Prologue
'Fallen'
Rain poured and thunder cracked as the caravan from Shella did what they could to trudge through a now muddy road.
Before long, they realized that continuing through such a storm would prove most unwise and decided to stop under a large oak tree.
"The land is angry today." Yufina, one of the members noted as she stared up into the sky, rain hitting her helm.
"It is best to wait until this raging storm has passed." Amidatty replied. "It would do us no good if any wheels break. The River Belle will not go anywhere."
From behind the two conversing yukes, a gasp from another of their members made the two pause.
"What is it, Leonamiel?" Yufina asked, walking over to her.
"Such a shame." Bessamzan replied, shaking his head.
Lying against the tree on the opposite side rested two figures, a Clavat boy and a Selkie girl, their hands clasped into each others. They were bloody and beaten, but strangely had smiles on their faces.
Resting between the two, spattered with crimson at its base, was a crystal chalice, filled to the brim with myrrh.
Amidatty walked up to the two fallen caravanners and noted something written in crimson on the clavat's arm.
Tipa, we're sorry.
"Poor souls." Yufina said with a saddened sigh. "May they find piece in the crystals glow."
"We must bring the chalice back to their village. They will want to know of their fallen caravan." Bessamzan suggested.
"What of them? Surely we bring these lost souls home as well?" Leonamiel questioned, gesturing with a feathery hand at the two fallen caravanners.
"Of course, Leonamiel. It is only right that we bring them back to their home. Although, I am unsure as to whether or not there are others in their group."
"There appears to be no sign of their papaupomous, either. Was their caravan stolen?" Yufina asked. "If so, how will Tipa send out their next one?"
"Too many questions, Yufina." Bessamzan replied irritably. "We very well can't go anywhere with this raging storm before us."
"I'm afraid Bessamzan is correct." Amidatty said with a heavy sigh. "We will do what we can while we wait for the storm to subside, but should it not, then we will have to make the journey." he points to their own caravan. "We will put them in the back and tend to them accordingly. Leonamiel, please bring the chalice to the caravan as well."
Leonamiel nodded, proceeding to pick up the crystal chalice.
"Is it wise to move them, Amidatty?"Bessamzan asked. "What if we lure monsters to their village?"
"These two souls are all Tipa have as an answer for their myrrh not returning. Besides, I highly doubt that monsters would attack a village protected by the crystals glow and it's people. It would be foolish of them."
"Then what do you say in regards to telling them of their fallen caravan?" Bessamzan asked.
Amidatty sighed heavily beneath his helm."It is a harsh truth to reveal to them, but it will also make them stronger knowing that they," he points to the two figures laying beneath the oak tree. "Along with whoever else was with them, died to bring them the myrrh to survive. It is tragic, but that is the world we live in." he replied sadly.
"A tragic world indeed. One wonders if the world will ever know a life without the miasma." Bessamzan commented, his gaze resting on the two forms. He took note of the smiles on the two caravanners faces.
"It seems they found peace in the end. I suppose that counts for something."
Amidatty nodded. "They were together. I'm sure they knew of their fate and accepted it. Much like the rest of us who walk these perilous roads when we answer the crystal's call."
"It is a shame that their village won't see it that way. Grief can cloud all judgment and sense." Bessamzan replied.
"Grief is a powerful emotion, Bessamzan…but time, albeit slower, heals all wounds if one is willing to let them go."
"Time is also a hindrance, especially to caravanners like us." Bessamzan noted.
"Yes, but that is something we must not dwell upon." another crack of thunder echoed in the distance. "Come…..let us get these lost souls home."
00000
Hanging on the wall of a quaint and cozy home, a clock ticks quietly away. The steady downpour of rain hitting the roof fills the room.
Sitting on a seat near a window is a Clavat boy, about mid teens, staring out at the rain. His leg bounces uneasily as if waiting for something or someone.
A Clavat woman places a hot meal on the table and a frown forms on her face as she looks toward her son.
"Clouse, honey, you've been gazing out of that window all day! Come and eat your dinner, please." Katey, his mother, scolded.
"But the caravan was supposed to be back by now." Clouse replied, his face contorting in uneasiness.
"They're probably waiting out the storm, son. It isn't wise to travel in this kind of weather. That poor papaupomous would be pulling dead weight with how muddy the roads are currently." his father, who sat opposite of him, replied. His eyes narrowed in focus as he fidgeted with a leather strap on a boot, trying his best to fix it.
"I know you're eager to hear more tales from your brother and the other caravanners, but stop fretting and come eat something!" she gestured him to the table, giving him a stern look.
Clouse gazed out of the window again, watching the rain trickle down the panes. White light flashed in the distance, followed by a low crack of thunder.
"Before it gets cold, Clouse." his mother called again sternly as she began washing some dishes.
Clouse walked over and sat at the table, he smiled weakly at the bowl of cream stew before him. A small plate sat adjacent to it with a slice of toasted bannock.
"Did Paulie's fever go down, honey?" Clouse's father asked Katey, getting fed up with the broken strap and placing the boot by the door.
"Yes, finally. I told her so many times not to play in the rain and look at where it got her. She is a handful and a half, I tell you." Katey answered as she dried her hands with her apron.
"I'll bring her some stew later should she wake up in the middle of the night." Clouse's father offered. "I have to work on that order from Alfitaria tonight once the storm has passed."
