War of Djinn and Men Part 1.

Chapter15

With my request to claim the island heard and the troops seemingly seem to understand that at least these halflings were not somehow inherently evil, they left back to the city. Lieutenant Brockston said he would try to return before dusk but never left us with a reason why. Timous is currently looking after the Leprechauns, and Ion looks after his kids. The wolves, lycans, and I go up to the high ground close by. It's simply for overwatch on the group, to make sure slavers can't sneak up on them. It also gives us a view of the road to the city, for anyone who may try to treat the kids like they are in a zoo. We have a few hours before the sun sets; normally, we'd be collecting wood for fires. Before we left the group, we asked the kids to gather melon-sized rocks to build fires. Because here and now we have magic, we can use Ki to make stones red hot for hours. It's as strong as any fire and easier to make and maintain.

As we sit in the overwatch, Conri is at my feet staring inland, Sassaba to my left looking behind us, and myself looking at the village and the group below. While lying there two of the wolves nestled up to him, he speaks. “Why that island?” I break my observation to look at him then the island in response. “There is something about that mountain I just need to go to, something that makes me need to be there. But our group is growing, and we need more space than a single leprechaun home. We need land, a home for those halflings, more lycans like you if we can find them. That island is bigger than four of the cities in front of us.” Conri sits up and looks back to the City of Petra. Sassaba looks back at me. “Humans overrule all. We have no home.” Conri looks back at me, says nothing, just stares. “Not yet. We don't have a home yet. The humans will need to cross the water to attack, and they will need us to help defend them from whatever the other Djinn are up too.. That island might be the best chance we have.”

Both look to the island, and stare. Neither says a word, and I'm certain I've struck a nerve. Not negatively or offending but something they may have never thought could happen long term. No more caves here and there, looking over their shoulders so to speak. But have a home with other Lycanthropes and creatures who'd be happy to see them and spend time with them like we have. Sassaba snaps her head back to the road to Petra, the same troops with carts draw all our attention. “Well, It's been a few hours. Let's go see what's in the carts, and maybe we can get an idea of how our request is mulling over in the city.” We start walking down our hill. The men don't seem to be moving aggressively, and other than swords, the twelve or so of them seem relatively calm. At least from this distance, so we aren't in a rush; we continue our walk.

The Lieutenant and his men beat us to the group of kids. Looks like they start to unload tents and some other supplies. “Hello Lieutenant." I call out as he stands next to Ion, Ion seems confused at all the supplies. “Hello sir, The governor ordered us to bring tents for the children. I hope it's not too invasive.” I look to Ion who still seems taken back, and answer for him. “I think these will be pretty welcome. Thank you for coming back out.” I respond while watching some of the soldiers show the kids how to pitch these tents and stake them to the ground. I can notice a few standing back watching the oddest-looking children Faun and Satyr. Maybe not out of disgust but just unaware of what to think, kind of frozen in shock. I think Brockston catches me watching them, so he calls out. “Let's continue unloading the supplies, men…” The few men snap back to reality and move to the cart to continue the unload. “Clean water, bread, meats, soap, and clothing. The council to Petra would like the halflings to remain out of the city so we don't have any riots. But they were not blind to the fact that these are only children; we will try to support you as long as possible, but if the slave traders return… I don't think we will let you in or come to help.” Ion lowers his head, but I look to the Lieutenant and answer. “We are still grateful for your help. I'm hoping we won't be here long enough for them to return.” He looks out to the mountain from the island I hope to call home. “You know they have navies, if they wanted to wage a war they could easily. And I don't think they would hesitate at all to attack so few…” Conri stands to my right side, the entire camp freezes and stares at him. Brockston's eyes are wide, Ion looks pretty calm enough. Conri says loudly so the whole group can hear. “We are not few. You stand for your men. We stand. For our kind.” Sassaba gives off a long low growl, the wolves repeat after her some with a few barks.

