mugendo wrote:I have read several sections of the story and I do like your writing style, I will read all the story over time..but not tonight
Windra wrote:*rolls up parchment and places it in bag before heads off to help Aqua* Drakfot you really know how to have an adventure, I truely wonder if we meet in a past life?
Keep up the great work.
//Windra
Kirie wrote:*sighs completely relaxed in her hammock, as she sets the latest chapter down on the night stand.."that drakfot really knows how to adventure!"
kirie
My thanks my friends, I am honoured by your kind words.
// Drakfot
Last edited by rabcaz on Thu Jul 13, 2006 12:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Yoh sureh you don'th wahn moeh Dakh?" Rikka said still with her mouth full of
candy.
"I am fine thank you, it was sure a real treat. Thank you Rikka." Drakfot
replied with a smile as she had been watching Rikka eating the candy with
delight. It was a sign that she was back home, where things are safe. Also
watching her eat the candy told Drakfot that even if the sky would come down on
them and bad things would happen, they would get through. Rikka would fight with
all that she had in order to once more be able to eat candy. It was not the
candy that was the important thing; holding on to anything important is.
A bit later Crythos returned to them, he was holding a new rifle and had a big
smile.
"It was a real find. And I got a bag of ammunition with it too. Will be fun to
test it out." He said as he got close to them. "I see that you found some candy
too Rikka, have some for me ?"
Rikka smiled barely managing to hold her mouth closed for all the candy as she
reached out to Crythos with the bag. He grabbed a few and started chewing on
one, the sweet taste washed through his mouth and added to the feeling of being
home safe again. Drakfot looked at her two friends whom were enjoying the candy
and the joy of walking on own soil. Rikka was still busy emptying the bag as
Drakfot looked at Crythos. The journey had been very though at times and it
showed all to well on his armor. It was almost torn and where it was not it was
covered with marks from claws and other dents where it had been hit. Still it
was the same proud Crythos who wore it and just that made it seems as if it
would hold for another two world tours. Drakfot noticed a second strap going
from is left should and when she looked she noted that he still had his old
rifle.
"Crythos, mind me ask why you still carry your old rifle now when you have found
yourself a new one?" She asked him.
He stopped chewing on the candy and looked at her then at the damaged rifle.
"I think I will place this in the Guild's hall to keep for a while. It do have
some memories from the trip don't it Drakfot." He answered with a smile and
started to chew on a new seed.
"I see, yes you are truly right in this Crythos." Drakfot said and suddenly
remembered how he had held back the entire weight of a giant Kitin. That had
been a very scary moment for Drakfot as she was lying on the ground not being
able to do more then to look at what happened through blurry eyes. But now he
was standing there in front of them and they were safely sitting down enjoying
some candy.
"Whaaa" Rikka said suddenly.
"What is it Rikka, something wrong ?" Drakfot hastily asked her.
"Yes" Rikka said with a sad face.
"What be it ?" Drakfot was worried that something bad might have happened, even
though they were safe from Kitins for the moment no one really knows what could
happen.
"The is no more candy, tihi" Rikka said and her sad face turned from sadness
into a big grin.
"Oh, you scared me there, haha" Drakfot said relieved over the fact that it was
just a prank by Rikka.
"Bah, you almost had me too" Crythos added to the conversation and while hearing
this Rikka's grin grew even bigger.
They all laughed over the little joke she had made and stretched out in the
warmth of the sun. It seemed to be a very nice day today and they intended to
enjoy it as much as they could.
"Ok, everyone that wants to get to Fairhaven, we are leaving in 10 minutes."
The leader suddenly said not far away, he caught Rikka a bit off guard as she
had almost fell asleep in the heat.
"What do you say, should we follow them or wait here a little longer and relax.
Me and Crythos will follow you to Fairhaven after that." Rikka said after
extending her tounge at the leader as he had turned around and couldn't see.
"Well, I do find it pleasant here. What do you think my friends ?" Drakfot asked
Rikka and Crythos. She felt safe near them and if they told her that they would
accompany her they would do just that.
"Well, we could just use the TP's we bought before we left. But I guess that
would spoil the trip wouldn't it." Crythos said with a focused voice. He was
looking at the ammunition that he had gotten with the rifle. "Hmm, very
interesting I am sure I could learn how to make these soon."
"Yes, and Drakky here haven't seen the place yet." Rikka said to Crythos while
pointing at the area around.
"Drakky ?" Drakfot said.
"Ah, yes, I hope you don't mind me calling you that Drak...fot" Rikka replied.
"Oh, yes its fine indeed. I was just not.... well you two are the first real
friends I have made here since I came here and... well I have had so much fun
with you both." Drakfot said as her face turned red and she looked down into the
ground.
"Haha, that's great to hear Drakky, come on lets rest a bit more and then have a
little trip with your new friends to Fairhaven!" Rikka said laughing loudly so
almost the guards looked at her.
Crythos was nodding to Rikka's idea and sat down next to them and removed some
of the covering plates from his armor and tucked them into his travel bag. It
was probably hot to carry such armor when it was not needed, specially in this
nice and warm sun. Crythos leaned back and and looked at the sky.
"Whatever happens it will still be there won't it ?" He said as a few clouds
passed along in the sky.
"Crythos, you are getting sentimental again aren't you?" Rikka said as she
leaned over and put a straw in his mouth. "And yes it will be there silly."
"Mmm" he replied.
