?What do you think it is Shanpava??

Jyobka set down some mushroom on a piece of bark beside her and set carefully down herbs. She took out her brush from her little leather bag and began coming the creatures long hair and then helped the other girl apply some medicine to the creature. Its wound nearly woke him up yet all he had done was stir and pinch his eyes softly for a moment before whispering. ?Uro.rrot?.

?Hey it talks, what?s Urorrot mean?? Nimi chirped in.

?I don?t know, perhaps it?s not meant for us. Perhaps it?s like when our dad fainted at the harvest last year and when he woke up he yelled at mom for putting Satulpa Peppers in his bowl. Maybe he meant that word to somebody else?.

?Somebody fed it Satulpa Peppers? But what about its arm?where is the rest of it??

?No you idiot not like that. I mean perhaps it remembers the last time it was awake. And it speaks of the last time it talked.?

?Oh?. He shrugged and went to fetch himself some food and left the two girls with the creature.

?Shanpava, what do you think it is?? She ate some rice and mango and looked at the body breathing slowly beside Shanpava.
?Well?. She let out a sigh and forked a piece of meat and a slice of tomato. ?It?s not a forest spirit, they don?t bleed and if we touch them we?d feel cold?. She ate and took a sip of the juice made from tamarinds.
?Well I know that but is it a man?? Jyobka thought for sure it was a woman but now was unsure hearing it utter that strange word.

"It?s hair is so beautiful, more so than a lions. It's skin soft and pretty, much lighter than ours or the Talwnubs. Sanavpa, what do you think this mark under the one eye means"?

She could have swore earlier it was smaller.

?Well we can?t really ask it anything right now, we?ll see when the time comes?.

"If you say so Shanavpa".

The children gathered their things the girls of the village were already packing things up as the boys lay about sleeping against crude leans held up by the massive trunks of trees. They yawned and gathered the belongings, as well as the addition of a new companion despite its ability to walk. The strongest of the village children carried it on a sled of palms weaved and enforced by bamboo. Jyobka navigated them and insulted them each time they had caused her patient to bump over a tree root or stone too harshly.

It took less time to return to the village as they were eager to return as well was their animals. Even with the extra weight of an adult sized being they managed to get there a little after noon. They dropped everything even their discovery. For their return to the village was the worst account of savagery ever noted by the Larooma?s. In their past they had many murders but not like this there was no adult left alive, no chief, no mother or father, no mystic assure their future now. The children at first turned to Shanpava with broken hearts and tears in their eyes.

?What now what do we do now? Oh, my father great chieftain of Laroomas?! Cried the chieftains? son, Halwemab. He knelt before Shanpava.

?I am not my father I cannot say?. She looked at Kanueh?wa and Jyobka as they exited their home, brother holding firm to his little sister. Her white pink and turquoise dress now soiled with blood from her parents, her brother had to pry her away from them.

He nodded to her and closed her eyes feeling this was the nightmare her dreams have told her of weeks ago.

?Kanueh?wa". Cried an old man pulling himself up from the bodies. His face was unidenfiable but everyone knew it was kanueh'wa's and Jyobkas grandfather Assha. He turned over and fell silent.

"Granfather, No"! Kanueh'wa pounded the ground as he made his way to him. He wrapped his arms around him. Jyobka follwed and they both sobbed into their Grandfather's silent chest.

"When we are all ready to greive and have done so for two days we will hold a meeting. Kanueh'wa will be our cheiftan now. He will know what to do. He is eldest, he is strongest?. Shanpava looked to Halwemab who appeared angrily at first but then quivered under that mystic gaze of hers.

?I?ll do my best as my father would have done?. Shanpava wept silently and held Nimi close to her and they walked over to their home. Kneeling before it and sending prayers before they entered.

Many children cried for hours as history had sorrow written many times before for the Larooma?s. There was little to look forward for their hearts we shattered and still in the company of a strange creature even tenser.

?Shanpava, your father often aided the chieftain; cannot you do the same for me?? Kanueh?wa asked in confusion as he held Jyobka's hand as she lay beside her grandfather still sobbing.

