Rising Anew -Chapter 11, Family and Learning"
#10 of Rising Anew
Rising Anew - Chapter 11, Family and Learning-
Slowly the sound of feet padding down the stone hallway brought
Narina into the world of the conscious again. She sat up with a grimace as
her head pounded her back down.
"Uggghh, my head is killing me..." she said out loud, thinking for
sure she was alone, when out of nowhere three little girls pounced her from
a couch on the side of the room. "AAAACCCKKK!!!!" she exclaimed.
"NARINA NARINA NARINA!!!" they all shouted happily as they all clung
to her. Narina was dumbfounded. "Who in the world..?" she said as she
finally gained a foothold and managed to hold them off a little and look at
them. "Sissy? Clair? Rhoana? is that you guys?" she asked as she looked
them over. They all burst out in giggles and "yays" as they doubled their
efforts to cling to the poor girl.
"We missed YOU!!! Tell us about your trip!! Yes Tell us!!!" the
young girls shouted vigourously. Suddenly the thick oak door to the room
swung open slowly and Purrma slowly walked in.
"Out you three, Narina needs rest, and i believe... an
explanation." Purrma commanded. The children smiled innocently and marched
out like a troop of soldiers on patrol. As soon as the door closed, bursts
of giggling and play orders were bandied about as the girls made their way
down the corridor.
Quietly, Purrma sat down on the edge of the bed, her ears flicking
in amusement at the children. "Hello my dear, how do you feel?"
Narina shook her head slowly and looked up at the old matriarch. "I
dont know Purrma.. Last night was terrafying... What was that creature?
That.. Marcerous thing that Papaw fought?"
Purrma sighed sadly and closed her eyes for a moment. "That was
evil incarnate... Marcerous is a cruel and malicious animal. He lives only
to kill, and will do so at a moments notice... He killed Narcenac's mother
long ago. She was the only one who accepted him too... If that can give you
an idea of the malice in that beasts heart."
The young tiger shivered softly and slid her knees up into her arms.
"Why was he after Narcenac and I? It was like he knew who we were, where
we were going, everything about us..."
"Marcerous has the ability to listen to dreams, we dont know how but
he listens for dreams we send out, it is dangerous to speak any longer in
that way for that reason." Purrma replied softly. Rising to her feet, she
made her way to the wardrobe and pulled out a forest green dress with leaf
patterns sewn down it in a spiral shape. Setting it down on the bed she
smiled softly and started for the door. "Come into the hall when you are
dressed dear, we will go to see your grandfather."
Narina stopped breathing as the memory of her grandfather covered in blood
when the twins had brought him into the glade, flooded her mind. "Is he ok
Purrma?"
"He is already up and running after the children again dear, would
you expect anything less from that old codger?" was the reply as the door
slid shut.
******************
The snow fell slowly around Narcenac as he made his way through the
glade. He was impressed by everything. The protective wall was invisible
from the air, yet stood a good 60 feet tall and 30 feet in depth. Most of
the buildings he had been informed, were built underground and into the
massive trees inside the perimeter. Those trees astounded Narcenac, many of
them were large enough to hide a moderately sized house inside of with room
to spare. He had spent the morning exploring and going over what Purrma had
told him about Marcerous.
Despite the events of the previous night, he had slept very well.
Somehow he knew he was safe here. There were many warriors around. Not all
of which were tiger. He had seen more wolves, some fox, a few hares, and to
his suprise, a troop of squirrels. But there was one person that truly
piqued his interest. A big dark blue reptile. He carried a large broad
sword and had many tattoos across his back and down his arms, all seemingly
tribal. And despite the cold, he only wore leather pants and a scarf.
Narcenac had seen him patrolling alone along the wall and had instantly
found him interesting.
Quietly, Narcenac slipped into the door to the building his room was
in. "These underground buildings are cool, but i am going to lose my mind
without a map!" he thought as he walked along. Looking up he saw Purrma and
Narina leaving her room and sped along to catch up to them.
"Hey Narina, Purrma, where are you going?" he asked cheerfully.
Smiling, he took Narina's paw in his and squeezed affectionately.
"We are going to go see your grandfather dear." Purrma replied. She
strode down the hall smoothly, her tail flicking from side to side, making
the back of her dress a waving shimmer of gray, like a sheet of smoke
surrounding her.
"Your paw is cold, where were you?" Narina whispered in his ear as
they walked. He smiled and kissed her own paw. "Just outside exploring."
******************
The three tigers could feel the warmth permiating through them as
they walked into the large main chamber. The fire in the hearth blazing
lazily as the sounds of laughter and joy filled the air. Papaw was sitting
with the children, Tarsus included, telling them a story about his
childhood. "So i look up and the fish is hanging from my tail!! Oh hello
there dear, Narcenac, Narina, how do you two feel?" he said with a happy
smile despite the bandage around his neck as the group all burst out
laughing.
"We feel very good Papaw, and how do you feel?" Narina responded
with a smile. Purrma sat down beside Papaw, the young couple finding seats
of their own near the children.
"Well, it could be better, but then again! it could have been
worse! He could have well lopped of my head, but then there would just be a
goofy head here telling these little furrballs silly happenings!" he
exclaimed with a grin. "Besides, your grandmother's cookies do the soul
good."
"We not liffle fuwballs! We ish liffle wawriahs! GRRRR!!!
hehehehehehe" one of the little children exclaimed with an exaggerated
battle cry from the rest of the group.
"Oh deary me! we will never be bothered again will we my little
Tenda?" Papaw shouted, playing along. Tenda stood up shakily, her tubby
baby belly pooched out proudly as she acted tough. "We beat up dat mean bad
beast, we not scareded of fuffy bottom, we liffle sneakers, we fight him all
way home and frow sticks at him!"
"Oh you are so tough Tenda, we are always safe with you around."
Purrma said with a smile. The young girl beamed with pride and the whole
group commenced to having play sword fights with wooden spoons.