Chapter 6: The Birth of a Paladin

Hall of the Immortals

Chapter 6: The Birth of a Paladin 

Oark moved cautiously toward Solara and put his hand on her shoulder. Her body tensed at his touch and she shirked away from him. Trembling she moved further away from the window and stood in the corner.

"Your family has gathered outside. I shall dismiss them and you and I will discuss what has happened here." He turned and passed by Durrak he was weakly fading as Oark departed the room. Upon explaining to her family that Solara had left while he was gone and that if they should find her then they should inform the guard to tell him. Walking back inside the sight he saw sickened him. Solara was hunched over Durrak, feeding from his now lifeless body.

"Solara." He spoke gently and she stirred, her eyes blackened as though darkness itself had entered her spirit. She spat blood on the floor as she rose to her feet.

"The moment of my death I saw Death but as he reached out to touch me I awoke." Oark shuddered visibly, "I feel... stronger, faster."

"I'm sorry this has happened to you Solara."

"Are you?" She turned sharply to look him in the eye. "You caused this, you volunteered a descendant." Oark shook his head.

"I did not know any of this would happen." Solara scoffed.

"Yet it has happened." She moved to Oark and struck him as hard as she could in the side of his head. His vision darkened and in a moment he was unconscious, for the first time in days Oark rested without torture. As he woke and his vision cleared it was dark out and Solara was gone. His heart was heavy and his head hurt as he moved from his bedroom into the entry room. Death stood over the fireplace, a fire roaring vivaciously in the hearth.

"Am I dreaming again?" Oark asked out loud. Death shook his hooded skeletal head.

My daughter has transferred her curse onto a mortal. This Solara. I went to claim her spirit and she fled from my touch.

"Why are you here?" Oark was hesitant at the appearance of Death in his dwelling. The curiosity of why the benevolent being was present disturbed him.

Sidh has grown inconsolable. My daughter has created something I cannot undo.

"Can you take back the curse you laid on her?" Oark asked, he could hear the hopeful tone in his own voice.

No. When I laid the curse I poured my divinity into the curse. It cannot be undone by me.

"Why are you here?"

You must stop her mortal. She cannot gain immortality without taking the blood of a mortal. You have a mortal body yet an immortal spirit. ...and I have lost my influence on this realm.

"Your influence? You are Death itself." Oark was confused by what Death was saying and it was clear. Perplexed he sat in one of his wooden chairs and Death moved and sat in the chair opposite to him. The humanized action struck Oark as strange behavior from such a being.

Little known to mortals are the gods of the gods. They are ancient and all but not existent in our realms. They created all and even I know little of them. They looked down on me, my curse, and struck me from my divine rights. I exist now only as a shade. As punishment for my transgressions against my own daughter they have cursed me. Now when a spirit needs taken to the realm of Death a fragment of my very soul itself is torn from me and ushers them. They cannot see me unless they saw me prior to the curse I laid on Sidh.

"Solara saw you, she said as much to me." Despite Oark's own reservations towards Death he couldn't help but feel hopeful that this curse was temporary. It would prove beneficial to both of them should Death regain his full strength and influence in the world.

Solara was greeted by me when she was young. She had been sick with a severe fever, her father prayed to me to spare her. I approached him and he exchanged two spirits for hers.

"He... he murdered two people to save Solara from your touch?" Oark was in disbelief over this revelation.

The father and the mother gave their lives to postpone her death.

"I see." Oark sat back in contemplation over these revelations. The hour was growing later and now there were two to be hunting and slaying. "What do we do now?"

Kill Solara before she can inform Sidh of her ability to make others with her curse.

Nodding Oark rose and moved toward the door. Death remained sitting as he left the dwelling and the conversation behind him. He wondered why Death had revealed so much to him, he felt that there was a feeling of regret in the tone that Death had used. He couldn't be sure but he knew regardless that Death was correct. He had to stop Solara, and he had to stop her before she met with Sidh. He ran down the path toward the city gates but did not see her anywhere. Leaving the city he gazed upon the slightly rolling grasslands outside. There upon the hill which Solara had stood the two nights prior, she stood once more. Oark approached and saw clearly that Sidh also stood on the hill. The pair watched him as he approached in silence.

"Greetings Sidh, daughter of Death."

"Greetings Oark, son of none." Sidh sneered and Solara chuckled, "You're late to the party." Clearly they had more than enough time to catch up on what had transpired. Oark felt his heart grow heavy and the weariness he'd experienced weighted on his shoulders. Despite this he unsheathed his sword.

"I'm not here with a hunting party, I'm here alone." Solara lunged forward and in a flash Oark was disarmed. She cocked her head sideways at him and discarded his weapon. Sidh cleared her throat,

"Now that I know of my ability to transfer this curse, Solara and I shall bring your kingdom to its knees. A sword will not save you nor the other mortals." She referred to him as a mortal, the words echoed in the night air. He felt she'd said it to insult him personally, and coupled with how she spat the word at him he was convinced of it.

"Sidh, we have no need for this. I offer myself as a tribute to you." Solara scoffed and laughed deeply. Moonlight glistened dangerously in her eyes and her fiery red hair twirled in response to her rocking in humor.

"You?! You offer yourself, how noble Asin-Ai." Sidh waved her down and Solara instantly sobered her composure and stepped back with her head bowed.

"There is no need to taunt him." Sidh looked Oark in the eye, "You shall not offer yourself as tribute as you cannot die. Your punishment will be in the loss of your own people, your descendants..." As she spoke her words trailed off. She stroked Solara's chin lovingly and pulled her close in a seductive embrace.

"Sidh, I-" Sidh shrieked, the shrillness of her voice piercing the air with defiance to the silence of the night.

"No Oark, son of none. You speak no more." She turned to leave grabbing hold of Solara's arm as she did so, "Your destruction shall be slow and painful, may your kingdom suffer." They started to walk down the hill as the hunting party circled the adjacent hill and caught sight of them. The two broke into a sprint racing away with inhumane speeds. As the hunting party arrived Oark told them that they had spoken, that they intended to destroy their world, and that they must prepare to fight them.

"Call the council together. Immediately."

"Asin-Ai, it is in the midnight hours oh wise one. Surely, let the council rest and let the soldiers pull in those outside the city. Let us pull together all of our own and increase the guard around the city. They seem wary of directly fighting us unless they pick us off one by one. We pair our soldiers, should-" Oark waved his hand to silence the young soldier who spoke out. The man had unusually light colored hair and his beard matched the sun. He wore the traditional leather armor, typical of a foot class soldier. His sword was tied around his hip with a cheap bit of cord. He was a poor soldier but looking at the pride in which he walked it was evident he weighted much value in his servitude to Oark.

"These are wise words for a soldier, what is your name?" Oark rarely spent the time to learn the names of others, for their lives were so short. The boldness of this one made Oark feel like they almost had a chance, and Oark needed men like this young man around him.

"Garrick, son of Durrak." A disturbing chord struck inside of Oark at this revelation. Durrak's body still lay in Oark's dwelling, and here before him stood his son with all the wisdom that his father once showed.

"Garrick, walk with me back to the city, as we have things to discuss." As they walked Oark told him what happened to his father, who Sidh was, and what happened to Solara. Garrick wept silently as Oark told him of what had happened. They both spoke of Durrak as they approached Oark's dwelling. As they entered Oark was surprised to find Death was still sitting by the fire and acknowledged him returning. Without speaking Oark shook his head at Death and took note that Garrick did not notice the deity. With apprehension they went in and removed the body carefully. As they walked down the streets, many men offered to carry the body in Oark's place. He dismissed them all, this was his task and he would not allow others to bear this burden. In the light of dawn, Oark helped the son bury the father.

