"So what do we want ta do for tha calamity?"
After the trio have rested well they move to the living room, Charles and Lily sitting on one of the couches along with Crim and Harry while Will stands. Will takes a look at Crim's arm, deciding on the spot to have him act as support. As for Harry, Will doesn't know what to do with. Still, considering his abilities so far he should be able to act at least as a solid defense. Charles meanwhile, is worried he'd lose his strongest support.
"Harry, whatcha know bout tha calamity and whatcha think we can do to survive better."
Instantly everyone turns to him. In response Harry awkwardly scratches the back of his head, taking a moment to think.
"It's not too dangerous, just don't let the strands touch you. I don't think we'll have to worry about the wall breaking down for a day or two since they still have a host but once those hosts are fully devoured those things will be free to climb, dig under, or break through the wall."
Will nods, Crim asking a question after Harry glances towards him.
"So is there a way to deal with the strands?"
"Fire to burn them or water to slow them. Should we maybe let the officials know?"
Taking a moment to think Will hesitates to answer. It would be more advantageous to their escape if a few officials died but then plenty of innocents would die too. Glancing at his tattoo he makes a decision. Despite swearing off his faith he still follows its ideals to an extent, as such the calamity will not be the one to become the people's journey's end. Without hesitation he heads out, leaving the rest to talk among themselves. At first there's silence but Lily breaks it soon after Will leaves.
"So when can I see mommy?"
Harry stiffens up, wondering what he's supposed to say in this situation while Crim responds before Charles can say anything. "We can see your mommy in a few days. Why don't we play for now? Does grab em sound fun?" Harry, hearing Crim cringes a bit wondering how tag became grab em in this world. Ignoring him Lily looks down and pouts, eventually looking back at Crim with a smile and nodding.
Suddenly Charles and Harry are left alone. Seeing Lily walk out with Crim he can't help but let out a heavy sigh. "I 'ave no idea how imma explain ta 'er that mom's gone. 'Ell I can barely understand maself." For a moment Charles's wall breaks down, somber sadness flooding his downcast eyes. Harry, not knowing what to do decides to straighten up and listen, letting the man vent as much as he needs. Seeing Harry perk up like an attentive puppy Charles smiles. "My wife was always an odd one, still, she was tha best merchant round. There was always somethin charmin bout how she would take em manipulations from fellow merchants and just chuck em out tha window." Remembering some of her sillier moments, nostalgia fills his face.
The time she looked a merchant dead in the eyes and said overpriced tea as a welcome would get them no favor.
The time she told a merchant if they tried to upcharge her one more time she'd take her gold out the door the same while they lost out.
The time she was threatened by bodyguards only to kick em both right in the trouser snakes while saying real men don't threaten innocent women.
"For 'er ta go like this…aftah everythin."
As the last word leaves his lips his eyes start to water. Even so, he keeps on a brave smile, taking a look out the window to see Lily and Crim playing. Harry, still unsure, stands up and gently pats Charles's shoulder. "I'm sorry for your loss, still you're doing good by Lily." Seeing the overwhelming love coming from Charles towards Lily, Harry can't help but feel jealous, even so, he's even happier for Lily. "We did say it'd take an unholy hell miracle to bring her down. Who knew a calamity leaving its dead zone would be the one, maybe even the rest will eventually."
Suddenly, a somber fear fills the originally gloomy room.
While the two stand, now in silence Crim continues to play with Lily. "Caught'cha!" Lifting Lily up, Crim does a small spin, smiling along as she giggles to herself. "My turn!" Crim nods, putting her down and slowly walking away, letting her count to ten. Crim, despite seeing Lily try her best to catch him, doesn't let her. Instead, he jumps away or sidesteps at the last possible second of her reaching him. Despite her annoyance at not being able to win, seeing Crim's exaggerated movements and goofy grin a smile takes over. They continue to pay until Lily falls over, exhausted yet happy.
As she looks to the strands above her smile fades. "I won't get ta see mommy again will I?" Instantly, Crim stiffens up. Seeing that, Lily's eyes start to water. "I want ta play with mommy…" Crim can only watch as she starts to cry. For a few seconds she just lays down, completely still as she silently sobs, trying her best to make sure her father doesn't hear her. Eventually though, she stands up and walks to Crim, moving her arms up signaling him to lift her up. Seeing her childish act he puts on a somber smile.
"Your'e nice. Keep playing with me please."
Lily hugs his neck, pulling back her tears and smiling as she looks at her home.
"Sure, now book it before I catcha!"
Putting on his goofiest grin Crim gently puts Lily down and raises his arms, ready to chase her down. Seeing Crim so energetic, at least for the moment, everything feels okay.