?You should trust in yourself, trust in the wind and trust in the magic of our land. It will guide us all we will grow strong again one day. You will see you will be a strong man and a wise chief one day?. She hug him softly and smiled and kneeling down beside Jyobka and Nimi whom hugged her too.

?Jobka, your grandfather was a wonderful fisherman and great potter. A brave hunter and a kind soul. You, your brother, and I will now be entrusted with this creature; he will need us as we will need him?.

For that moment she stopped crying ot look at her, her eyes red with fear and grief. She nodded looking over to the creature then at her grandfather.

"We couldn't do anything to save our elders but we can save him. I think grandfather would have done so too. Even mom was rumored to have helped a forest spirit once, so I know we can too". Kanue'wah smiled lifting his sister up.

"It's not a forest spirit"! She defended even though she had no clue as to what it was.

We have nothing if we have possesed all and many if none. Men may conquer but shall never rule. We may rise but always fall. - Meg/Cinder

The sun rose the next day, Kanueh?wa parched and sprawled out upon the floor awoke to seize his shaken and hung-over head. Dizzy and full of emptiness, a foolish and adult thing to do. Yes, he was now head of his tribe and already making mistakes. He had never had much to drink and when he did it was an allowed sip that was all. He tried to get up and fell wobbly with daze. He sat himself up looking across the room at the creature who quietly watched him. He nodded and smiled back at the creature that blinked slowly back in return with an unmet curiosity.

?Wait a minute?! He rubbed his eyes furiously and stood shaken, nervous and weak.

?The forest spirit is awake! Now what, oh, shit?.

He stepped back holding the chair he had fallen from sometime in the early hours and looked around. He was alone, his sister gone to Shanpava?s perhaps.

Cinder breathed softly staying silent and in all curiousness and in pain. He tried to move and ended up tearing his bandage. He turned on his back after the failed attempt to rise. He closed his eyes.

?Wetchuit Saemis. Clherbrssar?? Cinder dipped his fingers in the bowl beside him and grabbed the wet cloth dyed in blood. He wiped his face and rested the cloth on his chest.

?Clerbissser? I do not understand?. The boy cheifan drew near and picked up the rag from the creatures chest, he dipped it in the water and wiped the blood from its forhead.

?Are you a forest spirit? What happened to you?? Kanueh?wa seemed eager to communicate but the creature dismissed him and closed his eyes pushing the hand away from him softly.

?You don?t understand me and I do not have time to learn all of your tongue. You people were kind enough to aid me but what happened? I thought for sure I was heading to Lemuria, the real one this time. What the?.akua?Nizt Nizt Nizt Nizt?!!!! He realized his arm was gone in that instant it all came back to him. He shed silent angry tears. he gazed into they eyes of the boy and only saw those cold stale eyes of an angel eyes like a deamon.

~ ?We simply cannot allow a heretic, a god dweller to return and cause discord in our controlled worlds. You should have followed the blue rascal as you call him, it was where we would have allowed you to go. Loki has already been granted asylum, as for Fenris he will return and suffer for your own actions of freeing him.

We cannot sit back after your actions in the Schneland of Armay, Rvheressa Shirastan?.what a suiting name your parents had given you for after the fires of judgment have washed you that is all that will be left of you?.

He battled three angels in the escape of Earth towards the true lands of Lemuria. Mara, Eshebel and Gabriel. He had lost his arm in the haste as he knew he would have surely died if he tried to take all three on. He opened a doorway taking Eshebel with him. With a sword of the Holy pressed against him he felt the fiery pull as it sweep clean through his arm. Cinder amassed in the Art of his own curse. Solas protected him. He was once more surrounded by darkness and fled from the angels? sight and returned behind it. He slit its throat with his bare hands and fed from it abundant light which trickled like a fountain. Once again the sword he felt, across his head he vanished just as it made contact. He fell from the void and swirled around past many doors until he was swallowed up by one left open wide.~

"So, it was not a dream?. He grinned afterwards. Curling his lips he licked the salt around his lips. He longed for something other than pain. He could swear that magic was here in this land.


