Answer walked backwards, coaxing the vines to follow him through the forest, away from the blaze his kindred were tending, away from the terrible Darkness that plagued those outside the boundaries of home.
He was soon confident the stranger on his living makeshift cart would not run, though the other had fled. had lost sight of the other Hornless. The vines shushed at him and Answer barked a reply, sending them scurrying back into the forest, dismissed instead of sent to corral. It wasn't the one he intended to find favor with the Elder for, but he'd tried to save him, and the stranger had not accepted. Even barely-a-warriors knew to stay inside at night, and night fell fast on the rainforest.
The village always shocked, coming from the rainforest side. Underground in the roottunnels, there was a warning that one was on approach. Topside, there was nothing, a simple step across a tightly knotted threshold of greens and blues and reds of tropical flowers. One expected a continuation of forest, and instead, those allowed entry got a flat, open space contained in a dome of trees, all willingly bent high overhead, an agreement between the wisest of the flora and the wisest of his people, to keep the local population safe. In the dome were smaller ones, the largest being the Elder's, the smallest being temporary places for outsiders to recuperate, and wait out the evening for Darkness to pass. Other vine or leaf-wrapped huts middled about, where various activities were completed, none the least of which was sleep--although pallets abounded under the earth as well, where his people best replenished their energy stores--and cooking. Even now, Answer could smell the promising odor of fried, giant Kal'Majah leaves, seasoned with cinnamon. A special treat to go alongside the main dish. Dinner would not be long, so his offering was just in time.
His offering! Mossy eyes going wide, Answer wrangled his bow from the vine he'd tasked to hold it. One did not approach the Elder without one's birthright on display. He clucked at the vines, encouraging the young things toward the largest hut. Along the way, he heard harsh sounds, and presumed his kin's offerings were not quite so docile as his own. Answer smiled at this thought, because his offering would surely be the favorite! And then, his unit, the ignored ones, would be safe, their essences spared from Selection.
Answer prostrated himself before the great, many-horned Elder. <Honorable one,> he said without lifting his face from the ground. <I have brought you a gift.>
<Others have brought me Hornless,> the Elder countered in a voice like a tree waving in a breeze.
<This one is of red hair?> Answer replied with a questioning tone, starting to doubt himself far too soon for his liking. He glanced up and straightened his shoulders. His unit would be, must be spared. They were too unique to lose to Darkness. <My kin saw it flying. It is strong. I have brought you a strong gift.>
Please don't eat, he thought to himself. These days, things were uncertain.
<I hear these Hornless have red essence,> the Elder said, for now a toothless, eager expression on his face. Answer ran his tongue over his own teeth, flat and even, fighting a most unwarrior-like instinct to cower from the unknown. Come nightfall, come Darkness, everything changed.
He was soon confident the stranger on his living makeshift cart would not run, though the other had fled. had lost sight of the other Hornless. The vines shushed at him and Answer barked a reply, sending them scurrying back into the forest, dismissed instead of sent to corral. It wasn't the one he intended to find favor with the Elder for, but he'd tried to save him, and the stranger had not accepted. Even barely-a-warriors knew to stay inside at night, and night fell fast on the rainforest.
The village always shocked, coming from the rainforest side. Underground in the roottunnels, there was a warning that one was on approach. Topside, there was nothing, a simple step across a tightly knotted threshold of greens and blues and reds of tropical flowers. One expected a continuation of forest, and instead, those allowed entry got a flat, open space contained in a dome of trees, all willingly bent high overhead, an agreement between the wisest of the flora and the wisest of his people, to keep the local population safe. In the dome were smaller ones, the largest being the Elder's, the smallest being temporary places for outsiders to recuperate, and wait out the evening for Darkness to pass. Other vine or leaf-wrapped huts middled about, where various activities were completed, none the least of which was sleep--although pallets abounded under the earth as well, where his people best replenished their energy stores--and cooking. Even now, Answer could smell the promising odor of fried, giant Kal'Majah leaves, seasoned with cinnamon. A special treat to go alongside the main dish. Dinner would not be long, so his offering was just in time.
