| Chapter 1 |
| Teachings |
| The days moved on and on. Battles raged and then ended as quickly as they began because of one man. A huge man whose strength and rage was unmatched. The hoards of Muctua had one last final chance defeat the defending village of Hawdon. Destroy and or get rid of it's leader. The man bloody yet satisfied with the day of battle held a new born infant in his arms. "This is what I fight for" His mate put her head on his left arm and looked lovingly at the child as he did. "What shall we call him?" "Hmm, we did have to knock you out for you to give birth. I'm glad the bruise on your head is healing." She playfully hit him in the arm and he in turn playfully made like it actually hurt him. "How about Thunk, in honor of how he was brought into this world?" She thought about hitting him again, but the name did have a nice ring to it. "Hmm, Thunk, I like it" Just then an alarm broke out throughout the village. Quickly the gargantuan man gave the child back to it's mother and grabbed his two battle axes. "They attack at night now?" He, and other men come out of their huts and tents to see what they had to face. This leader, in a terrible rage started running at the opposing troops holding torches in the woods. All others followed. Fires broke out, terrible amounts of metal upon metal was heard as were cries of mercy. The occasional yell of "CHUNK SMASH" was eminent and then subsided. The men didn't return to the village that night, and neither did that same village be attacked by the Muctua. The women and children found nothing but carnage in the morning. Thunk's mother looked for his father, hopefully alive and yet she knew because of his failure to return that night it wasn't so. No corpse could be found anywhere. A fellow dying villager spoke to her and in the midst of blood gurgling in his mouth she made out the following words: "They had weapon, not of this world, ungh, dark hole formed, all those around, sucked in, our leader, gone..." She went back to her child and gathered him up in a bundle of cloth. She packed all things of value within and loaded it on a very large horse kept in back of the hut. The infant slept soundly and would never know the urgency in this day and those to follow until told to him later in life. She looked at one of his father's axes in the corner. She took the axe and covered it with the straw and wood she had which made up her bed. She looked around the hut one last time and carried the infant in one arm out. Many of the women returned at that point to find what the new mother was doing and followed suit. Within an hour the entire village was ready for travel. They carried all things valuable and light for they knew that they must leave and find somewhere safe to live until their young ones were of age to protect them. On top of the large horse she spoke to them all "We shall travel to the lands of the Ip-Dowen of the great hills. There we will live until a day comes when we can return. We shall bear our grief while traveling if we wish to survive." They all knew they had no choice in this and that their new female leader on this journey was able for she bore their future leader. In the seemingly unending days that followed there was much show of grief and internal suffering. The young children pestered their mothers and asked where their fathers had gone which made things worse. The leader sat tall in her saddle and shed only one tear for her mate and knew that all her strength and will must go into the raising of this child which she held close. She new that the child was more than special, He must, one day, return his people to the former glory before the fall of his village and then afterwards go forth and conquer with a steady hand, much like his father would have but never received the chance. The group never stopped and reached the village of peace lovers within a week. They were made to take an oath of peace as they entered and did so. They were given tending and were told about the Ip-Dowen's ways and values which if they wished to stay they must follow in this world of chaos. The child grew... Their past became legend, new fathers took the place of the dead, except for one case, There was only one mother who stayed true and had good reason, for it was the only mate that was not found in the fray that fateful day. The mother of Thunk lost interest in love of others and found her one true love to be within her son. The peace lovers taught him the ways of those around him but they always had a twinge of fear when watching him. His father's blood ran like a torrent through his heart... The child grew... At age 17 Thunk disregarded all teachings of the peace lovers. His mind couldn't process the information. Something was missing in his life. A hole which his mother wasn't telling him about. The question "Why did everyone have fathers in his midst and he did not" burned in his mind. In his and his mothers living quarters Thunk went berserk one day, though it was only a fledgling of his father's strength it was still powerful. His mother saw in Thunk the spark of his father shine through in his rage. "Are you done yet?" Thunk noticed the stupidity of throwing things around, stopped, and looked sternly at his mother. "Where is my father?" His mother sighed, and then looked at him... "I suppose it is time I showed you the truth." They geared up and traveled a weeks time back to where the old village lay in shambles, obviously pillaged with time. Thunk's mother got off her horse and Thunk followed her. She started talking to the air yet the words were for Thunk. "Your father was a mighty warrior. He was the leader of this village. He protected our lands here for many years. 3 nights after your birth the men of this village were led by your father to attack the tribe of the Muctua." The name rang in the back of Thunk's head as something of pure Evil. His mother continued the story, retraced the battle, and reiterated what she heard from the dying villager that fateful morning. After she told all that could be told she began to cry. She held in her feelings far too long. Thunk embraced his mother as she sobbed on his chest. He was confused. His mother never cried. She was a pillar of strength that no man had ever see fail and yet she gave off this feeling of dire hopelessness. Her power, her strength, her will seemed to leave her and fall upon the breast of Thunk with each tear. She led him back to where the hut once stood. Together they pushed aside rubble and dirt to find the old bed. Thunk removed some very old wooden remnants and cut his finger on something. It was a new feeling for him. He looked at his finger as the blood started to trickle down. He ignored the slight pain. He hefted the immense axe. His mother explained that it was his fathers. Passed on from a long line of fathers. Thunk had never seen