Imperial Guard – 005 Ethos of Solbrecht

Chapter 8 Raindrops, Part II

Salu and Moa

As a doctor, Salu knew all too well that he should not let himself be led by fear. Fear of making decisions in matters of life and death. Fear of having a patient die under one's care. Despite knowing this all too well, having lived by this litany from the moment he set foot in the hospital where his parents worked, he found himself in the veritable grip of it.

After cleaning himself up by the lake, and Moa staying at his side the entire time until the trio that committed the act of murder had removed the bodies while waking up half the village in the process, they returned to their room where they each sat down on their own bed in quiet. With his hearts struggling to find a steady rhythm, his breath coming in short uneven bursts, he stared at the rug occupying the space between his and Moa's feet.

The pale rays of Solbrecht's moons cast a faint sheen over the Fjetanha girl's black toe claws. Her tufted ears had lowered to a horizontal position, her long plumed tail laying on the mattress like a piece of rope, and her arms resting in her lap in a gesture of defeat like his own. There was that slight sparkle of her eyes. The glitter of her canines when she opened her mouth to speak. When she did, she sounded much more timid than usual. She bared witness to this coldblooded murder, he was certain of it.

"Salu? This place is starting to freak me out. I think we should leave."

Of course they should. The only thing that had kept them was their patient who walked the road of recovery with firm steps. Dahru responded well to the medicine, his condition improved to the point where he was capable of walking without aid and making conversation. Leaving in the middle of the night would be unwise for various reasons, even if the guards hadn't been there to prevent an unseen escape. Which again raised the unnerving question if they would let them.

Weighing the different possibilities, his conclusion was that with the guards on high alert for the night, they might as well try to catch some rest. Then there was the other promise he had made to share his knowledge with Aiyee and Kumah to increase the community's chances of survival. After all, two members of his own family had found their new home here.

If his strong sense that the group had joined Wyr'Mo'Gwi's cause, or was at least on the verge of answering their call, wasn't enough reason to be worried, the internal lack of knowledge regarding the art of healing only added to it.

"We will, Moa," he answered, keeping his voice as steady as possible, despite his shivering in a room in which he had spent the first part of the night sweating like a Logri in midsummer. A fresh load of it moistened his sloppily applied poetyo, as well as the broader strips of cloth wrapping the mattress. Shifting his gaze toward the thin curtain in front of the open wall panel, stirred by that still present humid breeze, his ears picked up the rustling of grass and the light thread of one of the patrolling guards, as well as the whisper of voices. "I… I have one more promise to keep, but tomorrow will be our last day here." "I hope," he added in thought.

Untucking the already loosened strips of both parts of her poetyo, his companion dropped them on the floor and returned to the same position as before under the thin sheet.

"Try to get some sleep, Salu," she whispered after a soft yawn.

Easier said than done, given the fact that he already spent two nights of difficult sleep in a bed that felt like he had Solbrecht's equivalent of ants crawling all over his skin. On top of that, the disconcerting thoughts he had before, conjoined with the mental images that had been etched into his mind, threatened to gain the upper hand over rational thought.

During the next cycle, or so he guessed, of lying awake, Moa also sounded much more fidgety than before, tossing and turning before finally finding a position to return to her gentle rhythm of light breathing and the incidental soft snore. Trying to use her rhythm as his own, he managed to lapse into a restless slumber.

Until he was shaken up for the second time that night by an entirely different sound. Again he hadn't imagined things, though it took him a few ticks to convince himself in the disorientation that struck his troubled mind. He recognized the heavy, vibrating drone as the sound of an ouhraa, an instrument very similar in sound and shape to a large didgeridoo. Aside from being used in ceremonies and rarely as an actual musical instrument, it served another very important function: Signaling. In particular in case of danger.

Not again.

Its sound carried far and wide and could even be used to warn neighboring communities if the distance wasn't too great. In times of great peril, messengers would carry the instrument to designated locations in the forest, very often on high ground such as hilltops, to form a relay chain. The signal emanating from a single tribe could travel enormous distances in a short period of time in this manner.

It was therefore that Salu was again struggling to breathe while trying to prevent himself from having a heart attack. Sitting upright on the grass-stuffed mattress, the thin sheet sliding off his torso, he perked his ears to listen to the voices and growing activity outside their temporary residence. The powerful drone of the ouhraa, blown in long bursts that increased in pitch toward the end of each breath, thumping footsteps and voices increasing in loudness, as well as downright yelling in Preidogian had woken Moa as well.

"By Kir- what's going on?" she groaned.

Leaning heavily on an elbow as she rubbed her eyes, she flung one leg over the edge of the bed, alerted by the increasing tumult.

"I-I don't know," he murmured, unable to keep the light tremble out of his voice. "Could be an attack of some kind." The faint shine entering their room through the curtain was still coming from the two moons, though the sky had the lighter hue of the crack of dawn. It were the battle cries that filled his veins with a shot of adrenaline, his throat feeling like an invisible force tried to choke him. "We gotta get out of here," he hissed.

Tossing the sheets aside, he grasped at the cloth strips laying on the floor that were supposed to form the bottom part of his poetyo, applying them with even more haste than a few cycles earlier in a fit of panic. With the top part still in one hand, leaving the bags they brought with them for what they were, he ripped the curtain of the entrance aside and dashed into the corridor with Moa on his tail.

(When Solbrecht's tribes prepare for war… there is no stopping them…) Bear McCreary - Battlestar Galactica Season 4 - The Signal: youtube /CIvppNWZUtc?t=129

Crossing the distance to the small shared living space in a strong moment of déjà vu, he watched two Mantrins run past the entrance of the guest house with what appeared like small wooden crossbows in hand. The view from the entrance looked out over a small circle of houses out of which he saw several people escape and take cover, weapons of different kinds in hand.