"I'm sure they can wait a few more days, dear." Katey sighed. "You've been pushin' yourself a bit too much lately. Don't think I haven't noticed those blisters forming on your fingers." she scolded.
"Don't worry, I'm not about to keel over on 'ya anytime soon." he chuckled. "You worry too much."
From outside, the sound of a bell rang out and Clouse stopped mid-bite in excitement, his face beaming with joy.
"Caravan! It's the caravan!" a voice echoed from outside.
"They're back!" Clouse yelled excitedly, dropping his spoon and running out of the door.
"You are not coming back in this house with muddy shoes, young man, you hear me?!" his mother yelled as he ran out.
Clouse ran down the hill, seeing other villagers coming out of their homes to greet their caravan.
But as he arrived at the entrance to the village, the atmosphere was off. A small group had gathered and Clouse saw some unfamiliar figures standing in front of the caravan.
They were all yukes, and they stood as if waiting for someone to address them. Their posture seemed solemn and mournful.
An elderly man stepped forward, lantern in hand and raised it up.
"Apologies, we thought you were our caravan. What brings the caravan from Shella to our humble village?" Roland, the village chief, asked. "Do you need shelter from the storm? We'll be glad to set you up in the guest house and take your papaupomous to the stables for a well earned rest."
The group of yukes were silent as the rain battered against their helms, a soft metallic echo coming off of them.
"You honor us with your hospitality, but I'm afraid we have tragic news." Amidatty replied. The Yuke looks over to his fellow caravan member, Leonamiel and tilts his head towards Roland, gesturing her forward.
Leonamiel walked up and held out the crystal chalice to him.
"You have our condolences." she told him, though no expression could be seen beneath her helm.
The crowd that had gathered soon became frantic and horrified. Little murmurs of worry and small hushed whispers filled the air along with the rain.
A loud crack of thunder startled the group, as well as Clouse. He looked around expectantly, panic starting to grow in his chest. He briskly walked over to the group, pushing through to see the caravan.
The Yuke at the front bowed his head solemnly.
"We found two of your caravan members, but no one else. Your caravan and papaupomous were no where to be seen, I'm afraid."
"Who….who did you find?" Roland asked, his voice starting to croak. "A-are you certain?"
Amidatty nods. "I'm afraid so. A Clavat boy and a Selkie girl. They were holding hands beneath an oak tree. The chalice sat between them both and….." he stops, wondering for a moment if he should continue. "The words, 'Tipa, we're sorry' was written in crimson on the boys arm. No doubt they wanted someone to find them and return the chalice."
At that moment, Clouse's whole world shattered at the mention of the two bodies in the caravan. His brother Ramsey, the only Clavat in the group, was in love with a Selkie girl of the caravan, Rena Jeh. He knew it had to be them…..and it broke his heart at what this all meant.
Clouse's breathing became erratic, tears filling his eyes and his legs began to lock up. His vision swam and he felt uneasy on his feet.
When he staggered back, threatening to faint, a hand propped him back up from within the small of his back and he spun around in a panic.
His father stood there, his eyes widened at the reaction of his son.
"Whoa, easy there, what's got you so shaken up son?" he asked.
"Dad…th-the caravan…" he choked up. "R-Ramsey is…."
His father looked over as some of the village people began bringing the two bodies out of the Shella caravan.
"No…." his father choked out, his lip trembling.
The group cried out in disbelief and horror. Clouse's father released him and stumbled over to the two bodies.
"My son…..not my son." he sobbed, falling to his knees.
A disheartening scream echoed from the right side of the group as a Selkie woman pushed through the crowd and fell to her knees beside Rena Jeh. It was her mother.
"Please…..this can't be! Wake up, darling….wake up!" the woman cried, rubbing the motionless girls cheek.
Clouse could only stare at both the grieving woman and his own father. As he started to walk over, another scream from behind startled him, making him stop dead in his tracks. He felt tears blurring his vision as his mother ran to his father's side and fell before his brother's motionless form, sobbing.
"Clouse?" a familiar voice called.
Clouse turned to see Fae Ree, one of his childhood friends, standing there confused and worried.
"Th-they're…..gone." he choked. "The caravan's gone."
Fae Ree ran to him in a flash and pulled him into a hug.
Clouse, suddenly coming to terms with what just happened, began to sob into Fae Ree's shoulder. His legs gave out and Fae Ree fell to the floor with him and just held him close.
While Clouse sobbed into her lap, Fae Ree gazed through the crowd and pouring rain at the two motionless forms on the ground. Her eyes widen and with an abrupt inhale of breath, tears soon fell from her as well.
"What am I gonna tell Foo Kloo?"
As the rain continued to fall, the residents of Tipa village mourned for their caravan. All the while, looming at the back of their minds, their future uncertain.
(Authors Note: 'Trying to write this yet again after what feels like the ten millionth time! Probably because I can't stay committed to big writing projects like this. I welcome criticism and any suggestions or feedback anyone has. I'm not a great writer, since I just do this for fun and as a hobby, but I hope to get better.'
With their seasoned and what seemed like untouchable caravan out of commission, an uncertain future looms over the small village of Tipa. However, a new caravan must set out and with it, new bearers to answer the crystals call. First Chapter: Strength In Sadness!)