Gone But Not Forgotten, page 5
part #2 of The Jaxon Grey Chronicles Series
"It's possible," I said. "They do look like rain clouds, but they appear to be moving east."
"Storms appear and disappear quickly on the plains.” Lorthredo commented. “Winds may change, the sky may clear.”
“Then let us hope, for all of our sakes, that the rain comes," I replied. "I don't know if we can last much longer like this.” I looked at Mya, who still lay on her back. "Maybe we should rest here for now, while Mya recovers.”
The rest of the group was quick to agree. One of the thehn suddenly took a dive towards the group, but Montaug flashed his sword and the great bird veered from its path.
I licked my finger and put it in the air. The wind had picked up considerably and I wanted to know which direction it was blowing. The breeze felt very nice, and the sun was now blocked by the approaching storm clouds. The three thehn had ceased following us, and we could see rain falling over the plains to the north.
"The wind blows south," I said, smiling.
"The rain will come after all," Lorthredo commented.
"Excellent," said Demtrius.
"Graer," said Montaug, which then came from the translator as, "Rain."
"Graer," he said again, and we heard, "Rain," come from the translator again.
"That is your first lesson in Tatoran," said Lorthredo.
"Graer," said Demtrius.
"Almost," said Lorthredo. "Speak more from your diaphragm."
"Graer," said Demtrius, and his voice repeated on the translator as it recognized the language.
"Better," said Lorthredo.
"Grayer," said Mya.
"Not quite," said Lorthredo. "Graer, with only one syllable. It will be easier once we have gone over the alphabet."
Just then, I felt a raindrop hit my forehead.
Chapter Five
We Find Shelter
The storm came upon us frighteningly fast. The sky fell with a torrential downpour, racing towards us from across the plains to drench us; and it was a much appreciated soaking, at first anyway. We did our best to restore our water supply, as well as open our mouths to the sky for a quick drink. The rain was warm, but very refreshing.
It was amazing how I could feel myself regaining strength and energy so quickly. Even the snake seemed happy. It emerged from one of the saddlebags attached to the rapt, which it had been using to sleep in and escape from the sun’s rays. It slithered around on the ground happily, and I could see it eating worms as the rain caused them to surface from below ground.
We were soon on our way again, heading northwest as we had been before. The sound of rain pounding against the sun-dried plains was deafening. We had to yell to one another, though we stood side by side, and Demtrius’ translator became useless for the time being.
We welcomed the rain whole-heartedly that first day, but when it continued on into the night and through the next day, our soaked and shivering bodies were ready for dryer conditions.
Nadina and Pharon, I might add, did not seem so discomforted. In fact, they seemed to revel in the relentless downpour, and I greatly envied their spirit.
On the second night of intense rainfall, the lightning began. At first it was far away to the north, making bright streaks across the sky, but as the storm moved, so did the lightning.
I counted the seconds between the lightning strikes and the ensuing thunder in order to estimate how far away it was from us. Initially, I counted twenty seconds between them, and every five seconds between lightning and thunder is equal to one mile in distance, so it was approximately four miles away. As the minutes ticked by, I began to count seventeen seconds, and then twelve. Soon, there was only eight seconds between lightning and thunder, which meant the dangerous lightning strikes were less than two miles away from us. Needless to say, I was growing very apprehensive about our vulnerable position, as was the rest of our group. Not only were we completely exposed, most of us carried some sort of metal weapon or accoutrement, which has highly conductive properties. A skyscraper has a metal needle at the top to help absorb lightning strikes, and now we were that needle waiting for the jolting blow.
We continued to push forward, hoping to find coverage or shelter of some sort where we could wait out the storm. The wind swept the rain sideways, nearly blinding us, and I couldn’t shake that uncomfortable feeling of water constantly splashing in my face.
Lightning struck again, lighting up the plains for miles, though the rain still obscured much of the view. This time, I counted only five seconds before the thunder boomed.
