Ch. 3 : Hope Island
"My Lady, look! An island!"
"Shin, I see it." Inwardly, Ahzeya breathed a sigh of relief. Having spent half the night walking with nothing but the sea for company, the sight of the dark land mass stood out upon the sea, illuminated by the moon's rays and promising refuge.
Perhaps Lord Yoran was truly guiding them. The portal from Yuska had opened onto a beach with nothing but sand on one side and ocean on another. With neither food nor water available to them, Ahzeya had knelt upon the sand and asked Lord Yoran what direction the clan should follow. There had been no real answer, but something in Ahzeya's heart had told her to follow the full moon's path.
"It does make sense," she had noted as the twenty-two Yorani began their trek. "The moon is a source of light, after all. Perhaps it truly will light our path."
"And brighten our future as well," Shanco had said from his position next to her. Ahzeya nodded.
"All we can do now is have faith. I know Lord Yoran would never abandon us, no matter where we are."
And now it seemed, all would be well. Ahzeya's sensitive nose picked up the scent of foliage in the breeze; if the island had plants, it had to have water! Food they could hunt later, but fresh water would be needed and soon.
As if to prove her point, one of the clan- a female with pointed ears and sleek black fur- gasped and fell to her knees. In an instant, Ahzeya was at her friend's side.
"Easy, Sangra. Do not strain yourself." The female looked up at her leader with regret.
"I... I am sorry, my Lady. I just... I just felt so dizzy, I-"
"Do not despair, akeyan. Here." Laying a hand on Sangra's shoulder, Ahzeya closed her eyes and tapped into the spare reserves of energy her body held. There was precious little of it, but Ahzeya gave what she could. She felt power slip from her body into Sangra and quickly servered the connection, fighting back her own wave of dizziness. The feeling passed in a few seconds and both Ahzeya and Sangra stood up, the later with shining eyes.
"Rhak sen, my Lady. I can walk now."
"Good. And we need only find a way to get to the- ahh, what is this?"
Striding to the shore, Ahzeya noted the waves lapping up against barely submerged rocks. Rocks that formed a path to the island.
"Odd, I did not notice that path before." Shanco cocked his head, moonlight reflecting off his curved horns.
"Most likely because it was not there before. But its appearance confirms what we had hoped: Lord Yoran is guiding us."
"Kumain, everyone. The sooner we get to the island, the sooner we can find food and water."
The rocks were damp, but smooth from having been submerged for so long. The cool water lapped against the bare feet of the Yorani as they made their way slowly up the path.
"My Lady, shall I scout this island out?" Shanco asked, his black wings rustling.
"Ni shin, Shanco," Ahzeya answered. "I would rather we stay close in case-" Ahzeya's voice trailed off as she cocked an ear toward the island. She paused, frowning.
"Do you hear that?"
"I do."
"Shin, some one sounds angry."
"Are there rorin here?"
"I am not certain," Ahzeya answered. She motioned for her clan to follow. "Stay low and quiet, everyone."
Trotting across the stones, the Highorashi Clan soon found themselves nearing the island's shores. As they did, Ahzeya halted, gasping.
"That... that power. It... it feels almost familiar."
"Shin," one of the males replied. "Almost like..."
"Almost like Lord Yoran."
"Could he be here?"
"Ni shin, it is not Lord Yoran," Ahzeya replied. "But there could be beings like Lord Yoran here. Guardian spirits of this world, perhaps. Listen!"
The Yorani pused, straining their sensitive ears. All of a sudden, a harsh shout could be heard several feet down the beach.
"Kumain, hurry!" Ahzeya raced off down the sand, the others following behind her. Exhausted though they were, the idea of a spirit being in some sort of trouble was more than enough to push their worn limbs into action.
'If there is danger to a spirit of this world, it is no wonder Lord Yoran sent us here,' Ahzeya thought. 'We must help it, no matter what. Oh, Lord Yoran, I hope your brethren have been spared what the rorin have done to us.'
Yet the beings that Yorani spotted looked very much like the rorin who had invaded their homeland and caused its destruction. But one glance was enough to tell Ahzeya that these three being- two males and one female- were indeed far more powerful than any of Yuska's invaders.
One of the male spirits- his skin shimmering red and blue- had wrapped his arms protectively around the dark-skinned female, who was clad in a long purple dress. They were both facing the last spirit, a dark-haired male wearing a mail tunic and dark cloak, his brow cirlced by a golden band. His hand was raised in a threatening gesture, as though he meant to strike the couple down.
Something, some inner voice inside Ahzeya's very soul, cried out at the sight. The young leader wasn't sure what the issue at stake was, but the idea of one spirit about to harm two others made her heart twist in fear. Whatever had happened, surely this was not the solution! No, no, she had to help.
Darting forward, Ahzeya cried out,
"Wait! Great Spirit, stay your hand!"
As promised, here are some of the translations:
Shin: Yes
Ni shin: No
Kumain: Come/follow
Rhak sen: Thank you
Akeyan: Sister
Rorin: Humans
