Clan World

by Jim Kochanoff

  “Run!” I whispered.

  We ran hard through the root passage but spotted no one else. I didn’t know if I should be happy or concerned. We exited the tarp to find Tuko directly in front of us, as well as about twenty armed guards. I noticed our former prisoner, Valsa, with the group. We were trapped! This had been all for nothing. I stepped forward to take responsibility for my actions and deal with the consequences.

  “It’s me that you want. Let the others go, I won’t resist you.” I held my hands up. Before anybody else could respond, the leader, Rustin, came toward us. He walked slowly, and his face was kindly.

  “You misunderstand us, Pene. We didn’t want to capture or hurt you. That’s not our way.”

  “Which is?” I asked tentatively.

  “We want to help you.”

  18

  Trial

  “You mean I could have just walked in here?” I asked. My frustration was building. How had I misjudged everything so badly? Did I even know who my enemies were anymore?

  “It’s not that easy, Pene. The Relic clan will support you if you prove yourself worthy. They have some type of trial for you to pass,” Tuko explained.

  “You have nothing to fear from us. Our clan is peaceful. Our lives our intertwined with the trees you journeyed through.” Rustin motioned us to sit down on some wooden benches. His tone was inviting, but I noticed that we were completely surrounded by his men. “You have been inside our trees. They provide us shelter, subsistence, protection. But they also judge our actions, perceive if we are a benefit to the land. Or a hindrance.”

  “And how do they do that?” Lucaz asked the question before I could speak.

  “Most teenagers, when they come of age, must pass the Trial of the Trees. At the base of our largest tree there is a maze of roots and obstacles that must be overcome. Those worthy of escaping the maze are judged victorious by the trees. Those who do not, are not.”

  “We saw something swallow a bird whole from within a tree. How safe is this trial?” Lucaz asked.

  “There are dangers that must be faced — it is not risk-free,” Rustin answered, but somehow I felt like he was skirting the issue.

  “Do many of the teenagers who try pass the trial?” I asked.

  “No. Most fail, and even after multiple tries, they never finish the maze,” Rustin answered. At least he could have sugar-coated the answer.

  “Why should we even bother?” Tuko asked, playing tough, like he could just walk away. Rustin paced and considered his answer.

  “Let me answer your question with a question.” Most of his clan members moved closer to us, as if anticipating what was coming next. “Our world has been rotting from the inside for many decades. The machinery is breaking down, and for some reason we seem unable to repair or rebuild it.”

  “Doesn’t seem like a problem here,” Jinn asked.

  “It is because we depend less on technology, but even in other ways, our elders have seen the decline, even within our own clan. As we begin to fail, the dinosaurs grow smarter and more vicious. As if they are becoming the main predators, ready to take our place.”

  “That’s because they are being raised to be killers. We visited a place where Chycle clan was turning them vicious.” The guards around Rustin broke into conversation. There was anger in their voices, and I heard arguments about whether they believed me. Only Rustin didn’t speak but looked at me as if measuring my words in his mind.

  “I’m from Spider clan and support her claims about the dinosaurs,” Lucaz offered, trying to back up my claims. This caused the voices to get louder.

  “Enough!” Rustin commanded, and all talk ceased. “If your words are true, the tree will let you pass its tests. Then you will be protected by our clan and have safe passage to the Cradle.

  “And if she fails?” Jinn asked.

  “Then she will travel to the Cradle as our prisoner. Do you doubt her innocence?”

  “I don’t,” Lucaz said, “but I believe your trial is more dangerous than you are letting on.” A couple of guards nodded their heads by instinct and I could tell there was truth to Lucaz’s comments.

  “Doesn’t matter,” I answered. “I’m nobody’s prisoner. I will take the trial.”

  “But I go with her as well,” Jinn added.

  “I’ve come this far, count me in too,” Lucaz added.

  “Doesn’t seem fair to leave out the strongest team member.” Tuko smirked while trying to sound supportive.