"My father loved the morning light, the first rays over the mountain." Garrick stood over his fathers grave and stared out onto the horizon.

"Thank you for helping me Asin-Ai." The young man wiped his eyes, clearing the tears present from his grieving, "You are indeed a kind ruler." The statement struck Oark oddly, and his mouth tasted bitter. Rather than airing his disagreement he simply nodded instead.

"Shall we go wake the council now Commander?" Oark asked Garrick casually, but the usage of title did not go unnoticed.

"My father was the commander of the city guard, Asin-Ai, and it is a title earned through dedication not by birth." His voice was flat but it was clear he was humbled by Oark referring to him in such a manner.

"Traditionally, yes I would have agreed with you. Given the circumstances and your own innate affinity towards tactic and command it is a title I feel would serve us best. The choice is yours, you may decline." Garrick quickly shook his head no and in a single motion bowed low to Oark.

"It would be an honor to my father's memory. I shall accept." Oark nodded to him while turning toward the center of the city.

"Follow me now to the council, we will discuss what has transpired and your appointment." They themselves proceeded in silence however as they were met with whispers. As the whispers of another victim stolen in the night, reached Oark's ears he quickened his pace. When they arrived at the hall of the elders it was little surprise to find them already gathered.

"-if we wait any further it will be massacre." Eburis, an elder among the elders stood before the assembly; adorned in light tan from head to toe, he wore modest robes in comparison to most of the council, however he was among those who most opposed Oark's authority among them. "We must seek defense for our people."

"I agree." Oark's voice boomed in the procession hall as he entered, "As it were, I should discuss with you how I intend to do so."

"Oark, Asin-Ai, please do so." Eburis yielded the floor and no other else spoke in opposition of giving Oark the floor. Taking a deep breath, Oark collected his thoughts carefully before he began.

"The safety of our people is the number one priority. As such, I have promoted Garrick to the position that his father had held until his untimely death at the hands of Solara." A ripple ran through the chamber but Oark couldn't allow them to oppose the appointment, swiftly he moved on in his debriefing, "Sidh has discovered through Solara, that she is able to create more monsters to terrorize our people. We must take immediate action in securing our people by bringing all within the city walls every night, reinforcing the walls, and increasing the amount of soldiers in every aspect."

"That seems drastic even for just a pair a monsters, surely you are capable of dealing with them." Eburis' tone was pointedly accustational.

"Solara has overpowered me just this night, the power of Sidh I cannot fathom." An uncomfortable murmur shifted through the assembly, "However, I request that the council heed my requests. We need to reinforce our defenses and add men at arms in every aspect." Oark paused allowing any in the assembly to respond. He was met with silence.

"We shall discuss how best to grant this request, Asin-Ai." Eburis sounded somber, but there was bitterness in his tone. Oark looked at the man and respectfully inclined his head towards him.

"We shall take our leave and begin preparing our soldiers."

"It is as you said," Garrick commented when the pair were safely away from the hall of the elders, "I shall pledge my loyalty to you Asin-Ai." Oark paused on the path and looked at Garrick in surprise.

"That is not necessary."

"Asin-Ai, it is necessary for me. Allow me this." Garrick's tone sounded hopeful as he dropped to his knees with his head bowed low. His armor clanged loudly as his knees hit the ground.

"If it pleases you then please do." Oark felt uneasy, but he understood that Garrick needed to do this in order for them to move on with trust between them. Given the circumstances it was apparent that his resolve had been shaken and needed to form a bond between them to find his resolution once more.

"I hereby do solemnly swear to pledge my loyalty, life, and honor to Oark, Asin-Ai." Garrick's hand shook unsteadily as he quickly drew a small blade from his belt side. Oark jumped back startled but to his dismay Garrick sliced his own hand. Blood running down his hand he pressed his palm to his forehead and bowed lower. "I swear my fealty to you as my lord, my liege, and my king. I swear this in the name of the Angel of Judgement." Oark gasped quietly as Garrick rose from the pledge, the oath he'd sworn had been of an old and ancient magic that Oark had thought was forgotten by the men of this age.

"Garrick..." Garrick shook his head.

"Do you accept my oath Asin-Ai?" Garrick kept his eyes anchored to Oark's feet as he held his breath in anticipation. Oark could dismiss the oath and it would not be bound by the Angel of Judgement. If Oark accepted then should Garrick ever betray him then he would face judgement by the Angel. Oark closed his eyes and contemplated the oath sworn to him.

"I accept." Oark opened his eyes and saw Garrick looking at him with what he could have sworn was joy in his eyes. Garrick turned his chin towards the heavens and Oark bore witness to what seemed like white light entering into Garrick's eyes.

"My liege, the Angel of Judgement has heard our prayer and granted me a boon to better serve you. She has given me her strength and wisdom." Garrick turned and looked at Oark, his brown eyes now clearly white. "My title is no longer serving my lord. For I am a paladin true."

"What say you my paladin?" Oark asked him with an air of admiration in his tone,

"We gather our soldiers and prepare for our battle tonight. I have little doubt we'll be assailed in the night." Garrick grinned slightly as he looked Oark in the eye, "Tonight we slay monsters."

Chapter 5: The Hunt for Sidh

Hall of the Immortals

Chapter 5: The Hunt for Sidh

For weeks Oark, led sweeping hunt parties in search of Sidh, but she could never be found. In the morning, a new corpse would be found of a victim she drained through the night. In an effort to stifle her, Oark instituted strict curfews on all of the inhabitants of the great city; Despite these efforts the bodies of more victims were found daily. In spite of the set backs, the hunting party continued to exam and worked harder in their efforts to track the elusive killer. Oark grew despondent as the days progressed. His lack of sleep, due to the persistent torments of Death, and the growing epidemic of deaths weighed heavily on him. His council requested an early gathering on the fifteenth consecutive day of murders. Begrudgingly, Oark appeared before their summons, though his lack of sleep was evident as he stood before them. The council set forth multiple alternate solutions which stretched from ludicrous to absurd, yet in the end a lone voice spoke out speculating using bait to capture the killer. Thus far, all of Sidh's victims had been those in the outskirts of the city. The council member suggested sending out a lone person to travel outside the city a short distance to be used as bait for the daughter of Death.

A disturbing note struck in Oark's mind as he contemplated the situation. The council knew nothing of Sidh, not who she was prior nor who she had become. All they knew was they were hunting an unconventional murderer. Using bait was a scenario he had not yet reflected on, though the strategy behind it seemed sound. They would send one out and lay in wait nearby with the hunting party.

"I agree with this." Oark spoke, breaking the lull that had grown over the procession, "I shall offer one of my descendants as tribute for bait." A shallow gasp was shared among the council. Oark had children centuries past and the descendants from them still lived in the outskirts of the city. The fact he was offering one of these descendants as tribute for bait was a motion that the council did not take lightly.

"We will humbly accept this gift, our master." Oark took his leave as the council began hushed discussions on preparations for the trap. Oark knew that despite how the council took his intentions, that ultimately he made his decision out of guilt for the situation. The council, nor any others in the city, were aware of his involvement with Sidh. In truth he doubted any even knew of her existence.

Oark's heart and countenance was heavy as he made his way through the crowds of people and to his chambers. Entering, he again admired the modesty of the dwelling. He ran his fingers over the smooth rocky walls. He admired the subtle wooden furniture, which had been made to appear as though it were growing from the floor. He admired his bed, the soft bird feathers used to fill the silky fabric was wonderful in comparison to the grass of traditional beds. His bed was his true vice. As he looked upon it, Oark was startled to see a figure laying in it. His heart beat feverishly as he rushed forward and pulled back the sheet.

Ha ha ha!

