll let you do it this time, last time you got hurt.” He says. Dwege smiles, “ thanks, probably better that way...” as he pulls the door open swiftly and smacks Giblet in the face with the door. Yote and Yetzan both cringe as the door makes a whacking noise. “ ohh are you alright?” Dwege asks as Giblet covers his face. “ I’m fine just go!” He says in a nasally tone. Dwege leads the way as Giblet and Yote follow behind. Yetzan Stands at the door waving as the men leave. He suddenly remembers, “ oh Yote! I wanted to ask!” As Yote pauses for a moment, turning back to face Yetzan, “ yes my chief?” He asks. Yetzan inquires, “ did you happen to see that light in the skae? Where about would you say that came from?” Yote nods, “ yes oi fink it came from the wadja, peraps even as far as de edge?” Yetzan has a realization. Thanking Yote He closes the door behind him. Natutu standing back in the hall way still asks, “ what did you want farjer?” Yetzan looks back at him, “ huh?... Ohh nothing. I thought perhaps you had asked Yote to help coax me into letting you have your way with Allmeya’s daughter.” Natutu halfheartedly smiles, “ oh yeah, no... nothing like that.” He says nervously. “ Well I’m going to go to bed now. Did you need anything more?” He asks. Yetzan places his hand on his beard, twisting the hair at the tip between his thumb and index finger. “ No... nothing I can think of at the moment.” Shaking his head. Natutu nods before turning to go to his room. Yetzan makes his way back to his chair where he slumps himself back down. Considering the story Giblet and Dwege had just explained, he takes into consideration what the oracle had told him. Whispering the words, “ skae lit up at the edge of the wadja...” Closing his eyes whilst his mind begins to wander he slowly slips into a state of relaxation, and temporary paralysis. Natutu drops onto his bedroll on the floor. “ hmmph... it’s not fair!” He huffs crossing his arms. “ Stupid farjer and his stupid rules. What does he know! I’ll show him.” He says laying on his bedding dissatisfied. “ I’ll show them all!” He mutters as he picks dirt out from under his finger nails with his teeth.

     Outside as the three pass through the upper gate and begin descending the hillside Yote whistles to get both of their attention, “ oi need yew tew tell me troofully, was dere actual dhanda’s wif pale skin or not?” Dwege smiles before looking at Giblet who is biting his lips in.Yote asks again, “ please tell me dere’s dhanda’s wif pale skin.” Giblet says, “ well... it’s a long story.” Yote replies, “ well we got de ole nyght den. Spit it out.” Dwege claims spastically, “ they came at us like a couple of raging aneemols, we almost died three times!” He says holding up two fingers before looking and realizing it was the wrong amount, he slowly raises the third. Giblet smacks Dwege’s hand down. “ Well Yote, not exactly.” Instantly Yote grasps Giblet’s beaded necklace and pulls his face down parallel to his own. “ Wot do yew mean not esactly?” Giblet says, “ we did what you told us to, we went after Allmeya and tried to take the dawtea. But the two were well... ready for us!” Dwege standing behind shaking his head adds, “ yeah!” Yote lets go of the necklace, “ wot do yew mean readi den?” He questions. Giblet reaches into his satchel and pulls out the map, handing it to Yote. “ They beat us down and ran off through the field.  That old dhanda Narfeesh dropped this, I don’t know what it is. He never looked back, or came back for it.” Yote unravels the rolled up map. “ Do yew tew dum bum idiots realize wot dis means?” He asks. Giblet and Dwege look at each other for a moment, then back at Yote. Shaking their heads, Dwege replies, “ that we are going to look for some shemli dhanda’s in the morrow?” Yote begins to laugh manically holding the map in his right hand. He looks down at the imagery on the hide. Tossing the map down the side of the hill he answers, “ it means yew tew are gonna be dead dhanda’s wen Yetzan finds out dat dere ain’t no shemli dhandas!” Pushing his way between both of them, Yote makes his way down the side of the hill. The animal hide falls to the ground below landing on Lutzi’s head, covering his vision. He jolts as a reflex, quickly grabbing the object that landed upon him. Pulling it off he inspects the dry hide. “ What is this?” He asks himself holding the map out in front of his face.

     Looking all around at the image he realizes what he is holding is a hand drawn reference of the land as it is. Only someone who has travelled around can recognize many of the landmarks that are depicted on the image. In the bottom corner there is a small recognizable signature he’s seen before but can’t remember where. Spotting Lutzi inspecting the item he’s holding Errow decides to make his way over. Lutzi notices Errow walking towards him and decides to roll the map up  and place it inside of his satchel around his waist. Errow approaches questioning, “ what have you got there Lutzi?” Walking in front, and then around him. Lutzi plays it off as if he has not clue what Errow is talking about. Errow already upset at what had happened earlier decides to act upon his feeling. Lunging at Lutzi he steps on his foot and pushes him back before grasping his satchel. Lutzi struggles to keep his balance, flailing his arms around in circles as he leans his head towards Errow. Pushing Errow off he smacks Errow’s hands and then from the inside of his upper forearms Lutzi throws outward launching Errow’s hands off of his satchel. Errow reaches out grabbing Lutzi by his long thick hair pulling Lutzi forward onto the ground. Capturing the attention of the group all the men encircle the two to witness. Errow takes a step back as Lutzi pushes himself from the ground standing back to his feet. Adjusting his satchel which rests upon his hip, Lutzi slides the bag to his back. Errow smiles before saying, “ that’s not going to help you! I’m gonna take whatever that was you had.” Using one of his woven bracelets, Lutzi ties his hair back behind his back as well as he mentions, “ hopefully you don’t have to pull my hair again to get it.” The majority of men in the crowd all laugh causing Errow’s smile to fade. He decides to rush Lutzi head on, screaming as he charges at him with both fists forward. Lutzi takes a deep breath, slowing his breathing down as he begins to relax. Just as Errow reaches him he grabs Errow by both of his arms, leaning back using his right leg placed in Errow’s chest and his own momentum against him he flips Errow backwards. Landing on the ground on his back with a thud as the breath escapes his lungs Errow gasps rolling onto his side. Lutzi stands to his feet, brushing himself off he lowers his stance preparing for the next attack. Errow slowly stands to his feet, as Chargus steps up from behind him helping him up. Discretely handing Errow a stone blade to assist him. He pats Errow on the should telling him, “ C’mon you got this!” Errow nods, turning his head to the side and spitting. He cracks his neck from one side to the other before raising his shoulders. Then putting his hands back out in front of him he reveals the blade in his grasp. Lutzi sees this and using his left hand lifts the strap holding the satchel over his head removing it. Errow smiles, “ that’s better, now hand it over.” He says opening the palm of his free hand as he holds the blade out in his other. Lutzi reaches out to hand the satchel over, “ that’s right it’s not worth dying over is it?” He asks. Lutzi shakes his head from side to side as Errow approaches. Just as Errow goes to grab the strap Lutzi swings the satchel in a circle, wrapping it around Errow’s right arm. He pulls Errow forward and then trips him as he gets close. The two tumble to the ground. The crowd watches excited with anticipation to see what will happen. Errow rolls aside as Lutzi ends up beneath him. The strap still wrapped around his arm Errow pushes the blade down just above Lutzi’s throat. Everyone begins screaming and shouting. Using his free hand, Errow presses the razor sharp stone down, lowering it as Lutzi pushes him up in an attempt to repel him. Just then as Yote, Giblet and Dwege reach the bottom of the hill, Yote spots the crowd gathered and shouting. “ scuse me!” He says to the two as he leaves their side to see what is going on ahead. Pushing his way through the crowd just as Errow finally presses the stone blade against Lutzi’s throat. “ Looks like I win.” He says. Lutzi struggles with everything he’s got. Just then Yote steps before both men. “ Wot in Kratok’s name as gotten in ta yew Errow?” He asks before plunging his index and middle finger into Errow’s nose pulling his head up. Errow backs off, falling backwards before standing to his feet with the satchel still wrapped around his arm. Lutzi places his hands on his throat as he exhales. Yote helps him to his feet before he steps over to Errow and grabs the satchel from around his arm. Ripping it away he hands it to Lutzi. “ Firs yew dun listen to wot it is oim saying, den yew make me aff to smack yew around to make an ecks-sample. Now yew decide instead of leading by ecks-sample yew are gonna attack de only one of all dem dhanda’s wot stood up fer yew whilst I slap yew aroun. Ow does dat make any sense wot so ever?” He asks using hand gestures to really get the point across.

     Errow ashamed of himself lowers his head, unable to look Yote in the eyes. He replies, “ it doesn’t. But that’s only...” before he is able to finish Yote shakes his head, “ I’ve erd wot I was looking for. Dats enough. Now oi want all of yew muck eads to get back to wot it was yew were doing before I ad ta come over and break up the partee...” He stands there for a moment closing his eyes as he runs his fingers through his hair. Everyone slowly begins to move away. Upon opening his eyes he finally Loses his patience, angered he shouts, “ now!!!...” Quickly most everyone speeds up their actions. Yote asks Lutzi, “ are yew alroyt myson?” Breathing heavily, Lutzi looks down to the little man and nods, “ yes, if not for you Yote...” with a smirk and a wink Yote replies, “ now yew go off an get some rest. Oyl andle Errow, an opfully by de morrow yew can elp foynd wot it is we’re aftah.” Thanking Yote again Lutzi turns to head towards his own home which wasn’t located around the main residential area. As he walks away he could hear Yote scolding Errow, “ wot is de problem Errow? Are yew aving a ard time doing de job you’ve been given?” He hears in the distance, deciding not to look back Lutzi heads for his own hut hoping to finally get some rest after such a long day. In the morning the sunji begins to rise on the horizon, just over the edge of the water that seems to go on forever. Awakening inside of a looker’s roost positioned high up in a tree out in the grasslands, Jex yawns as the light begins to brighten the world for another day. The roost is high enough that whoever looks out from inside can see a fair distance all the way around. Jex asks, “ where are we going to go now?” Narfeesh stretches, “ I’m not sure now that I’ve lost my mappa.” He turns to the side, grabbing his belongings. Leaning onto the satchel he uses it to support himself as he stands. “ We better be going, we don’t know if they’ll be looking for us.” He tells her. Jex yawns as she nods, before stretching. “ Okay, I am ready, just let me grab my things.” She answers. “ We’ll follow the wadja, eventually it will lead us towards Machunga. We’ll be safe there for a bit.” He tells her before stepping into the escape hole there to allow entrance and exiting of the tree. Climbing down, Narfeesh looks at the ground as Jex places the straps above her head and onto her shoulder to keep her satchel on. She notices the leaves are dry on the canopy of the tree. “ Do you notice anything?” She asks her father before she too descends from the roost. At the base of the trunk Narfeesh asks, “ notice what? There’s too many things to notice one single one.” Jex carefully steps from one foot place to the next lower as she elaborates, “ the leaves, they are dry.” Scratching his head Narfeesh shrugs, “ what do you mean? What are you getting at?” As Jex reaches the final step she leaps from the tree and onto the ground. Standing straight up she explains, “ my point is that what ever that flash was yestermorrow narctos in the skae wasn’t an thunder storm. I don’t remember it even riajnis at all.” Narfeesh nods, then bends forward touching the tall grasses. “ You’re right, no wadja. hmm...” He begins to walk, “ how do you know that’s the right way?” Jex asks. Narfeesh answers, “ because Yenga is back that way.”

