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*
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10th of Fall, 509 A.V
Falyndar Jungle
For days it had been raining, the jungle filling with any and every drop of water Makutsi bestowed upon them, the ground so soggy, it had no way to absorb the liquid. And thus, it began to flood in Falyndar. The waters did not rise steadily, nor did it give much time for the clan to prepare. As one, The Crimson Sun moved to higher grounds, afraid even the waters would reach their homes. They gathered rations, fruit and dried meat, their most beloved possessions, their weapons, and began to march. Taloba was their final relief destination, but the thick mud and unrelenting downpour slowed the clan's movement. Kiva, a young woman and freshly marked by Myri at the age of sixteen had her pack filled to the brim with everything she thought useful. The poor bag was nearly bursting at the seams, heavy and burdensome in the humid, wet, and heavy weather. Marching beside her was her mother, straight faced and determined, with a sack of her own. The older Myrian glanced at the girl, "Tired already?"
Kiva shook her head, although her legs were already beginning to burn, and her breathing had become more laborious. Her bag had added probably fifty more pounds to her lithe frame, making her resist grunting in exertion.
"A good way to build muscle, if anything. Keep your head up. No use in showing weakness." Rakia patted her daughter on the shoulder, trudging past her slightly to lead. Other clan members listened in, using the woman's words as motivation themselves. The mud made sucking sounds with every footstep, and more than once did Kiva nearly slip from wet leaves.
Her body ached. 'Makutsi, why? Is this a joke? A punishment?' Even Kiva's prayer was thought between heavy breathing, and Kiva cursed herself for packing so many things.
'The waters may not even reach our homes,' her mother had warned, 'But it is best to be prepared in Taloba, than stranded out here.' The words had worried Kiva, who apparently decided putting everything she owned upon her back was a good idea. And with that, they went with everyone else and began their temporary migration. That is, if Makutsi stopped this rainfall. At the moment, it didn't feel like it would ever slow.
Kiva reached out, grabbing a branch and using it as leverage to pull herself forward. The act gave a little ease to her legs, which were handling the majority of her mistake. Her shoulders were also sore, her muscles protesting this strange and prolonged stress. 'Yes,' Kiva thought bitterly, 'If I can still move at the end of this, I will have the strength of ten men.'
The heavy rainfall showered over them, the canopy giving little help in deterring it. Around her, majority of the clan was gritting their teeth and keeping their head low. Kiva slipped, smacking her knee into a gnarled root when she landed. Gasping, the young woman nearly gave a sound of pain, but Rakia whipped around so fast, it silenced her. She stared, waiting for her daughter to stand. Kiva bit her lip to handle the pain and with shaky legs did as expected. Her mother wasn't happy until she was walking, and she trudged along.
No complaining allowed.
At least, not for the fresh youth. An older woman towards the front of the group found it the perfect time to voice her irritations, "By Myri! This rain is making my bones hurt! My teeth are singing!" She went mostly ignored, but continued on anyway, "I can't think straight with all this pain!"
A different female, one that had been trudging along Kiva leaned towards her friend conspiratorially, "Old Mako. Lying for attention."
"Always." the friend replied, chuckling.
Mako the Liar? Kiva tried to move closer to get more information, interested. Were they really so quick to spurn their elder? Kiva tried to slow her heavy breathing so she could hear better. The conversation had ended there, and they seemed to notice her increasing proximity. She began to retreat, knowing her eavesdropping was now futile.
Mako's grumbling was still fading in and out over the rainfall, and Kiva took a deep breath and used a burst of energy to jog to the front of the group alongside the old woman. The pack shifted its weight, nearly sending her into the mud again, but Kiva tried to steady her footing and regain balance.
The Myrian elder gave Kiva a small glare, surprisingly not tired despite her old age. She moved with more ease than Kiva, and looked the young woman up and down, "Having trouble, girl?" Mako smiled spitefully, "You're not the only one."
