[center][h1][u]Hollow Galbar[/u][/h1][/center] They were on their way back… After spending weeks carrying out every one of his student’s Exploration Rites in the cold north, they were finally ready to go back to the Capital. They would return, and Li’Kalla herself would see the kids he’d put so much effort into, she’d see how he’d forged them into useful members of society, and she’d be happy. He, Ank’Unta, head of the Unta Valthumir Clan, had to receive Li’Kalla’s smile and approval again. He had to, lest the other members of his clan lose faith in him and seek to replace him. And yet, as Ank’Unta and his students retraced their steps and journeyed into the Clayspire Valleys, they saw it. There was massive crater, the size of which he had never seen before in his time. And in the middle of the crater, far down into the earth, was a huge hole. A Hollow. Many of the former rivers of the land had carved new paths for themselves, all ultimately leading into this great Hollow and falling into the endless depths below, falling so far that the water turned into mist, and disappeared into the darkness. The stone that made up the crater had accumulated a thin layer of soil lately and blades of grass were starting to grow on the surface. Large rock outcrops held the occasional tree, and from those trees blue winged birds took flight and joined their fellows in large, beautiful formations in the skies. Lizards and mammals crawled and ran along the ground. They hunted, foraged, mated. Scarcely weeks ago, the Pyres themselves had fallen and battered the land, and yet life thrived- “Last to the hole has to do everyone’s laundry!” And just like that, Ank’s students broke into laughter and began running down the sides of the crater. “H-” Immediately he had begun calling out to the group, but he fell silent as his eyes took in the sight of the dark unknown in front of him. A place that no one else had mentioned to him, most likely completely unexplored… The darkness called out to him. True, his group right now consisted of children… Students, who could barely make it on their own in the wilderness around the Capital… But who knew what was down there? Was it even dangerous? Probably not, he thought to himself. He had already realized that it was probably a falling pyre that made the crater, and if so then that meant those unexplored depths had to be lifeless. Ancient and dark they may be, but there was no way for anything underground to survive… He sighed and put on a tired smile, bags under his eyes. He walked after the group, many of whom had by now arrived at the edge of the Hollow (Thank the Gods for giving them such speed and grace, honestly) and were looking over the edge into the misty drop below them. Yeah, it should be perfectly safe, Ank nodded to no one in particular. A rock hammer hit against a wooden stake with a dry thump. Over and over again, and on the last thump, Ank turned his sight to the two kids, one Valthumir boy and a Vallamir girl, around whom everyone else had gathered. What used to be laughter and jokes now turned into nervous chatter and mumbling. Ank raised an eyebrow and as he came up to the back of the group, saw that the kids were prepared their shiny new gadgets, plant fibre ropes, to presumably make a descent into the depths. His heart skipped a beat as he saw them hold onto each other and prepare to jump down. He craned his neck and saw the shadow of a rocky ledge quite a distance down. Their rope would reach it, but climbing back up would probably be very difficult… He straightened his back and narrowed his eyes. It should still be safe right? He asked himself, and then a cold sweat broke out all over his body as he remembered the warning he’d been given years ago- [i]’Never go underground without a good spear and a dozen warriors by your side. Not even if your life depends on it.’[/i] That’s it, he pushed some kids out of the way and tried to grab a hold of his two best students. “Stop! It’s dangerous-” He shouted, but trailed off as they slipped just a hair’s distance away from his hand, and dropped into the Hollow. He saw their excited, defiant faces looking back up at him just before they disappeared into the thick mist, and he saw their shadows land on the ledge below and run off, laughing victoriously. Until there was no more laughter. Instead, they heard the running stop shortly after they landed, and even though they couldn’t see the kids below, they could still hear their pained whimpers, cutting off any of their words. “M-Master…!” Was the one word that reached Ank’Unta’s ears. After that, he heard retching, crying, then screams. And