The village

Haru woke up to the sounds of winds brushing through the branches and the annoying noisiness of late morning, the screeching and chirpings of birds are things that he couldn't bear to listen when he wants to sleep more. Sitting up, he wiped his sleepy violet eyes before letting out a yawn, hand reaching for one of the small leather bands he usually uses to tie his hair into a small ponytail behind his head. After a while of searching without finding any of them, Haru blinked his eyes opened, but instead of seeing the familiar corner of the house where he sleeps, a put out fire pit and a cliff overseeing the valley below greeted him. The boy was tossed into maelstrom of panic and fear, not knowing what to do except for wrapping himself in his leather blanket.

Wait. Leather blanket? This isn't his, it belongs to someone else. A name popped out into Haru's mind as he began to stitch up the scattered memories from yesterday. It was a bit foggy at first, but it started to become clearer as he recalled his adventure. Everything seemed to be in their places, except for his strange companion who he last saw was sitting near the cliff has gone.

- Keto-san? - Haru looked around, hoping that his companion was just around the campsite.

- Yes?

The voice came from above, somewhat muffled as if he was choking on something. As soon as Haru looked up, his face turned white, immediately regretting his decision. Quetz was sitting on a large tree branch, his big toes acted like thumbs, gripping the wooden barks tightly while his long tail coiled around it, anchoring him as was trying to swallow a large lizard whole. It was still moving, its hind legs and tails flailed around desperately to escape from the fearsome predator that is Quetz. Haru flinched as the older male slightly unhinged his jaws, twice as wide as a normal human could and clamped down, slicing the poor animal in half like a monstrous guillotine.

He gulped down the upper half of the lizard, throat inflated like a pelican as he did, blood dripping from his mouth, down to his chin and onto the ground below. The man, the monster, dropped down on all four in front of Haru, cocking his head slightly in confusion at Haru's terrified face. He slowly crept forward, half crawling, half hopping like a monkey, leaving a trail of bloody handprints and droplets behind while his young companion crawls backward.

- Hey! Wait! - Quetz yelled out a warning and reached out his hand, trying to grab the boy before he crawls to the edge of the cliff.

Haru's mind was filled with terror, his ears buzzing from his own breathing and frantic movements in order to get away from this...beast. It was too much for his mind to handle, the sight of the half bitten body dropping from Quetz's mouth to the ground just inches away from him, the sensation of blood droplets splashing on his face, it was too much! As the creature moved forward in an inhuman fashion, he could feel his heart beats louder and louder, matching quickening breathes. The beast's eyes glowed eerily, drowning everything around him in utter silent and darkness, reflecting Haru's fear mockingly as if revealing his grand scheme of leading him here to devour him whole.

- No! No! - The boy yelped in horror as tears streamed down his cheeks. - Get away from m...

His sentenced was cut short, his heart stopped for a second as the sensation rushed from his hand to his arm and spread out throughout his body. Instead of hitting the hard ground, Haru hand reached into the empty void, so transfixed in getting away from Quetz that he's forgotten that they were on a cliff. His mind went blank, unable to think of anything as his view shifted from the approaching beast to the clear blue sky.

Then suddenly he stopped.

- Te tengo! - Quetz's voice pierced Haru's mind, bringing him out of his freezing state.

The boy looked up, sensing his shirt being gripped by Quetz's grey hand, holding his upper half from falling down. The older male forced a smile onto his face, both intentionally to calm Haru and unintentionally showing his relief. Before the boy could react, he yanked his arm backward forcefully, but instead of opening his mouth and chomp down as Haru's feared, Quetz wrapped both his arms around the shaking boy, making Haru fall on top of him.

- Hey! Hey! Are you ok? - The older male grabbed Haru's head with both of his hands, but instead of ripping it off, he gently turned the boy's head from side to side, looking for injuries, his face tensed worriedly.

- I...I'm fi-fine. - Haru shook his head free from the older male's hands, confused and shocked at his actions, how it was different from what he used to receive.

- That's good. - Quetz sighed and looked up, a smile of honest relief made his fearsome fangs less terrifying. - I'm sorry for scaring you, I should've eaten somewhere else but I wanted to stay close. - He apologized and continued, honest and natural, unlike how other people in the village treated Haru.

The boy felt his eyes burnt and slowly filled with water, he closed them tight, teeth clenched tightly as he tried to hold in his cries of desperation, fear, anger, sadness, emotions he has to suppressed through a lifetime of being neglected, reviled, feared and hated just because of his odd features and fragile physique. But here Quetz was, a stranger he's just met yesterday and knew almost nothing about, saving him from dangers and even shows genuine caring for him, it was too much. He put his forehead onto the older male's chest, sobbing quietly, letting out all of his frustration on the one person that he somehow knew would understand.

And Quetz did, he has seen people acting like this before, he acted like this when he was young and naïve too, but that was a lifetime ago. When once he was feared and hated for no reason, now Quetz has given enough reasons for others to do so, a way to weed out those who he couldn't trust. Yet the people whom he has seen acted like this were much older than Haru, with issues manifested later in their lives. Seeing one so young having suffered through such hardship at a young age, something snapped inside the older male's head, reminding him of those early years of his life. The urge to comfort his companion overtook Quetz's mind, he wrapped his arms around the boy's shaking frame and pulled him into his chest, caressing his hair to calm him down.

Both of them sat there for a while, not a single word was spoken but they knew that they understand each other better to some extent. It was Haru who broke out first, violet eyes still wet with tears but were now calm and relieved of some of his frustrations. Surprising his older companion with responsibility and awareness, he pointed out that it might rain soon and that they should get going. Receiving an approval nod from Quetz, Haru cleaned his face and tooth with charcoal and water, a hygiene routine he's learned, before continuing his journey down the valley with Quetz.

The lower they went, the denser and wetter the forest became, overtaking the ruins marked with tribal symbols and landmarks. This is one of many hunting grounds for small games hunters as Haru recalled, he has come here many times with his adoptive siblings, not to hunt per se, but to gather herbs and wild fruits that littered the forest floor and canopies. In fact, those were some of the few happy memories he had, it seems like the only thing that kept people from mocking or giving him disgusting glares was the fear of the unseen threats that may lurk in these lands, especially the fabled Walker. Unconsciously, Haru leaned closer to Quetz, who's just casually plucked a handful of low hanging apples from their branches.

- Here, want one? - He handed one to Haru before biting off a large chunk of another one.