The village had erupted into chaos and as his ears rang with the cries of battle, Salu did his best to try and discern who was fighting whom. With Ailynn's disturbing rumor lingering in the back of his mind, he had expected to see humans with guns, yet there were none.

With her back pressed against the other wall near the entrance to try and figure out what was going on by herself, Moa shook her head in confusion when they made eye contact. In fact, one of the members of the community, a Sogowan by race, slipped to a halt near the entrance, took aim using her crossbow and fired a shot at another Mantrin! Ducking behind the nearest wall for a returning shot, the incoming projectile whizzed through the opening between him and Moa and hit the guest house's inner wall with a dull thud before clattering over the wooden floor planks.

"Stay in cover!" the woman hissed, while trying to find out if it was safe to move.

"What's that black strip of poetyo?" Moa asked between two quick breaths, referring to the extra strip of cloth that the woman wore over her regular coverings like a sash. "It almost looks like-"

"It's an exercise," Salu finished her sentence.

Having noticed that the heads of the arrows she loaded onto her weapon were spherical in shape, he went back in the direction of the sleeping quarters to retrieve the projectile that missed its target and ended up near the rug in the middle of the room. Being quick about picking it up and getting out of the line of fire, he returned to his previous position behind the wall near the entrance, running his fingers over the arrow's thin wooden shaft. The head turned out to be a piece of leather, wrapped around a small ball of soft material to reduce the effects of an impact on the body to a mere bruise.

Taking in the scene in front of them, he deduced that the Mantrins wearing the extra strip of black over their poetyo played the role of a human assault squad, their small training bows mimicking the much more dangerous firearms their real equivalents would carry in case of an actual attack. The remainder of the tribe, in regular poetyo, fought back with a variety of hunting weapons, including longbows, modified to avoid injury in a number of creative ways. Some launched sneak attacks against their mock enemies, using the environment and early morning shadows to their advantage, even managing to get behind them to try and take their weapons, and with success.

He spotted Ailynn as she grabbed hold of one of her opponents from behind, her strong arms more than a match. Disarming the other Mantrin, she tapped the tip of the loaded weapon against his neck, whispering something in his ear before he dropped himself flat on the grass on his belly, pretending to be dead, like several others. Retreating between the buildings and back into the shadows with her newly claimed weapon, the battle drill continued with increasing intensity. A soft cry escaped Moa's mouth as a second arrow bounced off the other side of the wall she used as cover.

Despite the fact that it was a mere training exercise, Salu felt his hearts beating against the inside of his chest as he watched the bodies of the pretending fallen pile up in front of his eyes. Real guns would be far more precise and deadly. Even a small squad could devastate a community like this, especially if they brought in any heavy equipment. It was difficult to accept that this was the life that Ailynn and Tyreann had chosen for themselves. Communities used to be peaceful. Conflicts rare. It could not be denied that the human colonization effort had changed all that.

Pushed out into the open was Tyreann, also without the extra strip of black over his poetyo. Having successfully disarmed his opponent, he met the larger Mantrin of Goureg descent in hand-to-hand combat while being narrowly missed by another arrow. Reminding himself that it was a mere exercise despite how serious everyone took it, Salu suppressed a yell as his brother took a beating and lost his balance. Hitting the grass on his back, Tyreann found himself pinned under a massive foot planted on his chest.

"You're dead, Tyreann!" the Goureg gloated.

Shifting his weight on purpose, he bowed down to look his victim in the eyes, his teeth revealed in a malignant grin. Tyreann's response was an angry growl, his long legs kicking the air to no avail under the crushing weight of his opponent, his hands clawing at the ground. Until another arrow hit the larger Mantrin square under his ribs, knocking him off balance with an annoyed grunt of his own.

"You're dead too, Gotaht!"

Recognizing Ailynn's voice, Salu managed to localize her, right before she retreated between the residences. Knowing he had been defeated fair and square due to his own gloating, Gotaht reluctantly lowered himself on the ground on his protruding belly, next to his former adversary in the agreed upon dead position. The mock battle continued for a little while longer while he and Tyreann continued to spit hateful remarks into each other's faces.

"This already looks like war," Moa said, her voice close to a whisper, her ears hanging low.

"I can't believe this is what it's come down to," Salu heard himself mutter in response.

They continued to watch as the number of fighters still standing dwindled to a mere handful in their direct vicinity. Until a long signal blown on the ouhraa announced the end of the battle. With the villagers scrambling back on their feet like they were being resurrected, the triumphant cheers of a few warriors without the black sash revealed that the battle had ended in a narrow victory for the defenders.

"This is not good," Salu said while shaking his head, watching everyone gather for a small debriefing. Collecting the top part of his poetyo which he had dropped on the floor he got dressed on the spot. "If this is the result with mere training weapons, think of how they'll fare against real guns."

Gazing up at the sky, where dark clouds began to gather and threatened to prolong the night, a gust of warm wind blowing inside carried the first droplets of rain, which hit the roof of the house and the first planks of the floor near the entrance with a series of loud ticks.

"Where're you going?" Moa asked, still in the process of applying her poetyo as he stepped outside.

"I'll be back in a tick, Moa," he assured her.

He didn't really want to leave her alone at this point, the worried look she gave him increasing his guilt. They were going to leave today. That was another promise and he was going to keep it. The thick lukewarm droplets moistened his poetyo as he walked the first steps backwards, before turning around to find Tyreann in the group of villagers which had begun to disperse. An irritated look on his face, his brother seemed displeased with his own performance, one fist planted into his thigh, while rubbing his chest with his other hand.

"Tyreann," Salu began, meeting his brother's animosity head-on without so much as flinching.

"Not now, Salu," his brother grunted through clenched teeth.

"Yes, now. I wanna talk to you."

"Salu, I'm sorry if you were spooked by all of this," Ailynn said, trying to prevent her mate from having an outburst, which he seemed dangerously on the verge of. "But you know it was just an exercise, don't you?"