such a weapon before in his life. It felt right, as if a piece of the puzzle that was lost was now found and put in it's place. "If there is only one thing you can trust in the world, it lies in your hand now. I had hopes that you would come back to this village and restore it to its former glory. But, I'm afraid it has grown meaningless to others as words written in water. Find your way, do what you will, when you return, I will be waiting." With that she walked to her horse and started off back to Ip-Dowen without looking back regaining her pillar like strength as before. Thunk didn't know what his quest nor his fate was. He had a goal, which was to find his father. He would have to travel the world, meet others that would help and some in turn tarry him on his way, but the road lay ahead and his choice lay not behind him but forward into the countryside. The axe called to him and at that moment became his father figure throughout his journey... By Shortride ( - 216.228.10.142) on Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 06:25 pm: A solitary hawk drifts aimlessly over the prairie. A family of rabbits nibble quietly at the grass beside a small dirt path. It is silent. Slowly, a low rumbling begins to shake the ground. As the rumbling increases, an army appears over the hillside. As they get closer, the symbol on their round sheilds becomes visible. It is the sign of Eret-ui. At the sight of the symbol, the rabbits scurry away. They march along in fine sprits, bragging about this and that. In the middle of the army are two litters. Each side of the covering has the symbol of Eret-ui on it. They march away as quickly as they came, heading towards the abandoned Hawdon village... By LT ( - 64.24.65.65) on Sunday, February 3, 2002 - 01:22 pm: In the corner of his eye he saw the oncoming army. He had been standing there for hours contemplating his future and the new world shown to him. He hid his horse and lay in wait to observe the passing army. They were all about the same size as he was, yet their physical strength could easily be seen and heard. They had come from battle or pillaging, for blood stains were eminent on all the fighters. He felt a need to learn more from them. He felt that they might be able to help him and at the same time he would join this rabble to fight for their ways. He needed the satisfaction of forgetting his peaceful past with the Ip-Dowen. They passed, he followed... An older yet large man on horseback halted the army and listened to the air. Everyone went silent in anticipation of something and in reverence of their leader. He motioned for 2 scouts to circle behind the army in opposite directions to look around. The scouts closed in on Thunk though did not see him yet. An urge crept up his spine. A very unnatural urge. He flexed his wrist around his cold hard steel and made the decision to be seen instead of found. He strode up and stopped in front of the scouts who came together and signaled to the rest of the group of Thunk's presence. Thunk didn't move and sat in his saddle straight and proud. A semi circle formed around Thunk and the line parted in the middle to make way for Uhul. There was an extremely long pause. Horses snorting were the only things to make noise. Thunk met the gaze of Uhul, and Uhul looked right back. Uhul grunted, and motioned to either side of him to go on without him. He strode forward and stopped about 5 feet before Thunk. "You stood proud against entire army...ungh... weaker man would cower. You no did. What name?" "I am called Thunk." "Hmmm. Speak well for outsider." Thunk nodded. All this time both men still gripped their weapons ready for fight. Only one was experienced in this art and Thunk knew it. Uhul smiled at him as if he knew what Thunk was thinking. "My people thinking that I be alone with you to kill you." He turned his horse around and looked at the army marching off. "None of my men ever stood up to me and challenge me." He turned back to Thunk. "You, one so young, no know Uhul and our ways. You mind new. Join me." Thunk agreed for fate had spoken. Within a few hours when questions were piled up answers came to him through this leader and his tribe. Thunk grunted in their style, which he caught onto quickly much to Uhul's surprise. Uhul laughed, pounded his fist against his chest, reared back on his horse, and proceeded to catch the army who almost reached their home destination village. Thunk followed right behind Uhul but continued to be wary of anything. The village sprang out of nowhere, situated next to a river, which also hugged the side of a mountain. On the higher levels of the large hill Thunk could see small stations, probably used for ranged battle or a safe haven during sieges against the village. The huts in the area were very basic, of the same design as those ravaged in the village of Hawdon. Easy to provide cover but not hard to build and perhaps rebuild if the need was such. Uhul called out to a fellow member of the tribe and discussed that another bed was to be set up in his hut. The tribe member acknowledged Thunk and went of to a larger hut, which the 2 on horseback also headed to. Many of the returned looked at Thunk in wonder and some very sternly as if the stranger in their midst was a possible threat. Thunk kept on. His still had a death grip on his fathers axe. It seemed as though having his own horse automatically brought Thunk to a higher level of hierarchy in this society. Many that trusted Uhul's judgment grunted in approval to Uhul and Thunk as they passed. Uhul got down off his horse and Thunk did the same. Thunk picked up his saddlebag and many snickered at the patterns on the bag from the peace-lover’s colony. Uhul looked back at Thunk and Thunk turned to the ones laughing. Once they saw his stern gaze and large axe it silenced them. Slowly he turned and followed Uhul inside. He spent the day observing, sitting quietly, following Uhul and others when summoned. Night fell on the village and by order of Uhul a bonfire was erected to celebrate the victory they received. Fortunately for Thunk the best time to introduce new members of a tribe was while those who would complain were drunk and could care less. Uhul new this as well. He announced the eminent training of the wanderer and newcomer that sat next to him named Thunk. He asked to all of them, “Who Train Him?” A silence came about the camp. “I will.” An old man came out of the shadows. The crowd was confused and whispered things like “He hasn’t taken student since Uhul”, and “What does this mean?” He walked up to Thunk and motioned for him to stand. He did so. He began to prod Thunk in different places and then came to his face. With one good eye he looked closely at him. “There’s Fire in eye. Will be needed.” He stepped back and cocked his head to the side. A thoughtful look came over his face as if his