On different paths

Elä’Ahrûna froze, and Yára and I, we just stared! What had gotten into our companion?

“Are you out of your mind?” cried Yára. “How can you abandon us and follow this …spitful …throw-out?!”

Reeza had meanwhile reached her target, sunk down to her knees and clutched now the daimon lady’s boots.

“Please!” she exclaimed in a deep, raw, pleading voice. “Please, hear me out! Return together to Iyexis and tell Voreas everything you know. Don’t let anything out! Raw, unfiltered truth is now in dire need! The journey south isn’t very dangerous, to you and Lily at least. Take good care of Vilko, hide him from the public and see that as few people as possible get to know him, for now at least. Take him to the sacred island of Al’Cárvorovràc’la, where he is safe and can further refine his abilities and skills before exposing himself to the public. As for me…”

She closed her eyes and buried her face in Elä’Ahrûna’s boots.

“I feel it in every fiber of my body that my place is here now, at the feet of my goddess! Forgive her if possible, even if her sins seem just too much for any kind of salvation. You see that she already regrets and tries to right her wrongs. And as Vilko once said, that is the first and most important step. But I want to be at her side and aid her, help her, support her by any means. Please! I know, it’s not just important for me, it may be important for the whole world!”

I was speechless!

But Yára said: “You fool! I feel with you and you may even be right. But a fool you are nevertheless! May your noble deed not be wasted and lost in vain!”

With that she turned sharply on her heel and returned back in the direction of our cave.

Elä’Ahrûna nodded in my direction and addressed me one last time.

“You know, my offer still stands.”

“If you will help with the wildlife crisis in Tóràbun I may consider it.” I answered. There was no way I would take her offer right now, after all I’ve heard. In that regard I agreed with Lily: Trust has to be earned, and not recklessly trumped up!

A single curt nod was her only answer.

Reeza didn't look up, so I was denied one last exchange with her. I wanted to wish her farewell, all the best, a heartfelt goodbye, but my throat was tied up. Every sound, every syllable, every utter died, got stuck, faded into oblivion on the way out. Finally, after a few failed attempts, I had no other choice than to follow Yára back to our hideout.

I felt a deep remorse and shame for not being able to formulate the goodbye she deserved. On the other hand I knew she wouldn't hold it against me, as little as I was holding it against her. We understood each other, even without words and looks, and despite Elä’Ahrûna not having said a word to her, it was clear that she’d accept her selfless offer.

I on the other hand had to deal now with two very angry comrades, one a magician and one a beastfolk. Lovely company and lovely combination!

And boy, were they angry! Absolutely frightening! Yára above all let loose a stream of expletives that were as numerous as inventive - and most importantly imprintable! Lily on the other hand just sat there, frozen, petrified, but her wild, honeyhued eyes set aflame in an unholy fire that could’ve burned a hole into the rockwall of the cave! Blood dripped from her tightly balled fists, where her claws drilled deep into her palms. The protective paw pads there were no match for her fury! 

In the end she let out a terrible, bloodcurdling, inhuman scream, a roar that reverberated deafeningly through the small cave and deep into my bones. It is indescribable how much pain, suffering, anger, hate, sorrow, grief, anguish and torment resonated in that agonizing sound. It was inhuman, but not entirely bestial either, caught in between in a seemingly endless purgatory.

Yára ceased her cussing at once, went quietly to the broken, herculean figure and simply hugged her, holding her tightly as if she never wanted to let go of her again. Wordlessly I joined them and we held each other for a long time.

And you know, how I just hate hugging! But this time…

Noon found us already on the ‘Oruandríya’, sailing out into the open waters of Lake Atûmna, our supplies and the Munchie tightly secured onboard. The weather was still fine, Yurá shining brightly in the deep blue sky, glistening on the lazy ripples of the equally deep blue waters. But our mood was somber, as you can imagine.

The girls had overcome their emotional outburst (or breakdown in Lily’s case), their demeanor slowly swinging back to normal. But nobody mentioned Reeza anymore, let alone the elder daimon. I understood the resentment against Elä’Ahrûna, even if she’d shown remorse and regret over her earlier actions. Again I asked myself if I was too forgiving or naive...

Reeza on the other hand… I struggled hard to not feel a deep sense of loss. I missed her, yes, but she was still alive and we would meet again (so I hoped at least!). So why was there this dull pain burrowed deep in my heart, as if something precious had been ripped out? So close I felt her presence that I involuntarily looked up into the sky and searched for any sign of her, maybe flying by or cruising high up in the air. Of course there was nothing, just a few white clouds and some scattered dragons enjoying the sunny weather.

We still had a long journey ahead, more than five thousand miles until we’d reach our next destination: Iyexis, the capital of Tóràbun, the supposedly doomed kingdom, according to Elä’Ahrûna at least. I felt a bit of apprehension, slowly approaching human lands, where my presence and that of my Munchie would start to make an impact. What would follow and how that would impact me, my life, and of course my Munchie, remained anybody’s guess.

Elä’Ahrûna could (and almost certainly would!) maybe look into possible futures and scenarios, but as tempting as that sounded, I wouldn’t want that. I didn’t like the uneasiness accompanying the unknown, but simply ‘calculating’ possible outcomes seemed to me too much of an easy way. Elä’Ahrûna had fallen into that trap and had to pick up the pieces now.

Funny, how she was as blind as we ‘mere mortals’, despite all her experience, her age, her abilities, her techniques… That all doesn’t matter as long as you are bound by flesh, blood, matter, transience and time. There are always limits and if you are not aware of them or don’t want to see them, you inevitably fall into the trap of hubris.

Again I looked into the sky, deep blue, scattered with white, feathery fair-weather clouds, felt the warmth of the sun faintly on my skin and closed my eyes, seeking peace before the coming turmoil. In the distance I could hear the chattering shrieks, roars and cries coming from the dancing dragons in the sky. Once the source of sorrow and dread now they seemed to vibrate with joy and life. Invisible, non tangible was the powerful set of events, the approaching catastrophe set into motion by these magnificent creatures…

The waves were gently lapping at the wooden hulls of the ‘Oruandríya’, creating this distinctive murmuring sound that is inevitably part of every sea travel.

The wind blew softly into the sail, subtly driven, controlled and directed by Yára, who stood at her usual position at the steering wheel.

Lily was nowhere in sight, certainly hiding in the streamlined cabin at the stern.

And I opened my eyes again, looking forward now. Before me lay the endless expanses of Lake Atûmna.

And behind its horizon, my - our future!