I became aware of Montaug pointing to something in front of us. I couldn't see anything at first, but then lightning struck again, illuminating the plains for a second. Quite suddenly, a small outcrop of rocks seemingly appeared up ahead, perhaps a mile or so in front of us, but distance was hard to judge on the plains since there were no real geographical landmarks.
The rocks looked out of place, as if they shouldn't have been there. With no other alternative, however, we decided to check out the location. Rocks and caves are not the most ideal place to hide during a thunderstorm since nearby lightning strikes could easily leap through the air and across where one is sitting or standing. On the other hand, there could be other things there that could provide good cover. The best place for us to be would have been inside a dry building, but, stuck out in the open as we were, I would have settled for a dense thicket of trees, preferably of a uniform height, to crouch near. The outcrop didn't look very high though, so I didn't think it would hold any trees within or else we would have seen them already. Still, we would need to investigate.
The lightning struck again. This time I counted only two seconds between the flash of light and the ensuing thunder. It was less than half of a mile away now.
Tired as we were, the possibility of overhead coverage had us almost sprinting the last quarter mile to the rocks. They were higher than I had expected, a good twenty feet high, all roughly the same height. We quickly followed a trail through a narrow gap between two of the boulders. Once inside, I was extremely pleased to see it contained a dense forest of short trees with a large canopy almost level with the top of the giant boulders. I now realized that the boulders were actually strategically placed sections of a small village wall. My thoughts were validated further by doors that were carved into each of the boulders, presumably leading to some interior room; a dwelling of some sort.
Mya ran toward one of these dwellings, but I warned her not to. I caught her by the wrist and pulled her to me. "What if this were your home?" I asked her. She thought for a second and then nodded in understanding.
We returned to the group, staying close together under the trees for the time being. The rain seeped through the dense canopy, dripping down in steady streams here and there. It was better than being completely exposed as we had been, but it was still a far cry from being dry.
As we waited there, under the thicket of trees, I couldn't help but notice that the village seemed abandoned. Other than the empty dwellings within each boulder, there was nothing. No shops or offices, no carts in the streets, no gardens to be tended, and no livestock to be raised. As far as I could tell, not a single soul seemed to live here; a ghost town.
The sky lit up, and a millisecond later came the thunder. I swear I felt the ground shake as the lightning struck, but it never hit the ground. We heard it many more times throughout the night, but not once did it strike within the boulder wall.
In the center of the small, abandoned village was a large spring, almost thirty feet across. It was the only area not shaded by trees, so I walked over to investigate. I looked down into the spring and saw a stairwell carved into the bedrock, spiraling down the inside of the spring. Rainwater poured into the spring from every corner of the village, and it was still fifty or so feet from being filled.
The lightning and thunder stopped after a few hours, but the heavy rain continued to fall relentlessly. Since it didn't seem to be letting up, we soon decided to take up one of the dwellings. We could only hope that none of them were occupied.
I tied the reins of my rapt to a nearby tree and then gave it a rub on the snout. I thought I should name it soon, for it had proven to be a smart and reliable companion, though a bit free-spirited at times. To be sure, I didn’t even know its gender so I could hardly appoint it an appropriate name, and I wasn’t about to get on my hands and knees to check right then either.
I approached one of the dwellings cautiously, followed by most of the others. For some reason though, Nadina and Pharon decided to remain outside. I think that they must be both aquatic and terrestrial creatures. Indeed, they have webbed appendages, fin-shaped ears, and behind their ears are gill-like appendages. On the top of each of their heads is a crest that runs from the top of their foreheads to the back of their necks, like some sort of dorsal fin. It just seems to make sense.
