xxxxxAfter leaving the protection of the Mount, not everyone felt at ease. Majus helped set up a watch rotation from his memories as a soldier and harbored beneath his wings those who attempted sleep. Many found it difficult to adjust, and there were not a few who were struck blind by the sudden light they traveled through.
xxxxx“Majus-vat, a word with thee?” a young Civati inquired.
xxxxxMajus snaked his head in the bright Civati’s direction and said quietly, “What is it you wish to talk about, Leta-vat?” He felt badly for those he had under his care whose dreams were of happiness, like Leta.
xxxxx“What are we to do about the Silence and Song? Many of our eldest desire them, though they themselves ascertain the need for stealth in such foreign lands as these,” Leta said. Her hands twisted before her, and though she didn’t look at Majus, he could see the worried flick of her large ears.
xxxxx“Leta-vat, I will not be upset with you, nor with those whose complaint you bring to me,” Majus said. He reached out one clawed foot toward her until she put her hand on it. “I know the Silence and Song must balance, and I have thought on this matter long. I believe I may be close to a solution of sorts, but let us wait for the gentle light to shine, so that all may hear of it first,” he said. Leta looked about ready to object, but he nudged her gently with his claw. “Go. Sleep while you may. I will Guard you as best I may,” Majus reassured her.
xxxxxDespite his advice, Leta was one of the first to awaken by that moonrise. Her yellow hair had yet to be cut, so the greenish tint had begun to show in earnest at the ends of her rippling curls. Peku, unfortunately, was not far behind.
xxxxx“Majus-vat, thine inabilities to mind the queries of thine dependents appalls mine sense of justice,” the redhead blurted. Majus simply blinked at Peku and sighed.
xxxxx“Peku-vat, your intuition is always a blessing, but in this surface world, I am more accustomed to the dangers inherent in inhabiting this place. Please, wake the rest. I shall endeavor to Guide you in this,” Majus said. Peku stormed off again, but Leta remained. She stayed until the rest had awakened and emerged from under his wings. Grey veils covered all eyes, but some leaned more heavily on another than the rest.
xxxxx“Majus-vat, what dost thou desire to convey?” a voice called from the crowd. Another joined in, “Should not we continue journeying while the Gentle Light still graces the heavens?” Before any more grumbling could drown him out, Majus sat up and flared his wings.
xxxxxThose wings were ratty old things. Torn so badly he could not fly, and scarred elsewhere by rocks and fire and thorns. Now, they looked almost comical, as grey cloth had been sewed into the leather so as to prevent any more blindness during the Harsh Light of day. It had hurt, but Majus hadn’t objected to becoming more able to protect his people.
xxxxx“Civati of the Mount,” he called out to them, “My appreciation for your patience is only outweighed by my desire to protect that which I was brought to protect.” Many Civati shuffled in the crowd, unsure why this meeting had taken place. Not many meetings of this scale happened, but they were always important.
xxxxx“My adoptive people, I know it has been a struggle within yourselves to keep the Silence and Song within such unbalance, but those who I would Guard against would surely hear such beauty in this time of war and seek to crush it,” Majus continued. Many of the eldest began to grumble again, but the youngest among them nodded and whispered agreement. “I have ascertained that there remain four avenues to Song. The first is simply to return to a state of Song and Silence, as when the Mount was still our home. This avenue would bring down against us more than I might handle alone. If this way is chosen, all Civati must learn the ways of self defense to better survive the attention the Song would bring,” Majus said, pausing to listen to the grumblings of those in his care. This was the least adaptable option, since it would require this passive people to learn how to fight.
xxxxxOnce the crowd quieted again, Majus continued, “The second path toward Song is a quieted time of Song. Now, the purpose of Song remains to offset the Silence, so this avenue would have us practice a longer, quieter song than what remained in the Mount.” Here he held up a scaled leg to hush the crowd. “You all obviously find this option distasteful, so I will progress. The third option is to disguise our Song into the sounds of nature itself. None in this place would question the sounds of cricket, frog, bird, and wind, though too many owls might raise the Guard of those around us,” Majus said. This idea seemed to take more to the taste of the Civati around him, but those who were oldest and most set in their ways glowered at those nearby.
