Had it been most anyone else, it would have been very likely that Teruk would have not caught sight of the elderly (some say ancient) Mr. Teko hobbling towards him, deceptively spry considering his age and his foliage, the colour of autumn the weeks before winter. It was a wonder how the crop of dead-brown foliage didn’t simply crumple and fly away with the winds to return to the earth from which he came. Teruk halted his progress and made Mr. Teko’s walk slightly easier by changing course to meet him. He had the utmost respect for the man; all of the merchant-class considered him a father figure, his experience and expertise legendary. It was very much due to Mr. Teko’s efforts and expert negotiations that had ensured that the Deku presence in Clock Town was well-represented. While the King may have ruled Woodfall from afar, the elderly business scrub was in many was the de facto leader for the Deku in lands far from the Southern Swamps. Much of what they did simply would not be possible without his influence.
Upon meeting up, Teruk offered a deep bow of his head as a sign of deference to the man. He certainly was not expecting the alarm in the man’s voice, an urgency that typically only came when one of their own was hurt. The Deku merchants were fiercely independent and competitive with one another, but you would be hard-pressed to find a more concerned community when it came to physical well-being. After all, they were far from home and far weaker than most races. It was everyone’s concern if one of their number had befallen ill fate. “Treka…” Teruk said so faintly he could scarcely be heard above the din of the crowd. He ran his head through his foliage, a creeping dread and stress starting to fill his heart. Mr. Teko’s alarm was more than justifiable; Treka was grown from the same root and stem as Mr. Treko; family. Teruk knew her fairly well; she was several years younger than he was, but their paths had crossed often. She was reserved, kind, and hardly pushy like many of the boys who would grow up to be the merchants that would be the bane of many a Clocktown resident’s stroll through the park, a constant din and source of harassment. She, of all people, should have been the one that shouldn’t have drawn malicious attention. Teruk was still processing the news when Mr. Teko grabbed his arm and began to pull him back towards the park. The younger scrub went willingly, weaving around the much larger people gathered downtown.
“I… may have a potion that can mend her wounds, if she has any, but wake her up from unconsciousness…” Teruk’s voice trailed off, suddenly feeling very helpless and under-educated. He should have known some kind of poultice that could help, something that would fix the poor injured girl, but his mind drew blanks. He could revitalize the body, but not the mind. What could he do for her? I don’t know… but I have to try. he thought, steeling his nerve. Mr. Teko sounded hopeful she would be awake when they returned, and Teruk hoped he was right. This festival was starting to turn into something of a nightmare.
When prompted about the Ikanan Prince’s speech, Teruk’s mind was suddenly brought into focus. “It’s… not good, Mr. Teko.” Teruk admitted, the dark-skinned man’s warnings suddenly having weight. “Unsettling would be selling it quite short. The reason Ikana opened her gates to the rest of Termina again seems to be out of desperation, something about some dark, ill-fated prophesy that threatens all of the kingdoms. He says that we may all be called upon to fight. Right now, he’s negotiating with the Mayor, and I tried to get close to the crowd when you found me to try to find out some answers. People are scared… terrified, even. People wanted some answers about what Ikana was doing for those 25 years, and got way more than they asked for. Apparently Dampe, the Oathkeeper’s, seal was damaged by unknown forces and the forces of the Dead rose up and almost overran the kingdom. That’s why they sealed the gates and refused to open them, to spare the rest of Termina that blight. Evidently, they won, but the Prince is claiming some Sky Goddess told him to make that Tower of theirs bigger and bigger, and apparently said Goddess is who commanded them to open the gates and rekindle alliances with the rest of us. Basically, they’ve been building their army and decided they don’t have enough so they’re asking the rest of us for help. So much for Giants saving the world, huh?” he hastily explained, still not quite believing the words coming out of his mouth. What if he was ordered to fight? What the hell could he do, hide and stab somebody in the ass with a spear? It was about the right height, but killing monkeys was one thing, a human soldier or something altogether worse was another matter entirely.
“The King’s not going to like this. As if we thought he couldn’t get any angrier….” Teruk muttered.
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