The Seventh Elder

Bard and Sen departed the caravan after receiving their clothes the next day.

Sen marveled at how nice the clothes were as they rode swiftly on Kai’s back. Night was coming and Bard urged Kai to continue. He placed the sunstones on each of the lanterns and watched how their shadows grew. However, they were placed well and if Bard and Sen sat a bit more down on Kai, then there was no shadow of theirs that wasn’t encased with the light. Kai kept running as the shades encircled them. His ears were shifting every which way and what as they moved, signaling his nervousness about it. Bard kept a few lightsticks with him, in case they needed to stop. Kai kept a nice pace through the night, then paused for water and drink, and Sen slept a bit. When it became too cold, Bard had Kai stop, and they rested in his fur. Despite it still not being sun up, the temperature warmed, so Bard had them move again. Sen groaned about a ruined sleep schedule, but Bard knew how long the desert was. As the sun came out, Kai rested and got water from a valley to the east. A small stream flowed through there but come suns-high, it would be dried up unless they got closer to the source.

They refilled their water supplies and Kai walked back to the caravan route and continued north and east. They rounded the mountains at the height of the day, and Sen covered herself from the infernal suns. Bard had Kai rest at the base of the mountains. In the middle of the day, winds blew down that would stir the air and cool them if they put a bit of water on themselves. Besides, the sands had gotten too hot for Kai to keep traveling with. After wetting Kai, they hid in his fur and enjoyed the winds.

It was late evening and after their nap and meal when they started to move again. Sen groaned at the change of pace, and Bard apologized. She slept on Kai as they moved, having had Bard tie her down. Kai would have the worst of it, he was their transportation and safety. He also couldn't be unloaded as much with this movement pattern. They headed north and east, following the mountains, but staying within a quarter day walking distance of the water.

This was the biggest deterrent to the desert. Merlants were big and could carry loads of water. They were also pack animals, so the catfolk could have herds travel with them and have those that didn’t carry supplies, carry water.

As the sunset, Bard put up the sunstones and Kai traveled with less reservation than the previous night. Bard had him keep going after their water was nearly empty, as it was dark and cool. When it got too cold, he crawled up with Sen in the fur, and they waited it out.

This repeated for three days, a marvel to Bard when he realized they would be nearly at the city of the Catfolk.

As they came close, they ran across many sunstone lanterns in the fields. Water was directed out via canals and used to irrigate the lands, creating fields for crops. Not one portion was wasted.

Sen looked on in awe as they came past orchards and groves. Then the walls appeared. Atop was a line of sunstones and sunstones embedded into the sides.

“Bard, You said they have to worry about the shades. But with this many sunstones-” Sen began to point out. Bard lowered her hand.

“Don’t point. It’s considered rude among catfolk to point at the lights. As for why they would worry about shades. Just because the walls have light, doesn’t mean the inside of the city is full of light. There are still places of darkness, and if you aren’t careful, the shades do appear in these patches from the ground. It’s been a trouble they’ve faced that others do not. So watch your feet when we are inside,” Bard warned.

Sen looked surprised and then back at the wall. It was beautiful. Some motifs of the stars and the four sons were detailed among the lights. Bard was relieved to be here again. He hid the four sunstones they had purchased and then put up four lightsticks in their places. “Cover your head, Sen. I should have braided your hair. Sorry,” Bard apologized. She dismissed it and pulled a cowl over her face, trapping the hair inside. She kept it tight to have the hair still.

“It’s no problem.”

Kai headed to the entrance and the guards stopped him.

“I’m Bardon Jaystrum, here to meet with Elder Paradise. Kihana and Jamil sent me ahead to inform you of their arrival in a few days,” he said. One of the guards looked excited. A fan of Kihana perhaps? He sobered as the other stared at him.

“Head inside and go to your right. A guide will lead you there,” the guard said as he handed him a golden token.

Bard reached down and took it. The guard saluted him and then let them in. Bard sighed as he ducked down under the portcullis. Last time he was here, Kai wasn’t nearly this tall. Merlants could stretch out and shrink their walking height, so they didn’t need to make the entrance as big. It saved on construction, but it sure made it inconvenient.

Kai walked to the right and a catfolk with silvery fur greeted them. She was initially shocked to see Kai until she saw Bard on top with a golden token. She reached up and grabbed it.

“Elder Paradise?” she asked atop Kai’s shoulders. She was a bit short, but fleet. Bard nodded at her question.

“Right this way, then,” she said.

Sen looked about, and Kai could understand her awe.

The place was not like the ruins, nor human or dryadic places. Catfolk designed their cities to shift with the changing of the sunlight. This way, their streets could be lit as much as possible. Most homes were impressive tent-like structures, with the only firmly built structures belonging to the temples and oasis. This kept the water clean and transportable. Stalls where the water was ported appeared. They looked similar to wells, but were capped with a strange metal object on top.

With the homes being made of tents, it was colorful and easy to see over. A few were taller, but not much.

