[rework] Minglings - chapter 20: Grumpy old lizard

Jake quietly walked at the back of the line that followed Bolyr through the jungle. Tergin was beside him, having arrived beside Bolyr to pick them up. He hadn't said much and had signaled Jake to fall back with him but had yet to speak.

"What's wrong?" Jake asked softly.

Tergin looked around before keeping his eyes fixed on Bolyr's back. "Have you decided what to do?"

Jake nodded. "It doesn't look like I have a lot of options. Unless what Bolyr said about the possibility of me dying during the transition is a lie?"

Tergin shook his head firmly. "It is the truth. And you are right. You have no other choice. But you need to know something. Bolyr's daughter, his only remaining family, is in the group of women, as is the youngest sister of a village elder. Although neither Bolyr nor the elder will say anything if you decide to breed with them, you will get into trouble later."

Jake cursed softly. It took him only a split second to figure out it was best to avoid those two. "How do I recognize them?"

"I am going to stay with you and point them out," Tergin said, not seeming surprised by Jake's question.

Jake nodded, relieved and gratefully. "Thanks."

"Don't thank me yet. If there are no other women who come forward, you may still have to pick one of them. The worst case would be if only they come and no one else."

"What do I do if that happens?" Jake asked, getting nervous.

Tergin did not reply immediately, keeping his steady pace while gazing at the black sand-covered path leading them deeper into the island.

"I would pick only one and make sure it is the one I liked. Because if the one you choose ends up fancying you, you will have a hard time leaving without a fight."

Why do I almost know that this is what's going to happen? Jake thought as he felt like running away.

Tergin cleared his throat as he glanced at Jake. "One more thing. Something weird is going on besides the festivities. All but one of the elders disappeared during the time when Bolyr and I were gone. The only one that is supposed to be left is nowhere to be found. It might be nothing..."

Jake blinked and looked at the smaller Kobold, who was looking straight ahead, seeming lost in thought.

Yeah... probably nothing my ass, Jake thought as he gritted his teeth.

Silently the two kept walking forward as Jake mulled over what he had just heard. A soft noise began from up ahead, but he saw nothing. The further they went, the louder the sound got until it became clear that a party was going on in front of them.

The dense jungle thinned, stumps of trees showing it was manually cleared. Through the trees, torches appeared, lighting up the surroundings. Moving through the last of the trees, Jake and the others got a clear view of their goal: a town.

Houses on poles, interconnected by bridges and beams, wound around an enormous stone tower. The tower was only half-finished, perhaps five meters high, with wooden ramparts around the top showing it was still under active construction. Some buildings were built into the tower, giving the whole place a cozy feel.

Tables and chairs filled out a well-lit wooden plateau on one of the lower levels. Around a hundred kobolds sat at the tables, eating and chatting. In the middle of the plateau was a dais on which two kobolds acted out something. It was a cross between dance, fight, and mating ritual, and sometimes it looked like they were about to kill each other. The other kobolds were watching, shouting, and cheering.

"It has just started. You have not missed anything yet," Bolyr said, surprising them with a slight smile.

"Come!" Turning around, the Kobold ran towards the nearest ramp leading up to the plateau, suddenly seeming more energetic. The other Kobolds, including Tergin, followed close behind.

The Earthlings stared after the Kobolds, then at each other.

"Let's just see what happens…" Mason said with a shrug before running after Tergin. He rapidly climbed up the slope, a grin was spreading across his face.

Jake readied himself, then took Emma's hand and pulled her along. "Let's see what they have to eat, ok?"

Emma looked uncertain, but she nodded, gripping his hand tight as she examined the mass of people and lights.

Walking up the steep wooden ramp, Jake had to use his talons-like nails to keep from slipping. There's no way of getting up here without claws, he thought. Behind him, the others followed, whispering to each other. Stepping on the plateau, it proved bigger up close, and he felt a bit overwhelmed by the many faces that turned toward him. Wondering where to go, he looked for Mason.