?Urorrot?. He sighed

?Urorrot?.ICH die Fuchs ab Solas. Not all are content with life and its gifts, not all are content with death either. Some of us just wish to fade and that only brings us closer in to focus..and then??

Shanpava was curious, not knowing how many languages he could speak already she had counted three. ?Solas??

He sat up as best as he could and began to draw. This scared her because of his wounds. She helped him up and tied a skirt of cloth around him.
He moved over to the table and grins for a moment recalling the young chieftain drunk the night before. He sat at Kanueh?wa chair and watched his empty arm, he still would have a long time getting used to this. He looked to Shanpava whom seemed quite nervous. He instructed her to fetch the bucket of scented water, as she did she set it on his lap and held the other side for him. He ducked his head into the water. At first she was happy he could clean up but after several minutes she became worried the only freedom from her panic was a gentle hand upon hers. She still urged him to get his head out of the water and dashed it away.

He drew a picture for her, it was the first time he had shown anyone his god. The person responsible for his beliefs his ways his feelings. His religion was his passion much like Kristae was once his passion they both faded away. Religion and Love was but a memory, he loved his god and he loved his wife very much and they both had left his heart. He drew an eight winged woman with large breasts and shapely curve. A long spiraled tail which split into three points. Typical signs of the feminine, beast and motherhood. Between her legs he drew a circle with the strangest designs within. He explained that she gave birth to a world and named it Verisson. His home world. Every land was a child and every inhabitant no matter what life form was another child of her lands and so on. She blessed the Kalveas in her likeness. Her face was gentle yet sinister, much like his. She looked like a Kalveas with horns on her head much like a dragon.

Shanpava smiled softly and nodded already understanding it was his way, she had already explained her gods and way. Countless gods for many deeds Cinder had been open to many beliefs but in the end felt his way was the only true path for him, and that path was sealed forever.

He explained as best he could with drawings he received gifts from his god. One was the gift of water breath; he could survive the depths without much worry for air as long as he eventually resurfaced much like a whale. He drew a crude picture of himself many many depth in the water. She understood now, he could breath underwater.

"This one you may like even more, haha it has spared me many times in my adventuring or foolery as some freinds may call it".

She looked to Cinder?s other drawings it looked like him but then he began to wipe it away and draw a separate being, it looked much like a woman she had never seen before. She was awaiting an explanation He covered her eyes with his hand. She smiled as he let her go, all of a sudden she felt two hands on her a right and a left. A woman stood before her smiling back at her the same as Cinder but different she knew it was him she traced the mark under his eyes once more. At first even Cinder was surprised, he had two arms at least in this illusion. It was the first time he had attempted to use his gifts in this world only the first time he knew he could have stayed underwater much longer than that even without a gift. He felt the pain as he tried to stand, that however hadn?t left. He returned to his true form exhuasted and sat silent as Shanpava touched him to make sure it was really him. He smiled holding her hand and she marveled at him.

Jyobka had just entered as she saw Shanpava and Cinder. The little girl couldn?t be more jealous watching that witch touch her treasure as she calls him. She stormed over to Shanpava yet halted as Kanueh?wa stopped his younger sister from laying a hand on Shanpava.

?Leave her be Jyobka, she is helping him, we all are. He isn?t any pet, he is a forest spirit, a wild creature. We may never know what it may do next. But Shanpava says we must do this so we must?.

?Oh, excuse me great and mighty chief Kanueh?wa?! Jyobka shoved her brother and ran out of the hut in a fit.

?Kanueh?wa, weren?t you a bit hard on her? I mean she is just a child and Cinder seems to have taken to her, all of us really. Kanueh?wa?? She closed her eyes with a smile, she was suprised somebody was jealous of her, then she understood how Cinder may feel. She closed her eyes and stood looking down.

The boy cheiftan e sat down at the table and poured himself another cup of banana liquor. As he took a sip he watched Cinder and Shanpava.
?What were you doing with him??

