New Faces

I run.

I run fast and hard, not quite sure where I have to go.

It is hot, the sounds of yells and screams and the horrible screech of the enemy sounding everywhere. Fires burn, and smoke chokes the air. But a little request, and at least my air is clean.

“Father!” I yell, trying to listen for him. I keep running, the camp familiar, even like this. Father should be nearby the front, near the center.

“Father!”

“Chosen!?”

I brighten, and father thunders to me. Even with the cuts he has, and the blood on him, he is as strong as ever. He skids to a stop near me, and turns back, watching.

“I said to leave with the others!” he yells, and then spears the first enemy to come from the smoke. More soon follow. I have to help.

“I won’t leave you!” I yell back at him, focusing as the enemy gathers. I hear fewer centaur; they are winning.

Father bellows, raging. Calm. Water is calm, and quiet. Sooth it, and then ask it, and relax…

I feel it. I ask it, and it nods.

A burst of water tosses them back, away from us. It isn’t much, but we are slightly refreshed, and they are not here.

Father reacts instantly, and grabs me before running far faster than I could ever hope to. I only hold on, and trust in father’s strength. We arrive at the stone in what feels like forever, and I see the crackling light fading.

Father tenses, and he does not take the steps. He leaps, and we both fly into the light just as it is gone.

It is almost instant. Or I think it was.

From darker stone, to blinding white, to a sudden bright sky above. From the smell of smoke and fire and battle to flowers and peace. The tribe is around us, and Father stands tall and takes charge instantly, setting me down next to him.

“What is needed!?” he demands of the nearest, Strong Arm and Eagle’s Eye.

“Nothing, chieftain.” Strong Arm says. “No enemy or threat is near us.”

“Go, make sure.”

They nod and hurry off. I look, and see the tribe worried, concerned, but hopeful. I can even see a few of the defenders have survived, and a few more stumble from the light before it is gone. I wonder at that, but it means nothing but good; more centaur warriors, here to help in what may be needed.

Teacher goes to them, as do a few others, helping the injured as father goes and begins ordering the tribe. I stay with teacher; I could do with a little wisdom and calm after battle.

“Teacher.” I call, heading to him as he works on the worst of the defenders, the others being cautiously moved.

He grins at me, most of his teeth missing in his age. “Chosen! I see you brought your father with you. You did well, very well if these old eyes see correctly.”

“Thank you teacher.” I say, smiling. I already feel better. “…Where are we?” I ask, curious.

“I am not sure. I will need some time to look and know before I can know one field from another.”

I nod.

“Now go back to your father and tell him to calm down. The tribe needs a calm leader, and not a war chief right now.”

“I shall!”

I head toward father, or rather, father’s yells, the tribe already busy. Tents need to be put up, supplies and other stuff need to be sorted and secured and used. Lots of work to do, and teacher is right; they need someone to get them in line. Father is good at that, but if he gets too tense, he is more a fighter than a leader.

“Chosen!”

I smile as my friend, Rush Wind, hurries over. He is a few seasons younger than I am, but he is always filled with energy and happiness. I enjoy having him near, and seeing his grin tells me this is truly a good place. I smile back.

“Chosen, you made it!”

“I did.” I tell him, ruffling his hair. He laughs and runs around me, beaming.

“Mother and father and brother made it too!”

“Are you happy Rush?” I say, not trying to track his motion. It makes me sick sometimes.

“I am!”

He keeps running around me, and I laugh a little at his energy. “Want to follow me?”

“Yeah!”

Finding father wasn't hard. And as soon as he sees me and Rush, he is far calmer still. I think this place is just too peaceful to keep being angry.

“Father!” I call as I go to him, and laugh as he pushes at my head, ruffling my hair.

“Gori sent you, didn’t he?” he asks, smiling.

I nod.

“Ha! Old lives never change.” father says, chuckling. “I want your opinion here Chosen. Should we stay here, or look for someplace better?”

“…What could be better?” I ask.

“The scouts can see a mountain a few days run from here. Or there is the forest nearby. We do not have to live in the field.”

“I can choose?” I ask him, wondering. He nods, and I think hard. I have to do well, impress him; father would normally choose, but he wants me to. I want to make him proud.

