Legend Of Pandora

Chapter IX: Voices

The Bloodmixians were scared. They evacuated the village when the fire burst, and they knew by now their village is destroyed. They had nowhere to go, and if they continued running in the direction they currently were in, the Serpents would see them and open fire.

One of those Bloodmixians was a man named Alfe, which meant "None" in their language. He was the first and only Bloodmixian born with an anomaly-

He was entirely human.

Most Bloodmixians did not welcome him. He was often lonely and separate from the group. Eventually some people wanted to befriend him, though thanks to multiple years of social loneliness he did not have any idea how to treat them as friends, and in due course they became uninterested.

He only found pleasure at fighting. He had no opponents, nor did he have the gear, but it didn't stop him. He made a sword out of wood and sharpened it, and stole wheat from the farm in order to stuff it in a bag, that would serve as a training doll.

Though he had all lost that now. He left his sword at the house along with the doll, and it must have burnt to flames by this time.

He was also quite afraid of the future. They had no home, and the Serpents would start hunting for them the second they know that.

They were also in lack of a leader, since the box was opened before one of the candidates won. Ratte was dead, and they haven't seen Phoenix or Wolfe after it opened.

A few had also noticed the twins were gone as well.

* * *

Shae, Heeshe, Phoenix and Wolfe were on their way to the other village. Shae was still unconscious. The poison that the creature injected in her was slowly spreading through her veins. Wolfe hoped that the people in the other village would let them stay for a while.

Phoenix was the most optimistic about their plan. It was no surprise though; If she were in charge she would have happily let everyone in.

"Does anyone know the village we are going to?" Phoenix asked.

"I have heard of it but never visited." Wolfe answered. "I hope their leader would agree to welcome us. I know I wouldn't have."

"I would." She replied. "I also hope they can help Shae."

"I believe they can." Said Wolfe.

"The rest of our people are still out there." Heeshe reminded them.

"First we check whether the other village would want to house them. Leading hundreds of people to a village and than not being welcomed isn't a risk I'd like to take." Phoenix said.

"We don't even know where they are." Said Wolfe.

"I doubt they'll survive for long with the Serpents out there." Heeshe replied.

Wolfe noticed a person on a horse striding towards them. When he got closer, he noticed it was a essentially a man-horse.

"Greetings." He declared. "We have seen you coming from our watchtowers."

"Hello." Phoenix said. She wanted to introduce herself first, but Wolfe got to the point quickly.

"We need shelter for our people." He uttered. "Our village has been destroyed."

The man horse smiled. "Sure. How many?"

"Around 200." Wolfe answered.

The man-horse's smile wiped and he looked worried. "I'm not sure we can handle so many people, sir. I thought you had just meant a few."

"Can we talk to your leader?" Phoenix questioned.

"I'm afraid I'm the leader." He answered with a grin.

"Could you at the least treat my sister? She's been poisoned." Heeshe asked and looked at Shae.

"Probably. Poisoned by what?" He asked.

The three looked at each other. They did not really know what creature that was, and also they had not told the Man-horse of the box.

"It's a long story." Heeshe replied nervously. "We can tell you, but not at the moment. We need more privacy."

The man-horse Seemed confused, though definitely interested.

"We could discuss it over a dinner at my shack." He answered. "You must be starving."

Phoenix nodded and She, Wolfe, Heeshe, Shae and the man-horse started walking towards the village.

* * *

Shae stood in an empty, white room. She assumed it was a dream, or an hallucination, to be exact. This is not real. She thought.

I was poisoned. I must be unconscious at the moment."

Multiple shadows of creatures ran through the walls. Shrieking and growling was heard all across the room. She turned to her back, and saw one of those creatures that bit her.

She gasped and backed up a little.

"I just want to talk." The creature whispered slowly. Its voice was more of a growl.

"So talk." She said nervously and sent her arm to her back to draw out her sword, though it wasn't there.

"Do you belong?" He asked her.

"Yes. I am a Bloodmixian, and I belong to my people." She answered.

"Maybe you believe you do, but that would be foolish." He replied. "Wolfe would have cast you out if he was chosen, you know."

"Phoenix wouldn't." She declared.

"Phoenix, your beloved candidate is nothing but a scared fool." He uttered. "If she would be the leader, you would be wiped out in less than a week."

"My people won't betray me." She said.

"Said by any cast-out ever." He replied with a smile. It was pretty hard to miss, as his mouth was the only feature in his face.

"You know they would. You are nothing to them. A useless Monkey. Doesn't even fight."

"I saved them when the serpent came to take the box." She cried.

"That's a lie. If it weren't for the archers behind you, That serpent would have killed you." He said.

"Also, this serpent's attack is your fault. Even though you "saved" them, Fox was poisoned and killed. He didn't say so, but he was disappointed with you."

He continued.

"Because of his death, the brawl started." He said. "And the box was opened because of it."

Shae seemed confused, and the creature smiled.

"Don't you know? Your foolish friend, Haeie, opened it because Ratte died." He told her.

"How do you know all this?" She cried out.

"I was there." He answered. "I'm always there."

"This whole thing is your fault. The box, Your lord fox, everything."

He continued.

"You are nothing, Shae. A useless monkey girl." He mocked her. "But you could be more."

Shae felt the tears starting to roll down her cheeks.

"I'm listening." She cried.