Avarice Unfortunate Sons

The Red Hills Clan

The trio rather uneasily let themselves be led in the darkness toward the village. They towered over their numerous escort. Aurianne realized that this habitation at some point in time had been a quaint rural town. The kind with the singular main street, and if you blinked in passing, you entirely missed it. Unless you made a stop at the delicatessen or the servo.

This place had been vacated long ago. The majority of the homes were partially destroyed and then rebuilt in a ramshackle manner. The panes of bright glass long ago smashed from the windows to be replaced with sheets of iron or wooden boards.

These people seemed to have a love of the dark. There were no lamps lit in the darkened homes. Aurianne and her companions had to resist the compelling urge to be afraid. Yet it was hard to be, with little Jilaiya swinging on her fingers and jabbering incessantly. Even if she didn't understand her. Now that it was dark, the little one had thrown back her hood to reveal a thick mop of hair as black as coal.

It appeared that the subhumans, though Aurianne was now struggling to think of them as such, did not comb their unruly manes. Rather, they let them become over time dreadlocks, which they decorated with all kinds of pretty treasures they found. Bones, polished glass, beads, buttons, and even stray pieces of jewelry.

Onanta-noy had the same thick nest of hair as her grandchild. It was long and white, and completely covered her bowed back like a shawl. Not all of Onanta-noy's clan, though, sported such abundant hair. Some were bald, and others had patches on their scalps as though they had recovered from serious burns.

The excited procession led them down what remained of the main street. Still parked along the kerbside were the numerous bodies of old cars. Their tires perished and deflated, and they had been completely cannibalized for anything of value. Aurianne could see various buildings, including an old general store and a post office. Down a bit further was a Methodist church. All of the structures had suffered the same disfigurements. The windows were replaced with boards or corrugated iron sheeting. Anything to keep out the daylight.

They halted in front of the Methodist church. Onanta-noy was directing them and her fellow villagers inside. Aurianne again felt most uneasy, but the persistent tugging of Jilaiya did not relent. Carefully, she stepped into the almost absolute darkness with her fellows.

The floor of this building had been surprisingly completely cleared of all objects and debris. Even the expected rows of pews were gone. They sat cross-legged on the still carpeted floor. Their guests were in the center, and the entire village crowded around them.

As Aurianne's eyes adjusted, she could vaguely make out the large, mostly empty space within the church. The cross and the altar were gone. To be replaced with many overlapping pieces of printed and handwritten paper that were too far away to read, movie and popular culture posters, and old signage.

"That's Jim Carey from Pet Detective. I remember that movie!" Darius found the presence of the poster rather incongruous, and as a result of the tension, he burst out laughing. As he did this, the inhabitants followed suit, and soon the old church was reverberating with infectious laughter.

Darius looked at Aurianne quizzically. "What the hell did I just do?"

"I don't know, but at least they are only laughing," Aurianne answered, thinking it very strange indeed.

Onanta-noy gave an order sending one of her people from the room, and began to speak to Kario.

"She says she has something that will make communication easier. I didn't really understand what she meant by that, though. Even though I understand most of what they say, low Grishak is a language only used by servants, and my knowledge of it is rather limited."

They sat for some moments in silence, and Onanta-noy's man returned holding a highly polished cow horn carefully in both hands. It appeared that it was full of liquid. Onanta-noy took the horn and reverentially held it out toward her guests.

"She asks that we drink.' Kario interpreted. "It will, for a few hours, give us the ability to converse freely."

"I don't know," said Darius, "what if it's a trick?"

"Well, so far they have not harmed us, Aurianne reasoned. "If they had wanted to, they could have already overwhelmed and easily killed us." With that, she took the proffered vessel and drank a sip of the dark liquid. It tasted strange, but not altogether unpleasant. Like earth and darkness combined. Though she didn't think she could drink a large quantity of whatever it was.

The others did the same, and for some moments, they didn't feel or perceive anything to be different.

"I thank you for saving my granddaughter's life."