Several of the older children, maybe 12 to 15, stand straight up right after, which seems to shock Ion. The children who look more non-human also look like they've had enough after today. Fed up with how they were treated,the irritation and disgust of the day wears heavy on the expressions on their faces. The camp is motionless and silent other than eyes swiveling. “I… Think we've reached a precipice. Humans have hunted and pushed non-humans to the limits. Those Djinn we talked about, the ones trying to take over this world. I'm pretty sure they are behind this. And here we are, the outcasts finally coming together to make a stand. But I want you to know if it's the slavers coming after us. We will probably make it just fine. If it's them after you, you might make it all the same. But if all of us start to come together… What chance would they stand?” Timous says aloud a distance from us still sitting with his patients

The kids start pitching new tents, Brockston and some of his men stare at the kids. This is probably the first time they've gotten to see this other side of life, and maybe these men feel guilty. But maybe it's working in our favor. We unload the cart, and the men start lining up to leave. Timous and I start heating the rocks with our magic, impressing all; even Ion seems a bit surprised. I look up to see Brockston and his men watching us. They are all shocked by the hot rocks and look on in awe. I stand and nod to Brockston, who nods back and commands “Moveout men. Let's get home.” I think to myself “Maybe I just made a voice of reason for the council to hear now. Maybe we will see some real human involvement now. Maybe we really will make this happen.“

For a few hours we watch the kids play and drift off to sleep one by one, putting themselves to bed. The Fauns and Satyrs try to sleep together closely. Ion and Timous end the night with a few younger halflings cuddled up to them. Both kind of look like hairless monkeys if I'm being honest. “Sonny, help put this young one to bed for me?” Timous asks, looking at me from across one of the hot rock fires. “Sure old man, I'll get him.” Smiling back at him and getting up off the ground to get the kid. After I pick him up, I start looking for a tent to put him in for the night. Ion softly calls out “This one's got room…” I walk back to him where he holds a tent open, tucking the child into some form of sleeping bag. It's got a thick padded bottom, sewn shut in the lower half and able to close over the top half by your head. It looks rather comfortable looking over sleeping on the ground.

I look back and see Ion and Timous camping down by the fire. But I'm nowhere near ready to sleep. I decide to try and meditate, to see if Hugh can tell me why I'm so drawn to the island, or even where we stand. I walk on one of the berms where there are now men buried in it and sit. I then remember men are dead and buried there and look around for a new place to sit. As I peer into my surrounding area I see some of the Gremlins venture out of the carriage. Maybe 2 feet tall, skinny, green, and natural eggshell tan bellies. A few stare at me, probably unsure of me. I give a smile and a wave, a slightly taller fatter bellied one waves back, And they venture around the campsite, and I choose to sit where I am. And begin to meditate on Hugh. This time I feel myself astroprojecting quickly. I start looking at myself over my back from several feet up and continuing elevation. I see all the camp and then for some reason, my vision changes like when I add Ki to it. I see through the tents and everyone inside. I notice fauns and Satyrs in one slaver's wagon sleeping. There are 2 Gremlins 30 yards from them having sex. “Let's focus on Hugh..” I think to myself and try to shift my vision.

I look back towards myself continuing to increase elevation; I can see my Ki network and I can see the bodies in the berms…. My vision starts to go white, then pitch black. “A candle in the distance?” I can't move; I'm not in control. I hear heavy breathing and footsteps. The candlelight gets stronger; the footsteps get heavier. It's some kind of jail cell with a barred door and rock walls like a cave. My vision looks down and I can vaguely make out hands; I think I am seeing through someone else's eyes and they are crawling to the light. They make it to the cell door; there is another cell there almost directly across a hallway. The light appears to be torchesand its 3 men in robes. There's a girl in the other cell, and she's shrieking “No! Please No! Mom!” I feel my heart racing in terror. Then I smell it, it's stronger than flesh eaters. It's so much worse. They are opening the cell; the other girl is trying to scream but can't. She looks paralyzed with fear; one man drops all his robes and walks towards her, the other two look towards me.

I can hear her voice, “No! No! Please no! I wanna go home! Help! Help!” The men are at the door; It swings open as one holds his hand to it. The cell is lit a little better, but the details don't make a difference. “Water running? Where?” I ask myself, still seeing through her eyes in that cell. No not water, I feel it. she's pissing herself in terror. One man drops his cloth and storms into the cell; he grabs the girl by the hair and throws him against the wall; he walks up quickly to her as she continues to cry and scream. My vision goes white; It's not the same. There is no Hugh or any other Djinn. My vision snaps again to a TV watching the news. It's a traffic cam showing a crash on the freeway, my crash. “My work van? That was like a year ago ” I think to myself; This person is drinking coffee. Star tattoos on their wrist. “What the hell is this?” I ask myself as this person starts moving around.

