13Chapter 13 - A Lifetime's Metamorphosis
Returning to the hut, they found the orca Ocienas discussing together. Réin, his younger sisters and Mido'raioh spoke in Ociena language. Neither the Prime nor the human understood a single wood, and yet Optimus felt increasingly fascinated over the Ociena language. It sounded so different, yet familiar simultaneously. Keiöh, Zeza, Sén and Ezhno were there too. As soon as the couple entered the hut and sat down, Réin had his eyes on them. Also, the couple saw Keiöh's blushing cheeks for he glanced back and forth between them and Tsí'nobua.
Tsí'nobua glanced briefly at him, acknowledging his presence but appeared far less interested. Optimus found it quite adorable. Lucky sat behind Keiöh's head with his head resting on the dreadlocks. But then, his optics met Réin's gray eyes and his spark skipped a few beats for a sparkbeat. He knew he must talk to the Ocienas. Once seated down on the ground, the Prime had his optics to the Ociena brother, but right before he'd utter a word, Réin raised his webbed hand to gesture a hand movement that said 'stand up on your feet' and then motioned the cliff where his cave was.
Quietly, Optimus got up and followed the taller Ociena, thou he did tell Eva quickly that he will come back. He hoped whatever Réin had in mind was nothing serious. Luckily, they walked afar from the hut, yet close enough for them to sprint back on a short range. That moment, Réin gazed to the horizon across the inland sea with an expression that Optimus was unsure what it was about. "Optimus... is it true you've given wáo'siskáa Mido'raioh Úllsaautsa?" Réin abruptly gave him a question.
"Y-Yes, that's true," Optimus stammered, caught of guard. He felt tiny as he stared up to the tall Ociena brother when he saw Réin turning concerned and somehow protective. Almost immediately, he asked. "Did I make a wrong decision?"
"No. You made the right decision," Réin's answer surprised Optimus. But then, he gazed back to the horizon and his concerned face saddened. "But you must give me this promise that you'll treat Mido'raioh like she means everything to you and your clan. Like she's more than a family member and sister..."
"I promise with my whole spark," the Autobot Commander nodded immediately. Yet, he was sure that the taller man didn't believe in him at first. No response followed. For a moment, he thought he spoke it in wrong way or if he had to put more effort to convince Réin more. "I promise that I'll cherish her dearly and the Clan of The Forbidden City will equally cherish her like she's one of us and she will always be one of us."
Just then, Réin turned his eyes back to him, staring sharply. The aura of protectiveness radiated from him. Standing still, Optimus braced himself. But then, without warning, the Ociena closed his eyes and nodded a single nod, humming a deep hum.
"Vóioh!" suddenly, Tsí'nobua called out. "Väämo'veiskóaa Réin! Eva Dawnbringer has something to tell us!"
Directly, in haste, they hurried back to the hut where they sat down. Optimus sat beside Eva.
"I don't want to bring this up, but I have no other choice," Eva began. She looked at Réin. "My clan is in grave need for new members. We've lost our shaman, Izi Rainsinger, and then Kay'åh Moonsky, our medicine woman..."
Keiöh, Zeza and Sén shared the same apprehensive energy for they knew their little group won't last long without new members.
"Eva Dawnbringer... To get members, you need to show your culture," that was then Réin spoke serenely. "If your culture connects a strong and deep bond to water, you'll convince many to join your clan."
He paused for a moment, inhaling a deep breath through his flattened nostrils as if he tried to recollect his thoughts and choose his words with care wisely.
"However, should you make the decision to willingly merge your clan together with an Ociena clan for an example," he continued, rising his webbed hand to point at Mido'raioh and his younger siblings. Tsí'nobua and Ao'vanna had their eyes on their oldest brother, vigilant to hear what he will say next. Mido'raioh on other hand had her eyes half-down. "Then you will be treated as a family member by everyone, and your culture will be shared and maintained with great respect."
As it happened, Optimus saw disbelief in Eva's eyes. She appeared like she hadn't thought through it nor did she think on the possibility of her clan merging with another clan. Directly, she turned her eyes to Optimus and he saw the worry visibly, which he responded by grasping her hand to give her reassurance.
"If I'd let my clan merge with an Ociena clan, I guess there will be tasks for us to gain trust from others," she then said, apprehensively. "And if one of us fail..."
"That's not going to happen. Nobody throws someone outside just because someone would fail one task or all of them," Réin shook his head, his square face expressing sympathetically. He read Eva's anxious body language with ease. "The only few things one Ociena, Tse'hrahra or human would get shunned and cast out is if you commit crimes or turn out to have a very bad attitude that causes a lot of harm."
Tsí'nobua and Ao'vanna nodded immediately. Mido'raioh moved her gaze to look at Réin.
"And should you turn so aggressive and violent that you pose yourself a huge threat to others and make yourself dangerous," Ao'vanna added. Almost directly, she turned quiet as hesitation shaped on her face while glancing to Mido'raioh. "Then..."
"Then what?" Zeza mouthed impatiently, mostly caused by the unpleasant agony her slow healing wounded leg was causing. She silenced immediately by glares from Keiöh, Eva and the Ociena siblings.
"What will happen is you'll be labeled as Läthéeinyáa," Tsí'nobua answered. "It means Clanless Outsider."
Hearing the translation shocked the little group to the core, especially Optimus. Visioning himself or one of his members get clanless terrified him. He can't risk losing his humans, his family. Instinctively, he shifted his optics down to stare at Eva's large belly. If something happens to Eva and little Hope that would lead them to be Clanless Outsiders, then he would never forgive himself for it. His protectiveness to Eva and his human family awoke fiercely. But just then, they got interrupted by a call.
The call sounded like a chittering firefly mixed with barn owl's haunting shriek, but pretty quickly the call transformed into a song that sounded like a low pitched chirping wail, deep and mystical like a humpback whale song. Then, as Optimus and the rest stepped outside to see where the sound came from, they saw the large silhouette of Xiakka flying down, and they witnessed the Crak'wek-wek grabbing something white from the mangrove tree tops. To their horror, Xiakka held Onnák in her paws.
Though, as they followed Réin to a good spot where they could see afar to the horizon without trees on the way, they saw how Xiakka flew higher and higher fast as she seemed to fly to a spot far out to the sea. Quickly, they got accompanied by Touishéyagi, Ryssa, Torokíänn and finally Yáui'higoah and his little brother. Also, Ezhno and Tinni accompanied them. Even Nezu'kéinau's twin sons and daughter, who heard the song, ran to the gathered crowd.
"What's going on?!" Yáui'higoah sounded horrified. "Xiakka won't do such a thing! Xiakka!"
"Ya mistaken young Suora," Touishéyagi replied. He'd shaped a toothy smile as he had his eyes on the quickly disappearing of Xiakka as she entered the clouds. "Onnák is ready at last."
"Ready for what?" Keiöh mouthed his question. No answer came.
Indeed, what was happening was a life-changing step for Onnák. Now ten years old, the time had come at last. While chittering its enchanting song that enthralled Xiakka in total mind control, the Láwényääh larva grew more and more excited. It was finally ready. It was the right time for it to become an adult at last. But to do it, Onnák had to perform one of the most spectacular events in the changed world of future Earth. As Xiakka flew higher and higher to the height where the air grew thin, the Láwényääh larva suddenly stopped singing and its entire body glowed up into hot light.
Almost immediately, Xiakka squawked out while she dropped the larva before shaking her hand-like paws, feeling the sharp burning pain spreading over her arms. That heartbeat, as Onnák plummeted down, the larva turned its head down and began to spin rapidly in an unbelievable speed like a drilling screw. As it spun fast, its entire body radiated so much body heat that Onnák glowed up like a sun orb, shining brightly white. The beautiful song was replaced by a new call; a low-pitched trilling wail rich of yearning.
Falling through the clouds, the extreme heat triggered a sudden vaporization as the hot orb cut through the clouds like a heated blade, which caused the clouds to push away, clearing up into thin air. The wail diversified into vast variety of low-pitched chittering, chirping tweets and long range frequencies of trilling hums. The orb started to change into a flaming fireball when the flames spread out in a whirling dance, revealing to be fine silks. The metamorphosis had begun. And as the whirling silks brightened brighter, a flaming structure burst out.
The structure took shape into an elongated bat's wing arm. Then a second arm burst out, and the first pairs of arms began to extend outward, transforming into broad hybrid bat and insect wings of pure sun flares. Within second, two more wings with three long edge tails burst out, followed by a third, smaller pair of wings with longest back edge tails that spun into elegant twists. The flaming fireball started to metamorphose into a new body.
The group watched in total awe as the entire cloudy sky glowed brightly, and while using their hands to cover their eyes, Optimus was first to see the fireball appearing out from the clouds. Both Akiak and Frosty barked furiously. The other Cove residents watched the scenery, although they stayed close to the garden lake. That moment, the fireball succeeded to make a sharp turn to avoid collision on the inland sea surface. The fireball began to flap its four massive wings, and as it happened, the wings started to get abnormal stripe patterns glowing in bright light.
The entire fireball had transformed into a gigantic, yet elegant wyvern creature. By then, the flaming shape let out a wail of rejoice. The wings shone into glittering rays of sunlight by each flap. Like a meteor, Onnák gracefully flew over the water surface, directed toward the Cove where it then took a turn upward like a plane taking liftoff. Astonished in enthrallment, the Prime and his humans swung around to see the blazed wyvern flying past above them, feeling the hot heat from its flaming body.
It was then the whole sky above opened up, the clouds sweeping away as it swung into a spiraling dance upward, and itself illuminated up in bright heavenly light. At the same time, a loud chirping screech was heard and broad luminescent gleaming lights shone from the wings. Though, it took barely long for them to comprehend what was happening before the light dived down, then swung to left and continued its flight, flying over the whole landscape of marshlands. The clouds vanished around it.
As it occurred, Optimus turned his head to see a very tearful Touishéyagi. He was not alone. Ryssa and her siblings had tears rolling from their eyes. Uncertain how to ask or what his words would be, the Prime turned his optics to the Ocienas and his humans. His spark quickened when he saw Réin. The orca Ociena brother had his open hands outstretched while humming a single deep hum. The rainclouds had vaporized into smaller, yet dense clouds, and rays of sunlight finally shone through.
"Onnák i-i-is im-im-imago at last," Ryssa stuttered, entirely mesmerized and tearful. Tears streamed from her green eyes.