- Th-thank you... - Haru replied shyly as he held the fruit, looking around nervously under the hood before biting down on the fruit's shiny red skin, into the sweet juicy flesh below, a rarity in this forest. Swallowing the piece of fruit in his mouth, he turned his gaze at his companion, confused as why he was so...calm when they're in the Walker's territory. - Keto-san, - He said quietly. - we should be careful, this is the Walker's Forest.

- The what forest? - The older male looked down, confused but still not lowering his voice, the sheer volume of his voice made Haru flinch a bit.

- Well...you see...there's a...story...in my village. - Haru's voice was soft and quiet as he began to recite the myths and tells of the Elders. - A long time ago, wh-when my tribe first moved here...they encountered...something. - His voice was quiet, fearful of the mystical beast told in the elders' tales. He looked around, terrified of the creature that might be stalking them right now. - They...didn't know what it was, but...hunters that actively hunted in these woods started to disappear...only to be found days later, either mutilated or just bits and pieces of them. Some said that the forest was cursed, other said that the hunters defiled the ruins. But after a while, some of them survived the attacks...or they were spared, to spread the words that these woods are protected by the Walker, to hunt for big games here is to invite its wrath...

- Well we're not hunting for big games are we? - Quetz chuckled, amused by the villagers' superstitious nature. - We're just getting you home, the Walker or whatever it is shouldn't be bothered by a lost child and his guide.

- That's not the point! - Haru hissed in terror as his companion's blasphemous tone. - These ruins are haunted, not only by the Walkers but the people that died here too. They were mutilated, torn apart by the claws of something big and...

- Like these? - Quetz stopped and raised one of his legs, claws twitching teasingly, claws that resembled those of large raptors, claws that matched the wounds found on the bodies. But before Haru could react, and the older male knew that he would let out a scream so loud that would wake the dead, his hand ruffled the boy's white hair, comforting and reassuring him of his safety. - Don't worry, I'm not the Walker, whatever it was that your people saw must have been dead or moved on long ago, just because my legs look somewhat weird doesn't mean I'm the Walker, right? Now let's hurry, it's going to rain soon.

- Uh-um...yeah, let's go. - Haru nodded, looking around one last time just to make sure that the Walker wasn't looking, an irrational lingering fear seeded and reinforced into his subconscious by the respected elders, though they might don't know as much about these forests as they've thought.

Just as Quetz said, the dark clouds that have been hanging lazily over the sky ever since they've reached the Walker's Forest soon released their loads. Water crashed down the canopies, flushing birds and other animals that have sought refuge in the high branches out of their hiding places. Against all the intertwining branches and leaves, the rain sounded deafening, seemingly drowning every sound made by the residents of the forest. Where once the earth was firm, it's now like that of a marsh, drowned and transformed by the downpour, making it impossible for Haru to take one step without struggling to lift his other foot still stuck in the mud.

- You're stuck. - Quetz stopped to look at his struggling companion.

- I'm....fine! - Haru grunted, finally succeeded in pulling his foot free from the mud, just to land it ankle deep in the thick layer of mud, this time with several vines concealed by the wet earth. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he forced a smile onto his lips, trying not to look helpless. - It's just that it's been a while since I've walked in mud this deep.

- Tch. - Quetz rolled his eyes under his hood and smiled then walked toward Haru. Kneeling down, he pulled the boy's stuck foot out of the mud, much to Haru's embarrassment, before taking off his cloak and turned his back toward the boy. - Here, get on, you're slowing us down.

- N-no! I'm fine! I...Yah! - Haru's protest was cut short into a high pitched yelp as Quetz leaned backward and pulled him up, freeing his feet from the mud and his stuck grass slippers. - My slippers! - The boy yelped and turned around but still hugging his journal tightly in his chest.

- Leave them, - Quetz grunted and adjusted the boy into position. - I'll make new ones for you, still got some spare materials in my pockets.

Haru reluctantly agreed, flinching a bit as Quetz draped his cloak over them before continue walking. Pressing his entire body against his older companion's, Haru now noticed how fast Quetz could be without having to wait for him. The older male's toes splayed out, distributing his weight so that his entire feet wouldn't sink as deep as Haru though he's obviously heavier, leaving behind shallow three-fingered footprints with a small impression of a fourth toe wherever the mud was deeper. The boy pressed his face onto his companion's back, trying to keep warm as his body now felt cold, he could barely keep his eyes open as he struggled to keep his journal tucked between his arm and chest. With his other arm hung loosely on Quetz's shoulder, Haru pulled himself upward, putting his face into his companion's neck, a last ditched attempt to stop himself from slipping down, before slowly dripping into sleep.

The strange sensation caught Quetz off guard, making him flinch a bit and accidentally pressing his foot a bit deeper. The man stopped for a second to take a quick glance at the white haired boy, the cause of the strange sensation on his neck. Haru's lips were slightly open, breathing warm, shivering breaths onto the older male's skin but his eyes were closed, his entire body laid motionless, save for the rising and collapsing of his small chest. "Poor kid, he must have caught a cold." Quetz thought to himself, lifting his foot to shake off the mud before continuing.

It wasn't long before they reached an unusual path, the size of two wagons. Cutting through the forest's maze-like structure, the beaten path of earth and stones was slightly elevated from the surrounding forest floor, enough to keep it firm and dry, making it easier for travelers to walk through the forests, should the needs come. On both sides of the path, grim totems of skulls, bones, seashells and even crudely crafted idols littered the undergrowth, partially hidden from sight, landmarks and warnings for both human and beasts. Luckily, Quetz was neither. As he started walking on the path, he couldn't help but sigh in relief that he's found the path, it would've been much faster and easier for both him and Haru. Following the faint salty smell of the sea, the stranger carried his companion on the path, all the while planning on how to get other human's attention without drawing too much on himself.

Quetz solution became clear to himself as he gazed upon a large ruined house of stone, tribal symbols and markings covered the wall with an unlit brazier on the top, along with several wooden ladders and lookout points stretching out beyond the roof. Cocking his head slightly sideway, he older male cautiously approached the seemingly emptied den, experiences have taught him that there's no such thing as an emptied den until it's thoroughly checked. But just as Quetz was creeping toward the ruined house, Haru's eyes blinked open, the boy gave his violet eyes a quick rubbing before looking up at the house.

- Oh...you found the abandoned watch post. - He smiled sleepily and nuzzled his face into the older male's neck, making him blush a bit from the ticklish sensation.

