The Land Below our Feet III (Legacy)

KEPHIAN

-I think we must be close now – Axe weakly asseverated as he wishfully scanned the horizon once more while shielding his sore eyes from the unforgiving sun glare.

-If you dare say that lie again, I will stab you in the neck myself, I swear! – Skhana tiredly grunted. Her sight indifferently following the trajectory of the massive flock of birds obscuring the cloudless sky that extended ahead, loudly flapping their wings in perfect synchrony above them –We've been blindly following those things all day to no avail! Don't you see it! We´re lost!

-No, we're not! – The blue-haired youngster vehemently dissented while pointing at the numerous feathered creatures – I can almost taste the memory of the refreshing springs through their beaks and see the rich pastures through their eyes!

-Maybe, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are guiding us to Alesh, does it? – His sister insisted – I doubt that they even know what that is. So, they could be leading us to any random water source for all we know.

-And that is completely fine with me – Phomeryka tediously sighed behind her – Why would that be such a tragedy, uh? In my book, that's a fair win!

-Because that's not what we came here for, you i***t! – Skhana irately exclaimed, straining her neck backwards to look briefly at her – Has the sun fried your only functioning neuron and made you forget all about the quest that we are on?

-No, I am just saying that it would be nice to drink some fresh water for a change – The Xoltunian boredly responded. Rolling her eyes with slight annoyance, then gesturing with disgust at the canteen hanging from her hip – Aren't you sick of this lukewarm Cahenean beverage that tastes like piss?

-Just so you know, that is a traditional Uplander tea – Finjël offendedly commented – And a great source of electrolytes.

-I don't care if the stuff is sacred, it still tastes like hot pee – Phomeryka complained, scrunching her nose.

-Is that a flavor you're particularly familiar with, Princess? – The blue-eyed girl had begun asking mockingly, but her question would be lost to the shock of watching their masked companion suddenly jump off his camel and practically breeze past the group in a single fluid motion, leaving them all aghast and perplexed.

Skhana blinked once, still processing the fact that the Yahurian had just rushed by them, trying to figure out a reason why, when she heard the loud thud behind the tall dune where he had disappeared a second earlier, and the pained yelp that followed said impact.

-Agh! Get off me! – She heard a voice scream as they all hurried to climb the dusty hill and finally discover the cause of Akoh's previous outburst.

A unanimous murmur of realization erupted from the group of travelers once the image of the terrified specimen trapped under the Yahurian's boot came into full view.

At first, Skhana had a hard time discerning exactly what she was looking at. Despite its humanoid outline, the extremely chapped state of its reddened skin along with the utterly matted mane that cascaded over its features made it almost impossible to tell at first sight if the creature was old or young, female or male.

There was only one sure thing… That strange being that kept squirming on the ground like a worm beside a discarded spear, uselessly trying to escape from the relentless pressure of the masked man's sole, was the most malnourished entity that she had ever seen.

-Akoh stop! – She found herself yelling as she leaped towards the Yahurian and grabbed his massive thigh, furiously intending to yank it back – That's enough!

-Who are you? – The masked soldier barked at the fallen figure, completely ignoring Skhana's petition and pressing his foot a bit father into the intruder's chest, apparently unbothered by the young girl that kept clinging to his leg with all her might – What do you want?

-That's a Kephian – Finjël pointed out matter-of-factly. Staring disdainfully at the silent hostage as he stood by the Yahurian warrior and wordlessly placed a palm on his shoulder – And it's clear that he is beyond starved.

The newcomer crouched before his gathered audience gnawing eagerly on a piece of cured meat that they had tossed at him while he cautiously glared at them with fearful eyes.

-Is that a cannibal? – The Xoltunian Princess asked aloud, ogling him with suspicion –Were you trying to hunt us and have us for dinner, uh, little man?

But her question would remain unanswered as the tribesman kept on devouring his food with savage hunger, hunched in the center of the circle that they had instinctively formed around him.

-He might as well turn into one, if he is given the chance – The Uplander somberly chimed in, nodding at the native – After all, Kephians are widely known for their brutal ways… An outpost is inevitably ambushed and killed by them every once in a while.

-And Caheneans are widely known for their stupidity amongst our own – The stranger murmured in a hoarse voice, a bitter cackle rumbling in his chest as he eyed him with contempt – It is not our fault that your people get constantly lost and die in our sands.

-Is it all a lie then? – Skhana inquired in a hopeful tone – You don't really eat human flesh?

-We are not murderers – The Kephian scoffed - But we are not going to let good meat go to waste once it's there. If you lived here, you'd understand.

-So, if you weren't trying to hunt us, why were you following us? – Axe intervened. Taking a small step towards him and scanning him carefully up and down.

-Because I was desperate and hungry – The man huffed, nodding at the horizon – And I wasn't following you, I was following that giant black cat.

-Are you serious? – Akoh sneered in amused disbelief – That thing would tear you in half before you could get anywhere near it!

-Well… As I said, I was hungry – The stranger smirked, shrugging off carelessly – So, I was willing to give it a try.

-What's your name? – Skhana asked. Slowly pacing towards him and offering him a jug with a moderately wavering hand.

-Balkah – The newly-arrived sniffled. Taking a large swig from the container she'd handled him and wincing in revulsion as he reluctantly swallowed it – Oh gods! What is this? It tastes like absolute s**t!

-Despite your pitiful looks, you don't strike me as a fool, Balkah – The girl observed. Placing her hands on her hips and curiously tilting her head at him – So, what are you doing out here all alone, starving yourself?

-I wasn't alone – He gloomily muttered – My brothers and I were together, trying to catch a Tanghum, but that thing caught us instead… And now the three of them are dead.

-A Tanghum? – Phomeryka exclaimed, completely incredulous at his claim – You mean the giant worms from the stories? I thought they were extinct.

-Yeah… That's a common misconception southerners have – He condescendingly replied – And they are not worms, but serpents… Big enough to feed a whole tribe, but also, to fit a few grown men inside their massive jaws.

He paused. Taking a deep inhale and looking upwards to prevent his eyes from treacherously welling up any further as he talked.

-I attempted to hunt it down on my own for a while, just so that I could get my revenge or at least die trying – He continued saying in a calmer tone – But it went underground, and I lost its trail… So, I walked aimlessly for days, until I saw the flock of birds.

He grimaced at the memory, plopping tiredly on the warm ground while massaging his forehead with a clouded sight as he confusedly stared at the impossible image of the numerous feathered creatures gathered some distance ahead.

-The birds were one thing, but when I spotted the giant cat, I frankly thought I had finally lost my mind – He recalled with a thousand-yard stare. An acid chortle reverberating in his chest as he challengingly nodded at the blue-eyed girl.

– You wanted to know what brought me here, and I’d ask you the same thing – He puffed – What the hell is going on here? Where the f**k do you guys think you are going with a bunch of wrens and a gigantic beast? Do you have any idea of what lies ahead?

-Alesh – Axe solemnly responded. Taking a decisive jump forward while studying the Kephian's face – And you know where that is, don't you, Balkah? Can you please take us there?

-Oh, I sure do – Balkah snorted – But I would never go anywhere near that forsaken place, and you shouldn't either … Aleshians will put a thousand arrows through your chests as soon as they spot your outlandish crew, no questions asked!

-Not if we bring them a sufficiently appealing present – Axe winked confidently at him with a cheerful smile – One that is big enough to feed a whole tribe.