Call of the Wild

By: Basics

Disclamier: Credit to Homestuck goes to Andrew Hussie.

One: Discovery

The sun was just setting and the moon was rising. Normally this would be a terrible time for any troll to be out in a remote forest. But that doesn't stop Miss Aradia Megido, archeologist extraordinaire from making a great discovery. In a small wooden cabin she had been staying in order to discover the location of the setting for the Signless one, whom she believe existed at one point. After making a recording of herself for future reference she walked across the room from the beds to the small horrible carved window that had no glass. She looked up to see no sun but stars in a night sky. She smiled a bit; she had been waiting for what seemed to be ages for the lunar cycle to begin.

"Mr. Captor, pack up everything. It is time." She looked over to the young man sitting at the desk by the beds. He was typing different codes into the quite odd looking computer. He did not even look over to her. He nodded, continuing his rapid fire of commands.

"My network ith thet up. We can leave in a moment." Megido make a sound of agreement. She walked over to her bed. She kneeled, placing her arm under the bed. She fished out a suitcase. Setting it on the bed she went over to the desk and retrieved her recorder. She opened her suitcase filled with clothes, tools and other objects she placed her recorder.

"Are quite finished Sollux?"

"Yes, jutht thome lath minute-thweep diagnothicth. I want to make thure we are one hundred perthent accurate at finding thith ruin."

"Okay. I shall wait for you outside." He grunted a yes to her. Aradia went back to her bed and grabbed her suitcase. Placing her safari hat on her head she opened the wooden cabin door and walked right through it. Closing the door silently she sigh and slumped her shoulders. "I really hope Captor hurries. I really cannot wait another moment." She began pacing for what seemed only minute-sweeps but felt like an hour-sweep. It is very unusual for Miss Megido to be very impatient, but this the discovery of a life time. Not only that but she will finally shut that sweaty robotics mechanic Equius up. Finally she will be known for being absolutely right about the Signless one. Not only that, but her passion for archeology was coursing through her blood flow transporters. She began to sigh, doubt was creeping into her mind. But what if she had made mistake? What if she is wrong? No, she pushed these thoughts aside. Of course she was right. She would not be here if that was the case. Aradia was so wrapped up in her thoughts she did not notice the hand on her shoulder.

"Mith Megido?"

"Huh? Oh Mr. Captor! Are you ready to head out?"

"Yeth, but of courthe I am. Let uth go and find your ruinth." She smiled to him and nodded immediately. They began walking south of their cabin heading into the forest known as Pulse and Haze.

"I wonder why they call it the foretht of Pulthe and Haze?"

"According to the villagers here the forest is always foggy, like haze. That and this place is known as the Land of Pulse and Haze. They say instead of a river running here, there is a river of candy red lava flowing. No one knows why though." Sollux turned to her and raised a single black eyebrow.

"Candy red lava? Thith for real or ith it jutht you pulling my leg AA? "

"I didn't say it was true Sollux. This is what I heard from the villagers."

"Oh. How much further to the ruinth?"

"A few kilo-steps." Sollux nodded to her and turn back to see the front of the forest.

The two travelers walked for half an hour-sweep. The deeper they went into the forest, the thicker the trees got. Vines began hugging the trees, as if they were strangling them. There were different flying beast sounds being made. The lunar light was slowly decaying. They were at the two hour-sweep and the lunar's light was completely swallowed by the thicket of the trees. Mr. Captor kindly pulled out a flashlight. It was very bright and also had heat, infrared, and ultraviolet light mode. The two trolls continued on through the forest.

"Hey AA, what to do hope to gain by coming here looker for thome thetting of a man that may or may not ethitht?"

"No Mr. Captor, the Signless one did exist. And by coming here and proving his existence, I can also prove the lowblood revolt happened. I can also prove the universal theory of the Vast Expletive."

"What'th that?"

"This was the Signless one's last sermon. After the revolt had been crushed by the highbloods, he was tracked down, captured, torture, killed, and finally cremated."

"Why ith it that I've never heard of the lowblood revolt before?"

"Well, the highbloods forbid the recording of this revolt."

"Then how do you know of it?"

"Do you remember Vriska Serket?"

"That Backthabbing Arachnid fanatic? Yeah who wouldn't?"

"Yes, well it is apparent her ancestor, Mindfang recorded this event. Vriska was kind enough to allow me to further study the diary which the event was recorded in."

"And by 'kind' what was your half of the bargain?"

"Just a few boondollars. It was worth it I must say. Without it, I would have not discovered this place."

"What are we looking for ethactly?"

"I'm hoping to find anything that proved the Signless one's existence. What I am actually hoping to find are his righteous leggings."

"Hith what?"