Death's chuckle rang in Oark's mind as he realized the feathers in the bed had been shifted to appear as though someone was laying there. Cursing out loud at Death for his continued torture, he made the bed and fixed the lumps. His heart had raced for Sidh as it had so long ago, and Death didn't realize how strongly he'd hoped that it was her in his bed. Instead of laying down, he moved back to the entry room of his dwelling and sat in a large wooden chair near the ornate fireplace. The weather was still too warm to require a fire indoors, however, the seat was still his favorite place in his dwelling.

Sighing visibly, Oark looked around and took note that despite his efforts, he had to come to terms with the fact that little in his abode was modest. Over time he had acquired a great deal of exotic and fancy items, often as gifts. A massive painting of a pair of puma hung on the wall behind where he sat. While paintings were now common in many dwellings in the city, it was difficult to say that they were close to competing to the level of detail present in this painting. Oark had painted it himself and it was a tribute to his many years of practice and attention to minute detail. The part of the image that really set it apart however was the sheer size of the painting. It was every bit of life size and it, the frame that adorned it, was made of the same style as the rest of the furniture. Further setting his dwelling apart was the feature of a private abode. Very few dwellings contained a place to relieve yourself without having to depart for the outdoors.

"Why does any of this even matter?" Oark growled as he realized that his thoughts had drifted to such a distracted state. "Sidh, when will I find you?"

With a bitter taste in his mouth, Oark rose and went to his bed to lay down and rest. No sooner had his head laid down that slept met him. In a moment, Death was there in his dreams to continue his haunted torture. The figure stood in Oark's mind as clearly as though Death were next to his bed. He tried to pretend it was just a dream, but the truth of the matter lingered that this was not really a dream at all.

Something special planned today.

Death almost seemed gleeful as a room came into focus. In an instant, Oark was strapped to a table in the middle of the room. Various torture devices were to be seen everywhere in the small, highly heated room. This was his living hell. Whenever he closed his eyes, Death would bring him here to die a thousand deaths. Death moved to him, bony fingers circling where Oark's heart lay in his chest. Oark resignedly laid back and tried not to focus on what he knew was to come. Death wished to spend these sleeping hours cutting out Oark's heart, so be it. The pain he experienced was as real as it were outside of his dreams. This time instead of just cutting out his heart, Death also made him eat it raw. Then, after he'd healed, the process was repeated.

Finally, Oark felt his mind start to awaken, as his body left the torture room. With relief, he rose from his bed. Seeing how late in the day it was, he had to quickly go and get ready for the ambush. Tired as he was, he also knew that his body needed that rest even if his mind was tortured for it. Arriving at the city gates, he was met by Durrak.

"Greetings Asin-Ai!" Durrak strode forward with haste to Oark. "The preparations are complete. We have your tribute in waiting. The moment the sun touches the horizon, it will be done." Oark nodded and looked at the well equipped hunting party. All among without exception were adorned with light plated armor. Bucklers fastened tightly to their arms and swords graced every hip. The might of the soldiers and volunteers present were humbling. Despite not fearing Death, Oark would still dislike facing such a force.

"Where is my tribute, Durrak?" Oark asked, as his captain had turned to give continued commands.

"Eh?" Durrak spun on his heel to face Oark and cleared his throat. "Asin-Ai, I did not hear what you've asked. Would you repeat yourself?" Oark shook his head and moved to get adorned in similar garb as the others. Durrak wasted no time on Oark's interruption and moved on with the preparations. Oark realized it didn't matter who the tribute was with a hunting party this large. The soldiers, the volunteers, and Oark all moved out and got into their places along the path. The sun was setting and it took only a short time before the bait stepped out from the city gates. The gates closed violently behind her as though to attenuate her appearance.

"Solara..." Oark felt his mind and heart lurch as he looked upon his descendant. Solara had blazing red hair, for where she was named, and a dark complexion. There was a soft spot in his heart for her as she came often to his dwelling to pay homage and offer Oark friendly company. She, unlike most of the other descendants, seemed to genuinely have interest in the man who sired her line. She would bring him cook dishes of food, clean his dwelling, and adorn his dwelling with fresh flowers at appropriate times. Her visits were infrequent but he had grown to admire her for them, the first of his descendants in many generations to make any effort at knowing him. She must have offered herself as the tribute when they came to collect a descendant.

Solara strolled boldly down the path and stood on top of the hill, which was the designated place for her tribute. Hours crept by in agony as the tribute went unclaimed, until at least Solara turned to walk back to the city. The first rays of sunlight were visible on the horizon by the time she'd arrived at the gates. The hunting party rose from their respective places and met her at the gate. As Oark arrived he saw why none had passed the entrance A bloodied member of the hunting party lay dead, his blood adorning the gate itself.

Next time send her alone

The words painted in blood struck Oark and he felt disturbed from the message. His heart pounded swiftly as he realized how foolish it was to try and ambush her. Another life cost at his folly.

"We do this again, just as tonight." Oark announced before grabbing Solara by her arm and guided her to the now opening gate. "You shall come with me, for we have much to discuss." Leading her on into the city, they arrived at his dwelling. Once they were inside, she prepared a small meal for them as he spoke to her about Sidh, his relationship with her, Death, and what has happened since then.

"It sounds to me as though this is all your fault." Solara spoke truthfully to Oark, something he'd requested she do when she had been much younger. "Which is why you offered me as a tribute." It wasn't a question, she said it clearly as a statement.

"I did not offer you specifically. I offered one of my descendants." The statement hung in the air as Solara nodded solemnly. They both knew she'd volunteered, yet neither spoke of it. Solara brightened up as she rose and announced she'd return in the evening. Her charming way of being positive in all things helped Oark to feel more at ease with the situation, if only briefly. She was always positive in spite of his often sullen moods.

That evening, as promised, she returned to his dwelling and together they departed for the city gates. As had happened the night prior, they set the trap once more and at dusk Solara departed the city. Unlike before, Oark lingered near the gate and in the midnight hours he witnessed a figure approaching, dragging a body of one of the hunting party towards the gate.

"Sidh." As he spoke, the figure straightened, visibly distrubed. In a moment she'd dropped the body and rushed to him.

"I should have known you to have grown wise to my plan." Sidh's voice was shrill and he felt no love in her tone. She spat her words and contempt could be heard behind each word spoken.

"You blame me for the curse Death bestowed on you." As he spoke, he realized it was a needless statement. She cursed him.

"You are truly the monster Oark, not I. To offer Solara sickens me." She spat at the ground between them and then turned her back to him. "I shall enjoy drinking her dry." Before Oark could so much as reach out, Sidh dashed with speed inhumane down the path towards the hill.

"Stop! Stop her, she's rushing the hill!" Oark bellowed the words as he pursued, the hill was hardly outside the city walls. Yet it seemed miles away as he ran towards it. In the silhouette of the moonlight, he could see Solara be over taken by Sidh. The hunting party swarmed, but it was too late to stop Sidh feeding from Solara. She didn't have time to drain her dry as she had promised, but by the time that Sidh had fled she nearly had. Oark rushed to Solara and wept at her side. Weakly, she reached out and wrapped her delicate arms around his neck. Cooing softly, she reassured him that she was still alive. Anger emanated off of him as he scooped her into his arms and carried her back to the city. He carried her all the way to his dwelling, ignoring any and all that approached him. As they arrived, he laid her gently on his bed and stayed by her side.

Within hours, she'd grown feverish, and Oark knew she would soon die. They had never yet interrupted Sidh's feeding, but Oark felt that it merely prolonged the death. He waited by her side for hours, as her fever grew worse. Healers had come, but all had departed stating that it was beyond them to save her. Solara weakly cursed Sidh and asked Oark to go to her dwelling and return with her family.

"Durrak!" Oark shouted, knowing that the captain would be within earshot.

"No..." Solara spoke weakly and trembling, "You. Please." Oark nodded and as Durrak entered, Oark rose.