Drakfot was still sitting up looking at the lively town, the merchants that was
selling their stocks to passing Homins, others trying to bargain a good deal for
their crafts with the merchants. Some were just talking to each other. It was
not as big town as Fairhaven, but comparing it to the main capital of Aeden
would not do it justice. It was perhaps a smaller town, yet its life was at
least as great as the one of the main town. It was soothing to watch it live its
life constantly , the animals around and in it, the Homins. Even the slow
rotation of the windmill added its part to the sensation. The spontaneous
running Homin whom had used the teleporter behind the windmill added a surprise
now and then. All in all it was a small great town called Windermeer. Drakfot
was happy to have been here with her friends seeing how nice it was and she
hoped that every town in this land held the same characteristics.
They spent some more time just lying on the beach enjoying the sun and talking a
bit about the great journey they had just completed. Even though they were not
back in Fairhaven where they had started they were back in their own lands and
that would count as a completion. For Rikka and Crythos it had been more of a
fun walk through the lands, but for Drakfot whom had for the first time ever
been experiencing the lands of Atys it was a great journey. She had met so many
new Homins, she thought about Ce-Ni Bong the Kami Adept in Zora and suddenly her
mind stopped on one Homin.
Seanchai, this lady with the fiery voice that she had met just briefly at times.
Somehow she was strange, an enigma, still and ordinary Homin. Drakfot tried to
find some sort of explanation of any kind that would fit the situation, but she
always turned up empty handed. This tall lady with the red hair and the red skin
whom had spoken with such intense in her voice still it was soothing and kind.
It was determined with a goal, but never harsh nor harming. One thought stuck in
Drakfot's mind; she dearly wished to meet Seanchai again.
"Atys to dreamer, Atys to dreamer!" A voice said not far away.
"Uh, what, where ?" Drakfot asked and suddenly saw Rikka's face.
"You were pretty far off weren't you Drakky?" She said and once more there was a
smile on her face.
"Ah yes, I was thinking about the trip and about all the things I have
experienced during it." Drakfot said , still a bit unfocused by her thoughts.
"Well, it's almost time for us to get on our feets and start to move back home."
Rikka said as she stood up and stretched. "Aahhh, that was a good rest!"
"If you don't mind ladies I will take off this heavy chest plate." Crythos said
as he lifted off the top of the armor.
"Oohhh..." Rikka added as she watched the plates get lifted from him revealing
an ordinary shirt underneath. " Bah!"
Drakfot giggled at Rikka's joke and reaction as she picked her things together.
She decided to not put her boots on as the sand was so soft and warm. She closed
the bag and stood up and looked around. It seemed as Rikka and Crythos would
need a few more minutes before they were ready so Drakfot decided to have a look
around the stables nearby. The Mektoubs didn't react much when she approached
them nor when she walked past them to the main house of the stable. The area
behind it was a little short area with beach before it dived into the water and
further off it ended with the walls of a mountain. Drakfot walked around, it was
a nice feeling just walking in the sand, and reached the other side and was
facing the plateau again.
"Can I help you with anything?" The stable boy asked as he had seen her appear
at the side of the stable house.
"Oh, sorry no I am just browsing around a bit. It is the first time that I am
here." Drakfot said and her face turned a bit red.
"Hehe, I could tell that. That is why I asked." The stable boy replied. "Have a
look around, it's a lovely town it is."
"Thank you." Drakfot said with a smile and walked over to the packers that were
standing near the stables. She stopped a moment and petted them when she
suddenly felt something grasping for her bag. She turned around but could not
see anyone close enough to reach it. There it was again ! As she turned around
now she saw the culprit; a Mektoub had twisted its trunk around her grabbing for
the bag. It was still trying and she guessed that it was reaching for the food
in it. There was not much left now since most of the supplies had gone up for
the trip and since they were almost back home Drakfot shared some of it with the
Mektoub whom happily ate it.
She looked at it as it chewed on the little bread it had gotten. Something
scratched her right leg.
"Ouch, wha.." Drakfot said before she saw who it was.
A little Yubo were standing leaning towards her with its front paws on her leg
and its ears standing straight up. Its tounge were hanging out between the
teeth's and it tail was wagging intensively. Drakfot guessed that it had seen
her from far away and smelled the scent of the bread and rushed to her. For some
reason it seemed as these little animals had a big liking to her, and so had she
for them as they were always kind to her. She sat down and the Yubo backed up a
little, still waving its tail. She placed the rest of the bread in her open hand
and held it so the Yubo would get it. With a "yiesch" it grabbed the bread and
ate it.
"Ah there you are, come Drakky it's time to get back home." Rikka said as she
and Crythos appeared near the stables.
"Yes, lets go homeward." Drakfot said and smiled at the Yubo.
The tale of Drakfot - Part 19, There it is, finally!
They were finally off heading towards Fairhaven, the town they had left for what
felt to be so long ago that it was as if they had left as children and now
returned as adults. Rikka had shown a map to Drakfot pointing out where they
currently were and where Fairhaven was. She had also plotted out the rout with
her finger. It seemed as they were to run along the beach from Windermeer past
the Goari's and Cloppers heading north east for a little bit and then it was
time to swim again for a bit until there was another beach not far off.
So now the three of them ran along the beach just passing the animals whom
roamed around at the outskirts of the town. They tried to reach out and grab at
the Homins as they passed them by but they were not ready and could not keep up
the same pace as those that had just passed them by. One of them were the most
lucky of them and managed to rip a part of Drakfot's skirt off, but that was all
it ever managed to get its claws on. The Homins did not bother to stop, well
Drakfot just followed the others as she knew that she was perhaps able to fight
one or two of these but not all the ones they had run by so far. She remembered
how she had been surprised by them as she had taken her first steps outside
Fairhaven and she would not like to have such experience again. So she kept
herself safe by running near Rikka and Crythos.
Soon they had passed all the animals and the beach ended in a formation just
like the one in Rikka's map and they all took a jump diving into the water
continuing to move further away from Windermeer onward to Fairhaven.
