Clash of the Horned Ones
I don't own Digimon.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
-Telepathy-
V Scene change and time change
- Different point of view
'- Flash back
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 4
Baird watches as Gavan, or was it Gaius, arrives without his twin. The golden coloured Ki'souka always had a soft spot for Inari, the twin's mother and Baird had wondered just who it was that Inari had allowed to sire her children. Baird already knew that some of the foals had taken to teasing Gavan and Gaius about the lack of a father figure in their lives, which he was willing to fill if he ever gets the nerve to ask Inari to be his mate.
-Baird!- Gavan says, clearly surprise to find him there. –Gavan.- Baird replies, mimicking Gavan's surprised tone. –Where's Gaius?- He asks the elder twin, Gavan dips his head and looks away. –Come along, I'll walk with you to your mother.- The golden and blue Ki'souka says gently and heads towards Inari's usual spot.
V
Inari waits nervously in the grove that's Waseem and her's usual meeting place. She snaps her head as she watches Waseem come through the bushes with their youngest child. –Mom!- Gaius shouts and races up to the blue Ki'souka. –Gaius!- Inari says and nuzzles the colt.
-Waseem.- Inari says with warmth and affection, clearly startling her son. –You mean he really is my… Gavan's and mine…- Gaius says, clearly unable to really finish his sentence. She sighs and nudges Gaius in the shoulder. –Waseem is Gavan's and your father. I couldn't tell you since both Ki'souka and Yu'kara would most likely outcast the both of you at the very least. These are dangerous times, not that our herd knows of it. I wanted you two to be safe.- Inari informs her son gently, looking sadly down at her child.
-I know, old Baqer of the Grey Sands spoke of why three herds of the Yu'kara were living together. Why are the Yu'kara so much more organised then the Ki'souka? I mean, grandfather spoke of the Yu'kara as if they're always fighting among themselves for food, water, and territory but I saw no evidence while I was with them.- Gaius says.
It was Waseem that answered, -There once was a tradition, which is no longer in use, that called for all the Yukara to gather together every ten years and call for the herds to fight to keep their ranging lands. Many dead in said contests, it wasn't until a female Yu'kara by the name of Pegeen that put a stop to the brutal tradition. Her form of protest was simply not participating in the contest; it wasn't until eight other herds began to follow her did the leader of the most powerful herd challenged her to combat in order to decide whether or not to follow the age old tradition. Pegeen won the challenge and instead of killing the male, whose name was Zubin, she wanted him as her mate. So during the fight, the pair had exchanged words and when Pegeen gained the upper hand, she gave him a choice, to die or to join her. Zubin had most likely became intrigued by the female that had not only been able to match him in battle but also to beat him. So he accepted her terms and the tradition was put to rest about two hundred years ago.-
Inari smiles slightly, she couldn't help but like the ending of the story. She couldn't help but see a bit of Waseem and herself in that story. Inari sighs and looks at her son once more, regret about what she's about to say almost broke her heart. –Gaius, you'll have to remain with your father. If you just show up suddenly, people will begin to ask questions and the truth will be revealed about Waseem and mine relationship.- Gaius nods weakly as what she said sinks in.
-Can I visit?- Gaius asks, looking hopefully at her. –I'd be disappointed if you didn't.- Inari informs her son. Waseem snorts in amusement and soon they're going their separate ways, heading back to their herds.
V
Gaius felt nervous as he stood on the fringes of his age group. They were about to received Fire's Blessing. He had journeyed here with his father and the others that were his age group. Over time, they had also hooked up with other herds headed to Mount Quiv'tai, the sacred mount that's said to have a heart of fire beating under all of that rock and dirt.
The sacred mountain is three moons away from the boarder lands that is his birth place. They only break during midday to graze; the foals remain in the middle while the adults remain on the outside of the group, alert to any beasts attempting to prey upon them. He knows that there's going to be an attack in one form or another as a colt from the White Path Herd, his name is Fell had heard the adults talk about a huge pride of Jivaes following their group. Gaius isn't surprised, before they set out; Waseem had told them point blank that this trip was going to be full of danger from not just the traditional beasts that prey upon them, but migrating hunters that time their travels to coincide with the pilgrimages to Mount Quiv'tai that happens every year.
Vocal battle cries erupt from the northern part of the group, it wasn't a pride of Jivaes, it was a gang of Daicher that was the cause of the problem. Many of the foals began to panic and attempt to flee away from where the flying hunters were currently sighted. He snorts but glances around in hopes of locating some of those foals he's come to consider his friends. It's not long before all of the foals were fleeing the safety of the group, by passing the adults that were trying to maintain order but failing miserably.
Sadly, since the Daicher were fliers, there wasn't much the adults could do to keep the damage in check as he flinches as a filly was picked up by a Daicher a few feet away from him. He shivers slightly as he's forced to flow with the mob; it was easier to go with the flow then to attempt to make a stand.