"It's not about that. Tyreann, please."

With a derisive sigh, his brother gave in to his demand, the tip of his tail slapping across his left shin as he turned around and walked in the direction of a group of tall skinny trees near the edge of the village. Recognizing them as one of several meeting spots which were scattered all over the village grounds, he was glad Tyreann seemed to feel his need to get away from sensitive ears.

"Fine."

(This movie wasn't that great, but one of the things that stuck with me were certain parts of the soundtrack. I think this piece fits this scene well.) Harald Kloser & Thomas Wander - 10.000 BC - Evolet: youtube /watch?v=hjOE1QSgB1k

With the threatening clouds continuing to blanket the sky, the thick droplets which were the prelude to one of Solbrecht's heavy downpours having already soaked his shoulders, Salu followed his brother to the small meeting spot just outside the village, doing his best to keep up with Tyreann's aggressive pace. His ears picked up the distant rumble of the planet's anger, forming a match with his brother's bad mood.

Resting his hand on the thin trunk of one of the trees, his unsheathed claws scratching off pieces of its bark, Tyreann snorted derisively, his upper lip pulled back to reveal his teeth.

"What is it, Salu?" he growled.

"You lied to me!"

Watching one of Tyreann's ears lower as genuine confusion eased back the anger, Salu stared into his copper-colored eyes that used to be filled with joy. What happened to him that they were now so filled with anger and bitterness? As the rain intensified, soaking them both in a lukewarm torrent, he awaited his response, suspecting denial.

"What're you talking about?" he bit back as the sound of thunder rolled over them.

"This community. It's already aligned itself with Wyr'Mo'Gwi, hasn't it?"

"I…"

"Remember Uhna'hir? I heard it being mentioned last night by that woman. What's her name? Chezah, or Chezeh or something?"

"I didn't know!"

"I think you did! Don't tell me you didn't see what happened!"

His own anger and accusing tone, as well as the facts that spoke for themselves crushed Tyreann's unruly attitude into submission. Blinking against the rain as the water soaked them, Salu watched as it collected in a small stream at the underside of Tyreann's beak.

"I-It was an accident."

"No, it wasn't! She murdered that mother and her child in cold blood! They were unarmed and defenseless!" A flash of lightning lit up his brother's face, making the little streams of rain that flowed down his cheeks look like tears. All the anger had disappeared. Struck by a loss for words, Tyreann turned his eyes down under his gaze. "What I'm seeing here disgusts me!"

"Everyone's afraid, Salu!" Tyreann retorted over the continuing low rumble. "Afraid that the village might be discovered and that they will send raiding parties! You heard Ailynn. It's getting closer!"

"Why, because they're all murderers?!"

"Of course not! Okay, maybe some of us have done things we're not proud of."

"Well, that woman seemed pretty damn proud when she slaughtered an innocent family!"

Blinking against the rain dripping into his eyes, he watched Tyreann take a quivering breath. Gone was the headstrong young man he used to know as his brother and who seemed so determined to head into a new direction, so convinced he was doing the right thing.

"All right!" he blurted out. "I was wrong! There! Are you happy now?"

"Tyreann, this is not about me trying to prove you wrong about anything. You're my brother and you always will be. Don't you understand? We may never see each other again!"

"Now that's a little dramatic, don't you think?"

"No, it is not." With Solbrecht holding back her anger, and Tyreann beaten back by his harsh tone, he did his best to bring the volume of his voice down to a more respectable level. "Are you even fully behind all this?"

"I… I did it for Ailynn."

"Is Ailynn even fully behind this?" The question might as well have been rhetorical, for he could see the doubt gnawing at the very core of his being. His brother and his mate had plunged themselves into something they hadn't even begun to fully comprehend. The idea was to live a free life and go back to a simplified existence in harmony with the planet. There was nothing inherently wrong with that, but Wyr'Mo'Gwi's goals were different in a profound way. It demanded sacrifice. "Answer me, Tyreann!"

"I-I refuse to be treated like some animal!"

"I thought you were happy."

"I was! And then I wasn't."

"What about all those moments the three of us shared whenever I came by? Not once have you given me the impression that you disliked your life so much as to warrant a complete turnaround like this." Again silence. Slumping against the nearest tree, repeatedly hitting the back of his head against the trunk, Tyreann closed his eyes, his teeth bared as he clenched them, his hands balled into fists. "Look at us. Nothing's the same anymore."

Heaving a sigh and letting his head hang, Tyreann's ears lowered to a horizontal position, his tail and shoulders dropping as the rain continued to soak him. He pitied him. With doubt chipping away at his convictions, guilt entered the equation.

"Bringing you and Moa here was a mistake. I'm sorry about that."

"That was a request for medical aid, Tyreann. Moa and I are doctors. It is a call we cannot ignore, for we swore an oath to help those in need. But we're almost ready to leave. I'm gonna check up on Dahru to make absolutely sure he'll be fine, and teach Kumah and Aiyee a few techniques that will allow them to take better care of you all, and that will be it. The question that remains is, are we even allowed to leave?"

"I-I'll figure something out. I'm gonna get you and Moa out of here."

"They might kill you."

Looking straight at him, Tyreann's eyes displayed a kind of determination that could not be mistaken for anything else. His brother had made a mistake and he was willing to make up for it. But at what cost?

"Then that's a risk I'll have to take."

"You're soaked."

She didn't know why she felt the need to state the obvious, just that it was the first thing that sprung to mind when Salu reentered the shared living space of the guest residence. Having plopped down on one of the floor pillows around the tan-colored rug with its spiraling embroidery, Moa had decided to wait for his return. Not once during their stay in this community had she doubted that they were doing the right thing. The one thing she didn't know for sure was if the people around her were doing so.

