Chapter 7: FANG (part 2)

While Fang may be protected on all sides by water, methods of crossing the river had been developed for limited hunting and scouting runs. Namaari felt like a small, rarely used ferry guided by a rope secured at each side of the river was her best bet.

She chose not to bring her dual swords, hoping to show that she came in peace. Plus, Chaiya was with her and Namaari didn't envy the fool that tried to harm her while the serlot was by her side.

After having crossed the river, Namaari strode purposefully down the marble walkway in the center of Fang, towards the royal palace. She didn't engage with anyone but she could feel dozens of eyes on her. She was sure the rumor mill had conjured up all manner of outlandish ideas about where she had been and what she had been doing. But Namaari didn't care.

A glance to the school yard showed that her mother wasn't with the children today. Then if Namaari's instincts were right she would be getting her daily briefing from General Atitaya after their confrontation in Spine.

Still no one stopped her as she continued on, Chaiya obediently at her heels.

There she was. Just as she suspected she would be, staring down at the map of Kumandra with the General across from her. Namaari stepped up to them, barely registering their shocked expressions. Even her usually poised mother was astounded at her sudden appearance. Normally, her mother would greet her with a wide smile and her pet name, 'little morning mist'. But today she was taken off guard.

"Namaari?"

"Mother," she spoke formally with the traditional bow, speaking as though she hadn't left her homeland, traveled across the lands with a motley crew, fought against her own warriors in Tail and almost again in Spine, and returned with absolutely no warning.

Ty was still standing on the other side of the map but she had straightened up, and from over her mother's shoulder she could see the pained look on her face. When her mother seemed to remember herself she stared at Namaari and spoke to the General without looking away.

"General Atitaya, you are dismissed," the Chief ordered and while the other woman looked as though she was going to argue she ultimately obeyed, leaving the mother and daughter alone after a bow of her own.

Namaari looked to her mother and could see that her almost ageless skin was creased with worry, something she rarely let show.

"What happened? I got the message from Lieutenant Wahn when he came home from Tail without you… and then General Atitaya said you refused to come home when she found you in Spine."

"Mother, Raya found Sisu. After all this time, she actually found her. We've traveled all over have and gathered all of the gem pieces. All except yours," Namaari explained, knowing now was not the time to go into the finer details of their journey, instead opting to get directly to the point. "She can fix what we broke. She can bring everyone back."

She saw her mother's brow furrow, her hands gripping the golden staff with the gem piece. The change in the temperature of the conversation was almost instantaneous. Her mother's face hardening.

"And that's what scares me," she countered sharply, her voice losing some of its evenness. "When everyone comes back, who do you think they'll come for? You forget. The other lands blame us for what's happened."

"I haven't forgotten, Mother." Namaari was struggling but somehow able to keep her voice level and free of emotion despite the anger simmering beneath her every word. "It is you who have forgotten your humanity. If you could only see what the people of the other lands have gone through because of our selfishness. If only you could see what Raya has been through."

Her voice faltered a little at the mention of the Heart princess and she could feel a burning at the back of her eyes. She was getting emotional and she knew her mother wouldn't respond well to that but she couldn't help it. Not when it came to Raya.

"Namaari. What happened to the people of Heart was... unfortunate. But I did what I believed was best to keep my people and my daughter safe at all costs."

Namaari thought she might draw blood from biting her tongue so hard to keep from scream at her mother. What happened to Raya was far more than unfortunate. To her credit, her mother did look regretful but her words were far from an apology but Namaari wasn't here for an apology.

"If we had the dragon and the gem pieces, we would be forgiven," her mother continued, gesturing around them at their people and their homeland. "We could save the world. But more importantly our people would remain safe."

"Sisu is a dragon, the last dragon no less. She's not an object to be owned by any land or people," she said, "and does it really matter who gets the credit for saving the world? Or who has the dragon gem? If we can come together and the Druun are defeated our people will be safe. If we keep fighting amongst one another it's only a matter of time before the Druun return once more. That's not the world I want to live in. The world I want Fang's children to live in."

Chief Virana did not respond but Namaari could see her weighing her words, analyzing the rationale. Her dark piercing eyes that made whole armies fall into line were now trained on her, but Namaari did not waiver.

"Raya, Sisu, and I have been all over Kumandra. We've brought people together from each of the five lands. All we need is Fang's gem piece." Namaari knew her voice was becoming impassioned but she didn't care. She needed her mother to see. To understand.

"We can fix this right now. All we need is your help, Mother. We no longer have to be the 'back stabbing binturis who broke the world'. We can help all of these people reunite with their families. We can bring back Kumandra and secure Fang's future in it. Otherwise, we doom ourselves to the same mistakes that got us here in the first place."

