Nego didn't want to stay doormat. Chest heaving, vision spinning and head pounding, he forced himself on his feet and closed his eyes. The ocean is your friend, do not think it will not help you. It is proud, my Seeker, to be part of you. It is there to help you.
The voice sounded like, someone he knew. It was sweet, soft and velvety. He had no time to think about it. In an instant, he knew where he wanted to go. Eyes still closed, legs unsteady, Nego slowly made his way across the cargo.
There was a sack that was filled with his possessions, and he quickly armed himself, despite the fact that he was in no condition to do so. After taking a drink of water, clasping the cloak over his shoulders and pulling the hood over his dull, brown hair that was messy and unkempt, he waited for the trapdoor to open.
Otakia came down, where he used his remaining power to bash him to the ground. 'Boy!' Nego dashed across the deck, but his legs buckled underneath him, making him skid across the deck, grazing his knees and elbows.
Couldn't stop now, he could smell the scent of Tagu - damp fur, salt and seaweed. Nego ran across the deck, jumping over wooden crates and surprised sailors. Instinctively, he grabbed the rope on the certain crate and grabbed a handful of herbs and pinecones, clenched it together and threw them on it.
It exploded in a white explosion, instantly soaking the wood and Nego kicked it, and Tagu jumped out. Nego had used up his strength, he clambered on Tagu, closed his eyes and clutched on the thick fur on his neck.
Before darkness took over, Nego saw Tagu jump from the ship into the ocean.
Nego didn't want to have another vision, he was already weak from the other one. Still, colour sprawled into his vision. Zerif sludge-face with the heart of a chicken wore several tattoos on his chest.
The Great Beast are being stolen. Nego thought to himself.
It changed, and he saw the Watchers of Erdas - Iika, Finnwick, Akai and Lia. 'Tagu's gone, so many years and, I admit, sometimes I still get algae for him, only to find out he's not there.' Finnwick said, his eyes full of sadness.
Akai preened his feathers and sighed. They were in a coastal area, a waterfall next to them. 'The evil has come, Iika.' Lia said sadly.
'Tagu dies, Nilo gets no rain, Great Beasts are stolen, the Evertree dying, the wrym is awakening ... We can't do anything, but watch. Tagu died by the hands of Dious. Another force is awakening too, but I'm not a seer, not like Tagu, but I sense these things the most,' Iika said.
Akai let out a piercing cry that sounded through the forest, bending the trees and his eyes were sad. 'I miss him too, we would meet each other by the Hundred-isles, let him make break coconuts and we would have a nice conversation about how the sky meets the sea.'
Lia looked forlorn. 'Always saying size doesn't matter, he was always on the small side of everything.' 'When the old moon rises I'm the sky, I think about him. Tonight, the sky will rain fire and the trees shall sway, the waves roar with wind, the Artic sky will dance, the mountains will rumble and the earth will remember him,' Iika said.
'We all will,' Lia said, her silver eyes shimmering. 'The Great Beasts will wonder why, but they know it is important.'
Nego saw exactly what Iika said would happen. The sky streaked with fire, the array of colours in the harsh winter skies, the trees dancing, the wind and sea making a rhythm of sadness and mourning.
Tagu had decided to make camp at a desolated island. The buffalo was chewing the leaves that had fallen on the ground.
Nego made use of the time, despite the fact that he didn't know where he was, that he couldn't see straight, his hearing was partially gone, his spindly fingers were numb and he had poison in his chest to worry about.
'Stupid fox,' he cursed. Tagu gave a warning grunt. Lately, the buffalo made it his task whenever he cursed, it happened a lot during their last adventure when the conquerors were around.
While Tagu majestically chewed on the leaves of a coconut tree, he scavenged for anything that might be useful. It was too dark to navigate the forest at the back of them, but there were still many useful things.
Nego used what he had to make a simple meal of mushrooms roasted over a fire on a stick and dried fruit. Tagu curled up next to him and as Nego put out the fire and cleaned up, he wondered what would happen to him.
Tagu gave Nego a wet lick on his face. 'The sun's not up, Tagu. What's wrong?' he groaned. Tagu lifted him up with his horns and and marched off into the forest.
Sliding onto the Tagu's fluffy back, Nego rubbed his eyes, shook the sand out of his hair and chewed on dried meat. Nego didn't ask where they were going, he knew that Tagu was right. The buffalo insisted on that.
Tagu was so short, they could pass underneath the low-hanging branches of the forest without the need if getting off. Still, even while walking, Nego could feel the muscles rippling underneath Tagu's fur, like the buffalo was too bulky for his own body.
Strength wasn't everything. Nego busied himself with smacking the mosquitos that would fly near him. Tagu trekked on, slow and steady.
He had gotten used to the buffalo running through water, except Tagu didn't put the air bubble around them. The water didn't spoil the herbs and he had finished his traveling food already.
The water dried quickly, but only because it got colder further up. Tagu climbed up a mountain, and Nego clutched the fur around Tagu's neck a little tighter.
It got much colder half-way around the it, but Tagu stopped, rumbled, shook his head, and walked slowly into a cave with ivy hanging over the entrance. Nego got off, the space in the cave was huge.
There was enough space for Tagu to invite a few of his other wild, bigger relatives and have a party. There were three-flat rocks, jutting out from the wall of the cave, like a built-in shelf.
Water burst out from between two rocks near the cave. Falling down the mountain, was a magnificent waterfall. Gears spun in Nego's head, puzzle pieces being fitted together. He knew what he had to do.
Nego spent the whole day working on the cave. He collected firewood, found herbs that he used all the time, found nuts and berries and clay. Otakia would be finding him, the group he was going to be imported to might be searching for him.
It was late afternoon when Nego stumbled over the bear carcass. It had claw marks all over it. A fight for territory and food. The flies flew away and Tagu licked it's wounds. 'Well, we can still make it useful, even in death.'
It was late afternoon when Nego skinned the bear, got rid of the smell, buried it and got his own hands clean. The fur would prove to be useful if it ever got cold. Greenhaven had his bedroll, coat, the leather book and other supplies, if he could, he would try to return, but he knew for now, he had to stay hidden.
Tagu made himself comfortable in the corner. The wind howled outside, and the ivy curtains danced. Nego set out the bear meat to dry after eating mushrooms and berries.
The view from the entrance was amazing, even when it was behind a curtain of ivy: A valley of wildflowers, the stream from the waterfall, the tall trees swaying in the wind. Suddenly, on another island in the distance, Nego could clearly see a campfire.
Nego realised Tagu was looking at it too. 'Come on, I think we should check it out,' Nego swung himself on to Tagu's back, and they took off.