Though, unexpectedly, the flaming wyvern took a sharp bank turn as if it wanted to fly swiftly over the landscape in hurry, returning back to the Cove of Solitude. The trail of flames traced far and long as its majestic flight brought a spectacular sight of a life time event. The wail sang constantly, somehow seemingly bringing a presence of tranquility upon the land. It felt like an eternity until Onnák made a final descend of elegance, slowly gliding down and made a sharp turn down to the Cove's beach.
Everyone managed to get down there in right time, and once gathered at spot in crowd, they watched Onnák landing down like a crane with grace. What happened next was completely breathtaking. Standing on its three-jointed hind legs, Onnák reared up with its staggering wings spread upward. Almost immediately, the flames engulfing Onnák's new body started to extinguish, trailing to the edges of the wings and turning into small multicolored embers.
Gasps and cheerful tears were heard while some were silent, too stunned in astonishment. Eva and Optimus were utterly amazed as they stared mesmerized on the wyvern creature. Then, Onnák raised its new head to unleash a new screech. It sounded deeper, more peaceful and full of triumph. Onnák lowered its forewings down, using its front forewings to walk like a bat. Indeed, the Láwényääh's adult form was completely different.
From once a tiny larva, Onnák was an outstanding moth-like, short-necked and short-tailed wyvern creature with a staggering wingspan of twenty-eight meters on all four forewings and ten meters wingspan on the horizontal hind wings. While standing on a height at four meters and body length at seven meters, Onnák brought an impressive presence of a safe heaven upon everyone. The wyvern head appeared to be a hybrid between a barn owl and a moth; the upper jaw was a barn owl's upper beak while the mandibles were more related to caterpillar mouth from larval state.
Deep orange whorled horns extended behind its head, a pair of long hairy moth antennas full of glittering dust and small red horns extended above the large insect eyes that glittered in soft blue and turquoise. White fuzzy fur covered Onnák's head, neck, chest and withers whereas rest of its heavily robust and bulky body was thickly protected by red hardened exoskeleton body plates with thick skin between gaps. Four double-jointed front and middle blade-like insectoid legs were tucked under the chest, well hidden under the fur.
The short tail had seven hook-like stingers below, sealed inside slits, and the easily recognizable pair of tentacles stretched out between the tail. But what took everyone's breath way was the wings. Despite bat wing shaped, the wings were fluffy moth wings and the patterns were breathtakingly beautiful and intimidating. The patterns variated vastly; thin and wide tiger stripes, gigantic eyes and thin thunderbolts. The wings were vividly affluent of colors; snow white, ink-black, honey orange, deep ruby red, emerald green and amethyst violet.
That heartbeat, as Onnák's blue eyes gazed around, it met Eva's eyes and Optimus' optics and chirped softly. Although protective, Optimus used his servo to cover Eva's baby belly, but almost regretted when he looked through the insect eyes. Those eyes were deeply soulful. Onnák posed no danger nor intention to bring harm upon anyone. Listening on the chittering chirps, he understood directly and he slowly moved his servo away.
Though unease, Eva stood perfectly still as Onnák lowered its head down, approaching gently toward her swollen belly until the tip of the owl beak were more inches away from the exposed skin. The chirps softened into a deep humming song, in which sounded like a lullaby. That moment lasted briefly when Ezhno came to stand beside the expecting mother, and he was brave enough to extend his hand to touch on the Láwényääh's beak. More chirping chitters came from Onnák. That was then Touishéyagi walked in haste to check on the moth wyvern.
"Ainosukán, ya are the winner," he exclaimed. "Onnák is tsá'úniqû, just like ya predicted."
"Kutzû!" Barukoago swore out, swinging his right fist on a direction safe away from others. "Ainosukán, you've won twenty times in row of guessing games now!"
Hours later
Thanks Onnák's spectacular metamorphosis event, the gloomy rainy weather had ceased and the sky was now clear and sunny. With the warmth from the sun, more activities came. Zeza and her Indra'tang busied themselves on learning new commands and practicing. Because of her injured leg, she had to take it slow and easy. Ezhno explored the entire Cove of Solitude, though he made sure he told Optimus and the other adults where he will be and he would call out if he gets himself in trouble. Keiöh spent his time training his boomerang skills; being in a new landscape, he must stay constantly vigilant and ready when unexpected things happen.
Though, the event had not gone unnoticed. It took much less than an hour until Sörentör along with Réin's younger brothers, Yxa Sharkfang and several elite warriors to come and see Onnák's new appearance. It brought more amazement, which led the visitors to get excited. But it was when Nezu'kéinau stepped out from Mido'raioh's earth home to show her newborn baby to Sörentör hat everything turned to better. Invited as guests, Optimus and his humans got to join the Ocienas as they traveled by canoes on the safe, shallow waters close to the cliffs heading to the Southern Cove.
Touishéyagi, his family, Yáui'higoah and Yuiaga were also invited. Báso'kéen riders accompanied them for safety. It took quite some time until they arrived there. Unlike the Cove of Solitude, the Southern Cove turned out to be a massive sheltered lagoon bound to a slightly narrow cove. The sheltered lagoon gave the Clan of the Lake People a safe haven from the dangers in the deep waters. Both the cove and lagoon was more a temperate rainforest with both mutated coniferous and broadleaf trees. The mutated trees brought a sight of entering a tropical paradise.
The lagoon had also a spectacular coral reef within, which was a perfect place for youngsters to swim, play and practice free diving. What captivated the small group was the gigantic and vastly various structures of Ociena watercraft. There were countless of multi-hulled sailing boats, double-hulled catamarans, outrigger canoes with both single and double outriggers, sea kayaks and long dugout canoes. The large sail boats and catamarans had flexible and powerful crab claw sails, and each boat had broad deck area with stable cabin structures big enough for ten members to share. Each seafaring vessel of the whole clan were finely carved with painted formline symbols on bows and sterns.
It awoke many memories of the Forbidden City. Taken to the Southern Cove's beach, Optimus and his humans joined the crowd as they gathered at the middle of the beach where three large totem poles stood in a triangle position on a dune. Luckily, Optimus and his group managed to get a good spot where they could get a great view, nervous and alert. Then, as it happened, a loud hush was heard, in which brought the crowd into silence. Suddenly, in the midst of total silence, an elderly Ociena hummed a deep hum before starting to chant a song.
As quickly as the chant began, several Ociena musicians wearing ceremonial robes stepped forth, shaking rattles to start the ceremony. Other musicians stepped forth, hamming on drums rhythmically whereas some clapped their hands. It took not long before more members joined the chanting. Enthralled, Optimus saw Eva, Keiöh, Zeza and Ezhno joining in the rhythm as they clapped their hands. Several dancers appeared, wearing ceremonial cloaks and animal masks over their heads. They danced around the fire pit, their movements transfixed on the rhythm.
Abruptly, a loud whooping call was heard, and in entered Réin into the dance. Réin had dressed himself into a majestic eagle dancer, depicting himself as a Stórawingé. His ceremonial feather pelt had countless number of blue fringes resembling the Thunderbird's electrical tendrils over the back, and both wings had long wood planks with fine hand-carved symbols. His eagle mask intimidated everyone who'd look upon it. He performed a ritual dance. The ritual was a complex, yet vivid dance. The musicians moved like shadows around the flames. Watching the ritual, Optimus could not help but admire Réin's dance movements.
Réin danced like an eagle in the rhythmic flow of the song. Though, watching Réin's dance and listening on the chanting led the lubricious feeling to burn alive inside Optimus' chest plates, in which he fought hard to hide it behind his stoic face plates. Yet, it kept whispering him to grasp the chance. But on that exact moment, Optimus realized something. Mido'raioh was out of sight. In haste, he excused himself to squeeze through out the crowd, unaware that his humans noticed him leaving and they changed their minds to follow him instead.
When they got outside the crowd, they saw the Ílmarii-Väinné sitting on a boulder next to a mutated broadleaf tree. Instead returning back to the crowd, the group chose to stay with Mido'raioh, accompanying her. Although, the Prime could see the uncomfortable energy from the Ílmarii-Väinné. When he or anyone in his group gave questions to Mido'raioh, she gave simple answers.
But at the same time, the group didn't want to leave her alone. What left Optimus and his humans puzzled was Mido'raioh's avoidance to answer the more complex questions given to her. If it hadn't been the vital preparations for the Summer Solstice Festival that would come in fourteen days, the celebration would have lasted longer. Yet, it gave the small group an opportunity to see the Clan of the Lake People and get to know the clan better. Almost instantly, the canoes and boats caught the humans' interest. They missed the feeling to balance on a boat.
Around the time, Optimus got a chance to have a good conversation with Yxa. This time, Yxa was not alone. He had his son with him; Káiba Dragonfang, the White Dragon Slayer. Also, while Optimus got lots of attention from the elite warriors and hunters, Eva, Keiöh, Zeza, Sén and the children got attention from the clan members in the Clan of the Lake People, in which proved to be very appreciative for the small group. Eventually, as the sun reached its peak of the day, the Clan of The Forbidden City decided to return back to the Southern Cove.
Yxa, his son and the other elite hunters of the Dolphin Clan left the Southern Cove too, but not before they shared information to Optimus. Tomorrow morning Yxa and his son will focus on the start of a huge rite for adolescents living in both Dolphin Clan and the Clan of the Lake People that must pass through annually, in which lasts for ten days. Káiba gave his suggestion to give both Ezhno and Tinni a small trail first to see which one of them would be best fitted for the huge rite.
The trial caught Ezhno's interest mostly. Tinni expressed the opposite. She expressed fear. Oddly, Sén declined the invitation to join the trial; it was due the commissions Yxa had given to the boy, which he didn't want to leave them unfinished.
It was around late afternoon approaching to evening and the scorching heat from the sun led lower activity as many sought refuge in the shade. With the promise of incoming evening, there was a chance the heat would go away. Onnák spent their whole time flying around, screeching and chittering full of joy like a child. In the heat, Eva borrowed the shell cascade top and skirt from Mido'raioh again, in which she allowed her for the time being until Eva crafted her own swimming garments.
In Touishéyagi's forge, the alligator Tse'hrahra checked on Optimus' scarred chest plate with precise concentration. He checked also on other scars. Ryssa and Torokíänn were there studying and observing their father's movements whereas Barukoago and Ainosukán were by their father's side, studying the Autobot's scars.
"Hmm, there's no doubt 'bout it. Ya plate's got deep cracks," Touishéyagi spoke, his blond eyebrows arched. "I estimate this will be a great challenge to get ya repaired."
