A Kinslayer's story

[Seva]

So long ago, who was I then yah? So long ago when I ran the fields and rode the wind on the back of my horse. When my children were still my own and I was still one of my people, proud and fierce and free. Who choses their path yah? I found this out so long ago.

We were three and my father made four. Myself, my younger brother Cleyza, my father Takeo, and his witness, T'hkass. Four strong Uthgardt against the north, we strode forward.

Harsh cold freezes the brain. Onward trudging. Cleyza was to become a man, this was his Runehunt, his show yah, time in the sun. The sweet sweet sun. My mother's southern blood burned in my veins. Never liked the cold, despite I washed my balls in the snow. Soon we would be dancing on the corspes ashes. Soon cleyza would be an Uthgardt warrior proud and true, untainted.

Took us down the path, the path I had trod when I was like him. To be that young once more yah? So clueless, so carefree. To be with my people. To belong.

Our steps measured and quick the prey was close. Cleyza it is your time, I thought to myself. I was proud. We keep our blood strong, Cleyza my brother, do you know what you are to become? Cleyza my brother I pray to mighty Foehammer in the sky, To father Uthgar, to the Sky Pony, survive this! I knew he would.

The cave grinned at us, her mouth open and accepting of our tresspass. This would be over soon. So I thought.

Growling hard and fierce, the Bear, birthed for this purpose bellowed his challenge to my youngest brother. Cleyza stood firm and true. I loved my brother.

The taste of victory so sweet, summer dew, water for the thirsty, for the Uthgardt there is nothing more. Cleyza emerged from the cavern, his wounds dripping like springmelt, he hefted the head of his bear-brother high in victory.

How bittersweet yah? How bittersweet is victory. This would be made known to us soon. So soon.

We trudged back to our mounts, and made for the gnarled woods and tangled trees of our home. We were happy, content, my brother was a man this day.

Soon my wife, soon my sons, my precious treasures, soon I will be with you again. Soon we will be as one. I smiled quickly to myself. I did not want my joy to taint us. I made us complacent.

I was sent ahead to scout the path. I knew my family was close, my kin would soon see the pride of the Six-Blades blood. A new warrior against all, Cleyza. I could see the pride in father's eyes. We all shared it. My youngest brother had fought fiercley. He was one of us now.

I started down the path home, smiling to myself, my failure. I can see it still, the grinning faces of my father, Cleyza looking up, chest puffed and full of pride. Change has its price, and we were to pay it this day.

So quiet, so still, saw the arrow, black and forboding, erupted from the brush to join with my fathers chest. Can still see his stunned look as the spike entered him, the crimson spray signalling the begining of conflict.

My father slumped low on the back of his mighty steed. My father, great hunter of my clan, my father so terrible and brave was dying on the back of his horse. I saw red and heard the war-drums in my mind. Nothing was real for a time. So slow, so fast, did not matter, we knew what had to be done.

I saw them. Time warped to reveal them in detail. The scared eyes, the fresh faces, so young. We killed them all. The air all around exploded red with murder. Heads were taken and wounds suffered My father slumped low his head hanging low, arrows filled him like a coat . The broken bows of our enemies laid at our feet.

"Poison, BHA!" Spit T'Hkass, "Cowards!"

I barely heard him. I ran to my father slumped over on his steed, his eyes cold and vacant. Stubbornly holding onto life he looked to me and spoke

"Cleyza.......Where are you my pride? Cleyza...." I beckonned to Cleyza, get here I said, father speaks. Then nothing.

"Get to the horses, we ride." All I could say.

We rode nights and days to our tangled trees, my father a shell of himself. I am coming home. I am coming home.

Cleyza was a man now, father had changed and I knew what would happen next.

So many days spent in the sun, but the sun can burn yah?

As my sons grew I watched my father slowly die. He did not speak much, he had forgotten us all, he lived between life and death, a shade of the hunter so respected, so loved. My sons grew strong, my father became a burden. Only a matter of time.

The day came, I knew it would. Takeo Six-Blades has become a burden to the tribe. He makes us weak, he does not hunt, he cannot fight, he mearly exists. Seva......You know what you must do.

