The Last Lands

CHAPTER 23 FREEZES THE BLOOD

The Covered Eye sees through the veil.

Kad held the pendant between his long fingers. His thumb traced the etched in lines, a half-closed eye and four lashes delicately carved into the stone.

I wonder what Nani would say to us if we went back. Do you think she would be angry?

The night wind bristled the fibres of his pelt. They had climbed to the top of a small hill-top, barely a mile from the savanna, but Bimi could go no further. Kad had begun setting up the camp long before Naika helped him to the top, and they made a fire in between the small outcrop of large boulders. Kad sat atop of one, illuminated by star-light. The moon had become a pink wedge, a slice of grapefruit held aloft in the cosmos. The last drifts of smoke had all but blown away, and Kad was alone.

Maybe it was better this way. Clearly you weren't meant to be part of their mission.

Bimi snored softly while Naika was completely silent, occasionally rustling as she turned uncomfortably on the hard ground. Crickets and cicadas called in constant chorus.

That was my mission too. To protect the weak, those who couldn't fight for themselves and I...

His fingers closed over the pendant, hiding the staring eye.

How can I fight for those when I hesitate?

His back stiffened at the sound of shuffling, before realising it was Naika. She threw her cloak off of her and muttered bitterly. He realised his hand had shot instantly to the hilt of his sword.

It's okay, you're not alone.

Naika sat up, rubbing the bridge on her nose. Kad could feel her, the same thing he felt with Bimi, and he knew she too, had removed her coverings. She stood up slowly, her bare-foot struggling against the stones.

“You can't sleep either?” She said, a little too loudly.

Kad quickly hid the pendant under his cloak.

“I'm keeping watch.” He said in a low, quiet voice.

Stones crunched and Naika grunted as she ascended the slope, and climbed clumsily onto the boulder where Kad sat. She sighed, holding herself against the night chill.

“I can't imagine how you would ever sleep.” She said, not dropping the volume on her voice. “Rocks, bugs, and the quiet! It's a strange thign to say, I've never heard anything like this quiet.”

“You get used to it.” Kad said flatly. “It becomes peaceful after a while. Even Promise Coast or Journey's End become too loud after a week out here.”

“A week?” She said, feigning astonishment. “I don't know if I could dot hat. I don't even know if I can get through tonight.”

“It won't be any different in Gentle Stream.” Kad replied. “The quiet is everywhere.”

“It's not just the quiet though, is it?” She said, shivering slightly. “Everywhere I can hear things. Things crawling, or barking, or buzzing. Some things sound and feel big. You said there were monsters here, what are they?”

“Some are just animals, I guess.” Kad responded, pulling himself into his cloak. “There were some goat-like animals on a mountain, then I could feel this big meat-eater hunting them. Huge paws, breath sounded like a Shift-Mobile crashing. There was a group of these enormous monsters that trumpeted to each-other.”

“Trumpeted? Like with instruments?”

“It was just the sound they made.” Kad said, unamused.

“I felt something crawling on my arm earlier. It had so many legs.”

“There's a lot of those out here.” Kad admitted. “Some really big ones, under the mountains. Spiders, with little men riding on them.”

“Ha ha.” Naika said sardonically. “I suppose you're gonna tell me there are giraffes with little faeries out here too.”

“Probably are. Those stories all came from somewhere, I guess.”

A silence grew between them as trees swayed around them.

“I don't think I like it out here.” Naika said. “I thought I was ready to leave the city, but now I'm starting to miss home.”

“I don't.” Kad said absently, reclining onto a rock. “I feel free out here. Sure, people are just as horrible and stupid as they are in the city, but no-one's telling me where to go, what to do. I can just walk by myself, explore places people have probably never been to before.”

“I don't feel that. I feel like I'm being watched, even more than I did in Peridios.” Naika began to shiver in the cold.

Kad relented, and pulled the cloak off of his shoulders, and handed it roughly to Naika.

“Thanks.” She said. “You won't be too cold?”

“No.” Kad lied, clutching his body tightly to keep the warmth from escaping.

“If you feel so free out here, why do you keep your wrappings on?” Naika asked, snuggling into the pelt.

“I don't know. Never really thought about taking it off.”

“Me and poppo hardly ever keep them on when it's just us. He says we should be comfortable being our true selves.”

