Aaalright! The next chapter is finally here! Yaaay! Terribly sorry for the long pause again between updates! I hate it so much when that happens! >. But now that Darth College is finally on the way to retreat, I'll probably have more time to finish up my installments! ;D
I'll be sure to post the next chapter really soon! Hope you'll like this one as well:)) Enjoy!
Chapter Four:
That motion broke the tense waiting. The sounds of battle filled the air and the form of a nightmare disappeared from Lyloo's view...
Now was her chance...Lyloo bursted out of her hiding place, staying in the shadows of the forest all the time, sweeping towards her village as fast as her feet could carry her...as far away from that previous place as possible.
"This is not happening...This can't be happening...", her mind kept chanting, desperately wanting to disregard the fact that war was developing on their homeworld...a war she had no idea about...
It took her less than ten minutes to reach the borders of the village. She raced in among the buildings, looking around in all diractions, trying to gauge her bearings...
The village was in alarm. All the warriors, both men and women were preparing for the fight. Lyloo could see the same shock on their faces, but they were ready to defend themselves and their home at all costs. Lyloo watched them, the determination in their features, the desperation in their eyes, the commitment... She finally understood that there was no escaping. They had to fight for their survival if necessary. And Lyloo will be no exception. Her eyes took over the glow of her comrade's and although officially she was not a mature Dihara yet, she won't stay behind hold aloof from the threatening danger. She will fight as well, just like her brothers and sisters, to protect all that was dear to them... That brought more thoughts up in her mind...Where were her parents? Where was her friend, Nolee? Her heart was full with anxiety. However, she tried to calm herself, to stay strong...
She knew where she could find the majority of the people. On the main "square" in the center of the village...This was the place of bigger assemblies, if important cases had to be discussed about. Now, it turned into the center of preparations for battle, for war...
Lyloo swiftly approached the square, looking for familiar faces in the crowd. It took her no time to reach the clearing, full of warriors and anxious inhabitants. Soon after she surveyed her surroundings, she could make out the form of a smaller group on the other end of the square...Lourdes was gathering her students around herself. As Lyloo watched her mester, she could feel a terribly deep guilt rallying up inside her. Lourdes was right all along...They were simply too naive to consider her teachings. Lyloo felt really ashamed for this...She quickened her steps to catch up with her comrades.
Lourdes' stern eyes met hers, as well as the others. One could see only vague signs of concern on her features. She managed to hold her composure, just as always.
"Well my pupils, it is just as I've told you so many times before...Our peaceful way of life has been finally disturbed...Peace is something we always have to regard as relative. It can last long decades, perhaps centuries...but one day you have to discover that peace has ended... However, peace can also be restored! This war that now evolves in our neighbourhood is not our war. Yet, it affects us all and we have to stand up against the threat it bears, or we most likely won't live much longer to see it's passing...I want you to be ready for anything! I hope the minute will never come when you also have to take your weapon and go out in that chaos of the front...but no one can guarantee that anymore. For now, your task is to stay here and be ready to defend the borders of our village alongside your older comrades if necessary...Now, I don't want to hear of any self-made wanton bravado! That person will have to face the consequences by my own hands, is that clear!"
Nobody had the courage to object. They nodded their agreement towards their master.
"Very well then! I must say, this what stays before us will test your wisdom and abilities far more than any trial I could come up with...Take care and may the spirits of all our warrior ancestors watch over each and every one of you...", Lourdes finally said, with care and...love towards her young students. Lyloo could feel her heart twitch at these words...emotions were starting to overwhelm her once more and she needed all her strenght to keep them under control.
The group slowly, reluctantly parted, the young warriors heading for their selected posts, wishing all the best for each other one could wish in such times like this... Lyloo's distress grew more and more by the minute...Nolee was not among the Sphinxes who wished her good luck. "Oh, Nolee, where are you...?", she thought in herself. Thankfully, Lourdes did not stop her for any further questions...She slowly began to cut across the square. Each and every step felt hard and heavy, as if she was bearing tons of weight on her shoulders...
Finally, she found herself walking among the small cottages again. Her feet automatically took her towards the borders of the settlement...her thoughts however, were far away...
Suddenly, she saw something in the distance which made her sight clear again...Her parents were standing not far from her, deep in talk with somebody. The sudden relief Lyloo felt almost took her off her feet...Bless the Gods, they were alright!
She ran over to them, already shouting from a distance..."Mother! Father!"
Alton and Minna raised their heads, looking for the sourse of the ever so familiar voice. Minna was the first one to find her daughter with her look.
"Lyloo! Thank Goodness, you're alright!", she exclaimed with joy and relief, embracing her child with all her motherly love.
"Lyloo, where have you been! Your mother and I were worried sick because of you vanishing like that!", came the hard voice of Alton Felvis, who looked quite morose. He had been extremely frustrated, not knowing where her daughter disappeared to, just when war was coming their way...something Alton could never imagine happening.
Lyloo waryly looked over to her father, still being held tightly by her mother. "But Dad, weren't you the one who said Mom was worrying too much about me yesterday?", she asked him. She had no idea where that answer came from, but she spoke it out without hesitating...
At first, her father was dumbfounded, he just didn't know what to reply...Then, he couldn't help it but to burst out into laughter at this clever response.
"Oh, you brazen little brat!", he cried out, catching Lyloo by her arm, pulling her to him, tousling her hair with her big fist. Lyloo chuckled loudly, trying to get loose from her father's grip...
Minna looked at them with astonishment...even now, when war was on the doorstep, father and child managed to forget about all the worry of the world, even if for a few moments. She admired her daughter for her capability of bringing smile and the precious drop of joy to her father, to her environment, even in such times as this...
However, she was not the only one chuckling at the sight...
After Lyloo finally managed to free herself, she also noticed the one smiling at them. She turned her gaze towards the creature her parents were talking to before she arrived...It took her by surprise to see that the other personage was not a Sphinx. She looked eye to eye with a similar cat-like creature, but her fur was more even and had a bluish color...Her glancing eyes were completely black, but one could see a cheerful sparkling inside them. Her long, raven-dark hair shimmered in the sunlight. She wore a simple brown robe, only the ledges of the sleeves and neck and lower part were covered with traditional embroidery of her own race.
After a few moments of studying her features, realisation hit Lyloo with a rush...
"Melory!" she whispered, somewhat shocked after recognizing her friend she hasn't seen in more than ten years...
Yes, it was Melory Cleeve, daughter of Nil Cleeve, a Nelvaan female.