The group stayed down in Happy's area for a longer period of time. Day in and day out they would hear enemies still trot by. None of them even wanted to come out of their hiding spot as they heard people screaming as they were taken around them.
It was just a matter of time before the enemy found everyone's hiding spot.
Zeph stared at the door, alert. He had the enemy weapon ready if they were discovered.
Xiam felt around in the sack for anything left. He pulled up one thing. "Your Chronicle is all that's left, Guard."
Oh, Zeph didn't want to hear that. "Not one can?"
"Not one can. Not one crumb," Xiam said. He emptied the sack and only Zeph's Chronicle fell to the floor.
Zeph took a deep breath. Things were not getting any easier, and even finding food wouldn't be half as simple, he knew it. "Alright. How far is Ancient Fornotia's house?"
"Walking?" Scentella said sadly. "I don't know."
"It's closer to the king's castle," Xiam said. "At least a day of walking, maybe two."
"Alright, let me think." Her house was one day, maybe two. His Protected house was at least four days, maybe five or six with a whole group.
Zella touched her tummy as she felt more energetic kicking. Zeph watched her sad expression at the gesture. Everyone was so far away. I was hoping they could come with me. We'd all be safe. We could talk and laugh, the babies could play just fine, no one would ever know about us. But it's just too far.
The Ancient Fornotia Marks was the winner. "You guys follow my lead and don't get in front. If you see an enemy, then duck or press yourself against the side of something." Zeph stood up, holding the weapon even tighter. "This isn't going to be an easy journey so follow me, and don't get lost or left behind. There's no way we'll be able to come back and find anyone."
Everyone nodded as they gathered everything and threw it in the bag. Everything from the Chronicles to the stuff around them. They never knew what they might need.
Xiam held the sack in one hand and Iri's hand in the other as they all slowly made their way out.
Zaria smiled as he saw his returning visitor. How he wasn't found by the enemy he had no clue, and he never figured there would be anyone willing to help right now. Well, there was someone so naive enough to try to help. A little boy.
The little boy grinned. "Here I got another one for you." He set the can next to Zaria. "Do you need more water again?"
"Not right now but thanks, Koko," Zaria said and smiled at the young boy. "You better get out of here before someone sees you hanging around a stranger."
"Koko, why you little-what are you doing? We need that food and you are not supposed to be up here." What must have been Koko's mother looked down at Zaria. "You're taking our food."
"Pardon," Zaria apologized. "I really can't fend for myself right now. If you could maybe just help lift up real quick?"
"What are you doing up here? Get back down in the hole, now!" a man yelled at them as he came near. He saw Zaria who was trapped. "What are you doing with that can?"
Zaria knew two things. Survival of the fittest and modeling for children. He also knew that two grownups were the best chance to get out of there he had so far. He had to take the chance. He coughed. "I'm hungry and I'm thirsty. Your boy was trying to be a good little boy," He gave his best saddest smile he could muster. "I-I don't want to take any food, I can find some on my own, but I'm pinched down here and as hard as I try, it's too heavy to get out."
The male brought the female closer. "It's dangerous out here."
"You won't leave me here, will you?" Zaria asked as he looked at them. "You could save me if you try." He looked over at the boy, "Koko, you're parents wouldn't let anyone get hurt without trying would they?"
"Daddy?" Koko asked the other man. "You're not going to let him get hurt, are you?"
"Sh." his father warned him. "We're taking too much time as it is."
"What a lasting impression." Zaria laid his head down. "Letting someone die right before your boy's eyes. You know, I never even got to see mine. His name was going to be just like mine, and I had a little girl on the way too. Muin's probably had them by now even. Now I guess I'll never-?"
The chances they would actually stop and help were thin, but they did it. Pressing with all their might to pull the wood just a bit more up, Zaria finally crept out.
"Thanks," Zaria said with gratitude. The parents grabbed their son and headed off without another word. Zaria slowly started to limp. Other than a small twist he seemed all right. Okay Muin, I'm coming back, I promise.
Zeph motioned for the rest to start coming out again. For now, the enemies were gone. He saw the small store he was at some time ago to get food for them. "Hello?"