Your true self is a killer, Kad. Are you going to tell her that?

“I guess...I'm just so used to keeping it on. I don't really think about it.”

“You can take it off now.” She said cheerfully. “You know, if you want to.”

Kad's fingers fumbled towards his head-wraps, stroking the soft linen.

“My father...he never took it off in front of me, so I never took them off, as a kid, didn't even really clean 'em. My foster-folks did, after a fair bit of resistance.”

“I suppose it does feel risky, doesn't it? Like someone's gonna catch you.” She said empathically.

“I know it wouldn't really matter if they did. Not out here, anyway.”

“People will probably still say its illegal.” Naika added. “Even if they did, I bet poppo could talk 'em down. He's good at that sort of thing.”

“Yeah, I suppose you would have to be, sitting at a community centre all day.” Kad muttered bitterly without thought.

“Actually, he didn't do that.” Naika said, flaring with anger. “When he was younger, he was quite a trouble-maker. Used to call himself a revolutionary, going to protests and vandalising pro-IRC buildings and vehicles. Got himself arrested in eighty-one during the big protest of Thalie Okusiba, that Yetrai girl who was kidnapped and beaten to death by a guardsman. He's done so much to fight for us, so we can have a better life than he did.”

“Yeah right.” Kad scoffed. “I doubt it's been any different than this for all of us.”

“The fact that we can go to schools, or restaurants with other Sapes is because of people like my grand-father, and the fact we're still not seen as equal, is because of people like you.”

“Like me?” Kad asked, stunned. “What did I do?”

“There are news stories everywhere about how you killed a IRC councillor, Kad. They have your full-name, face, everything. I know you said you didn't do it, but what happened? Why did you want to kill him so bad? Did you think it would change anything?”

Does it matter?

“It wasn't just me.” Kad spat defensively. “There was a group of us, all different races. We wanted to bring down the IRC systematically, teach people not to stand for those things. Cassius was the first target, then there was to be four more, but it went wrong from the start. When I finally got there, I...I looked him in the eyes, dead to rights, but I couldn't do anything. I could feel his fear, the shifting of his urine threatening to spill out, I smelled the cowardice on his breath. I wanted to teach him a lesson, to show him fear, and in that moment, I felt like I did. He finally saw the world as a Consumer does.”

“Then who killed him?”

“I don't know. His security caught up with me and attacked. I fled, from New Citadel, all the way to Spi'Ra, careful not to be seen. It was probably another member of my group, blaming it on me to get out of jail, but I heard they caught Havlok anyway.”

“Was he the leader?” Naika asked.

“No, just an idiot. A Nocterran.” Kad said with displeasure.

“Who lead it then? If it was someone else's idea, surely they should get the blame?”

Clack.

“Like they would believe me. I'm their bad-guy, they'll just lock me up and call it a win.”

Kad's shaking became almost violent as the cold cut through him. Naika watched him sadly, before opening the cloak, and helping drape it around Kad's shoulders. Gratefully, he pulled it, dragging her closer to him.

She smells so good.

“Did...did you ever do any protesting?” Kad said through chattering teeth.

Naika shook her head.

“Poppo advised me not to. He said community is the best course for change.”

“Hmph. Sure.”

“You'll see.” Naika said brightly. “When we get to Gentle Stream, you'll see it.”

“I keep telling you, I'm not going to Gentle Stream.”

“Sure you aren't.” She said, smiling.

A sound echoed through the trees, distant, but constant. The cries of birds and beasts had ceased, but there was something rhythmic in the air, travelling across fields and through valleys.

“What is that?” Naika asked nervously.

“I don't know.”

It sounds like singing.

*******************************************************************************************

The singing carried through the night, rarely faltering. It lulled Naika to a gentle sleep , but the ominous lullaby only grew anxiety within Kad. The darkness began to shit slowly as dawn appeared, and finally Bimi stirred, stretching with a grown of pleasure. He clapped his lips together heavily. Much of the forest was still stained with darkness, and the sounds of jungle animals gradually began to decline.

More than ten, less than twenty. Over a mile away, I would say.

“What is that? It's beautiful.” Bimi said.

“Shhhh.”

“Are they friendly?” He asked, propping himself up.

“I don't know.” Kad whispered, grasping the sheath of his blade tightly.

Somehow I would doubt that, eh Kad?

