Foxcatdog's Fiction Thread

[foxcatdog]

Books by what i think of them
Great Themes, Serviceable Prose
Warriors: Dawn of the Clans, Warriors: The Prophecies Begin

Interesting Themes, Lovely Prose
A Wizard of Earthsea

Interesting Prose, Not so Emotionally Impactful
Kew Gardens, The Mark on the Wall

Pretty Good Themes, Pretty Good Prose
Harry Potter, The Belgariad, The Malloreon

Haven’t Finished
Fantastic Prose
To the Lighthouse

Lovely Prose
Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights

Pretty Good Prose
Sabriel

Translated
Childhood/Boyhood/Youth, Kitchen

Readable
Lord of the Rings, Wheel of Time

Offensively Boring
Mortal Bones, Twilight

Actively Perverse Prose
Ulysses, Infinite Jest, Blood Meridian, The Catcher in the Rye, Notes from the Underground

[foxcatdog]

Something i will not translate into ZBB code due to the nature of it (shifting between italicised and unitalicised phrases). It's an attempt to be more punchy and modern.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xds ... sp=sharing

[foxcatdog]

The first chapter of Acolyte of Oricima. Rewritten.

More: show

Oricima
Chapter 1
Departing

The Clocks weren’t working. The air was too cool for them to be: cold as the hand of the night you had awoken into: a usual hour for you to rise. The beat of their rhythm was still there as you approached but you knew they didn’t tick as they should.

You moved with motions to check on them as the thoughts of pace raced in your head, quickly and with poise and fluidity as nothing material had but alike the fresh air of the night, a few hours before waking sun. And with them not working, there would be no water, and of course no way to beat the midday heat which lay across this world every time the sun rose over the sky. A day in the desert. Oricima was a cruel mistress, your father thought to tell your mother once and now you would experience it if you didn’t take the proper action. You checked on the System-Clock and as suspected there were faults in its operation: it would need to be repaired for you to stand the heat of midday in this world.

So you hurried around the quiet like the night hut, everything was neatly placed and organised but it seemed slightly scattered in your quick mood. You took all your things of some value: coin, herbs, wares, Hides and Mini-Clocks, those especially would net you cash. Taking them to your Riding-Bird, you placed them in her sack: earth coloured like some dusty soil and portioned onto her back ends. You had no dear things to take except your trusty rifle, one which had served you well over your years and had given you great pride in some of the kills you had scored with it. You remembered your first kill which you had shared with your mother as well as the first one with your father and the first one you finally had alone without them it all seemed just in the back of your mind looking at it. You were also taking your dear Riding-Bird, one named after your mother’s. The term now archaic in your own speech or even the older language of her homeworld, a place you did not know where it lay amongst the stars only that it was a Moon like Alendria but mostly covered in great fields of green as well as some forests and hilly terrain, orbiting around some bright sun and now lost forever to a darker power. You did not even know if your father came from the same world. It was likely however as the descriptions seemed to match, many plains and verdant springs.

There was one last thing to do, you felt it in your bones and stirring in your heart. Just a short trek and you were at a stone marker, grey unlike the desert but not so sharply that it contrasted too much with the subtle sand colour: the dusty sweep which served as the ground of this world. It only read “May Starmaker guide them into the Next Stars” followed by an obituary “Look to the Sky to find them”: your parent’s grave. You felt unburdened as your feelings welled. It was a moment of unspoken words and uncalled thoughts: The memory only hanging in the back. Silent was the desert as only the breeze of near twilight sounded: faint like the Light of your own System-Clock and much dimmer than the stars which spun and brought their light into the sky. After that you spoke farewell, to part. Now only thinking of your journey ahead across a stretch of the desert: many dunes, but crossable. So the memory was put away onto a shelf to be unbrought and unseen as you passed through the dunes, it was much to always dwell on the past. Sometimes you doubted why your parents had come to this world but they had never given a reason why they came here. You wondered.

You had lived here since you were young, a youth spent alone and without siblings. Sometimes you wondered what it would be like to have them or how your parents would feel about having another, you only knew you were theirs. The desert hut: big enough and spacious enough only for three had been your home when you were on the brink of coming to maturity: your parents had taken you there as they feared you would be persecuted by this Satellite’s people for you being a Psychic. The place which birthed you: the city which lay just ahead became a place you would not visit again for Lamps, until you got your powers under control. Your parents never mentioned it to anyone of what you were, at least not anyone who you knew. Sometimes in this desert it had been hard nights with no sleep and visions of Daemons and Shadows hunting you, a world unknown and one you did not want to know. You felt the cloth of shaking motions and fear in those moments and you did not like to dwell on them, but it still hanged. So you trekked on.

Your kind lived different lives due to your mental energies: your powers, your parents told you that and you sometimes felt it. Still it had been the spin of many Lamps since you had used your abilities: the unfolding of many events. Nights were calmer, the haunt of Shadows unpresent, no terror in dreams. It was better to get on with just your rifle and instincts than to rely on headspace. It had served you well, although you still remember the times when you told your parents how you could move objects with your mind. Now you didn’t feel like you could do it again. But maybe someday if needed. Something in the back of your mind told you that someday, was guaranteed, probably logic or maybe emotion or even a destiny unfamiliar.

As your Riding-Bird moved across the roll of the desert ,guided only by the light of the stars shining bright, your mind wandered over them, imagining what lay beyond in their embrace, more dunes perhaps but other worlds like Alendria or even Rhenia and some unlike either. The lay of pale sand made calmness on your mind as your dear Bird moved across them. She was a fine young bird, your parents had gotten you her when you had turned appropriate age, not hatched from the egg, but in her bright youth, you wondered if your parents had a youth alike to that of your bird, surely someone like them had one, moving amongst the trees of childhood like a marten. You remembered to stroke her head and she paused for but a moment, as you did, before she continued on the familiar path. One she knew to take and one which you subtly guided her on.

Less than three Passes over the sands not far for the small Satellite was when you arrived at the Cool Zones extending off from the city, where the foreigners dwelled, as well as some of the natives: or much of them, you were not sure and the relevancey had never been put to mind. You suddenly remembered you had forgotten to take your System-Clock, it sprung to your mind then, like a sharp jab. So there would be nothing to repair, only to sell. A casual mistake but also a great one and your bird could hold more, she could definitely hold it. You would never return to the hut where you were raised and you felt like something had become empty. You of course would never return to the marker of your parent’s memory again, as you remembered the fur on your mother’s face, blonde cream unlike your father’s brown, the same colour you bore, instead you had inherited her indigo eyes. You had gone never to return. A slip of the mind or perhaps something else, something which you could not think of being relevant to your life, Starmaker did not guide every moment.