She loved the life she had on Sogowa Prime for its lack of complexity and its carefree nature, though it also came across as a little mundane. A bit too restricted for the adventurous type such as herself. But the extremity of the situation on Solbrecht made her realize how lucky she was to have grown up without conflict. Not that the tribes of Sogowa Prime didn't have their quarrels, but conflicts large enough to be called war were rare. The thought of having one's livelihood threatened by external forces, to lose one's home and even loved ones in the process twisted her stomach, as it was a very real and cruel possibility for the people she found herself in the middle of.

Salu looked a little downcast, giving her a wry smile at best. Water dripping from his body and poetyo seeped into the polished wooden planks of the floor, his feet making a squishing sound as he positioned himself near her, the end of his tail falling flat and wet on the hard surface.

"That… tends to happen when you're outside when it's raining."

He continued to try and smile. Even though his voice hadn't lost that warm and kind touch, it carried little in the way of the cheerfulness that she was used to. In fact, he had gradually lost it during the past couple of days. Jumping back on her feet, she decided to throw in a bit of her own, despite the concern that she couldn't keep out of her voice.

"Are you all right? Shall we go check up on Dahru?"

Taking a breath, he hung his shoulders, rubbing the back of his neck in an absent-minded gesture, his eyes focused on the floor. Until those pools of cobalt blue found hers, though they were without the usual sparkle.

"You go ahead, Moa. I… I need a moment. I'll get my things."

Staring after him as he walked back to their room and disappeared inside, she heaved a sigh of her own before walking outside into the light drizzle that remained of the downpour that had soaked her friend and colleague.

Crossing the distance to the quarantine residence on the other side of the broad lane of grass leading up to the community center, greeting a handful of villagers during the short walk, what little water still fell from the sky moistened her poetyo. Trying to ignore the light rumble of her awakening stomach, she entered the sturdy-looking building and entered the left wing, wishing she had brought something in the way of breakfast which she could share with Dahru, knowing he would appreciate it, grateful as he had been for everything up till now. When she reached the closed curtain of his room, not hearing any voices coming from inside, she grabbed hold of the rough beige fabric and rustled it.

"Dahru?" she whispered. "It's me, Moa."

"Ah yes, come in." Shoving the curtain aside, she cast eyes on a scene so different from what she encountered a few days ago. Dahru sat upright in his bed near the open window panel, the sheets covering his bottom half, his feet popping out from under the far end. It was hard to recognize this young man as the same person from that first encounter where he was too sick for even a simple introduction. His skin had its healthy two-tone brown color back and his copper-colored eyes sparkled with renewed energy, although his ears still looked a bit droopy. "Uhreaht, vori Lii'saa gi," he said more to the world outside than to her.

"Good to see you're doing so well."

He chuckled as his eyes found hers.

"It's time for my medicine again, isn't it?"

She nodded, eyeing the small brown ceramic bowl covered by a lid, sitting on the bedside table. Leaving the curtain open, she grabbed one of the grass-stuffed pillows from the right corner near the entrance and placed it on the floor in front of Dahru's bed before kneeling on it. The chamber pot had been removed and his sheets were still clean, which greatly improved the way the room smelled and the open window kept fresh air, despite it being warm and very humid, circulating.

"Salu will be here in a moment. How're you feeling?"

"Quite fine, myrsya." He nodded toward the bowl. "It might not taste good, but it works so well." He frowned, followed by another chuckle. "Do I still smell that bad?"

It was at the moment of mentioning that she tried to define for herself what it was she smelled. Dahru did smell of sleep, and his body odor hadn't gone entirely back to normal, but there was something else. She then discovered that it was her own wet poetyo which had started to give off the odor it had accumulated during the past sweltering days. Sniffing the strips of cloth that covered her shoulder she answered him with a chuckle of her own.

"Actually, I think I'm smelling a bit of myself." Scratching at the side of his beak, a soft groan escaped Dahru's mouth as he shifted his legs, moving the right one above the covers, using his hands to massage his thighs. "You're gonna feel a little weak for the next couple of days."

"I expected as much. I'm eager to pick up my daily tasks again."

"I'm sure everyone will appreciate your enthusiasm, but take it easy. The disease isn't entirely out of your system yet."

"I will, oh great shaman."

She laughed.

"Well, I'm not at that level yet, but when I return to my tribe on Sogowa Prime, I might try for the position someday."

"When will you be leaving?" Struck by uncertainty, she did not answer right away. Her hesitation took long enough for Dahru to notice. "Is everything all right?"

"Actually, we're planning to leave today. It's just that… we're not sure if they will let us."

Averting his gaze, directing it outside at the tree line that formed the border of his community, Dahru sighed.

"I was born here, you know. I've never even seen the city. It used to be peaceful." His face contorted into a pained expression, his ears lowering. The corners of his beak dragging down in disappointment, she saw the sadness in his eyes. "It was only a couple of seasons ago when another group of people from the city came to us. It's happened before and there were never any problems. But that time was different. They were so… angry. From that moment on things began to change."

It was the way he said that, a kind of ominous tone that sent a shiver down her spine. She could sense his fear. The fear of things changing irreversibly for the worse. Lowering his voice to a near whisper he continued.

"Their hatred spread like a disease. There was talk of a movement that wanted to remove the human presence from Solbrecht entirely."

"Wyr'Mo'Gwi."

Dahru confirmed with a slight nod.

"Yes. It didn't take long before they came to us. There were three of them. One of them was their abwot himself. Really big older guy. A Logri pureblood I believe." He shook his head. "I could hardly believe that Nareht pledged his allegiance after sharing a single meal. I think he changed the most out of every single one of our original members. He's become so bitter ever since."

Taking a slow breath he ground his teeth.

"We were being told… no, ordered to start training. We crafted weapons, in case the humans attacked us or in the event of being called upon by Wyr'Mo'Gwi. Started using them in these regular battle drills. New rules were instated, outlawing all things human. Punishment for those who break the rules has become disproportionate."