“C'mon Hugh, why am I seeing these?” The person walks through a house. Maybe an apartment; It's a girl in a light pink silky-looking robe. She's going to the bathroom. “C'mon Hugh, What the fuck is this?” She looks in the mirror and starts putting up her hair. “I went to school with her? How am I seeing this?” I think as I see life through her eyes, as she turns to turn on the shower. She pauses and jumps back clutching her rob and closing it over hard. “What scarred you?” I try to be more observant as she sheepishly reaches towards the shower again. She turns it on and seems to be more relieved, but I can't figure out why. A knock, She goes to open the bathroom door. A massive black shadow rushes her, hitting her hard in the chest and she's sent flying back but never hits a wall. “She's falling? Where's the building?” She hits the ground hard. And I snap back to reality, heart pounding and Ki surging through me.

There is a large pale man standing over me in bulky clothes, I jump up, and my face shield slaps against my face. I take a fighting position ready to box with him. I start channeling my Ki and can tell I did too much at once because a small force emanates from me outward physically pushing the new man back, and he falls off the berm of dead slavers. I hear Ion and Timous screaming close by, “NO! Stop! Stop!”

I pause and look back to the right to see Ion with his hands up “That's Lodon! He came back this morning.” I hear Timous running around my left, “ You've been meditating all morning, we couldn't wake you…” He says loudly and breathes hard to catch his breath. “Oh no. Lodon, I'm sorry I was shocked to see someone standing over me and then…” I start to apologize to him. “No, No. I'm sorry. I was in your face. I look a bit too odd to just be in someone's face Hahahaha!” London stops me in my tracks. Ido note he is odd looking and but much larger than most people or even halflings. This guy is like a football defensive linesman in an old folks home.

He looks like he's my height and maybe wider. Closer examination of him shows me his skin is odd, a pale shale color clammy-looking. He's wearing a large thick hat that ldripping water periodically, and a long thick coat that looks like two pieces collar popped up. It's also wet, even dripping water from the base by his ankles and the down by the hands. He stands and holds out a hand for me to shake; I take it and look at it briefly.

He has an oddly shaped hand with six small tentacles for fingers; his skin is smooth and rough at the same time, chilled and damp, not unlike a fish or octopus. I think he notices me looking at the hand. “I'm part merman. Mixing breeds can lead to interesting outcomes.” he says, breaking the ice and looking me up and down. I grin. “Yeah, I guess it does. Lodon, I'm Mark. Good to meet you.” His face looks large and almost flat minus a small odd shaped nose with very patchy blonde-looking facial hair. The large hat breaks his look up enough to where it's hard to make a good physical description.

That morning, the kids had slowly woken up and I was told where very happy to see Lodon. It makes me think he's next to take care of the kids if Ion and his brother die, simply because he is so accepted by all of them.The youngest kids continue running to him for attention as we try to talk. When we finally brought him up to speed with all that had happened in the past and let him know the humans actually brought supplies out for the kids the night before. I take a few minutes to explain the disgusting dream or vision that I had, and it took everyone us by surprise and down in our spirits.

“It's too specific; I haven't dreamed of home since I've been here. But to dream of her specifically, the van, and a shadow thing attacked her the way I was attacked…“ I say to the group. “It's either happening, has happened, or will happen soon. Hughes people likely would be able to see that,” Timous says with his hands behind his head and hat off, stressing over the violation of two girls. “Hmmm. But the girls. What does that have to do with the girl from his world? Why the two different images from two different worlds?” Lodon states with his head to the ground. I see Ion looking over the kids, lost in his thoughts or unable to care about what isn't in front of him. We sit in silence, all thinking it over. “The Gremlins' eldest was out last night, and he knew about the men I rolled into the ground. It sounded like he was giving them names and praying for them. Maybe… A chat with him could help…” Ion trails off in his thoughts.

“Gremlins have always been known to be spiritual. Beasts have been rumored to house with them and protect them,” Timous says, looking back to the slavers' covered cart where the Gremlins reside, forcing me to look back at the same cart. “Anything I should know before I go in?” “The younger ones are more energetic and speak frantically. The elders will be slower and well-spoken, the eldest or strongest is has the final say and is usually the leader.” Timous answers me. “I suppose ill we if they are willing to talk; you mind talking to Lodon about the Island?” I ask him Timous directly as I walk to the cart. “So, Lodon, my boy, how was your visit with your father?” I hear Timous ask, probably trying to see how likely it will be for a meeting to happen. I get to the cart and call out. “Hello? I'm at the end of the cart, and I’d like to come in; I need to talk to all of you.” I call out to them, and a frantic high raspy voice responds. “Questions, questions, questions. Come, come, come.”