The rest of us entered the massive boulder-home, so glad to be out of the rain. Large as it was on the outside, it felt cramped once inside, though it did have a fireplace on the main level. Fortunately for us, there was some dry wood stacked next to the fireplace, so we would be able to dry off and get warm. On the first floor, there was an area with a stone table and counter, presumably a kitchen or dining area, and in its rear was a wooden hatch door, which led to an underground pantry. On the second floor, following a narrow staircase, were two rooms; each with a large wooden platform raised a few feet off the ground by wooden posts. This, I assumed, would be used to sleep on, and would make it safe during a thunderstorm.
We searched the whole place, but no one was there. At first it was unsettling, wondering how we had come upon such tremendous luck, and I could hardly believe it. Soon, however, I had re-sheathed my sword and began settling in to our temporary home. Lorthredo and Montaug shook themselves furiously to shed the water from their fur, and then got to work on the fire. I couldn’t dry off quite so efficiently, so I took off most of my clothes, save for my boxers, and laid them out near the fire to dry.
It always amazed me how quickly Lorthredo and Montaug could light a fire using nothing but the bare essentials and their own ingenuity. Now, they used some dry tinder and a simple bow-drill left behind by the dwelling's owner. I watched in fascination, but then my attention was stolen when I noticed Mya indiscreetly removing her soiled silk gown, leaving her in just a skin-tight slip that covered her from her upper body down to the top of her knees. I watched her shamelessly as she undressed, curious as to why she hadn’t sought a more private area to disrobe. I had to remind myself that she was born and raised on Scynthia, so the dynamics between genders could be very different.
I couldn’t help but notice Mya’s stunning beauty yet again, no matter how much I tried to avoid it. Her long wet hair clung to her face, though she continually tried to clear it away, and she had goose-flesh on most of her exposed skin. She whipped her hair back and gathered it in her hands, then pulled it down one side of her body. She caught sight of me as she did this, smiling innocently, and I quickly looked away, suddenly embarrassed by my scrutinizing gaze.
Montaug soon finished cooking the elder meat, and we ate a hardy meal, washing it down with the pure, refreshing rainwater now stored in our water-skins. After our small meal, I entered one of the rooms on the second floor and climbed up the ladder of one of the platforms. There was no padding on the platform, but I wasn't about to complain about the sleeping conditions. I lay there for a few minutes, wondering at our lucky find and hoping nothing spoiled it.
Someone started coming up the ladder, and when I looked up I saw it was Mya, still wearing only her skin-tight silk undergarments. I was incredibly nervous all of a sudden, but I stayed there, trying to hide my timidity.
"I like it in here," she said as she lay down next to me. She was lying on her side, hand on her thigh, looking at me gleefully. "It's been so long since I've slept inside a building."
"It's been longer than that for me," I said. She was making me very uneasy; very excitable.
She leaned in closer to me, and looked as if she was going to say something. She paused, however, causing me to lean closer in anticipation.
"Why are you so kind to me?" she asked abruptly, leaning back and looking up at the ceiling.
"Well why wouldn't I be kind to you?" I asked in reply. "You’ve done nothing to make me want to act otherwise."
"But you are more than just kind to me," she said. "You care about me. Why?"
"Well," I started, "I guess it's because I can understand what you are going through. It would feel wrong not to at least try to help you."
"Oh," she said with apparent disappointment.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I just thought that, maybe," she hesitated, "maybe you liked me.”
"I do like you," I said. I suddenly felt very awkward, "You're a wonderful person."
"Thank you, but that's not really what I meant,” she said. She looked so vulnerable. “I thought that I might be of more interest to you. That maybe you found me attractive."
The rain still seeped from her cold body. Her clothing did nothing to conceal her exquisite figure, while her arms, and her chest, showed just how chilled she'd become.
"I...well," I stammered, surprised by what she had said. I didn't really know how I felt about her exactly; I had been so focused on getting home that I never really considered it. She was exceptionally beautiful, though; and I am only a man.
She sat up quickly and rolled over to face me, half laying on top of me. "I'm so cold,” she said. “Please, keep me warm?”
