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The nation Chapter 71
Closer to the water now, she looked back to see Erek waiting on the trail, he smiled back to her his best smile. The lake knew Erek did not need healing anymore, the lake made Erek feel love, but it also made him stay on the trail, today was for Briaunna. Briaunna felt such a joyous feeling that she smiled back to Erek her best smile; she didn’t know that she was floating towards the glowing water. She was moving her feet in her normal gate; her feet were not in contact with the ground anymore. When Brie turned back to the lake, she was standing in waist deep water, a euphoria settled in her.The next morning Erek noticed he didn’t have to help Brie as much, he didn’t need to carry as much gear either, old Percy must have had a change of heart and decided to carry some gear himself. Erek walked beside Percy, Brie was sitting on the old horse with poise and a strength that had not been there the night before. It was then that Erek knew, come what may, bringing Briaunna here was the rig
The nation Chapter 72
The caravan would be the largest ever to cross the land, there were over eight hundred people already to leave. The group had a diverse skill set and would have everything they needed to start a new settlement, once a suitable location was found. The plan to cross the Domea came straight from Rognvald, he was being too ambitious. The land was vast on this side of the river, to the northeast mountains loomed providing some shelter from the weather, going east was not the only option. The group does not have to cross the Domea, but Rognvald wanted to cross the river, a feat only performed by the Buffalo; a creature three times the weight of a man. The Domea river was fed by ice melting from the top of the great mountain range that will become known as the Spine of the World. In spring, the ice melts, breaking apart large chunks that get stuck down river. When these backups occur, the melt water builds up behind it, waiting to escape in a rushing torrent. After the spring melt, the rive
The nation Chapter 73
Pushing his way through the doorway, Rognvald immediately saw the only fire that was burning, and the lone figure that sat near the tub. The figure by the tub did not move when Rognvald entered, it sat unmoving, giving him another shiver. The room felt cool, even with the fire burning, the light didn’t reach far from the pit were it burned. The smell of the fire was subtle, it was a common fragrance throughout the village, Rognvald went to stoke the fire. He thought, let’s get some light in here, and drive out that chill.“Leave it, we won’t be here that long.” The figure spoke, before the figure stood, it bent down and picked something up out of the tub. It was a small bundle of some kind.Rognvald stood straight after the figure spoke. He dropped the log he was holding and watched the figure bend down and pick up a bundle from the tub, then the figure stood. As Rog watched, the figure materialized into Harden.“Harden! I, ah.” He stammered, “I’m here at your request.”“Don’t sound s
The nation Chapter 74
Erek was overjoyed to have his son but confused as to why. He was walking next to the wagon where his stepmother and siblings rode. He didn’t want to do this alone, and he fantasized about Indra being alive and leaving with him. The last time he saw her she looked so sad, he wanted to hold her and make everything alright. He wasn’t sure about his feelings and knew he had no one to talk to about them, Briaunna was his only friend, and he would never tell her about his feelings for her mother. Lost in thought, Erek walked automatically.Harden stood stoic on the west side of the field, he was still quiet and withdrawn, but he knew he had to see this group off. He had said as many goodbyes as he could then he walked over to where he stood now. His arms crossed over his chest, his shadow was long behind him, his hair was sticking up on the left side of his head. When he told Briaunna about her little brother she was in disbelief, he didn’t lie to her, he told her the truth. Harden told hi
The nation Chapter 75
After the reseeding the Land was slow to recover, the growth was hampered by weak light from the distant star, and the things that grew struggled. The skies were hazy and fought hard to keep the light out, but the haze could not keep all of the light from the ground. When some of the things that grew took root, slowly the world recovered, slowly the green things grew and helped to clean the air of the haze. Then and only then, were humans on the Land. The animals that remained were hardy and stout, they had survived an extinction event and it was supposed to be their time to prosper, but the humans were clever and began to learn, grow stronger, and to hunt. The spirit of the planet, Oshwee’laho’ka, could see what would happen before it happened, she could see the humans and their potential. The spirit knew then what she must do, she must keep the humans in small bands and never let them gather in larger groups, for she knew that these large groups would turn into locusts, consuming ev
The nation Chapter 76
“Callum,” Bastien needed some help gathering wood to keep the fire going all night, “let’s get some wood for the fire.”“Alright.” Was Callum’s response.“What about me?” Asked Raymond, “what am I to do?”“Keep the fire going until we get back. Finish setting up the shelter and put away the gear you used.”“Okay!” Rosie said, enthusiastically. As long as he had something to do, he was good.“He can be annoying, don’t you think?” Bastien gave a sly grin to Callum.“Yeah, it’s a good thing he has such good friends, otherwise, someone could take advantage of him.”“Yeah, good thing.” Bastien had a smile on his face, “but what I really want to know is how are you doing?” The smile went away.“How do you mean?” Asked Callum.Neither men saw the shadow that moved like a cat, it was slick like warm fat, and moved efficiently to follow them.“I mean with everything that has happened. Ondu being torn in two, Kaya being torn with it, and Marx, well, where the hell did that come from?” Bastien w
The nation Chapter 77
The two went on talking after that, they commented on the state of the village, the food shortage, and the psyche of Ondu’s people. The Blue eye remembered Lady Utpahl, she was one of the nicer people in the village to her. Secretly, away from the gossips eyes or ears, Lady Utpahl would treat her like a person but as soon as they weren’t alone the Lady would go back to the soft shun that was the Blue eye’s life. But those times were still in her mind, a tear fell from her nose, she had not felt it come, the memories from her time in Ondu where still there. Then she remembered her mother, Sokonan, and a kindly old gentleman named Davyn, and more tears flowed. She could not stop the sniff that came involuntarily this time.“What was that?” Callum asked.“A sniff, like someone sucking in snot.” Bas was about to get up, then he heard a few sticks break and a swift rustle of vegetation, all went quiet.“Who the hell would be sniffing out there?”“No one, or nothing,” Bas said confidently,
The nation Chapter 78
From a spot down wind of the herd, a predator stalked unseen towards the watering hole. He was not picky, but he was shrewd, shrewd in a way that only a powerful predator could be, he used the distraction of the two-legs to get closer than he would have been able to get normally. The sleek black fur of this male leopard was not a detriment to him in the tall green grass, he moved like a shadow and looked like nothing out of the ordinary, just a shadow blowing across the grass. The leopard remained downwind, stalking his way towards the watering hole. He was a solitary hunter, he has a family; a mate, and three cubs. He was not the only hunter with responsibilities, other big cats were watching this herd to. A band of coyotes, too small to take down a buffalo, waited for the leftovers. A pride of female lions crouched low in the grass, they were upwind from the herd, and the buffalo had their scent, blown to them on the winds.Oblivious to the danger lurking around them, the caravan bu