Chapter 3:
Past and Future
A/N: The glossary for this and future chapters will not contain words used in previous glossaries.
"What are they doing so close? They never come this far.
"I'm way too old for this. I should just let one of the younger Sentret take my place.
"Focus, Yu. Stay focused."
The guard focused his gaze back onto his target. The human had been getting gradually closer to the village for the past hour. It was not a direct course, but it brought him within at least 15 panstretches. If he got any closer, he would need to act.
Where was the back up he'd sent for?
The human stopped for a moment and looked around. Yu froze as he swore their eyes locked. But the tall creature pulled out a piece of folded paper, examined it for a moment, and turned south on another path that led him away.
Yu breathed heavily. That was the third time this moon. Something had to be done. He plucked a leaf from beside him. After some slight folding, he placed it to his lips and blew.
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Feuer clutched to his mother's back as she sped through the trees.
"You know I don't like you picking fights, Feuer," she said over her shoulder.
"But I didn't! Sor started it!"
"And you were about to finish it." He didn't respond because he knew it was true. "What could he have done that got you so fired up?"
"He called me 'life's accident'."
This time, Ella became silent. "Oh. That again."
She stopped as they arrived at their tree. It was simply a hollowed section of a tall, thick oak with sections for bedding. A secret chamber below held the firerocks.
He slid from her back as she stepped just inside. "Mom, was I really an accident?"
She stopped halfway to her bed. She hated this question. And it didn't help that he asked every time Sor said it. "We've gone over this, Feuer."
"I know, but…" He suddenly felt awkward. He wasn't even really sure what he was asking. He just felt like he had to ask.
Ella sighed as she turned and sat on her bed of grass and Feuer joined her. "When you were born, you were…unexpected."
Sadness hit him. "So I was an accident."
"I didn't say that!" She used a paw to lift his head. "Nothing in life is an accident. We simply cannot see many of the things in life like we can tell each Passing." It didn't seem to be cheering him up. "Remember the first time you fell from the branches?"
He actually laughed silently at the memory. "And I actually caught myself before I got to the ground."
"You see? You never knew you would fall, but it turned out to be a good thing! You're the same way. I may not have seen you coming, but you are the greatest thing that the Spirits could ever give me." He didn't look up. "Feel better?"
"…yeah," he said, putting on a good smile to sell his lie.
"You can't fool me with that," she thought.
Before she could press him further, a call echoed through the trees. "COUNCIL! COUNCIL!"
Ella jumped up and stuck her head out the door. A flash of brown swept by overhead. That was Gen, the Fearow. It was official. "I have to go. You stay here until I get back."
She quickly jumped out and through the trees before he could argue. He stood at the hole, watching her fade through the trees. "Why am I always getting left behind?" He waited a moment more, built up some courage, and followed.
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"The humans have been getting closer and closer. We cannot simply sit idly by and let them come upon us!"
"Enough, Tor." The Infernape shut his mouth, closing off his stream of arguments. "I have not yet allowed us to go into open war with the humans and as long as I am elder, I will do everything in my power to prevent it."
Ella fell into her spot just behind Tor as Ba finished his rebuttal. The old one always demanded respect, and he earned it one way or another. No one would dare go against him.
Tor, on the other hand, was one that shaiyans only respected in combat. All of his choices only helped himself. It was a shame the leader of the Infernape, and thus the entire East Wood, was simply the strongest fighter.
The rest of the large space was filled this various species. Only the leaders of each group were allowed to attend councils, but this village had lots of different types of shiayas represented.
Tor continued, but he kept his voice steady. "This council has been called to discuss what should be done about the human incursion. So let us discuss it, then."
"I wonder if there is even such a problem to discuss," Ba said back. "Hoth," he turned to a large Golem, "has there yet been a problem in the caves?"
"None," the rock Pokemon answered.
"And what of the South Wood?" This time he turned to a Bellossom.
"The humans have been sighted, but only at the far fringes of our grounds," she answered respectfully. "They are not yet close enough to cause a problem."