Aurianne suddenly realized that she had clearly understood every word that Onanta-noy had uttered. "It... it was my pleasure." She responded, still amazed at what the concoction had done.

"Jilaiya told me what happened; she was fortunate you came along. I see there are many of you camping upriver. Know that you are welcome here, and you will incur no hostilities from us. We would, in fact, like to meet you all."

"Forgive me, Onanta-noy, Aurianne responded, still feeling a tad giddy that she could understand the old crone's words. "But I was always led to believe that your kind attacked and killed all humans on sight."

Onanta-noy shook her highly decorated hair. "No, not all of us have lost our minds or gone rogue. Many of us are still the Laughing Ones."

"Laughing Ones? What do you mean?"

Onanta-noy gestured to the walls of the church that were plastered with paraphernalia of a bygone era.

"Laughter is our faith and salvation; it keeps us strong. It tempers our bad desires. We have survived much misery and hardship. Those who could not embrace the ROFLMAO, or feel the LoL's. Well, they are not here with us today."

Now that Aurianne's eyes had adjusted, she could see Onanta-noy and her people more clearly. Deformed, covered in burns, sporting horrific scars. Some had lost limbs or been blinded. These, the 'Laughing Ones,' were not the subhumans she had imagined, and she would work from this moment forward to abolish that title.

They spoke all night until the first rays of dawn began to permeate the churches' stout walls. The potion had begun to wear off, and towards the end of the meeting, Kario was once more back to translating. Now the bridge between the two peoples had been breached, and a deep understanding had been forged. Aurianne and her companions had much to report.

*****

Earlier that same evening, Jhary took out his guitar and began to play. A few of the refugees stopped by to listen. The flamboyant musician was to many a great source of comfort. A reminder of a better and more certain time. The only melodies that Jhary could find tonight were sad ones. Frustrated and anxious, he placed his twelve-string back in its case and paced. He should have gone with her. It was the whole Rachel scenario all over again. What if she didn't return? He would never forgive himself!

He didn't take a wink of sleep, finding that he waited facing the south, eagerly watching the skyline. Hoping for her return. As dawn began to break, he could not take this terrible waiting any more, so he began to walk towards the southern horizon.

Three familiar figures were coming toward him. He didn't have to guess at who they were. A sense of relief washed over him, and he quickened his steps. Not caring if he appeared foolish. He had made up his mind.

In recent weeks, he had been difficult, ruled by his deep feelings and visible jealousy. He had not been the best of company, but right here and now, he was going to express his real desires. If Kario didn't like it, Jhary didn't care.

The group had seen the bard approaching. They looked happy and relaxed. Just chatting among themselves like old friends. As they grew closer, Aurianne walked out front. "Is everything alright, Jhary?" She asked, concerned.

He was close to her now and committed to his course. It was now or never. He stopped level with her chest. She was so much taller than he was, making his spontaneous decision all the more difficult. Somehow, though, his lips found hers.

Kario raised his dark eyebrow and turned, and Darius smirked, adding. "He's been so Captain Obvious of late."

Kario just chuckled, and the two of them walked back to camp.

But Aurianne and Jhary hadn't noticed. Their lips still joined in a long, closed-eyed kiss. A kiss that revealed both of their true feelings. A kiss that broke down the barriers of recent misunderstanding.

Aurianne was initially shocked as Jhary's lips sought hers, but she melted into his embrace. She long ago had given him her heart.

Jhary likewise had expected a rebuttal. He was so sure that Kario's dark charms had a grip on Aurianne's love.

Breathless from his conquest, Jhary pulled away. Only then did he begin to lecture Aurianne on her recklessness. "Oh my god, Aurianne! I was so scared I had lost you!"

Her long, shapely hands sought his. Balling them in her own, she bent to kiss them tenderly. "Such beautiful musical fingers of a beautiful musical man." Her smile was bright and her eyes shone.

Jhary just melted. He had been wrong after all. What they had felt was reciprocal, and Aurianne had made her affections clear. He felt like the luckiest man alive.