Eon

Chapter 16

In the midst of a waning day the Chesons gathered themselves and prepared to head north, up the plains and into the northern plateaus. The natives were eager to set off, to run from the coming torrent, compacting their livelihoods into sacks and crates which would be carried away, as they had done so many times before. The Far-Sky Cheson seemed tired, not quite as agile or alert as their Huron brothers.They sat on the plains and watched Eon's evening in silence. A group of Far-Sky clerics had gone out to perform their strange rituals which the Hurons mocked openly, earning the ire of the others which had gathered to witness their sacred vows.

Two female Cheson found one another on the outskirts of the village and embraced one another openly, both carrying an infant in their arms. They began to speak to one another enthusiastically, every so often laughing or nodding their heads. The infants sat in their mother's arms, sleeping, their strange slanted faces and odd eyes peaceful and without incident. One of the mothers gestured towards the other Cheson's infant and smiled quietly, and then the two set off into the center of the Huron establishment, their laughter trailing behind them.

Joey, Mason, and the other Insurgents watched these instances play out at a distance, on a hill overlooking the village. Joey smiled, a blade of grass in between his teeth, and leaned back towards the hulking Mason.

"You know, up close, they're a lot like us," he said.

Mason nodded. "Maybe too much like us."

Joey became passive then. He continued to suck on the grass but his characteristic smile had left him.

Not an hour had passed and already the Hurons were dissembling their tents and packing them accordingly. The long poles that made up the inner-workings of the Huron dwellings stood tall and transfixed, slanting towards the sun. The plains drifted by silently, without discourse. The sky was orange but the color was filtering out and soon the blue would return, the tranquil blue that warmed the native's hearts and eased the troubles of the troubled Insurgents, both of whom had lost so much.

Carson sat with his back to the world below him, looking out at the sky and its drifting clouds and streaks of violet. The wind caressed his face and for a moment all of his troubles went away, if only for a moment. Soon he was back in the realities which had succumbed him and so he gathered himself and limped towards Mason and Joey on his makeshift cane.

Joey turned to the approaching Carson and waved at him. "I think they're almost ready. Boy, they work fast Carson. Like a fucking machine."

Carson nodded and looked out towards the village. He said nothing but there was a frown on his face.

"You alright, Carson?" Mason asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Carson replied, hiding away his inner-emotions in the next instant. "Are we ready?"

"All things considered," Joey said and then laughed his shrill laugh. Mason rolled his eyes and got up and called out to the others and soon they were ascending the hill and meeting with the stoic Han who looked towards them neutrally. As the Insurgents approached the ambassador bowed to them.

"We are ready, Insurgents," Han said, and then pointed towards the direction of the descending sun. "We will be traveling north. If we should seperate, continue to move away from the sun in the morning, and towards it in the evening. You will come upon a forest made of crystal. It will be hard to miss."

"Alright," Carson said quietly.

"I will be joining the others at the front. Should your people need anything, tell the closest guard and they will pass it down the line. Good luck, Insurgents. May Eon seek us out in the dark."