Eclipse Event Stories (NOT CANON)

Despite feeling homesick, Cisco was too polite to say he wants to leave, so he stayed and waited a while, thinking about what to do. A couple times he heard someones pawsteps in front of his room, coming closer and disappearing again. He assumed it was a guard that made sure everything was in order or to help him if he needed anything. Still, this place felt rather strange and the grey Kumba was getting more and more uncomfortable the longer he remained in the foreign tribe. He looked around his room patiently. From the hole in the wall, a few rays of sun lit the inside up and made everything clear to see. The whole room was part of the huge tree, the walls, floor and ceiling made from hard wooden bark. He went over to the wall and softly touched the surface with his paw. It was almost smooth, probably carved out by the Salikos that lived here over many seasons and generations. Still the texture of the wood was clearly visible, painting the environment like nothing he had ever seen. He was so used to living in the cave he grew up in, that he couldn't have even imagined a place like that. Cisco was very impressed and just couldn't look his fill. After a short glance outside he noticed in surprise how high he and Minas had gotten. It didn't seem that far as they were walking up the ramp, but that was probably because he was distracted by everything else that was going on. On the bottom of the tree he noticed a couple Tatras with their birds, hurrying around. He wondered how it would be to have a pet bird, but decided it was nothing for him. Birds had always either been dangerous or prey, there was nothing in between and he couldn't feel any kind of connection to the strange creatures that would change his mind. He lay down in the soft nest made of leaves and feathers and waited a bit longer. He thought of his parents and how worried they must be that he just disappeared all of a sudden. Cisco knew he had to get home fast, but if it would just take him one night in this place to meet this great mother that Minas had told him about, maybe it was worth the waiting. The adolescent hob was so lost in thoughts that he didn't even notice the sun setting, until suddenly his room was filled with red light. He raised his head and looked towards the hole, only to see the sun disappearing behind the conifers, covering the whole area in the light of the last rays of day. No, he had to go. No matter how nice the Tatras here were and what he'd get in rewards for saving the blind hob, he hadn't done it with the thought of getting praise, but because it was right. And now it felt right to go home. The way was long, the journey had lasted for many sunrises already and it would take him just as much time to get back home, if not longer, as he didn't really know the way back.

Cisco got up and stretched himself. Might not have been the smartest idea to leave at night, but at least he would be save from aggressive birds or other creatures and didn't have to explain himself to any Tatra of the tribe he'd meet on his way out. He wanted to leave without drawing any attention to himself, as he was sure that would be just too impolite after they had offered him such a nice welcome. Slowly he stepped to the entrance of his room and looked outside. It seemed like he was alone, but he heard voices from up the ramp and knew someone was still awake and might see him, so he continued as quietly as possible. As he walked down the ramp, he had his ears pricked and attentively looked around as to not miss any guard who'd come across him. On his way he saw many more holes in the bark to other rooms, some of which had Salikos sleeping in them, while some were empty. Some of those Salikos seemed not to be Tatras either, so he wondered whether that tribe always had visitors coming through and staying here for a while. When one of the guards appeared in front of him, stepping out of the shadows, he quickly dove into one of the rooms and held his breath until the stranger was gone. The fade looked around and saw another Kumba, sleeping in a nest just like his. He hoped he hadn't disturbed the other ones sleep, but it seemed like he was asleep as his whiskers and paws twitched occasionally. Even after the guard had left Cisco stayed a few moments longer, just to make sure, then he stepped back out onto the ramp and continued on his way.

Finally he had reached the bottom and looked around the entrance room once more. It was easier to see when it was still bright outside, but the room was simply huge, many Saliko-lengths wide and the top not visible from down there. Maybe someday, when he was older he'd return, or so he thought to himself. It was still quite an interesting place and way of living, especially with all these blind Tatras around. Yet he knew he had to move on. Silently he stepped outside, his paws touching the soft and cool grass once more. The past couple nights he had already discovered that the nights in this region were pretty cold and his short fur wasn't sheltering him a lot to keep him warm. He had to keep moving to warm up or find a den to sleep and cuddle up in later on.

He went farther and farther away from the tribe, leaving the mystical tree behind him. A couple times he saw guards rushing around the outside, despite the later hour, but they didn't seem to notice him and he was glad he didn't have to explain himself and his reasons to anyone. The clearing around the tree was large, but he finally reached the forest and stepped into the dark, after casting a last glance at the area. But the calm of the night didn't last very long, as suddenly something grabbed his hind leg and pulled him to the ground, into the bushes. First Cisco was scared, thinking it might be an animal attacking him, but then he heard a the thing hushing him to be quiet.

«Sssh, stay calm, I'm not gonna hurt you.»

He looked at the stranger and saw it was a Kumba with brightly colored fur, but no mane. It was clearly an adult hob and didn't seem to be threatening him, so he did as he was told.

«Who are you?»

«My name is Athelas, nice to meet you.»

«I'm Cisco. Likewise. Why do you need help? Are you lost?»

«No, nothing like that. I am here to find out what's going on, as there's something strange going on with this tribe. I watched you leave the tree and you seemed like you were sneaking away, so I thought you might be able to help me on my mission.»

«Mission?»

Cisco was very confused. He didn't think that unusual feeling he had was shared by anyone else. The other Kumba nodded quickly.

«I want to catch one of those wretched birds to find out more about the sickness that they seem to be carrying all over Ibea. You're rather young, do you know anything about that even?»

«No, I'm afraid not. I mean, my parents told me about it, but the sickness that has been rumored has not reached our territory...yet.»

«I see. Well, I'm a healer and many members of my tribe have become sick. The only common thread we have found were the birds with the red eyes and I followed one here. I think this is where they live. Also, a friend of mine who had accompanied me has been captured by one of the flying monsters and brought inside, so I need to save him.»

Cisco understood the importance of the situation, but the strong want to go home had not dissipated yet. He was unsure of what to do and Athelas noticed that.

«Please, I can't do it on my own. I really need your help.»

After a moment of contemplation, the hob with the fade pelt nodded in agreement.

«Alright, I'm gonna help you.»