Topaz

by Ai Meléndez

  Mahnii frowned. He knew she was right, and he was glad she had been paying attention through their travels so far.

  “Okay,” he nodded, leaning back as the wagon began picking up speed outside the village.

  Chapter 13

  While Shim and Mahnii had been talking about the conversations they had overheard amongst the villagers, Kah, Celeste, and Kuu had all agreed to travel south and Chew had settled into a steady pace in that direction.

  Afterward, the wagon had fallen somewhat silent as Kah wasn’t much of a talker anyway and Celeste had once more dazed out in her own thoughts.

  Mahnii debated trying to learn more about Shim, but first, he wanted to know Ri Kuu’s true intentions. It was just too odd that he had so eagerly joined their group and other than introducing himself, he really hadn’t shared much.

  He shifted, leaning forward. “So, Kuu, now that you’re travelling with us, I think it’s best if we all get to know each other better. You probably wouldn’t have guessed it, but we’ve already been through some bonding events together so you can understand why we’d be a little hesitant about just anyone coming along.” He paused, “What are your true intentions for wanting to join us?”

  Ri Kuu smiled at Mahnii, his eyes growing a little distant before he answered. “Well, my Tribe is currently in conflict with the neighboring human kingdom. We lycans have always kept to ourselves, but then one day some of the humans living on the outskirts of their kingdom – a bit closer to our territory – started threatening us and pushing for us to move inward. They gathered armies to push us further away from their borders and well, we weren’t just going to roll over on our backs, so we fought back.”

  He paused, frowning. “We learned their king has been spreading word to his people that lycans are evil, dangerous, and not to be trusted. He was telling them that we would soon attack if they didn’t do something first. So they did. They’re trying to take over our land and enslave us.”

  It was kind of an odd thought, humans enslaving lycans who were so much bigger and stronger than them, Mahnii felt.

  “I’m looking for the dragon-gods for help,” said Kuu. “There must be an explanation and a solution. We’ve always lived side by side in peace, so I think something happened to cause change and we want to get the situation resolved.”

  Mahnii could understand. It was clear Kuu genuinely wanted peace. After hearing his tale, he felt remorseful as on first impression, he had been worried Kuu, as a lycan, was dangerous. He hadn’t exactly hid his hesitation either. In fact, Celeste was the only one who had not cared if he were a lycan. Mahnii suspected she wouldn’t have cared no matter what he was.

  “Honestly, you lot weren’t the first I’ve asked. I’ve been travelling to every village since leaving my territory, asking other travelling groups for information about Ru-Kai for weeks.”

  “No one was willing to help – everyone reacted with either fear or loathing with one look at me. It’s gotten better the further away from my territory I’ve travelled, but it showed me just how quickly rumors can travel amongst humans.” Kuu sighed.

  Mahnii chewed his bottom lip for a moment, having no clue how to respond.

  “Kuu, do ya have a nickname?” Celeste exclaimed suddenly, her cheery voice cutting through the tension. She grinned, “I don’ wanna confuse yer name wit’ Kah’s.”

  It was then Mahnii realized this was her way of lightening the mood. Maybe she was more aware than he realized.

  Kuu chuckled. “It’s Kuu Kee; Kee means little boy and Kai means little girl in our native tongue. I’m a bit smaller than the others so that’s what they call me.”

  He was smaller? Mahnii’s eyes grew wide. How big were normal sized lycans, then, he wondered?

  “Okay, Cookie!” said Celeste excitedly.

  Kuu burst into a roaring laughter till tears formed at the corners of his eyes. Once he calmed enough to speak, he wiped an eye. “Sure, that’s fine. We’re going to be best of friends, I think.”

  ·-`*´-· Celeste ·-`*´-·

  After that, Celeste and Cookie, as she was now calling him, settled into friendly, competitive banter about previous battle feats while Mahnii shifted his focus to asking Shim more questions about her magic and the staff.

  Kah kept glancing at Mahnii but remained silent.