Now you thought it would do you well to set out from this world, one so inhospitable to your kin: great heat and smoldering sun. And one that had little to offer. You would continue your life as a Hidehunter somewhere else now. Alendria probably. The Moon which this satellite spun around was waiting, a fertile world abound with forests which homed creatures more valuable than most of the ones on this world: the bounty of a rich Moon so close yet so far and with no memories except the ones you would make on it. Perhaps new friends, you never had any besides your parents. The hunting was always good there every one here commented on and someone as skilled as you could make quite a living there. Or so it could be set in the stars, if only.

“Chicken you did good” you said to your bird

You did not know what that word meant, only that it was a word from long ago. Hopping off you found that you were staring into the face of a native, their lizard face staring back into you with the cold expression of their kind while they enjoyed the coolness of the Zones. Even they did not like the heat graven of this Satellite and you often caught them just basking and taking in the air of the cities: just in mirth and relaxment in moments without any burdens. You asked them if they had ever been to the Moon this world orbited and they said no, you didn’t think they would have been. Maybe in a few days or a week you would be there and this desert long behind you and hopefully not to be missed as a theater, only the acts and histrios mattered. You then asked if they had anything to sell or wanted to buy anything but they declined your offer. Back to the city and even deeper into the Cool Zones where the faint blue to white glow of the Light would be even stronger, you had already picked up on the near-Ultraviolet glim. Your parents had regularly come to the city to barter items for coin. And now you found yourself a prostitute to its whims, a market which you did not know how to spin in your favour and one which you found you needed its cash as well as the Pass for a trip of this world. The Moon awaited its lush forests on the cusp in your thoughts, and an easy, in fact the easiest trip away,. A world perfect. Now that of course your System-Clock was slowly beginning its motions into frying in the desert heat. It felt slightly satisfying knowing you would be gone from here soon, you wondered why you hadn’t thought to do it earlier.

After half an hour of walking the sun was rising, spilling over the earth in a dawn you had seen before and maybe would see again, if only. You spotted the outer parts of the city, the familiar market which your parents had sometimes taken you too, especially as you got older. The hang of its coloured oh so many canopies and the bustle of a few people, as dawn turned into afterdawn, as the sun began its trek into the day. You bartered for things like food and for much coin with the few people here but gradually as it filled up you gave more and more away and were rewarded with more and more coin. You needed nothing but food and certain keepsakes of use. The people were friendly but uninterested in helping you as you seemed independent enough and were headed on to what they and you described as better things. You passed them, so many of them with their worldly chatter and give and take, buy and sell, countless exchanges of coin, Fiction, as the poets of the Sea of Stars called it and countless Passes spent talking with many new and many familiar but all distant faces. After the lay of hours passed you were left with but your rifle, a Communicator. Some food. Dutiful Chicken and a token of your parent’s appreciation which helped calm your Psychic outbursts. You glazed over the simple circle of copper, carrying the weight of a power unknown and unwanted. The sun hanged at that moment. It was westering into later afternoon, few clouds in the sky. It was a perfect time for what you were about to do. So you headed into the city, snacking on a Longfruit, the entertainment district in your mind. So you passed the white dropped with a subtle yellow mix coloured sandstone walls to where these places were. Your parents had avoided going there with you so you went into the first lounge you spotted. Nearly dusk, the perfect hour for it even. You booked your tickets for an overnight stay before tying up Chicken in the provided coop, bidding her goodbye.

You headed into the door making out the sign “Tonight: The Prince performing”. You were not sure why someone would take the name of royalty yet do something so humble, perhaps humility was not the trait of entertainers. The Shine of this building glowed a blue just unlike the city itself, which was awash with the ambient Light of its Cooling Clocks. You headed in just as the entertainer was announced. He hopped on stage, completely shirtless with his charming face. One covered by yellow fur, with magnanimous orange markings forming a mask around his eyes: pink and set alluringly as if to compel you into staring into them, shining with some sort of curious spark, you did not know what: entertaining. When music began to enter the stage he began to hum his melodics sweet and entertaining. Meanwhile you went to the bar to order a drink. You would get what your father and mother got: The Buzz, a mix of Sweetcitrus and Sour Substances. As you went to get your drink you wafted in some Smoke from another patron. After that you taste you thought you would like to get some too.

You ordered your Buzz and heard his song, charmingly voiced yet operatic: theaterlike.

“Oh the desert world belongs to the brave, the vast ocean bare”
“The Moons of Aria the Lamp are all barren except for the peoples”
“You like the cities, the Cool Zones and the natives like them too”
“Come and enjoy the Moons of Aria, the Lamp is to close for good”
“Confined to a small sunspin, you can’t beat the heat”
“Oh the deserts of dear Aria she is my Devi my Devi”
“My Devi she is bright with light and the Clocks are the only thing that keeps us safe”
“My Devi, Oh my Devi”
“She shines with glare and the glow of the Clocks”

For the spin of hours this continued, while you gradually took in more and more drinks and smoke: intoxicating: drifting into a Haze that your father oh so favoured and one which you finally knew. Drink and Smoke dulled your senses, sensations and feelings as you were enchanted by the skilled call of your singer as he danced, his hair pretty and blond almost bright and his face still of boyish youth as young or younger, although he stood a head taller. You gazed mesmer into his pink eyes. Like roses: coloured as the ones your mother used to tend with her mother and sister on her homeworld and which you had only seen in photos. She told you her native city was named after flowers, as your father’s was for the sky overhead. His hair was fresh like wheatfields, locks of it shaped rough into a shaggy cut like carpet, with good shape to his body: athletic musculature under his fur. He moved with almost careless abandon. Although you could tell it was probably planned. Your mother would probably woo in excitement over him and you noticed several women admiring him even ones you had never seen imbibe a Drink. He was accompanied by no one which slightly disappointed you as you would have liked to see a girl play with him. After a while you stopped drinking and started Smoking more heavily even taking in some Shimmer-Substances a young girl offered you: dancing lights and the spin of distorted time was resulted. She asked you to come to her room with a shrill voice but you declined as you were too Hazed to do anything. The music and the substances gradually lulled you into a sleep: covered mind. So not knowing the time you passed into its clutches.

