Amethyst

Chapter 18. Lore, Beasts & Skeeters'

Chapter 18. Scroll of Lore & Beasts.

   It took some time to shake of what the Elder High Sage had said about a people she had named, and warned me against - the Drellamon. Even then, it could not completely be force to the back of my mind. It could only be subdued by reading more on these creatures that the Elder Opal High Sage had warned about.  

  With that I began rolling up the map scroll, with one of the Earthen Goddess’ enchantments that only the Sages’ knew. The compass in the corner, when fully rolled out into view would move to always face north. After the Elder High Sage has left, I could not help testing it out. Especially once it had caught my attention away from the ominous exchange from earlier.

  It had been clear that the Elder Opal High Sage had personally experienced the Drellamon people. She had not said too much about them as a people. It was not necessary. I had caught a flicker of true fear in her eyes as she had apologised before walking out swiftly. She hadn’t seemed upset in any other way, other than the way her gaze had wavered.

  With my thought’s still returning to linger and dwell on the exchange, after rolling up the map scroll and placing it to a side, I took the other scroll that had been handed to me earlier. This one was also a copper colour, yet slightly lighter but not quite as yellow as Citrine’s fur. It’s parchment, fabric feeling scroll, was also slightly lighter – perhaps slightly newer. This one also contained on of the Earthen Goddess’ enchantments: One could unroll this at a living creature, and gain insight about it. You could also say the name of a creature to be shown an illustration of it.

  Both of these were considered blessings by the Earthen Goddess. All those who would set out would get both of these, some food, water and their mount to take on their individual journeys. Having read about them in the library in the Opal City, I had been so excited to see some of these at work. Better yet, I now had reason to use the enchanted scroll. To endeavour that Citrine did not die on me in the once we reached the savannah as the Goddess had instructed during my merging. Every time I thought about the merging, the look of those glowing purple eyes and slight glowing veins from her hairline, seeming tough and wavy. It was striking and so, it was hard to forget. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that image, as I considered this I rolled open the second scroll.  

  With a section the size of my palm open, words began to appear in the same red and black ink.

“MANUSCRIPT SCROLL OF LORE & BEASTS”

“IT IS FOR THIS MANUSCRIPT TO ENDEVOUR IN ASSISTING YOU DURING YOUR TIME DURING PASSAGE”

“What do you wish to know?”

  My eyes widened, as I was completely stunned. Having read about the enchantments on the scrolls that were given, I do not think that I had truly believed they were just as it had been written. In some ways I even expected there to be a trick or drawback to using such enchantments, as Father had always suggested that magic could be dangerous.

  Skeeters, what were they? What must they be like?, I wondered while turning momentarily to Citrine, who at this point was laying down, on all four legs. It was unclear if he was sleeping. He was large enough that his back tipped like an iceburg over the bottom stall door. The others did not compare with their shoulder height.  The patterned fur on his back moved intensely with each strong and gusty breath.  If their poison can kill a Jackguar, as the Elder High Sage had suggested.  The name itself hadn’t sounded like something all to terrible. Surely, there couldn’t exist a creature so bad?

  Tentatively turning to the scroll speaking the word, “Skeeter.” As my fingertips were nimble with curiosity colouring the speed. Callous on my hands scratching lightly as they scraped against the parchment fabric. Hands I could be proud of calloused from artfully carving sections in the City for one of the Overseers; Rose.

  For a brisk moments, I lost myself in pleasant and homely thoughts. Despite having not even fully left for my Passage yet! In some ways it seemed silly. I thought to our section of the City’s Overseer, Rose, and who was also my father’s boss… seemingly now turned love interest, just as I was leaving for my Passage.

  The smile on my face appeared so subconsciously that I didn’t recognise it. Being completely lost in my thoughts when Citrine grumbled a little. Did I accidently project again? I was happy for them. Knowing that when I returned there may be not 1 wedding but two, with me and Turquoise. I hadn’t even left yet and I was daydreaming about the marriage and festivities in front of me to look forward and return to. Just as Turq had made his own Passage short, in order to return to me.   

   By the time I came around from the reverie, the scroll had finished revealing information on this beast. There on the page was an illustration of a terrifying looking creature: A large creature with a serpentine body and head, with six legs from the middle to the back of it’s body and walking on all them. It had a long slinky neck and a tail equally as lengthy, that tail which the scroll described as being able to be used as a weapon.

   The scroll explained more and more list-like facts about these creatures as I rolled it further and further opened it. However, it could be said that the information was of varying use:

   “Skeeters do not have a tongue but possess teeth which are curved backwards like hooks. Their venom bubbles up from each of their teeth – this is not saliva. These creatures possess none. It may drip down from their mouth. Their venom only paralyses, yet does nothing to stop their prey feeling pain. Their prey are often eaten alive without the ability to utter a sound. Prey may include: humans, goldhorns, honudin, birds, insects, eggs and even other smaller Skeeters.”

    “These creatures hatch from a cluster of eggs between 20 and 5, after hatching they begin eating their younger and weaker siblings and will even devour their siblings eggs if they do not hatch on time. Those who survive to maturity, often have eaten all of their siblings.”

    “Skeeters are born blind but their sense of smell is far superior to most creatures. As well as being able to sense vibrations and motion coming from the ground. This is how they hunt their prey. These creatures cannot see on sand. They do have claws on each foot but prefer to use their teeth and tail. Healthy Skeeters have white blood. Their colours are often pale if coloured at all to reflect heat.”

 The colour all but drained from my face as I read. Staring blankly at the page once finishing reading, in an attempt to process the information I had just read about a creature that was truly terrifying.  The snores of Citrine could be heard. I was alone in facing the image of a horror that we may yet come to face during Passage.

  As I gulped down the fear, I realised that the Elder High Sage had been very correct. Not that I had doubted her. More that I had not fully realised the dangers of the surface and the dangers of Passage. The celebration father had thrown, he had thrown in knowing that it may be the last time he sees his daughter if something goes wrong during Passage… at this notion, I fought hard to fight back the tears. 

If this was Skeeters I wouldn't brave reading about Honudins', not yet anyway. I had to regain composure and process what I had read. To think of a way to beat these creatures if it was really going to be so impossible to avoid them in the savannah. Especially with the Drellamon and the way the Opal High sage had spoken about them. Clear as crystal in her eyes, a fear and hatred as she spoken earlier.

At all costs, I had to avoid the Drellamon and avoid these... these serpentine Skeeter creatures. With my eyes now fixed on the smooth breathing of Citrine, his shoulders raising and falling as he slept, with a fierce certainty in my mind, I vowed, On the Earthen Goddess... I will not let you die to a Skeeter.

Staying there on the floor, I considered ways to beat these creatures blind but could sense movement the way bats could in the air, and smell the scent of... "things that most other creatures could not."