There was a long pause where neither of them moved. Namaari stood, eyes pleading her mother to see reason. Then slowly she could see the change in her mother, the crease in her brow had smoothed and her eyes had softened, giving Namaari an affectionate smile.

"You know, six years ago I thought I was making the rational decision. The only decision that would keep my daughter and my people safe, however I am beginning to see how I may have accomplished the opposite," she began, her eyes having a far away look to them as she seemed to remember that day, before looking back to her daughter. "Namaari, you are truly becoming the leader I raised you to be."

Going further, her mother reached up and wrested the gem piece from the end of her staff. She held it up to eye-level for a moment to have once last glance at it before she held it out to Namaari. She continued, "Save the world, my love."

Namaari could hardly believe her ears. But she could sense no deception in her mother's demeanor, only sincerity. A grin slowly spread across her face and she took the offered gem piece. The child in her wanted to hug her mother but the adult hesitated. She loved her mother and her mother loved her but physical affection was just not how they showed it.

Instead Namaari gave her mother a grateful nod and turned, preparing to leave to shoot off the signal flare when the ground seemed to suddenly shift beneath her feet. Namaari and her mother stumbled but managed to keep their footing. Her heart began to race, eyes scanning the area to assess the source of the apparent quake.

It happened again. This time screams followed. The buildings, while sturdy, weren't made to withstand this kind of shock and already parts were beginning to crumble and fall, bursting in a spray of rocks and dust as they hit the ground.

Namaari yelled for her mother to get out in the open before turning to run in the direction of the screams. All the while the quakes became more frequent and more intense.

People had begun to panic, running in every direction. At first Namaari thought it was solely due to the quakes but then she saw something that stopped her in her tracks. Something she had never seen in her homeland.

The telltale black and purple shapeless beasts.

Druun.

"Princess Namaari!"

She snapped around at the sound of her name and she saw two familiar children trapped underneath a pile of rubble. She sprinted towards them but skidded to a halt as one of the Druun cut her off. On instinct she lifted the gem piece to it, eliciting an unearthly screech from the monster as it retreated. Her path now clear, Namaari rushed over to the children and, with strength that could only be achieved by the adrenaline coursing through her veins, she lifted the large stone slab.

"Hurry!" she said through gritted teeth, muscles straining in effort. The kids scrambled out safely and Namaari released the rock, it crashed to the ground kicking up dust. "Get to the river."

The older boy appeared to be in shock but had his wits about him enough to lift his little sister into his arms and sprint towards the water.

All around her there was chaos and the island was teeming with Druun. Namaari didn't have time to figure out how they had gotten into Fang because more people needed help. She wasn't going to be able to help them all, but she be damned if she wasn't going to try.

As she aided an older woman, arm around her shoulders as she limped from a wounded ankle, Namaari spotted a welcome sight. TukTuk was rolling towards her but just as quickly as relief flooded her, it just as quickly evaporated and her heart sunk. Atop his saddle wasn't Raya but Boun, the Tail gem piece in his hand. Running a few paces behind was Tong, axe in hand and Noi and the ongis riding on his broad shoulders.

"Where's Raya?" she called to them, not even trying to hide the fear in her voice.

"She's not with you?" Boun sounded just as scared, as they both realized that the Heart princess was missing. The boy was obviously still trying to process something horrific, but he managed to explain through heaving breaths, "Some Fang soldiers found us. They tried to take our gem pieces, but Sisu tried to talk to them. Then she-she-."

But Boun couldn't finish his sentence. He didn't have to. Sisu was gone. It was the only explanation for the water disappearing and how the Druun were able to enter Fang.

Pain shot through her chest at the realization that her friend- if a legendary dragon could be called that- was gone. What would they do now? Her hope was fading but at the forefront of her mind now was finding Raya and protecting as many of her people as she could.

"What happened to Raya?" she demanded. Tong was the one to answer her this time.

"The Fang warriors fled after seeing what they had done. Raya pursued. She has not been seen since."

Namaari was confident that Raya could hold her own against any Fang warrior but she was outnumbered. If she lost Raya... she couldn't think about that right now. Namaari had to find her.

The others must have sensed what she was going to do because Boun told her, "We all have our gem pieces. The powers are fading but we'll help as many people as we can get to whatever water is left. Go help Raya."

She wasn't about to argue. She nodded her appreciation, this was not the time for sentimental exchanges. However, TukTuk's head peaked out from his shell, his large expressive eyes reflected nothing but concern for his lifelong friend.