?Nothing, just tending his wounds, what were you and Nimi up to today? He was talking about an adventure with the chief earlier??

It?s nothing important, how?s the forest spirit??

?I told you he is not a forest spirit?.

?Yeah, well, how is Cinder??

?He is getting better. He is actually a, umm?Cal-veese, sort of your forest spirit but not like a ghost. He comes from another world and he is a very powerful Zaijeh. Perhaps more so than my father or the dark priestess?.

?Is that right?? He seemed uninterested at the time as he took another sip. He was hiding something but didn?t want to trouble her.

?Thanks Shanpava, you are a great help to us. I?m sure Jyobka just wishes she were more important to him than you are. Seems even her older brother can?t be of much use to her. Certainly being sister to the new chief isn?t much hurrah for her either. Anyways, everyone in the village seems to start clinging to you and me now that we must be the adults. I never would have guessed it would be like this?.

Shanpava smiled letting go of Cinder?s hand. She stood turning to Kanueh?wa and kiplaced a hand on his shoulder.

?Neither would have I, but you are doing a great job for us. The children look up to you not just because you are the oldest, you truly are chief. Even Halwemab thinks you are doing a fine job, that?s saying something from a cheat like him. I admire you too Kanueh?wa?. She smiled and left the hut.

Kanueh?wa let out a huff of air and turned to Cinder.

?Yeah, I guess you are right Cinder?. He nodded and followed after Shanpava.

?Shanpava, do you have a minute?? He pushed the woven door back and nearly tripped on the water jug. Jyobka could have moved them further from the door he thought.

?Kanueh?wa, sure, What is it?? She held her hands at her waist looking at her home where Nimi poked his head out of momentarily. Kanueh?wa watched her and smiled.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and looked down. ?It?s nothing, go see to your brother?.

She nodded, taking a few steps she turned back to him. ?If you want to sometime I"m there for my cheif, okay. Even if it's late, I'm usually up anyway. Don?t mind waking Nimi he sleeps through the elephant raids?.

He smiled some and nodded. ?Okay, then?.

Kanueh?wa returned looking at Cinder whom managed to sit up in the bed, he also managed to pick up the cloth and tend to his wound above his forehead.

?Well you seem better. Care for another drink with the chief?? He smiled some sitting beside Cinder and poured him a drink.

Cinder bowed his head and smiled warmly at the young man. Kanueh?wa was a bit embarrassed to be bowed to by anyone especially a forest spirit he thought. He returned the bow out of respect and fear of some curse he may invoke if he didn?t.

?Please you need not bow in a house of your friend. Every Larooma has welcomed you, a forest spirit is good luck they say?. He chuckled some then raised his cup.

Even before drinking he seemed rosey in the head Cinder thought. He smiled and raised his cup to his.

?Ah, Prost?! Cinder sipped and followed it by another more welcomed taste.

Kanueh?wa shrugged but smiled and said the same and drank.

Jyobka meanwhile had returned watching in the doorway a bright smile on her face, she silently exited the house and decided to stay with Shanpava and Nimi. ?Just don?t overdo it tonight guys?.

Cinder and Kanueh?wa both awoke to the sound of thunder. It was quite early in the morning and the rains had begun. The sounds of water brushed over the palms and the bamboo roof. It had a pleasant enough melody that both relaxed. It seemed like a lifetime since he had departed, Cinder thought of the many people which brought him now to Larooma. He was glad, he closed his eyes and thought of never returning. He wished that he had never read the letter that day. He wished he had tossed it overboard the moment he had received. He wanted the past to be swallowed up; he was alone in those days after he had left.

~?Goodnight Cinder of Plygrethia.?~

Since that letter and his return his life has been something other than he had hoped for.

Hours passed and Shanpava smuggled herself inside from the rain and looked at Kanueh?wa asleep on his bed then to Cinder, his eyes marking her entrance. She backed out of fear and excitement then smiled and sat beside him. She wiped the hair from his eyes and offered him some water to drink. He smiled and eased himself up holding his side softly. He hadn?t been in pain for a few hours due to the drugs or a good sleep, but now he must put up with morning and conclude his business here on this world. He smiled holding the cup and her hand in his.