then it all became silent. Minutes passed, and eventually Ank managed to tear his gaze from the Hollow that had just devoured his students, and looked into the panicked, worried faces of the rest of the kids around him. They all looked to him for support. Even his nephew, Inu’Unta, who had come with him as his assistant and had become an adult just before joining these Rites, seemed to be on the verge of tears. Ank’Unta took a deep breath and held it for what felt like minutes, and when he exhaled it seemed as if he had become a man of steel. Determination dawned on his face. His posture held his head high and alert, and his fists tightened. Without saying a word he fell to one knee, placed his leather pack on the ground in front of him, and started going through it. “Uncle…” His nephew Inu muttered as the other kids, who of which nine winters old was the youngest and eleven was the oldest, started chatting among themselves. The girls started sobbing, and the boys tried their best to keep it together, but almost every single one of them had watery eyes and was sniffling. “Uncle!” Without lifting his head, Ank’Unta spoke. Usually he had a relaxed tone, a bit of silly one sometimes, but now… Now, it was different. It was as if they were dealing with a completely different person just then. He wasn’t the goofball teacher anymore. No, now he was a veteran Explorer. One of the founders of the Order, and the one who had been trusted with training the newest generation of Explorers. “Inu’Unta, you’ve performed your duties well in these Rites, so I’m promoting you. you’re now my permanent assistant. You will accompany me on every Rite I oversee, as well as any other assignment in which I may deem it appropriate to bring you along. Now, listen to your first order, Inu’Unta…” “P-Promoting me? Now?!” Inu’Unta’s voice cracked, and he took a step back as sweat formed on his brow. Ank could almost hear his nephew’s heart from how hard it was beating. “Your first order is to make camp at the edge of the crater. Listen, edge of the crater, so that means all the way up, not right here on the edge of this place. Make sure all the Trainee Explorers undertaking the Rites are safe, and that none of them do anything stupid.” “But Master Ank!” A boy suddenly shouted and pushed his way up to Ank’Unta as he went through his pack, inspecting every one of his tools and rations. Ank merely brought his hand up to the boy’s face and pushed him back. the boy tripped and fell on his backside with a grunt. “Inu’Unta, you will maintain the camp for two nights. Should I not be back by the third day, you will make your way back to the Capital and report directly to Li’Kalla and Pontifex Elun on what has taken place here. Give every detail. We must secure this area before our enemies do.” Inu’Unta stared at his uncle for a few moments as the boy who had been pushed stood up and caught his breath, and then he nodded somberly. “I understand, uncle Ank. I will see it done. Alright, kids, let’s go.” He said and started herding the scared kids up the crater. But one of them stood behind. The angry kid, he was a black haired Vallamir with ugly prominent fangs. “Master Ank, I want to go with you. I want to save Io and Pen! They’re my friends!!” Ank’Unta ignored him, tied up his pack and wore it across his back once more, then stood up and checked his stone knife and adjusted his gloves made of the most durable mud-treated leather available to Explorers. “Master!” He looked at the kid. His name was Oli. He had no clan name, of course, seeing as he was an orphan. “Oli… No. It’s too dangerous, kiddo.” “I don’t care, I’ve trained a lot, haven’t I?! I can do it, Master, let me go with you!” Ank’Unka sighed and ruffled up Oli’s black hair. “I will most likely die down there, Oli. Your friends, too, are probably going to die… That’s if they’re not already dead. You heard the same things I heard, didn’t you? Listen,” Oli teared up and sniffled, his fists balled up so tightly that he was drawing blood with his nails. “Oli, go with Inu’Unta, finish your Rites, become a great Explorer, the greatest the lands have seen. I know that’s been your dream for a while now. I know you can do it… And when you’re ready, come back here and find us and take us back to the Capital.” “... Take you?... But you just said you were going to… To die…” He sobbed. “... I don’t want my soul to be trapped underground… So please, when you find my bones, bury them in the Capital.” Oli fell silent, and after a while nodded. Ank’Unta half-smirked, bags under his eyes, and delved into the darkness using the same rope that the two kids had used.