was attempting to recall a distant memory. Uhul began to wrap things up but Thunk and the old man never broke eye contact. As if they were in a trance of some sort. The gaze was broken by Uhul slapping Thunk on the back. By Shortride ( - 216.228.10.169) on Thursday, February 7, 2002 - 09:35 pm: In one of the tents near the center of the tent, a light flickered. Inside the tent you could observe two old men sitting around a glowing chrystal ball, conversing. "The Teacher has taken a new student." "Why? Uhul is still strong." "That is for the Teacher to know." "Perhaps he saw that Uhul would die before we reach the hills of the Ip-Dowen" "If that is so, we should talk to the Teacher and Uhul to see what they know about Thunk" One of the old men snaps his fingers and a small wirey man appears as if out of nowhere. "Eahon, fetch the Teacher and Uhul" The little man nodded and and disappeared into the night. “Why summoned me?” Uhul looked down on the older gentlemen in a superior tone. He didn’t like men who just shriveled away into nothingness and could not die bravely in battle like a true warrior. He was taught to learn from the old ones but was one of the few lessons he wished he had ignored. “We question your choice” “Not your choice to question” Uhul smiled at the witty comment back to his elder. Eahon came in followed by the teacher. He figured out the situation just by Uhul’s stance and motioned for him to wait outside. He grunted and left. “Do you know something about Uhul or Thunk that we do not? Do you see something happening to Uhul in the future.” The teacher stepped back and smirked, “Yes.” He left the hut. He liked leaving them blind to the future. The men inside disliked this with a passion and continued to meet and conspire. “You leave for Ip-Dowen soon?” Uhul grunted in agreement. “Thunk will not be ready until you come back.” Uhul looked at his teacher in wonder, “So soon.” “Yes, you chose very wisely in your counterpart. You must have seen that fire within him.” Uhul was delighted at the comment of his choice and that he noticed the potential in Thunk just as his teacher did. “What you don’t know is that he has a powerful lineage in which I knew.” “You know best.” Uhul trusted him completely and began to walk away. “Uhul, be wary of those behind you, I have seen.” He paused, a very grave look came about his face. He nodded and continued back to his hut. Lying on his side, Thunk awoke to find a girl staring at him intently with her knees bent. A questioning look came about his face. She broke the silence, “You snore loud, give away position in night.” She ran off out the door. Thunk didn’t even know he snored until that comment. “That Ashona…daughter.” Thunk nodded and Uhul snickered. “She’s right. Will be taught to you to rest in sleep and yet still be aware of all. Basis of survival. Also will know when to watch your back.” Just at that moment Thunk rolled forward to avoid getting hit by a walking stick carried by the teacher. “Hmmm, you already know this lesson, will be faster than I thought…” The two traveled up the mountain and came to the area, which Thunk saw when entering the village. This was a training ground. He felt as if they were being watched. The teacher sensed it also but disregarded it. A week passed and Thunk looked onto the village to find that the army had been mustered again for another raid. Thunk was anxious to go forth with them but the teacher denied that privilege. “Not yet. Your day will come.” A horn blast was let out and the army charged away from the village with great speed. They never looked back…. “You must conquer the land before you can conquer an opponent” The Master huffed as he ascended the very steep cliffs a thousand feet above the training ground. Thunk was trailing behind. With every foot of climbing a part of his will and strength deminished. It didn’t help that one 3 times his age was making it look easy. At a little more than half way up Thunk had to stop. “I can’t go further.” The teacher looked at him with a stern face. “Then tomorrow you will try again.” With that he leapt down past Thunk and seemed to easily bound down the mountain. Thunk slowly descended and arrived back at the cave just around dusk. The master had a bird roasting on a spit over a fire. Thunk sat on the ground, ate, and then listened to his master. “Think of the past. Your most horrible vision that passes over your mind.” Thunk closed his eyes and tried to think of such a thing from his peaceful past. Nothing came to mind. In fact there wasn’t even any stories known to him of human suffering. He knew about death but his long years with the Ip-Dowen taught him that death was a natural process and should be as liberating as life itself. “Have you thought of something?” “No…can’t…” “You, can’t recall any such memory?” Thunk shook his head. A voice was heard from the shadows in the corner of the cave. The master didn’t stir which did not prompt any fear but curiosity and wonder in Thunk. “Do you have a story that he could hear?” Ashona crept out of the shadows slowly towards Thunk and nodded to the master. “7 winters ago, tribe of Yantow attack village before father come back from hunt. Mother…” she paused on the word seeming to compose her mind for the story about to be told. She took a deep breath and the master gazed at Thunk to watch his reaction throughout. “We heard screams outside of our old hut. Everyone, yelling, hoping to see hunting party return in time to save them. My mother threw me on the bed and covered me in animal skins to hide me. I hear door of hut smash in. Through arrow hole in skin I see everything. Mother found axe, charged at the large stranger. He had red scarves tied at elbows. Carried large sword. He stood there, not moving. He grab mother by neck before she could strike. I hear soft crack noise. He throw her on bed and…” She paused again, this time not wanting to tell something then continued “I try to wake her. Wake her before the flames got to her. I ran out looking for help but only thing I saw was strange men leaving and everything burning. I couldn’t go back in to get her. Flames too hot…” She hit the ground in agony, ran out of the cave, and sat down on the edge of the cliff overlooking the village. After a long pause the teacher looked out at Ashona then spoke; “Many a warrior have seen the rise and fall of villages. The women aren’t as lucky. It has been foreseen that Ashona will become a warrior someday, though she bears no dislike or jealousy of you, the daughter of Uhul was the next in line in my teachings. She will observe, and in other ways teach what you do not already know. The lesson for tonight is over. Think about what has been said and burn it into your memory. You will tap into this memory later.” The master left Thunk and joined Ashona outside. A single tear ran down Thunk’s left cheek. He