#grothra

“Gari!?” Yaui exclaimed, “what on the gods green ground are you doing here?”

“Yeah, your supposed to be hunting not sneaking around the town.” Jaf added.

“I got lucky and hit my mark on the first try, albeit I was only able to get one before nightfall, but it’s better than nothing.” Gari said pulling the dead harget off his shoulders.

“The horns on this one, are so small are you sure he will be able to feed you, your cousin, and your Auntie?” Jaf asked.

“You know we can help you if if you need it, if it wasn’t for your damned uncle you would have the thrim to buy meat at the shop rather than having to hunt everyday.” Yaui said cursing in the sinners tongue.

“Watch your mouth, you know if. . .” Gari’s words where cut short when the bishops came up behind them swords drawn.

“And just who do you two think you are spitting on the altar of Norwesd,” Gari gave his friends a dirty look, “and who are you hanging out with these two vandals, now scram if you don’t want to be treated as on of them.”

“He is Gari Kiplier Tuke Tie’est descendant of Kelfn Noitanigami Gelto, son of Kadyr.” Jaf spat at the bishops. Gari gave an annoyed look at his friend, then nodded. The bishops then sheathed their swords and gave a small bow then left heading back for the temple.

“I hate you.” he said looking a Jaf, “you on the other hand need to watch your tongue, you know very well that your friendship with me is the only thing protecting you as it is, but if one of the towns folk hear you speaking in the sinners tongue I will be able to do nothing to save you, the same goes for you Jaf, any slip up in your native tongue and you will be killed.”

“Sinners tongue, it is called retupmoc and our families believed it was the tongue of Zoccra the god of purity.” Yaui said.

“Yeah, but what they didn’t know was that the main landers hate us and everything to do with us, if they did we would be at home with are families alive and well singing praises to this god of purity. Tyc czjn vdvb’c kbv bwx xj khj kowbj. Jaf said to Yaui saying the last part in retupmoc.

“We are not, we have each other and Gari.” he responded hugging Jaf, “and that is more than enough, anyway back to what I was saying before we were so rudely interrupted, we can help you Gari if it is coin you need.”

“Your help is not the kind I nor any of my kin want, especially after my uncle, come it is dark and the sisters shall soon rise, have dinner with me, I am sure my Auntie will not mind.” Gari said making for his home with his friends in tow. When they reached the house the flame of a fire shown through the windows, Jaf and Yaui stayed back when Gari approached the door, Gari’s aunt was known for angering faster than a Krro with a knife in his leg and it was this that made Gari wish he could be back with his friends away from the line of fire. His knuckles were just about to hit the door when it was thrust open by his aunt.

“And by what gods do you think you can just come back here without meat!? Hmm!?, hmm!? None I see. . .” she screamed at him.

“Auntie I do have meat see,” he pulled the harget up by its feet, “I also have friends who have empty bellies and would be delighted if you would feed them?”

“Who is it, you wouldn’t dare bring Jaf and Yaui back here would you. . .” she looked over his shoulder and saw them staring down at their feet. “Fine. I will feed them on one condition, they will not speak a letter in the sinners tongue in my presence, and just know I will hear it if they do and I will report them to the Monks.” she said turning back inside with the dead animal in her hands. Gari turned and waved his friends inside.

“She said she will feed you as long as she hears naught of your native tongue.”

“Fine, but she better not ask any stupid questions about us again it gets harder to speak your tongue when she pisses me off.” Yaui says going inside to sit by the fire.

“Can do, oh by the way is your cousin here?” Jaf asks.

“Don’t know, but you should know she is starting to wonder if you’ll ever ask for her hand in marriage.” Gari says.

“I want to but I don’t have any money to provide for her.” he says heading inside and calling for her.

“She’s not home, she went to the temple to pray for… things.” Gari’s Aunt says.

“I am now Auntie, I heard Jaf’s voice right?” Kalari says looking around for Jaf.

