"Ary. Chapter Three" by Aletheia vaune preston

Vierne had packed his stuff together in a flash, before Ary could even take the tent down. He seems like someone who’s used to moving around a lot, she thought. She roughly pulled the stakes out of the ground. Did she really want to leave the desert? She had lived here practically all her life. She knew this place. But there were many things she didn’t know. Like those furs for instance; and that was only part of it. She sighed in frustration. She didn’t even know who the current King was! Ary finished packing her tent and trudged over to his camp. She sat down next to the last embers of their fire, the sparks traveling up and up towards the night sky. It was nighttime, and yet the two moons in the sky shone brightly, casting a spooky white light over the desert. Ary shivered, and Pandora curled up close to the fire, purring absentmindedly.

“So,” she said, as Vierne joined them, “who is this companion of yours?”

Vierne gazed at the two moons. “His name is Cohteinasu Lozryaean Amnuoirreyya.” At Ary’s dismayed expression, he added: “But you can call him Amnu, for short.”

The three sat for a while longer, and soon the fire started to die out. Ary glanced nervously around at the bluish-white glow of the sand, searching for dark shapes.

“Vierne…” she said, nervously. “Where is your friend? It is extremely dangerous for one to be out alone, especially at night, when Sand Dwellers are loose.”

Vierne laughed. “Amnu can take care of himself.”
“Maybe,” Ary said, “but we can’t. We need to get going.”
“ “Are you suggesting we just leave without him?” he asked angrily.

“No.” said Ary impatiently, “but since you’re a flickr, and obviously can make contact with another’s mind, then maybe you should try and contact your friend.”

Vierne turned his violet eyes on Ary. “All right.” He said, quietly holding out his hands to her, “I’m going to need your help.” Ary took his hands, and watched as he closed his eyes. Nothing happened for the longest time, and then he started to sway back and forth, slowly. His lips moved in perfect synchronization with his swaying. She jumped as she heard him say something, and she could feel a bit of her strength drain as she opened her mind to him.
Amnu? He asked. Amnu, can you hear me?
It wasn’t said aloud. Ary closed her eyes and felt the words reverberate through her mind. It was the strangest feeling. She watched Vierne’s face, and he smiled, revealing pointed teeth, but his eyes remained closed.
Good. Head over to camp, and hurry. I’ll explain later.
A pause, for Amnu was obviously replying, and then, No! Run fast. Every second we wait we are in dire danger.

Ary blocked her mind from the conversation, having heard enough. It was like hearing a one-sided conversation in her head, and it was a bit disconcerting. She waited for Vierne to be done, and he came out of his trance and took his cold grip from her hands. She gasped as all her energy came flooding back in to her body.
“He’s on his way.”

Ary jumped as a screech came from the air. She grabbed her spear and looked around wide-eyed at the surrounding desert. The screech resounded again. Pandora stood lax, pricking his ears. Vierne laughed.
“Its all right, Ary, that’s just Amnu.” Ary did not let her stance relax.

“What is he?” she asked.
“Amnu’s a shape shifter.” Vierne said, grinning. The firelight danced on his dark face.
Pandora stiffened, and Ary glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes. He narrowed his eyes at her and shook his head.
“Don’t tell him.” He whispered.

“Ary could tell Vierne had heard, but he made no comment about it. The thing in the sky screeched again, and she saw a black shape hurtling towards the camp. She gripped her spear nervously. It didn’t slow as it landed in a splay of dirt and feathers, skidding in the dirt for a couple of feet. Ary looked down at the fallen bird.
“An eagle?” she said, glancing at Pandora.

“She turned and the eagle was no more. A young boy of about ten sat in it’s place, his hair sticking up at all angles, and a silly grin on his face.

“ “This desert is the best place for flying fast.” He said, picking himself up. His clothes were a bit tattered, and his face was dirty. He smiled at Ary, extending his hand. She took it.
“I’m Amnu!” he exclaimed, pumping her arm. “And I guess you’re Ary.”
“Yes.” She said, extricating herself from his grip. “And this is Pandora.”

“Amnu’s eyes widened as he beheld the cat, and he rushed towards Pandora. Worried that he was going to hurt him, Ary hefted her spear. But Amnu only grabbed Pandora and hugged him to his chest.

“ “What a cute kitty!” He exclaimed. Pandora hissed vehemently, and laid his ears back against his head. Amnu held Pandora and stroked his sleek fur, laughing.
“See?” he said to Vierne, “He likes me!”
“Put me down!” Pandora screeched.
Amnu’s eyes widened, and he dropped Pandora in surprise.

“ “He talked! Kitty talked!” he looked down at Pandora, who was licking his ruffled fur, swishing his tail agitatedly.
“Yes, I talked.” He growled. Amnu beamed.
“What’s your name, kitty?”
“Pandora.” He said.

