Sunchase - a raptor story

Sunchase

”Akilik! Kil, wake up!”

Akilik rolled on his stomach and pulled the pillow over his head with a groan. He would’ve kicked his brat of a little brother out of his room if it hadn’t required getting up.

“Go away, Az. Too early.”

“Nuh-uh. Mom says up.”

“No.”

The bed shifted slightly, and then a weight landed on the small of his back, nearly knocking the air out of his lungs. Two small hands reached up and snatched the pillow he was shielding his head with.

“Up!”

“No. Get off.”

The newly commandeered pillow hit the back of his head with a muffled ‘thump’.

“Have you forgotten what happens today?”

Akilik actually had to think about that. What was it that was supposed to happen today? Mom’s birthday? No, that was last month. Eja Khea celebration? No, that wasn’t till the next new moon, and it was almost full last night. Midsummer? That was in two days. But wasn’t there something before… Akilik shot up so fast that Azeem fell off the bed with a yelp.

“The race!”

Soft, melodious laugh was heard from the door. Akilik turned to see a lean, smoke-grey and brown-striped raptorwoman standing in the doorway, holding the curtain that separated the two rooms in one hand while the other held a few freshly picked vegetables. He slumped back on his face in the bed.

“Morning, mom.”

Lamees laughed at her son again.

“Good morning, sweetie. Azeem, come and help me with the breakfast now that your brother is conscious. And you sleepy-head, go and freshen up a bit and then come and join us.”

Akilik just groaned again as his brother sped out of the room and his mother closed the curtain. Then he sat up, kicked the covers aside and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, claws clicking slightly against the hard-packed dirt-floor. He grabbed his clothes from the floor where he had left them in the evening and stepped through another door to a small fenced-in area behind the house, where a small spring bubbled merrily away even in the middle of a driest summer. Something of a luxury, since most families had to get their water from the well in the middle of the village.

He splashed some water on his face and then ran his claws through his long hair a few times before tying it into a loose ponytail. Lamees constantly nagged at her son for insisting on wearing his hair long and then “never doing anything with it”. He didn’t bother drying himself, the summer heat would do the job soon enough on it’s own. Instead he just hastily dressed himself, feeling the first complaints of emptiness from his stomach. But just as he was tying the drawstrings of his pants he caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of his eye. He turned and found himself facing his own reflection on the polished surface of the smooth mirror-stone slab that hung on the wall. He looked at the thing so rarely that he sometimes actually forgot that it was there. He sometimes wondered if that was a good or bad thing.

He took a moment to study his face. His skin was brown with white stripes like his father’s, only a few shades lighter because of his mothers influence. His hair however was all from his mother, silky and light dusty green, so very different from his father’s coarse crimson mane that Azeem had inherited. He brushed the short strands that escaped from the ponytail out of his face, and studied his reflection’s jawline and the shape of his pointed ears. Since when had dad’s face showed up in the stone instead of his? He let his gaze fall to the ground with a sigh and returned to the task of getting ready for the day.

*****

A short while later Akilik sat in the main room of his home, eating breakfast with his mother and brother. Azeem was being scolded by the grey female for his lack of table manners, but Akilik hardly noticed. Finally Lamees noticed her elder son’s faraway look.

“Akilik, is something wrong? You’ve been awfully quiet.”

Akilik started slightly and turned to look at her, but didn’t answer right away.

“Mom, do you have any idea when dad’s coming back?”

The question was followed by silence. Even Azeem had put down his bowl of gorun milk and was gazing at his mother. Those two pairs of shining, hopeful blue eyes made her throat feel tight.

“I wish I knew, darling. I know he’s been there for each of your Sunchase-races in the past, but he is a merchant, he has to travel long and far to provide for us.”

Akilik’s eyes turned down to his breakfast again and Lamees reached across the table to take his hands in her own.

“Listen to me, I’ve been married to that man for seventeen years. I know him and I know that we mean the world to him. I’m sure that wherever he is, he’s dying to see us all again. And that he’s just aching knowing that he can’t be here to wish you good luck before the start.”

Akilik swallowed and nodded.

“I know. It’s just… It’s not the same. Without him here.”

“Don’t worry Kil, when he finally gets here he will be so sorry that he missed the race that he will surely brings us some great gift!”

Akilik and Lamees couldn’t help but laugh at Azeem’s enthusiastic exclamation and the family returned to their meal with much lighter mood.

