Nikita van Damage

Breaking away from the main Host isn’t a simple thing and almost impossible without alerting the Scout Division of our action, so we don’t even try to be sneaky but instead mama Shea, Kuyoki, grandma and grandda have been speaking with the Horde Aids about our planned departure from the Host.

Sandoria is for all intents and purposes an extension of the tundra, changed mainly by the more powerful creatures that inhabit it. The province of Orientia has the same type of grasses as far as I have been able to tell, the same types of soil and rock as observed in my homeland. The types of trees vary slightly in that the Tundra is a mix of hilly grassland sans woodland while Orientia is all the woodland that the Tundra could have been. But its also alien in a stark way I can’t exactly put my finger on..

Everything is louder here and as we mostly jog through the trees loudly each of us tries to make as little noise as possible. I vault over a root as wide as a barrel, my hand slips on the green moss I completely disregarded in my hast, stupid. I land in the ankle deep soppy water with a slight stumble but my head is up and I’m in my perfect stride again smoothly. I check to see if mama saw that blunder as I run with a quick swing of the eyes. Shit, mama sees everything, I keep my head facing forward as I maintain the light jog.

I spotted her jogging lightly next to the twins, Kira , Lysa and Anna with the edge of my eye and she definitely saw me slip. I focus ahead, spear in my left hand moving through the path already made for us by the main Host. I’m not paying proper attention because I know the Host has already moved through this area and killed all that needed killing in their passage but still I am here to protect the non-fighters not be one of them. For a warrior of my age to still be slipping on moss while little Morpheus at eight years old flows through this place like he’s playing the toddler jungle gym obstacle course is an embarrassment. I’m likely going to get cut by mama tonight, shit, I focus on my surroundings.

Cyrus, Matthew and Andrew are running point for the entire nonfighter procession fae ahead, with Frexlin and Rigs behind them in case they mess up. Other youths and a few warriors are scattered here and there, some children as young as seven heaving trying to keep up with varying degrees of success. The sight is both comical and inspiring and if I’m excited by our passage here how much more impressive was the Host when it ran through I wonder.

The route chosen for us by the Sandorians is convoluted and comes close to testing the border territories of some of the more power beasts their conquest through the continent has chosen to go around. It directs us far away from any major settlements and most minor ones except no name villages probably never before taxed as far as we can tell from the maps. The route through Sandoria is one none in this expedition has ever before travelled but filled with potential dangers and unexplored regions. It will likely take the Host over a month longer to get to Polynesia than was initially planned and everyone is ecstatic about that realisation.

War-Chief Samson Mandrax and his advisors did an admirable job of showing their ‘displeasure’ at the delays and political strong arming the Sandorian King and his Generals are playing at in the guise of maintaining ‘internal security’. While inwardly they were all jumping for joy at the prospect of exploring dangerous terrains and having a testing grounds of sorts to test the mantle of this ‘new’ type of army. My mothers were ecstatic because the new route gets us closer to the Erabus Forest whilst still under the shadow of the Host before we have to change course.

I check at mama Kuyoki again not far behind me, yep. Still there gliding gracefully through the forest while henning the kids forward and yet managing to keep a hawk-eye or some such ability trained on me, I’m definitely getting cut tonight.

*

We eventually catch up to the rear train of the Host and make camp around the area the scouts deem safe enough and easiest to defend. Carts and wagons with 100 warriors went a different way, the more direct route through Sandoria towards our current foes as the rest of the 20+ thousand strong war-band cuts through the Oriental woodlands. The carts are likely to be ambushed and the Sandersonians likely have a full inventory of all that’s inside by now but from the talk that may have been the intention of our planners.

I walk into the light of the flame and stand next to Saya, placing a hand on her shoulder. Michael greets me with a smile and a wave, the others all greet politely; I greet back feeling awkward under their scrutiny for some reason.

Eeehh

I squeak in surprise as Saya pulls me into her lap as though I was a child, spins me around somehow and I end up sitting on my ass between her legs with her arms comfortably around me. The others giggle at my plight, my cheeks warming in embarrassment at the handling, I lean into my sister and find refuge in her strong arms.

Their conversations continue and I listen with one ear whilst day dreaming about sweet nothing, stealing a glance at Michael as often as I can get away with it. He seems different since his Awakening and not just his appearance. He mostly looks the same but he behaves differently, carries himself more confidently, talks with more surety. Does Awakening really change so much so quickly? Not that he wasn’t impressive as it was, now though, he just seems...

‘’Who are you hiding from?’’ Saya asks into my ear.

‘’No one,’’ I said that too quickly didn’t I, and my body tightened up. I relax again in my big sisters arms and sigh before telling her about nearly falling on my face whilst running with the kids today.

‘’You shouldn’t worry so much, we all know fighting isn’t your thing, no one expects you to be something you’re not.’’

‘’Tell that to mama Kuyoki, she has me sparring with her every chance she gets and she cuts me so deep. The other time she cut me so deep that mama Shea has to give me a transfusion. They try to hide it but I know they argued about it later.’’

Saya shrugs, ‘’she’s just worried about your safety is all. She did the same to Aura and Didi, cut them pretty bad for a while then they got better quick. You Didi and Aurora are probably the runts in the family when I don’t count the kids.’’

‘’Thanks,’’ I say sarcastically.

‘’You’re probably also the smartest in the entire family so I think you may have gotten the better deal in all this and besides, you don’t even like fighting but I bet you are better than any Sandersonian you’re age.’’

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‘’Not sure whether you’re insulting me by the comparison or trying to be nice,’’ I grumble.

