Pronunciation:
Asjatar – AA-sjaa-tar
goran'lok – goar-RAAN-lock – equivalent to asshole
N'varak – ne-VAAR-rack
N'varak'ii – ne-vaar-rack-KAI
Nazek'ri – nah-ZECK-kree
thranje – THRAAN-jeh – a small, reddish-brown bean
Thunder
The forest was alive with sound, the constant whistling and chirping only interrupted by the howls of the tree dwellers as they scurried overhead, hunting for prey or fruit. The hollow trees the Midnight Swords had made their homes groaned, their honeycombed trunks creaking as they slowly rocking back and forth as the winds tugged at their branches. Ajenke huffed and rolled over to try and find a more comfortable spot. An impossible task. The smoothest and softest spots, some covered in moss and vines, had been given to the injured. She'd kill and skin an animal at this point if it meant having a pelt to sleep on. The thought of gutting something didn't help her rest. She wrestled with sleep, dozing fitfully as she tried to fit her body into the tangle of roots beneath her, the giant ferns she'd plucked the night before starting to become stiff and crack.
Suddenly, the forest quieted. Her eyelids drooped, but she forced herself to stay awake. There was only one reason, other than rain, for the animals to fall silent.
In the darkness, a strange thunder slowly rolled over the treetops. Thrumming, like a great heartbeat, drawing closer with every breath. A shiver of fear and anticipation crawled down Ajenke's spine. Great wings beat the air above, the trees shuddering as the xora flew overhead, drowning out all sounds or thoughts. Their banshee calls filled the forest, echoing for miles. Who dwells in our forest? they called. Who are you, children of the night?
And then they were gone. One by one, the animals of the forest, spared by their terrible sky gods, ventured forth, clicking and hooting once more. Hungry. Mine. Mate. Stay away. I'm here.
Ajenke growled and shoved off her dry, leathery blanket. She wasn't sleeping tonight.
She quietly made her way out of the tree, padding softly down its mossy sides and towards the crackling fire. So far, neither the Thousand Blades nor ravenous monsters that lurked in the jungle had found them. This worried Zara. Too much good luck was bad, she said. It made one fat and complacent. She'd set up guard rotations. Several perched in the branches of the trees surrounding their shelters, scanning the ground and air for any sign of predators or enemies.
Conversation hushed as she approached, all eyes following her as she found a comfortable spot of dirt and crouched.
"Thought you sleep," rumbled E'kru.
"You need a bed to do that," Ajenke clicked irritably.
Zara huffed softly, laughing. "Soft skin," she teased, poking Ajenke's arm. She growled out a warning, but smiled. Yeah, she was soft. She'd never realized how soft until now, even with Ahandra's occasional teasing.
"Everyone awake. Should make plan," clicked E'kru matter-of-factly as she poked the fire with a stick, orange embers leaping into the air.
"The plan is to stay hidden," clicked Zara sharply. "Too many are injured and we cannot move them." Ajenke glanced between the two, the friction palpable. They must have been arguing about this before she arrived.
"Need information. What happen in Midnight Blossom?" E'kru shot back.
"It's too dangerous."
"Dangerous if stay here."
"We cannot move the injured!"
Ajenke growled and the two captains stilled. The three of them need to be united and calm. She could feel the eyes of the other warriors around the fire and in the trees, watching them, waiting to see what she would say.
"E'kru, you are right, we need to know what happened and if the Thousand Blades control any of the sectors." She turned to Zara before she could protest. "You are also right. There are too many hurt and it would be a disaster if we moved them." She had their attention, some warriors nodding in agreement. "I have been thinking about what we need to do next. We can't stay in the jungle forever. The temple scanners or the Shan's forces will find us eventually. We're going to split into three groups. E'kru, you will take a small team and scout out the Midnight Blossom and see if you can get in contact with Captain Rrourk. Zara, you will stay and guard the main force and the injured. If you need to move, do it."
Her captain sighed. "Why do I sense you are about to do something reckless?"
"I'm going into Kuuroch."