“That you did my dearest.” Jaf says coming from behind the staircase.

“I missed you.” she says kissing Jaf.

“And I you, I nearly forgot how red your eyes and hair truly were.” Jaf said moving to a chair by the fire.

“Kalari I wouldn’t do that where Auntie might see.” Gari said sitting on a stool laughing at the worried looks on his cousins face. Yaui was braiding his jet black hair for it came undone while he ran from the bishops.

“Curse the mouth on you cousin, if it weren’t for those untelling yellow eyes in your head I would know the truth from you.”

“My eyes is it why not my hair or my skin. But accusing me of lying by the blue blood in my veins I never lie, I never said Auntie could see you, only that she might see you.” Gari laughed out.

“Gari if you never lie then I am not purple.” Yaui scoffed out in disbelief.

“Name one time I’ve lied, I’ll wait.” Gari spoke confidently smiling till he saw Jaf smile.

“That one time at the temple, the time at the market, the time at the. . .”

“Yes we know Gari lies about his name and other things, I on the other hand will not lie about my name I am and always will be, Jaria Noitanigami Holestfer conjariupaestful.” Auntie said with the air of being pure and clean.

“We know you are mother, as does everyone in the town, though not for the reasons I would like.” Kalari says to her mother taking a seat at the dining table along with everyone else.

“Before we eat we must thank the gods for they provided us with this meat and we thank those who provide, we praise Norwesd the goddess of all gods, and kahnpadpyre the goddess of life. . .”

“This I forgot about this your auntie prays longer than I take to say her name and it takes me a good long while to say here name.” Jaf said his belly begging for the food before him.

“That she does but after hearing for a couple of years you learn to block it out.” Gari whispers to Jaf.

“And to Alam the god of war, who gave us the power to hunt and fight, may this prayer please you and let us fill our bellies.” Auntie finished and they ate. “Yaui how are you? Have you seen any other Zoccrists?”

“Auntie.” Kalari says in a warning tone.

“No, but I will tell them to sacrifice you to Thgirweniaw if I do.” Yaui replied his eyes never leaving his plate, he slowly looked up and cursed her in krroic.

“What did you just call me!?” Auntie said in a warning tone.

“I called you a gcbtr.” Yaui said calmly standing.

“I am no such thing, you foul creature it was a blessing your family died but a curse you survived, you hcaip.” Yaui ran at her dagger in hand.

“Call me what you will but I’ll be damned to hear you speak of my people, you ybpwvon xzwhj.” Yaui said holding the blades tip at her throat.

“Yaui leave her alone or we are no different than our own, leave her alone or I will leave your side as a friend and brother.” Jaf said standing hand on his own blade. Yaui moved the blade and left the house.

“I will need to go after him Kalari, make sure your Auntie knows I am sorry, I will miss you my love.” Jaf said following Yaui.

“You really need to help Jaf get Yaui’s anger under control, he angers faster than mother, and she angers fast even for a grothra.”

“I know, but that can be done tomorrow, the sun will rise soon and I want to be asleep before it does. See you in the morning.” Gari says heading up the stairs to the farthest of the three rooms. He opens the door takes off his shirt and sandals and falls on to the bed to venture the land of sleep guarded by the sister moons Artlu and Jrustcor. That night he dreams of an angry shadow of black and red and the death of many pain the heart of six shadows of white light. He is awoken by the sounds of pots and pans clanging together, He pulled his shirt back on and slipped his sandals on and ventured down stairs. When he turned and saw the kitchen he saw it was Kalari rather than Auntie making breakfast.

“Where is Auntie?” he asked his voice thick with sleep.

“She is asleep still, but I grew hungry so I decided to make some lemon wheat.” she responded without turning to look his way.

“Smells great cousin, have you heard any news about the rebellion against grothra-cnys, grothra-leic, and nilffin?” he asks grabbing a slice of the cake.