He calls out a warning as he notices a grey and red Jivae beginning to pace the mob of fleeing foals to his far right. As if on cue, the rest of the huge pride of feline Jivae attacks the edge of the fleeing group. He doesn't know if it's a blessing that he can't hear the dieing foals' screams or not.
In the end, he just attempts to survive this. Images of his twin, Gavan, emerge from the depths of his mind. Thinking about his elder brother calms him slightly as he begins to weave through the group in hopes of trying to get to the front to try and stop them from running about in blinded panic.
V
Waseem sighs as he remembers spotting Gaius with the first group of foals that they had found once the Daicher and Jivae. He's relieved that he doesn't have to inform Inari that one of their children were dead. While he hadn't been able to reassure his son, he was content to continue on searching for other such groups since by now, the fleeing mob of foals had time to regain their thoughts and had hopefully staying put.
Waseem studies the position of the moon; exhaustion and soreness were making him wish he can just call it a night and head back to the safety of the group so he can recover from what happened today. Nirg of the White Path and Tea of the Red Water were lagging behind him, not that he really blames the pair since this was their first time as escorts, it's his fourth time.
-How much longer are we going to keep searching for?- Tea asks as she stops. –Not until morning.- The elder Yu'kara informs the pair. Nirg lowers his head, clearly sharing the Tea's opinion. –It also means we don't get guard duty tomorrow.- He adds and that perks the pair up conservable.
Soon enough the pair seem to have tapped into their 'second' wind and were impatient to continue looking for more groups of foals. With a slight smile on his muzzle, he follows the pair at a steady pace. Amusement sparkles from his eyes.
V
Ilom watches the vast group of three year olds gathered at the start of the path that leads to the fire alter that has been carved by their fore-sires, even the path has been worn down by countless hooves treading upon it. It was a right for all Yu'kara for all three year olds to come, climb the path, and begin their journey in life as an adult, leaving their childhood behind them.
Vox stands to his right as his second in command, Saba stands to his left. They're waiting for the sun to rise, for it is then that the embers will light up for the ceremony to begin. Slowly but surely, the sun creeps up from over the horizon, red clouds marking the beginnings of the day.
Soon the embers were lit, marking now the beginning of the ceremony. The foals all seem to be looking at each other, most unwilling to be the first to under go the rite. In time a bold white and black colt comes to ahead, Ilom notes that the colt glances to an adult, most likely the father of the bold youth.
The colt proceeds cautiously climbs the rocky path, the colts ears were more often then not lying flat on his skull, a sign of the colts determination. –He has the makings of a fine warrior, that one. Clearly as nervous to be the first, but doesn't let that stand in his way. He's a credit to his herd, to his line.- Vox murmurs softly to him. –Indeed.- The black Yu'kara replies, wholly agreeing with what the Seer had said about the colt making his way to the alter at the end of the path.
The colt pauses at the top, bends down and sniffs the ember, only jerking back when they flare up a tiny bit. The colt then steps into the center of the pile of ashes and ember. As the embers flare up once more, the colt rears up and lets out a verbal cry of astonishment. As the flare fades, the colt now has the classic armour hide that's a classic mark of a Yu'kara, meaning that the youth has received Fire's Blessing.
The young Yu'kara heads down the path once more, only diverging to the right at the end so he doesn't intermingle with the foals. Soon enough, the foals begin to line up as the second Yu'kara foal begins to climb the steps to get to the alter at the top of the steps. It'll mostly take the whole day, maybe a bit into the night, before all the foals have under gone this ceremony marking their ascent into adult hood.
He watches as foals from his own herd climb the steps to receive Fire's Blessing, he watches in pride as nephews and nieces were marked by the flaming alter. In the end, this makes it worth all it, all of the dangers that they encounter along the way to Mount Quiv'tai and the inconvenience of traveling in huge groups.
V
Gavan paused as he felt… something coming from a distant part of him. He blinks off into the distance, towards the boarder between Ki'Souka and Yu'Kara lands. Pangs of regret as his thoughts turn to his missing twin brother. Despite everything to the contrary, he really did expect to see his brother in front of him, very much alive. Gavan turns away and begins to graze once more.
V
Pressure had been accumulating within Mount Quiv'tai and its sibling volcanoes over the pass three hundred years. The Yu'kara have noted an slight increase of Earth shakes, since they prefer to live close to the inactive volcanoes, but not too close since they believe that they're sacred sites.
So when Mount Kugi'tai began to smoke, the two locate herds took notice. Then Mount Notr'tai and it's twin, Mount Motr'tai began to not only smoke, but began to erupt, the three locate herds had only stared dumbly at the two Mounts before they fled with molten began to reach their grazing lands.