      Walking in the same direction. Jex looks back, having never really ventured out past her families farm in her life this was all new to her. She begins to run to catch up with her father as the two walk along. “ So what exactly is that sunji stone that has been past down, and why is it so important?” Narfeesh then reaches into his satchel shuffling his things around as he grasps the golden relic. Pulling it out he holds it out in front before handing it to Jex. “ This stone was past down in our family from my eldest garand-farjer, to his kooje, and from him to his kooje, and again until my farjer received it. Being the only kooje my farjer had, he gave it to me just before he died.” Jex marvels in awe as the  relic radiates with great luster. “ Why is it so special?” She asks as the two continue to walk. “ There was a time of great hardship upon the land. There was much Fighting between tribes, the skae was blanketed with gloom. Even brojahs fought their own brojah. One day there was a thunder storm far away, much like the one from yestermorrow narcto. It was said that shortly after the flash the skae itself opened up. The gloom was blown aside as the sunji shone through. With that came many falling stones from the skae. Several different shapes all made from the sunji itself. They landed in the dirt with such power they had to be dug from the ground. My garand farjer was one of the few to find one. From that day forward he was blessed with luck and prosperity. We have handed it down from farjer to kooje ever since.” Jex looks at the stone with all it’s unnaturally hard edges which dazzle in the light, the glistening sparkle dances along the crisp edges as it is moved. “ We cannot let others know we have it as they will only wish to take it!” He exclaims grabbing it from her. Jex nods, “ have you even seen any of the other sunji stones?” She inquires as he takes the stone from her. Placing the relic back into his satchel and closing the flap, Narfeesh shakes his head from side to side. “ No I have not. I assume in the same way we hide ours from everyone, they would hide theirs from us. We should get going now, it’s only a matter of time before they come looking for us.” Jex agrees, she then asks, “ why do you think they were after us in the first place?” Narfeesh shrugs thinking to himself for a moment, “ I’m not sure why it is they do anything that they do. Their actions usually seem unwarranted and impulsive.” He begins to walk forward as Jex follows right behind. The two head away from the village, across the grasslands.

Chapter No. 07 " Running Amok"

     The stars flickering in the night sky as the Lunis glows silvery white, but illuminates the ground with a bluish twilight. The air is unusually calm, as normally there are still birds cawing, singing and whistling at this time. The bugs chirp and buzz for just a while more until the cool air replaces the warmth from the sunji heating the ground. A light mist begins to emit as the atmosphere lowers in pressure and the vapor in the air settles to the ground.  There is a sudden flash of brilliant white light from far off in the distance. The sky becomes illuminated momentarily as the flash fades off leaving a purple haze to diffuse the night sky. Jex and Narfeesh witness the flash which lights the surroundings for just a few seconds before dissipating. “ What was that?” She asks. Narfeesh replies, “ I don’t know, perhaps there’s thunder storm coming. In which case we better find shelter.” Standing still for a moment Jex stares at the sky above where the flash had taken place. She inquires, “ do you think it has to do with the fijar mogk?” Narfeesh looks at her, then back at the remnants left behind. Thinking for a moment about the celestial body that passed the night before he reflects on the legend. “ I’m not sure.” He answers as he factors in the mysterious visit and the words that have filled his thoughts from earlier. Meanwhile back in Yenga, the entire village rushes out to get a glimpse of the flash that fills the sky. There is much chatter as the villagers speculate as to what it could be. The lookers, and listeners assemble just outside the market. Errow, the village linguist approaches the group. He looks for Chargus, and Lutzi, ensuring both are there in attendance.  “ I’m sure you have all heard the news or witnessed what had just taken place. I assure you it’s nothing more than an thunder storm heading this way.” Just then the rippling shock wave passes through the village as it blows trees aside and huts not properly secured to the ground. There is a deafening crackle as the whole ground below their feet rumbles. Most everyone cowers down covering their ears. A moment after it had passed many villagers begin to question what just happened. Shaking his head side to side as he attempts to focus his thoughts, Errow says to the group gathered. “ See, as I said just a thunder storm, the wadja will soon fall after. We have all been gathered here because our lead dhanda would like to have a word with you all.”

      The men all look at each other wondering what this is all about. Lutzi remains looking forward, his thoughts elsewhere as he considers the fijar mogk from the night before. Chargus looks at Errow, lifting his head slightly to get Errow’s attention. He then shifts his eyes to the right towards Lutzi as to signal for Errow to look over at him. Every other individual there currently enthralled in speculation and conversation as to the flash that had just occurred. Errow makes his way over stopping in front of Lutzi. “ Do you have something you wish to say?” He questions. Breaking his concentration, Lutzi opens his mouth, but Before he can answer Yote yells interrupting him. “ ol-right den you useless excuses fer dhanda’s stand dere and shut it.” Errow smiles at Lutzi, “ we’ll continue this later.” He says as he raises his eyebrows confidently. Yote looks over at Errow, “ Errow! wot part of shut it dun you undah stand?” He asks angrily. Errow shrugs looking over to quickly apologize, “ sor...” But before he can finish Yote cuts him off, “ shut it!!!!” He screams as his face becomes flushed, the vein in his forehead protrudes and throbs. Making his way over Errow he gestures for Errow to lower his face down to his level by curling his index finger repeatedly. Lowering down in front Yote slaps Errow in the face with his open hand. The whole crowd flinches as contact is made. Turning to the side Errow accepts his punishment then stands back up straight. His face now burning where Yote’s hand contacted, Errow remains silent. Yote walks back in front of the group as he says, “ dats bettah.” He sighs gathering his thoughts before turning to face the group. “ Any of yew know wot it is why aye ave yew ere right now?” Not one person answers. Yote looks at their faces, mostly filled with fear and anxiety. “ Well let me tell yew den. Oi gavered yew ere to remind yew for de final time wot it is we are doing. Lookers, ware’s de lookers in de group?” He asks. “ Step forward, listeners yew step back. Just the lookers up front.” All the listeners take a step backwards leaving just the lookers and Errow standing there. Yote paces in front of the men standing there. Getting to Errow he looks up at the red mark on his face, with a smile he once again gestures for him to come down to his face. Doing so Yote smacks him across the opposite side of his face. The group winces once again as the hand contacts the face. “ Wot part of lookers only in de front did yew no get?” He asks. Errow steps back, both sides of his face throbbing now. Yote turns back around pacing once again in front of the group. “ Lookers it is de responsibility to watch for fings dat go on in an around de village. Yew see somefing you report it. Ave aye made myself clear!?” He yells. Once again no one says a word. He repeats, “ ave oi made myself clear!?” The group of lookers and Errow all respond unanimously. “ Yes Yote!” Looking over Yote sees Errow yelling, “ do yew like it wen oi smash moi and on yor face?” Errow shakes his head side to side, “ no Yote, I don’t!” He replies. Yote then proceeds to ask, “ den why do you make me ave to do it?” Errow answers, “ I don’t understand.” Yote makes his way back towards Errow, the group of lookers moves aside out of his way. Yote curls his index finger once again, “ come ere now... dun be shy!” He says to Errow who is reluctant to lower his face. Just as Yote lifts his arm to smack him across his face for a third time a voice calls out, “ he doesn’t understand you because you talk different!” The entire crowd gasps as they all look amongst each other. Yote freezes just before striking Errow again. “ ew says dat?” He demands to know. Lutzi steps forward. “ It was me.” He answers. Errow looks over surprised that Lutzi would do such a thing. Yote lightly slaps Errow on the cheek, “ stand back up!” He tells him. Making his way over to Lutzi Yote
adjusts his belt and satchel as he tosses his head to the side cracking the vertebrae in his neck. He smiles, “ now wot would compelle yew to say such a fing?” He asks. Lutzi looks down at the short man, taking a moment he replies. “ You are not of this land, you came here from Brierland did you not?”

     Yote looks around as all the other watch intently. “ Aye, an wot’s dat matta?” Lutzi rebuttals, “ that’s my point. You came from elsewhere and as such you speak different. Perhaps Errow can’t understand you because of the  difference in the way you speak.” Looking back at Errow, Yote raises his eyebrows, “ is dis de troof den?” He asks Errow, who shakes his head and answers, “ no Yote. I can understand just fine.” He replies. Lutzi looks over at Errow and sighs. Yote looks back at Lutzi as the whole group watches waiting to see what will happen. Yote smiles, “ I appree-she-ate de fought, but I’m fraid dat’s jus not de case. You know Lutzi, I admire de fact dat you spoke up in is defense just den. Says alot about wot yew stand for. But now oi ave to do somfin I dun want to ave to....” Turning back he yells, “ Errow!” Getting his attention, “ come ere!” He says motioning for him to come over instead of going to him. Errow smiles at Lutzi as he makes his way towards the short man. Yote curls his finger to have him come closer. “ Oi need ta tell yew somefing dat’s for yew only!” He says. Errow bends forward turning his head towards Yote. Placing both of his hands around his mouth as if about to whisper as secret into Errow’s ear Yote leans close. With his left hand he grasps Errow’s hair, and with his right he smacks him across the face. All the men wince as he makes contact. “ Now maybe nex time yew won’t ave such a ard time earing wot it is oi say!” He then pushes Errow back. Returning to the front he continues his speech. “ Right now all de listeners step forward, lookers an Errow step back!” Everyone does as he says. “ Good oi fink we ave an undah-standing now. Listeners it yer jobs ta listen and report. If a looker tells yew somefin you don’t deside wevah or not to report, yew jus do! Do oi make myself clear?” He asks. The listeners reply simultaneously, “ yes Yote!” He smiles, “ now finally, last but certainly now least. Errow step forward!” The lookers and listeners step back leaving a large space between them and Errow, who take a step forward then looks back at the others. “ Dun look at dem, look at me!” Yote shouts. Errow sharply turns around to face Yote. “ If yew ear anyfing. An oi mean anyfing, yew tell me roight away. Do yew undahstand?” Errow nods, replying, “ yes Yote!” Nodding, Yote says his final words before dismissing the group. “ Well den if the wadja is gun fall soon we bettah fix dem uts for the village. Dun waste anymore time, get on it!” He exclaims before turning around to make his way back up the hill towards Yetzan’s residence. Stopping he turns back, as the men all begin to walk away Yote shouts, “ wait now... one more fing.” The men all freeze and turn to look back at him. “ Anyone see dem tew Giblet an Dwege? I notice dey aren’t ere!” The men all look at each other. Most everyone shakes their heads no. Yote then says, “ wen dey show up yew send dem to me!” As he sticks his thumb into his chest. Turning back he continues to the path leading to the staircase up the hill to Yetzan’s.

