I do not own this game. I hate doing disclaimers. ENJOY (-)


Chapter One: A New Caravan

Dear Diary,

There's going to be a meeting tonight about the new caravan of Tipa that will go out to collect myrrh. I hope I'll be chosen this year. I'm sick of my life as being the merchant's daughter, trying to run the store on my own where tribes like the Clavats say that we rob them of their money. I also don't want to babysit my siblings, Momo Phi and Tanifoe, every night. I want freedom. I want a life of my own.

"Lyrosia!" called her mother. "Time to go!"

Lyrosia is a shark eyed Selkie with long, jagged green hair and dim green eyes. She wore a skirt that was cut diagonal to give it its style. And wore leggings with a large, long hole on each side. She wore a tank top that covered her neck down to her chest and covered her arms up to her elbow. Her sandals went up above her ankles and she wore fur cuffs. She was sitting at her writing desk with her journal, quill pen, and a small lantern that gave her enough light to see what she wrote. She dipped her pen in a small vase of ink and continued writing.

Well, it's time to go. I'll write to you soon. Wish me luck!

Sincerely,

Lyrosia

"Coming, mom!" She closed her diary, blew out her lantern, and headed to her door. She opened it to find colorful beads strung in her way. Standing in between them was a small Selkie with long, purple hair and eyes. On top of her head was a little orange headband and muffs that covered her ears. "Momo Phi!" complained Lyrosia. "Move out of my way!"

"What's the password?" she said in a high, sing-song voice.

Lyrosia rolled her eyes. Not this again! "Do we have to go through this again?"

"Yes!" she replied, still smiling.

Sisters! She sighed. "Okay! Is it...striped apple?"

"Ding, ding! You guessed it!" Momo Phi skipped away, singing a little song.

"Always name her favorite fruit," said a voice next to her. She turned around to see a male Selkie that looked about her age in teen years with short, spiky purple hair which was covered by a red bandanna and bright green eyes. He gave a smirk like any brother would. Lyrosia smiled back.

"Hello, Tanifoe," she said.

"Ready for the meeting?" he asked her.

"Sure am. I hope I get chosen."

"And leave me to baby sit Momo Phi? I don't think so!"

"Hey, I put more effort to taking care of Momo Phi when she was a baby and worked for dad in his store a lot longer than you have. I deserve a little break from life. You can take care of the house while I'm gone."

"Doubt it."

The same, womanly voice called out from downstairs. "Time to go!"

"OKAY, MOM!" they both replied. Lyrosia closed her door and, being followed by Tanifoe, hurried down the hall and practically ran down the stairs. Before them was a store filled with various things on the shelves and the counter. Standing in front of the door were Momo Phi and two Selkie adults. One was a male Selkie with teal hair wrapped in a headband, green eyes, and had tattoos on his face and the female had purple hair tied up in a bun with feathers sticking out from the back and her cool violet eyes stared at them with impatience. Both parents carried lanterns.

"Come on, we're late!" she said as she opened the door. Her mother held Momo Phi's hand and the family of five walked out to the dark night of Tipa.

They followed the dirt road, past the farmer's house, and beheld the a huge crowd of people standing before a gigantic crystal. A set of stairs led up to it and on them was an old man with a robe, white facial and head full of hair, and held a Lilty helmet in his hands. The Selkies squeezed their way through the crowd to get in front. Lyrosia accidentally ran into someone and she turned to apologize. But when she did turn around, she was face-to-face with a Clavat. But not just any Clavat. This one had short, brown, messy hair and golden brown eyes. He wore a red and white shirt with a tan and white striped pants. He looked at her offensively.

"Watch it, Sharky!" he said with frustration.

Ruen! Mr. Ruen's everything!

"Stay out of my way, tailor-boy!"

They both glared at each other, but Lyrosia was eventually pulled away by Tanifoe.

"Don't let him mess with you," he consulted.

"He's just an annoying brat," Lyrosia replied.

They were finally in front and waited for the noise to die down. The old man raised his arm and began his speech.

"Tonight," he said in a low, booming voice, "we will pick our new Crystal Caravan! This year, we will send out four new people to collect myrrh and bring it back to our village so that we may purify our crystal to last for another year. I will name them from each tribe in these four helmets." He points to them at his right. One was a bucket, the other was a horned helmet, and the other was a hat. The one in his hands was also a hat. "When I call you, step forward from the crowd to show yourselves. I shall begin with the first tribe." He put his hand in the helmet he held and pulled out a piece of paper.

"From the Yuke Tribe: Trovonius!" The Yukes applauded as a tall Yuke stepped out of the crowd. He had furry, striped hands and striped legs with the feet covered by green shoes. He wore a blue and green tunic and had tiny wings on his back. His head was covered by a pointed-nosed helmet with holes and two horns sticking up from the sides.

