Catfolk Caravan

Their journey continued, and Sen was none enthusiastic about seeing the return of the piles as fuel sources for the fires.

Bard knew the lands would become more harsh as they tried to get to the desert. His hope was to get the attention of the catfolk that called that place home. Perhaps they could travel with one of the trading caravans from there. While it was possible to get to the Elder on their own, it would be far safer if they could avoid the shades that seemed to be growing in number.

“Bard,” Sen called him from his musings. She had washed her hair in the nearby stream. “We haven’t had story time in a while…” her voice trailed off. Bard groaned. They had gotten so involved with the village and then trying to get things set right, that he had forgotten it entirely.

“You’re right, Sen. Guess we’ll have to make up for those lost days then,” he said with a cheeky grin. Sen smiled and nestled close to him as he tended the fire.

“But before we begin that, who is it we are going to next?” she asked.

“Elder Paradise,” Bard chuckled. “He taught me about finding water and how to clean it. ‘Any place becomes a paradise with good water’.” Bard mimicked.

“There are places without water?” Sen asked surprised.

“Yes. The place we are heading to is known for its lack of water.”

“But,” Sen reached up to her damp hair and Bard sighed.

“You won’t often wash your hair like that. There are other ways to keep it clean there.”

“Because there isn’t enough water?” Sen asked.

“Because we need to drink water to survive.”

“Oh?”

“Sen….” Bard said in exasperation. “We can go a few days without food, but not water.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then why would anyone travel where there isn’t water?”

Bard chuckled, recalling a similar conversation with the residents of the area.

“Some lands are too sacred to avoid, others are safe havens from bad people. And finally, there is a satisfaction in overcoming a challenge,” He answered.

“Why so many different reasons?” Sen asked.

“Why are there so many different reasons?” he repeated the full question back. She nodded.

“Because people are not all the same. Everyone has different reasons to do things. If all of us were motivated by the same reasons, then you and I would have never met.”

“Oh…” She ducked down and leaned against him. “I’m glad then.”

The next day they hit the sand dunes.

Travel became more troublesome as they headed north and then followed the mountains to the west. It was five grueling days of uncomfortably growing heat and then intense nights of Shade swarms.

Bard looked up and noticed a speck on the top of the far sand dune. He paused and perceived that it moved. He stirred Sen, who mumbled about the insufferable heat. He pointed to the sand dune, and she squinted before flopping her head down.

“Bard… this might be another trick or illusion,” she grumbled.

“No, it’s them, I know it. The way it moves is not replicate-able by a mirage.”

“What?”

“It’s the caravan. We must be close to the trail.”

Sen grumbled, and he noticed her red cheeks and skin. She was burning up from the sunlight and heat. Her winter clothes didn’t help either. Perhaps he could trade for something a bit more cool and covering. Perhaps a way to keep her hair tied down as well. He patted Sen and then encouraged Kai to turn towards the moving line.

As they got close, he could make out the black fur of the catfolk as they guided their merlants. Kai let out a howl at the sight, and some paused and waited for them to come close.

“Sal Shefa!” Bard heard being called out to him and greeted in turn.

Sen seemed to stir at the sounds of other voices. Kai quickly closed the distance, and he slid off his saddle.

“Bard, is that you?” he heard and looked inwards to see a familiar face.

“Kihana?” Bard exclaimed in surprise. The gold and black catfolk jumped above the others and laughed as she landed in front of Bard.

“You’ve grown large, kitten,” she said, then she raised her hand and signaled to her companions. They paused for a bit, and she greeted Bard formally.

“Are you in charge of this caravan, Kihana?” Bard asked as they moved towards the front.

“Yes. We are on our way to Paradise. We are hoping to worship at the temple there,” she said.

“How close are you to getting your wings?” Bard asked, recalling her goal.

“Nearly there. This is the final one.”

“How fortunate that we could meet. We are also heading to Elder Paradise as well. Perhaps you will get those wings while we are there?”

“The Suns be willing.” Kihana said with a smile.

“But tonight we will see to your companion there. I expect there is a tale for why you have a Dryad with you.”

“It’s a long one,” Bard laughed. Sen’s head poked up from the back of Kai.

“Goodness. She could use some lighter clothes.”

“Yes. I had hoped to trade or buy some,” Bard said as he shifted a small pouch from off Kai. He wondered how much things he could buy from the money he earned from the sunstones.

“Seeing how you are this far in the desert, have you’ve been traveling like this for four days now?”

“Yes.” Not including the first day they entered, that would be accurate. Kihana always amazed him with her knowledge.