“Amnu’s eyes widened even more. “That is an evil name.” he whispered, “one of our own was named Pandora, and he did something terrible and was banished by a wizard. I don’t know what the wizard did to him, but it was said to be the most awful thing you can do to a shape shifter. You don’t happen to be a shape shifter, are you?”

“Pandora’s fur lifted and he sniffed the air, pretending to be indifferent. His tail betrayed him, fluffing up and swishing the ground even faster.

“ “No.” he said, “I am not a shape shifter.” He growled and stalked away towards the oasis. Ary looked after him. Was Pandora really that evil? She just hoped he wasn’t dangerous. She again realized how little she knew of his past.
“Time to get going.” Ary said, worried Pandora would get too far ahead. “Beware, for we might encounter Sand Dwellers in our travels.”
Ary looked at Vierne out of the corner of her eye, admiring his glowing violet eyes. He returned her gaze, and she looked away, embarrassed.
Ary and Vierne hefted their two packs, and Amnu laughed.
“It’s all right,” he said, “I’ll carry those.”
Ary couldn’t help but gasp as Amnu changed before her eyes. His legs elongated, his nose grew into a round, long snout and he grew fur. His back grew humped, and his lips grew larger. His feet became hoofs, and he grew a long tail. She blinked and realized he was a camel.
Vierne’s eyebrows drew together.

“ “Do not waste any more of your energy!” he scolded, but nevertheless he lifted his pack and placed it across Amnu’s back, tying the straps under his stomach. Ary followed his lead. Amnu snorted and started to trot after Pandora, Ary hurrying to keep up with him. She looked around the bone desert, keeping watch for Sand Dwellers, and was startled as two eyes flashed out at her from the sands by her side. She looked down at Pandora, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
“Don’t scare me like that!” she exclaimed. Pandora purred.
“Sorry.” He said. “I need to talk to you about something.”
“The kid,” he explained, looking at their two companions walking in front of them, “he must be at least one hundred years old.”
“How do you know this?” Ary asked quietly.
“He knows a lot more than a boy of ten should. And I think he knows who I am.” He hissed. Ary stiffened. So Pandora was the one that had been banished. Banished by a wizard. But how, and why?

“Ary looked at him distrustingly. “And who exactly are you, Pandora?” she asked. He remained silent. She quickened her pace to join the other two, nervously looking at the dark cat that seemed to blend in to the night, except for his two glowing eyes. * * * *

“Ary lay with her eyes open, staring at the slimy ceiling. Vierne shifted near the entrance of the cave. They had found this cave empty, but he had still insisted on keeping guard. Ary sighed. For this she was secretly grateful. It was rarely that she got to relax. Now she had time to think things over.

“She hardly remembered the outside world now. She wondered if people were all like this strange flickr and his shape shifter friend. It would be a very strange world, if that was so. I wonder if I’m even ready to take this journey, she thought. She was scared what she might find. Restless, she got up and joined Vierne at the cave entrance. He was crouching in the shadows, surveying the darkness. He nodded to her, his dark hair shining in the moonlight. The first beginnings of sun were showing over the horizon.
“Flickr’s do not need as much sleep.” He said quietly. “We have a arduous journey ahead, and you need your rest. It is almost morning.”
“I know. I cannot sleep.” She explained, sitting with her back against the cave wall.
“I need to ask you some things.” She said. Vierne turned towards her.
“I figured as much.” He said. “Have you lived in the desert your whole life?”
“Most of it.” She replied. “I hardly remember the outside world now.”
“How did you end up all alone?” Vierne asked.
“My parents were killed when Sand Dwellers burned our house down.” Ary said, leaving out the part of her running away. She still did not know if she could trust him yet.
“I’m sorry.” Vierne said softly. “What were their names?”

“Ary hung her head, remembering her father’s smiling eyes, and her mother’s warm embrace. Her mother had, sported raven black hair, like hers, but as Ary’s was straight, her mother’s was curly. She had inherited her father’s grey eyes, and his tall body
“My father went by the name of Dune, and my mother was Arielle.” She said. She could still picture their faces in her mind. Vierne’s shoulders stiffened as she said this.
“What’s wrong?” Ary asked nervously.
“Dune…” he growled. “Was your father a magic user?”

“Ary pondered whether to tell him, and then resigned herself. If she was going to find out whether she could trust them, she had to tell them.
“I believe so, though he kept it hidden from my mother and I. I found a chest of his magic books in the ruins of our house.”
Vierne moved away from her, his violet eyes filled with fear.
“What is it?” Ary asked, scared.
Vierne only replied reluctantly.
“You…” he licked his lips nervously. “You are related to one of the most powerful Sorcerers of all time.”