*****

The village square was buzzing with action. Children were running around, grown-ups were laughing and chatting and teens and young adults were chattering excitedly about the race. The main street that served as the start and finish line was decorated with flags and banners, many of which sported a sun motif, and the smaller alleys were packed with merchants and their stands. If the noise wasn’t overwhelming, then the sights and smells surely were. Akilik wandered around, trying to see and hear it all, unable to hide the silly grin on his face. He had taken part in the race several times already, but somehow each time was just as special as the first. He was just starting to head back to where he had left his mother and Azeem, when he heard a voice calling:

“Hey, Akilik!”

He turned and saw a burgundy and black striped raptorman of his own age striding towards him with a cocky smile.

“Heya, brownie. I heard you’re taking part in the race, but by the looks of it, you can’t possibly be thinking that you might win. You look like your clothes were thrown on with a pitchfork.”

Akilik’s smile twisted into a wicked smirk.

“And by the looks of it, you on the contrary have spent more time preening yourself than practising for the race, Masdu.”

“Hey, you gotta show that you’re a winner. Of course, all I really need to do is just be myself.”

“Anyone who told you that couldn’t have given you worse advice.”

“Ooh, are you sure you’ve been training the right part of your body? Quick tongue won’t help you out on the trail.”

“He doesn’t plan on using it out there, that’s why he’s wasting it on you.”

The two turned towards the new voice, and saw two of the village’s young female populace heading towards them. Dark grey Minha stomped towards them with a grin, while sandy-yellow and black spotted Denai trailed after her with a nervous smile, brushing a strand of dark blue hair behind an ear. Masdu stuck his tongue out at the former.

“Nice, Minha. You really don’t waste any chance to mock me, do you?”

Minha tossed her head with a huff, making her short, sandy blonde locks bounce.

“How can I help it when you’re so, so…”

Minha trailed off, so her friend offered quietly with a small giggle and a slight blush:

“So plain mockable?”

“Exactly! Well put!”

Masdu threw his arms in the air, pretending to be totally exasperated.

“I can’t believe it, even the shy girl is against me! Why can’t you people just accept me for what I am?”

“We do, it was that or actually like you.” Akilik replied, causing Minha’s very un-ladylike heehaws to join Denai’s giggles. Akilik would’ve surely have laughed himself if the taller raptorman hadn’t held him in a headlock. Some people turned to look at them as they walked by, but then they just smiled and shook their heads before turning back to their own business. When Akilik eventually wrestled himself free, the people were starting to file towards the start line. Minha wiped away a stray tear of laughter then grabbed the two males by the arms and started dragging them in the same direction.

“C’mon you two, they’re beginning the opening ceremonies.”

Masdu dragged his feet half-heartedly.

“Nah, what’s the hurry? Old Bristles just recites the Sunchase-legend and then we’re off. Everybody knows that by heart.”

Denai fingered her necklace and glanced at the red raptorman from the corner of her eye.

“I like how master Klauklau tells the story.”

“So do I, he isn’t the storyteller for nothing.”

Denai blushed slightly when Akilik voiced his agreement. Minha grinned victoriously and pulled harder.

“Spot on! And besides, it’s all part of the rituals, so get your tails moving!”

Masdu grumbled something under his breath, but everyone could see he wasn’t putting up a fight anymore.

*****

Ash grey gold-striped elder climbed on the platform that had been built for the occasion, sat cross-legged on the reed mat and eyed the crowd below and around him with a smile. Many looked anxious or impatient, but all were waiting quietly and respectively. A small glint appeared at the corner of his eye.

“Fli-toora, my friends and relations. We’re gathered here to witness or take part in the Sunchase-race. I am supposed to now tell you the story of how this tradition started, but maybe this year we should skip straight to the most important part...?”

Masdu grinned from where he was seated at the front row right in front of master Klauklau.

“Sounds good to me.”

The comment earned him a swift slap on the back of the head, kick in the shin and a poke to the ribs. Some adults sitting nearby looked disapproving, but the grey elder laughed at the antics of the young ones.

“Well, since young Masdu and I seem to be outnumbered in this matter, shall I tell the whole story from the beginning, or just the part about the chase?”

The children and the younger teens started shouting:

“The beginning! Beginning!”

“Fine then, let me begin.”

The elder cleared his throat and a silence fell over the village square.

“Long, long ago, before the world we know existed, there was nothing but Darkness. But this was not the same kind of darkness as midnight or an underground cave. It was Darkness that was almost alive. It had no mind or soul, but it had a will. An undefined will to be something. And slowly, slowly, the Darkness began to shift and turn. It wove around itself like snakes in their nest, until finally, something happened. The Darkness thickened and got heavier. It didn’t float freely anymore, but still it heaved and moved. From the Darkness, had come the Sea. And the Sea, unlike its mother, had a mind and a soul, and it looked around, as curious as any newborn. There still floated remnants of the Darkness above, below and around the Sea, but otherwise, there was nothing else.