“Mistress, oh you guide me” were the last words that you heard.

You dreamt of the music melding into the deserts and lush jungles described as you felt even more vexed by your entertainer. He was backed by a chorus of female voices this time but the clarity of his voice was still in your ears. He began to move to icy tundra and each poetics he sang moved your mind and his words meshed with your dreams and you could have sworn you had spent that night always hearing his voice.

ᐧ

More: show

You awoke in some other time, what you deduced was the middle night. Next to you was a foreign girl not of your Kin, hanging over you: taller and straighter with her snout just a fraction away from touching your chin as it hanged at a lowered angle. You noticed a distinct reddish colour to her fur as her eyes danced with the light of a deep blue, like a brilliant sky or a deep ocean: or even one of the most beautiful stars you had ever seen, at least in their Technical photographs.

“Can we be a bit more discreet? Is this much to ask?”
“Okay” was your only reply, you were not sure what you were getting into

She huddled you off into a corner far from other people, not that you noticed them as anything other than blurs on a canvas of dimmed green lights. She then zapped you with some sort of Zap-Clock injecting sparks into your system, at least that was what you felt. She then hung over you for a few more moments as you began to see and hear the world more clearly, noticing her voice and its sweetness as the cacophony and urgency faded from it.

“This is a Dehazer, it cures all sorts of Substance induced effects”
“A Clock? I mean a Zap-Clock?” you replied
“Sure whatever you think it is”
“I call it a Dehazer”

She then huddled over to whisper into your ear.

“Now you are a Psychic right?”

You didn’t speak: afraid to answer

“I know this is much to ask, but you can trust me” she said giving you a firm look
“Why should I tell you this?” you asked
“It’s important, I’ve searched for someone possibly like you for so long”
“I am one too, if it eases your feelings”
“Your parents would have taken you into the wilderness of this world and you would have now returned because of something broken which you can no longer repair”

You had just noticed how softened and quiet her voice was, as she stared into you with her sapphire eyes: set in her face, one like that of some sort of creature you saw in documentaries. Foxes! That’s the name you were looking for and you could see it in her shape, at least her head but also in the tall and nimble of her body. You were not sure if she had a tail since you never paid any attention to her lower half. She was intimidating: slightly at least, as she hanged over you, waiting for an answer you may or may not give.

“Yes” you answered

But your parents had passed. She seemed curious and you didn’t know how she spun her words into all these particular questions that she asked, the ones which elucidated the right answers or even why she was doing this. You supposed you were still a little bit Drunk and Hazed. But your mind seemed so clear. At least compared to how you previously felt, of distinct confusement. She only intimidated you but didn’t overwhelm you. Her tail flicked approvingly: it was tall and fluffy.

“Then I would like to speak with you more”
“But one more question”
“You are an only child right?”
“Yes” you replied
“Right answer” she replied with melodic sharpness, she was still staring at you
“I’ll lead you to my room, it’s cozy”

She lured you over a brown like wood staircase, taking you upstairs and to what you presumed was her room. You entered and as you did you noticed the still shirtless figure of the singer now relaxing on a bed. He was expecting you, you thought. And she and you detected he was glad to see her.

“Hello friend, nice to meet you” he said

You stared into his eyes bright like Starmaker’s gifts.

“Your eyes are Indigo, that’s important, she would have known to ask you because they are”
“Don’t be intimidated by me or her”
“I wasn’t” you huddled
“Your body language says otherwise” she replied

You turned around to see her beautiful dark orange fur with its fluff and gloss. She stood with lithe and functional pose and she sparkled with her blue. The thought that one of these people could pick up on these things and oust you as a Psychic unnerved you. She then headed beside her friend as he stood up his head just meeting the same height as hers did.

“He is really a prince of course, not that it matters much more besides for the prophecy and of course he has friendly relations with his family” she stated
“A fallen price, a young refugee and a witch that is the team of legends”
“And don’t forget the exile, a princess in her prime and the pilot” the prince spoke
“It’s not part of the first stanza” she replied
“You believe in prophecy?” the prince then asked
“You believe in prophecy?” you rhetoricalised
“Well regardless it’s our best chance at stopping The Empire with a Psychic like you” she said, you remembered talk of The Empire only in the passing talk of your parents: never good.
“Your parents were rebels against The Empire right?” she further queried
“I don’t know and they died a few Lamps ago leaving me on my own to hunt for hides and gather herbs”
“Good enough for me” he replied
“Good enough” she chimed
“We will be heading for Alendria tomorrow and given your situation you will be following us” she said
“After staying there and training your psychic powers for an amount of time we will be heading to the Head-Moon and Gateworld of this system, Rhenia, to get out of the system”
“Then we will head of to a life of adventure in fulfillment of the prophecy of my people”
“And what if I don’t agree to this?”
“You will” he spoke again
”You will” she responded
“Or otherwise you aren’t the person the prophecy described and I hope you are” he answered
“You will meet our pilot; the Exile tomorrow”
“Now to sleep” the strange girl ushered, turning around

You were asleep within minutes, you wondered how they took so much stock in something as strange and unknowable as Prophecy, although they probably had the words spelled out for them. But now that they knew so much about you, you felt like you should follow them at least out of a sense of comfort. Still you were not sure why you accepted all this information so easily. It was all too much, yet something compelled you to follow them, if only for an easier time getting off this world.

You dreamt of the sweet and oh so near country of Alendria and its beautiful and rich forests surrounding you. Your parents had expressed kind words about this place and you had longed for this place in passing moments. Hunting for Hides was your action, fixation: and you felt the trust of your rifle by your hand. It was so vivid as to be real, at least almost and at least in your head. You trekked in silent step along a river when you heard the brustle of a Deerkin moving in bush. You gazed: a follow of your eyes along bushes until you spotted it and in one shot you took it down. You went over to it and prepared to harvest its liver for some reason. You did not know why. As you cleaned out its liver and other valuables you felt the acid touch of its meat which you presumed poisonous, or knew so possibly. As you stared into the glowing eyes along their liver they transformed in sudden motion into the deep blue eyes of the stranger girl you had met this night and were taken aback. You felt yourself in a delirium. As she beckoned you into a new world unfamiliar.

