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Flizer Forest

The most important day of the year for every creature on the island had arrived. Yet whereas for others it was a day of joy and happiness, for Flizers it was the day they feared the most.

For the first time Patz was allowed to embark on the journey to the Shrine of Bauroo as he was old enough to get matched now. The Shrine of Bauroo was the place Flizers had to go for Soul Tying ceremony, as declared by the Aleutans centuries ago.

It was a journey full of danger for any girl and Patz feared for Ziya. This day every year Aluetans brought back old Flizers, those who had served them for thirty years and they no longer needed. And they took young girls, those unmatched. And there was nothing Flizers could do about it. Not going would mean destruction to their homes. Aleuta would take what they felt was due and Flizers were no match to them.

Patz barely slept that night, restless and worried; he listened to the loud snoring of his parents, the soft breathing of his siblings, occasional howling of an owl, and familiar chirping of birds in the distance. Yet, it did not bring him comfort. By the time he heard his parents move about their hut, he had long been awake and busy with final travel preparations.

It was still dark when the time came for them to break for the journey. Patz's two little sisters, identical to each other, rubbed their sleepy eyes and cried loudly. His brother, a few years younger and a smaller version of Patz, tried to look brave, but failed.

"Take care of the girls," whispered Patz in his ear when it was time to go. The boy nodded and hugged his brother affectionately.

"We will be back before you know it," Patz assured him.

Patz's father, Zeen Zumpletoe, walked solemnly beside him and his mother, Marza Zumpletoe, as they made their way out of the village. Mr. Zumpletoe was broad shouldered and slightly taller than Patz. His bright green hair was shot with dark brown strands and his face revealed his good-naturedness. He was a simple man who did not question the ways of their kind and took his son's peculiarity lightly, neither encouraging nor condemning him.

Marza Zumpletoe, slightly plump and short, was a woman that prided herself with being a normal Flizer. More normal than any other Flizer, she assured herself and anyone who listened. Determined to raise her children in her image, she could not begin guessing how she could have made the mistake of having a child on the Dark Night. And the neighbours, her main worry, never failed to remind her.

Once their son had a family of his own, her husband assured her whenever she fretted about it, he would stop dreaming of heroes and battles. And she prayed with all her heart that today would be the day where he would be matched to a nice suitable Flizer girl and would finally be settled.

Slowly the darkness receded and the break of a new day greeted the group of Flizers. Many of the young ones were leaving the safety of their home forest for the first time. Yet, their excitement was largely dampened by the all-prevailing uneasiness. The watchers flanked the procession, each carrying a large horn over their shoulder. Those were Flizers with the best sight, entrusted with ringing the alarm when the intruders from Aleuta were spotted.

And no one doubted that they would come.

Soon their group was joined by Flizers from neighbouring villages. Cheerful greetings were exchanged, questions were asked, answers were given. The humming of low voices was heard all around.

Once they crossed the low rocky hill to the east, where the Flizer's home forest ended, a beautiful valley appeared before them. Birds sang from their hidden nests, insects cheerfully buzzed above their heads, small animals peeked curiously at the travellers and quickly disappeared in their hidings. Colourful flowers covered the field, filling the air with wonderful new smells.

Patz could not prevent himself from admiring the unfamiliar surroundings and it greatly lifted his spirits. Other Flizers found no joy in the beauty of the valley, as they felt deeply disquieted without the protection of the trees above their heads. They did not share Patz's curiosity and were anxious to quickly push through the colourful field and reach the safety of the trees again.

For a long time they walked in silence, their backs stiff and steps uneasy, until a dark and solemn forest rose before the travellers. The trees, untouched since the beginning of time, crowded close to each other and their thick misshapen branches threw dark shadows on the travellers below. The air was pregnant with the smell of moss and decay, weighting on the travellers with its heavy melancholy.

As much protection as the ancient trees offered, Patz liked it not. There was something about it that made him feel as if someone or something watched them. Yet, no animal was seen and no bird was heard. It looked abandoned and, at the same time, menacing.

It made Patz shiver and lower his head.

Throughout the journey, Patz only managed to steal a few glances at Ziya. She walked beside her brother, who was the same Klatz that had been making Patz's life miserable for years. Every time Patz's eyes found Ziya, he could not stop himself from flinching as he inevitably found Klatz staring right back at him. The frown he gave Patz made his knees soft.

It has been years, can't he just forget about it already? Patz reflected gloomily. He did not doubt that only the presence of Patz's parents prevented Klatz from giving him a chase, that much threat did his angry look carry. Yet, Patz could not stop himself from searching for Ziya, worried that she might not be there next time he looked.

"Auhhh!" Patz cried from a slap upside his head.

"Snap out of it, will you?" said a laughing voice and Zatz appeared beside him. "Ziya again?"

Patz, still rubbing his head, whirled around, worried that someone might be close enough to hear them. He relaxed slightly, noticing with relief that no one was paying them any attention. His parents had fallen behind, talking to their relatives from other villages.

"It's just Klatz," replied Patz grimly.

"Maybe he will leave you alone once you are kin?" offered Zatz.