brushed his hand over his face and looked at the moisture on his finger. He now knew how and what brought his own mother to the verge of breaking. Grief startled and besieged his heart for what seemed like hours. The fire within doubled in strength as he thought of the large opponent smashing through a door and taking the life of another. His mind and body became one with a thought. He got up and rushed out of the cave. Ashona looked back at him. The Master did not. Nothing could stop him. Not this mountain, not any mountain. He envisioned the strange warrior killing the innocent at the peak. His goal. He clawed his way up with no respect for his own body. He began to drool as he grunted along at an alarming pace. Two hours later he reached the top. He bellowed out a noise so primal that he almost surprised himself at the sound that carried through the wind and echoed off the surrounding mountains. Eahon awoke startled at the noise. He rushed out of his small hut and clambered into the village shamans dwelling. “What was that?” “The cry of a warrior.” “But who is creating this noise, all the warriors are gone and wont return for another 3 fortnights.” There was silence. “Do you suppose…” “NO, it’s too early in the training.” If the Shaman could conjure something then and there to take the breath out of Thunks lungs and cease the noise just heard he would have. Another voice in the shadows spoke up; “Uhul uttered that same yell when he traversed the mountain, Hmm, and he couldn’t do it till a month into the training.” The other voice came out of the shadows and spoke directly to the Shaman. “Don’t fool yourself, prepare for the worst. There is a reason why Uhul chose Thunk and this is it. If you decide to be rid of Thunk remember, you know nothing about him, and being stronger of will than Uhul; your enemy will be difficult to defeat. If it be done, make it so quickly and before Uhul returns, else this feat will be impossible.“ The Shaman sat back and thought for a moment. Eahon was tired but anxious to hear about the next move. “Eahon, you ride tomorrow. You shall send a message to our sister village across the lake of Yonning.” Eahon left. “Thunk was sent to the mountain for training. One of us will not face him, for it is far too dangerous now that we know what he is capable of. I’ll have to send a proper trainer…” Uhul led the charge on the Ip-Dowen village. The peaceful people had no idea how to react. Secluded in the mountains no one ever bothered let alone knew their presence. Some panicked, others looked to the sky chanting something outer worldly before being dragged or chopped to their bitter end. Uhul sat proud on his horse in the middle of the fray and noticed in the corner of his eye a woman looking back at him. She too was on horseback standing tall, so much like a memory that was burned into his mind from the past years ago. She turned and rode off over a hill. He followed out of curiosity. They came to a clearing and she faced Uhul very much like how Thunk faced him weeks before. He strode up within 20 feet of her and then stopped. He found the greying hair and travel worn face of this women enticing in some way. She had the eyes of experience yet not so old to have nothing to do about it. They were caught in a gaze. Uhul could see a warriors fire burn within her. It wasn't welcome though, It had a feel or need for vengence. In an instant her horse reared back then began to charge Uhul. A blade missed his head by inches as he ducked and fell to the ground beside his horse. He drew out his broadsword and prepared for a second charge. It came. He was ready. Just before the horse made a it's pass at him Uhul knelt, avoided another attack, and slashed at the hind leg of the horse sending it and it's rider reeling. She rolled on the ground and did not move as Uhul tentatively walked up to her. Blade down he poked at her to attempt to wake her. Nothing... With a push from his foot he rolled her over to find that she held her weapon too close to herself on the fall and in turn impaled herself through the neck into her skull. He grunted, "Shame, was good fighter." He looked at the hilt of the sword she carried, a single strip of cloth hung from it. He removed the sword, then unbound the cloth, and tied it to his own. "In memory of a brave warrior. Your sword will live on through mine." He hefted the dead body and went back to the village. A bonfire with a pile of corpses was a blaze. Uhul took the woman’s blade and without another word threw the body on top of the fire. A fellow tribe member looked at Uhul's prize and exclaimed; "Ha, Uhul found only weapon here." A great laughter roared through the camp as the men began to pack everything that was pillaged. Uhul stood and watched the blaze. He motioned for his men to leave. They did so. He took the sword of the mystery warrior woman and threw it on top of the pile. He got on his horse, took one last look at the blaze, and then was off following his already departed tribe. “You know what you must do?” “Yes” “Good, we will then rid ourselves of Uhul and you will reign over both tribes.” “Ungh…You can take on Uhul” “We will find a way.” Thunk watched the sun rose. He had been sitting in the same position throughout the night. His master came up behind him and put his hand on his shoulder. “Now you understand. This knowledge can be your ally or it can be your demise. Never let sorrow in, only the rage. The rage can double your strength, rekindle your drive to go forward. It is also a power unseen by your enemies until it’s unleashed. Use it sparingly yet confidently.” Thunk kept silent. The teacher smiled. He realized who Thunk was at that point. “Come, pick up your father’s axe, we have lunch to think about.” He leapt off the side back down the mountain peak before Thunk could say a word. How did he know that this used to be his father’s axe? This wonderment was the speed he needed to follow the master close at his heels. The teacher stopped just as they were about to reach the training ground. “How…?” The Master put his hand up to silence Thunk. He sniffed at the air. He clenched tightly to his staff and waited. An arrow whooshed through the air as the master raised his staff to block it from hitting Thunk square in the forehead. “Down!” Thunk crouched as the teacher went to higher ground then doubled back to the rear of the training ground. Thunk saw him. He was about the same height as Uhul yet much larger around. This Warrior put down his bow and arrows and took out his battle axe. He too sniffed the air as the master jumped down at thwacked his staff over the mans head. The staff broke in two and the man shook his head and seemed to brush off the blow. He quickly pinned the master to the edge of the cave and head-butted him. Dropping the axe he picked up the master over his head and threw him down the