"Uhm, I wonder be that not heavy to swim in your armour Crythos ?" Drakfot asked
as they had swim a bit. She had sort of been wondering this since the first time
she had seen them reach water. "I mean. its thicker and more resistant then what
I am wearing, is it not heavier too?"
"Yes, it is heavier you're right about that. But its all part of the training so
to say." Crythos replied between the motions. "It's not all about raw strength,
but stamina and agility too. But it is a bit easier as I have the chest plate in
the bag at the moment."
"I see, here I found that my Light Armour felt much heavier when in water."
Drakfot said and continued trying to keep the same speed as the others.
"Well, you are still young aren't you ? You haven't worn such kind of armour for
long now, it will come in time. And to know is that some of the better kinds of
armours also are made to let you move swifter, some Light Armours are not even
noticeable that you are wearing." Crythos said still looking forward towards
where they were headed.
"That is because you have a dirty mind, diiiirty Crythos !" Rikka suddenly
shouted near him. "blubb!"
"Excuse me, what was that ?" Crythos said with a big grin on his face as he
grabbed Rikka's foot and dragged her backwards down under the water.
"Crythos !!" She shouted as she resurfaced and was met by a big grin. "Bah !"
Rikka continued swimming towards the beach faster, though if Drakfot had seen
her from the front she would have noticed that both she and Crythos were
smiling.
Soon they stood on the beach and stretched and tried to squeeze out as much
water as possible from their armours. Drakfot was breathing a little heavier
then usual since she was not used to all the swimming and she thought that all
this would leave sore arms for tomorrow.
Even this time they ran along the waterline of the beach past some Cloppers once
more then pass some Kipee's who just looked at the little things running around
near them before bellowing a roar telling the others that there was something
near that might be good to keep a look at.
As Drakfot looked at the Kipees as she ran she suddenly tripped and fell. The
Kipee next to her got scared and ran away from her while Rikka an Crythos
stopped hearing the loud thud.
"Ouch" Drakfot said as she met with the ground wondering what it was she had
stumbled upon. As she looked back her face got red of shame. She had tripped
over a pretty large Stinga who just stood there growing from the ground.
"So, we spaced out again Drakky ?" Rikka said as she returned and extended her
hand helping Drakfot back up on her feets again. Her face was still red. "Tihi,
you are fun!"
"I am sorry, I was looking at the Kipee and , didn't.." Drakfot said and did not
finish the sentence.
"Haha, don't worry Drakky. Its alright. Now lets hurry back to Fairhaven." Rikka
said as she turned around still holding Drakfot's hand dragging her along.
She had got used to it by now, that Drakfot could often lose herself in other
lines of thought not keeping her eyes focuses on the road ahead. It would change
in time, when the notion of everything being new had settled and she got more
used to things around. Still , Rikka thought, there would be many more times
where Drakfot would stumble on her own feets. And she would love to be there
laughing at it loudly.
Soon they saw that the beach ahead took a dive down into the water again, but
now it was different. This time there were buildings appearing in the distant,
and the sound that they all remembered. It was Fairhaven, finally they had
reached the town they had left for what felt was so long ago. And now they were
but hundreds of meters away and could hear they lively sound of it being alive
thanks to all the Homins being in it. They even had a short laugh as they saw a
Mektoub Packer running along headed towards Lorias Rise followed by what seemed
to be the owner shouting to everyone to either get out of the way or try to stop
his packer. Luckily there were some guards that just had patrolled the area who
manages to successfully grab and calm the packer.
As Drakfot, Rikka and Crythos swam by the house towards the beach on the other
side they overheard the conversation between the Homin and the guards. It turned
out that the Mektoub Packer was young and not fully used to carry the bags on
its back. And when another Homin and made a holding crystal of a spell, the
light and sound had startled it and it had bolted off. Moments later the one
that had created the crystal came running apologizing to both guards and the
owner for his lack of attention.
More then so did the three not hear for they had reached the beach and now it
was just about 50 more meters of water left to swim before they could safely run
into the capital of Aeden Aqueous.
Even though they had a long rest at Windermeer they were still tired from all
the swimming and it seemed as after this giant trek they could sleep for days
before regaining the energy lost. But that did not matter now as they ran
between the water and the cliff side turning left for a straight line towards
the stable. They ran past a few guards and Rikka took the opportunity to gently
slap one of them in the back of the head so the helmet moved a little and he
lost sight. As she corrected it and saw whom it had been he shaked his fist
towards Rikka then to open his hand waving to her.
"Nice to see you back here prankster!" He shouted behind them.
"Well someone has to keep this place kicking right" Rikka said as she reached
the stables and finally stopped running.
Crythos was just behind her but he continued all the way to the Packers to place
his gear and weapons in their bags for the moment. Drakfot whom was just behind
stopped and looked at all the people around the stables. She didn't know what to
do and got a bit nervous and bowed respectfully while greeting them. To her
surprise they looked at her and greeted back wit smiles, waves and bows. It made
her feeling more welcome and definitely feeling more as if she was really home.
It was the only home she had, if she had had one in the past, it was now lost
with the rest of memories of the past. She quickly shook those thoughts off as
she looked around at everyone standing at the stables.
"Uhm.. hi..." She said in an attempt to talk but her shyness took the upper hand
and she blushed again. Strange , she thought to herself, that she had been in
battles, beaten so the life almost left her and she had returned here. But she
hardly dared to speak to a fellow Homin ?
"Hi there, whats up?" A girl with short hair and slimmed body asked her as she
closed her mouth. "My name's Frydeswinde"
"I an pretty new around here and have just returned.." Drakfot started to say.
"The world trip, I know I've met some of the early returners. So what can I do
for you ?" Frydeswinde asked again.
"Hands off Fryde, this one is mine!" Rikka shouted from behind.
