Prologue Previous Chapter

Reya

Sweat dripped down her face as they walked, dripping off of her chin, running down her soft jaw and down her neck, making her itch horribly. Her feet were screaming in pain and her thighs were burning. There was a strange quivering in her belly and she was starting to wonder what her fingers would taste like, roasted over a fire. Her pack was cutting into her shoulders and her huge stomach was starting to make it hard to walk without waddling.

I feel like one of those huge rock-mouse beasts. She thought, pausing and leaning on her spear, gasping for air. What were they called?

“No stopping.” Barak brushed past her.

“You know,” she snapped, “you ought to get pregnant so you can find out what it feels like to carry around a huge rock around in your-”

Almost casually, Barak whipped his hand around, slapping her in the face. “Shut up.” He said, without breaking stride

Tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably, as the stinging pain danced across her cheek. Her knuckles went white as she grasped her spear, delightful images of plunging the point into his back swimming through her head.

Just one thrust – right there. She started to raise her arm.

“Hey! Are you okay?” Armis sounded genuinely concerned.

She paused. If only Korak were here. Barak wouldn’t have dared… She started sobbing. “No…” she said weakly, voice starting to break. “No, it’s all wrong.” She sniffed and wiped her hands against her eyes, clearing away the tears. “I should be sitting at home at Red Cave. My mother should be helping me make clothes for the baby. Instead, I’m out in the middle of nowhere, with no meat, no place to sit and rest, and no husband. My legs are on fire, my belly is heaving and I’m covered in sweat.” Her voice rose angrily. “So no. No, I am not okay.”

Armis held up his hands defensively. “Okay. Sorry I asked.” He looked around, and then pointed. “Over there? You see the clump of trees? We’ll take a break there. Will that help?”

I’d rather just stab Barak in the back. “Fine.” she muttered.

“Hey!.Everyone.” he shouted. “Head over to the trees, we’ll take a break.”

They reached the woods in short order, and she wearily sank onto a large tree trunk that had fallen long ago. Shara came and sat next to her, golden skin glinting in the spots of sunlight that found their way through the leaves overhead. The wind blew gently against her clothes, sending them rustling and twitching against her skin.

“Did you say your belly was heaving?” Shara asked, after a while.

Reya took a deep breath. “Yes.” she said, distantly, wishing the girl would go away.

“Wow.. That’s great! That must be really special.”

Reya snapped her head around staring hard at Shara “What do you mean? Do you think this is fun?” she said, bitterly.

Shara flinched. “I mean – the baby – kicking like that.

“Oh.”It took a moment for her words to sink in. “Oh.” she said, eyes widening. “Oh my.” She reached down and rubbed her hands over the swell, suddenly smiling. “I didn’t even think of that. This is -, you’re right, I-”

“Don’t move.” Shara said quietly.

“What? Why? Involuntarily, Reya turned.

“Reya, don’t move.” Shara hissed. Reya stared at her again, and saw a big black shape skitter across Shara’s shoulder. Black, with claws and a curved tail. “Shara! There’s a scorpion on your -”

“I know.” She raised a trembling hand. “Look down.”

Reya glanced downwards – a horde of the black, shiny insects were clambering across her legs, climbing up her thighs, up her chest. She gritted her teeth, fiighting the desire to flee. Digging her hands into her belly, she froze. “Get them off. Hurry.”

“Kito? Armis?” Shara called out, a hint of desperation in her voice, eyes fixed on Reya’s chest. “We could use some help here.”

“There’s not here.” Din’s young voice came from behind. “They went out to hunt for- You’re covered in scorpions.”

“Please get -” Shara’s voice broke with fear. “- them off.” She’s just as scared as I am. Somehow, that comforted her a little.

“No.” Din protested. “They might sting me.”

Shara groaned, her eyes wide with fright as one of the smaller beasts disappeared into her hair. “Please Din. Please help us.”

Reya watched, alarmed, as Shara’s fingers started to tremble. She’s losing control. “Shara. Don’t move. ” She said, trying to reassure the girl. “They won’t sting you if you stay still.”

Shara was trembling, her breath ragged as the nasty little beasts crawled across her neck, picking gently at her clothes. Her fingers started to spasm, and then her arms.

“Shara! You have to stop. You’re going to get us both stung to death.”

