Grekath : Part 2

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A day later, the bitterness that had hovered over Grekath after the meeting had hardly subsided. His clan clung tightly to its deep connection to the planet, to its spiritual taps into the workings of the land and the plants and creatures that filled it. This was one tradition of which he very much enjoyed being a part, for those connections were what allowed him to fill his own role in safeguarding their clan.

Now, here it was time to put that role to good use, as he overlooked the humans' makeshift village on the shoreline yet again. The people milled about the crude housing, not seeing Grekath or the place where he stood. This was his power: To make the humans see what was not there, keeping up the concept of an ever-winding, impassable line of trees in their minds. He raised his arms, staff held high in one paw, and he let the powers of the planet flow through him from the ground below. At once the illusion began to shift, its colors bleeding together and moving among one another until the forest as the humans saw it was beyond recognition, every plant moved and every path re-forged.

Grekath let out a breath, then slowly turned and walked back into the forest. As awesome as the power was, and as strong as he was among the clansmen, he knew he could do more. He was incomplete. He had felt it for years. His final test would forge the last link between his spirit and the planet, augmenting his skills and granting him new avenues to protect his people and their carefully guarded secrets. It would not come, though.

He burned inwardly, thoughts flying over the previous day's council meeting before darting onward. They would not give him the test. They would not allow his spirit to complete its journey. As strong as his respect for the elders and their ways was, he was honestly beginning to think they were afraid of having someone more powerful than they, someone who may forge the way to changes for which they were not ready. Yet changes must be made, in Grekath's mind, or their clan would not be long for this new race on their planet.

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden and sickening snap not far from his meandering path. His mind snapping back to reality, Grekath turned, instantly uneasy as he wove his way through the brush to find the source of the sound. At the sight of Qenacor between the trees, his eyes fixed in the direction of the human colony, Grekath only hastened his pace, guessing what he was about to find... and his suspicions were soon confirmed, though his eyes widened at the sight of the small, crumpled body laying on the ground, its neck clearly broken.

``Elder -- this is a child!``

``Indeed...`` Qenacor did not turn for another several seconds, his expression hard. ``She was in the forest when you enacted your change. The girl did not even blink. She had seen through our best protection.``

``Taking her life is not the only way to protect our people! The humans will miss her presence, and if more of them chance the forest --``

``Have you so little faith in our abilities... your own powers?``

Grekath steamed. ``You twist my words, elder. Our clan cannot expect a race that has never known our ways to understand the old ways to which we so desperately cling, even when the premises behind them have long since passed.``

``... and most undoubtedly, you have a better solution.`` Qenacor quietly withdrew something from the folds of his robes, keeping it cupped in one paw.

Grekath gave a fierce nod. ``It may be so. Anything at all would be better than what the humans will certainly consider as an outright declaration of war.`` He jerked his head angrily at the still body on the ground.

Quenacor's expression could hide neither his surprise nor his own displeasure with the presumptuous mageling in front of him. Perhaps it was time, then... to allow this mageling to clip his own wings. ``Well. Let us see, then...`` He held the object out for Grekath to see. It was an amulet... one that Grekath knew would mark him as a sage of the planet... one he would receive once his spirit was completed. ``Try to use your own brash ideas to outshine what has protected us for centuries.`` His eyes narrowed as he thrust out his own staff. ``Try... and fail.``

The forest wavered and swirled around Grekath. He knew what was to happen next: Qenacor would try to turn the powers of the planet against him. The change in the environment was quick, and Grekath leapt aside, staff clutched tightly as the very trees of the forest seemed to reach out to ensnare him. The substance of the test was different, he thought, but the goal was the same: Qenacor was trying to make him doubt his abilities, doubt that the planet would come to his aid. Grekath was strong, though; the rank he held at his young age was proof of that. He had no reason to doubt, and that, coupled with a vigorous desire to forge a new path for his clan, pushed him easily forward. He focused his thoughts and slid nimbly through the grasping branches, ducking here, turning there, and working his way steadily toward the center of the island.

It wasn't long before he had reached his destination: The sacred cave, what the clan considered to be the focal point for the energies they drew from the planet. He slipped through the last of the trees and marched inside, barely more than ruffled patches of fur as proof of him having been tested. He spotted Qenacor quickly, standing before a pool of water that, though no source of agitation was present, constantly seemed to send ripples from its center to lap at the rock surrounding it. Placing his staff in both hands, Grekath walked smartly up to his elder, watching and waiting.

Qenacor met Grekath with an emotionless stare. He grasped the amulet, setting his staff aside as he reached toward the younger clansman... but he then suddenly flipped the amulet neatly over his shoulder. It offered no splash as it disappeared beneath the water, its entry marked only by faint surface-rings that were quickly overcome by the constant movements from the center of the pond.

``Go get it.``

Grekath didn't move for several moments. His eyes remained locked on Qenacor, hating the way his elder was acting -- stony, smug, and somehow condescending, all at the same time. This was not a part of the test. His elder was taunting him, daring him to go beyond, to offer unnecessary proof of his faith and trust...

``I expect a full audience with the council upon my return, elder.``

... and, without waiting for a response, he strode past Qenacor and dived at the rippling pool.

(Meeting Tym...)