"Is he here?" Xiam asked as he came over. "He charged me a fortune for-?" he looked down and gasped.
Zeph ran over and closed Xiam's mouth. He had seen the shopkeeper's lifeless hand sticking out from behind a destroyed wagon. Seeing Iri's expression as well he quickly covered her mouth.
"What's wrong?" Scentella asked as she came over.
Zeph stopped and lead Xiam and Iridescent away. "Nothing," he lied. "You sit here, I'll see if there's any food left."
Xiam and Iridescent were both shaking.
"Xiam?" Muin asked softly as she came over to him. "Are you okay?"
"Dead. I was." Xiam didn't know how to talk well. "I was just walking...I felt something under foot..."
"Nothing," Zeph interrupted as he came out. "Let's get going."
Xiam and Iri both stood back up as they followed the group again.
Zeph was right, this was not going to be an easy journey.
So far, they had run into a few enemies but they made it out fine. Their luck was okay and they were almost to Grammy Fornotia's place.
When something happened that couldn't be stopped.
"Stop. Stop," Zella cried out as she fell to her knees.
Zeph laid her down. Zella had made it hard to walk with her contractions for the last couple of hours. "Now's not the time Zella, just wait half an hour, we're almost there." He tried to pick her up but it was no good.
"I don't have thirty minutes," Zella screamed as she felt another contraction. "They are coming and they are coming now!"
Zeph tried to find a stick for her to bite down on. "Don't scream, everyone will hear you."
Zella tried not to scream, but it was apparently easier said than done.
"Damn." Zeph looked down below the hill. "Do you guys see it?"
Xiam looked down the hill and pointed. "I do, it's the red one right there. Uhhh…twenty? Twenty five minutes maybe?"
Scentella bent down to Zella. "It's alright, don't worry. Everything's fine."
It's just a matter of time, standing still up on this hill, they are going to find us. He looked over at Xiam. "Xiam, you have got to go without me and Zella. Head for the house."
Xiam growled. "She can't stay up here."
"You've got to trust me," Zeph said, trying to speak calmly back.
"Well, I don't. I don't care how much you help, I remember what you did." Xiam pointed at him.
"Xiam, don't, the enemies will hear your fight!" Iri warned him.
"You've got no choice," Zeph said. "Get everyone to safety, I'll be down with Zella soon."
Xiam looked over at Zella. He looked back at Muin and Scentella and held onto Iridescent tightly. "Alright, fine, hurry."
Zeph watched as everyone headed down the hill. He bent down next to Zella. "This is so not good." He groaned as he looked at her stomach. "Half an hour, couldn't you two have waited half an hour? There would have been a crib and everything. Oh no no, we just got to make it hard on Zeph though." He touched Zella's head. "You're sweating like you ran a marathon."
Zella whined through the stick.
Zeph stayed beside her. Okay, twins. Zella's not fit to run either. I can carry the twins and have Zella lean against me and walk slowly. We'll reach the house in what, an hour?
"Stop!"
Zeph watched as three enemies ran toward them. "Sorry Zella, you've got to get up." Zella yelled as Zeph ran with her. There was no choice, he'd already used up the weapon.
"I can't," Zella screamed.
"You've got to, just hang on," Zeph pleaded with her. Trying to run with a pregnant female in labor was not the easiest job. He headed for a thicket full of trees that would give them more time, but the enemies were still determined to catch them.
"Zeph put me down or they are going to drop!"
Zeph knew from her voice, he had no choice. He set Zella down and looked back. Zella breathed and moaned as she pushed. Not hearing the enemy anymore, Zeph took a deep breath. He bent down over Zella. "Whoah!" he said, startled. "Is that a head?" Zeph watched as it started to come out faster. "I was not trained for this," he said as he scratched his head.
"Just get it out!" Zella bellowed.
Zeph reached for it, and not knowing what he was doing, pulled it out. He looked in a daze at the crying little original in his hands. "…" He held it tightly as he looked for something to cut the chord, but there was no time.
Baby two entered the world.boy
Zella took a deeply needed breath and laid her head back on the ground.
Zeph cut the cords with an sharp stick and held them both tightly. "Zella, look? They're here," he said chuckling. He looked at his son's hair and tail. "You should see the boy, he's got my colors." He crawled around to her so she could see their new family. "She looks a lot like you."
