Ch. 1
Run from Death
The wind howled, coursing through a large opening in the cavern ceiling, stirring dust and bringing little reprieve to the night’s humid air. Nuyani turned in her bedroll, but sleep remained elusive as a constant throb pulsed from the center of her body.
‘By Lord Kelvert’s will, what is happening?” she asked, invoking the name of her deity for guidance. She sat up and placed a hand over her stomach. A festive drum beat away within her stomach at a rapid pace, too fast and constant for a heartbeat. Yet, none of the resonance could be felt by her hand. No pain or sound rose from the strange pulses as they passed through her and out. The ghostly pulses strengthened as she dwelled on the sensation, becoming deeper. Only adding to the confusion was the soft throb of her heart, a handspan higher.
“What is this?” Nuyani asked. Licking her lips, she found her tongue dry and rose to fetch water. She became sensitive to the condition of every muscle stiffening despite her bedroll and the humid draft carrying specks of sand pelting her face.
It did not help she remained dressed in runner’s wear as her leather-wrapped hand brushed against the hide clothing. A single article made of red leather covered her torso with short sleeves, and wooden buttons fastened shut to keep the clothing tight and harder to snag on brush. A hood was stitched to the top with a fitted brim to remain secure on her brow and prevent wind from blowing it back. On each of her limbs, she wore leather bindings and cords all the way down until they laced between her fingers and toes. The tough material protected against brush and beast but could do little to resist the annual sandstorms capable of stripping flesh from bone. The winds were powerful enough to carry man, woman, or child miles away in its gale lasting for days. Through the darkness, Nuyani sauntered a few paces away with closed eyes. She knelt low and reached past a rock ledge and into the confines of a basket.
‘Where are you?’ she thought while grumbling unintelligibly. Her fingers then ran over a clay bowl. She removed the dish from the basket before searching with her other hand for a jar lid. Finding the small nob, Nuyani lifted the top and plunged the bowl into the cool water.
“By his shine, what is this?” Nuyani groaned. The rapid beat grew stronger and harsh, calling her attention as it echoed out into the area surrounding her. As if her hands became the air itself, she could feel the worn stone floor, circulating dust and course surface of the basket and jar with every wave passing through a small radius around her. Yet, some of the waves were uneven, becoming distorted toward her front. A resistance pushing against the beat felt as if someone repeatedly jammed a finger into her stomach. Nuyani opened her ember glowing eyes as a sudden blue light filled the large cavern walls. Darkness faded, revealing dozens of dust-ridden huts casting long shadows against the cavern walls. She froze with her mouth agape as she looked upon the visage of a woman slowly rising above the ground. Her entire decrepit body was made of light, with the details of the stone wall showing through her form. Her visitor’s sparse hair cascaded about in the air as if it were submerged in water.
‘What is that thing?’ Nuyani asked, looking at the lower legs gradually disappearing with their feet gone altogether, every finger nearly three times the natural length and thinned to the tip as claws. Even from the backside, the figure’s drooping jaw passed her shoulder and collar bone.
Nuyani could not speak. A strange cold passed through her garments and nipped at her skin. The light figure flew about the cavern, passing through the rooves of each hut. Its body rippling like a ribbon in each pass. As the light died and reemerged, Nuyani stayed still. Her body trembled as she released the bowl, letting it sink.
‘Is this a spirit? What are you? Please. You aren’t a demon, are you?’ she wanted to ask, only to find her voice stolen. ‘Lord Kelvert, I beg you. Please guide me,’ she prayed.
“Run,” a sharp whisper sounded in her voice. Nuyani blinked, finding herself exposed but unnoticed by the apparition.
She stayed low, moving toward her stone ax, knives, and pouches bearing smaller tools, poisons, and herbs. Nuyani turned toward a shadowed path cutting through the stone wall, making her way for the exit. As she inched near the tunnel, the throbbing in her stomach shifted in the direction of the disturbance growing in pressure, stifling the beat further, but at her flank. Nuyani turned about, finding the apparition’s head peeking out of the stone floor only a few paces away. She looked into the voided eyes bearing a small iridescent glint at their center. The cold enwrapped Nuyani as the specter’s jaw descended to mid-chest. A blood-turning lament filled the area and echoed from the stone walls around them. Pain filled Nuyani’s ears as she knelt before the invader. The pulse dulled, and her vision grew dark with light draining into the specter’s eyes.
‘Great Lord, am I to be taken now? After all these years, is it time? Do you blame me? Please. I only want to live,’ Nuyani thought. The growing chill penetrated through her body, sending a shiver down her spine and limbs. Her visitor reeled an arm back, claw-like fingers extended.