It was as if Dahru no longer felt at home in his own community. Before she realized it, she had placed her hand on top of his. It felt warm, but not feverishly so. In response he gave her a weak sentimental smile.

"I am very, very grateful for what you and Salu have done for me and my family. I wish I knew a way to thank you for that."

"We've become friends. That's all we could ask for."

"Yes, I understand my ahmyr is a little crazy about you."

It were the quick little taps of small feet hitting the wooden floor, accompanied by much heavier thumps in the corridor that announced their arrival the moment he mentioned his family.

"Mooo-a! Errr-seh!"

She looked over her shoulder just in time to receive one of the little girl's hugs. Ihka proceeded by crawling into her father's lap and snuggling up to his chest after giving his cheek a lick. As Dahru rubbed his daughter between her ears, Ihka's purring made a genuine smile appear on his face. Rising back on her feet, Moa stepped back to create some more room for the extra visitors. Yunaii greeted her before perching on the edge of the bed. Flinging an arm around Dahru's shoulder, she nuzzled into his neck with a purr before resting her head on his.

"Uhreaht, Dahru," Salu greeted. "You're doing very well. Remember to take the medicine twice a day and you'll be out of here soon."

"Myrsya, Salu."

"Let me make just a little more for the days ahead."

After sharing breakfast in the small living space of the quarantine residence with Dahru and his mate and daughter, Salu was more than convinced that his road to recovery wouldn't be a long one. He started to look healthier by the day, had his full appetite back, and sounded eager to contribute once again to the greater family. It meant there was one thing fewer left to do. Fearing Tyreann's life was forfeit if his brother tried to sneak them out of the village and take them back to the city, he decided to try something else on his own.

Wherever he went he felt the eyes of those with guard duty resting on him. They all knew very well that he and Moa couldn't stay here. They had to go back. It was therefore that he had scraped together what little courage he had to face Nareht, for he felt there was no harm in asking for permission.

With Moa telling him that she had already expressed her concern about the matter to Dahru, this was the outcome of the small debate they had during breakfast. Of course Ihka didn't want them to leave, which was her way of showing her gratitude for saving her father's life, though even the little girl understood that wasn't an option.

So after exiting the residence, he took a right and headed straight to the community center, where the abwot and highest ranking ghisvehts and their families had their own private rooms. His first confrontation with the leader had so far remained the only time he had seen the building from the inside and he had decided to keep it that way. It was by far the largest structure in the entire village, and even though the public wing was open to everyone, there was something about it that had kept him out.

Maybe it was just that the higher one went up the ranking ladder, the higher the level of unfriendliness one encountered. The exception to this was Owha, the male Sogowan that had escorted them on their first meeting with Dahru and his family, and he was glad to see him stand guard near the entrance on this warm and increasingly humid morning.

Owha's smooth brown skin glittered with the droplets of what he suspected was a recent dive, water dripping from his poetyo painting little wet spots on the floor that formed a small porch around the building's front. Not carrying any other weapon but himself, his impressively developed physique was a sight to behold, offset by a kind face and a reserved smile when they made eye contact.

"Uhreaht, Salu. What brings you here on this lovely morning?"

"Uhreaht, Owha. I would like to speak to the abwot. It's… about us. Moa and I."

A slight frown appeared on Owha's forehead as he lowered one ear, though it did not take long before he responded with a slight nod.

"Wait here," was all he said, before disappearing inside and taking a left.

The sound of his heavy footsteps remained audible for a while as they echoed through the corridors, and as Salu perked his ears they picked up the multitude of voices inside. Unable to distinguish between conversations, he turned around to instead watch the continuing wakeup of the community. The two groups of hunters preparing their weapons for a session in the surrounding forest. A smaller group of foragers disappearing behind the tree line with their baskets on their backs. The farmers returning to their gardens and small crop fields scattered throughout the village. And there were two Mantrins bringing materials together to repair the roof of one of the nearby residences. If being a part of just this was the only reason for Tyreann and Ailynn to say goodbye to their old lives, he would have given them his full blessing.

"He's ready to receive you," Owha's voice shook him out of his train of thought that threatened to take him to darker aspects of the situation. "You know where to find him."

Biting his bottom lip, he nodded.

"Myrsya."

Trying to shake off the shivers as he entered the cool atmosphere inside, he made his way to the end of the corridor while greeting and stepping aside for one of the ghisvehts as she went in the opposite direction. An Amadre by race, meaning she was quite a bit smaller than he was, the woman's response was polite but distant, not paying any particular attention to him.

Nareht's piercing orange eyes were like tiny flames, resting on him during his approach, right until he stood in the same room with him. Trying to keep his legs from shaking, he was glad the leader had decided to air out the place by opening up, which also gave the room less of a chilly and ominous appearance, despite the rough stone walls and the collection of spears on the right wall. The rays of the sun falling through the skylights increased the contrast between Nareht's dark brown skin and worn poetyo, of which he only wore the bottom part.

"I've been expecting you," he grumbled.

The rough quality of his voice contributed to him not sounding particularly kind, though he seemed calm and controlled. Very different from their first encounter.

"Uhreaht, Nareht. Myrsya, for receiving me. If you have been expecting me, then you also know why I'm here."

Keeping his distance, Salu was glad that Nareht did the same, threatening as the enormous Mantrin was even in a calm state. In his thoughts he compared him to a larger version of Azdar, before the taming of his violent temper and his attempts at healing himself. Heaving a derisive sigh, blowing the air out of his nostrils, Nareht shifted his position on the thick floor mat made from the braided shoots of a tall type of grass that grew all around the community, crossing his giant arms in front of his scarred chest.

"What am I supposed to do with you? Your ties with members of our community make you a liability I cannot ignore. Do you know what will happen if the humans discover this place and come for us with their weapons?"

"Is that why she murdered an innocent family?"

Knowing very well what he was talking about, Nareht snorted, baring his yellowish teeth in irritation.