I lived in mountains for my whole life, but I know what a field is. I saw them a lot from the cliffs, and I saw forests too.

I’ve just never really been in one. Fields are just grass, and forests have lots of trees.

I do like mountains… but a forest sounds interesting…

“Here.” I say.

“Why?” father asks, watching me. He wants to know how I think.

“Here, the mountain is nearby, as is the forest. We can have everything if we stay here, forest, mountain, and field.” I say.

Father smiles. “Not bad. However, always remember that near does not mean close. Nor is a field always peaceful.”

I nod, only somewhat disappointed. Father knows best, and if he doesn’t, teacher does. Though… in arguments, I generally go with father. Unless teacher gets really mad.

Teacher is frightening when he’s mad.

“Why not go explore?” father suggests. “There is much to do, and you would soon grow bored.”

“I wouldn’t.” I object.

“Brother is scouting.” Rush tells me. “We can go do what he’s doing.”

I hesitate, and father gently pushes at me.

“Go with Rush. Have fun. There is no need for you to be a man quite yet.”

I huff, but nod. I want to be a man. Being big and strong and brave. I’m getting closer; just two more winters and I’ll be ready to become a man.

On the other hand, going exploring is fun, and Rush will be happy.

Rush cheers as we go, running forward only to run back to try and encourage me to run with him. It takes a little bit before I do, still unsure if I wanted to go play or stay and work.

But I think no one can resist Rush’s energy. It’s just too… much. You can’t stay upset or sad around Rush.

We find his brother, Eagle’s eye, fairly soon, and follow after him. Rush continues to charge nearby, chasing insects and going from one sight to the next. The field is filled with tiny flowers and butterflies, the grass tall and bright green. It waves in the faint wind, and the sun above shines down warm, but not hot.

It is a good day.

We find a few things as we go. Starting south and the heading north along the tribe’s western edge.

To the south, we find a river. A big one. Not one easily reached, but its fresh water, and that’s good. I think there are fish in it too.

To the west, we find a forest. And I change my mind too.

I always saw forests as a different green than fields, and I know there are trees, but…

They’re so close together, and the leaves block light. It’s hard to see within, and seems difficult to move inside of.

I don’t like it. Eagle’s eye told me that was normal to not like forests as we walked on its edge. Apparently, things inside tend to be easily tripped on, and abound with thorns and worse. But many go within anyway, as forests are filled with food, often lots of food.

The north was more and more field. After a time, the peace was getting to us, Rush slowing down and becoming sleepy. I was growing tired too, but kept going. Even Eagle’s eye was getting a bit sloppy with his scouting, but I didn’t care.

The day was too nice to care.

Then Eagle’s eye spots a dirt path in the grass, and we go to look. It weaves along the fields, hard to see at a distance, but it is there. And upon it, we spot a sign, and go to it.

It is covered in little markings, and I know what had made it, even if I can't read it.

Humans. Like centaur, but with a weird lower half. They made signs in their own tongue, and these… what did teacher call them…? Right. Roads. They were called roads, like paths, but made by humans.

“Should we tell father?” I ask. Humans tend to be a problem. They fight with centaur, and being near them encourages them to fight more.

“…The road is overgrown, and the sign is ill cared for.” Eagle’s eye says. “I doubt that this road is used at all, but perhaps we should, just in case. And for later…”

He jabs the sign with his spear, and leaves it pointing high up. Then he reaches up and ties a bit of red cloth on it.

I wonder, and Eagle’s eye says, “To find it later.”

I think that was for Rush’s benefit. Not that I didn’t also wonder what he was doing.

“…What does the sign say?” I ask him.

“I don’t know.”

Well, it was worth a try. Human tongue can be learned, it was just hard to. Teacher knows it well, though most of the tribe can only speak a few words. Curse words if teacher’s reaction to me saying them is any indication.

I bet it just names the field. That or tells of food someplace, or a good place to rest. Or some kind of warning. Centaur made signs too, and those were fairly normal messages.

I hope it isn’t a warning.

Father wasn't happy learning about it. Other scouts had found more of the road, and apparently, it was overgrown, which said it wasn't used. Father just told us to be careful and keep our eyes open.