xxxxxSomeone from the crowd, Billibojo most likely, called out “What is the third avenue you spoke of?” Majus smiled into the crowd. That one was older than many he knew, but Majus admired the adaptability of the Civati, even imitating his own way of talking to a degree.
xxxxx“The last avenue I can conceive is to find and claim an area untraveled by others and begin again,” Majus said. There were many gasps throughout the gathered Civati, and a few confused looks from those spawned during their Journey.
xxxxx“Majus-vat, dost thou know of such a place as thou hast described?” Leta spoke from the front of the crowd, and all gazes turned expectant and hopeful as they looked toward the dragon who led them.
xxxxx“Leta-vat, your words speak what the rest hope for. The mountains west of here are the most probable location for such a haven. There are a number of valleys accessible only by flight in that range. So, also, are there mountains whose sheer sides present a danger to traveling afoot. If the Civati would desire to claim one such valley as their own, I would endeavor to Guide you true and assist you into such a place as this,” Majus said. Leta turned a distinct shade of pink at his praise, but she joined with the resounding cheer that arose at the end of his small speech.
xxxxx“Now, my adoptive kin, let us make haste. Should any retain doubts or conceive of a question concerning our current course, let them bring it to me as we travel,” Majus said. He’d noticed Peku in particular hadn’t cheered as enthusiastically as the rest. With one motion, Majus knelt, and those too old or too young to travel swiftly clambered upon his shoulders and back, rding all the way down his spine and even to his tail. It was an awkward way to travel for Majus, but the weight of so many Dreams upon his back helped remind him why he was Guard and why Zemni had chosen him as Guide.
xxxxxThree nights, they traveled, sleeping and recovering strength during times of Harsh Light. When finally they reached the base of the mountain range the Civati would be calling home, those who had doubted had been convinced, and some who had believed were beginning to doubt. They looked up at the height of each peak and grew tired at the sight of such a climb ahead. It was at this point that Majus began carrying more than just the very old and very young.
xxxxxThose with enough energy ranged ahead, scouting trails and bringing news to Majus as they climbed into the mountains. Every Civati helped their neighbor, and those riding upon Majus began to voluntarily switch out with those who didn’t, whispering encouraging words as they passed those more tired than they.
xxxxx“Rest, and think of what it will be like to not walk.”
xxxxx“Our destination cannot be further than yesterday.”
xxxxx“Almost there.”
xxxxxThere came a night when even those words grew quiet, and Majus made a choice. He gathered his adoptive people and spoke to them again. “Civati, I know this Journey has taken its toll on your bodies and minds. Rest this Harsh and Gentle Light within the protection of these caves while I search ahead,” Majus said. He was interrupted very noisily by a certain red Civati.
xxxxx“Dost thou desire to abandon thine duties as Guard? What should happen to us, should thou not return to us?”
xxxxx“Harken, my kin, to the words Maus-vat utters. I believe he hast thought of our plight and wishes it over with quickly,” Leta said to her people. She and those near her looked toward the dragon with hope, while those around Peku continued to grumble. At a nod from Majus, Leta continued, “Civati, look to thine reflections. Thou burden the young with years they have yet to earn, and thine elderly yearn simply for rest. Allow Majus-vat to Guard thine energy and ascertain the ways in which to Guide thine steps.”
xxxxxFor the first time since leaving the Mount, the entirety of the Civati people slept under stone instead of under wings and scales and cloth. A watch was set up of those willing to give up their rest, and Majus made last minute arrangements.
xxxxx“Leta-vat, a word with you,” Majus called as the rest retreated from the sun. The bright Civati came forward and stood before the dragon’s lowered head. “Leta-vat, I wish you these. Keep them safe for me,” he said.