"I must step out for a task, please stay by her side and guard her." Durrak swiftly moved to the bedside and bowed at Oark as he departed. The trek to the descendants dwellings felt absurdly far. As he made his way there, he then had the task of trying to determine who Solara had wanted. The descendants had many dwellings and it had been generations since the last time Oark had even visited this region of the city. Going door to door, he found her family and gathered them to follow him. They began a solemn march back to the inner city and to Oark's dwelling. As they approached, Oark slowed them,

"I shall see whom she wishes to see first. There are many of you and my dwelling lacks room for us all." As he entered and moved toward the bed chambers, he heard rushed movement. Fearing Sidh had returned, he rushed to his bed. Blood pooled around Durrak who was slumped against the wall, gripping his neck tightly. Solara stood opposite the bed from him, back turned from both. As she turned Oark felt his heart drop. Blood dripped from her mouth, stained her chin, and drops fell to her chest.

"Oark, what have I done?"

Chapter 4: Oark and Sidh

Hall of the Immortals

Chapter 4: Oark and Sidh

Oark and Sidh lay enveloped in a loving embrace. Centuries had blinked by to the two immortals and their strong love for one another had never waned. Night after night they met under the cover of darkness near the spot they'd first encountered one another by the creek. During the winters they would meet in a nearby cave that Oark had found and made comfortable for the pair. Occasionally a bear or panther would take residence there over the summer months but Oark would always drive the beast away before they would start using it as their meeting point. Often with fire or steel and he would use the hides of those he'd slain to make the cave more comfortable for his lover. She never complained but he wanted her to have grand comforts.

This was his favorite time of year however when the flowers have just started to bloom. The trees began growing new foliage and the scent of Spring was heavy in the air. They laid there embraced lovingly on a night with only the sounds of the gentle wind and bubbling from the creek just beyond the small patch of grass they were on. Oark looked lovingly into Sidh's black eyes and kissed her gently. As they kissed a violent gust of wind swept through the clearing. As the chilling wind passed through the clearing the trees withered black and died, the grass turned brown and quickly black before blowing away in the gust. Thousands of small budding flowers blew into the wind but they too faded black and disintegrated in the chilling wind. Oark and Sidh both rose startled and saw the deadly figure standing at the edge of the clearing. Death itself stood there pointing a skeletal finger at the pair. No words came from Death but a bone chilling voice permeated Oark's mind and he heard a screech that sounded so inhuman that he fell back into the dust where the grass had been moments prior.

How dare you defile your body with a mortal?!

Death had addressed Sidh who humbly fell to her knees as Death moved into the clearing.

"I beg forgiveness." Her voice trembled and Oark could clearly hear the fear dripping from her tongue.

Had not I sent you to this realm to claim his life?! Had not you told me his soul was sent to my realm?

Oark rose and boldly moved between the two. Sidh reached instinctively to stop him but it was too late and Death moved in an instant to his face.

"She did come as you asked but was unable to take the life from my body."

How dare you address me mortal? How dare you speak to a god?!

With a violent lunge Death's skeletal hand drove into Oark's chest and ripped his heart from him. Oark's eyes glazed over as he watched Death crush the still beating organ. Blood poured from the cavity in his chest and he collapsed. Feeling life leave his body he felt himself die. Emptiness filled his mind and he ceased to exist. Then once more as had happened in the past he was aware of his own existence again in this endless void. He saw light and felt himself rushing towards it at a frightening speed. With a gasp Oark sat upright and his chest heaved with labored breath and burned hotter than any fire he'd ever witnessed. Instinctively his hand felt the cavity in his chest but there was none and he felt his heart pounding strongly. Awareness of his death struck him and made his mouth taste like bile and blood. Then his attention returned to his surroundings and he realized both Death and Sidh were still here and Sidh was begging for forgiveness.

-and thus forth you shall remain cursed. Your immortality forever stripped of you. You shall walk this realm unable to return to any other. You shall forever be doomed to take the life of the mortals to live yourself. In this way only shall you remain immortal, through the mortality of others. You are cursed to walk in the shadows of these mortals for their sun shall hate you for the attrocities you shall commit on her children. May your love for this mortal-

As Death gestured towards Oark was when both became aware that he had returned to life. Rising once more Oark addressed Death with the boldness he had confronted Sidh centuries prior.

"You may kill me but I find the light of life in the pitch of death. Do not punish Sidh for my transgressions. It is I who have slighted you of my death and not she." Death rose swiftly into the air above the pair upon hearing this statement.

You too shall be punished though it is clear you are mortal no more. Seek for the love of my daughter but you shall find her heart hardened due to the curse you brought upon her. You defiled the offspring of a god child of the sun. May you ever contend against the darkness you have created.

With a violent blast of purple hued energy which swept the creek and killed all it touched, Death was gone. The energy of death flowed back trying to enter Oark's body but was unable to do so and instead entered into Sidh's body. She sunk to the dust and wept loudly. Oark turned to Sidh to comfort her but to his dismay she pulled away from his touch.

"Be gone Oark. Touch me no more." Her words dripped with contempt and tears flowed freely from her face. She rose and gathering her garments she clothed herself slowly. Oark felt his heart shatter as he watched her leave the clearing. Desperation clung to him as he longed to follow her but knew in his heart she would not allow him.

With a heavy heart Oark returned to his home in the city. The city and people dwelling there continued to marvel him as much as he marveled them. The had in generations prior took to calling him Oark-Asin-Ai, or Oark God King, and despite his protests to the title all from old to young referenced him as such. The old told the young tales of how the God King had never changed throughout their lives and that their ancestors passed tales of the unaging king. The people themselves were innovative and thanks to Oark had developed technologies far surpassing anywhere else in the known world. Projectiles driven by fire and metal, wheels which turned without work but with gears, even ways to communicate without letters, symbols, or being close to the proximity of the person being spoken to. Some had even developed methods of making clothing from plants. Farming had been non-existent prior to the creation of the City Kingdom which had developed the name of Ahrook. Now farmlands extended far to the south to supply the Ahrook with the sustenance needed for the survival of its people. They had come far from primitive cave dwelling gatherers they had been a few dozen generations prior and Oark was astounded at their innovations.

As he passed the elaborate city gates the guards stood with smiles on their broad faces at the site of their God King.

"Asin-Ai." They both humbly greeted. Oark waved them both as he walked by but every step leading to his chambers left him feeling more and more drained. By the time he arrived at his dwelling he felt the last of his energy leave him at the door. With a mighty heave he landed on his bedding and fell to sleep with a vivacious accord. His dreams were haunted quite heavily by Death and Death berated him further for stealing Sidh's innocence and defiling her body with his. Death tormented him with various ways of his death. That night Oark died the worst deaths imaginable and witnessed the deaths of both Awwt and Hah countless times. Death took him back to when Awwt and he had first bonded and laid holding one another. The stars filled the sky and the moon shone bright. The perfection of Awwt's skin glistened in the moonlight as she held tightly to her lover. She cooed into his ear as he pulled her tight and with a squeal she had stood and pulled him to the cool waters of the creek below where they bonded yet again. Oark asked aloud in his sleep why Death would show him something so serene and then in an instant they were at a funeral pyre but only Awwt was present. Her body burning and the scent of her burning flesh permeated the air. Oark looked about in desperation for himself but did not find him in this memory. He tried to move but could not and as Awwt screamed in agony Oark found himself fading. The screaming persisted as darkness enveloped him.

