The watcher's clan pt1

Under the night's sky, the four reos stood at the edge of the dense forest, face to face with a labyrinth of wooden caves that extended before them right after leaving the Druid's clan territory. The wind carried whispers of something dreadfully silent, something unseen and yet dangerous, and it tugged at the back of their brains, a sense of uneasiness and a whisper to turn back.

 

“Are we certain that's the way forward?” Jeon-e whispered, looking at the others to check if they also felt the same unsettling feelings she was feeling.

 

Valentine nodded. “It sure is, according to Auris. After the Druid's clan we should visit the Watchers’ clan. that's what he said.” He raised his face to gaze into the intricate woven wood that made for the cave's walls. “No going back, even if the entrance to this area feels like stepping into a haunted house.”

 

Mer looked at Valentine “Like stepping into a nightmare you mean, that looks as unsafe as it could possibly be, and that's a feature in itself.”

 

“We're going to have to go with it, even if you all feel unsettled. That's how most of the Vitalus underground feels like, even as a haedian, you know?” murmured Cailu, his voice steady, his knowledge of the area a reassurance for him alone. 

 

The reos stepped forwards and entered the path, and as soon as they did the opening seemed to close in, walls made of branches closing on them. They moved in a tight formation, trying to stay in an orderly way and hoping it would not end in them into a straight line, no space to walk shoulder to shoulder. 

 

Deep within the tree cave' system the Watchers Clan stirred, each member alert, their senses finely attuned to spotting any intrusions. They had heard, felt even, the four reos' footsteps as soon as they had stepped foot on the bark that composed the entrance of their territory.

 

"Four of them," whispered one of the Watcher's clan members. "They move as if they belong here, it's weird. From their steps they don't feel like us at all, and yet they're moving with a certainty and purpose that only a clan's member would have."

 

The leader of the Watchers, a haedian named Saikaam, observed the intruders with unblinking focus. "These are no ordinary land dwellers," he replied in a low rumble. "Their movements are measured, cautious. They know we’re here, even though they do not see us. Watch them closely, all of you."

 

Around him, other members of the Watchers Clan started standing up, preparations to go and investigate the newcomers. They had their land to protect, and they were ready to fight should it come to that, but they also were intrigued by what their senses was telling them about the strangers.

 

The forest felt heavier with every step the four reos took. Jeon-e’s ears twitched, her nerves tingling with the feeling of eyes upon her. She padded closer to Cailu, who seemed to walk effortlessly through the shadows. Maybe his eyes were better used to it?

 

“I can feel someone watching us,” she whispered. “what should we do?”

 

Mer shot her a sidelong glance. “I think it's good, it means we’ve found them, is that so?”

 

“Or they’ve found us,” Valentine muttered, looking around. “These Haedians like to stay by themselves, right? They won’t be pleased by strangers.”

 

Cailu paused, his gaze looking around. They were now above ground, the woody caverns opening on the sides to reveal they had slowly climbed up and found themselves on some unnaturally thick branches of trees. “Maybe. I can't say what they're thinking, it's hard to get a hold of them most of the times.” His voice was calm, reassuring them all in a way. “If we walk with intent, they may let us through without doing anything to us.”

 

As if in answer to his words, a low rustling stirred on some tree branches ahead, just at the edge of sight. Shadowy silhouettes flitted between trunks, barely visible but unmistakably haedian, watching them from a path to the side of the one they were currently on.

 

The four reos stilled, exchanging wary glances.

 

“Keep moving,” Jeon-e murmured. “Let’s ignore them and keep going.”

 

They resumed their walking, though their steps were more hurried now. The Watchers Clan followed closely, studying them from the sidelines, taking note of each subtle movement. Saikaam observed the strangers’ and clocked Cailu, a headian, and the probable reason of them being so confident on these treetops.

 

"They're confident," whispered another haedian, an older haedian. " They walk as if they belong. It's disrespectful."

 

Saikaam nodded slowly, his curiosity growing. "Let’s test them, see if they truly deserve passage.”