- A-abandoned? - Quetz stuttered, blushing a bit as he was partially surprised by Haru's action.

- Yeah... - Haru let out a yawn and tiredly pointed at the house. - Guards used to use that as a watch post, but they've moved a bit further inland...now it's just a resting place in case people want to take a break before going to the village...

- Then rest here we shall. - Quetz nodded, pulling Haru up a bit then walked toward the house with a bit more confident.

Passing through the mossy doorway, the pair entered the house, making the animals that were using it as a shelter scattered and run out through the holes that littered on the walls. The smell of mosses made Quetz shook his head a bit, but given the fact that his sense of smell is more powerful than that of human, he's sure Haru wouldn't mind. And to be honest, what choice did they have left? The rain was picking up, so much water was poured down that a small river was forming on one side of the path.

- Wh-why are we here? - Haru's eyes blinked open again.

- Oh you're awake, good. - Quetz turned his head slightly and knelt down, letting his companion slide onto the floor. - You stay here, I'll get someone to get you.

- Y-you're leaving me here? Alone? - Haru gripped the journal on his chest, he looked up at Quetz with eyes filled with fear and desperation.

- No. I said I'll get someone to get you to the village, it's not safe for us to walk together there. - The older male knelt down, letting his eyes matched his companion's in height and patted the boy's shoulder gently. - Wait here, it won't take long.

- B-but...what if some animals...the Walker... - Haru's face reddened with the fever, his mind and vision became blurry as he stumbled forward and collapsed onto the older male's shoulder. - Don't leave...don't leave me here...alone... - Tears streamed down his cheeks uncontrollably as Haru hugged Quetz's neck tightly, unwilling to let go, partially because he's scared to be here alone, but also because he's the only person who's treated him as equal outside of his adoptive family. - Please don't go...Keto...please don't...

Quetz's lips slightly opened up, readied to protest that this part of the forest is safe, but seeing those terrified, teary eyes, he couldn't think of any good reason. He didn't want to think of any reason to leave Haru here alone. Letting out a sigh, the older male removed the boy's arms, much to his fear but quickly reassure him with a gentle nudge on his forehead with his knuckles before turning toward the dark corner under the staircase. Removing his cape and laid it onto the floor, Quetz sat down, the way he sits made he looks like a large dog in the shadow of the house. Eyeing the younger male with his amber eyes, he gently patted the space next to him with his long tail, bidding the boy to sit down.

Wiping the lingering tears from his eyes, Haru struggled to pick up his journal that he's dropped and held it tightly in front of his chest, trying to calm his quivering heart. It was weird, he's never cried like that in front of a stranger before, throughout his childhood Haru was told not to cry for help, that he's the embodiment of bad luck and is a curse, both for himself and to others, that he has no right to cry for help. So he learned to hide his tears, to kept silent, only dared to weep quietly either at night when no one could hear him or on rare occasion, in his sister's arms. But here Quetz was, no loudly spoken words condemning him for crying, no malicious teases or disgusted glares. Moreover, this man didn't deny Haru affections, tolerated every mistake he made, he didn't leave Haru to his own fate or ignored him when he's in danger. Not like most people in the village, not like most people would.

- Why? - The boy asked, his voice shaking with doubt and fear that this man, this stranger, this...creature, was tricking him, using him to his own end.

- Why what? - Quetz raised one eyebrow and tilted his head slightly, seemingly confused by his companion's question.

Was it genuine confusion? Or an elaborate trick to fool Haru? He didn't know. Gulping down his fear and becalming his shaking hands that have curled into a fist, the boy continued, unsure whether it's safe for him to do so:

- Why...are you so nice...to me?

- Why? - Quetz's head cocked to the other side, as if he's now twice as confused as before. After a few seconds of watching his companion, the older male shrugged and answered casually: - Because I thought it would be nice to help you.

- But why treat me...nicely? - Haru tightened his grip on the journal as he tried not to burst into tears again, making the edges shriveled up a bit.

- Well...isn't that how you human normally treat each other? - Quetz asked naively, before suddenly remembered how the boy reacted to his caring gestures this morning. His eyes dimmed with understanding and regret as he started to understand the gratitude of his question. - You...were treated differently than others in your village, weren't you? - He mumbled the question, lowering his head a bit but still looking at the boy in front of him.

"Normal". The foreign word echoed in Haru's mind, an alien concept that he has only now thought about in a new way. To him enduring the bullying of other kids and receiving quiet cursing and disgusted glares from adults, is normal. To be feared by toddlers and reviled by the elders, is normal. To be left behind in every foraging trip, or chose lastly by desperate playmates, or even left out uncounted for completely, is normal to Haru. And he didn't know why. Was it because he's an orphan that the chief picked up in the wild? Was it because of his uncommon features or fragile physique?

Clenching his teeth to hold in the cries, Haru sniffled as he sat down next to Quetz, who gently wrapped his tail around him. He let the older male clean his face with his hand, slender fingers rubbed against his skin, wiping away the painful tears until there were none left. It wasn't long before Haru cried himself to sleep, his head laid against Quetz's shoulder as he unconsciously leaned closer onto him, savoring the warmth and comfort of one of the few people who would treat him like this.

Crossing his legs together before laying Haru's head on his chest and wrapping his arm around the boy to keep him warm, Quetz sighed in defeat and scratched his head with his knuckles. "Jeez. What's happened to me?" He asked himself, not used to acting like this, not even when he met those people years ago, but this boy, there's something different about him. Taking a glance at the sleeping boy on his chest, the older male now noticed how peaceful and at eased he was, a contradiction to how broken and desperate he was a moment ago. And there, on those pale pink lips, Quetz saw something, a slight hint of what looked like a smile of relief, freed from the memories of horrors and terrible acts inflicted to him in the waking world. Haru knew he's safe, with Quetz.

Only the rains could be heard now, pouring onto leaves and branches before dripping down to the ground, soaking it, imbuing it with the life-giving water, broken only by occasional distanced thunders. It was peaceful, it was serene, reminding Quetz of a simpler time, of a friend long gone along with his old life, making his eyelids droopy, threatening to pull him into the abyssal darkness that is his dreams.

- Nee...Keto-san... - Haru's sleepy, quiet voice saved the older male from his sleepiness.

- Yes? - He turned to the boy, whose eyes were opened just a bit, as if trapped between reality and dreams.

In that state of half sleeping and half awake, Haru asked with a sleepy voice, smiling and blushing to himself as if feeling embarrassed by the intention of the question he was about to ask before continuing:

- If you leave...how should I...find you...again?