side of the mountain face. Thunk couldn’t hold back any more. This is what his master advised him of and the rage was let loose. He charged with full force and knocked the opponent to the ground just as he picked up his axe again. “Uuuungh…” the man grunted as Thunks’ axe came down with a clang upon his own. The warrior, stronger than Thunk, slowly began to rise pushing Thunk backwards with a smirk. He knocked the axe out of Thunks hand and grabbed him by the throat raising him up with one hand. He threw him against the outside wall of the cave. Thunk landed hard within a few feet of his own axe yet too dazed to reach for it. The Warrior smirked and raised his battle axe high over his head with a laugh. “This easier than I thought.” A whistle was heard followed by a thump. Thunk looked up to his attacker and saw that his expression changed from that of delight to that of confusion. His axe dropped as he turned around to see a small girl with a bow in her hand. It was the last thing he saw before a gush of red came over his face and then darkness. Thunk pried his axe from the split skull of the corpse. He had never killed before this day. It was a relieving feeling. That which was a threat was now vanquished. He looked at the body and then looked at his blade, he now knew exactly what this weapon was capable of doing. He smiled and had new respect for what his mother told him before she left him. Ashona walked up to him then looked around. “Where teacher?” He then remembered his fallen master. He looked to the edge of the mountain where his teacher was thrown and found that he was gradually crawling back up the side though definitely not unscathed from the battle. Thunk helped him up and Ashona tore off a piece of cloth to bandage the teachers head. “I’m getting far too old to protect myself let alone try to protect my students.” Thunk smiled and then gazed at Ashona. “I owe my life to you now.” She finished dressing the teachers wound and got up with a solomn look on her face. “I know.” She walked away from the two and began to pick through the strangers belongings. Thunk helped the master to his feet and they slowly walked back to where Ashona now resided. She found a necklace, looked at it confusedly and showed it to the teacher. His faced turned very grim. He sighed once. “News of this battle will wait until Uhul’s return. None from our village will know of our presence here. I feel that someone from within our village is to blame for this. That person will be revealed to us in time. We must rest now. You have your training to finish, yet you have learned so much since last night, there is more.” Ashona kept the necklace for herself and pried the arrow out of the back of her prey and wiped it off for later use. Thunk picked up the battle axe of his assailant and they all moved back into the cave area. On the days that followed Thunk was sent out to train on his own as the teacher gradually healed. This usually meant that he had to acquired something which then had to be brought back as evidence that he completed the training for the day. His final test was to build a hut out of tree trunks. Thunk didn’t scoff at the notion as students had done before. He simply to begin building. Ashona was the one to ask why. “It will teach him strength, balance, and patience. You may supervise for me and tell all that he does?” Ashona nodded and acted as foreman for the task set before Thunk. It took over a month to build a crude yet very stable structure. Thunk was very proud of his accomplishment. The teacher came to the site on his day of finishing the hut and told him of what he had to do next. “Bring the corpse into the hut. Fill it with brush and all the branches you had to cut for this ordeal and then destroy it with fire.” Thunk was about to question this. The teacher raised his hand to silence him once again and Thunk started off to get the now rotting body from off the cliff. He set the hut ablaze and stood looking at it confused. The Master came up to him and asked; “What are you feeling right now.” “Hopeless…confused.” Ahh, both I can explain for you. The confusion if from wondering why I told you to destroy this which you worked for so long on.” Thunk nodded. “The hopelessness is what I will teach you to forget.” They began to walk back to the cave. “Our life is always in turmoil. When a warrior leaves to hunt or to attack another village they always have in the back of their minds that their own village will possibly be gone when they return. They will not dwell on all that had been lost before but start anew without question or pause. Dwellings will be destroyed, people will die, the past will make you stronger in time and the knowledge of the past will help you get through what lies ahead tomorrow. Look at yourself now. Your body has been worn down over this ordeal yet it has made you incredibly strong. You now know what you are capable of doing and yet if that which you create was destroyed it will not matter in the long run. It is how what you created made you stronger which is important, not the final product. A good warrior knows this and it keeps him battle hardened and ready at all times.” “All of them deal with this when they leave, and when they return, they are surprised to see their families and housings still there, they do not return in hope for that will kill a man from the inside. They’ve learned to control that useless feeling.” As he said this the warring party were riding in return from a successful raid and hunt. Thunk could see all the families rush out to greet their heroes and see what had been brought to them. Ashona ran behind the two watching this from the cliff down the hill to greet her father. Thunk got up to do the same. The Teacher motioned for him to sit again. “We wait until nightfall, when the stories of their exploits will be told. Now, I shall tell you of your past.” Just then Thunk remembered the comment the master made on the mountain peak. “How you know this was fathers axe?” “hmmm” He looked up at the sun and decided that yes there was time for yet another story… “I had not always been a part of this tribe. I had once been a leader. Strong. The tribe I led was that of Hawdon. I was called Gung Rit Mau the purveyor. My village was peaceful yet strong in the ways of defense. I had within the tribe a very stout young man who challenged my authority. During the winter months, when the likelihood of an attack was very slim, I took to training him before he died by my hand in combat. Such is the way of the world. You must challenge the strength of one older than yourself to prove your own strength and will to lead a tribe. The young do not know much in the ways of experience because of their age, so many fail. His training was not only that of power of the body, but that of the mind. I told him of my experience and how I became a