 

Suddenly, the haedians began to move, encroaching on the vayrons from the side and approaching them out in the open.

 

Jeon-e was the first to notice. “They’re coming close” she whispered. “what should we do?”

 

Valentine hummed, his muscles tense with unease. “Let's wait and see if they interact with us. We're going into their territory, we want to meet them, let's see if we get the chance to get down from these trees before having to acknowledge them.”

 

The reos maneuvered through different branches, their movements becoming more fluid, more instinctive, the more they stayed up there. Still hurried, but more natural. The watchers stayed close, moving as shadows just beyond the edge of sight, silent but ever-present.

 

A haedian, this time a younger one, watched from the sidelines. “They’re getting better,” she whispered to Saikaam. “They know we're here and have hurried up, but they're getting better even if they don't have wings to balance themselves.”

 

Saikaam eyes gleamed. “Yes. But will they keep their footing when we draw closer and challenge them?”

 

With a signal, he directed the watchers to close in. They began to move faster, not paying attention to the sounds they were making, and being clearly visible now. The land dwellers knew they were there, no point in hiding now.

 

Mer's ears twitched as he heard the watchers, his pulse quickened. “They’re coming.”

 

Valentine’s hackles raised. “Do they want to confront us?”

 

“I don’t know,” murmured Jeon-e. “Should we stop and acknowledge them? We all know of each other's presence.”

 

From the side, a voice echoed. It was Saikaam. "Land dwellers" he said, and the four vayrons froze. "Do you see the tree down there? The one with a deep scar in it? Reach it before us and we will let you speak. Fail and there will be consequences."

 

The four reos broke into a hurried run, threading through the branches. No time to think, no time to clarify. They bolted as soon as the words were spoken, hoping to find the tree the haedian was talking about while going. These haedians knew these places, an unexpected start would give them a slight advantage and they knew it. They found the tree the haedian was talking about 50 meters in front, diagonally below the branches they were currently running on, and focused on it. 

 

The watchers observed, Saikaam eyes narrowed but his mouth spitting into a grin. "They know how a race goes. Let's see if they'll be faster than us.”

 

As the vayrons ran, a challenge surged within the watchers. Saikaam gave a nod, and the watchers started running too, moving parallel to the reos, catching up slowly but steadily.

 

One of the haedian's voice reached Saikaam as they moved. “If they win, will you really hear them out?”

 

Saikaam considered for a moment. “They're accompanied by a haedian, i'd think it's not for nothing. We should listen to what they have to say” he hummed "but they must also prove themselves to us."

 

The four reos continued their dash, though as they got closer to the tree they were no longer certain of their direction. They were above the tree, and they did not see any way to get to the lower levels to reach the tree. 

 

As the haedians reached near them, Jeon-e noticed their wings moving, and realized that the height of the branch they were on would not be an issue for creatures that could plane. They had been set up from the start, with the only one of the who could actually reach the tree being Cailu. Many things went through Jeon-e's brain. Would they acknowledge them if Cailu, a haedian, won? Instead of one of them, who they call land dwellers? 

 

Jeon-e looked at the path that went to the tree and decided that she would do anything to win this race, so she said to the others "Prepare to jump!" and leapt down the branch, hoping to land on the one she aimed for. She landed wrong and started rolling on it, losing speed while trying to regain footing, but luckily Valentine and Mer jumped right after her. Valentine landed wrong too, his feet buckling under his weight, but Mer landed on his feet and kept running. Above them, both Cailu and the other haedians were descending slowly, their wings fully spread. "Mer, run!" Jeon-e screamed, and watched as Mer kept running, his breath heavy but his feet light, until he reached the tree first and collided with it from the impact.

 

From above, Saikaam landed between Mer and Jeon-e and Valentine. “Strangers,” he said, his voice deep “you have proved yourselves to be dedicated to your objective, and you have proven you'd do anything to reach it. Speak your purpose.”

 

And so, under the watchful eyes of dozen of haedians, slowly descending from their branches to come to their level, they talked.