Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Chanirra ❯ Chapter 7

Chanirra stirred when he felt branches poking into his back then sat up in shock. He rubbed his eyes as he tried to remember where he was then started slightly when Boruta ran a branch over his hair. Boruta laughed and Chanirra shook his head.

 

“I did not mean to frighten you, friend. It is time to depart,” Boruta said and Chanirra nodded his head.

 

“I thought so. I'm afraid you woke me in the middle of a dream and I was startled,” Chanirra replied. “I'll have to ride on top of you again, won't I?”

 

“Unfortunately, yes. I must travel even faster than I did to bring you home. You may want to take full use of your fur coat, however. It may be quite chilly where we're going.”

 

“I'd rather stay like this. I can hold on better.”

 

“Very well. Climb on so we can be on our way.”

 

Chanirra grabbed onto a limb that Boruta had outstretched and climbed up to the top of the tree. He tightly held on as Boruta began walking then ducked when they walked out of the room. Sayorr and Roekler sat near the fireplace and Midnight lay curled up on a small furred rug. Boruta paused for a moment and Chanirra peered out through the leaves.

 

“It is time,” Boruta said. “Remember. Do not leave this place for whatever reason. You will never find your way back.”

 

“We'll stay put. Besides we have no other place to go,” Sayorr said. “Just don't drop your passenger.”

 

“I don't plan on doing that. We shall return as quickly as possible.”

 

He turned and walked out of the cave and Chanirra tightly clung onto the branches. He did not want to fall from such a great height. Boruta unfolded some more leaves to protect him and Chanirra sighed. Riding on a tree spirit was not his favorite mode of transportation.

 

“Look up into the sky, friend. Have you ever seen the sky look so beautiful?” Boruta inquired and Chanirra took a quick glance at the sky.

 

“It is nice. It would be a nice night to go out hunting with the moon your only companion,” Chanirra replied.

 

“Do your people actually howl at the moon?”

 

“The howls are more of a communication. I've been underneath the moon many times in the past and I have felt no need to howl at it. The only times I do is when I want to convey something to my unseen brethren. Wolves are quite talented at hiding in the woods. Most of the time our prey don't even know we're about until it's too late,” Chanirra said and Boruta frowned.

 

“Your people in the north, do they hunt in packs?” he inquired.

 

“Sometimes we do. Wolves by nature are close to one another and loyal to the leader but since we are not true wolves, our customs can change to fit our needs. I guess it's an advantage to being a member of a beast tribe as the humans call us.”

 

“They don't know what else to call you. Would you mind doing something?”

 

“Well it depends on what it is.”

 

“That language you spoke when you first approached me. Will you speak it again? It was beautiful.”

 

“All right. I never thought my native tongue was beautiful. Elven speech is but not mine.”

 

“Stop comparing yourself to the elves. You are not an elf. You can't be like them.”

 

“It's just that out of the two species, elves seem to be revered the most. I guess it makes me a little jealous.”

 

“Humans seem to immortalize their beauty, don't they? I guess it's because elves resemble humans more closely than you do,” Boruta said and Chanirra nodded his head.

 

“Yes, they do see us as some sort of freak of nature. Ignorant people,” he replied.

 

“Man was not born from the same god as you. They are incapable of understanding.”

 

“What purpose do they serve?”

 

“Let's not spoil a wonderful journey with the existence of man. We could discuss that 'til the new moon rises and we would be no more closer to the answer than we are now. The gods do not do things for our benefit. They do things for themselves. Why else do we have frigid regions to the north and treeless sands to the south and large bodies of water where only the fish and merfolk can live? Each god has a region and each god has at least one species. When they fight, do they fight amongst themselves? No, they use this land and everything in it to solve their differences. Why else would there be terrible storms and fires destroying large patches of forest? Why would lakes and streams run dry? The major disasters and wars are orchestrated by the gods. Even we spirits cannot completely understand their purpose.”

 

“Then is the existence of humans an attempt to change how this world is run?”