?Cipea?.

?Ouas?. She smiled to him.

Shanpava stood opening the woven door a bit and settled beside him. He turned to her wondering if she had become too attached to him; he drank the water and ignored this.

?When I am gone they will continue on without me?.

They watched the rainfall outside with the slight sign of the moon; it was saying farewell until we meet again as the reddish sun would cross this pitch in the sky. He rested back on the floor finishing his water and stared up at Shanpava whom lay down beside him.
She smiled to him and closed her eyes. Cinder could not do much about his young admirer; he chuckled softly to himself finding himself in quite a predicament. He would miss this place, these people. It was better than the world he previously had left yet some of those people there were not bad. Some of them were counting on him. He closed his eyes and fell asleep to the sound of the rain and a the slow breathing of the young woman beside him

?My pain, I?ve endured enough of it. I had paid long ago for the crimes I committed?.

The day proceeded with birds chiming with one another in the slow mist of rain. The sun on occasion appeared in the sky, and then it was hidden once more by clouds of rain.

Jyobka awoke to find Nimi soundly asleep in his bed holding to his doll rabbit. She could not find Shanpava which made her think of heading back home. She wandered into the house and found Cinder standing up beside Shanpava whom had been asleep for some time. He held onto a large woven cloth and was leaning to the table. He was trying to wrap a cloth around him, yet failed each time.
Jyobka couldn?t be more obvious of her jealousy towards Shanpava and her affection to her patient; she frowned running to him hugging him tightly. Cinder smiled placing his hand on her head. Jyobka tied the cloth around his waist making a makeshift skirt; he bowed in return and sat at the table. He felt useless for now with pain and left with one hand, what good is an artisan and a carpenter without two hands to work with?I suppose I will have to.

?I?m hungry are you hungry?? Jyobka motioned with her tummy and mouth. Cinder made a wide grin and nodded.

Jyobka satisfied began cooking some breakfast for the two. Kanueh?wa who had woken up paused at the sight of Cinder?s bed being occupied by Shanpava, he looked to his friend whom ate with his sister feeling left out of everything, he was chief and if the shaman was flirting with the forest spirit he would never get her attention. He called for Cinder and motioned to the game of last night, thet both chuckled and then when white with fear of the little Jyobka. She slammed the cooking pot down and watched her brother then Cinder.

?How dare you get my Cinder drunk and use him to lure the pretty shaman girl to you brother?!

?Uagh?. He took a big gulp of fear despite her age Jyobka was much like their mother and when she was angry gods save them!

?Sis it?s not like that, honestly I just wanted to share some private conversation and greet our guest with honor. I hadn?t a clue Shanpava would come here?.

?Hmft! If that is your story I suppose I?ll have to buy it?for now?.

Kanueh?wa looked out of the corner of his eye at Cinder whom smiled immediately and munched on his breakfast. He wondered if something happened last night.

?So what?s for breakfast?? Kanueh?wa exclaimed.

?For you nothing nor that dammed Zaijeh Hussy?!

Jyobka ignored her brother and sat beside Cinder feeding him more food than he wanted. He sighed and wished it to be over. Several minutes lasted a full stomach Cinder felt so tired and bloated. Jyobka was happy as can be.

?I think you fed him too much?.

?What?dya say???!!

?Ugh, oh nothing sis?. ?Poop, what a pain in the ass she is?.

Jyobka offered Cinder her father?s sandals but he declined, he never wore shoes. He sat at the table quietly hoping she would stop babying him. ?

Jyobka started to braid his hair the way he liked it, a few strands at the sides and tucked behind his ears. Cinder sighed looking to Kanueh?wa who just shrugged and silently ate some leftovers. He didn?t want to get in any arguments with his sister this morning the birds chirping was enough to mess with his pounding head. He made a face as if he had just tasted something awful, perhaps his hangover. He ran outside around the back suddenly. Everyone could hear him vomit, Cinder too felt sick from too much drinking. He wasn?t so much at the state the young boy was in he knew he wouldn?t be too sick, still the hangover would linger on. Jyobka patted him on the back and showed him the mirror.