"What happened was regrettable. Chezeh did what was needed to protect our community, though she could have done it with a little less… excitement. We are still deciding on her punishment."

"Nareht… how can you expect to be a family if you treat each other this way?"

Remaining in the same position as Nareht stepped closer, the leader's eyes glittered with increasing intensity as a growling undertone leaked into his voice.

"We will do whatever is necessary for our survival. Which includes the matter of you and your companion."

"We can't stay here. You have to let us go back to the city."

In a split tick he watched Nareht shudder, his enormous hands balling to fists before he raised the right one and pointed a clawed finger.

"Do not presume that you can give me any kind of orders!" he thundered. Regretting his decision not to step back, blinking against the barrage of droplets being sprayed into his face, as well as the stale breath that accompanied it, Salu watched Nareht turn his back with a whip of his thick tail. "Your brother bringing you here was a mistake. You will stay here and work with Kumah until I have decided what to do with the both of you."

Retaining his composure, wiping his face on the shoulder of his poetyo, Salu took a breath.

"I came here because I wanted to save a man's life. I am a doctor. A healer. It's what I do."

"And it is appreciated. I will take it into consideration. Now go."

"There is one more thing I would like to ask of you."

Although he feared he had already crossed the limits of Nareht's patience, he almost thanked him for not having another outburst.

"What is it?" Nareht growled, casting a glance over his shoulder with one orange eye.

"For the sake of those you're doing your very best to protect, will you please not take the initiative in what is yet to come?"

Taking a deep breath, his tail hitting the floor mat with a dull thump, Nareht turned his side to look at him with both eyes once more.

"This is war," he grunted. "There are no guarantees."

After being told for the second time this morning to go ahead, Moa went from sharing breakfast with Dahru and his family to the place where they had agreed to meet up with Kumah and Aiyee after retrieving her shoulder bag. Ever since the birth of claw writing on wooden tablets, and the later introduction of natural inks and rudimentary forms of paper, her people began to record their oral history in written forms. Every community of at least average size had a special place to store these records into what could very well be regarded as a library.

Like the one in this community, the construction of this particular building differed from most others, as it was built with the idea of protecting the delicate scrolls from the elements as well as destructive organisms like mold and certain species of insects. With its dark stone walls, small window panels and gray shingled roof it wasn't the prettiest building in the village, though it did serve an important purpose.

As Moa moved the palm of her hand over the rough surface of the outer wall upon entering, she noticed the gradual shift in temperature of the material as she let it slide to the inside where it was much cooler than she expected. The layout was simple and more or less according to her expectations. It was one big rectangular room of which three sides were lined with simple wooden cabinets, their shelves holding a large collection of scrolls made of a paper-like material, and fitted with labels on one end, in addition to a smaller number of the much older wooden tablets.

Placed on the floor between the individual cabinets were small double bottomed pots filled with moisture absorbent pebbles to keep humidity levels in check. The room was filled with the familiar sweet, somewhat musky smell of old paper that was subtly different from that in the library of her own tribe back on Sogowa Prime, though just as pleasant.

To prevent accidents, there were no torches of any kind, making the library accessible during daylight cycles only. Instead, light came from the small window and roof panels and concentrated in the middle where a set of floor pillows surrounded a small embroidered rug, with two of the pillows occupied by a young man and woman of Sogowan descent.

"Uhreaht," she greeted them back after they saw her enter. "Wow, there have been a lot of writers among you."

Impressed by the sheer number of scrolls, she tried to read some of the labels as she made her way to the center of the room where Aiyee and Kumah sat with a small collection of them, two of the scrolls rolled out in full on the rug. The library was divided in different sections with each cabinet holding collections of topics like history, medicine, crafting and stories.

Famous writers from the modern world were known to draw inspiration from these writings, translating them into full-fledged novels from records like these based on true events, and even crossing into the realm of fiction.

"Kumah and I have been sifting through most of it to get an idea of what's there," Aiyee explained. "But yeah, it's a lot."

Moving from sitting cross-legged to leaning on his elbow on one of the other pillows, Kumah let out an annoyed grunt, scratching at his back under his poetyo.

"I was studying to be a doctor, you know. Modern medicine. Now I have to make do with this."

Moa could do nothing more than agree that a heavy task now rested upon his shoulders. That he was now the most skilled practitioner of medicine of this entire group of people was exceptional to say the least. Many a healer was at least twice his age and had much more hands-on experience with harnessing the power of nature itself to heal the sick and injured.

Lowering her bag to the floor and herself onto one of the pillows next to Aiyee, its rough filling releasing the smell of dry grass as it compressed under her modest weight, Moa let her eyes drift over the contents of the scroll in front of her on the rug. The thick tan-colored material was adorned by accurate drawings of different parts of medicinal plants and were accompanied by spiraling descriptions in black ink, with important notes added in a deep red color. It would not look out of place in a museum of art, though the contents of these scrolls were as important to this community as medicine itself.

"This place reminds me of home," she said, after taking in a deep breath, savoring the experience of being in a place of knowledge. "Salu will be here any moment. What's your biggest issue right now?"

Kumah sighed, digging the claw of his index finger between two planks of the floor, his toe claws scratching over its polished surface as he stretched his lean legs.

"It's my own lack of knowledge I'm afraid. I was only in my second year of study when my parents decided to leave the city. I didn't want to at first, but… it's better this way. Some things are a bit more difficult, but at least I'm no longer seen as less than what I am."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Giving her a wry smile, he heaved another sigh, his gaze shifting from her to Aiyee and back down at the scroll.

"Yeah well, that's behind us now. I've got a few more responsibilities. And Aiyee's been a great help."

Aiyee chuckled shyly, her ears developing a touch of red as she played with her toes.

"Yeah, well I'm doing my best. I used to be a nurse, but I'd love to become an assistant healer."