Lightning lit the scenery outside ablaze, what little light that managed to get inside the house illuminated the older male's frozen face before dimming, leaving only two glowing orbs of ambers looking down before those too faded into darkness. A long moment of silence passed, with only the rain and thunders echoing outside, pulling Quetz's attention to the door as he kept his silence. Soft breathing soon followed, though faint, they seemed to be muffled every sound that entered his ears.

Not until he's sure that Haru was fast asleep did Quetz allowed himself to utter a single word, both to the boy and to himself:

- Don't.

***

In the abyss that is his sleep, Haru could feel nothing, save for the warmth and gentle nudging of his companion, the way Quetz's soft and fuzzy tail, touching him was serene and comforting, easing his sleep and fevers induced dreams. He wanted this to last, to sleep like this, to be comforted like this, forever.

- Hey. Haru. Wake up.

His entire dreamland was shaken when his name was called, muffled and distant at first, but soon became clearer and closer. The boy grinned, pulling the warm blanket of leather to cover his head, trying to drown out the noises that were keeping him from enjoying his slumber.

- Haru!

- Yahk!

The moment his name was being called, this time right into his ear, Haru yelped and sat up, hitting whoever it was sitting next to him. Grinning in pain and covering his reddened forehead, the boy looked around for his companion, but Quetz was gone, only the older male's cloak remained, wrapping around him like a blanket. In his place, rolling on the wooden floor in pain, was a boy about a year older than Haru with skin tanned by the sun and waves.

- My head! Dammit!

The other boy screamed for a few more heartbeats then sat up, still holding his forehead, the reddened patch of skin was concealed under a yellow cloth headband. With dark brown eyes still watery from the impact, he brushed dirt and mosses off his sleeveless black shirt lines with multicolored zigzag patterns and adjusted his light green cloth belt around his waist. He looked at Haru, disgruntled and somewhat angry before standing up, shaking his legs to get the mosses from his loose black pants and stood intimidatingly in front of the white haired boy.

- Where have you been? - The bigger boy rumbled with his somewhat hoarsely yet squeaky voice.

- Rai! - Haru smiled brightly, recognizing his adoptive brother's voice, though spoken in a different accent, he could still understand what was spoken, yet through the Ayari's original accent and dialects, Rai's actual name, Loi, was somewhat warped.

- You scared us half to death Haru! - Loi rushed toward his brother, hugging him tightly and checking him for injuries, bombarding Haru with questions after questions. - Are you alright? Did you manage to get anything to eat? Where did you wander to this time? Where did you get this from?

- I...I... - Overwhelmed by all the questions, Haru wasn't sure which to answer first. He looked around, remembering his missing companion and broke free of his brother's hands. - W-where's Keto-san? - He mumbled, surprised that the older male was able to slip away almost without waking him up.

- Keto? Who's Keto? - Loi narrowed his eyes questioningly before brushing off his suspicions. - Tch! Whoever they are, they're gone. Now c'mon, I'm taking you home, it's dark already.

- Y-yes...but my slippers... - Haru looked at his feet, bare and dirty because of the mud.

- Why not use those over there? - Loi pointed at the pair of leather shoes right next to his brother.

The white haired boy looked to his side, a pair of leather footwears. To call them "shoes" was an overstatement, the footwears were just patches of leather held into the shapes of shoes by shreds of vines and dried skin. Though clumsily patches together, Haru was sure that no small amount of thought was put into their making. Putting on the footwears, the white haired boy couldn't help by marvel as how comfortable they were.

- They're...so soft inside. - Haru mumbled as he looked at his feet.

- We don't have time for it, let's go! - Loi rushed with an annoyed tone before helping his brother gather up the blanket and journal. - Where did you get this anyway? It looks old.

Haru didn't say anything, he knew that even his brother wouldn't believe him if he tells him the truth. Both kept their silence as they made their way back to the village, Haru was regretting making his family worried, Loi was angered because his brother put himself in dangers, again. It was already late evening, and though it's lessened somewhat, the rain was still heavy enough for the boy to not remove their cloaks, lest they get themselves soaked from head to toes. The sky was still darkened with clouds, illuminated only by the distant light of twilight, a good sign showing that they're only a short distance from the village.

- I'm sorry. - Haru whispered quietly under his breathe as he held his brother's hand.

- Save it for Mitsuki. - Loi scoffed, gripping the other boy's hand tighter as he led them both through the green mosaics of rice fields, vegetable gardens and patches of shrubberies and small tree to a large wall of stone.

The wall was tall, taller than even the tallest trees in the forest on this side, its vine-covered spine stretched from one range of rocky outcrops to another, so far that it faded into the fogs and rain. The path stopped at the main gate, a huge door of patched-up woods and vines covering the large archway in the wall, wide enough for three ox wagons to walk through side by side easily. On both sides of that door laid two wooden watchtowers, the light of torches shown that there were still people in them.

- Oi! Open the gate! - Loi put his hands up to his mouth and yelled loudly, making the small opportunistic animals feeding near the gate scatter into the night.

-Who goes there?! - A low, rumbling voice echoed down from the tower before a man roughly around forty looked out from the leaves bound wall.

- It's me! Loi! - The older male kept shouting while Haru covered his head with his hood. - I found my brother! Open the gate!

- Heh... - The guardsman scratched his sparsely bearded chin in contemplation before nodding his head. - Alright! Hold on!

Haru flinched as a small door roughly the size of a grown man opened up at the bottom of the larger one, he could see there were several people inside, holding torches and spears as if readied to kill something. There was no need to wonder what they were preparing for, the white haired boy lowered his head even more and followed his brother inside. Gluing his violet eyes to the muddy ground, Haru tried not to notice the faces reflecting from the puddles, looking at him, judging him in disgust and fear, whispering quiet insults to each other, all directed at him. He held his brother's hand tightly, seeking what little comfort the bigger boy could offer as they both entered the village and the door closed behind them.

Haru sighed in relief as he leaned closer to Loi, somewhat glad that at least his return was quiet and didn't cause much of a fuss. But much to the boy's terror, one person whose house was damnably closed to the gate has heard them and told his family. Words spread quickly throughout dozens of tall wooden houses built on strong columns, lifting them about four feet off the ground, making rooms for the sleeping cattle below. Soon, the village was lit with the light of torches as people rushed to their front yards, some even climbed down from wooden ladders or even jumped down to the ground. They swarmed the paired, bickering and arguing about whether it was a bad sign that Haru's returned. Some whispered under their breaths, while other outright mocking him, telling him that he shouldn't have returned and that he'd bring bad luck to the entire village with some youngsters even starting to poke and push him.

