Lunar's Story

[keja]

[TO BE TITLED]

The following story is written by forum member Lunar Furor.
More information and discussion of this story can be found here.

[keja]

As Aekus sat there he realized how little he knew about the world. He thought everything was about the same as in Sheil... Now he saw a large open field with green grass, and trees! No tall steel buildings, no steam pouring from random machinery, no shady people walking about. Just a field, and some large animals! When he got off the train he came to a small town, the buildings were built of wood and stone. After some time he came to the opening in the middle of town, after most people had slept. He may be somewhere else, but his sleeping habits were the same. As he appraised the town he heard a growl followed by a roar. It was at this point that he thought that if he had decided differently a few days ago that he wouldn't be staring down a large... well... he didn't know what it was called but it looked like a big cat, it was black and spotted white and grey. It stared at him with deep yellow eyes... if he had only stayed home.

Aekus sprinted down the alley and turned onto a stone street. It was night, and had rained that day, it was hard to see and slippery. He ran as fast as he could, coat waving behind him. His short black hair slicked back from the rain and running. In his arms, a bag full of money, and that money needed to be delivered. Sesh was waiting and the reds (police) were behind him. It was point, in that alley, that he decided he was done robbing stores and such.

Let's go back a little bit. The job was simple. Get in, grab cash, get out. The shop was a small jewelry store, privately owned, there should be no real security. There wasn't... He picked the back door lock, got the money, and a diamond bracelet, and left. The point where things went wrong is when he left. A random passer-by saw the door open and watched Aekus leave. He called a nearby red and that was that... just his luck.

He turned left at the end of the alley, sped across the street and through a back yard. The reds were catching up and he needed to get away from them, so when he got through the back yard, past the large shack, he turned right into another yard... if you could call them that, the yards were really just an open area where people have a shed or garage to store stuff. In that yard he ducked under a rail and into a down stairs little corner, before the reds could see. He carefully opened the door and hid inside. The owners of the house must have been sleeping, because he wasn't found. Through the window of the dark room he watched the reds run past. He waited a few minutes and went out again, making his way to Sesh as fast as he could.

Sesh was waiting in their little hide out, which was under the shed of Mr.Heelie who left them alone, because they paid him. In the shed there was a desk, and under that desk was a rug, and under that rug was a door that led to the room where they did their dealings. He waited patiently and wondered if he got caught. Nah... Lari got caught, and he wasn't the brightest thief in the land. When Sesh was starting to get impatient Aekus fell through the door... not climbed, not sauntered, not poked in his head asking if anyone wanted some tea, he fell through. Sesh was a little confused but helped him up.

"Sorry I'm late, some guy saw me leaving the shop."
"Did he know who you were?"
"Nah, he just saw me leaving, I doubt he knew if I was even a guy or not."
"Well that's good, what'd you get?"
"Money, a bag of it, here."

He handed over the bag, not mentioning the bracelet.

"Listen, Sesh... I'm done"
"What?! But you're the best we've got, you avoided the reds with a sack of money, after hitting a jewellery store! They probably thought you had a sack of bracelets, and rings and such! Why are you done?"
"It's gotten to be too much... I'm 22 and all I've done is live in this rubbish city, stealing stuff for the gang."
"I see.."
"I want to go out and check out my options, I want a life Sesh."
"Well this is a life, but I see your point...I'll not tell anyone just till your gone, go pack your stuff... shame your leaving."
"Thanks..."

He got up, nodded and went off. He packed his things, and prepared some food for the trip. He also gathered some of the money he kept from various thefts. He grabbed the bracelet... it glittered in the faint light of his room. Something about it was rather amazing, which is why he took it. He wasn't sure if he'd keep it, give it to someone, or sell it... but for now he put it in his pocket and fell into his bed. He drifted to sleep wondering what he'd find in the world.

He got on the train heading to where ever he didn't recognize. The train was something new to him, on the inside anyway. It moved along rather quickly and shuddered a little. He arrived in the town...

The yellow eyes looked at him in the darkness, they almost seemed to glow... The thing roared again and darted forward. Now Aekus moved, he darted to the side. This was like when he was attacked by a rival gang... but bigger. He drew his knife and got into a ready stance. When the animal flew forward again Aekus stepped to the side and slashed at the thing. It roared and staggered to the side, thought it didn't fall. It jumped at Aekus and swung at him with a large arm, getting him in the arm. He was bleeding now... it had become a knife fight, who ever bled less, won. Aekus sprinted forward, got the large cat to dash one way, then changed direction, putting him beside the cat. He jumped on top of the cat and cut it again. He must of hit something important, because the beast fell and didn't get up. The people came out, and stared amazed... one man came to him.

