Chapter 10. The Two


Mog pried open his heavy eyes and stared out at the fuzzy scenery around him. It was still dark but the sky looked odd. Not a star in sight but only rock. "What is going on? Hmm? Shikha?" He gasped and looked around frantically.

Shikha was sitting near him. She didn't not respond to his call but only fixed her eyes straight ahead. A Morlock stood at in front of them. An old female in a skin wrapped around her waist and over her shoulders. Mog snarled in warning for the enemy not to come a step closer.

"You are the two." The old female started. "We have been tracking you for days and we finally decided to catch you."

"Why? What business do you have with us?" Mog growled warily. "Why haven't you harmed us yet?"

"We do not wish to harm you." The old one nodded and walked back and forth. A few more Morlocks peeked in to observe. "We simply desire to talk. We have a very keen curiosity. When some of our spies told us that an Eloi and Morlock were traveling as a pair we had to see this for ourselves. At first we just thought she was a meal for later. Excuse us for eavesdropping but it seems you to have a great bond and love to share stories. Never seen anything like it."

Shikha crawled up behind Mog and glanced under his arm at the old female. Mog was still greatly confused. Why would a bunch of many Morlocks care about that for?

"Yes we know of the traveler as well." The female smiled, showing her yellowed teeth. "We captured you because we think you are the way to our freedom."

"Us? What for? We haven't done anything special. We are just lost drifters from the North, chased out by our family because they wanted to eat her." Mog replied.

"Such love you have for her. I never knew Morlocks could have such big hearts." The female's eyes flashed. "We live close to the traveler. We think you would two would be perfect to show him how greatly the Eloi and Morlocks need each other. Talk of a proposition. We have managed up to now to keep hidden. We moved our Eloi underground with us and keep them in a lighted, secluded area so the traveler does not seek them. Lately though he's developed a very keen plan."

The other Morlocks gritted their teeth and groaned. The female waved them off and continued.

"He started to use the sirens again. To call any Eloi to liberation. Some of ours have almost gotten away. Down here they cannot hear the sirens." The female shook her head in dismay. "We have always taken great care of our Eloi's. They are not happy down here and I know it will taint their meat. True they don't have much feelings as in the past but an Eloi can get depressed if you try really hard."

"Well we were on our way to the Traveler." Shikha spoke for the first time. "We wanted to see him ourselves."

"We will accept then," Mog came to his decision. "but nobody hurt Shikha or they will feel my teeth between their spines."

"We won't touch such an honorable Eloi that is willing to help us. She's very special." The female smiled warmly. "You can stay here. This will be your private cave. No rush for now of course. You are quite thin." She pointed out his ribs which were starting to jut from his skin. "I'm not sending any skinny Morlock on a mission. You two will rest and gain your strength until then. Hopefully still we will remain unseen."

The female left them to do as they wished. The other Morlocks lowered their heads in submission and backed off to return to their duties. Mog ruffled his hair till it all stood out on end, making him look massive.

"Oh damn. Are we not in a dream? This can't be true. Friendly Morlocks that like you." Mog sat in disbelief. "Well if it isn't then I'm very happy. Now we can finally rest in a cave and have good meals. See there? She left you a bowl of fruit and me something to."

Shikha nodded and blushed. "Always makes me feel like somebody when you defend me like that. I think you don't need to fall apart anymore though."

"Ah well." Mog leaned back against the comfy sheets. "Time to grow fat again. Starting to miss my tummy flab."

"I'm going to take a look around this place. Maybe get a feeling that I'm home again." Shikha got up. "I just feel energetic right now."

"Really? You jump up real quick. I'm going with you then. Even though they said they wouldn't eat you I still don't trust that all of them would comply to that agreement." Mog reluctantly hauled himself back on his feet.

The both of them took a tour around their new home. The caverns were pretty impressive and very clean. Mog of course had the check out their machinery as well. He was pleased to see how well taken care of the place was and how hardworking his new fellows were. The other Morlocks always gave the strange Eloi a second glance but lowered their heads back in submission.

