-Six days after Light Fall-
Orako jumped off the back of the Sky Beast, landing perfectly on his feet. The grassy forest floor filled his lungs with the natural smell of fresh air he was accustomed to breathing in.
The Sky Beast landed beside him, casting its mighty shadow to the surrounding area. It lowered its wings to allow Ether to hop off.
"We are here," Orako notified.
Despite where they were, he still smiled. As if this wasn't about the memories of what happened in the past, but more like a candle lit for the future.
Ether stretched his legs as he slid down the Sky Beast's wing. The relieved groans echoed throughout the nearby trees. Silently treating this like an awakening.
"It all started when we heard a foreign Feral roar, then we looked up to see scouts looming over us. We decided to hide out for a while, to let them continue with their searching," Orako described the event.
He paused, letting the humid air wash over his body. It was like a different type of hug. Not meant to show affection, but designed to show where he belonged. Out in the wild.
Before he continued, Orako turned around to point at the clearing they came through. His mind reflected the events back in real time.
The memory of standing in the middle of all the chaos came back to him. How all caretakers tried to flee before anything bad happened, and their failed retreat.
"My Neddy stayed back with my sisters," Orako mentioned. "She tried to take the attackers down before they could jump to the floor with us."
A little warmth haunted the back of his eyes. Orako remembered that attack. How desperate everyone sounded when they were getting attacked from all fronts.
Ether realized what was happening. He wanted to stop him from crying before it began. So he placed his hand over Orako's head. Making him feel supported.
"Yeah... so, up there," he pointed up at some destroyed branches. "My Neddy struck the tree, which resulted in those attackers falling down from up there."
"But weren't your kind stronger than the normal Ferals?" Ether asked.
It was a simple yes or no question. But to Orako it wasn't. Since that dusk, he was unsure of what happened. On the surface, Scalers were a lot more aggressive than the normal Ferals.
However, during that sunset, it was all different. Eterra introduced them to a separate kind of nightmare. Ambushing them like the ambush predators they were.
Successfully ending their party on the spot, only leaving the cubs alive. Many of which still feel the trauma of this event.
"I don't know," Orako answered. "We were powerful, but not enough."
His claws came out of hiding, getting ready to scale the nearby tree. On command, Orako jumped onto it. Then began to effortlessly climb the side within seconds.
Ether watched from below. Eyes full of curiosity. Wondering what other things Yarno had that Imbushko didn't.
"We have better weapons than normal Ferals. But I think their ambush was better. Overwhelming my Neddy and their friends in minutes," Orako continued.
While up there, he remembered where his family rested. The thorn in his gut wiggled around, making him want to find their bodies and apologize deeply.
After several seconds of building up his confidence, Orako leapt off the branch onto another. And onto another, and from that one to the next. Like a Scaler Feral, he was making his way through the forest.
Ether ran behind him, struggling to keep up with his pace, before Orako suddenly stopped above a small boulder.
"Here they are, I hope," he said while jumping down from the tree. "Yes, they are here!"
"Your family?" Ether asked through heavy breathing.
Orako got on his knees in front of a downed Feral. Everything about them was withered away. Skin chewed up by wild beasts, leaving behind the bones for anyone to sharpen their teeth with.
"This is Hyri, my older sister. And..." Orako looked around Hyri. "Oh, up there! It's my oldest sister, Chiviliar."
Ether followed along with his eyes. Silently filling himself with shame. It was a horrible experience to baby Orako, no doubt. He had never experienced an ambush so intense like this one.
But he did experience one thing. Solice's disappearance. It was a memory that has forever left a mark in his mind.
"Where are your Neddy's?" Ether asked, trying to meet his guardians.
Orako struggled to push off one of the larger rocks that sat around the boulder. Once his struggle was over, Ether realized what he was hinting at.
Right beneath that rock was the shattered skull of a Feral. Who rested with each sharp tooth broken to bits. It still had some red marks on it, although very faint.
"I can't remember which of my Neddy this is. But I think it might be from my Neddy because he had bigger teeth," Orako explained.
Ether got beside him. Head turned down to examine the remains. And it was true. He had never seen a fully matured Scaler before, but this one's teeth were a lot bigger than normal.
Deep down, he felt himself apologizing profusely to the remains. Hoping that somewhere, his Neddy understood he was safe. Because someone new was taking care of the little one.
And Orako did the same. Despite how quickly he was going, deep down, he was still deeply injured. It dug deep into his gut, just how territorial and aggressive his species was.
But he came to terms with thats how they were naturally. It wouldn't be a Feral with the added territorialism and over-aggressive attitude, especially towards outsiders.
"I can't remember where my other Neddy is," Orako confessed. "I am very sorry, Neddy. I forgot where they brought you."
Ether placed his hand on Orako's shoulder. "Well, this is it. Prove to them your commitment."
Orako nodded. He took a deep breath, then stood in between all three remains. In his mind, he repeated what he was going to say one final time. With a deep exhale, he began.
"Koroth is a very unforgiving place. Full of predators and survivalists at every turn. We get so caught up in our own lives that we forget about those around us.
Survival from day to day is necessary, but that togetherness that bonded Yarno when the Light Legion tried for the region was something different. It was an era full of peace and comfort.
Packs free to roam wherever they pleased, glaciers marched in the main-land, and families offered their services to outsiders. It was something my Neddy has never seen before.
But when we fled to Imbushko... we were massacred by our own cousins. They opened their maws before clamping down around our throats and tore our insides out.
However we, the little ones survived. Out of the mercy of our ambushers, we continue to live. With a passionate heart to remember those before us, I will stand beside my new Neddy with other Scaler Ferals.
Together, we will continue the legacy of the former pack. Hori Hori lives forever, but from the day of my full maturation and forward. It will be called Heir-Enok."
Orako shed a couple tears. His cheeks turned red from all the emotions that rushed through his tiny body. In reaction, Ether picked him up.
A smile was tight on Ether's face. Showing how proud he was for Orako. Neither of them showed it, but this small interaction helped bring them closer to each other.
From a guardian to his child, Ether was overjoyed to be considered his 'Neddy.' Even if how they met could have been better.
"Hey, Orako," Ether said with a smile.
"Hmm?" he replied.
Ether put him back down, then placed both hands on his shoulders. "I want to tell you something."
Orako's eyes grew larger out of curiosity. His heartbeat slowed down, anticipating what the news would be.
"Pearl... she received early signs of... a baby. You are going to be an older brother," Ether said with a wide smile on his face.
"R - really?!!" utter bliss filled Orako's voice.
Ether nodded. "Yes, Orako. It finally happened, after trying for so long. Me and her finally made a baby."
Tears of joy swelled up in the little one's eyes. He instantly leapt into Ether's arms, giving him a loving hug as a celebration.
"I am going to show the little one the same love you showed me," Orako whispered.
While they sat in each other's grasp. Three Legions rebuilt from the attacks. Leaving behind the memory of the Light - Trilogy war. Imbushko was in its peace phase, however Yarno was beckoning.