Why was this young one brought here? He Transfers Memories he is not a healer.

It has lost its pod and needs stupor.

It needs a healer. He Transfers Memories, he does not become them.

But it needed a pod, and He would transfer its memories onto holding shards. But Zur would pay him back.

She would. They had an enemy's pod tha...

He interrupted that thought, they could not use the pod of an enemy this early in its life.

Inquiry...

They would take a pod from the dead.

She would take a pod from the dead. He would provide shards to store memories.

And Zur continued on her way.

----------------------------------------

The young were joined, communicating with each other in their circle. Finding a role in what they had. But they could not, there was not enough.

So to begin he needs the memories of others. It was time to visit He Who Transferred Memories earlier than expected, before the first stupor. But they needed exposure ot the thoughts of others to better form themselves, the stored memories would have to be a stopgap.

So the guides came, and they would take the young to They Who Transferred Memories.

And the guides gathered the young and their pods. And other arrived a new role. He Who Flies and one Who Creates Paths. As all was managed well he reached to the He Who Creates Paths, and they connected.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

It was Crui. He could not yet match the power of He Who Minimizes Flows.

But could it create the paths the young needed?

Crui could try, and it would lessen the flows through there. Save enough that one could be carried without awakening from stupor.

Its role need not be explained here, it had its place and he was busy. Gratitude, but the young still need him.

So he returned to the young and Crui reached out to the scouts in the area. They would guide others on a path of safety. And they would accomplish a goal.

That's how he needed to think of it. To again take the perspective of a scout.

----------------------------------------

Zur entered the place of They Who Remember The Dead, clutching a shard in her tendrils. She needed to approach this the right way, and as they reached for her, she reached back, gently.

Inquiry, presence,

This one is Zur, She Who Names. And she is here on behalf of a child who has been separated from and lost its pod.

And there is the question, why does she come here for this?

For the memories of others in similar situations, to the healing of broken tendrils as the healers are preoccupied. For the training of the young in the ways of the old. As the hive is missing important roles, and there is only one He Who Duplicates Memories awake at any moment.

They Who Remember The Dead are willing to act in such roles. Or at least some of us are, but what is the payment?

It is the use of the pods you hold and a continuation and expansion of the sustenance and zest you get. So the hive shall not starve and you shall be fed without having to give of your shards. At least for a while, it is simply a cost now to prevent costs later.

And a pod is needed so we can return your shards.

A POD NEEDED, the thoughts of many echo through her, it is objectionable to their role and their purpose.

To let the young one live and grow. So that he may become one of the hive and not be put in the pod of an enemy. And what is one pod now so that you won't have to deconstruct pods later for more shards to sustain yourselves.

They will not give of their pods, the memories precious the dead are precious. They shall not lose that.

But they shall agree to act in her other project.

And she accepts this, as what will be. And quickly leaves so that the others may better make this deal with them.

And on her own, outside their place, she rages at the sacrifice of the living for the dead.