Jokkyl

The following morning I wake up to the smell of roasting Ilkinn, the girl woke up before me,

I come to sit down by the fire, the desert is surprisingly cool at this time of morning,

the Nehom are digesting their meals from the night before, and those that went hungry are storing energy to hunt later in the day,

the Jokkyl fly low to the ground, pecking out insects and small mammals,

the girl and I eat our fill, and soon it is time to depart,

as I prepare to pack my belongings, the girl walks to me and asks something of me,

I would like to join you on your journey, she says,

we are both going in the same direction, and there is safety in numbers.

I hesitate, I do not want the girl to become a burden,

but I could use some company on this journey, and I fear I may need some help along the way,

we could also pool together our resources and have more food, which would mean fewer rest stops,

I tell the girl that she is welcome to join, she smiles,

as soon we have everything packed we are on our way, the sun is now in clear sight,

the Gahom sun is unforgiving.

 

We trudge through the desert slowly, the sun is relentless in it's duty,

the occasional Jokkyl flies above, most likely waiting for us to be weak enough to kill,

unfortunately for them, I am not fond of being eaten,

and I have Ignis to vouch for me.

The girl is holding up well, the blistering heat doesn't seem to phase her in the least,

her eyes are looking ever forward, as if the world around her simply doesn't matter,

one sand hill leads to another, and another,

the desolate golden ocean stretches forward, and forward,

but soon, we can see the outline of the Uiidin forest.

The sun is coming down, and we are still a great ways from the Uiidin forest,

we trudge forward, in hopes that we'll find cover soon,

we look around for caves, but there are none,

the sun sinks lower, and the Jokkyl become anxious,

the Jokkyl come lower, their teeth gnashing and tongues salivating,

I release Ignis from his sheath, preparing for what may be my final fighitng moments,

the girl chants some spell, and her hands are alight with fire,

she too, is prepared to fight to death,

just as a flock of Jokkyl descend upon us, the sand beneath us sinks in to swallow us,

unbelievable, that we would be devoured by Nehom instead.

I tumble down in darkness and utter confusion, somehow I fall unconscious, 

I can barely hear mother through this darkness, I fall deeper into the emptiness,

the girl, I worry may not be with me.