Location: Ephangi, Nation of Tai’Lai

Date: 3047/122/14

Opening poem line “Our hearts and our dreams bound as one through wounds and woes alike”

Ephangi had many thriving cities of all manner both on itself and now under its dominion as an intergalactic empire. For the former, those cities who boasted large populations were technorganic marvels, composed of both natural elements and synthetics of the highest caliber. Many of the buildings and infrastructure deliberately were made to blend with the nature around them within their environment as well as to do as little damage to it as possible and instead utilize what it had to offer in synergy.

Of course there were exceptions such as the great ore factory of Monarshea which was the largest of its kind dedicated to the mining of fine minerals and the processing of matter repurposed for both war and fortification. Or perhaps the meta osmosis labs deep inside of the 4th sea that, for the purposes of supporting an underwater surface city, altered the oxygen levels enough in the surrounding water to cause an ecosystem shift resulting in a chain reaction for the other more animalistic creatures who called it home. Still these exceptions were few and far between and for the vast majority of the world, it remained wild and as untamed as it had ever been. 

Inside one of the more modest capitals within the buffer zone between Eripme Prime and Panthera known as Tailai, located within the territories of the Genichi province, a married couple was walking the busy midday streets as an annual super flea market commenced. The commotion of trade and business was as intense as ever as Ephangian people of all kinds, both local and visiting participated in the festivities. While the hustle and bustle of the town provided entertainment, service and general commotion alike, the pair stopped in front of a local shop that was one of those scattered around the inner stages of the city. For the moment the traffic was lighter in the area and so they took time to reassess their objective as well as conclude an important conversation.

‘… I love him *rehta, he’s amazing! I want Yovi and I to ride him like the Panthera royal guard like *mehtu used to when she was a Fangqyrie!’, a young voice said with excitement over the comm, referencing the new panther-esqe kitten she held in her hands. ‘Can you and mehtu come home soon? I wanna wrestle you wit Ammu’, the voice said in a delighted but playfully aggressive tone. 

‘You wanna beat me up huh? Well to do dat Nomi you have to take good care of him so he grows big and strong so be careful with him. If so, I think you’ll both make excellent riders someday. We’ll be home soon. Keep Yovi and Gigi safe ok Nomi?’ The cool relaxed voice of a man spoke, his tone light hearted and pure.

‘Ok yea! You can count on me rehtaf!’ The young girlish voice responded from over the comm, her little face turning serious as she did the Pantherian salute. 

‘That’s my little soulja. I’m gon give the phone back to mehtu so she can say bye now. *Ikusiad Ay (I love you).’

‘*Ikusiad Ay! Over and out, captain!’ The little voice responded before closing the link.

The man smiled truthfully, the expression most often finding its way to his face due to his family. It was simply an amazing blessing of life itself he at one point assumed he would never experience. Now that he had it, it was the one thing he relished every moment of. As the woman beside him took the comm link, he took a moment to spark up a bleeze and enjoy the cool air of the coming spring as they stopped just outside a market area. 

‘Ok *itsy, it was good talking with you. *Mehtu’s tryna wrap this up so we can come back home, yea? You and your retisis be good’

‘We are mehtu! And don’t forget the treats cus I think Ammu wants to try one this time and I need to feed him more so he’s stronger!’ 

The *nampia laughed as she looked at the *nam, ‘Your daughter is a riot!’ 

‘Yea, well look at her *mehtu’ the *nam responded with a head tilt prompting his counterpart to slug him in the arm as she smirked. She returned her attention to the call

‘Ok, ok don’t worry, I didn’t forget *itsy. I need to talk to Gigi once more, *rehtu and I see you soon! Ikusiad Ay’

‘Bye mehtu. Ikusiad Ay!’ The little voice said before a older more raspy feminine tone came across the line, 

‘A little firecracker that one is’

‘Isn’t she? Sometimes I worry she’s too ambitious. Is that strange?’ 

‘Strange because you are one of the most ambitious women iv ever met? Yes, maybe slightly. Strange because you are a mehtu? No, not at all. In fact it makes perfect sense’ 

‘Ha, yea. I suppose it makes sense, it just feels different being on this side of it now I suppose. Thank you for your kind words. How’s my little, or… littler one doing?’ 

‘Doing just fine, asleep now. She was a little fussy earlier, but I think the tea I made for her did the trick for now. Still something is in the air’

‘Why do you say that?’ 

