Chapter 1- Reunion
…In this world, no two creatures are made equal..
Power beyond ones wildest dreams~
Strength that seems to stretch the seams
Might that makes all I deem right~
And the means to quell any strife~
This mantra is how I believe the strong live their life, the lives of the prey are completely shaped by the predator, it is simply the circle of life…
"Huff..Huff.. Huff"
But no living being could take such a truth lying down.
"Ghhh.. *Hack!*.. Gh.."
Prey will resist, with every ounce of strength they can muster, to prolong a lesser life.
I dash though the luscious forest canopy, the trees blur at my relentless advance, but no matter how fast I run, my pursuer only gains on me.
There's no point in running, I can't escape and yet I can't bring my body to a stop, is it foolishness, or pride?
"Ack- Ahh… *Huff*.."
I push forward, running purely on fumes, my tank dried up a long, long, time ago, but I continue.
The desire to push on, despite a predetermined outcome, can only be described as one thing.
Will, a power I believe all creatures possess.
So, even if my steps slow, and my body breaks down, you haven't truly lost.. Until you stop..
Slip~
My knees buckle, and I tumble to the ground, "Gah!" I roll along the forest floor, before slamming against a large aged oak tree.
As I lay against the tree, the pursuer catches up, and I'm met with a horrid.. Bone chilling..
"I Gotcha!" An overjoyed woman cheered!
Me and the woman sit in the shade of a Gargantua tree, She sits on her knees while I'm sitting against it, checking my head for any bumps or bruises.
"Sigh.. it seems I lost… Again.." After running with all the breath I had, that monster still caught me.. Are all women like this?
Rustle, rustle.
"Hehe, Don't let it bother you, It's only natural you'd lose to me, no need to beat yourself about it.." She says in an annoyingly sweet voice.. "Gee.. Thanks.." I sigh
The Nice lady sitting with me is named Lyra. She acts as my tutor and occasional caretaker, she's the nicest woman I've ever met! (out of two.) So I call her auntie, even though we aren't related whatsoever. Lyra's a gorgeous woman, with a smooth velvety voice that tickles your ears, donning a cheap green sundress that hugged her figure, and long green locks that framed her porcelain-like face, and complimented her dazzling scarlet eyes.
If I were to compare her to an animal.. I'd say a rose, don't worry about what that's supposed to mean.
Rustle, Rustle-
She stopped rubbing my head and pulled out a textbook with "MATH" written in Huge bold Letters along the cover-
"Siiiiigh Do we have to learn more about math today auntie.."
"Now.. Don't be like that Orion. I Won Tag, so we get to study, that's the deal right? besides… If you do good on math today, I'll give you a reward!"
WOOOOSH
Instinctively my body hurls from the tree, over to in front of Auntie, Maybe if I'm good she will give me one of those, "Let's go Auntie! I'm ready to learn!!"
She Smiles, "Atta Boy Orion.." She opens the text book and sits it across her lap.
We practiced 7th grade math for about 30 minutes, then she pulled out a notebook and told me to complete all the problems.
"Heh, No Sweat auntie! I'll show you the results of my training," I politely take the notebook, and put everything I learned to the test.
After about 10 minutes I turn in my work, and let auntie check it over, after just glancing at the paper she immediately tells me to sit right beside her.
"So! How'd I do?" an embarrassed expression plasters on her face. "...How about we work our way through each problem you got wrong first." she said with a gentle voice.
"Ok!" The test had about 15 questions on it, so it shouldn't take long to go over the few I got wrong. We start at question one.
CheckAfter marking the question wrong, Auntie explains exactly why I got it wrong, even when Auntie is softly scolding me for getting a wrong question, she sounds so sweet.. If I ever get married in the future, I want it to be with a woman just like her..
Check, Check, Check, Check,
…Damn. I got 5 wrong in a row, and I thought those were the easy ones. Oh well, if I get like.. The 10 other question right that's like 80% right anyway-
Check, Check, Check, Check,
…Huh? Hold on a minute, what's going on.
Check, Check,- Hey.. Stop that. No no no-
Check, Check, Check CHECK!
Auntie smiles at me, but something off, "Oi.. Orion.. Were you paying attention at all?" She says in the same sweet, gentle tone.