Zella held their daughter's hand tenderly. Tiny red curls were seen on her head. "Carressela." She then held the little boy's hand. "Tigyr." She smiled with tears in her eyes. "They're finally here."
"Yep, yep!" Zeph laughed, filled with a joy. "We're a family."
Zella winced as she tried to get up. "I can't get up yet."
"You've got to, more will come Zella," Zeph warned her. He held the newborns tightly in his arms.
"They're around here, I heard them!"
Zeph turned back and heard the enemy after them again. He quickly looked at Zella. "Get up, get up now!"
Zella stared at him and at her two newborns. "…run."
Zeph shook his head. "No, get up!"
"Even if I can, I can't run. I'll slow you down, you know it." Tears filled her eyes. "You can't carry me and them, Zeph."
Zeph looked at her sadly and then looked at the newborns. She was right.
"Run," Zella yelled at him. "Zeph, run and…and find happiness," she said softly. "Get in the machine and find a better life."
"I don't want to," Zeph yelled holding the twins tightly. "…if we got out, I was going to-"
"There's no time, you've got to get out, they're heading this way!" Zella cried. "Go, please, for them."
Zeph didn't know what else to say. He heard the voices getting closer. "It's not over," he said as he closed his eyes. "I'll get you out one day Zella, I swear it!" He yelled as he ran. He didn't dare look back, knowing Zella's time was over. They would take her and lock her away, just like his sister and mother.
Xiam knelt down to the ground and closed his eyes. The evolved were too many and he wasn't a fighter like Zeph. If originals weren't groomed to fight, they just didn't know how to. Even if he could, the evolved were so powerful.
He had watched as Iridescent called out to him as she was driven away in the back of a full enemy vehicle. He spoke not a word as it completely made it's way out of his sight.
Scentella and Muin were standing in chains, waiting for the next vehicle. Their eyes were turned away from Xiam, which he was glad to see. He didn't want them watching his execution either.
"Should have turned them over," an evolved warned him. "Colorful hair or not, we've wiped out more than enough of you. If you didn't press me so hard, I would have let you go." He held his weapon up to the back of Xiam's head. "Too bad."
Xiam waited for the inevitable to come, but heard screaming behind him instead. He turned around and saw Zeph fighting viciously with the enemy. Other enemies started to come over, but Zeph grabbed the enemy's weapon and cocked it.
"Don't mess with me. I've no problem killing you right now," Zeph said in a dangerous growl. His eyes and stance signified his madness, something had driven over the edge. His look was cold, chilling, and primitive. His voice barely recognizable, a steady growl beneath every word.
The enemy could tell it wasn't worth it. They ran away, leaving Scentella and Muin behind.
Xiam ran over and looked over the hilltop. "Iri…"
Muin walked over to the terrifying looking Zeph. "Zeph? Iri's in trouble. Zeph?"
Zeph ignored her and pointed to the house a few feet away. Muin didn't say another word and followed Scentella inside.
"Iri…" Xiam continued to look at the hills.
"Inside," Zeph growled at him. "Inside Xiamipoc Vallencio, now!"
"But…" Xiam stared in disbelief again at the hills. "She's…"
"Gone," Zeph finished for him. He walked back to the side where he had put Tigyr and Carressela down. "Get inside."
After picking up the children again, everyone headed into the secret basement. The other had been bigger, this was only 10 by 10, and the old transporter took up three feet of room.
Scentella and Muin watched as Zeph and Xiam came inside. They noticed right away the new arrivals and the absence of Zella. Nothing was said about that.
Scentella headed over to look at the transporter. "It's very old. She still thinks it works?"
Muin looked over at her new niece and nephew Zeph was holding tightly. "Tigyr and Carressella? Are they healthy?"
Zeph nodded.
Xiam sat in a corner, apparently coming to terms with what happened.
Scentella went over to another corner and saw the covetall. "Well, the good news is we have a crib," she said pointing next to her.
Muin went over and looked at the covetall. "That's not even enough for one."
"It doesn't matter," Xiam said with a small choke. "He said it didn't matter anymore. We've been wiped out."