"Oh, you.. I see that you are in good hands already. Well I'm off, got business
to attend to." Frydeswinde said before disappearing into thin air.
"Rikka?" Drakfot gave her a look full of questions.
"Haha, don't worry. We are friends, we are even members of the same Guild.
Didn't I tell you that ?"
Rikka said.
"Not that I can recall , you might have mentioned it but I cannot remember it
off hand." Drakfot said starting to trying to remember if Rikka had mentioned it
previously.
"No no, no thinking now. We had enough spacing out today Drakky." Come here and
have a sip of this and we'll have a talk." Rikka said as she put her arm around
Drakfot and dragged her off to the packers.
"Ladies, I'll have a stroll to the Guild Hall to put my old shooter there and
see if I can get a new armour. A pleasure spending time with you both. Good day"
Crythos said and made a move as if he had grabbed a hat on a courtly gesture.
"Guild hall ?" Drakfot asked, not had she just returned from a long journey. Now
it started to have her know new things again and she was rather tired.
"Haha, you are a funny one. Come here and I'll show the place and answer all
your questions." Rikka said as they walked towards the bridge leading into
Fairhaven. "But first I want that flask back Drakky!"
Nice work as usual Drak, reminds me of innocent times before EP2, Before outposts waaaay back, when I still used to get a sore shoulder from my rifle and big Cloppas made me shiver,
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"......Ben Franklin
The tale of Drakfot - Part 20, A new home, a new family.
As Drakfot and Rikka walked down the aisle leading from the bar towards Frogmore
Lane Drakfot handed Rikka he flask and she happily accepted it and had a sip.
Even though they had just returned home and it felt good to have familiar soil
under the feets Drakfot was not as tired as the first had felt.
Even though it felt as if the journey had been so long that she could hardly
remember how or when it started it had only passed a few days. Perhaps it had
been a bigger strain to her mind then she first thought. But she also realised
that perhaps it was her being tired that caused her to feel like this for the
moment. But now it seemed as another kind of adventure was awaiting her as they
passed Frogmore and wandered down Lorias Rise.
Rikka was already talking on about the different things in the guild hall, but
every explanation ended in "you will see when we get there." But it did not seem
to stop her to continue talking.
They walked along the bridge and the housing at the end of it started to come
closer and closer. Suddenly Drakfot heard some footsteps behind her but when she
turned around there were no Homin near her. She looked at the ones that was a
bit away but it could not have been them walking. She did not pay enough
attention when she turned back and almost ran into a small troop of guards that
was patrolling.
"Oh, sorry. I did not.." Drakfot started to excuse herself.
"She was not around, tihi. You spaced out again Drakfot ?" Rikka said with a
smile as the guards walked by.
"Uhm, I though I heard something and turned around to look... but no one.." She
said.
"Was there right ?" Rikka filled in her sentence. "Don't worry about that it has
happened before. Come its just up here now"
Rikka grabbed Drakfot's hand and stated to run towards the house in front of
them and Drakfot had little choice but to follow her in the same pace. Just
before they reached the stairs leading up to the opening Rikka suddenly stopped
and gave Drakfot a serious look.
"There is one thing we need to do before the caretaker will let you in with me
Drakfot." Rikka was looking at her with a focused face.
"What is that ?" Drakfot asked as she was a bit stumbled by Rikka being serious
all of a sudden.
"Drakfot, before you can enter with me you have to become a member of the Guild
Evolution. Do you want to become one ?" Rikka said and smiles since she knew
that she had given Drakfot the impression that is was something more deadly
serious.
"I ehm.. know little of what it means Rikka, I am .." Drakfot started to say as
she suddenly became uncertain.
"You will be among friends and good Homins Drakfot, that is really all you need
to know." Rikka was shining with one of her smiles again.
"Oh, that sounds lovely Rikka." Drakfot said and smiled back, had she got even
more friends ?
"I would like to become a member Rikka."
"Haha, that is great." Rikka said. "Do you accept to be a member of Evolution
Drakfot?"
Rikka looked at Drakfot with curious eyes as if she was waiting for something to
happened.
And something did happen..
Suddenly as out from nowhere Drakfot started to hear voices, it was like they
were inside her head, in her mind. She looked around trying to see if she had
suddenly ended up among a large crowd, but no one but Rikka was around. She
looked, turned around yet there was no one talking. Her head started to ache as
she tried to separate it.
"Hey, I got a good deal on armours here, anyone up for a set ?"
"The jewels are done now"
"I'll put these in the Guild Hall for future use.."
"Why is this big green thing looking at me all the time, is it dangerous?"
"Anyone around to work a bit on fighting ?"
It was too much and too sudden for Drakfot that she stumbled a little but was
soon supported by Rikka.
"Relax Drakfot, this always happens the first time, don't worry about it." She
said.
"But, the voices.. so many ?" Drakfot tried to say. "How come I can hear them.."
"It is the same as you can hear me now Drakfot" Rikka said but without moving
her lips! She was still facing Drakfot when she said : "Don't worry. You will
get used to this very soon."
"But how ?" Drakfot asked as she had regained some strength and felt that the
voiced were now easier to handle. "I do not understand?"
"Hehe" Rikka was now moving her lips again. "It is quite simple, well the
explanation is but to understand it is tougher, almost impossible I think. Lets
just say that your nanoseed is in sync with the guildies shall we. "
"Nanoseed?" Drakfot almost dropped her jaw as she did not have a clue what Rikka
was talking about.
"No no, that is enough about that, told you it was hard to understand right!"
She said and smiled. "Come now we can enter the Guild Hall, after one small
thing."
"Guild, welcome Drakfot to Evolution!" Rikka said without moving her lips again.
Now Drakfot could hear her still, and was surprised over what happened after
that.
