Chapter 3 - The Road Ahead

CHAPTER 3

---THE ROAD AHEAD---

The day of the journey came around, the dread of it had weighed heavy on Januk but he had said little to nothing of it. No more than the occasional 'Well you know' or 'Pretty terrified' often accompanied with a sigh or a dying grin. He'd seen Korar from time to time but had no real enthusiasm and Korar wasn't stupid he had noticed Januk's demeanour but thought it wiser to say nothing until the walk, he was aware his talks of the rumors he heard may not have helped. Januk was lying looking at the ceiling of the cave quietly humming 'We few' in the early morning light. The sun was on it's beautiful rise but it seemed the weather had other plans with a bleak sky being presented overhead.

"We need only bring ourselves," said Fyurik loudly with a degree of excitement, "I'm certain we shall find food along the way given Januk's recent luck with his hunts," he looked at his family as they were stirring. "Right get up we're off," and with that the family picked themselves up, grumbling as they did so. He stood in the entrance silhouetted against the sun. Fyurik stood looking at his home and admiring it because he knew it would be days until he could see it again.

"Fyurik, when did alarming become your talent, next time leave us be," her hair glowed a twinge of red as she said this. She was never one for being told what to do, especially not her husband. The look on her face was near frustrated for the early awakening but she knew he was trying to do something good and said nothing. "That being said," she slapped on Januk's thin legs "Lift yourself and get sorted, damn your eyes! We need to be off!" She was in truth just as much in a hurry. Januk acquired a fresh loincloth and looked at the flame radiating it's green flames. 'I'm going to miss this, for sure,' those of you who have had to leave your homes behind would know these feelings I'm sure. In his eyes flashed many memories he had around that fire of all the things him and his family had done. All the pain that was caused and heals. His mistakes and achievements. All ghosts showed themselves in the blink of an eye in the fire.

"Now!" Called Freya.

"Alright, alright I'm coming," he pulled away his gaze and left, doing as his father did, looking at his home for the last time before he became a fully fledged adult, and that would mean having to leave the cave. It was not a legal obligation but a promise he had made to himself years before. He never did understand why but he felt the need for this, it just felt right. Especially since he could hunt. And with that in his head he exited and joined his parents on the winding path down the hill to meet with Korar.

"You still worried about the collection?" Asked Fyurik.

"Do you want the detailed answer or the polite one?" Responded Januk.

"Januk…" said Freya, " you have no need to talk to him like that,"

"Sorry," he muttered. "I'm just worried, just once it's over I'll be much better," Januk looked down in shame.

"You'll be alright," said Fyurik wrapping an arm around Januk's shoulders, "especially if you say nothing like that again!" He grinned, clipping his son around his pointy left ear. While full well knowing he actually said something similar and ended up getting a little more than just a clip. Freya knew her son, and knew he was scared and decided not to press him too far, however she made a mental note of that comment just in case he ever used it on her. Januk would get a hell of alot more than just a clip.

The trees around the path were slightly less coloured than they had been, given the bleak sky and presence of clouds overhead. This was a sign that the Ragh was coming to an end. There was an empty clearing along the path, the ground also played host to small amounts of soft rocks. The grass was also bleaker than usual and it felt coarse beneath their feet, the air had a twinge of mist and a scent of rain, but no actual rain was yet to come.

"I assume they'll be along soon," said Freya.

"I'm sure Korar would be here soon, he's rarely late, if anything," Januk looked at his father "we may have left just a little bit early."

"We agreed on a time! I'm sure of it!" Fyurik's hands went in the air. "It was Jaran I can bet you anything," he said with a small grimace. Quietly under his breath he added "Knew I should have said three hours earlier but I actually thought he'd have it this year… of course not." He then said a word I care not to repeat. Sometimes when the older ones get angry they call people rude names do they not? Sometimes the younger ones do it, I'm sure they shouldn't but no one's perfect. As you will come to discover.