“No i haven’t been out yet, you should go find out and bring the news back to me.” she says turning from him.

“Are you okay? Your not are you, you’ve been crying, why were you crying?” Gari asks concern for his cousin crawling on his face. She turns and starts crying on his shoulder.

“Its Mother she said I am not allowed to see Jaf again as long as I wish to remain under her roof.” she said in between tears.

“I’ll talk to her, make her see some sense and remember that your her daughter and she loves you, but for now you need to get out and breath the air of the forrest it will help calm you maybe we can find Jaf and explain the situation.” Gari says holding his cousin by the shoulders and giving her a look of hope and kindness.

“Yeah, yeah that sounds good, maybe I can jog around the town a couple of times before lunch.” she stands taller and holds herself like a proud Ember-kin. They left and made for the market at the center of the town.

“You know Jaf wants to marry you.” Gari says casually.

“Then why doesn’t he go and do it already I have hinted that I would love nothing more than to be his wife I have even resorted to having you tell him out right yet he still hasn't done it.” she says pulling a coin sack out of her pant pocket, “We are growing low on coins, soon if we do nothing about it we will have nothing.” she says her mind still saddened by love.

“Firstly he want to marry you, he feels that because he has no coin he will be unable to provide for you and make you happy, secondly I thought I told you I am to take a position at Jartee’s shop in seven days.” Gari says looking around for a traveler from towns outside the forrest.

“What I have never heard of this from your tongue nor my mothers.” she says shocked.

“Really? Oh well, you know now, anyway I think I see a traveler from the north, maybe he has news on the rebellion come on lets go ask him.” Gari says leaving his cousin behind to ask the stranger.

“Hello excuse me but do you have any news relating to the rebellion?” Gari asks eagerly.

“Yes though it may not be the kind you want to hear, the leader Nissassa Ailseb Coulor Galetha has gained many followers and is rumored to have the trust of the krro, with his new found power he is planing to kill every grothra and grothra-kin he deems impure, and let me warn you he is no longer planing but doing I very nearly escaped Halgi if it weren’t for the slow-mindedness of the Krro I would be dead, and to answer your question I’am a blood feeder so you need fear no harm from me palemi.” the traveler uttered the last word like a curse.

“Thank you for the news, and I am sorry for your troubles.” Gari said turning away to think about this news. 

What will this Nissassa do, what has he done, how far will he go to achieve his goal, it would seem pretty far to make deals with the scum of the ground Krro. I wonder how far he will get before the clans fight back, I wonder if I should do something to stop him?

“Gari are you hungry?” Kalari asks.

“What, oh yeah I guess.” he responds snapping out of his trance of thought.

“Okay where should we eat? We could go to the the Holy Cup, or the Green Days?” she asks trying to orient herself in the town.

“I like the Green Days more, better apple blooms and the best lemon cider ever like I wish I could only drink it, but Hassau won’t give me the recipe.”

“Awww that's so sad if i cared I might even cry, we go this way then.” she says in a tone driven by hunger.

“Wait I need to do something first.” he then picked up a stick and began to draw in the dirt a symbol similar to a five sided circle with two lines through it.

“What was that?” Kalari asks.

“It was a way to tell Yaui and Jaf that we are at the Green Days, every day we check this road at least twice to see if one of the others has left a mark and if there is one it tells us where to meet the others.” Gari says holding the door to Green Days open for his cousin. He walks in and is assaulted with many smells of lemon, apple, and a strong waft of body odor. The room has some tables surrounded with two to three chairs, a bar at the far end of the rectangular room, the walls once were green, but now look a moss and wether that is because of age or actual moss Hassau will never say. Gari looks around and finds a table with three chairs and walks his cousin over to it and sits down. They sit in silence till one of the workers comes over to take their order.

“What do you two want.” the waiter asks obviously irate and impatient.

“I would like a sobubaco bun, with some lemon cider.” Gari says happily ignorant of the waiters mood.