Zara chuffed and crossed her arms. "Of course."
Ajenke ignored her. "The Midnight Blossom has contacts in the inner rings and upper levels. Some owe us favors."
Real thunder rumbled in the distance, the scent of rain filling the air. They discussed who would go, realistic timeframes and worst case scenarios into the night. They were shooting in the dark, Ajenke knew, but it was better than sitting in the mud and hoping nobody found them. The meeting came to an abrupt end as the sky opened up overhead, rain pouring through the canopy and dousing the fire, soaking everyone before they could even reach one of the mossy bulges protruding from giant, pyramid-shaped trees. Ajenke shivered and huddled against a smooth, curving wall with E'kru and a flower whose name she'd forgotten. She didn't remember falling asleep.
,- \- '|; |/
Storm winds lashed at his cape, rain pelting his mask and armor as he walked the wide lane leading to the heart of the Thousand Towers. The Star Tower. The crystals embedded into its elegant pale sides flashed as webs of lightning raced across the sky, the top lost in the dark, swirling clouds above.
No one challenged him until he reached the first platform, the way blocked by a high wall that circled the entire base of the tower. The sentinels perched on either side regarded him with their crimson eyes, weapons systems whirring as they flared and leaned forward, assessing him. His masked sense their scans, a small warning beacon popping up. One of the drones let loose a mechanized growl. "Name."
"Auran Draken'atharr," he huffed, the rain muffling him.
The drone stared down impassively, gears whirring as the operator controlling it checked the systems database and schedule for the day. Seconds ticked by. The operator was probably scrambling for orders from his superiors. A wanted fugitive had just shown up at their front door.
Wires hissed and popped as the two drones disengaged from their platforms. "You may enter," it rasped. The two machines followed a few paces behind him, weapons systems primed and ready. They would only stun him. But he didn't plan on storming the fortress today.
His guides handed him off to several massive shield guards in golden armor and flowing red capes. Every dread lock was completely covered in golden bands and a red sword embossed their breastplates, signifying that they were the elite guardsmen of the Thousand Blades. Silently, they escorted him to the throne room, stopping at the edge of the gilded entryway. Auran quietly huffed to himself. As always, tradition took precedence over common sense. He was a heavily armed and armored outcast, yet the guardsmen were still ordered to stand back by the shan'rai, who preferred to rely on machines to protect them. He could smell the commander's uneasiness as he approached the three females.
"That's close enough," hissed Jainedra. He stopped halfway across the room. Maybe she wasn't as foolish as he thought. Or perhaps she was just afraid, he mused, inhaling the faint sickly sweet scent of fear wafting from direction of the shan'rai. "If you weren't so valuable I'd kill you where you stand. Do you know how much trouble and embarrassment you've caused us the past four cycles?"
"If you had been patient, I would've come of my own free will. You lost many warriors down in the Tunnels," he rumbled, his voice carrying across the empty space with ease.
"How dare you?" she hissed again. "Am I to know your mind?"
Auran said nothing. Arguing was pointless. Neither of them trusted the other.
Essilin shifted, her face covered in an impassive yet elegant mask.
"What?" the first wife snapped.
"If I may ask?"
"Very well," Jaiendra sighed with a wave her hand.
The second wife turned her gaze on him. "Draken'atharr, do you know what's become of Iyeiden Fire Singer? He has been gone almost a week and we can find no trace."
Pain lanced through Auran's chest, the memories flashing before him. His sword buried in Iyeiden's chest. His guardian's blood spilling on his hands. He'd never felt such rage. It was as if everything he'd buried suddenly rushed to the surface. He'd lost control. He'd lost his answers.
"Draken'atharr?"
Auran snapped to attention, bunching his fists to hide his trembling fingers. "I don't know. I haven't seen him since I left."
The elder female sat back. "I see," she murmured after a moment. "The Singing Blades fear that one of their great masters is lost forever." Essilin folded her hands and bowed her head.
"Your son looks like a thranje bean," piped up Thet, her sunset orange robe cut to show her shoulders.
