Board Thread:Fun and Games/@comment-31986068-20160429231407/@comment-26510374-20170630043734

inb4 u guys have mental breakdown and assassinate some head of state

CHAPTER NINE

The next day, Rain and Sparrow awoke quickly and hurried to dress themselves- an unknown animal or human had supplied the room with fresh clothes that fit them.

They were met at the door by Roe. “Your first class is History,” he said excitedly, as if he was about to begin his training for the first time. “Branch is teaching it...I would question, but I trust Gratil’s judgment.” He turned and padded down the hall, gesturing with his tail for them to follow.

They came to the History room, which appeared to be a library. In the center, some Healers Rain recognized stood. A brown serpent thing was coiled around some kind of raised post you might put a birdcage on.

“Hello!” said the serpent eagerly as Rain and Sparrow sat down. “I’m Branch. An apothecary.”

More animals filed into the room. Illaw and Seshlen, sitting beside Branch, made a peculiar whistling noise, drawing the attention of the newcomers.

“Today,” said Illaw, “we will learn about when, how, and where our ancestor tribe Kai-Paa-Gak formed.”

What appeared to be a small, young ivory-colored horse swept forward eagerly to listen. Branch seemed uncomfortable by all this attention, his body shifting about the post uneasily.

The horse, which upon closer inspection, Rain realized, had a large, ebony horn protruding from its head, happily turned towards them and said, in a rather idle, distant voice, “This is my very first History class. You’re new here too, I presume?”

Rain nodded. “My name is--”

“Rain,” the unicorn interrupted. “Everyone knows. You’re the only special human. Oh, and your sister too.”

A white otter wielding a dagger nearby overheard this and butted in angrily. “What about The Naturalist, Prism? He’ll always be the best. I thought you said so yourself a while ago.”

A flicker of unease flashed through the unicorn’s eyes for a split second, quickly extinguished and replaced by the previous apathetic glaze.

“The Naturalist, as far as I’m concerned,” she retorted, waving her mane about, “is not part of any omen or prophecy. Therefore, Rain and Sparrow are better.”

“I’m seeing The Naturalist today,” Rain said suddenly, remembering Fireblaze’s words and supposing Bellde would be in the healers’ den.

“Why?” the otter queried. “Are you becoming a Forager?” She paused, then added, “I’m Frostbyte, by the way. Healer-in-training.”

“And I’m Prism,” the unicorn put in. “Nice to meet you.”

Rain replied the same and looked about for Sparrow, who was several feet away and conversing with Condor. Side by side, they looked nearly identical.

Soon after, the small crowd piped down, drawing their attention to the Healers.

Illaw glanced at Branch, nodding curtly, and stepped to the side.

The serpent gulped, looking about at the dozens of eyes staring directly into his own. Seshlen muttered something into his ear, causing Branch to close his eyes for a moment and then reopen them. He cleared his throat, looking at the ceiling, trying to find his voice.

Rain felt sympathy for him. Though everyone in sight appeared to be patient and there were no judgmental looks or exchanging of glances, Branch was not really paying attention to anyone in the crowd.

Finally, he cleared his throat and returned his gaze to somewhere within the group of animals.

“Kai-Paa-Gak,” he began, “formed as a sort of mutual agreement between species-specific, disorganized tribes across the globe. It’s supposed that the idea was invented and primarily spread by griffins in the Middle East- what is now Raikn, Pakine, Sauilioik, and Irikl, or Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

“The idea of one supportive, protective group was very appealing to most, for all animals tired of fighting one another over petty disputes, so it spread and spread and one day doves, acting as messengers, brought world animal leaders together to discuss this idea.

“So finally, they came together as a multi-species group, Kai-Paa-Gak being an anagram for Kipaa Kagaa, which translates to ‘beast kin’ from a very early and ancient Animalun dialect.”

Branch paused, allowing the animals about him to exchange short conversations. Rain was stunned. All this time, she thought, while kingdoms and wars went on, animals were preoccupied with this.

“For a long time, Kai-Paa-Gak’s members lived in peace with each other. Much like the Powhatan, Ojibwe and other Native American tribes, Kai-Paa-Gak shared the same vast piece of territory, but it was made up of many villages of animals.

“For a time everyone was content, until one day 26 different leaders from 26 different villages began to realize they did not want to be part of Nii-Paa-Gak anymore. They traveled from village to village, recruiting more animals for their own tribes, until finally, with enough members, the 26 leaders and their recruits left Kai-Paa-Gak and traveled to what is now America.

“One leader in particular, Slykin, came up with the idea of using the Greek alphabet for their tribe names. Slykin, a phoenix, was born in what is now Greece, so they were determined to leave a mark from their homeland on this New World.

“The other leaders, after viewing an example drawn up by the phoenix, agreed, taking a liking to the symbols and names of the letters. In time, they had sorted out who was who, and most began their descent into the New World.

“However, they at first for a time stayed in Beringia or Alaska, so it was agreed that once a month, the leaders and some of their comrades would use magic to disappear from wherever they were to Mount Igikpak and the Place of Dreams- Gates of the Arctic.”

Branch finished rather dramatically, and then bowed his head weakly. Rain noticed how insecure and anxious he was in front of crowds, even though he did outstandingly in front of them just now. Everyone seemed to share Rain’s thoughts, as more than half started clapping or stomping their paws on the ground.

Branch looked terrified by this sudden outburst of noise aimed at him and flew straight off the birdcage post and out of the room.

Illaw rolled her eyes, slipping through the crowd in Branch’s wake.

Everyone shortly filed out of the room. Unsure what class was next, Rain simply decided to follow them.

Sparrow caught up with her. “Hearing that felt so weird,” she exclaimed, eyes widening. Rain agreed. “While us humans raged at each other over religion, territory and absolutely nothing, this... elite society was going on in the background. When I put it that way, it’s hard to believe even now this isn’t one big dream.”

wippo hippo