?Cipea Jyobka?. He smiled with a yawn and returned to the bed where it was more comfortable.

He looked over his shoulder for an attack from her; instead Jyobka frowned and washed some plates in the wooden tub on the table beside the window.

?Mapap Ouas?. She quietly replied as she dried the dishes with a rag.

Shanpava woke up pushing the sheet over to sit beside Cinder; she looked at his braids and then turned to Jyobka who had been sitting at the table drinking some herbal tea.
Kanueh?wa walked in all wobbly and curled himself back into bed moaning. Nimi followed Kanueh?wa inside and found his sister and waved to Jyobka, she smiled back to him and offered him some tea. They sat at the table and talked about the upcoming Seetoo game, both seemed excited.

Nimi jumped off the chair and went to Cinder making a fist in the air then grinned happily.

?Seetoo, I?m sure you would like it Cinder. It?s a really fun game where we have four teams and we have to kick a ball in the other teams net. It?s really a lot of fun! I?m actually a great player, why I bet I could become chief if I defeated Kanueh?wa in a game of Seetoo?.

?I heard that?. Replied the figure draped in a blanket in the corner.

Shanpava giggled to her brother. ?Careful you just might be exiled if you do defeat him?.

?Oh no really?? Nimi quieted down and returned quietly to the table.

?Anyways, we should be going soon. If there is a time to do it, it?s now. At least the rain has stopped?. Shanpava stood and offered Cinder a hand; he took it and stood back up.

?Hey Nimi, would you get the cane from our house please??

?Sure?! He ran out to his home.

?Hey, brother?? Jyobka finished her tea and went over to his Brother?s bed. She sat beside him and nodded.

?Alright, well if you are feeling better, it would mean a lot to us especially Cinder. Saying goodbye, it?s something we couldn?t say to mom and dad?but we could say goodbye to our friend?.

?Jyobka??

?Brother??

Kanueh?wa turned over in the bed and smiled to her and nodded sitting up in the bed he then looked to Cinder.

?You are right, I can?t say goodbye to our friend. He is one of us now; it wouldn?t be good to treat a fellow Larooma so disrespectfully?.

Nimi came back and handed the cane to Shanpava, who handed it to Cinder. He held it and nodded to both of them with thanks.

Kanueh?wa stood going to a wooden box made of bamboo and picked up a shell filled with red paste. He walked over to Cinder and sat in front of him and painted across his eyes. He then rested his head on Cinder for several moments.

?Cinder the great Forest spirit is now an honored Larooma member, he is ours and we are his?. Everyone cheered except Cinder who was at loss, Kanueh?wa painted Jyobka, Shanpava, and Nimi?s eyes.

?My friends go and continue your task to aid our Cinder to his world, as chief it is an order?.

?What about you brother??

?I must stay here as chief I cannot go?.

?Are you saying that because you are still too hung-over??

?Me?Ha ha! No! Look they?re leaving, you should catch up to Shanpava and her boyfriend?!

He sighed as she left after them in an jealous hurry, he felt so sick, and he curled back under the covers and rested.

Jyobka hadn?t gotten far and found the Kalveas and the Children of Larooma. Cinder was waving goodbye beside the village entrance. Nimi and Shanpava waved to them too and then turned away following their friend who seemed to know the way. Jyobka frowned and rushed past the other children and finally caught up with them near the brook, it was babbling as all brooks do.

It flowed from a giant rock formation near and old tree that seemed to have perched itself on the rock like a bird would to an egg. Nimi gather some water from it in his water jug and then headed over the wooden planks waving them onward. Cinder paused watching the tree as if he had seen it once before, perhaps in a dream. He felt the pull of a hand and then another the two girls lead him onward, he watched the tree till it was out of his sight then turned his attention to the direction ahead. The brook curved back around and opened much wider, they crossed a bridge and stopped to look to the west seeing the lake it formed at the end.