  In between conversations, Celeste kept glancing toward Shim, trying to listen to what she was saying about magic and the staff.

  Ever since their battle and her flashback, as she was now completely convinced it had been a memory, she felt different. Like something long forgotten within her had been awakened.

  Mahnii kept prodding, but until she could even explain it, there was no use sharing it.

  If only she could remember more.

  They camped for the night when it got dark and resumed travel the next morning.

  Not long after, they saw another village in the distance.

  “Oh! We should ask if anyone ‘as more information!” said Celeste.

  “No,” said Mahnii. “I think we have enough. No one will know more than we’ve already heard. Plus, if what Kuu said is right, we’ll have worse luck getting any information from the villagers with him as part of the group.” She could tell Mahnii felt bad from the way he frowned and scrunched his forehead, but he was right. “Let’s keep going for now. We might be able to learn new information in villages further away from the ones we’ve already visited.”

  Kuu nodded in agreement and they continued on.

  After that, they only stopped to make camp, eat, or when Chew wanted to stop and drink from a stream or pond they were passing. The supplies they had would last for the time being.

  After a few days, they had entered a different part of Ru-Kai’s realm. The hills were taller and the grass seemed more wild.

  Mahnii silently hoped they were closer to Ru-Kai’s temple. He hated the feeling of wasted time and effort.

  “Kuu, stop the wagon!” said Shim, leaping forward, staff in hand.

  Chew circled, pulling the wagon to an abrupt halt.

  “What?” the others gasped.

  “Look!” she said, pointing.

  In the distance, smoke was billowing upward, clouding the sky. Ravenous flames were tearing across the land and licking at the air. Two dark figures could be seen circling over the village below, which appeared to be nearly decimated. One of them appeared through the smoke and then disappeared again. It was a dragon. Even from this distance, they could see how huge it was.

  Their wings beat powerfully as both dragons emerged from the smoke this time, their heads bending downward and flame spewing from their mouths toward what was left of the village.

  Shouts and terrified screams rose through the air from the humans still alive.

  The companions watched in horror as they witnessed villagers running for their lives in all directions, some coming closer to the wagon. “Please, somebody help us!”

  Some of them were frantically attempting to put out the flames licking at their clothes and bodies while others were shedding their garments entirely to avoid burning alive.

  They were too late to have saved anything or anyone. Really, could they have done anything at all, even if they had arrived sooner? What could they possibly do against two dragons? They had a sky advantage, for one. And for another, they were literally shooting fire!

  Then, Celeste saw him. She blinked to make sure he was real. She wasn’t sure how she knew it was a man. She just did in her gut. Atop a nearby hill at a safe distance from the village was a figured cloaked in black. As soon as she noticed him, his hooded face turned toward her, flashing brilliant glowing green eyes. His lips curved upward in a wicked grin and began moving as he said something she couldn’t make out.

  Just like that, he was gone. When he finished his words, he vanished in a puff of black smoke as if he had never been there or as if he was merely an illusion created by the smoke rising from the burning village.

  Celeste blinked, sucking in he
r breath and gripping her chest. Her heart was pounding. She began to gasp, a chill running down her spine. Her skin tingled, her hair standing on end.

  Had the others seen him? Who was he?

  She looked at her companions, but their eyes were all still fixed on the dragons and running villagers.

  Then, everything went black.

  Chapter 14

  This was true fear. Celeste blinked, her vision blurred by both her salty tears and the smoke filling her lungs.

  She gasped for breath, sobbing hysterically. She looked around frantically, desperate for an exit. Flames surrounded her, threatening to devour her small body. She wiped at her eyes, trying to see more clearly.

  Her heart was pounding. Was she going to die? Why? She didn’t understand what she had done wrong. Why did they want to hurt her?

  Even mommy hadn’t been able to protect her.

  Everything except the flames was darkness. Her senses were dulled and clouded. She had to get away!

  She leaped forward, trying to drown out the jeering voices coming from figures she couldn’t see.

  Everything flashed and the world turned from fire to earth. She was surrounded by thick enormous trees and never-ending darkness.