"From the Lilty Tribe: Bellarice!" The Lilties jumped and cheered as a girl Lilty stepped forward. She was half the size of an average adult Selkie or Clavat with short, bright, warm-colored hair that had a tiny shell with strands of hair coming out of it. She wore a red mask around her big, blue eyes and wore gold gauntlets on her hands. She also wore a red vest over her buttoned, one piece outfit and long, pointed shoes.

"He's going to name the Clavats next," reminded Tanifoe.

"Whoever it will be, just hope that it's someone I will learn to get along with," Lyrosia replied.

"You really believe that you will be chosen."

"A girl's gotta hope!"

"From the Clavat Tribe," continued the elder.

"Here we go."

"Ruen!"

"What!" They both replied, shocked at this. Ruen stepped out, looking shocked himself.

"From the Selkie Tribe," started the elder.

Oh please, let this be me! Please let this be me!

"Lyrosia!"

All the Selkies cheered and Lyrosia was jumping with excitement. She rushed up to the row and stood there, smiling with pleasure. At last! Freedom! Freedom from home, from work, and from this old town! Pure freedom.

"These four," said the elder, "are our new Crystal Caravan!" Everyone cheered, clapped, and some even jumped with joy. The elder looked at the four standing in front. "You will prepare for your departure and meet me here early tomorrow. Good night!" They all nodded as he walked down the steps. The crowd started to die down and Lyrosia ran to her parents.

"This is so wonderful," she said, happily. "I'm going with the caravan!"

"Congratulations, dear," said her mother.

"We're so proud of you," added her father.

"Yay, Lyrosia!" cheered Momo Phi.

She looked around for her brother, but he was nowhere in sight. She looked at her father. "Where's Tanifoe?"

"He went home," he answered. "He said he was going to bed early."

He must be upset about not being chosen to go with the caravan, she thought. "I'll go home and pack." Before her parents could answer, she was running home. She was in front of the merchant's house when she looked up to see a shadowed figure on her roof. She ran inside and up the stairs to her room. She parted the beads as she entered and found that her window was opened. Her room was the only access to the roof. He's on the roof again! She climbed out of her window and then up a ladder to the top of the house. There was Tanifoe, his back toward her, staring at the starlit sky. She carefully walked over and sat down next to him. For a while they didn't say a word and just stared at the sky. She felt sorry for Tanifoe as he sat there, quietly with sadness. It made the air feel heavy to her. She broke the silence.

"I'm sorry that you didn't get chosen," said Lyrosia with shame.

"I've always wanted to go with the caravan," he said, turning to look at her. "Now I'll never join. You're lucky. It's not fair!"

She turned to him. "Me! Lucky? That's not true. I never had nice things like you and Momo Phi get now a days."

"What about the diary?"

"That diary was grandpa's before he died. It was given to him when his grandpa died and he tried to give it to dad, but he turned him down. He didn't want anything to do with it so dad gave it to me instead. You know that dad couldn't handle any one of us to be in the caravan. It would break...his heart." She just realized that the way her father looked at her was the look of sadness. He didn't want her to be chosen. He did argue with mom about us going to the meeting, she thought. Maybe...that's why he always said that we never deserved to be apart of this village. But...

"What's the use in arguing? The truth is...it's going to feel different without you. You're off on an adventure of a lifetime while I'm stuck here with your job."

Lyrosia looked up at the sky. Then she pointed towards her favorite star. "See that star up there? That is the North Star. No matter the day, the time, or the place you are at, it never moves." She looked at him. "That is where I'll be when I'm with the caravan. You can watch me from the sky and know I'll return with the myrrh." she rested her hand on her brother's shoulder. "It will be tough at first, but I know you'll do fine. I may be the hero of the village, but you will be the hero of the household by taking care of the store and Momo Phi. I'm depending on you now to take care of the family while I'm gone. It's important to me to know our family is safe. Can you do that for me? If you can't, can you do it for the family?"

Tanifoe was quiet for a few seconds, then he turned to her and gave her that brotherly grin.

"Just as long as you stay safe," he said.

"I will. I promise!"

"Then you have my word as your annoying, little brother!"

"Annoying is right!" She nudged him on the shoulder. After a few moments of chuckling, they gazed back at the sky. A song popped into her head and she began to sing. "Deep inside so silently my heart must beat. Deep in side of me...memories flickering and shimmering on...endlessly..."

Before the sun woke up over the horizon, Lyrosia was up and packing her things. She put in her favorite blanket that had furs sewn together, her tiger fur pillow, Gil that her father left out for her, spring water and fish, and, lastly, her quill pen, her jar of ink, and journal. She was just tying up her sack when she heard a rap at her door. She walked over to her door and opened it to find her father standing there holding a Selkie weapon. It had a long stick for a handle and on the paddle were three spheres clustered together in the center. There was also a hole on the top.

"I thought you would be up, he said with a smile.