?When it?s really hot we go swimming there but we got to watch out for elephants?.

Jyobka smiled and continued on. Cinder followed them to the mouth of the forest it was there that Cinder perched down and found some berries; he plucked some and ate them.

?Wait what are you doing?? Shanpava smacked his lips but was too late to get the berries.

?Oh thats right humans cannot eat these berries?. Cinder chuckled and shook his head yes it was okay for him to eat them but did not continue to do so for the sake of the children. He stood up and usher them to continue.

Jyobka and Nimi followed ahead cutting the overgrowth and waited for the other two to come. Nimi sat down and took a sip of water and then passed it to Jyobka. Finally they came, Shanpava assisted Cinder, and he walked over to Nimi and sat holding the can across his lap. Jyobka handed the jug to Cinder who to it thankfully, he took a big gulp and sighed. He motioned for food.

Shanpava closed her eyes with a grin and undid her travel satchel handing him jerky of some kind, strange it looked like awhile lizard deformed. He took it and ate it, yes definitely was a lizard of some kind. He wasn?t keen on reptiles but ate happily. They all decided to eat so Jyobka procured a few apples and a mound of candied figs. As they ate the amber sun shone through the branches of the trees. Cinder stared through its branches with a nod.

?From the great tree I give thanks?.

The troop had finished up their meal and continued the journey. They walked over an hour and came across an old ruin, it was once a roof now it was but part of the forest floor. Cinder paused looking at the stone and traced it with his hand.

?It?s always been here, longer than my grandfather?s time, nobody knows about its history. It?s scary in this forest; perhaps places like this are the reason why. Something without a history is scary, yet at the same time it pulls our interest.? Shanpava picked up his hand and smiled.

They continued yet Cinder was sure about that roof he had walked over, just like the stone which blew water. He sighed and sat down on a fallen palm and was exhausted. The children decided it was a good time to rest. They unpacked their gear and were having a snack once again.

Shanpava could tell Cinder was questioning something in his mind so she sat beside him and offered some tamarind juice. It was sweet and full of flavor, it was only the third time he had it yet it tasted the best this moment. He watched the forest; colorful parrots flew overhead and landed nearby. Nimi seemed even more protective of his food, as they stretched their necks and watched them with curiosity.

?Ribbed Spondos. They are curious parrots, they like fruits and nuts, my father tamed one in his youth, taught it our language and he even could dance?. Shanpava smiled noting his curiosity in them.

?Yeah but he didn?t play Seetoo all too well?. Nimi chimed.

?Well of course idiot, the ball killed him, I really don?t know what you were thinking little brother?.

Everyone but Cinder chuckled, who then joined in too late who ended up being looked at.

?Guess we didn?t have much time to learn of one another?s language, but we did learn from one another none the less?. Cinder stood handing the juice back to Shanpava.

He continued leaving the kids to follow him. He headed into the thick of the forest which grew dense with countless bamboo and sturdy trees that grew so tall nothing but green was seen overhead. An occasional ruin they passed by each one was looked at with mystery by Cinder as if he had dreamt this. He thought this might actually be what he was looking for all these years.

?Perhaps this is Lemuria or a land much like it?the architecture is very similar. I?m sure there must be other lands in this world. If only I could travel around and knew where to look. It?s getting harder it seems?. He sighed and noticed he was now the one fallen behind. He moved along with the cane, Shanpava waited for him.

They caught up with Nimi and Jyobka who was waiting at a clearing. They waved them to the center where many bamboo and palms were fallen. It was like an explosion had hit this spot, then he knelt down on the indent in the earth, rainwater filled the cavity. It was where he had laid he could tell cause what was left of his shirt lie beside tangled on a fallen branch soaked by the morning rain.

?Yes, I had appeared here, I must have, so I must be able to return. Chances I died for, I hadn?t died but was given one.? He looked at his hand and then to his other which wasn?t there. He smiled, he was too tired to complain, and he dug himself deep this time and he would find his revenge on the other two angels.

?I haven?t gathered all of my soul, not yet?. He looked up to the sky.