"Over here, Jake!"

Mason shouted at him from a table close to the dais with the performers. He was sitting with Tergin, Bolyr, and an elderly-looking Kobold. Startled, Jake realized it was the oldest Kobold he had seen so far. Many of his blue scales were turning dull, and the skin around his neck and arms was sagging. Looking at him, Jake sensed a strong, don't mess with me vibe.

Casting a glance back, he saw that Sandra and the soldiers were right behind him. Sandra nodded, a humorous twinkling in her eyes. Groaning inwardly, Jake headed to the table where Mason was already tasting different things.

"Jake! Sit, eat, and be happy. For at least tonight, life is good again," Bolyr said, raising a metal mug.

Noticing that the Kobold seemed carefree and happy, Jake took a seat beside Tergin, who threw him a quick, warning glance. Emma dropped into the chair next to him, hugging his arm as she inspected the others at the table. The old Kobold was examining her quietly, showing no emotion. A short shuffling later, Sandra and the soldiers sat in front of Jake at the opposite side of the table. Sandra had the spot next to Bolyr, and the indigenous Kobold smiled broadly at her, seemingly happy with the arrangement. He quickly grabbed another mug and handed it to her.

"Try this. I am sure you will enjoy it," Bolyr said, the corners of his mouth curving up in an infectious grin that Jake knew he'd have found threatening weeks before.

Sandra stared at the mug before taking a quick look around the table. Everyone was looking at her expectantly, and Jake felt for her. There was no easy way to say no now. Without any indication of what she felt, Sandra took a sip from the mug. Almost immediately, her eyes widened, and she gulped down the entire contents.

Mason, curious as ever, rose and grabbed another mug, smelling it before taking a small sip. A broad grin surfaced on his face, and he looked at Jake. "It tastes like honey mixed with vodka and melon juice."

Jake sniffed, wondering if his friend was making fun of him because that just sounded disgusting. Still, knowing he'd probably not get away with saying no, he took a mug from the table and took a careful sip. A sweet, thin liquid with a powerful bite filled his mouth. It warmed its way down his throat before almost burning a hole in his stomach, and a tight tension left him. His muscles relaxed, and he leaned back in his chair with a surprised grunt.

Bolyr laughed at him, raised his mug, and took a sip of his own.

The noise of the party became less intrusive, and Jake closed his eyes as a silly smile plastered on his face. A small voice from the side stopped him from drifting away. Although the question didn't seem terribly important, the fact that he couldn't wake up to answer it was. As if by instinct, he contracted his new muscle. A wave of energy rippled through his body, and the sounds around him cleared up. He heard the same question from his left.

"Jake, you have to wake up!"

Jake's eyes flew open, and he blinked a few times before looking at Emma sitting next to him. The little girl was looking at him with wide-open eyes, and a quick look around the table showed that she was the only one still fully awake. Examining the others, he saw Mason's eyes were almost closed and his hands clasped around the edge of the table. A frown kept creeping on his friend's face. Next to Mason, the two remaining soldiers had fallen asleep with their heads on the table, and Sandra was gone. Worried, Jake stood up, looking for her.

He found her standing two meters from the table. She was blinking with bleary eyes, trying to stay on her feet as she swayed dangerously. Around her, the party was still going on, but not everyone participated. Some Kobolds were standing close to Sandra, looking at her with hungry eyes.

Knowing something terrible was going on, Jake looked at Bolyr. To his shock, the native Kobold was barely holding himself up, eyes drooping as he glared at the old Kobold sitting next to him.

The old Kobold, however, ignored Bolyr and only had eyes for Sandra. Something in his eyes caused Jake to shiver. Looking around for anyone else to help him, he found Tergin sleeping beside him, some drool running down his chin. Shaking the Kobold did nothing, and Jake quickly gave up. Trying to move slowly and inconspicuously, he moved around the table and grabbed Mason, shaking him.