“Quiet.” Kad hissed.

“Alright, alright.” Bimi said, rolling away from his cloak.

Beside Kad, Naika too began to stir.

“Perhaps we should go see them.” Bimi offered. “They must be nearby.”

“They're not close.” Kad whispered sternly. “Sound carries itself differently out here.”

Naika roused herself from her sleep, her hands gently patting at the dirt nearby. She bristled at the morning chill.

“Where...?” She said groggily, before coming to her realisation.

“Quiet now, wait for them to pass.” Kad said.

Bimi stood himself up on his brittle knees, cricking his back as he rose.

“I'm sure they mean us no harm, pushta. Anyone who sings so beautifully must be of no threat to us.”

“We don't know that. We don't know what it is.” Kad said angrily.

“It's still going?” Naika murmured grumpily, rubbing at her exposed mouth.

“Perhaps its those missionaries we saw before, they'd be happy to see us, I'm sure.” Bimi said enthusiastically.

“All the more reason to avoid them.” Kad said through gritted teeth.

Naika stood up, clutching at her cloak, pulling the hood over her exposed head.

“How far is it to the mountains from here?” She asked.

“Still a few miles. Should be able to make it before nightfall, without any distractions, anyway.”

Bimi picked up a stick he had been using as a cane, standing almost as tall as he, silver and green, flecked with moss and lichen. He poked the earth with it.

“It would be nice to make it somewhere with a bed tonight, eh muymum?”

“I can't imagine you'd make it through the mountains tonight, Bimi.” Kad said.

“Maybe the singers are heading towards Gentle Stream too? It might be safer in larger numbers, Kad.”

“Or they might be mad cultists and killers.” Kad sneered.

“You can't judge people until you've met them, pushta.” Bimi said.

“You have to, out here.” Kad said, feelign the anger rip through him.

What do these tourists know? You weren't even that naïve when you came to these shores.

Kad rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly.

“Things aren't like how they are in Peridios. We have no idea what is out here. If I'm going to be your guide, you're going to have to listen to me.” He pleaded.

“Maybe Kad is right poppo.” Naika said nervously.

“Nonsense.” Bimi said, waving his hand. “I have every faith you can protect us from animals and monsters out her pushta, but people are my speciality.”

He beckoned Naika over and the two began collecting their belongings, as Kad hissed in frustration.

“If you're going to find them, I'm not coming with you.”

“You should, pushta. We should stick together out here, Yetrai or no.”

Clack.

“This is stupid.”

Let them go, if they want to see what the real world is like so badly, where's the harm in a little exposure therapy?

Kad gripped the leather wrappings around his scimitar tightly as he watched Naika assist Bimi down the decline. He thought about waiting for them to come crawling back, but something unknown compelled him to follow them.

Well, even if it goes wrong, it should be entertaining.

The singing grew louder from the North. The Jungle had slipped into a deep slumber for the morning. Sounds of frogs and birds chorused from afar, but the majority of the movement from last night had ceased. The three consumers heard the sound of running water tearing through the sleeping forest.

“What is that? A river?” Naika asked.

“It is.” Kad said, keeping a few feet behind them, senses on high alert. “A fast flowing one, too. It circumvents most of the savanna and into an inlet, about fifteen miles north of Journey's End.”

“You know this place well, Khasha.” Naika said, impressed.

“I've had time to explore it.”

Soon, the singing melded with the sounds of the river. As they reached the breach of trees and saw the thin but quick water, bursts of sunlight broke out, but there were no singers. Bimi's ears began to twitch.

“Hmm, seems they are following the river. Think we may have just missed them, eh muymum?”

The three followed the trail of singing, growing ever distant as the river widened itself. Small shores and stony banks flanked their approach, when finally, beyond the canopy of tall trees, the mountains loomed ahead.

“Do you smell that?” Naika said. “Cold, and fresh, a different type of forest.”

“It's the mountains.” Kad said. “We've taken a longer route, but at least they are nearby.”

The tops of the mountains were a deep green, growing lighter as the peaks reached towards the forest that mingled with the jungle. A bright sky illuminated the unseen backs of it, and a gentle mist peered through the peaks. The deep heat subtly dissipated as they followed the ominous chants. The singing failed to falter, over a dozen voices of various races, ages and genders chorused together, but a distinct foundation of exhaustion was deeply seated within. The river gave way to a small canyon as the rocky walls began to climb.