     The men all return to what they were about to do. The nigh sky clear as the Lunis shines on down. Not a cloud in sight. Still the villagers all work together to resurrect the huts. Slowly they all begin to speak, forming various individual conversations that becomes an ambiance as the villagers break off into different groups all working together to rebuild. As everyone is hard at work, Errow takes a moment to stop what he is doing. He looks over at Lutzi who is busy with a few men. Lutzi does not notice Errow staring, he just remains working. Moments later Errow notices the two missing men, Dwege and Giblet approaching from the distance. He drops everything to make his way over. The two are so preoccupied in their story they plan to tell Yote that they fail to see Errow heading towards them. “ Where were you two?!” Errow asks interrupting the two and catching them off guard at the same time. Coming to a halt the two men stand looking at each other. “ We were doing something very important!” Dwege exclaims. Errow sneers at Dwege, “ oh really? And what’s that?” He inquires. Dwege retorts, “ we were fighting off a...” And before he can finish Giblet elbows him in the side, as to get his attention. “ What is it?” He turns to ask Giblet, who nervously replies, “ we were going to pick up something important.” Dwege misunderstanding shakes his head. “ No we weren’t.” He says, as Errow grows impatient with the two. Giblet looks at Dwege, widening his eyes, “ yes we were!” He replies. Dwege shakes his head, “ no we were fighting those shemli dhanda’s that we killed remember!?” He says with a very obvious wink to follow. Giblet growls, “ no we were not! Remember!” Errow now suspicious asks, “ so you were off killing some shemli dhanda’s now were you?” He skeptically asks. Giblet shakes his head. “ We were collecting something important to Yote. Dwege is thinking of something else!” He says attempting to cover for Dwege’s explanation. Shifting his vision from one to the other, Errow doesn’t know what to think. He replies, “ well Yote just so happens to be looking for you two, so we’ll see. By the way, Dwege what’s that stench? And how did you get those markings and bruises?” Giblet looks at Dwege and then back to Errow. “ It’s a long story, we will explain it to Yote.” Hesitant to believe, Errow responds, “ very well. I will take you to see him myself. I wish to know what is going on and if you will only tell him, I want to be there to hear it.” Giblet looks at him, then back at Dwege. “ Fine.” He says, pushing past Errow to head for the steps leading up the hill. Errow looks at Dwege who smiles and shrugs. He then follows behind, as Errow follows him. The three walking up the steps carved into the hillside, Giblet and Dwege side by side as Errow follows a few steps below. As they round the bend that then leads to the steep climb up neither says a word. Giblet thinking to himself about what is going to happen when they reach the top. Dwege thinking about explaining the amazing story of how he solely killed off the shemli dhanda’s and saved Giblet. Errow thinking by bringing these two to see Yote that perhaps that could ease some of the grief he’s been receiving lately.

      In the village, in the midsts of the rebuilding of the huts and shanties at the base of the hill Lutzi stops working for a moment spotting movement above. He looks to see Errow walking with Giblet and Dwege towards the chief’s residence. He smiles then returns to his task, heaving a pile of dried grasses and sticks aside to cover the outer walls of a structure. Moments later, as the three reach the top Giblet and Dwege freeze before the large gate. Errow questions, “ well what are you waiting for? Open the gate!” The two look at each other. Both shrugging simultaneously, before they both turn to grab the gate. Giblet pushes as Dwege pulls. Both men groan laboriously, “ are you pushing?” Dwege asks. Giblet replies, “ yes, that’s how it opens.” Dwege responds, “ no it’s a pull, you have to pull it!” Giblet shakes his head and retorts, “ it’s definitely a push!” Once again both men shrug and then attempt to do the opposite they were just doing. Giblet begins to pull as Dwege pushes. Both men struggling to budge the gate. Errow scoffs from behind. “ What’s the matter can’t you two open a gate?” Giblet shouts, “ I’m pulling!” As Dwege shakes his head, “ you’re pulling now? I was pushing! I thought you said it was push?” Giblet shrugs, “ no you said it was pull, you seemed so sure.” Dwege replies, “ well I don’t know anymore, do we push or pull?” Both men look back at Errow who bites his lower lip in frustration, “ it’s neither! It slides!” He says angrily. Giblet laughs, as Dwege huffs, “ well why didn’t you say so?” Reaching for the bars Dwege places his hand on the outside bars as Giblet grasps the inside ones. Giblet slides the gate to the side trapping Dwege’s fingers between the two. Dwege screams, “ arhhhggg! My hand! It’s stuck, open the gate!”  As Giblet panics and continues to push. Errow finally having enough pushes Giblet aside and slides the gate back releasing his fingers. By now the commotion has gotten both Yetzan and Yote’s attention as the two exit the residence making their way over to the three at the gate. The last thing Yote managed to see was Errow pushing on the gate whilst Dwege was screaming with his hand trapped in it. “ wot’s de meaning of dis! Still not listening cos yew fink jus coz yur a linguis yew dun ave ta?” He asks excitedly. Errow shakes his head as he nervously replies, “ no Yote, I was helping him to get out, it was Giblet that trapped him in the first place.” As he points at Giblet standing back away. Yetzan and Yote look over at him, then back at Errow. “ Really now, yew cannae even take de blame for wen it is yew urt an mess up. Blamin de ofvers now.” Shaking his head in disappointment Yote then instructs Giblet and Dwege to enter the property. “ dere’s some splainin ta do.” He says as the two men enter through the gate.

     Errow attempts to follow he is stopped by Yetzan standing before him with his arms crossed. Errow Looks up at him to see him shaking his head from side to side. “ You’ve done enough Errow,  Yote and myself will hand these two. You better Go on before Yote finds another reason to smack you.” Errow slightly embarrassed nods as Yetzan closes the gate sliding it to the side. Watching from through the bars on the gate as Yote places his arm around Dwege to lead him back towards the house. Yetzan walks behind Giblet who follows Yote and Dwege. “ Now tell me wot it is yew found.” He mentions as they walk beyond earshot of Errow. Exhaling a large breath Errow hits the gate with both fists closed, he then kicks the gate enraged as he growls. “ That should be me! I should be in there!” He mutters before giving up. As Yetzan holds the door open for the others to enter he gives one look back to see Errow still standing there. Squinting as he moves his head forward to get a better look he then shakes his head from side to side before entering the home himself. The door slams behind him, and the yard is left empty. Errow turns to head back down the hill, bothered by the thought the entire way. With his head down he watches the ground in front rather than what is ahead of him. Reaching the base he returns to assisting with the rebuilding of the huts. Meanwhile inside the chief’s residence Yote takes a seat, as does Yetzan. Giblet and Dwege are left standing as they are not offered a spot to sit. Natutu peeks out from his room to look as Yote starts of saying, “ so me chief. Jus as oi had suspected, deese tew were off at the Allmeya farm on an errand.” Yetzan cuts him off there, “ what sort of errand is required there?” Yote smiles revealing his dirty stained worn down teeth. “ Well me chief, dere’s de mattah of yur unda.” Yetzan frowns, “ what does Natutu have to do those Allmeya’s?... Is this about that madja? I already told him!... Natutu get out here!” He booms. Yote shakes his head attempting to diffuse the situation, “ no, dere’s more den jus dat.”

     Giblet and Dwege standing before Yote and Yetzan, both men look at each other. Wondering what is about to happen. Yetzan sniffs the air, “ what is that smell?” He angrily slams his fist down onto the arm of his chair. Giblet takes a small step to the side as to distance himself from Dwege. a moment later Natutu steps out from his room into the hall leading to where the men are all gathered. “ So Yote, tell me then what is this about?” Natutu walks in, standing between Yote and his father. Yote stalls for a moment, “ well umm, it is dat dere’s... well... dere appens ta be more to it an den it jus so appens dat umm Allmeya an is dawtea got all wravelled up in it...” Dwege interrupts, “ it was shemli dhanda’s!...” Giblet scrunches his face up just before he covers it with the open palm of his right hand. Yote stammers, “ yeah it was dem shemli dhanda’s den...” as Yetzan pushes Natutu aside, “ what, what, what?!” He exclaims, as Yote realizes what he’d just agreed to, he looks over horrified. Dwege continues, “ well it was just us, Giblet and me!” He says slapping Giblet on the back. “ We were out past the Allmeya farm, we were just on our way back when out of nowhere these two pale skinned dhanda’s jump on us and attacked us!” He points to the scrapes and bruises on his face. “ That’s how I got these! No matter... if not for Giblet I’d be dead, cause one of them practically sat on my face and kept me from breathing.” Yetzan with eyes wide open, completely intrigued asks,
“ so what did you do then?” Giblet unable to listen anymore figures he might as well end it now before it becomes too fat fetched. “ We ran my chief!” Yote looks over at Giblet, then back at Dwege. Natutu who had been there the entire time becoming increasingly excited to hear the story. Yetzan then asks, “ did you run straight back to the village?” Dwege nods his head yes, as Giblet shakes his head no. Giblet elbows Dwege. “ We ran through the hunting ground my chief. That way if they followed they’d be trapped for sure!” Yetzan sits back to relax as he thinks for a moment.

Chapter No.06 Yestermorrow is gone

      In the evening Jex and Narfeesh had finally finished planting all of the last seeds for the growing season. Walking towards their house, Jex carries both digging sticks, and the empty seed satchel. Narfeesh wipes the sweat from his brow with the back side of his hand. Stopping for a moment he looks back at the freshly sown field. The little mounds neatly placed in uniform rows brought pleasure to the old farmer. Something about farming created a sense of peace and relaxation. Perhaps it’s the ritualistic planting, and caring which in turn cares for and provides rewards that make it all worth while. Maybe it’s the fact that after planting the seeds,  knowing what will follow, as farming is very predictable. Narfeesh sighs relief after a hard days work. Jex reaches the house leaning the digging sticks against the outside wall. She turns back to see her father standing on the edge of the field admiring the work they had done that day. With a slight smile she reaches down to remove the seed satchel. Just then she notices out of the corner of her eye someone heading towards the house down the lane which separates the fields. Pulling the satchel up over her head she places it off the side as she then looks over to get a better look. Noticing it was Yote kye, she yells to her father, “ another of Ursa's dhanda’s coming.” Narfeesh turns towards her, “ go inside, I’ll take care of him.” He instructs. Jex does just that, picking up the seed satchel and digging sticks. She carries the objects into the house placing them in their respective spots which they normally go. Hurrying she makes her way to her bedroom hiding by window to get a listen. Outside Yote nears Narfeesh as he waves as a sign of peace, “ oi Allmeya, ows it going?” Standing tall Narfeesh crosses his arms, squinting as to furl his brow. He replies, “ it would be going much better if you and your goonji’s would stop bothering us.” Yote smiles, holding out his arms he responds jokingly, “ goonji’s me frien? It’s just me, oi ain’t seen ew in a while now, wot’s wif de ostilit-ee?” Narfeesh remains stern, “ there were two of your dhanda’s here earlier, one of them went through my house and attacked my dawtea.” He retorts angrily, just tipping his head in the direction of the house behind him. In the window Jex watches, unable to hear the conversation. Yote looks over to see her looking out, she quickly moves behind the wall to hide. Yote laughs, “ no!...” He says shocked to hear this. He continues, “ eww wos it? aye’ll personally deal wif em meself.” He adds. Narfeesh shakes his head shrugging, “ I don’t know their names, the one in my house should have bruises on his face from my dawtea, Jex.” He smirks at the idea. Yote then turns the conversation, “ ahh yes yer dawtea, dat’s actually why tis aye came. Yew see Natutu is to choose a madja from the village to be is wife, an bear his children.” Narfeesh’s expression drastically changes from angry to enraged. “ No way no how!” He shouts. Noticing the behaviour Yote attempts to diffuse the situation, “ aye aven’t even said wot it is om trying to say.” Narfeesh replies, “ I know what you are trying to say. That no good, blabber baby wants what he can’t have. Now he’s sent you to come and take it.” Yote opens his eye widely, as his eyebrows raise halfway up his forehead. “ yew got it all wrong, oym not ere to take anyfing. I just wanted to proposition yew to see if dered be any intrest.” Narfeesh responds, “ I believe I’ve made my position very clear. Why doesn’t little Natutu Ursa do what he’s supposed to and choose from within the village, not my dawtea.” Yote keeping his composure responds, “ well yew should fink about it, at least until yestahmorrow.” He winks at Narfeesh before looking beyond him towards Jex again who had been watching the entire time.