"You killed a karra!"
"Sorry?"
"Sorry? You should be just glad to be alive!"
"I ... see..."

He passed out in the street. Someone must have rushed over to him, and someone must have bandaged him up, because he woke up in some building and he wasn't bleeding anymore. A group of people appeared to him.

"How did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Kill the karra?"
"What's a karra?"
"The big cat thing you fought!"
"I just... did I guess."
"You are something else... that karra had been terrorizing us for some time now. We are simple people and don't have any fighting experience. The tribals don't listen to us so we just stayed inside at night."
"Tribals?"
"They live on the plains!"
"Never heard of them."

He looked around, these people thought he had done something amazing, he thought he just tried to survive. His arm still hurt a little. He was alive.

"I'm glad I could help but I have no where to live you see."

A man stepped forward.

"I own the inn, you can stay in one of the rooms until you find another place."
"Thank you, how much is the room?"
"How m... you just relieved the town of a terror! It's free!"
"Oh! Well thank you very much!"

He was led to the room where he put his bag of things, took off his coat, and fell asleep...

[keja]

Aekus woke up in the room that was awarded to him for killing the karra. He showered, dressed, and grabbed his wallet and knife. He had heard about these 'tribals' who were apparently people who live out on the plains. He went out of the room, and made his way out of the building and ... well he didn't really know where to go after that. Town hall was near the hotel so he decided that that might be a place to start. He made his way over to town hall, where he found nothing. The same was for the 10 random people he saw that day. Nothing until he wandered into a shop.

No one was at the counter, or watching the things. Aekus may have rid the town of a danger, but he was still a thief. He pocketed a nice decorative watch, and a small bun for a snack later.

"Hello? Is anyone here?"
"Huh? What's that?"

An old man hobbled out from a back room and looked up at him through thick glasses. The man was short, bent over in his age. His hair was almost gone and messy, and he wore a white shirt and brown overalls.

"Eh, what can I do for you?"
"Um I was wondering if you could tell me something about the tribals?"
"My rivals? Well there's this damned little kid who-"
"No," he interrupted, and speaking a little louder "the tribal people."
"Oooh, why didn't you say so?" He turned around and grabbed a piece of paper then placed it on the counter. "This is a letter from my son. He went out to go help one of the local tribes some month back. He may still be there."

From it he learned that one of the tribes was located south west from the town. One of them had ventured to the town one day and was confused. The shop keepers son, Kreis, had found the tribal lady, and helped her back to her home. He wasn't welcomed too openly but she explained to the tribe that he had helped her. She was, at the time, one of the few who could speak, and now there are a few more. Kreis didn't say what the problem was in the paper, just that he would stay until the problem was resolved.

"Thank you sir, this helped quite a bit."
"Yes, you're welcome. Now about that kid who's been defacing my store?"
"W... What?"
"You asked about my rivals!"
"No I di-"
"And you interrupted me earlier! I may be old but I'm not uh... whatsat word... forgetful!"
"I see..."
"For the information I'd like you to solve this problem, you handled the karra easy enough."
"Well uh... I didn't do that flawlessly or anything, and I'm not gonna kill a kid!"
"Wazzat? Kill?! Why would you kill a child! You are ruthless!"
"I'M NOT GOING TO KILL A CHILD!" Aekus yelled.
"Ooooh, my hearing isn't so great."
"Really?" he whispered sarcastically.
"Well anyway, you find out who has been ruining my store, and I'll send forward to my son about you."
"Sounds fair. Thank you."

The old man hobbled back to his little room, and Aekus put the stuff in his pocket back...

Night fell and he had been sitting, watching the store all day now... and no kid showed up yet. He kept watching, to eager to see these tribals to not help the man, and the kid showed up at last. Aekus started to get up, and thought that if he approached the kid, she'd run. No doubt the girl, for it was, knew the town and hiding spots much better than he did. So he watched the girl go into the store, make a mess and sneak out. She ran away and Aekus followed. He stayed out of sight, something he had gotten good at, and watched her go to a home. He waited a little bit, if she left it was hers... and it was. He wrote down where the house was, and what the girl looked like. Then went back to his room to sleep.