Kad led the two consumers away from the river, briefly breaking for Bimi to regain his breath, as they ascended the new grass that crested the rocky hill. The dense forest had all but given up, now taller, darker trees with harder spikes for leaves took their reign. The heat was gentle here, butterflies and darkly coloured dragon flies flittered between the river and the trees, their flapping sounds distressing Naika, who could not fathom their beauty. The singing grew louder, and louder, as the morning light deepened and flourished into a beautiful blue. As they crested a hill, they saw a column of the chanting singers, paired and walking in file, each one of them holding a rapidly depleting candle, the white wax seeping over their hands. At the head of the column, was the Moon-Orkan, heading though the shallows of the river, and towards the other-side. Each of them were clad in filthy white robes.

“Oh for X sake.” Kad hissed. “It is those stupid missionaries.”

“See?” Bimi said optimistically. “I told you they would be fine!”

“That remains to be seen.” Kad muttered bitterly.

The chanting began to drop as the column reached the water, washing their faces and drinking gratefully from it. The strange woman who appeared to be their leader let the water drip over her scalp, raising her hands up into the morning light, humming ominously. The three Consumers slowly descended towards the group, as they began to sing to each-other once more, a choiral hymn that seemed to enrich Naika and Bimi, but filled Kad with a great sense of dread.

There's sixteen of them. They might be missionaries, but we're not gonna win a fit of one on sixteen.

Bimi and Naika chattered excitedly to each-other, but Kad barely heard a word they said. There was something troubling him about the group. Since leaving the city, Kad had found the shimmers to grow brighter, but the details were difficult to see through. Each species of Sape had their own signature, some pulsated with more energy than others, and here, everything he had learned had subtly been altered, an adjustment he was struggling with.

“Let's go see them.” Bimi said cheerfully, leading with his walking stick.

Together the pair strode on out from the blanket of vegetation, with Bimi loudly greeting them.

“Good morrow, friends!”

No, this is bad. We have to think, assess the situation.

Sixteen missionaries, including their leader. Some of them began to gasp at the sight of seeing a Consumer in the wild.

I hope you're ready Kad, if this goes south, you're going to have to abandon your brethren.

The group began to slowly cluster together, like a herd of Ox defensively anticipating a lion. He could feel the excitement bounding off of the naïve pair approaching the oddly dressed strangers.

That's not going to happen, we ust have to figure out what's going on here.

The group began to whisper nervously to each-other.

“Consumers! What are they doing here?”

“Is that what they are? But they....they don't...”

“That's illegal! What should we do?”

Bimi stood firmly, planting his stick into the muddy ground.

“How are your travels, friends?” He asked the mob, who continued to swirl with apprehension.

Half of these people are armed.

Eight of them carried staves, carved to almost be cudgels. They were thick and clasped tightly within hands. A few had daggers to their belts, one had an axe. The rest carried large bags loaded with supplies, but there was something strange about the souls he could sense in the centre. There were four, on their knees, in apparent distress.

They don't smell like the others. They are dirtier, one is a young girl, no older than twelve. From their scents and shimmers, I'd say they are a family, the mother is a High-Eve, and the father is a Silver-Dvergr, the son and daughter are their mixed children. They're struggling...

Kad bolted upright.

We've got to stop them, before-

The crowd parted as the leader of the group walked towards the two Consumers curiously. Her lilac skin almost shone under the daylight, and her black bob-cut was matted, with a leaf contained within the strands. Above her slightly protruding tusks were dark yellow eyes, lazily considering the two in front of them.

“I am sorry if we disturbed you. Would it make you more comfortable if we placed our veils on her heads?” Bimi said calmly, reaching for his linen cover.

Kad bounded out from the vegetation. He could feel the four on the ground twisting wildly. Their hands were bound.

“Stop! Get away from-” He managed to shout.

“These, too.” The Moon-Orkan said in a calm, yet commanding voice.

Three of her followers stepped forwards, each holding their cudgels. One was an Umbral, who had the appearance of a bat, with furred, pointed ears and a horse-shoe nose, their sleeves had been removed to make way for their winged arms. Central was a Sloukian, with orange, slug-like skin, their eyes balanced on thin stalks, a layer of ooze always seeping from their skin. The third was a Cacharis, pale blue skin and teeth of a shark. Their beady black-eyes betrayed no emotion as they advanced on the two Consumers.

