Ryan looked out the circler window. Unlike the other houses in Dark Water, Ryan lived at the outskirts in a dome shaped hutt. Long bone pillars made of animal ivory could be found rising to the top. The pillars made a small circle in the domed roof where a small opening was made for the smoke to exit. Small twigs and branches lined the domed roof weaved together tightly with mud and straw, befire being wrapped with hide. While it didn't appear all to sturdy, the walls were four to five inches thick, and were technically a type of homemade cement. Ryan knew that for a fact, he broken an arrow tip once against the outer wall, which was nearly completely covered with a homemade ceramic. Only at the very top could the twigs be found, that and the thick bone pillars showed from the outside. He shared this place with Benjamin, Jacob, and Akoma. Today Akoma had him cleaning his gun. It was the worse of all fates.

Ryan sat in a chair made of animal bones and hide, playing with his imagination as his eyes glazed over the desert sands. He heard shifting feet as he hurried to turn his attention back to the gun. A small laugh was heard from Benjamin. He was thirteen, not even that much older than Ryan, only by four years.

Benjamin pointed at Ryan, "You know you're going to be here all day if you don't hurry up! Man you've had to clean his gun every day for the past month!"

"So what! You're just a jerk, Benny!" Ryan called out.

"Oooh, oh no! You called me a jerk! What am I going to do?"

"Benjamin." Akoma called out, "shouldn't you be at school?"

Benjamin watched the tall man bring in a dead carcass. The animals fur would be used for clothes and brushes. The bones for more furniture, if they were lucky. And of course a fresh kill always ment meat for supper. Akoma pulled out his knife as he began to cut into the animal. Ryan twitched as the man glared back.

"Starring at me isn't going to finish that any faster."

Ryan grumbled. "Why are you even having me do this! Its not fair! Isn't not being able to play with my friends enough of a punishment?"

"This isn't because I'm punishing you. But because you asked, you'll be doing it for another month." Akoma replied.

"Come on!" Ryan started, but Akoma's stare said it all. More complaining would only make his chores worse. "Why are you having me do this then?"

"Because every Sand Walker makes their own." Akoma replied.

"Wait, so I'm going to make a gun?" Ryan asked excitedly.

"When you turn sixteen, but I need you to be familiar with it long before then." Akoma shook his head.

"So, why can't I just wait until then to clean your gun?" Ryan grumbled.

"Sorry what was that? You want to keep cleaning my gun for the rest of the year?" Akoma tested.

Ryan's eyes went wide, "No!"

"Then get back to it, and stop complaining. Another word and that will be a serious consideration."

"Akoma!" A small voice called out. Small Emmeny looked into the open door to stand shyly at the entrance.

"Yes Emmeny?" Akoma asked

"Aunt Tabby says she needs to see you right away. She said she couldn't tell me, and you'd know why."

Akoma stood up, tossing his knife to the ground. He looked back, hesitating for a moment.

"Alright, leave that for now Ryan. You're coming with me."

Ryan smiled. He was free. Well sort of, he still had to finish it later, but he rather clean the gun later than right now. He leaped out of his chair, he was happy to be leaving the house. Akoma had kept him locked away. He hadn't been able to leave their sand field of a yard for a long time. He looked over at Emmeny.

"Hi Ry." Emmeny said shyly.

"Hi Emmy." Ryan smirked, shrugging his shoulders.

"Benjamin!" Akoma called. As the young man came running from the archery field.

"Yes Akoma?" Benjamin answered.

"You're staying here, I want you to finish curing my gun before I get back. Understood?"

"Yes sir." Benjamin replied with a forced chipper mood. He tried to hide his disappointment, but his heavy sigh betrayed him.

Emmeny smiled leaning over towards Ryan, "Bek and Amaya say hi. We've been wanting to play with you. Why don't you come anymore?"

Ryan gave a pouty face and a scowl as he turned back at Emmeny. "I want to. But Akoma has kept me in jail, in my own house! I can't leave, all because we met Pakki and looked at Amaya's secret hide out."

"Well... everyone got in trouble." Emmeny started, "Aunt Tabby made me wash Grandpa Al's shoes!"

"Shh." Ryan shooshed, "Don't give Akoma ideas!

"What! You really think Akoma would force you to wash Grandpa's shoes? He wont even let you near us!"

"I don't know. But I guess if I get to see you again, then it's worth it."

Emmeny blushed, "You might see Bek and Amaya too."

"I certainly hope!"

"What are you two whispering about back there?" Akoma asked.

"Nothing!" Ryan replied quickly.

"Doesn't sound like nothing. What are you talking about?" Akoma tried.

