An Incredibly Brilliant Title Here.

1

Another gust of wind came, oblivious to the layers of their clothes as they climbed ever higher.  The sun could barely be seen through the thick, unceasing, clouds. She wrapped her cloak around her, staring at the boots of the one in front of her.  They climbed forever up a steep mountain near the river that could not be forged. They carried their canoes over their heads while some carried what little supplies they had left. Young children cried, hungry and tired. They could not stop, slow or even dwindle, for the horrors that pursued them.2

They were a hopeless, diffident tribe of what used to be a thousand but was now no more than three hundred.  Never had they seen as much bloodshed as that that still lingered in their City of Myst. No one spoke, their hearts still with those mutilated in their homes, some miles away. 3

It, they, came unexpectedly, in huge masses, more than five times their number, set on wiping her people out completely. No one knew why, no one could guess. And now they chased them, their stench rising to even these heights and the deep boom of their drums locking itself into their minds, singing into their bones.4

Zaeko woke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. Images of her dream still lingering in her head; she pulled herself from the rock, ignoring the pain in her muscles. The horn had sounded; they had slept for five hours. That’s all they were allowed. Five hours and then they were going again. The mountain had leveled out some by now and they were able to travel swiftly over the rocky hillside. 5

It has been five months now, since the attack. They did not know whether or not they were still being chased, but none was willing to slow down to find out. They had lost sixteen people, mostly elders and young children to the rugged terrain of the mountains. Everyone still remained silent, as if speech would make it all come back.6

Zaeko hurried to her parent’s side at the head of the tribe. Her parents had always been the leaders and their parents before them.  To be a leader was to sacrifice loneliness. You were forever being summoned to settle disputes, give advice and to heal, among many others.  7

Zaeko valued her loneliness. To not have anyone to speak to forces you to think. Thinking was one of her favorite past-times. She could come up with the strangest of philosophies for her own amusement which she could not hold in very long without having to tell someone what she had come up with. 8

Her father’s name was Shaydo, which was the name of her mother’s father, who had been leader in his time. The name Shaydo then became the symbol of someone wise or great honor and rank. Her mother, because she was thought of as just as powerful as her father, was named Shaydo Mistia, Mistia being her natural name.9

There were never more than two leaders, lest a conflict arise. But there were however, four others directly under their command who took the name of Shay before their natural name to show higher rank, but not as much as her parents of course. In the time of war, these four would each command a legion of soldiers. But in this generation they had not had any reason to prepare for war, as it was unheard of in Myst.10

During the attack there had been mass confusion, no one knew what to do and by the time her parents had figured it out, all they could do now was save the survivors and run.11

As she followed her parents at a driving pace, she remembered all the warning signs she got. How no one had believed her, and that old man…12

He had lived in a cave above their city for as long as she could remember. The people called him the Prophet. She had asked her parents what a Prophet was and they told her that it was a very rare curse on someone’s mind. It allowed them to see or feel what will happen in the future and to know a little of the past that they had not witnessed.  When she had inquired on how that would be interpreted as a curse, they told her that to know the fate of everyone you meet would wrench your mind and soul because you could not tell that person their doom lest it ruin the time they had left. Many cases have lost their mind and killed themselves.  13

But nevertheless, the people listened to this old man on his rare excursions down from his cave to predict large storms. After learning their lesson once, they had begun to listen. But this time he predicted another thing, a war. 14

At nine years old, she had followed her brother, Jasker, through the crowd to the center of the ring of people. Everyone backed away from Jasker, intimidated by his size. So she had a clear path to scoot in to see what was happening.15

“It’s coming, it’s coming.” The old man muttered, turning in circles looking at everybody. “You all just can’t see it.”16

“Old man.” Her father said coming through the crowd. “We have no disputes with any other tribe on this earth, why would we be attacked?”17

“Ah…” he chuckled, looking at her father. “It does not nee a dispute to kill. They have lain alone for thousands of years, waiting to have the taste of blood in its mouth again.”18