- Leave him alone! - Loi hugged his brother tightly, protecting him from the assaults.

- Get away from him! - An old woman yelled as she reached out, trying to grab the bigger boy and pull him away from the white haired boy. - He'll curse you if you stand too close.

- No he won't! He's my brother! - Loi slapped the wrinkly hand away. - He's just like you and me! There's nothing wrong with him!

- He's a curse! - A bearded man shouted at Haru, gaining several supportive mumblings and nods from other. - He got my son killed when they were picking berries in the Walker's Forest!

- Yaki got himself killed! - Loi shouted back. - It wasn't Haru's fault that the idiot didn't notice the bear was right behind him!

- He cursed my son into laughing! - The older man shook his large fist at the boy, his entire face shriveled in pain and anger.

- He was bullying Haru! - Loi shifted his brother to his back, shielding him from the man. - He and his friends have been bullying Haru ever since he was old enough to think for himself! He deserved his fate!

- Why you... - The man grinned maliciously, fist raised high, ready to beat the insolent brat in front of him into a bloody pulp.

- Enough!

The chieftain's voice thundered through the crowd, almost drowning out the ceasing rain as he and the council of the elders made their ways toward the two boys. Loi instinctively tightened his arms around Haru, his widened eyes gazed upon the giant that was the chieftain of the Ayari. In the flickering light of the torches behind him, his shadow seemed to have swallowed the quivering boys, the foggy breaths blown out of his large nostrils only cementing their fear. He narrowed his eyes, causing the long fleshy scar that draped from his left forehead over his white eye and down to his beard covered cheek to throb, making him even more terrifying.

- Where have you been? - The chief rumbled at Haru, making the smaller boy flinch.

- I-I-I w-was lo-lost... - The boy replied, shaking nonstop from the chief's intimidating gaze.

- You should have stayed lost! You cursed bastard! - Voice shouted out from the crowd.

- Silent! - The chief shouted out a command with his booming voice, silencing any intention to mob the boy.

- Haru! - A female voice shouted from behind the chief as a black haired girl, roughly about eighteen, rushed to the boys and gave them a big hug. She turned toward Haru with angered and relief mixed in her voice. - Where have you been?!

- Mitsuki! - The chief grunted, displeased at the young girl's behaviors.

- Please chieftain, let them rest first. - Mitsuki turned around and pleaded. - Just look at Haru's he's scared, terrified and sick, couldn't you hold up the questioning until tomorrow?

The chieftain looked at the three children in front of him in contemplation, keeping his eyes on Haru, who was clearly sick and scared, just at Mitsuki's said. Stroking his long, shaggy grey beard, he raised his hand, dispatching the villagers back into their home, much to Mitsuki and Loi's relief. Mumbling words of appreciation to the chieftain, both of them turned to Haru now barely have any strength left in him.

- Let's get him back to the house. - Mitsuki said to Loi worriedly. - He's having a high fever, he must have been soaking in the rain since he went missing. But how did he...Haru! - She yelped as the white haired boy collapsed into her arms and faded out of consciousness.

***

- ...Is that all? - The bald old man with long white beard asked.

- Y-yes sir... - Haru answered quietly, still a bit weak from last night's fever and intimidated by the chieftain's presence.

- What about the leather cloak? Where did you get it? - An old woman sat next to the bald elder inquired, her dark, sunken eyes narrowed as she waited for the boy's answer.

- I-I found it in the watch post...ma'am. - The boy replied squeakily, his voice has gradually become harder and harder to hear with every question.

Knowing that they couldn't get any more answers from him, the elders let Haru go, albeit with disappointment in their tones and gesture. As the white haired boy left, he couldn't help but notice that the chieftain was staring at him, as if he knew he was lying, as if he knew about Quetz. Loi was waiting outside for his brother, as soon as he sees Haru's white hair, he rushed toward the smaller boy and locked their hands together and walked home.

- So? How did it go? - The older boy asked, rubbing his thumb on his adoptive brother's hand to calm him down.

- I told them everything I knew. - Haru mumbled before letting out a yawn and stroked his untied hair. He's been summoned to the longhouse earlier in the morning so the elders could question him, they didn't even give him the time to tie his hair up.

- Not "everything". - Loi smiled understandingly but his voice rang with an unmistakable hint of teasing.

- Wh-what do you mean? - Haru's violet eyes widened, his heart wrenched a bit as he recalled his mistake of saying Quetz's name.

- You met someone didn't you? - Loi squinted his eyes as he smiles cheekily.

- N-no! I didn't! Let's go home already! - Haru shook his head frantically. Picking up the pace to avoid both his brother's questions and the disgusted glares of other villagers, he walked faster to the other side of the beach where their house was.

Unlike other families, Mitsuki's parents have a strange taste for where to build their house. Instead of choosing the sandy beach where the docks could easily be built to connect all the houses built on water, they chose the space near the rocky outcrop that was hard to approach to say the least. Moreover, it was built half on land, half above the water, making it looks a bit bizarre. However, it turned out to be a blessing for Haru, as there were few people who would bother themselves to walk or even paddle their boats there. Like others in the villages, their house was built on eight large wooden columns so big that two grown men must wrap their arms around it. The roof of dried tall grass was tall and steep, at least thirty feet tall, with the bamboo bar that connects the two sides slight bent downward like a hammock, a precautious measure made to stop snow from collecting on the roof.

The two boys climbed the wooden ladder, onto the small front yard of oak planks lined with large pickle jars and racks of dried fish and meat. Loi pushed the pine wood door open for Haru, watching his brother worriedly as the smaller boy walked into the house. It was partially his fault that Haru went missing, being a hunter in training, Loi occasionally gets to join the long hunting trips, usually taking his brother with him to teach him. It was like any other hunting trips, three days of walking from the village to the rich hunting ground in the higher pastures where herds of herbivores graze. But as the hunt progressed, things got a bit chaotic as one of the younger hunters "accidentally" spook a large duck-billed lizard, causing the whole herd of animals to stampede. That was when Loi got sidetracked and lost sight of Haru.

- Ne...Rai, don't worry about it, ok? - Haru said and lightly punched his brother's shoulder, smiling awkwardly as he tries to cheer him up. - It's not your fault. I was the one that ran away, not you.