“Follow me” she spoke and you obliged. Deeper you sunk as you followed until it was all black and the nothingness of sleep without the canvas of dreams enveloped you.

ᐧ

More: show

You awoke to quiet at a time you deduced was fore-dawn, for some reason. The fox-girl was awakening you by stroking your shoulders, gently rubbing you with her hands. She was brisk in her motions: handling, and her silent caress she awoke you. Before her waking call startled you. Despite her lack of sleep you noted she was alert: seeming fully wakened unlike how you felt. She urged you to get up and gave you in her hands what you could only presume was some sort of Waking Substance, given your condition. You rised to note the Prince now clothed in a shirt of white and the soft tunics which let your lower regions breathe, waiting next to a rifle which you deduced was of his ownership. It left a stain in the back of your mind, something hanging: an omen.

“My name is Aia by the way” he spoke
“And my name is Nami” she chorused, her eyes glimmering proudly
“Senia” you replied in soft tones
“Senia, huh?” Aia replied
“It’s my name” you replied softly
“A good one at that” Nami replied
“Very good” Aia replied

You headed out to grab your things, including Chicken, dear Chicken, who you led behind you. Continuing on your way to the spaceport, past many streets, feeling the Substance invigorate your veins with alertness you felt to be supernatural: it was clearly more than a waking tablet, or perhaps only that. The Light of the city was mixed with the glow of its night-lamps, you could see Alendria’s shadowed side in the distance rising above the Satellite, with the glow of its bright cities, although not as bright as those of this Satellite. They needed to be after all. You imagined before it would be perfect for you and perhaps it still would be. But somewhere in the back of your mind told you that it wouldn’t always be so easy. You would probably hop from world to world in fulfillment of your supposed destiny, the one given to you by your new companions. Still you never liked the sound of The Empire and it had clearly cost your parents dearly. Your mind rose, although things still hung in the back.

“How does a Satellite so close to such a fertile world get so barren anyways?” you asked
“Poor soil for growth, lack of water and a different atmosphere” she answered
“Your riding bird can handle this ground, like it can so many others, it’s just in their design to be adapted to all sorts of terrain”
“Design?” you questioned
“No one knows where Riding Birds came originally only they are suited for all sorts of terrain”
“For all we know some people long ago created them”
“Tales of them exist on many planets across the galaxy”
“And they do their job well” Aia added
“All the sophontic races of the galaxy can interbreed” Nami continued
“Even the different titans of various worlds can interbreed always taking on the traits of their mother”, you remembered reading about such titans from books, it told you they were that way to deal with the massive animals on the worlds they inhabited and that they were often used to carry heavy weaponry in the wars they participated in.
“Which gives credit to the theory they were designed by something else, the same something that probably left many of the ruins and artifacts all over the galaxy”
“The Forerunners they are called and now they only exist in myth, legend and the study of history”
“No one has ever found a skeleton of them either”
“My eldest brother married one of the great folk” Aia chimed
“A Necoma one at that, they are only found on a few worlds” Nami said with a smile

She seemed to relish in her talkative explanation and she seemed capable, something in her eyes. And he relished in his chats with her, and you.

“Can I take Chicken on our trip?” you asked as she cooed, softening your feelings
“Of course” Nami replied
“I can’t put my mind on that name”
“It’s a word archaic in my own speech, I do not know what it means” you replied
“Now let’s head on” Aia said
“You don’t wanna be late”
“Although we have all the time in the world” he said with a laugh, it seemed strange he would say that.

You headed across the long or short lanes of the empty streets, deducing purpose, the varied buildings and services, Catchsigns, noticing the Shine of some of the dens were still alight and the entrances still open. You felt this might be why your parents never let you stay for long in these places. Your entertainment which had seemed so vibrant as you entered now seemed seedy, fitting for you to leave it all behind oh so soon after taking part in it for the first time in your life. You headed through the city along and along and further and further through its white walled buildings kept bright.

The Spaceport was relatively small: fittingly sized for the small city and subtly sounded as no activity was going on so early, not that you had ever been to a Spaceport before, although your parents told you it was active as it had to be as this world had no Riding Vehicles and only long stretches of desert between its few cities. It stood white and cold blue with many passenger jets: their metal as well as the ground they sat on smelling dusky , interspersed with the light tones of Brightfuel: almost sweet, while the Shinecolour of the floor gave it a vibrant, artificial feel. There Nami beckoned you to a smaller ship painted white and red against a steel grey backdrop and adorned with the stylised markings of a bird's talons and wings as well as more abstract lines. You were anticipating the humm of takeoff just looking at it. It was currently being attended by another Fox girl, her face stern and sharp and her eyes alive like an emerald forest, before moving to life with her motions. She was even taller than Nami and Aia and she carried herself with peculiar strength and confident movement. You liked something about her already, something not at the forefront of your mind.

“You’re here already sister and i thought you would be days” she spoke with sharpness and strength to her voice which you felt unbecoming
“Time is essential here and we don’t want to perform Psyching on this planet” Nami responded
“But finding one who fulfills the prophecy oh so quickly” the pilot replied
“Things happen” he answered
“Our prince wanted to experience a desert world and it's been Lamps of trekking across this part of the galaxy” Nami replied
“Some dice rolls are already predetermined by fate, some just require luck” the green eyed girl added
“Amen to that and i liked performing in the bar” Aia added
“Well it isn’t all decided yet but we might be onto something, I can’t say for certain” Nami spoke
“Wandering around searching for just the right person isn’t really my cup of tea, it’s a galaxy of many many trillions after all but i have faith I at least fulfill my requirements”

“Searching the galaxy for a special someone seems very unreliable” you confessed
“Countless people across the galaxy think the Empire should fall, so there are countless possibilities” Nami assured
“It’s the nature of all prophecies, but I am a witch the native psychic discipline of the Arie peoples and Aia is in fact a fallen prince, Retoki really was exiled for reasons relating to another prophecy and you are really a psychic hopefully of great power”
“Nariye prophecies are never tied to just one person—only the right one”
“A prophecy can of course fail but none have failed if all the requirements are met” she said still staring you in the eye
“The Star Confederacy hasn’t lasted forever in its previous form at least and it doesn’t go back until the beginning of time so we know the Empire has an end, sooner rather than later if all goes according to plan”
“And of course the First Empire was defeated” she said, her eyes filling with fire, staring into you.
“It’s a lot to ask but at the same time if you fulfill everything the rest becomes easy because you have destiny on your side” Aia added
“The First Empire?” you queried
“Countless tyrants have arisen across the history of the galaxy and each has fell” Nami sparked
“Tyranny has even occurred amongst the Ioataria, or others of the Galactic Heartland” Aia added
“Now on to the ship, we head for Alendria, It’s the most suitable world for your training Senia” Nami continued
“The newcomer is hopefully eager to fly” the pilot teased
“I know I am, but then again I’ve done this for countless Spins” Nami added

You had never been in a spaceship before. It slightly freaked you out. The thought of it at least although it pooled in the back of your mind. And what you were getting yourself into. It definitely uneased you: a great destiny shaped by such few people.