"Alright," I said, smiling inwardly. "I can do that."
I put my arm around her and she pressed her body into my side. She then tossed her wet hair over her shoulder, exposing even more of her delicious curves. She moved in closer and draped her hand over my chest, lightly tracing my muscles with her fingers. Her lips were only inches from mine.
"Jaxon," she started.
My heart was beating wildly.
"We are all alone," she said seductively.
Her hands were moving up to play with my collar bone. She looked down at my lips, and then back up at my eyes. "You know," she said quietly, now almost whispering in my ear, "we could-."
"Mya!" snapped Nadina, who suddenly appeared in the doorway, startling the both of us.
"Yes, Mistress!" Mya replied with nervous guilt.
"Come with me. Now," Nadina commanded. "I require your assistance."
"Yes, Mistress," she replied, speeding to climb down the ladder.
Then I was all alone.
I flipped over to my stomach and tried to sleep, but the rain beat down loudly atop the stone dwelling. Mya had left me flustered, and very much aroused. Needless to say, sleep didn't come quickly that night.
I awoke the next morning after an especially enjoyable dream, in which Mya and I had continued what she had started in the lofted bed. I know you don't want to hear about that, but it was only a dream.
I noticed the rain had finally stopped, and, for the first time, saw there was a ladder carved into the wall near the far corner of the room. I went to the ladder and climbed up, emerging onto the roof of the dwelling. It had raised rock walls around its perimeter with several stakes sticking up from the walls, as well as a stone bench and stone table. It was actually very quaint.
I sat on the stone bench, looking out over the plains. I noticed there was no road or path leading to the deserted village. It must have grown over with new grass at some point, meaning it must have been abandoned ages ago. The surrounding scenery was flat for miles, but as the sun rose over the horizon to the east, an awe-inspiring double rainbow appeared, stretching farther than I could see in either direction. I gazed at the rainbow for a few minutes, and then turned my attention to the interior of the small village. The bushy tops of the trees spread all across the village, coming level with the top of the boulder-dwellings. In several places, I saw long, metal poles reaching high into the sky, but I could only guess as to what purpose they might have served.
I heard someone coming up the ladder behind me, and part of me hoped it was Mya.
It was Demtrius.
"I thought I'd find you up here," he said. "I found the ladder in my room last night, though I didn't dare venture outside during the storm."
I nodded, only half listening really. "Do you see those metal poles? There, and there?" I asked him, pointing, "I think those are why the lightning did not strike any of the trees or buildings."
"Then whoever built this place knew their business well," he replied.
"What do you think happened here?" I asked. "Where are all the people?"
"I'm not sure," he said, "but the trees are green and the water is fresh. It seems like an excellent place to live."
"I agree, so what would cause the inhabitants to abandon it?" I asked. "Is there some danger we don't see? Perhaps a disease wiped them out, or a pack of vicious predators?"
"It bothers me, too," said Demtrius, "but we will be out of here soon, so put it from your mind. Perhaps they left voluntarily, for some more attractive and prosperous land," he suggested.
"Maybe," I said, still uneasy. I had learned to heed Demtrius' wisdom though. His instincts were always spot on and he had yet steer me wrong. I couldn't help but think back to when it was just the two of us plotting our escape in the Aanthoran dungeon, and now those plans were well into action.
We soon left the roof and met up with the rest of the group. They were already outside and ready to leave. When I saw Mya, I noticed her and Nadina had been staring in my direction, but when I glanced over at them they both looked in different directions. I wanted to talk to Mya about what had happened the night before, but found I had nothing to say. It had been spur-of-the-moment, and Nadina's interruption made me feel embarrassed.
I could see my snake, with its freshly-shed skin, wrapped around a nearby tree. The snake looked noticeably larger now, and seemed to be growing at an exponential rate. It slithered up my body easily and perched on my shoulder, and I could feel the increase in weight. Soon I wouldn’t be able to support it.