"Here you go, where she lives is on there." he told the shopkeeper.
"Girl you say? Who... hmm... well, like I said, I sent forward for you yesterday."
Aekus stared at the man. "Did you say you sent it yesterday?"
The man laughed. "Heh heheh heheheh. Yep. I knew you'd find out anyway."
Aekus thought he had wasted his time but he helped the man and was fine with that.
"You looked like a business driven man, and I saw you put the things back, so I sent immediately."

Aekus thanked the man and went back to his room to gather his things, and slept the night. When morning came, he checked out, and started walking along a road leading south west from the town. The plains opened up before him as he left the town, and he was a little struck at how expansive it really was. Not zipping past on the train. There were some animals eating the grass far in the distance, and birds flew over head. He had never seen either of these animals before and was still more amazed. He continued walking until he saw a small settlement in the distance, off the road. Walking in it's direction he had no clue what to expect of these people, or if Kreis would know it was him... but he walked anyway. Soon he would meet a new people, a new culture, and he'd probably have to solve their problem too...

[keja]

Aekus approached the small settlement anxiously. He was ready to see these people and their living. He drew closer and saw... no one? Not one person. There were about twenty huts or so but not one person to be seen. There was a fire going and a kettle on but no people. Well no people, until he was about twelve feet from the kettle.

The villagers rushed out and surrounded him, they were dark skinned and painted. Some tall some short, some men some women. They were all speaking some strange language and many of the men had their hair shaved, while the women in braids. They surrounded him quickly and some brandished weapons. One of the people stood out more than others, he had darker skin, but was still lighter than the other ones. He thought and hoped this was Kreis.

"Hey, are you Kreis?!" he shouted at the man.

The man paid a little more attention and moved toward Aekus. He circled and appraised Aekus, seeming deep in thought. Then stopped abruptly and mumbled some incoherent phrases. The people backed off a little and instead gazed at him a little. The man thought to be Kreis, for he was, turned back to Aekus.

"Yes. I am Kreis, and you must be Aekus. My father told me about you. He said you were a good man but we should keep an eye on you."
"Your dad is an interesting man... that's for sure."
"Yes he is... So, you're here, what do you want?"
"Nothing really, I lived in a city, isolated from all of this. I'm just trying to see the world I guess."
"I'd be glad to show you around, and how the people here live their life... but it would be a sham to show you now. The people live in fear some times, rage others, and sadness in the times that are left. There is a group of people with machines, and guns who come and terrorize the people for fun. The tribal people usually fight the fight against who ever opposes them, but they are also simple and don't understand technology... and I, having living out of society, don't really know what they are using. So we are afraid, where I know what a gun is, they don't and don't understand my explanations. Some have come to think these people are mystics who have control over some elements. They are bad men... there are two of them and have kidnapped some of the women here. I would be willing to bet that this isn't the only tribe that they have terrorized. The towns people really don't care about us, and there is really no other help to be gotten around here. I know you're just one man but you killed a Karra... that usually takes three or four of our hunters. Perhaps you can help, or find some help?"
"Well I do know some people, but I don't know if they can help... I can send for them if you like."
"That would be good. We would appreciate any help you can give."

They led Aekus to a hut. Apperently it was Kreis' hut, it wasn't the biggest but it definitely seemed the most comfortable. Kreis went in and beckoned that Aekus follow, so he did. When he got inside he saw, on his left, a nice bed and some random articles of paper and spears. There was a log table and bench in front of him. On his right, was a small desk he must have brought in from town. On it was a rifle.

"We managed to get this from one of the men helping the bad men we have named T'ala and Rotha, or Thunder and Lightning in the native language. You can use this if it will help."
"Did you say you got it from one them? That's odd... this gun is new, barely used. I've had my dealings with guns in the past and this is no gun from around here, that's for sure."

Aekus looked at the weapon and looked at it's label. "Halorie Special" This gun was made far in the north in another city he had heard of. What bothered him is that it was the designated rifle for the police force there... what was a police gun doing in a plains filled area like this?

"We have prepared a hut for you while you stay here."
"Thank you, I'll write a letter sending to see if my friends can help me."

Kreis led him to his hut... which wasn't too flattering. It was good enough to sleep in though. He got a piece of paper from Kreis and wrote to Sesh.

