The Outsiders

[Syrrus]

He had never seen such chaos before and he had lived in the city all his life. Atir couldn't help to think that something horrible was going to happen. Due to his tiny size and the fact that he was nothing but a child no one wanted to spend enough time to explain anything to him. He sighed heavily and blew his brown hair out of his face, scrunching his expression up into a frown. He hated being so small, no one showed the poor and the homeless any respect anyway, never mind a child.


What the young boy didn't know was that the reason to why the sky had suddenly gone from a beautiful clear blue sky to a dark and dreary looking view was because something large was approaching, and something that large tended to destroy even the weather with their presence. Neither did he know that whatever was heading their way would destroy anything in its path. Atir didn't know much, in fact for no one tended to want to tell him a single thing.


He ran through the streets, sneaking beneath tall men's legs, darting left and right to get past the crowd which was carrying heavy loads, riding horses and moving carts across the street towards the northern exit. He had never seen the giant golden gates open before and little did he know that he would come to both hate and admire the day that it happened.


Atir knew one person who would tell him exactly what was happening for the general was a kind but stern man. Even though he was of noble birth he still spent time to give the poor a coin or two to help them with their difficult life. Atir couldn't help to admire the man and when he spotted his red armour he couldn't stop himself but shouted out in excitement. "Ephraim! Ephraim please wait! Ephraim!"


The general heard the shout above the commotion behind him and quickly stepped to the side to check who possibly could be screaming his lunges out just to get his attention. When he spotted the young boy he couldn't help but sigh. Catching him as Atir almost ran past with the speed he was using the red armoured man looked down, gently griping the boy's tattered hood. "What's happening, Atir?" The man asked, his voice deep. He stood tall, strong and with slicked back light hair. He was the very picture of admiration, at least to someone like Atir. "That's my question precisely!"

 

[InactiveCoffee]

Panic. All there is, is panic. Treven gasped as she attempted to catch her breath. She had been running through the streets, avoiding anyone and everyone at all costs. She was not about to get trampled by their panicked rush to leave the city. She was confused why it was happening, but that didn't matter. What mattered was getting the heck out of there. She dodged and weaved through the rushing members of society, one place in mind. Someone who could tell her what was going on, and where they were going. She quickly swiped her hair from her face, her cheeks flushed from running about.


Ahead, she heard someone screaming for the general. So he was here. Good. She continued to run, dancing to the left when a person charged from a shop, nearly knocking her over. "Watch it!" snapped a gravelly voice, to which she ignored, and continued forward. It wasn't long before she spotted the familiar red armor that was the general. She spotted the boy who had called out to him, and moved from the crowd, approaching them. Her stuffed bear dangling from her left hand, she looked up at the general, "Why is everyone in a panic?" she asked, pulling the bear to her chest. She set her chin on the bear's head, and peered up at Ephraim.


"General!" called another voice, the voice of a strong warrior woman. She pushed her way around a group of people packing for the journey, holding her long javelin tight to her side. Her long red hair in it's usual braid down her back, she saluted the General as she came to stop beside him. She glanced at the children, and smiled gently, then turned a stern gaze to the general. "What should we do about the people? Everyone's in a panic, and I fear we will have a stampede soon enough. What are your orders?" she asked firmly.

 

[Syrrus]

Ephraim was just about to respond to the boys question when a little girl approached him as well. He sighed slightly, again. What was happening here? Why did everyone seem to want to chat with him today when he was all too busy? It was then he heard a familiar voice call out his working title and he couldn't help but to glare at her with frustration. He didn't mean to and he hoped that she understood that she meant nothing by it, he was just stressed. "I am trying to lead them out of town. Try and keep them calm, explain, lie if you have to; just keep them collected. We need to make sure the soldiers helps the elders and the young but if someone is causing problems we have no choice but to keep them behind."


It was a tricky business, trying to evacuate and entire city. "We're going north, towards the City of Ash, hopefully the sultan will have shelter for us, though knowing him he'd want a pretty penny for the trouble." If there was something Ephraim despised it was greed. In times such as this it was important have a charitable heart and try to stay strong. Unfortunately he knew far too many that rather took care of themselves. The General pushed Atir towards his comrade and gestured for Treven to follow her as well. "Stay close to the lady, she'll help you out of town. I'll have to make sure the city stands empty. I'll meet you at the gate." He said before he began to walk up the street. Atir blinked in confusion and was about to hurry after him.


