Haven

The settlement of Haven nestled beyond the safety of a mountain pass. Its entry was half-concealed by mighty trees and their leaves, green and yellow fluttering toward rocky earth.

Murmuring kami leapt from branch to branch as Lily led Gabriel through the open hatch of their gate – a massive door that had once been the side of a ship’s hull. While undeniably sturdy, its blue paint had long been fading toward white.

Not that many sailing ships had survived the centuries in good condition to begin with.

Or at all.

In fact, she couldn’t recall when lookouts last saw a smudge of smoke or steam on the horizon. Or an actual ship on the distant ocean, for that matter, she thought.

[Do you think the Twins will recognise the Grave-Robbing Serpent?] Gabriel asked as they waved up to Naima.

Naima had been working the winch from her position on the parapet, letting them into Haven. Her hair was tied in plaits that swung she waved back. “More bad news?” Naima signed as she spoke.

[What other kind of news does Lily bring back?] Gabriel replied, giving Lily a nudge.

“Very funny,” she said with a frown. But he was right, in a way. Even though he was only joking around, it definitely would have been nice to return to Haven with good news for a change.

But lately, every time she’d scouted the surrounds she found only more to worry about.

That’s the end of the world, I suppose, she thought.

“Gabriel’s not wrong,” Lily told Naima. “But we’ve got an idea.”

Naima made a fist. “That’s the Lily we know. I’m betting you want to speak to the Twins, first, so tell me about it later.”

“We will,” Lily said with a smile as they strode on.

Inside, they passed homes dug half-into the earth. Many were ringed by shrubs of muted purple. Most buildings stood constructed from stone and wood, since brass, steel and other rare materials were mostly saved for vital things like the pipes that fed water from the settlement’s precious spring.

It was hidden in the mountain walls that protected Haven, and usually guarded. If Dylan hasn’t snuck off to catalogue insects and plant-life.

Gabriel tapped her shoulder. [Getting back to my question about the Serpent…]

“Yellow didn’t know,” Lily replied as she moved her hands. “Maybe Topaz? He’s pretty old for a lesser kami.”

We prefer other descriptors, you know. It was Blue, a sigh going with the voice that echoed in her mind. And you owe me honey, remember?

“I do.” But that was a problem for later.

It couldn’t be too much later, but definitely after speaking to the Twins.

A young boy charged from the nearest open door. His shirt and pants were worn but in no danger of falling apart. His hair was cut close to his scalp, revealing patterns of mud-paint in a rough copy of the kami.

Robin, a beaming smile upon his little face. “Lily! Look, look! See my head? It’s just like mom’s kami.”

“Not bad,” Lily smiled.

Gabriel gave Robin a thumbs up, and the boy returned the gesture.

“Are the Twins in the citadel?”

“I think so.”

Robin’s mother called from inside their home, and so Robin dashed back inside with a wave.

Lily returned his wave as she took the northern path.

At its end, an elevated citadel waited. Both the walls and turrets were built from old ship parts, parts that once could have flown through the dark of space. Coloured both white and grey, with some panels black, more than a few bore rust.

But it was still strong.

A bucket waited by one rail where someone had taken a break from cleaning duties.

Lily smiled at the citadel. Constructed by the founders, it offered a view of the entire settlement. It also featured defence not only in the form of gunner’s platforms, but one turret actually boasted a working cannon.

Theoretically, at least, she thought, since she’d never seen it fire.

Equally important, due to the fact that there was no need to call extra attention to themselves, Haven flew no flag or banner from the lookout. The lookout itself was just an old tree. Mostly a web of empty branches, its trunk was hollowed enough for someone to watch while remaining hidden.

Before they reached the keep, a white-haired man waved.

He approached from a pot-shaped home, the sides made of tarnished steel, one of the oldest buildings. A rifle rested across his back and he carried slings from his belt, but no kami. “Welcome back, you two. How was your search? How much closer are the death-marks?”

“They’ve nearly reached the Narrows already, Amir.”

He folded his arms. “So soon… Well, we can only prepare to fight back with what we’ve got.”

[We might have an answer there,] Gabriel said, explaining the Elder Kami’s suggestion.

“Grave-Robbing Serpent?” He shook his head. “It’s nice to have a little hope, but it doesn’t ring any bells for me. You’d better ask Mia and Noah.”

“On our way to do exactly that,” Lily said with a grin.

“Good.” He nodded as he set off – only to pause after a few steps. “Oh. Before I forget, I repaired that leak you mentioned. So don’t worry about it while you’re gone.”

[We owe you, Amir.]

The older man grinned. “You most certainly do not.”

Lily returned his smile as they left… and though she hid it, a little fear crept into her heart. Amir had looked out for them since their first day at the settlement. A kind man, like so many in Haven. She had to succeed for his sake.

For everyone.

The citadel’s steel door stood open, revealing a circular stone table. There, important decisions were made, usually beneath lights from a star-shaped chandelier that hung above.

All dark now, of course, since the day had not ended.

Most electricity was only used after dark, and generally for very specific uses. Such was the way with diminishing returns – their secondary cell batteries weren’t going to last forever… Another problem, Lily thought. Even with wind charging them, even with the few remaining solar panels, there would be an end.

At least, so the Twins always said.

Lily had no reason to doubt their predictions. After all, it was the same in most of the ruined or abandoned towns she and Gabriel had passed through over the years. Stripped of resources and buried in decay, she thought.

Doors leading to other rooms in the citadel were closed. Including the so-called Engine Room, the kitchen and the sleeping quarters beyond, but light splashed down from the ladder when the hatch opened.

“Fate has brought you both home,” a soothing voice called down – Mia.

The Twins descended one after the other, their white and black tunics sewn with silver thread that could not be replaced, only carefully cared for. They gestured for Lily and Gabriel to join them at the stone table.

Both siblings had the same tanned skin and hair of pale green, flowing to their shoulders. Yet their eyes were the most striking feature, since their pupils were similar to a now extinct animal: the cat. But in fragments of the few history books preserved in Haven, pictures of such small animals had survived.

“The kami have shared what you discovered,” Mia continued, signing deftly.

In fact, Mia’s skill with sign-language was so effortless that Gabriel had once described it almost as if the young woman had a very elegant accent.

“And what we’ve feared for some time,” Noah added, his own tones equally calming as he, too, echoed each word with his hands. “And for everything that we’ve already tried and which has failed, I’m more than ready to attempt something else – even something as unlikely as your idea.”

[Then you think it might work?] Gabriel asked.

“From every myth and legend there do linger kernels of truth,” Noah replied.

“Far better than taking no action,” Mia added. “So, yes. Please undertake a quest to seek the so-called Grave-Robbing Serpent and thereafter continue to the Ringwood, of course…” She paused, a slight frown upon her face. “But we hope you will delay leaving until tomorrow.”

“The mutant?” Lily asked.

“Yes. We sense an unusual figure approaching. Due at midnight, as you have doubtless already been made aware.”

“We have. Can you sense anything about it? Size or type? Do you think it’s seeking the settlement specifically?”

Gabriel nodded. [I hope it’s not like the one from a few years back.]

“Not precisely.” Noah said. The Twins exchanged a glance. “But something else is clear – this time, there is a feral kami trapped within its flesh.”