Ryan got nervous, did he know? He swallowed deeply trying to think fast, but his mind failed him. Then Emmeny spoke up.

"We were just curious about Pakki. Are there other people out there like that?"

Akoma stopped, and turned back, "Yes, natives. The Sand-Walker history has more details on it, but they were here before us. They claimed them to be exiles of their own homes. My master told me they were prisoners, often murderes, and other horrible monsters. And Pakki's tribe isn't the only one. There are other native..."

Akoma began walking again, not finishing his thought. He turned his head back as he moved, making sure the two children were going to follow him. Their feet began picking up behind his own.

"Other native what? Tribes?" Ryan asked.

Akoma nodded, "Yes."

"Akoma, do you know what an rettungskapsel is?" Ryan asked.

"No." Akoma shook his head slowly as he replied, "Who or where did you hear about that word?"

"Well, we found one a while ago when we met Pakki." Ryan raised his finger in the air, hoping that his knowledge would surpass his misbehavior.

Akome stopped turned around and looked each child in the eyes. Both were worried when they saw his feared expression. "Who else knows about it?"

Both children choked due to the quickness of his words. They could hear and see his fear.

"Quickly, I need to know." Akoma snapped.

"Amaya and Bek." Ryan said nervously. His eyes grew wider as Akoma grabbed his face.

"Do not tell another soul. Don't even mention it. Promise?" Akoma looked over to Emmeny, "Do you promise?"

Emmeny nodded her head. Ryan muttered, just barley getting the words out "Y-yes."

"Good" Akoma breathed, "I don't want to have this talk again. I'll let Amaya and Bek know as well."

With the topic addressed, there was little but silence in the air. The three walked in peace without so much as a whisper until they made their way to Dark Water. It wasn't too long a walk, they only lived fifteen minutes outside of the boundary, after that it was only twenty minutes to get inside the city. Akoma's hutt was more or less, over a sand dune and around the corner of a sandstone cliff. Just out of view from the small village, but not too far you couldn't walk there.

All eyes were on Akoma as they walked into the village. Nearly everyone had gathered around the school house. It was a collective body of about 200 hundred people total, give or take.

A man clad in metal armor began to push away citizenscoming near the school. Akoma didn't resist. He knew who they were.

"By the order of the Kish none shall enter." The tin can verbalized.

"Of course, officer. I mean no trouble."

"Weapons? Are you apart of the Regiment?"

"No sir, I'm a Sand-Walker."

The soldier nodded, though it was difficult to see that through the small narrow slots in his metallic helmet. "A Sand Walker? Sand Walkers have been extinct for at least a decade! What did you do, crawl out from your grave?"

Akoma reached for the bandages wrapped around his right arm, quickly unraveling them. On his shoulder was revealed a circle starting wider on one end and thining out until they nearly touched and inside the ring was a strange paw, almost of the likes of a mole's hand. Ryan knew the symbol. Not only did he see it in the books Akoma made him read, but he had the same ring on his shoulder, only missing the paw.

The symbol was that of the Sand Walker, the paw represented the Desert Wolf, or other names were sand fox, or dig-dog. The front paws of the wolf were long claws that allowed them to burrow into thick canyon rock to make dens, or quickly burrow into the sand beneath them to track their prey. They were concidered the traditional enemy of the Sand Walkers. The ring around the paw represented that of the Rock Snake, a giant worm the length of seven elaphants and as equally tall. They were nearly unstoppable, only the Sand Walkers had a way of killing them, though that had not yet been revealed to Ryan.

The guards took a step back, as Akoma spoke, "We are not all dead, even if all of you Kishites wished it."

The man regained his stature and strait back to reply to Akoma, "I thought the people of this town were talking about a want-a-be."

"No, I'm the real deal." Akoma stated, "That makes Dark Water Sand Walker territory. Me and my people have lived here before the reaches of your empire. If anything, I should be asking for your weapons."

A verbal growl could be heard, and further inspection revealed yellowing teeth tightly clenched, "Is that your way of asking, nomad?"

"No. I'm just making a point. Now, why are you here?"

"A boy killed an currier of ours and we heard word of it from our guard post two miles out," the soldier pointed towards a small structure in the distance, "they claimed that a murder had been committed by the hands of a wraith."

Akoma looked back at the citzend, then he turned back to the soldier, "And the person in question?"

The soldier pointed at the school, "At the small hutt, the scene's still fresh, the boy left quite the mess. I'm letting you know now nomad, jurisdiction or not, wraiths will not be tolerated."

"I know all about your laws." Akoma stated, "I'll be having a word with your commander if need be."