  She tripped over something in the underbrush, branches and leaves smacking her face and tearing at her skin.

  She wailed, screaming in pain and smearing mud across her face as she tried to wipe her cheeks and eyes once more. She needed to see.

  Her body was shaking, all her senses tingling, telling her at any moment something was going to leap out of the darkness or from behind one of the endless trees and destroy her. She couldn’t stop. Panic raced through her, her skin radiating chills.

  She tripped over something again, screaming once more as she fell over the edge of an overhang and tumbled down the small cliffside. As soon as she reached the bottom with a dull thump, she groaned. She couldn’t stop.

  She stood, blinking through her tears and the dirt caked on her face.

  She screamed again, leaping back against the packed dirt of the hillside behind her. Three giants stood around, blinking and staring at her intently, one significantly smaller than the other two.

  “Ar’ ya a’ight, child?” asked one of them, clearly female as her voice was light despite its rumbling quality.

  Celeste screamed again, looking around frantically for something to defend herself. The trees were still present, and she grabbed at one somewhat smaller tree, ripping it from the earth and attempting to brandish it at the giants.

  The other of the largest giants gripped the tree and lifted it, picking her up off her feet in the process.

  Celeste clung to the tree as if it were her lifeline, staring down the giant as ferociously as she could despite her terror.

  The giant’s face, albeit much larger, looked like that of a man – though not old.

  “Momma, what’s a human doin’ so far from tha villages?” asked the smallest giant.

  “It’s notta human, sweetie,” said the female giant, correcting her son.

  “So, what’s it?” he asked, staring at Celeste incredulously.

  “It’s a Dragnok,” she answered, “though I haven’t seen ‘un in a long time.”

  “But, Momma, what’s a Dragnok?” asked the child giant.

  “Well, like us, they’re from tha Mothaland,” she said gently. “They’re like lycans, but they don’ turn ta wolves. They turn ta beautiful dragon-like bein’s.” She paused.

  “Tha las’ time I saw ‘un ‘as when three young Dragnok came ta this Dark Land wit’ all innocent-like ta get away from tha Mothaland, bu’ grew separate an’ wen’ their ways.”

  The female giant smiled and gripped Celeste, pulling her into her arms and against her chest.

  Celeste whimpered, at first squirming, then settling as the warmth of the giant encompassed her. What was this feeling? She settled, partially from exhaustion, into the feeling of true warmth, concern, and love. Had she ever known this feeling?

  “What’s yer name, child?” asked the female giant, her voice a gentle hum.

  Celeste mumbled incoherently, truly succumbing to her weariness now that she was wrapped in feelings of complete safety she was experiencing for the first time.

  The giant gently wiped a finger across her dirty cheek and turned her eyes toward the white-topped mountains in the northern distance. “Ye’ll be called Celeste, child, afta tha braves’ young Dragnok I ever known.”

  “Nah, we nee’ ta head back ta our own village afore tha others star’ ta worry,” said the male giant.

  Nah nodded, turning away from the small cliffside. “Yes, Noh, ye’re righ’. Le’s go.”

  With that, Celeste safely still tucked in her arms against her chest, they began to move.

  “Momma, are we gonna keep ‘er?” asked the child giant.

  “Yes, darling,” Nah said, “she’ll be yer new baby sis’er.”

  The child giant grinned a large, toothy smile and gently reached to brush Celeste’s golden curls that had fallen about her face. “I’m yer new brother, Noh, little Celeste,” he whispered.

  He looked up toward the male giant. “And that’s our papa. I was named after him,” he said proudly. “Ye’re safe now!”

  Chapter 15

  Celeste blinked, the world slowly coming into focus. Instead of darkness, everything was light again and instead of smoke, she saw blue sky and white wisps above.

  She groaned, rubbing her eyes.

  Mahnii, Kah, Shim, and Cookie were all standing over her, their faces twisted in worry, brows scrunched, and eyes searching.

