(19) The Lands of Ranuulo: Rebel Regenek (6.5k Words)

Jirro, Valr, Gweneva, and Aero travel through the Lands of Ranuulo to Dontown. This small community is home to the Regenek, a group of people with reptilian features. Ujiic, the Commander of the militia in the region, extorts the people of Dontown ruthlessly. Iguaruden, a young Regenek, is tired of living under the militia's heel. With the group's arrival, they decide to take the fight to Ujiic's forces.

(1/2/22) Self edited, audio edited, and peer edited

Peer editing by Mikrokosmostae

-----------------------------------

~Chapter 1- The Regenek~

~Age 991B~

         Lightning sprouted from dark purple and red skies, striking the desolate terrain. Vegetation was sparse, terribly powerfully beasts roamed the land; the only safe haven was Petri's woods. The trees there were thick, with black bark and blue leaves. This dense forest within the wasteland which served as the home of the Arachna.

         Jirro sat crossed-legged just outside the woods. Brisk winds passed through the sixteen-year-old's neat blonde hair. He breathed in and out deeply.

         A blue light emanated around his body - a Focus Barrier. Jirro steadied his breathing and tried to maintain the barrier around him, and his body only became more exhausted from doing so. But he was intent on beating his previous record of holding the barrier for 20 seconds straight.

         17... 18... 19... 20... 21! Jirro let the light around him dissipate, and he began to breathe harshly. He knew it was risky to use Focus like this... but he was improving. Each time he tested his limits, he felt stronger.  He had to keep pushing himself.

         Footsteps came from behind, and Jirro hurried to slow his breathing. 

         "What're you doing out here?" Valr asked.

         Jirro turned once he felt he had caught his breath, "Just practicing. Are we heading out soon?"

         "Soon! Your cousin insisted on sparring with Gweneva before we left. I figured you'd want to come see."

         Jirro kicked up to his feet, "I don't want to miss that!"

         Jirro jumped between the tree branches high above the ground while the brown-haired Valr levitated though the woods. Around them were trees covered in strands of webs, and the ground beneath had many web traps they sought to avoid.

         They found a clearing in the woods. At its center stood the black-haired Aero and the young Arachna woman Gweneva. A few other Arachna were circled around them.

         Gweneva shrugged her shoulders and four additional insect-like limbs sprouted from her back. She clicked the pincers at the tips of her pedipalps over her mouth. Her body was a mix of white and black, with light blue accents around her hands and feet.

         The impromptu rules they made were simple - The winner would be whoever landed the first clean strike, or knocked the other out of the clearing. Similar to the rules of a tournament. It was all in good fun.

         Aero took a light stance that complimented his quick but aggressive style. Gweneva crouched down and readied her hands to shoot webbing. Her four other arms were positioned to defend her.

         Gweneva's large eyes stared at Aero, "When do we start?"

         "Well, back home they had a drum that signaled us to start," Aero began, "But someone else can tell us when."

         Valr smirked and shouted, "Start now!"

         It took a moment for the two to react, but they quickly sprung to action. Gweneva jumped into the air as Aero charged forward, and she grabbed onto a nearby tree. She began to expel bursts of webs from her hands at him, but Aero was quick and dodged each of them.

         Whenever Aero would try to attack, Gweneva would simply jump to another tree. He couldn't compete with her mobility. So Aero charged shoulder first into the tree she was hanging onto and uprooted it from the ground.

         As the tree toppled over, Gweneva panicked and fell to the knoll beneath her. Aero came upon her quickly, and Gweneva readied her many limbs to defend herself. Aero strategically threw several jabs, but he couldn't get past her six arms. If it was Jirro fighting her, he'd probably back away and see how she reacted, looking for a weakness from there. But Aero continued to put on pressure with additional quick attacks.

         Gweneva expelled webs from her hand at Aero's foot, effectively keeping him in place. She circled around him and struck him in the back before he could get free. He toppled over.

         Aero stood, a little discouraged by his loss, "You Arachna are tricky to fight..."

         Gweneva shrugged her shoulders, and the four limbs protruding from her back retracted into her body, "You gave me more trouble than I expected too," Gweneva spoke softly.