"So be it. You'll have him. You have until first light tomorrow, keep the boy detained. Any word of you letting him go... well, let's just say it might anger the entire nation of Kish." The soldier replied, walking towards his mount. He yelled back his final words, "And this small town? Well, it might not stay small for long."

The giant bird, known as a camel bird, was a common mount from Kish. The desert bird needed little water and could subside mostly off seeds. It had little feathers and a thick leathery hide complimenting it's long slender neck. A puff of fluffy fur wrapped around it's chest, leaving a short, stubby feather tail. It was a muscler bird with giant legs and small wings, not possessing the ability to fly. It had a narrow sharp beak, usually used to dig into the ground for preary rats, or to hunt other small game, namely rodents.

The big feet of the bird thundered against the ground, it's talons kicking up dirt with each heavy step. A quick jab from its rider's heel and the bird raced off. When both man and beast were out of sight, Akoma cursed under his breath. He paused, looking over to the watching crowd. It didn't take long for his eyes to settle on Akoma and Emmeny.

"Stay close." Akoma replied, grabbing Ryan's hand. Emmeny grabbed on to Ryan's free hand as the three pushed through the crowd.

As they made their path, Amaya and Bek hurried forward towards the two. "Ryan! What's going on?" Bek questioned. Ryan glanced back.

"I wish I knew! I was hoping you might know." Ryan replied.

"Nah, no one tells us anything! We thought maybe Akoma would say something." Amaya added.

"Wait, you don't know either?" Emmeny stated. "Doesn't your mom run the school house? She's Tabby's boss."

"She owns the building." Bek corrected.

"Besides she doesn't tell me anything." Amaya stated.

Akoma looked back. "You all should go home." He took a step onto the concrete stairs. "Ryan, you stay. We're going inside."

Ryan nodded, looking back to his friends. Amaya and Bek made pouty faces, nullified by the uproarious crowd. Ryan hadn't noticed until now how angry everyone was. Their anger was turning to outrage as they began to get louder and louder.

Akoma stepped through the door, the busy crowd yelling at them with every step they took. Rage was growing from the crowd. Their anger seemed to loom over Akoma and the young boy. Akoma pulled Ryan through the door as the crowd began to swarm them. Akoma closed the doors, pushing people back as he slid a board across the door. Banging ensued along with murmurs and threats. Akoma pulled a chair over for Ryan and pointed his finger to the seat.

Ryan sat in the chair. Akoma looked him dead in the eye. It was a stare that made Ryan go cold, sending shivers up and down his back. He knew what it ment. He was not permitted to leave the chair. If he did, he would have hell to pay.

Murmuring was heard from the hallway. Ryan could almost make out the words. He lept of his chair, slowly making his way towards the noise.

"I didn't do it." Jacob exclaimed. Weeping could be heard in his voice.

"Jacob, you know that I am here to protect you, but I also have a duty to these people. We have a duty to these people. We are supposed to protect them." Akoma responded.

Ryan's heart was beating faster and faster. His eyes peaked through the door to find the young man, Jacob, holding his blooded knife. Akoma had always told them it was a tool. Tabitha was crying and Jacob's voice was the only steady tone.

"I didn't do it!." Jacob stated again. "I couldn't have done it!"

"Jacob..." Tabitha started, "You killed that boy... I saw you. How can't you remember!"

"Tabitha not now!" Akoma lept in.

Jacob glared at Tabitha rage in his eyes. Ryan had never seen Jacob like this before, he was always so kind, and caring. Ryan saw him as his older brother, looked up to him even. He didn't know what was going on, but he believed Jacob.

"Jacob. Give me the knife." Akoma stated in a calm, soft voice. It was disarming even for Ryan, behind the door.

Jacob's expression changed as he looked back at Akoma, the Sand-Walker slowly took the blooded knife away.

"I didn't mean to." Jacob paused, "What's going to happen to me?"

Akoma let out a light sigh, "The town's fearious and the Kishites want to kill you. But, Im not going to let them do that. That's why you have to leave here."

"Akoma you can't." Tabitha responded.

"We don't have the anwsers or know how to help him. We only have two options, and I won't let them kill him."

Ryan's heart nearly stopped. He had heard of the story of the wraith. He still remember when they were talking about it with Bek. He always thought it was just a story. Now he wasn't so certain. If Jacob didn't remember killing, he must be a wraith just like in the story.

If Jacob was anything like in the story it ment that he had been killing too. Ryan didn't want Jacob to go. He knew it wasn't Jacob's fault. He had to find Pakki, he needed to talk to their all knowing god, the Prophet.