A Mirage Of Milk And Honey

Chapter 33 - Waning Patience

The Split was like a giant tunnel had been carved through the mountain, creating a massive arch. Honey had failed to notice it because covering a large portion of the opening was a curtain of greenery. Vines and plants with white and yellow flowers hung over the opening.

A call was made as the ship approached, and Honey watched in shock as the curtain was pulled, creating a gap large enough for the Moā'Kai to slip through until it had entered the tunnel. The opening was closed as the ship's stern passed through the threshold, and Honey squinted in the darkness of the tunnel, the reflection of the sun on the water peeking through the gaps between the vines.

It wasn't long before the tunnel seemed to open up into a cavern, and Honey's mouth fell open as she took in the dozen ships—all of different shapes and sizes—moored inside the cavern. The different mooring spaces were outlined by piers that sectioned off different spaces for the ships, walkways present that led into tunnels in the mountain.

With the help of Anatui, The Moā'Kai was manoeuvred into one of the closest spaces, and the crew began to disembark the vehicle with their personal belongings, making way for the dockworkers to begin unloading the marked cargo.

Honey, Chip, Zemira and Aedis followed with the crew, huddled in the centre. The wooden docks led off into numerous tunnels throughout the mountain of Coli'Aywa. In the passageways, the large group passed giant rooms filled with different chests and barrels all containing goods that had been discovered, pillaged or even scavenged from the many travels. Different areas were marked with different signs. Food, materials, weaponry and such. There were areas sectioned off for arrival or trade, ready to be hauled aboard one of Trosna's ships which would cross the oceans to distant lands and trade.

Every now and then, the call of a Oisia could be heard. The sound unsettled Honey at first, and it wasn't until they passed one of the store rooms and she saw the many birds that her mind eased because they all seemed happy.

They were kept in a large arena like room, each with their own makeshift 'stable' stacked atop the other offering them the appropriate amount of room.

When Honey had first met the Cronyp, she'd imagined they kept the Oisia in awful conditions but the twittering and hooting of the many different breeds was not sad or unhappy, but instead content.

Still, she bit her lip worriedly as she was reminded that many of those birds would be transported far off to who knew where.

"There's nothing we can do." Chip whispered to her comfortingly as they passed the room, and the large mass of crewmembers continued forward.

Eventually, the passage led to a T junction where Striker, his wives and Anatui waited, ready to pull the quartet aside.

"I am afraid you will not be heading the same way as the crew." Striker said, and Honey spied Jortías giving her a concerned almost sympathetic look as he passed by.

His expression worried her.

"Where will we be going then?" Aedis asked forwardly, as though he already knew the answer.

*

Honey hadn't been sure what she'd expected, however thinking on it, a prison cell made sense.

Zemira wasn't quite as content to sit back and be subdued to yet another iron barred cage. She was restless as she paced about the room, fruitlessly pulling at the thick iron bars every now and then.

Aedis sighed frustratedly. Not at the situation, but at his dark haired companion. "Just take a seat, Zemira." 

"They could have at least given us a room." Zemira huffed, but she followed them nevertheless.