“Suns above Bard, I imagine you haven’t seen anyone else yet, but you couldn’t have had something a bit lighter for her to wear?” Kihana remarked. They were guided to a beast a few further back and Kihana signaled to the rider, and he looked surprised at them.

He jumped down and his patterns on his fur looked broken from all the scars and cuts.

“Sal Shefa,” he said and Bard responded in turn.

“Can you start with measuring the girl on the beast over there? She is in need of clothing quickly.” Kihana said as she slipped into their native tongue.

“As you command Keratan Kihana,” the catfolk bowed. He quickly scampered around, frightening Sen as he took her measurements.

“Bard?”

“It’s alright Sen. He is going to make you some clothes.”

“Oh.”

“I’m surprised she can talk so well in the human tongue,” Kihana remarked with a smile.

“She has been learning,” Bard nodded.

“Well, perhaps I will have to hear both sides then. It will be easier since I don’t have the skills like you with Asternum.”

The Catfolk jumped away from Sen, bowed in front of Kihana before climbing his merlant and beginning to sort his fabrics. Kihana signaled for the Caravan to begin again and Bard relaxed as his eyes glanced at the sun lanterns. Sen must have noticed them because she stared at the decorative pieces.

“Curious?” Kihana asked.

“Huh?” Sen said and Kihana pointed at the lanterns. While she and Sen discussed the stones the catfolk said were blessed by the god of the sun, Bard suffused himself in the memories of traveling with various catfolk caravans.

While Humans and Dryads were at odds with one another, they both did not dare fight the catfolk, and so the race had been able to remain neutral. It led to them focusing on trade and some had a nomadic lifestyle. But those that were fervent to the Suns, they were the ones who pushed past the trials of the desert and created the temples, places where abundant water could come even in the midst of a sea of sand.

That, and they had those sun stones. He desperately needed them. If he could purchase a few, he could have them tied to Kai, and they could travel at night when it was cooler and easier. Water wasn’t abundant and if they could rest in the day and travel at night, it would be a big boon for them. It’s what he did more during the first time through the desert, but with the growing abundance of shades even out here, it was a big problem.

“Sal Shefa, Bard,” a voice said behind him. Bard came out of his short contemplations and saw another familiar face. Golden fur like the sands, it was Jamil.

“Jamil. You travel with Kihana now?”

“Indeed. Seeing as how you have made it here, you’ve been traveling the desert for a while. Several nights. Do the shadowed not pester you?”

“They do. I’m running low on light sticks because of it. Do you still sell things?”

“I do. What are you looking for?”

“A few sun stones. We are pressed for time, and I need to be able to move during the night.”

“Those are becoming quite valuable. Even we are facing more of the dangers and terrors of the night. Do you have something suitable for trade?”

“I do.” Bard gritted his teeth. He had wondered if the sunstones had become more valuable, but there wasn’t much he could do to change it. The fact the catfolk’s merlants all carried at least four sun stones and each watchman held two, meant it was very dangerous at night. He wished he could travel with them, but those beasts being weighed down as much as they were, would mean they traveled slower. That wasn’t a luxury they could afford.

Jamil lead him to his beast and Bard was impressed with the number of sun stones on it. Of course, he would carry them, he was one of the few who wandered into the abandoned cities to find valuables.

“I assume you need four?” Jamil stated. Bard nodded again.

“Four that can last through most if not all the night.”

“Ah, I have a few of those. Perhaps not quite four. So what do you have to offer?”

Bard whistled for Kai, who quickly came over. Jamil’s ears flattened a bit against the sand cloud that Kai whipped up. Bard, meanwhile, headed to Kai’s back and looked for a few sacks.

“You carry quite a bit of water,” Jamil noted, and Bard looked down at his golden eyes. Jamil was smiling with a knowing look.

“Indeed. Ah, here it is,” Bard said as he pulled on some of the strings to loosen his bags. He pulled them off and slid off Kai’s back. Jamil whistled a note and his beast encircled them and shielded them from prying eyes and floating sands.

“Now, what is it you carry?” Jamil asked, his teeth showing, as he sat down.

“Two bundles of Lambswool, and four bundles of earsmite. I’ve also got some medicinal herbs from the Dryad’s forest to the south of here. About 40 days journey from here.”

“That far south? Impressive. What herbs are they?”

“Silver flower, silver feather, and silver fang.”

Jamil rose suddenly with shock.

“You went to the silver woods?”

“Domain of War tree? Yes. Here is his token,” Bard said with a grin. Jamil sat back with astonishment.