         She looked to Jirro and Valr, "Hey, are we heading out soon?"

         Valr nodded.

         Jirro, Aero, Valr, and Gweneva left the woods together. The three boys wore hoods over their heads as they went on the trip.

         Valr told them, "Most people aren't used to seeing Ralosians like us. Better not to freak them out. We'll be fine once we get to Dontown though."

         There was a barely marked path through the wasteland from Petri's woods to Dontown, a settlement to the east of them. Valr wanted to offer the people there an opportunity, as well as see his old friend Iggy.

         "Iggy?" Jirro thought the name sounded silly.

         "His real name is Iguaruden. But I always called him Iggy," Valr explained, "He's a real funny guy. I'm really looking forward to seeing him again."

         Gweneva winced and clicked her pincers together, "It's been a long time since you've seen Iggy you know. He's not like he was when you last saw him."

         "He can't be that different," Valr shrugged. Gweneva was silent.

         The four continued through the wastelands of the Lands of Ranuulo, with Gweneva leading the way. Valr might've lived here most of his life, but he'd been away for a while. She was the most familiar with the current terrain.

         They traveled slowly together through a ridge, listening closely for their surroundings. Gweneva raised her hand up to halt them, and they froze in place. She climbed over the ridge and peeked over it, as did Jirro and the boys.

         Jirro saw a rat, a large rodent that was over 5 meters long from head to tail. It had a large single tooth out of its mouth. As Jirro watched, he noticed several other rats traveling with it. With a single bite, it snipped through a small tree's base. The four of them were strong, but it'd be risky to tempt fate by catching the attention of the rats. They waited for the rats to pass by uneventfully before continuing.

         Jirro saw a muddy town with a series of wood stakes cascaded around its perimeter, serving to deter animals. On one of the stakes was an impaled dead rat.

         They entered the town, and Jirro saw dozens of cheap looking huts. There was idle chatter from the people there. But he and Aero were awestruck when they saw the face of one of the people. They had lizard like features, with elongated snouts, sharp teeth, as well as a scaly tail and claws.

         "Are these Regenek?" Jirro asked.

         Valr nodded.

         Jirro noticed a few of the Regenek building a hut. One of them had to reach a high point, and their arms elongated and stretched until they could reach it.

         In the town, there was a field where their crops grew... It was rather pitiful, - offering very little and wilting away. Such was the way of things in the Lands of Ranuulo.

         There was a pen in a part of the town where a boar was held - Tusked, four legged creatures that were rotund. Very similar to the pigs in the Lands of Ralosia. But there was only a single boar, which Jirro found odd. A Regenek woman was milking it.

         The four traveled through the town towards a large hut at its center, the home of its chief. Valr became more excited as they drew closer.

         Valr floated off the ground and flew towards the chief's hut before tapping on the door, and soon, two individuals came to meet him. An old, hunched over-Regenek with a pale skin tone and a cane. The other was a youthful one who stood tall over them, with a bright green sheen to his scaly skin.

         Both of their eyes widened, "Valr?"

         "Hey guys! Miss me?" Valr smiled.

         The younger of the two hugged Valr and picked him off the ground, "Where've you been little man!? I thought you went off to the Lands of Ralosia!"

         "I'm back now, Iggy. I brought some company as well," Valr broke from the young Regenek's grip and gestured to Jirro and the others. Gweneva gave a familiar wave to the two. She clearly already knew them.

         "Nice to meetcha!" Aero said in his always enthusiastic manner.

         "Iggy and Donato. Aero and Jirro," Valr gestured between them.

         Donato and Iggy stared at the two boys, "They're Ralosians... just like you!"

         Jirro smiled behind folded arms, "I'm sure you haven't met many Ralosians, but we've never met any Regenek either. This is new for all of us."

         Donato and Iggy's expressions turned from joy at reuniting with Valr to a sort of anxiousness. In fact, when Jirro looked around the community, everyone seemed restless. Donato spoke, "We're glad to see you, but today was a terrible day for you to come."

         "Why's that?"

         A murmur came from the north of the community. Jirro could make out someone saying 'they're here'.

         Donato was tense. "There's no time to explain, just get inside for now."