successful leader much like how I taught Uhul. Force can only get you so far. Strategy will win battles. Though he did not pay attention too closely to my rules he did remain peaceful. He only submitted to rage an fury when in battle. He did not take the leadership by force. He did not win the tribes hearts with fear, which was the norm those days, but courtesy and his want for what was best for the tribe as a whole. I stepped down once he was ready. A time of peace and prosperity came within the tribe. He took a mate and she was with child the last that I saw them. I was content with my uselessness and I left. I went in search of another tribe that might learn from me. That brought me here. I received word that the village Hawdon was attacked in the following year. I returned to where the village once stood and found only empty dwellings and bodies decaying outside of the village. I didn’t think about it. I returned to this village and accepted the worst. I forgot my past.” The teacher sighed and paused for a moment. Thunk still listened intently. “You have brought the memories flowing back to me Thunk. I knew it looked familiar before but that same axe that you hold now was given to this leader from the past. I made this weapon with Chunk as he trained.” A thousand questions came to Thunks mind as he heard his father’s name. The afternoon was long and filled with the stories of old and of his father’s exploits. Thunk in turn told him about himself and how his mother took the women and the children to the hills to live peacefully. The teacher’s face grew serious when Thunk mentioned the tribe of the Ip-Dowen. Thunk questioned why his master had grown so solemn. “You will know soon enough.” The Bonfire that night was immense. “The raid, the hunt, extremely successful?” “Yes, no casualties…” “Good, Uhul’s guard will be down.” “What do you plan on doing?” The shaman patted his thin dagger. “When the time is right and when the neat juice of honey has blurred his senses, I shall act.” Many took turns that night sharing their stories. The final story came from Uhul. Mention of the only weapon from the village turned all attention to their leader, especially when they all wanted to see the prize again. Uhul had to explain. He believed that she deserved a warrior’s death, a final resting-place with her weapon close because of her resilience and will. Many a warrior scoffed at this while others took it as a sign of great respect. The time had come for the leader to toast the “resting glass”, as was tradition in this tribe. He that led a successful hunt would toast, chug, and then dismiss all to sleep. Uhul wondered if Thunk and his master would return before the sleep hour came upon them. The shaman began the toast and gave the leaders’ mug to Uhul. He stepped behind after handing the mug over and slowly drew out his dagger. As the speech went on Thunk moved out from the shadows but still out of site. The teacher moved in stealthily a few yards behind the shaman. Things began to move very fast and yet in Thunk’s mind he could perceive everything and move faster than that which was going to happen. The shaman made his move as Uhul moved his hand up to drink. Thunk ran at the blaze and threw the large battle-axe from his fallen foe towards Uhul. The Master came in and knocked the cup from Uhuls hand and into the fire. Uhul reacted to his hand being hit then felt the wind flow by him as the axe whizzed by his ear behind him. A thump was heard and in mid strike the shaman went flying backward into a tree…pinned, stuck, and instantly killed. A ruckus broke out around the fire. Many thought that they were under attack from this new stranger and brandished their weapons. Many punches were thrown and Thunk was able to head-butt a couple tribe members in defense before the teacher was able to get Uhul to silence the fray. The master brought back the poisoned dagger which would have been Uhul’s end and Uhul in turn passed it around the rest of the camp now sitting down but still unsure about Uhul’s choice in a student. “Thunk save me, and has completed training.” Their ears perked up at the notion of this and many turned and looked at each other in disbelief. Many words were shared at that moment, many displaying the thought of “How?” and “So soon?” “Raise weapons to the sky, Thunk joins our tribe, tonight.” They all got their weapons out, stood up, and raised them above their heads. Uhul was the last to do this. They stood there waiting for Thunk to do the same. He looked to all those around the fire and slowly handled his fathers axe. He looked at it for a moment and then raised it high above his own head. A great amount of noise like metal on metal thunder followed and Thunk kept turning until he faced Uhul again. A smile formed on his face as he gazed into the inebriated eyes of his leader who in turned smiled back as if he knew this day would come sooner than all thought it would. His attention was brought to Uhuls’ weapon. A single piece of cloth that hung down from the hilt of his sword appeared to Thunk very dirty and ratted, but still discernable to one that had known it’s pattern for most of his life. He walked up to Uhul and grabbed at the cloth that hung down off the sword. It ripped off the hilt and Thunk looked at it in fear of the worst. All the men stopped cheering and there was dead silence. The Master walked off not wanting to see what would happen next. Uhul in a serious tone now holding his sword in a threatening manner asked; “Why you do this, Thunk? You shame the one honored by tearing it…” Thunk still looked at the familiar tearing of garment and said softly, “Where you get this?” Uhuls’ serious manner turned to wonderment at Thunk and he motioned for the others to sit. “I receive in battle.” Grunts all around were heard after this comment. Thunk searched for the right words but could only repeat himself louder which hushed the crowd again; “WHERE YOU GET THIS.” For the first time the followers saw fear in Uhuls’ eyes after this outburst. It only lasted for a second though. Thunk waited for a better answer. “From village of Ip-Dowen.” Exactly what Thunk did not want to hear yet he knew that was just what would be said. A panic and disbelief came over Thunk like rain. He bolted to his horse and was stopped only by his teacher. “You must stay here to become one with the tribe.” Thunk grunted in haste yelling at him, “Why Didn’t you Tell ME?” Thunk passed Uhul and the group around the fire. He sped out of the village and towards his home yelling much like he did a month ago when he ascended the mountain peak. If that test didn’t teach him of the power of rage the site of his ravaged peace-loving tribe would. The teacher motioned for Uhul to join him after Thunk was out of sight. Much explaining of tonight’s actions needed to be discussed. A single horse followed