"Wake up, Mason! Try and resist it! We are in deep shit," he hissed.

Besides a slight frown, Mason's eyes stayed closed, and he didn't respond. Jake worriedly looked around, his eyes falling on Bolyr next to Mason. Reaching out his arm, he slapped the Kobold across the face. As soon as he did, Bolyr's eyes snapped open, and he rose. His head snapped back, and he furiously roared into the night sky. As the sound rolled away like thunder, the entire party froze, and all of the Kobolds looked at him in shock and dismay. Next to Bolyr, Mason's eyes snapped open, and he blinked in confusion.

"What the hell is going on!" Sandra's voice sounded ragged as she backed up to the table, leaving behind a few Kobolds staring at her.

Tergin, the soldiers, and one other Kobold were still asleep, draped across the table.

Shit, Jake thought as he prepared for anything. If only Bolyr's roar had awoken them. They needed all the help they could get! Soft murmuring came from the surrounding Kobolds, most of whom had gotten up and looked at them, realizing something was going on.

Bolyr stepped from the table, his angry gaze never leaving the old Kobold, who was still quietly sitting, ignoring the commotion.

"Vestr! How dare you poison me! The elders won't stand for this!" Bolyr's face contracted as rage seemed to overcome him.

A few of the Kobolds standing around rushed forward to take a position next to Vestr, flanking the old Kobold. They cast warning glances at Bolyr, but the bulky yellow Kobold ignored them.

Raising his one blue arm, he pointed it at Vestr. "Answer me, or today, I will end your old, miserable life!"

The few remaining murmurs stopped dead, and an eerie silence followed Bolyr's statement.

"Why are you always so hasty, hatchling? Just look at what you've done. Ruin the entire fest," the old Kobold said in a dry, cracking voice. Vestr rose from his seat, smooth and steady, belying his old age. Spryly he strolled in front of Bolyr with a nasty grin as if he seemed content about something.

"I did not poison you. It was just a simple sleeping herb that did you no harm. And the Elders will agree with me when they come back."

A low, dangerous growl came from Bolyr, but the old Kobold just chuckled, flourishing his arm in some strange gestures.

"You should have listened to me. I told you we need to do what is best for the tribe. Now I had to take matters into my own hands," he said, making it sound as if he was slighted. Raising his hand, Vestr signaled, and within moments a group of twenty Kobolds surrounded them, weapons in hand.

Seeing the raised spears and knives, Bolyr seemed to instantly calm down as he made a hand signal. Another group of armed Kobolds moved away from the tables, grabbing spears from below tables, and within a second, they lined up behind him. The first group backed away until they stood behind Vestr.

"Everyone, head back to your houses. Tonight we will decide once and for all who leads the Antraci!" Bolyr's loud voice caused the surrounding Kobolds that still sat at the tables or stood watching with shock on their faces to look at each other.

Vestr seemed content to wait, a slightly annoyed frown on his face.

Looking around, Jake saw only a handful of old Kobolds and only a dozen children. Most were in their prime, with scars and battle marks showing a harsh life. After a few soft, heated discussions, the elderly and children were escorted away.

As they did, a few dozen Kobolds moved from the partygoers, lining up in front of them. They were all females dressed in revealing party attire. They whispered amongst themselves for a moment before grabbing spears from below tables and from benches. Then, without any fear, they walked forward, led by a slender, yellow, and blue-scaled kobold.

Bolyr had been silently waiting, but he moaned when he saw her. A stern look crept up his face, but he didn't say anything.

"Why must you fight?" The young woman's voice rang out as she looked at Bolyr and Vestr.

"Ah, so like your father, you are. Hasty and without thinking things through clearly," Vestr said as he let out a soft, nasty chuckle.

Mason leaned over next to Jake. "That must be Bolyr's daughter!"

Jake nodded. He was holding Emma's hand. Part of him wished he could have sent her with the other children. Next to him, Sandra was standing beside the still sleeping soldiers; her eyes fixated on what was happening.