- Haru... - Loi sighed and rubbed his brother's shoulder, not knowing how to reply as he follows him inside.

The house's floor was divided into several segments with a square fireplace made of clay in the middle of the first, boiling on top of it was a large baked clay pot. In the middle of the house, a large column supports the roof above, with several wooden beams set sideways to hold the structure intact, at the foot of the column were two wooden statues carved into the shape of a man and a woman. Haru walked to the wooden wall dividing that part of the house from the rest, leaving Loi to sits down and stir the rice soup in the pot. Behind to the wall was a small animal hide mat, just like the bigger one at the front but this one seems a bit newer.

The white haired boy collapsed onto the mat with a loud thud, not because of sickness, but because he was still sleepy. Laying his head onto the straw-stuffed pillow, Haru nuzzled his face into Quetz's cloak, savoring what little left of him still lingered on it. He wrapped it around himself and snuck into it, listening to the sounds of the waves crashing into the rocks below while looking at the clear blue sky through the back door that led to a small balcony with a large barrel of fresh water. Next to his sleeping corner, bags of charcoal, sticks and strings laid tidily near a stack of leather-bound journals, a sight that made the boy smile peacefully as he slowly drifted into slumber.

So entranced by the peaceful atmosphere was Haru that he didn't notice Loi looking at him from behind the wall with a mischievous grin. The older boy tiptoed over, holding in his hand squirming black trilobite. He sneaked behind his brother and bent down, breathing into his exposed ear gently, causing the white haired boy to turns around and dropped the arthropod onto his face.

- Eek! - Haru shrieked loudly and crawled backward into the wall, arms flailing around as the poor creature curled into a ball next to him. Gripping his shirt, the boy panted heavily then looked at his brother collapsing and covering his mouth. Grabbing his pillow, Haru hit his brother repeatedly while squealing with his high pitched, somewhat girlish voice. - Rai! You jerk! How could you do that to me!?

- Sorry! I just want to cheer you up! - Loi laughed and covered his head, even when his adoptive brother was furious, he couldn't help but thinks how adorable Haru was.

Haru was small for his age, sixteen years old and his voice hasn't cracked yet, making sounds a bit feminine, which matches quite well with his slender frame. He's a bit odd, even Loi and Mitsuki would admit that. While other boys of the same age were bickering on who was the strongest and bravest, Haru would be checking the crafting shops leftover materials to fix his pens or to make another journal. Inside of those journals were sketches, sometimes crudely colored drawings, small souvenirs noted with doodles and maps of the ruins he's encountered.

Maybe that's why people don't like Haru, Loi thought as he lied still under the pillow that his bother was using to crush him under. Apart from Haru's unnatural hair and eyes, maybe people just don't like how he's too gentle and curious, unlike the brutes that grew up alongside him, who care little about the world around them save for the things that keep them alive and or entertained.

- Haru, what are you doing to Loi? - Mitsuki peaked her head from the doorway led to Haru's sleeping corner.

- Rai dropped a trilobite on my face! - Haru said grumpily and hit his brother one last time.

- You did what?! - Mitsuki's face swiftly shifted from concerned to pure anger as she heard what Rai has done. Grabbing the tanned boy by his shoulders, she pulled him up and shook him while yelling at the top of her lungs. - How could you do that?! Haru's just been questioned by the elders and this is how you treat him?!

- I just want to cheer him up! - Loi squealed and let out a desperate excuse.

- Cheer him up?! What were you... - Letting out a defeated sigh, Mitsuki let Rai go and sat down near the fireplace. - Enough. Don't you dare doing anything like that again, I've been annoyed enough this morning.

- What's wrong Mitsuki-nee? - Haru asked worriedly as he follows his sister to the front yard after picking up a small leather band.

- Oh, nothing Haru. - Mitsuki shrugged, stirring the steaming rice soup. - Some old hags were talking about stuffs they overheard from the hunters. Here, have some foods you two. - She scooped the soup into two clay bowls with a large wooden spoon and handed to the boys before continuing. - Apparently they saw footprints and claw marks near the old watch-post that belong to the Walker.

- The Walker? That close to the village? - Rai asked, not noticing that Haru was completely frozen next to him.

- Yeah, they said that Haru was returned by the Walker to bring bad lucks to the village. - The girl said as she scoops some food for herself, as she did, she saw Haru looking at his bowl but haven't taken a spoon yet. - But those are just rumors, I'm sure that it's just a small drake or a bigger raptor than we usually see here. - Smiling forcefully, Mitsuki looked at Rai and tossed her head slightly at Haru.

- R-right! There's no reason the Walker would go that close to the village. - Loi laughed awkwardly before shoveling food into his face, noticing that he didn't help at all.

- The point is we're both glad that you've returned unharmed. - Mitsuki sighed and rubbed Haru's cheek to cheer him up. A smile spread over her face as the white haired boy nodded and began to eat. Watching her frail little brother eat like that relieved her of some of the passing rumors, but she couldn't help but ask. - Hey, Haru?

- Yes? - The boy looked up, preparing to scoop a spoonful of rice soup into his mouth.

- Who's Keto? - Mitsuki narrowed her eyes as she began her questioning, surely Haru wouldn't mind his sister being a bit curious. - And who gave you that cloak and those slippers? What happened to your old ones?

Silenced befell the house, for a moment, the only thing that could be heard were the sounds of the crashing waves below. Haru put his bowl and spoon down, barely finished half of it before standing up.

- I'm not hungry anymore. - He replied softly, revealing no emotion under his tone before turning around and walked toward his sleeping corner. - I don't feel so well so...I'll go sleep it off ok?

- Ah...um...alright... - Mitsuki nodded, regretted her decision as she watches her brother disappears behind the wooden wall.

The meal continued with only silence between Mitsuki and Loi as they were unsure what to do to cheer him up. They're all orphan here, Loi's parents died during an offshore fishing trip when he was eight. They were not from the original Ayari tribe, in fact, many people here aren't, most of them came from a strange land to the west called Daviet, refugees from the calamities that sank most of their territories into the sea. Mitsuki's parents were killed during a hunt when a large Tyrant drake wandered into the Walker's Forest. But neither of the family knew where Haru came from, the chieftain gave the white haired baby to Mitsuki's family in the middle of the night during a particularly harsh winter, only saying that an old friend gave Haru to him.