  It’s funny, in my world surrounded by drones, I always felt alone. I had a best friend and my family, but I never was part of a group. Everyone had their cliques and I wasn’t part of them. I came to a different place, with strange customs and dangerous man-eating dinosaurs, and I had finally found friends I could trust. I just wished I didn’t have to risk their lives.

  “They have your trust.” Rustin nodded. “But all must be worthy for you to pass the trial. Do you accept their help?”

  “I do. Let’s get this over with,” I demanded. Success. Failure. Whatever was going to happen might as well happen quickly. The guards dispersed and the four of us were ushered to the far side of the tree. I gazed up and was lost in the immense network of branches.

  At the center of this cluster was a crater. A cave entered the trees, but there was no obvious way out. Maybe you returned at the same place you entered?

  “Before you start, let me explain the trial and its rules.” Rustin gestured, and the four of us stood before him. He wasn’t much taller than me but was much wider and stronger. He radiated immense inner strength as well. I tried to tap into it. I held Jinn’s hand as the four of us moved closer to listen.

  “The interior of the tree is a maze that extends to many levels above and below. The challenges you will face will be a mix of physical and mental. If you pass, the tree will let you move on. If you fail, the tree will expel you back to the start and you will become our prisoner.” His fingers were playing with something.

  “Okay. What do you have in your hands?” I asked. He pulled out a cloth bag with a string tying its contents tight.

  “There are objects inside that may help with the trial. You can only use each item once.”

  “Can we look at them?” inquired Tuko.

  “Once you enter the tree, not before,” Rustin replied.

  “What is the trial about? What are we trying to prove?” asked Lucaz, which was a fair question.

  “The trial explains more about our world and reveals more of your character.”

  “Thanks for the straight answer,” Tuko replied sarcastically.

  “Are you sure you want to proceed?” Rustin answered, unfazed.

  “Yes. I have been told that you are an honorable clan. I expect your trial to be the same.”

  Rustin nodded and placed the cloth bag in my hands. “Not too late to change your minds.” I directed to my group. No one responded, not that I expected them to. We walked into the crater and watched the eyes of the Relic clan as we did so. I felt apprehensive as I saw their reactions. No time to back out now.

  As we entered, it grew dim. Not completely dark, but I stopped for a moment as I waited for my eyes to adjust to the gloom. I heard dripping and the ground felt damp. The root tunnels looked similar, but there was a speckling of particles in the walls. Their glow illuminated our passage and we pushed on. Everyone was quiet, as if talking would distract us from our goal. Finally, Tuko’s curiosity got the better of him.

  “What’s in the bag?” he asked. We stopped, and although I was annoyed, it did make sense to see if they had provided anything useful or interesting. I reached inside as the other three crowded around me. The objects felt hard and I spread them out on my hand.

  An acorn, a rock, a needle, and a blindfold.

  “Wow, did they just throw a bunch of objects that were lying around the camp into a bag?” Tuko made a face.

  Jinn punched him in the shoulder. “What were you expecting? A magical potion or a secret weapon?”

>   “It is a bit underwhelming,” Lucaz chimed in.

  “Well — it is what it is. If any of you get any ideas on how to use them, let us know,” I commanded, but I was also disappointed.

  “What’s that?” Lucaz asked. I turned, and the walls behind us glowed, not in unison but in sparkling bits, like dust was illuminating the root but only in small sections. I looked forward as the glow illuminated the way ahead then turned left at a fork, leaving the right in darkness.

  “Guess we’re being led in a certain direction. Should we follow?” Jinn asked as she stared at me.

  “Why not? If the trees are the lifeblood of this clan, I believe they want to help us.”

  “Hope you’re right,” Tuko commented, but by the sound of his voice, I guessed he didn’t agree with my choice.

  Around the corner we turned and I stopped in amazement. There was a large amphitheater. The ceiling rose, and above there were dangling roots that hung like ropes. There was a peeping sound in darkness, like frogs calling out for their mates. The water rose a bit higher.