"Heya Drakfot"
"Welcome Drakfot!"
"Nice to see you Drakfot!"
"Hello !"
"Hurray a new member, welcome !"
Suddenly it was like if Drakfot was talking to them in person, that they were
standing in front of her still not being there. Rikka nodded to her telling her
that she had got used to it now and that she should probably introduce herself.
"Hi.. My name is Drakfot... it is nice to ... hear you all." Drakfot said while
focusing on replying to all those she was talking to. It seemed as she was
successful and it was not as hard as she had first thought.
Perhaps she tries to hard sometimes and make things harder then they are.
"Hehe, good you did well Drakfot. Now through this door please!" Rikka said as
she gave Drakfot a gentle push and as she thought the door would hit her it slid
away quickly revealing something strangely colourful inside. Drakfot had little
time to react to what it was as she fell into it but ended up on a wooden floor
just in front of some stairs. What was this place ? There were no possibility
that something this large could have fitted in that small place she just fell
into. She stood up and looked around, the room itself was round and had a large
pillar in the middle showing the door she must have fell through.
"So, how do you like it Drakky ?" Rikka said from behind her suddenly, Drakfot
jumped as she was not prepared for this. "Hihi"
"Oh, I was not prepared, sorry. It seems to be a fine place but where are we ?"
Drakfot replied as she looked around.
"We are inside the Guilds hall Drakfot. We often meet her and talk about things.
Well not exactly here, one floor up that is." Rikka replied and headed to the
stairs. "This way Drakky!"
As they walked up the stairs, which seemed to turn them half around, they
entered a larger room with a table in the middle and some larger glasses on two
sides. There were two other doors up there that caught Drakfot's attention.
"Rikka, this large place.. those doors is it even larger ?" She asked as she
pointed at one of the doors.
"Ah, no they are just doors for now. Or well there should be portals there but
there aren't any. We usually just hide things there when we want to tease" Rikka
said with her usual devious kind smile.
"I see. So this room and the lower one are the only ones ?" Drakfot asked and
looked at the large table in the middle of the room.
"No, there is actually one more room, a smaller one which is made for smaller
meetings. But we never use it." Rikka replied as she opened her bag and grabbed
a few things. "Come, I want to show you something Drakky."
Drakfot could not really see what it was that Rikka did but suddenly there was
as if something opened up in front of them. It a gigantic room of some kind, if
it was a room at all Drakfot was not really sure.
Rikka took a small step forward and suddenly she appeared behind what seemed to
be some sort of reflection and she waved to Drakfot.
"Come here silly, this is the guild storage room. Don't worry its safe for you
to come here." She said and smiled as she placed the items she had brought in a
box and put it back on the shelf from where she had taken it.
"Wow.. this is.. amazing Rikka" Drakfot said astounded of what she just had
seen.
"It's quite something isn't it Drakky." Rikka said and as soon as she saw that
Drakfot looked at her she said : "And no I don't know how to explain this
either. Hihi".
They spent a moment walking around in the strange room and looked at all the
things in there. The armours that hanged on the wall, the swords that stood
leaning to the wall next to the pikes. The Magical Amplifiers that were lying in
a nice row on a shelf and all the different things inside.
It took some time but they both looked with curiosity.
"Oh, one thing about this room Drakky." Rikka suddenly said. "You can carry
things inside it, but not carry any outside it. It has a lock which allows just
certain members of the guild able to bring something out from it. But everyone
can of course place things in it."
"Oh, I see, such a strange room. As if it was magical." Drakfot said and placed
some amplifiers back on the shelf."
"You like those Drakky ?" Rikka asked.
"Yes, I think so. Somehow it felt like they would fit me. I don't know why I got
this feeling." Drakfot replied.
"Great, then lets have a High Officer take them out for you." Rikka was smiling
and almost laughing loudly when they left the strange room and returned to the
previous room. They then walked down the stairs and looked at the door Drakfot
had behind her when she entered.
"This is the teleport to the other room I was talking about, the smaller one."
Rikka said and pointed at the door close enough so it opened.
"Oh, but how do we get out from here then ?" Drakfot asked with a wondered face.
"It is time to go to the other side now Drakfot." Rikka said with a sudden
serious voice and it scared Drakfot a little.
"Other.. side Rikka ?" She asked a bit reluctant.
"Yes Drakfot, the other side... of the pillar. HAHAH, got you there didn't I"
Rikka was almost lying on the floor laughing so hard when she had seen Drakfot's
face and reaction.
"Rikka, you scared me out of my sense when you did that." Drakfot said as she
and Rikka walked out of the little room onto the bridge of Lorias Rise.
"haha, I did, didn't I! I am sorry Drakfot but I could not help myself, one have
to grasp the fun moments when they appears, after they have already passed you
know." She replied with a big grin.
"Yes, you are indeed correct my friend, I agree to this." Drakfot said and
smiled with Rikka.
"You know Drakky, there is something I want to ask you." Rikka said, now she had
that same serous voice again, but now Drakfot could feel that she was indeed
serious.
"Yes Rikka, what be it ?" She said in hope that Rikka would ask the question on
her mind.
"You speak funny, you know that ? I mean, you sound a bit more... ehm...
different then others. Why is that ?" Rikka said and looked at Drakfot.
Somewhere in the back of her mind Drakfot could hear the voices she so recently
got to learn, through something Rikka had done, it was as if they started
creeping closer and closer to her, getting louder and louder as if she was
walking into the crowd. Suddenly the world around her started to get blurry and
shaky, and all of a sudden it was as a shockwave of light struck against her
eyes and the voices shouted out loud. Drakfot had to stop then fell on her
knees, not knowing what just happened, nor why it happened. It had been over as
soon as it started, within the time of a second all this happened, leaving her
question if it had really happened or not. But that she was sitting on her knees
told her that so had to be it.
