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Wyrmwood Seed

Prologue: Fairytales and Seekers (Fantasy)

By K.T. SetoPublished 2 years ago 13 min read
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There weren’t always Dragons in THE VALLEY. In fact, until their arrival, no one had even considered the potentiality of their existence. I tell you this, so you understand that when they appeared, no one was prepared, nor did they know what exactly to do with them.

Normally, the one who discovers any NEW THING gets to determine what to call it and give an opinion on what to use it for. Not this time thankfully, given who’d found them. No one allows Addax to name anything after the last debacle. And since Addax scooped up the first dragons and carried them around in their pockets for almost an entire Waking before showing them to anyone, they’d also proven themselves incapable of caring for anything living at all. Especially not something sentient as dragons are.

Still, it took quite a bit of prodding to get Addax to admit what they had and where they’d gotten it. Not unsurprising given Addax’s penchant for going and doing things that are outside of the rules. Once they’d stopped wailing about the hole burned in their pockets (as the Dragons took turns screaming for help and the heat from their breath seared a hole large enough for the sound to escape) they’d admitted that they’d been sniffing in THE VALLEY when Volpi went to relieve himself. Volpi often relieved himself in odd places. It was a habit no one had the heart to tell him was impolite, even though the places where it puddled turned to sand and the land smoked with the heat of it. This time he peed on the fireflower patch and revealed the Dragons under the leaves.

Yes, Addax likes to sniff things. No one tries to stop them anymore. They just try to keep them from sniffing things that will cause harm. It’s rare that they will find a NEW THING to sniff. Inevitably when they find one, into the pocket it goes. Especially something NEW.

“Everything comes from the Valley,” a small voice said, and she nodded and continued speaking, excusing the soft interruption.

“There’s not much new in THE VALLEY anymore. Which is why the Dragons engendered such excitement. THE ELDEST grabbed ahold of Addax’s ear and pulled them over to where THE MOTHER had made her freshest nest and set the basket (they’d found a basket to carry the creatures) full of Dragons on the ground in front of her.

The Dragons for their part were properly respectful of THE ELDEST and THE MOTHER so both were immediately enamored of the tiny creatures for their good manners. THE MOTHER gave THE ELDEST leave to come up with a name, and he called them Dragons, the Fire-kin. THE MOTHER then gave them gifts. Multicolored wings and a handy blade for their tail. Blades are important for spearing fireflower fruits, and since she supposed that was what they ate (since they’d been under them) THE MOTHER thought the blades would come in handy. Of course, now we know Dragons hold the fireflower sacred and would never eat them, but they didn’t know this then.

“Dragons are HUGE! They use their tails to stab us!” Fenri said, and she gave him a look to silence him.

“What have I said about interrupting the legends?” she said patiently, and all the children but him immediately said—Always listen, seldom speak -hear the lessons so we may heed—she smiled indulgently and turned her fiercest frown on Fenri, who didn’t look at all apologetic.

“But we’ve heard this one before! I want to hear about the desert seeds!” Fenri said, and she shook her head. This child, always this child. Barely 10 circuits had passed since his birth, and he was already challenging authority. That one would be a Watcher for sure, she thought. But not yet. For now, she needed to guide him to listen. Listening was an important skill, no matter where you ended up. She began the legend where she’d left off, her eyes drawn to the back of the group where Xia sat. Silent and a little apart, as usual. Her green eyes overlarge for her face, a small pensive smile turning up the edges of her lips. Her skin was a warm shade of brown that made the eye color more striking. The Gatherer had pulled her midnight hair into a single thick braid, tied at the end with a bit of string. All the children wore their hair this way, but hers was sleeker, as if she’d used part of her water ration to ensure it stayed. She wouldn’t. No one would waste water that way, not even a child below the AGE OF RESPONSIBILITY. It was a sign. She wondered if the Watchers would continue to ignore it.

Fenri interrupted the telling twice more, impatient as always to get to the part about the transformation and flinging of the seeds.

So, THE ELDEST took the newly transformed Dragons to live among the people, having taught them to make the change. Of course, they didn’t look like us, really. But they were close. They looked like the people in the holy books. Great and terrible. With skin uncovered by the Mother’s cooling mud. You need that greatness to spread the seeds.

