Zhane Ch. 03

Zhane Three

Draw Of The Moon

The hut lay atop a hill surrounded by a mesmerizing view of foothills that morphed into a wavy, green sea of wilderness that stretched far into the misty horizon.

"Welcome to Divinea Thousand Hills. Excellent view, wouldn't you say?" El said as I followed him out the door then pointed to a forest that hugged the hills westward. "I found you there."

"Whoa, you carried me all the way from there."

El chuckled and slapped me on my back. "Not exactly, and you are a lightweight so it wouldn't have been a tall order. I've completed most of my chores for the day. But don't worry, I'll find something for you to do. Understand?"

I nodded. "Yes, Kin El."

We strode to the back of the hut. "I think for now you should collect water."

"Of course, Kin El."

We came to a halt next to a wood shed. El opened its door and we went inside. The shed was dingy and stuffy, one half filled with stacks of sacks and the other half hardware tools such as a shovel, pickaxe and many others of strange shape that I couldn't make out in the dark.

El knocked on a glassy orb that hung with a thin rope on the roof. It hummed, flicked amber then dimly beamed orange. He pointed at the far corner. "Take a single clay pot. As of yet you are too unfamiliar with this forest to forage for fruit nor anything edible."

"Yes, Kin—"

"Stop with the Kin, El will do."

A flush creep into my cheeks and ears. "Understood, Ki—El."

He shook his head, amusement plastered on his face. "The stream is down hill."

I got the pot and we headed out the shed. El wished me well and I ventured down the hill. It was eerily quiet, even the brittle, feather-like trees dared not rattle and whatever little light winked through the thick mist stroked soft, thin shadows.

Nevertheless, I stumbled down the steep slope and reached the stream in a handful of minutes. I filled the pot quickly, righted it then hoisted it up and went on my way.

When I returned to the hut's yard, El had hauled out a three legged, rusty capsule with a small funnel fixed atop of it and small door on its mid-section.

El greeted me and asked that I pour the water into an ashy metallic pot beside him. I did as commanded, he then opened the capsule. It was split into two chambers by a metallic plate filled with small punctures. He placed the pot on the top chamber while the bottom chamber was sprinkled with fist sized, ink black stones.

He lit a match, dropped it on the bottom chamber and the stones turned hot red. El closed the capsule and motioned me to follow him to the hut.

"Zhane," began El. "How are your cooking skills?"

I shrugged. "Am not confident in them."

El chuckled as we entered the hut. "Me too, your next chore is helping me with supper."

A thick, ruby carpet had been rolled out where I had slept. Baskets filled with various strange vegetation, clay pots and wooden plates were placed on the carpet.

El sat down and so did I beside him. He pointed at one of the baskets, it was filled with a spheric, oxblood fruit. "That fruit is called devil's dung," he bellowed. "don't mind the name, it's very nutritious. You will peel them, slice them in half, remove their seeds then put them on one of the plates. Leave the rest to me."

I rinsed my hands and he handed me a knife. We went to do our duty. As time passed El became talkative. He spoke of far away lands filled with races that dwelt below sand dunes, kingdoms bult on mechanical mountain ranges and coasts with city swallowing tsunamis.

El proved to be well travelled and entertaining, one minute I chuckled at his jokes and another I was gripped by a strange tale. His clownish mannerisms and scruffy appearance clashed with a good nature that blossomed the more we talked to each other. I was glad to know more of the world and hoped to see all he spoke of but his warnings nagged at me.

Maybe two things can be true, beneath all the depravity some may have found their paradise, I gathered.

El pulled me out of my thoughts as he announced. "I'm done."

I glanced at the pots next to him and he truly was. I wasn't even near done with my task. "When you are done, come out with the fruit. By now I am sure the water is boiling, so I will start preparing our food. Be quick."

"Yes, El."

El shook his head as he exited. I went on my task in a hurry. I finished seconds before El came back. He threw something at me.

I caught it but quickly dropped it as it was steaming hot. "Hey!"

He laughed. "Heath stone, don't worry, it just burned out."

I furrowed my brows and complained, "never do that again."

El chuckled. "Sure, seems you are done."

I nodded and handed him a plate filled with peeled devil's dung. He cocked his head towards the door. "Help me prepare the rest of the meal. Maybe two heads might make something decent."

The day aged to evening, though none of us noticed too engrossed in our tasks. When the meal was finished, we dished it on two plates and made a camp fire. We sat next to each other and began to eat.

The meal was a watery soup of foraged fruit, edible roots and honey. Its sweet, minty aroma was mouth watering.

"We did good," began El. "I might even do you two more favours for this."

"Is it? Hearing that, I don't know if I should be happy or dread what you might make me do for them."

El smirked. "Nothing is for free."

"I guess you never heard of landing a hand."

"Hwah! Leave such hopes in your past life."

"Why would I? You saved me and now are feeding me. Way I see it, you already helped a lot."

El gave me a wan smile. We ate in silence for a while then he commanded, "look up, Zhane."

My eyes skimmed to him. His face was averted up the darkening sky. I did as he commanded. My eyes dilated as I beheld a crimson moon.

"Zhane," said El. "I am a Kin of my word. The time has come for you to call your favour."

I didn't reply, too charmed by the moon. My breath rasped, chest burned and beads of sweat rolled down my temple.

"What is happening?"

"A shame you were reborn before a blood moon."

I gritted my teeth and faltered, "El!?"

"We kin suffer from a curse," he paused then gravely continued, "You and I are shape-shifting berserkers, every nightfall you will go through a metamorphosis."

"What?"

"We are a violent breed blessed with horrifying power. I will teach you how to control them and how to survive."

As I was about to reply I heard my name being chanted. My eyes frantically darted about but I saw only dark trees and hills. A sharp cry drew me down to our camp fire.

I saw a live baby, engulfed by smoke and flame, sizzling and roasting. I stood up, heart drumming and chest boiling hot.

"Zhane!" called El. I gazed at him and he had been beheaded. His head beside his feet and blood fountained from his throat.

I cowered back and clutched my chest. It was now lava hot and creeping up my throat.

"Give in," whispered El's head on the ground.

At that moment, the heat reached my mouth. Flame erupted out of my mouth and set ablaze the hut's yard.

I wanted everything to stop and go back a minute ago when I was enjoying my meal. But all was consumed by fire. I decided to take El's advice and give in to the madness.

The chants boomed, the child's scream pierced, and the flame roared and brightened my darkest night.

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