"Knowing him, I doubt it." Patz sighed. "Why must she be his sister of all?" exclaimed Patz bitterly.

Zatz only shrugged at that. "Other mothers also have beautiful daughters. You could have chosen another."

"Never!" exclaimed Patz, which made his friend laugh.

"Then find courage, my friend" Zatz replied.

They continued together, yet Patz's eyes still wandered in the direction of the girl. And Klatz glared back at him every time.

As they left the forest and barren land stretched before them anew, nobody spoke much, fearing they might overhear the horn. Patz could now smell the salty air mixed with grass, and no longer the ancient moss of the forest. Somewhere far ahead he saw the ocean shimmer.

Mr. Zumpletoe caught up with his son and put both hands on his shoulders. They stood face to face now and Patz noticed deep wrinkles between his father's eyebrows and the dark rings under his eyes. He breathed heavily, the journey exhausting him more than his father would ever admit. He was a proud man.

"No matter what, don't look back, and don't stop running, my son," he cautioned. The words gave Patz a chill, yet he nodded obediently. He could feel the tension rising within him as he saw the other young Flizers readying themselves for the run.

Patz's mother, now also beside him, pressed him close to her bosom. He saw the tears in her eyes. She had been crying a lot lately, which puzzled Patz. He was a boy and was not in any danger this day, there was nothing for her to fear. His father was feeling slightly ill lately, but that will pass also, Patz was sure. And father said so himself. His mother must be just afraid of going back to the Shrine of Bauroo, Patz concluded. Female Flizers preferred to never come here again unless it was time for them to bring their children.

"We will be right behind you," she promised. Patz wished he could stay here, in the comfort of his parents' embrace. Yet all parents had to stay behind and watch their children run and be hunted, such was the Aleutan decree.

The sound of a horn cut through the noise and Patz felt his skin prickle with fear.

They are here!

"Now run!" commanded his father.

And Patz ran as fast as he could, the wind singing in his ears. And with Patz, every young Flizer was on the move, jumping over the patches of grass. Patz knew that Ziya and Zatz were somewhere behind him, yet he did not dare to look back, his father's words still fresh in his mind.

At first, all Patz could hear was his own heavy breathing and the sound that hundreds of running feet made. Soon the Shrine of Bauroo came into view. It shone brightly against the dark blue ocean and promised safety. Patz and everyone around him picked up the speed.

Then Patz heard a piercing wretched screeching of a bird somewhere above him, he almost stumbled and fell. The cries drew closer and grew louder, and soon he heard the flapping of wings. In the corner of his eye he glimpsed an older female Flizer being dropped to the ground.

A Zapped One! A Returned! One that Aleutans no longer needed.

And then a girl just right beside him got plucked from the ground like a flower. The girl shrieked. Patz could not help but look up in terror and gasp as he beheld the claws of the largest bird he had ever seen.

An eagle!

A dark-clad rider, twice the size of a grownup Flizer, sat tall and upright on its back. Patz caught sight of black eye pits behind a red mask, and heard, what he thought was a high-pitched ringing of a man's laughter as the bird shot up again toward the sky with the prey in its claws.

Ziya!

One thought of her made Patz immediately forget all that his father taught him and turn to look back. It was the most terrifying scene he had ever seen!

There were at least three dozen riders descending on the Flizers. Many were already rising up again carrying with them screaming girls. Patz's eyes desperately scanned the slope for any sign of Ziya. Finally he saw her green head hopping up and down next to her brother far behind. At first Patz felt relieved, but then his eyes caught sight of an eagle shooting directly for her.

Neither Ziya nor her brother saw it coming. A scream froze in Patz's throat.

Desperation - a powerful ally, yet not a wise counsellor - dimmed his thoughts. Without hesitation, Patz sprinted back up the slope. As if in a dream, his hand closed around a stone, which he plucked from the ground, and he threw it at the rider, putting in it all his strength.

The rider's gaze was fixed on the pray and he did not see the stone coming. Hope flickered in Patz's chest, making his heart thump frantically. Yet in the last moment, faster than Patz could imagine, the man drew his head aside letting the stone pass barely touching his cheek. The rider swiftly regained his balance. Just then Patz saw Klatz swing his walking stick at the rider in the perfect angle that would have stopped the attacker. Yet, Klatz fell backwards instead, when the stone that had been thrown by Patz and evaded by the rider, hit him hard in the face, knocking him out.

And just as Patz's outstretched arms were about to get hold of Ziya, eagle's claws cut into her shoulders and lifted her up.

Patz was left grabbing for empty air. He heard her scream, but it soon mingled with all the other cries and then died out in the distance. Patz stared incredulously at the clouds and could not tear his eyes from the large birds that grew smaller and smaller, until they disappeared in the distance.

The tears welled in Patz's eyes. Ziya was gone. And it was all his fault.

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Note from the writer:

Turns out Patz's worries were well grounded. The girl, he never found courage to confess his love for, is gone. We will meet her of course again, when the story takes us to Aleuta. However, whether Patz will meet her again, that is a good question...

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