"I'll find her. I promise," she swore to him, placing a reassuring hand to his head. He made a sound of understanding before tucking his head back into his shell and rolling off.

Namaari eyes scanned the hectic scene around her for any sign of the Heart princess. A growl from beside her, startled her momentarily. She looked down to see Chaiya. Namaari had forgotten the serlot was there but she was instantly glad for her presence.

The big cat was agitated, pacing and looking off in a direction towards which Namaari couldn't see anything. She trusted her friend though, so she lifted herself into her saddle and clung to her reins as the serlot took off.

She was immediately grateful to the serlot because it became clear that she knew exactly where Raya was and took Namaari there in short order. Chaiya bounded into the palace where the clanging of swords could be heard, light reflecting off their blades. Raya was engaged in a fierce battle with Wahn and… Ty?

Namaari barely waited for the serlot to come to a skidding halt as she flew off and out of the saddle. She was really regretting not bringing her swords but that wasn't going to stop her.

She could hardly believe Ty would fight the Heart princess, but she would do anything to protect Fang from a perceived threat. Wahn, on the other hand, she was not surprised to see. They both had their spears and they were on either side of Raya who had her sword drawn, held at the ready in front of her.

Dashing forward, Namaari didn't hesitate to rush to Raya's side, weapon or no. Ty hesitated at the appearance of her princess but Wahn continued forward with his attacks, spear pointed at them.

"Namaari!" Raya breathed, eyes darting to her even as she tried to stay focused on Wahn in front of her. Namaari noticed a deep gash above her right eye that was the source of a trickle of blood into her brow.

A white, hot rage started to build in Namaari's chest knowing it was likely either Wahn or Ty had hurt the princess and taken Sisu from them. As badly as she wanted to throw her arms around Raya in relief at finding her alive, there was something they needed to take care of first. Raising her fists and taking up a fighting stance, Namaari stood back to back with Raya, facing Wahn.

"I suggest you point that somewhere else," Namaari growled to the lieutenant, but the soldier's response was to strike. Chaiya growled but before she could pounce, Namaari easily dodged Wahn's predictable attack. She was able to grab the shaft of the spear as she blocked it and then used his momentum to pull him towards her, thrusting her elbow up into his nose. She felt it crush under her blow, blood spurting from his nostrils almost instantly. He cried out in pain and released his hold on the spear to bring both hands up to his face, so Namaari now had a weapon. She used the opening as an opportunity to deliver a pushing front kick to his stomach. As he stumbled backwards, Namaari used the spear to trip him up and he fell on his back on the marble floor with a loud thud.

"Leave before I feed you to the Druun," Namaari told him, the tip of the spear pointed at his throat, even as the floor moved beneath them and the ceiling crumbled, she held the weapon steady. Blood dripping down his face, Wahn had the good sense to scoot backwards and away from Namaari before scrambling to his feet and running away, muttering 'binturi' under his breath.

Namaari turned her attention back to Ty and Raya. They both still held their weapons at the ready, but neither were engaging. She stepped up beside the woman she had come to love, ready to defend her from maybe the only friend she had in her homeland.

"Ty," Namaari said calmly, holding the spear in a ready position but making no move to attack either. "You don't have to do this."

Her old friend's eyes darted from her to Raya and back again. "I don't have any other choice," Ty replied desperately, "Fang first."

"Look around, Ty. Look where that has gotten us. It doesn't have to be that way anymore." Namaari tried in earnest to convince her, sweeping her eyes around at the rapidly crumbling palace. The conflict was clear in her dark eyes but either consciously or unconsciously she was lowering her spear.

"General Atitaya. It's all right. Let them go," The sound of her mother's voice caught her off guard. Namaari looked up to see her standing at the top of the stairs. She then turned her gaze to Namaari and gave her a sad smile. "I love you, my little morning mist."

In the next instant, Namaari watched in horror as her mother was overtaken by a Druun. It ran through her, stealing her very essence and leaving only a stone figure of her, hands together in front of her.

"No!" Namaari choked out but her words were swallowed up by the sound of falling rocks, dust clouding all around them, illuminated purple as the Druun seemed to multiply.

Then it was as if the floor disappeared, collapsing beneath their feet. All of them stumbled to the ground, dropping their weapons as they slid down into the sink hole and the roof caved in above them. As they plummeted into the abyss, Namaari reached out and threw her arms around Raya doing her best to protect her as they both fell into the darkness.

At some point they crashed to the bottom of the sink hole, their bodies bruised but miraculously not broken from the fall. It took Namaari a moment to get her bearings again as her head pounded and her ears were ringing. Her wounded arm throbbed with pain and she knew the stitches had torn because she could feel blood trickling through her bandage and down her arm.

