The Taguel Legend

It began with him. The day she joined the army and saw him fight so valiantly. She didn't even notice him watching her in the heat of that battle or every battle after that till he approached her. "Hey, Panne! Do ya got a sec?" At first, she had been insulted by him telling her not to run off during battle but she had soon discovered why he had been so concerned and asked her not to run ahead or fall behind in battle. He wanted to fight side by side with her. He wanted to show her that friends were different than just being human or taguel.

It is to the sound of leaves crunching that she leave her memories and smiles when he appears. "Mornin Panne." He says as he sets his ax down.

"Was there any luck today?" She asks but then catches the scent of Risen. She then took notice of the blacking, rust color blood on his ax. This would not be good news.

"Yeah and no." I found some stray risen outside of town and made quick work of them but I still couldn't find him. I have no idea where that kid ran off too but he hid well this time." Vaike says then rubs his head. "I have checked every nook and cranny and then some. I even have some of my mates' lookin'." Vaike says looking tired.

Panne stands up. "His scent is old and if that wasn't enough the rain has made it almost impossible to track him." She says but turns to go inside the house.

"What are you doing?" Vaike asks looking up at his wife in hopes that maybe he had come home.

"We have a visitor and they may be able to help." Panne answers and smiles at Vaike's confused face. "Yarne can you please help us?" Panne asks as she steps into the house.

Yarne comes scurrying out right past her. The war had been over for six and a half years now but he still often came over to visit. At first, he only popped his head out of the door but then he smiles when he sees Vaike and quickly hugs him.

"It's great to see you dad. You seem to be doing well." Then Yarne noticed the anxiety he was giving off. "What's wrong?" He asks as his brows furrowed. The look made Vaike smile. He just looked so darn cute but more important matters were at hand.

"Yarne, um our, no this time stream's Yarne. Um, I mean younger Yarne has run off. Not you of course since yer here. Why does it have to be so dang confusing?!" Vaike shouts, pulling on his hair.

Panne ignores him. "Do you know where he might have hidden?" She asks the elder Yarne as his expression changes to a thoughtful one. "You know someplace?" She asks noticing the spark in his eyes after a moment of silence.

"Yes. There was this place that mother often told me about in her old stories about taguel legends. Every taguel tribe had a cave where all taguel went to share their legends. They would write or draw their stories on the walls of the caves. I found a place when I was little that I made into my own cave. I wanted to write about all the amazing things I planned to do." He stops there, his face becoming red. He didn't tell them about all the pictures and stories he had written about him on the walls. Thinking about the cave caused him to smile but then his heart became crushed when he realized he would never be able to go back to 'his' own again. "Actually. It was down the street from my house when we were living in the slums part of the city." His father had grown up there and his mother was very popular and well known after they moved back to it. That was what he remembered. It seemed to be true for these two as well.

Panne and Vaike exchange glances. There were no caves anywhere near here. "I can show you two. Come on." Yarne says and starts running. Panne and Vaike hurry after him. After about ten minutes they are all crouching in front of a small piece of cardboard that was placed up against a wall as if it was supposed to be a door.

"There it is."

"You sure about that?" Vaike asks skeptically.

"Positive," Yarne says as he nods. He then removes the small cardboard to show that the whole was actually big enough for them all to walk through. It was in-between two tall buildings as well. "Yarne we're coming in. You in here buddy?" Vaike calls out as he crawls in.

For a moment it becomes extremely tight but it widened out again and after crawling about ten feet in. It dips down and opens up. Panne smiles as she sees it and Vaike gaping at it all. There was Yarne in the middle coloring on the wall with a substance that Miriel had given him. Older Yarne walks past his parents and sits right behind his younger self.

The six-year-old looks up from his drawing. "Hey there Yarne. Mommy! Daddy! You found me. Look at my drawing." They look past the child at the drawing. Panne's ears were much too big and so was her tail but Vaike's entire head was much too big for his body and in the middle was Yarne waving.

"That's us." He goofily points to the child then smiles at the tall taguel above him. After a while, Panne picks up Yarne and says it was well past his bedtime. Vaike laughs as the boy pouts. Older Yarne smiles at the scene as they start to leave. Vaike notices him hanging back. "You comin'?"

"I'm coming. I just want to hang back for a minute. I'll catch right up." Vaike gives him a curt nod before following Panne out. Yarne stares at the picture in front of him and thinks about the rest of the legend. He could practically hear his mother's voice in his ears.

"There's an old legend among our people Yarne, a legend that revolves around a cave. Our people's cave. All taguel packs have their own cave. It tells the stories of our ancestors before us. It tells us our history and it serves another purpose."

"What?" He had asked in a small, timid, but curious voice.

"If ever we had lost our pack we would go back to the cave. When one of our own was lost we knew that's where they would be or they had meant their fate and their story would be written onto the wall by their family and close friends."

"Where's our cave?" What she had said next would forever be burned into his mind.

"Lost. It was taken away with our brethren but we have found a new cave. Here in this city. This house is our home and if ever you feel lost come here Yarne we will always come back for you." He smiles as he remembers looking around and saying that the house couldn't be a cave because it was a house. He remembers the tired look on his mother's face and how right then his father had walked in just in time to announce that dinner was done and that some of the neighbors and their kids were over. Yarne smiles to himself. He rubs his hand over the painting in front of him. He had completely forgotten about the cave. Now he was happy to be back in it. Even if it wasn't his, it still felt like home. It was where he hid when playing hide and seek. Where he was safe when the risen attack, and where his mother had always came for him, until the day she no longer could. It was his protection and now it was his hideout again, but for a younger better him.

Yarne stands and leaves, leaning against the wall above the entrance once he was outside again. "As long as you find the cave you'll always find your home."

"I'm home." He whispers under his breath and places the wood in front of the hole again. When he arrives dinner was already set out and a place was set out for him. He looks at his younger self who was smiling and pointing at the seat next to him. "I don't think I should stay. It's late and,"

"Yarne sits down and eat or you are not welcomed back."

"You better listen to her Yarne." Vaike was already digging into his roasted meat. Yarne sighs in defeat and sits down eating happily as he discusses the latest news with Vaike.

Panne sits silently putting in a few words here and there but she was content just sitting there and watching her family. She had forgotten about that old legend but she was pleased to be reminded of it again. "To imagine that all of this started with one worried man and his stupid suggestion."

"Huh? What was that Panne?" Vaike asks with a mouthful. "Nothing. I was talking to myself." Yes, she was very content at the moment and it all began with him.