“I’m sure he will be cool with it” the prince responded
“Don’t be judgemental through he will have to do a lot of flying” Nami chirped
“This things finest class with four System-Clocks instead of three” the pilot assured
“Hopefully I can get the other pilot so I don’t have to fly so much, sooner rather than later”
“It can even take of from any place and land anywhere”
“And it’s got combat effectiveness with Shields, Phasers and Cloaks”
“I feel protected” you stumbled in speech
“Now hop on newbie” the pilot assured her tone calming your nerves
“My name is Retoki by the way”
“I like your name” you replied
“Most people do” she invoked

She opened the ship’s doors casually and you accepted her offer, heading into the warm atmosphere backed by the subtle buzz of the Clocks: a reassuring tick. You could feel the dim glow of the Light embracing you as you entered, even accepting you into its subtle heat, the technology of the galaxy could only be described as having a subtle reassuring chill layered in. Into the room your group headed trailing behind Retoki so you followed them. The boxes all laid out: presumably filled with things and clueing you into this place probably being meant for storage. The next room was smaller: a living room and dressed as such, but sparsely, there were only various shelves filled with things as well as two tables neatly designed and set: with an open cube in the middle coloured a cool grey in contrast to the wood browns and sand brown mats which were built into the floor. Here Nami ushered your Riding-Birds back into storage before closing the door with a push of a red button on her way back: greeting you with gesture: warm and confident.

“This is the lounge where you will be staying” Retoki greeted before heading of into another room which was too near to be the pilots
“So how is it going?” Nami invited

You noticed how pleasant her voice was now. You thought it previously to be the result of your Haze and Dustedmind but now it ringed true and without confusion. She spoke with the sound of the birds they kept in cages in the city, or the ones you saw in documentaries and when speaking loudly she held ringing notes of clear music in her voice. You stared into her eyes for a second seeing the familiar Blue within her: and the glint of her spark hinted at her own power, you felt like you had seen it before. She turned away and hummed with satisfaction, clearly noticing the look in your eyes: your response suited her. She then turned back carrying the same spark and looked into you. She seemed to glimmer strongly as you stared into her eyes: you couldn’t stop looking.

“Now it’s about time I informed you” she spoke
“This galaxy runs on Stardust, it’s rare in this system but more common on the Gateworld Rhenia” she continued looking you in the eye
“It cures illness, powers fabled technology and even enhances experience and psychic powers”
“The Empire runs a stranglehold on the most Stardust rich systems in the previous Star Confederacy and it is from their they have grown”
“First they promised power to the peoples of the world and then enslaved them; as much as they could at least”
“They now seek dominion over the galaxy or at least the former Confederate worlds”
“If the prophecy is correct your parents fled after fighting them on their homeworld”
“And you do look the part”
“You have the catlike features of the Necoma race just like our friend Aia, Although your hair is a bit darker and your eyes indigo instead of pink”
“We do look much alike, at least to an Arie” Aia chanted
“He’s as reliable as he is succinct” Nami gave away
“You will do well to accompany me” the prince spoke with a glimmer in his eyes
“I am not as skilled in Psychics as our friend here but I am skilled of word, sword and sorcery” he said in his bright tone
“He is so very eager, now I can’t promise you Stardust on this world that we are going to but i can promise you we will have some when we get out of this system” she spoke
“All good in here?” Retoki queried, she had just returned
“All good” Nami responded
“We will be taking off soon, you know this ship even has four engines for backup?” she reassured
“Now I will leave you three to your conversation”
“You’re a dear sister” Aia responded, his pose casual: relaxed
She left and you heard Nami ringing to fill the void “I don’t say this would be easy”
“I have no choice” you replied
“Or I do but i’m not sure”
“I would have been off this Satellite later today heading to Alendria anyways had you not gotten messed up in my business”
“But I would not have used my powers I do not trust them”
“I would have just hunted for Hides in the woods of that world”
“It’s okay if you have doubts” she said
“Doubts are in fact normal” he chimed
“But if you are the Psychic of prophecy I do have quite the future in store for myself”
“Another part of the prophecy of it says the companion of the hero will become overseer of the Star Confederacy”
“And I am determined to reclaim my lineage”
“I’m not so sure I can live up to your expectations” you replied
“Can you live up to the galaxies?” he said in brazen tones
“The weave of fate and choice is complex, but if everything falls into place and we are strong are victory is reassured”
“Inner strength to wrestle the dragon of fate, the core prophecy of our galaxies destiny” Nami added
“The empire will fall”
“Eventually it cannot last forever” Aia added
“Now i’m headed off you two can play a game here”

He unshelved a set of Ciari from its oak brown tinged rest, placing it on the table in front of you before heading off. You had played this game before with both your father and mother and found it inviting, you were certainly not obsessed with it however, but did manage to beat your parents often. Nami seemed formidable and you wondered if you would provide a challenge, her eyes glimmered with confidence.

“To a good game” she said as she placed her pieces, they smelled of wood and inscribed stone.

You placed yours when you felt the ship begin takeoff, humming louder than you thought it would: it was almost roaring with power which filled you with energy and mixed in hints of determination. You stared into Nami’s eyes alight with fire, was it because she was in her element or because of the takeoff? Within minutes and with a few moves of a fishing strategy you were heading off the world. So long old life, you almost felt like it was all a mistake but as the pieces moved it rang truer. You were finally departing.