Some herds argued about which way to travel, though in the end, the herds split apart as they traveled either east or west of their traditional lands. Violent earth shakes continue to herald the news that change was on its way, long before the distant herds of Yu'kara brought the startling news of their sacred fire mounts began to spout smoke, dust, and rocks.
Mount Quiv'tai's heart was stirring and unlike its relatives, its eruption wasn't herald by smoke, but by a minor shake an hour before it's molten core bursts through the rock and ash at the mouth of the volcano.
V
Baird studies the pair of youths that have recently encountered a group of Yu'kara grazing on their lands. –You did the right thing by not confronting them. They could have easily have killed you if you had. Go, get visit the healer and then get some rest. You did well, Eamon. Raimi.- He informs the pair. The soft blue Ki'souka named Eamon nods as the striped Ki'souka named Raimi heads off with Eamon following behind.
'That's the fifth time this day that someone has stumbled upon a group of Yu'kara grazing on our lands. This does not bold well, not at all.' The golden chestnut coloured Ki'souka ponders to himself. He decides to call a meeting to decide what to do now that the Yu'kara were trying to hustle them off their traditional grazing lands.
V
Gavan was currently following this tugging coming from within him. He's now eight years old, he's already received Water's Blessing three years previously. The full grown Ki'souka can still remember it like it happened yesterday.
'-
The spring seems to glow a subtle but shifting color that goes from being a soft spring green and to a soft blue. There wasn't even a full moon out tonight as Gavan watches foal after foal journey up to the spring to receive Water's Blessing. Each foal would glow slightly as the spring surges at each blessing, their coat and horns shimmer before the spring returns to normal.
The colt's musings were cut short as it's his turn to step up. The white and black colt wades out to the spring once Jiro steps out of the way to stand with the others that were now considered young adults, clearing the path for him. As the young Ki'souka walks up to the spring, a bundle of emotions flash within him, though the most dominate feelings were nervousness and pride.
Once the white and black colt reaches the spring, Gavan turns around and jerks slightly as the spring's surges upwards. The water touches him and he glows slightly before the spring returns to normal. Gavan notices his mother's looks of pride that also seems to have a touch of sorrow, with a peg of regret, he realises that his brother should be here tonight to also receive Water's Blessing…
'-
Gavan sighs, he had spoken with his mother about it and Inari had said that she was sad that neither his father nor brother had been there to see him receive his blessing. Gavan hadn't really known what to say to that, so he had kept quiet.
-Gavan?- A soft and faintly familiar voice asks. The white and black Ki'souka snaps out of his thoughts as he jerks his head up, ears jerking forward. –Gaius? Is that you?- The elder twin asks as a white and black being steps out from behind a tree. –It's been a while, hasn't it Gavan?- The adult Yu'kara says, Gavan can't help but stare at the Yu'kara that's his younger brother.
-How?- The adult Ki'souka asks once he finds his voice. –Mother never told you about our father, did she?- Gaius pauses slightly before continuing. -I guess not. Our father is Waseem of the Grey Sand herd, which makes us half breeds. It's kind of funny, if you think about it. We were pretty identical when we were younger and now look at us, eh? We're as different as can be, you taking after our mother as I take after our father.-
He merrily gawks at his younger brother, despite what his head says on the matter, his very soul told him this was his other half of his soul, his younger brother that had been taken by that Yu'kara patrol so long ago. –I thought they killed you.- Gavan says softly. –Funny thing, it's pretty hard to tell a Yu'kara foal from a Ki'souka foal, it also helped that there was an influx of Yu'kara herds moving about Grey Sand grazing lands. So I pretty much fit right in, once I got over the differences between the two herds and the shock of learning who our father is.- Gaius informs him.
-Why are Yu'kara invading Ki'souka lands?- Gavan asks, changing the subject. –You've felt the earth shakes?- His twin asks and he nods slightly. –The sacred mountains are releasing their fire; it's displaced many herds from their ancestral homes, Gavan. The pressure to move west, away from the flaming mountains is forcing the Yu'kara out of what's traditionally their territory and into the sparsely populated lands of the Ki'souka. I can only guess how the Ki'souka will react to this, but I pray that it's not violently. 'Cause trust me when I tell you this, brother, they're more then prepared for resistance from the Ki'souka. Some are even eager for an excuse to pick a fight with their colourful 'cousins.'- Gaius says seriously.
Gavan asks, -Is there anything we can do to keep it from going that far?- Gaius shrugs his armoured hided shoulders ever so slightly. –I know our father's attempting to convince the Yu'kara herds to at least try and explain what's going on with the Ki'souka.- Gaius tells him and he can only prays that the father he's never met is capable of following through with that course of action.
Soon enough, Gaius asks what it was like to receive Water's Blessing. Gavan was only too glad to tell his twin as long as Gaius was willing to tell him about the Yu'kara equivalent to Water's Blessing.
To be continued …