Everyone was quiet, thoughtful.  Many frowned at him, and shook their heads. It was an unbelievable thought. 19

“Perhaps you should go home, old man.” Her father coaxed gently.20

“No!” The old man shrieked. Then suddenly he turned towards Zaeko. “She knows. She’s seen it!!” He came over to her and grabbed her by the shoulders and shaking, screamed. “You saw it! You know!”21

Zaeko’s stomach lurched and she turned pale. She put up her arms to defend herself but didn’t need to. 22

She stared in horror as Jasker picked the old man up by the back of the neck and began to squeeze. People screamed…23

“Zaeko, stop daydreaming.” Her mother scolded her. 24

She looked up at her parents. They wore long black cloaks with a tinge of green that swept the ground behind them. Her mother’s parents awarded those cloaks to her mother and father when Zaeko’s grandparents had stepped down from leadership many years ago. The green was brilliant when they moved and it shined against the black. Her mother’s hair was a light blond that she kept tied back but several parts of her hair had slipped from the piece of leather that bound it and now blew freely in the wind. She didn’t seem to care as she looked worriedly down at her eleven-year-old daughter. Zaeko smiled into her mother’s bright green eyes, reflecting her own even brighter green eyes.25

Her father had stopped ahead of the group and was now waiting for them to catch up. He kept his brown hair chopped short around his ears but it grew longer elsewhere. Zaeko had never understood his style, for she herself, who had a combination of blonde and brown, making for a darker, dirtier green color, kept hers at about finger length and wild, allowing it to stand straight up and out. When she asked her father about his hair he smiled and told her that his mother said to grow it long, and his father said short. So he compromised.26

Zaeko smiled to herself, thinking of those happy times and wondering if they’ll ever see them again. They traveled on through the mountains. Going at a quick, steady pace. The trees and animals peered at them from their homes in the rocks, away from the steadily colder wind. Trees blanketed all the ridges and mountains surrounding them, and Zaeko wondered often if they were lost. She looked to her parents whenever they rested and always saw them together, looking out toward the north.  The seasons changed.27

Zaeko gazed across the plain; they had finally reached the end of the mountains. Where they were to go now was being debated by her people and parents. Some said North, to the settlements of the Highlanders, perhaps we could seek help there or warn them. Others said west, into the unknown land, perhaps to start again. A few, however said east, to the great City of the Shining, home of the Malistars and Aurexins, two large clans who have fought over the city for millennia. They were much feared because of the weaponry they possessed. They were very technologically advanced and cold. They were a cold people.28

All through her childhood, Zaeko had heard horror stories about them, the Aurexins especially. How they murdered anyone, or perhaps whole villages for whatever reason be at the time. Not many were looking forward to a journey there.29

Zaeko climbed up onto a large rock to sit beside her friend Maxer. He had dark black eyes that matched his messy hair that grew to his eyes. He looked at her and smiled, his shy smile that never showed teeth. He wasn’t a pure blood from their clan, Zaeko had found him just over five years ago in a small crevice, where he had undoubtedly been placed there by someone. No one knew where he had come from but they welcomed him at once. Her people were very kind and generous. Never once had he been disowned because of his past.30

He took her arm and held it in his lap, tracing over the lines of muscles in it with his fingers.  She flexed her arm, showing every well-built muscle. Her brother had always told her to do much physical activity because it will help her in the future. She didn’t really care but did so anyways. So she was much stronger than most children her age and some that were older.  She smiled to herself, thinking of Jasker. 31

“Zaeko, your mother wants to speak with you.” Mirthia an elder woman placed her hand on Zaeko’s shoulder.  32

She turned and, grabbing onto Maxer’s arm, pulled him down with her. Not expecting it, he hit the ground on his butt and groaned. Smiling, Zaeko left him there and ran to catch up with Mirthia as she headed back toward the circle of people gathered on the slope. 33