Oark awoke with the smell of burning flesh and the screaming of agony still ringing loudly. He rose and shook his head but found that the screaming had not stopped. In an instant he realized that the screaming he'd dreamt had been happening in reality. Despite his great exhaustion from Death torturing him in his dreams he rushed from his dwelling and joined the trove of others as they crowded towards the front gates. As he squeezed through the crowds and approached the scene he was dismayed to find the corpses of the two guards he'd passed crumpled. One had been killed with such force his face was discernible. As he inspected the bodies his attention turned to the lack of blood. Puncture wounds were all over their bodies and no blood could be found. He turned the bodies over to a healer to investigate the wounds and lack of blood.

Oark slowly turned and walked back towards his dwelling within the city. Despite the crowd clambering to him for answers over what nature of beast could have performed such an atrocity he could not be stopped. His mind was hazed and he walked with a stare of death upon his countenance. The chief of the city guard, a strong man named Durakk stopped him forcefully. As Oark's mind came out of the haze he was in and noticed Durakk in front of him he felt the clarity of his mind snap back sharply.

"Durakk."

"Asin-Ai, what shall we do to protect the people?" Oark reflected for a moment and looked into the eyes of both the chief of the guard and the many people around him.

"Search the city. Go in groups of six," he paused once more reflecting on the situation and then added, "Be cautious and do not engage anyone or anything." With a sharp bow Durakk turned and started gathering together his men to sweep the city. Oark knew that it was likely that Sidh was still within Ahrook. Returning to his dwelling he gathered his short spear and drank a small sip of the golden water, the very last of the water he kept hidden within a small flask in his room. Feeling his mind grow sharper once more invigorated him and he knew what he needed to do. So he set out to hunt for Sidh and for Death itself. Though he never found either even after searching for the whole of the day. He wandered to any spots he thought Sidh may have been hiding however it wasn't until night that he made his way to the creek. It was in the light of the midnight moon in which he found himself returned to the scene of death from the night prior. With a mighty bellow Oark screamed out to the darkness in the hopes to summon Sidh. Anger filled him as she did not appear.

"DEATH!" he bellowed in anger and disgust. In an instant the figure stood in the clearing with him.

And thus is it that she shall forever be doomed to take the life of the mortals to live herself. In this way only shall she remain immortal, through the mortality of others.

Chapter 3: Oark's Revelation

Hall of the Immortals

Chapter 3: Oark's Revelation

Oark waited for the rest of the tribe to rest for the night before tracking his old tribe back through the forest. It took him only a few hours to find where they'd been camping and seeing the sleeping figures angered him. Instead of acting on this anger he walked down to the creek and drank heartily from it and sat and listened to the tranquil sounds of the moving water in the night. He let his mind empty as he leaned against a tree by the waterside. Dipping his fingers into the gently moving waters he noticed his reflection in the moonlight. He noticed that he looked more relaxed than he had ever felt before though he was unsure of the exact reason why. It could have been he felt that way for having killed Awwt's murderer or it could have been the relief of his expansive mentality. Regardless of the root of the reason he felt happier despite the confrontation that he had planned for the dawn.

As dawn broke in the early hours in the morning Oark made his way from the calm stream and into the tribes camp. The tribe was just stirring from their sleep and as they saw him approaching the tribesmen rushed forward to stop him.

"Oark leave!" The tribesmen bellowed at him, "Oark no stay." Shaking his head at them and speaking with a solemn voice,

"No. I will not." His thoughts started pouring from his mouth and for the first time he felt the clarity of his mind exhibit in his speech, "You will follow Oark or Oark will kill you." The elders angrily grunted in hearing him say this. They started spitting towards him but he did not relinquish his resolve. Oark looked into the eyes of the tribesmen and saw the fear that ate them alive over the constant need to survive and he felt his own eyes soften. Then a sound cutting through the air whistling towards him made him turn his head just as it made contact. It happened so fast he couldn't react but instantaneously he felt as though he was on fire. Looking down he saw a spear penetrating his side and embedded into the ground at his feet. The spear passed cleanly through him but he was now pinned. Looking up at the tribe he started coughing and sputtering blood. Whistling through the air a second spear sunk through his chest. The oldest of the elders, Ukk, walked forward carrying his own spear.

"Oark die now." As Ukk spoke he sunk his spear into Oark's stomach. Oark coughed blood as he started choking on it pooling in his throat. He tried to talk but nothing could be heard over the gurgling as he struggled to breath. Within mere moments he felt the life leave his body as he felt himself die. His body hung limp against the spears and the tribe came and spat on his lifeless body. As Ukk came back to spit on Oark's body again he kicked him to the ground roughly. The spear penetrating his chest fell out and as it did Oark felt his mind stir and his eyes felt like light at the end of a long tunnel. As his eyes opened he roared and tore the spear from his side. The tribesmen and tribeswomen screamed as Oark came violently back to life. Ukk turned to leave but Oark caught him.

"Oark say follow me or die," Oark said as he stabbed Ukk in the same place that the elder had stabbed him at, "Follow me or you die!" Oark stood holding his side where he'd pulled the spear out of him. To his surprise he could feel the broken flesh growing back together and healing. Not instantaneously but it was extremely rapid. He stood erect and stepped over Ukk's body toward the others. Several of the tribeswomen moved forward and stood behind Oark. Seeing them side with Oark infuriated the elders and they bellowed protests. Oark grabbed the closest one to him and in one deft movement snapped the elders neck.

"Follow me or die." The dark words resonated in the camp. The entire tribe with heads hung low walked and stood beside Oark. Oark turned to start leading the old tribe towards the new tribe and as they walked his mind drifted quickly to him dying. Twice he had died but the first time he wasn't convinced that is what happened. When he fought with the pumas he had died in a pool of his own blood. It also hadn't escaped his attention that the burns he'd received trying to move the log off of Awwt. The glowing waters had let him live and had healed his wounds and scars. Then his thoughts drifted to his motivations as he merged the two tribes together. He wanted to help the tribesmen but they would need to follow his lead even if the things he would show them were dangerous and scary to them.

Upon merging the two tribes Oark discovered that the apprehension of the tribesmen were outweighed by the relief of the tribeswomen. The tribeswomen on both sides would ensure that this was a smoother transition. Oark gathered the younger tribesmen and sent them out in all directions to scout for signs of other tribes. Then with his business settled for the day he retreated back to his place by the creek. Everything had been so rushed for so long he just wanted to settle in and rest. Dipping his fingers into the gentle flowing waters and listened to the soft breeze pass through the leaves. Awwt's sister Hah came to him while he rested there. Hah looked similar to Awwt but with the thinner face and darker hair. The hair on her eyebrows was thicker and she had a thinner amount of hair on her arms. She was pretty for a tribeswomen but Oark was irked by the disturbance of his solitude. Hah reached out to him grabbing his shoulders and then felt his side where the spear had pierced him. Oark adjusted his arms to allow her a better look and she saw no wounds. Her curiosity amused him. They spoke briefly about his wounds and he told her they did not hurt. Dismissing her despite her forward behavior Oark moved further down the creek to his small stash of the glowing waters. He drank the last of it and felt the final bits of clarity reach the boundaries of his mind. That night he built a large bonfire to warm all the tribe and despite the fears of the tribesmen of the fire they all slept close for the warmth.

Dawn broke and Oark awoke to find Hah sleeping on his side. She was Awwt's younger sister and had never bonded as far as Oark was aware. He could feel her fears and confusion of the world around her. As with all the tribesmen they all lived with constant fear and he wanted to help them see the world without the persistent threats of the world. Moving away from Hah he rose to watch the dawn break the day and let his mind wander on to other thoughts and places. He was out of the glowing water but he also knew he'd be unable to go and get more when his tribe now depended on him. They would not be able to follow him into the land of fire beyond the mountains and for better or worse he'd already decided to hoard the glowing water for him and him alone.