"Then we've got to use the machine," Scentella said with determination. She looked inside of it. "Oh, there's room for three."
Zeph had more words than that for it. It was an original prototype, leaving with its travelers back and forth instead of remaining behind. That hadn't been heard of in at least two millennia. It was rusted, patches of metal barely showing though. It had a glass covering and appeared more like a car with no wheels than any modern transporter.
Muin made a slight sound of pain. "…okay…" she whined. "Let's go then."
"Muin?" Scentella looked at her daughter. "Are you okay?"
"Fine," Muin said in a higher voice as she moaned again. "Never better."
Xiam walked over to her. "I think it's time."
"No it's not," Muin disagreed as she breathed harder and whined more. "I've decided, they aren't coming out."
"Oh, I'm sure that's not a choice anymore." Scentella smiled at her. "Just lay down and breathe."
"I don't want to!" Muin yelled. "They won't be born. Not without…"
Zeph strolled over and put his children in the small crib. Enough was enough. He went over to Muin and held her.
"No, quit it!" Muin yelled at him. "Stop it, let me go!"
"Face it!" Zeph yelled back at her. "He's gone, Muin. They're all gone. Zaria, Iri, your dad, even Zellaponia." Muin continued to push him away.
Xiam came over and tried to hold her too. "Muin, they have to be born."
As they both helped lay her down Muin whined, "I don't want to…"
In the midst of it all, it was so strange, but Zeph smiled at her. She sounded like her young self again. "Even you can't hold them in there forever, Muinela Cattral."
Muin whined again as she sniffled. "It wasn't supposed to be like this."
Like it or not, no matter how hard she fought it…
Zaria and Cooey were born.
"Look, she has a purple tail like me," Xiam said smiling at her, "She has your nose though, and your eyes."
Muin held the twins close to her. "They didn't listen."
"Of course not, honey." Scentella smiled as she came near them. "Everyone has to be born sometime." She looked over at Zeph who was taking his twins out of the crib.
Muin eventually got up with Xiam's help and placed her twins in the crib. She grabbed the plushy rag doll and wiggled it in front of Cooey. "Jiggle wiggle?" Cooey smiled as Muin set it near her. She leaned on the crib. "Now what?" she said as she looked over at Zeph. "You could put yours in at the other end."
Zeph shook his head, wanting to keep them near. He looked over at the transporter. It took up most of the room they had. It was rusted in many spots, peaks of gray metal here and there. It resembled more of a car without wheels than a transporter of the times. Inside the glass cover were seats for three.
"Only three," Scentella remarked. "Any ideas?"
"I don't know." Muin tickled Zaria's chin. "They are way too young to survive in that machine."
"What about the covetall?" Xiam dug into the bag and pulled it out. Leftovers from Grammy Happy's. "With these, we could look like the evolved."
"Great idea except one thing," Scentella said with a sigh, "there's not that much. It's barely enough to cover the tiny hairs of…" She looked over at both sets of newborns. "…them."
"They'd be safe," Muin commented, "but what about us?"
"The transporter," Scentella said as she pointed. "You, Zeph and Xiam should go. I'll stay behind and reach the Grammies. They're old so I doubt anyone has been bugging them."
"You'd be captured," Muin protested.
"Most likely," Scentella admitted. "Everyone's going to be taken eventually. If I could get the newborns to safety when the coast is clear, that is good enough. We brought plenty of baby food, it won't be too hard for one person to find enough food."
"But," Muin looked at her little babies. "Inhibitors?"
"I know. I promise, the babies will be safe though," Scentella said firmly. "One day, maybe you'll get your senses back and return?"
"No," Zeph said as he stared at his twins. "You get in the transporter with Xiam and Muin," Zeph said as he looked down at Tigyr. "I'll make sure they're safe."
"Zeph, you're a Guard." Scentella tried to reason with him. "With your cunning and a better future time, maybe you'd come up with something," she said pointing to herself. "I don't think they'll hurt me. At least not right away since they seem to be collecting us. You though, if they catch you everything's over."
"Momma's right, Zeph," Muin agreed. "If you get a clear head again, what if we do come up with something?"