The afternoon sun was shining at her back from the cloudless sky as she squeezed between two elder men and into the center of the circle. Her Mother and father sat side by side on the earth at the opposite side of the circle. They beckoned for her to join them. She walked casually and sat in her father’s lap.34

“Zaeko, we would like you to help us in our decision.” Her father said softly but loud enough for everyone to hear. “We have definitely decided not to go to the City of the Shining, but must choose between north to the Highlanders or west into the unknown. Could you aid us?” 35

Zaeko thought a moment, and then scooted away from her father and into the center. She studied each face carefully, one by one, including each bystander and her parents. Then she looked up into the sky, then down into the earth. Then she said: “As summer is to winter, winter is to cold. As up is to down, down is to ease. Once you have gone another will take your place. Wherever you have been, another will go. Fly. Fly to each other; embrace one another in the fog of the mind. To choose one way is to choose another.  But first one must decide.”36

She looked around, her eyes rolled back into her head, leaving only white that seemed to cloud with a pale green. All were silent. She spoke again, this time as if from far away. “One way is to forget, one way is to face it. Forgetfulness brings doom. Go north to your comrades, for it will tell you of their well being, and to aid your decision for the people of your like.”37

Her eyes glowed green.38

Chapter Two39

Zaeko stood, eyeing her parents far ahead of her, leading their clan. She scanned all around them, looking for possible danger. The land was barren, a dense wasteland of dirt and sand. She wrapped her cloak around her, to keep the sand out of her eyes. The air was cold; which is odd for the dessert. But it seemed to her that these past years, the whole world seemed to be getting colder as time pressed on.40

She signaled to her parents that all was well, and they began to move again. In all of the years they have been traveling since her parents had decided to head north to seek the aid of the Highlanders, her eyes had grown keener. She had found out through comparison with Maxer that she could see twice as far than him and could see three times as much detail as him. She knew this would come, and now her parents relied on her for their safety. 41

She felt Maxer’s hand on her arm, which was still raised to look out at the horizon. She put it down and followed behind him as they had always done.  Her clan had dwindled, none of the Elders, save her parents were left, the last having given into the harshness of travel three moons ago.  No child fewer than nine years of age was alive either. Their number was small and many people were getting sicker. 42

Her father had decided that they would go one for two more moons and if they had not come near their destination, he would send out two fast runners to scout out the land ahead of them while they rested and tended their sores. Zaeko knew who those two runners would be. Herself and Maxer had always been the fastest runners of their generation, and they would grow to be faster yet as their powers grew. 43

No one ever knew what all of their powers were until they were over the age of twenty-five, and she was 15, Maxer was a year older.  Maxer had and unusual power growing inside of him, along with running faster every day, he noticed muscles growing even after he had fallen asleep. He also found that he knew much more, he was able to absorb any information twice as fast and keep it there, learning from it and adding to it as he went.44

Zaeko found herself having short premonitions and was able to react to things that were yet to be seconds away. She seemed to know what people were going to say before they did and sha lways knew what they were thinking about. The beginnings of a Prophet, her mother had warned.  That scared her, but she knew her mind was strong, she would not give up. 45

She looked up into her father’s worried eyes. He ran his hands through his hair, as he looked out over his people, sprawled out over the sand, resting from the day. Three more had fallen ill, their stomachs in pain, their foreheads beaded with sweat.  It had only been one moon.46

“I….” he started, and looked down at his daughter, then over to his wife. 47

Her mother put her hand on his shoulder as he bowed his head in defeat. She paused as she looked at the ground, then turned her emerald green eyes upon Zaeko, and nodded.48

Zaeko immedietly grabbed her pack and joined Maxer at a pressing pace north. They ran at a sprinting speed, getting into a steady pace. They ran, their packs strapped tightly to their backs for half a day before they could not see their people any more. But still they ran on, the fate of their clan restinf on their shoulders. 49

When darkness came, it enveloped them, binding the earth and the sky as one. They ran, sweating now and tired but they could not stop, the powers of darkness having captured them in its wrath. They ran on until the sun broke the horizon the next day. Then they rested till noon. 50