"Hey Sesh,
Hows the gang been doing? I hope my leaving didn't have too much of an impact. The reason I'm writing, though, is that I need some help. There are some people here who are being terrorized and kidnapped by... well we're not sure, but they have guns. Halorie Specials... If you can help get on the train heading towards Janibry.
I look forward to seeing a reply.
Aekus"

He headed back to town to send the letter off, then returned to the settlement to talk to Kreis. They spoke about the people, and the area. They talked until it started getting dark and had a great meal. They had something like a stew, and some salad with some fruit. Aekus fell asleep in his hut after the meal and dreamed of the times in the city, with the gang...

[keja]

As he walked down the street he noticed that the buildings were faded in colour. Some of the windows were broken in the shops, and boards covered others. The buildings shot up into the sky, seemingly for ever. The air was crisp and cold. He wore a long coat, made of wool, leather gloves, heavy pants, solid boots, and a knit hat, all of which were black. The buildings varied in style, some were blocky, boring and bare, while others were elaborately decorated with rounding, statues and columns. At the end of the street stood a large church, it seemed dark but at the same time serene. It had the main base and a sharp steeple with a shape on top that looked like a diamond in a circle, each point extended out of the circle and had an arrow head shape at the tip. He walked toward it, but didn't seem to draw any closer. He walked for what seemed endlessly yet felt no fatigue. The church started to get larger, slowly, very slowly, as if he was getting nearer, and as this happened he started to hear voices. Few at first, a child, an old man, a lady, someone with a very low almost inaudible voice. Then the voices got slightly louder, more frequent, more people joined in. They were chatting with each other and no one at the same time. Then they seemed to break into a low chant of unintelligible words and then broke into a chorus.

May one bring the day, May one bring the rain,
It has been seen clear, A rising of light again,
And as the night goes on, Time takes on disguises,
And as the night ends, Man also rises.

He saw Sesh at the end of the way, in front of the church. Aekus walked faster, as he did he noticed the buildings started to change, not the buildings he saw, but the ones he didn't, the ones that were coming into view were different. They became more artificial, made of metals and cleaner cut stones. The details faded as he lost focus on them. As he drew nearer Sesh, more people showed up. A child, an old man, a lady, and something that was neither man nor woman, it was not human... but not an animal. It was something in between. It was like a man combined with a falcon. It had a very elegant look but also fierce. It's wings protruded from the shoulder and the feathers long and smooth. The arms ended in hands with claws instead of fingernails. The head was that of a falcons but larger... almost a little more human in shape,being that it's neck was human, but with feathers. It wore pants that cut of above the knee and each 'sleeve' was drawn to the leg with a string. It's legs ended in talons. It wore no shirt but more of a rope, with cloth tied to it at every six inches. The rope went from it's right shoulder to it's left hip. Each cloth piece hung down a foot, and each a different colour. Aekus assumed this to be the deep voice. When he finally got to them the singing stopped, the people dissolved into a blue dust, then ascended into the air, and then out of existence. The church crumbled and as the pieces hit the ground they burst to dust, this time a deep red, and left the same way as the people. The city behind him melted into an orange pool before seeping through the ground. A dark circle appeared below him and the rest of the ground pulled away from him in every direction, quickly, until he could no longer see it. The circle turned green and spread out to become a plains. The sky turned red, and machine came over the hills. It was large and menacing, with many blades, and saws. Two men rode it, one large and muscle bound, the other short and fat. They shot guns into the air and moved the machine along swiftly. It moved on 6 large wheels, four in the front, one in the back. It came toward him faster and faster before it hit him.

Aekus woke abruptly to the sound of shouting and whooping. He jumped out of bed and went over to where he left his things. He put on his coat, grabbed his knife and the Halorie Special he got from Kreis. He threw open the flap to his hut, and was greeted by an unexpected brightness. He had slept longer than he had thought, it was early afternoon. Rushing to find Kreis he rubbed his eyes, still hurting from the abrupt brightness. Kreis found him first.

"Some men have come looking for you, they say they know you."
"Who... SESH!"

He ran to confirm what he had hoped. Sesh stood out side the village, being held at weapon point by the tribes men. Aekus told Kreis that these were the people he sent for.

"Sesh I'm surprised you came so quickly!"
"We missed you, it's been boring around the city lately."
"I see how it is, how did you find me?"
"Apparently you're quite famous around town, wasn't hard to find you."
"I see."

Kreis led Aekus, Sesh and the others back to town. Kreis and Aekus got them up to speed on the situation.