Iyeiden's dying image disappeared in an instant. Ahandra. Seinu. They were here.
"Thet," Jaiendra growled.
"It's why he came isn't it? It would be rude not to let him see them before he dies."
"I'm not going to die, young shan'ra."
"Oh?" Thet purred, cocking her head to the side.
"Because we'll be there," a voice called out from behind. Auran turned in surprise. I'aquin sauntered in, Hetarrak lagging behind as he gawked at everything. The Hidden Dagger dragged him to attention when they met in the middle.
"Goran'lok. We have a debt to pay. You're not going anywhere without us," he rumbled. Hetarrak beamed. Wires hissed and popped as Auran took off his mask. "Daka," he sighed.
"What is this?" Jaiendra was standing, a displease look marring her perfect features. "Thet!" she barked. "This has your claw marks all over it. What did you do?"
"These two requested they accompany the Shadow Stalker on his quest. I spoke to the Shan and he approved." The young wife smiled proudly at her cleverness, as if unaware that Jaiendra was fuming barely a few steps away, a volcano about to erupt. The young shan'ra's face turned dark a second later and she stared straight at the male trio. "I'aquin."
"Thet," rumbled the warrior, his features equally serious. The pair continued to stare each other down for several moments.
"Um, I'aquin," whispered Hetarrak, "You're not supposed to stare at the Shan's bond mate like that. He'll—"
"That little brat and I have a score to settle. She tried to kill me once," he growled, averting his gaze back to his friends. Before Hetarrak could ask why, Jaiendra, who'd been ignored for long enough, interrupted. "If you're finished, the Shan will explain your mission."
Doors sealed shut as the room went dark, a large hologram crackling to life, the crimson image of the Shan in his battle armor filling the air.
"Sharin'atharr," he growled, his deep voice rumbling throughout the chamber. "You've tried my patience these past twelve months. Hiding under the protection of one of my greatest enemies was very clever, but as you should've realized, the Tunnels are filled with dishonorable traitors and cowards. Captain Sef was well rewarded."
Auran's hackles rose and he growled. That bastard.
"I will now reveal your purpose and your means to redeem your honor. Behold, the birthplace of yautjakind." A map of a system materialized. Two suns. Six planets. A section of the map highlighting the fourth planet with two small moons amplified and the Shan took it into his hands, pulling it wide until the world filled the space between him and the three warriors. "This is N'varak." Massive cities, greater than those of Ashann, covered the world. Thousands of ships circled its atmosphere. "Based on the last report of my spies before they were killed, the sword of Ashann lies in this temple, here." The planet was replaced with a ziggurat, the central chamber highlighted.
Auran's breath caught. The sword of Ashann. The most sacred artifact to ever exist, thought lost after the Great Exodus when the prophet been killed. Whoever wielded the blade was said to inherit the blessings of Ashann. No one would resist following the yautja who carried that blade.
It all suddenly made sense. Shaidra was going to overthrow the High Clan of Ashann when he returned from his crusade, the prophet's sword in hand. The High Clan was weak. And with the sword no one would oppose him. It was little wonder this would redeem the Shadow Stalkers.
"You will retrieve the blade and return it by the time my fleet returns to Kuuroch. You have less than a cycle," he rumbled, the holographic maps streaming into Auran's gauntlet. "If you succeed, your clan will be reestablished and the ancient pact renewed with the next ruling clan of Kuuroch, which I will name when I return. The sons of the Hidden Daggers and Thunder Slayers will be rewarded as well. Now go. May the God guide your swords." He disappeared, the room lightening.
Auran let out a heavy breath. The odds were against them. It was practically suicide.
He suddenly spotted Saira as she slipped into the room. She nodded to him and folded her hands inside her robe's long sleeves.
"I'aquin. Hetarrak. Prepare the ship. I'll be with you shortly. There's something I need to do first." I'aquin pulled Hetarrak along before he could start asking questions, growling when he dragged his feet and started whining.
"And where do you think you're going?" Jaiendra called out, her sharp tone making him pause.