Time passed, and as the Sea contemplated its origins, it started to wonder if it could create something out of its body like the Darkness had done. The Sea started to wave and churn, trying to force something to form from its waters. But as it heaved, it pulled the remnants of the darkness into itself without realizing it, and mixed them with its own body. It continued to struggle, and slowly something started to happen. In the Sea there started to form two kinds of material. The other was light and ethereal, and it gathered above the Sea. The other was solid and heavy, sinking below it. Fascinated, the Sea started to shape them further. It spread the lighter material all over itself, and shaped the heavier into a mound that pushed its way up from the Sea and touched the lighter material. And when it had done this, there awakened two new minds. The first was called Air and the second Earth.

At first, the three great elements were happy just with the company of one another, but as time went by, they began to grow tired of the monotony of their existence. They decided to see, if they could create something from all three of them. But try as they might, they couldn’t get their creations to live. They could create a body and form, but there was something missing, for despite their best efforts, the creations lacked the spark of life, a soul. They spent ages trying to solve the problem, trying again and again and always failing. But then, just as they were ready to give up, something happened. Where there had been the dimness that was left behind when the Darkness was gone, there suddenly was light. First it was weak, dim as the glow of an ember, but it got stronger and brighter. Soon the Sea could for the first time see her surroundings clearly. First it noticed that above it there spread a great dome, the color of thought and dream. It was the body of Air, the sky. Below the sky it could see the expanse of its own body; a rippling mass the color of movement and emotion. And Earth was a care and nurture-colored mound that reached up from the Sea and had things the color of health and life growing on it.

The light got even brighter, and now they could see its origin. It radiated from a new being that had appeared near the others. This new element was constantly changing, it radiated heat and light, and it was the color of courage and laughter. It had been created of what was left of the Darkness’ will by the other elements’ determination to create and their frustration at their failure, and its name was Fire.

The other elements were amazed by the turn of the events, and decided to try if they had finally found what was missing from their creations. They set to work one more time. Earth provided the material for the body. Sea shaped the body with its waves and gave it emotions. Then Air blew breath in the body’s lungs and provided thought, and finally Fire gave it warmth and a beating heart and then added will and soul. The first creature stood up unsteadily on its feet and looked around, curious as any newborn. The elements were overjoyed at their success and created many more creatures in different sizes and shapes.

The first creations were crude, and some of them didn’t live long, but as the elements gained experience, they started making more and more complicated and refined beings. Finally, they created a group of two-legged beings. These new creatures were very different from any of the elements’ previous creations, both by their bodies and their minds. They had all-new skills, such as speech, and all-new knowledge, such as the passing of time. But with the other gifts came also a curiosity about the world that surrounded them and a thirst for more knowledge. The elements were exhausted from their work and wished to rest, but they realized that they had to send someone to teach and guide their new creations. So they gathered what was left of their strength and created four more two-leggeds, two male and two female. Then each element gave its powers to one of these new beings, Air choosing the eldest, a male, while Earth took the next one, female, Fire the younger male and Sea the youngest of them all, the other female. Having given their last creations their task of guarding the rest of the beings of the world and the means to perform their task, the elements fell into an exhausted slumber.

Upon the going away of their creators, The Four faced their first challenge. Before, Fire had provided the world with light and warmth, but now that it was gone, everything got cold and dark. Finally Fooniyo, the chosen of Air and wisest of the siblings came up with an idea. He instructed his brother, Nootau, to create an orb of fire, which he then placed in the sky and called the sun. When he realized it would only light one side of the world as it was, he set the sun to motion, making it roll slowly over the sky before disappearing behind the edge of the sea, and then travelling underneath the world back to the other side. At this, the youngest of The Four, Amadahy who loved all of the creations the most, voiced her disapproval, saying that it would leave the world in dark for half of the time. Her sister, Onatahy who was the most practical, added that since the people were given the ability to understand the passage of time, they should also have some means to measure it. So again Fooniyo asked Nootau create a glowing orb, but told him to make this one dimmer and colder, with one side dark and one side white. Then he set it too in the sky, but made it in addition to rolling over the world also turn around itself, so that at times it showed only the white side and at time only the dark side. This orb was named the moon.