"So does anyone see reason to put up countermeasures?" Ba asked the general collection of shaiyas.
Tor cleared his throat, interrupting. "We of the East Wood have not had a chance to make our arguments."
Ba sighed heavily. Ella understood his complaint. Tor was always the fighter; wanting to go some other direction that no one else cared for. But Ba reluctantly said, "Very well."
Tor half turned, projecting his voice outwards. "For several Passings, the humans have come closer and closer to the East Wood. We have already been forced to abandon several of our berry groves to avoid them. It will not be much longer before they stumble upon our nests and begin taking our children."
"You have to give the humans more credit than that," Ella blurted out.
Tor spun to her angrily. "Silence!"
"Tor! Ella is your second. She has just as much rite to speak as you do. If anything, she has more right to speak than any after spending so much time among the humans." Ba waved to her. "Please, continue."
"Thank you." She stepped around Tor, who glared at her furiously. "Humans are much more understanding than we are making them out to be. Yes, there are those that will take any shaiya they can find, but they are few. If we went to the humans, I'm sure we could work with them in order to protect our nests."
Tor laughed loudly. "I don't think you fully comprehend your time with them, Ella. They've washed your mind. You don't even have a true shaiyan name."
"I know them better than you ever will!"
"Please," Ba said from his seat. "This is no time for a Challenge of Rites."
Ella kept her eyes locked with him for a moment more. She could see the hatred for her burning in his eyes. He seemed to thrive for conflict. He was most likely only using the humans as a reason to fight. Had she wished, she could have easily overtaken him, even without using her morph abilities, and taken leadership for herself. But she wanted to remain inconspicuous, and having a female beat out the strongest male would paint a target across her head.
Funny. The same thing she scolded her son for, she was doing. The parents were fighting just like the children. Was that more ironic or symbolic, she wondered?
But she let the matter drop as she averted her gaze and retook her seat.
"You have both made valid arguments, but at this time, I see no reason to prevent a threat that is only possible at this point. When the time comes that it is inevitable, we shall meet again on this matter."
"But sir…"
"This council is closed." Ba stood and began to walk off, effectively ending the council.
Tor stood on the spot, trying his best to keep his face composed while his heart burned like a forest fire.
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Feuer dropped behind the brush. Through to foliage, he could hear Tor complaining about something. He secretly hated him almost as much as he hated his son.
Just before him, a small brown body was crouched beneath the leaves. He crept forward, coming down beside it. "I miss anything?"
Sam jumped lightly, forcing her yelp to remain silent. She saw it was him and just smiled. "Just the usual. Tor's mad at the humans."
"So nothing, then." He used a finger to move a leaf, letting him see most of the council. His mother had stood and was speaking.
He shifted slightly and his arm brushed against Sam's fur. He felt a jolt run through his body. The two had been close sais ever since they first met. They often snuck in and watched the councils together. How many times had it been now? He couldn't even remember.
"Feuer, they're leaving." She gently pushed his shoulder, pulling him out of his thoughts. He relished the touch for a moment before realizing she was right. The other shaiyas were standing and going on their ways. He'd have to move fast if he wanted to beat his mother home.
Before he could move, though, Tor spun angrily. "Ella!"
The female Infernape stopped and turned back to him. He quickly jumped up several branches and grabbed a white flower from a pod. He held it gently in his paw as he fell back to the ground.
Feuer knew that flower. It was ceremonial to the Infernapes. A chill ran through his spine. "Not that…" he whispered under his breath.
"What? What's going on?" Sam asked.
Tor crushed the flower in his fingers and opened his hand, letting the petals fall to the ground.
Ella watched them with a sullen face. It was bound to happen eventually. A Challenge of Rites.
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Glossary
Firerocks: hot rocks from the mountains that are used for heating caves and nests
Moon: unit of time measurement from one new moon to the next
Passing: short for "Season's Passing"; unit of time measurement equivalent to the human year; one Passing begins and ends at the first new moon after winter
Sai: close, intimate friend not quite at the level of mate