“We can still find some! The seeds will set us free!” Fenri crowed, and the other children laughed. She smiled and shook her head, then looked up as she heard someone clear their throat from nearby.

“That’s enough of fairytales for the day.” Jon-ye said from the entry and the children groaned but stood and hurried from the hall, offering him clumsy but passable salutes as they fled. When they all were gone, he walked close to her and sat at her side.

“Meli, why do you fill their heads with such nonsense?”

She leaned forward a bit to pick up the basket she used to hold the story cubes and replaced them while he watched.

“Such stories hold their own truths and their own meanings.”

“Foolishness. Romanticizing the Fire-kin only hinders them. They should learn the fear first, then after they have learned the reason, they can learn to hope.”

Meli looked at him and frowned. Too many were like him. Jaded, walking in fear, seeing enemies in the shadows.

“Did you come to nag me about how I amuse the children, or did you have another reason for seeking me out?”

He narrowed his eyes and nodded.

“We got a ping on the outer marker. Laris pulled it up on the holo. The Seekers are back.” Meli mirrored his frown and stood.

“Well then, I should prepare for visitors, right? Do we have enough raw material to replicate something special? I doubt they want to eat plain fuel and greens.” She stood and picked up the basket, moving to the far wall. Then pressed her thumb to the lock before depressing the panel to open it once the light flicked to green. Jon-ye followed her closely, watching. She slid the basket into the niche and covered it with a shield blanket, pushing the lot deeper inside and rearranging things to hide it. Then she locked the panel and turned to see Jon-ye frowning. She stared back, lifting an eyebrow, daring him to speak. This was a battle he’d lost many times over. He seemed to remember this, and his face cleared marginally. She knew that if Seekers were at the marker, they barely had time to prepare. How they’d hidden their presence from the sensors until they were so close was a worry for another day. There definitely wasn’t time to indulge in one of their verbal battles. No matter how much they enjoyed it.

“I will check the stables and scrounge some up. There should be enough leavings to fill the bin for the head table at least.” He paused and lowered his voice. “I want you to keep the children and younger women from the hall.”

She bit her lip and nodded, her heart picking up in her chest.

“I will need a bit more time then, to be sure. Stall them for me?” Jon-ye nodded and leaned down to press a kiss to her cheek, then raised his hand and pressed it to her face as if sealing it in. Meli smiled and let him see her strength, knowing he needed it.

Jon-ye inclined his head and moved swiftly from the room, no doubt going to make sure no other contraband was visible or scent-able for the hounds that often traveled with the Seekers. It wasn’t time for their tribute, but somehow she knew it wasn’t trade goods their beastly Overseers were after. Thieving monsters who felt the Hollow-kin were sheep to herd and slaughter. Too few women and children survived once taken into their care. They’d come a far too often for her liking in the past two circuits.

Hurrying from the hall, she called sharply to the first person she saw, running her finger over the pad atop the metal band on her wrist. She saw the screen flash green, then hurried to assist the Urisks with rounding up the children and unpaired women and herding them into the caverns below the fortress. The few newest of the children had never been down here before and they were frightened but didn’t disobey. She’d taught them to follow rules right off. So much remained from the time before that learning to accept the unfamiliar without fear is a lesson they needed early. Thankfully, they trusted her and that alone would allow her to help them hide in the time that remained. They had one hour, maybe two, before the Seekers arrived, barely enough time to make sure that all looked as it should and no hint of their presence remained.

When she reached the entrance to the caverns, she began counting heads, verifying identities, and assigning an Urisk for every five people in the group. The Urisks loaded them into the carts and she watched as they sped away, praying the Urisk had enough magic to keep the carts running and hide their scents. Their fortress was smaller than some others, but it still took time, time she knew they didn’t really have. Her stomach clenched with worry. Meli knew she shouldn’t dwell too much on the possibilities and their dependency on the Bright-kin to use their magic to keep things going, but at times like these when she sent all but a few of their magic users away, she worried.

The Seekers were all Bright-kin and would outnumber her clan the moment they set foot in the fortress. What could they hope to do if they decided that they were out of compliance and required punishment? Nothing. With a sigh, she reached up to seal the door as the last cart moved from sight and caught movement in her peripheral vision. She turned abruptly and barely stifled a shout of surprise. Xia was standing next to her. Her breath caught in her throat. No. What had happened? Meli knew she’d purposefully assigned her to the first group. Xia should be miles away by now, but she wasn’t, and no carts remained.