Tossing the leather band at the pile of material, Haru lied back down onto the mat quietly. He snuck into the blanket and pressed his back against the wall, less he suffers another of his adoptive brother's prank and instantly began to dwell into regrets for his action. He wasn't upset or angry at his sister, they're all orphans and they're the only family and friends he got so he can't afford to be like that. But the thought of talking about Quetz made him feel...odd. Every time Haru thinks about that man, his heart wrenched a bit, not in a bad way, it's more...subtle, like a light touch on the shoulder from behind or a gentle breeze blowing pass his ears, making him shiver yet also crave for more. Haru was a stranger to him, but Quetz still treated him kindly, tending to his every needs and comforting him when he's broken and desperate.

Pulling the newest journal toward him, Haru quietly sharpened a small pen using a small knife crudely forged from collected the metal collected in the ruins. He sat up and pulled his legs close to his chest, resting the opened journal on them, the boy started to sketch onto the blank pig skin parchment. It was a bit difficult to draw Quetz's face at first since most of the time he hid it under a hood, but yesterday moment was enough for Haru to recreate his impression almost perfectly. The older male didn't look half bad, quite the opposite, Haru thought that Quetz was actually kind of handsome even with his long ears, pale skin and fanged teeth. Before long, the drawing was complete, a detailed portrait of his former companion, the resemblance was uncanny, as if Quetz would pop out from the sheet and smile at Haru.

- Hey Haru?

- Yes?! - The boy flinched and accidentally raised his voice as he heard his name being called, almost sending his journal and pen flying. He turned toward the doorway, Loi was peeking his head over to check on him.

- Woa clam down, it's just me. - The bigger boy rubbed his nose and walked over, a bit confused as his brother slowly closed the journal and tucked it tightly into his chest. He sat down next to Haru, careful as not to spook the smaller male. - Mitsuki went outside to get some herbs, she said you still need to take more.

- I'm fine. - Haru replied, hugging his journal tighter.

- Are you sure? - Loi, scooted closer and sat next to his brother before putting one hand onto the other boy's forehead. - Well your fever's gone down so that's good.

- Uh-huh. - Haru nodded and smiled softly before laying his head against the wall, continuing watching the ocean with his sleepy violet eyes.

There's another benefit of living this far away from others as Haru's came to realize, he could spend hours watching the peaceful tides come and go, enjoying the serenity of sunsets and twilights without being disturbed by noisy neighbors. Sometime, after a day being harassed or bullied by other children, the white haired boy would sit outside the balcony and cry, and the waves would listen to him, calming him with their unending rhythms. But now Haru wished that the ocean could talk, so that he could ask it what this feelings he felt for Quetz were that made his heart wrench every time he thinks about him. Surely, a being older than even the Old Ones must know.

- Haru?

- Y-yes? - Loi's hand pulled both Haru's hand and his mind out of the haze, the smaller boy stuttered a bit before noticing his brother was looking at him, half worried, half curious.

- I-I... - The tanned boy struggled to speak as first, not knowing what to say to persuade his brother to talk about his adventure. Finally, he sighed defeat and went straight to the point. - Did you meet someone out there?

- N-no. - Haru shook his head, preparing to protect his secret. But after seeing his brother's worried eyes, he quickly relented and started his confession. - W-well, kinda...

- Was his name...Keto? - Loi pressed on, trying not to sound too intimidating.

- Ye-yes. - Haru nodded and covered his lower face with his journal. - He told me to call him that anyway.

- And he helped you get home? - Loi continued.

- He did. - Haru answered, holding his journal to his face to cover his reddening cheeks. - He was...nice to me.

- He was? - Loi narrowed his eyes. - Well...that's good. What else did he help you with? And did...did he make those tracks?

- Wh-what?! - Haru jolted at his brother's question. - Wh-why did you...?

- Uh...how do I put it? - The tanned boy scratched his head. - When I went out of the village to find you, someone threw a pebble at me. I didn't see who they were, I only saw two glowing eyes looking at me before they ran away. I followed that person before I lost them at the old watch post, but there were several footprints that looked like...

- He's not the Walker. - Haru put his journal on top of his head as he hugs his knees.

- What? - Loi's eyes widened in surprise. - Y...you mean...he made those tracks?

- Y-yes. - Haru nodded and removed the journal, revealing his blushed cheeks and dreamy eyes. - He's...odd, like me, and he was very nice to me too.

- Haru. - Loi grabbed the smaller boy by his shoulders and pulled him close. - Did he curse you? Did he use dark magic or something to bring you home?

- N-no! - Haru shook his head frantically. - I told you! He's not the Walker! He's just a very strange person!

- H-how could you tell? - Loi narrowed his eyes and asked, clearly confused by his brother's defensive tone toward this...Keto.

- The way he treated me... - Haru released himself of his brother's hands and opened the journal to look at Quetz's portrait. - He was nice to me, when he learned that I was...um...treated differently, he tried his best to comfort me. - He rubbed his cheek, remembering how gentle the man was when he wipes Haru's tears away.

Haru began to drift off into the memories of his short adventure with Quetz while Loi sat silently next to him, taking in all the things his brother said. He was scared when the white haired boy describes his companion, the idea of a raptorial monster with the intelligence of human made him feel a bit uncomfortable. But the tanned boy's opinion started to shift as his brother starts to talk about how this "Keto" knows thing even the elders don't, how he could easily notice the trap of a giant fish, how it only took him less than two days to return to the Walker's Forest from a four-day trip. Moreover, according to Haru, that man dared to rest at the haunted ruins, even challenging the spirits resting there without being punished on the spot.

Captivated by the story and drowned in questions, Loi didn't notice that Haru has finished and was looking at him curiously. The tanned boy scratched his chin and looked up, something dawned on him.

- Haru, you didn't have a...crush on Keto, did you? - He asked, grinning mischievously.

- Wh-what? - Caught off guard by his brother's question, the smaller boy squealed and suddenly covered his blushing face with his hands then shook his head frantically. - N-no! I-I didn't! Why did you ask that!? Even if I did, he wouldn't want someone like me!

- Haru! Haru! - Loi hugged his brother tightly, trying to calm his brother. - I didn't mean to tease you, I was just...wondering.

- No! I don't have a crush on Keto-san! - Haru yelled out and pushed his brother away. - I don't want to talk anymore! - He said as he lied down and pulled the blanket over his head.

- Haru, I was just worrying for you. - Loi smiled and rubbed his brother's shoulder. - There's nothing to be embarrassed about it.

- I don't have a crush on him... - Haru mumbled under the blanket. - What would the others say?