[foxcatdog]

The Second Chapter of Acolyte of Oricima

More: show

Chapter 2
Midway
You had already lost a game before you had headed out into space. Your strategy was even a counter to her defensive one, and yet with her masterful plays she had still beaten you. You still read her strategy after the fact, you didn’t want to fall for it again. Next game was a more protracted affair against an iron defence and you were in space before it ended but her execution was again on point and sufficiently changed up by the middle that you still lost. By third game the thought began to stir that you could never beat her although you did make some masterful moves or at least ones she complimented you on. By fourth game you had accepted the fact, as she had skilfully countered your strategies, making finessing moves, she told you that this was her favoured way of playing this game. She seemed to take pride in her triumph. So you gave up, heading into the room where Aia was waiting, passing a few cupboarded corridors and other rooms on your way: the ship was really rather liveable you thought.

When you got to the room you found him undressed, his yellow like flax and orange like bright turmeric fur bare to see. He was next to a small clock and you noticed him staring gently at the ceiling with a glamour which you definitely thought should have been private. He seemed calm but he betrayed noticing you with his expression which was still casual, bemusing. He didn’t seem disturbed at all. You wondered if this is how he always relaxed, if this is how he chose to lay around

“I guess you don’t knock?” he inquired
“The door was open” you sharped
“You can still knock”

He still wasn’t moving to get dressed, you thought to gaze away taking unintended glances of his body: athletic and well developed. You then heard him fidget with the small clock, which you presumed was entertainment but revealed itself to be an alarm when it started ringing. Aia stopped it. He then got up and began to dress himself, humming a tune as he did. His movements were deft and with certain graces he placed on his pants and before long a shirt: bright green which contrasted with the colour of his cloudblue bottoms. You thought him rather strange to be wearing only that but in quick motions he put on a rather lovely cloak: lovely brown with pastel colour and a sash of white around its trimmings. He then beckoned you to go outside and you obliged, taking note of his vibrant posture as he and you headed out.

“You tease me” he said, you thought he teased you.

You didn’t know what to think or how to respond: or have anything to say at all really. He continued his vexing motion and unmotion as he led you on. Through the corridors you pondered on how those few brief moments seemed like it lasted longer than it did. He greeted Nami on his way out and she seemed to shimmer upon seeing him, like a girl at the markets did upon seeing you: both their eyes were bright as sunhigh.

“I wanna check on the birds, to see Tukutu” he said
He paused for a second and then continued “You are welcome to join me” he said in light tones
“Are we?” Nami questioned with a smirk
“You are” he responded
“And we can always see the birds, I like seeing them and I do think Senia does too” she chimed, firmly

They locked into a gaze of affection, Nami chirping while Aia stared into her eyes, lightly.

He went ahead and when he was away you turned to Nami and said “You know I saw him naked?”
“He’s like that”
“A charmer” you provoked
“A charmer” she responded tightly
“He does like to lay around naked, when no one is watching”

You headed out to find Tukutu, Chicken and other Birds resting in their den, casually laying on the floor with their fluffy feathers coloured a warming shade of brown, like how they warmed your soul. Chicken chirped with her usual light tones upon seeing you while Aia moved closer to his Tukutu who crooned in deeper but still warm: suncoloured with hints of age. He stroked his bird on the neck leading down to its large body, caressing the bird as it cooed gently. He then stroked its vestigial wings to which it responded kindly, your own bird responding in interest. After that he began to speak in graver tones

“He’s middle aged now, I got him from my cousin long ago”
“So he is a bit weaker” he said with a glimmer “I will be replacing him when I get to the allied system since he will not be as suitable for our dangerous mission”

You had never been in great danger before except when facing your own inner Demons, no great terrors lurked the desert of Oricima for you to fear. Doubt gripped at you. The image laying over your mind at his words. It was not too late to turn back but still you felt compelled to continue on and you didn’t want to show fear to your companions.

“I sense your concern” the witch spoke in her voice

It was deeper: a tone filled with the Seance of a ghost whisperer: just a hint.

“You’re only a youngling, younger than me and of course Retoki”
“I sense his troubles too” Aia spoke
“But again the Dragon of Fate, Spear of Tyrants, all exist to fall” Nami offered
“The wax and wane of life, the cosmic stage” Aia continued

Chicken cooed in her bird tone. Not easing, but lifting the haunt on your mind. You were not sure how they sensed your feelings, something to do with being a Psychic of course but it crowded your mind with even more doubts. Perhaps it was all just a mistake, and you didn’t take much stock in Prophecy. Starmaker only weaved the stars.

“The Great Sky hangs above us, look to it” Nami spoke
“The Serenyans named Starmaker after the eternal sky, uniting creator with universe”
“And so we turn prophecy into reality”
“The weaving and weave are just one aspect of the same reality”
“I do confess I feel doubts, about this mission” you chimed
“Doubts are natural and overconfidence can get you in very bad situations” Nami sparked
“I barely believe in destiny, the prophecy you are describing so I fear for my safety”
“But I have no one to run home to and no one who will miss me”
“So I will do as I must” you stated firmly, Nami staring into your eyes
“Cast the die and act as fate dictates” she spoke in gentler rhythms
“The journey will be long i can promise you that but you have us by your side” Aia comforted
“And don’t tell Retoki about my comments about Tukutu” Aia said sharply
He turned around a stroked Nami’s bird before speaking in indirectness “I do confess I have only seen battle once and her twice”
“We are not seasoned veterans”
“But our pilot is one through her bones do weaken as she is no longer young”
“We have been on this mission ever since we were of age”
“Our Pilot coursed from stars to stars, moons to moons, satellites to satellites in search of bounties always staying one step ahead of the Empire” Nami added
“Though she did confess to accidentally co-operating with them once and gave them a valuable artifact”
“The jewel isn’t the most important however and I feel we can seek better ones”
“The Crown of Heavens is of course ultimately what we seek”
“It lies on the world of Avarath former Irea and it only offers its power to those who are worthy of ruling great parts of the galaxy”
“They pretend to have control over it but are spies have confirmed it lies where it was last placed in the Rift of the Galaxy since it finds the empire unworthy”
“They cannot seize it not without fundamentally altering the nature of the Crown”
“Attempts have been made by us to seize it but it is to heavily guarded so it will not work without an all out invasion which the Nariye are hesitant to do without stock of prophecy”
“Personally I believe in prophecy because it suits me” Aia added
“But no prophecy of the Nariye has ever failed when all the requirements are fulfilled” Nami sharpened

He did strike you as careless. A free spirit but you hoped he had more concern and sense. Nami did.

