Mikali : Part 4

Securing a Change

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"... so why didn't I hear any females in the little circle of important people, there?"

"You did. Qoreth is female. There are four, among the council."

"Really... How can you tell?" Ocha lay on her back, looking up at the stars. The room was at least comfortable, but there was scant in the way of entertainment within the lashed branch walls.

"I would imagine you cannot, unless you have lived among us. The name is easier to discern. `-eth` and `-ith` are female. `-ath` and `-cor` are male. Names like `Mikali` and `Shinayi` are neutral -- usually those whom their parents feel will be balanced."

"I see. So `Aliane`, then..."

"Nickname. Long story, how she got it. `Allarith` is her real name."

"Hm." Ocha attempted to string together a constellation, with minor success. At least the sky was clear. "So, what do they do with us, here?" She was feeling much more like a prisoner than someone who was being kept safe.

Grekath looked from his staff over to her. "There is no ill intent, if you are concerned. I suspect this was much more for their peace of mind than anything else."

"Right. So, the token sentry out there is...?"

Grekath held up a paw. He heard footsteps. "... being relieved, apparently... or joined, one or the other."

The steps drew closer, and soon they could hear a familiar voice. ``Shinath, evening to you. I can take over here.``

Shinath was apparently surprised. ``On watch duty, sir?`` A council member?

``Please, do not question me just now. Go, spend some time with your family.``

``Uh, yes, sir. Good evening, Mikali, sir.`` ... and slightly rougher steps wandered away, with Mikali popping his head in the gate-like door soon afterward.

``Grekath. Uhm, young lady. Ochasmatia, is it? Sorry about the delay.``

``Yes, welcome, come on in, have a chair,`` came the response from the ground.

Mikali blinked once, then twice, stepping in and closing the door again. ``Uhm... what is a 'chair', if I may..?``

``Never mind,`` Grekath broke in, getting up from his position by the wall. ``I am afraid the quarters are not exactly what Ochasmatia was expecting -- or I, for that matter.``

``Yes, of course.`` Mikali fell short of apologizing, with the look Grekath was giving him. He wasn't being blamed for this. ``Look, I am certain I will be missed, so I feel I must get down to business. How did you two meet?``

Ocha actually took notice at that, and she sat up, dusting the dirt from her hair and clothing. Grekath cast a friendly look to her, then addressed Mikali. ``To make it very short... When I first left this land, I thought my spirit connection had been severed, and I went looking for something to complete that connection once again.`` He pauses. ``I wound up getting much, much more than that.``

Ocha gives Grekath a quiet smile, but Mikali draws a paw briefly under his chin, confused. That was kind of vague. ``Spiritually, you mean...``

Grekath considered that, trying to word a response in his own language, but Ocha wound up responding. ``We are linked by spirit, and by mind. That is the easiest way I can describe it. We call it a 'bond' between us.``

Mikali's eyes widened a little, and he looked between them. He never knew such a thing was even fathomable, let alone possible. Wasn't their only link with the planet below them? Even though that somewhat linked them together, in an odd sort of way? ``... and this 'bond'... it gives you both power...?``

Grekath shook his head. ``No... you see, the land where our sacred pool took me...`` Oh, how to describe this one... ``The planet was not immediately below us. It was separated by some distance. ... no, I will explain later. Listen. I could not feel it, so I thought it not present. When I eventually found it, though -- they call the planet 'Atu' -- it was wildly different than Kaiana. Direct, brusque... almost forceful in its response. I had to completely re-think the way we had been approaching our art... and what I found was rather astounding.``

``Fascinating, yes... as you so aptly demonstrated, I might add. The young lady, though... ... your ability comes from this bond?``

``No. That is much different. Ochasmatia has the ability to manipulate fire from within her being, much as we have the ability to manipulate the energies coming from Kaiana. Such a talent has all manner of uses, as she has shown me on a consistent basis, but its potential direct uses should not be ignored --``

``You would use her as a weapon, then?`` The voice came not from Mikali, but from the gate to their wooden encasement. Qenacor's unwavering eyes looked between log and twine at them for a moment before he stepped in.

Grekath huffed a breath through his nostrils. Hang that elder and his stealthy movements... ``No... a bit unwieldy, I am afraid. Not sure she would submit to being picked up and swung, either.`` Ocha cast a half-hearted glare upon Grekath. Slick... real slick.

Qenacor just shook his head. ``Very well, very well... apologies to the lady.`` He bowed his head lightly to Ocha, and she gave him a semi-stiff nod. Mikali, though, was staring at Qenacor.