In the hours that followed that morning two of the young scouts returned and told Oark of signs of tribes moving through the area but that neither could track them further. After sending them in different directions he started making plans for what to do with the people following him. He had an idea of better shelters but he had concerns about how to provide food. Remembering where he'd killed the young pumas in the pass between the mountains he started to make plans for the future of the tribesmen. The area was rich in food, wood, and it was close enough to the glowing water he could sneak there on his own. After all the scouts returned, one of which bringing back an entire tribe, Oark led all of the tribesmen in the largest tribe in existence towards the mountain pass. Towards their future.

In the years that followed Oark watched his settlement flourish, first into a village and then into a sizable town. It was arguably the only such place that existed in the world where many tribes came together and stayed in one place. The shelters they had built were permanent structures to better protect from the fury of nature. The hardships had been severe the first few years but Oark helped the tribesmen learn to adapt and survive. Unlike the generations of Oark's youth these tribesmen now embraced fire and learned not to fear it. This aided a great deal in the tribesmen surviving the harsh winters that assaulted the pass between the mountains. Oark encouraged the others to help expand his own ideas on food gathering, hunting, and storing foods for times when they couldn't be found as easily. It took several years but eventually the tribesmen following Oark had figured out ways to grow more food by breaking the roots they could grow multiple plants instead of just one. Small breakthroughs like these helped to combat the hunger that was often felt in these earliest days. Oark helped develop nets to better catch fish and the tribesmen discovered ways of preserving the meat better using salt gathered from rocks. The tribesmen had come a long ways from those that had first arrived with Oark many years ago. The oldest tribesmen alive in this modest village were among the youth that came when Oark first established this settlement.

Oark reflected on the years that had passed and the many winters he'd endured as he looked into his reflection in the creek that ran beside the village. The youth that had arrived with him when the village was established were now quite visibly elderly members of the village. He looked into his reflection and studied his long brown hair; which was still length-wise down to his knees. He studied his muscles and admired the structure of his veins over them. He smiled at himself and his still youthful appearance and then he looked into his eyes and the smile faded. In his eyes he could see his true age, and he could see he'd far outlived any other tribesmen. Within just a few more years there would would be none alive from before he'd drank from the strange glowing waters. To this day whenever he could steal the chance to sneak away he would and he would drink from his special waters in the forbidden lands. To his disappointment the last time he'd arrived at the cave the glow of the rock had faded even more than the year before and the pool of water had shrunk considerably. He habitually killed and ate any creature he came across in the cave or surrounding area to ensure they did not drink from his pool but it did not resolve the issue that the waters were slowly receding as the years past. He feared he would die when the waters ran out and he could no longer drink from them. The first fear of death he'd felt in years.

Decades came and went and Oark would still walk along the creeks and stare at his unchanging reflection. The tribesmen began to tell stories of their great leader and his unchanging physique. The old would tell the young that he looked the same as when they themselves were young. As time progressed there were tales of him being told in varying dialects in the thriving village and surrounding areas. The dialect and language spoken commonly by tribesmen these days was very different from the language he was taught at birth; a language now lost in the passage of time. This newer language allowed greater communication and consisted of more sounds besides grunts and howls. The world had changed around him while he stood unchanged through time. Time had passed painfully slow for him as he watched generation after generation come and go among the tribesmen.

During one of Oark's habitual nightly walks along the creek on the outskirts of his village he found himself admiring the moonlight reflecting off the surface of the water. The gentle sound of water trickling as it passed the contours of rocks and dirt moving downstream was calming. He'd had a busy day settling disputes amongst his tribesmen and needing this time to relax before going yet again into his role of mediator and leader in the morning. Letting his eyes pass casually over the shadows amoung the bushes along the creek he admired how the moonlight manipulated the umbra effect. His eyes then settled on one shadow that was moving steadily towards him. Startled he jumped for his short spear but the shadow had already overtaken him. A female figure stood before him scantily clad in loose linens not made from furs but seemingly woven from the stars themselves. He admired her nearly translucent skin, clearly untouched by the sun, contrasting to his own deeply tanned skin. Her hair was pin straight and black as midnight with eyes to match in an eerie mirror. Her womanly curves were all well developed but not disproportionate to her body size. Her facial features were both sharp yet delicate though he did notice her ears were slightly elongated and pointed at the tips.

"Kneel mortal. For I am Sidh, the daughter of Death." Oark felt fear ripple through the world around him as her shrill words rippled through the air. He couldn't help but feel she'd intentionally manipulated her voice to make her voice high pitched. As such he didn't feel the fear that he felt pass by him. Unflinching and unkneeling he peered into her lovely features and noticed the soft curl of her lip as her nose flared in his disobedience.

"Greetings Sidh, I am Oark." As he spoke Oark boldly took a step forward which caused Sidh to flinch and step back. Shaking her head she regained her composure and moved forward again.

"I know of you Oark. You have outlived any creature that has ever lived on this world. It is time for you to come to Death and my father sent me personally to collect you." As she spoke she extended her hand and it delicately slipped from under her linen. Small delicate fingers and a dainty wrist extended forward towards him, "I need only touch you for you to join Death." Oark felt his heart pound loudly and foolishly he reached out to her as though to relish that Death himself felt it was his time and after all these many decades he would finally rest. The other part of him was excited to touch Sidh, even for the briefest of moments before his death. Their fingers touched and power rippled through his arm, across his chest, into every facet of his body. They stood there holding hands and he waited but he did not die. Smirking he tugged her wrist and she was pulled to him, her hands landing with reserve and hesitation on his chest. Her eyes grew wide as she looked up into his eyes he boldly tilted her chin up. The moonlight reflected radiantly from her eyes as he leaned down and kissed her. She tensed at first but then relaxed and returned the kiss until a soft sound of a branch dipping into the stream startled her.

"No." Sidh looked at Oark confused by how he still stood there smirking. She pulled herself back from him but he grabbed her wrist, "I said no!" Her voiced raised she struck Oark in the chest with the full brunt of her power. He felt the touch of death pass straight through him and into the world beyond him. A beautiful aura of blues and violets radiated out from her hand and wisped around him. As these wisps of living light stretched past him they killed everything they touched; fish rose from the stream, insects dropped dead in mid-flight, trees withered, grass shriveled, and the death passed by him without scathing him. Amused Oark released her wrist.

"Good night Sidh, daughter of Death."

Chapter 2: Oark's Retribution

Hall of the Immortals

Chapter 2: Oark's Retribution

Oark walked swiftly towards the mountain range and this time, stopping to examine his path over the dangerous range, noticed a much easier path. This path was a large hilly area that offered a mountain free passage between the two closest mountains. Upon seeing this he felt foolish for having brute forced his way over an entire mountain when he could have just walked around it. Swallowing this feeling he moved on further knowing no other tribesman in creation would have noticed this foolish mistake. It was going to take him a couple of days to make it through the pass but his determination drove him in an inhumane manner.

After having drank the water from the glowing pool Oark had found that he felt stronger and faster. He wasn't convinced that this change wasn't just because his reflexes were faster due to his clarity of mind. These increased reflexes and clarity were the only thing to save his life the first night he stayed on the hills in the mountain pass. He built a bonfire and bellowed to hills in deep thundering roars. This was his war chant; this was his march of retribution. After his bellowing chant he laid down but had restless sleep. Just before dawn he awoke he stared over the large bed of glowing coals and as his eyes adjusted he saw a shadow pass opposite him. Sitting up his eyes adjusted to see the bulk of a young puma pacing and staring at him with empty, hungry, eyes. He slowly backed to the side where his spear laid leaning against a log in the clearing he slept in.

Just as Oark's hand reached out for the spear he heard a soft growl and turned slowly to see a second young puma crouched just past his spear. As he grabbed his spear the first puma pounced at him with its massive claws catching his shoulder and pulling him down. Panic gripped him and he felt his heart pounding excessively as the cat pulled him down and the second cat pounced. In panic he tried to stab the second one but missed and dropped his spear instead. The first puma bit into his left shoulder while pinning his chest to the ground. The second puma growled and pounced the first puma knocking it back which gave him an opportunity to scramble free.