"He is a fool, Lyra. He would force his way on others. How is he any different from the Goresh?" Bolyr spoke in a calm voice, staring affectionately at his daughter.

"Father, he has the best interest of the tribe in mind. Can you not understand that both of you want the same thing? He might have made a mistake, but what do you really know about these strangers?" Lyra said as she gestured to Jake and the others, palpable distrust on her face.

The watching Kobolds began whispering amongst themselves again, and Jake felt his hackles rise. He had been sure the daughter of Bolyr would be on their side, but now it seemed he was wrong

"Your daughter is wiser than you are. Why don't you let me do this my way?" Vestr said as a slight smile hovered around his lips.

Bolyr looked at his daughter, obviously shocked and hurt, before hissing at Vestr. "Your way? And what would that be? Force the woman to bear your children on the small chance that you will father another awoken son to replace the one you've lost?" Bolyr spat the last of the words at the other.

For a moment, a look of hurt crossed Vestr's face, and then he sighed softly. A tired look on his face, he looked back and shook his head. "And would this be so bad? We need Awoken if we are to regain even a semblance of what we have lost. For years we have tried, but none have been born, none! If this keeps going, it will take hundreds of years to restore our tribe, if we don't die out first."

Sandra was glaring at Vestr with a hateful look on her face. She was about to say something when someone else beat her to it.

"You will not force yourself on anyone, or we will dispatch you here and now." From behind Lyra, a woman in her prime walked forward, stepping in front of the younger ones. She glanced at Bolyr's daughter and frowned. "Lyra, back off. You are too young to understand what is going on here."

She made a signal as if to dismiss her before casting a single, withering look at Vestr. Snorting in disgust, she turned to Sandra. "Don't worry. As long as we draw breath, nobody here will harm you." Holding Sandra's gaze for a moment, she looked between the two groups.

"As for you. Neither of you qualifies to lead us. For a long time, I have hesitated, but I guess now is as good a time as any to act."

Silent, she stared at the Kobolds behind Vestr and Bolyr before raising an eyebrow. "Long have we been without real leadership. It has brought us only ruin. From now on, I will lead us. If anyone should disagree, speak now."

There was a moment of shocked silence, then a rush came from behind as the Kobolds, who had yet to pick a side, grabbed spears and daggers. Within moments, all but the groups of Bolyr and Vestr had lined up behind her. The entire group let out a low growl.

Bolyr looked at her in shock, and slowly resignation crossed his face. "Why did you never speak out before, Gria? The elders asked you when we arrived here, but you said... "

"I know what I said, Bolyr. But I had hoped you would step up, so I didn't have to. But you never did, and now here we are." A sad look crossed Gria's face before she turned to Vestr.

"What will it be?" she commanded, her tone leaving almost no room for anything but acceptance.

The old Kobold had lost his calm appearance during her speech and threw her a spiteful look. "Who gives you the right to lead us? You are young and inexperienced!"

Gria just shook her head, looking at the Kobolds behind Vestr. Jake didn't see what, but something seemed to pass through them, and after a moment, most of them walked towards her, only leaving Vestr with two older, heavily scarred Kobolds. Seeing his followers dwindle, Vestr swore in a language Jake couldn't understand and spun on his heel, walking away. At the end of the platform, he turned around. "This isn't over. I won't be cast away like some old sword."

"This is over, Vestr. Either you follow my lead from now on, or you will be cast out," Gria snapped, her words cold and slow.

Vestr stumbled once as he walked off. But he didn't respond, disappearing into the dark.

"I will follow you, Gria, as I said I would when we first arrived on this island, and your father joined the eternal resting grounds," Bolyr's said.

His words caused the remaining tension in the air to fade, and when he walked towards the table and sat down next to Tergin, many followed him, though nobody relinquished their spears. Gria and Lyra followed after Bolyr, and Gria beckoned the earthlings over.

