Five shadows moved silently through the lush green scrub brush at a brisk pace.
They traveled in relative silence for two hours as the sun woke fully, sparking a crisp, early spring day into existence.
All kefi boys learn stealth, secrecy, and speed from a young age. They are taught to hone these skills and keep them strong and useful, since they may be the only things that keep them alive and unharmed.
Unfortunately, once Kefi reach the age of maturity, it is up to them to maintain these physical skills.
The vast majority of the citizens of Gicha village let these skills lapse, gaining pounds instead of stamina and growing comfortable in what they thought was a secure, secluded community.
Oxter was one of these unfortunate ones. As the group kept up a brisk pace, he breathed out and in with desperate gasps, trying with all his might to stay silent, keep pace with the group, and not fall over dead. His massive pack tripped him and smacked against his legs at unpredictable intervals, adding further insult and injury.
Faslo heard the panting and gasping all the way at the front of the column as they ran. As they crested a ridge, he raised two fingers in the air, signaling a two-minute breather.
The others stopped, stretched their legs, double-checked their weapons and stores, and waited patiently to begin again. Oxter fell to his knees and then rolled onto his back, his chest rising and falling like he was still running at full speed. His face and clothes dripped with sweat and his light hair stuck to his forehead with a few wet strands dangling into his eyes.
Faslo was growing concerned about Oxter’s ability to maintain the pace necessary to complete their mission. He knew the Pasgrota needed a collector, but he was going to have to figure out a way to help Oxter is his new friend was to survive and have a chance to do his part.
He caught Collop’s eye and motioned for him to come closer. When they were close enough to whisper, Faslo jerked his head in the direction of the prone form of Oxter Gibbs.
“Col, I don’t think Ox will make it another day traveling like this. Is there anything we can do to help him keep up without slowing us down too much? We need Oxter, not his corpse.”
Collop pursed his lips and ruminated on the question for a moment. All of a sudden, he smiled and barely stopped himself from laughing out loud.
“Fas, I think I’ve got just the thing, but I’m not sure Ox is going to like it at first.”
Faslo raised an eyebrow at this remark.
“Col, what are talking about? Are you planning to hurt him?"
Collop began to laugh again, covering his mouth to hide the noise.
“No, he won’t be in any danger, and neither will we, Fas, I promise. It’s just possible my plan might temporarily disrupt his delicate sensibilities, is all. Just watch.”
Collop waved to Poldi in the back and conveyed through signs that he needed to help Oxter sit up. Poldi marched over to Oxter and lifted the exhausted kefi to his feet.
Meanwhile, Collop put two fingers in his mouth and made a sharp, short whistle that was almost too high to hear.
Nothing happened.
Collop smiled, looked back over his shoulder at Faslo and mouthed the words “just watch.”
He pulled a thick chunk of half-rotten wood out of his pack and whistled once more, waving the wood over his head as he did so.
For a second longer, the surrounding air seemed to grow even quieter than ever.
Then the leaves of the plants on their right side began to rustle and shift violently.
The ground beneath their feet started to reverberate and buckle.
Suddenly, a massive dark green Hercules beetle burst out of the underbrush and onto the main path. It wheeled its enormous head back and forth, testing the air as its mandibles clacked together noisily.
Collop smiled up at the armored beast. The beetle was an inch taller than every kefi except Poldi, and twice as long as any insect Falso had ever seen.
“Hey Cuddles!” Collop shouted up at the beetle as it continued to wriggle around. “Did you miss me?”
Collop turned to Poldi and quietly said, "bring Ox over here.” Poldi laughed and began to gently guide the startled collector toward Collop and the monstrous beetle.
Collop broke off a small piece of the wood and tossed it up to Cuddles. The beetle absorbed the snack in an instant, munching and snapping loudly.
“Okay, Ox,” Collop said in an even tone as the beetle began to finish chewing the snack.
“Meet your new best friend, Cuddles. I saved him from a Hanuk trap ages ago, and I know he hunts around here, so he wasn’t hard to find. He’s going to be your escort and your best friend, but he needs to trust you first.”
Ox gulped, “Wh-what do you want me to do? He asked in a trembling voice, never taking his eyes off the beetle as it turned to stare at all of them.
“Walk right up to Cuddles and give him the rest of this wood snack. “ Collop said calmly. “When I give you the word, climb up onto his back.”
“What?”
“You heard me, short stuff. You said you were in this Pasgrota no matter what. Here’s your chance to prove it.”
Ox gulped once more. Then he straightened his glasses, squared his shoulders, and stood up as tall as he could. “Let’s do it.” He said in a quiet but calm voice.
Oxter took the rest of the wood from Collop, took a step forward, and tossed it into the air for Cuddles. The beetle snapped it up and began to munch happily again.
“Okay, Ox, climb!”
Oxter ran to one side of the creature and pulled himself up on top of it with surprising dexterity, slipping once or twice on the smooth exoskeleton but finally making it to the creature’s back. Cuddles finished eating but did not appear to notice his new passenger.
“Well done, Oxey-boy!” Collop whooped. “You're a full-fledged Busk1-rider now.”
“I’ll walk in front of you for a bit to make sure Cuddles is treating you alright. If he takes to you in the next couple of minutes, he’ll be your friend for life.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Ox called out from the high perch of the beetle’s back.
“If he doesn’t, he’ll throw you off and stomp you into powder,” Collop said matter-of-factly, winking up at Ox’s panicked face. “Don’t ye, worry, Ox, I’ll not steer you false.”
The group formed up and began to march again. Collop glanced back after a few moments and saw Ox still sitting atop the striding insect.
“We’re all good now, Fas.”
“Many thanks, Collop. You had me worried for a minute there.”
“Worried? Nay, Fas, nay. There’s no worrying with Collop around.”
He winked at Faslo who laughed and turned back to watch the trail ahead of them.
The column picked up their brisk pace again. This time, no gasping could be heard, just the thudding footsteps of the Hercules beetle as Ox held on tight to its back.
Kefita for beetle.
Very cool. I’m a sucker for mounts/animal friends in stories.