"Touishéyagi, there's a thing you need to be aware of," Optimus said. "You see, I can use my magic thanks to a type of steel in my steel. Though... finding it and left alone crafting it will be a huge if impossible task for you."
"Impossible ya say?" Barukoago replied with a taunting tone. "Then ya would be surprised to see how incredibly stubborn we can easily become when we get a task to do."
"Hmm... Ya mind to use your magic?" abruptly, Touishéyagi gave the Prime a question. "I gotta see how ya magic works."
Without hesitation, Optimus showed the alligator Tse'hrahra his magic. Taken down to the breach, Optimus showed his ability to transform between robot and truck form, in which made the Tse'hrahras amazed. Although, the Ociena siblings were there too, watching petrified but quickly understood that the Prime's magic was bound to shapeshifting. Eva was there too. After a long moment of studying and learning, something clicked inside Touishéyagi as his blue eyes grew large.
"Pa?" Barukoago was quick to notice the expression.
"Barukoago, you know the big ol' Shái'ullák cuttlebone and Xéao'luu shell?" the alligator Tse'hrahra turned his eyes to his charcoal-painted son, who nodded back in return. He then turned to Optimus who stood on his true height, thus he was on one knee. "Optimus, I think we might have a chance."
Curious and eager to know, the Prime shrunk down to his microform and followed the Tse'hrahras. They headed back to their home where they entered inside the stone house. Optimus and Eva got a chance to view the inferior inside their stone longhouse. The inferior was well organized and beautiful. There was an enclosed chimney with secured fireplace, a rectangular wooden table, three stone cupboards and a floor door leading to a basement dug up below. On the outmost corner lay four beds in an inverted U position.
The basement was the storage where the Tse'hrahra family had their water-sealed jars, dried herbs hanging on the ceiling and leather tool bags, stones in various sizes and wood planks. A beam crossed the ceiling, securely hammered at place, and below hung a steady beam supported by strong ropes and chains. That moment, down in the basement, Touishéyagi and Barukoago had stretched up their hands to the hanging beam. That was then Optimus quickly discovered that beam was not a wooden ceiling beam.
It turned out to be three meter long orthocone shell that gleamed weakly like opal, and as soon as the shell was put down on the stone plated floor, Barukoago moved over to pull a leather pelt over, revealing a long, broad cuttlebone whose shell had thin stripes glimmering in soft violet amethyst. The Prime and his human mate stared stunned over the shells, then curiosity claimed their minds.
"What are those shells?" Eva gave our her question, trying to squat down but couldn't do it straight without feeling some back ache. Yet, she stubbornly resisted the aches and succeeded.
"These shells belong to Xéao'luu and Shái'ullák," Touishéyagi said, his hand caressing over the long, straight shell. Just then, he raised his other hand to wave a gesture. "Come here."
Calmly, though apprehensively, Optimus squatted down and extended his servo when, out of the blue, his servo detected a weak presence of a metal that only he can sense. Transformium. His optics grew large as he felt shivers trailing over his spinal column before turning his optics to the alligator Tse'hrahra, and he saw the toothy grin.
"I can feel it. I can feel the same metal my body is made of," Optimus felt a thrilling excitement inside him. "And... No way! I can feel small traces of Energon!"
"Ahahaha! I knew it!" Touishéyagi laughed out, delighted. "I knew there's somethin' off with the Xéao'luus and Shái'ulláks in these waters. It makes all sense now."
Hearing that led Optimus to extend his servo over the cuttlebone, and just like the shell, his servo detected the same exact presence of Transformium and weak traces of Energon stored inside the cuttlebone. A short moment later, the alligator Tse'hrahra began to tell the Prime.
"Ya see, I caught these two around two summers after I and my family moved here. It was totally accidental," he described. "It ain't part of the plan that I'd catch 'em on the same night. They got caught in the net by accident."
"Oh jaya, I remember that night," Barukoago remembered. "Ya got real mad when ya tried to pull the test fishnet up and then started to panic 'cause of their illusions and their limbs shapeshifting. I got really scared too."
"Jaya. We g-g-got f-f-frightened over their i-i-illusions," Ryssa joined in, though her stuttering caused her to turn silent out of embarrassment.
"Illusions?" Eva's curiosity peaked up. "You mean they're capable to create illusions to frighten people?"
"Oh jaya, that's roight," Touishéyagi nodded with a rumbling hum. "And they use illusions to lots of things. Anyway, I didn't get spooked just because of their illusions. Nah, I got spooked for it was my first encounter with 'em and their limbs shapeshifting into different things. Oh, and here's the thing... the shapeshifting limbs I saw that night changed between flesh 'n steel."
And as the alligator Tse'hrahra continued, Optimus began to picture the elusive alien world in the depths of the inland sea. A rich but mysterious world where shy creatures sought a sanctuary in the darkness. He wondered what else lived in the depths. But when Optimus heard the fact that the squid creatures could change from flesh to metal, he dropped his jaws in bewilderment.
"I've never seen 'em before until that night. I've only heard ghost stories 'bout 'em," the alligator Tse'hrahra continued. "And on that night, I understood why the ghost stories are spoken among Ocienas. They are so freaking scary looking that I coulda have sworn I saw ghosts comin' back from the dead that night!"
"Ghosts?" Eva turned frightened for a moment, slowly gazing a downcast gaze. Her face turned pale for a moment. She muttered quietly under her breath. "By Erce..."
"About that, where did you find them?" Optimus changed subject, now demanding to know the location.
"Then it's ya lucky day," Touishéyagi gestured a tough head gesture, full of pride and confidence. Abruptly, he raised his right hand, showing all five fingers. "Have ya seen the five cliffs further out in the sea? It happens to be the perfect spot to find 'em there."
Confusion appeared on the Autobot Commander's face, followed by hesitation. Luckily for him, the alligator Tse'hrahra took them outside to show them the five massive cliffs far in the horizon. Pointing at the cliffs, Optimus felt the Energon drained off his face places. The cliffs lay far away, and since Tán and Touishéyagi told him and Sörentör that the lethal Késo'kéen was now migrating, it would be extremely dangerous and lethal to swim on the surface. It terrified Eva a lot as she clung Optimus' arm tightly, refusing to let him go.
"Oh no, no, no, no!" as it occurred, Ryssa suddenly cried out in protest. "Chárakka háoh tsé'nalákka qúaza wáttasha!"
A very loud and vehement conversation between Touishéyagi and Ryssa. It turned so noisy that Optimus had to retreat away, along with Eva who couldn't handle the volume of raised voices. Others that were nearby retreated away to stay out of trouble. A Tse'hrahra family in argument would be equivalent to two families fighting against each other at once. The couple retreated down to the beach instead where they found themselves more comfortable in the sounds of the waves.
Alone, the couple held hands together. But their moment turned short when they got interrupted by disturbance in the shallow coral waters. Luckily for them, it turned only to be Haroku coming up to take a short break from his oyster farm guard duty. The Empásagga stood on the beach, wing arms outstretched whereas taking a nice sunbath. Finding it amusing, the couple decided to give Haroku some space and went to take a nice swim on the safe coral reef.
They stayed close on the safe waters, staying away from both the swan horse herd and the oyster cave. The cool water brought comfort for Eva and the lack of gravity helped her to relax. The underwater world was so different from the ruined city of New York. Optimus swam testing his swimming methods. He felt frustrated over his current Knight form, but as he swam, he could not help but think on Mido'raioh.
Since he spent his time with Mido'raioh in the woods, he felt the feelings kicking inside his chest plates. Then, he thought on them standing outside the crowd back in the Southern Cove. He'd given her a question if she was uncomfortable with crowds, and she simply gave him no answer. The lack of answer set a big red flag in his CPU.
But just then, the legend of Ámárúq popped in his CPU. He should show the cave paintings to his humans. They need to know. They deserved to know.
Almost immediately, he signaled Eva to head back to the beach, and once they came back on the soft sand, Optimus told her. "Eva... there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?" she replied with a puzzled look on her face.
"Come. I'll show you," he said back.
Holding hands, the couple went to leave the beach, only to rapidly stop dead on their tracks when Eva let out a small yip in pain. Hearing the yip caused Optimus change his processor and focused on his human mate's wellbeing. She had her hand on the left side of her swollen belly. Alarmed, the Prime picked her up and carried her to the garden. The Tse'hrahra family was out of sight.
Obviously, they'd gone into the woods behind the stone wall, most likely to continue with their argument undisturbed. Luckily for them, Mido'raioh, Tsí'nobua and Ao'vanna sat in the hut sorting herbs, roots and leaves organized. Directly, Mido'raioh and the sisters assisted the expecting mother, prioritizing her condition first. What amazed Optimus was the cooperation and coordination.
He observed and listened intently as they inspected Eva with great care. Mido'raioh caressed her webbed hand over Eva's baby belly, clicking sounds through her mouth with eyes shut closed. Ao'vanna massaged on Eva's lower back and pelvis. Lastly, Tsí'nobua took up her own medicine pouch, picking up a small turrid shell and opened its lid. She then delicately pulled out a needle from the shell. The needle was thin and tiny.
With great care, she poked on a spot onto Eva's spine on lower back, the tip of the needle just poking through the skin. Eva's face softened as she felt the spine aches vanishing almost immediately, along with the unexpected pain and the pains from her swollen ankles. Whatever the contain was inside the shell, it gave her a tremendous relief from the pain. When relief shaped on her face, Mido'raioh and Ao'vanna gently touched on her swollen ankles and the Ílmarii-Väinné's face changed into concern.
"Eva, do you feel a lot of pain on your ankles?" Mido'raioh asked to Eva. She was extremely gentle on touch. She made barely little squeezes on the ankles, yet the concern on her freckled face deepened.
"Right now, I feel a little bit of aches. But before... I sometimes feel like walking and even standing becomes unbearable for me," the expecting mother answered. "It comes and goes and it happens not often."
Needless to say, Mido'raioh and the sisters exchanged a glance between each other, then gazed to Optimus and finally back to Eva. She then spoke to Ao'vanna. "Ao'vanna, bring the arm cuff."
Ao'vanna nodded without hesitation, then got up and sprinted to the in-hill village. While waiting anxiously, Optimus spent a good moment looking at Tsí'nobua's formline tattoos. Tsí'nobua's throat tattoo depicted the head of a snake connected with strange shapes of three-legged crocodiles on her white mandibles, and the chest tattoo had two hummingbirds sharing a single lupine flower in the middle. Not long after, Ao'vanna returned back with a peculiar object in her hands.