Meanwhile, Will has just arrived at the town center. Standing in front of the town's Ouros church he examines the large crowd that's gathered. Unfortunately, he can't find the priest that visited the manor outside, instead seeing other priests guiding and comforting the people. After looking around once again he moves inside. Immediately it becomes slightly less crowded with only the elderly, women, and children sitting on the wooden pews inside. Seeing the familiar church a wave of nostalgia hits Will.
The inside is much smaller than most Ouros churches but that's to be expected since Abbey's primary deities are Sylvia and Augusti with Ouros coming in last. Even so, there's a clear splendor to the almost cottage-like church. Of course it isn't all simple, just like every other Ouros church there's seven stained glass depictions of Ouros on the roof.
One depicting a giant green serpent wrapped around a withering tree.
One depicting shadows wrapping around the tree towards its fruits.
One depicting the tree burning, the serpent now on an ashen hill.
One depicting the serpent slithering through the ashen mound.
One depicting the serpent devouring a lone fruit.
One depicting the serpent beginning to consume itself as branches sprout from its stomach.
And the last one depicting the serpent being split into pieces to form existence beyond the tree.
After letting the nostalgia take over for a minute he looks to the front, finding the priest that visited about to give a sermon. Before Will can say anything the man begins.
"His blood the flow of time, his bones the foundation of that which we stand, his heart our soul, his scales our bodies, his tongue is our language. His body is our blessing and his sacrifice is our reason. Tragedy threatens to consume us but we are beyond the will of despair, instead we take solace in our gift and through the remnant left Ouros we find strength."
As the sermon reaches its peak he does that same prayer gesture and pulls out an iron necklace carved to resemble a spiraling serpent with cracked scales devouring its own tail. Just as he's about to resume the sermon he sees Will. Stopping, he lets another priest take over and guides Will to the back. Just like the worship area, it's small, more resembling an office than a place of worship. As soon as the door is closed the priest speaks first.
"So what's it ya came ta say?"
"I want ta pass some info and discuss plans. First off, the strands are weak ta fire and if we toss water on em we can slow em down."
"So how'd ya get this information?"
Will, with a teasing grin puts a finger to his mouth and smiles.
"Secret. Now then what'cha propose we do?"
Silence, at least until Will breaks it.
"I say we toss all our alcohol on the wave ta slow em down then set em ta burn when they get close enough. Ya flying shifter friend can fly right? I say we 'ave em do it."
"Hmmm, that could work? But a lot'a our drink we're gulped down when people needed another stress relief. Ya ain't seen it but I ain't think we got enough ta get e'm all."
"True."
The duo take a seat, each taking time to think. While the priest thinks about how to convince people to give up their alcohol Will continues to think about what to do. Maybe the flames will spread among the wave if they're packed tight enough? But, if they keep moving while on fire we'd have more issues. Harry said that they'd consume their host so does that mean the strands act independently? I know the officials created a wall around the city, that can't be the only thing they've done. Hmmmm, maybe that could work?
"What if we have the shifters make an empty moat around the wall? When tha wave falls in we can douse em and effectively create a wall a fire it can't walk through."
The priest takes a moment.
"It's too close ta make a deep one, maybe three hours away but we can try. I must ask that ya help though."
"I'll talk to my friends. If they refuse we can assist with internal security instead."
"Deal."
Again, a deep silence.
"I have ta ask. Why ya so willing ta let go in these negotiations?"
In response the priest sends Will the same gesture he sent out earlier.
"Secret."
And so the wave almost arrives. A flood of what used to be people and animals walk slowly without stopping towards the city, those with their organs still intact grunting with every heavy step. Desire and nostalgia fills those with eyes, the golden strands infesting their devoured now straw doll-like bodies writhing and wriggling. Even so the shifters move quickly and without fear. Within two hours a small yet deep moat lies around the wall, leaving a half hour's walk worth of space between it and the wall. Once the wave is merely ten minutes away from the moat the shifters retreat. Meanwhile the Will, Harry, and Crim move to as many pubs as they can. Gathering alcohol and other flammable materials, leaving anything that can be used as a stepping stool in the pit alone.
Five minutes until the wave hits the moat.
The infested groans are audible to everyone. Unintelligible mumbling and whispers of pained desire. Step by step by step it moves, the ground dyed golden with the strands that have already devoured their host. The priest do their best to comfort the civilians while shifters and officials continue to gather as much alcohol as they can, taking wooden furniture from homes and breaking them down to use as kindling for the flames soon to roar into existence.
Finally, the wave has hit.