*
*
10th of Fall, 509 A.V
Falyndar Jungle
For days it had been raining, the jungle filling with any and every drop of water Makutsi bestowed upon them, the ground so soggy, it had no way to absorb the liquid. And thus, it began to flood in Falyndar. The waters did not rise steadily, nor did it give much time for the clan to prepare. As one, The Crimson Sun moved to higher grounds, afraid even the waters would reach their homes. They gathered rations, fruit and dried meat, their most beloved possessions, their weapons, and began to march. Taloba was their final relief destination, but the thick mud and unrelenting downpour slowed the clan's movement. Kiva, a young woman and freshly marked by Myri at the age of sixteen had her pack filled to the brim with everything she thought useful. The poor bag was nearly bursting at the seams, heavy and burdensome in the humid, wet, and heavy weather. Marching beside her was her mother, straight faced and determined, with a sack of her own. The older Myrian glanced at the girl, "Tired already?"
Kiva shook her head, although her legs were already beginning to burn, and her breathing had become more laborious. Her bag had added probably fifty more pounds to her lithe frame, making her resist grunting in exertion.
"A good way to build muscle, if anything. Keep your head up. No use in showing weakness." Rakia patted her daughter on the shoulder, trudging past her slightly to lead. Other clan members listened in, using the woman's words as motivation themselves. The mud made sucking sounds with every footstep, and more than once did Kiva nearly slip from wet leaves.
Her body ached. 'Makutsi, why? Is this a joke? A punishment?' Even Kiva's prayer was thought between heavy breathing, and Kiva cursed herself for packing so many things.
'The waters may not even reach our homes,' her mother had warned, 'But it is best to be prepared in Taloba, than stranded out here.' The words had worried Kiva, who apparently decided putting everything she owned upon her back was a good idea. And with that, they went with everyone else and began their temporary migration. That is, if Makutsi stopped this rainfall. At the moment, it didn't feel like it would ever slow.
Kiva reached out, grabbing a branch and using it as leverage to pull herself forward. The act gave a little ease to her legs, which were handling the majority of her mistake. Her shoulders were also sore, her muscles protesting this strange and prolonged stress. 'Yes,' Kiva thought bitterly, 'If I can still move at the end of this, I will have the strength of ten men.'
The heavy rainfall showered over them, the canopy giving little help in deterring it. Around her, majority of the clan was gritting their teeth and keeping their head low. Kiva slipped, smacking her knee into a gnarled root when she landed. Gasping, the young woman nearly gave a sound of pain, but Rakia whipped around so fast, it silenced her. She stared, waiting for her daughter to stand. Kiva bit her lip to handle the pain and with shaky legs did as expected. Her mother wasn't happy until she was walking, and she trudged along.
No complaining allowed.
At least, not for the fresh youth. An older woman towards the front of the group found it the perfect time to voice her irritations, "By Myri! This rain is making my bones hurt! My teeth are singing!" She went mostly ignored, but continued on anyway, "I can't think straight with all this pain!"
A different female, one that had been trudging along Kiva leaned towards her friend conspiratorially, "Old Mako. Lying for attention."
"Always." the friend replied, chuckling.
Mako the Liar? Kiva tried to move closer to get more information, interested. Were they really so quick to spurn their elder? Kiva tried to slow her heavy breathing so she could hear better. The conversation had ended there, and they seemed to notice her increasing proximity. She began to retreat, knowing her eavesdropping was now futile.
Mako's grumbling was still fading in and out over the rainfall, and Kiva took a deep breath and used a burst of energy to jog to the front of the group alongside the old woman. The pack shifted its weight, nearly sending her into the mud again, but Kiva tried to steady her footing and regain balance.
The Myrian elder gave Kiva a small glare, surprisingly not tired despite her old age. She moved with more ease than Kiva, and looked the young woman up and down, "Having trouble, girl?" Mako smiled spitefully, "You're not the only one."