It looked like a cuff made of a sea anemone's column, wired by slender threads encircling around and blown up air-tight. Optimus was baffled beyond belief. Somehow, Mido'raioh had her own blood pressure monitor; it might look primitive on standards but it was better than letting speculation cloud their view.
Within minutes, the Ílmarii-Väinné had her left hand on Eva's elbow while her right holding a firm grip on the wrist to count the heart pulse rate, both Tsí'nobua and Ao'vanna helped together to pull the long rope bound to the wired threads hard. The anemone cuff tightened tighter and tighter until the pressure around Eva's upper arm became a sharp pain of pure discomfort, which Eva grimaced in pain.
Optimus held her other hand, providing her comfort and reassurance as she endured the horrible pressed pain. Fortunately, like it started, it ended with the sisters letting the rope go and the cuff softened. By then, her whole arm ached so much that she could feel the blood vessels throbbing wildly below her skin.
Optimus kept a vigilant eye on Mido'raioh. After what seemed lasting for more than five minutes, Mido'raioh let go of Eva's aching arm and turned her jade-green eyes to the couple. Both Optimus and Eva could see the serious concern visibly on the Ílmarii-Väinné's face. Thou Optimus became deeply worried for the look told him that Mido'raioh had found something troubling that could endanger Eva's health.
"Eva, I have multiple questions I need you to answer," Mido'raioh told the human, her tone stern. "Have you been feeling dizzy or lightheaded lately in recent days?"
The row of questions felt long, but the questions Mido'raioh gave were precise. It told the couple that their new healer did not like to miss anything. Each question included recent nausea, trouble with sleeping, how often does her take breaks between activities and if she puts a lot of hard activity intensely.
Other questions were about her eating and drinking right amount of nutrition and water, and also if she'd crave for any specific taste or dislike a certain taste. A few questions were about which activity was the most comfortable for her to do with least aches. After Eva gave every answer to each question, Mido'raioh closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath through her flat nostrils. Both Tsí'nobua and Ao'vanna inhaled deep breaths through their nostrils.
"Optimus, as your Ílmarii-Väinné, I advice you that Eva takes daily checkups and I request to have her under my observation," Mido'raioh stated. "Eva, your heart rate and blood pulse speaks a worrisome imbalance inside you. The pulse in your blood... it's higher than anticipated."
"What does that mean?" increasingly alarmed, Eva grew nervous and clung tightly on her mate's arm.
"This can mean many things. High blood pulse can indicate many things, most of them worth concern and requiring constant observation," the Ílmarii-Väinné replied, staying calm as possible and spoke truthfully. "I wish I can give you the right answer what is causing your blood pulse to be so high, but I don't have the exact right answer on this moment. I don't want to miss anything nor do I want to overlook tiniest things."
The couple sensed they had no other choice. If something was going on causing the unexpected pain, Optimus would gladly have Eva under constant observation and daily checkups on her blood pressure. He did not want to lose her. He'd absolutely do everything for his family. And Eva sensed directly that the Ílmarii-Väinné carried a lot of knowledge more than Kay'åh ever had. When both the Prime and the human nodded each single nod in agreement, Mido'raioh gazed to the sisters and gave them a nod gesture.
Afterwards, after a few more inspections, the couple was given instructions from the Ílmarii-Väinné and then dismissed. The instructions were simple; take breaks between activities, swimming, lay on left body side and plentiful times of massages. Mido'raioh did also recommend a lot of stress-free activities and swimming as best activity over sprinting and spear-fishing as hunting activity. The couple decided to take it easy by focusing on handcrafting. Optimus hastily hurried to their new home to take the shark jaws.
He felt imagination kicking alive in his CPU. Kóhauka and Alyágg relaxed in the garden lake; the gigantic beasts slept their afternoon nap. But Spíaruto was out of sight, same with Lucky. Fortunately, it took barely long before they got company by Zeza, Sén and Keiöh that came over to spend a nice time socializing. Sén had brought the materials needed for the commissions he'd been requested by Yxa. Zeza had also been busy checking what materials she can gather on the terraces.
Vaj'ra had aided her more than just assisting her balance; the striped dolphin dog had also helped the injured huntress to find materials deemed safe to touch. Frosty, who'd stayed by Akiak's side the whole time, chose to change behavior. He went to lie beside Optimus' side, panting in the heat. The children busied themselves on exploring the Cove under Onnák's supervision.
The adult Láwényääh acted playfully, enjoying their first experience babysitting the children. Also, as it occurred, the Ociena women surprisingly joined the group after a long moment. They settled down, quickly joining the conversations. This time, Mido'raioh had a different pouch that contained tools. She settled down on the opposite side of the ring, right in front of Optimus' sight. Tsí'nobua and Ao'vanna chose to spend their time chatting. Then, amazingly, Yáui'higoah and his little brother showed up.
The two snake brothers were apprehensive, still their body language spoke a clear message. They had been on their own for so long that they'd forgotten how to socialize with others and yet they yearned to belong a community. With polite gestures from the Ocienas, which included hand gestures unfamiliar to the Prime and his humans, they succeeded to convince the brothers to come and sit down. Both the brothers wore the goggles to protect their eyes from the sunlight.
"Yáui'higoah, why do you wear those goggles?" Optimus was first to ask. Though, he could not help but wonder. Despite the hot heat earlier the midday, Yáui'higoah refused to pull up his long arm sleeves. He can't imagine how much heat the snake Tse'hrahra must've endured. "And... aren't you feeling hot with those long sleeves?"
"We wear them because our eyes are more adapted to the night. Back in the Western Deserts, the days could be so extremely hot that you'd suffer by severe heat strokes in an instant heartbeat," Yáui'higoah explained. "Therefore, we Suora Tse'hrahras have adapted a lifestyle to travel during the night instead. Thus, our eyes are a lot more sensitive to the sunlight."
"I must say that you are very creative," the Prime complimented.
"Ásch kwísha tsû. Many thanks."
Then, shortly after, Réin came to the garden and chose to accompany them too. This time, he had a big leather sling pouch around his shoulder. For the first time, Optimus felt totally embarrassed over his lack of foresight. He'd been focused on the safety of his group so much that he'd barely spent time learning and practicing crucial skills, especially when it comes to handcrafting. He struggled quite a bit just to pull out a single shark tooth from the Orro'kan's jaws and he got close to swear when he cut his digits.
Despite the sympathetically looks from his members and the orca Ocienas, Optimus swore himself mentally that he should have prepared himself more than enough. Fortunately, Réin offered a hand to help him. The Prime watched carefully on while the Ociena brother opened his porch to take out a sea crystal gouge, using it to create thin and fine cracks. The cracks led more cracks spreading between the teeth, making it a lot easier to pull them apart without any damage. One by one, the Orro'kan shark teeth were delicately removed from the jaw bones and piled up upon a small leather pelt.
"Thank you, Réin," Optimus thanked Réin. He felt his spark pounding fast under his chest plates as many memories came to life.
"You're welcome, Optimus," Réin replied calmly. Just then, he grasped a shark tooth to study it a bit when he gazed at the Prime. "Hmm... I think you should wear these teeth as parts of a necklace around your neck. It's highly impressive to wear Orro'kan teeth for very few have survived an Orro'kan battle."
Optimus hesitated for a moment as he imagined himself wearing a fancy necklace of shark teeth. He pictured the mental image as entirely ridiculous and immature. "I think I'll look ridiculous," he spoke in disagreement.
"We could use them to symbolize our clan," Eva cut in. She'd extended her hand to pick up a tooth, feeling its sharp edges. "We don't stand out much as a clan."
"Orro'kan teeth speaks a lot of courage and power," abruptly, Mido'raioh joined in. She herself held a long crochet hook crafted out of bone in her dominated hand. In her other hand, she held her latest project; a repair of a large bag crocheted in dried sea weed materials gathered from the water terraces. "And if I recall right, you've slain an Orro'kan."
"I've beheaded it," Optimus said simply. "And I have to admit that shark beast was the ugliest thing I have seen so far. I did slay the Than'sha that attacked me and caused my damaged steel by using my sword to stab through its chest."
Hearing his story caught Tsí'nobua's attention. "Is it true that you can drink both Than'sha and Torro'kaka blood?" she asked calmly, yet her tone had immense curiosity within. "I heard from Sén that you can drink the toxic blood without succumbing to it."
"Yes, that's right," the Prime nodded. "Sén was kind enough to bring a jar with Torro'kaka blood yesterday."
"You mind to show us?" came the question.
With a single nod, Optimus stepped up and went to the village. It was not just Tsí'nobua who followed him. Réin, Mido'raioh and Ao'vanna followed too. When Optimus took the jar containing the blood outside from his new home, he opened the lid and took a handful to drink while the Ocienas watched on intrigued. After he gulped the blood and closed the lid whereas fighting back the temptation to grimace in disgust over the sour taste, he saw the Ocienas staring in total baffled disbelief.
"How is this possible?" Réin was close to exclaim but he kept his voice down.
"Outstanding..." abruptly, Tsí'nobua neared closer towards Optimus, but then she stopped mere feet from him when she gazed to Mido'raioh and made a head gesture.
For a moment, he wondered if the middle sister waited for approval from the Ílmarii-Väinné. Although, as it happened, Mido'raioh approached to him and stretched her webbed hand on the Prime's abdomen plates. Just then, he heard clicking sounds coming from Mido'raioh who used echolocation.
"Your body... it's so unfamiliar to me," she spoke, removing her hand away and backed a few steps from him. Yet, Optimus couldn't help but look at her. Their gazes met for a brief heartbeat.
"Oiy! What's taking so long for you?" suddenly Zeza called out. "We're missing you over here!"
In haste, they hurried back to the garden where they settled down in the ring. Almost immediately, Zeza taunted. "Optimus, does the blood still taste like shit?"
"It tastes sourer than yesterday," Optimus teased back, shrugging it off. "And the sourer it gets, the sicker old enemies of mine will become. I bet it's worth more than fourteen days of vomiting."
Laughter burst from Zeza, quickly joined by Sén who wheezed out before laughing so hard that he fell to the side. Although, while the humans laughed, the Ocienas sat there absolutely confused. It was not unexpected for neither of them were there on the previous day when Optimus drank the Torro'kaka blood for the first time. Eventually, the laughing calmed down, replaced by chatting between members. But then, without warning, Eva turned her eyes to Mido'raioh.
