![Big Smile [:D]](/emoticons/emotion-2.gif)
Aww, you guys! Here's the fourth chapter! This is a good one, I hope. Enjoi!
A God’s Journey – Chapter IV
“Ah, we all know you very well, Jumari!” The furry creature made himself at home, relaxing back and spawning a bronze chalice of honey wine in his paw. He took a long sip, and then eyed Esoki admiringly.
“I take it you’ve raised him well?” He asked, whiskers twitching in anticipation.
“Yes. He’s... a bright young pup. He’s still a lot to learn, but he will... learn... quickly” Esoki wheezed. He was breathing in dust, an in his old age, this was not healthy.
“Dad! You’re heaving again! Sir, your highness, excuse me but... I need to get him out of here!” Jumari started to shake uncontrollably. This had happened before, when Wildblossom was alive. The pack had almost lost Esoki that time, but he managed to cough up enough sand to allow him to breathe again.
“Oh, please do help the poor thing! But I do suppose you’ll want this hole patched up?” The deity called from behind. Jumari nodded over his shoulder as he pushed his muzzle into his father’s rump, pushing him out of the dark tunnel and into the bright valley clearing.
“Here, get him in my den. It’s got the cleanest air” Yapped Izefia, the pack’s healer, from across the clearing. Her name meant “I Have No Child,” as she hadn’t ever taken a mate or given birth to any pups, but she didn’t seem to mind.
“He’s got dust in him again, hasn’t he?” She said, glancing up at Jumari, who stood over his father like a brooding ostrich. He pressed his nose into Esoki’s neck fur and prayed a silent prayer to the god of healing and wisdom, Panyin. She shared a twin-sisterhood with Phenyo, god of victory.
“Oh, don’t fret. See? He’s clearing up already. Good thing you got him here quick as you did, Jumi. Y’know, you’re pretty bright, for a ten-moon-old. You’ll make a great fighter some day, I know it! Ooh, you’d best run along. Kaymin wants you by now” Izefia said. Jumari caught her wily eye as he whirled around to see Kaymin staring at him from the elder’s burrow. Jumari ran to his mentor and prepared for another hard lesson of hunting.
Instead, Kaymin took Jumari through a long-forgotten tunnel, miles away from the camp, hollowed out by an ancient river. It was cool and damp, with a small trickle of crystal clear water leading through it, springing from a tiny crack in the rock. At the tunnel’s end, there was a crack, only big enough for Jumari to fit through, as he wasn’t done growing yet. Kaymin picked up stones in his jaws and pelted the crack with them, enlarging it only slightly.
“I’ll find another way around. You explore. And do not touch the water from the waterfall. I repeat, do not touch it!” Kaymin growled. He disappeared up the tunnel, his pawsteps becoming distant and faint, until Jumari couldn't hear them anymore. So he just sat on his haunches, staring -worried sick- into the tunnel, and waited. . . .