Kad was sprinting, unsheathing his scimitar. The bound captives in the middle shifted, turning to see them, horror and relief seeping off of their bodies. The woman gestured to him too, as the cudgels were brought into the stomachs of his travelling companions. He heard their pain as they slumped to the floor, and he began to pull at the wraps that concealed his head.

Release me Kad, release me!

The Umbral stood forwards, teeth glaring sinisterly. His staff was next to him, making no move to strike. Kad brought the blade upwards, preparing to bring it down. The bat did not flinch, instead opening their mouth, baring pointed teeth. Kad heard a deep inhale of breath, and suddenly, there was nothing but excruciating pain. To the other Sapes, the high-pitched screech was nothing but a whistle in the wind, but to the three Consumers, it was a thousand knives appearing throughout their body, threatening to burst through their skin. The scream was relentless, forcing Kad to his knees. It ripped past his fingers that tried to cover his ears to no avail, the needles ran straight through them. He tried to call out in agony as the world dissapeared. All scents, shapes and shimmers were torn away from him. He couldn't think, he couldn't breathe, he could only endure.

Finally, the breath from the single screech escaped the Umbral, and Kad fell forwards into the mud, twitching and occasionally convulsing. The world did not return, eclipsed by a constant, shrill ringing in his ears. The darkness grew cold, and through it, he could hear the echoes of a voice, deep and sinister, calling him away.

**********

Kad? Kad?!

He awoke slowly to the sounds of someone calling him. His body was wet and aching. His face was freezing cold, his torso felt heavy. Slowly, the sounds of the river returned. His hands were tight, something burning along his wrists. He couldn't move them.

They're bound...what happened?

Groggy thoughts circulated his clouded mind. Confusion and pain had warped him into something primordial, without thought or purpose.

The river...there's people around us...

He was on his side in the mud, his hands tied behind him. He twisted them, but his body was weak. His fine cloak had been torn away from his shoulders, his under-shirt had been saturated by the damp earth. His belongings had been stripped from his body, leaving him light, feeling naked as he writhed in the dirt.

“Kad? Are you okay?” He heard a woman ask from a mile away.

He raised his head, feeling the sticky mud still clad to his face.

“Kad? Can you hear me?” She said again.

Who is that?

Slowly, the shimmers returned to him, scents and sounds began to make sense again, and he realised he was in between the group that had assailed them. Their chantings were rhythmic, their smell was putrid. Beside him, were two other Consumers. Their energy was bright to him, but still distorted.

“Naika?” He rasped.

“You're okay.” She said reassuringly, almost to herself.

Next to her was her grand-father, his knees sinking into the mud. His head was hung low, his bound hands were limp.

“What happened?” He asked.

The groaning song grew louder before ending, then the deep sound of an unfamiliar woman's voice through the air.

“Brothers and sisters, now is the time!” The Moon-Orkan cried. “Our journey has been long, it has been fraught with danger, but we are soon to be there! Let us give thanks for our new gifts.”

Kad could feel the intensity as the standing members of the group sneered at their new captives. Somewhere among them, one of the children whimpered.

“How far is it to meet Raca, Sister?” The Sloukian follower asked.

“Half a legua by the river bend, before the mountain deepens, Brother.” She answered. Ushering her followers to leave.

The group began to move, grabbing their captives. The Cacharis, stinking of blood and salt like a true shark, roughly grabbed Kad by the arm and pulled him upwards.

Out of everyone we've been captured by so far, these guys are the worst.

“Come on Consumeys, move!” He roared.

In single-file, Kad trudged forwards behind Naika. He could feel Bimi struggling, his old feet barely able to stand in the soft earth, unaided by his walking stick. Kad could smell their belongings dispersed amongst the group. Naika and Bimi had their foreheads bound and hidden roughly by their own veils. Kad could feel their discomfort and fear stagnating.

We told them this would happen, why doesn't anyone listen to us?

Onwards the group marched, and continuously did the convent sing. Kad could not discern much of the words, most of it seemed to be harmonies, or perhaps many of the group did not know all the words. The ground began to harden, the cover of the jungle was long past. Kad could smell the grass and heaps of dung that belonged to the stretching savanna.