I try to defend myself, "I-It's.. just an off day.." I stammer as I slowly back away from the beast.
Stomp, Stomp, Stomp,
But she pursues me, "Orion, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to solve "X+3=6" its copied directly from the book.."
"W-w-well In my defense.. VARIABLES ARE STUPID! WHY DOES A NUMBER NEED TO HIDE ANYWAY? IT A PUSSY OR SOME-SHIT!
Clasp I Cup my mouth realizing I accidentally let my true feelings out.
"Orion.. What did I tell you about cursing.. And you cursed directly at me this time," She walks away from me, and toward her bag sitting by the massive tree.
"Look, I wasn't cursing at YOU Lyra, I was cursing out Math, there is a difference-"
Unsheathe
Out of her bag, she pulled a Large black belt. Shit! She wasn't wearing it today, so I thought I was safe! Crappp! I gotta get outta here!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SHHH~
In Seconds I dash away, I'm gone like the wind, the tree's bend at my advance, i'm already miles away-
"To slow Orion-"
BAM! She suddenly appears in front of me, and stops my Trot like she was some sort of road block! I Fly back after ramming her full speed.
"Ooof! A-AghGHG!" I Attempt to Skitter away but there's no escape.
She strides to me and towers over me, Belt in hand and Raises it to Execute me.
"Wait! Please I'll try Harder I PROMISE-"
WHIP~
…
…
And so Ends A Typical morning, the weak, forever prey to the strong..
About 10 minutes later, we start walking back home, I rub my poor behind as I limp, dragging it through the woods... "You know Orion, you've become quite fast, one day, you might be able to get away from me." She says in the same gentle tone.
"Mmm. Thanks.." I spit, while we approach the house, the lush dense forest Thins, and arrive at a bountiful blue lake, where I see the second place I've ever called home. My house was a massive sturdy log cabin, hand built by my mother. All of its joints interlocked perfectly, apparently she used to make them quite often.
When we get home we find Mom resting in her Hammock, nestled between two trees hidden at the back of the house, as we round the corner, she takes her nose out of a book, and smirks.
"Well, well, well. It seems you got your Ass Beat again huh Kiddo," She chuckles to herself, her Azure hair swaying as she rocks in the hammock. "You failed your test again huh?"
Despite knowing exactly what happened, she appeared more amused than upset.
"I can't really blame yah though, I've never been more than a pretty face after all myself!" She Cackles, dying from her own joke.. Sigh.. I'm too in pain to care.. My poor toosh..
But Auntie can't let her relaxed attitude slide, "You dead beat! Your son failed his math test once again! And you're just brushing it off! What kind of mother are you!?" She wailed sick of Mom's antics.
"A Bad one? We've been over this Lyra~" She says in a teasing tone, purposely trying to get under her skin.
Lyra Grits her teeth, seething, "Ugh.. No matter what.. I can't let Orion end up like you.. Somehow.. I need to make sure he becomes a decent human being.." she solemnly swears to herself.
"Hehe.. You're always looking out for me bestie~" She says waaaay to cheer.. Hold on..
"What's got you so Giddy anyway? You're normally way more.. What's a nice way to say this.. Pissy?" I ask suspiciously, lidding my eyes and leaning forward.
"Hmm.. It's just your imagination.." She casually dismissed, but there was an unconvincing shade in her dispassionate voice.
I Lean in front of her and realize–
"Holy Shit! Is that my PERSONAL JOURNAL!" All of a sudden I realized Mom was clutching my Diary– er, Journal in her hands! reading it all casual like!!
"WHAT THE HELL!" I leap from the forest floor, and onto the Hammock, and try to pry it from her hands. But she does not simply give in..
"WOAH WOAH WOAH! I'm in the middle of this! You can't just snatch it from me brat!" she snarls
"What are you talking about! You purposely Looked into the Journal of my heart! Plundering all my poor innocent secrets! Now give it back, you Wench!"
"Hey watch your mouth! I went to your room to see what you wrote in your monster-pedia, and found this! By the time I realized what it was, I was already chillin in my Hammock! You wanted me to bother getting up and putting it back!" She spouts, defending her monstrous actions!
"GRRRRRR!!!" We growl at each other like Wild beasts, not budding on either side! Then-
Snap-
"WAAAAAAAAAHHHH-" The Hammock snaps from our tussle, and we both crash onto the dirt floor.