"Mido'raioh... I have to tell you this. You're far more better than Kay'åh ever was," Eva spoke bluntly, yet truthfully. "If she was here now alive... she'd be really jealous."
"That's an unfair way to offend the spirits of the dead," Yáui'higoah snapped out of the blue. His head feathers stood up while he snarled up showing his teeth. "You're asking yourself to get targeted by vengeful spirits by speaking that without second thoughts."
Almost immediately, Eva silenced as regret shaped on her face. Though, Keiöh and Zeza shared the same expression of embarrassment and regret. That moment, Réin intervened, though less offended but critical as he looked at her. "Eva Dawnbringer, your voice carry truth and honesty, but it speaks clear that your tongue moves quicker than thought. And you Yáui'higoah... don't let emotions control you. That kind of aggression leads only to more problems."
Directly, Yáui'higoah turned his gaze away. A Tse'hrahra avoiding eye-contact meant many things, often connected to emotions. Yuiaga tried to get his older brother's attention, only to get gently pushed to the side when Yáui'higoah got up on his feet and simply walked away, leaving the group baffled. Yuiaga got up and sprinted away, following his older brother. Instantly, the Ociena brother got up too.
"I'll talk with him," Réin told the rest, then walked to follow the tracks.
Silence hung in the air for a long and awkward moment. Fortunately, Ao'vanna came to the rescue.
"So, what is your old home like?" she inquired. Somehow, she reminded Optimus so much of Ninin. He missed the lovely teenager. He narrowed his gaze to pay a closer look on Ao'vanna's tattoos. Her mandible tattoos depicted a mirrored pair of two-finned dolphin dogs attached to her throat tattoo, which depicted a four-winged falcon with its wings outstretched upward.
"Our old home, the Forbidden City, is a very large city in ruins," Eva answered, somewhat relieved over the changed subject, yet she looked utterly remorseful. "It's surrounded by big rivers."
"I'm very familiar to the city," Optimus joined in. It captivated everyone's attention. "In the past, its name was New York City. I remember how fully active it was back then..."
"Are there other Ociena clans there too?" Tsí'nobua was next to ask.
Eva, Keiöh and Zeza shook their heads in response, their faces somber.
"We've never known any Ociena clans. But we used to have neighbors," Keiöh replied to answer Ao'vanna's question. "Our closest neighbors was the Clan of Southern Island. The last time we saw them was before the winter. Afterwards, we never saw them again."
That was then the boomerang man's face changed as if a memory came back to life.
"What's wrong?" Optimus got alarmed.
"Now when we're talking about the Clan of Southern Island," Keiöh continued, his eyes wide-eyed in realization. "There was a day when we received a message from one of the neighbor scouts."
"That scout's message was an urgent warning," Eva remembered now vividly. "I remember the message. Don't visit the Clan of Southern Island. Avoid us as best as you can for the medicine man and his mate have fallen ill with an unknown disease."
"By Erce's ass, how could have we forgotten that?" Zeza swore out. "I remember how super worried Izi became, and she told us that she'd communicate with the spirits to learn what happened."
"What happened if I may ask?" now wary, the Ílmarii-Väinné spoke out.
"You see, our clans used to share same laws between us. One of the strictest laws was the Law of Sickness Isolation," the expecting mother explained. "And the law meant this. Should a single clan member fall ill in either known or unknown disease, then the entire clan cannot travel to visit others."
"That sounds like self-quarantine," Optimus was quick to understand the entire picture. "But did you get to know what kind of disease impacted your neighbors?"
"The scout didn't mention much, except that the medicine man came home covered in some kind of black substance and he went straight to isolation," Keiöh recalled. "And then his bonded mate fell ill not long after."
Suddenly, Mido'raioh and the sisters turned totally uneasy over the description. Their faces caused the Prime to get more wary and more protective.
"And the last thing the scout said was the medicine pair's only surviving daughter was the solo watcher to make sure nobody attempted to visit them," Eva said, but then she unexpectedly turned silent as if she remembered something else. Then, without warning, her eyes turned wide and the colors on her face turned pale when she looked to the direction where the kids were exploring among the trees on the higher terraces. Rapidly, she turned her eyes to Optimus first before staring at her friends. "We've been so blind. Tinni has the face of the medicine woman and the blue eyes of the medicine man."
"Wait... By Erce you are right!" Zeza shouted her voice. The disbelief was strongly visible on her face as her tattooed cheeks reddened up.
"Wait, Eva. We shouldn't do it too fast," driven by impulse, Eva attempted to get up on her feet but Optimus was fast enough to grab her arm and told her to slow down. "If we give the difficult questions to Tinni, there's a huge risk she'll reject us entirely and withdraw further more. If we force her to her limits, then her trust in us will never recover."
"But think if she leaves us before we get the answers?" his mate countered back, trying to shake her arm off from his firm grip. "We'll never know what happened to our neighbors."
"Too hasty in action and you're more prone for more mistakes than you can solve," Mido'raioh intervened. She'd put her crochet hook in her tool pouch, showing that she will continue the repair on another day for her mood changed. "And some mistakes... are insolvable beyond repair."
Those words forced everyone to reality. She was right. Should the group put pressure onto Tinni to force her out her voice, she'd lose her trust on them completely and won't hesitate to disappear for good. With a sigh, Eva dropped her shoulders with a downcast gaze, defeated. Gently, the Autobot Commander wrapped his arm around her shoulders to comfort her and kissed softly on her cheek. Nevertheless, Optimus got an idea when he turned his optics to Mido'raioh.
"Mido'raioh, I have a question. Does the locations on the mandible, throat and chest speak specific purposes?" he asked, tracing his digit on his right mandible plate. For a moment, the Ílmarii-Väinné seemed hesitant behind the stoic face. Though, after a single deep breath, she gave him the answer.
"Facial tattoos speak about three meanings. The three meanings speak about the location of your spirit name, but also about the clan," she explained, tracing her own tattooed cheek first before circling her hand over her face. "It can be your birth clan in or another clan you've earned your place to belong to. The third meaning is bound to memories of feelings, both good and bad."
The Prime then traced his digit down his throat gear to the center of his chest. However, that was then he read her body language growing tensed despite her forceful strength to maintain herself calm as possible. He felt suddenly unsure if he was doing the right thing to question about Ociena tattoos.
"A tattoo on the chest tells about the most important event in your life," Mido'raioh continued. What awestruck Optimus was her avoidance to tell the throat tattoo location. Was it a taboo to speak about it? "In my case... My chest tattoo tell about the day I became Ílmarii-Väinné for I surpassed Matriarch Männi'rara and siskáa Nezu'kéinau when it comes to knowledge of medicine and healing. Thus, Ao'vanna is my apprentice to become the next Ílmarii-Väinné."
"That sounds like a great achievement," Zeza spoke out, looking impressed while giving a joyful compliment. "And I gotta say that I authentically like you a lot already. You've got great skills worth more than I've ever seen. Heck, I would say that you've made both Izi and Kay'åh dance full of joy in Erce's embrace."
No response came from the Ílmarii-Väinné. Almost directly, her silence told the opposite as she shut her eyes and turned her head away. Right before anyone could react or speak, a chirping cry echoed far. The cry was easily recognizable. It was Lucky calling out. The cry sounded urgent like he was in trouble and desperately needed help. Frosty's ears peaked up before the Rokan puppy started to bark and ran off. Instinctively, without second thoughts, Optimus was first to get up and sprinted following Frosty.
The puppy ran through the in-hill earth village, down the staircase leading down to the beach. On that moment, the Prime discovered the reason of Lucky's cry. There below a massive mangrove tree lay Spíaruto. The Céräuno bull took deep but slow breaths through his beaked mouth. Beside him stood Haruko. The tall emperor penguin creature's eyes were full of distress as he trumpeted out calling for help.
Hurriedly, Optimus rushed to the bull's side, touching on the head side below Spíaruto's aging eye. As it occurred, he turned his head over his shoulder to see reinforcement coming. Mido'raioh, Ao'vanna, Sén and Keiöh had arrived first on place. However, Eva and Tsí'nobua was coming in slower pace.
"Something is wrong with him," he told them. Right away, he watched Mido'raioh taking charge.
"Optimus, have you listened to his heartbeat?" she sounded quite demanding, though her demand was through medical perspective. By then, she'd put both her hands on Spíaruto's neck in search to find his neck artery vein. "Squat down and crawl between his front legs. It's the best spot to hear heartbeats."
Without asking twice, Optimus squatted down and squeezed through the four mighty front legs where he reached the ribs and pressed his audio receptor. There he heard it. The once powerful heart pounded slowly and weakly. The realization stabbed through Optimus' spark.
"His heartbeat is slow and weak," he muttered, poking his head up between the legs and his optics expressed nothing else but helplessness. "I think... I think he's dying."
Mido'raioh turned her gaze to him. Her face expressed the same helplessness. Her webbed hands caressed smoothly on the Céräuno's scaly skin, feeling the slowing pulse and breathing. She then closed her eyes and murmured a prayer.
Nääha yú'tsaa páy'ää sk'waóh x'hoo'määtkoállk.
The prayer enthralled the Prime. The way she uttered the words sounded like a whale's smooth, yet melancholic song. For a moment, he could see her straining really hard to hold back tears. Slowly, she moved to the side, allowing Optimus to come closer. His optics met the triceratops' eye once more, and he saw the light of life fading away. His servo felt every vibration of each breath.
And then... Spíaruto sealed up his eyes, exhaling a final breath and lay still.
He'd taken his final rest peacefully. Silently, both Optimus and Mido'raioh backed away, never leaving their gazes on the dead bull. As it occurred, Optimus felt his arm gripped by Eva who looked at him overwhelmed by emotions.
"He's gone," he said to her. He then glanced to the stone house thinking straightaway of Ryssa and her family. "This will devastate Ryssa."
And his words became true.
It took briefly less than an hour when the Tse'hrahra family returned home to the Cove. The first one they met was Optimus. Reluctantly, he told them the news of Spíaruto's death. Within seconds, denial and disbelief appeared on the family, but then they'd ran down to the beach to confront the truth. The rest, including Réin and the snake Tse'hrahra brothers, were there. It took a whole 180 degree turn for the family to face the reality.