Pleased with their work so far, the Four decided to split the world between them, so that each would take care of one part. Fooniyo looked at the world and noticed the mountains. The people living there were quiet and thoughtful, revelling in their studies of lore, research for new knowledge and arts of many kinds. Seeing his brother had made his choice, Onatahy was next. Her attention was drawn to the lush forests and rolling hills, where the people lived of the ground. These people were hard working and warm hearted, always willing to help one another, always putting a little aside from their crops to be shared with their friends and relatives. Exactly the kind she loved best. While she inspected the lands she had laid her claim on, Nootau scanned the world until his gaze fell on the plains. The people there were wild and free, enjoying the moment and rushing up to meet whatever the life had in store for them. The Fire God smiled, feeling he had found kindred spirits. When Amadahy’s turn came, she realized there was hardly any land left. Only the wetlands, rivers, lakes and coastline around the world were left unclaimed. But even in these places there dwelled people. They were dreamers and magickers, people who lived by intuition and magic. At first the Water Goddess was a little upset that her siblings had taken all the dry land, but then she realized that the people of the waterways also needed guidance, and they were in many ways similar to her. So finally everyone was satisfied with the way the world had been divided.

Time passed, no one is exactly sure how long, but the gods noticed that the different peoples started developing in different ways, taking on the traits of their patron gods. The mountain folk became graceful and lithe, with long limbs and finely chiselled features. The farmers of forests and hills grew tall and strong, with broad shoulders and big hands suited for hard work. The dwellers of the plains turned small and tough, ready and willing to fight back any threat. Those that made their home near the water remained the smallest of all, almost child-like in comparison to the others, with large eyes that seemed to always be looking into another world. But with the blessings, there proved to be vices as well. The air people had the tendency of being cold and thinking themselves higher than the others. The shore-dwellers on the contrary could act solely on emotion and get so lost in their daydreams that they forgot here and now, while the earth people were often stubborn and unyielding as a rock and the Fire God’s servants were quick-tempered and impatient. But most of all the fire people were proud.

One hunter in particular was a prime example of this. He was young and strong and thought too much of himself. He began to think that since the sun was created by the Fire God, then it should belong to his people. He pondered this for a time, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt it should be so. Finally, he decided to put words into deeds. In those days the sun travelled much closer to the ground, so he thought it would be no feat to simply grab it as it went by. So, early, early one morning he settled in wait at the eastern edge of the plains, waiting for the sun to come over the hills. And in due time the sun appeared, completely unawares. With a mighty leap the hunter pounced at the sun, but the brightness blinded him, and he miscalculated his jump. The sun started away in horror and fled from its would-be captor. Angry for his miss, the hunter pursued, and the sun changed its course upwards in fear. All day the hunter ran after the sun, hoping to wear it out, and the sun climbed higher and higher in panic. Finally, in the evening, when the sun reached the western horizon and disappeared beyond it the hunter stopped, completely exhausted. He fell down on the ground and slept where he lay, not opening his eyes until the next evening. He was so sore from all the running that it took him almost two days to return to his village, even though he had earlier ran across the whole plain in less time.

When he reached his village and told his story, the people laughed at him, berated his foolishness and selfishness, but at the same time they also admired his strength and speed. The elders gathered to discuss what should be done about the young up-start, and they decided that reminding him of his folly every year would be enough. So they decided to arrange a contest of speed and endurance between the young hunters of the tribe, having them in the guise of a game re-enact the Sunchase. And this tradition we are still holding on to even today. But we’re not the only ones who still remember. Even though the sun managed to escape its pursuer, it never quite regained its nerve. It still rolls over the world high through the sky, far out of anyone’s reach. In the winter months it gets bolder and ventures lower, but when the snows retreat to the mountaintops and the far north, the sun remembers again the swift-running hunter, and it climbs higher, reaching its peak right on the day of midsummer. Then, when it sees the hunter didn’t come, it starts descending again.”

His story ended, the grey elder stood up on his platform and reached out his arms as if to embrace the whole crowd.

“Participants of the race, stand up.”

Some three dozen young raptors all but jumped on their feet all around the village square. Akilik and Masdu were some of the first to be on their feet, but Minha and Denai kept their tails firmly on the ground. Masdu looked at them confused, but master Klauklau spoke again before he could ask anything:

“A game born from selfish chase, laugh and excitement come from folly. Chase that sun into the sky!”

The ceremonial words were spoken, and loud cheering filled the square. People started milling about, moving sitting-mats and other things aside to make room for the runners. Minha moved as if to disappear into the crowd with a slightly guilty look on her face, but Masdu caught her by the arm.