Rikka had promptly stopped and tried to regain Drakfot's balance by gripping her
arm, but she had been too late. She was now sitting next to Drakfot looking at
her with wide open eyes wondering what had happened.
"I am sorry Rikka, I ... don't know..." Drakfot manages to studder out while she
was regaining her consciousness. She stood up but for some reason her legs were
a bit shaky but it passed within the minute.
"What happened Drakfot ? You had me worried, sorry about my direct question."
She said and her voice told of her concern and that she felt guilt for what had
happened.
"Do not worry Rikka, you have done nothing wrong. It is a valid question indeed,
but I am afraid that I cannot remember anything beyond the day when I awoke in
Aubermouth. I know little or rather nothing of who I am beyond that time,
Rikka." Drakfot answered the best she could whilst getting herself back in
order, straightening out her armour and brushing off some dust.
"Alright, I won't ask about that anymore then Drakky !" Rikka said and smiled
again. It was a wonder how she could turn the mood in such swiftness that
Drakfot could not help but to stare at her for a few seconds while they
continued down the walkway.
"Perhaps in time I will find out, but for now the past is there for us to learn
from. Through wisdom of the past and knowledge of times to come we will build
our future." Drakfot said and turned her head looking forward to simply just
walk down the walkway towards the large house which was a gathering point.
"There you go again, funnytalker !!" Rikka laughed out and poked Drakfot in the
side.
They both laughed dearly, perhaps they did not really know why they laughed.
Still they could not stop and why stop laughing even when you don't know what
you laugh at, as long as you laugh with your heart.
They walked past the large house and headed for the platform where the trainers
often were, teaching Homins about their skills and how to improve their
knowledge. It seemed as this would be the route they would walk very often from
now on, specially since now Drakfot knew where the Guild Hall were. As they
passed the trainers they saw that there was a smaller commotion at the bar, many
Homins stood around it and seemed to be looking at something, probably another
barfight again. But as they came closer they saw that it was not that, but they
were listening to a Homin who stood there in the middle, he was talking rapidly
as if he wanted to say too much in too little time.
He was dressed in a Tryker Medium Armour, or what was left of it. It was torn to
shreds and it showed more skin then armour. And so most of his skin on the
chest, arms and legs were covered in dried blood. Blood from wounds. Homins that
stood near him tried to heal him the best they could, but it would take much
time for him to recover, the gashes and cuts were deeper then the eye could see
at a first glimpse. And he would not allow them to fully care for him until he
had said his part.
It was grave news indeed..
Through his deep breaths he managed to say one word many times before they could
calm him enough so he could talk in a normal sense.
"Kitin... the Kitin is coming." Was all he could say at first. His eyes stared
at them all with fear, but not fear of his life. But the fear of that he could
be looking at Homins that were soon to fall and past away. Fear that if he could
not warn them, their lives would be lost. Fear that if he gave up, it would be
too late.
"Please, calm down. Take a deep breath and drink this, please. You have to calm
down." A Zoraï lady said next to him as she handed him a small flask. Drakfot
knew her as a lady she had only seen wandering by the stables, but she seemed to
be somehow skilled in the art of heal as when she handed the flask to the Homin
and looked at him his eyes stopped moving around and met hers, then he accepted
the flask and took a big gulp. All the others looked at him with surprise, it
was likely the first time they had seen a such shaken Homin in the calm waters
of Fairhaven.
"They... they are coming... the Kitins... they are ... everywhere.. they are
coming... run... be ready.. they are here... coming..." He said before he fell
on his knees breathing heavily and deeply. The potion started its effect.
"Do not worry, this is a potion that will allow your body to relax. You are
fine, nothing will happen to you now." The Zoraï lady comforted him.
He sat there, breathing for over a moment, deeply and slowly and just stared at
the ground. Homins started to get worried around him when they heard his
message. Many had heard of the Kitin, tales from the childhood, some had fought
them in one kind or another during their training. But no one had ever met any
kind that could do what had happened to the man sitting on the ground. Fear
started to spread, still they stayed to hear the message he was bringing.
"We were.. patrolling... on our ordinary route to keep the Ragus and Torbaks
under control." He said and was now breathing more calmly and ordered. "We were
just walking... we met a few Raguses, fought them off with ease and continued.
We had reached about halfway on our route when a large, unknown Kitin ran up to
us. At first we were startled by this new, unknown, creature but it soon showed
us its intentions and we started fighting back. It was the longest battle yet,
and we sustained some great damage, but thanks to the healers we managed to beat
this... thing... but it took time." He was looking around and suddenly made a
face of pain and held his side.
The gash had started to bleed heavily again, but the Zoraï lady quickly held him
and got a small bag from her belt. She opened it and inside there was a white
powder. She took a handful and gently spread it over the bleeding gash and
within a short moment the blood stopped and he calmed again.
"This is a pain reducing powder, and a woundcloser. Please speak in the pace you
can, but be gentle to yourself." She said with a soothing voice.
He coughed a little but stayed calm for another minute while the effect of the
powder was working and soon he could at least sit up again. The Homins around
had already started to small talk and chatter about what they had heard so far.
Many mentioned tales of the past, others suddenly remembered rumours they had
heard recently.
"We thought.." He tried to continue and in a moment everyone else got silent
again and focused on the wounded Homin. "We thought that we had won the battle..
and we had.. but the ward had not even yet begun.. As we investigated this new
creature we found that it was tougher then anything we had seen before, its
armour was as thick as usual, but it would not brake as easily as on the Kitins
we knew so far."
He made an attempt to stand up and got support from the Zoraï lady who held him
firmly so he would not fall over.