"To make sure you didn't damage what's rightfully mine," he growled back. He ignored her shocked clicks and followed the elder out.
/
/
/
The chamber was crumbling.
Its fleshy walls split and cracked, bones tumbling from the ceiling as the creatures ripped into the heart of the labyrinth, screeching and howling. Black ichor dripped from above, hissing as it hit the floor, a foul smelling stench rising from it as it slowly ate through the bones scattered about. Tyler cried out as some of it hit her arm, her hand burning as she desperately tried to wipe away the sticky goo.
Ahandra grunted as she cut down a small demon that had dropped from the ceiling, too stunned by the fall to fight back. There were too many, she knew. She whirled, slicing a spawn carrier in half, its spindly legs and long tail whipping frenziedly on the ground before the creature shuddered and stilled. It was then she noticed the door set into the far side of the chamber. She didn't question its sudden appearance. No time for thinking. Only action. The chamber was a death trap. She grabbed the screaming prey thing and hauled her to the exit. Two fighters were better than one.
The ceiling ripped open then, black, eyeless demons pouring from the walls, their inner mouths drooling for blood.
The warrior dragged Tyler though a door, slamming it shut before the slavering monsters could follow them. She could hear their claws rake across it, the black, twisted exit groaning as they slammed their elongated skulls into it, their muted shrieks filled with hunger and frustration.
Lightning made her jump and she looked up to see sky. Swirling clouds raced across the barren landscape, purple flashes rumbling in the distance. The land was scarred and burned, the ruin of some great civilization crumbling across the bleak, gray landscape. The door they'd passed through led to the top of a battered ziggurat.
The mask whirred as it shifted between view modes and Ahandra scanned their surroundings several times. This did not make sense. They had been underground in a labyrinth. Now they were above ground on world she'd never seen. Impossible.
"Did we go through a portal?" Tyler half-asked the tall female as she looked around. The monster rumbled something incomprehensible and moved forward. Not much for talking, she decided as she followed after.
The strange purple lightning continued to crackle overhead as they made their way through the twisted ruins, massive black craters dotting the landscapes. Metal had twisted and fused into unnatural shapes, the after effect of some sort of super-heated weaponry. It reminded her of Korea, she thought as she looked around. She'd seen what the plasma tanks could do to a single town. She was glad she hadn't had to use plasma weapons against another human. Hand-held plasma weapons had still been in the prototype stage during the war.
The female was lagging behind. Ahandra gave sharp bark for her to keep up. The alien gave some nasty retort in her gibberish language when she caught up. Ahandra snorted. Stupid, brave little thing. The prey was lucky it was useful.
The pair continued on in silence, trekking towards the heart of the city. Other than the thunder, it was unnaturally quiet. There was no wind. No scent except ash and dust. It unnerved her, being unable to smell nothing. The land was cold and dead. Nothing living, not even insects flickered in the twilight of this world. Was this one of the realms of Hell? She tried remembering what she might have done to deserve such a fate, her memory coming up blank. The only thing she remembered was the labyrinth and her name. Nothing else. A chill entered her and she shivered. Why couldn't she remember who she was?
The warrior had gone strangely quiet, Tyler noted. She did not push them as hard, her steps hesitant. Even she appeared unnerved by this place. Tyler stopped, suddenly noticing a strange sound. She looked around, the source faint, yet everywhere. "Do you hear that?" The female stopped, cocking her head and listening. The droning became louder, higher.
Ahandra barked a curse and clambered up the side of a building. She looked across the land, her hearts beating faster as her masked zoomed in and switched sight modes. Hordes of demons were closing in around the city, drawn by some signal. Was there a queen nearby? She leapt to the ground, rolling to crouch as she landed, popping up and sprinting towards the pale central tower that rose above the destruction.