“I would like the same.” Kalari says pulling out the coin sack and paying the waiter seven deovi. The waiter walks away in the direction of the bar to collect their order.

“So what news did the traveler have?” Kalari asks.

“Nothing great, he says that the leader of this rebellion Nissassa, has gained the trust of many including it is rumored the krro. He also said that this rebellion has began to kill off all the grothra and grothra-kin this Nissassa has deemed impure, he said barely escaped with his life, and that I needn’t fear him because he was a blood feeder, he was a real grothra-leic that is like the first time I have ever actual seen one with my own eyes, though I couldn’t tell anything was different till he told me, he also called me a palemi but like it was a curse.” he said ending in a bitter resentment for the traveling stranger.

“Well then, at least it is nothing to big yet maybe the teachers will help or maybe the Kigam families will, that would be amazing to be able to hear and maybe even possibly see a trebqu do some magic, you know how I love magic it is the most beautiful thing ever.” Kalari says before Jaf sneaks up behind her and sits down in the only other chair leaving Yaui to pull one up from a nearby table.

“Sorry about last night.” Yaui says straining to be calm about it and not begin his usual rant about how his people are treated worse than dirt among the main landers.

“Yeah I gave him a talking to after that and it seemed to have calmed him down a little at least for the moment, how did your auntie react to it hopefully it was better than what I am thinking.” Jaf says asking no one in particular.

“According my mother if I wish to continue living under her roof I am to no longer see you.” Kalari answers.

“Oh well… I guess we should stop seeing each other.” Jaf says as if it is decided.

“What no we can still see each other but I just need to find a new place to live, like with you.” Kalari says in a sweet and loving tone.

“Well I mean that would make the most sense, so yeah I guess you can live with me… wait no your not living with me my house is barely big enough for me what makes you think you can live with me anyway?”

“Probably the fact that I am your girlfriend of three years and it is about time we moved in together anyway.”

“Oh yeah about that I know that you want to marry me, but I don’t think you should I have nothing to give you, I have no money I am one slip-up away from being killed and I have almost no chance of getting a job.”

“I love you, you big stupid idiot I don’t need all that I just need you, and I am going to take that loving look on your face as a yes to this weirdly worded two sided marriage proposle.” Kalari says kissing Jaf and beaming with nothing other than pure happiness.

“I feel like an extra cart wheel, just kind of there not doing anything, but you know I an still there just not being useful.” Gari informs his friend and cousin, indifferent to the fact that neither actually heard what he just said.

“You would think that after talking about in all lunch the effect would have worn off, it certainly did for me.” Yaui says to Gari while kicking a rock on the road.

“You can’t blame her though, she has wanted this for about half a year almost a full cycle even.”

“Yeah, I guess, but still if she could just calm down even a little that would be great.”

“Just shut up and let her be happy dude, even if you aren’t at least let others be happy.” Gari says ever so slightly annoyed by his friend’s hard mood.

“Stupid telling me to shut up. . .” Yaui mumbled on ranting about how he wasn’t stupid Gari was for telling him to shut up. Gari caught ear of this rant and just shook his head in disappointment at his friend’s lack of control over his emotions especially anger. But as his friend Gari let him blow off his anger because after all he was not hurting anybody in anyway, well nobody who cared anyway. The four of them walked around the town till the doors of shops closed, and windows of homes shut letting the light of fire shine through the cracks.

“Kalari it is getting dark and your mother hates it when we aren’t home before dark, it’s like she still thinks we are Kadyr-kin, which I guess we are in a weird way but still.” Gari said walking down to the house that had his bed.

“Yes she does, see you in the morning Jaf.” Kalari says while waving at Yaui and hurrying to catch up to Gari.

“Do you think she’ll have dinner? I hope so, I am really hungry.” Gari says salivating at the thought of food.