After waiting for maybe an hour and listening to the Rausts' songs. There came the sound of claws crunching leaves from the left entry to the clearing. Sure enough they saw green hair, grey skin and some red eyes Korar looked flummoxed and desperate to speak

"Sorry we're late, so sorry! You know what M'Dad's like, didn't know what colour his hair should be, caught between blue and black he was, but he didn't want to be copying yourself there Fyurik he said this, he did 'I don't want to be copying no-"

"Aha-lright there, Korar no need for more of that eh?" A tall Anklorian held on to his son's shoulders. He was wearing purple hair upon his head, and a slight hint of a beard growing upon his face. His eyes had a dirty yellow shine almost golden and a nervous smile on his face. Beside him stood his wife, and friend to Freya, Karis. Her hair was electric blue and she had a kindly face, her eyes were a deep purple and her grey skin was in stark contrast to her colour fun appearance. She also had a tattoo resting on her stomach, the shape of 4 Rausts in flight, a product of her younger and wilder self before she had properly begun with Jaran.

"Hello there brother," cried Jaran, embracing Fyurik.

"Sister!" Screeched Karis, embracing Freya.

"Alright mate?" Asked Januk.

"Yeah! I'm," Korar gasped, "Just," another gasp, "a little bit," another gasp, "puffed." He sat upon a rock on the ground. "Oh wait! Food!" He cried, he grabbed at some red flowers on the forest floor. "Kusved showed me this, you crush it then you squeeze it, that gets rid of all the nasty bits on the inside and then like so," he just popped it in his mouth. "Scrumptious, now you!"

"Alright then," Januk grasped at the flowers to get a handful, crushed it beneath his nails and squeezed it with his palms.

"That's right now. In it goes eh,' Januk dropped the particle into his mouth, it was oddly sweet and pleasant.

"That's alright there, mate, what was that?" Asked Januk.

"That there is a sangula, lovely little flower she is. Pretty and very tasty, when done right I see we concur on that. Actually has the essence of the blood that we need, that's why we like it so much." Explained Korar quite matter of factly. "Obviously we'd all be munching it ourselves if it was our arms what needed the blood, but alas you need a lot to sustain the equivalent of even a quarter of our hearts. Kusved practically lives on the stuff, but he has a lot of it, it's rare but he knows where to find it and never told me, explains why he looks and acts like he does." Korar ended almost as if he was thinking over what he had just said out loud.

The adults were having their own discussions about their lives, loves, passions and achievements of their sons and what they think of the rumors they had heard of. It was here they spoke in hushed tongues and low voices as neither Korar or Januk could hear. Before they began they looked up to see Januk pushing Korar off of his rock, or at least trying to whilst Korar laughed. They collectively smiled and shook their heads and began to speak.

"So then, Kusved has been talking again," whispered Karis.

"Aye, so Januk told us," Fyurik responded.

"Kusved said that the mountains were having trouble with supplies," Jaran mumbled.

"Supplies? I quite forgot any mention of supplies," gasped Freya

"It must all be hearsay," Fyurik stated.

"What makes you so sure?" asked a troubled Jaran.

"Kusved is rarely completely wrong, no matter how much we hate to admit it," said Karis looking into Jaran's eyes who met her gaze and gave her a supportive nod.

"Even if there are supply issues we must still make the journey," claimed Freya, "the boys need to attend the ceremony, they will enjoy it. Is there any health in discussing rumors, surely they only spread the more they are discussed?" Ended Freya, feeling slightly bad that she had pushed it all aside.

"The back of your mind may it rest there for now," whispered Karis, "you must warn Januk of this. We need the boys to prepare in their own heads because we can only imagine the shock that an inconsistency will bring."

"Agreed," they all said this one after the other.

"Boys!" Screamed Freya. Both Januk and Korar sat upright. "Come on we're off!" The two scrambled to their feet and began on the path deeper into the forest leading, eventually to the high mountain.