by C. J. Haines
Samana was thrown upon the back of the furry form of the beast, and held on as he beckoned her to, as he sped off wildly from the small forest, and to the northwest. Three towns stood in the way of Murta Sota, and each he planned to destroy as he did the last two, burning flames and all.
-Chapter 8-
Past
Back at the camp of the Ernai, the sun had risen, and it was noon. The wild winds had drawn into a calm state as Grede had called a meeting amongst the desert people of the Sharp Sands, a meeting that would forever affect the history of the Ernai.
Grede stood atop a great dune, looking out amongst the crowd of beastly people. The many clothed forms of baggy, sandy cloth caressed by a soft wind from the north. Grede was preparing to speak, as Haten rushed up the sandy dune, and made place at his side, whispering to his leader in quiet speech. “Grede, I still haven’t managed to find Moira. Do you think she knows what’s going on?” Grede spoke back to his right hand. “It doesn’t matter, now. What’s she going to do to us? She can’t lift a finger, and once I have everyone following my lead, she’ll be capable of even less, just watch!”
Haten backed away and stood watching as Grede turned to the crowd below and spoke loudly, so that to be heard by all over the wind. “Ernai, listen to me, now. I have called this council, because we have a grave matter in our hands, one that could end our clan, our blood, for good if we do not tread carefully and think wisely!” The heads of the Ernai were watchful, their ears open wide to listen as their leader continued his speech. “The food source is gone. Sofius searched hard and found nothing for us, but he did not give up. Our faithful hunter searched onward, taking Haten and Prend with him, just yesterday after he told me this...he died trying, along with Prend!
The mass was alive with chatter of disbelief and gasps of horror and shock. Grede relished the sound of their fear and continued onward. “His loss was great, but we still have a chance…before he died, he discovered something and sent Haten back here with the knowledge of his discovery. He discovered…” But words that were not of Grede rent the air, loud and sharp, the speech giver searching the crowd enraged as he heard the words calling out. “LIAR!!! They killed Sofius, they killed him!”
The crowd split as Moira made her way through the crowd, and to the bottom of the sandy dune that the murderous lot made their placement upon, pointing an accusing finger at the shock stricken Grede. “Tell them the truth, Grede. Sofius was killed by Haten. He killed him!”
Haten looked around the camp, as voices burst out rough and demanding judgment, for killing one of their bloodline was a sacred law not to be broken.
The murderer did not know what to do, but Grede did, speaking his defense against the accusations of Moira. “Hahaha…you can’t believe her. She’s gone crazy from eating all those rotten roots. They’ve rotted her skull well-out! Haten knows better than to break a sacred law, does he not?!”
Grede looked out upon the crowd, as Haten gave a sigh of relief, voices ringing out in defense of Haten. “Yeah, he wouldn’t break the law!” “Yes, he’s one of us, he knows better than that!” To these words Haten grew comfortable, but Moira rose to anger from them, and rushed up the sandy dune at an impressive speed, amazing due to her pregnancy, as she was before Grede and Haten, lashing out at them with sharp claws. “Liars, you’re both liars! You killed my Sofius!!!”
Grede had taken a good few lashings of sharp claws from the furious Moira, as did Haten, as the crowd below gasped at the sight. Grede could not take the humiliation of being beaten upon by none other than a pregnant and weak woman, and backhanded her. Sending her rolling and crashing to the crowd below, soon to be surrounded by caring hands, as the crowd went to her side, Grede shouting out his defense. “I didn’t kill Sofius and neither did Haten! She’s delusional, and crazy, don’t trust her!”
The crowd held the form of Moira, checking her stomach for injury, some caring and others ignoring the matter of her being stricken by their leader. Some had even supported it and continued to do so as Grede spoke his next words. “Now listen, the matter is this, we’re all going t-…” But the words were cut short as sand formed a cloud on the dune, the crowd watching as the dust dissipated and revealed none other than…Sofius.
