Chapter One: This is Our Home Now

Cold, sweet dew kissed his mocha skin as an opera of cheery chirping sent visions of sweeping melodies through the last glimpses of his waking dreams. Opening his eyes slowly, Gale stretched his body to catch the first glorious golden drops of newborn sun rising in the east. He smelled the faint essence of jasmine and snuggled closer to his mother, who cuddled the earth so tenderly, it was as if she were but a child again. For a few fading moments the world seemed to be teeming with love and gentility, overflowing with thick syrupy serenity.

The night before had bestowed upon the group the gifts of music, dance, and drink, which they had exuberantly accepted. As the sun rose to greet them, the 'victims' of their joyous celebration lay strewn about the grass, soft snores erupting like small volcanos. Regardless of the challenges which lay ahead, the spirits of the night had stolen their anxieties away.

"Gaaaaaale!" a small gleeful voice broke through Gale's private barrier, and exposed him to the reality of the Caravan's travels, "Wake up!"

Before he could turn to address the general direction of the spirited call, a shock of snow-white hair passed rapidly through his vision as a small squirmy mass crashed hard into his side.

"Ooof!" Gale's lungs released a great burst of air from the force of the blow inflicted upon him, as he clumsily pushed his body upright, the dew-soaked grass making it difficult for his hands to get a firm grip. Desperately, he saw his mother awaken and leave him, defenseless, with his fate.

"Vivi, get off me!" His small, sleepy voice commanded the odd girl firmly attached to his leg. She looked up at him, her amber eyes shining with wicked mischievousness, and giggled with an ingratiating sweetness. Reaching up to pinch his round cheeks, she mocked him, "You are too serious," she laughed, "smile once in a while!" Gale looked down at her, his brow furrowed with as much discontent as he could muster. Cackling, she pushed herself to her feet and stared down at him, studying his mismatched eyes and striking tattoo. His silver hair stuck out in all directions, as grass and dirt clung to life within his locks. She chuckled as softness seemed to grow within her eyes, and a small pink smile painted her lips.

"Children, it is time to go!" Foehn's booming voice hollered, as he tied the last of their possessions to the wagon, his broad smile shining bright. N'aschi waved gently from her position feeding the horses, though a sense of urgency and excitement burned in her eyes. In the distance, Vivi's parents, even older than Gale's and much less fortunate, nodded in agreement. Turning her gaze back to Gale, Vivi reached out her hand to him in an uncommon display of generosity.

"Come on," she smiled, "let's go find our new home". Gale nodded, her words giving him a renewed sense of hope. He accepted her outstretched hand and began to lift himself up, his gaze fixed intently on her gleaming golden eyes. His stomach felt tingly, his head light and buoyant as a cloud, and though he had no idea what such a sensation meant, he felt compelled to return her smile. Suddenly, however, Vivi released his hand from her grasp, sending him backwards onto the damp grass. Snickering manically, she ran off, calling back," Hurry up Gale!"

Quickly picking himself up in shame, he ran as fast as his legs would carry him to the safety of his wagon—away from the perils of mean-spirited little girls.


The caravan embarked on the final leg of their journey just after dawn, bubbling with excitement and joy, though mildly hung over. The children jogged alongside the wagons, keeping their eager eyes on the distant skies, hoping to see the mountain come into greater focus. Along the way, the women and mothers sat within their wagons, protected from the harsh sun, knitting and crafting small trinkets with which to forever remember the day. As barren flat lands began to give way to lush prairie and rolling hills, the men discussed every aspect of their new home. One man, laughably small and rotund, with kind eyes and a knowledgeable disposition, named Bertrand, exclaimed to the group that he would one day be the mayor of the village they would build together. Laughing heartily, Elias, an avid fisherman as salty as the sea he so loved, took a deep swig of the strong smelling liquid within his canteen, and as the clear fluid dribbled down his peppered grey scruff, his husky voice teased, "Bertran'! If we kick ye of yer' wag'n, ye'll roll down tha' damn hill!"

Jibes, insults, and brotherly love flowed through the group as they continued on, the smell of pond algae and rich soil stinging their noses with its sweet promises. The children shouted and hollered as the craggy face of the mountain showed itself more clearly: dark, imposing, and beautiful. The heat had begun to dwindle, and nature's gentle hum to signal the end of the day danced softly within their ears. The group had walked from hours, reluctant to stop, determined to touch the formation's sacred base, and kiss the cool, jagged minerals that seemed to glisten in the dusk. The children had returned to the wagons to nestle near their mothers as the long, fast-paced trek had left them exhausted.

"Stop!" Foehn called out, the moon high in the sky, though the visibility wavering. His voice was course from the teasing and singing that had kept the group lively throughout the day. The others went silent as Foehn dismounted from the wagon, and absentmindedly stroked the muzzle of his dapple grey horse as he passed by. His muscles stiff from diligently driving the caravan to their destination, he stumbled forward a few paces, absolutely silent. The dark of the night masked him from the view of the others, but the distinctive sound of his massive body hitting the ground rang through the evening air. A collective gasp escaped from the lungs of the others, as they all rushed to assist him, to light a fire and torches. N'aschi bolted out of the wagon, leaving young Gale dazed and confused, watching her beautiful skirts whirl in the breeze. Foehn's loud, labored, and hoarse sobs stung at the darkness, chilling Gale to the bone and making him feel the most disturbing kind of sick.

As the torches lifted the veil of blackness that had been cast upon the caravan, Bertrand and N'aschi illuminated Foehn, their breath short and their minds preparing for the worst. Sobbing, covered in thick, cold, black mud and drinking greedily from a crystal-clear river, babbling with life and teaming with opportunity, they found him.

"Foehn…"N'aschi urged, "You are scaring the children…" she explained, as gently and with as much kindness as she could manage. He paid no attention to her, but continued with his labored cries. Sighing, she placed a warm hand on his mud-caked shoulder, "We have to find our home, my love. We do not have time for—".

An exasperated cry rang out, sharp and sad, piercing the night. Foehn had risen so quickly from his position in the mud, that N'aschi, the kind and supportive wife that she was, had little time to react and move. Foehn wound back, his powerful muscles full of rage, and struck her impossibly hard on her soft, beautiful, mocha face. She fell back, her head hitting the ground with a sickening crack, her pristine headscarf soiled by the thick mud.

"DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND, WOMAN!" Foehn screamed, saliva and anger spewing from his mouth, his booming voice jolting the small audience in both fear and confusion, moving several of the children to tears. The metallic silence chilled the earth, as no one dared to move. Looking about himself he drew a deep breath from the night, and hushed his tone, forcing himself to sound gentle and kind, "This is our home now." He opened his arms, as if pleading to the fearful eyes that stared back at him, "these rivers…this land…are blessed."

Foehn looked down at his wife, her moans of pain barely audible, and Bertrand glared back up at him, as he attempted to tend to her injuries. Clenching his jaw, and turning his face back to the group, he spoke, the control in his voice waning. "Everyone, circle the wagons. Let us rest," he began, "We shall begin clearing the land tomorrow."

Not a soul objected as he turned on his heels and walked back to take the reins, leaving the small, plump man to help N'aschi to her feet. As Foehn maneuvered the horses, Gale tried his best to quiet his sobbing, huddled in the back of the wagon.


A massive blaze, blistering, enveloping, and merciless exploded on the peak of the great formation, destroying all life that had inhabited it. The sparse grasses burned into nothingness as the animals withered and became black, bitter ash. Giant flaming boulders fell, toppling down the impossible height of the mountain, containing the pure essences of rage and fury, burning, devouring everything their cruel auras touched.

"CEFIA!"