I enter the cart slowly trying not to let in much light, and the interior has changed completely; there is furniture and a bucket of water being filled with the water bladders Timous gave. Several rods holding the cart's canvas above my head are glowing with the intensity of moonlight illuminating the cart very well.. A few Gremlins peer out from behind beds and chairs; some stay in the open and watch me intently. At the end of the caravan cart is one Gremlin, roughly two times the size of the others by height and muscle. He is maybe 4-5 feet tall, and even with a pot belly, he actually looks strong. Three gremlins bring him four different cloths drapes or what I think are robes. The big one leans forward to the robes, holds his claw out, and his nails lightly glow the same intensity as the rods. The robes turn into a large pillow that isn't wool but looks like a plush soft pillow. In a minor demonic voice, he exhales and speaks. “Ughh… This is the gift of our kind. Destroy human contraptions and make relative things to new things,simple or complex with or without magic. It's been called transmutation; it's one of the main reasons we are hunted after. Sit with us halfling. Let us all be family…”

“Family, family, family…” A small jittery gremlin says peering out from behind the furniture repeats. I sit on the pillow, “That's an interesting gift you got there… What should I call you?” He looks at me puzzled. “Our kind of fairy has no name and no need for them. We know who we speak of and to.” I look around the cart and think I count seven of these Gremlins. I'm pretty sure there is one trying to hide to the left of the leader, and this one is doing an almost amazing job, other than the transmutation lifting him up he hid perfectly. “Where did they capture you? What don't you know of us?” I ask the leader trying to be civil and polite. The big one breathes deeply. “We were hunted in the mountains and brought this way. A king is demanding Gremlins for some reason, no, likely to make gold and magic from nothing. We know of you boy; we heard you talking with Ion and Lodon. We heard of the dreams you say looking for the one called Hugh. we have very doos senses to help us stay away from the humans. But still, 80 or so slavers in our caves can capture a few Gremlins at a time.”

“I see, how many of you are left there? Are they safe?” He shakes his head side to side. “It's hard to say; they could have missed most of us or gotten most of us and separated us. I counted 12; one died and one was revived because you got here in time. I left my mate and sons to help save my tribe. I freed several before I was caught. But now I'm too far from home for our family to travel back.” I look at him momentarily; the big one sounds more like a Native American chief than a Gremlin. “We plan on moving to that island with the mountain. When we move everyone there, we could bring one of you back to your home and try to gather the rest of the Gremlins and bring them with us.Or even just try to get you all back home.” He looks at me, then to a few Gremlins at my left and right.

“Who will lead this island? Simply you? Who does...” I cut him off in his tracks. ‘No! Everyone leads. When we need to discuss issues, we come together equally. Lycans, Leprechauns, Gremlins, halflings, whoever is on that island. We work together to protect each other. No kings. The people and the ones they want to represent them.” I realize I cut him off, not wanting to lead hundreds of whatever will be on this island. I consider apologizing for cutting him off, but he seems at ease. He looks to the others again, one by one. “We will go with you and your kind if, in return, you help us reunite our tribe…” I nod; I said I'd do it, and I'll find a way to make it happen. “I'll go ask Lodon if we can meet the mermaids today. We will get this done one way or another.” As I stand, several Gremlins stand in the open and smile at me; it's creepy at first, then I feel like it's not malicious. It feels more like I'm trusted now, and they don't mind being seen by me.

I leave the cart as politely and as gently as I can. The fauns, Satyrs, and other halflings are all playing together; it looks like they are having a blast. Timous, Lodon, and Ion are in the same area, and I walk up to them. “The Gremlins will stay with us if we promise to go back and try to bring the rest of them to the island, if we are allowed to use the island.“ All shocked, but Timous answers, “Interesting. I figured they would just want to go back to the cave they came from…” “No, it sounds like it's too late for all that. They are being hunted by some king; maybe someone is trying to gather and control as much as possible.” I answer Timous a little heavy-heartedly, imagining the repercussions of magic against non-magic. “Sounds like those djinn may be making their moves now… Kings generally ask for trophies, not slaves,” Ion adds in; all I can do is shake my head. There's nothing I can do but build a better force to fight back.

“Lodon, what are the odds we can speak to the mermaids here?” He raises his head and shakes no. “Not here, Mark. Their home is just past the island; that's why it took me 20 odd years to meet one of my kind. I was only looking off shore here; they are out there. I will take you to them, happily. When we get to the island, you may have to wait till dusk to speak to them. But I'll help.” “Let's get going then; Timous, you should head back with the lycans; your home is still mobile, right?” I ask him, plan in mind. “Leprechaun homes usually are…” He answers unknowingly to what my thoughts are. “Let's get the family together as soon as possible, bring them all here. And hopefully, we have answers about the island soon and get everyone there next.