He had returned and spoke out to his fellow Ernai and then swung an accusing hand at the two above. “They did not kill me, but my wife is not delusional, nor is she crazy. Haten thought he killed me and so told Grede, our great leader!” As the last words of Sofius’ mouth were of contemptuous manner, Grede gritted his teeth in anger.
Sofius went to his wife and held her form, seeing a good mark on her face, bruised and slightly cut, from where Grede struck her. His claws having painted a nice stroke of red on her cheek as they caught her on the end swing. “Moira, I’m here, it’s okay, now!”
Moira touched Sofius face, holding her stomach and spoke feebly before passing out.
“Sofius…our child…I won’t let it die…”
Sofius grit his teeth and looked up at the guilty Grede, fellow Ernai taking the back of Sofius as he spoke. “Grede, you’ve struck for the last time! Everyone look upon your leader, our great, fearless leader! He is so strong and powerful that he attacks pregnant woman!”
The crowd was growing in favor of Sofius as he had spoken, many voicing agreement and some waiting in silence for Grede’s defense.
The leader was never tongue tied and always had something in mind, even if it meant treachery. Haten was beginning to walk away from the scene to slip out unnoticed, but failed. Grede grabbed him by the throat and threw his form down before the crowd that was against him, speaking in condemnation for Haten, and in saving words for himself. “There’s your killer, he tried to kill Sofius. It was not me, it was him! Judge his ruthless carcass over mine!”
Haten was covered in sandy spray and grit his teeth in hate upon his leader above as Sofius took Haten in tight, sharp grip and spoke. “He did try to kill me. In fact, he almost succeeded, if it weren’t for the kindness of a few strangers. But he was ordered to attack the hunting grounds, kill innocent people, fathers, wives, children, all peaceful…and he was ordered by you, Grede!” Sofius tossed Haten from his grip and into the arms of the clan.
Grede snarled and spoke. “Yes, that’s right! I had them do so, to my command, but listen here, Sofius! I did it for my clan, my blood. Would you rather I let everyone starve? Let’s get the truth out shall we!
Sofius stood backed by many and spoke, awaiting the response of Grede. “Yes, let us tell the truth. We all know far too well, Grede is with the truth!”
Grede grew less patience with Sofius as words were spoken, and then from the crowd Haten spoke out. He was now to turn in his fellow conspirator in return for the treachery that was to do him in. “Yes. Let’s get the truth out. I did try to kill Sofius, but I didn’t succeed…no, not as Grede succeeded in killing Sahfs!!!”
Grede froze and looked down upon the accusing Haten. He was filled with anger for him, and looked below as Sofius cast a deadly glare upon him, speaking in a voice of murderous intent. “You killed Sahfs? You killed my brother, why? Because he found out what you were doing, what you were planning?”
Sofius held his claws out, deadly and sharp, looking upon Grede with a look that sent shivers down his spine.
Grede was in a bad situation. Below the crowd called for his blood in payment for the death and treachery of the clan, but Grede felt he could turn things around and so he started.
“That’s right, I did kill Sahfs. He tried to stop what I had planned, what I brought this meeting to order for. There is no food left around here, our people can’t live off dusty weeds and vegetation, without surely dying out. So, I brought my proposition to Sahfs and he didn’t like it, and yes, I killed him! I’m trying to bring life to this clan and a future! The future lies in the mountains of Khergy, food and shelter lay there, no more hot sands and shredded skin. Only somewhere where we can still find our solitude from the world, but live in less pain!�
�
Sofius watched the sight of his foe above, but then he heard something that sent a shiver down his spine, agreement from the masses upon Grede’s words.
The crowd was growing with the mutter of following Grede. The leader had many where he wanted them, even if there were many who opposed him and stood with Sofius.
Sofius spoke out against the mutters of murder and bloodshed. “Don’t listen to him. Would you kill children, kill harmless people, to wet the taste of your own fancies?! I know of the world and its places. He speaks of killing nomads, ancient and peaceful people, alone in their quiet efforts. You can’t wish to stand with him in this, can you?!”
But Sofius was wrong. As Grede spoke, he ushered those from the crowd, his followers, to take place at his side, and they followed. “You are most often right, Sofius. The taste of blood does make us wild, but with life not death. If we must kill to survive, we shall!”