The pumas fought over the kill as Oark slid to his spear which got the attention of both cats. As the second puma pounced he planted his spear and aimed it at the cats chest. The aim was solid and the young puma's body slid down the spear as the first puma pounced. Try as he might in that desperate moment he was unable to pull the spear from the body of the puma. Moving out of the way just in time to avoid the pouncing puma he snapped his spear in half and launched himself at the puma with such ferocity the cat retreated several feet in surprise. With a new found rush of adrenaline he grabbed the remaining puma by the throat with his left hand and wielding the broken spear with his right he drove the head into the neck next to his hand. With both cats dead he stumbled back over to the hot coals and laid down next to them. He was bleeding heavily from both shoulders and before he knew it he felt darkness overwhelming his vision. Without inhibition he felt himself die in a pool of his blood with two dead pumas and a bed of hot coals.

With a shock Oark gasped and air filled his lungs as his body came back to life. Confused he sat up while his still wet blood dripped off of him. As he felt his skin the lacerations he'd had before were now gone. Shaking his head wearily he took a drink of his water and started cleaning camp. Disappointed by his broken spear he decided to work on a new weapon that wouldn't break so easily. He wasn't strong enough to wield a club but now too strong to wield a spear without fear of breaking it. Resolving the thoughts of a new weapon as a future project he instead gathered the claws and teeth of the two pumas. With his new second chance of life he moved on through the pass between the mountains.

Oark traveled for weeks looking for his tribe and as he did he encountered more puma, serpents, and even a lone bear. All of whom he'd found increasingly clever ways of killing while experimenting with new weapons. In the end he settled on what he called a short spear. It had a short pole only three feet long but with a much longer blade on the end reaching almost two feet long. Due to the compacted size he was able to use a much stronger and thicker log for the pole. His new weapon was vicious and with his still increasing speed and strength he found that he was no longer hunted by the predators but that he was now the hunter.

Weeks after he'd left the mountain pass Oark finally caught sites of a tribe moving slowly by the creek he'd been at months earlier. Happily Oark swiftly moved to converge with the slow moving group but once he'd arrived he found to his disappointment that this was a different tribe than the one he'd been with. The new tribe told him of a war they'd had which claimed the lives of most of their men leaving only weak and elderly men alive. The tribeswomen were very happy to have Oark there but he was not pleased at the distraction nor the desire of the tribeswomen to bond with him. Despite the tribeswomen that were gaily flaunting themselves to him Oark understood the value that this tribe could have to him. He started by showing the tribesmen how to build better shelters. Shelters that could protect them from predatory attacks yet were light enough to pack up and move when the tribe moved. The tribe had embraced him but he hadn't felt a strong connection to them because he wanted more, he wanted to lead them.

It was several weeks before the situation with the tribe Oark had found changed. The morning had started the same as most of the morning had before. Oark started his morning by walking by the creek, he would bathe in the cold water and then sneak sips of his secret water. Every drop of the glowing water gave him increased clarity and further solidified his resolve to hunt his former tribe. Preparing himself mentally to depart the tribe he heard screams coming from the camp. Worried that the fire he'd built in the center on the tribe had grown out of control he made his way quickly back. Everything looked to be in order when he arrived but the tribesmen were panicked and he didn't understand why until he saw one of the younger tribeswomen with a spear through her stomach. He ran up and grabbed his short spear as he saw over a dozen tribesmen from his former tribe attacking.

"Oark say STOP!" As Oark bellowed this command the attacking tribesmen surprised stopped attacking to stare in awe that Oark was still alive. Krah came forward, the youngest elder of these tribesmen had gathered an array of scars since Oark had seen him last. This tribesman was a killer, and he had killed Awwt. Krah spoke out,

"Krah kill Oark, Oark die now." As Krah approached he drew his spear.

"Oark not die," Oark snorted in retort, "Oark kill Krah and Oark tribe leave here." He gestured at the rest of the tribe who still stood watching as the scout and the elder squared off. The elder scoffed at the short spear wielded by the scout and lunged with a forward thrust aimed to impale. Oark grabbed the spear as he twisted and it passed harmlessly at his side. Krah pulled back and thrust again and this time Oark grabbed the spear and jerked it from the elder. With one large sweeping motion he knocked the feet out from under Krah and threw the spear with such force at the elders chest that the air sang from the passing spear. Krah rolled but only barely and the spear tore through his back muscles. Screaming Krah gripped the pommel of the spear and rose as Oark charged him. Before Krah could get the spear upright Oark had gripped it and pulled it to jerk Krah to him. Before Krah, the tribesmen, or even Oark had time to register what happened Krah was dead. The short spear thrust solidly through the chest cavity and out the back of the elder. Awwt's murderer was dead. Oark spat disgustedly at Krah's lifeless body.

"Oark kill Krah. Old tribe leave now." Oark pointed to the woods beyond the tribesmen camp. As his old tribe departed his new tribe came and embraced him for stopping the attacking tribe. His eyes looked past the tribe to the departure of his former tribe. As his eyes narrowed he knew that his vengeance for the death of Awwt was not yet over. They would die in the fire he felt within.

Chapter 1: Beginnings - Oark

Hall of the Immortals

Chapter 1: Beginnings 

Oark woke with a start and starred up at the early morning sky. He'd been keeping warm by the fire he'd kept going for several days but it had all but died in the night. He tossed some more wood on it before moving to the nearby creek to drink some water. He listened to the soft happy sounds of the creek and grinned as he counted the droplets of dew rolling off of leaves into the creek. Then as he looked at his reflection and admired his features his thoughts trailed to others his age. He was small by the standards of his day though muscular. Dark brown hair dominated his features. Almost knee length wavy hair and his mustache grew with his beard and reached the lower regions of his muscular belly. He wore the skins of small animals though he was not modest and the clothing was only to help keep his skin warm. It was one of the ways he was more inclined to progress than others were.

Oark was an advanced man for his time for while most of his companions would shirk from flames he would capture it and use it for warmth and protection. Like many of the men of his era most of the predators that hunted the tribes of men were equally scared of fire. The tribal elders and leaders shunned Oark for embracing fire as a tool instead of fearing it as was proper. Ultimately it was not in him to cower before the very thing he felt burning inside himself. Even Awwt, the woman he bonded with, was scared of his flames. The elders of the tribe tried to separate Oark from Awwt because if  she became pregnant then Oark would remain in the tribe until he died. They would send Oark on his own to hunt, gather, and scout areas before the tribe would move there. These dangerous missions had nearly claimed his life more than once.

Oark and Awwt shared shelter when he was back in the tribe from scouting. It was rarely for long that they would get time to spend together but he would bring her back flowers, leaves, and oddities of plant-life from his scouting. Awwt was a modestly beautiful tribeswoman though her features weren't delicate but slightly plump in the cheeks. A soft warm blush could often be seen in her cheeks and her long brown hair dangled easily to her knees. What he cherished most about her wasn't her looks but the gentle way she expressed her fondness of him. She would hold his hands, nuzzle his neck and face, and smile gently at him whenever he would approach. The only harsh side to her was when the time would quickly come that he would have to leave to scout. Awwt would leave the area and not look him in the eyes when he would leave. The coldness he left her with was the coldness he'd feel from her on these days.