“Run,” the whisper snapped once more as the pulse returned, repelling the cold and trembling. Every muscle was filled with renewed strength as the woman leaned back, dodging the swipe. Nuyani turned toward her exit and sprinted down the narrow path. Her arms and knees grazed the stone walls as she followed the soft silver glow overhead from flowers growing on vines clinging to the ceiling.
‘Thank you, Great Lord,’ Nuyani prayed with tears streaming across her cheeks. She reached the end of the silver path. Wind swept into her face as the curling silhouette of the cliff entrance and stone ceiling stood before her against the night sky. She immediately broke toward the east, running down a slope until the rocky floor turned to dirt. With a clear path, Nuyani cut through the land at full speed, leaving dust trails taller than herself, and charging through the brush and shrubs with abandon. The wind stung her eyes, but Nuyani did not slow for such discomfort as the distorted resonance warned her of the specter’s presence. Death echoed in her thoughts.
She did not stop until a branch slid beneath her arm and side, cutting the exposed skin through a frayed hole in her suit. Nuyani cried out as she slid to a stop, burying her feet in the dirt as she reached to clutch the wound. The woman then knelt below one of the taller bushes growing out of a small dune and looked to the sky for passing shadows of blood-manes. Only the stars laid bare surrounding the two moons of Kelvert in crescent. Nuyani leaned forward, trying to catch her breath as she inspected her wound. Blood covered her hand as a sting rose from a short gale revealing the cut was only skin deep. Nuyani gritted her teeth as she looked back toward her home. The cliffs were a thin line of shadow against the night sky, with only a single gap.
Breathing rapidly, she leaned back against the small dune and looked toward the moons. One was larger and held a green tint, while the other held a soft blue. Such a night for her people was considered a sign to reflect and rest but, if she remained asleep, Nuyani shivered at the thought of the apparition’s presence. Not even the beasts of the land disturbed her home yet, another threat arrived. Nuyani’s heart continued hammering away above the rapid drumming radiating from her stomach. She compared both beats with a second look. Her heart felt tangible with short, strong palpations and subtle shaking of her chest she could barely notice. The ethereal drum was different. It held sway over her senses, making her acutely aware of her body and surroundings.
‘I don’t know what this is, but Lord Kelvert has granted me a chance,’ Nuyani thought as she focused on the ebb. The rapid waves kept a strong tempo within her, only to reach a fraction of the strength as they emitted from her and coursed through the air. She could feel the breeze passing by on her arms and legs as if the leather binds were never there. Small grains and pebbles pricked at her skin beneath the thick crimson leather. Slowly she could feel the world around her.
‘Great Lord, what is this you’ve given me?’ the runner wondered as she tried to decipher the resonant sensation.
The waves became thinner the further they reached, growing contorted and shifting at her right.
‘What is…’ her thoughts ceased as the loud cries of an animal broke the night’s silence. Nuyani looked toward the south, peeking only slightly over her shrub as two more blue lights pierced through the brush. Nuyani could hear the stomp of hooves and final groans of life from the animals. The thinner waves reaching the area became even more skewed around the beasts only to ease in their distortion once more as lights shot skyward before arching toward the west.
“No,” she muttered while covering her lips. ‘They’re death. There’s more. They must be from the demon lands. They must have passed the gate,’ she concluded. The animal cries ended, followed by a moment of silence. The disturbance of the pulses shifted, growing stiffer. Nuyani shot to her feet as the blue lights revealed their approach. The waves dulled in a small portion at her side. Looking to the west, she found the previous apparition approaching. Nuyani raced on, heading toward the east with her pursuers close behind. Both fists were clenched tight, threatening to snap the binds covering them. Despite the night heat, a chill crawled up her back as the subtle creaking of bone echoed clearly in her ears despite the rushing wind. Nuyani did not dare turn and see their faces, but the voided eyes' visage was clear in her mind. Leaning forward, Nuyani ran harder, pulling away from the specters in gradual inches. A line of shadow appeared on the ground before her and closed in. The runner leaped forth, crossing over a wide gap as the moon glows glimmered on the water surface of a river filled with water bites eager for a meal. Nuyani landed on the other side, crushing a small dune robbing her of some speed. A swipe whistled past her ear, spurring Nuyani on.
‘Lord Kelvert, what must I do? How will I escape?’ the runner questioned as she looked about the drylands. Her foe could skulk through any barrier and was nearly as fast. Another line of shadow grew closer. Nuyani could feel the weights against the rear of her core. The sources mixed and surged like rapid waters containing small beads, each threatening to spill and topple her. Nuyani landed on the other side of the river and entered a field of tall grass. Ear-piercing howls rose from the apparitions engulfing her.
