I suppose it is fortunate that I was too young to go to war in those days. If I’d been even a little older, a little more reckless, then I am sure that I would have marched as willingly and foolishly as all my siblings. Instead, now I sit as the Nyust’taa over a changed people. I’m sure my ancestors’ spirits mock for our war and my cowardice, but Illan’Klli hasn’t seen fit to bless us with any prayer of survival but this.
–Notes from the Nyust’taa daily record, spoken by the 21st Nyust’taa Yury’yai, recorded by Kar’ra
Variety… I mused over the thought, yet a part of couldn’t help but note the forced shift in my perspective that had taken place over our disastrous escape. Before, I wouldn’t have eaten a single morsel of flesh from an intelligent creature, but I had personally slain loyal subordinates of mine to serve as sustenance for the swarm before feeding on their sacrificed bodies. And now, two dozen of us remained.
With a literal shake of my head, as if I could shake the distracting thoughts out of my mind, I began to reapply my thoughts toward the hint Bloodpriestess Ana had given . I wasn’t long for the fra of thought as I was interrupted.
“Alpha, you are obviously thinking hard about sothing. Maybe we could help if you were to enlighten us as to our current situation? What little I have understood has been sothing I cannot piece together.”
Sybil’s voice cut into my reverie and I finally realized that I had left the swarm in total darkness with regards to what was going on, only general warnings not to fight the Moonchildren. Now, we needed to prove ourselves “fahvalo”. In as few sentences as I could, I apprised them of our situation, of our current plight, and the only way I could see us escaping–that is, complying with proving ourselves fahvalo. “She says that the key is variety, but I can’t say that I understand what she’s getting at with that.”
Took grunted. “Don’t think it’s just ‘win a fight’. They’re stronger than us. We can’t win a regular fight. Wouldn’t hone them at all. If only Wisterl was here…” She trailed off, her tail twitching briefly. “I can’t do what she did.”
“I don’t think it would work to just be that anyways.”
“Perhaps you could show your magic? That may be sothing they have never encountered thus far...” Sybil chid in, but trailed off, “No, from what we’ve seen, I’m sure that would not do. There is nothing about your magic that would simply convince them of that.” Sybil went quiet, muttering additional ideas to herself before shutting them down.
As she continued to ramble to herself, I raised my voice to the swarm at large. “I don’t care who speaks right now. We need ideas, and yours may be the one that keeps us alive. Call out anything that crosses your mind.”
“Show how we hunt?”
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“No, they’re just as good as us.”
“Tell ‘em how we got this far?”
“Doesn’t show much. Just how to migrate.”
“Well then, how about…” The ideas continued flowing in. Donating scales, showing magic, explaining terrain we crossed, describing the humans’ tactics, everything. Nothing clicked, and I began to lose my hope for survival as the ideas began to peter out.
“Nievtala, give us wisdom! What can we do? Are they just looking for so way to take us down and relying on trickery for it? I won’t allow them to!” Foire snarled at nobody in particular and the swarm went quiet around us, just as frustrated and backed into a corner as Foire and I; he had simply served as a demonstration of our hopeless situation.. A small part of noted the reactions of the Moonchildren around the swarm, that most went on guard but Ana didn’t react except to continue walking at the sa pace.
More ideas ca, Sybil suggested plans, and in the end, every last mber of the swarm had ntioned so new, increasingly desperate and unlikely option or approach for us to take. Eventually, though, every last suggestion was just that–more unlikely than the last. The swarm, previously so united in our complete terror and rushed escape from our pursuit, began snapping at each other in tense anxiety and exhausted panic. Unthinkingly, a snarl began to bubble up in my throat and, with an effort of will and magic, I sent my voice thundering out over my swarm and sending the Moonchildren around us into battle-ready positions, their eyes flickering blue and red.
“QUIET! What little remains of the corpses of the rest of the swarm have yet to cool, and now we bicker like spawnlings over the last bite of a frog. So desperate for survival that you bite at your friends, your companions!” My words struck each of those around into submission, and I saw sha rise in every face. Sybil and Shemira exchanged a look, and I could feel the soothing presence of their magic wash over as the swarm stilled. The desperation of our situation had settled over all of us, but there were still possibilities for success, however slim they were. I felt that truth, the possibility in what I was saying. A prospect for survival. I raised both hands, my voice supported by [Conqueror’s Rebuke], [Innervating Address], and even [Nurturing Enunciation].
“It would seem to that we have no choice but to show our absolute desperation and resolution for success. I trust my neck and back to you, and I expect you to trust each other as well. We’re not yet beaten. I’ll rip the tongue out of any one of you who keep snapping at your swarm mbers, your fellow survivors. That way it won’t get in the way of tearing through those who would threaten our existence!”
Silence settled over the swarm, and, step by step, resolution entered the eyes of my swarm as they ca to stand beside . As one, we walked in formation, onward until we entered a clearing and Bloodpriestess Ana stopped in place.
“This is an acceptable location. I would take you to a bloodground, but as a whole, you are not ready to enter our sacred grounds.” Ana looked in the eye. “I have heard but did not understand your little… discussion. How are you going to prove yourself a fahvalo?”
I rolled my shoulders, steeling myself. “We will show the power of the cornered, the weaker, and the many. We will show ourselves, the desperate, the survivors. The keelish who will beco Keel.”
A grin began to spread over the Bloodpriestess’s face. “Oh… interesting. And how will you begin to prove yourselves in this fashion?”
With that heartening response. I began to explain myself.
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