“I want them off. I want them off I want them off!” She was sobbing now, her body starting to quake.

Running out of time. “Din. Please help. This is important” Her eyes were rooted on Shara, willing her to stop.

“Iwantthemoff. Iwantthemoff. Iwantthemoff. Iwantthemoff.”

Did he even hear me? “Din? Now, please.” There was a strange fluttering noise in the distance, coming closer.

“I can’t. I can’t do it.” he screamed, swinging into view to the left, hugging himself tightly. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”

“I want them off.” Shara shrieked, growing louder with each repetition.

“No, Shara.”

With a strangled roar, Shara stood up. And just for a moment, she was bathed in golden light, tiny sparks whirling around her, dancing happily through the air before vanishing just as suddenly as they came.

“What was that?” Reya whispered. And then her world exploded into black feathers. Whirling furiously, ravens circled them, cawing angrily as they brushed against the two women, snatching, biting with their ebon beaks and claws. Uncountable tiny pinpricks opened up across her skin, rushing like a wave of fire up her arms and across her back. Involuntarily, her hands flew up, covering her eyes and mouth as the swirling mass closed in around her. Lurching forward, she fell to her knees, burying her face in the leafy mulch of the forest floor, screaming uncontrollably as the black cloud consumed them.

And then they were gone, the cacophony of calls fading into the distance. With an effort, she stopped her screams, gasping in pain. Slowly, she pulled her face from her hands and sat up. Shara was lying unmoving on the ground next to her, curled up into a ball. Din and Pak were peering out from behind a tree.

She let out a breath, “They’re gone.” And they were, the whole flock, lost in the depths of the trees. Unsteadily she climbed to her feet, dizzy with relief, even as her arms burned.

And then her leg started to itch, and she remembered the scorpions. She froze and then slowly scanned her arms and her chest. Her arms were covered in tiny nicks and cuts, but they were already starting to scab. Her legs- she tried to examine them over the swell of her stomach and gave up. They felt ok. She kept perfectly still for many heartbeats, waiting for thetickle of tiny claws across her skin, but none came. She searched the ground, watching for black shadows, but the ground, like the air, was still, and quiet.

Turning, she stared again at the place where the ravens had disappeared into the green shadows.

“Are they gone?” Pak asked.

“Yes.” She said. The two boys popped out from behind the tree, running towards her. “Some help you were.” She chided.

“Did you see all those birds, Pak?”

“Yeah, that was amazing.”

Reya shook her head, and hurried over to Shara’s side, kneeling in the soft leaves as Din and Pak danced around. “Shara?” She said, but the girl remained curled up, breathing slowly, almost like she was sleeping. She too was covered in nicks and scratches, but as far as Reya could tell, nothing worse than that.

A tiny motion in the corner of her eye caught her attention, and she watched as another scorpion clambered out of the rotten log, clambering across the leaves towards her.

“Shara. Get Up.” She reached over and pulled at the girls’ arm as the fear returned but it was like pulling on dead weight. “Din. Help me. We need to get out of here.” The boy recovered his wits and rushed over, grabbing Shara’s other arm.

“Shara. Wake up.” He cried, yanking hard on her arm, but she didn’t stir.

“Come on, let’s drag her out of here.” Reya growled.

Huffing, and panting they pulled Shara forwards, her head lolling backwards, her feet leaving dark trails in the leaves. “She’s too heavy.” Din protested.

“Pak, help your brother.” Reya said, and the younger boy rushed up next to Din, tugging on her arm.

The edge of the forest was just ahead, “Almost there” she grunted. Behind her, the scorpion seemed to lose interest and darted away in another direction. Her stomach heaved again, and this time she welcomed the sensation, feeling the strange and wonderful kicking feeling from inside. “Almost there.” She repeated, to keep her spirits up. The last line of trees slid slowly by, and the sun burst from the leafy canopy. “Okay.” She gasped. “Let’s rest here for a moment, and then – we’ll keep going.”

“I forgot my spear.” Pak said, and ran back into the woods.

“No- wait.” She said, too late.

“Pak, come back.” Din said, running after his brother.

“No.” Reya said, sinking to the ground. “Come back.” She whispered. The boys vanished into the woods again. Oh this is just wonderful. She could feel the rage building up inside. Her heart pounded in her chest, and the baby kicked furiously.. It’s so hot. A wave of dizziness swept over her, and everything started to grow dim.