Her mind dulled. Numbness encased her. Her body grew limp, causing her to roll across the ground until she reached a clearing. A herd of tall horns awoke and rose to escape. Each beast had thick red coats and small tails. Their faces were long with white fur and two twisting horns growing from the top of their brow pointing toward the sky. Despite their large size, the creatures jumped high into the air and raced off with speed and grace. The specters stopped. The tall blades of grass-covered Nuyani; their attention turned to the animals. Awaking to the sound of groaning beasts once more, Nuyani’s eyes shifted about. She lay in a twisted heap, unable to move. The numb sensation holding her slowly faded, replaced by burning pain and violent shaking. Once again, the cold crept through her back just beneath the skin.
‘Why can’t I move?’ she thought as more cries and hard thuds sounded.
Her heartbeat echoed in her ears as she remembered the pulse from her stomach. Placing her attention on the core, it remained in a soft murmur compared to its prior hum.
‘What is this sense? C…can this help me?’ Nuyani questioned as flashes of blue passed through the blades of grass. ‘Focus.’
Her gaze remained anchored to one spot on the ground. Her thoughts ceased. The small vibrations grew stronger, passing through every limb. Their waves were chaotic and uneven as different portions varied from weak to strong. Nuyani kept her mind clear. The pulses grew more robust and balanced. Each raced on until the small quantities grew distorted. Keeping her focus, the vibrations stayed strong as the shallow beads returned; passing waves showed the spirits shifting around her. Smaller beads appeared in the resonating sense only to disappear seconds later. A moment later, another thud signaled a beast falling to the earth.
‘Are they taking life?’ Nuyani questioned, seeing how easily death occurred from their touch.
Her fingers twitched as the echo coursed through her. She struggled, clawing at the ground, moving slowly through the grass. The specters claimed more victims in their wake. New pressures rose then dispersed. Nuyani kept focused, strengthening the ring of each pulse, and the chill melted away.
Nuyani then felt one of the beads of water sway her way. She turned to her side. One of the specters charged forth, reaching out to grab her. Nuyani lifted her arm in defense. The two collided as the specter twisted in the air, stunned. Nuyani rolled a few more times in the grass.
‘I blocked it!’ Nuyani stopped and jumped to her feet. She looked with wide eyes at the twisting figure adrift in the air. The specter stopped turning only to right itself. It then released a cry before its body faded from sight. Silence followed. Nuyani kept low in a stance and reached for her knife. No blue lights shined but, she was aware of the beads shifting on the surface of her core encircling her.
‘I can stop them. Just nee…’
One of the specters revealed themselves with a flash of light, nearly forcing Nuyani to close her eyes. The runner took a blind swipe at her foe only to pass through the apparition. The spirit did the same. Nuyani’s reflexes allowed her to dodge a fatal blow, but the claws passed through her forearm's leather bindings and raked down her left.
Nuyani screamed as she tore away. A single pulse erupted from her body with an orange aura. The specter retreated as well, cloaking itself in the night. Nuyani looked around. Her foes stayed at bay covered in an unseen veil, yet they weighed against her core all the same.
‘Why did it pass through?’
Nuyani studied the resonance. The beats were slower and softer than before, giving her enough sense to locate the apparitions, but paled in the strength needed to harm them. Nuyani gritted her teeth. Her arm was numb once more, with only the sensation of warm blood trickling through the wraps as her only feeling. Under the grip, the bindings were loose. She stole a glance at her hand. The fingers were shriveled around the handle of the stone knife with wrinkled skin. Nuyani looked forward and retrieved her other blade. The vibrations grew. A bead swayed, growing distinct. Nuyani waited as the press increased. The very air at her right flank grew cold. Nuyani sliced at the air. Blue flames burst forth, revealing the apparition as its arm was cut through at the elbow with ease. Slicing through her pursuer felt like cutting a thin wet cloth.
Her foe wailed, staggered from the blow. Nuyani leaped forth and struck again, stabbing into the spirit’s chest. A final cry rose as the spirit burst into countless blue embers, slowly descending and dying out. Ignoring the sight, Nuyani turned to another bead fast approaching and ducked as the spirit revealed themselves. Claws sliced through the air. Nuyani turned about, ready to retaliate, only for the third apparition to release another howl. The sound grew muffled from the blood turning cry. Nuyani glared at the howling spirit as a small portion of cold formed, but none hindered her movements. The runner lunged at the specter. Its ally could not stop her as she closed the distance and gave a horizontal slash through the neck. A final wail was released from the head, flipping in the air before bursting into the same embers.