His offering! Mossy eyes going wide, Answer wrangled his bow from the vine he'd tasked to hold it. One did not approach the Elder without one's birthright on display. He clucked at the vines, encouraging the young things toward the largest hut. Along the way, he heard harsh sounds, and presumed his kin's offerings were not quite so docile as his own. Answer smiled at this thought, because his offering would surely be the favorite! And then, his unit, the ignored ones, would be safe, their essences spared from Selection.
Answer prostrated himself before the great, many-horned Elder. <Honorable one,> he said without lifting his face from the ground. <I have brought you a gift.>
<Others have brought me Hornless,> the Elder countered in a voice like a tree waving in a breeze.
<This one is of red hair?> Answer replied with a questioning tone, starting to doubt himself far too soon for his liking. He glanced up and straightened his shoulders. His unit would be, must be spared. They were too unique to lose to Darkness. <My kin saw it flying. It is strong. I have brought you a strong gift.>
Please don't eat, he thought to himself. These days, things were uncertain.
<I hear these Hornless have red essence,> the Elder said, for now a toothless, eager expression on his face. Answer ran his tongue over his own teeth, flat and even, fighting a most unwarrior-like instinct to cower from the unknown. Come nightfall, come Darkness, everything changed.
Dreams come in a size too big so we can grow into them.
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 11-08-2014, 12:31 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 11-08-2014, 02:07 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by yinepuhotep - 11-09-2014, 07:39 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by Panda - 11-10-2014, 01:07 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by jazzhands - 11-10-2014, 04:07 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 11-10-2014, 05:57 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by yinepuhotep - 11-10-2014, 07:17 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by jazzhands - 11-10-2014, 08:43 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by Panda - 11-10-2014, 10:38 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by tanith - 11-11-2014, 09:24 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by yinepuhotep - 11-11-2014, 03:53 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 11-12-2014, 12:26 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by Panda - 11-12-2014, 03:36 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by tanith - 11-12-2014, 09:07 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by Panda - 11-12-2014, 09:29 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by yinepuhotep - 11-13-2014, 03:45 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 11-13-2014, 07:52 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by jazzhands - 11-13-2014, 11:43 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by yinepuhotep - 11-13-2014, 04:09 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 11-13-2014, 08:11 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by jazzhands - 11-13-2014, 10:22 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by tanith - 11-13-2014, 10:32 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 11-14-2014, 05:19 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by jazzhands - 11-14-2014, 05:56 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by Panda - 11-14-2014, 09:18 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by yinepuhotep - 11-15-2014, 05:48 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 11-16-2014, 11:59 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by tanith - 11-16-2014, 03:22 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by Panda - 11-16-2014, 04:49 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by jazzhands - 11-16-2014, 05:28 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by yinepuhotep - 11-17-2014, 08:34 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by jazzhands - 11-17-2014, 10:42 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by yinepuhotep - 11-17-2014, 12:33 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 11-17-2014, 09:08 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by tanith - 11-18-2014, 08:22 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 11-20-2014, 11:14 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by yinepuhotep - 11-20-2014, 03:11 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by jazzhands - 11-20-2014, 08:09 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 11-20-2014, 09:35 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by tanith - 11-24-2014, 07:13 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by Panda - 11-25-2014, 10:41 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 11-30-2014, 12:02 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by jazzhands - 12-04-2014, 11:11 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by Panda - 12-06-2014, 09:06 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by tanith - 12-08-2014, 09:20 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 12-09-2014, 05:56 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by jazzhands - 12-10-2014, 07:36 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 12-13-2014, 09:10 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by jazzhands - 12-16-2014, 08:43 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by danixiewrites - 12-23-2014, 09:13 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by tanith - 12-27-2014, 10:40 PM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by jazzhands - 01-07-2015, 11:51 AM
Just Visiting: Dimension-jumping adventures inside... - by Panda - 01-26-2015, 12:15 AM