 

“I don't know. Right now we have a more pressing problem on our hands. We cannot concern ourself with the whims of the deities. We must stop the foolishness of man.”

 

“Perhaps they are connected,” Chanirra commented then frowned. “But why would anyone who spent so much time and effort on this land want to destroy it? Surely they love their creations.”

 

“That is part of the reason why they fight. They are all vain when it comes to their creations and believe that theirs are more important than all the others,” Boruta replied and Chanirra shook his head.

 

“This world needs everything. It needs each blade of grass, each tiny bug, each river and stream to survive. Without all of it, it would just be a wasteland. That's the world Turath wanted. He wanted a world devoid of everything the gods created. He wanted to mock them all.”

 

“And he would have succeeded if he had been able to complete his spell to summon Valac. If you were a few hours late in your tracking, the entire world would have been doomed.”

 

“We're not out of the woods yet,” Chanirra said solemnly. “As long as those people are still being controlled, there's no telling what they're capable of.”

 

“We'll get this entire situation solved in time. Humans cannot move as fast as the spirits,” Boruta replied then glanced up at Chanirra. “Are you cold?”

 

“No I'm fine. My home gets much colder than this.”

 

“But you are at a higher altitude. There is not as much air up there so you get colder quicker. I think I can sprout some more leaves to serve as a cover.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“'tis nothing. I do not wish you to expire before you have a chance to meet my cousin. Now why don't you sing something?”

 

“Well I haven't come up with anything new...”

 

“Sing a line of that song you sang before then. Perhaps you do not think it's much but I like it and it seems fitting for our journey.”

 

“Very well... The moon is my light, she is my companion by my side. She tells me where to go and when to hide. She comforts me the whole night through but in the morn she'll be gone. So until she returns again I'll sing this simple song.”

 

“Exquisite! Truly it is. I myself have no musical capabilities aside from the rustling of leaves when the wind blows. I'm afraid you can't make much of a song out of that,” Boruta commented and Chanirra shook his head.

 

“No but the sound of leaves rustling in a gentle wind is quite calming. Perhaps you don't need musical capabilities if you have rhythm,” he replied.

 

“Speaking of wind, there's one blowing up. I'll try to shelter you the best I can.”

 

“I should have worn my traveling robe. If I catch cold, it's my own fault.”

 

“What did your robe look like?”

 

“It was a black robe with silver embroidery on the sleeves.”

 

“Ah. I gave it to the kind human. He was cold and I thought it would help warm him. I offer you my sincerest apologies.”

 

“It's all right. One thing I'm good at is surviving. A little wind won't kill me. I've been subjected to worse conditions.”

 

The wind struck up and Chanirra gritted his teeth as he clung to the branch. This wind was a biting wind that chilled him to the bone. It howled in his ears and Chanirra folded his ears back in an attempt to protect them. He could not afford any damage to his ears. He thought of a companion back with the Noyu tribe who had lost his hearing due to an accident. He was no longer invited to hunt and he could no longer be a warrior. He was confined to the village where he worked most dejectedly in one of the local shops. He had been a fine warrior in his time and to see him reduced to a shopkeeper...Chanirra did not want to face a similar fate. He shook his head in an attempt to get some locks of hair to cover his ears. Boruta shifted his branches to provide a better cover and Chanirra sighed thankfully.

 

“I thank you. I do not know what I would have done if the wind stripped me of the ability to hear,” Chanirra said and Boruta smiled.

 

“The loss of any of your senses would end your career as a warrior. We must be careful, mustn't we?” Boruta inquired and Chanirra nodded his head.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Now hold on tightly. I'm going to speed up a bit.”

 

“You weren't going fast already?”

 

“No.”

 

Chanirra tightly shut his eyes in fear as his hair whipped freely about his head. He did not want to look down and see how fast they were now traveling. He heard a bird screech in shock then opened an eye only to find a dazed hawk sitting in the branches in front of him.

 

“W-what's going on?” it demanded. “Since when do trees walk like humans?”