What we wouldn't give for one of those cats to find us now.

The scent of his cloak was a few people ahead, but judging from the voice, Kad knew it had been taken by the Umbral that had knocked him out.

When we get free, he's the first one to go.

A brief spray of rain brought a damp chill among them. The family cried out to their god, and the father was struck in the ribs by a cudgel.

“Knock it off.” Hissed the Sloukian.

They marched for half an hour, when the cold air grew thicker. Many of the group muttered to each-other as they stood in awe of the mighty, verdant mountains.

“We must be close by.” One of his captains murmured.

The tall grass tickled at his wrists and waist, a great breeze carved its way through the dry heat that reigned before.

“There, Ular!” The Umbral called out. “He's over there!”

Many of the group rejoiced, calling out freely and happily. The pace was increased, the Cacharis pushed a finned hand into Kad's back, urging him to go faster. Ahead of them, Bimi stumbled and fell hard ahead of him.

“Poppo!” Naika called out.

The Cacharis pushed past them and pulled Bimi up, dragging him back onto his feet.

“Nearly there, Consumey! Move it!”

The column excitedly surged through the grass and towards a small incline, filled with rocks and damp soil. The Consumer's senses began to go wild, as several new scents and shimmers revealed themselves. There were eight, each with identical robes to those that followed the Moon-Orkan. Similarly, they too were dishevelled and filthy. A large figure stood before them with his arms out wide, walking slowly to greet the woman who led them.

“Ular, you found us!” He called out with a deep below.

He was one of the Rhinox, standing tall and thick with grey hide. His deep brown eyes sat before a tall horn that protruded from his nose, and a smaller one beside it. He embraced Ular with his thick arms, standing almost an entire head taller than her. She gripped back tightly.

“Raca, it is good to see you brother!” She called out into his cloth.

The followers behind him mingled with their column, exchanging greetings and hugs.

“How was your travels?” Raca asked.

“Long and perilous.” Ular answered.

“I am glad you were able to follow my instructions. The place I wrote about is not far from here.” He said happily.

“We are ready, brother.” She said with a sense of awe and poise. “Show us the way.”

The group assembled themselves, ready to leave, when the Rhinox passed through them, standing before the captives.

“What have we here?” He asked, standing before the High-Eve woman.

“Captives.” The Umbral hissed with sinister delight. “For the ceremony.”

Raca nodded with approval, studying the children, then the man, before making his way towards the Consumers.

“Consumers?” He asked, surprised. “Why them?”

“They approached us without their veils on.” Ular said, causing distressed mumblings to course through the crowd.

“They were gonna eat us.” The Sloukian whined.

“So we bound 'em up.” The Umbral said, grinning.

“Do you think seven will be too many?” Raca asked.

“I think it's worth a try.” Ular said. “We have plenty of time to find out.”

Raca chuckled darkly, and the signal was given to move out. The captives were pushed once more into the middle, following a pace that quickly exhausted them. The afternoon sun had all but vanished, deep grey clouds cloaked their entrance past the mountains.

“How far away is it, brother?” Kad heard Ular ask at the front of the column, his senses trained on them.

What is this ceremony, why do they need captives?

“Not far. Just follow the river-bend, you'll see what I was talking about in my last letter.”

“Naika.” He whispered.

“Kad? What's going on? What do they want from us?” She said quietly, trying to look back at him.

“Nothing good.” Kad responded. “How's the old man?”

“Not great.” Naika said. “He can't go on like this for-”

“Stop you're whispering, Consumeys!” The Cacharis shouted through dagger-like teeth.

Naika winced and turned away, putting all of her focus into climbing the rugged, stony earth.

It was less than an hour before the river showed itself again, wrapping its way around the mountain. Cold, fresh air welcomed them, beneath the looming peaks, as the river widened into a small lake, where a waterfall lay. The cascading water was shrill and loud tot eh consumers, taking away much of his focus from the chatter, which grew more excitable as they grew nearer. The Cacharis howled with delight at the sight of the water, removing his robes despite commands not to do so, revealing a fin on his back. He dove elegantly into the water, and dissapeared for several minutes, before emerging again.

“It's not very deep in there.” He called out with disappointment.

“It is in parts.” The Rhinox called back. “Closer to the falling water, we found.”