Passing by a lonely cave Shikha noticed a lone male sprawled out across the floor of it. What caught her attention was his appalling condition. Skin and bones was all that was left of the male. His hair was a filthy brown color and matted painfully. The male lifted his head and groaned loudly. Shikha's eyes widened.

"Mog I know that voice!" She stepped into the cave. "Are you okay?"

"Watch out Shikha. You should know better then approaching one that's starving." Mog snorted in concern. "I am also curious on why he's so skinny. Maybe this place isn't so cut out after all."

The male raised his head, revealing sunken eyes. "I remember you two."

Shikha did as Mog said and stayed at a distance. "Fown! How did you get here?"

"How? Oh I wandered many, many nights and even a few times in during the day when it was tolerable. Our home! He burned it all down! My poor mate died in it. Your mother Shikha burned in front of me." He sobbed. "I haven't gotten enough to eat after that. He came about a month after you mysteriously left."

Shikha couldn't believe these words. Her mother? Why of all the Morlocks her mother? She buried her face into her hands and started to bawl. "No not my mother! I wanted to see her again! Why her?!"

Mog held her close and purred softly under his breath. "I'm sorry to hear about that. I just feel like slaughtering that Traveler now. He will never stop till he's driven our kind off the face of the earth."

"I will never ever see her again." Shikha clenched her fists and shrieked. "I will kill him! I will make him suffer as long as I want!"

"Lets go lay down now." Mog said quietly. "We need a rest."

"Beware you two! He may come here! It will just be a matter of time till all of us roast alive!" Fown moaned at them. "Our time has ended!"

For another three days Shikha stayed in their private cave. She mourned silently, staring at the ceiling without uttering any words to Mog. He stayed close by to keep her comfortable. Inside he was raging horribly. Old wounds deep inside him ripped fresh open again when he recalled his own parent's death from a very similar situation. His little friend only picked at her fruit when offered. The old female came for a visit to check on her condition.

"You mourn very deeply I can see. I am sorry to hear what had happened. I never knew you were raised by Morlocks but I can see how it matches up." The female sat down next to her.

"Where is Mog at?" Shikha rubbed her nose. "I haven't seen him all day."

"He's gone off to visit a female."

Shikha felt her heart drop to her stomach. "H-he did?" She felt like throwing up. The female frowned, feeling that she had said something wrong.

"I will leave you alone now. Just let me know when you feel hungry again."

Shikha fell back on her bed and started up a new wave of tears. Not only is her mother gone but now Mog had gone off to seek some interest in another female. She slammed her fists on the ground and cried out loudly.

"I think Shikha is still very sad." The old female told Mog when he returned. "She's still mourning very fiercely. You should go talk to her."

Mog made his way back to the cave. Shikha's cries could be heard farther down into the caverns, attracting all sorts of attention from the others.

"What's the matter Shikha? Are you still hurting? Is there anything you want me to do? Pains me to see you so down like this." He went down on his knees and pulled her close. She shoved him away and drew back.

"I though you had a female. You should go back to her instead of lingering around here with me. I'll be fine by myself." She cried.

"What female?" Mog furrowed his brow and thought for a minute. "Oh that one. She just knew my real mother at one point and recognized my name. Not what you were thinking I believe."

Shikha sighed in great relief and turned red. "Oh okay." She felt his arms go around her. "I was just worried that I was going to be left here."

"Oh dear Shikha. I don't even think now I would ever leave your side. You are just too special to me." He cooed.

"What does that mean? What are you saying?" She felt herself stutter.

"Well this seems kind of quaint old way I guess but I want you to be my mate." Mog blushed and turned his face away. "I knew I was going to do that. It seems really sudden but for some reason this feels like the best time. I know the moment sucks and I am horrible at trying to reveal my feelings. I just kind of feel that now would be a good time to ask. That's if you want to of course." He babbled.

Shikha threw her arms around him and kissed his neck. "Oh I want to. I think you did very well. Oh I've been waiting forever for this. I feel so much better."

"I'm glad of it Shikha. I've been selfish of my feelings towards you." He smiled. "Now lets go outside and point out disgusting things out in the stars. Okay just silly things then."

"Oh you Mog. Just wait till I find some wet sand." Shikha laughed. "I want this to be a night to be remembered forever."