“You think about food to much, but you are always hungry so I guess its justified in a way, but still you and food are seen together way to often.” Kalari says opening the door to their house.

“And by what gods do you think it is okay for you to be out so late, you could have died, or worse been arrested.” Auntie says as they enter the house ignoring her rant.

“Is dinner ready?” Gari asks looking around.

“Food is the only thing you ever think about isn’t it, but yes I have dinner just about ready, go ahead and sit down while I finnish it up.” Auntie says abandoning her rant at the question. Gari and Kalari pull up chairs at the dinning table and not a second after they sit down Auntie comes out with the food.

“There, Now to pray. . .” Auntie began praying ignoring the ravenous looks Gari was giving his plate of food. The moment Auntie finished praying Gari stuffed his face as fast as he could. They ate dinner in silence, once everyone was finished they all went to bed without a word to each other. They didn’t speak to each other not out of spite or hatred for one another but for lack of things to say. Over the next few days Kalari slowly moved out of her Mothers house and into Jaf’s. Wether her mother knew or not Kalari always wondered, but no matter what she did she couldn’t tell for sure. Gari helped Kalari sneak her stuff out by catching it when she tossed it out the window late at night. The day before Gari was to begin his job Jartee’s shop, Auntie caught him sneaking some of Kalari’s belongings over to Jaf’s.

“What are you doing with Kalari’s things Gari?” she asked calmly but with the air of lie and you will drop dead.

“Uhh… n-n-nothing, what about you.” Gari asks frozen in shock and fear for his cousin coming rath about being caught, and his aunts rath about not telling her what her daughter was doing behind her back. Auntie gives Gari a look of pity, and watches his face as he realises the mistake he just made, the mistake that practically secured his death. He looks down in disappointment and falls behind his aunts steps as she heads back home. When Auntie opens the door she catches Kalari with her stuff in a crate reaching for the door, it only adds to the rant she began preparing when she caught Gari. Kalari looks from her mother to her cousin her face shifting from fear to anger and defeat.

“To cut you off before you even begin you presumably long winded and internally practiced rant let me explain. I am moving out wether you like it or not, and to make sure you couldn’t object I decided to move all my stuff to Jaf’s my future husband mother, I am marrying him again wether you like it or not, Gari was just helping me move my stuff so leave him out of it he wasn’t doing it out of spite or anything other than just being helpful.” Kalari says to her mother adopting a fighting stance. Gari being on the sidelines for this fight watched as his aunt grew red with anger making it hard to tell when her hair stopped and her face began.

“Before you say something you regret Auntie remember you love your daughter, and she is growing up please don’t do anything just let it be you can’t control her or me all of our lives, well I guess if you have food I’m an easy mark, but still let her live her own life and learn the way she will wether it be the hard way or the easy way, that is something she needs to find out for herself.” Gari says bracing for his Auntie to hit him full force with her rant. When she lets out a sigh and sits down by the fire, both cousins let out their pent up breath and look cautiously from one another to the chair where she sat. they sat down on either side of her when she broke down crying.

“I-I made the same choices you did my lovely daughter, and they ended up being the wrong ones, but who knows maybe when you do it they will be the right ones. The only way to know is to let you try, both of you let me be I want to be alone for awhile.” Auntie says drifting to a land of time past when she was many years younger. Both of them got up and picked up Kalaris stuff and began the journey again to Jaf’s house. The road to his house was still and silent with the sound of the forrest.

Jaf opened the door on the second knock, “Your eyes are filled with sadness but your face with joy…” he starts when Gari interrupts him, “First we need to set this stuff down, second I need to eat, and third Kalari will fill you in on why we… what ever it was you said.” Gari says not waiting for Jaf to answer and moving inside and quickly finding some dried meat to snack on. He nods to Yaui sitting by the fire and Yaui nods back. Kalari sits down and begins to explain what happened. 