Tyler raced after her. Whatever she'd seen, it hadn't been good. More monsters? She leapt over rubble strewn across the grid shaped streets, her lungs burning as she struggled to keep up. Pain lanced up her arm and she cried out, stumbling to the ground. Tyler rolled to her back, groaning as she held up her hands in front of her. Black veins pulsed over her ash grey arms, long black claws splitting her fingertips and curling into vicious claws. "Oh shit," she moaned. The black ichor that had dropped onto her. It had infected her somehow. Tyler screamed suddenly as her flesh twisted and a black bone ending in deadly spike burst from an elbow. The infection blackened her veins as it raced up her arms, searching for her heart. She struggled to stand.
Ahandra skidded to a stop and turned. The creature was writhing in pain. She scanned her. The body was changing, morphing at an accelerated rate. Ahandra snarled. Somehow, she was turning into one of the demons. She unlatched her sword. She would grant it a merciful death. The creature tried to run, it stumbled, shouting something garbled and annoying. A pity it couldn't die with honor, she thought as she raised her blade.
Ahandra.
The voice came from everywhere. She hesitated, lowering her blade a fraction. The female had also stopped yelling. She'd heard it too.
Ahandra.
A violent wind tore across the plains and lightning flashed across the sky, the dark miasma above starting to froth angrily.
Ahandra!
"Auran!" the female cried out, the infection spreading across her cheeks and jaw, her arms completely transformed. Hair fell from her bulging head in clumps.
That name. She should know that name.
Ahandra braced herself, sand blasting down the street, biting into her arms and thighs. The ground trembled, stone and metal groaning as they were suddenly ripped from the ground and sucked up into the spiraling dark sky. Thunder roared as giant arcs of lightning hammered the ground, smashing smaller towers, their shattered remains floating into the sky to be consumed by the howling vortex forming above. Ahandra shouted and fell to her hands and knees, walls and glass whipping over head as they tumbled into the sky. The ground trembled beneath her like a corpse coming to life, the bleached towers and walkways rattling more violently with each passing second.
The creature collapsed several feet away, her body convulsing as the infection spread to her mind and internal organs. The voice was fading. The horde was closing in, their shrieks carried by the shrapnel filled gale. The earth groaned, giant cracks and rifts tearing the city apart, tossing Ahandra to the ground as it whipped back and forth. The sky began to melt, black pillars of clouds pouring into the crevices like tentacles into an open wound.
Ahandra thought she heard the voice whisper her name again before the howling winds ripped it away.
The vortex descended then, consuming the white monolith in the center first.
Demons flashed in the shadows, circling them, uncaring that the world was dying. They were hungry. The creature was still writhing as her bones reformed, a long, bony tail ripping from her spine with a gut wrenching squelch. After a moment she stilled. Ahandra jumped to feet, searching for her sword. Gone. She must've lost it during the quake.
Suddenly, the prey thing rose, a sweeping crest blooming from her forehead. Ahandra snarled, backing away, frantically searching for a weapon. The creature grinned coldly back at her, her eyes have fallen out long ago. The new queen pointed and her children squealed in delight as they rushed in to feast.
Desperation filled her and she threw back her head, her shout lost in the howling thunder of the vortex as it descended on her and the ravenous horde. Auran!
And the world tore itself apart with a final clap of thunder.
Ahandra jolted awake, sweat soaking her cold skin. Someone held her. Black armor and well muscled, auburn arms surrounded and pressed against her. She looked up, hearts beating wildly. Auran. Her face stung.
His eyes were filled with fear. "God, don't ever do that again," he breathed, pulling her into an even tighter embrace, a hand entangling itself in her tresses.
She whimpered and wrapped her arms around his neck. He'd found her. He'd finally come.
"I'm sorry," he whispered into her shoulder. "I'm sorry I didn't protect you."
She shuddered as his warm breath washed over her cold skin. "I don't care that you broke your promise," she croaked, hugging him tighter. His hands caressed her skin. They were trembling. "I was so afraid you weren't coming back again. That you were dead," she choked on the last few words, relief filling her.
"I thought they did something to you," he whispered hoarsely, caressing her face. "When you didn't wake up and you were shaking… I-I couldn't think of anything else to do." He cupped her stinging cheek. She could smell his sorrow and relief.
"I'm okay. Just a nightmare."