- Screw them! This is about you! - Loi bellowed. - No one's gonna object when he kickass!

- But...what if he doesn't like me back? - Haru peeked out from under the leather cloak.

- Then I'll kick him in hit nuts! - The bigger boy put his fist up in a threatening gesture. - But just to make sure... - He leaned closer to the smaller boy and began whispering his plan into Haru's ear.

***

The sounds of waves crashing onto the rocky shore gently made staying up a real challenge for Haru. The gentle, never-ending rhythms kept pressing on his eyelids, threatening to shut them down completely and pull the boy into a deep slumber. Shaking his head and turning away to face the wall, Haru snuggled into the blanket, hoping that the faint scent of Quetz would keep him awake and remind him of his upcoming adventure. Throughout the afternoon, he and Loi have tried their best to act as cheerful as possible in front of Mitsuki, keeping their big sister from becoming too suspicious. They've been planning on leaving the village for a couple of days to return Quetz's cloak, but to Haru, the thought of seeing the man who cared for him was also a pleasant one.

The small tapping sounds echoed from the other side, amidst the sounds of the waves and the faint noises from the forest just outside the rocky outcrop, it's clearer than anything. The white haired boy was waiting for it, the signal to set their plan in motion. Even in the weak moonlight, Haru could still pick out Loi's head poking over from the other side as he sneaks quietly toward him, carrying a leather backpack filled with food, water and herbs, enough for both of them to last for two days. They started packing up Haru's backpack, first the cloak, then the journal, some pens and small daggers, along with other materials they thought they'd need before heading out from the front door, passing by their sleeping sister.

In the dead of night, two small shadows crept their ways toward the docking yard, wooden posts and planks stitched together crudely to connect houses that were built on the sea and to dock their fishing boat. Phantom footsteps landed on the dock, carrying the hooded figures toward the very edge of it, where a small canoe was held from drifting away by a worn rope. Haru recognized that vessel, Loi's father help them made it before he died, one of the few good memories about this place.

- Hop on! - Loi urged quietly after climbing onto the small vessel, looking around to check for any sign of the guards.

Haru gulped and climbed down clumsily, making the canoe leaned from side to side a bit, much to his brother's horror. The bigger boy stood up, checking on last time to be sure before untying the rope and pushed the vessel away from the dock with a paddle. Night guards wouldn't allow anyone to leave the village this late, the only possible way to leave was to cross the coral barrier, when the tides were high. The small vessel split the water quietly as Loi paddled, causing the surface to ripple and distorted the crystal clear view of the sandy seabed dotted by clumps of seaweeds and small corals below.

It didn't take long for them to reach the coral wall, at day the intertwining branches of the reef reaches up to two meters, preventing the anything larger than a toddler's forearm from getting in or out, except for the gasp at the water gate where the holes are large enough for some larger animals to get through. But at night, even the highest places are almost submerged beneath the waves, with the lower points under more than one feet of water, creating pathways for small animals to swim in to take refuge. Choosing one of the lowest and most hidden pathways, Loi planted the paddle down, pushing the whole canoe out of the protective wall, making Haru flinch a bit in the process.

Out here is another different world completely, the shallow sandy seabed looks the same as the inside, with the same decorations of small corals and vegetation, but the boys knew they're at risk as if they don't make landfall by sunrise. Sharks and smooth-skinned sea lizards are scary enough, the light also draws out the armored fish with jaws like guillotines and aquatic scorpions that impale and snatch up their preys with spiked claws and poisonous stingers. Indeed, only seasoned fishermen would dare to go out of the rings and even fewer dare to go on offshore trips. Haru was stung by a small aquatic scorpion once, that painful memory still haunts him as they made their way across the almost stilled water. The white haired boy turned to look at the village and his sister's house becoming further and further with every moment passed, smiling to himself as he recalls the memories of his brother bragging about venturing outside the ring and catching big fish that, for some mysterious reasons, have disappeared when he got home.

- Don't worry Haru. - Loi whispered as he paddled gently, trying to avoid waking up the slumbering predators in their sandy dens. - I know a place we can make landfall, we just need to stick to the shoreline.

- Rai... - Haru replied with a choked up call.

- What? - The bigger boy lowered his voice as he stops paddling.

- Look... - Haru shakily raised his hand, pointing at three black triangular fins protruding and submerging beneath the water as they circle the canoe.

- Sharks! - Loi hissed, pulling his paddle onto the canoe, he took up the serrated fishing spear and stood at one end of the wooden vessel. - D-don't worry Haru. - He said, a bit unnerved by the sharks' circling. - The fishermen said they won't attack if we stay on...!

The entire canoe shook as the shark charged headfirst into its bottom, making Loi almost fall into the water. Gripping the wooden frame, Haru looked up, his face shriveled up, almost to the point of crying as he asks his brother:

- Did they say that it only works when we travel in groups?

- Look out! - Loi let out a cry and hugged his brother, pressing them both into the canoe as another shark swam up, fin cutting through the water surface leaving trails of white foams.

Suddenly, the fish made a sharp turn, feeling something big was coming. The other two quickly followed, but one got caught in the long snout of a giant pure white sea lizard the size of two fishing boat. The beast held its prey in its toothy jaws, swallowing the shark whole as it swims beneath the canoe, seemingly uninterested in such small preys. Haru blinked his eyes opened, unsure to what has just happened before noticing the sea beast.

- It's Shiroi Megami! - He cried out in pure joy and amazement. - She's come to help us!

- White Sea Mistress?! - Loi bent over the canoe to look at the living miracle that is Shiroi Megami, or White Sea Mistress.

The Mistress swam in circled, occasionally reaching her maw to the surface to breathe before swimming to shallower water, her flat, vertical tail swung so mightily that it kicked off debris and dislodged corals. Considered as the sea goddess by the Ayari, she rarely ventures in shallow waters, but legends hold that she'd occasionally bless the village with her sight before giving birth here, promising bountiful harvests and successful hunts. Loi never believe those fairy tales but his jaws dropped as the giant sea lizard stopped just off the coral wall, a slight convulsion occurred before sit bloody orbs fell from the middle of her hind flippers simultaneously. Six baby sea lizards, all with pure white skin like their mother, swam into the protective lagoon as the giant silently swam away into deeper waters where she rules unprotested.

The boys looked at the fading shape of the goddess then looked at each other, they put their hands together and offered up prayers to both the sea lizard and the ancestors before continuing their journey, optimistic as they're the first and only to be blessed by her presence.

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