Orphan 5
KiNa had no time to ponder the strange vision from the Stone. The forest around him came to life with agitated chirps and hums and other strange sounds. It was a clutter of dissonance, fighting to straighten itself out within his mind. It didn’t quite work.
Large, pointed-eared, furry beasts appeared at every exit of the structure, some bearing bows and spears. Their glittering eyes focused on him, no doubt, called by the display of light from the Stone. The humming was coming from them. And they weren’t happy to see an intruder in their glade.
The boy backed away the only direction he could, pressing his shoulders against the Stone. KiNa didn’t know what happened at that moment. He couldn’t see it, as his eyes were fixed on the creatures that surrounded him. He could feel it though, a shift of power rising around him, from the Stone. Shimmers rained down from above, and a flash of light pulsed through the glade.
The creatures froze, some cowering from the glow, some humming in awe and surprise. The boy didn’t know what the Stone was doing or why it was reacting that way. The only thing he cared about at that moment was getting out of there with his hide.
Suddenly, the crowd at one doorway parted, admitting a large, weathered-looking creature with emerald eyes. The other creatures appeared to take orders from this one and stepped aside as he strode through the doorframe.
KiNa swallowed, eyes wide and staring.
The creature reached one claw towards him, paw upwards. The fanged mouth twisted and worked to make sound that was speech. Person speech, “Come away.”
The boy shook his head, flattened against the Stone, grasping for protection.
“No harm,” the creature told him. “Come away. Stone light upset.”
KiNa didn’t know if he could trust the words of the creature. It remained standing there, unmoving, waiting for him to make a choice. No one made any attempt to use weapons or to approach him. Everything was silent except for the crackling of the Stone at his back.
“Pleez,” the creature coaxed as politely as he could. Though the eyes never left the boy’s face, his whiskers trembled slightly, giving away his concern. Probably concern about the Stone’s reaction.
The boy took a long breath and slowly peeled himself away from the Stone. As he took a few wobbly steps, the light behind him began to dim, confirming his thought that the strange magic was a reaction to his touch. The other creatures watched him, visibly relaxing as he stumbled forward. When KiNa almost fell, feeling a sudden exhaustion sweep through his body, two strong paws caught him and held him up.
The creature turned and peered over his shoulder, issuing what appeared to be orders to the others. The boy couldn’t make out the sounds and his vision was growing blurry as the shapes of others came and hovered around him. Finally, sleep took him. Surprisingly, the sleep was warm and untroubled.
There were dreams, but dreams he could not remember. Like most things before a certain time of his life, it was all hazy. Then, before he could ponder it too long, KiNa found himself waking.
The sun slanted in through the window at a flat angle, indicating the passing of the afternoon. He could hear a distant sound of wooden wind chimes and see long strands of colored twine waving lazily in the soft breeze. He realized he had seen the decoration before in the glade and in the tree-home. Perhaps it had something to do with the strange creatures who found him.
KiNa sat up at the thought of the creatures. Hand splayed, he felt himself over to see if he was in once piece. Everything appeared to be there with no harm. He let out a relieved breath, just as the sound of a familiar voice came from outside the door.
“Yes, the boy is staying with me. He’s my student.”
“SoYa?” KiNa croaked, finding his voice missing.
“I’m sorry he caused so much worry,” the voice continued, “I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm.”
Hums and melodies responded to the speech. Somehow, SoYa could understand it.
“He did that with the Stone?” there was a long pause. “Yes, I know. There’s something about this boy. That’s why I brought him here, safe from the Manor.”
KiNa swallowed, clutching his blanket.
“He’s awake now. And listening,” SoYa said, pulling back the door curtain. “Aren’t you, KiNa?”
“S-sorry,” the boy looked down, abashed.
“It’s okay,” the man smiled slightly and walked into the room. He was followed by two of the creatures – the one that spoke to KiNa before, and another, tall and slender creature, who was carrying a bow.
“I didn’t mean to,” his eyes flicked around. Maybe he was in trouble. Maybe now, SoYa would send him back. Or let the creatures eat him.
SoYa gave a soft laugh. “You’re not in trouble. Relax, no one is going to punish you.”
“You’re not?”
“No. I’m just worried that you’re okay. You gave the Ingway quite a scare with what you did with the Stone,” the man folded his hands together quietly.
“I don’t… know what it was or how it happened,” KiNa tried to explain. “I felt like I had to come there. And when I did, I saw…”
SoYa waited for the boy to finish his statement. When he didn’t, the man prompted, “What did you see?”