      Inside she quickly jolts from her hiding spot, angry that the chief’s men keep bothering her and her father, she growls. Outside Yote walks away happily, leaving Narfeesh standing there infuriated. He turns back one last time to mention, “ jus fink about it...” he says before turning forward to continue. Narfeesh breathing heavily closes his eyes for a moment as his nostrils flair, the very idea incites rage throughout his body. He suddenly feels a rush of cool air blowing over him, calming him as the breeze blows over his skin. He begins to tingle before shuddering from the feeling. The woman in the white robe approaches from behind. His eyes still closed keeping him unaware to her presence. She whispers into his ear, “ You’ve been  propositioned, yet  made your choice, stuck to your decision, made heard your voice. Your word is final, their plan you did thwart, it’s up to your dawtea who she wishes to court. His unda will not be, the choice she will make, a dhanda from another land’s hand she will take. Beyond your life time, I regret to tell, it’s been written your fate that you’ll be fell. Your life not wasted, acres grown for the greater, it’s others who will feel the void created much later.” She shushes him, placing his index finger on his lips. Narfeesh opens his eyes to see who was speaking to him. Looking around he sees nothing, the oracle now gone. a cold chill begins to resonate within his being. His skin stands on edge as he decides to return to his home. Walking back he wonders if he’d imagined those words, or if someone was there talking to him. The words just repeated in his head continuously. Opening the door he steps inside. Turning around he looks out on final time to see if anyone had been present in the area. Nothing out of the ordinary causes him to sigh with a slight grunt before closing the wooden door. He engages the wood locking mechanism before entering the main room in the house.

       Outside the woman in white walks away as the sunji sets on the horizon. Inside Jex steps into the main room as her father sits down in his chair. “ What did he have to say?” She asks as Narfeesh is quietly muttering the oracle’s words to himself. Unresponsive Jex waits a moment before attempting to get her father's attention. She listens intently to the words he is repeating. “ Dhanda from another land’s hand she will take.” Is what she hears him say before she questions him once more. “ What did Yetzan’s little dhanda have to say to you?” She asks. Narfeesh clears his throat, before answering. “ Ah yes... He said that Yetzan’s unda, Natutu wishes to have you as his mate.” Jex scoffs replying, “ not likely, I’d kill him before I’d be with him.” Narfeesh holds out his hands, “ I took care of it. No need to worry.” She eagerly questions, “ what did you tell him?” Narfeesh assures her, “ I told him no way, no how and That’s that.” Jex makes a face as to question her father. “ What do you mean, that’s that?” She asks. Narfeesh looks back at her and replies, “ it means that I dealt with it, no need to worry.” Jex angrily rebuttals, “ do you really think that these slump headed doowats understand what that means?” As she points in the general direction of the village. Narfeesh answers, “ no I don’t which is why I was planning on packing our things up and leaving. I don’t want to stay here one more day.” Surprised Jex agrees with him. “ Okay then, where will we go?” She questions. Narfeesh shifts his weight to get up, grunting as he leans forward to stand. “ I can’t say for certain, but as far as I’m concerned, anywhere is better than here.” He tells her as he begins to make his way towards his room. Jex yawns, “ I’m tired from the day’s work, as I’m sure so are you.” She mentions. Narfeesh agrees as he enters his room. “ Grab what is important to you, nothing more.” He says from his room. She nods in agreement as she too makes her way to her room. There is shuffling about in his room as Narfeesh gathers his possessions. Placing them into his satchel with care as to fit them in the most efficient way possible. He then grabs the last item, a rolled up tanned skin from an animal. On the skin a map has been etched and painted with various dyes. He walks over to the hidden compartment on the wall, opening the front. Reaching inside he grabs the golden relic that has been in his family for generations. He places it into his satchel before closing the flap and fastening the strap. Walking back over to Jex’s room he says her, “ I am ready. Are you almost prepared?” She looks back and nods, “ just a few more things.” She replies. Moments later she closes her satchel as well. Standing to her feet she leaves the room. “ Okay let’s go.” She says, her father nods. He grabs on of the sticks off the wall handing it to her, “ just incase” he tells her. Grasping the other he makes his way to the door. He looks back at his daughter as he is opening the door. He smiles, she then returns the smile.

      As he swings the door open one of the masked men stands outside holding a sharpened stone blade. Jex screams alarming her father who turns to look. “ Go!” He yells as he pushes the man back. Jex runs past the man, however another one is off to the side she runs towards. Holding the stick with both hands she rushes the second man knocking him to the ground. She then turns back to see her father struggling with the other man. Standing up she uses the stick to beat the man on the ground, whacking him several times. Narfeesh holds his stick to the side, he says to the masked man, “ you chose the wrong dhanda to sneak up on.” Grasping the stick with both hands, he places it inside the man’s inner thigh, getting the back of the man’s knee he then pries up and thrusts back. Slamming into the man with his shoulder he knocks the masked man to the ground. Jex rushes over to assist her father. She leaps in the air landing with both feet on the man’s mask. The man grunts before yelling at her. Narfeesh then slams the thickest part of the stick into the man’s sternum. Gasping for air the masked man flails about on the ground. Jex and Narfeesh quickly run away from the scene. “ This way!” He calls out, pointing towards the treeline at the edge of the field. The two of them in such a hurry that Narfeesh failed to notice his map had fallen from his pack. The two men on the ground lay still, beaten down by those who they planned to attack. The Sunji quickly setting in the sky as evening turned into night. Reaching the treeline the two stop for a moment to catch their breath. Jex asks, “ what was that?” Narfeesh breathing heavily replies, “ I think they were coming to send a message.” Leaning forward he places his hand out onto a tree for support. Dropping his satchel onto the ground he opens the flap reaching in. “ Where is it?” He questions. Jex looking back at the farm house in the distance responds, “ where is what?” Her father begins to panic, “ I must have dropped it!” He says looking back. Jex questions, “ dropped what? what is it?” Narfeesh answers, “ it’s a map. It has different locations drawn out so that we know where to go and where not to.” Jex pauses for a moment. “ Well should we go back and look?” Her father shakes his head, “ no it’s too dangerous. We will just have to do without.” Repacking the contents of his satchel he bitterly looks back. “ Well let’s not waste any more time. It’s going to be too dark to travel soon, we should find someplace to hide till morning.” He says standing back to his feet. Jex nods in agreement. “ Alright, which way?” She asks. Pointing to the left, Narfeesh begins to walk. “ Try to remain a quiet as possible, we don’t know if anymore of them are out there.” He mentions. Jex nods not saying anything in response. The two walk through the brush and out into the clearing.

     The night sky is bright from the full Lunis, and filled with twinkling stars. Narfeesh looks up towards the stars, pointing to a group of three he asks, “ do you remember what those are called?” Jex looks to where he is pointing, “ yes, the three sisters.” She replies. Narfeesh smiles, “ you used to love that story.” He says as the two walk on through the grass covered land. Meanwhile back at the farm house the two masked men regain consciousness. The second man rolls to his side pushing himself to his feet. He staggers over towards the first one who lay breathing laboriously. “ Get up!” He says, reaching down to help his fallen comrade. Standing to their feet, the first man removes his mask. “ What do we tell Yote?” He asks. Hobbling along the second man removes his mask before replying, “ the truth. We tell him they jumped us.” The first one shakes his head, “ c’mon Dwege, he’s not going to believe that. We gotta come up with something better.” The second man, Dwege responds, “ Giblet, if we lie he’ll never trust us again.” The first man, Giblet shakes his head from side to side. “ Dwege, if we tell him that we got beat up by a little madja, and her farjer he’ll never trust us again. Think about it!” Dwege considers the idea for a moment. “ You’re right, what can we tell him?” He asks. Giblet looks around, “ I don’t know. What do you think?” Dwege shrugs, “ let’s go check out the house, maybe we can get an idea there.” Giblet nods, “ alright, good idea.” He responds. Dwege proudly answers, “ those are the only kind I ever have!” Dwege helps Giblet accepting his body weight as they begin walking towards the house. He notices the rolled up map on the ground. “ What’s this?” He asks bending forward to pick it up, as Giblet loses his balance thinking that Dwege had him. He falls back to the ground and shouts, “ argg, I thought you had me, what are you doing?” Dwege holds the map out as he unravels the skin. Giblet stands up on his own grunting as he struggles to his feet. “ What is it?” He inquires. Dwege replies, “ I’m not sure what it is. There are pictures and words.” Giblet reaches out to grab it with force as Dwege unknowingly turns around to compare the drawings to the landscape. Giblet falls forward once again. Dwege looks down having heard yet another thump and groan from Giblet. “ Do you need help?” He asks as Giblet gets back up. “ No, I’m fine.” He responds in a snarky tone. Dwege shakes his head, “ I don’t get it?” He says as he lowers the map. “ Let me see it!” Giblet demands. Dwege hands it off, “ sure. I’m going to go look in the house.” Giblet takes the map and replies, “ alright, tell me if you find anything.” As he holds the map with both hands. Dwege walks up to the house looking in through the window. It’s dark inside, he is unable to recognize anything useful. He walks through the door into the dark house. Giblet looks at the imagery on the map, as he reads the names aloud. “ Dasek HachTi, Suenk Di?...Why Are the other villages names here?” He asks. He is interrupted by a crashing from within the house, he lowers the map. “ What are you doing in there?” He shouts. Dwege’s unresponsiveness causes Giblet to make his way over, limping along the way.

