Aweh Dynissi Torar's Story

“There are Shadders… Micah, Nezzy and the sky… is angry…,” Ely said, approaching Micah and Nazzy. Although he felt a slight tension between Nazzy and Ely, he knew that both of them could appreciate each others’ value. Despite their individual uniqueness, both of the girls resembled each to some extent. "You saw them too?" Nazzy questioned, a frown dominating her face, now. "Are you okay then? Did they get to you at all?" She'd begun to grab for girls arms, at which point Micah opted to pop out of the situation to let the girls do girl things.

Micah’s disassociation was erupted with a loud "Library!" The damn strangers! "Books!" The sea-dog scratched his head in dissatisfaction, wishing to avoid the traffic-ridden library at all costs. And the strangers. And the shadders. And the impending storm – a Hurricane, if Micah’s nose was right. For a moment, Micah flipped his heel back to his intended path and began wal – only to be interrupted by the sweet, green-haired girl.

"Do we...want to follow them, perhaps?" Nazzy stumbled to ask. "I mean, maybe, it might be a good idea. Libraries tend to be old buildings--that is, um, they're often foundation pieces to a town and, well, they tend to be built with the intent of lasting through the ages. If anything in this town could hold up against a hurricane, I think that might be our best bet, if--if you all think so too, that is." She'd avoided eye contact the entire time she spoke, gaze downcast to rest squarely on their chins. Micah hated that. He HATED not keeping eye contact. Can’t trust no dog that can’t see ya’ eye to eye. Ain’t got nothing but a knife for your back! But Nazzy wasn’t a dog. She was a girl. A girl! Not just a female, but a young woman yet to reach adulthood. Still in her prime. Micah knew to trust her. Micah trusted her more than he trusted himself.

He hadn’t much time to register her request, however, when a bright flash atop the library took flame. “THAT’S YOUR CUE TO RUN!” the group had heard from the roof of the library. He had less than a moment to react; shadders began swarming from all around the city, he felt it. Nazzy and Ely had seemed to run ahead of him when he heard Lucy’s voice shout “Micah! Get the girls in here!” Micah thought to himself, Dammit, that boy’s voice is gonna get me my guts cut someday.

Micah had blackened out, though he had only to assume that he ran ahead and lead the girls into the Library. As to why and how he now found his feet plainly planted in the middle of a library lobby, he wasn’t sure. The girls were there, including an unfamiliar yet friendly face, and of course Lucy. He offered Lucy a hug, opening his arms and staring at the other boy’s face with despair. Despair? Micah never felt despair. Indeed, sometimes he was the only one in the group that COULDN’T feel despair. Why on Earth had Lucy’s face forced an eruption of emotion and puppy-dog whimpering was beyond Micah.

”Alright, ladies, ‘seems we’re in here for the vespers. We might as well make the best of it. Introductions will have to be made when we have a more established nest, a’ight? Commands were Micah’s only way to cope in stressful situation. It was a characteristic he picked up in his fantasy, back when his crew and his ship were all he had and he had them well. His commands, however, were interrupted when the bright-colored strangers broke through the front door.

He took one look at them, and felt a new, resounding responsibility to an even larger group. A white-haired boy, an azure-haired boy and a pink-haired boy. Not that the hair bothered him at this point. Pink? He was already used to that with Lucy. Blue? Perfect! Reminded Micah of the endless seas. White? Means the boy wasn’t a shadder. All three looked unkempt, tense and not so friendly. At least they were all pretty cute looking. Damn my sea snake in the middle of a storm! Micah said to himself.

Taking a moment to breathe, he motioned for the three new boys to come closer to his growing group of pups. Without waiting for acknowledgement, he shouted loudly, ”We need to find ourselves a room that seems safe from shadders. This room is fine f’r now, but soon the outside will be crawlin’ with the creatures and they’ll see right through this glass. I ain’t lookin’ f’r heroes or martyrs, so we’re not splittin’ up. If you don’t want in, then stay here. But I’m gonna be lookin’ to make a fire, eat something, pass out and kiss somebody. Not exactly in that order. Come with me, we’ll cut through the belly of the beast. If not, have fun playing ‘buccaneer’s bet’ by yourself. Any questions?” With that he waited for questions and then motioned to whoever to follow him.

He went into the closest hallway and started down to find a set of double doors – they were oak, boring and exhausting. He tapped three times, out of habit, and broke them ajar. His knife drawn, Micah breached through the darkness of a large auditorium, possibly once a lecture hall. ”No shadders. Lucy, hand me that-” his words broke, finding himself falling on the floor and blacking out.