“Aia here was struck out of a comfortable life when his eldest brother and sister were killed by the Empire and his parents fled with him and their younger ones”
“He wasn’t destined to inherit but he is now prince in exile and his other two brothers and five other sisters refuse to travel the galaxy with any Sorceresses like me”

“You did not wish ill on your older siblings?” you queried
“Of course not but now that the opportunity has presented itself I will seize it” he smiled
“And I will be by his side” Nami brightened

“Now I forgot to tell you this if you don’t already know due to the lack of a thin veil of consciousness Psyching doesn’t work in outer space except on very large ships although barely even then, when you an encounter a Wanderer it’s a bit different though but they tend to be rarely encountered” Nami interrupted
“It also usually doesn’t affect Bots which the Empire makes extensive use of the other key to their success”
“What’s a Wanderer?” you asked
“You will see them when you can see the Immaterial” Nami continued
“They wander between areas of low Psychic activity which is caused by any conscious race or even just lesser animals and sometimes even plants”
“Psychics like us just make use of these energies to help us accomplish our goals”
“You will find them useful when the time comes but be careful Psyching can damage ships”
“So it is helpful that you cannot normally Psych in space”
“Psyching is like an art and Psychics like artists” Aia chimed
“Oh and also if you get rare breeds of riding birds they can also enhance your Psyching”
“Like Nami’s of course, his name is Ama”
“And Retoki’s is named Ori, she is a very fierce girl”
“I know about Psyching being based on the consciousness of others” you replied
“You did practice before, right?” Nami queried
“Right”
“On such a sparse desert world you would have some degree of power, but it’s a fraction of what you would get on Alendria or Ioa, Nariye or even Serenya” she continued
“I did feel powerful back when i Psyched”
“I guess you are potent”
“I don’t think the prophecy hints at you being more skilled but it does hint that you have great power, perhaps greater than mine” she replied
“Right” you replied
“Right” Aia continued
“I’m not so sure about all these things you are saying” you confessed
“Like a fish out of water” Aia replied
“Your tact is bright” you replied
“Like a fish out of water, but hopefully we can make you swim” Nami echoed

Nami beckoned you back into the room and hours passed without event or even much speech, only the back and forth of pieces of the game: you were playing with Aia. Your aura lowered in those moments as your doubts lingered. Destiny did not come easy. But much mirth and joy was had still: brightness.

ᐧ

More: show

You had won your first match of Ciari against Aia by the time the ship stopped, the casual hum in coda. Nami told you his own strategy was always one between a trickster and playmaker and you had finally made the counter to it. Aia attributed his skill to playing against good opponents, he was certainly talented. You were not at Alendria yet, still in space, you wondered why it had stopped until Nami informed you that you were at a Waystop which provided resting points for traveling ship’s captains. It was coloured alike your ship with whites and reds but it was patterned with stripes unlike the wild but sharp angles of your own ship. You left your ship into the small port, Retoki introduced the ship as Redwing to the attendee, a sand yellow fox of diminutive height and sharp demeanour. He greeted you kindly. Aia called and Nami responded by leading you to the cafeteria which was small in size and had few offerings. You perused them, many vegetables and non perishable items: what meat they had Nami told you was actually protein paste. Still you felt like it. So you got Fried Eightlegs and Flourcake with a few sauces green, red and yellow: artificially bright and lush, spicy and your favourite buttery and mustardy yet sweet and tempered smoothly. By the time you were done you still had most of the green and red sauces left but the Yellow one was reduced to a mere smear, it complimented the less natural flavour of the meat nicely. You were eager to drink and smoke again at a bar, “The Dream”: it was open and inviting, white with nice blue poles. Nami stopped you saying it would be better to get to your destination as soon as possible so after a quick drink she ushered you, Aia and Retoki off to sleep in some provided beds which were sunshine yellow with a navy blue and sky azure stripe: certainly comfortable in not just touch.

You stayed awake for a while thinking how you would surely never see your parents grave again now as well as hanging on the thoughts about how you still had the opportunity to be a simple Hidehunter, merely searching for Deerlikes amongst the planet's forests. It was some degree of coincidence that you were going there: it could be your destination in many other destinies too: or was your previous destiny not dictated by fate?. Visions of your life as a Hidehunter and Herbgatherer flashed over your gentling mind playing tricks until you slept and even then continued into your sleep. You felt at peace in these moments. Before remembering how your parents had said to you how they had lost so much to the Empire, as you were lulled into a sense of stagnation and uselessness. Your parents had told you about the Iron Tyrants of the galactic east before. And it was for them that you felt the reason to oppose them. A faint ring around your tongue and slivers and Shadows clouded at the edge of your mind in your moments before waking and as your dreams dissipated you were confronted by Aia as he woke you. Your current life was present and you felt more determined to act to its rhythms: cast the die.

“We will be back in space in a hurry so get out” Aia welcomed you
“And I don't understand why we couldn’t just sleep in the ship, policy of the station or something.” Retoki muttered
“You're always so eager to sleep on your ship, there's a name for that!” Nami quipped
“And it’s considered a positive moniker” she replied
“Wingdreamers!” Nami muttered you were not sure how it was a compliment
“I dreamt of Shadows again, in the last few moments and just a sliver of them, something at the edge” you chimed
“You are preparing to use your Psychic powers, that happens when you are becoming ready” Nami shared
“You have great potential, Nami sees it in you” Aia continued
“And i see it for myself” Nami prided
“But you do dread it” he put the words in your mind which underlaid your previous feelings

You headed off from the Spaceport back into your newly familiar ship: you didn’t know if you would be more comfortable dozing in it. As predicted by the harlequin you were off in a few beats, you felt like it took less time to start: your suspicions were confirmed when Nami told you it takes less time to start a ship in space. Retoki seemed herself as usual and she had called you Brother in affectionate tongue: honey came to mind. Back to the doldrums of traveling you supposed. You confessed to Nami that you had never traveled so long in your life only from your parent’s hut into the city. It already felt like an adventure and you were expecting something next to happen. You chatted casually with Nami for a few moments, casual life talk which turned into her giving you points on how to improve your strategy in Ciari, although you declined to have her show you it. Aia had headed off already so you went to follow him with Nami following.