She smiled back. "What's up, dad?" she asked.

"I wanted you to have this aura racket for your quest." He handed her the weapon. "It was your great-great-grandfather's weapon when he was in the caravan."

She looked at it sadly. She knew he didn't want her to go. "I don't have to go if you don't want me to, dad," she said. "I can always find someone else to take my place and..."

"No, no, no," said her father as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "I t is your duty as a Selkie and a member of this village to help the caravan with their quest for myrrh. I know things will be different for me."

"I know you don't want me to go."

"You're right. I don't. But...as your father, and for the sake of this village, I need you to go." She saw tears weld up in his eyes. "But promise me...that you will come back home safe."

She began to develop tears as she reached out and hugged her sad father. "I will," she sobbed. "I promise." They stayed there for a while, hugging and sobbing. Lyrosia thought of the things that she would miss on her quest. The farm festival, Tanifoe's contests with his Selkie friends, Momo Phi's birthday...She's going to miss all those things that she knew. Now she is on her way outside of her village. Outside of her safety net. Outside to the world! She let go of her father and gave him a soft grin. "I better go to the meeting," she said. Her father nodded and left the room. Wiping away a few tears, she grabbed her stuff and headed out of her room.

Outside, she walked to a wagon that was just sitting there with a papaompamus at the front held by a yolk and reigns. The wagon was big enough for four people and various items without anyone or anything to be crushed. It had four wheels and a hood on top with curtains on the front and back of it. The creature looked like a huge, blue ball with with four, short thick legs. It had a thick white mane and white fur on it's feet. It groaned, shifting in its uncomfortable position. Lyrosia set her stuff in the cart, gave the blue creature a pat on the back, and walked towards the crystal, where she was to meet her elder, Roland, and the other three caravaners.

When she got there, no one was around. It is still dark out. I can go to the Tip and wait until the meeting. She jogged past the tailor's house towards the the Tip where the land and sea meet. The sea glistened as the sun began to rise over the horizon. She grabbed her racket off of her back to examine it. She turned it over and over and then looked out towards the sea. I wonder how my adventures will come? I'll see new people, new places, and even learn something about the outside world. I finally have the freedom that I've always wanted.

"Hey!" called a child's mid high voice. "I've called you five times now. Are you deaf?"

Lyrosia spun her head behind her to find herself looking at the same Lilty from the other night. She still wore the red mask and this time was carrying a warrior's spear that had the symbol of the Lilty Tribe. "Are you Lyrosia of the Selkie Tribe?"

"Yes." Lyrosia replied.

"Well, stop daydreaming and get to the crystal! The elder is waiting!"

Oh, flan! Lyrosia thought as she realized that time had passed quickly. How long have I sat here? She spun and jogged with the Lilty toward the crystal. Roland, Trovonius, and Ruen were all gathered at the foot of the town's gigantic gem. Both girls joined the group.

"Now that we are here together," Roland said in his old, tired voice, "we can begin. Today you begin your quest for myrrh. There are some things you should know before you start. One: stay and work together. You cannot leave the crystal's aura or you will suffocate in the miasma. Get to know one another. When creatures attack, combine your skills to protect each other and work together to rid whatever is in your way. Two: Always be prepared. Have plenty of food and have equipment. Update your armor and weapons as much as possible. It brings your defenses, strengths, and magic up. Third: Write to us. We need to know how you are doing and if you're safe. And lastly fourth: Stay safe! Look out for each other and be careful of what you do. It will effect you in the future.

Remember these things and guard them well. Good luck, caravaners! My the crystal's aura protect you!"

Ruen, Trovonius, and Bellarice walked off to find their bags while Lyrosia headed for the wagon. It was near eight o-clock which meant that everyone was up and waiting for the caravan to leave. Lyrosia met up with her family and began to say her goodbyes. She hugged Momo Phi first.

"Be good, sis," she said to her. "I might even send you a striped apple if you write to me."

"Oh, goody!" exclaimed the little Selkie.

Lyrosia hugged her mom. "Sorry about dad this morning."

"Don't be," she replied. "It's good for him to let you know how he feels about you." Lyrosia smiled and hugged Tanifoe.

"Come home safe," he said.

"I will. Just write to me and I'll answer." She looked into his bright green eyes. "Remember the star."

"I will."

She hugged her father. "I will be home, dad. Just look at the sky."

"I have confidence in you." He looked at her. "Just write to us once in a while."

"Sure thing, dad." She stepped back and gave them a bow of respect. She then rushed over to the wagon and plopped herself on the back of it. Trovonius went to the front of the wagon and Bellarice and Ruen stood beside it. Trovonius grabbed the reigns and snapped it. The wagon began to move and all the people waved goodbye. Lyrosia waved goodbye to her family as they crossed the bridge. They kept looking back at their home until the little village of Tipa was out of site.


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