"'Maari!" she could hear Ty calling from above and her vision began to clear. Raya was still in her arms, recovering as well but starting to sit up. Once she was sure Raya was not seriously injured, Namaari looked up, a narrow ray of light above them where two shadows could be seen.

Somehow Ty and Chaiya managed to cling to a section of the floor above them, pulling themselves up. Ty was kneeling over the edge, fear in her eyes and Chaiya was pacing anxiously, chuffing in distress. But then suddenly the serlot left briefly but came back mere moments later.

"Raya! Namaari!" Boun called from above, they looked up to see the rest of their crew above.

In the next instant the ground gave way near them as well and they plummeted down into the pit with them. Thankfully, they avoided being gravely wounded as well but now any chance of being saved from their situation was all but gone. Not only that, but the Druun had followed them, circling even as they all jumped to their feet and tried to push them back with their rapidly failing gem pieces.

Hope was dwindling. Namaari knew it. She couldn't see a scenario where they made it out of this alive.

But somehow Raya did.

"Everyone, we can still put the gem pieces together. It can still work!" Raya insisted all of a sudden, dangerously turning her back on the Druun to face them all. Namaari had taken up a position next to her and she used Fang's gem piece to cover her while she spoke. Her blood was pumping in her ears and fear coursed through her veins but she focused on Raya's words the best she could, trying to comprehend what she was suggesting.

"Sisu's gone, Raya! We don't have her magic!" Boun argued angrily. Any chance of seeing his family again gone and he and the others had begun to realize that.

"It's not about her magic. It's about trust," Raya pleaded with them, as she had realized something they hadn't. "That's why it worked. That's why we can do it too. By doing the one thing Sisu wanted us to do. What my Ba wanted us to do. To finally trust each other and fix this. But we have to come together. Please."

Despite the impending end, the others hesitated. They weren't interested in giving up their only chances at survival, their cries of dissent getting lost in the roar of the Druun. She looked around at all of them, her eyes landing on Namaari's last. Coming to realize it would take more to convince the others, Raya held out Heart's gem piece in front of her.

"Then let me take the first step."

She turned to Namaari slowly, aware of the Druun at her back but focused only on the woman in front of her. Everything in her body screamed to protect Raya, to do something, but she merely watched the woman in front of her, keeping her own gem at the ready to keep the Druun away from them.

"I trust you, Namaari," Raya told her somberly, hair whipping in the wind. When she was close enough to touch her, Raya reached down and took Namaari's hand in hers, lifting it to place the gem piece in her open palm. As she made to pull away however, Namaari raised her other hand, the one holding Fang's gem piece. Her eyes met Raya's briefly, trying to convey so many things in one look. Glancing back down at their joined hands, Namaari fit her gem piece into Raya's, cradling them in her hands.

Namaari trusted Raya completely. This would work. It had to. There was so much she still needed to say to her.

Raya stepped away from her, never looking away, her eyes sad but full of meaning and then Namaari watched in anguish as the Druun took her.

It felt as though her own soul had been ripped out of her watching Raya's soft skin harden into cold, gray stone. Pain coursed through her, her chest heaving as she tried to force air into her lungs. It didn't matter that she trusted Raya that this would work. The agony of the life being taken from her right in front of her eyes was unbearable.

She was hardly aware of the tears streaming down her face until her vision became blurry and all she could see was the small silhouette of Boun approaching her with the shining blue shard of Tail's gem piece. Raya's sacrifice had changed something in them and now they were going to honor that sacrifice.

Swallowing hard, Namaari forced herself to take the gem piece from the boy and fit it together with hers and Raya's. As Boun leaned into Raya's side, the Druun took him as well. Then shortly after, Noi approached, reaching her hand up with Talon's gem piece. Tong reached down and picked her up, offering up Spine's as well.

Namaari took them both and watched as the toddler snuggled into the Spine warrior's chest as he, in turn, placed an arm around Raya's shoulders and they both, along with the ongis, transformed.

She was alone. She was all that was left. But she wouldn't fail the Heart princess. She had done that before and she'd never do it again.

So, she fit the last two pieces together, completing the dragon gem. She carefully set the completed blue stone on a flat slab of marble atop a pile of rubble. The last light in its depths was fading but Namaari's faith still did not waiver.

Namaari stood in front of Raya. She lifted her hands to cradle underneath hers. Gone was the soft warmth of her skin, replaced with cold, hard stone. With one final glance at her love, Namaari leant her forehead against the rough stone of Raya's and allowed the Druun to take her.