Revolutions

26 - Inuxeq

As the morning light filters through the jungle, the creatures around us carry about their business while our determined march continues on. Amidst the vibrant foliage, a surge of relief courses through me with the imminent return to the embrace of home. I've lost track of how long I've been away, but with everything that's happened since I left to chase after Sianchu, Haluiqa, and the warrior party, it feels like countless seasons must have passed, when it hasn't even been a moon cycle.

Providing more relief is that I've managed to find Haluiqa, the Tuatiu leader. He still recovers from his wounds, occasionally having to stop our trek to take a break and clean his bandages, but knowing he is still alive brings me much hope that Iantana and Tuatiu can return to our way of life under his astute leadership.

Our feet drag along the jungle floor, and we are overwhelmed by the exhaustion from our respective journeys and the combat of supernatural. Combined, I'd predict there is one complete outfit among the three of us, as each of our garments are shredded or soiled with blood—from ourselves or those gray monsters.

"You're going to walk into Iantana wearing that?" I question Mexqutli's choice of outfit. He still wears those awful pants, and has patched together red and black cloth to form some kind of shirt—the colors clearly signaling his Ulxa origin—not to mention the slew of tattoos covering his arms and body.

"They're parts of the only items that aren't entirely torn to pieces or stained in dirt and blood," he says. He's fortunate to be traveling with two people who can vouch for him upon our arrival; if he's concerned about his clothing being torn to shreds, it will be nothing compared to what the Tuatiu will do to him.

A steady, rhythmic pounding echoes through the trees, and I feel the boom boom boomin my bones. Though we are still a good distance away from Iantana, my heart begins to race as shouts and screams overtake the noises of the jungle. The thump and crack of falling trees, the whoomp of heavy structures or mechanisms thudding to the ground, all startle me out of my sense of security and comfort.

The three of us look at each other with grave concern, and, without hesitation, race to the north toward the village. Though the path to Iantana has been roughly cleared, it isn't like the official roads, with all the trees and boulders removed. This path has been loosely and haphazardly made—after all, the Tuatiu didn't want much to do with the other factions of the continent until Haluiqa became leader. Therefore, we have to dodge and hurdle over fallen trees, or duck beneath low-hanging branches, swerving from one side to another to avoid any large stones or obstacles in our way.

When we arrive, the tall wooden walls along the village's perimeter have been all but destroyed, splintered and shattered with large chunks removed. Men yell and fire arrows from atop towers behind the fractured walls at the enemies below, and when I see who—or, rather, what—they're firing upon, my heart sinks: dozens and dozens of large creatures fill the scene with a sea of ashen gray skin, loosely hanging off bones and muscle and flapping about as they viciously swing their claws at the overwhelmed Tuatiu warriors.

The Tuatiu shoot arrows at the beasts, but the results are futile, as each one that pierces into the flesh doesn't deter the monsters from carrying on with their destruction. Other warriors confront the creatures directly, slashing helplessly in hopes of striking something to take them down, but ultimately retreating and using anything they can get their hands on to protect and defend themselves from the monsters' relentless attacks.

"Fire!" Mexqutli yells.

"We are!" a few of the warrior frustratedly shout in reply.

"No," Mexqutli says, his Ulxa accent making the statement sound more biting than he intends, "use fire to slow these beasts down. Or slit their throats. Grab torches to swing at them," he runs toward a group of warriors with staffs and sticks near them, picking up a few to demonstrate as he renacts his advice.