Pompods

2

It had been twelve years since Oku's eventful hatching. The elders kept a watchful eye on him as he grew since being hatched bipedal had been a unique event. The elders had come to the conclusion that the Memees had simply tried to protect Oku in their odd little way as they were more susceptible to sensing the world's dangers.

Since that day, the Memees had dispersed themselves further and deeper into the forest than usual even though many could still be found playing in and around the village. Many for some unknown reason tended to enjoy being around Oku. Although they were unaware that he didn't share this sense with them.

Memees have a strange fascination with getting themselves under foot. Pompods generally avoided stepping on them out of courtesy; Oku on the other hand had no such compulsion. Whenever a Memee would get under foot, he would step on them fairly hard, making sure they gave out a good squeak. He would then proceed to kick them as hard as he could. It was sometimes difficult to ascertain who was having more fun, Oku or the Memees who gleefully squeaked and gurgled as they soared through the air.

If Elder Ino hadn't known better, he would have thought that Oku actually enjoyed doing this more than he should. Yet Oku never showed any emotion, no matter what it was he was doing. His features always remained fixed, which in turn made it hard for those around him to know how he felt.

Since his birth, no one was able to sense any emotion from him. For a species that prided itself on being able to sense how another felt, it left most unnerved to be around him. His razor sharp skin also made any physical contact with him impossible for all but two; his mother, Kaia and Zarezare's daughter, Zaree.

Elder Ino observed that Oku seemed to keep his skin hard on purpose except when either Zaree or Kaia touched him. That part of his body would instantly soften enough to prevent causing them injury.

As best as he could deduce, Oku kept his skin in this hardened state to protect himself as well as to keep others away from him. He was solitary in nature, minus the usual accompaniment of Memees that would follow him. Oku's physical appearance was like no other in the village.

Podlings in general remained one size from the time they hatched until their twelfth year. At which time the ascension ceremony would be performed to help them transition into their youngling stage. They would gather at the ceremonial stones and each would then take their turn in drinking a minor amount of water from the silver lake. The lake's water acted as a catalyst that helped the podlings evolve into whatever form they thought best suited them.

Some hardened their skin to help them become diggers or rock crushers, others grew strong limbs for lifting or running, while others chose to develop delicate tentacles to allow them fluid maneuverability or to feel those around them. Each podling chose its own form and each time a podling evolved, something new could be expected.

The only exception had been Ezo, who had decided that keeping his podling form was a much safer option than evolving into something which could potentially receive injury. On the day of his ascension, Ezo had simply chosen to increase his podling form threefold and create a skeletal form that free floated around a central skull.

With the floating bones he would create various incarnations of animals and creatures as he rolled around. Most of the time, he would simply make faces with them and direct his rude creations at Oku who would simply kick Ezo away from him without warning or change in expression. Seeing Ezo's predilection for inciting Oku, the elders agreed that his decision to keep his podling form had been the most intelligent thing he had or would ever do since.

Oku grew slightly every year, yet his bipedal and humanoid form remained relatively unchanged since his birth. His skin was rust earth coloured and resembled stone, spiked growths forming backward facing razors extended along his forearms to just past his elbows. Similar spiked razors had formed on his shins and extended up past his knees. His eyes were slightly sunken and though his head looked smooth, closer inspection would yield small spikes growing backwards, giving a slight semblance to hair. Although his face looked seamless, it wasn't until he opened his mouth that it revealed a jagged smile of sharp teeth.

Being his twelfth cycle year, Oku joined the other podlings for the ascension ceremony.

One by one the podlings took their turn to drink from the urn and would return to the center where they would then evolve into their secondary form.

When Oku sat in the circle of elders after drinking the urn's silver water, nothing happened. He returned to the altar and drank once more from the urn before returning to the center of the circle and waited again for his ascension to begin.

When again nothing happened, he stormed back to the urn and emptied its contents into his mouth. The elders protested, but found there was little they could do to stop him as silver splashed across his features to stream down his face and body. He returned once more to the circle where he stood and closed his eyes.

Many looked amongst themselves as others quietly whispered. All wondered if anything would happen.

Time passed and Oku opened his eyes to find his body still unchanged. Sadness could be felt as Oku's posture folded in on itself briefly before he righted himself with his fists clenched tightly. He thrust his head back and let loose a roar of fury and frustration. A sense of fear washed over all that were present as Oku's cry escalated from fear to blinding rage.

No one had ever felt such overwhelming rage, such pain as they did that day. Many were forced to retreat and disconnect themselves emotionally from the horrible onslaught of fear, rage and frustration that permeated the air. When a sense of peace was once again felt, they found Oku standing still and staring at himself. His humanoid form remained, but now visible lines segmented his body into armored pieces.

Oku had never shown any form of emotion until this day. Many of the new younglings had huddled themselves away from him, fearful of what they had just witnessed. Unlike the older Pompods, their inexperience had left them unable to completely block out the onslaught of emotion that had emanated from him.

As the elders looked to one another, they tried to discern what had transpired. Oku remained still, observing his minor change. Unpleased with the result, he walked out of the circle and backhanded the ceremonial urn into a hundred pieces and then kicked a Memee that had wandered into the circle's entrance. Unperturbed by its sudden change in direction, it gleefully gurgled as it soared high above.

The Elders' concern with Oku deepened. Until this day he had never shared himself with those around him. To have such an onslaught of strong emotions resonate from someone still so young and inexperienced worried many of what he could possibly do, or become.