The Nibiru Effect

Memory 37

We travel for hours before taking another break. Jonn and Kara take advantage of the halt to discuss their plans for finding Avalon once we reach Arkania. I'm tempted to put in my two cents, but I doubt Jonn will listen to anything I have to say, so I decide to use this time to talk to Korri.

"Tell me about Arkania," I urge.

"What do you want to know?"

"What kind of people live there? Are they korrigans?"

"They're arkanes."

"Arkanes?"

"Tall humanoids," clarifies Korri. "Tall and thin."

"What do they look like?"

"It varies," he says. "They can change colour," he adds when he notices my furrowed brow.

"Like korrigans?"

Korri nods.

"Are there other arkane cities besides Arkania?"

"Plenty, but Arkania is the largest. It's why we korrigans steer clear of it."

"Why?"

Korri seems hesitant to answer, but he does his best to explain.

"Korrigans and arkanes don't get along. But it wasn't always that way. Long ago, both species coexisted peacefully. Korrigans stayed in their volcanos and—"

"Wait," I interrupt. "Korrigans used to live in volcanos?"

Korri nods.

"The korrigan race is ancient. Many generations ago, our ancestors lived in volcanos. According to legend, they spent their days shovelling lava."

I momentarily get distracted by Jonn and Kara's bickering, but I forget all about it when Korri continues his story.

"As I was saying, korrigans lived in volcanos while arkanes remained in their cities. All was well until they ventured out of their respective territories. Arkanes claimed the korrigans were the first to trespass. Korrigans accused the arkanes of the same. No one knows who started it, but the arkanes ended it. They attacked the korrigans. Countless died. Those who didn't were taken prisoner and forced to serve the arkanes as slaves. For many generations, korrigans were forced to toil away in misery."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," says Korri. "Anyway, the korrigans eventually rebelled, and slavery was abolished, but many were those who still viewed korrigans as lesser beings. Most of the korrigans left and were never seen again. A few stayed behind, and within a few generations, the two species had mixed. That's how forest korrigans first came to be."

"Forest korrigans?"

"It's what we call the descendants of the children born from korrigans and arkanes. I should point out that, shortly after the appearance of the first forest korrigans, pureblood korrigans were referred to as lava korrigans. With time, many forgot about the past, and forest korrigans became known simply as korrigans."

"What happened to the lava korrigans?"

"No one knows," says Korri. "Some believe they returned to their volcanos and live sheltered lives, which, if you ask me, sounds horrible. Others believe they died out and are now extinct." The slight smile that curls Korri's lips tells me there's something he's not telling me.

"What do you think happened?" I ask, but the ground starts shaking before he can answer.

"What's happening?" asks Kara, looking around.

Jonn has taken a defensive stance—his knees are bent, and his knife is raised. His furrowed brow tells me he's just as oblivious to the nature of the tremors as I am, but at least he's ready to take on any challenge. Unlike me.

I stand there, completely frozen, as the rumbling intensifies. My first thought is that it's an earthquake, but that theory crumbles as soon as the sound of cracking branches reaches my ears.

"Something is coming," says Jonn. "Something big."

There's no way for us to identify the source of the trembling, so we wait. Somehow, that's worse than running for our lives. Each second seems to last an eternity. Just when I can't take it anymore, a massive shape emerges from the forest.

It's a Triceratops. No. That's not true. It's a whole herd of Triceratops. And they're heading rightfor us.