Crossing her arms in front of her chest, Moa gave it some thought, letting her gaze rest on the drawings of the scrolls in front of her, her plumed tail whipping the air with calm sweeps.

"Do you have ink and an empty scroll? Salu wanted to teach you some basics. Creating a shortlist in your own words could save you the trouble of having to search through a pile of material first whenever there's a problem. Experienced healers know all of this stuff by heart, but if you've never worked this way before, it can be overwhelming."

"That's what Aiyee suggested," Kumah answered. "We've been trying to do just that. This…" Retrieving a closed scroll from the row on his left, he unrolled it over the two other ones, revealing a collection of notes in two wildly different handwriting styles, in addition to simpler copies of the drawings found on the masters which they had been derived from. "This is what we've got so far."

"It's a good attempt," Moa complimented. "Let's see how we can add to it."

"I'm here," a voice she recognized as Salu's interrupted their conversation, again without his usual cheerfulness, though this time it sounded downright troubled.

"Salu. Is everything all-"

"They're not letting us go."

Completing her turn to face him, he walked toward them with slow shuffling steps, one hand squeezing the strap of his brown leather shoulder bag like he was trying to crush it. With her hearts suddenly picking up the pace, her jaw dropped in astonishment.

"But they have to! We can't stay here for the rest of our lives."

"I tried to ask nicely. Nareht wouldn't budge. They're still deciding what to do with us."

Standing next to them near the rug, she had never seen him so worried apart from that time on Hanaweya II when they were both standing on opposite sides of that Duraglass barrier. It was Aiyee who broke the silence that followed with a bold statement of her own.

"I don't like what's become of our home. I understand everyone's afraid, but they can't keep you here."

Shaking his head, Salu lowered himself on his knees on one of the remaining pillows.

"Best thing I can do is help you out with my knowledge. Moa, I'm afraid that if we try to escape now we'll become prisoners for sure. The guards are keeping a constant eye on us."

Fearing he was right she agreed, though she had to try her best to keep herself from panicking. Nodding reluctantly, a hard knot had formed in her stomach, the touch of Aiyee's hand to her shoulder doing little to relieve the discomfort, though she did appreciate the caring gesture.

"Let's try to focus on this in the meantime."

Having surrendered to the fact that leaving was impossible, Salu did his best to focus on his promise instead. That Kumah and Aiyee, despite their inexperience, were eager to learn and take on the role of being their community's healers did help matters a lot. In less than two cycles they had filled the remaining empty space of the first scroll and after a short break, which included sharing food and drinks outside, they continued with a second.

Kumah's mood improved with every bit of progress they made, expressing his concern over what would have happened if he hadn't received a visit from someone with more experience.

"Myrsya, for helping us out," he said after writing down the list of applications for dried ujaht leaves. "I felt bad after not being able to help Dahru. It seemed so simple afterwards."

"No one's blaming you for trying," Aiyee comforted him.

"Your initial efforts kept him alive long enough to make a difference," Moa added.

"You've got everything you need to become a great healer," Salu tried to encourage him. "Focus on your strengths. You've got plenty of them."

Kumah snorted, grabbing another pillow to increase the height of the stack he leaned on with his elbow.

"I just wished I was a bit further with my studies before we left the city. The psychology and dealing with stress parts are really helpful. But treating real diseases and injuries is quite different from reading about it in books."

All of a sudden Salu caught himself wishing he could take Kumah and Aiyee under his wing and teach them. The idea appealed to him and his positive experiences with Moa fueled his continuing desire to share his knowledge with others.

"That's because dealing with real patients adds the emotional aspect. I don't want to discourage you, but not being able to save the life of someone close to you will be something you'll have to accept some day."

"I know." Staring at the half-filled second scroll in front of him Kumah looked into his eyes after letting those words sink in for a few ticks. Scratching at the bottom of his sharp-tipped muzzle, he dropped his head onto the stack of pillows with a sigh, his arms and legs lazily spread out over the floor. Yawning widely, he smacked his lips afterwards while scratching his belly. "Oof, this is more tiring than I thought."

"We can take a short break again, if you guys feel like it," Aiyee said after adding a yawn of her own.

"Salu, Moa, come with me, now!" Tyreann's rushed voice cut through the quietness inside the library like a blade. Dashing inside, he scraped to a halt close to where they sat, signaling with wild arm gestures to get up. "C'mon, now's our chance!"

"Tyreann, what-"

"The ghisvehts are in a meeting and most of the guards are training. I can get you out of here, but we gotta go now!"

His panicked tone made it look as if someone lit the pillows on fire. Salu had expected that if his brother really wanted to try and make a run for it, it would not be in broad daylight. Then again, in the split tick of reevaluating that thought, it would make even less sense, for the guards were always on high alert at night in case of an unprovoked attack by the humans. Barely allowing himself the time to think, he let instinct take over as he grabbed his bag in the same motion as getting up. Not just him and Moa, but even Aiyee and Kumah were up on their feet in no time, exchanging glances of disappointment in an unexpected goodbye moment.

"I'm sorry," Aiyee murmured, her oversized ears lowering to the point of the tips almost touching her firm rounded shoulders.

With the two women falling into each other's arms for a brief farewell hug, Salu touched beaks with Kumah, squeezing his shoulder before flinging the strap of his brown leather bag over his own.

"Myrsya, for everything."

"Stay strong, Kumah. Take good care of everyone."

His response was a firm nod.

"I will. I promise."

"C'mon, c'mon, we gotta hurry!" Tyreann hissed. He was already on his way out, pressing himself against the inner wall while peeking outside. Signaling the all clear, he urged them to come. "Ailynn's keeping an eye out. Follow her!"

Squinting against the afternoon brightness, the heat and humidity making his lungs struggle for air for a few ticks, Salu was the first to make it outside, hurrying after his brother in the direction of a signaling Ailynn, while clamping his bag to his chest. With Moa on his tail, he followed them through the small maze of residences and gardens while avoiding the larger open spaces, evading the occasional child, and the few elderly adults that were exempt from the harsh exercises that all who were physically capable were obliged to.