Ryssa took the worst blow. She approached first to the Céräuno, then unleashed a grief-stricken scream that shrilled over the entire Cove. Shock clouded her younger siblings whom stood there stunned, but within heartbeats started to weep aloud. Hearing Ryssa's screams was devastating for the Prime and his humans. For the first time in a very long time, Optimus allowed himself to cry tears. Eva, Zeza and Keiöh couldn't help but weep tears. Though, the children cried worse as they wept quietly with choking tears.
Ezhno took the biggest blow as he expressed deep grief over the old bull despite they were complete strangers. The Ocienas shedded tears silently. Yáui'higoah carried his little brother in his arms, their tears flowing from narrow gaps on their goggles. Touishéyagi pulled Ryssa into a tight embrace whereas they were on their knees on the sand. Ryssa wept and shrieked so much that it was impossible to understand her words. Barukoago, Ainosukán and Torokíänn were so grief-stricken that they punched the nearest trees, pounded sand and screamed out 'no, no, no' constantly.
The whole crying and shrieking lasted for more than half an hour until Ryssa wept out a demand. Spoken in Tse'hrahra language, she demanded her father Spíaruto a lake burial. In steadfast agreement, everyone volunteered to assist the preparations for the funeral. The first thing they did was, with help by Optimus, taking the body to the stone house where they began a scrupulous ritual that awestruck him and his humans beyond knowledge and imagination. They'd put the Céräuno on a big wooden cart built enough to carry the heavy dead body weight.
The next step was the delicate embalming stage.
The substance used for the embalming was fragrant tree resin taken from cherry trees, something that Optimus and his humans learnt that the resin was highly sacred in ceremonial burials for Tse'hrahras. The embalming process took in a slow pace for nothing shall be left untouched over the Céräuno's body. The resin was also mixed up with several herbs, rock salt and other minerals unknown to the Prime. Once the whole body was perfectly embalmed, the next stage was coating the entire body in colors.
Red, orange, yellow ochres and thick clays of reed petals, pine needles and grass painted in stream patterns before heathers, lisianthus, astilbes and cherry blossoms coated the clay. The colors symbolized how Spíaruto's prime years was when the bull was young and strong. Then Spíaruto's mane got properly brushed out, then braided in gorgeous infinity braids intertwined together as one braid. The braid got decorated with twigs wealthy with cherry blossoms. The ritual took painstakingly slow, but it became apparent when the sun started to reach closer to the horizon over the inland sea.
The last stage was the most painful part; Ryssa had to remove the Céräuno's bridle and she burst in tears once again. The headpiece awoke so many painful memories from her childhood. First she lost her father and birth clan, now she lost the savior who'd protected her and her siblings when the Hungry Flames consumed everything in their path. Her shrieking wail was heard for miles away. Her wail drew attention of the other residents in the garden. Kóhauka and Alyágg came to place where they approached cautiously to the dead Céräuno.
Optimus felt his spark shattered more to see the residents nudging their snouts on the dead bull, their stunned eyes shedding tears. It told him one undoubtable thing. With higher level of intelligence, the Tauláka and Eäwouan proved to be significantly emotional to mourn the dead and understand what the loss of a friend meant. The two residents bellowed out their sorrows, then gave Spíaruto a final gentle nudge on his beaked snout.
But unlike the others, Ónnak became utterly confused over why Spíaruto wasn't awake or moving as they chittered and chirped like an innocent child. The Láwényääh's confusion was the result of their youth and innocence despite they'd just gone through their metamorphose earlier the day.
Swiftly, Réin took charge next. He wore a ceremonial fringed cape with long wings for arms, embroidered with four pearl chains over the chest and decorated with iridescent shells and corals. His face was hidden behind a mask symbolizing an Entran'so's head. He began painting each member's faces, throat sides, chests, shoulders and arms in body paints symbolizing mourning and loss. Due to his tall height, he stood knelt on one knee. He painted the Tse'hrahra family's faces in black charcoal shade that depicted like shadows of tears over eyes and cheeks.
Ryssa wore a long shawl hanging from her head, shining in small, slender mussel shells. Ainosúkan chose to walk without their mask over their head. For Optimus and his humans, they got red, creamy white and coal black paints. Even Haruko got his arm-wings and chest painted, something the Empásagga showed he'd rather accompany to share the grief than returning to guard the oyster cave. At the same time, Mido'raioh and the sisters hurried to change clothes. Like Réin, Mido'raioh wore her own ceremonial kaftan with long sleeves, adorned in iridescent pearls, seashells, corals and dried sea flower petals.
The sisters wore their own distinct ceremonial blouses. Appreciatively, both Tán and Éomauk showed up in right time. Unknowingly, Mischief had flown off to bring both brothers to the Cove. They both came to bring comfort for their sisters for Ao'vanna was totally wrecked in tears while Tsí'nobua needed her twin brother's close presence, crying a lot with tears streaming down her cheeks. Then, the Tse'hrahra family put an impressively practical tack harness on Kóhauka's chest before binding the harness to the big wooden cart.
And thus began Spíaruto's final journey to his grave as the crowd followed the Tauláka. With Kóhauka's immense strength and stamina, they managed to take Spíaruto uphill to the stone wall where Optimus discovered there was another gateway. The gateway was larger and broader, yet far more camouflaged. As they entered the forest outside the wall, everyone held each own torch in hand. Réin led the crowd first. He began to hum a song that ran deep through emotions. The sky started to change colors into warm evening lights of red, orange and yellow. Frosty stayed strictly close by Optimus' side, whining a bit anxiously.
Lucky sat behind Keiöh's head. Eva held his servo tightly, affected by many emotions simultaneously. Nobody spoke a word. Not even the children let out a word slipping out from their lips. The journey went deeper into the woods. The group weren't alone. Alyágg followed with them, sticking closely to Kóhauka while Ónnak walked last behind the group. Haruko walked beside Mido'raioh loyally. The Eäwouan made deep honking bellows, deeply stricken by grief. But while marching through the forest, Optimus had his proximity sensor activated the whole time and he detected several creatures.
The pulses pounded strongly below his feet, warning him that they weren't alone. He glanced his optics to the right side and he saw the Állorva'ya. It was the third time he'd seen it. However, this time the Állorva'ya wasn't alone. It had several pack mates sneaking around on both sides. Strangely so to speak, the pack showed no interest to attack them. Instead the dragon Allosaurus creatures had curiosity on Optimus, somehow wanting to get know more about him.
Yet, they stayed on a respectable distance by hiding in the shadows more than three arm throws away. Also, Ónnak's mere presence made it too risky for any predator to attack, which the Állorva'ya were smart enough to stay out of sight. Réin's song hummed through the forest; it felt so mysterious, yet so deeply impacting for the Prime and his humans. Optimus felt deeply moved over the song. He might not understand Ociena language, but he could feel the rhythmic flow in the song.
It felt like it took forever for the evening sky started to turn more orange until it started to darken over the mountains as the sun approached closer and closer to the horizon over the inland sea. The destination was a large lake where water lilies and lotus lilies dominated the water surface, and gorgeous willow trees with long wisteria flowers hanging like sheets encircling it. On the other side of the lake stood a gigantic cherry tree where its crown stretched outward like a vine cup, and its cherry blossoms hung in long dangling vines, similar to wisteria plants.
Its thick, broad roots had grown far and deep as multiple roots went out to the lake, trailing down the edge and dominated the bottom. Wildflowers covered close to the water's edge, resembling a ring around the lake. When they reached to the water's edge, Kóhauka bellowed a squawking call as if he announced their final destination, but the call was strongly emotional. As it happened, Touishéyagi turned his head over his shoulder, raising his right hand to wave Optimus. Silently, the Prime came to hear what the alligator Tse'hrahra had to tell him.
Touishéyagi gave him a single demand. They needed Optimus in his true height to help pulling the rope attached to the cart. Luckily, the rope was attached to Kóhauka's tuck so it wasn't difficult. As soon as Optimus changed from microform to his true height, he was first to step into the lake water. What surprised him was the water's edge was a straight steep edge where his ped fell down. Fortunately, it was not deep as the water reached halfway of his lower leg. The Prime walked forward, holding the rope in one servo and swam out.
He then used the strength of his arms to pull the cart carrying Spíaruto's body, turning out to be a real heavy weight. Surprisingly, the cart got detached from the wheels so it made it a lot easier for Optimus to pull the precious cargo out to the water. Also, when the wooden plank cart touched water, the barnacles hiding below the planks spread out, shaping some kind of buoy that supported the cart without flopping up-side-down. It had become a boat. As he swam pulling, the Prime felt directly that his peds couldn't touch the lake bottom.
He didn't think nor wondered a thing for he felt deeply emotional within. It took barely long before the Ryssa and her family thrust their torches into the mud before they jumped into the water and swam after the boat. Almost immediately, the Prime saw directly drastic changes of the swimming patterns. While Touishéyagi swam smoothly like an alligator and Ryssa swimming easily, her younger siblings struggled a lot. It became apparent to understand why. Barukoago, Ainosukán and Torokíänn's thick feathers and wing-like limbs were the major causes.
Their bodies weren't suitable to swim properly. Yet, despite their struggles, they swam persistently without any thought of giving up. And barely long, Eva, Keiöh and Zeza chose to follow swimming after putting their own torches on the ground. Ezhno joined quickly, proving himself to be a fairly good swimmer. Tinni stood stuck on the water's edge, not wanting to dip her feet into the cool water. Yáui'higoah and Yuiaga skipped the same. Although, strangely enough, both Kóhauka and Alyágg did not go into the water either.
Haruko refused the same as he stood loyally beside Mido'raioh, eyes sharp and focused, yet self-aware and heavy in grief. Simultaneously, Réin stood closely to the edge in a firm position, all silent; he was ready to preform the next ritual. Mido'raioh stood next to Éomauk and Tán who comforted their sisters as Ao'vanna sniffled with silent sobs and Tsí'nobua having her twin brother's arm folded around her shoulders.
By the time the boat reached to the middle of the lake, Optimus stopped thinking it was the right spot, which proved to be the right call for Touishéyagi raised his hand to signal a 'circle around' gesture. The Tse'hrahra family circled around the boat, nearing close to the Céräuno bull as if they wanted to touch him for a last time. At the same time, the Prime's humans reached him, staying close to his side. That was then Réin began his ritual. He began first with a loud whooping call like he mimicked the call of an eagle as he raised his arms up.
