The Chosen Phoenix III

Chapter 3- Fort Village

Moving zigzag through bushes; over logs; past rivers; past trees, Jyn started to see fainted shapes of what looked like triangles.

Mountains? They can't be that short... Jyn thought, only to realise that they weren't mountains at all. Gaping at the view, Jyn watched as children laughed and ran around, houses were in neat rows and people were pushing things in wagons or carrying them towards their destination. Jyn gasped in awe as she stared around. The people there soon noticed her and stood utterly still; all eyes were now on Jyn. Gulping, Jyn's look of awe melted into a look of uncertainty. She took one step into the sunlight, and the people started murmuring in shock, some children were pointing at her, whispering in each other's ears. Other's were doing the same, until someone from a distance yelled, ' THAT'S THE CHOSEN PHOENIX! WE'RE SAVED! '

Saved? What do they mean by that...? Jyn thought upon hearing that. The people started to cheer and clap triumphantly.

' We're saved! The Chosen Phoenix is here! We're saved! ' some people yelled, others yelled, ' We don't need to worry about the war anymore! ' or ' It's the Chosen Phoenix! I need an autograph... '

Jyn's mind was whirling like a potion being brewed, all the ingredients, which in her case are all the yells she overheard, being tossed into her mind. She looked over at Ben, who shrugged. Jyn could tell from the look on his face that he was just as confused as her. Zac, who immediately knew what their looks on their faces meant, stepped up and signalled silence.

' The Chosen Phoenix has returned, yes, but that doesn't mean the war will just end. '

' What war? ' Jyn asked without thinking. The people were back to their intense murmuring. 

' The war! It's happening right now! Aren't you supposed to know? ' one of the men in the village shouted.

' No! I only fought in two wars and those are the only wars I know! ' Jyn protested. The people's murmur grew louder and louder till a very hoarse- like voice was heard, ' SILENCE! '

The people stepped out of the way into a bow as a very, very old man, whom to Jyn seemed like 350- years- old or something, stepped slowly with his stick towards her.

' The war... Ms. Lesley— you don't remember? ' he squeaked. The old man seemed almost bald. He arched his back like a banana and nearly all his teeth were gone, if there were any parts that had hair, that would be his ears, nose, chin and a little bit on his head, and the they were all completely white in colour. His nose was crooked and his hands and arms were like twigs. 

' N- no. ' Jyn said honestly, trying really heard to recall what war they were talking about.

' He's the eldest of the village. ' Jyn could hear Zac from behind.

' Of course you won't... ' the man said, shaking his head slowly, ' please forgive me, Ms. Lesley, I forgot that that was 14 years ago. I'm Amon Fort, by the way, nice to meet you. And welcome back to Fort Village. '

' What? There was a war 14 years ago? But I was only three by then... ' Jyn looked around, her heart beating in confusion, and what did he mean by " welcome back "?

' Exactly why you can't recall it. Besides Asuss Quet, there was another war on cue. I'll tell you everything, if you please follow me to somewhere private. Mr. Copper may explore as much as he wants. '

Axel tapped with his claws gently on Jyn's shoulder, causing his talons to give out extreme warmth; Jyn could feel the soft brush of his feathers on her left, but it was not the right time to enjoy the comfort; she nodded.

' And the phoenix may come too. ' the man added stiffly, turning and walking away.

' You heard him, go ahead, ' said Ben from behind Jyn, who walked through the crowd, which was slowly parting. She could hear some of them who haven't finished their murmuring,' That's the Chosen Phoenix? That's the one we've been relying on all these years...? Poor thing... ' 

' She's just a child~ no older than my son... '

Jyn tried to ignore them and turned to the old man.

' I'll give you a little tour if you like, Ben. ' Zac offered. Ben nodded and the next moment they were nowhere to be seen in the clearing. Jyn sighed and followed the old man, with Leckeo trotting behind her.

The house was just as big as the Elliot House back in Elliot Village. Jyn wondered if this " eldest of our village " would rather be the leader of this village. She ambled in. The house was exactly the same, just that the furniture were more like something from the late centuries, and that they were all placed at different places. The furniture at Elliot House were all wooden, but some of them were edged with gold, while some of the furniture in this house only had rusty silver at the edges. Maybe this village doesn't like developing much... Jyn thought as she settled down on a brown leather- made armchair, still viewing every inch of the surroundings, trying to compare them with the ones she was used to. 

' Now, Ms. Lesley. What do you remember? ' Amon asked as he plopped clumsily onto a bigger armchair, which was, Jyn had just noticed the moment she turned, the only furniture that had at least one scrap of gold each by the edges.

' I-I don't remember anything, honestly... '

Amon seemed to give up so easily. He sighed and shook his head, mumbling a few words which somewhat made Jyn feel slightly offended. He flicked his hand, signalling her to leave.

' We'll have another talk sometime or the other, meanwhile I will look into this traumatising fact that you do not even remember a single glimpse of a past not even a little wolf pup would forget! '

Outside, Jyn saw Zac waiting for her outside. He stood there straight, hands overlapped to the front, with a gentle smile on his face. He looked like he was staring at something he was admiring— what? No, no... that's not possible, Jyn thought as she halted to look at him, her face growing red, before continuing, trying to act as normal as possible.

' Hey, Zac. What're you up to? ' Jyn asked with a small wave.

' Nothing, ' Zac replied with a small shrug, ' just waiting for you. Ben's at the Main Square, and your phoenix has gone out hunting. Shall we go? '

Jyn nodded as she followed Zac to the Main Square. Ben was busy digging his face into a bowl of slightly burnt fish.

' Mhmm... 'ey Zin! Oona dry zom ov deez veesh? Dey're reelly good! ' Jyn had no idea what he as saying through his muffled voice, but she knew when he handed her a stick, which neatly pierced through pieces of fish. 

' Sure, ' Jyn shrugged as she took a bite. Despite the burnt look of the fish, Jyn felt a taste that she would want to taste for the rest of her life. The most scrumptious food she had ever tasted, even better than the food back in Elliot Village. It was so good that she started to drool whilst chewing. She gulped before her drooling attracted attention. She turned to Ben and nodded. Ben grinned, taking her stick and stabbing into a few more pieces, handing it back to Jyn. Jyn gladly took it and began munching her way through. Zac was also enjoying the fish.

' We got it by a river at the border of Fort territory, ' Zac explained once he swallowed a mouthful of fish. ' I always go there myself to catch them. The river is so clear you can spot a fish swimming past the moment you reach the riverbank. ' 

' Wow, ' Jyn widened her eyes, ' can we go there sometime and catch some fish? '

' Sure, we'll get plenty of them! Just don't get too many. ' he chuckled.