  “Head over to those rocks, otherwise our feet are going to get soaked,” Lucaz suggested.

  We followed his direction and I was amazed by this underground cave in the bottom of the tree. Another entire ecosystem lived here. If I wasn’t so nervous about something jumping out at me, I might have enjoyed the moment. I heard a splash and everyone stopped in their tracks.

  “Is someone playing in the water?” I asked.

  “Not me,” answered Jinn.

  “Or me,” said Lucaz. Then there was silence.

  “Tuko, stop playing around,” Jinn said. Still, he didn’t respond. I stopped and looked down. A small wave of water washed over my feet.

  “Something’s in the water. Find high ground. Now!” I yelled and climbed onto a rock platform. I heard the others scurry onto nearby rocks. I realized how quickly the root tunnel had become a cave. I looked up and almost poked my eye on a long, sharp stone. I reached up and felt the sliminess of the rock. Something squishy traveled over my hand. “Yuck!” I pulled my hand back quickly before the nastiness could touch me further. The darkness made it hard to see the others.

  “Jinn, can you hear me?”

  “Yes. But the rocks are moving — there are slugs all over the place. Do not sit down.”

  “I know. They’re disgusting. Lucaz, are you okay?” Silence. “Lucaz?” No response. Were the boys playing a joke or could they not hear me? We needed to stay together. “Jinn — talk to me. I’m coming to you.”

  “Be quick. My skin is crawling. I don’t think we’re alone.” I stepped on a pile of pebbles and lost my footing.

  I fell face forward into the water. It was warm but hard to see through. I couldn’t see my hand under the water, even though it was a few inches below.

  “You okay?” Jinn asked, hearing the splash. “Did you hurt yourself?”

  “No. Just clumsy.” I pulled myself out and reached up to grasp her hand. “Let’s find the boys.”

  As we walked on, the roots from the ceiling became thicker and denser, forming a curtain that was hard to see through. Could the boys be ahead of us but the roots dampened their voices? I kept a good lock on Jinn’s hand, not wanting to lose my only remaining friend.

  “I’ve missed you, Jinn.” I remembered our last moments together when I was captured in the web.

  “Ah, you’re going to make me cry again,” she joked but became serious as we moved roots out of our faces. “You should have known that Tuko and I wouldn’t have given up until we found you.”

  “Was your dad supportive?”

  “Mostly, Pene, but he was interested in what you represented in power over the other clans. He didn’t understand what we went through together and why we couldn’t leave you to face the other clans alone.” I felt a tear rush trickle my face.

  “I don’t deserve your friendship. There is so much you don’t know about me,” I said. She stopped me.

  “I know enough, Pene. I’m a pretty good judge of character. And so is Tuko, although he might not admit it. You’re worth saving.” Before I could hug her, a moan came from in front of us. We looked at each other and moved ahead. Quietly. The roots opened and we came into a clearing. A large branch reached up to the celling. Both Lucaz and Tuko were lashed to the base. Their mouths were covered but their eyes were alert. They could move slightly, but couldn’t leave their location. Lucaz looked to his right and I thought I could see movement from the water.

  “Jinn — back up!” But she was too late. Roots came out of the water and lashed at her legs. She kicked, but the tendrils grasped firmly to her ankle and pulled her until she hung upside down. She screamed as I leaped. My hand grabbed at her foot, but she was ripped away from me, sending me tumbling into the murky water.

  “Pene!” Jinn yelled as the roots pulled her through the air toward the main branch. She struggled but did not look in pain. The root appeared gentle but forceful. There was no escaping its grasp. It quickly covered her mouth so that she was silent. I came with the four of them, but I was alone now. I wanted to run away, but I knew I couldn’t leave my friends trapped. As I watched another set of roots rose out of the water, I realized that the tree was too strong. It was like a bug flying in a hurricane. I was helpless. Fight or flight, neither would work. I needed another option.

  I thought about what Rustin had said about the trees. How they were the lifeblood of the clan. They maintained peace within the clan by their quiet strength. I admired the roots and the trees they held. I didn’t want to fight the roots reaching out toward me. That was then I considered another option.