The wings started to glow up into soft blue light, revealing bioluminescence. Then he sang a song. The song was one of the most beautiful songs Optimus and his humans had ever heard. For a moment, Optimus pictured himself seeing Enya singing May It Be in front of him. It gave him sparkache knowing that Enya, his most favorite human singer, was long dead in the past. As it happened, he noticed that the lake water had begun to glow up in a gorgeous amber color. Abruptly, he felt the temptation to put his face plates below the surface to see where the light came from.
Just then, Touishéyagi raised his right hand, holding his crystal dagger. His gesture led his children to do the same as they raised their each own weapon. He then let out a whooping call before stabbing the barnacles. The blown up buoy exhausted air, causing the water to bubble rapidly out and the boat began to sink, but not before the dead body weight became too much for the boat to handle. Thus, the boat broke in pieces and Spíaruto's body sank. Everyone put their heads under the water surface, watching the enormous Céräuno sinking down. That was then Optimus saw the source of the glowing amber light.
The light came from gigantic roots bound to the cherry tree and willow trees. The roots did not just glow. The roots made throbbing movements like blood vessels and there was pulsing sounds coming from the roots themselves. At the same time, Optimus got spooked to find traces of gigantic bones lying scattered among the roots. Was this lake a graveyard for the creatures living in these marshlands? Optimus moved his gaze to right, seeing Eva floating next to his side. He had his optics on her baby belly though.
The bright shining light from the roots was bright enough for him to see the movements of little Hope inside Eva's belly. Simultaneously, he heard a noise of a cry bubbling from mouth. Quickly turning his optics, he saw it was Ryssa who'd cried an underwater scream. She had her hand extended out. That exact moment, Spíaruto's body plummeted slowly like in slowest slow motion. Then, as the Céräuno's body landed on the bottom of the lake, slender roots grew out from the broad tree roots, growing out like arms in search for the triceratops and behaved like a swarm in hivemind.
Within seconds, as the swarm of roots found Spíaruto's body, the roots spread out by growing more roots like fingers. It took barely long until the entire body was covered in roots, and then the thicker roots moved alive to create a hole right underneath. The hole was Spíaruto's burial. Slowly, the roots dragged the body down into hole. However, the roots did also penetrate through each gap between Spíaruto's body plates with razor-sharp blade-like thorns and they started to shine in a pattern of sucking blood and fluids inside the corpse. It horrified Optimus and his humans. The roots transferred Spíaruto's blood and fluids into the thick roots linked to the cherry tree.
Just then, the pulsing sounds echoed stronger; it was like the Prime and his humans were resting atop a massive heart beating strong and powerful. That was then Optimus and his humans turned their attention to the cherry tree where they witnessed a spectacle beyond their imagination. The cherry tree's trunk had thin lines of glowing barks, pulsing in a pattern of heartbeats as the trunk itself throbbed like a slow beating drum. The transferred life force given from Spíaruto led into the cherry trunk, and as it happened, new branches grew out on the tree crown.
The dangling cherry blossoms began to grow longer as the stems extended longer, and new cherry flowers blossomed out. As the new blossoms opened, they unleashed glittering spores that pollinated the air like a fog. Though, the pollen started to rise up toward the sky. There was so much spores rising up at once, Optimus and his humans thought they saw the spores shaping into a galloping Céräuno marching to the first stars. As it happened, Ónnak let out a chittering wail before they extended out their wings to take flight.
They flew around the swirling pollens when they made a remarkable action. As the Láwényääh ascended up, their wings shone up in warm glowing orange lights and traces a trail of glittering embers. Ónnak flew in a whirling spiral, wailing out their chittering cries. Their wails sounded like a lost child calling out for its family member to come back. The glittering embers fell slowly down, only to vaporize into thin air. The Prime and his humans stared in emotional awe. But unlike them, the Tse'hrahra family wept with shrieks seeing Spíaruto's spirit galloping to the stars.
After sunset
The entire ceremony ended after the spores spread far and vast, carried by the strong winds on higher altitude. By then, the sun had reached its end as it sunk slowly under the horizon. As the vanishing sunlight faded, more stars glimmered on the sky, welcoming the nearing night. Heavy in grief over the loss, the Prime, his humans, the Ocienas and Tse'hrahras returned back to the Cove of Solitude. But things escalated into worse when Ryssa packed her stuff, changed clothes and saddled her Rorak. The event caught everyone by total surprise.
Stricken by her grief, she blindly tried to get up on Akiak when her adoptive father stopped her, trying to talk to her. Her siblings were with him; they wanted to talk with their older sister, wanting to give her their reasons. A very heated argument occurred between them. The argument was so heated that everyone, including Optimus and his humans, stayed away out of sight. The small group retreated to the in-hill earth village. Yet, despite the fair distance, they could hear the argument, hence they retreated to the small pond where the steaming cave was located.
They were not alone. The Ociena siblings and the snake Tse'hrahras accompanied them. They built up a bonfire, sitting around in a circle. Not far lay Ónnak, Kóhauka and Alyágg. Even the Láwényääh and garden residents did not want to hear the vicious argument. Yáui'higoah hugged his little brother tightly in his embrace. Others used own methods to distract themselves. Sén concentrated on his commissions as he crafted more blowpipes; he had huge expectations resting on his shoulders. The children did not do anything aside sitting the grass, observing and listening to the adults.
Zeza focused on crafting her new bow, and she felt comfortable with her new companion. Vaj'ra lay beside her, head resting on her thighs. Keiöh talked with Éomauk and Tán about his boomerang for the brothers exchanged glances of curiosity. He felt quite awkward over his boomerang being the center of attention, yet he felt an accomplishment to find others willing to learn more. Thus, the possibility to teach others how to use boomerang became his new goal. Their conversation was light. Réin sat on the grass meditating, wearing his blanket cape over his shoulders. His younger sisters talked briefly to lighten their moods by discussing about their plans.
Mido'raioh sat alone a bit away from the bonfire, still wearing her ceremonial kaftan on. She had her eyes closed. Optimus sat leaned on a cherry tree with Eva resting on him. His servos were wrapped around her belly, feeling the restless kicks. Their cheeks touched tenderly. Neither of them spoke a word. All they wanted was closeness. But just then, the Prime flickered his optics as he sensed rapid pulses vibrating through the ground. Then they all heard fast galloping paws and they saw Ryssa riding Akiak fast past them.
"Ryssa!" Touishéyagi shouted, bellowing his desperate call. But it was all in vain. He stopped dead on his tracks, exhaling a defeated sigh and he sunk his shoulders down. His younger children came, catching up. Their hurting expressions shared the same despair.
"Touishéyagi..." Eva gazed at the alligator Tse'hrahra, feeling entirely cheerless.
"Touishéyagi, is Ryssa going to continue her Pilgrimage?" Ao'vanna was first to ask.
Touishéyagi confirmed the truth with a nodding head. He then gazed to his children. "Pojnkár, ngaita tséhiálkka kāwākka roá'taio."
Instantly, Barukoago, Ainosukán and Torokíänn's faces paled before they shook their heads in refusal, then turned around and walked away, heading back to home. Once they were out of sight, that was then Touishéyagi made a decision.
"I must tell y'all the truth," he stated, eyeing to Optimus and his mate. "Ya need to know the truth."
"What truth?" Optimus questioned.
With a gesture, the alligator Tse'hrahra signaled him and Eva along the rest to gather closer. It was only the Ocienas that didn't need to gather. Once gathered, Touishéyagi told the truth. He told them about the fate of the Clan of The Fire Wielders and how he rescued Ryssa and her siblings from the Hunger Flames eleven years ago. His heart was heavy of guilt over the event. While listening, Optimus couldn't help but sympathize the Tse'hrahra. It ached his spark learning the truth.
Ryssa, Barukoago, Ainosukán and Torokíänn were the last surviving members of the Clan of The Fire Wielders.
"Ya see... Ryssa is Wólhokk Firesword's firstborn heir. He was the Áza'tollokan, the chieftain of the clan," Touishéyagi said. "Ya see, I went searching for the clan 'cause of him. I'd heard stories of him mastered the skills of controlling Healing Fires."
"Healing Fires?" Keiöh spoke, puzzled.
"Jaya. The Healing Fires help the forests to maintain its balance. If the forests and grasslands ain't balanced, the Hunger Flames consume everyhin' in its path."
Touishéyagi continued recalling his journey to the forested mountains far west. He recalled that the areas had faced tough summers with delayed rains. He found the old Home Tree all desolated and empty, finding that the old tree was close to lose its life force as it could collapse at any time. He did find traces of the clan migrating elsewhere in search for a new Home Tree, but he was two days delayed. When Touishéyagi paused, he hung his head down, fighting back against fresh tears.
After a long moment recollecting the painful memory, he continued telling on that fateful night. Optimus and his humans became horrified to hear the horrific scene of a whole herd of Céräunos getting killed in the river and that Spíaruto protected the children from everything. Optimus understood at last. Spíaruto meant everything to Ryssa and her siblings. Now with Spíaruto dead, everything they'd clung on, their memories of their birth clan and culture, was going to be lost forever.
"Ryssa told me that, when she's in her Pilgrimage, she's gonna rediscover the methods and skills lost from her birth clan," Touishéyagi finished. "She wanna reunite with the spirits of her clan to find inner peace and carry the knowledges. And she claimed that, only when she has mastered taming Healing Fires, only then she'll find her spirit name."
No one spoke a word. But not long after, Barukoago, Ainosukán and Torokíänn showed up. They seemed wanting to be with their adoptive father, seeking comfort. Silence hung in the air for a long moment until Optimus turned his optics to the Ociena siblings, asking a single question: "How long has your father been ill?"
For a moment, the Ociena siblings jolted startled over the question, exchanging glances between each other before Éomauk exhaled a sigh. "Our father fell ill for soon three midsummers ago," he replied, dropping his shoulders. "It didn't come harsh like a spear stab. It came slow like a snake slithering inside a tree trunk. We didn't notice it at first."
"But when his illness worsened, our mom changed day and night," Ao'vanna said, expressing sad, almost hurting. "She used to be kind and full of joy, always listening to our needs and the clan's needs. She also used to love playing with siskáa Nezu's twin sons and daughter. Nowadays, she's bitter and unreachable. She focuses only on father, not family or clan anymore."
Listening on Ao'vanna, Optimus and his humans recalled the time they were invited to the Clan of The Lake People to celebrate Nezu'kéinau's newest baby's birth where they saw Nezu'kéinau's twin sons and daughter literally pleading their parents and aunt not to call their grandparents to come over and see their newborn baby sister. The Prime remembered their face expressions of resentment and fear. Did Nezu'kéinau's older children grow afraid and resentful toward their maternal grandparents because of Wodan Twilighteye's lung cancer?