‘A few of us seem to have come down with a bit of a cold of sorts and to be honest I’m not sure what it is. The symptoms are disturbing and of a time long ago, but I still remember the subtle signs of their presence. Though we shouldn’t need to worry about the children, I hope this is not what that was for all of our sakes’

‘I doubt there’s a need to worry. Whatever comes I have no doubt we can face together’

‘Spoken like your itsy’s mehtu no doubt!’ The elder laughed, ‘So you’ll be back soon then? No need to rush if you two want to spend some more time out together. I know you’ve been home a lot recently, but it’s good for the bond between you two that you get to be.. How should I say, young and a little wild still from time to time’ 

‘Our bond is as strong as ever, still I appreciate you Gigi and to be honest that would be nice. I’ll see what the guy wants to do after we finish this last errand and let you know. You’re too kind elder’ 

‘Oh nonsense. I just remember how it feels to be where you are is all, and I want to see you continue to flourish like the rest of the village.’ The elder paused to give a slight sigh, ‘All of these new “chip” cities and wars in the stars “they” make seem like matter. The family. The tribe. That is all that matters. It’s all we got, so it’s the least I can do because like you said, we’ll face it together’

The nampia took a moment to consider the words of her elder before she responded, ‘That we will. I gotta go now, Emp is gettin a bit restless’

‘Ok dear, enjoy your evening and we’ll see you a bit later,’ the elder said laughing, ending the call.

The *nampia closed the comm link and handed it back to the *nam as she returned her focus to her search. No sooner than that she squealed

‘Eeek! Da fuck nam!?’ She shouted, startled by the presence of a small reptilian rat creature which scurried over her foot and into the crowded streets beyond. 

‘Why is it always me? If Ammu was here it’d be training time. Ayyy, shut up’ she said rolling her eyes with a smirk as she began to laugh at herself.

‘I’m sorry, you just don’t get a chance everyday to see the legendary flame of truth squeal like a cub so ima laugh cus dat shit is funny foreal. I mean it’s just a little guy’ replied the nam as he calmed back down smirking.

‘Look, i'm still a warrior.. I just don’t like shit touchin me if I don’t know what it is’

‘Fair nuff’ the nam said with a smooth shrug as he took another rip of the dream leaf before he passed it to the nampia. She took a rip and smiled before she returned to scanning the area.

‘Thanks cool guy. Ok so anyways that reminds me, it looks as if we’re on the right track. The last thing I am searching for should be around here.’ The nampia said before tilting her head back slightly and inhaling as she looked up at the store head they had stopped in front of.

‘I can smell the dream in the breeze. Can’t you?’ Her voice flowed softly from within her cloak, her long bangs drifting from out of her hood like wisps of pink vapor as she observed the shop front she was looking for. 

‘What it is I’m to be smelling exactly other than what I’m smokin? I don’t suppose it’s the fried sokko or da steaming pot of jumjum  across the street you’ve been dreaming of, is it?”

‘I’m not smelling my dreams, I smell the dream leaf. We’re gonna need some more and there’s a special strain I had from here once I’d like to find again. But yea, if you’re good I got something later for you to eat bird brain” she said in an equally sarcastic and slightly seductive voice before laughing. 

“Don’t tempt me”, the nam responded, his voice displaying the interest he had in the truth of the jest as he leaned in. The two kissed, but not for long.

‘Ay! Ayyyy! Get your nasty romance from in front of my store with all that affection. Dis is a place of business and it’s not that type’ shouted the store clerk as he approached from the street. 

‘Excuse me. Emoclew elder. We meant no offense. Are you opening your shop now?’ The nampia said as she bowed her head with respect.

The shop clerk looked at her, the mask over his mouth and nose still revealing of his slight suspicion before he sighed and nodded, 

‘I am miss. If you would’ 

He moved past her opening the door, gesturing for her to enter the actual store room beyond the door she had been waiting at before shooting a glance towards the nam who came with her. The nampia tilted her head looking up at her mate. He took the last rip of the bleeze and flicked it into the wind shrugging again before he gave a slight bow. The elder scoffed and continued to walk in the store.

‘I’m so sorry my love, I’ll be back faster than the 1st moon orbits Ephangi. We already have what we need for the girls so after this we can head home. Be cool, yea?’ she said after nodding to the clerk in thanks for his gesture.

‘Yea yea. Take your time’ he said as he looked across the way at the local chef in the middle of preparing a exotic smoldering pot of jumjum, ‘I’ll be crushin if you need me’ his voice relaxed and cool as he strode across the market center towards the street kitchens.