Raca led them along the stony shore, the smooth, wet rocks proving a challenge for the Consumers who not see them well. The raging water grew louder, dropping from an indent in the mountains over twenty feet high. The freezing water rippled among them. Kad could sense very little life in the water, save for small fish and frogspawn.

What are we doing here?

As the loudness of the falling water grew almost unbearable, Raca gave the order, and the group stopped. The captives were once more forced onto their knees, the children whining with pain.

“This is the place, Brother?” Ular asked, unimpressed.

“Beyond the waterfall, Sister.” Raca answered confidently.

“How did you find this place?” The Sloukian follower asked.

“There was a storm last week, we were looking for shelter in the mountains. There was a creature, drinking from the lake, huge and fierce, teeth like swords and feathers black as night. It chased us, and in desperation, we sought shelter under the water, little realising there was something behind it.”

The crowd gasped and muttered to one another, eyes darting around for signs of a monster.

“Since then, we've been able to use it as a make-shift base. I think you'll be very pleased with what we've done with the place.”

Raca stood proudly, as a great gust of wind surged through the water, carving a spray of water, and bringing with it a haunting bellow. The screech rippled through the empty mountain air, and the gaggle of missionaries flinched and whimpered. The Silver-Dvergr openly screamed, trying to bolt away, but was shoved down by the Umbral with a snarl. The Rhinox laughed.

“What was that?” Ular asked, a little shaky.

“An air current, as far as we can tell.”

The Cacharis returned to his robes and grabbed Kad, forcing him forwards, as the group walked uneasily to the torrent of falling water.

“Be careful brothers and sisters.” Raca called out, smiling sinisterly. “The water freezes the blood.”

Raca and his entourage went through first, then Ular, the leader. The other captives were pushed through, squeeling with discomfort, before the Consumers were shoved through. The water rained down like icy knives, the roaring water enveloping the world. Kad felt his body shudder as if shot by rubber bullets. The pain was intense, but brief. The cold drained every part of air within his body, leaving him a gasping husk as he was shoved through the other side.

“Welcome, Brothers and Sisters!” Raca called out.

The cavern was freezing as the damp followers were urged inside. It was wide, with several pillars and columns of stone. Stalactites hung from the tall ceiling, and shadows were warped into snarling monsters. It reached deeply, beyond candle or torch-light and into a darkness so absolute that it could swallow even an abyss.

So cold...so cold...

The captives were forced down onto shviering knees again. Many candles had been lit, placed in various placed. Kad could smell paint and ink, sensing that many of the rocks had been decorated in black iconography.

“Well done Brother.” Ular said through chattering teeth. “Th-this will do nicely.”

Raca beamed with ominous pride.

“Shall we wait for the ceremonies?” He asked.

“I see no reason why we should.” She answered quickly. “We've waited a long time for this.”

“C-c-can we at least warm up first?” The Umbral asked.

The Moon-Orkan growled with distaste.

“There will be ample time, Brother.”

She withdrew a small Silver Dagger, made by the hands of Dvergr.

“This is the beginning, of a new age for us.”

“Wh-what are you going to do to us?” The High-Eve woman asked in distress.

“Please, don't hurt our children!” The Dvergr pleaded.

“The pain will be temporary.” Ular responded.

“Aren't you people with the church?” The Dvergr asked desperately. “Is this how you would worship Voss Nova?”

A sudden laugh rippled through the crowd, with Raca laughing the hardest.

Ular stood towards the Dvergr and gripped his cheeks with a hand.

“My dear, we are not with the church. We are against it.”

“Then who are you people?” The captive woman called out.

Ular grinned, a deranged glint fiercely burning in her eyes. She reached for the sleeve, revealing her left wrist. The other followers did so too. Each of them revealed a black tattoo, a circle with eight angled lines, and a red symbol within. Raca brought over an object in both hands, concealed by a white cloth that he held carefully and with reverence. He placed it before them, on an outcrop of stone, and unveiled it, to reveal a clay urn.

There's something in there! Something...beyond malevolence!

The urn was etched in black paint, long lines and flashes of red mingled together, revealing the same symbol on it. It was still, but the Consumers could feel something inside, stirring.

“We are the Sect of the Spider.” Ular replied. “And tonight, we shall harness their great power and bestow it among ourselves.”