"Ephraim! I asked you a question, where are you going?!" The little boy got no answer but a wave with a hand and sighed heavily before looking up at the tall warrior woman, after peering at the orphan girl who wasn't too much older than himself. "What is going on ma'am? No one is telling! Why is it so secretive. Who's coming? Why are we going north?"


The little boy had far too many question and it frustrated him that no one seemed to want to answer. Why was it so hard to simply mention an army or a evil king? There had to be something going on that caused such troubles for a city this big. He figured that the General hadn't told him anything because he was stressed, he sure looked like it.

 

[InactiveCoffee]

Kristyan sighed, and glanced sideways at the children. "It's rather difficult, young one." she said, and pulled the children to the side of the road where they could talk. "Listen well." she began, setting a hand on each child's shoulder. "I'm going to enlist your help. We need to calm these people before they hurt themselves." she said with a sigh. "A danger is coming to the city, one that will cause more harm to the city than is safe." she spoke softly, careful to keep her voice from being heard beyond the children's ears. "We are going north for refuge. Now, will you help me? We need calm if we wish to make it out of here with our lives in tact." she asked, looking between the children. "I'm Kristyan, by the way. Call me Krist." she added with a gentle smile.


Treven's face flushed when she happened to catch the glare the general had given the woman. He was busy, and she had just butted into a conversation. She pressed her face into the head of her bear, and sighed. Fear was gripping at her chest, it was permeable in the air. Everyone was scared. She listened to the numerous questions the boy pelted at Kristyan, and followed hesitantly when she was lead aside by the warrior woman. She finally looked up when Kristyan took the time to explain the happenings. "How are we supposed to help?" she asked boldly, and squeaked in slight surprise, pressing her face into her bear again. She mumbled something to the effects of a question, speaking an incoherent name. She was talking to the bear.

 

[Syrrus]

The young boy looked up at Kristyan with his big blue eyes, he couldn't help but to frown. Why was something terrible happening to his home? He didn't want anything bad to happen to his home! Not now, not ever. Sure it wasn't the best of places to live, but it was something and he couldn't say that he wished destruction upon any city. Atir scratched his arm nervously and peered at the girl next to him. She looked scared, he couldn't say that he felt any better - he felt terrible in fact but he didn't wish to show it. He had to stay brave, for they who didn't have courage, it would get their spirits up.


He then heard something, a woman's voice as she walked past. She spoke with a harsh and stressed pair of windpipes. Sad and upset, even angry it seemed. "This is all the thrones fault! Why hasn't the soldiers tried to find the King?!" A man responded to her, angrily. "Who says that it's a king? Maybe is a Queen!" And another decided to join in, speaking louder than the rest. "Don't be so foolish! There is no such thing as a ruler. We are all doomed! The monsters will keep on coming no matter what we do! We are doomed I tell you, doomed!!"


Atir looked back at Kristyan. "Doomed?" He repeated, still not quite understanding what was happening. He had been running around the streets for years but he had never heard anyone mention a ruler of any kind. Especially not a king or a queen. He had heard about the Northern Sultan, the Southern Empress and the Lord of the Jungle, but never a King or a Queen.

 

[InactiveCoffee]

Kristyan sighed, and stood, hefting her javelin into her hand. She addressed the group of angry townsfolk, "Quiet, all of you!" she stated authoritatively. She had no time to be arguing this point with townsfolk, but she was beginning to get a headache. "Have faith, we will see you to safety! We have survived this long without a ruler, and we will continue to survive! Now get your things, and get to the caravan! I want no more talk of this. It only brings fear to the hearts of our friends." she snapped, ushering the people onward. She sighed heavily, and looked to Atir, "We are not doomed, young one. We will survive this." she said gently.