 

“You were certainly flying high,” Chanirra commented as the hawk tried to free its wing.

 

“I was only out trying to get a late night snack. Now I'm stuck in a moving tree with a...say what are you anyway and how can you understand me?”

 

“I am a Noyu warrior. I can understand all animal speech. Would you like some help?”

 

“You look like a human. Why should I trust you?”

 

“I'm not a human. Do humans have ears like this?”

 

He unfolded his ears and the crow shrieked in shock. It then glanced sideways in curiosity then tried to remove the twig that pinned its wing with its beak.

 

“What a night. First I get awoken because I need food then the ground makes loud noises and now I'm stuck in a tree with a beast-man.”

 

“I'm not a beast. Do you want some help?” Chanirra asked and the hawk glanced at him with dark eyes.

 

“Methinks you're too scared to help. You clutch that branch like a piece of food,” it replied.

 

“I'm not afraid. I can move that twig with only one hand. That is, if you don't try to bite me.”

 

“How do I know you didn't tell your tree monster to capture me?”

 

“This is Boruta, spirit of the forest,” Chanirra said and the hawk laughed.

 

“I know of no such spirit. How do I know you're telling the truth?” he asked.

 

“Hawks are smart birds but unfortunately, their memory is not the greatest,” Boruta commented as he shifted his branches. “That should make it a little easier to rescue him.”

 

“Just don't bite me,” Chanirra said and the hawk glanced away.

 

“You probably don't taste good anyway,” it sulked then shut its eyes in fear when Chanirra gently moved the twig away from its wing.

 

“There you go.”

 

“Ah! It feels so good. It...wait a minute. Where am I? I don't recognize these skies.”

 

“There's a lot of field mice down in that meadow,” Boruta commented and the hawk looked interested.

 

“There is? I'll find my way home later. I'm too hungry right now,” it said and took off.

 

“I think I'd rather be in the company of an owl if I had the choice. They aren't as pushy.”

 

“Hawks aren't that bad if you know how to talk to them but this one wasn't going to listen to reason. He was too upset,” Chanirra said then glanced at the horizon. “Is it dawn already?”

 

“Almost. We're almost halfway there,” Boruta replied and Chanirra yawned.

 

“I can't believe we made so much progress.”

 

“Well you've been holding on for dear life the majority of the trip. I won't let you fall, you know.”

 

“I know that but my body doesn't seem to believe it.”

 

“Well once we get there, you'll be able to have a good long rest. We might be the first to arrive, after all.”

 

“Where are the others coming from?”

 

“One is coming from the lake nearby. The others are coming from the mountains. One from the icy mountains and one from the volcanic region. I don't know if the one from the desert will be able to get away. He's been having some problems in his area.”

 

“So it's not just spirits from surrounding areas. It's spirits from around the world.”

 

“Those are spirits from surrounding areas. My cousin won't be there since I'm representing the forest but I think we'll be fine without him.”

 

“So where exactly is the meeting place?” Chanirra inquired and Boruta blinked his eyes.

 

“It's in the middle of two mountains. There's a valley there that no mortal knows about. You should be able to see the mountains by this afternoon. Are you getting hungry yet?” Boruta inquired and Chanirra shook his head.

 

“No but I'm getting a little tired. I'll definitely need to sleep when we get there.”

 

“The grass is nice and soft. You'll have no trouble taking a nap.”

 

“That sounds grand. Boruta, do the other spirits have the ability to change shape?”

 

“Yes they do. Shape shifting is quite beneficial to our jobs. We can keep track of things better when we can change shape,” Boruta replied. “In fact we use this ability much like you use it.”

 

“That's fascinating. I never thought I was doing something like the spirits,” Chanirra said.

 

“Keep in mind that we don't normally show ourselves to creatures. That's why you had no idea your talent was similar to ours. We do not mind helping out causes that are worthy but you must make an effort to find us. You could have chosen to abandon your task if you had wanted to but you deemed it worthy enough to seek me out. I'm glad you did, though. I am envious of my cousin now. He gets to have the entire Noyu tribe in his backyard.”