"When we turned the corner.. to continue.. there were hundreds... no thousands
of them in our sight. We were stunned, we could hardly move as we saw them
walking around there, on the lands that only yesterday were empty except their
usual habitants. They walked there as if they had never done anything else, they
were looking for something." He coughed a few times and was offered a glass of
water to soak his throat.
"Thousands of them.. all looking... we turned around in an attempt to hide, but
it was too late.. they are smart, two of them had already snuck up behind us,
they were surrounding us, without us even knowing that they had seen us. We
tried to battle them, so we could get away, but our previous battle told us that
it was an lost cause. We would not stand a chance against them. Two of my
friends..." he turned silent for a long moment... "two of my friends stayed
behind, keeping them busy so we could get away. Not to run for cover.. but to
warn you all."
He stopped and looked at everyone again, his eyes were calmer in a way. He had
successfully managed to deliver his message. Then he spoke again.
"I do not know much, but we did split up, being told to run the fastest we ever
could to spread the news to as many as possible. To you all. I don't know what
happened to the others, I hope they are safe.. I hope.."
Was all he could say before he fell , but was hold up by the Zoraï lady, and
fainted.
"He needs to rest, his body is in a weary state. Even telling us all this was a
too big strain on him. Please know, he needs to rest otherwise he will not
manage. He has warned up, please speak with the guards of this town, with the
corporals, with anyone that could gather forces. I must tend to him now." She
said and two other Homins came up next to her, helping her carry the fainted
Homin into the cottage where the more experience healers were.
"Drakfot..." Rikka said and stared out into the horizon.
"Yes Rikka, what be it ?" Drakfot asked, worried, scared and confused.
"For now, fun is over. This is war." Rikka said and closed her eyes. Suddenly
Drakfot could hear her voice in her head as she spoke to all the other voices.
"Everyone meet at the stables, there is trouble and bad news ahead. No argue,
just get there as soon as you can." Was the words Drakfot heard.
"I understand Rikka, what can I do?" Drakfot said.
"We need healers, fighters, magicians. We need everyone Drakky. It's we against
them, no one else will help us, but ourselves." Rikka said as she grabbed
Drakfot's hand and started running towards the stables outside Fairhaven.
Drakfot just followed her, still stumbled over the turn of events and the news.
Many Homins had already gathered at the stables hearing the news. And already a
messenger had arrived there. She was speaking on behalf of the Homin forces that
were gathered hearing these news.
"Homins, we face ill times ahead. The words you have heard about these Kitins
are true. Scouts have confirmed that they are spreading throughout Bounty
Beaches, but know this, we have placed a camp not far away from where they are.
We will send our soldiers there, every man that are able to fight will be sent
to these lands to squash this threat of Kitins.
But, in this we need your aid; we need you to help us make the armours and
weapons that are not in our storage, our crafters cannot keep the pace high
enough to settle this great demand of weaponry and armours. We ask every able
Homin to craft what they can craft, and to fight the best they can.
Remember, you all do this not for your self, not for us, but you do this for
everyone!"
She spoke quickly and with determination and then continued to place the note on
the stable side so everyone could read it. After that she started to gather
names and answering questions about where the crafts should be handed over and
where they could sign up.
"Drakfot.." Rikka said as they stood at the stables watching how members of the
guild came in one by one.
"I know Rikka, I have travelled the lands, now it is time to defend them."
The stables were fuzzy, filled with a sudden life from all the Homins who had
gathered since the grave news had started to spread in Fairhaven. Some had
already brought out their armours from their packers and was putting them while
some were discussing how they should handle it strategically. Rarely had there
been as much life outside the stables as there was now, everyone seemed busy
with something. Drakfot and Rikka stood there a moment as they both looked at
all the commotion and waiting for members of their guild to arrive. Drakfot
looked at Rikka and noticed that she had a determined, but also a bit confused,
look in her eyes.
Rikka.... what are you thinking about? She asked carefully.
I'm trying to scan out a route how to get there fastest. She replied still
very focused on her thoughts as the got her map from her bag. She seemed very
focused on her task and in a way Drakfot was surprised over Rikka being so
serious all of a sudden.
As Rikka sat down and slowly moved her finger across the map on several places,
places which Drakfot did not recognize. In fact she could hardly understand most
of what was on the map; the only places she could associate with were Fairhaven
and Fount as those were names she recognized.
As the two Trykerettes studied the map the best they could some members of the
guild came to the stables and headed towards them.
"There you are, what is all the commotion about?" Crythos said calmly as he
approached them together with the others. He was once more chewing on a straw
and held the rifle over his shoulder. With him were some other Homins that
Drakfot did not recognize and as Crythos saw this he introduced them.
Their name were Aina, Frydeswinde, Toad and Snake.
"So this is the new one.." Frydeswinde said as she looked at Drakfot. Drakfot
got a bit uneasy and blushed as she turned her head down facing the ground since
she did not know what else to do. "She'll do I guess" Frydeswinde added as she
walked over to Rikka to study the map.
"Hey, psst. Don't worry about Fryde, she likes to do that to newcomers that's
all." Aina whispered to Drakfot as soon as Frydeswinde had left. "Nice to meet
you Drakfot."
"Thank you, I was afraid that I for a moment were not.." Drakfot started to say
but was interrupted by Aina:
"He he, don't worry. We are all just a bit stirred about the news. You're doing
good."
A little while passed and soon it seemed as the area around the stables were
filled to the brim with Homins all ready to do their part to keep their lands
safe and Kitins at bay. Some discussions were heated while others were seemingly
agreeing to what strategy that was laid out.
It seemed as everyone were all suited up with the finest armours and weapons
available so Drakfot almost felt a bit ashamed as she put on the magical
amplifiers she bought a while ago for her last dappers. It was time for her to
once more do what little she could to heal others again.