The boy winced a bit and frowned. Somehow, he didn’t want to tell. Somehow, it felt personal to him, though he didn’t understand why. “I’m not sure what it was.”
SoYa looked over at the larger creature. “Has this happened before with the Stone?”
“Rare,” came the answer.
“A few have visions,” said the slender creature. He appeared to have a better grasp on the person-speak than the larger one did. “But none made Stone glow-light.”
“Is this something we should explore?” SoYa asked.
“Mayhaps,” the leader replied. “When boy rested. Later.”
“Yes, of course,” the man nodded. “I wouldn’t dream of trying something like that now.”
“What is this place?” KiNa finally asked, finding his voice. “What are they?”
SoYa turned with a smile. “These are my friends, KiNa. They are the Ingway. Remember I told you about them?”
The boy furrowed his brows, thinking back. “Maybe…”
Or maybe he was just too busy snooping to listen to what the man told him the night before.
“They helped me build the house in the tree,” SoYa explained further. “They keep watch over the Stone and allow me to come here to study. In return, I keep this place a secret from the Manor and I help to teach them our language.”
“Oh?” KiNa blinked a few times at the explanation. The creatures watched him with ears perked forward in interest. Though they didn’t seem aggressive, something about them still gave him chills.
“Snoopy boy not like Ingway,” said the slender one.
“Snoopy boy?” KiNa frowned. “My name is KiNaTu.”
“SnoopyTu,” the creature repeated, making a blend that seemed to amuse him.
“Hey! That’s not funny!”
“Hunt think so.”
“Well, it’s not. You’re wrong,” the boy protested.
The creature just gave an annoying, self-satisfied grin.
“Hunt should get along with child,” the larger said, interrupting their exchanged.
“That’s right,” SoYa told him with a nod. “KiNa is going to be one of us. He’s going to live here. That means I’m going to rely on you to teach him what he needs to know to survive on his own in the forest.”
“What?!” both the boy and the Ingway intoned at the same moment.
Then they looked at each other, mirroring expressions of distaste.
“But he’ll eat me!” KiNa protested.
“SnoopyTu cause trouble!” Hunt protested.
“No,” SoYa half-laughed, his eyes lit with mirth.
“No,” the leader Ingway echoed, crossing his arms. “Hunt do what needed.”
“But!”
“Hunt.” The leader bit off the word sharply. “Do what needed.”
The slender Ingway groaned and slumped his displeasure, not too unlike a teenage boy from the city would.
“No more talk,” the big Ingway frowned, then left the room with a swish of his tail.
“Why me?” Hunt then tried to appeal to SoYa, motioning to his own chest with one claw.
“You speak the best and know the forest well. You’ll do a good job, Hunt. Don’t worry,” SoYa tried to reassure him.
“Not worried for me. Worried for your kit,” the Ingway huffed.
“SoYa, don’t leave me with that beasty! He’ll do something to me when you’re not here!” KiNa shivered, staring over his blanket.
“They’re peaceful, KiNa. Hunt is more bark than bite,” SoYa arched his eyebrows.
“Don’t bark,” Hunt sniffed. “Do bite.”
“Come now…”
“Nothing but trouble!” the Ingway huffed, ears flattened back as he left the room, too.
KiNa looked down at his hands, unsure of how to feel. Things were going so well until now. Maybe his explorations ruined it all.
SoYa took notice of his unease and came, placing his hand gently on the boy’s head. “It’s not something you did. I know Hunt seems grouchy, but he’ll warm up to you. He’s a good guy who will do the right thing.”
“He’s not a guy, he’s a beasty,” KiNa huffed. “He doesn’t like me.”
“You’ll be fine, KiNa. I already planned this from the start,” the man told him. “I can’t always be here to watch you, especially at night. I need you to be on friendly terms with the Ingway so they will be there if you ever need help when I’m not around. Do you understand?”
“What if they won’t help?” the boy didn’t look so sure.
As if in answer to his inquiry, the door curtain opened again. Hunt stuck his head in with a catty-chirp. “Training. Tomorrow. Wake early.”
The Ingway thrust his hand forward, tossing a small wooden staff across the room. SoYa caught it easily, seeming surprised at a motion he didn’t realize he knew.
“SnoopyTu will work battle,” Hunt gave a no-nonsense look.
“Battle? Why?” the boy blinked.
“Can’t rely on others to protect for always,” the Ingway told him. “Tomorrow. Early.”
Then the curtain closed with a snap.