The Fold Ship - part 4

Posted on Wed Aug 12th, 2020 @ 1:32pm by Lieutenant Alekela illm Meaho'ōla

969 words; about a 5 minute read

“Computer open log – The Fold Ship”

[Log is open]

"I remember the wind blowing hard and it carried the chill of last snows on the mountains down the steep dark sides to pluck at my clothing. I had been sent as though a student again to the Wussuru order. First off to the healers and now even more isolated I thought. My fate to be all but forgotten in some remote part of the world.

It was cold, but I remember wiping the sweat from my brow and I gazed upward to see how far the two suns had gone across the sky. This far up in the mountains, darkness would fall fast with the peaks enveloping the deep valley.

I was tired but I did not relish stumbling the last several miles over uncertain terrain by only Ring shine. It was a damn good way to sprain an ankle. That and the fact that once the suns were behind the peaks that rose up like teeth around me, the touch of chill they sent down now would be nothing compared to that when the Twins went down.

"Alright!" I said to the Qwitlicks and tugged on the lead animals tether. The animals were not real bright, but they were sturdy things covered with a heavy dark hair that overlay fine soft hair underneath. So fine, that it could be woven into a very fine textile that was near sheer, but soft, strong and warm at the same time. The Wussuru order traded with the small towns far down in the warmer plains.

The lead animal just stood there all four feet planted and looked at me with big dark eyes. It's head equal in height to my own though only by virtue of longer neck. The front shoulders only coming to about my waist. The animal might almost be called cute if not for the drool that formed a long streamer and threatened to stain my clothing if the wind shifted. I turned and tugged again leaning my weight into pulling on the tether. I shouted again. The pack animals did not care about my command but the lead animal finally plodded one heavy foot forward to my insistent tug and the rest began to follow.

I sure wish I had one of those neat little machines that they used way down in the town but up here in the mountains along the narrow tracks they would be worthless. It was just my luck that in the whole of the wide world I had obviously displeased the Council and had been sent to the reclusive Wussuru order.

Sometimes I thought being a nectar farmer's worker or wife would be a step up. At least working on a nectar farm, I would see at least something of town more than once every season or two, and certainly I wouldn't be freezing my wings off most of the time. That was another thing, I had had no time and had been admonished with the harshest of tasks if I took to the sky again without express permission.

I cursed my situation, the Council, and even the Twins as they had already begun to slip behind the peaks of the mountains. Again, I pulled on the tether trying to get the animals to move at a faster pace but it was worthless. I could not help but wonder why in the world the Wussuru decided to retreat into the far mountains.

"Come ON!" I shouted and tugged hard on the lead Qwitlick, "I'd rather be warming by a hearth then having to snuggle another night next to your stinky carcass!" The animal just made a snorting sound and continued to plod at its own pace ignoring any urgency of the tug on the rope the two-legged creature in front seemed to want.

I trod along the thin path cursing my fate and spent the time watching one foot pace in front of the other while my thoughts of running away or what might be different when a nudge from the animal made me look up. "Damn it, first you don't want to come along and now you all but run me over." I raised a fist to the animal but it would do no good. All I would do is hurt my hand on the thick bone.

I turned and looked up to see the outline of the House at the far end of the valley. "Well, never mind, looks like hearth for me and warm stable for you."

I was glad, for darkness was gathering, the cold winds blew harder and one of the many mountain storms that had been gathering since late afternoon began to finally void its gathered water from the ocean that seemed now so far away. All it did was make me colder and I had to use my wing muscles to shiver to try to keep from freezing. Just my luck I would be found frozen in place on the footstep of the House.

I was tired after the journey and then getting the animals settled in and all I could think of was a hasty bite of late dinner. The main meal was long past, but something might be available. Oh, I was hungry enough, sleep called to me even more so.

I plodded up the steps to my room, every step seeming to be longer and harder than the last. Finally, I had just made it to the hall and then down it to my small bedroom. There was figure in the hall standing by my door but I had not seen her with my head hanging low from being so tired.

It was the Guild Mother of the Wussuru Order standing there awaiting me.

Computer close log for now"

[Log is closed]

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