 
Kristyan sighed, and stood, hefting her javelin into her hand. She addressed the group of angry townsfolk, "Quiet, all of you!" she stated authoritatively. She had no time to be arguing this point with townsfolk, but she was beginning to get a headache. "Have faith, we will see you to safety! We have survived this long without a ruler, and we will continue to survive! Now get your things, and get to the caravan! I want no more talk of this. It only brings fear to the hearts of our friends." she snapped, ushering the people onward. She sighed heavily, and looked to Atir, "We are not doomed, young one. We will survive this." she said gently. The warrior glanced at the small girl, "Keep her close, will you? You look to be a strong young man. She looks like she could use a friend." Kristyan smiled softly to the girl, and looked about.


Treven trembled softly, but kept her face hidden. Their homes were in danger? She remembered seeing an evil being only a few short years ago when she had lost her parents, but the idea was still terrifying. She didn't want to leave the place she had called home for as long as she could remember. That's why she had become a runaway instead of going off to her cousins. "I-I don't want...." she mumbled against her bear. She couldn't bring herself to finish her statement. She knew it was better to leave alive, than stay and die. She had been doing all she could to survive since losing her parents, why would she stop now?

 

[Syrrus]

The little boy followed the warrior woman with his gaze as she continued with her work, he then peered down at the girl standing next to him. What would he do now? They all talked about a ruler, someone who clearly could stop what was happening? Perhaps all they had to do was to find this special person and perhaps then everything would be sorted? It sounded a bit too simple and the young boy couldn't say that he knew how it would go down. He was shaking, slightly as he placed a hand on the girls shoulder. "I'm Atir."


Perhaps exchanging names would make this whole ordeal a lot easier to handle? He always felt more comfortable when being around people he knew. Seeing as Ephraim has stormed off in a huff and that Kristyan was needed elsewhere all the children could to was to stay together. He wondered if his plan was a good idea or not, it felt rather foolish but he would have been lying if he said that it had nothing to do with adventure. Atir had always wanted to become a hero, it was a childish dream of his.


"I have an idea." He whispered, placing both his hands on the little girls shoulders and looking at her with his big blue orbs. "But I need your help..." He looked around, making sure that no one heard him or they probably would try and stop him. It was suicide, he supposed. "The ruler can save us. We need to find him!" He said him because he was hoping it was a King, he always thought Kings sounded better than Queen but then again, he was nothing but a little boy. He didn't actually know if a King would be any better than the female version.

 

[InactiveCoffee]

Treven brought her head up to peer at the boy who now spoke to her. She smiled slightly, though fear was still the prominent emotion in her eyes. "Treven." she responded softly. Curiosity over took her, and she managed a grin. "How would we do that? Where would two kids like us even begin to find the Ruler?" she asked, her bear gripped tightly to her chest. She looked around, no one was paying them any attention. That meant they could move and talk without any real issues. No one ever really paid attention to the talking of children, tossing anything they say as fiction, and games. She liked this boy, and his way of thinking.

 

[Syrrus]

Atir had no clue, this of course made his expression lose composure for a moment. His confident faltered and he peered down at the ground. He didn't know where rulers could be hiding or why they would be hiding in the first place. He also didn't understand why no one was trying to find him, if he was out there. Perhaps they had simply given up? Maybe all the world needed was to children to help in the search? The idea made his expression turn up and he smiled at her, a big toothy grin. "We can find him, I'm sure of it!" He grabbed her hand gently as he started to walk, as quickly as he could towards the large gates. They were going to open up soon and when they were the both of them could easily sneak away.


Atir had never seen the outside world and he had no idea how they would be able to survive out there all on their own. He never thought of thinking about what they were going to eat or how they were going to defend each other against the darkness of the world, for he had no idea of there were such a thing. He had heard tales about monsters and such but never actually thought hard on if they actually existed. He didn't even understand that wolves would probably be a big enough threat for two lonely children.

 

[InactiveCoffee]

Treven glanced around them, almost fearful of the idea of leaving the city she had known as her home. She gulped, clutching her bear to her, and followed after the boy. He seemed determined, to say the least, and she wouldn't be alone. That was always a nice thought. She had been alone for longer than she liked, so company wasn't a bad idea. She had little idea or concern of what lay on the other side of the gate. She only wanted to be free of the fear that choked her belly. Her pace picked up as she pressed closer to the boy, walking steadily with him. "Where will we go?" she asked softly, watching the people they passed by.