"They have Halorie Specials... do you think it's the Northern police?" Sesh asked.
"We're not really sure, but we should be prepared for the worst." Kreis replied.
"Do you know where they come from?" - Aekus
"Usually from the west, but some times from the north." - Kreis
"Well then perhaps we scout ahead before we plan anything too large scale." - Sesh
"I agree. We can prepare huts for you but it may take some time." - Kreis
"No thanks, not really our style. We'll take up in the inn back in town, we can ask around town and supply our selves easier that way." - Sesh
"Good idea. I'll stay here and work with Kreis to get some idea on where to start the search. Perhaps someone around here knows something." - Aekus

Sesh and the extra men, there were 5 of them all together, went back to town. Aekus and Kreis went back to Kreis' hut to gather what they knew to try and find a starting point. It was now late afternoon, the sun was near setting, but still completely visible. Aekus wandered around the village a little to observe what he could. A group of men came back with the spoils of their recent hut. The women were preparing to start cooking the evening meal. Children played around in the dirt. It seemed that the villagers were calming down a little. There were still some who were a little on edge, hiding in their huts, keeping a close eye on their kids and such. The woman that had ventured into town approached him. She was a little taller, thin but fit. Her hair was raven black and braided. There were leather strands in the braids, tied at the ends. Her eyes were light brown, near yellow, like a cat. She wore a leather skirt, down to her knees, and a top starting under her arms and going down at a slant to her right hip. She looked similar to the rest of the tribe, but her eyes were lighter.

"You are Aekus. Many of us are happy for you to be here. I am glad you are help us. Why you help us with out ask for something from us?"
"I used take not ask where I am from. I was good at it, but I felt that I was stuck there. I left and instead of stealing to live, I'd live to learn. I wanted to see the world. So I left. What is your name?"
"I am called Yet'ua (yet you-ah), in your language it means Grass Panther."
"How did you get that name?"
"Here when name child, it is not at birth as with you are. It is watch child, and name by how they act and look. I was name by my eyes and when I was child I'd crawl around and chase the crickets."
"It's a nice name. What do you do around here?"
"Thank you. Women of tribe all do same. We cook and care for child mostly. Sometimes we hunt also. Men hunt and defend tribe mostly, but cook and care for child sometimes. Men here are not considered above women, and women not above men. We equal in the eyes of Sister Mat'ua (Maht you-ay), or in your language nature, but we know that people not all the same, do some things better."
"I wish the city was that fair. Where I'm from many people think women are only for cooking and cleaning, it's very sad there some times. It's been nice talking to you but I think I should be getting to bed."
"You not stay for food?"
"I want to be up early to start the look for T'ala and Rotha."
"I see well sleep well and may Sister Mat'ua bring you a good night."
"You too.

He retreated to his hut, set down his weapons, put down his coat and shirt and fell asleep.

[keja]

There was a bright light, that faded from slowly. Once he could see beyond to what caused the flash he realized where he was. He was standing in a large room with a table at the other end. The floor was metal, the walls were stone, and the ceiling was a field of flowers. The flowers were white orchids with red centres, not that he knew the name. He looked around, there was a very small blue wooden door behind him and across the room, which now seemed to have shifted somewhere in shape to resemble a very wide and very long hallway, was a table and a man sitting at it. He knelt down and tried the door. Behind the door was a gruesome scene of slaughter and death... at a festival in the town. The buildings were not damaged, except the house of the man who sent him to the tribe. The house was on fire and a large hole was in the door. The festival tables and booths were also undamaged, but everything was splattered with blood. There were countless bodies stacked in a pile at one end. He climbed through the door to examine further. As he walked around he found many bodies laying against chairs and tables. The sky was a dark unnatural green colour and riddled with thick orange clouds. The bodies had no faces, they were not tore off, just blank, like dolls that hadn't been finished. He heard a voice... or he thought it was a voice, it was more like a gravely sound.
"AS FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SLAIN, SHALL YOU NOW BE RETURNED A FAVOUR."
He turned to see what had said it, and turned in horror to see the karra, with the fresh cut still in it. It was covered in blood and it was assumed that the karra had caused the slaughter. It dashed at him! Aekus dodged out of the way in time to receive only a minor wound on his arm, though it did not bleed it was warm. Aekus went for his knife but found no purchase where the familiar hilt had once been. The karra quickly turned to face him once more, and as it lashed out again Aekus turned and ran, for some reason for the burning house. Once he got there and opened the door the karra jumped from the fire and knocked him back. He looked where the karra had been before the house to see nothing but another corpse. He was in the middle of the town square, bloody faceless mangled bodies all around him. As the karra approached he felt a static along the ground. A small gentle shaking that soothed his senses.
Then seemingly from no where or anywhere the old man, the child, the lady, and the falcon appeared. He saw them in better detail this time. The old man turned out to be the store keeper. The lady was very light skinned with flowing silver hair, she wore a long yellow dress and held a glass in one hand. Both of her arms were in black gloves that went up past her elbow a little. The child was bald and had a strange symbol tattooed to his forehead, for some reason Aekus knew this symbol to mean "Adamant", and his eyes were closed. He wore an orange set of cloths he had never seen before. The falcon remained unchanged but for the crown of flowing silver atop his head. They repeated the chant.