"Give Tigyr and Carressella some time to get older. Zaria and Cooey too," Xiam recommended. "I mean, it's the reason you-"
"Xiam!" Scentella and Muin both scolded him at the same time.
"I'll make it somehow," Zeph said firmly. He looked at his twins. "I won't leave them, they are my family."
"They will be safe, I assure you." Scentella tried to reason with him. "Guard Zeph, one day you can come back. You can find your children and you can get Zella out along with anyone else you want."
Zeph glared at a wall. "I couldn't do anything before, what makes you think I can do anything now?"
"I don't know. Hope?" Scentella said smiling. "One day you can return."
Zeph stared at the twins. He'd have to find them safety and it wouldn't be with him. If Scentella could get to the Ancients, they'd be fine. No evolved seemed to care about Ancients for some reason.
"I don't want to leave them," Muin said softly.
"You can come back, one day," Scentella urged her. "It's for the best."
"Yeah if we don't go insane," Muin said bitterly.
Zeph rocked the twins as Caressella started to cry.
"Zeph?" Scentella urged him. "There isn't much time, enemies are all over and they know about our hiding spots now."
Zeph continued to rock the twins. Zella told me to go. Told me to find happiness. He looked down at the two newborns in his arms. How can I do that though?
Scentella looked closely at the machine. "There's no location displayer," she said firmly. "Does anyone know any coordinates?"
"54145," Zeph spoke. "It's the only one I know, I overheard it once. It's ummm..." What was that planet? "Earth."
"Earf?" Muin asked. "I've never heard of that."
"Earth," Zeph corrected her. "It's isolated, they don't have aliens."
"Great, we'll be science experiments," Xiam moaned.
"No." Zeph waved his tail. "They have two arms, two legs, even hair on their head. They're big, like six feet, but I think we could blend in." He looked at his tail. "With one exception."
"C-cut off our tails?" Muin asked weakly. "No, I can't do this. I can't leave the kids, I can't go to a planet without inhibitors and I can't cut off my own tail. All of it's too much!"
"Don't be scared. Culture wise, they are close to us. Not much magic, like us. Their laws are a little different, but you could learn and function easier than on other planets. Earth will be good," Zeph said and he tried to smile at her. "I think it'll be a slow process too, you won't automatically be insane. Slow and steady, losing the inhibitor's power. You might not even notice it." He breathed a shaky sigh. "There is a chance, one day, that your minds will realign correctly too, Scentella's right." He waved his tail. "When you get to Earth, you've got to cut them off though."
"It's a lot of pain for nothing, they will grow back," Muin reminded him.
"Not without the inhibitor's power," Zeph reminded her. "You'll stay tail-less and look like humans."
"You too." Scentella urged Zeph again. "You've got to protect them, Zeph. They can't fight, what if they end up in trouble? It'll be up to you to get them out. We've already lost Zella, Iri, Io and Zaria. Please, don't lose the others?"
Muin, Xiam and Scentella couldn't fight. If they landed in trouble, it would be up to Zeph to get them out.
Zeph continued to rock his twins, knowing what he had to do. "Hand me the bag," he choked.
Zeph reach into the bag Xiam brought for some paper and a writing utensil. Zeph tried not to let his expression surface as he held the twins and wrote. He grabbed his Chronicle from the bag and shoved the paper in.
He tossed his Chronicle on the floor in front of Scentella. "Take care of it. When they get old enough, give it to them."
Scentella nodded and picked it up. "I'll send it with the Ancients, I promise."
Xiam reached in and pulled out his Chronicle. "You better watch out for all of them then."
Scentella nodded. "When you return you'll get them back, I promise."
Muin shrugged her shoulders. "Doesn't matter. Zaria was holding ours."
Scentella nodded sadly. "I'm sure the Ancients will tell them all about you. They know you so well, especially your Grammy Fornotia."
Xiam pulled out the covetall. There was no turning back now.
Muin grabbed Cooey first and watched her squirm as spray was put on her. It was easier said than done. Scentella and Xiam helped hold her and Zaria down as the spray was shellacked all over the hair on their heads and their tails. After Muin was done she handed it to Zeph. She continued to hold Cooey while Xiam held Zaria so they couldn't smear the spray.