      Reaching the door he peeks inside. “ You find anything?” He asks waiting a moment. It remains silent, there isn’t a response. Giblet now becoming increasingly frustrated growls, “ grr.... Have you found anything or not?” He says entering the home as he clutches the map. Walking slowly across the floor Giblet reaches out with his free hand to feel about in the darkness. Tripping over a fallen clay urn he crashes to the ground with a thud, smashing the urn as it falls to the floor also. With a groan Giblet stands to his feet. “ Dwege! Where are you?” He calls out. A moment later he hears a grumble from the next room. Giblet whispers, “ is that you?” As he tries to look around to see where the noise came from. There is a thump on the floor that gets Giblet’s attention. His heart begins to speed up as his thoughts race. There is a dragging noise followed by a gurgling. “ It’s not funny Dwege, if that’s you tell me now!” He says. Another thump followed by a scratching sound coming from the next room. Giblet becomes overcome with fear. He quickly makes his way to the wall beside the door, thinking that perhaps there was a beast in the house and Dwege had been eaten. If that was the case he didn’t want to be next in line. Crouching down beside the door he awaits whatever is making its way to the door to leave the room. He hears another thump, followed by yet another  scraping sound. Suddenly a dark figure makes it way out of the room, one leg leading. Giblet can’t make out what it is, but can tell it’s tall. It groans as it takes one more step before Giblet yells, “ you’re not going to eat me!” And rushes the creature knocking it backwards. Stumbling off its feet the bulky beast slams the floor with a shattering crash. “ What the?” Giblet asks, as he then hears heavy panting from that direction. Dwege calls out, “ is that you?” Giblet replies, “ yes, where were you?” On the floor Dwege struggles to unravel the fur blankets that cover him. “ I was checking out that room when I tripped over a blanket and my head got stuck in an urn. It smelled terrible and I couldn’t hear anything except my own voice. I tried to turn around to get up but only wrapped myself up in the blankets.” Sniffing the air Giblet mentions, “ I think you fell in the cucass jar!” He laughs. Dwege smells himself, “ I think you’re right. If not for you I would have probably stayed in the cucass jar! Thanks.” He replies. Giblet helps Dwege to his feet, “ don’t mention it. We still have to come up with something to tell Yote!” Dwege standing to his feet with a grunt, pulls the blankets that had been wrapped around him tossing them to the floor. “ Let’s get out of here first. Then we can tell him we came across two shemli dhanda’s.” Giblet agrees, “ yeah, like from Lutzi’s story! They were pale skinned!” The two make their way to the door. Both attempting to exit at the same time they get stuck. Struggling to squeeze through Dwege says with a groan, “ one was old and one was young!” Giblet pushes though, both men fall out of the door. “ And they had this amazing weapon!” He says. Dwege nods in agreement. “ Yeah it was huge, and it could cut through anything! But we managed to escape!” Giblet smiles embellishing, “ and then we ran through the hunting grounds where we lost them.” The two head through the fields stepping over the newly planted mounds of dirt flattening them as they walk towards the village. Giblet holding the map still stops for a moment. Dwege continues walking and speaking aloud as to what they will tell Yote. “ The two men are dead now, cause we killed them!” He says. Giblet inspects the map one final time as Dwege walks on.

Chapter No.05 " Rolling Deep"

      Behind large leaved plants that have grown at the base of the hill near the gate posts. Lutzi hides out waiting to see what would become of Errow, only to hear the entire conversation between Natutu and Yote. Angered that Natutu wants to have Jex for his mate, as Lutzi has been trying for years to confess his feelings to her. Every attempt has ended horribly as she does not share the same feelings for him or any of the villagers. With the coast clear Lutzi crawls from the bushes to his feet. Thinking of what he can do before Yote can tell Jex he heads towards his own home to devise a plan. Caught up in his thoughts he was unaware to the presence of Chargus Ixmae, one of Yote’s listeners sitting facing the opposite way. A listener’s job is to listen to all the chatter, and decipher what’s important and what isn’t. This particular listener is loyal to both Errow and Yote. He has the ideology that looker Lutzi isn’t as loyal as he should be. Following Lutzi he intends to find out any useful information that he can bring to Errow’s attention implicating that Lutzi is not part of the Yenga clique. Nearing his home, Lutzi looks back getting the innate feeling of being followed. Changing his route he decides to enter the market instead.

       Meanwhile across the ocean, upon the floating island of Atlantis, the excitement had been building for the ascension to take place. Most all the Atlanteans were gathered about on their respective rings. Awaiting the opening of the upward causeway, the primary entrances to the next level of society. Each causeway had been sealed since the last ascension. The doors circular in their construction were inlaid into large channels surrounding them. Impassable without the proper codes becoming active during the ascension program. Just as the crowd seems to lose their anticipation, the noise level decreases dramatically. Suddenly without warning the first worm gear begins to turn. This initiates a series of events to begin, firstly turning a large cog whose teeth meshed with several other gears which all begin to turn simultaneously. The crowd comes alive. Whistling and cheering. Steam blasts out of several intrinsic ports on the door. Lance who’d been standing at the far back of the crowd watches. He begins to smile, feeling the excitement Knowing that he’ll eventually pass through that door one day. Unaware that Standing behind him the mysterious man from earlier was watching the event take place. There is a series of beeps and whistles that occur from the man’s armband. Lance looks back to see the man. “ What are you doing here?” He asks. The man not listening sees on his armband the power of the crystal is being significantly drained by the opening of the causeway. Lance annoyed by the man ignoring him, reaches out to grab the man’s hand. Without thinking the man whips Lance around and tosses him to the ground with ease. Landing hard with a thud lance gasps for air. The man then notices a marking on lance’s wrist. He freezes for a moment reminiscing about where he’d seen that marking before.

      A flash of a memory from years ago. In the central tower he and his group had made their way in to protest the usage of the islands energy source for unnecessary projects. They detested that such projects would be the short coming of the island’s power. At the time the king and his wife had a baby which had been very sick. They gathered their top minds to build a device that would contain the baby and help artificially heal the child. The only problem with the device was that it would consumed an excessive power amount to work. There was an argument between those who opposed it, as well as Poseidon and his wife. The secret use of the machine extracted an excess of five hundred years worth of energy from the crystal. When the group opposing the project arrived to detest they were met with force. Fighting their way through the group became separated. The man reached the top of the tower where the device had been contained. Knowing he could not harm the baby in the device the man branded the babies wrist. Immediately afterwards the device healed the wound, but the marking remained. The king and several guards arrived to detain the man. Flashing back, lance kicked the man off yelling, “ what do you want?” The man smiles, “ it was you all along.” Lance confused by the statement squints, “ what was me?” Interrupted by the causeway door, there was a tremendous screeching. Everyone covers their ears, cowering to the ground. Sparks began to emit from the outer edges of the door. People began to panic. There was a creaking as the door began to roll aside. Realizing this was probably due to the door being sealed for so long the people began to stand back to their feet. The mysterious man and lance at the back looked at each other. “ You have been the one I have been searching for?” The man says. Lance’s eyes open widely, “ what are you talking about?” He questions. The man replies, “ you really don’t remember do you?” Lance asks, “ remember what? How you tried to kill that other kid today? Yes I remember that. What you are going to try to kill me now?” The man points to Lance’s arm, “ What do you know of that marking?” He inquires. Lance responds, “ It’s a birthmark, why?” The man reaches out his own hand bearing the same marking. “ It’s more than that!” He says with his eyes gleaming. Lance notices the man’s armband is not like his or any others he’d ever seen. Suddenly the ground begins to rumble once again, this time the tremor even stronger. The man consults his armband, seeing that the powers is now nearing unstable levels. As he looks up he sees lance is no longer there. “ Where are you going?” He asks looking around. In the distance he spots the boy running away. He grumbles, “ they always choose the hard way” he says before chasing after him. As the door to the causeway rolls aside opening up, the crowd anxiously begins  pouring in. There is pandemonium as people push and shove to be first to get a glimpse of the upward leading bridge to the next tier of the island. Lance forces his way through all of those excited Atlanteans who had passed. Within seconds he had been overwhelmed and trampled by the mass. A few moments later there were hands reaching down to grab him. Grasping his clothing, he is ripped up onto his feet. Surprised lance looks to see it’s the man he was running from. The whole event goes unnoticed as everyone else is too enthralled in the ascension. Just as the man lifts lance up into the air there is a loud crackling blast. The man freezes,
“ It’s too late.” He says dropping lance to the ground. The massive crowd of Atlanteans all stop too look for the origin of the terrible noise. The man consults his armband once again. “ It’s going to blow. There’s no time.” He says. Lance unable to discern what the man means. Sitting up, Lance pushes himself forward as to stand to his feet. The man looks at him one final time and says, “ I was looking forward to ending you after all these years, but I guess your father’s undoing will take care of that after all.” The man then turns around and runs for the guard rails on the very edge of the island. They stand five feet from the ground, acting as a type of preventative measure, as well as protection. After the ascension program was originally cancelled the rails were installed replacing the early rails which only stood at three feet. Now more than ever they keep the Atlanteans from being able to escape.

     Lance watches as the man reaches the rails in the distance. “ What are you going to do?” He asks as panic begins to spread, and many of the crowd run about. Someone shouts, “ the father crystal is changing colours” Lance watches as the man removes something from his side. “ What is that?” He asks. A blade emerges from the handle in the man’s hand. Using the blade the man swipes across the top and bottom of the railings. There are sparks as the rails struck fall out. “ What in Atlantis?” Lance Says, amazed by the shear display of power. Suddenly the man leaps out the hole he’d just created. He realizes the video projection he’d seen earlier from the program coder bot had a man holding a similar blade. There are various screams in behind, Looking back lance sees the crystal changed from blue to purple. Never before has the crystal done this. People standby watching in awe. Those who’d entered the causeway are unaware of the change until they exit. Lance realizes the mysterious man must know that something horrible was about to happen. Looking back at the hole in the rails lance decides to run over. A few seconds later he reaches the hole and looks out. The man was nowhere to be seen below. Thinking fast lance actives his armband, he enters the Opiva application and creates a point in that space. Opiva standing for, ‘ origin point identification visual aide’ an application which a point in space is referenced by interjecting an energy field unique to the creator’s armband at the exact location. When the creator of the field nears the proximity the energy becomes excited by the armband and glows. When the creator is not near the field the energy is invisible, but a visible disturbance in the air is present.

      Lance quickly begins running through the now still crowd, running towards the housing district to reach his mother. People begin to gasp as the crystal begins to change again to red. Lance glances over. Knowing there’s barely any time he runs faster than he’d ever run before. Reaching the door to his home he slams into it with a thud, as the auto unlock didn’t engage. “ What’s wrong?” He asks looking at his armband. The screen shows, ‘ access denied. Key code incorrect’ lance growls, “ let me in this is very important!” The buzzer on the door chimes. Attempting to manually enter the key code doesn’t work either. The code isn’t accepted. Lance then attempts to contact his mother via pause chat. She doesn’t answer the call. Looking back at The crystal lance sees it glowing bright red. “ This can’t be good.” He says, before one final attempt to open the door. He remembers there is an override panel located on the base of the door with a unique code for every door. It’s usually the inhabitants birthday, day then month then year. Lance first tries his mothers. It doesn’t work, he has two more attempts before the override disconnects. He then tries his own birthday. Another failed attempt, angrily lance growls, before he thinks of any other possible dates. Looking at his armband he notices the reminder for the ascension. Looking at the date of the day, he decides to look up the last ascension date. Twenty two years ago on this day. He decides to give it a shot. Entering he numbers into the override he takes a deep breath before pressing the last number. Waiting a moment to see if it worked he is disappointed when he hears the final buzz. The screen on his armband displays an error message. “ Three failed attempts. Override disengaged. Please contact a technician immediately for assistance.” Lance tries one more time to contact his mother on the pause chat. This time the call goes through, she asks angrily, “ what do you want?” Lance replies, “ I need you to come outside. The father crystal is glowing and I think something bad is about to happen.” Milano explains to her son, “ my whole life has been a series of bad things happening. If the crystal is about to do something it would be a blessing.” Lance unable to understand asks, “ wouldn’t you rather live knowing...” before he can finish she interrupts him, “ No I’d rather die not knowing. I’m tired of living this life. Tired of running from the past. Maybe this was his will. This is why he trapped me, us... here.” She says. Lance asks, “ who? What do you mean? Who trapped us here?” Suddenly there is a commotion. “ It’s turning white!” Someone yells from the crowd. Lance looks back as the red glowing changes into a soft white. Milano answers, “ there isn’t much time. Don’t let the ghosts of our family past haunt you like they did me. If you can make it run for the outer rails and leap. Don’t end up like the rest of us.” With that Milano ends the communication. Lance’s armband screen becomes static. Angry he pounds on the door with both fists. Taking a deep breath he checks the distance to his Opiva point. Without any further hesitation he runs towards the hole the mysterious man had made in the rails.