“What was that all about? Aren’t you running? I thought we agreed that the four of us would show everyone this year!”

“Oh, shut up! I’m… not in the mood.”

“’Not in the mood’?! What kind of an excuse is that? And what’s with you Dee?”

The sandy colored raptorgirl looked at the ground with a blush and fiddled her hands.

“The spring fever…” she said, barely more than a whisper.

“We tried to train, but… it hurt to breathe… and we felt so weak…”

Masdu’s angry scowl melted into a look of understanding, guilt, and just a touch of pity. The sickness that was known simply as the spring fever attacked every year right after the snows melted. Most people could simply weather it like any common cold, but it could prove fatal to those who were old or weakened by some other disease. And once it got a good hold of someone, it wasn’t easy letting go. Akilik frowned.

“Why didn’t you say anything? You didn’t look or act that sick. And why did you even try to train if you had it?”

“Cause we made a deal!” Minha pulled her arm out of Masdu’s slackened grasp and crossed her arms defiantly.

“We all agreed to show who were the four fastest runners of the village, but then some stupid flu came and ruined it!”

She stuck her lower lip out like a pouting child. Masdu wrapped his arm around her shoulders and rubbed her arm.

“Aw, come on, Min. It’s not the end of the world. Next year they wouldn’t be able to tell what way we went without the dust trail, I promise.”

Denai shook her head and managed to force a tiny smile.

“It’s okay. I’m not fast enough anyway…”

Minha stomped her foot angrily.

“That’s bull! Last year you came damn near being the third! You may not be a sprinter, but you can keep the same pace long after the others stop to cough blood and bits of lung.”

“Nice pep-talk.” Akilik made a face.

“Well, it’s true!”

“Kil, Mas, the race…” Denai interrupted.

“Okay, you girls can sit it out this year. But you’d better be waiting by the finish line to cheer for us!” Masdu called over his shoulder as he grabbed Akilik by the arm and dragged him towards the start line.

Masdu shouldered himself in the first row of contestants who were gathered behind the sawdust line. Akilik took a place right behind him, watching with amusement as the taller raptorman nearly bounced up and down with excitement. Then the general commotion died into excitable murmur as a large brass gong was wheeled into the village square. One of the younger teens, who looked extremely pleased with his job, stepped up to it and took the mallet that was hanging from the frame. Master Klauklau took his place next to him with a slightly dreading look and raised his arm.

“Contestants ready?”

Akilik crouched into position.

“Get set…”

He could feel his claws digging into the dirt and saw Masdu’s tail twitching in front of him. Then master Klauklau let his arm fall and the youth with the mallet gave the gong an ear shattering pound.

If the sound of the gong made the ground shake, no one could tell, because some three dozen pairs of feet tore into the packed dirt of the square as the contestants sprang forward. Akilik was still close behind Masdu, who was at the very frontline. The runners were shoving and bumping into each other in the narrow street, but when they burst out of the village, they fanned out and redoubled their efforts to get more distance between themselves and their rivals. Akilik chuckled as Masdu and few other impatient ones took a sprint and were soon out of sight while he kept his easy and distance-consuming pace. Let the show-offs tire themselves, he would catch up soon enough.

The group was fanning out even more now. There were a few checkpoints along the way, but other than that, everyone was free to pick their own route. Akilik glanced over his shoulder and saw that only a handful of the group was still running behind him. He smiled to himself as he suddenly took a sharp turn into seemingly impenetrable thorn thicket and felt the confused stares of the others on his back. He almost tripped once, then slowed his pace into easy jog and was soon out of sight as he made his way through the tangle of shrubbery and trees. Then he saw the landmark he had been looking for: A large fallen tree. He leaped over it in a single, easy pound, and landed on the hidden pathway on the other side. The winding, smooth trail would take him through the shady vault of trees to a narrow, sand bottomed ravine that would take him through the rocky hills that stood on the straightest route to the first checkpoint while other struggled over them. And Masdu said knowing the terrain wouldn’t help you against someone faster than you!

*****

The third and last checkpoint was fast approaching. Now Akilik could see the two figures near the bottom of a great standing rock that marked it. It had to be Aminehi and Badr, their contrasting colors, near black and off-white could be seen miles away. He could feel the strain beginning to burn in his legs, but at this point of the race, it only added to the thrill. He came down the gently sloping hill at top speed, letting the pull of the ground do most of the work for him, laughing out loud just for the feeling of wind in his face. Akilik came to screeching halt in front of the pale scribe, startling the two goruns that had been grazing peacefully in their makeshift pen. Badr simply lowered the scroll he had used to shield his face from the flying sand and gravel and smiled up at the runner who was clasping his knees for support as he tried to catch his breath.