You found him next to a snow white coat, wolf grey-blue pants and a deep blue shirt. You were happy to see him at least but you wondered if he could change his tempo, certainly you did not want to see him like this again at least for now. Charming.

“I do enjoy this” he said
“Me not so much” you replied
“Well you did come in” Nami said, her tone gleaming

You were mesmerised by his tone. The shimmering speech act. You felt like staying even and stared into his eyes like Lamps sparkling with his gaze. And Nami took to it.

“You know i could put on a performance” he said brightly
“Just for you two”

Nami chirped subtlely.

He got up and got dressed as usual this time wearing a cloak of deep argentine blue. He had a thing for plain colours you thought. And dull ones which attracted attention but didn’t stand out. You glanced away to see Nami’s eyes light up as he turned around. You heard him place his pants on and turned around seeing the dull brown but alluring colour of his loose fit pants. Nami had told you he had a nice body in all aspects “he’s got it all above and below” were her exact words. You found him charming.

You and him then headed out into the room where Nami greeted you with gesture moving with catlike motions and clairvoyant calmness. She seemed prepared for something which was hinted at next by her speech.

“I always like your show-offs”
“I always like the reaction of people” he quipped

He got into the center of the room and began to shake his body in alluring yet powerful rhythms to an unheard beat. In a chorus of bronze toned power mixed with the chime of youth he began singing. It felt like he carried the air of response to him

“This galaxy belongs to the brave”
“And the straight, and the powerful”
“Heroes and Rogues move with motion”
“This duel is destiny, this fate is ours”
“And we watch or participate”
“Each of our whims and ways”
“It all falls into place, in motion”
“Oh the motion never ends”
“So we triumph or lament”
“The way of the Warrior”
“The way of the Scoundrel”
“It is our destiny, this duel of fates”

He paused and did a spin unfurling his cloak as he did.

“It all falls into place, in weave”
“The fabric is in motion”
“Destiny, oh dance of fates”
“This galaxy is for outlaws”
“And princes, fallen princes”
“And princesses too”
“We each dance according to motion”
“In ways we move, to our whims”
“And fate is always there”
“Destiny behind us”
“And in front the goal”
“Triumph or defeat”

He did another twirl and blew a kiss to Nami as she chimed

“This galaxy belongs to the brave”
“And the straight, and the powerful”
“Heroes and Rogues move with motion”
“This duel is destiny, this fate is ours”
“And we watch or participate”
“Each of our whims and ways”
“It all falls into place, in motion”
“Oh the motion never ends”
“So we triumph or lament”
“The way of the Warrior”
“The way of the Scoundrel”
“It is our destiny, this duel of fates”
“And oh do we dance”
“And oh do the motions fall”

He got down and in silence put back on his cloak before standing back up and quoting anew casting his body so his back faced you before singing in more melancholic tones.

“The original line was And Princes, Rogueish Princes”
“It is a folk song of my people which i specialise in”
“It was said to be created in the last period of chaos, millenia ago”
“From that period the First Empire rose to power in tyranny”
“This short ballad was composed by a princess in exile who hoped to defeat it”

“I’m without lover, no one to touch my hand”
“I need a hero, a dashing hero”
“Rogue of seven starseas, pilot of a ship”
“Master of the sword and the word”
“Moves in motion, in fate he falls into place”
“I need oh great, oh so greatness”
“I need the silver quickness”
“The golden strength”
“I need someone to take me by the hand”
“Pilot my ship, there will of course be no other man”
“I need a hero”
“And that hero is me”

He finished his solo with an enchanting sound mixed with subtle triumphant chorus and then turned to face you directly in conversational tones.

“She of course defeated the First Empire or did her part at least. She found a Diadem of great power the kind that could rival whole planets and used it quite successfully against that Empire”
“Before the period of chaos of course we know little of my peoples history”
“All records from before that period were lost except for some long forgotten planets and even then only in fragments”
“We know of the rise of great empires of my people and Nami’s as well as of a dozen other races”
“And off the forerunners who left us the architecture of the galaxy and of course the now lost Passages of the Immaterial but also of the Gates between systems which were repaired long ago”
“They were said to be the first to make a dent on the Immaterial creating it from ashes”
“They are also believed to be connected to the Daemons as fragments of it mention it being clean except for ones own doubts”
“Perhaps they were lost to us by the Daemons”
“They were too intimately connected too it it seems and they no longer exist except in some rumoured apelike relicits who are not as sensitive to the ways of the Immaterial they created”
“And before that Starmaker created the stars: long ago”
“Now to more song and dance”

He took off his cloak with his hands and began to sway his lower body in earthly rhythms.

“So we move with the fates of people”
“Our minds of many minds”
“We dance in motion, in our consciousness”
“It seeps into us, your energies”
“We are the Witches of the world”
“With blade attuned to Immaterial”
“With our minds we make things”
“And destroy, we can destroy”
“We wield the Immaterial”
“Fear us, oh fear us, our Immaterial”
“In essence we fall right into place”
“Our work is essential”
“We gather the dust of the great space”
“We are the Witches of the world”
“Sorcerers and Sorceresses”
“Binders and Weavers”
“Sing song into bone, oh bone”
“Our ancestors we cherish them”
“And preserve them in our homes”
“Death does not come to us because of our work”
“We make and we take, oh we do”
“We go as we must, stay as we please”
“It is by our hand and heart”
“By hand and heart”
“That we live as we sense”
“Ancestral preserve”
“And dust gathered”
“Oh witches”

“That is only the first part and if you couldn’t guess by the foreign terminology is a translated song of Arie two of which currently inhabit this ship”
“They of course make a Psychically conductive material known as Spiritbone which conducts the Immaterial’s energies”
“There ancestors are also stored in items most commonly Soulgems for a hundred to a thousand years depending on how much they want to linger”
“Those of the Amari are stored forever it seems since we have some preserved from the oldest memories of their people”

He then continued onto another song and another until they blended into a single feeling. The rest of the trip being spent in merriment and Aia and Nami even kissed. As friends probably, he told you it was customary of both their peoples to do so. You felt airy and atmospheric, like you were a cloud of wings made of light fluttering with bright feeling: joyous song.