A good half of the Ernai had taken place at Grede’s side, as the other half was at the back of Sofius. Sofius shook his head, and looked to his back, seeing Haten among those who wished not to kill. Sofius spoke, pacing before those who stood in rightful stance with him. “What now? What do we do to our brothers and sisters, our own blood? Killing our own is against our order, so how do we fight them, by breaking our own laws?”
Grede laughed from the head of his followers and pointed down to Sofius in a gesture of accusation. “The one standing before you is a hypocrite, for he has killed one of our own himself! He killed Prend!”
The crowd before Sofius gasped at the words, but Sofius did not lie. He told the truth.
“He’s right, I did kill him, but I did so to protect innocent people, but that does not condone my actions. I shall stand before you now to be judged!”
In an effort to leave with some honor, Grede went down to Sofius and faced the crowd to speak, gesturing back at his followers atop the sandy dune. “My followers and I shall also share his judgment, for I also broke sacred law!”
Awaiting the decision, Sofius held his lover as Grede held his ground. Both awaiting the decision, as the mass mumbled and gathered thought in huddle, and then a decision was spoken in one massive voice. “The law breakers are to be banished, along with those who wish to follow their steps!”
Sofius bowed his head, saddened but accepting of the decision. The mass of Grede’s followers were not too happy of the decision and became hostile, lowering down from their stance, speaking violent words. “Banished from our land and home, we should kill them and stay!” “Yeah, let’s beat the blood from them!” “I second that!” “Let me dig my claws in!”
Those who had spoken judgment stood ready to take on the coming assault, but it was then silenced by Grede, who held his arm out to block his followers. “No, the judgment is banishment, and we shall follow it as we are still Ernai.”
The proceeding force stopped and then followed their leader as he left the camp with them, silently. Once out of hearing distance, Grede spoke to those at his back in a sly manner.
“Remember, we still have somewhere to go. You’ll go hungry no more and your appetite for blood will be quenched, I promise that!” To these words the vicious Ernai licked their sharp teeth and followed gleefully at the promise of bloodshed.
Sofius sat cradling Moira as she breathed lowly, he ran his hand over her stomach as the crowd surrounded him and spoke. “Leave now, killer. You heard the judgment, it is banishme-”
But before the words were said, Haten, who the crowd had let go their grip of, broke through and took place at Sofius’ side. As if this was not surprising enough, what came next was even more surprising, the words from Haten’s mouth as he pointed a sharp accusing finger amongst the Ernai. “Stop it, you idiots! You’d banish a hero, would you?! I admit my wrongs and I’m sorry for what I’ve done. You can banish me if you wish, but don’t dare banish Sofius. He only protected innocent people from the vicious reach of me and Prend, and that’s all he did. I deserve to be back their impaled on the stakes with him!”
The crowd was astonished and felt ashamed for judging Sofius so harshly, to this Sofius rose and put his hand on Haten’s shoulder, a look of thanks in his golden eyes. “Haten…I don’t know what to say…”
Haten took Sofius’ hand from him, and shook his head. “Don’t thank me. I realize now how wrong I was. I think what shook me was being betrayed by Grede, and now I see how it is. I know what we have to do.”
Sofius shook his hand and nodded. “As do I, Haten.” Taking place before the crowd, Sofius ushering for silence as the Ernai spoke amongst themselves in wonder. Sofius found silence and then spoke to the Ernai. “What Haten says is the truth, but I disagree with him on this. I should be banished and accept the word of you all!” Haten looked at Sofius in a confused manner, as Sofius nodded in a manner of understanding as he spoke once more. “But I say this. When I leave, I am going to go after Grede and his followers, even if it kills me…I have to try and stop them. All I ask of you is that you think of what he wishes to do. His banishment changes nothing, he will still go to the mountains and he will still kill. Please think hard of this, and then answer this…will you come with me and stop him?”
The crowd was alive with murmurs of speculation and opinions of the matter. Killing was against their law, but then what would be the outcome if they stood down and let Grede and his followers kill? The crowd spoke amongst each other, as Sofius and Haten waited for their judgment of the matter.