“Well, someone’s enjoying himself.”

He then quickly snatched his brush and scribbled Akilik’s name on the scroll while Aminehi scooped the panting youth a drink from the barrel that stood in the shade of the rock. Akilik drank deep and then poured the rest of the water on his head, making the dark female jump back with a mock-screech when some spilled on her. He peeked at the list of names over the white raptorman’s shoulder, and was pleased to notice there were only four names before him, and one of them was none other than Masdu.

“Am I far behind the others?”

“Nah, the ink barely had time to dry. You’ll catch them with a good sprint.”

Aminehi grinned and mockingly brandished the scoop.

“You kids are following one another so closely I can’t even turn around before the next one appears. I swear, you’re just trying to keep me alert, aren’t you?”

“Who are you calling a kid? You’re barely four years older than me.” Akilik bared his teeth in a playful growl. Then he added with a smirk:

“And don’t worry, the next one is some ways behind me, you’ll have plenty of time for, ah… ‘Other activities’.”

Aminehi’s eyes bulged and she blushed so hard it was visible even through her dark skin. Akilik laughed and tore off in pursuit of the lead. Behind him he could hear the white scribe’s voice saying something he couldn’t make out, followed by the telltale sound of a metal scoop against a raptor skull.

*****

The very last part of the race was just around the corner. He was now following a dry riverbed through a rocky maze of caves and canyons. He didn’t see any tracks on the ground, but then again others would most likely avoid this place, for it was easy to get lost and lose valuable time trying to find the right way again. Akilik didn’t have to worry, he knew the place like his own stripes, he had spent half of his childhood playing hide and seek among these very rocks. But now there was more thrill in every step and turn than in all those years.

Left. Over that large boulder. Through a tunnel. Right. Leap over the cleft. The exertion wasn’t the only thing that was making his heart race. Not in this place.

Suddenly a round stone shifted beneath his foot and he fell forward. Without missing a beat he turned the momentum into roll and was back on his feet almost instantly.

“Nice save, brownie.”

Akilik’s head snapped to the side when Masdu jumped down from a higher level of the rock labyrinth and fell in step with him for a moment.

“Iisaw and Luntook took the long way around and Ghazi got lost some ways back. Guess it’s you and me now.”

Then he shot off, laughing.

“Try and keep up!”

Akilik sprang in pursuit with a joyous cry. Masdu was faster on plain ground, but Akilik was more nimble, so they were very evenly matched in these narrow ravines. Suddenly all the years or the even the race didn’t seem to matter anymore, it was just two friends racing down the canyons at insane speed, just like it had always been. Every step of the way was familiar, every turn had been taken a hundred times before. Underneath the stone arch. Left. Slide down the slope in a miniature avalanche of loose rubble. Around the stone pillar. Right. Jump over the petrified tree that lay on the path. Left again.

Sometimes Akilik lost the sight of his companion among the rock formations. Sometimes when he caught a glimpse of him again it seemed as if he wasn’t chasing or being chased by a raptorman of his age, but a little boy with windswept red hair. And from the way Masdu kept glancing at him and blinking he suspected that the same illusion was affecting the red one. The cliffs rattled with the echoes of their laughter.

Now they were almost side by side as they turned to the last path that would take them out of the rocky cliffs and into the last leg of the race; the short stretch of open savannah. Then suddenly Masdu seemed to gain new strength from some unknown source and he took the lead. He turned to look over his shoulder at Akilik, grinning victoriously. But right when Akilik was preparing to say something that would wipe the smirk from his face, Masdu suddenly lost his balance. His eyes opened wide and his arm shot out to balance him, but to no avail. As if time had suddenly slowed down Akilik saw him keel over, hit the ground hard and roll a few times before his momentum ran out and he stopped. Akilik tried to stop, but he was going too fast to stop suddenly. Even though he planted both of his feet firmly on the ground he still slid dangerously fast towards his friend who was lying on the ground right in front of him. At the last minute he took advantage of what momentum he still had and leaped over the red raptorman, landing with a roll like earlier.

When he regained his footing he turned to Masdu, who was still lying on the ground, coughing with the dust. He reached out to help him to stand up, but the other showed roughly him away.

“Just keep going, idiot!”

“Mas, what…”

Masdu motioned towards his left ankle, which was already swelling. He ground his teeth together as he struggled into sitting position against the cliff wall.

