Chapter Four: The Trek
Tomakaya rose from her seat as the city of Donona towered over her and her small band of injured, gravid, and young. Two emotions warred within her, the first was of course relief. She had been certain that their party would be attacked before reaching this sanctuary. Yet she had seen no signs of the Noa who had been reported ahead of their position. Perhaps they were waiting for the bigger and slower party holding up the rear. That was, well, foolishness when most of the uninjured warriors were in that group.
The second was out and out anxiousness; she did not want to return here, probably any more than those seated around her or in the other hovercars. There was the question on how this was going to be received by the stodgy old crowd that lived in the ancient capital.
She heard a low growl from behind her and turned to see mla'k with her eyes averted looking both angry and hurt. A pang of pity welled in Tomakaya momentarily for the Souata's loss. She had been unable to last until they reached the foot of the great trees that held the capital city. She had birthed her daughter in the car, messily, and in such an unsanitary manner that the child had not lived fifteen minutes, that was saying something for the normally resilient spawn of their race.
The child had been alive long enough, however, for Mla'k was feeling the loss of her. They had disposed of the body at the foot of one of the great trees yesterday, giving quick rights and spreading the liquid that would destroy the evidence and prevent desecration by wandering scavengers. They had buried the remains in a quick and very efficient manner and moved on.
Mla'k would not mourn, it was not their way to do so, but she had a right to be mad, the child looked every bit the warrior breed, and had showed no infirmities that would have forfeited its life with grapada.
Seeing Tomakaya looking at her, the Souata struggled to straighten herself in her seat, not allowing any of the others to help in her effort. Once upright she looked to the trees above her, her former expression erased by the anxiety she must be feeling.
The looks they received were reserved if not shocked as they passed by the sentries at the west gate to the city. They looked about as anxious as she was feeling, surely feeling the pinch of the Noa's stepped up aggression from the south. Donona had not been unscathed by recent events, they had suffered at least one attack since the battle for Lmarianta. Some of their outermost holdings had been destroyed as well as the loss of at least 10 more Sougra.
The Noa had been pouring out of the forest like Yhi stirred from their nest. The word had gone out it seemed, and the tribes of the Noa had made it their duty to harass the Soua with aggressive abandon.
Tomakaya leapt from the hovercar as it slowed to a stop by one of the low-lying garages, and around the other side of the gargantuan bole of the tree nearest her. With authority vested her by her position as Eesa apparent for Taysa she ordered the youth sparring near them to assist with the wounded and get them into the tree city high above them. They blinked several times, their training to obey any Taura warring with their knowledge that this Sougara was new to them. They erred on the side of caution, knowing that punishment would be just as swift from a stranger as from one of their own.
Scurrying forward they began lifting limp bodies free of the cars behind her. She ignored this activity, her eyes for the arrogant swagger of an older Soua approaching her. He was no more than about ten rotations old, showing fresh scarring from his Taurana between his heavy and barely spike dotted brows, the flesh there was more orange in her vision than the rest and gave him away for the newbie that he was.
"What is this?" He said gruffly to her, looking ready to cuff her for what he saw as impudence in her act. He swelled before her, rising to a height that just barely reached her upper mandible. It wasn't enough to intimidate her even if that had been the intent, "Travel has been restricted to that necessary to livelihood, Souata. You would disobey the law?"
Obliquely she turned her head toward him giving him a good view of her marks of Taura and of her lineage of training. It was not stricken through, meaning that she had not given up her life as a warrior and a hunter, and therefore deserved more respect than this newly blooded whelp was showing her. Her upper mandibles flared slightly, and a low hiss emanated from her throat.
He was a dense one however, either not seeing the marks, or not realizing their significance, for he invaded her space and grabbed her fleshy hair in an attempt to reprimand her. She reacted instantaneously, sweeping out with one leg and knocking her offender to the floor. Her sasa was out mere seconds after, pressed to his insulting throat.
"How dare you," She hissed into his surprised face, "Do you always greet visitors in such a disrespectful manner?"
He growled at her, and she responded by pressing the sasa harder into his throat, watching as a rivulet of warm blood ran down the contours of his muscular neck.