As the rest of the tribe kept working, I wandered off a bit and settled down on the soft grass. I was tired, and could sleep now, and help later on.

The grass was actually better than I thought it would be as bedding. I wonder if I could rip a bunch up and use it like that…

I wake to a strange feeling. Something is strange. Wrong.

I stand, and notice that the shadows are shifting rapidly, as though someone is carrying a torch near me. But no one has a torch.

Everyone is murmuring and looking skyward, and I follow their example.

The sun is dropping, so fast it can be seen. In a moment it goes from day to dusk to night, leaving us in darkness. And then the moon rises, bright and fast as well until it stops high in the sky.

I am worried, and distressed. What is happening?

I go and find teacher and father looking skyward together, the tribe around them, waiting for them to tell them what to do. I walk close, so I can hear them.

“I do not know Martuk.”

“Then what Gori? What am I to do? What if the sun never rises again? Are we to rely upon the moon alone, or is even that going to abandon us?”

“Calm Martuk. I am sure that those fears are just that; fears. Look around us; this land cannot lose its light so easily.”

“And should our arrival have changed something?” Father asks in a quiet voice, and I see teacher hesitate. I do not like that. I go to them, fearful.

“Father?” I say as I go to him. “What is happening?”

He gets the determined face, the one he uses when he does not want me to fear. “Nothing Chosen. The sky is simply acting out of place. Nothing to be concerned over.”

Those words are something to be concerned over. Father did not speak like that when he feels safe or in control.

“Do not dismiss the boy Martuk. Maybe Chosen can see what old eyes cannot.” Gori looks to me. “Chosen, what do you make of the sky?”

I hesitate. Teacher is testing me I think. I look up and wonder.

“…The stars are different.” I say. “The runner is not there, and neither is the warrior.”

“And?” he asks. I try harder.

“…I…” There is nothing else. What else is there? The sky, the sun, the stars and the moon…

“The moon… the moon is big.” I say, wondering how I did not see that before. There is something else, and I focus on it.

“It is big… and… something is… is pushing it? I can see it moving, and I can kind of see something around it, as though a hand pushes it through the sky.”

Teacher looks back up and nods. “It is as he says. I did not see that.” He rubs his chin.

“What does it mean?” father asks, angry and frustrated.

“It means that nature is not rebelling, nor abandoning us. It means that something is controlling it.”

“But what Gori? What can control the skies?”

“…Gods?” Gori suggests slowly. Humans have gods, but everyone knows that they don’t exist. Teacher is teasing father with the word.

“…” Father snorts, and growls faintly, making teacher sigh.

“I know of nothing that can Martuk. I know of no one who would know of something that can. But I have never seen those stars, never seen the moon so big with its marks changed.”

They are. The moon and stars are different? “And that makes me realize how far we have gone.” he finishes. I fear.

“Where are we teacher?” I ask again.

“We have left our land, and come to another apart from it. That moon is not our own, those stars are not our own, and I suspect that if I look, the sun is not our own. The portal has lead us from our place to a new place in every way.”

I am awed, unable to find words. I do not know if I should be afraid, or wondering. Father frowns and his face tightens. Then he growls, and turns to the tribe.

“Stay on guard! Do not let the peace fool you! This place is new, and can easily be dangerous! Let the warriors and scouts find what is safe or not, even if that thing seems something you know!”

“We must keep safe! We lost too many, and I will not suffer more losses! Stay on your guard, and make sure that nothing tricks you, and that nothing can threaten us!”

He walks away and teacher continues to watch the sky. I join him, looking at the new stars, wondering how you created a picture with them. I liked the old star drawings, but I can’t just draw on the sky with charcoal. I wonder how the ancestors did it.

Still, father knows what he is doing, and teacher is a capable guide. We will be safe, even if the peace does turn out to be a trap, and the land is more dangerous than the falling stones of Thunder cliff.

For a moment I see something. A shape moves in front of the moon for a second. A… winged horse? Should I tell… no. Teacher will think me tired, and father will say that I am too young to be trusted with strange sights. Maybe I imagined it. That or it was a bird, and I am tired. Best to ignore it.