"Please sit. I am sorry you had to be a witness to this. Nothing like this will happen again. You have my word." She spoke in a reassuring, soothing voice.

Jake, Mason, and Sandra sat back down, this time surrounding the two still sleeping soldiers.

"How do we wake our friends up?" Sandra asked, looking at Bolyr.

"They should wake soon. There aren't a lot of things capable of putting a Kobold to sleep, and those that do only last for a short time."

"This isn't what I had expected when we came here," Mason said, shoving a nearby mug to the center of the table, a look of disgust on his face.

Gria stared at him with an unreadable expression. "And what did you expect, Kobold from another world?" she finally asked.

Careful Mason, Jake thought as she stared hard at his friend. It wouldn't be a good idea to anger the sole person who seemed able to guarantee their safety.

Then he realized Gria didn't seem angry; instead, she had a look of genuine curiosity on her face. She motioned Mason to speak, smiling at him.

Mason seemed to think before shrugging helplessly. "Information about this world? An explanation of what is happening to Jake, us? Hopefully a safe place?"

Gria nodded again, a satisfied look on her face. "Then fear not. You have come to the right place. Let me start with the shortest one."

In rapid succession, she pointed at Mason, Jake, Sandra, and Emma. "You four are all, what we call, Awoken, but from the looks of it, you have never heard this term before. What do you know about the history of our race?" She turned to look at Jake, a sharp look in her eyes as she examined him, waiting for an answer.

Startled, Jake scratched his chin before regaling the only things he remembered. "They say we have Dragon blood, making us strong, and hatch from eggs?"

A giggle from another table made Jake look over in surprise. Five young female Kobolds were staring at him, and he blinked. Their bright smiles on their faces and sparkling eyes reminded him of schoolgirls. A sharp stab of homesickness made him sigh, and he quickly focused back on Gria.

She was looking at Mason with a lopsided grin. "Eggs, yes. An odd thing to add, but it is accurate. We, you, have dragon blood. But not all have the same amount, and only those with enough Awaken."

"What does that mean? We have heard the term many times now, from Bolyr as well. But nobody explained it to us!" Sandra said, sounding slightly exasperated.

Gria seemed undisturbed by the outburst. "Well, that is because in this world, it is the most common knowledge there is. It is the first story our nest mothers tell us after hatching." Gria shook her head and smiled warmly, seemingly lost in thought.

"When Bolyr came to us and told us that he had found Kobolds that weren't Kobolds, I thought he had finally lost his mind, but seeing you and how you act, it is impossible not to see it. No Kobold, especially no Awoken, would act like you," she said, pointing at Jake and smiling apologetically.

Jake was about to say she was wrong, and they were Kobolds, but Gria shook her hand and held up her hand.

"You don't have to lie. I don't know what you are exactly, but at the very least, you aren't Kobolds like we are. Now, let me tell you a little story, a story we tell our young that begins with an ending. Dragons are extinct!" she looked around theatrically, but Jake just shook his head in confusion. Vingria's eyes widened. "I see," she said. "So you truly know nothing about dragons."

She looked around, seeming to collect her thoughts. "Thousands of years ago, the different races of this world were in a grueling war. The Kobolds, led by the Dragons on one side, fought against the combined might of the Fiends and Goblins. Back then, the other races, like the Beasts and Insects, were few in number and played no role. To keep this story short, we lost. Nobody knows how, but the Fiends managed to lure the remaining Dragons into a trap from which only seven escaped alive."

Jake wondered what any of this had to do with Awoken, but he kept his questions to himself for now.

Gria sighed, looking off in the distance for a moment before continuing. "Without the Dragons, we had no way of winning the war, and worse, no way to defend ourselves against the strongest monsters this world has. The Fiends, hoping to rid themselves of one adversary, slowly hunted us into extinction. As the last city was about to fall, the remaining Dragons managed to cast a great three-part spell, fed by their remaining power and life force. It took what remained of the Kobolds away to a distant place. "

A soft murmur came from one of the Kobolds, but his neighbor quickly hushed him.