"Do you not see the Sougara marks on me, boy?" She growled tilting her head down so that he could get an up close view of her scars, "I am no Souata that you can push around! I am no Fausi in need of reprimand! Who is your superior?"
"Forgive…" he whispered, seeing finally, and understanding just what she was.
"These people need attention boy, do not think I am going to accept such treatment for those in need. Do not apologize to me because you are stupid…who is your supervisor?"
"Tm'an'la," He uttered, fearfully, seeming to realize that he was the one in for reprimand now.
Tomakaya released her hold of him, standing and turning again. She ignored his slow rise to his feet, walking steadily for the guardhouse. Stepping inside the construction, Tomakaya came again to stop, receiving a wary stare from the Soua opposite her in the dwelling. He begrudgingly gave her a salute of respect before speaking to her.
"What is it, Sougra? What has happened that you bring wounded here?" At least he was more observant that the sasiyi outside had been. He had observed the exchange outside of his shack as well, and seemed to approve of her handling of the situation.
She raised a brow at his cool tone, "Tomakaya…I bring news, and a warning. Taysa has been overrun by the Noa."
He seemed to have an opinion about Taysa and its people, managed to keep his mandibles over the words, "I see," He said peering over her shoulder to the nearly empty hovercars they came here on.
She nodded, "The main body of the population will be here in four days or less, and Eesa Lyonas wishes an audience with the Ot Eesan upon his arrival."
"I will send word to the Doana," He said gravely.
She nodded curt thanks, "The Saru will need to be taken to the crèche, the wounded to a soyan, and living arrangements will be needed for 65 others."
His brow rose in silent question about the low number.
"It is all that made it through," She answered, "The rest were lost to Lmarianta swamp, or the last defense out of Taysa."
"I will make contacts for your party's needs. If you will wait, I will inform you when your arrangements are completed."
"My thanks," she said simply.
Within the hour the Sougra and Sougara accompanying the sick, injured, and young, had been moved into a compartmented growth almost as old as Doana itself. Most of her escorts were already sleeping, exhausted from the anxious trip. Tomakaya tried time and again to go to sleep, only to have that elude her and found herself staring up at the cool blues of the ceiling temperature above.
She was wondering about Nobaya, hoping that his trip across the forest floor would be as simple as hers had been. Somehow she just expected the worst, that she might not even see him again. She drew a deep breath, knowing she should be objective about it, which it would be honorable for him to die in such a manner as for the lives of his city. Yet that didn't make her feel any less upset about his possible loss.
Nobaya slashed again, down and to the left as another Noa made to bite his mounts ankle, he howled in triumph as half of the creatures head landed on the heavily foliaged floor of the forest. He wheeled his mount, holding tight as the creature leapt up, slashing with its clawed feet twice before jarring to the ground again. Of its own accord it stepped forward snapping with its beak at another Noa, tucking its chin and laying horns into a knot of the attackers, only to flip them again. Nobaya watched one body go fifty feet before landing heavily, and unmoving to the forest floor. He gave the Yimhi its head as he extended his raspa, and the punting sound reverberated in his ear cavity as several more Noa fell, barbs stuck in their necks and skulls. Again he swiped with his sraha, catching another leaping Noa in the chest, all the while holding tight to the Yimhi with his legs.
He afforded a look around him, seeing that their party was fully engaged and he was on his own to fight this knot. Not that he found that a problem. He was having a great time with the engagement. He just hoped that the others, his bondsman included had made it through before these marauders had found their route of travel.
Nobaya returned his attention forward as his mount leapt again, dropping his raspa and grabbing desperately for the front of the saddle to prevent getting pitched to the ground. It was a near thing and he was hanging from the side of the saddle and found himself face to face with a charging threesome of Noa. With Herculean effort he pulled himself upright just missing getting hooked in the face by the cat like claws of his adversary. A second set sank into the flesh of his calf, just above his shin guards, and he grunted. Reacting he extended his hand down, his wrist cannon coming out of hiding and fired it point blank into the creature's face. The dead weight and the force of the impact ripped the claws free of his flesh, one breaking off as it hit the hard metal of his leg protection.