‘’What are you two whispering about?’’ Michael asks leaning in, I try not to make it obvious I’m sniffing him.

‘’When is your watch?’’ Saya asks leaning into him as he places a arm around her.

‘’80 th bell till we leave five hours later, what’s up?’’ He asks kissing her face. It’s just a peck but it was so intimate, so natural, I wonder if he or someone will ever look at me like that.

‘’Niki’s just been having a weird day, take her for a walk?’’ Saya asks feeling me stiffen in her arms at the suggestion.

‘’Sure,’’ Michael says already standing and offering me a hand. I look at Saya quickly, she nods and my hand is in his as he pulls me to my feet.

*

‘’You know I’m realising I don’t really know that much about you.’’ He eventually says as we walk through the camp in the middle of an exotic forest in wartime under the dim light of Nyanga one of the Three Sister moons.

‘’I don’t know much about you either,’’ I say trying my best not to be awkward, not to look at him too long, not to breath funny and definitely make sure of my footing.

‘’I guess its about time we fixed that, especially.. considering-‘’

‘’Yes, don’t worry about that its finished now. I mean thanks, I mean, listen.’’ I stand and take a deep breath. ‘’ What I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to do me any favours, we were both under a spell that... when we had sex.’’

‘’We both know that wore off long before we stopped.’’

Ssshh! I shush him with a hand on his lips, surprising myself with my actions. I look at him in the eyes then turn and walk away towards the gloom created by the canopy, he follows. ‘’Are you crazy, do you want me to fight with my sister?’’ not that it would be anything but a beat down, still.

‘’Saya and I have spoken extensively about it, she’s my wife, I don’t keep things from her.’’

‘’Not yet maybe but you will so you better start practising.’’ I walk faster, trying to lose him. Is he a complete imbecile? ‘’ What exactly did you say anyways?’’ I ask turning sharply and colliding with his chest, his arms enfold me and I give him my best glare intending to wiggle away. ‘’Unlike the rest of my family you cannot addle my brain with patting and sex.’’

I’m disappointed really, typical male resorting to touching when he’s done something stupid, I’ve observed dad’s moves on my mother’s for years now, none of that will work on me.

‘’Having you in my arms is a pleasure I can’t deny that, but isn’t that a puddle of quick-soil you nearly walked into?’’

My protests die at my throat as he throws something on the dark ground and the unmistaken sound of shifting sand has me hold onto him tighter, my cheeks warming in embarrassment.

‘’Sorry,’’ I manage to say ducking my head down. He laughs with feeling still holding me in his comfortable arms.

‘’I had no idea you were this cute, it’s refreshing considering how intense the rest of your family is.’’

‘’Nikita, it’s time for your training.’’ The words cut through everything leaving me scrambling to untangle myself from the man’s arms. How the fuck is mama so silent, spirits beyond, has she been stalking me this whole time?

‘’Yes mama,’’ I say quickly, not even looking back as I follow mama Kuyoki deeper into the forest. There is a knot of emotion at the pit of my stomach, fuck! I forgot my spear. I am so screwed.

*

Gorr

Nowadays I spend most of my time as a wolf, its better for my sanity and less likely to get me killed out of hand because of the many things I see that I shouldn’t be able to. Though I still suspect Gordga marked me in some way because some of the stranger things I can see Inhave been avoiding me around the city. Gordga the hedgewitch left Elentril’s tutorship two years ago as a full druid and first tier Awakened giving me answers as to what she is though she took pleasure from me often enough. I sigh, having enjoyed my time amongst my people but the pull of the dungeon is strong on me, seven more years of a relatively peaceful existence and I’ll be able to come back permanently. It’s times like these when the reasons I left to begin with seem vague and far away, who could have predicted the like of a dungeon creature would be this quiet anyways?

I gaze at the captivating naked form of Alta sleeping on my bed breathing in slow steady breaths, I can’t believe I agreed to be a dungeon creature 15 whole years. There is so much I’ve missed already, and the boasting of new abilities and promising challenges at the Arena has me eager to see how the others my age have improved, I hope at least one of them can beat me but that’s very unlikely still. I grin thinking about my planned Arena appearance before I have to go back and report.

I look out the window to the city beyond, beautiful place Paradisum and still growing by the looks of it, and not just the architecture. I’ve never seen so many Barbarians in the same place except in battle, the sight has me giddy for the future , and so many types! There are a few Barbarian children we’ve had with the fae, around 80 of them according to Vicar. I’m so eager to see what they become when fully grown and Awakened, to be fae and Barbarian must be to have won bloodline favour from the gods. Elentril has me thinking in terms of bloodline and the things she can with people’s flesh has me thoroughly convinced in her arguments.

There are Barbarian orcs, two Barbarian elves, Barbarian dwarves, Barbarian children we’ve had with other human peoples that have made their way up here or were been brought home by those that followed the route to the Conclave, Asger, Sachi and Om to name a few that have brought the eager Alderman people up here. As Alta sees it the Conclave is like a nursery school for some of our best and brightest, where we send some of our most promising so they receive Academy training and are pushed closer to Awakening before coming home. It’s a risk for if we ever have trouble with the Conclave the oaths they swear will be a problem to work around.

But still it is definitely worth it considering the number of young Barbarians they’ve managed to push to the brink of Awakening for us. Of course to earn the privilege of being allowed out of the Tundra one needs to seriously work themselves hard. I smile excitedly as from here I can see some of the kids fighting in a small group at the park far in the distance.

‘’Come back to bed, I’m not yet done with you.’’ The tall beauty says with a yawn, stretching her naked form like a cat.

My cock swells with blood at the sight of her, still fully naked myself I don’t need any further encouragement.