May one bring the day, May one bring the rain,
It has been seen clear, A rising of light again,
And as the night goes on, Time takes on disguises,
And as the night ends, Man also rises.

As soon as the chant was finished Yet'ua walked out of a near by house. The karra took no notice and charged Aekus. Yet'ua quickly dashed across the square loosing not one step avoiding the bodies, and with an ornately decorated, yet sturdy spear she impaled the karra through the body and pinned it to the ground.
"You will not take him from the world!"

He woke up not as abruptly as the night before. He sat up and looked around and found that Yet'ua was in his tent. He looked at her puzzled.
"Yet'ua?"
"You were making noise. I came in to check if you okay. You tossed and turned in your sleep, I guess Mat'ua didn't bring the good night."
"Not quite..."
"Something not right?"
"I don't know, what do your people say about dreams?"
"We think Mat'ua communicates through them, we believe they sign. Usually we tell outsider their dream not same as ours. They dream come from they belief."

Aekus wasn't sure if the dream meant anything or not, he decided to wait and see. He stood up.

"Well thank you Yet'ua."
"Yes. You no sleep."
"No I think I'm going to walk around for a little bit. Care to join me?"
"I think me like that."

[keja]

Aekus and Yet'ua left the tent and started walking toward the town. Yet'ua told Aekus more about the town and how they made all their own tools, and buildings from the resources around them. As they continued talking Aekus learned a lot about Yetua.

"You used to chase bugs as a kid?" Aekus asked.
"Yes me hunt! Me want be strong." Yet'ua replied.
"Hunting crickets doesn't seem like it'd make you strong..."
"Make me fast, fast part of strong."
"I see, did you get good at it."
Yet'ua smiled a big glowing smile and hit her chest with her fist.
"Yet'ua best cricket catcher in village!"
Aekus laughed a little and they kept walking... but he couldn't get the dream out of his head.
"Yet'ua... About dreams. I had a very strange one." Aekus began.
"Oh? Mat'ua tell you something?"
"I don't know. The karra I killed came back and slaughtered the town... then came after me. Just before it attacked me you saved me."
Yet'ua blushed a little.
"We believe that in dream when in trouble only one close you save you."
Aekus tripped over a rock just as she said that. Ie didn't get up right away. He was thinking about what she said... He thought she was pretty, but never thought of her like that. It was a little strange for him. He reached in his pocket... He felt the bracelet. Yet'ua helped him up and he brushed himself off.
"That's interesting... There were other people there too. A child, an old man, a woman and a bird man thing."
"Mat'ua may used these people as sign of something."
"They were in a dream before, they had a chant... I can't quite remember it."
"I'm sure you remember some time."

They continued on, neither saying much. A few animals near by were grazing, and some birds flew over head. The sky was clear, a few clouds dotted the sky. There were more birds as they walked. Yet'ua stopped.

"What's wrong?" Aekus asked.
"Too many bird..."
"What?"
"Bird here not fly in big group like that. They fly as family."

Aekus watched the birds fly over head... They were like a massive dark cloud in some parts. He reached for his knife, and felt it's familiar cold wooden grip. As he drew it he saw Yet'ua fall to the ground.

"Ground moving... Something big."