…After a few moments of silence, and untangling our limbs, we both rise, with me holding the book!
"Victory!" I Cheer! And mom just sighs, "Damn, that hammock wasn't cheap.. That's the 4th one this week.." while Lyra, still standing to the side, just chuckles.
"But Seriously Orion.. If your gonna have a Diary.. At least have something interesting in it.. "Dear diary… Today i went into the forest, Did Fuck-Shit, and went home!" I mean cooome on.." She throws out one last complaint before rising to her feet.
"I'm writing my feelings! Not trying to entertain you! Besides.. walking into the forest for no reason can be fun!" I retorted, honestly, Mom was way too wild..
"Sigh.. You two won't ever change will you…" Lyra says dispassionately, "Well it is what it is.. I guess I should make my exit then.."
As we walk back around the front of the house, mom speaks up.
"Hmm.. Leaving already then? You can stay for dinner, you know I'm cooking up something special.." She smirks, proud of her skills.
"Wow.. sure.. I can't wait to have some of your roasted meat, smoked meat, or grilled meat…" she says sarcastically.
Mom just rolls her eyes, "if it's good it's good.. No need to over complicate it.."
Lyra giggles and says " Maybe it's for the best.. You are a disaster when you try to make anything else.." Mom just frowns and flicks her off, and soon we wind up in front of the house, preparing to see Lyra off.
"Well safe travels, don't do anything I wouldn't do." As she begins to walk back towards the house, she notices she is practically caked in dirt, "Ah, Damn, it seems that little tumble got me messy. Come on Orion, let's take a bath in the lake."
"Um.. Gemini Isn't Orion a grown man now? Should you really be still having baths with him?"
But when Lyra asked mom that she looked genuinely confused, "Ehh? Whaddya mean? Orion is still just a baby, He won't be a real man till his balls drop,"
My Mother's Kinda crude.. I can't help but wonder how she and Lyra became friends.
"..You know what.. It's about time for me to go, I gotta get back to floor Dos, Enjoy Spoiling Orion.."
Mom looks smug and says, "Alright~ have fun! Try not to get into too much trouble! Oh.. and maybe you could tell me a little more about that guy you're chatting with next time you come though..."
…
Huh? A MAN But Auntie said I was the only man in her life! Ah! The betrayal! My heart shall never heal..
Plop-
I fall to my knees but neither of them seem to notice my despair.
"Heh.. heh.. maybe I'll tell you about it another time.. But I won't be back for at least 4 days (hopefully)" Said the LIAR!
"Oh… Heh well good luck!" Mom waves goodbye to auntie, and with tears in my eyes I do the same."
"Tell Katherine I said bye! Love you Orion, don't cry! I'll be back soon!" Said Auntie.
Auntie then starts to walk off north toward a Giant Pillar piercing the sky, known as the Tower, a place where all possibility meets. The Tower was a Giant Marble structure said to hold the stairway to heaven, though obviously I've never been in it. But apparently you can use it to cross into other dimensions from any period in time. To be honest, it'd be a dream to see what it's like inside one day.
Mom rises, and lets out a large YAWN~ as she stretches and says, "Welp lets go on into the lake Orion, you go on ahead, I'll catch up." She says as she strides into the house.
I nod, and strip myself of my shorts, "Just don't take too long!"
I Run along the soft grass and get ready to dive into the Gleaming azure lake, it sparkles as the sun bounces off it
WOOO SH
I Leap 12 feet into the air! And dive head first into Adam's ale.
"WOOOOOO!!."
SPLOOSH~
I slowly sink into the cool, refreshing, lake. As I do my entire body is enveloped in a soothing embrace, as I relax I see small fishies swimming though plants at the bottom of the lake.
Swoosh
Coming out of nowhere a tadpole flees from me, it swims past my head desperately running from the giant intruder. I watch it fiercely wag its tiny tail as it soars toward the bottom of the lake.
After admiring the simple lake life, I swim back up and resurface.
"HAHH!!"
I take my first breath since entering the lake. I wasn't running out of breath anytime soon, but it just felt like the right thing to do.
Right now, I'm over by the edge of the lake, on the opposite side of the house. Seems I wandered over here without realizing.