"I dunno about that." Mog blushed. "Might keep everybody awake."

Shikha almost choked on her laughter, turning bright red. "Oh dear I don't think I have anything to say on that." Just as she felt her happiness restored again the thoughts of her mother flushed into her mind. She dropped her chin and felt her eyes watering again. Mog cuddled her and sighed. As long as she would live that sorrow would never leave her.

"I know it's hard. I've been there before. No one ever really gets over something like that but you can move on. I'm sure she'd be proud of you know seeing what you are doing."

For the next few weeks the couple recovered back to their original physical beings. Mog once again grew chubby and thick. His white hair had grown quite long since the past few months. The hair from his arms and legs were a good foot long. His feet were almost hidden and his face was obscured. A nice long coat seemed impressive to the other females but to Mog it was getting increasingly uncomfortable. The other Morlock males kept theirs trimmed to prevent getting caught in the machinery. Shikha on the other hand grew impatient as she wanted to visit the Traveler.

"Mog? I was thinking on how we would exactly approach him." She said. "I'm trying to think up certain ways on how to get you near but not get you killed."

"I was thinking the same for the past week. This is just too dangerous. What if his Eloi are really well equipped? What if he has traps? Maybe he tortures the Morlocks he captures? Too many holes and just not enough preparation." Mog informed. "We need a plan soon."

The old female had over heard them and entered their cave. She sat down on an boulder with a smug smile. "Sorry to intrude but we were also thinking of the same problem. We have been going very close with our most brave Morlocks to see what happens. The traveler is alone with no other friends of his time but he has also learned quite a lot from his time travels. He seems to have a keen interest now in studying our kind. We don't know though if it is for the better or just the worst."

"What do you mean by that?" Mog questioned.

"I mean as if he's wanting to do cruel experiments on us. He hasn't managed to capture any of us but the Eloi are still very lazy and stupid. He expects them to guard him. They mean well but thousands of centuries of breeding for the opposite has proved a very difficult problem for him. He can't make them do much and they seem to give in and freeze when a Morlock comes. Even the ones whom have never been captives." The female told them. "We may have a very good chance and perhaps an extra stock of Eloi."

"Perhaps we should use something else besides a Morlock?" Mog thought out loud. "I don't know what though."

The female had struck a thought and pondered on it. She suddenly got up and snapped her fingers. "I got it! My good little boy Shandow."

"Shandow? Is he your son?"

"Oh no, no. Well in some ways I feel like he is my son. Come with me down the breeding shed." She ushered them out and jogged down the lightly lit tunnels into the Eloi containment center. "Be careful it is rather light in here. I suggest some eye protection." She handed Mog a set of special sun glasses used to prevent the discomfort of staring into the artificial light set up to keep the Eloi comfortable. Mog snorted at the sight of a few hundred head of Eloi all sitting about on thick sheets of fabric. In a secluded area a few Eloi were kept to themselves for the time being. The old female called out to one of them and a slim male responded to her. He pranced forward and stood right in front of her with a light smile on his childish face.

"We use him for breeding." The female told them. "I've raised him since he was a child. He's pretty much everything we breed for." The Eloi male stood still while his master inspected his figure. He was a very sleek but adequately muscled creature with large deep blue eyes and straw-colored hair. Further more he was very slow compared to Shikha, whom was descended from slightly more intelligent Eloi.

Mog nodded. "We only kept ours out in the wild in a naturally secluded area. Is he your pet?"

"In a way I guess you could say that. He's going on thirty four years, much older then most Eloi we keep. Only our most prized males we keep for awhile. Every few years we bring in outside Eloi to keep our stocks from inbreeding." She continued to pat his small head. "I honestly don't have plans on eating him. I've also been training him as well. Big plans concerning the Time Traveler."

"Oh? Like what kind of plans?" Mog asked in interest.

"I was thinking after letting you two spy on him I would have him go in and take some of the Traveler's things, important things."

"He's quite dumb though isn't he? How will he be able to distinguish the right stuff?" Mog snorted.

"Oh well neither do we know what is the right stuff. I will just have him take whatever. If it's not right he can always go back." The female looked down and gently pushed him back into the group. "It is better then to do nothing."