"Alright, settle down and listen to me, all of you!" A Homin bearing the armour
of Fairhaven Guards said as he tried to gain everyone's attention.
"Thank you all for coming. As you no doubt have heard of there are Kitins
invading our beaches this very moment, out scouts have reported that they are
currently in Bounty Beaches but that the are advancing fast. Homins! It is up to
us to stop them from conquering our lands, remember the past and fight for a
future bright! Now, follow me!" He shouted out as he made a move and turned
around and started running. But he did not come far as just a few metres behind
him several Zoraïs had lined up and was now looking at the crowd of Trykers that
came running towards them in reach for the water.
From being a crowd full of life and raised voices it grew quiet within just the
start of a second as they saw the tall blue Homins looking at them. What was to
happen now? Drakfot looked at the Homins around her trying to find a reaction of
some kind, she had met Zoraï previously during the travel around the world, but
never had she felt a meeting could be as tensed as this very moment felt. She
started to wonder what would happen next.
"Why have you come here? In a time like this it is most inappropriate..." The
leading guard said towards the wall of Zoraï. Suddenly one of them, a tall
strong Homin with a hard and determined look, took a few steps forward.
"Words have reached us, that these lands are... infested by Kitins. Kitins that
are out of your control." His voice was hard but did not have any ill intent.
"Is that why you are here?" The Guard asked him as they were now looking at each
other as if they were measuring something.
It seemed as the tension got even more tensed and strained for each second that
passed.
"You cannot do this alone, and we do want to keep the past as part of history
only to be re-lived in writings. We have come to aid you in the battle against
these Kitins, as your friends with a common foe." The tall man said towards the
little Tryker Guard, his voice changed from the harsh cold one to a friendly
familiar one.
"It's nice to see you again Fer'Chi Keh. It has been some time." The Guard said
as she reached out to his hand to shake.
"You think you will pull this off all by yourselves?" A female voice said from
just behind the crowd.
Drakfot and the others turned around to see whom just had spoken and was
astounded to see that behind them stood a tall woman with red hair, green
piercing eyes, and a pale skin that was as white as it looked like silver. She
was smiling as the Karavan Teleporter made off a sound and Homins of the Matis
started to materialize behind her. Everyone dressed were for battle in armours
of all types. "The past shall stay in the history, don't you think Fer'Chi"
"There need of many fighters then!" Another harsh, yet cheerful, voice sounded
off coming from the area of the hill nearby. It was an elder Fyros holding a
large burning sword and he was followed by other Fyros Homins. Also they were
dressed in armours for battle and had a determined look on their faces. "The
hands of the desert have come to lend you aid!" He shouted and was followed by
those following as they all raised their weapons towards the sky and shouted
out.
"The past tells about Homins all falling for the same foe, the Kitins. As they
see no difference among Homins, so shall we see no difference among friends this
day. Let us put all aside, but the friendship within each Homin, and together
battle this threat that has come upon the lands of the lakes." Fer'Chi Keh said
when he saw the Fyros and Matis approaching.
"This threat that are not just for the lands of the lakes, but for the entire
planet of Atys." the Tryker Guard added as he stood next to the Zoraï man.
"This very planet that we all share, the home of all Homins. Our home." The
Matis lady said as she stood facing the the Tryker and Zoraï as the Fyros joined
her side.
"Fight to protect all Homins!" He added.
After this odd sort of meeting they all set off towards the water heading
towards Darkmoor to take the portal there leading to Bounty Beaches and the area
where the Kitins where roaming. They swam through Liberty lake heading towards a
place called Darkmoor that Rikka had pointed out to Drakfot just before they had
set off. They swam through the water as Drakfot started thinking about the
Kitins she had heard of, would she be able to do anything to make sure that they
were safe again? She followed the flow of Homins as they reached land and ran up
on a small walkway formed from the wall. As they ran under a waterfall Drakfot
stopped for a second and looked at the area visible. Suddenly a tranquil rush
swept over her as she looked at the lands and thought "home.." Suddenly she
noticed someone standing next to her, it was Rikka.
"You feel it to don't you Drakfot.." She said as she watched the area.
"Aye, I do." Drakfot said still looking at the little animals running around on
the island beneath.
"That is why we fight Drakky, for our Home. Now come lets hurry and reach that
portal, we're already the last in the line." Rikka said as she smiled again and
started running after the others, tightly followed by Drakfot.
They swam a bit more reaching towards an island filled with cloppers and Yubos.
In the centre of the island stood a large wooden sculpture of some kind
reminding of a giant beast reaching all the way up to the roots in the sky. But
it was not a sculpture made of Homin hand, but it seemed as it was something
molded by the planet itself. Drakfot was so taken by this that she almost ran
straight into a clopper, but a word of warning from Aina made her notice it in
the last moment and she swiftly jumped up running over it which left it confused
as where its prey had gone. There was no time to stay and fight it as they were
headed towards a greater danger. Also the water they now reached for the final
swim would provide a safe place for them.
They finally reached the portal which would take them into Bounty Beaches where
the Kitins lured. The portal that was the only thing that stood between them and
the threat of once more losing their homes. But also the portal that with each
Homin stepping through was another hope of a brighter tomorrow.
"On the other side awaits our destiny." Fer'Chi Keh said as he looked at it with
thoughtful eyes.
"We can have no regrets of our intentions from this point on.." The Fyros added
"I do not think anyone here has any regrets.." The Tryker Guard said as he
reached out towards the portal as if was about to touch it.
"Since the first step we took of the beach at Fairhaven before, our regrets
disappeared." The Matis lady said as she stepped through the portal together
with the others.
"For Atys!" everyone shouted out as they ran through the portal to Bounty
Beaches, through the portal to meet their destiny..
