Pompods

7

Elder Ino was worried about Oku's wellbeing even though he had only suffered minor cuts that had healed fairly quickly. He was concerned that the incident with the Tarks had somehow changed him in ways that they were unaware of.

On this day, Elder Ino again visited Zaree to check on their progress.

He could feel the remnants of a tremor as he arrived to find them standing outside.

"I am fine," she said to Oku. "The barricade is back in place and we have someone watching it now, do not worry about me."

Oku simply nodded, but remained close as he sat outside the hut and looked out over the valley.

Once inside, Elder Ino asked Zaree about what had happened and she mentioned the initial encounter with the beasts and how she had sought safety in the tree. But said little about how Oku had managed to kill the beasts.

"I felt as if in a dream, all I wished to do was wake up. But my dream was a nightmare so I shut my eyes tight in the hope that I would wake. Everything happened so quickly, I'm not sure if what I saw was true," she said as she tried to recall the events that still visibly left her shaken. "The only thing I remember is seeing... was something beautiful as I wiped the tears away. It felt unreal until I was able to focus and saw Oku climbing up to me."

He had asked her about the blue light as its occurrence baffled him, but all she could answer about it was that it was beautiful. When he pressed her for more information about what she meant by 'two forms' she did not wish to discuss it further. Instead she looked out the window towards Oku, who refused to leave her side, even when she had reassured him.

"And how is Oku doing?" he asked.

She was about to respond when she looked out the window and saw Oku stand up to observe something in the horizon.

"I think someone is coming, Elder Ino," she said as she exited.

Outside, Elder Ino recognized the familiar movements of the new arrival.

"Azrol, what brings you to us in such a hurry?" queried the elder.

"Elder... Ino..." gasped Azrol as she gestured wildly in the direction of the village.

"Take a deep breath, young one. Get a hold of your words."

"No time... the quake..."

"Yes, we felt it as well," interrupted Elder Ino. "But it was only a minor tremor."

"No. Here perhaps... it was," panted Azrol as she drew in a deep breath before continuing. "I'm sorry Elder. We attempted to hold them back, but the quake was greatest at the southern gate. The Tark beasts were driven into a frenzy by it and they were attempting to break through a section of the wall that suffered structural damage."

"Is Kaia alright? She was supposed to bring food to Puk and Tar as they watched over the gate today," she asked with the hope that she was alright. Oku had stood immobile and rigid since Azrol's arrival and she knew he would be worried, even if no one could see any outward signs of it.

"After the tremors ended, we could see the Tarks running towards the barricade. It was holding, Kaia returned to the village to warn the others to prepare themselves in case they did manage to break through."

"So she made it safely to the village," said Zaree with the hope that this information would ease any worry Oku had.

"Yes, she made it safely to the village and warned everyone to fortify themselves indoors. She instructed Bado, Amo, Azli and I to try and find you, Elder Ino. She sent Gato to find Elder Cavin, Toko, Manu and Popo in case the Tarks breached the village. Then I flew as swiftly as I could to find you."