The Becoming of the Chosen (DWD) (532 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 2 on 9 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by SilvrWolf (View user info) at 2005-11-30 09:05:17 EST
Deep Water Dreams - Part 2
Chapter 3 - The Becoming of the Chosen
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<I'm scrapping the last chapter (3) of this series as it seemed to stall me in where I was looking for the story to go. I've decided to let Ch'atalo have a larger, solitary part in this story and focus on a blossoming internal struggle. I'm still open to suggestions and criticism.
The first two chapters of part 2:
(#1) http://www.ubersite.com/m/63268
(#2) http://www.ubersite.com/m/67142
The link list to all chapters of part 1: http://www.ubersite.com/m/56904 >
******
An unusually dark, dull gray sky met his eyes as Ch'atalo opened them. The acrid smell of sulfur and smoke hung heavily in his lungs, causing him to hack and heave violently. The desiccated limbs of the bush beneath him raked and tore at his bruised flesh, causing him to wince in pain. Coughing deeply, the dried limbs of the shrub snapped beneath the weight of his body. He howled as the impact with the hard ground instantly reminded him of his injured knee and the events that had brought him to this place. A fine snow of ash fell from the sky, blanketing everything around him as he surveyed his surroundings and his eyes adjusted to the unusual dusk.
In the valley below, nothing familiar greeted his gaze. Everything he had once known was gone. It was so alien to him at first that he momentarily believed he was still unconscious. Plumes of smoke rose from a red, luminescent lake covering what was once his home. In fact, nothing remotely recognizable remained there; it was as if his homeland had never existed. He could not even make out where the Ascension Temple had once towered above the valley floor. Ch'atalo's heart sank and a single tear fell down his cheek as he remembered his family and the thousands of his people who surely had perished in the cataclysmic events. He had no idea how long he had lain on the hillside in his cataleptic state but it had been long enough for everything he had known to be consumed by fire and those fantastic, horrific beasts. For a moment, he wished he could have endured their certain terror if only to save one of them and in that moment, he realized that he was truly alone.
The words of Pao'al and the mission appointed to him began echoing through Ch'atalo's mind. The creatures that had been in the valley before would not harm him, although there was no life of any kind to be seen now. The Lake of Salt was at least a four-day journey south of the valley and with his knee being injured, it would take even longer. He sat upright, ignoring the pain that wracked his body and pulled his feet beneath him. He struggled to his feet and limped along the rocky hillside, kicking up small clouds of ash as he dragged his injured leg. He would not fail his master in his given task. After all, there was nothing left here for him to do.
For two days he walked, stopping only to rest his wounded knee and meditate as Pao'al had taught him so many years ago. The dark of nightfall was only a minor inconvenience to him as the valley of molten rock illuminated the ashen skies with an orange-red glow and the pallid daylight was only slightly brighter. At first, his thirst was barely noticeable; a minor inconvenience in light of his situation, but soon it grew to a nearly intolerable level.
On the fourth day, Ch'atalo had nearly collapsed from exhaustion and dehydration. He kicked the still-deepening ash away from beneath a dead tree and began to meditate once again. At some point in his deliberation, three strange symbols began forming in his thoughts. He didn't understand what they were or why they were there, but knew they had to be significant.
He snapped from his contemplative state and immediately started drawing the symbols in the ash at his side - a serpent wound around a trident, a crescent moon with a single star cradled inside and a trapezoid - forming a triangle of glyphs with the trapezoid at the pinnacle. The ground shuddered beneath the symbols and collapsed several inches, creating a small depression. The point of a single rock nudged through the soil and cinders and Ch'atalo reached for it. With a bit of effort he pulled the rock from the ground. As he studied the strange stone, crystalline water began filling the vacant fissure. He laid the stone to the side of the hole and watched in awe as the liquid began spilling out of the depression and slowly trickled down the hill, starting to clear the ash as it went. Wonder gave way to his thirst and he began to drink the water and splashing it on his chapped face. Finally quenched, he leaned back against the rough bark of the tree and pondered this strange development.
This had surely been magic and in many ways, it frightened him. Magic had been forbidden since the time of the goddess-queen, Ma'tala. He remembered Pao'al's stories of how the First Era was nearly destroyed by the perversion of the mystical art into a means of personal gain and revenge by Ma'tala and her followers. It was the only time a king or queen was banished from ascension and the Ancient Ones then granted Pao'al his reign to lead the people. Pao'al hastily outlawed all magic in order to protect his people and the destiny of the First Era. Ch'atalo, although ashamed that he had broken an ancient law, wondered if this was why Pao'al had occasionally called him the Chosen.
If there were no longer people to spoil the art of magic, would the law still be relevant?
Was there any need for shame when he was the last person left to follow the laws established by an extinct society?
"Absurd," he said out loud, shocked at the sound of his own raspy voice after four days of silence. That sort of self-indulgent thought is likely what caused the downfall of magic in the first place, but this was magic for survival, not personal gain.
He leaned back against the rough bark of the tree and closed his eyes. The glowing sword wielded by the warrior in blue-white armor fell upon his head with terrifying quickness and malevolent intent. He snapped his eyes open and gasped for breath. His heart pounding, he looked around frantically.
"Just a dream," he thought to himself.
A shriek unlike anything he had ever heard before echoed throughout the hillside around him. He apparently wasn't alone, after all.
User Reviews
Submitted by Alter (user info) at 2007-09-26 20:48:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No, Comment.
Submitted by mbstateside (user info) at 2005-12-12 14:35:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-12-12 11:08:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Glad you're continuing this. It's been a while.
Submitted by ih8u2man (user info) at 2005-12-05 19:43:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by SilvrWolf (user info) at 2005-07-22 14:17:28 (#)
Ranking: -2
Yes, in this crowd of 20,000+ users, I'm sure we'll take notice of someone so controversial and original.
Exit stage right, junior.
You said this about me once. I was recently ranked 268 bitch.
Good post by the way. Just wanted to throw that at ya!
Submitted by SilvrWolf (user info) at 2005-11-30 14:48:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No, I also want money. So until he makes it to the NFL, I'll leave him be.
And if his hand is that big, he'll have no need for two-liters.
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2005-11-30 14:40:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't know exactly what the fuck is going on with this story anymore, but I like what I read here. Keep up the good work, and remember that I will gut you if you think that you're getting anywhere near my daughter's boyfriend. Yeah, he's captain of the defense in football, his hair is like golden barley, and his hand can cover my face, but you can't seriously think that I'm going to call him for you and ask if he likes the internet and having 2 litres stuck up his ass. I bet the moron doesn't even know how to turn on a computer, or drink soda. Is that what you want? Physical beauty and nothing else? Is that ALL you want Silvr?
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-11-30 13:26:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good stuff.
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2005-11-30 11:43:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
dude, i have at least eleven stockings hanging from my wall right now.
Submitted by EatMeCompletely (user info) at 2005-11-30 09:52:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I appreciate you reading my story. I don't have the time to read all of these at work. I have, however, saved the links and will be reading them soon...