Gods why has no one done anything about this Nissassa and his rebellion, like he is literally killing innocent grothra just for being “impure”, why have the teachers done nothing surely they can do something about it. And if they have why haven’t they succeded yet. Maybe he is protected by some demon or maybe he is a Trebqu, that's a scary thought a magic killer, if that is the case then to kill him or at least stop him you would need a magical weapon of some sort, like the Light of Staar, or the Four Stones, or… The Hidden Sword, a sword that marks it’s master so that only the wielder can see it now that would do it if only we knew where it was the rest of us could defeat him… we just need to find it and he is as good as dead, I’ll find it and bring it to the teachers in Noitanigami and they can defeat him, yes that's what I’ll do, that's what needs to be done even if it means leaving everyone behind.

“...and that's what happened.” Kalari spoke sadly but with a smile on her face, “Are you okay Gari, you look sad…”

“What… oh yeah I’m fine, I just have something I need to do…” Gari says putting the food down and leaving Jaf’s house to return to his own to pack for the journey that may take many months or years. Jaf and Yaui run up behind him.

“What are you doing dude, please tell me it’s nothing stupid that's what I’m supposed to do not you dude.” Jaf says concerned for his friend.

“Yeah dude what are you doing, you can tell us, screw that you need to tell us.” Yaui says stoping. Gari sighs and turns to them.

“I’m gonna try and find The Hidden Sword and bring it to the teachers so they can beat Nissassa so they can stop him from killing thousands of grothra and grothra-kin just for not meeting his standards of pure. Its just… I have to do something, let me do it. Jaf keep my cousin happy and Yaui keep Jaf happy…” Yaui interrupts Gari’s little speech.

“Wait who’s supposed to keep me happy, why is no one keeping me happy. Why can’t I be happy.” Yaui says puzzled and a little annoyed at it.

“L-let me do-o it.” Gari says turning back and heading to his house.

“Okay…” Jaf says turning back to his house with Yaui. When Gari reaches his front door, he goes straight to his room and backs his pack. He goes down to the kitchen and finds some dried meat and bread, as well as his water skin. He throws his pack over his shoulders along with his bow and arrows. He pats his leg where his twin blades are strapped to him. He leaves the house he called home for many years, the house where his Auntie is sleeping, the house he was determined to protect.

He was just leaving behind Kiplier, the fire light of his home town his home clan behind when he heard shuffling behind him. He whipped around a blade in his hand.

“Woah dude not trying to kill you, one might say the exact opposite of it actually.” Jaf says pushing the blade down and away from his chest.

“Yeah were here to help you…” Yaui begins when Gari cuts him off.

“I told you to stay, to keep Kalari happy to keep Jaf happy to keep each other happy and safe, this-this is the exact opposite o-o-of safe y-you… l-look at w-w-what you d-did put me under s-s-stress and made me s-s-stutter.” Gari says getting more and more stressed and angry as his friends just watch him stutter, and at the fact that they came to try and join him.

“Breath, calm down and let me explain. We decided you where going to need help, because no one knows where the Hidden Sword is, but it is the type of thing that people kill for, so you would probably like some help protecting that life of yours that everyone holds near and dear to their heart.” Yaui says.

“I understand,” Gari takes a deep breath, “but I don’t want you guys to die on my watch or because of me, because what would I do then…” Gari finishes with a sigh.

“We won’t die, I mean we are only looking for something not actively trying to kill someone. We are coming wether you like it or not Gari and I will fight you if you try to stop us.” Jaf says holding up his yranoitcid and getting into a battle stance, Yaui does the same.

“Fine. You can come but… I will do this no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes, no matter anything I will do this.” Gari says starting back on his journey.

“So… where are we going?” Jaf asks.

“South to Noitanigami, to the Library of All, hopefully it can give us a little more information on the where abouts of the sword even if its just where it was seen a couple hundred years ago, that's better than what little information we have.” Gari says not stopping or turning back.

“And what do we have?” Jaf asks puzzled.