Thunk unbeknownst to the rest of the tribe… He kept on riding, even when his horse desperately needed rest. The sun began to rise, and his steed refused to run another step and collapsed. Thunk gave it rest but when the afternoon came they traveled onward once again. Thunk couldn’t sleep. His drive was too great. They both came to an area around nightfall that was familiar to both. Thunk got off the horse and began to run with the horse following and after a ways dragging. Almost at his goal the horse gave out once again in the middle of the night. Thunk grabbed his things from off the horse and began to run again forgetting his animal. In a tired rage he too collapsed and fell into sleep. He awoke the next morning to his horse licking him awake. He remembered his goal and they rode off again. They did not travel far. They came to a clearing. A burnt clearing. Dwellings that once he knew now were piles of ash. He descended from his horse and walked over to an area not known to him of having a building yet there was a very large pile of ash mixed with dashes of white. He knew what this had to be and he screamed at the heavens. He went over to the area that used to be his hut and cried. He searched for any other clues that there might have been survivors and all that he saw were his tears hitting the gray dust covering the ground. “I have never seen man cry before…” Thunk stood up startled at hearing the voice suddenly behind him. He attempted to choke back his feelings but could not. “I know what you feel now.” Thunk nodded and turned away. After a long moment looking deep within himself Thunk turned “We, the same now.” Ashona nodded and they embraced. Thunk kneaded his hands through her hair and then remembered his mothers’ attacker. He pushed Ashona back and stood back looking at her. “No…” She stared confusedly back at Thunk who got up on his horse once again, reared back and then left the remnants of the Ip- Dowen village. Ashona did not understand at all. She took a moment then walked over to the pile of bones and saw something glitter in the sunlight. She brushed away some of the dust. The hilt of a sword appeared. She stepped back in caution and then went in for a closer look. She blew some more ash away and lightly touched the pommel. It was heavy, for her, but still she lifted it with one hand and dragged it away from the rest of the pile. She brought it over to her horse and found a piece of cloth, which she used to wipe the blade down. Somehow the sword suffered no damage in the fire. It was skillfully crafted and was weighted awkwardly for a sword. She made a makeshift sheath out of cloth and rope and tied it to the back of her horses’ saddle. She too was off following Thunk back to her own village. She would not join Thunk on the ride, only follow. Written by Shortride Eahon rode swiftly across the plains. He knew that Yonning should not be far away. All of a sudden, he saw a bright light on the horision. As he rode closer, he saw that it was a pile of bodies set alight. As he dismounted, he felt cold steel against his neck. Then the world faded to blackness and he knew no more. When he woke up, he felt that he had been bound to a tree, gagged, and blindfolded. He instantly strained against the ropes, testing their strength. As soon as he did this, he herd a voice. "You awake. You my captive. You do what I tell you or you die." Eahon's captor paced up and down in front of him, swinging a wicked broad sword. He began to speak to his captive. "I Ku-Fardin, son of Ju-Fardin. He disappear. Friend say Eret-ui have him. I come here. They try kill me. I kill them. Now I have you. You help me find Eret-ui or I kill you" A solitary arrow came down into the middle of the camp. The two days of constant vigilance finally came down to this. Word came in that the sister village of Yonning was destroyed due to the lack of their leader who had mysteriously disappeared. Uhul looked out to the oncoming army. They stopped outside of the village calling the other tribe out. He gathered his men and some got on horseback, something the opposing army lacked but made up for in numbers. The horse was used to the speed now and kept up with Thunk's need for haste. He stopped for the horse only once. It was all that his confused rage could cope with. He needed to confront Uhul, but by what means he did not even comprehend yet. The Eret-Ui tribe marched discordantly yet with a great sense of pride, honor, and power. Being outnumbered being without their sister tribe meant nothing to them. The women and children packed and left the village in the opposite direction within minutes. Many had seen this situation before and they mustered those unknowing to a safer place until it was over. Thunk passed the women and children as he came to the outskirts of the village. He paused only to see the situation at hand. He saw the armies charge at another as horns blew. He glanced up to his training ground and saw his master watching the chaos happening below. He reared back on his horse and flew toward the battle. Written by Shortride Ku-Fardin watched the conflict from the vantage point of a high hill, Eahon tied to a tree behind him. Ku-Fardin hoped the men fighting for him would win. He drew his bow and began scanning the area for a opposing leader. Eahon had managed to get one of the ropes binding him between his teeth. He began knawing on it... War-cries sounded all around him, the metal on metal orchestration peaked at a crescendo as Thunk rode into battle, stood up on the saddle of his steed and jumped into the air coming down hard on an unsuspecting opponent. The horse was killed by an arrow directed for Thunk. Thunk paid no attention. With the destruction of his village raging in his heart he became like a hunters machete mowing down opponents from both tribes as easy as saplings. His voice was all that could be heard over everyone else’s. “Damn.” Ku-Fardin slowly reached back for another arrow he stuck into the ground before. None could be found. He spun around to find only the rope he had tied his captor with. He looked down the side of the hill to see Eahon making his way back the village at a fast pace. “NOOOO.” Uhul’s blade clashed in the air with the leader of the opposing tribe. Both of them gritting their teeth with their swords caught in a power struggle. Uhul proved to be stronger but the other was lighter on his feet. He pulled Uhul towards him crouched and flipped him over in a fluid motion and then they returned to their fighting stances. They returned back into the struggle as Thunk came ever closer to the two. Counting the heads he chopped off would have been a useless waste of time for anyone in Thunk’s way. Some that remembered Thunk from fireside simply moved out of the way and let him come barreling through. He caught sight of Uhul. He was a few chops away from his