They were steps away from freedom. He watched the feet of those they followed throw up small bits of grass and soil as they increased their pace now that there were no more obstacles ahead. The only thoughts he had were of what would happen to Tyreann and Ailynn for breaking the strict rules of their community again. The last row of residences. He could spot the tree line between them. Began to fear the thought of receiving an arrow in the back during their final sprint to cross the open space between the village and the forest.

His hearts racing, he felt some relief at discovering that Moa was still close behind, her strength and endurance compensating for her smaller legs, though like himself, she panted heavily in the sweltering climate, holding on to her own bag in a similar fashion.

"Garghh!"

Knocked backwards off his feet by the force of the blow, Tyreann's legs kicked empty air before he landed on his back on the grass. Not getting back up, he groaned loudly as he clamped his chest.

"Tyreann!" Ailynn yelled.

Sliding to a halt, one of her feet lost its grip. Dropping to one knee on the ground, her lashing tail unable to compensate for her loss of balance, she found herself surrounded by two guards who appeared to have been lying in ambush behind the last row of buildings, preventing her from making any kind of move. Baring her teeth, she hissed in anger and frustration at the spearheads pointed close to her face.

The heavy wooden stick turned out to be the shaft of another spear, and belonged to Yuhwe, the large and heavily muscled Goureg Mantrinesse they met on their first day. Her blue green eyes narrowed to slits, she stepped over a wheezing Tyreann, hovering the tip of her weapon above his left chest. Glaring down her long broad muzzle, which gave her a masculine appearance, she showed very little signs of emotion, even using a calm tone of voice as she spoke.

"I knew it," she grunted. "I knew you were going to pull something like this." Raising her voice to a deafening level, she turned her head over her shoulder. "We got 'em!"

Even with no guards on him and Moa, because they knew very well they were not going anywhere, Salu felt his poetyo getting soaked with sweat, his hearts unable to return to a normal rhythm. They skipped a few beats when Nareht, as well as the Amadre Mantrinesse he had seen earlier that morning made their appearance. The leader bared his teeth, his orange eyes piercing more intensely than ever. His female companion seemed calm, though the venomous look in her bright blue eyes sent another shiver down his spine.

What shocked Salu however was that Owha was one of the guards keeping Ailynn down. The large Sogowan was the picture of calm, though the expression on his face was cold and distant, a far cry from the kindness he had encountered earlier. Struggling to breathe, Salu dropped his bag like Moa did, supporting himself with his hands on his thighs as Nareht took in the scene in front of him with his enormous arms crossed over his bare chest.

"Treason…" he began, dropping a long unnerving pause in an already eerie silence, "is a severe offense." His glance shifted from Tyreann to Ailynn and back. "One for which the punishment, is death."

Salu had never seen so much fear on Tyreann's face, and for the first time on Ailynn's. Frozen in place, his brother's bottom jaw quivered as he opened his mouth, though all that came over his lips was a soft whimpering. Forgetting about his aching chest, his attempt to crawl backwards away was blocked by Yuhwe who pressed the tip of her spear through his poetyo into his flesh below his collarbone. It was when Tyreann started to scream as the sharpened piece of stone began to draw blood that Salu, Moa and Ailynn cried out at the same time.

"Please," Salu pleaded, dropping on both knees. "Please, don't. Don't hurt them." He had the attention of everyone present in an instant. It did not seem to impress them so far, judging by the cold and merciless expressions on their faces, but at least Yuhwe ceased to torture Tyreann. "They did it for you. For their community. There's…" Wondering how they would react to it, he decided to hold back nothing because he couldn't see any other way to reverse their death sentences. "There's something I must tell you."

"Spit it out," Nareht grumbled, lashing his tail in impatience.

Salu swallowed hard, his mouth feeling very dry all of a sudden.

"Before I came here, I used one of the devices you took to send my location and heading back to my superiors. To my own abwot. If Moa and I do not return, they will come looking for us."

"Jhii!" Yuhwe swore, the reddened tip of her spear shaking above Tyreann's bloodstained chest as her grip tightened around the shaft.

Nareht snorted, taking a heavy breath, his yellowish teeth bared as he ground them.

"I feel that you speak the truth. Prolonging your presence here might invite others to come looking for you." Salu felt it. They were not stupid, so he could use logic to convince them to make the right decision. "Which is exactly why they were not supposed to bring you here in the first place!" Nareht thundered.

Again he paused, increasing the impact of his words.

"Forgive us," Ailynn said. "We only wanted to-"

"Yes, I know!" he interrupted her. "Your good intentions. I had already made my decision, but I wanted to see for myself how far you would go." Digging the claws of his enormous feet into the soil, he let out a frustrated growl. "Owha here has offered to take you back to the city. He and Yuhwe will escort you. Tyreann and Ailynn made their choice. They belong to us now and will stay here." Taking a deep breath, he uncrossed his arms as he flexed his muscles. "You may go, but never return to us again, or their lives will be forfeit."

With the spears out of their faces, the watchful eyes of Nareht and his ghisvehts still upon them, they slowly rose back on their feet. Trying not to show weakness, Tyreann bit through the pain of his injuries. As Moa and Ailynn locked into a firm embrace, Salu closed his younger brother in his own arms, his own poetyo getting stained with his brother's blood.

"I'm s-sorry."

"It's all right, Tyreann. It's all right."

"I'll n-never see you again."

With little more he could do than hope for a better future, he rubbed Tyreann's back as silent tears found their way down his own cheeks.

"You mustn't think like that. We'll see each other again one day, when it's all over. You gotta stay strong until then. Promise me that, Tyreann."

His grip tightened as he closed his eyes, waiting for a response, in his thoughts begging Solbrecht to allow his brother to stay true to his word.

"I promise."