  “Celeste! Are you okay?” Mahnii and Cookie asked at the same time as soon as she tried to sit up. How and when did she get on the ground?

  “Yea, yea, I’m fine,” she said, getting her bearings and finally standing up. She was right next to the wagon, so either she had fallen over when she passed out, or she had slumped and the others had put her on the ground so she wouldn’t get hurt. She had no intention of asking, so instead she stretched and then checked to make sure her hammer was still intact. Yes, all was well.

  Celeste then moved to hop back in the wagon but stopped as Mahnii gripped her arm. She glanced toward him, letting out a sigh at his wrinkled brow and frowning lips.

  Ever since her first strange vision after being knocked out by Shim, Mahnii had obviously noticed unwaveringly that something was off. She found it both irksome and comforting he was paying that much attention – and was that concerned about it. Though she couldn’t understand why.

  He tugged at her arm and she let him, following him a short distance away from the others who had stepped back and begun recouping in the wagon, discussing what they should do about the dragon attack on the village they had just witnessed.

  That was what she should be doing, not focusing on the visions she kept having.

  Plus, she had no idea how to even begin to explain it to Mahnii. She didn’t even fully understand it yet herself.

  One thing she now did realize was that these were flashbacks. Memories she had somehow buried that were now resurfacing. Maybe they were being triggered because she had been away from the feelings of safety and comfort she was used to with Nah, Noh, and the giants. But she couldn’t go back now. No way. She was on a mission and she was not going to stop until she had achieved her goal.

  Mahnii was still staring at her expectantly. “Celeste, I know something is going on,” he murmured. “Tell me,” he insisted.

  She frowned, crossing her arms. “I don’ fully know, alrigh’? I keep havin’ these strange visions of mahself as a kid bu’ I dunno what they mean or wha’ to share. Jus’ let it be till I figure it out.”

  Mahnii sighed and nodded, seeming to accept what she said for now. “Okay, but when you do figure it out, you need to tell me. It’s not normal to be passing out.”

  Celeste rolled her eyes and moved back to the wagon. She wanted to be left alone so she could process it in her own way.

&nb
sp; As soon as they were back in the wagon, Kah, Shim, and Cookie all looked at her with concern. “I’m fine, okay?” she said with a grin, even throwing a thumbs up and winking. “See?”

  They all glanced at Mahnii and at each other.

  “So, what are ya thinkin? We kick some dragon ass?” Celeste rubbed her hands together, eager for a dragon fight.

  “No, we’re not hunting down the dragons. If they destroyed an entire village, we don’t stand a chance. We’re sticking to the plan and finding Ru-Kai,” said Mahnii.

  The others all nodded, though Celeste folded her arms, gently tracing a finger along the head of her hammer – the large dragon’s tooth. Truthfully, she felt that a nice battle would do her some good. It had been too long, not to mention she was still feeling shaken.

  What were these memories? And why had she forgotten them? She couldn’t return home right now, she knew, but she wanted to ask Nah and Noh more. Seeing them in the vision had been her clue that she was getting flashbacks. So, they had found her. She wasn’t a dwarf giant but a Dragnok – whatever that really meant.

  She had even more questions than ever in her life and felt less certain of anything. Hence a battle would do her good, she thought.

  Nah had named her Celeste… after a Dragnok she knew? Who? What had been her birth name and why had she been in that situation in the first place? Who were her blood and where were they?

  Had they been the ones that tried to kill her? Or had that been humans – like the ones Cookie had described close to his home?

  She tried to push the thoughts from her mind, not wanting to continually be prodded by the others.

  As their supplies dwindled, she volunteered to do the hunting with Chew. They made a great team, she discovered.

  Also, it was nice to be by herself even for a little bit without the concerned looks and unspoken questions. At least Chew understood and didn’t pester her.

  After several more days of travel, Celeste stopped on one of her hunts at the smell of smoke nearby. She frowned, gripping her hammer. Through some trees, she could see the smoke rising. She stepped a bit closer to stand on the edge of the tree line, still shielded.