``Wait... how long have you been listening?``

Qenacor regarded Mikali. ``I believe the first thing I heard was something about a 'chair.'`` He paused enough for that to sink in. Ocha smirked. ``... you are slipping, Mikali. I was able to tail you all the way here.``

Mikali was indignant, but Grekath, sensing something quite amiss, broke in before he could retort. ``This is most unusual, though. You surely did not come just to chide one of us.``

Qenacor quickly grew serious again, and he drew closer to the others. ``No... and Mikali is correct in saying that we draw suspicion with each moment we linger. I will be brief. Grekath... you may never have expected me to be the one to say it, but our position will not improve as we have it at present. If you are truly here to aid us, we would be foolish not to accept... particularly after your, ah, return from beyond.``

Grekath handily ignored that huge opportunity to dredge up the past. It wouldn't help them with the present; not after all that had happened since then. ``Qenacor. You know how I value our tribe and our connection with the land. I did indeed seek you all out in order to return here, and if that is still in doubt --``

``Not by me, at any rate... and certainly not by Mikali, from the sound of things.`` Mikali gave a quick nod, and Qenacor continued. ``If I were to clear this by the council, with or without your assistance, how quickly could you begin to show us your ...unique... methods of reaching out to Kaiana?``

Grekath blinked. Was this really the same elder that had all but tossed him into the sacred pool? ``You are suggesting their minds would change, just like that? I could begin immediately, if we can somehow dispel the doubt and fear that apparently grips some of our numbers. It may take some time, however, to refine it all; I have not had a chance to inquire of Kaiana --``

``Grekath, I am not certain that we have time. The humans have brken through our defenses before, they are emboldened, and they also have a certain amount of ingenuity, despite what some among us still claim.`` He paused for a brief moment. ``What we have now is not going to be good enough. We need a breakthrough of some kind, and we need it to come quickly.``

Grekath drew closer to Qenacor, motioning for Ocha and Mikali to do the same. He spoke seriously and quietly, keeping the elder's eyes with his own. ``... what manner of breakthrough... and how literal are you being?``

---

The morning was quiet just as dawn began to break. The soft clearing near the sea showed signs of being inhabited at one time, but at present, it had become a manner of outpost, converted quickly to suit the needs of those now there: A squad of sorts, perhaps eight humans in total, mostly asleep, one or two on lazy lookout duty. They had seen nothing, heard nothing. There was tell of the activity in the western edge of the forest yesterday, but this team had nothing but their own sleepy routine to keep them company. The small pile of arms and ammunition they were granted lay dusty and rusted in the center of the clearing, for lack of care to store it anywhere else.

One human leaned half-asleep against a barrier of sorts that they had erected, staring blearily between the ocean and the forest. He blinked once or twice, attempting to clear his mind. Mustn't fall asleep... and that little blur in the forest was certainly him beginning to dream. In fact, there it went again... a slight ripple, nothing more... or...

A small twig snapped, and the human bolted upright, eyes blinking his fatigue away. "Wh... who's there??" He took a step forward, movement catching in his peripheral vision... but he could see nothing. He raised his weapon in shaky hands. "I... I'm warning you... come out!..."

Nothing. His companions stirred a bit behind him, muttering and cursing. Nothing... nothing was there... but something was there... no, there! To his right...

His weapon quivered, then exploded in his hands, sending him over the barrier with a scream. His companions immediately jumped up, some scrambling for the weapons pile just before a fireball flew through the forest, igniting the lot of it and sending bullets flying as their spare ammunition lit up. With shouts and hollers they dove for cover, firing into the forest, but only the trees received their shots; in fact, not one of their rounds hit anything else.

Mikali growled, darting toward the clearing along with about ten other badgers, Qenacor included. ``I had not intended to injure him, just to send his weapon away! Look at this mess now...``

``I told you the technique needed refining!`` Grekath called after him. ``Go, take them, all of you! Jiaketh and I will keep sending their shots astray. Ochasmatia, try to draw up a line of fire to keep them contained -- if you can do so without burning the forest down!``

As badgers began entering the clearing, the squad quickly broke up, its members deciding they had had enough and turning to flee -- but the badgers turned an old trick true, bending the forest around them and muddling their minds. Disoriented and confused, dodging between twisted and morphing plants mingled with flame, some wound up in the sea, others securely in badger paws, and others simply clung to the nearest real tree for dear life. Not a single one of their numbers escaped to the human encampment.

(The Final Meeting...)