I start looking around, wondering when Mom's gonna join, It shouldn't take this long for her to-
ssssssssssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooo . . .
I hear a very peculiar sound, but when I look around, I don't see anything, nothing in the forest, or the lake, so I look up and see some sort of ball shooting toward the lake directly above me.
"Woah WOAH! WOAH!!"
I desperately swim away, and the Cannonball misses me by a hair.
SPL OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SHH!!
Me, and all the life inside the lake fly into sky when the meteor hits the water!
For a solid five seconds, we flail desperately in the air, then-
SPLASH!!
We all land back into the water, and the once peaceful existence of the lake is completely ruined.
"Fuwaaaah!"
Out the depths of the lake Emerges mom, she often likes to dive wildly into water, clueless to anything she might ruin though..
"DUDE! You coulda killed me!" I retaliated, but she just responded with "pff.. Ahaha! Don't worry Orion, I knew you were there, I just wanted to scare you a little bit. "
Brushing it off as if it was all planned, she gives a hearty laugh, sometimes it's a pain having such a rough mother..
"Sigh.." I watch mom splash around like a kid, she always said she loved swimming, so she uses baths as an excuse to play..
…but as I watch her I realize something, Mom's pretty muscular. She has a well-toned body. Clearly worked to its limit.
me on the other hand.. I've got these thin noodle arms. That makes me look like I'm still a kid.. I wonder if one day I'll be tall, and chiseled like-
Huh. You know I've never really thought about it. But me and mom look nothing alike.
I swim over to mom, who's still splashing around, "Hey mom, you know I never really realized.. but we don't really look anything alike. Do we?"
As I spoke I examined my reflection in the water, Black skin, black like coal tar. And messy pearly white hair, like some monster in a book.
Mom on the other hand looks much more "Human" like the people in the village. But no one has the same blue hair as her, similar to a dark blue sky.
"Oh, that's because- Uh.. well you see," as Mom spoke she looked troubled. She keeps trying to speak. But never finished her sentences, so I decided to speak up.
"Am I.. not your son?
Splash
Mom swims over to me and pats me on the head and says, "Nah, you're mine. I had you banging in my belly for 9 whole months. It's just.. you almost entirely take after your father.
Ah, Dad. A topic that always gets shut down when I ask too much about it, either that or I'd get a vague answer. "He's just not around anymore." or "You don't have to worry about him, Orion."
Even so, I decided to give it another try.
"Hey mom, why isn't dad around?" I get it's probably painful to talk about, but I think I have a right to know, as I ask I look mom dead in her eyes.
Splash Splash
She fumbles around in the water when I ask, staying silent. Seemingly hoping I'll forget about it.
"Come on! Why do you gotta be like this, what are you scared of?-"
"He wasn't interested," Mom suddenly replies all casually, she seemingly was finally ready to say what was on her mind.
"Uh, what do you mean?" I ask, then she continues "I mean, he wasn't interested in being a family."
Mom turns away from me.
Swish swish
She then swims out toward the lake edge, and sits on it,
"He told me, he didn't want you, and to get rid of you, I didn't agree with that."
Mom clamps her hands together, and.. They seem to be shaking a little bit, so I swim toward her.
"...He said that a Kid was a deal breaker, so get rid of it, or we're through."
I lift myself out of the water, and sit along the shore, right next to mom.
"...Look Orion, I'm sorry, I wish you had a father, I wish you could do more things. I wish you could play with other kids.."
Mom rests her arm on my shoulder, she stares at the lake, as her jaded reflection stares back at her.
"I wish… you had a better mo-"
PAH!
I swung my right arm and punched mom in the stomach as hard as I could. Of course she doesn't flinch, but it shuts her up.
"Honestly, his lost right?"
Mom looks at me confused, she seems shocked by what I said, strange, I would have figured she already knew.
"I have everything I need sitting right next to me, so don't worry too much, or I'll get worried too. Ok?"
Mom continues to stare at me dumbfounded then-
"AHAHAHAHAAH!"
SMACK
GH! She slaps my naked back! Nearly winding me! It feels like a thousand pin needles stabbed me!
"Your DAMN right! Come on Orion, let's get dressed and eat dinner," she Stands and trots cheerfully around the lake, toward the house.