Nimi tugged on Cinder?s skirt and he bent down to meet him. He smiled warm patting the little boy on the head. ?You?re a good boy Nimi. I?m sure you will be a good Zaijeh too one day. Yes, I sense just like your sister the promising potential of magic in you?.

Nimi nodded and stepped away letting Jyobka say goodbye. She smiled, she was happy and sad. She wiped her eyes and hugged him tightly. Cinder smiled and hugged her in return. She knelt down putting a simple leather anklet around his leg beside his other one, it was of red cloth and a few beads made of wood and glass. He nodded in thanks.

?I?m going to miss you Jyobka you are special, seeing you makes me remember Sessuna. Although my sister was older than me... good bye my little sister Jyobka. Take care of Kanueh?wa; let him not drink so much?.

Cinder looked to Shanpava whom looked away.

?Shanpava, you have done so much. Thank you.?

He frowned as she didn?t turn to look to him, he nodded and walked away he touched her shoulder and headed to the small pool of rainwater.
He knelt down and etched as best he could on a stone nearby and set it in the pool of water, from now on that stone would never budge. It was engraved with strange magic. He closed his eyes but opened them suddenly as he heard something coming through the forest fast.

?Cinder?!

Kanueh?wa appeared running followed by a few kids. He walked slowly past Shanpava wondering why she had her back turn, her eyes were watery. ?Hmmm?.

He walked past Nimi and his sister. Jyobka noticed what he was clutching and smiled seeing it wrapped in banana leaf. Kanueh?wa stood before Cinder and smiled, he offered him the gift. Cinder bowed holding it; with help he unsheathed it, the obsidian dagger of their father. Cinder was surprised; he knew how much Kanueh?wa loved that dagger.
Cinder bowed and offered a gift in return. He pulled off his bracelet it was given to him a long time ago by Lurie. It was a special piece of jewelry which aided the wearer against curses yet Cinder, when he needed never knew Lurie. He would never know if Kanueh?wa would ever come across any curses yet he knew how much his father meant and Lurie meant a lot to him. He bowed placing his hands on Cinder.

?Go now our kin, find what you are looking for please do not forget you are one of us?.

Cinder bowed to the chief respectfully and smiled, catching Shanpava hiding behind a tree watching them. Cinder stepped aside and walked over to her.

?Shanpava?? He wiped her tears and smiled.

?I don?t want you to leave, I finally found someone like me. Somebody who wanted to drift away and be forgotten?. She turned away.

Cinder sighed and hugged her.

?Cinder will miss Shanpava most of all. You must be strong; magic has a way of wearing away at ones soul till you search for eternity for it. If I could I would stay with you, with everyone. This is not my place yet everywhere I go is not my place. Perhaps I was led here to find you, to steer you in the direction of magic or Zaijeh as you call it. If that is so I think I have already succeeded, you?ll do the same for Nimi. Shanpava, I will return one day?.

He bowed to her and walked away, he returned to the chill of the pool of water. He simply waited for a few moments until he found the current of magic thickened. Within a loud bang of thunder which rolled overhead he was gone. The forest became wet once more as drops of rain sang of leaves and clung to the bark and blackened earth. The Children of Larooma cried to themselves in this cruel world. Nimi and Jyobka headed back, Kanueh?wa waited for Shanpava yet she pushed him away. He walked on after his sister.

?I know how it feels Cinder, how it should feel how the pain should heal. I?ll bring you back here once I find what you are looking for. I should have held you one more time. I doubt I?ll ever see you again?.

She looked up to the sky the rain filled her eyes; she blinked, crying, her tears mixed with the rain. The sound of thunder softly hushed her crying. She knelt down where the stone was and touched it.
It was warm to the touch in the coldness of this rain. She then noticed something else lying in the pool of water. Dotted by raindrops it wasn?t easy to see yet there it was a dark feather. She closed her eyes and smiled. It was like her dream being blanketed by a thousand black feathers in a pool of cold water. She held it tight to her body and walked away, she would not worry, she knew.