Zaeko woke before her friend and she took out their food, preparing it. She looked at him and ran her hand through her now blazing red hair, which was still kept short.  Maxer had grown and now  had arms as thick as the poles that held up her tents back home. His eyes had grown darker and tattoos began appearing on both his shoulders: one of a White Dragon, symbolizing wisdom, the other of a Black Tiger, symbolizing strength.  She smiled at that. Maxer was a gentle soul and she couldn’t imagine him ever hurting anyone.51

They continued on for yet another day, and another. For weeks they traveled, pushing themselves even faster and faster until they reached it.52

The sun was just rising as they slowed to a walk, coming up to a huge arch. “That must be 50 times our length.” Maxer said. 53

Zaeko smiled slightly and touched the surface of the arch; which felt like sand and came lose in her hand. She looked at the grains in the palm of her hand and squinted at them.54

“Wow.” She heard Maxer murmur from up ahead. She went up the small hill and stood beside him. 55

In frot of them were great ruins, all made out of sand. The buildings, which had once stood, were enormous, as if built for people three times their length. But now, they stood barely half that, others were mere crumbles, but the crumbles were still larger than them.56

“What happened?” Maxer breathed into the slight wind that had begun to pick up.57

Zaeko frowned, there shouldn’t be wind, there wasn’t any a moment ago.  But even as she thought this, she felt the wind pick up the slightest bit.58

“These ruins must be decades old.” Maxer mused as he strode forward into the city. He went up to a statue that stood in the center of what must have been the meeting place for the villagers. It was some sort of man-beast.59

‘No.” Zaeko said, scanning the area.60

“Older?”  Maxer asked, his eyes studying her, admiring her melancholy she was.61

“Much older.” She replied quietly as if she didn’t want anyone, or anything to hear.62

“Is this the Highlander’s city?” Maxer asked, beginning to walk toward a massive building that was still standing, almost completely.63

Zaeko nodded and followed him, slowly, looking around. They entered through the large entryway into an expansive room.  It was square, as they could tell and rose up all the way to the roof, like a rectangle. There were no windows or furniture; instead, there were large piles of sand placed strategically around the room as if they had once been furniture.64

Maxer took a handful from one pile and let it sift through his fingers. “It’s soft.” He said, looking to her. “ It’s not as course as sand. Maybe they made it with something that was softer but didn’t last as long.” His face brightened at his idea. 65

Zaeko smiled at him. “Yeah, could be.” She replied. She looked outside as the monsters ran by. Her eyes turned a pale green as she went back out through the door.66

Maxer slowly followed behind, wary as she turned towards him. The wind ripped at her cloak, forcing it to wrap around her, and then unravel again as it changed directions. She looked at him, and was about to say something when she jumped back as if pushed and began running like lightning back to camp. 67

“No, that’s not going to happen.” Shaydo patted the little girl on the head, consoling her. “We will all survive. “ The little girl smiled and ran away as he turned towards his wife. “They’re dying. I know not what will become of us.” 68

His wife’s eyes shone a brilliant green, as they did every time he looked at her. “Perhaps,” she hesitated. “It’s not our place to know.” 69

He frowned,  “Why would we not know? We are to protect them.” He took her hands, “are we not?”70

She pursed her lips together.  “Daryiel,” she whispered his former name into the swiftly picking up wind. “I’m so scared.”71

He closed his eyes as he understood and held his wife close. He barely heard his daughter yelling. He barely heard the silent screams of the creature as it whirled towards them. All he could hear was the beating of his own heart and his wife’s even breathes when it hit them.72

Her muscles were screaming, her blood pulsing through her body so hard it almost hurt. But she ran and she kept running as it hit them. She screamed. Her clan arose from their blankets and began to swarm towards her. She reached her parents and fell down beside them. “Mother, Father,” She whispered. “I’m so sorry.”73

Her mother, shaking, reached her hand up to her daughter’s face, “no,” she muttered with her last breath, “you will not.”74