B.M.R. Year 6 Chapter 3 Hideaway

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    In the final few hours of the 24th of Last Seed, the whole of Ahemmusa camp was shrouded in darkness. Tamriel’s New Life Festival was fast approaching where children of all ages would awaken to gifts and a multitude of feasts would take place across the land. Before then though the 24th would have to pass and the twin moons would give up the night sky and let the sun take its rightful place. Quentarii was the last person to roam the camp. She had spent the last few hours laying out the presents which she had managed to keep away from prying eyes and wandering hands.

     

    She had a useful ally in the form of Sotek, who for all his troubles, was trustworthy and hid the presents well. Only he and his mother knew of the underground shelter beneath his bed which allowed her to hide all their gifts from the girls who had spent days trying to find them. Every year it was the same. But to his credit, Sotek never told and he never pried.

     

    However, neither the 24th or the twin moons were prepared to go quietly. The moons hid beneath thick black clouds as if they would be able to cling onto the night’s passing for an hour longer. Winds shook the tents and howled through various gaps as rain poured down. Quentarii found herself comforting Kat’rini who always seemed to struggle when storms hit the coast line. Sotek was the last to enter the main tent. Just as he entered, lightening streaked across the skyline lighting him up as if he had been hit.

     

    Quentarii knew it was just the sky lighting up but Kat’rini chose that time to look up. She screamed as she thought her brother had been obliterated in a single flash. It actually took Sotek himself to hold her before she even considered calming down.

     

    Throughout the raging storm the thunderous rain hammered down while the gale force winds tore into the tents. One of the smaller tents were the first to go. As the main tent’s flap had already been torn off, Quentarii and Sotek both shared the privilege of seeing the smaller tent be ripped out of the ground and disappear from view and the winds lifted it high in the air.

     

    The main tent itself started to bow and heave but the stores tent collapsed first. All the food including the fish that Sotek had caught were scattered to the winds as the tent turned inside out and was quickly shredded. All Quentarii could do was look on as their supplies were scattered across the landscape in the dead of night.

     

    As Kat’rini screamed due to another lightening blast which struck a tent nearby, the main tent finally buckled and partially collapsed. Quentarii knew they were no longer safe there and they had mere moments before the tent would join the others taking them with it.

    “We have to move...”

     

    Vele’nara looked on desperately. She grabbed Kat’rini’s hand as she followed her mother while Sotek and Kut’ara were in tow.

    “Where?”

     

    Sotek pointed to his tent which was partially collapsed as well. He yelled to his mother as he dragged Kut’ara behind him.

    “My bed!!!”

     

    Quentarii shouted back so she could be heard over the raging storm.

    “I’m one step ahead of you... Several steps actually, move yourselves!!!”

     

    Vele’nara looked on with shock as Sotek’s tent collapsed on itself. At the opposite side of the camp though was a tent which was as of yet undamaged. After a moment of frantic yelling she tried to change direction and headed for that tent instead.

    “Over here... Mother!!!”

     

    Sotek growled and yanked her arm as he pulled her way from the tent.

    “No!! Stay with me... Kat’rini, come on... Run!!”

     

    As one they crawled under Sotek’s tent while Quentarii lifted his bed up. Sotek pulled out the rug that was underneath it to reveal the trap door. The moment it was opened the girls, half terrified, climbed down a ladder to safety. Quentarii was the last one to enter and she pulled shut the trap door which the gales did their best to keep open. It slammed down with a loud bang but the moment Quentarii moved a bar across to secure it, they found themselves in silence and a pitch black darkness.

     

    Quentarii caught her breath then cast a light spell illuminating the area. By now Sotek had pulled out a smallish wooden box which had various candles in. He held one out to his mother to light then he went around the underground cavern lighting and placing each candle in specific locations.

     

    While Sotek was sorting out the candles, Vele’nara excitedly ran to a pile of leathers and began making a large bed of them. She even found a few lamps which fortunately had oil in them so she lit them as well. These along with the candles gave out enough warmth and light so they could see their surroundings. By now even Kat’rini had started to calm down despite the howling winds which they could hear above them.

     

    Every so often a crash could be heard which filled Quentarii with dread. Sotek, Kut’ara and Kat’rini were all huddled together asleep leaving Vele’nara to comfort her mother.

    “At least we’re safe... I didn’t know about this cavern...”

     

    Quentarii smiled as she gave her daughter a much needed hug.

    “It is I who are supposed to comfort you little one. Then again you are not so little. Do you remember Aruzzel? We dug this out in the first month of arriving here. Vos is too far away if we needed shelter and we were far from welcome then”.

     

    Vele’nara nodded as she started laughing.

    “He used to tell me stories... They always included frogs. I miss him...”

     

    Quentarii slowly nodded as she felt a tear form in her eye.

    “We all do...”

     

    In the morning, the hatch opened to a scene of wanton destruction. The remaining sections of tent which wasn’t blown away from the night’s storm were in tatters. All the supplies were ruined and cast on the ground mocking Quentarii’s attempt at preparing for the feast the day before which they would have had in the afternoon. She nearly cried when her eyes fell upon the pile of gifts which she had worked so hard over the course of the last few months to get. Even her children had done extra chores so they could buy each other presents.

     

    Each gift was carefully placed around a small tree which had been decorated and now the tree itself was broken in half. Where the gifts had previously lay was now just a puddle of water. There was no sign of the tent whatsoever. All the furs and leathers, their clothing, bedding, everything. It was all washed away in the storm. They were left with nothing.

     

    Quentarii fell to her knees and wept while her two youngest girls cried along with her, buried in her arms. Vele’nara felt hopeless. She rested her head on her mother’s shoulder and held her tightly. She tried to think of anything to say but her mouth moved silently.

     

    All Sotek could do was look on...

     

     

Comments

7 Comments   |   Aela The Huntress likes this.
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  January 20, 2016
    It helps me as well. By doing this I'll have to look at the text more carefully, which helps me understand advanced writing techniques which I will use in my story (whenever it comes out).
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  January 20, 2016
    That’s a typo Sorry about that.
    Always happy to have others point out errors and mistakes. You might not think it now but it all helps and I'm grateful for the time you take to notify me of them.
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  January 20, 2016
    Ebonsayer? Is that a typo or a pun on my constant grammar corrections?
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  January 20, 2016
    You're spot on Ebonsayer.
    Unfortunately on both counts, poor sods…
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  January 20, 2016
    I think this New Life Festival is supposed to be something like Christmas in Tamriel. In which case they are having one, shitty ass Christmas.
  • Exuro
    Exuro   ·  December 24, 2015
    I dunno, Albee is pretty old, dress him up in a red suit and he could pass as Santa. That is odd, you'd think each divine would have something like a Saint's Day. Hope everyone else's New Life Festival goes smoother.
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  December 24, 2015
    *Albee descends with this shining armor and white beard and showers them with gifts and good chear*
    Nah, Aelberon doesn't really celebrate Saturalia. No cause to. I really should make up an Auri-El ascension day. That freaking holiday he'd actually ...  more