One night when he was sleeping the flames of his fire had grown low and the night had grown colder. Oark stirred from his sleep and saw the fire dying and rose to gather more wood for it so that he could keep it going. Even though the times were primitive his thoughts felt deep to him and he remembered the first fire he'd collected was from the light that fell from the sky. The dry grass had caught fire when a tree had been struck. The rain had put most of it out but Oark had saved part of it and kept it alive for months before it finally went out and he had to collect more. Over time he'd found other was of finding fire but it wasn't until the last time when he was sharpening a spear that he found sparks. Sparks could be used to start a fire and he kept a few of these rocks that were good for this purpose in a small pouch he carried made from the fur of a small rabbit he'd killed when he was younger. The memory of the first flames and the difficulty to create more made him move quickly to save his fire.

Staring at the ground as Oark gathered sticks and twigs for his fire he didn't notice the large feline that had moved into the area until he heard the low growl and soft crackle of twigs snapping as it crept forward. With a start Oark stood up straight and ran back towards his coals but not fast enough as the large cat pounced. The cat had fangs and claws extended and just as the large paw brushed the edge of his shoulder he rolled to the left, heavily landing his hip on a rock as he did. The sharp toothed cat clumsily stumbled and landed face first into the bed of coals. As it hissed at the hot bed it landed in Oark took advantage of the distraction and grabbing his spear he plunged it deftly into the side of the great beast. With a large deep moaning growl the feline collapsed and Oark avoided death yet again.

The next morning Oark started the two day trek back to his tribe with the beast in tow. When he arrived back at the location his tribe had been he was not surprised to find they'd moved the tribe without him yet again. The last time they'd done so they claimed that water was needed and he was thought to have died despite being camped beside water and the fact he'd only been gone several days. It was likely they'd have a similar story this time and thus sighing heavily he hefted the puma he'd killed and followed the worn trail leading into the brush of the nearby woods in search of his tribe yet again. It took him another two days before he reached his tribe who rejoiced in his arrival only upon seeing the dead puma he brought in tow. In order to preserve the valuable food that would have rotted he had cooked the beast and his tribesmen took it from him with great hesitation and suspicion. With their joy of the dead predator waning in sight of yet another new and dangerous way Oark was changing their tribe with fire the elders conspired of a final way to rid themselves of him.

Oark awoke early in the morning smelling burning, flesh, and hearing screams. As he rose he saw Awwt burning to death, caught under a huge fallen log. Oark bellowed a deep scream and he ran to her and tried to lift the log off of her. Her screams echoed in his ears as he pounded on the log and then running backwards took off and hit the log with such force that it knocked the air out of him. His own flesh burned and tears streaming down his face he bellowed yet another deep scream. Agony searing the air as he mourned his inability to save Awwt. Through blurry tear filled eyes Oark witnessed the rest of his tribe watching as Awwt burned alive, and despite his screams at them to help move the log none of them moved. Finally, hours after she had stopped moving a single elder came forward. Krah, the youngest of the elders and barely older than Oark crouched beside her corpse.

"You do this Oark, You bring fire. Oark fire. Do this." Krah shoved the corpse of Awwt dismissively. "Oark leave, Oark take fire. Oark leave now." A deep moan rose from Oark as he rose and walked past his tribesmen. He knew they were right and his fire had killed Awwt. He knew he had to leave because he killed a member of the tribe. As he passed each one that stood in the same spots they had been in since Awwt was burning spat at him. He moved past unflinching and passed through the woods and eventually hills, miles and miles from his tribe. That night he sat staring at the stones which he had used to cast sparks. Fury rose in his chest and he threw them knowing he was unwise for wielding fire. Tears filled his eyes again and he screamed at the stars, uncaring as to whether or not he attracted a predator. A streak of light cut across the sky as he stared now in awe at the sight of a great star falling from the sky. The star fell over the sky and landed with force on the other side of the mountain range he'd been inadvertently walking towards as he left his tribe. Despite the pain over his recent loss he stared in both fear and awe at the sight before him, the whole mountain was seemingly caught on fire and the source had been a star that fell from the sky. Without even meaning to Oark put one foot in front of the other and before he knew it he was well on his way towards the mountain.

Days passed by while Oark traveled to the base of the mountains and he'd already encountered multiple perils which threatened his life from a pair of the puma felines that hunted tribesmen to an unexpected rain storm threatened to drown him. Yet he did not stop walking towards the star save to sleep and relieve himself. Every waking moment was spent moving steadily towards the fallen star. With every step, every handhold of grass and root on the mountain side, and then with every rock hold he could grasp he made his was closer to the fallen star. Sleeping on the mountain was even more dangerous than sleeping down in the valleys below because he had no cover and the wind, rain, and predators were ever fierce but despite the perils he never made a fire for he had killed Awwt with fire.

Finally, Oark scrambled and pulled himself onto a large flat rock which breached the top of the mountain range. His eyes widened as he saw the fiery crater that had appeared from the star that fell. It stretched as far as he could see and despite the week that had passed for him to make it this far the fires still actively burned all around the impact zone. After staring on at the darkened sky and flaming bowl before him he started the trek down the mountain to the center of the impact. It took him days just to reach the base of the mountain due to the impact the already sharp edges of the mountain side were even more treacherous and in some places the drops were hundreds of feet high. When he finally did reach the base of the mountain he found disappointingly that he was unable to find any water. With little else to do he began his walk towards the center of the impact. It took him a whole day just to make his way down the slope of the crater with his thirst ever increasing. Unlike the other side of the mountain this side was much hotter, the ground was cracked from the star that fell and heat came from the ground. No water could be found any where on this side of the mountain either.

With great anticipation Oark awoke the next day and made his way quickly through the lifeless, waterless, flaming valley to the center of the impact. All of his anticipation mounting he looked on with utter disappointment to find only a hole at the center of the massive crater. There was no star, no great fire, and he grunted in disgust for allowing himself to travel so far from water. He sat next to the hole and sighed heavily in defeat. Leaning back against a rock on the edge of the hole he stared upward at the dusty seemingly fiery sky. A sound echoed softly from down in the hole, it sounded familiar and Oark hummed happily at the sound. Drip, drip, drip. Like the sound of the dew drops rolling off of leaves into a creek.

Suddenly Oark was sitting upright and alert. He heard water down in that hole and he needed to get to it. Climbing carefully down the rock side of the hole he found it was a small cave and he followed the echoes of the water droplets. Feeling his way through the dark despite his fear the less his fear gripped him despite finding great voids in the dark where he could feel nothing. The hole kept sloping at an angle downwards and there was a soft yellow glow coming from further in, the glow grew stronger as the sound of the water grew stronger. As he finally made his way to the bottom of the cave he found a deep pool of water with a brightly glowing rock in the deepest part of the pool. Oark was terrified of drowning and barely crept to the water edge where he drank greedily from the yellow glowing pool. Then after looking around the cave a little he settled down to sleep.

Oark awoke with a groan, sore and stiff from the rocks he slept on. His eyes adjusted to the lighting generated from the glowing rock in the pool of water. As his vision cleared so did his mind. For the first time in his life Oark felt clarity enter his mind. Oark felt stronger and knew instantly that the source of his mental clarity was rooted in the water he drank from the pool before him. Drinking healthily more water from the pool he realized he would have to take waters from this strange pool of water with him. For the first time ever he had a unique idea, an idea of making a container so that it wouldn't spill, and he realized he could make one. Within hours he had crafted the first jar in all of creation. He spent weeks at the cave eating from the rodents he'd found hiding in there with him and practicing new methods of making jars to carry more, weigh less, and spill less of the precious water. The pool had gotten deeper despite his generous drinking from the continued collection of ground water and the more he drank the clearer his mind grew.

It was only roughly a week after his mind had cleared that Oark understood that the elders of his tribe had murdered Awwt and convinced the tribe and Oark himself that he had caused her death. As he emerged from the cave of the fallen star, the fires of the world were minuscule in comparison to the fires that burned in his heart. Retribution was coming.