For days, Kellenas and his team of six Scalers traversed through Olavin-Faa. They gripped their stomachs while rushing from dawn to dusk, they had to utilize their energy before it ran out.
On a humid night, Olavin-Faa parted to reveal the moonlight. Kellenas slowed down to a light walk, trailing behind his companions. His entire body was in its nocturnal stage, applying a green taint to the world.
Vast nothingness stood before them, except for the hills leading to the forest. Everything was still, as if Olavin-Faa was a lurking predator.
"Imbushko is this way?" Prexsis, one of the Scalers, asked.
Kellenas had his eyes focused on the middle moon. "It guides us, we need to continue pushing south. We will rest when we reach the hill. In the morning, we will be hunting."
Prexsis lowered himself before launching into the night sky, catching up to the others to share them the news. By now, the Scalers grew to see Kellenas as a leader.
Even if he was foreign, they felt a touch of warmth from his gaze and stance. Unwillingness to quake after enduring so much, yet brittle to the memory. They were aware of that.
Feymor, a female, planted her knee at the top of the hill. The cold grass felt like the endless oceans beyond their forest. She kept an eye on Kellenas as he slowly made his way up the hill.
"Qitor, 'elp Great Nas up!" Feymor ordered.
As requested, a younger Feral charged down the hill. His stampeding woke up their neighbors on purpose. Their chambers echoed through the valley and into his ears.
Kellenas halted at the same time as Qitor, he softly chuckled while wrapping an arm around Kellenas' waist. Then they took off like a Sky Beast, reducing the trip to mere seconds.
"Great Nas, you have slowed down. Why?" Qitor asked.
"The memory of my Ferals still haunt me and knowing I will face their relatives digs deep. I promised safe return, but the only thing that is returning are calls for rebellion and war," Kellenas spoke with a rasp.
Feymor sat down, legs crossed. "Don't be afraid of meeting t'em again! You endured so muc', especially after t'at entire conflict up in t'e branc'es."
Prexsis fell face first into the grass, feeling relieved to be out of the forest. His muscles loosened up, preparing for the transformation that was going to take place over the next few days.
Qitor followed Prexsis, he quickly fell asleep next to his older sister. Soon, most Ferals were sleeping. Except for Feymor and Kellenas.
She ran her fingers through her brother's hair, passing through the brown mess he had on his head. Kellenas watched her comfort him, he was reminded of how his own partner treated their offspring.
He longed to return to them safely. To be reunited with Deterna, Sizo, Tekeni, and Tinaki. He remembered hearing Sizo and Tekeni begging to come with him, how close they were to death.
Kellenas got on his knees, then tilted his head forward. Tears rolled down his eyes, wetting the edges of his scar. Feymor glanced over, silently questioning what he was doing.
But she knew better than to interrupt, it was a tradition he brought over from his Legion. So she wanted to let him enjoy that tradition, no matter how odd it may seem to her.
***
Shadows swept over most of the valley, sending Olavin-Faa into the shade. Kellenas brought his head up, chirping his group awake as he got up from his honoring position.
Feymor struggled to open her eyes, causing her to panic and accidentally kick her brother in the stomach. Qitor whimpered as he crawled away, hoping to avoid his sister's sudden shock.
"Is it happening again?" Kellenas asked to Qitor.
He nodded, getting up from his downed position. His sister suffered from two genetic diseases. Noctoformido - fear of extreme darkness, and Alphabindocilis - the inability to say a specific letter.
Prexsis collapsed onto Feymor, pinning her against the ground so another Feral could help. Zenam, another female, held Feymor's head down with one hand and pried open her eyes with the other.
The panic quickly died down as Feymor reintroduced herself to the daylight. She quickly scanned those around her for anyone she had accidentally injured during her attack.
Qitor clenched onto his stomach, gritting his teeth as he waited for the pain to go away. Feymor gasped, feeling ashamed of what she did. Her first instinct was to bring her brother closer.
While the siblings exchanged comfort, Prexsis made his way towards Kellenas. His pale skin was slowly taking color, making it harder to see his insides.
"It is morning, now. We should hunt before we continue pushing forward," he suggested.
Kellenas stared down the hill they stood on. "I'm afraid we might need to hunt Thresher."
Prexsis nodded, studying the pain that hung from Kellenas' words. "Threshers, last night I recall listening to the world change as Qitor assisted you. I will stomp, Zenam will locate."
Zenam cooed like a satisfied bird, pleased at the position the unofficial alpha had placed her in. She enjoyed hiding and seeking, especially if she was able to eat what she sought.
"I have a question for you, Great Nas. Do you not like Thresher?" Prexsis questioned.
"My pack avoids hurting them, they are too weak to be considered meals. Especially if they deeply rely on each other. It is cruel. But if we need to, we will eat them," Kellenas replied.
"We are Ferals, Great Nas. Morality is not the first thing we think of, especially if we depend on what we're hunting. It hurts, I know. But it's needed," Prexsis concluded.
He began to stomp, sending several high pitched sounds only they and the Threshers could hear. Zenam took off down the hill, following the sound until it changed dramatically.
She growled as her fist dug into the entrance of a Thresher's underground utopia, pulling out a frightened Yonie who screamed for help. Zenam brought him into her arms, before unleashing deafening roars down the tunnel.
Buying time for her pack to arrive. The other Ferals descended onto the tunnel like devils, picking up and dashing away with Yomies. Sending a strong surge of panic through the entire family.
They believed they were all going to die, but only seven members were abducted. The Ferals returned to the top of the hill, where they began to pick apart their prey.