“No more running for me. Move it, you can still win the race.”

“I can’t leave you here…”

“Yes you can! Tell them I’m here and they’ll send someone to pick me up.”

Akilik took a step back, hesitant to leave his friend behind. But Masdu suddenly lifted his head, locking fiery golden eyes on sky blue ones.

“See you at the award ceremony.”

Despite himself, Akilik felt something tug at the corners of his mouth. He nodded, turned and took off without looking back.

The last cliffs flashed by in a red and yellow blur as he burst into the open grassland, blinking at the sun. He could now see the village straight ahead. Before him lay nothing but open savannah, the knee-high grass swaying in the wind. He picked up the speed, not needing to watch his every step for rocks and bumps anymore. But then he noticed movement from his peripheral vision. Or rather, something keeping up with his pace whereas everything else was simply flashing by. He turned to look and his eyes flew open. Luntook was approaching fast from his left. Akilik felt suddenly incredibly stupid; of course he wasn’t the only one who knew the terrain and took advantage of it. Luntook must’ve found another shortcut through the canyons further away. Then he realized another thing. The blue raptorman’s course wouldn’t intercept his, because Luntook was ahead of him!

A sudden surge or rage shot through Akilik. He had agreed with his friends that this year they would win. But now the girls and even Masdu were out of the picture. And now someone dared to try and take THEIR victory! He growled, deep and resonant, and sprang forward with new strength and new determination. The distance between him and the blue one wasn’t long, but Luntook wasn’t holding anything back either. If either of them tripped suddenly, they might break their neck falling down.

The outline of the village was getting clearer now. He could already hear the distant, excited murmur. Then there was a voice that rose over the general commotion for a moment, but was soon drowned when the low hum rose to a full pandemonium. One of the lookouts must have announced their arrival. Akilik closed the sound out, he had a task at hand. He let his vision narrow down to the dusty blue figure ahead of him. He didn’t even realize it, but he was letting his mind slip into hunting mode. He was the hunter and the figure ahead was his prey. He must’ve growled out loud again, for Luntook glanced at him over his shoulder and seemed slightly startled.

Akilik was catching up now, he was only a step behind his rival when they finally were close enough to the village to see the multitude of raptors packed around the west gate and on both sides of the main street. The rush of blood in his ears was nigh deafening and his head was throbbing in time with his racing heart. His breath ground in his throat like he was inhaling sand instead of air. He was nearly shoulder to shoulder with Luntook as they burst through the open gate and past the cheering crowd. Akilik caught a brief flash of Denai, who was bouncing from one foot to another, hands clasped into tight fists in front of her mouth. Minha was waving her arms and jumping up and down next to her, but whatever they were shouting was lost in the roar of the crowd. Suddenly the white banner that marked the start and finish line appeared from around the corner like a mirage. He could still sense Luntook’s presence somewhere at his left side, but he didn’t turn to confirm whether he was behind or ahead of him. His leg muscles were screeching protests, but he hardly noticed. He didn’t even really feel his feet touching the ground, the only thing that registered was to squeeze just a little more into those few remaining steps.

Then he realized that the banner was no longer ahead of him. Instead the cheering crowd had suddenly gathered right across his path and he had to come to sliding stop so he wouldn’t run straight into them. At his side his blue peer did the same. Blood was still pounding in his head and for a moment he was confused about the new tone of the shouts that he was hearing from all around himself, but then Minha and Denai appeared out of nowhere and flung their arms around him, both screaming at the same time.

“You did it! You won, you won!”

“Man, I’ve never seen a sprint like that! Lun could’ve as well been standing still!”

Minha peered towards the gate.

“Is Mas far behind you?”

The question made Akilik’s eyes fly open as he remembered. He clasped his knees for support and spoke between gulps of air:

“No… Mas… tripped… In the canyons… He can’t walk… Someone must… fetch him…”

“What? Oh no, is he all right? How did it happen? Did he…”

“Hey girls, take it easy. Let the poor boy catch his breath.” A third voice broke through Minha’s worried chatter as Akilik felt a large, heavy hand land on his shoulder. He turned around and faced a pair of very familiar grey eyes set in a dark brown face.

“Dad!”

“Hello, son.” Umkoome greeted with a smirk before pulling his eldest into a fierce hug that the young one eagerly returned.

“I’m sorry I was late this year. I arrived only a moment after you had gone. I’ve never felt so much like kicking myself.”

“I told you.” Lamees’ voice chimed in.

Akilik untangled himself from his father arms only to be tackled by a small brown and white hurricane.