“You are a strange kitten. So brave and capable.”

“Thank you. Do we have a trade?”

“Depends on the condition of the herbs.”

“I packed them in catacan leather.” Bard said, and Jamil shook his head and his grin widened.

“Show me. I’ll prepare the sun stones.”

The two fetched the remainder of their goods, and Bard noticed how Jamil picked out the smallest sun stones.

“For all those goods you mentioned, I’ll give you the lightest, longest lasting, and brightest sun stones I carry. They would be worth two gold suns each. I assume that is worth your herbs?”

Two gold suns? Bard was stunned. Suns were the currency of the catfolk, and it was rare to get silver suns, let alone gold suns. “Did you have to trade a temple for those?” Bard teased.

“Nah, I collected them in the derelict abandoned city and haven’t found a worthy trade for them. I had them evaluated by the winged priestess Shahar.”

Bard nodded. He vaguely knew the importance of a sunstone that had been evaluated. It would be a boon for them if they had them.

He pulled out his herbs and Jamil’s eyes glowed. He appraised the herbs, and then a satisfied smile grew.

“These are better preserved than I anticipated. Since I don’t think you want to carry too much, is there something else beside suns stones you are looking to purchase? Perhaps some clothing for the desert sands and sun?”

“They are worth that much?” Bard asked, amazed.

“Well, only a few catfolk ever were able to trade for the silver herbs. And you have all three and with some quantity. Besides their quality…” Jamil sighed. “Those who could trade for them have perished to the shaded ones, and we are without supply right now. And between you and me, one of the head priests of the winged temple of the sun has fallen ill. The only herbs to treat this disease successfully are the silver herbs, and all three are needed in the concoction. Your timing couldn’t be better. It’s in high demand with low supply.”

“Indeed. So likely it is worth more than the sunstones, but since I am pressed for time, you are collecting them at a discount.”

“Hence why I wish to get you one other thing for your journey as my way to say thanks.”

“I see. Yes, I am in need of some new clothes.”

“I’ll have them ordered and made today. Thankfully, you Humans have less appendages. It makes sewing much simpler,” Jamil said. He extended his tail and Bard held out his hand and let the tail coil around it.

“Done. This is also timely. Thank you, Jamil.”

“Find me again if you travel with more silver herbs. I would love to continue trading with you. And perhaps next time I can offer you something more at price.”

“Do you guys have something to attach those sunstones to Kai with? We will need them spread out like your beasts.”

“I can arrange that. Thankfully, the craftsman were needing to travel for supplies this time.”

With that arranged, Bard breathed a sigh of relief. Jamil whistled, and his beast stood up, the sand that was sticking to his belly fell and sprinkled on Bard and Kai.

“Oh, one other thing,” Bard said, recalling the village they were making. “I nearly forgot to mention this, but the silver woods has moved.”

“They always do,” Jamil laughed.

“No… they moved to Sal Shefa,” Bard rebuked.

“Where is this place of prosperity?” Jamil asked with a chuckle, coming back down from his merlant.

“Do you have a map?” Bard asked. Jamil returned with one quickly. Bard touched on the place where Sal Shefa was to be built.

“But, there isn’t anything there,” Jamil argued.

“No. I found some humans and Dryads who would work together and stop fighting with one another. Most of the Silver woods has joined this. They’re building a place called Sal Shefa there.”

“Hmmm. After I finish with Kihana, I may take a caravan out that way then. See if I can establish trade with this group.”

“We’ll be back about fall time in that area. Wish I could introduce you, but-”

“No. That works out better this way. I have other obligations I need to take on first,” Jamil corrected. Bard smiled. Jamil was a good trader. If he had preference for trade, Bard was sure Jamil wouldn’t shirk them.

Jamil grinned and thanked him for the valuable information, and then excused himself. The catfolk who was miking them clothes found him and said to have him join with Kihana.

The two left and joined up with Sen, who was eating and chatting with Kihana. They joined in with the meal and Kai drank his supply of water. Bard smiled and enjoyed the company. Their outfits were made, and the craftsman helped fit Kai’s gear with four arms with a basket for the sun stones. They were made to be adjustable in case Bard got different sized ones later. Bard thanked them. They commented about the silver herbs and thanked him. Their guild received special privileges due to working with that temple, and they felt grateful to him for helping the dawnseers.

Bard paused. The dawnseers were a group who watched over the sun orbs in the center of the temples. They were the ones who offered insight from their god and were revered by many.

Perhaps this would be more beneficial than he had previously supposed.