Murderous (Caveman Chronicles)

The Index -|-

Kpleeb stood on the hillside next to Xir. The wind ruffled his shaggy, brown mane.

He shivered. [Has winter come already? Since when?]

With an unconscious shrug, he thought back to the past few months.

[I guess I have been busy. Getting really close to invincible now. Just need to find Zara before I find the Xi.]

“Zara, alive. No worry,” grunted Xir quietly. He always seemed to know when Kpleeb was lost in memory.

“I know she is. We will find her.” He gestured at the distant ridge and looked at Xir. “Do you think we’re ready?”

Xir lifted his chin slightly. “The Builder bring much destruction.” He paused as if trying to think of a new phrase. “More destruction than I believed. Xinti and Ganix not fight this… these.”

Kpleeb was annoyed at being called the Builder, but he ignored the comment as he had done many times before. He was more surprised and a bit skeptical of Xir’s description of his weapons. Ganix warriors almost never talked in comparisons, and this openness about the power of the weapons might indicate some internal nervousness about them. On the other hand, though the Ganix, primarily used hand-to-hand combat, they were almost unbeatable. Their speed, ruthlessness, and commitment made them a tough and worthy foe, and he would gladly side with them in any battle.

“It’s true,” said Kpleeb quietly. “These weapons are highly destructive, murderous even.”

Xir gave him the side-eye.

“Murderous.” Kpleeb repeated. He knew that some of his big words were a shock to the simple language of the Ganix. “You mustn’t count the Ganix out. Not every weapon is suitable for every fight.” He pointed to Xir’s lightning spear. It was one of Zara’s favorite weapons. “These lightning spears are better for close-quarters. They can stab as well as shock from a reasonable distance. The Ganix are excellent warriors. The best, in fact. You know my concern, Xir. The Xi are many. One day, we may fight them in person, not only while they are flying their lutu.”

Xir lifted his chin in agreement. “Wise caveman, Kpleeb.”

“Remember that time Xor accidentally struck Xiw with a lightning bolt?” Kpleeb broke into a grin.

“Riding yak,” said Xir.

“True. Probably the first and last time Xiw ever rode a yak.” Kpleeb chuckled again. “He flew so far!”

Xir gave him the side-eye again, and Kpleeb felt a twinge of uncertainty. The Ganix never joked, which is to be expected of a people that avoided displays of emotion. They did not poke fun at each other either.

[Time to change the subject.]

“Well, these big weapons, they are primarily to attack the flying lutu and perhaps other devices that the Xi will bring. We don’t know what their big weapons can do, or how they work.” He sighed. “Anyway… let’s try this upgrade.” Kpleeb nodded at Xir. “Ready?”

Without waiting for an answer, Kpleeb waved at a Ganix warrior that sat on a low pedestal at the edge of the tree-line.

In a moment, there was a strange whine as if a snake were being stretched to the very limits of its skin. It grew in pitch rapidly, and then went silent.

The far ridge burst from its core. Rocks, earth, and trees were annihilated into a veritable hailstorm of powdery residue that bloomed upward into the atmosphere. After a few short minutes, the morning sun was darkened, and Kpleeb peered anxiously at the remote hill. He could not see anything beyond the valley.

“I think we should go see what that ridge looks like, Xir.” Kpleeb started off down toward the valley in a moderate trot.

###

It was a while before Kpleeb and Xir made it to the cloud that blanketed the far ridge. The air was sooty and dark. It exuded an odd smell that he could not remember ever having experienced. As they started up the slope out of the valley and toward the top of the ridge, they began to cough violently. So thick was the air that their throats became coated and breathing was painful.

After only a short moment, Kpleeb made a choice. He turned and grasped Xir’s shoulder. “We- have to turn back!” Without waiting for a response, he jogged back toward the center of the valley and the creek that meandered through it. As they doubled back, the other Ganix that had shadowed their flanks turned to follow.

Soon, they arrived and plunged their faces into the water. It was cool and wet, and Kpleeb thought it felt fantastic, but he saw that the top of the stream was coated in a shiny black layer. With his hands on his knees, he coughed and coughed. Next to him, Xir and the Ganix warriors were slapping each other on the back and spitting large hunks of dark and slimy gruel from their throats and noses.

It was another few minutes before they felt like they had mostly recovered from breathing the air.

“This stuff tastes terrible,” muttered Kpleeb. A tickle in his throat made him cough again, and he looked back toward the hidden ridge. “We’ll have to wait for it to pass. Surely it will clear up eventually.”

He looked upstream. All of the water he could see was coated. He looked downstream and saw the same.

[Can the fish breath? Can the Ganix drink this water without becoming sick?] The more he thought about it, the more he realized that they should wait before examining the destroyed ridge.

“There is no point mucking around in this foul environment. Let us return to the village,” Kpleeb said after a few moments. “We have families to take care of, and this blasted air will take some time to dissipate.”