Her heart sped, and she forced herself to speak gently as she kneeled to the child’s level. “What are you doing here?”

“I like it here.”

Meli nodded and pressed a hand to the child’s cheek.

“I know you do, but it’s not safe now. You should be on a cart.”

“If I go with them, they’ll all die,” Xia said, and Meli’s breath caught in her throat.

“You can’t know that.”

“You know I can.” Xia smiled sadly, and a tear escaped her eye. Meli reached out and pulled the child into her arms. Xia leaned into her and Meli felt her small body shiver once before she stepped back out of her embrace.

“We need to go up. She will come before they do. They will see our ship and leave you in peace.”

Meli stood and looked down at Xia’s too solemn face.

“You can’t know that. If they scent you or see you leaving they will be angry.” So angry at losing such a prize, and what would they do to us? Fear stabbed its icy lance into her breast and she fought the urge to wail in despair. Not her, they couldn't take her sweet Xia.

“Don’t worry.” Xia reached up and took her hand, pulling lightly to get her moving. Meli moved almost on autopilot, sealing the cavern doors, and moving upstairs to change into her formal robes. Xia sat watching her dress, then left the room, returning with the small bag she’d arrived with, and her robe laid over her forearm. Her little face was far too serious. This was the look she’d had when she’d first arrived three cycles ago. Meli had worked hard to replace it with joy.

Jon-ye’s voice came from the hall as they walked towards the back stairs. The Seekers were earlier than she’d expected, and she looked down at Xia feeling another shaft of fear.

“Don’t worry.” The child tugged lightly at her hand as she said this, moving instead to the small lift near the rear stairwell and stepping inside. Meli pressed the button for the ground floor and frowned, hoping the girl’s sight was true. Hoping the Seekers hadn’t spread their hounds out around the keep searching for the scent of Wildings and young. And knowing the scent of Wilding would cling to her now that she’d held Xia’s hand and hugged her small body.

“Don’t worry,” Xia said again as the door opened and she saw to her surprise a tall, slim woman in dark robes standing at the door to the lift. A Drakina, a Fire-kin. Her hair was the same shade of midnight black that Xia’s was, but that was where the similarities ended. Meli’s heart pounded. She’d never been this close to one before. Law dictated that she should call for the Seekers. After all, the Fire-kin are why they exist. The Fire-kin are the only ones they should take or look for. She smiled tremulously and straightened her shoulders, holding tight to Xia’s small hand. Xia extricated herself and gave her a small smile.

“Mistress, we thank you for your care and hospitality. If ever you need help, call.” She pressed a silver talisman to Meli’s hand and then stepped back, stretching out one hand to Xia.

“I really liked it here. I hope to come back.” The girl smiled and Meli tilted her head.

“Can’t you see that too?”

“No. It’s too far.” Xia said, and the woman took her hand and led her away.

“Will she be safe?” Meli called after them softly, walking toward the gate where she could see the sleek Jumper hovering just above the ground. What marvelous magic Jumpers were. Able to pierce the heavens and seek the stars.

“As safe as any of us are. Balis willing.”

“Balis willing.” Meli whispered, watching as the Drakina led the little Wildling away.

Fantasy
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About the Creator

K.T. Seto

In a little-known corner of Maryland dwells a tiny curvemudgeon. Despite permanent foot in mouth disease, she has a epistemophilic instinct which makes her ask what-if. Vocal is her repository for the odd bits that don't fit her series.

Reader insights

Outstanding

Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

Top insights

  1. Compelling and original writing

    Creative use of language & vocab

  2. Excellent storytelling

    Original narrative & well developed characters

  3. On-point and relevant

    Writing reflected the title & theme

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Comments (1)

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  • Amelia Jane Malins2 years ago

    The fire-kin was so cool! I love the concept, a bit mysterious and very unexpected when she showed up to take Xia. I did struggle a lit bit with the formatting and the italicised/all-caps bits, but overall I thought it was a really cool, imaginative story! Would love for you to read mine as well. :)

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