It was big. It was also far off, Aekus thought he heard it. He looked around and when he faced to the right of town he saw a large dust storm, or so he thought. The sound grew louder, and louder until it sounded like a running of a thousand animals. It was moving fast, they didn't know what to do so they up and ran toward town. At first Aekus led but Yet'ua caught up and passed him a little. Aekus shouted for her to wait but she couldn't hear him over the thunderous sound of the cloud. It cut them off and Aekus lost sight of her. As the cloud passed he thought he heard some men yelling and whooping. The cloud passed and left as fast as it came... and Yet'ua with it. He looked around, not really sure what happened. He was sure however of machine tracks when he saw them. The tracks cut a large brown gash across the green field. He was stunned at how fast it had all happened. Once he regained his composure he ran back to the village as fast as he could and woke Kreis.

"Kreis! Kreis! They took her!" Aekus shouted.
"What? Who? Aekus settle down, who took who?" Kreis Replied.
"T'ala and Rotha, they got Yet'ua."
"WHAT?! When?"
"Just now, we were walking to town and they came from nowhere and got her."
"I'll send a scout party ahead, go gather your men. We must go now before any more people are put in danger. I'll gather my best hunting party and meet you in town."

So Aekus left Kreis' tent and headed back toward town.

[keja]

Aekus arrived in town and found Sesh and his men at the hotel.

"Sesh I hope you're ready, we move now. They got Yet'ua." Aekus said when he came in.
"Well hello to you too. So they took your girlfriend?"
"She's not my... Are you ready or not?"
"We're ready and have been, lead the way."

Aekus took them to where the giant tracks were left, like a giant scar on the otherwise perfect ground. Kreis and his scouting party was just coming back.

"Well well well, Aekus if this isn't the biggest mess you drug us into yet I don't know what is." Sesh said
"Yeah I noticed. What do you think Sesh, can we handle this?" Aekus replied.
"I think we can... but this is one big ass tank man." -Sesh
"We followed the tracks a bit, they turn back around to the north of town. We think they went back to their base, I'd suggest we follow the tracks backwards." Kreis reported.
"Alright, Sesh and the five come with me, Kreis I can't ask you to come with but if you will bring only your best but don't leave the village undefended." - Aekus
"My best are here, we will come with." Kreis confirmed.

They started off to where he saw the huge vehicle come from. The tracks tearing at the ground that was flat. The brown gash in the green grass. It wasn't hard to find the base, but it did take a while to walk. After a few hours and a break to refresh they arrived on the base... if you could call it that. It was more like a ghost town, armoured up in metal plating, and surrounded by a huge iron wall.

"I swear, Aekus, you just keep piling the dirt on our graves." Sesh said
"I'm not the one who dug it." Aekus replied
"It's not so bad, the craftsmanship here is shoddy at best, and the colours don't match at all. With uncoordinated people like this it should be simple getting in." Sesh joked
"Are you saying you have an idea?" Aekus asked
"Maybe. This thing seems sealed up pretty tight, but you can't escape a prison without a door." Sesh said
"So we find the door then what?" Aekus asked
"We either break the door down or wait for it to open." Sesh answered

They started around the walls, riddled with holes. They stared inside and saw a very small town built around a large building in the middle. Only about 6 buildings all together. There were men on top of each of them armed with Halorie Specials. Soon after they started they found the door.

"I don't get it... where did they get the guns?" Aekus asked
"I can only think of 3 things." Sesh said "They are being supported by the military, they robbed an armoury, or they have a magic fairy princess that can wish it to them."
"I'd guess they took an armoury, they have the people for it." Kreis said
"Well here's the door what do you guys think?" - Aekus
"I think we have a huge door with a huge lock and huge hinges." - Sesh
"Can we get through it?" - Kreis
"I don't know it's pretty thick." - Aekus

Sesh turned to his men.

"Got anything?"

The 3 men and 2 women looked at one another, yes there were women. They were silent still and looked back at Sesh.

"Oh right sorry! I didn't introduce them. Guys this is Jace, Crad, Joran, Sophie, and Li." Sesh said
"Sorry to be rude but we are out side of a well armed town and need to get in and free the villagers, all the same nice to meet you all. Got anything?" Aekus replied

The big one stepped forward.

"Crad, and I think I have an idea. I've been looking at this door, the only thing holding it shut is a bar across on the other side. All we gotta do is lift that and drop it. We'll have to wait till night but it's possible if we find some materials. We'll need rope, a steel bar to fit between these well spaced doors, and a hook, that should do."

They sent several men back to the down to fetch the rope but found a bar and hook in the scrap laying around the huge wall. When the materials were gathered it was only sun set. They walked away from the door to an enclosure in a group of trees off in the distance and set up a camp to wait till night.