This is why they needed a guide. Some places were where the wealthy dwelled, and they didn’t like outsiders near their tents. Since the landscape changed, it made it impossible to go without a guide. The wealthy of course paid for those guides to work at the entrances, and they were quickly given maps for where they needed to avoid.

Looking at the silver catfolk before them, it must be nearing that time to change the place, as she had memorized the route.

She brought them to a route with paved stones after weaving through many colorful tents. Kai had done his best to not step on any strings or supports, and was more than a little relieved to be on solid ground.

“Elder Paradise is at the end of the path. Just follow it,” she bowed before disappearing among the tents.

Kai walked the rest of the way, and Bard was relieved to see the familiar sight of the palm like branches towering over them. Paradise was an odd tree, big enough to house an entire temple inside him, he was large for a desert tree. His palms were massive as well, big enough to make a few tents from the branches. What made him even more unique was that he was situated on an island surrounded by clean, clear waters. He was in the middle of an oasis. A single stone path led to him, one that Kai took with soft footfalls.

Bard looked around. To the east, the temple spire stuck out. To the west, a strange pillar that Bard had little idea about. It rose from the desert, on one of the few rocky or compacted locations.

Kai stopped at the dais and nearly sat, but waited for Sen and Bard to climb down when reminded he carried supplies on his back. Bard and Sen jumped down and removed the most pressing supplies first, so Kai would be able to rest.

“Bard Jaystrum,” the voice of Elder Paradise rang out low and deep. “You’ve returned.”

“We greet the Elder,” Bard paused and bowed. Sen did the same, along with Kai.

“Spring has seemingly come,” Elder Paradise noted as he moved and bent his trunk closer to them. Sen freaked a bit and hid behind Bard.

“Sen?” Bard whispered, looking at her confused.

“He moved,” she hissed back.

“So does Defender.”

Sen shook her head. Bard gave up pursuing that line of thinking and returned his attention to Paradise.

“I apologize, Paradise. I’m not sure I follow.”

“When last, we met, you were alone. Now you have a female companion. It is refreshing to know that you’ve grown,” Paradise clarified. “Come to the island and rest. Clean yourselves and talk with me tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” Bard said with a bow. Sen hastily followed. Kai hummed and then grabbed some of the strewn supplies by their ropes. He stepped out into the waters and swam to the other end. The lake was deep. So some things were bound to get wet. Bard was grateful he had reapplied the water-repelling oils to the skins and that he packed his instruments a bit different. He took Sen’s hand and guided her to the water’s edge. She hesitated.

“Sen?” Bard asked.

“Bard, this water seems different.”

Bard paused and smiled.

“How perceptive. It may be an oasis, but this water comes from the temple. I’ll show you sometime. It is considered a bit holy, so only those Paradise invites, can use it.”

He gently pulled on her hand and she stepped into the water. She walked by his side until it became deep enough to swim. Bard shifted his legs and guided her to the middle of the lake. As they came Elder Paradise’s island, he knew she would need a bit of help to climb up. It didn’t have a shore. Bard climbed up and then reached to grab Sen’s hand. He pulled her up and Sen shivered as a wind blew. With night coming, it would be a bit cold. There were sunstones around to heat the air at night, but a strong wind would blow past all that.

“Let’s get you dried off,” Bard chuckled. Sen looked around, trying to figure out the place. Bard found a shed branch and plucked one of the oversized leaves. He then split it in two and proceeded to use one to dry off. Sen followed, a bit reservedly. Bard came over and helped her with her hair, wringing it out. Well, the tips and what couldn’t have gotten away from the water. The rest was fairly dry.

“Don’t bother. I’m going to wash it later,” she said, and Bard stopped. She was definitely feeling a bit off. He let her take care of herself while he set up camp, using a firestick instead of burning resources to cook some food and using the water to boil the dehydrated goods. He found one of her herb packs and put it in for flavoring. Perhaps it would also help to lighten her mood. He frankly wasn’t sure what was going on.

Sen came back later with clean hair. The atmosphere around her was pained and nervous. Bard sat to the side to let her sit next to him and instead, she sat away from him. He looked on in worry. What had happened? Kai came over and sat behind Sen. She half smiled at his gesture and then curled into Kai’s fur. She didn’t say anything when he brought her some soup, and he waited patiently for a while. As he finished half of his soup, he walked over and gave the rest to Kai. While Kai licked the soup from his bowl, he looked at Sen. When she caught his gaze, she stopped and hastily looked away.

“Sen?” he asked, coming closer.

“Not now, Bard.” She said so dismissively, that Bard was taken aback. He felt rooted to the spot. If he retreated and gave her space, he wasn’t sure should be pleased, but if he came closer he was certain she would be angry. He stayed there until Kai was finished, and he sighed as he left to clean up the meal. Sen slowly ate hers and was finished when he was nearly done. He cleaned her bowl as well, and she became nearly hidden in Kai’s fur. He cleaned up and looked at the palm branches of Elder Paradise. This place was beautiful and special to him. Why was she so afflicted here?

With Sen so unresponsive, they retired to bed early.