DUOPIA

Chapter 5 - Taken

As James's eyes adjusted to the light, he noticed just how green the grass was around the cottage. The sun was close to setting over the horizon, out towards the ocean and the beach in the distance. He took a few steps with Riak helping him, carrying the weight off his injured leg.

A light brown dirt path winded down the small hill that lead into a street in the village. Small and humble homes of log cabins lined the paths leading to the ocean. Comfortably nestled in the valley with the Y shaped fishing dock and golden beach on one side, and great big green fields behind Riak's homestead on the other. The beauty of the landscape around James was mesmerising as he slowly made his way down the trail towards the cabins.

In the centre of the cluster of cabins appeared to be a clearing with a huge bonfire pit in the centre. James hobbled further down the trail, downhill which was a relief for James with his leg being all wrapped up. As he walked though, he could feel his leg starting to throb a bit less, which he took as a good sign.

Bruant was leading ahead of James, as James noticed a crowd of onlookers almost appear out of nowhere, slowly coming out of their homes and from down on the beach to meet at the bonfire pit.
They were all wearing similar wet suits as Riak's but of different colours and patterns, shapes and designs. All with blue shiny skin, big black oval eyes and no hair.
James started to notice the girls would wear beads and head dresses to dangle down to resemble what would be hair, which was quite beautiful he thought.
It reminded him of his mum a little, who was probably worried sick about him by now.

"Eternal balance my friends!" Bruant announced as he approached the crowd.
"Eternal balance!" The crowd preached back in unison.
"I bring with me a young visitor from the village of 'Earth'. He is still a little wobbly from an attack by Predatorians earlier this morning, so please show him the care and respect I know you all to possess." Bruant said.

He spoke with a raspy and loud tone so everyone could hear him. A soft murmur began as Bruant finished talking. James started to feel a wave of worry wash over him, not sure how this village of strange creatures would receive his presence positively. Riak feeling James starting to pull back and see the worried look on his face, knelt beside him.
"Don't mind the village, they'll be cautious at first but they will open up after they see that your intentions are pure." Riak whispered.

Instantly as Riak spoke, James was soothed and calm again, as if his voice was a cool glass water on a hot day.

"Thanks Riak." James responded.
"Alright, NOW!" Bruant cried out, which silenced the crowd.
"James, of Earth... Is in search of his brother. Another Child of Woman like himself. If anyone has – "
Bruant was silenced by a scream that rang out through the whole village. He spun his head fast and looked in the direction of the sound.
The crowd did the same thing, straining to see what it was.
"NOOO!" A distraught cry of pain went ringing through the air.
Bruant started to run towards the scream, followed by the crowd of onlookers. Taking off down to the far off cabins. James tried his best to keep up, with Riak following beside him.
A sound of many feet hitting the dirt suddenly stopped and gasps were heard along with cries and chatter.
James finally made it to where everyone was congregating. Some were racing past him in the opposite direction, in a daze of panic and fear, looking and searching for something.
"FIND THE YOUNG ONES!" Bruant belted at the top of his lungs.
James stopped and looked at Riak, the terror on his face was putting James on edge.

"Riak, what's happened?" James asked.
Riak let James go and took a few steps forward.
As the crowd dispersed to follow Bruant's orders, James finally could see the horror the crowd was hiding from sight.
At the front of the cabin door, in a pool of red blood, lay the body of a blue creature.
James went white, he'd never seen a body before, but there it was, in the footpath in front of him.
"James..." Riak stuttered, frozen by shock. "That's... One of the village Olders. She taught th-"
Before Riak could finish, screams and cries rang out across the whole village, deafening the sound of peace and calm that was heard moments ago, and replaced with pain and terror.
Bruant jogged up to Riak and grabbed his shoulder roughly, a serious hardened expression hung heavily on his grandfather's face.
"Gather the men, the young ones are no where to be seen." Bruant said.
Riak's jaw dropped, he stared into his grand father's eyes not sure whether or not to believe him.
"Where is Mother? And Nulluna?" Riak asked cautiously.
Bruant's eyes widened, realising they could be missing too, or worse.