Yes! It seems she's doing better now, for a second there I was afraid she might end up really sad. But thankfully I fixed everything.
I jump to my feet and follow her from behind, she hums as we loop right Infront of the house, and she starts opening the door–
Bam!
I bump into her from behind as she stands in front of the door, in shock, frozen like a statue.
"Uh, mom?"
She stands there. Still motionless, for a good five seconds.. Then.
"Wh-Huh?"
She turns to look at me confused.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Mom, stares off into the sky, clearly something's up, but she just looks at me and says.
"Nah, just got confused for a second there," she turns the door knob and walks inside. Creak-
Hm.. I guess.. I'll play along for now. I walk inside, behind her. And shut the door.
After out bath, me and mom ate dinner as the sun finally hid itself away,
Clack-
She sets down a giant plate of just meat in front of me. Ah, just the smell alone makes my mouth water, I only eat meat, but I never tire of it, there's something so satisfying about eating something that used to be alive!
I dig in, not taking my time, but I still eat with dignity, I don't wanna brag.. But I have learned a little bit of etiquette..
"Hey, Orion, when you get done. Meet me in my room, I wanna show you something."
"Mmmm… ok."
Mom leaves the kitchen and heads through the living room, upstairs, and towards her room.
Hm.. I think I'll just eat the rest later and go see what she needs.
I wrap my plate up in some napkins, and head upstairs to Mom's room.
Tap, Tap, Tap,
I knock on the door, and wait for her to let me in.
Bang! CLACK! CLINK!
I hear her.. Maybe looking for something I think?
Creak-
Inside, I see a rather plain room, mom never bothered to really decorate it, just a room filled with the bare minimum, just a desk, a chair and a bed.
"Come, sit." She motions me over to the bed, while she's digging through a drawer.
"Ok," I do as she says and plop down on the bed, it squeaks as I land on it.
"Sigh, where's this damn- Oh here," Mom pulls out a GIANT book the size of my torso! Uh oh.. Please don't be what i think it is…
"Uh.. mom.. Isn't.. A little late for studying.."
Squeak Mom softs sits on the bed while the book rests in her lap.
"Heh.. Don't worry Orion. This isn't a textbook, It's much more important than that, this book.. It's the truth."
"Hm? The truth?" I can't help being puzzled by what she means, but she continues.
"This book.. It's filled with all the things I've wanted to talk about with you about, but didn't feel like I could. I think I'm finally ready to share with you a bit more.. I mean. Fully."
"Huh? Neat I guess.. But why now?" something about this feels kind of off.."
"W-well, you've just turned 12, that means you're starting to grow up! I thought you were strong enough to learn the truth."
She makes a weak excuse, but I'll ignore it, "Well if you say so," I start to flip open the book-
SLAM!
Huh? All of a sudden Mom slammed the book shut when I tried to open it, "what's the matter?" I ask
"If.. you can, don't open the book until tomorrow.. The Book is more like insurance."
"What's insurance?" I ask, "Uh.. you know what. Don't worry about it Orion, Just keep the book in your room and you can read it in the morning,"
PAT-
She pats me on the back, "Why don't you go get some shut eye, I'll make some Bacon in the morning."
Hm.. I decided to do as she says, "Good night Mom!" I begin to leave the room, when she says something right before I close the door.
"Goodnight Orion, I love you." I turn toward her and say, "Love you too.."
Creak- Dink.
I walk toward my room to the right, at the end of the hall, the wood floor groans with every step I take
Creak Creak Creak-
I then walk into my room, and retire to my cozy bed, decorated with stuffed animals. And lay there motionlessly for a while, pretending to sleep.
After about 20 minutes I hear a sound at my door.
The door creaks as something opens my door, but I remain motionless. It then vanishes, closing the door as quietly as it can.
Tap Tap Tap
I hear a sound slowly leave the door, and go down stairs, out the front door, after I wait I rise out of my bed.
Squeak-
I then sit criss crossed on top of the bed and aimlessly stare off into space. Mom has something important to do, I'm not sure what.. But it seems she can't tell me.. Oh well, it's best not to worry her anyway. I genuinely don't believe there is a force in this world Mom can't overcome. So I'll just wait till she comes back.
Part 1/2- END