 

“We came to you out of necessity. There was nowhere else to turn.”

 

“Necessity and worthiness can sometimes be interchanged. Look above you friend and try some of my fruit. It may not be meat but it will help settle your stomach until we reach the meeting spot.”

 

“I am in no position to be choosy.”

 

Chanirra reached up and plucked an apple from the branch above him. He gazed at the yellowish orange fruit for a moment then took a bite. It was sweet, a taste that Chanirra was not completely accustomed to. He chewed the fruit for a moment and then swallowed.

 

“You should try to broaden your diet more often,” Boruta commented as Chanirra took another bite.

 

“I'm used to a routine when it comes to eating,” Chanirra replied.

 

“Surely your entire population doesn't survive on raw meat alone.”

 

“No. Occasionally we eat nuts and salad if we're feeling sick but our diet consists chiefly of meat.”

 

“Well I guess you can't easily change. Even the squirrels stick to a regular diet of nuts and berries.”

 

“Can we please talk about something else? I'm starting to get hungry for a nice piece of deer.”

 

“One last question on the subject. Do you ever eat bird?”

 

“Sometimes. Quail and ducks aren't bad if you're fast enough to catch them but those are rare. Wings are really annoying when you're trying to track a creature.”

 

“Maybe that's why the gods gave them wings.”

 

“Perhaps but that does not exclude them from hunting birds like the eagle.”

 

“True. Ah it's going to be a nice morning. I can feel it. The skies are clear and the rising sun looks so beautiful. You might want to shade your eyes, though. I wouldn't want you to go blind.”

 

“I wouldn't want that either. Now that I've eaten, I need a drink. Can't we just stop for a moment?”

 

“I'm afraid we can't. We'll lose to much time that way. Perhaps I can help you out in another way. There's a stream coming up. Let me see if I can get a large leaf...”

 

Boruta plucked a leaf from a nearby tree and fashioned it into a cup. He then lowered a branch until it dragged in the water then raised the leaf up to where Chanirra could reach it. He took it from Boruta and quickly drank the water. Boruta listened to him and rustled his leaves.

 

“Your drinking is much more refined than your table manners,” he commented as Chanirra lowered the leaf cup from his lips.

 

“When I've been out tracking for a long time, I tend to forget my manners. I have been in the company of nobles before and I have handled myself quite well considering etiquette is not my forte,” Chanirra replied.

 

“Nobles around here?”

 

“No. My employer is actually a noble. He claims the amulet has been handed down in his family for generations. Apparently, one of his ancestors found it while exploring.”

 

“Did he ever mention where his ancestor found it?”

 

“Not specifically but I believe he mentioned something about endless sand.”

 

“Endless sand. That must be what is known as a desert. Have you ever been down that way?” Boruta inquired and Chanirra shook his head.

 

“No. Alavus Lake is as far as I've been. I haven't had the need to go any further south,” he replied.

 

“Still, that's a good distance away. That lake borders the elven territory does it not?”

 

“It does but as I said before, I've had no need to go any further.”

 

“Have you ever seen an elf?” Boruta asked and Chanirra nodded his head.

 

“A few times in passing. I have never held a conversation with one,” he replied.

 

“Were they travelers or slaves?”

 

“Some were slaves. They always looked at me with the same silent plea. Set me free. It was hard to walk past them the first time I encountered them because I wanted so much to help them.”

 

“Why didn't you?”

 

“It was not my place to do so. I had no contract on the slave owners. I can't just take justice in my own hands. I am not a god and I understand that.”

 

“What if you had come across your own people instead of elves?”

 

“I would have tried to set them free.”

 

“Why not the elves then?”

 

“They aren't my people.”

 

“That's the same attitude humans use when they take slaves,” Boruta said and Chanirra sighed.

 

“Perhaps you're right but one person cannot change the world alone,” he replied.

 

“No but it's a start.”