 

[Syrrus]

"Where ever we have to be." He nodded, sounding more than just a little dramatic. He had decided that finding the ruler was their only hope. It was their destiny. He would show Ephraim and all the city folk. Hope always existed they were just too afraid to fail and therefore didn't even try to find it. He held her hand tight, didn't wish to lose her in the crowd. It wasn't until they reached the gate as he stopped, hiding in some burnt bushes by its side, waiting patiently for a guard to open it.


The golden gate swung open, slowly and beams of dying sunlight hit Atir in the face, causing him to blink and squint. He pulled her with him again, running beside a cart of gods and as soon as they got out, the golden city behind their back he ran to the left, hoping that no one would notice them. No one did, and he continued to run, quickly; hoping that they wouldn't trip and fall.


The great forest stood before them. He swallowed hard and did his hardest not to look back. It wasn't until the first few trees surrounded them that he let go of her hand and stopped. Strangely, without his agreement or even without him noticing tears had started to run down his cheeks, leaving salty and wet trails behind. He turned, half and half to look upon the city that used to be his home. For some reason he felt as if he'd never see it again. His little face never stopped looking determent. He had decided what to do and he had pulled the girl he had been told to keep an eye on with him.


He noticed captain Ephraim by the gate, talking to the nice guard woman and he felt how his raised his hand in the air to wave. He stopped himself quickly and before Ephraim could look their way he grabbed the girls hand once again and continued through the forest.


-------


Ephraim peered towards the jungle to the west. His eye catching something darting in behind the tree. With a slight frown he couldn't help to wonder what it was. Slowly he walked further down the road, trying to spot whatever it was that he no longer could see. Nothing were there, he assumed it was a deer or perhaps some rabbits running for their life too.

 

[InactiveCoffee]

Treven followed without question. Her fear seemed to subside slightly as the excitement of an adventure opened up before her and Atir. She gazed back at the wall, and everyone who was exiting through the gates. She silently said goodbye to her home, and followed after the boy when he grabbed her hand. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she quickly swiped them away. In the process, her bear fell from her grasp. "Ah!" she yelped, and pulled back to collect the bear, squeezing it to her chest. She glanced at Atir, "Sorry." she said softly, and trotted after him. She didn't know what lay before them, but she did know she was happy to have someone with her. She would have been far to frightened had she still been alone.




Kristyan was ushering a few people through the gates when she spotted Ephriam look out toward the forest. She turned her gaze as well, but had no idea what he was looking at. She shook her head, and turned back to the people she was helping file out of the city. She sighed a few times, constantly repeating herself as she told different people that everything was going to be okay. That they needed to keep faith in the guard, and they would all make it out safely.

 

[Syrrus]

"It's alright." The boy said, keeping the girl close. The jungle seemed awfully dark and big. He hadn't imagined it to be like this. Fair to him, he hadn't imagined it to be anything but a easy path to the royalty they were looking for. He swallowed nervously and flinched heavily when a bird scared him almost out of his skin as it cawed at him from a branch in the high tree. Atir didn't like feathery beasts, not even a little. He looked around, nervously and continued to walk down the slithery path, wondering if they would ever find what they were looking for.


"Do you know what the ruler looks like?" He asked, voice low as if he thought someone could hear them. Perhaps if they knew what he looked like everything would be a bit easier? Then they could ask around, perhaps even find him before dark! He hoped... He was terribly afraid of the dark. He almost regretted his decision when he heard something move in the bushes. Clutching the girls had even tighter due to fright as he slowly walked past it.

 

[InactiveCoffee]

Treven shrugged, "No clue. Regal probably... if he's a ruler. All fancy, and in silks, maybe?" she said, throwing out things she vaguely recalled what those of nobility wore. She jumped as well when the bird screeched at them, and pressed herself close to Atir. Her hand clutched nearly as tight as Atir's as they walked, skirting whatever moved in the bushes. "What are we going to do when night comes?" she asked softly, her voice trembling from fear.