"Stay with me Mr. Captor. His righteous leggings. They are his most legendary pants he wore while he was alive."

"If he really ethithted."

"Oh come now Sollux! I know he's real. I just know it."

"Well AA, I jutht don't want your feelinth to get hurt if it turnth out he never really ethithted."

"Don't be silly, I'm sure we'll find something." Aradia looked up and instantly her eye enlarged and glowed. "Look! We are here." The ruins appeared to be a large temple-like crypt. Just above door was a symbol carved into it. Cancer.

"What ith thymbol?"

"It is cancer Mr. Captor. The Signless one living up to his name had no symbol. Not like you and me. It was through his instruments of torture where his follower were able to give him one."

"He had followerth?"

"Yes, there are still troll who believe in his words. There are still trolls who believe in harmony without the hemospectrum." Sollux nodded. He was speechless. He had no idea this is what the Signless one's visions were about. He too did not believe in visions like Aradia.

"If he hath a thymbol, how can he be the thignleth one?"

"They later called him the Suffer. I just like to call him by his previous name. Come Mr. Captor, I would like take a look inside the crypt."

"Yeth Mith Medigo." The two made their way into the old crypt. The whole structure itself was very stable; it appears that it was built to last Century-sweeps. Cobwebs and dust blanketed the walls and floors of the crypt. Many statues and painted of the Signless one filled most of it.

"I told you he was real."

"Jutht artitht renditionth of him." Aradia scoffed at Sollux.

"I shall check the west wing. Check the eastern walls and see of you can find his leggings." Sollux nodded and unwilling parted himself from Aradia. She walked over to west wing. Most of it was art and gold Pottery. She searched everything. She left no stone unturned. Doubt began to intrude into her confidence. "Maybe Zahhak and Captor are right. Maybe the Signless one never really did existed, but then why all this art? Truly art cannot have made up this man. It is not possible. Mindfang's journal adheres to the time and the events leading to and after his execution. Why would she make it up?" Again wrapping her mind in her thoughts Aradia nearly missed Sollux's cries to her.

"Mith Megido! Come quick!"

"Huh? Sollux! Did you find the Signless one's Leggings?"

"No." she grunted in defeat. Now she was certain he did not existed. "But you have to see thith!"

"What is it?"

"I can't ethplain it but I think I jutht proved your theory correct."

"What are you talking about Mr. Captor?"

"Jutht get over here!" She grunted again, only this time in frustration. If there were no leggings how is Sollux proving her theory correct?"

"Okay, I am coming." She made her way to the east side. Her curiosity increased the closer she got to Captor. She began to ponder what it is he found. There she began to see Sollux's body shape. She also saw another shape on the floor. 'What is that Mr. Captor?"

"This what I wanted to show you." She got closer to the thing, then she began to see. It was a body, a living one. And it was a young sleeping boy. He looked about 6 sweeps of age.

"Why are you showing me a little grub Captor?"

"Look at the paintings and back at him. Doesn't he look like the Signless one? If he is then he is reincarnate of hi, therefore proving your theory." Aradia had to blink a few time before the words settled in. This boy was the reincarnation of the Signless one? She shook her head in disbelief but looking that the paintings, busts and statues of the Signless one and back to the young man. He did awfully looked exactly like the works of art. In fact the one detail that finally changed Aradia's mind were his horns.

"His horns are nubby, just like the Signless one's! He really is the reincarnate. What is he doing here?"

"Well by the look of hith nonethistent clothing, it appearth ath if he liveth in the forest. He'th a wild troll." Aradia nodded.

"Let's get him out of here. I want to run some Genetic diagnostics on him. I want make sure this who we think it is."

"Yeth AA." Sollux took a blanket from the suitcase and wrapped the young boy with it. He picked him up hoisting him over onto his shoulder. Aradia then looks at Sollux puzzlingly. How is it that he is very strong even though he's never worked out a day in his life still bothers her. She decided to dismiss the notion. She felt really good. She didn't find the leggings but she found something better, a living relation to the Signless one. Aradia was practically giddy with excitement.

"This has to be the Discovery of the century-sweep!" She ran along side Sollux. She hadn't felt this happy since graduation. Now that a link to the Signless one was established only one question remained, what happened on that day he was executed, the revolt the sermon, everything? Right now that didn't bother her. Right now Aradia Megido, archeologist extraordinaire would now envelop herself with pride and glory.

This is the end for chapter one. A setting in this story is where trolls are buried. Aradia and Sollux are 11 sweeps old in contrast to Karkat's 6 sweeps of age. The rating might change due to Karkat's potty mouth, just a little heads up there. All twelve trolls will be in this story. Most of them will be around 11 sweeps. All will be revealed in time. Enjoy this story. Again I want some critiques to make my story better so please be kind and review.