Zeph meanwhile was trying to put the covetall on Tigyr's nose but he was wriggling like a wildcat. "Come on, Tigyr, I know covetall's not pleasant but you have to put it on." Finally, the spray got placed on Tigyr. He wriggled and started to cry, wanting to rub it off. Scentella came over and helped hold him as the poor baby screamed.
Zeph continued to hold him as Scentella had to do Carressella by herself. It was harder but the babies couldn't be allowed to move and rub the spray off until it set.
The babies all screamed, but eventually they were dry enough they couldn't rub anything off.
Zeph felt sick as he saw the colors on his twins. Their magnificent tails of red and blue, were now covered in the musky black.
What a sight.
They all helped put the infants back in the crib. With time running out and the babies now taken care of, there was nothing in the way.
Xiam was the first to jump in.
Muin looked at her babies one more time before she crawled in. "I am coming back. I am definitely coming back," she said stubbornly. "I don't care how old this hunk of junk is, it's bringing me back."
Zeph was the last one to get in.
"Old models have a crank inside," Scentella warned them. "Look around, there should be a place to screw it in."
"This thing runs by a crank?" Muin said in disbelief. "Oh I don't feel so good."
Xiam found the crank on the ground though and spotted the hole. As he cranked it, the transporter started to make sounds.
"The button on the left. Put in your numbers," Scentella said. "Maybe someday we could come get you? Push the button that says travel on it and good luck." Scentella waved at them.
Xiam looked at the button. This was the last thing they had to do. After that, their fate was unknown. Who knew what would happen when they left for a planet without inhibitors?
Muin looked one more time at the crib and waved at her twins. "Mommy's coming back, I promise!"
Zeph stared at his twins in the crib. Just survive and somehow I will get back to you. I swear it you too. I swear it.
With that last thought, the transporter disappeared.
----
Some Time Later . . .
Ancient Happy sat in her rocker outside as she hummed and kept a close eye on her newcomers. She had ran her own Den, but with all the devastation, there were no more young ones to watch. There was only Tigyr and Carressella now, smiling blissfully back at her.
Ancient Fornotia would watch Muinela and Zaria's children while Ancient Happy watched Zellaponia and a Guard's child. Although a strange situation at first, as long as her great great great great granddaughter accepted him, then he must have been a good male deep down.
When the children got older she would tell them what little she knew of their parents but until then, Ancient Fornotia would hold the Chronicles.
The enemies were clearing out. It was amazing the Ancients actually made it to the babies. Scentella had somehow been caught, most likely trying to get food, but she had somehow reached Grammy Fornotia to tell her of the new arrivals that would need help.
All in a row the babies had been crying, all alone, as the Ancients picked them up. Although too old now to be considered any kind of mother, Ancient Happy would do the best she could for the babies. She had even gone the extra measure for her little ones and shaved the hair off their tails. It wasn't easy, adults could not get away with it, but a baby's tail was narrow enough to appear rodent like.
"Stop!"
Ancient Happy growled at the enemy passing by her house. "Kid, I'm 2013 and too old to give a damn."
"Too old to matter," one of the enemies corrected her. He pointed to Tigyr and Carressella. "Who are they?"
"Their parents were destroyed in that great catastrophe you barbarians caused," she said bitterly. "Dumb idiot."
The enemy looked carefully at the babies. "Look at their tails, they are evolved."
"They are what?" The other enemy asked as they looked down. "You're right." He frowned at the Ancient. "Their parents must have been closer to evolved than an original. Grab that one." He picked up Tigyr while the other one picked up Carressella.
"Wait!" Ancient Happy yelled, "They are no good to you, what are you doing?"
"They're future evolved, we're taking them back," one of them said. "They belong in the Evolved Kingdom and not this rubble."
"You-you-you!" Grammy Happy wanted to stop them, but she was too old and they'd shoot her with ease and leave anyway.
They left, a baby in each one's arms.
Grammy Happy looked sadly at the babies being taken. Soon, their fur would grow back on their tails. What would become of them? She sat back down sadly in her rocker and rocked some more.
Tigyr and Carressela.
The very last victims of the war that would forever be known as The Sealing.