“Reya? Are you okay.” a distant voice.

She was lying on the ground. How did I get here? Blackness rushed up at her.

Faintly – “Reya?”

Nothing.

=-=

Shara was screaming.

Reya woke with a start. It was night. She was in her bedroll, next to a campfire. How did I — Shara screamed again, sitting upright next to Reya, her face frozen in terror. Across the camp, people were stirring.. Kito reached her first, leaping over Reya to get there. “Shara? What’s wrong?”

“Scorpions! A river of scorpions devouring our camp?” She took a deep, gasping breath, and looked around, blinking. Perhaps it was Reya’s imagination, but just for a moment, she saw a faint golden glow around the girl.“It was just a dream! It seemed so real.”

The baby felt like it was doing somersaults inside her. “What is it with you and your nightmares?” Reya snarled. “Do me a favor and sleep some-”

“Run.” Barak screamed, bursting through the camp. “This way. Now now now.” Slowly, bewildered, people started to sit up. But Reya wasn’t about to get up with a reason. “Why Barak?”

In response, the man stopped, turned and pointed back the way he came. “A flood-” He wheezed. “Of scorpions.” He started grabbing people by the arms. “Get up. Go go go.”

Shara grabbed her arm and pulled urgently. “Come on. I think we’d better do what he says.”

Reya struggled to her feet. Her ankles were on fire, and she cried out in pain as they took her weight. She hobbled forward.

“Faster, idiot.” Barak growled, shoving her in the back, sending her crashing into Shara.

She tried to move her legs faster, but they weren’t listening. “I can’t.” She staggered, and started to fall until Kito grabbed her again to steady her.

“Fine. Tohm.” Barak called out. “Help me carry her.”

He grabbed her arms, while Tohm grabbed her legs, and together they turned and waddled away from the camp, up into the woods. We’re in the woods? Why didn’t Shara warn them about the scorpions?

Behind her, over the breathing of the two men, she heard the rustling of leaves and the clicking of uncountable claws.

“Everyone, keep going!” Barak shouted again.

“Head toward the river.” Armis sounded even more alarmed than Barak.

“There it is.” Tohm shouted, hoarse. “I can see it in the — moonlight.” They adjusted their angle and kept running.

“Get across! Scorpions don’t swim.” Armis called out again. You mean the dream was real? Shara would be even more annoying if she had the gift of prophecy.

Step, Step, Splash. Icy water drenched her back, and then Tohm must have lost his footing, pitching forwards into the water, dropping Reya’s legs. Barak’s momentum carried her upright before he could stop, and she found herself facing the opposite bank as the rest of the Clan gathered and pointed back towards her and beyond.

“Can you swim?”

She nodded, and Barak dove into the water. She glanced back at the near riverbank, and froze.

It looked like the entire floor of the forest was in motion, glinting and dancing in the moonlight. Like the grass bowing to the wind, the scorpions flowed forward, up trees, over logs, around pits, marching inexorably towards the river. Near the river’s edge a terrified rabbit bolted out of its hole and was immediately drowned in the flood of insects. She turned her head, wincing in fear.

That’s going to happen to you if you don’t move.

She turned and swam for the far bank as fast as she could. Helping hands reached down to lift her out. “Here they come.” Someone shouted. She collapsed on the shore, and turned as the mass poured into the river, thrashing feebly. But for every creature that died, another climbed onto its back as the surge pushed further into the water.

“They’re going to make it across.” Oola hissed.

“Yes, but far downstream.” Armis pointed, and he was right – the current carried the insects swiftly out of sight. “Din, Pak. Go see where they come out of the water and tell us if they turn in our direction.

“No way.” said Din.

“Okay.” said Pak, and he turned and rushed into the darkness. Armis turned to Din. “Are you going to let your brother show you up?”

Din sighed, and trudged off into the darkness. “Hey Pak. Wait up.”

“We should be safe- here.” Tohm gasped, as they watched the flood sweep downstream.

“Shara?” Mika asked. “How did you know about the scorpions.”

Shara blinked. “I saw it in a dream.”

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Thursday, April 13th, 2006 at 11:12 pm.
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