‘They can’t move if they scream,’ Nuyani concluded. She could feel her left arm returning to life with the pulses dispersing the cold.
Her remaining foe did not wait, turning in the air to fly west. Its body rippled, trailing behind the head. Nuyani’s brow furrowed before she sped off after the specter. She could not allow such an elusive foe to go free. Pain ran through her body. Her forearm stung with every foot strike but, she could not give in. The specter dived into the dirt as the two raced toward the west. Nuyani paid little mind to its trick following the slosh and sway of its presence only a few feet below. The line of shadow appeared once more. Nuyani leaped over. The apparition emerged from the steep riverbank and into the opposite side. The two continued cutting through the land. Nuyani narrowed her eyes to the horizon. She could see the river fast approaching. Careful to align herself with the specter, she slowly inched forward until she nearly passed the apparition. The river grew near, and Nuyani lunged in a shallow arch. The apparition emerged just below her, close enough for a wild swipe to sheer through the specter’s back. Another cascade of embers rained over the water. The water bites clamored for an empty feast.
Nuyani twisted in the air, attempting to roll off her back, but found her course careening into the edge. The soft dirt did little to cushion the impact as she whipped forward. Both knives flew from her grasp, sending her tumbling on and stopping beneath another shrub bearing small violet flowers. Nuyani wheezed. Her lungs burned from the sudden impact and constant running. Dirt soiled her clothing and face as she held a dazed stare into the night sky. A knife fell beside her. The pulses dulled, leaving her limbs heavy and unbearable.
‘Great Lord, I live. Thank you. What power have you given me? Why do I have this? Am I supposed to fight these things? Please, tell me. Were they right about me? I can touch spirits. I guess it is true now,’ the woman thought.
“I guess I am the witch,” Nuyani rasped. A sudden white glow then emerged from Nuyani’s side. The woman sat up, prepared for another attack, wincing in pain.
“Admitting it doesn’t absolve your crimes, witch,” a man’s voice echoed. Nuyani shot him a glare and looked toward her left to find a skull half-buried in the dirt. The bush grew out of the left eye socket. The man before her was tall and well-toned. Like her, he had dark brown skin. He glared at her with black eyes and scratched his head through a short afro. His bush-like goatee emphasized his frown, showing his disappointment in her survival. From his neck down to mid-chest were bloody claw marks symbolizing his death. Bloodstains remained on his shredded light brown tunic. Many of those who perished with great want, their spirits never pass, lingering and haunting the lands in a familiar vessel from their bodies to small trinkets or personal items and take years to accept their death before passing.
‘At least you are a spirit I know,’ Nuyani thought before she retorted. “And what crime is that, hunter? Not dying to murderers?” Her voice grew weak. Waves of fatigue dampened what little strength remained.
“Existing witch. How many deaths are piled on your shoulders? By the Great Lord, you should be…”
“I am living thanks to his will! You linger here because of your own fault, To’anu!”
“Don’t use my name,” the man demanded. His half-empty quiver swayed in his movements. The man kept his glare before he turned away.
Nuyani smirked. “What? You agree, then? You’re only dead for trying to kill me. You aren’t on my shoulders. Realize that and be free.” Her fists clenched in the dirt. It did little to comfort having any death related to her.
The man turned to her narrowing his eyes, and tilted his chin to the woman. “Seems visitors have come to take your corrupted spirit, witch. I wonder why they fled toward the demon lands. Clearly, they want you home.”
Nuyani narrowed her own eyes at the spirit. She swayed side to side, her vision doubling. “I’d take them for your friends first. Stalking someone never a bother to others. The Great Lord watches over me and leads me with this g-gift to defeat them. I li-ive thanks to his will.”
The man chuckled. “Finding comfort in delusion?”
“…In my survival.”
“Keep your comfort then. At least be of some use, witch.” The man’s words were suddenly missing their spiteful edge as his gaze fell to the cliff gap. Nuyani looked at him, pondering his thoughts. His hatred dimmed. “They must be yours, Nuyani. They must be after us.” A tremble rose in the man’s voice.
The words grew muffled in her ears. Her head lowered further and further with strength seeping away. “I h-have nothing to do with th-them and don’t use m…” She collapsed in the dirt. Nuyani’s senses dulled with only the small press of a bead near her core remaining. Its weight then faded once she became unconscious.
To’anu shook his head. “Tell me you lie, witch. Tell me your end removes those things. Aren’t the beasts enough? Aren’t the storms? Please tell me you lie. If not… Lord Kelvert, I plead to you. Guide her in any way to protect them. If her words are true, please lead her to protect them. May she forgive us.” The spirit shrank into a small white wisp and receded into the skull.