      At this point the majority of the crowd stood still watching as the crystal began to glow brilliantly hot. For the first time in a very long time the island was silent, no one spoke a word. Lance pushed himself as hard as he ever had, rushing forward towards the opening in the railing. His Opiva point beginning to glow as he neared. The crystal begins to crackle, and vibrate violently. Lance reaches the hole, grabbing the bar closest to him. Pulling his body as he twists out the hole he projects himself out and off the island. The crystal implodes on itself before erupting instantly into a magnificent explosion from the inner ring outwards. Lance tumbles through the air below the lowest ring seeing something very few have ever witnessed. The bottom of the island. As The explosion rips through the air vaporizing anything biological. The structures are left untouched. Everyone had been instantaneously  obliterated from reality. Lance finally slams into the open ocean like a free falling boulder. As he floats under the surface he witnesses the brilliant blast projecting outwards through the sky. Bubbles floating to the surface hinder lance’s view of what is to follow. With no power to keep the island afloat regulating the internal pressure and buoyancy, the island drops from its resting place. As lance floats to the surface he captures a final glimpse of his ill fated home plummeting into the ocean. He panics turning to swim away before the tidal wave that ensues swallows him whole. It is however no use as the island sinks rather quickly, displacing a vast volume of water in every direction. The water begins to rise rapidly creating a  suction of the current under the surface, pulling lance down below against his efforts. Under the water lance pulls the water, stroking as hard as he can to fight the pull. His actions are futile as the water pulls him deeper with each passing second. His breath escapes as bubbles of his life force dance through the water effortlessly. The surface becomes darker until only a shimmering glimpse remains. Giving up lance lays still as his limbs float upward. His central mass sinks down into the dark abyss below. Those last moments flashing before his eyes in a sequence of events in reverse order from most recent to years prior. Memories he had either forgotten or buried deep in the back of his mind.  Life on the island for the last few months in a summarized version quickly leading to the last many years. Moments both significant and insignificant merged into a short version rapidly unravelling as lance slips out of consciousness. Only the dark remains, making it’s way into his eyes as he succumbs to the  loss of reality. The glint of light like that of a pin poking into a blanket of blackness. Finally his eyes close and silence is all that remains. Coldness is all that can be felt, there is nothing more to be had...

Chapter No. 04 " Crotalus in the Grass "

      Meanwhile, outside of the village on the largest farm that surrounds much of the land. Lutzi makes his way through the field quietly as he does what a looker does best. He watches from behind plants standing tall, providing cover as they sway in the wind. a man works the land, tilling the soil as a young girl follows behind dropping a few seeds in each hole he digs. She uses her hands to press the dirt back together in a mound around the seeds before moving to the next one. Lutzi looks through his mask which has large eye holes as only a lookers mask does. He is silent as he spies upon the two planting in the distance. Just Then the girl looks around, she gets the feeling like someone is watching her. Narfeesh Allmeya, the man, and girl’s farjer digs a few more holes before he realizes she is not following behind. Standing straight up he asks, “ what is it?” Jexic, the girl, and daughter replies, “ I feel like we’re being watched.” Narfeesh looks around. Lutzi realizing they are looking in his direction quickly drops to the ground. Narfeesh says, “ it’s probably one of Ursa's  lookers up to no good.” Jex returns to her task of sowing the seeds and mounding the dirt. “ Do you think Yetzan would send someone all the way out here just to watch us?” She asks. Narfeesh also goes back to his task, digging holes and turning the soil. He replies, “ you would think they’d have better things to do in their glorified stink hole. Perhaps piling rocks and sticks together with more mud, or squabbling about nothing. Maybe even complaining they want more grain before the cold comes. They expect me to grow more but only allow me to keep one third of the seed.” He goes on about the chief and his followers. Jex has heard the stories many times before and tunes her farjer out thinking about who could be watching and why. Looking back she spots Lutzi as he sits up. She doesn’t say anything, just continues to sow. Narfeesh concludes his rant, “ and that’s why we need to get away from this wretched place, start a farm somewhere else where dhandas aren’t hysteric.” Jex agrees with a simple, “ uh huh...” As Narfeesh then questions her, “ were you even listening to me?” Jex regurgitates what her farjer was saying, “ they expect you to grow more but only give you one third, want to leave this place, start a farm elsewhere. Am I close?” Narfeesh looks at her with the look she knew all too well. He tilts his head slightly to the side and forward, peeking through the corner of his eyes as he squints the one closest to her. “ Alright already, I get it!” She says.

     Just then errow is spotted at the edge of the field making his way towards the two.  Narfeesh tells Jex, “ go to the house, I’ll deal with this goonji mook.” Jex nods taking the seed bag with her as she runs off towards the farm house. Lutzi sneaks through the field towards the house after her. Errow makes his way down the small lane that separates one field from the next. Narfeesh lifts his digging stick up and slams it into the soil firmly so it stands on its own. Inside the farmhouse Jex grabs a shining golden gear seated upon the wall. She makes her way to her farjer’s room where a secret hidden compartment is built into the wall. Outside the window a shadow passes in front startling her. Jex gasps as she quickly places the gear in the secret hiding spot. She covers the compartment and turns around to see there is a man with a large mask standing in the door way. Her body freezes with fear, “ what do you want?” She asks. The man remains silent as he slowly approaches her. Jex waits till he gets close before she rushes him, turning his mask to the side as she pushes the man backwards causing him to fall. Running past him Jex rushes into the next room to grab something she can utilize as a weapon. She grasps a digging stick leaned up against the wall. As the masked man struggles to fix his mask Jex runs at him with the stick giving him a good whack across his head. Falling to the floor the man shouts, “ Jexic, stop... It’s me.” As he removes his mask revealing his face. Jex shouts angrily, “ Lutzi Toem what are you doing sneaking up on me in my house?” She holds the stick in his face as he replies, “ I can explain...” holding his hands up. Shaking the stick in front of his nose she demands, “ you better start explaining real fast!”  Meanwhile outside, errow approaches Narfeesh. “ Well hello there Allmeya, nice day for digging holes?” He asks attempting to ease into the conversation. Narfeesh bitterly responds, “ It’d be nicer if you weren’t bothering me, but I can’t change that now can I?” Errow smiles, “ no I suppose not. I don’t mean to interject while you are doing what it is you do, but this here is what I do. I talk, so forgive me for doing my job while I stop you from doing yours. I’m actually looking for one of the lookers, figured you may know something.” Narfeesh retorts, “ I thought you just said your job was to talk, now you’ve been demoted to looker, looking for another looker. That there is a lugubrious situation.” Errow smiles widely, “ wow, with words like that I don’t understand how you ever got stuck digging holes in the dirt. True, my current task is dismal to say the least, however things need doing when they need to get done now don’t they?” Narfeesh reaches back grabbing his digging stick. Lifting it high over his head he strikes the dirt and turns it about in circles.

     “ You know when you are right you are right, things do need to get done when they need doing and right now, holes need digging. Next thing you know your chief is going to make one of you, probably that lilliputian yappy mouth, what’s  his name?..” As Narfeesh slams the stick into he dirt again, errow laughs, “ there you go with those grand words again. You really ought to consider joining us. You’d be better suited beside us rather than outside us. I’m sure Yote would gladly take you on” Narfeesh shakes his head, “ Yote, that’s right. Look out for Yote the ankle biter. If I were to join you who would bother to grow all the food and plants. You bunch of thick headed fat mouth wannabes would starve, and then where would we be?” Errow nods, “ you have a point, perhaps we take you for granted.” He says looking around at the plethora of plants the farmer has grown in the vast fields.” Narfeesh slams his stick into the ground digging another hole before leaning his chin onto the end as he supports his body. “ You’re darn right you’ve taken my whole family for granted. You’ve ostracized us from your group, leaving us alone when we need help, and bothering us when the works all done. You have no respect towards what we do.” Just then the two hear Jex yelling from the farm house. Both men look over to see her chasing Lutzi out with the digging stick. “ See, your dhanda there is bothering my dawtea while you bother me. Exactly what I mean.” Errow apologizes, “ I’m sorry you feel that way. You’re right you know, I will show more respect to you and your family from now on. Thank you for your words.” He says walking away towards Lutzi who is running off through the field towards the village. Jex stops as she shouts, “ Don’t you dare show your face here again!” As she shakes the stick in the air. Narfeesh leaves his stick protruding from the ground as he makes his way over to his daughter. Errow chases after Lutzi back to the village.

     Nearing Jex Narfeesh asks, “ What was that about?” She exclaims, “ he was in our house!” He looks at her as anger begins to overcome his emotions, he asks, “ did he touch anything?” Jex laughs, “ Yeah his face hit the broad end of this stick a few times.” Narfeesh’s anger is diffused as he smiles, “ that’s my girl. Did he see the sunji stone?” Jex answers, “ No, I hid it before he came in. What did the other one want though?” Her father replies, “ he said he was looking for the one in the house.” Jex questions, “ I wonder why? What was he looking for?” Narfeesh shakes his head as he snickers, “ Not sure, but that one talking to me seemed odd. He acted like he actually cared, but then once he noticed the other dhanda, it was like nothing mattered.” Jex smiles, she acknowledges, “ now I get why you want to get away from here. I too want to leave and go where life is different. I’m tired of all the sneaking around, and being confined to our land. There has to be more out there, more to this life.” She looks off into the distance as her father makes his way back to his digging stick. Pulling it from the ground he lifts it up, and slams it into the dirt. “ Oh there is, so much more than you will ever know. Don’t you worry.” He says digging a hole in the ground.

