Night had fallen, as Spyke and the other Morlocks joined Nirambo in his hut, seating themselves in a semi-circle around the fire contained therein. Spyke had already warned them not to touch anything they found, since the shaman's ingredients were often-times delicate and sometimes even perilous.
"You know why we're here?" asked Spyke, forgoing formailities.
"You've come because of the Hungan," he replied, nodding his aged head.
"He's kidnapped one of our own," replied Spyke, indicating the other Morlocks. "Our leader, Callisto."
"I cannot tell you the Hungan's plans, I know very little," confessed the aged shaman, leaning back on his haunches, his legs crossed beneath him. "I know he has returned, and that his ambitions to rule Africa have not changed."
"But Storm defeated him... he was flung into the ocean," started Spyke.
"Ororo is very powerful," replied Nirambo. "But the Hungan is too, in his own way. He and his minions have returned. They have already started attacking us as well. Already three of our number have been kidnapped, turned into his soulless minions. We sought to deal with this on our own, as it is a problem that no longer concerns Ororo, but now that you are here," he stated, his gaze sweeping over the other Morlocks as well. "Your aid would be much appreciated."
"We'll do whatever we can," promised Spyke.
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The Morlocks stayed the night with Nirambo's tribe. True, they were regarded oddly, but not with the usual hate-filled glares they experienced whenever they travelled topside. Here, they were an oddity, but nothing more. Spyke smiled to himself, as he and Facade helped to lift a fallen beam, as they were bsuy helping to repair some of the damage from the Hungan's previous attack.
It was good, the physical labor. It kept Spyke's mind off of other things. Like ivory-white skin and a single, piercingly bright eye. Or dark, shaggy hair, that somehow remained smooth and straight despite the life of a sewer-dweller. And then there were other thoughts he wanted to avoid. Like the white, evil image of a skull tattoo. Or the cold glowing crystal of the Hungan's scepter.
Spyke was so distracted by his thoughts he barely noticed the roof of the nearby hut starting to fall forward, until one of the tribseman called out, snapping the spiky warrior back to the here and now.
Quickly he threw out some longs spikes, holding up the ceiling, as two tribesmen and Calliban moved in with supports to keep the roof upright. Spyke, surprised, tired, confused, moved to a nearby fallen log and sat down, rubbing his temples.
"You are pushing yourself too hard, warrior," stated Nirambo, coming up behind Spyke, who didn't bother to turn around. "You blame yourself needlessly."
"It was my fault," he retorted angrily, feeling his eyes burn with unshed tears. "My fault she was taken."
"Yet you are here, to save her... and you have the power to do it, Windrider's nephew. I have seen the strength carried by your family."
Spyke stood angrily, turning to face Nirambo, every line in his body tense. Angry. The fire that sometimes burned along his skeleton now burned in his eyes, and Nirambo shrank back fearfully. "Where is the Hungan, Nirambo? I'm leaving tonight."
"Five miles south. When you cross the river, turn to follow the moon. They are at the Temple."
Spyke wasted no more time, breaking off in a dead run, using his spikes to slash his way through the thick foliage as he ran to her.
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Torpid tugged at Calliban's pant leg, pointing. Calliban frowned, tilting his head, his eyes narrowing in concentration. There, Spyke. Moving south, away from the village, towards Callisto. No other Morlocks with him, they were all found too, still at the village. He'd gone on alone.
"Gather the others," he stated in dull monotone, though his voice carried underneath it an urgency rarely heard. "We have to move quickly."
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Author's Notes:
I presume that the Hungan's warriors aren't working for him entirely out of loyalty. I think maybe their souls have been stolen too, so I inserted the how the Hungan stole some villages from Nirambo's tribe. And now Spyke is running off alone to fight them all.
Elisabeth Braddock-Grey: Nobody loves the Hungan, he's fundamentally unlikable. Glad you like my Callisto/Evan romance though, I am working hard on it. And of course Torpid. She's my third favorite Morlock, and only that far down because she can't speak.
Kukume: Hey, he can survive in a mansion full of mutants and down in the sewers, plus he took that Ironback survival course. Damn straight he's got survival skills. If you want more details on the Morlocks, Beyond Evolution has their profiles (courtesy of yours truly). Check it out.
Todd fan: I could've sworn it was Nirambo, but maybe I misheard. After all, his name was only said once in the entire series.
Banter: Glad you like. I do try and do that, work my stories into the timeline of the Evo series, glad my work does not go unnoticed.
Impulsive Thoughts: Thanks for the input.