goal. One foe came running at Thunk who stopped the advance by quickly ducking and chopping down at the legs of this fool, following up with a blow to the head which was then followed by an backhanded uppercut to another finishing the next off with a blood curdling swipe. He stopped a blade coming down on him with a newly hacked off limb he acquired and then took out yet another member of the force. With a final heavy swipe taking out 2 more he reached Uhul and his assailant. The opponent pushed Uhul down and brought his sword high above his head ready to come down on Thunk. About 10 feet away Thunk hefted his axe and threw it at the stranger who didn’t react in time and was killed instantly. This opponents sword was thrown high in the air and in two steps Thunk caught the sword turned and faced Uhul who pointed his sword at Thunk also. In a furious rage Thunk smashed at the sword in front of him, which went flying out of Uhul’s hands in 2 pieces. He then rested the enemies sword against Uhul’s neck. Breathing heavily he heard nothing. The war around him ceased and both sides of the battlefield were silent at what they just witnessed. Thunk stood there towering over Uhul like a God. The men didn’t know what to do. The opposing army just lost their leader in one blow and this one man cut through at least 30 men within seconds not fearing anything with no regard for the side he was fighting for. The ones that knew him from before also stood confused. Was this the hour of Uhul’s demise and the leadership of Thunk would follow? The crowd began to part and Ashona stepped up towards Thunk. She witnessed what was happening and brandished her newly acquired sword. “If you do this I will be the next to die.” Thunk saw the blade, which she carried and memories came flooding back into his mind. He remembered the days in spring wherein he would secretly watch his mother practice with the weapon. Seeing Ashona there right then with it made him break out in tears and he stepped back. He was so confused. He threw the sword down and pried his axe from the carcass a few yards away. He walked over to an unused horse and rode off towards the mountain. All were confused by the whole situation and Uhul arose. He looked at the opposing force and simply said; “Leave.” He turned back to his own army after the threat parted and motioned them back to the village. He would not take any questions now. Thunk attempted to piece his mind back together. The teacher was no help. “There are many hardships you will have to deal with in your life. You must understand that this has made you extremely powerful. You have found Fame which is sometimes better than physical strength.” Thunk still couldn’t get the memories from his head as he sharpened his axe and grunted in confusion. The teacher stood Thunk up and grasped his neck. Thunk didn’t move but wanted to defend himself. It was very awkward. “Look into my eyes.” Thunk did so. “What do you see? Pain, Suffering, enough to last 3 lifetimes, and do you see me Sobbing over it?” Thunk shook his head no. “The Tribe will want you for their leader. You have to make the decision to go forward or not. You must confront Uhul.” Thunk started his gaze down and the master brought his attention level with his eyes once again. “LOOK at ME!” Thunk felt a twinge of fear. “You Must Confront UHUL.” Thunk nodded and they exchanged a gaze for a few more seconds. The Master let go of Thunk and picked up his staff he dropped during the talk. He was still nursing his left arm in a cast. Thunk sat back down and picked up the sharpening stone again. He took a half a dozen slow swipes off the blade and the then arose again. He had decided what he had to do. Uhul sat with his tribe members with a troubled brow. He knew that the teacher would advise Thunk to meet him. He was still in shock that one from an Ip-Dowen village could become so powerful and so easily defeat 2 armies single-handedly. His followers shared the same sentiment. Slowly out of the shadows Thunk approached. Some instinctively went for their weapons but Uhul quickly motioned them to sheath their weapons, let him be, and to sit quietly. There was a long silence as Thunk was aware of everyone’s presence around the fire but only gazed directly into the fire not commenting on anything. Just when the awkwardness was too much to bear Thunk spoke in a very clear low voice. “See this.” He pointed to the flames with his axe. “This is my heart.” He rekindled the flames with his axe and sparks started to jump out. He brought his Axe out of the fire and sat back again. All around the fire understood perfectly what he meant. Uhul was about to question Thunk about what he wanted but Thunk cut him off before he could speak. “I want two things to repay my loss.” He patted his chest with his axe. “Your alliance whenever I require it.” Many chimed in with the same sentiment after Uhul said; “Done” All were waiting for Thunk to ask to be leader. Many of the younger tribe members backed this sort of decision. Unfortunately for them Thunk had different plans. “I want supplies, anything and everything I could carry on two horses.” Some looked at each other in a renewed confusion. Again Thunk spoke before any other comments were made. “I must settle my mind and find where I truly belong.” All looked back at Uhul who thought for a moment and then nodded. “You will have my horses. It shall be done.” Thunk finally looked up to meet Uhul’s gaze. A whole conversation that could have lasted for hours lay in his eyes, which Uhul read instantly and felt a fear he had never known before emanating from Thunk had these wishes not been handled so quickly. Thunk arose and left in silence. The next morning Thunk rode off without a word. Many children waved goodbye to Thunk. He was their hero, and their memory of him would last until they grew old and withered. On top of his horse he led a larger horse behind him with supplies out of the village. He clutched his memory of his mother and looked to the mountain. He saw the master looking back. He paused and then returned his gaze to the open road and found Ashona in the way. She held the sword sheathed in cloth she made and offered it to Thunk as he dropped down from his perch on the horse. He took the sword out from the sheath and looked at it longingly. He placed it back in the sheath gingerly and gave it back to Ashona. He gazed into her eyes and brushed his hand through her hair one last time. He climbed up again and quickened the pace to a gallop in both steeds and rode out of the village. Ashona stayed fixated on the spot where Thunk had vanished from view. She stood there for had seemed to her as hours. She shed a single tear and remembered how the master told her who the sword originally belonged to and how much it meant to Thunk. She would treasure it always… End of Chapter 1 “Teachings” |