had escaped the village had set up camp just outside a cave hidden behind a curtain of dozime vines. So the fires could also be hidden inside the shelter and not attract unwanted attention, someone had climbed nearly to the top of the hanging vines, and chopped a hole in them to allow the smoke from the fires an outlet.
Lam had been welcomed warmly, and there had been rejoicing that more of their people had been found. Stories and perspectives were swapped around the fire as the group got to know each other better with these new circumstances they found themselves in. Ch’kara had been laid nearby, and Lam checked on her constantly, but still she slept on. Discussions about what was expected to happen and what should be done next were held, and the opinions and ideas of everyone present were listened to with respect. Lam found he was very grateful for the sense of unity with these people. The shared experience had formed an instant bond among them. It was as if they were a little family. He remembered that was what it had been like within The Remnant as well, after the loss of their society.
Finally, the talking came to an end, and each of the twelve began to find a comfortable place to stretch out for the night. It was decided that one of them should remain awake through the night and keep watch. They did not know if the Gildoks knew some had escaped their cruelty or not, but if the violent tribe did know they had escaped, it had to also be expected they were out hunting for them. Feltin volunteered to keep watch this first night, though he had been on foot searching the nearby forest with Terlikk and Julak most of the day.
Even when all was quiet and still, Lam found he could not sleep. Laying protectively beside Ch’kara, his mind raced, and his emotions insisted that something be done. His new memories told him he had seen this happen again and again. It seemed as if everything everywhere merely repeated itself. Mirrors of mirrors, patterns of patterns— even in societies ages and worlds apart.
There had to be a way to stop the cycles.
He thought of The Remnant. He thought of his origins. He thought of who he was, who he had become, and what had happened now. He now knew he was not like the others. He truly had not come from this place. But he was in this place now, and what happened here affected him just as much as the others.
The Shen-Ma had seen him to be a Seed, and his people in the cloud had confirmed it. What did that mean? What could he do?
The continuation of his original society depended on him, and now perhaps this mirrored remnant he was now a member of depended on him as well. They were the representation and all that was left of their village, weren’t they?
But what was he to do?
By daylight, Lam had reached the decision he could not not do something. He was not from here, and therefore should have the benefit of that working to his advantage.
He would avenge the village.
He would make the Gildok tribe pay for what they did to his mother.
Ch’kara woke after they had all eaten their fill of gurja fruit and other berries they had found nearby, and were deciding the goals for the day. Lam was at her side in an instant. He found himself genuinely smiling for the first time as he looked down on her.
“Where… Where are we?” she asked.
“We’ve taken shelter in a cave,” Lam replied. “Ten others survived the raid, and have taken us in. Your uncle is here.”
“Thank you for not leaving me,” she whispered.
“Thank you for not leaving me ,” he whispered in return.
“Ch’kara!” Terlikk knelt opposite Lam. “How are you feeling, dear niece?”
She nodded as she took Lam’s hand to raise and sit. “Much better, Uncle.”
Terlikk placed his hand on her shoulder. “I am relieved to find you are not only alive but well— I have survived yet another Gildok attack, but I may not have survived the wrath of my brother if I had lost his only child!”
Ch’kara broke into a
Lam had been welcomed warmly, and there had been rejoicing that more of their people had been found. Stories and perspectives were swapped around the fire as the group got to know each other better with these new circumstances they found themselves in. Ch’kara had been laid nearby, and Lam checked on her constantly, but still she slept on. Discussions about what was expected to happen and what should be done next were held, and the opinions and ideas of everyone present were listened to with respect. Lam found he was very grateful for the sense of unity with these people. The shared experience had formed an instant bond among them. It was as if they were a little family. He remembered that was what it had been like within The Remnant as well, after the loss of their society.
Finally, the talking came to an end, and each of the twelve began to find a comfortable place to stretch out for the night. It was decided that one of them should remain awake through the night and keep watch. They did not know if the Gildoks knew some had escaped their cruelty or not, but if the violent tribe did know they had escaped, it had to also be expected they were out hunting for them. Feltin volunteered to keep watch this first night, though he had been on foot searching the nearby forest with Terlikk and Julak most of the day.
Even when all was quiet and still, Lam found he could not sleep. Laying protectively beside Ch’kara, his mind raced, and his emotions insisted that something be done. His new memories told him he had seen this happen again and again. It seemed as if everything everywhere merely repeated itself. Mirrors of mirrors, patterns of patterns— even in societies ages and worlds apart.
There had to be a way to stop the cycles.
He thought of The Remnant. He thought of his origins. He thought of who he was, who he had become, and what had happened now. He now knew he was not like the others. He truly had not come from this place. But he was in this place now, and what happened here affected him just as much as the others.
The Shen-Ma had seen him to be a Seed, and his people in the cloud had confirmed it. What did that mean? What could he do?
The continuation of his original society depended on him, and now perhaps this mirrored remnant he was now a member of depended on him as well. They were the representation and all that was left of their village, weren’t they?
But what was he to do?
By daylight, Lam had reached the decision he could not not do something. He was not from here, and therefore should have the benefit of that working to his advantage.
He would avenge the village.
He would make the Gildok tribe pay for what they did to his mother.
Ch’kara woke after they had all eaten their fill of gurja fruit and other berries they had found nearby, and were deciding the goals for the day. Lam was at her side in an instant. He found himself genuinely smiling for the first time as he looked down on her.
“Where… Where are we?” she asked.
“We’ve taken shelter in a cave,” Lam replied. “Ten others survived the raid, and have taken us in. Your uncle is here.”
“Thank you for not leaving me,” she whispered.
“Thank you for not leaving me ,” he whispered in return.
“Ch’kara!” Terlikk knelt opposite Lam. “How are you feeling, dear niece?”
She nodded as she took Lam’s hand to raise and sit. “Much better, Uncle.”
Terlikk placed his hand on her shoulder. “I am relieved to find you are not only alive but well— I have survived yet another Gildok attack, but I may not have survived the wrath of my brother if I had lost his only child!”
Ch’kara broke into a
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