xxxxxLeta gasped as a small pile of black seeds and a horn of purest silver fell into her outstretched hands. “Majus, I cannot take these. This horn is for Guide alone,” she said, trying to put the thing back in his grasp. She suddenly stopped and flushed, quickly blubbering, “Majus-vat, excuse my over familiarity. Mine words were ill thought, and I mean no disrespect to thine adoption.”
xxxxxMajus gave a deep chuckle as he pulled away. “All is forgiven, Leta-vat. Please, keep the horn safe while I move forward. It is important not only to me, but also to our people. Should something happen and I am unable to return, give it to Peku-vat. He may be abrasive, but he knows what is good for the Civati and will know how to start choosing the next Guide,” he said. As tears began to fill Leta’s eyes, Majus moved his snout against her. “Do not fear. I am not completely helpless,” he said, grinning and showing his sharp teeth.
xxxxxThose next two days were difficult for the Civati. They were lost without their Guide, and they were skittish without their Guard. Even the newest members felt it, though there was one who was born beyond it. With a bright, blinding light, a green Civati made his first appearance at Majus’s side during his travels. Majus had been returning when this young one appeared, and he made even more haste, knowing that the others would need this one.
xxxxxAt his arrival on the evening of the second day, the Civati rejoiced. Majus thought they looked tired and scared, but many shoulders relaxed as they recognized his form. Many cries of delight also rose up as the newest member of their kin was shown to them. He remained almost glued to Majus’s scales, but the dragon saw how brightly his dream glowed at this meeting with the rest of his people.
xxxxxLeta approached and lifted the horn of purest silver, smiling as she said, “Name him, Guide, and welcome him as our kin.”
xxxxxMajus was surprised, then berated himself. He should have been thinking of a name since the young Civati had appeared. “I request that you hold this for me, Leta-vat. I do not wish to break such a precious thing,” he said quietly to Leta. She smiled back at him and positioned it in a way that might be easier for him to use. He thought a moment longer, then lowered his head to the horn. Blowing gently, he brought out a single tone ass pure as the silver t came from. Loud and simple and long, it reverberated around their cave, and when the echoes died, Majus proclaimed, “Welcome, Mathias-vat, member of the Civati!”
xxxxxFrom that cave, the Civati journeyed more toward the South end of the mountains. When Majus had made the journey alone, he had moved faster, so instead of the single night it took him, now it took them multiple nights. They traveled over a mountain, and Majus Shuttled them across a canyon. Through all of this, Mathias never left his side, despite Majus urging him to socialize with the other Civati. The green Dream was a quiet one and rarely spoke. The first time was on the last day of their Journey.
xxxxxThe night had been spent shuttling Civati up the steep side of a mountain. Leta noticed that Mathias was not on the dragon’s back like normal and went looking for him. Just a little higher, on a thin outcrop of stone, the green Civati stood, looking down on a lush valley below. Waterfalls cascaded down the opposite side of the valley, their water feeding the roots of trees untouched by human, elf, or dragon.
xxxxx“Mathias-vat,” Leta said, “What dost thou look upon?” When she reached his vantage, her questions halted in her throat.
xxxxx“Home,” Mathias said quietly. That single word ran through the Civati as quickly as the sun’s light colored the clouds that morning.
((A/N: Guess what?! I wrote a thing! In 4 hours! Huzzah! Thanks, Ranger, for reminding me I wanted to write a thing and for giving me the perfect place to let the Civati settle down. It was fun to try and come up with other Civati after such a long time away from them, but I think my Dreams have gotten easier to manifest. This one comes after the Journey, for those keeping up with the Civati. If I have the time, I'm totally writing another one of these. I have the muse so bad right now! Also, y'all remember that Civati adoptable I was thinking of doing? I've decided I can't draw on the oekaki boards. If any of my readers would like to, though, then feel free to do so, and let me know if you do! I think it's be super fun, though I'm not sure how active it'd get.))
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