Then the judgment came. The remaining Ernai sent one from their mass forward, who spoke the decision of the mass. “Even though we will bloody our hands, and put sin upon our souls, we cannot allow the death of others as we stand down. Sofius, we shall follow you into battle!”
Sofius nodded to the speaker, grabbing his hands firmly and thanking him, and then speaking to the congregation, as he took a higher place on the dune. “Alright then, everybody prepare for a good tread. Leave the women and the children behind. We’re leaving here within the hour. We can catch up to them, if Fate will have it!”
-Chapter 17-
Present
The run was long and tiresome, Samana rode the back of the blood colored wolf, as he rushed ahead furiously, not stopping for anything.
Samana tried to open up conversation to him, avoiding anything that was a touchy subject and spoke with her head down next to the beast’s ear. “You’ve been running for a long time. The day’s about half over, do you not grow tired?”
The wolf kept his pace up and kept his eyes ahead, and replied to the one upon his back. “As I said before, the wolf spirits give me all I need. I am untiring, as long as my will is sustained.”
Samana’s hair was blown around softly, as she bobbed up and down on the back of the beast, with each stride of his persistence.
Samana held on tight, and then noticed something ahead, something which filled her with fear, for she knew what was to happen when they reached it.
Another of the Five Great Towns, Hera, stood but only a good mile ahead of Samana and the blood-furred beast.
The Red Wolf spoke as they grew nearer and nearer to the mass of walls, red and garnered with towers. “There it is. We are just one more step closer to reaching Murta Sota.”
Samana was filled with worry, and wrapped her arms around the neck of the wolf as he bound at even greater speed towards the walls that which they approached. “You don’t have to do this. You can make a choice! You can choose for yourself!”
The wolf kept his bound great, and was ever close to the walls as he spoke. “I have made my choice, as you shall soon admit yours. You cannot go against destiny, just as those spear throwers on the walls cannot stop me!”
Samana held tight, as spears were thrown down from the wall, burying their heads in the ground, as the Red Wolf dodged on the grassy plain, and then took a great leap over the wall, flinging Samana from his back as he landed. The beast morphed into his armored form to deal death, and drew his sword upon an approaching mob of armored w
arriors.
Samana got up, and ran through the streets, yelling, screaming, and calling to the townspeople for evacuation.
The garrison of well-armed warriors was turned to nothing but burning embers as the Red Wolf cast his power before them. Catching Samana in his eye, the beast ran after her, killing any who stood in his way as he made his advancement.
Samana rushed through a busy street of terror and panic, and heard the cry of a small girl from underneath a street vendor’s shop.
Peeking beneath the wheeled stand of abandoned vegetables, Samana saw a little girl hiding beneath the stand and pulled her out, holding the tearfully , fear struck girl close to her, as she ran through the streets, looking for an exit.
The town was set aflame, as the Red Wolf shot bursts of fire, looking for Samana with his twin burning eyes, calling out wildly. “Where are you?”
Samana heard the cries of death and that of the Red Wolf, and after stumbling desperately through the street, in search of escape, found a gate that lay ahead of her.
Samana ran, if not for her safety, but for that of the child in her arms, as behind her flames grew stronger and stronger, cries of pain and torment renting the air.
Samana was near reaching the gate, when fire burst across the ground in front of her, and set the gate on fire. The braided-haired girl turned to see the Red Wolf standing on top of a long housing that stretched for an entire block within the town, his wolf helmet adding menace to his image as he stood watchfully. “You cannot escape destiny. Be with me, you cannot escape.”
The little girl had no tears left and was silent in Samana’s arms, as she tried to figure out some solution to the situation and tried reasoning with the beast. “I’ll go with you…but let this child live. She’s young, don’t kill her. I’ll go with you, just don’t harm her. Allow me to set her free…”
The Red Wolf leapt down and nodded to Samana, and spread his hand out, causing the fire before the gate to die out, allowing Samana to open it, and release the young one away into the wilderness, but alive.