Caidoz

Chapter 31

"I was born and raised in a farway village called Alkalurops. It was a distinct place, not many people there, for the smells of the herd chased them all away. It was a simple place, really. Built on a small hill and extending into the valley below. That was where we kept our flocks of sheep for it was the only way the poor village could afford to live. We never traded with anyone but the people in it, for there was no one else. The wool made our clothes and produced us meat to survive."

I listened patiently, however I was getting a bit confused. Where were the Great Bears he promised to tell us of?
   I hope he isn't planning to lie. Procyon pretended to fall asleep in his chair.
   Boötes went on. "From the few positions given in the village, Herdsman was the highest honor. It was also called a Shepard. I am proud to say my family was always given thus place of rank as it was passed down through every generation. My father guarded and protected the flock of the village.

   "Ha, if the citizens knew a constellarmation was protecting them, they would have all fainted in terror. But, that's besides the point. He never told the people what he was protecting them from, but they knew it was a monster. This was his staff, actually. Given to me from every generation before."
   My eyes fell to the staff at his side. The missing large chunks suddenly seemed threatening and violent. The giant scratch marks particularly roared for attention and the wicked white thing at the curved inward point was exclaiming for notice.

   Procyon yawned loudly, his tongue rolling slightly.
   "If you are asleep, then stay it, boy." Boötes said. He then scowled. "Where was I again?"
   "Your father protected the village from a monster." I said, reminding him.
   He nodded quickly and said, "Oh, yeah. Thanks. As I was saying, he protected it from a monster. No one knew it for what it truly was, but him. Every day he would come home exhausted and beaten, only to return at dawn. Sometimes, the monster ventured off and he would fight for the people there, chasing it back to our village so he could fight it easily there.

   "He always sat upon the hill, watching and waiting for the creature that intimidated his flock. When I was finally of age, he passed me thus staff. It was my turn to protect the village and I would be excepted to do it alone. Before I took my post, I had always trained and prepared my muscles and skills for combat. Much longer than your friend there." He pointed to Procyon, who was still pretending to sleep.
  Annoyance was zapping every corner of my body and my hands tingle from his feelings.

  "I don't think he liked that." I said.
   Boötes only snickered. "How would you know? Besides it is the truth. I have trained longer because I'm older. I could basically be his parent, at my age."
   The boy beside me almost fell out of his chair. He turned angrily to Boötes with his face crimson in rage. "I'm glad that's not true, or else I would have turned out a rusted piece of clockwork just like you!" He shouted. Tension was screaming in my ears. His fists were clenched, his eyes narrowed, his lips tightened.

   "I find I must know where you learned that vocabulary of yours, boy." Boötes said.
   Procyon growled loudly, his emotions rising higher. "I find I must know why you are so nosy! Stay out of my business!"
   The older man sighed with a grin on his face.

   Some people will just never lose their childlike features, I thought with a smile.
   Procyon turned around again and laid his head back on the back on the chair, closing his eyes.
   I regarded Boötes with an embarrassed look. Sorry, I mouthed.
   He shrugged.
   I made a hand motion for him to continue.

"Right. Now, my father couldn't be with me for the job as there was only one Herdsman. But he could prepare me. Or at least do so best he could. I learned of my new enemy while sitting on that hill. It was powerful, strong and cunning. Something different then what I ever thought. That was where I first learned of the Great Bear."
   His enemy was the Great Bear? Wait a second...

   "That isn't what you promised me." I said, reaching to grab my energy flow as the Crab scuttled menacingly inside me.

"Calm down, Princess. I haven't finished my explanation. Yes, the Great Bear. Not bears. There was never two. Not until very recently, about fifteen years ago. Anyways, I was waiting on that hill, figuring my father may have pulled the blind over my eyes. He was probably lying that entire time, but he hadn't been. I learned thus at about midnight. I was waiting there, just about to leave for home to sleep. That's when I saw it.

   "White giant paws, larger than the size of the trees. It was extremely tall and big. How my father had stopped it before me, I had no idea. It was bellowing a massive roar from its brown muzzle and small brown eyebrows narrowed in hate. Its coat was that of the night, blending in perfectly if it was only it was smaller. It was nothing I could face. Or so I thought. I will not go into specifics, but I gave it taste of the newest of the Boötes generation. It seemed it in my genes. It was a horrific fight that created my bloodlurst.

   "I panged for the next night after. When I returned home, my father was concerned that I had been excited by the fight. He spoke of fighting for the people, but why?" He chuckled. "I still don't understand it. I liked it, and if I did it for anyone, it would be for me."
   Procyon shifted uneasily in his chair. For a split second, I felt a brutal thing from him. It was blinding me and starting to strangle my windpipe. Red covered my vision and heat washed around me. Help!  I stifled a cry of pain and it was gone.

   The boy looked confusedly at me."Something wrong?" He asked.
   "Forget it, Procyon. It's about... you know."
   His eyes widened in understanding and he mouthed, your emotions?
   "No, yours. That feeling... It's... Different."
   He avoided my gaze. Whatever he had felt, it wasn't good. It was a emotion he shouldn't be feeling at his age. At his mindset. At his inner thoughts.