"Our ancestors arrived at what was then one of the many hidden continents in the Wilderlands. So far removed from the known lands, it was supposed to be a safe haven. They were wrong. Without the Dragons, the Wilderlands proved far too dangerous. Creatures with dragon blood are strong, but over time it dissipates. Our ancestors back then had so little it hardly mattered. But the Dragons knew this. Entwined and at the cost of their very lives, the second part of the spell divided their blood among the remaining Kobolds, greatly increasing our individual strength. At the same time, they cast their final and greatest spell, bound in our and their blood."

Jake looked around and saw that everyone, not just the Earthlings, was silently staring at Gria, who smiled and continued.

"From that point on, some Kobolds were hatched with an abundance of draconic blood. The amount of this blood was what would trigger the third and final part of the spell, and this is what possibly turns some into Awakened. The spell will find a clutch of eggs from any beastly descendant of a Dragon, pseudo-dragons if you will, and change one of the eggs, binding a part of the Kobold's soul and mind with it. When the egg hatches, it will be different from its brothers and sisters. Though still incomplete and imperfect, it will resemble a Dragon more than it would have otherwise. From that moment on, the hatchling, guided by the magic of the spell, will try to survive and get stronger. As it becomes stronger, the connection with the Kobold will strengthen until the Kobold starts seeing through the Dragon's eyes in his dreams. Eventually, this will start happening in waking moments, until finally, the Awakening happens! The Kobold's soul will be pulled out of his body and into the Dragon's, drawing along all his draconic essence and leaving behind an empty shell. The soul will merge back into one, and the minds will blend. Thus, a young dragon is born, muddled, mixed, and weak- but whole."

A small collective sigh came from the gathered native Kobolds, but their reverie was rudely interrupted by Mason.

"Wait. Are you telling me I am going to change into a dragon?" he said, looking at Gria in dismay.

Before she could answer, more questions followed.

"And what happens if the dragon hatchling does not survive until the Awakening?" Jake asked as his eyes widened.

"After the change, will we still be ourselves? And what happens to our body?" Sandra added.

Gria blinked, staring at the Earthlings, examining each of them in turn before looking at Sandra with an earnest look. Behind her, the other Kobolds were watching in dismay, whispering amongst themselves.

"You will be yourselves and more, but the body you have now will die, turning to ash when your essence leaves it."

"Well, damn." Mason shared a horrid look with Jake, who saw the barely contained panic in his friend's eyes.

Gria turned towards him, a gentle smile on her face. "No need to be afraid, young one! Changing into a Dragon is not a bad thing but an honor. And if you manage to grow strong enough, you will be able to retake this form. Well... almost this form." Hiding something behind another smile, Gria turned to Jake.

"Your question is the one all awoken dread because when the hatchling dies, a portion of your soul will die. Do you know of soul-sickness in your world? "

Jake shook his head, and Gria sighed, smiling sadly.

"Ah, then, at least something was better in your previous world. Soul sickness is the most horrific thing possible for any living being. It happens when a part of your eternal soul is taken or dies. Incomplete, the soul hungers and yearns for what is lost as it slowly goes mad. In its madness, it will see other souls as its own and attempt to take them in a misguided belief that it can replace the missing part. Each time it does, it creates more soul-sick as it does."

A sad murmur followed her words, and some of the Kobolds began leaving — the joy they had before now gone from their faces. Seeing them leave, Gria shook her head sadly.

"We call these beings Ravagers because they ravage any area they visit. Nowadays, none are left as they are always hunted by all. But once in a while, a new one appears."

Falling silent, she picked up one of the cups and took a careful, appraising sip before spitting the liquid out. She looked around and waved at another table, pointing at the pitcher while looking at the only Kobold still sitting at the table. It nodded and brought the pitcher and a set of cups, while all around, the Kobolds began muttering, causing the uneasy quiet to end.