A Nagas tale

to stop a train wreck

I had wasted so much time recovering from my aura fatigue. I walk back up to the ancestor's fang. 'Little one, have you recovered?' He asks. I smile at the fang "I am feeling a lot better." I answer. 'Alright, this time I will only show you what happened, This world is not hospitable for those with Auras.' He assures me. I nod sitting at the base of his fang. "Can I ask why the aura bonds became less common?" I ask leaning back on the fang. 'The aura bond presents its own risks although less detrimental.' He explains. 'If a person is not compatible with the other it may result in the death of the weakest.' I recall Kogen's mom telling me about the girls who died at his hands. "So people chose to avoid the aura bond," I murmur understanding how families would try to avoid the death of their children if it meant going with the weaker options. 'Yes, they decided to choose those with weaker auras to avoid death but in doing so breeding out the auras from the generations that they birthed.' He explains. I look up at the ceiling 'But, they were not aware of how detrimental that would be as the village in my forest was isolated and did not evolve their battle techniques.' He explains "battle techniques?" I mumble. 'The snakes had been evolving on their own growing their technology so greatly that my people had no time to regroup.' He showed me the guns the snakes were using. I feel a bit sad 'Normally those projectiles would be useless against a beastmen with a strong aura.' He explains "Oh yeah, we can make our auras strong enough to block the bullets." I mutter remembering what Dad taught me before. 'My people were forced into the cave to hide from their hunters. I watched them for days ration food that was already going bad.' He shows me the cave cramped and dark with people hiding. 'My son did his best to keep them safe using a barrier at the door to hide my location.' He falls quiet again. I look at the runes on the walls. "You must be tired," I whisper standing up. I look around the walls "I will read these If you don't mind." I murmur. "So anything new?" Dad walks up to me. I give him my notebook. "hm, so Aura bonding has been less popular due to the risks." he mutters. I nod "Other than that, I know these people were forced into hiding in this cave, mind helping me document these runes? maybe the story is in the walls." I point out. He nods "Alright, I'll get some lights in here so I can see better." He offers. I nod looking up at the fang "I hope you don't mind." I whisper before heading for more information. I spend the rest of the day writing down the runes reading the story they told. This is from the eyes of one of the village people. The villager described how the Naga descendant did his best to keep everyone in the cave fed and alive. He had a pregnant wife who he cherished so much so he made sure she ate his portion of food. However, when it came time for his wife to deliver her child. She and the child both died due to the mother being unable to handle the Young Nagas' large Aura. Their deaths left the Leading Naga wifeless and heirless, I look at the drawing of the Naga standing at a gravestone. I feel my heart ache for this man "I can't believe all of this happened in such a short time." I look up at Dad who seemed destroyed. I put my hands together praying he and his family rest peacefully together. "I was unaware of such a tragedy," he whispers. I turn to the fang finding it's silent. "Doc! Miss Audrey! It's time for some chow!" I turn to Sam who pokes his head out from around the corner. I nod knowing the ancestor was not going to answer my questions for tonight. I lead Dad back to the camp knowing how much this story would hurt. 'I mean to lose a friend so quickly and be unable to do anything about it. I would be heartbroken.' I put my hand on my dad's back rubbing it so he could understand I was there. The next day I walk back to the fang my eyes capturing a small ball of red flame flickering from wall to wall. 'Oh! child!' I smile hearing the Ancestors voice. "are you recovered?" I ask as I step into the room 'I am little one.' He chuckles 'I watched you all day yesterday.' he tells me. I nod "I want to understand what happened to this world for it to be considered a purgatory, and what happened to my dad's friend." He sighs 'I tried to help my son. who was weak from the shortage of food and grief-stricken from the loss of his wife and child.' He explains. I turn to the pictures of the Naga. 'My son begged for my aid.' He sounds sad. 'In my anger at those that harmed my home.' He chokes. 'I ate this world, leaving it nothing but a shell of its former self.' He confesses. I step towards him "You ate?" I ask. 'I stripped the remaining souls in this world the right to live long lives and deprived them of their auras.' He explains. "So you are punishing?" I ask. He falls silent 'I am, those who are still alive in this world are descendants of the people who did not aid my people and those who caused their demise.' His explanation sends a shiver down my back. 'Those bibles we found before.' It suddenly clicked why that religious group protected the area. 'they wanted the ancestor's forgiveness!' I flinch hearing a loud blast. I turn to the mouth of the cave where the sound is booming from. 'what's going on!?' I take a step towards the mouth. The sound of gunfire starts ringing loudly being amplified by the cave walls. "Get the doc and Audrey out of here!" I hear the general shout orders. The smell of blood starts staining the air around me. 'They have come to purge the naga children!' I turn to the fang "T... They? who are they!?" I ask. 'The decedents of the snake tribe.' he huffs in anger.  "Audrey!" I turn to see Dad running to me. I gasp as a bullet hits my shoulder pushing me to the fang. I scream in pain as dad quickly drags me behind the Ancestors fang.