Chapter Five - Freedom

Caera, Takeri, and Amril prepare for their journey to Telatourey.

Caera shifted uncomfortably against the rough ground. He sighed in frustration, his eyes wide open. Finally giving up on the prospect of a good night’s sleep, he sat up. The village was quiet that night, filled only with the gentle crackling of a fire and the heavy breathing of Maera, Takeri, and Amril beside him. The same question had been riding Caera’s thoughts for three days: why did the Arasin capture Amril and Maera?

Something deep inside him told Caera that King Quohar was up to something terrible. An even stranger feeling told Caera that he and Takeri were involved. Caera rubbed his tired face roughly with his hands. Looping his icy tresses into a loose horsetail, he left the tent quietly and stood next to the warm fire still blazing. He had tried to remain hopeful since entering the village, but to Caera, finding a country where the Lataeri would be safe from unjustified prosecution seemed to great. 

“Télatourey.” he said out loud to himself. 

“Télatourey indeed.” a familiar voice surprised Caera and he turned to see Takeri crawling out of the tent. “Why aren’t you sleeping?” 

“Can’t.” Caera replied simply, grinning at his little brother. Takeri was painted with the remnants of sleep�"crinkled clothes, messed hair, and puffy eyes. The smaller Lataeri stood next to his brother, gazing into the yellow flames. 

“Why?”

“I can’t stop thinking long enough to fall asleep.” 

Takeri nodded his head slowly, pursing his lips in his typical humorous fashion. The boys were quiet for a long time, absorbing the heat of the fire and each wondering what the other was thinking. Caera’s thoughts still rested on King Quohar's Oracle and her tales of Télatourey, while Takeri was worrying about Maera. Although he had been happy upon the groups reunion, Caera and Takeri soon learned that the loss of Koi was troubling him deeply. 

Koi and Maera had been together since the age of nine, the year both of their parents were killed. For four years they had wandered the wilderness together, subsisting off the land and defending themselves. They formed a bond as close as the brotherhood shared between Caera and Takeri, and it was not something Maera would be able to deal with easily. It was as though a piece of his heart had been cut down the day the Arasin attacked. It was a void that could not be filled.

Caera and Takeri sat with one another for the rest of the night, quiet most of the time, but sharing occasional, fleeting thoughts. Finally, the forest began to lighten as small dabs of light penetrated  the thick foliage of the forest. It was a beautiful sight, and Caera could feel the Earth itself waking up. He took a deep breath and tried to relax his tense muscles. 

“We’ll be okay, brother.” Takeri said, patting Caera’s shoulder. With that, he stood up, dusted himself off, and stepped into the tent to rouse Amril and Maera. 

Caera cinched his lack food pack to the horse’s saddle, and his eyes pondered over the village. Amril was cheery, as was Takeri. They bubbled around, gathering supplies and talking to the tribes people. Caera wished he could feel the way they felt. Instead, a hard pit lay in his stomach as he feared for the future. He watched Takeri closely, love and pride swelling in him for his strong little brother. 

So many Lataeri had become empty shells, unable to deal with the destruction of their people and the unbearable misery of losing everyone you’ve ever loved. Somehow, Takeri remained strong, and despite his young age held a sense of wisdom that many double his years did not have. He was ever optimistic, and Caera was grateful for his sunny disposition. Without it, Caera thought, he would be another empty shell. Caera felt a strong presence behind him, and whipped around.

His violet eyes met an ice blue pair.

“I have a gift.” Said the Oracle, smiling lucidly and stepping to the side. Caera’s eyes widened at the sight of the beast looking up at him.

“A Nomad dog?” He asked, surprised. 

“Not just a dog,” the woman spoke in a self-satisfied manner, “he is charmed. He will show you the way to Télatourey. His wise and strong, and will protect you with his life. You may call him Ike.”

“Thank you.” Caera said, truly grateful. The Oracle floated away, leaving Caera alone to acquaint himself with the dog. He kneeled down on one knee, and Ike’s face stood just above the human’s. “Good to meet you Ike.” The dog licked the tip of Caera’s nose gently. The animal was large, with wise brown eyes and grizzled grey fur. A strongly arched back was attached to a wide ribcage, and it’s head lacked ears. 

“Is that a Nomad dog?” Takeri ran up to the pair, excited. “I never thought I’d see one of these. I thought the Arasin had them all.” the young Lataeri stroked the dog kindly, interested in the feel of it’s rough fur and enjoying the familiar wolf smell. “He must have a lot of wolf blood in him. What’s his name?”

“Ike.” Caera replied, smiling at his little brother. “The Oracle charmed him, he’s going to lead us to Télatourey. Are you ready?”

Takeri nodded, looking solemnly back to the tent they had stayed in. Maera had chosen to stay with the tribe. The trauma of witnessing Koi’s death had ruined him, and he, along with the other Lataeries, predicted that the journey would be too much for him. The Oracle had agreed to do all she should for him, but no spell could mend a broken heart.

“It’s better he stays.” Caera spoke comfortingly to Takeri, laying a hand on his shoulder.  Takeri nodded, and rose into the saddle of his horse. 

The tribe had provided Amril, Caera, and Takeri with horses they stole from Arasin soldiers. Amril’s mount was a simple chestnut gelding with a long mane, while both Caera and Takeri’s were a handsome shade of silver with accentuating black mane and tails, both mares. They were fine horses, but the tribe did not have use for them in the forest. Cluttered trees and moist soil did not serve the horses well. 

Caera mounted his horse, and steered it around to take one last glance at the tribe that had treated him and his family so well. The people were milling about, concerned with their own affairs. A few waved to him, and he nodded his head kindly in reply. The Oracle sat by her fire, inhaling the blue smoke with her hands to the sky. She opened her shocking eyes to look at Caera one more time, long and hard. Her lips moved in a silent blessing, Amril clicked and his horse walked forward, following Ike. Caera and Takeri fell into place on his flanks, eager to begin their long journey south.

Author's Note

If you see "medicine woman" somewhere it's supposed to be Oracle. It's a modification I decided to make, sorry if you get confuzzled!

Reviews

[Century]

Yeah I need to go back and edit that. :D Thank ya.

[Rocki-san]

Ooooh now I gets it! lol
Very nicely written, Ariello!