"We want to apologize sincerely for mom's attitude towards you," Réin spoke next, bowing his head in apology. "I hope your forgiveness will bring peace not just to us but to the Ancestors."
"Why would you apologize to us when it's your mom who should apologize?" Zeza countered back, irritated over Réin apologizing. "Let me guess, she's too proud to even consider admitting her mistakes and would only get aggressive when confronted? Then I better start praying to Erce that she'll give your mother a conversation and get herself humbled for once."
Everyone gasped aloud, taken aback by Zeza's speech.
"KUTZÛÛÛÛÛ!" Barukoago, Ainosukán, and astonishingly, Yáui'higoah swore out at the same time, then exchanged glances between each other. They stared wide-eyed at the huntress by pure amazement. Barukoago then added: "Zeza, ya got a Tse'hrahra's heart inside ya! Pa, can we have her please?"
"Zeza, what are you thinking?" Eva raised her voice, now terrified over the consequences. Optimus looked ready to intervene and stop the situation from escalating into worse.
"Zeza," Keiöh grasped Zeza by upper arm, showing his expressive glance that sent a single message. That kind of tone will lead us to leave by force.
While Tán and Éomauk looked offended with fury on their eyes, Ao'vanna and Tsí'nobua's faces turned pale like white sheets and Réin had turned his face away, taking deep breaths to hold himself back. Touishéyagi was totally embarrassed as he looked at his children wheezing hard to prevent themselves from burst out laughing. Even Yáui'higoah seemed distressed and discomfited as he held his little brother securely in his arms. Strangely, Mido'raioh seemed far less affected, yet she had her eyes on Optimus.
He met her eyes, and she used her left webbed hand gesturing a single point at her chest, then pulled two fingers holding an invisible cigar from her lips and pointed to the direction of the in-hill village. Unsure what she meant, Optimus hoped the Ílmarii-Väinné knew what she was doing, yet he could see she was on guard for potential fight. Almost instantly, Tán opened his mouth, about to speak back, but got intervened by his twin sister who grabbed his hand, shaking her head.
"You got a sharp snake tongue there," despite his twin sister's warning, Tán snarled up his lips, baring his orca teeth. "But I really don't think you can convince mom to apologize like that easily."
"Oh yeah?" Zeza didn't back off either. Instead she held her ground. "Something tells me that you're totally afraid for your mom's fury. Is that be-"
"That's enough, Zeza!" Optimus intervened, sending thundering daggers from his glare to her. Then he heard a small snort from her. "You're crossing the line. Do you want to create a bad image of us so desperately?"
The huntress turned her face to him, snarling up a bit with a growl while expressing defensively. She wasn't afraid for his warning. But then, without warning, a gasp caught everyone's ears, followed by a thud on the grass. It was Réin. He lay on the grass, shaking in spasmodic spasms while his eyes were rolled backward. Everything became all flurry of motion as Mido'raioh along with Tsí'nobua, Éomauk, Tán and Ao'vanna rushed in to help with Réin. Touishéyagi and his children helped them too.
Watching Réin's seizure shocked Optimus and his humans to the core. Eva covered her hand over her mouth, terrified over the sight whereas Zeza, Keiöh and Sén had their faces drained of colors. The children ran to hide behind Optimus, too scared to witness. Yáui'higoah carried his spooked brother in his arms, leaving the area at instance. For a sparkbeat, Optimus wanted to help, but hesitation gripped hard his spark. The hesitation led to a horrible feeling of helplessnesss.
"Leave us!" as it happened, Tán called out as he gestured a harsh 'shoo' hand wave. It told the Prime clear. He and his humans can't do anything but watch on helplessly. They had to leave the area and went back to the village.
Once gathered at the village, the group chose to call it a night for exhaustion finally kicked in after much activity throughout the day. Optimus and Eva went indoors, settling for the night as they fell quite fast asleep. But it proved to be more challenging for Optimus to recharge into deep slumber. He recharged restlessly as his fantasy came strong and healthy in his dreams. His long neglected fantasy was so full of life, he could not help but move his servo from Eva's baby belly down to his panel where he ticked his valve and pierced clit. He did it as quietly as he mustered.
What felt like only half an hour passed, Optimus woke up abruptly. He'd snapped wide awake out from a dream. Luckily for him, he didn't wake up Eva who was in deepest slumber. She rested on her left side just as instructed and she snored quite loudly. But what was unfortunate for him was he could not go back and recharge again. Sure, Optimus could simply lay on his spinal column, staring on the soft bioluminescent glowing roof. Or he could take a short walk outside.
Fresh air helps, he decided right away.
Silently, he leaned to kiss on Eva's cheek and moved out of the bed, watching over his steps as he left their new home and entered outside. The thin line of dusk light lingered on the horizon. Just then, as Optimus closed the door behind him, he walked only four steps away before he felt four front paws touching behind him and he got spooked. But then he chuckled hearing Frosty's pants and small grunts.
"Frosty, no barking," Optimus hushed him. To his surprise, the Rokan puppy sat down, wigging his tail while looking up at him like a Border Collie ready to receive commands. He put his digit on his lips, signaling the dog not to bark. It led only to Frosty incline his head to the side with complete confusion. "I better start training you basic tricks tomorrow."
As it happened, Frosty's ears peaked up as if he picked up a sound and, like a search dog, he began pacing, following the sound. Optimus was fast to follow the puppy, intrigued. However, the Rokan puppy led him out from the village and before long they were walking on the beach where Frosty stopped dead on his tracks, tail raised up. He posed like a guard dog, yet he did not growl a single bit. But that was on that moment Optimus saw a figure standing on knee-deep water ahead.
The coral reef illuminated vividly in bioluminescence. It shone so brightly that the lingering dusk seemed intimidated by the bioluminescence. Directly, Optimus approached to the figure when he recognized the snow-white hair and the iridescent kaftan and understood right away who was standing there.
"Mido'raioh?" he asked.
Mido'raioh jerked her shoulders by surprise and swung around to see him. That was then he saw the thin lines of tears on her jade-green eyes. It took just a single sparkbeat for him to understand. Yet, just as their gazes met, Mido'raioh flinched and raised her webbed hand to rub the tears away, taking deep breaths. At first, Optimus felt the urge to know what happened, but he became hesitant almost instantly. The Ílmarii-Väinné turned her back to him, eyeing to the horizon.
Yet, he saw the deep chest movements, which told him that she fought back hard to control her emotions. But despite his hesitation, the Prime chose to walk closer to her. Frosty stayed at the edge, although avoiding the gentle waves as he disliked getting his paws wet. Without speaking, Optimus marched cautiously until he stood beside Mido'raioh. For a moment he wanted to ask her how she was feeling, but his spark told him the opposite.
Give her time first until she's ready to tell, Optimus heard the message from his spark. Although, whereas staring ahead to the horizon, he felt the ticklish impatience growing rapidly within him. The silence surrounded them. The impatience grew antsy. That led him to do a stupid mistake. He gave Mido'raioh a question too soon: "Was it too much for you to handle with Réin's... seizure?"
Suddenly, the Ílmarii-Väinné moved her head to shoot a glare at him. Though, her glare wasn't full of anger. No, her glare was hurtful. But as quickly as she glared at him, Mido'raioh inhaled a deep breath and closed her eyes. Optimus felt instantly regretful over his question, and that led him to change his CPU and turned around, heading back to the beach.
"Réin hasn't had any sudden fall shakes in five summers," Mido'raioh spoke out.
Optimus spun around, dumbfounded.
"I thought I've cured him from his sudden fall illness at last," she continued. Then she sighed, murmuring silent mumbles. "What a foolish way to hold onto hope. X'hoo'káa úmmo Ílmarii-Väinné kli'yäävant éssáwá junna. Tlái rauthákk sao'liáa..."
Intrigued, the Prime listened on her before gradually returning back to her. He found the Ociena tongue so beautiful to listen, almost enchanting in a way.
"Optimus, there's something I must tell you."
"I'm all your ears," he answered, nearing her until he stood next to her side.
"I'm not going anywhere without Réin. I'm the only one who has the knowledge to craft the medicine he needs for a steady life without sudden fall shakes and severe sunlight headaches," Mido'raioh looked straight in Optimus' optics. He saw the concern visibly on her eyes. A concern belonging to a sister. "And..."
"Mido'raioh, do you want me to give Réin Úllsaautsa?" Optimus inquired, sympathetically. "I mean... my humans are in need of spiritual guidance."
As it happened, the Ílmarii-Väinné turned silent for a bit, bowed her head down and took a deep breath. The Prime allowed her to give her time to think, although he felt he can change subject instead.
"Would it make you feel better if we tell my humans about the legend of Amaruq?" he suggested to her.
"Ámárúq," she corrected him. Unexpectedly, she let out a small scoff, but the little smile on her lips vanished quickly. Directly, the Prime read her expression as forced to hold emotions at check. "I will teach you how to speak Ociena tongue and pronounce properly."
"I look forward to practice," Optimus chuckled. "And I presume you'll be strict to me."
Mido'raioh raised her eyebrows, finding his words silly. Although, she closed her eyes and nodded a single nod before saying: "Then what are we waiting for?"
Much to Optimus' hope, Mido'raioh was willing to tell the legend to his humans. Once they returned to the village, they awoke up everyone and brought them to the hidden cave where the cave paintings caught the humans of guard. Optimus hoped his humans would understand and learn about the past. However, while mesmerized over the paintings, the Prime noticed a drastic change on his humans' expressions and the change was denial.
When they returned back to the village, the group went into a quite heated conversation. It became apparent why. Eva, Keiöh, Zeza and Sén had only heard the old legends spoken from previous shamans, and the children had zero knowledges. The legends spoke only about how the virus created the mutated creatures and about a big war that happened between humans and creatures five-hundred years ago.
Optimus was hit by a harsh realization. His humans had been ignorant in their entire lives about the true events that happened in the past. But that led him to question a difficult question.
Are Eva, Keiöh, Sén, Zeza and the children descendants of the survivors that found shelter inside the bunkers located inside the mountains?
Time for information! When it comes to Láwényääh life cycle, a Láwényääh larva is genderless from birth to its 10th year and when transformed into its imago adult form, its genderless state changes to male, female or intersexual which depends on the extreme heat on both flame and body temperature during the metamorphosis.