"They're getting worse—"
"Shh," she pressed her fingers against his mandibles. "I'm okay. It's okay…"
Their mandibles found each other, desperately grasping and stroking the soft webbing of their mouths. He pushed her down on the pallet, caressing the edges of her mouth and tracing the sensitive veins of her neck. She gasped and ran her fingers through his locks, stroking and tugging on them. Her mandibles locked onto his, her soft tongue pushing into his mouth. He groaned, his own tongue finding hers, his mandibles pushing her down and caressing her cheeks and jaw. She squirmed beneath him, her scent overwhelming. Auran rumbled as his length hardened, pressing uncomfortably against his groin guard. It had been so long since he held her or had any kind of release. He wanted her. Needed her. Because this time he probably wouldn't come back. Auran ripped off her thin garments and ran his hands over her skin, drawing in her scent, her body trembling beneath him.
A tiny mewl made him pause.
Ahandra gently pushed him back and crawled to the corner of the pallet piled with most of the furs. The mewling turned into insistent cries and she picked up the tiny bundle hidden in the pile, unwrapping it and pressing it against her swollen breasts. Auran edged closer, his throat tightening as tiny hand reached out and grasped at his bond mate's breast. She smiled at him and pulled away the top half of the blanket. Soft, stubby tresses poked from his son's skull. His skin was bronze tinted like his mother, distinctive dark brown spots and stripes beginning to develop. He suddenly felt huge, covered in his clan's armor. Seinu was so small. He'd never realized how tiny newborns were. He settled next to Ahandra, peering down to watch his pup suckle, the moment of passion forgotten.
"He has your eyes," Ahandra murmured, laying her head on his shoulder. Pride swelled through him and for the first time in months, he felt genuinely at peace. He reached to gently pet his son's head, marveling at how fuzzy his locks were. He pressed his head against Ahandra's, regret suddenly filling him.
Once again, he had to leave this behind. But he would come back. He swore to himself then that he would return, Ashann's sword in hand, the odds be damned.
"I have to go," he rumbled after a while, shifting away. Ahandra pulled Seinu away from her breast and placed him over her shoulder, gently patting his back. He drooled sleepily, finally letting out a tiny burp. She switched him to her other breast and he greedily clamped on, sucking loudly.
Damn. He hoped his son didn't stay like this for long. Ahandra made him soft enough as it was.
"Where are you going?"
"The mission. I have to leave now."
"How long will you be gone?"
He sighed, unable to meet her eyes. "Less than a cycle."
He could smell her displeasure. That's what he'd said last time. She reached behind his neck and pulled him close, kissing him fervently. When he finally managed to tear himself away, they didn't say goodbye or make promises. By now they both knew in their hearts what the other was saying. I will wait for you. I will return. He laid his cloak over Ahandra for her to keep warm and left, his chest aching.
He pushed his emotions down, steeling himself as he approached the hangar. Not only his life hung in the balance; I'aquin and Hetarrak were depending on him. He'd mark their left debt paid once this mission was over. They could move on with their lives, honor restored.
Hetarrak had already prepped the N'varak'ii ship that had been stolen. It would help give them momentary cover as they slipped onto the planet. I'aquin was loading the last of the gear when Auran arrived. They nodded to each other as Auran made his way on board. Hetarrak was playing with the controls. "These are surprisingly similar to ours," he clicked as soon as he heard Auran approach. "I mean, they're efficient and all, but personally I prefer the Nazek'ri models. Real sleek, but they have this great kick and can maneuver through tight spaces like a…"
Auran smiled as he tuned out his chattering friend. He was the best pilot in all of Kuuroch. But sometimes he talked too much. The hull sealed shut with a thump. I'aquin was on board. Auran input the coordinates the Shan had given him while Hetarrak primed the engines. Their course set, the ship blasted into the twilight, piercing the atmosphere with a concussive shockwave. The void spread before them, Asjatar, the largest of the three moons, rising to greet them. Auran pulled I'aquin aside to plan, content to let Hetarrak work the foreign ship. There wasn't much time.