“KIL! You won you won you won!”

Laughing Umkoome peeled Azeem off his big brother while his wife handed the tired runner a bowl of water, which Akilik gladly gulped down. Then he noticed that the small group around him had gotten smaller still.

“Where did Min and Dee go?”

“I saw Minha dragging Denai away with her just a moment ago. She seemed concerned about Masdu, so I believe they went to find someone who could go and pick him up.”

Akilik arched an eyebrow.

“Doesn’t sound like Min.”

Lamees shared a knowing look and a smirk with her husband.

“Funny, I thought exactly the opposite.”

*****

Minha craned her neck and peered towards the gate for fifth time in as many minutes. Akilik gave her a puzzled look from where he was standing in row with three others who were to receive a prize. He was at the end of the row, next to him was Luntook, then Ghazi and then one of the females that had participated, Milasuk. Other inhabitants of the village stood in a semi-circle around them. Akilik saw his mother chatting with Denai’s parents while his father listened to Azeem who was explaining something as excitedly as only a child can.

Then suddenly Minha seemed to perk up. Two goruns had just trotted in through the gate, Masdu riding one while the other carried the healer who had been sent to fetch him. The grey female elbowed her way through the crowd and ran to the two beasts just as Masdu slid down, wincing slightly as his sore leg came in contact with the ground. Minha had half extended her arms as if to hug the red raptorman, but she froze in mid-step just before they came in contact. Masdu looked at her curiously and was just opening his mouth to say something when the grey one suddenly whacked him on the head and started ranting about how careless and clumsy he had been. Masdu shot back a few sharp retorts and the pair ended up arguing all the way as Minha helped the burgundy-colored raptorman to hobble to where Denai was waiting for them.

Master Klauklau stepped forth from the crowd and everyone fell silent, some after a few mean looks and a couple pokes. The grey storyteller walked up to the runners who instinctively straightened in the presence of the respected elder. Master Klauklau smiled and looked at each of them before reaching into the wide sleeve of his robe and pulling out four headbands, each decorated with a number of bright red feathers. He took the first that had only one feather and spoke:

“The four who are lightest of foot among us…”

He set the headband on Milasuk’s head.

“The Torch-carrier.”

Then he stepped up to Ghazi and placed a band with two feathers on his head.

“The Star-collector.”

Luntook was given one with three red plumes.

“The Moon-turner.”

Finally he stopped in front of Akilik and put the last, four-feathered band on his head.

“And the Sun-chaser.”

Then he turned around and held his arms out.

“They have ran far and fast to bring us sun, but returned empty-handed. But in two days of time, we will celebrate none the less. Let us start the preparations!”

His words were followed by a thunderous cheer from the surrounding assembly and friend and relations rushed forward to congratulate the winners. Akilik tried to slip away from the densest crowd, but before he could make a successful getaway he felt a hand on his arm. Luntook appeared beside him and grinned.

“Congrats, Kil. That was some run back there.”

“Well, you really gave me a run for it. Pardon the pun.” Akilik smirked back, adjusting the feathers behind his left ear.

“Seriously, when you were catching up on me and I heard you growl, I suddenly felt like you were chasing me rather than racing me. For a moment I actually thought you might try and pounce on me.”

“It did cross my mind.”

Luntook chuckled before slapping him on the shoulder once more and returning to his family. Akilik returned to the task of slipping away as unnoticed as possible, but he had barely turned around when he found himself nose to nose with Denai.

“Hey.” She smiled at him and then blushed and quickly dropped her gaze.

“…Hey.”

“You were great today.”

“Thanks. It’s… too bad you couldn’t run.”

Akilik blinked. Why was he so nervous all of a sudden?

“It’s okay, there’s always next year.”

She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She hesitated a brief moment before squaring her shoulders and lifting her head to look him in the eye again. Her blush was still present, but there seemed to be determination in her eyes.

“And this year, I have a special prize for the winner.”

“Really? What is it?”

Denai blushed even harder, but then she reached up and quickly pressed her lips against a white-striped cheek. Then she stepped back and giggled before turning and disappearing in the crowd.

Akilik stood petrified in place for almost a minute before slowly lifting a hand to touch the cheek that still tingled from the brief touch. Then he looked up and realized that quite a few of the surrounding raptors of his age were staring at him with slack jaws. Even Minha and Masdu had frozen in the middle of their argument and were gaping at the scene that unfurled between their friends. Then slowly a grin crept over Masdu’s face.

“Man, winners DO get the best prizes.”


~Fin~