His mount twisted again, snapping another noa in half, warm blood streaming from the bird's beak and down its already bloody neck. It raised its head and screeched in triumph, raising a foot up and stomping down on another assailant as is leapt down from a low branch. Again it ducked down tucking its head and gouging a hole into the already dead Noa's face. It ripped the toothy jaw off of the Noa's skull and raised its head with the grisly trophy still attached to its horn by the skin. The Yimhi flipped its head a few times, prancing underneath Nobaya as if he were proud of his accomplishment.
He looked around him, noting that the fighting was coming to an end around them. Noticing a Noa sneaking in on one beleaguered member of the party, Nobaya wheeled his mount around, signaling the creature to charge. The bird built speed fast, pounding like a small freight train toward the creature trying to injure or kill another Soua. It turned its head toward them, but not soon enough to get out of the way.
Nobaya's Yimhi plowed the creature so hard that it flew back ten feet before hitting a tree with a sickening crunch. The Soua he had saved wheeled toward them, caught by surprise by the sound that the yimhi had emanated. He looked gratefully up at Nobaya, before slashing into the last of the Noa around him.
Just moments later an eerie silence fell over the small grove, and the Soua surveyed the damage. At least a hundred and fifty Noa lay dead, some were gravely injured and being put out of their misery by the warriors now wandering amongst the carnage. None of the party had been lost, but several were favoring limbs that had been bitten or cut by their involvement in the skirmish. One looked to have gotten medicine on his wound too late and was steadily being dissolved from the knee up. It didn't take him long to commit grapada, knowing a legless warrior was useless for what was coming on their heels. Two others attended the body, dissolving it quickly so as not to have Noa in their wake desecrate him. Three Yimhi had been lost to the fight, their riders not effectively keeping the threat of bites off of their mounts. That was a tender loss, and would slow the party down that much more in getting to their destination.
Lyonas stepped into the tightening circle of the remaining party looking to each before he spoke, "We need not tarry too long, the Noa surely will have more coming from behind us. We have much news that must be told and the sooner we are on our way the sooner it can be put in the hands of the proper Soua."
They nodded dispersing quickly to their respective places, many mounting now limping Yimhi, and heading again in the direction of the city. Nobaya kept a sharp eye out not only in front, but also behind and above them as they steadily made their way through the forest. Soon they would be safely within the protecting boughs of Donona. Though Nobaya was beginning to wonder just how effective that protection was going to be.
A/N: Thank you to all who have reviewed. And thanks for sticking with this even though I have been a bit slow about getting the chapters up. That is what I get for wanting to write the good stuff now and forget about the building parts(Which is what needs to be written to move the story forward). Believe me they are going to come in handy later on in the story.
AriRashkae: bows Thank you for taking the time to read this. (Are all husbands like that? LOL! Mine says the same thing!) Yes ff does have an issue with taking out any kind of breaks between POV's...now at least we can throw a line between the passaged to arrange the switch.
Mac-11: Thank you for stopping over and giving me your op on the story so far. I like my two heroes...we will have to see just where they go in their relationship.
Shaolin-style: Thanks! I am so happy about the reception this story is getting so far! I can't believe my average hit count per chapter has hit over 100! Wow! I am glad that you like it, and I hope that you will agree with whereever I decide to take this...it may not be everyone's desired direction...but who knows!
Blackdawn: Hey girl! Glad to have you on board again! My stalwart supporter! LOL! I am glad you are liking it.
Janusi: Snicker! They are a bit short for me...especially in recent months, so as requested this one is a tad longer. Writing faster doesn't seem to be an option for me at the moment...though I write on it as things come to me!
Wanderer3: Hey Man, we're getting to the good stuff...a small preview was here in this chapter...but not nearly long enough compared to what will happen soon! And you're right it was awesome to see the pred swing that alien, it is just too bad the aliens went for a hat trick and got a turkey in stead! Grrr...LOL!
Bastet: Yeah this is going to be a major change for her, she was feeling pretty isolated before on Earth and now she is going to be feeling very "alien"ated! LOL! OYE I am in a strange humor.