      Meanwhile, back in the village errow chases Lutzi down, finally catching up with him. “ Lutzi, stop where you are!” He commands. Lutzi slows down his movement, turning to look back. Seeing errow coming after him he decides to keep running. Errow growls, “ don’t make me hunt you down!” He shouts as the two hastily make their way throughout the village. Lutzi runs into the busy market hoping to lose errow in the crowd. He passes by a woman buying some freshly picked fruits, squeezing her butt as he runs past. She shoots upwards in shock, with an “ oooff!” Turning back to see errow behind her she gasps. Angrily she grabs the largest fruit she’d just traded for and slams it onto errow’s head. The man behind the fruit cart shrieks at the sight. The woman takes her remaining fruit and leaves, all the while Lutzi ahead in the distance watches and laughs hysterically. Errow pulls the fruit from his head, wiping the juices and seeds from his face as he then looks around. Spotting Lutzi he begins the chase once again. Lutzi snaps from his laughing fit and runs ahead as A man cuts a fish, ripping it open before jamming his hand inside the fish. Pulling the guts out, he discards them into a large wooden bowl. Lutzi runs past but then stops a moment later, turning back he stands by the man gutting fish. The man turns to looks at him, he asks, “ hey how’s it going?” The man smiles, his hand deep inside a fish. Just as errow approaches shouting, “ I’ve got you now!” Lutzi bends down and grabs the bowl of fish guts, tossing it right in errow’s face. The man gutting the fish laughs wildly as Lutzi turns to take off once again. Errow disgusted by what he would consider his most hated thing he’s ever come across. Once again he wipes his face, spitting as he blows any residual fish guts from his mouth away. He chases Lutzi again, through the market, nearing the end. All the while the two had been watched by Yote Kye, relaxing as he sips a dark drink from a nut husk made from roasted berry beans. Finishing his drink he places the nut husk carefully onto the wooden stump table. Standing to his feet he brushes himself off and begins to make his way over to the gate leading up to Yetzan’s dwelling atop the hill. Lutzi running ahead of Errow looks back to see if Errow is following him. Seeing the coast is clear he stops running. Standing still he looks for any signs of Errow behind him. Smiling he says to himself, “ lost him.” As he turns forward and begins to slowly walk towards the gate at the base of the hill. Hearing rustling in the brush to the side Lutzi laughs, “ nice try Errow, but you’ll have to do better than that!” Then there is a stick snapping behind him, “ huh?” He says turning to look back. There’s Nothing or no one there, the wind then blows rustling the leaves again. Lutzi sighs, “ just the wjind.” He says. Turning forward he bumps into Errow who is standing there in front of him. “ Wha? How?” He asks. Errow seething with rage at this point doesn’t even give him an answer. Instead Errow raises his fist readying to hit Lutzi, who covers his face to avoid being struck on it. a moment passes and just before errow strikes down onto Lutzi the two are interrupted as Yote shouts, “ enuff!” Both men suddenly freeze and look over. Lutzi, looking through the gaps between his fingers quickly removes his hands from his face. Errow lowers his fist to his side as both men stand fast. “ Yes Yote, what is it?” Errow asks. Yote paces in front of the two, “ yew may fink oi dun no wot it is yew tew were doing.” Errow interrupts, “ I can explain!” He exclaims. Yote turns towards him, scrunching his face he points his index finger at errow and replies, “ I dun wanna ear yor cucass explanations. I seen de ole fing. Wot I do want is ta know ow it is...” as Yote turns to not face the two Lutzi takes the opportunity to shove errow towards the small man’s back side. Yote continuing turns back to see errow right behind him, he snarls asking “ ...wot in Kraznot are yew doing?” Errow smiles, “ I..I..ugh couldn’t hear so I was getting closer.” Yote demands he stands back to his feet before he continues, “ wot was oi saying?” Lutzi steps in, “ you wanted to know something Yote.” He says smiling as errow looks at him angrily. Yote thinks for a moment, “ ah yes fanks, see errow, yew should take note from em.” Errow turns his eyes at Lutzi glaring as Lutzi smiles back. Yote explains, “ oi want to know about dat madja ew wos up talkin tew de chief. Ow did she get dere?” Errow attempts to explain but is cut off by Lutzi who replies. “ Yes that mysterious madja appeared yestermorrow, she demanded to speak with the chief and so errow took her to see him.” Yote looks at the two, errow laughs nervously. Yote asks, “ is dat right den?” Errow nods, “ yes Yote, that is correct.” Yote turns to Lutzi, “ fanks Lutzi, but oi ave nuffin more for yew. I ave to speak wif errow about dis incident. Yew are dissmissed.” Lutzi smiles, “ thank you Yote.” He says bowing ever so slightly before taking a step back. Yote turns around grabbing Errow’s arm, “ yew are gonna explain why yew didn’t seek me furst!” He says as Errow looks at Lutzi who sticks his tongue out at him before leaving.

     Yote and Errow walk up to the large wooden gate at the base of the hill. Stopping before the gate, Yote pushes the gate to the side with his free arm. He then takes the lead pulling behind him Errow. The gate closes behind the two as they begin to climb the steps leading up towards the top. Yote asks, “ well yew bettah get esplainen den” Errow nods before beginning to tell Yote what had happened, “ well, we were all sitting around the fijar as Lutzi told the story of the fijar mogk. Mid way the story was interrupted when the oracle of Enios appeared demanding to speak to Yetzan. Lutzi wanted to take her, but I chose to do it instead. So I walked her here and had her wait at the gate. She decided to take matters into her own hands when Yetzan came to the door. That’s all I know.” He says as the two near the top of the hill. Yote stops on the last step turning around thus stopping Errow three steps below him. The two now face to face as Yote asks him, “ wot exact wording did she say to em?” Thinking for a moment Errow looks up as if to gather the thoughts in his head. On the chief’s property Natutu, the chief’s only son watches from inside the house as the two converse outside the upper gate. Errow replies to Yote, “ Something about everything you love will be gone. She will take it, it’s hers, don’t pursue them. Oh and something about friends and enemies, but That’s all I really remember.” Yote smiles, misinterpreting the paraphrased message to align with his own agenda. For years he has been secretly planning to overthrow Yetzan and take the village for himself. He fantasizes that he will take Shukara by his side and the two of them will rule over the entire village of Yenga. Letting go of errow’s arm, Yote happily dismisses errow. Before leaving however he says, “ yew need ta go clean yurself, yew smell of rottin cucass.” Errow bows ever so slightly, keeping his composure he thanks Yote and turns to leave down the hill. Yote opens the gate and enters the yard atop the hill heading towards the chieftain’s home. Inside the home Yetzan steps up to the entrance of his son’s room. “ Natutu, have you chosen a suitable madja in the village to bear your children?” He asks his son. Natutu looks away from the window towards his farjer, thinking for a moment he replies. “ Yes, of all the madjas in the village I have chosen the one that resides just outside.” Taken back by this Yetzan gasps, “ no... you mean?” And simultaneously the two say, “ Jexic Allmeya” Natutu smiles, however Yetzan frowns. “ That cannot be!” He groans angrily, Natutu then proceeds to question, “ it is my choice is it not?” Yetzan shakes his head placing his hand over his face. “ The point of choosing someone from the village is to stay within the village. I won’t have those hicklebelly farmers enter our proud warrior family. Make another choice or I will be forced to choose for you.” He says, Natutu retorts, “ what’s the point of giving me a choice if I don’t really get to choose?” Yetzan turns around walking away, he replies, “ to see where your head is, if you are to be my successor then you must start thinking like  my successor. I’ve heard enough. You have one more day to make a choice.” Like that Yetzan leaves his son to toil with the task of choosing a suitable mate from the village. Natutu grumbles, “ it’s not fair.” Before slumping himself back onto his bedding.

     There is a knock at the front door. Yetzan steps over to answer. Opening the door there seems to be no one there, “ hmm.” Yetzan scoffs. Yote clears his throat, “ uh-ummm..” Yetzan looks down, “ oh yes Yote, what is it?” He questions. Yote replies, “ oi my chief I fink we must be avin a meetin wot wif all de lookers, lisseners, and linguises. Dere seems to be some confusion as to ew does wot.” Yetzan smiles, “ sure Yote, organize it you tell them all what they are supposed to do again.” He slams the door just as Yote replies, “ an won more fing... aww nevah mine, you cucass ole farf.” Yote walks away grumbling about how soon enough the village will be his. Not realizing Natutu had been listening in the window the entire time. Taking the opportunity Natutu makes his way onto his window ledge and outside. Chasing behind Yote he calls out, “ Yote wait up!” Caught off guard Yote turns to see Natutu coming up from behind. “ Oh great...” he mumbles. Making his way towards the gate he reaches out and swings it open. “ An wot can I do fer yew?” He asks. Natutu panting from the light jog replies, “ you know my farjer quite well don’t you?” Yote nods, gesturing for Natutu to enter through the gate. “ Oi, ove known yor fava for some years now. Why is it yew asking?” Both walking down the steps towards the base of the hill, Natutu then asks, “ how do you think he would react if someone were to do something he didn’t agree with?” Yote stops on the step, thinking in his head that perhaps Natutu is referring to his scheme. He scrunches up his nose, as his left eye twitches. “ Wot do yew mean den? Get on wif it.” Natutu responds, “ farjer wants me to choose a madja from the village to be with, and the one I’ve chosen he disagrees with. I don’t know what to do.” Letting out a Sigh of relief Yote asks, “ eww is it? Purapps oi can elp.” Natutu considers the idea for a moment before he sighs, “ I guess I’m asking for help, so it would be rude to refuse. The madja I want to be with is Jexic Allmeya.” Yote smiles. “ Oi let me andle it den. All see if aye can pursuede er to see fings are way.” Natutu asks with concern, “ what of my farjer? Surely he won’t agree even if she does.” Yote smiles revealing his corroded yellow teeth, “ yew asked me fur moi elp right mysun?” He questions. Natutu nods, furling his brows as the look of seriousness comes over his face. “ Yes.” He replies. Yote places his hand on Natutu’s upper arm, “ well den mysun, let me elp yew. aye’ll deal wif Allmeya, and your farjer. Sound good?” Natutu nods, he becomes relaxed and relieved.
“ Thank you Yote, you have been good to my family. If only others were as loyal as you.” He says with relief. Yote smiles deviously, “ yes, if only. Now yew must ave somefing yew should be doing, am aye right?” He asks. Natutu nods in agreement. Yote follows up, “ well den no point standing around not doing it. After all oi cannae very well elp if oim ear wif yew can oi?” Natutu shakes his head from side to side as to agree with the question. Yote concludes his statement, “ Trust me mysun, everyfing in due time. Off wif yew now.” As he gestures waving Natutu away. Stepping back Natutu thanks Yote one final time before turning around to return to his home. As Yote smiles and makes his way through the lower gate he says quietly to himself, “ Everyfing in due time...” laughing maniacally as he makes his way into the village.

Chapter No.03 " Lost in he Crowd"

     Looking around for where the man had gone, he fails to see any trace to follow. He walks in the same direction the man had left, however he arrives back at the crowd of excited Atlanteans. There is loud cheering and music projecting from the streets. Lance comes across haiku in the group. Attempting to evade him, lance pushes through the pack. Haiku follows him pushing through right behind. Lance trips over a protruding separation on the ground. Haiku reaches him assisting him to his feet. Brushing himself off he pretends as if he didn’t see haiku, “ oh hey, what are you doing?” Lance asks. Haiku replies, “ troubling your paradigm can seem.” Not able to understand what is meant by that lance retorts, “ err... it’s not that bad.” Haiku smiles, “ your outlook seems different from your juxtaposition.” Lance looks to the side, he asks nervously, “ yeah those juxtopistons always seem different don’t they?” Haiku shakes his head. He replies , “ misunderstanding entirely perhaps, unprepared nonetheless.” Lance nods, “ sometimes I can be, but right now I’m actually in a hurry. I’m trying to umm, make it back before the unveiling. Ascension and all you know. Didn’t pass but I still want to be there with my mother and anyway thanks haiku, hope to see you next time.” Lance says quickly as he leaves abruptly walking into a wall in behind as he turns around. Haiku winces before he walks away. Shaking his head just moving along with the crowd. Lance regaining his composure mutters to himself, “ what’s wrong with that guy?”

