#rimu

RIMU

Another of the places we visited for the geology, or rather the paleontology, while we were visiting the Catlins.

Curio Bay (and some 20 kilometers of the coastline here) is the site of an 180 million-year-old petrified forest, once populated by trees closely related to the living Kauri (Agathis sp.) and Norfolk Pine (Araucaria heterophylla). The forests were buried in volcanic mudslides and debris at least four times, regrowing in the millennia inbetween, and the stumps and fallen trees have been beautifully preserved on the intertidal platform.

The intertidal platform had a delightful range of species as well. Such as this mussel living inside the hollow petrified stump of a Jurassic tree.

The area is also home to the largest surviving population of yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) but alas we missed seeing them coming ashore in the evening, despite heading to the viewing platform at dusk.

On the other side of the road a forest featuring as many plants as might have been found in the Petrified Forest when it was alive has been planted. At least these days it's unlikely to be buried in volcanic mud, unless something has gone extremely wrong.

Presenting the Aroha family! This family will be essential in "Chosen Family".

Their ages right now would go like this:

Badger - 46

Oliver - 29

Kauri & Rimu - 28

Clover - 27

... AND!

The Eicher Brothers! These are my own designs for Hickory and Dickory, with Dock added to the mix as my OC!

Their ages now go like this:

Dickory - 32

Hickory - 26

Dock - 16

(1): Rumi and Jinu Saja together *Rujinu/Rimu*

(2): Mira, Romance Saja and Abby Saja together *Miromabby*

(3): Zoey and Mystery Saja together *Zoeystery*

(4): Zoey, Mystery Saja and Baby Saja together *Zoeysterby*

@true-justice

~~~

Part 2 of the series!

Part 1: Der Weg der Sarentu

(I highly recommend starting with that ;-)

English below!

atm this fanfic is only available in German!

Translation is waiting for beta-reading.

(NOT LOOKING FOR A BETA-READER THOUGH!)

You can start the english version here!

Please don’t translate this using AI or without asking first, thank you :-)

English is only my second language so constructive feedback on those snippets is always welcome.

Thanks!

~~~

»So’lek…« Nun klang Rimu, als hätte sie einen Kloß im Hals. »Hör auf zu reden, als müsstest du dich verabschieden.«

Tamteys Ausbildung übernahm die Kontrolle über ihren Körper.

Zwei weitere Soldaten.

Vier Schüsse, um auf Nummer sicher zu gehen.

Das Magazin war leer.

Achtlos ließ sie es fallen, schob das nächste ins Gewehr. Ließ es einrasten.

Duckte sich unter dem Türsturz.

Weiter.

Einfach nur weiter.

Ihr Atem ging schnell.

Sie sollte ihr Funkgerät ausschalten, doch sie konnte nicht.

»Was ist, wenn ich das muss?«, fragte So’lek. »Was ist, wenn …«

»Nicht. Rutxe«, fiel Rimu ihm ins Wort. »Sag es nicht.«

---

»Bist du immer noch der Meinung, dass ich mich nicht verabschieden sollte?«

So’lek saß mittlerweile trotz der Anstrengung fast aufrecht. Auch so reichte es nur knapp, um sein Gesicht über Wasser zu halten.

Ein Großteil der Beleuchtung fiel aus und nur Notbeleuchtungen erhellten notdürftig die Umgebung, tauchten alles in ein grausames Rot.

»Ich bin der Meinung, dass du nicht solche Sachen sagen solltest, wenn dein Herz doch schon so offensichtlich jemand anderem gehört!«, schimpfte Rimu und gab ihm unter Wasser einen Klaps auf die Schulter.

So’leks Mund wurde trocken. »Was meinst …?«

»Skxawng! Lass es einfach! Wir wissen beide, dass das zwischen uns damals nicht mehr als eine Schwärmerei war. Aber ich kenne dich immer noch, So’lek!«, fiel ihm Rimu ins Wort.

»Du hast mich nie so angesehen wie sie. Hältst du mich für blind? Oder irgendjemanden sonst?«

So’lek schluckte.

Rimu hatte sich auf den Knien aufgerichtet und hielt ihn immer noch fest. Ihm stand das Wasser mittlerweile bis zum Kinn.

»Du liebst Tamtey! Wenn du das in dieser Situation nicht endlich zugeben kannst, wann denn sonst?«

“So’lek…” Now Rimu sounded as if she had a lump in her throat. “Stop talking as if you’re saying goodbye.”

Tamtey’s training took control of her body.

Two more soldiers.

Four shots, just to be sure.

The magazine was empty.

She carelessly dropped it and slid the next one into the rifle. She let it click into place.

She ducked under the doorway.

Move on.

Just keep moving.

Her breathing was rapid.

She should have turned off her radio, but she couldn’t.

“What if I have to?” So’lek asked. “What if…”

“Don’t. Rutxe,” Rimu cut him off. “Don’t say it.”

---

“Do you still think I shouldn’t say goodbye?” So’lek was now sitting almost upright despite the effort. Even so, it was barely enough to keep his face above water. Most of the lights had gone out, and only emergency lights dimly illuminated the surroundings, bathing everything in a gruesome red glow.

“I think you shouldn’t say things like that when your heart so obviously belongs to someone else!” Rimu scolded, giving him a slap on the shoulder underwater.

So’lek’s mouth went dry. “What do you mean…?”

“Skxawng! Just drop it! We both know that what we had back then was nothing more than a crush. But I still know you, So’lek!” Rimu cut him off.

“You’ve never looked at me the way you look at her. Do you think I’m blind? Or anyone else?”

So’lek swallowed.

Rimu had straightened up on her knees and was still holding him tight. The water was now up to his chin.