  I sat down and crossed my legs, waiting for the inevitable. I tried to will my mind to peace, but the approaching roots scared me. I needed a way to block them out. I could see Jinn’s eyes grow large with alarm as the roots reached to ensnarl me. I reached into my bag and pulled out the blindfold. I quickly slipped it on. The darkness was complete. The cloth over my eyes was soothing.

  I willed myself to relax. I was so tired of fighting everyone, always explaining my innocence. I was tired of the preaching, the constant dictation by adults about what was supposed to be done and how I should act. I could feel a root circling my left wrist, winding around and around.

  My body was exhausted from the constant running and chasing. Clans trying to capture me had drained my strength. I almost wanted to give up, but then I remembered why I was here in the first place. Somewhere my mother was out there. Alive. I would find her and be with her. Spend the time I had missed since she had disappeared when I was a kid. Another root pulled tight around my ankle. Its grip was firm and I could feel it wrap itself around me several times over. I didn’t struggle. I enjoyed its embrace.

  The roots were everywhere, wrapping me like in a cocoon. My body moved as the roots moved. I didn’t fight their clutches. The wood was cool and surprisingly smooth. No splinters lodged in me as they wrapped my body. I had a feeling of peace and I gave myself willingly to the tree.

  Seconds passed until suddenly I felt nothing, as if the roots were gone. Then I felt a tapping on my left shoulder.

  “Pene? Are you okay?” I removed my blindfold and saw Jinn looking down. The roots were gone from my limbs and the boys were walking toward us.

  “What happened?” I asked, but deep down I knew the answer.

  “You didn’t fight them,” Lucaz answered. “We all fought back, especially me. The more I struggled, the tighter the bounds became, until I was frozen in place. You just sat there, taking it all in.”

  “The roots of the trees must work on our emotions, making themselves tighter the more we panic. They had nothing to feed on with you, so they just went away. The roots let us go as soon as they realized you weren’t going to fight back. How did you know?” Tuko asked.

  “I didn’t. But I remembered something Rustin said about the tree being the lifeblood of his clan. It didn’t make sense that it would attack us, and I realized it was too strong for me to resist.
So I didn’t.”

  “You got lucky?” Tuko said accusingly. He seemed a little embarrassed.

  “So what? She got us free. You might want to show some gratitude, or we would be still tied up.” Lucaz gave Tuko a jab.

  “Enough bickering!” Jinn interrupted and then turned to me. “Do you think that was it? Did you pass the trial?” I scanned ahead. The cavern was quiet, but everything felt unfinished. There was a glow somewhere ahead of us.

  “No. This was just one test. Let’s keep going. There is more to come.” My feet splashed in the water underneath as I walked on. I could hear sloshing behind me and knew the others were following. I continued and the terrain became rockier. A plant brushed my face, momentarily blinding me. When my vision returned, I saw two green eyes. They blinked at me and moved closer on the branch. The animal made a chirping sound and then flashed a big smile.

  “It’s a squikkel.” Jinn pointed. “They’re harmless, although usually pretty timid. I’m surprised this one didn’t run off. Give him something to eat.” As if on cue, it dropped down and ran toward my foot. Little rodents don’t scare me, but I checked my cloth bag for food.

  “Here you go, little one.” I tossed the acorn on the ground. The creature ran toward me, grabbed the acorn with its tiny paws, and examined it. It took a bite, considered if it liked the taste, and then took another nibble.

  “He likes it,” Lucaz said.

  “Fascinating,” Tuko said, clearly not impressed. “Do we really have time to feed the animals?”

  The rodent chirped as if to give his rebuttal. He then circled me and ran ahead.

  “Seriously. Sorry to waste your time,” I mocked Tuko.

  “Whatever. Hey, what is that?” We searched ahead. There were lights flashing in the air. They strobed on and off, like fireflies trying to send a message. They beckoned us ahead.