Tradition for my people is everything. We adhere to it blindly. Some would say it makes us weak. To an Uthgardt what are you if you do not follow the ways of our fathers fathers? You are nothing. I would be something.

I knew what came next, I had heard of such things but only at the fire late at night after the elders had fallen long into slumber. Funny yah? It never happens to you.....

So bright yah, so clear and full of sun that day. Sky was like a sapphire on fire, but my deeds were opal.

I sat sharpening my blade, the blade my father had given me. What I had to do was right I knew this. He was not my father, he was a shell of himself, weak and deserving of what was to come. I told myself this. Over and over I told myself this trying to burn its truth into my brain.

"Father, come with me" I said, " I ......I have something for you"

He sat motionless, his vacant eyes pale and uncarring. Did he know what was to come? Could he? I hoped not. I wished him dead that dayt. Father, father forgive me.

"You kill a shell of a man" I thought to myself.
He would thank you! Would you wish to live this way? Having your children wipe your ass as you have forgotten how?! Kill him,
I thought, make it fast and merciful and without doubt. I did just that.

My fathers blood warmed my hand as I drew my knife across his throat. He struggled as his body vomitted his blood onto the melting snow. He grabbed me tightly his large hands digging into my arms.
Nothing said, he simply died. I stares into his cold lifeless eyes. I had freed him, yet.....yet had I? . Tears fell like his blood. I had killed my father. I had killed my father. I am no son , I am chafe.

Walking slowly, deliberately, bloody knife in hand, I was everywhere and nowhere all at once.

"Takeo Six-Blades is dead. I have killed him. I have killed my father" I tossed the bloody knife at the feet of the elders. Numb.

Walking so long to my family. I remember the faces of my sons still to this day. Their large smiling eyes, their happy voices, their awkward walks. My sons, my sons, what have I done? Stay with me for just one moment. Stay with me for this time that I might never forget you. I hed them close to me, kissed their heads. My little champions, would you remember me ever? So young they were.

"I will always love you. Be strong, be fierce, and be brave. Mother will need you my young ones."

They laughed and pulled my braids, smacked my face playfully. They pointed to themselves proudly "Six-Blades" they spoke. I gazed upon them long, I knew what was to come, so did the sad eyes of my wife.

"Know that what I did yah, I did for the tribe" I said to her " Cleyza is a good man, better than I will ever be" Did I shed a tear?

We sat silent for a long time, ages it seemed, so quiet, calm before the strom, then the flap of the yurt opened.

"Come with us" was all the warrior said.

I looked to my family. " Stay yah.....forget me, forget I was ever here, your stock is strong, you are Six-Blades, you are Six-Blades. " I walked from my yurt, paused, looked back at my family and mouthed the word -Love- I never saw them again.

The elders gathered before me, they spoke with terse brutality.

"Seva Six-Blades you are kinslayer to your tribe you must leave the lands of the Sky Pony and never return. Your wife, your children are now property of Cleyza Six-Blades, leave the lands of the Sky-Pony or face death"

I set out, dead-man walking to the lands of the Ve'Ho'e.

[GlassRain]

Very impressed that something like this could come out of Seva. Kudos amn and glad you posted it.

Glass and Rain give it 2 thumbs up!

[zicada]

That was pretty great stuff Seva. You definately know what youre doing.

[Mikayla]

I am sad for Seva now.

[mxlm]

Seva is teh win

[Burt]

Awesome.

[Killthorne]

Very cool Seva. I like it.

~Killthorne~

[Rufs]

Nicely written.

[all_father_hammerfall]

this work of art was brilliant, I couldn't stop once I started

[Cassiel]

Terrific.

[Zekal]

That was great

The only problem was that I had just been playing Final Fantasy 10 and imagined Sevas voice as Wakka's, ya?

[PensivesWetness]

That was great

The only problem was that I had just been playing Final Fantasy 10 and imagined Sevas voice as Wakka's, ya?

Wakka' than what ever voice you'd think Millia's is....

/me forms Really great idea!

[Mizbiz]

That was an amazing story.

-Miz