Indomil led the Water seekers down the sand dune, their pace was even more hurried now that they'd spotted home. Dora gave a sigh heavy with glee as she walked beside Indomil. They had arrived, finally. It was as if all they'd gone through, all they'd suffered while away could simply be swept away the minute they were all embracing their parents.
Indomil recalled when the Binorian Hunters had descended on them, there amidst the dunes. She'd found herself hoping she'd see her mother and father one last time, if only they would just grace her sight before she died to the blade, she would have been content with whatever outcome that might have transpired. Now here she was, whole and well. Alive and eager to see her parents, yet there was this foreboding feeling that gnawed at her insides, scratching her from within with the purpose of drawing blood. She felt as if this might be the last time she saw her parents.
"Can't wait to eat the cakes Simona normally cooks." Dora said. Of all the things that were going on the girl still thought about food. Cakes for that matter, cooked by a woman who had a total of six fingers. Indomil should have shared in Dora's delight yet she still couldn't shake off the foreboding feeling, that this might be the end of the Colony. That when the four of the Hundred standing guard at the entrance saw the heads they carried in their stone cans, everything will change for the worst.
They came to a stop where the four of the Hundred stood, tall hulking Kolotians with all their fingers intact, acting as sentries in case Binorian Hunters were to find them. As custom would apply, the Water Seekers would have passed by the four while showing the water they'd brought and thanking the sentries for staying vigilant. But as matters would have it suddenly none of the Water Seekers wanted to be the first to have their stone cans examined.
They huddled behind Indomil, pushing her to the front. The four Kolotians looked at them with puzzled eyes, eyes that perused their faces. Indomil had played it all in her mind, she would explain what they'd come across then they'd offer proof of what had occurred and then they would be taken to Thegir who will in turn pass judgment and decide the best course of action. It was simple and easy to play through the process but for all her certainty, she suddenly found herself unable to move let alone to utter one word.
"Is that one one of ours?" One of the Four asked while pointing at Ishar.
Ishar stepped out of the huddled group and walked to the sentries. He came to a halt before them and didn't even deem it fit to offer the customary bow. "Hello," He waved and smiled. "My name is Ishar, I have come to take the Kolotians out of the desert and to a land of prosperity where my race can thrive."
The Four stared at Ishar in silence then all at once they all laughed. Booming laughter, shoulders shaking at the effort to hold back the tickles of humor. But their laughter died down when Ishar started laughing with them.
Suddenly one of the Four stepped forward and put a hand the size of a paw on Ishar's shoulder. "If a stray wants to join our Colony, they must give something in return." And the hand went down to Ishar's hand and pinched one of his fingers.
It happened faster than Indomil could track. Ishar moved and the one who'd pinched his finger was suddenly five feet away, on the ground completely dazed. Half his face was swollen and bloody already, eye swollen shut. A single slap from Ishar had debilitated him. He tried to raise himself from the ground but ended up collapsing and lying flat on it. Dora screamed and her stone can tumbled from her grasp, two Binorian heads rolled free of the can to come and lie before the three remaining sentries.
A moment of silence ensued where nobody said a word. Then as if on cue, all the Water Seekers placed their cans to the ground and more heads rolled free. The silence that followed was almost painful. Indomil wanted to speak but her eyes stayed glued on Ishar, the lad had something to him she simply could not understand.
The way he'd struck the Sentry just spoke of what he was capable of, and now that their proof was laid out bare for all to see, Indomil foresaw a future where everything hinged on Ishar's every gesture. She was afraid war would break out, and she wasn't afraid for Ishar. No, she was afraid of him. The lad could very well take down all the Hundred. What then would her Colony have if protection was ever needed? How then would they survive?
"Where did you get those heads?" One of the Sentry asked.
"Heads? That imbecile has just struck one of the Hundred! The punishment for that as you very well know, is death." Another of the Sentry opined.
"Calm, Hithriel, calm. Juspit is weak if someone as small as this foreign Kolotian could bring him down. Thegir did not raise us with weakness so his fault is his. But look," And the Sentry who'd posed the question leaned down and pushed over one Binorian severed head with a thick finger, the head rolled, tongue lolling past lips, sightless eyes turned to face Indomil and she faught the urge to puke. "This here is Binorian hunter, all of these heads belong to Binorian Hunters."
"What is your point Kilthre?" Hithriel asked, eyes still locked on Ishar.
"My point is how can a bunch of weak Water Seekers, none of them capable of even raising a blade what with all their skinny limbs and all, how did they bring down Binorian Hunters of this magnitude?" Kilthre asked.
All the Water Seekers save Dagaa who only muttered to himself, lifted their arms and pointed at Ishar. "It was him." They chorused in unison.
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