"Please, do not talk so loud, creature." The boy said, keeping his bow trained on the "creature". WhiteShadow noted that although this boy appeared to be at least in his late teens, his voice was high, soft... Almost feminine. Despite his quiet tone, the boy's voice caused a faint echo to bounce around the tightly-enclosed tunnel. If he lives in here, then my voice must have been quite painful, thought WhiteShadow. Lowering his voice, WhiteShadow spoke again. "Sorry, but I mean you no harm. I simply was climbing these mountains..." The boy cut WhiteShadow off. "Nobody has climbed these mountains in a millenia, creature. And he who did so was decidedly different from yourself... But, like him, you too shall die." The boy's expressionless tone chilled WhiteShadow's blood. Had this strange creature killed before? WhiteShadow chuckled at the irony in his thought; both of the tunnel's occupants thought the other an alien creature, although Motavians were the native race of this planet and this boy's race had been around for at least a thousand years. The difference here though, was that WhiteShadow wasn't going to die today. Diving low, WhiteShadow rolled between the boy's legs and rose to his feet, whipping out his scimitars to clinch the boy's bow to his throat. Gasping, the boy clasped at the bow, but unable to get a purchase on the smooth wood, instead reached for his assailant. Grasping some of WhiteShadow's fur with his left hand, the boy's face turned red as he pulled and strained. Suddenly, WhiteShadow was lifted off of his feet and flung into the cave roof, bearing the brunt of the blow on his back. Grunting, WhiteShadow fell to the floor, unconscious.

Warmth upon his face eventually woke WhiteShadow. Surprised to still be alive, he opened his eyes, momentarily blinded by a small campfire burning inches away from his face. Turning away from the fire, WhiteShadow rolled over to come face-to-boot with his assailant. Looking up, he saw the boy who had knocked him unconscious with one blow casually sharpening an arrow head with a small stone knife. He smiled as he saw WhiteShadow's bemusement. "What's wrong? Surprised I didn't kill you?" WhiteShadow sat up. "Basically, yes." He replied, surreptitiously checking to see if his scimitars were still at his sides. They weren't. "Well, don't worry, creature, you shall die. But not at my unworthy hands. You are a skilled warrior, and deserved of a much greater death." The boy sounded almost reverent as he spoke. "In single combat?" WhiteShadow hoped. "No, as a sacrifice to Mother." Replied the boy, smiling wickedly. "Mother?" WhiteShadow asked, confused. "Obviously, you shall be educated, so as to make a great deciphel for Mother in the next life." Said the boy. "I will show you." He rose to his feet, but before WhiteShadow could do the same, the boy kneeled down beside him, one hand holding him down by the shoulder, the other binding his hands with a coarse rope. Damn, he's strong! Cursed WhiteShadow to himself. Pulling the helpless Motavian to his feet, the boy extended his hand in a gesture of friendship. Then he retracted it, laughing at WhiteShadow's futile state. "Allow me to introduce myself... My name is Zedd. As are all my brothers and sisters, I am known as a NeiChild."

Although the name meant nothing to WhiteShadow, he felt an instinctual wrenching in his gut... The name Nei sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it - but he did fear this Zedd even more, now. Leading WhiteShadow away from the campfire, the pair entered another low tunnel, perfectly suited to Zedd's height. Ducking low, WhiteShadow could see sunlight, past Zedd's shoulder... But even as they walked away from the campfire, the temperature remained level, even rising. They must be heading deeper into the mountain, surmised the captive. All thoughts were swept away, however, as WhiteShadow was lead into the impossible. He found himself bathed in sunlight, and surrounded by trees. Trees, inside a mountain? The sunlight was being beamed from the highest point of the large cavern they were in, although WhiteShadow could not see if it was through a crack in the ceiling or... Something else. Adding even more to his disquiet, Zedd stepped out among the trees, his feet making not the sound of material hitting rock but instead the hollow ring of boots on steel. What was going on here? "You see the splendour of it, creature? This was all supplied by Mother, and without it we wouldn't be able to defend ourselves from the cruel, cruel outside world..." Zedd strutted as he walked, proud of his "Mother's" achievements. "My name," spat the irritated Motavian, "Is WhiteShadow. And I'm a Motavian, native of this planet, sharing its natural riches with the Palman race. You are of neither, and this... Splendour is far from natural." Zedd stopped, and turned. He smiled at WhiteShadow, who now stood proud and straight. Raising his hand to WhiteShadow's furry chin, he took it in his hand and looked up at his captive with contempt. "You're right, Mo... Motavian. I am neither, and this is not natural. I, and this, are much more." He spun on his heels, heading for a tunnel entrance at the opposite end of the cavern. "Come, Motavian, there is much more you need to learn before you can attain Mother's perfection." With no other choice, WhiteShadow followed. "The origin of the NeiChildren is a long and drawn-out one, Motavian. We suffered for centuries before we discovered Mother and the truth of our births. Before Mother saved us, we lived solely in these tunnels, foraging on the creatures that live in the lower passages and the fungus that grows in abundance. Many of us died. But when we found Mother, or should I say, Mother awakened to find US, things changed completely. We learnt the truth of our existence, of our DESTINY!" As Zedd's voice rose, a religious fervor creeped into his tone, making it deeper, more fearful. He was passionate about this subject, it seemed. He seemed to calm for a moment as they stepped into a smaller cavern, this time, however, the walls were metallic, live wiring running through them. "Stop." Commanded Zedd, holding out a placating hand. Suddenly, the room was filled with a bright yellow light, which faded after half a second. A strange alarm sound followed it, receding almost as quickly. A cool, metallic voice rang out. "Foreign body detected! No contamination detected. Proceed." Zedd dropped his hand, proceeding into another, much shorter tunnel, where the walls once again became rock. "As I said, our tale is a long one, Motavian." Said Zedd, entering a small cave, replete with two stone benches and a small spring running through it. "Come, sit, for you must know it all before you die."

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