      Walking through the alley that leads towards the center of the outer ring lance checks the time on his armband. There is a message from his mother. “ I made you something to cheer you up, it’s a surprise, see you when you get home.” He halfheartedly smiles, continuing through the alley. Thinking about all that had just happened, and the automation from the central ring lance comes to the conclusion it has been quite a day. He decides to head back home, enticed by the surprise his mother has for him. He walks  towards the housing district. Before even reaching the door to his home he smells a scent that initiates a series of memories. The smell of jeeku berry tarts, one that cannot be mistaken. The jeeku berry is nearly impossible to come across on the outer two rings. Since the stopping of ascension long ago people were left to scrounge what little they could. As the years went on, food and supplies coming from the inner rings began to dwindle. The berries that grew wildly on the outer two rings were eventually harvested until none remained. Slowly over the years more plants began to follow the same path. Eventually years later people realized that nothing was going to change unless they controlled their impulsive behaviour. A committee was then formed to establish a community garden, thus the garden district was created. Laws were passed to have only a certain few individuals handle the food to prevent consumption from getting out of hand. Those in charge had created a system which governed who can have what and when. Eventually that too became out of hand, and the people revolted. A new system was put in its place, ‘ you reap what you sow.’ Everyone grows their own food to prevent issues, however even that had its flaws. Automations were then re-tasked with programmable crop control, irrigation and maintenance. This allowed for a more suitable and sustainable system of growth.

      Lance steps in to his home, the scent fills the air as his mother pulls the tarts from the oven. Steam infused with the scent of the succulent decadent desserts. Milano asks, “ ah you got my message then?” Lance smiles, “ I could smell them from five houses away. Let’s hope everyone else is out celebrating.” Milano laughs, “ well I just hope this can cheer you up. You missed haiku when he came.” Lance rolls his eyes, “ that guy, what a character. He has some interesting qualities, I don’t get how he ever made it to the third ring.” Milano disappointed, defends her old friend, “ that character brought the berries to make all this possible you know. Perhaps it was his kindness that allowed him to make it that far.” Lance opens his eyes widely as he makes a strange face replying, “ oh yeah, maybe or perhaps it was his ability to say things that make others uneasy, so they let him keep on moving to get him away from the normal people.” His mother furls her eyebrows, “ enough...” she says. “ He didn’t have to bring the berries, but he did. I think you should be nicer to him. Perhaps even be grateful” lance grabs one of the hot tarts, lifting it to his face to smell it as he closes his eyes. “ Oh I am, very much so.” He replies before blowing the steam from his tart and reaching the smoldering dessert to his tongue. The moment the piping hot filling touches his tongue he flinches, “ Ahh hot!” He exclaims. Milano laughs, “ serves you right, they just came out.” Lance holds the tart back and continues to blow on it. Just then a holographic projection displays in the living room. One of the king’s advisors announces the results of the ascension in a message that Milano knows all too well. “ Happy times are upon us my fellow Atlanteans...” there is an unusual static disruption as the image becomes distorted, flickering on and off. Returning to normal the message continues, “ I present to you my fellow Atlanteans, the ruler of our wondrous island someone I am very humbled to even call a dear friend, your king, Poseidon himself.” The image cuts out for a moment changing to that of Poseidon. Milano scoffs, having to leave the room. Lance watches in awe, as he had never witnessed this before. Anything to do with the king excited and enthralled him for some particular reason. Watching the imagery with the utmost attention lance stared with a small smile on his face. Knowing he hadn’t made it forward lance still experienced the excitement that comes with the ascension program.

     In the other room Milano cycles through old images in her armband. She reaches a set of files that are encrypted. Quickly glancing back into the living room she sees lance is glued to the recording. She returns her attention to her armband. Entering the pass codes to open the files and decrypt the information she shuffles through the images. Lance looks around for a moment noticing his mother is not there. He sees her shoulder protruding from the next room over. Quietly he walks over to see what she is doing. In the room Milano has images of herself beside Poseidon many years ago. In the image she is smiling with her arm around him and his around her. The left hand has the finger on it, as well as a ring. Lance peeks over her shoulder, unable to comprehend what he sees he blurts out, “ whoa, you knew him!?” Startled Milano closes the file and turns around to her son. “ What? Know who? You don’t know what you are talking about.” Lance smiling replies, “ Aww c’mon I know what I just saw.” Milano denies the possibility. Lance grabs her hand, “ your finger, you never told me how you lost it. I saw you wearing a ring in that image. What was that?” He asks. She becomes enraged, pulling her hand away. “ You don’t know anything, I told you before I lost it trying to keep a door from closing years ago.” She pushes past him back into the living room. Lance thinks for a moment, “ that doesn’t even make sense, did you only stick the one finger in the door? Your whole hand would have been crushed not just one finger.” She finally becomes fed up, lashing out at him she yells , “ something are just not for you to know! My life before you were born was my life. I don’t need to tell you anything I don’t want to.” Lance becomes angry as well, “ fine then, enjoy your stupid life without me then because I don’t even want to know. I hate it here and I don’t ever want to come back!” Lance walks over to the table and kicks the whole table over with the fresh tarts on it. The whole tray flies through the air and splatters on the wall and floor. Milano yells, “ great! You see what you’ve done you little... you little” lance waits for a moment, asking, “ little what? You know what, I don’t care anymore, enjoy your life alone.” And like that he walks over to the automated door. It opens quickly, without hesitation lance leaves. An automation comes out of a compartment in the wall to clean the tarts from the wall and floor. Milano very upset with what just happened, drops to the floor and begins to weep as she places her right hand over her face. Finishing cleaning the mess up the automation makes its way over to where Milano is on the floor. Scanning the area in front of her face, it sees the tears dropping from the tip of her nose onto the ground. After a careful analysis the automation decides not to engage and returns to it’s place. As the compartment door begins to open for the little bot there is a strong rumbling that shakes everything. The lights inside flicker, the compartment hatch stops halfway causing the bot to bump into it. Milano feeling the rumble looks around to see the chandelier shaking. Outside everyone who is out and about feels the ground rattling below them. There is a common reaction to check the paused network to see if any explanation is available. Lance looks around to see what everyone else is doing. He too then checks his armband. Nothing appears to explain the rumble that came and went. Everyone seems fine, and moments later goes back to what they were doing. Its almost as if it had never even happened at all.

      Meanwhile, on the mainland beyond the view of the island, past the shore and over the fields. The native inhabitants known as the Tirbalian people, named after the westerly continent of Tirbal. Coming from the words, tir meaning young land, and bal meaning well balanced. The continent has yet to be exploited, and consists of many natural resources which allow for longevity. Outside of a farming village known as Yenga there are people working the ground preparing to seed the soil. The farmers of the village all reside outside the village perimeter. Passing the fields and entering the village there is a large fence laden with stone and mud which acts as a barrier from the elements. The village had been built around a large hill which had been hollowed out, and flattened at its peak. Stairs were dug into the ground spiraling around the hill. The  rest of the hill had been terraced all the way down to the base which is where the village had been built to surround. Errow walks behind the woman in the white cloth robe as the two make their way up the stairs of the hill towards the top. There is a large gate built into a dug out section where the hill had been hallowed. Errow says to the woman, “ wait here, I will ensure Yetzan comes to meet with you.” As he opens the gate and enters the area leading to the chief’s residence. The woman waits patiently looking through the bars in the gate she inspects the property. Errow reaches the large wooden door, knocking several times rapidly. Footsteps can be heard inside as someone approaches the door. Swinging open a woman with long dark hair looks out. “ What is it?” She asks lackadaisically. Errow stammers, “ umm, Shukara. err.. Is Yetzan around?” Rolling her eyes she replies, “ what do you think? Of course he is, and what is this concerning?” Errow answers nervously, “ there’s a um, how do I say? Well, the oracle of Enios is at your gate demanding to speak with the chief of the village.” Shukara squints as she scowls at him. Leaning out past the door frame she peeks over at the gate to see the woman standing behind waiting. She gasps, as her eyes open widely. Without saying a word she slams the door in errow’s face as he prepares to say, “ I can...” as the door slammed he finishes his sentence, “ wait right here.” His heart racing from being in Shukara's presence. Looking back at the gate he sees the oracle is gone. “ Huh?...” He gasps. She says nonchalantly, “ oh relax I’m right here.” From beside him on the opposite side. He asks, “ how did you?... But... where?” Confused as to how she managed that. Inside yelling can be heard indistinctly between Yetzan and Shukara. a moment later the door swings open as a burly man with thick eyebrows and a large beard stands before errow and the oracle. “ What is it?” He demands to know. Errow responds, “ my chief, I present the oracle of Enios.” As errow steps aside allowing the woman to step forward. Lifting her arms to remove her hood it is revealed that her arms are covered in various tattoos and imagery. Her eyes are silver in appearance, startling both Yetzan, and errow. She smiles, exposing her teeth before she says to Yetzan, “ step forward, what I have to say to you is for you only to hear.” Shukara inside the dwelling stands in the back watching and listening. As the oracle whispers into Yetzan’s ear, errow moves closer to hear what she is saying. “ All that you care about, people, places, things will come to an end when the very air rings. As the skae is lit up, at the edge of the wadja, a strange traveller comes taking with him the madja. In your best interests to leave them be, the dadu you won’t though, this I foresee. Think you have it  figured out, but your aim misguiding, he wants nothing to do with the truth that you’re hiding. Something of his, you will eventually take, she wants it back, it’s her keepsake. a much larger scheme this object’s accord, beyond what you know, it will cause much discord.  Keep your ears to the ground and your eyes to the skae. Your foes speak the truth, it’s your friends that will lie.”

     Backing away Yetzan looks at her with a puzzled face having heard this information. The oracle laughs wildly before replacing her hood. She then kisses her index and middle finger placing them on Yetzan’s lips.  Yetzan pulls back and spits trying to rid his lips of any residual saliva, as Shukara yells, “ what in Kraznot’s name was that about?” Errow steps to Yetzan’s side to aide the chief, “ are you okay?” He asks placing his arm on the chief’s shoulder. Yetzan booms, “ Yes, just take her away now!” Turning back towards the oracle Errow is surprised to see she is not there. Just then a man with a small stature enters the gate closing it behind him. Errow shouts, “ Yote, did you see a madja just now?” Yote turns back and looks through the gate. Shrugging he turns back, “ jus now?... No.” He replies with a heavy accent as he points to the ground. “ wot appened?” He inquires spotting Yetzan grasping his neck and coughing as Shukara stands at his side with a displeased look. Yote walks over as errow reports what had just taken place. Yote then asks, “ wur’s Lutzi?” Errow then shrugs, “ I’m not sure Yote, why?” Yote turns to the side and spits, “ be a good littul linguist and find em will ya.” Errow nods quickly as he replies, “ yes Yote.” Rushing to the gate to make his way back into the village. Yote then places his hand on Shukara’s elbow, “ you alright den?” He asks. Pulling her arm away she answers, “ get away from me.” As she enter the house. Yote laughs, “ wot’s crawled up er bunga I wonduh?” He asks shoving his elbow into Yetzan’s thigh. Unammused Yetzan turns around to walk into his house also.  Yote about to follow is stopped by the door which Yetzan slammed behind him, right in Yote’s face. “ Alright den, I’ll be on me way.” He says, confused about everything that just happened. Making his way to the gate he turns to look back at the chief’s house. “ Someday it’ll all be mine...” he says to himself closing the gate looking back as he sees Shukara in the window.