Ribbontail: Enter Emalia
Chapter 34: Farewell to the Trials

Author's Note: Please read my artist's comments before continuing. :3
-------------------------------------

Infineon and the truck collided.

With undeniable force, charging machine met awestruck beast, catching her squarely along her great, broad lower body. The Eclipsian seemed to not even register the event as she was whisked clear off the ground. There was a grating sound as she was hurtled against the truck’s face, her immense frame crunching upon impact.

Ribbontail let out a scream as the beast was then swept under the wheels of the truck. There was a gruesome cracking noise- a gargled yowl from Infineon, a snapping of spine...

Then as suddenly as it had come, the truck was gone, plunging down the road and vanishing like a specter into the fog.

For what seemed hours Ribbontail stood and stared at the curling fog, transfixed with horror and shock. It was only when hot, stinging blood lashed at her paws did Ribbontail regain her thoughts. Utterly consumed with fear, the goddess lifted her gaze to the road.

On the opposite side of the bloodied asphalt lay the behemoth that was Infineon, her great brown body twisted and mangled. Her entire lower body was a mess of bones and flesh. Jagged ribs pierced the reddened fur, with all four legs smashed and twitching frenetically. It was clear that the spine had been wrenched into an S.

Crying out, Ribbontail darted to the aid of the Eclipsian. “Infineon!” she called as she scrambled through the lake of red.

Infineon’s legs were jerking and kicking, her wide red eyes staring fixedly skyward. She seemed to be caught in a running motion. But as Ribbontail approached the Eclipsian stopped and opened that gruesome mouth; out blared an aggrieved, gargling noise that Ribbontail would never forget.

A chilling silence descended. The quivering, crushed form before her did nothing but stare at Ribbontail. Those pleading red eyes. Ribbontail could stare at them for ages, letting them fill her with shame and remorse, until her own eyes welled with tears.

Then like lightning Infineon lashed out unexpectedly, her lethal claws clutching Ribbontail’s neck to drag the wolf closer. Once they were again facing one another, Infineon staring into the eyes of the one she had tried to kill.

“You... tried to save me...” she rasped slowly after a brief pause, her voice harrowed, “...why?”

Ribbontail’s voice was barely above a whisper when she answered, her eyes welling with tears. “Because you don’t deserve to die... You’re not like the other Eclipsians; you have a heart...”

Weakly Infineon released Ribbontail, watching as the young goddess began sobbing pitifully. The Eclipsian’s eyes were saner now, their expressive lights fading and swirling with great conflicts of emotion. Ribbontail watched as the beast lay her head back. A sigh escaped between those frightening teeth.

“I’m... sorry. I was...wrong about you.”

Her eyes swimming in tears, Ribbontail pressed her face to the Eclipsian’s chest, all her fears forgotten. Such a strange character this Infineon was. She seemed to be able to alternate between a peaceful soul to a raging beast within a matter of seconds, even as she stared death in the face.

Ribbontail felt Infineon’s chest heave. The Eclipsian was attempting to speak again, in between painful breaths.

“My...necklace...” she wheezed. A cough sputtered from the Eclipsian’s mouth and she turned her head to the side, a fine trail of blood seeping from between her teeth. “Please. Take it with you... on your quest. I want somebody true of heart... to... wear it. I would have given it to my little Qasyari, but... I never had... the chance...”

Though she seemed barely able, Infineon lifted her bloodied claw to her neck and made a groping motion, as though holding a necklace. An apologetic- yet profoundly agonizing- smile appeared across the beast’s face.

Ribbontail lifted her gaze and watched this, tears still blotting her fur. “Thank you, Infin. But what do you mean? What necklace?”

Her question came too late. Before Infineon could respond she let out a bleak gargle, her head falling back one last time as the life was lifted from her. A shudder ripped through that enormous body, and finally she lay still. The dream walker was dead.

Ribbontail sat there in the stillness of the memory dream.

Settled alongside the shattered body of Infineon, she let the sudden loneliness engulf her. The young goddess reflected everything. Electrabbit, Infineon, Arhil, the line between Eclipsians and Emalians, good and evil, all raced through her mind. Not once did Ribbontail think of her past that she would have witnessed had Infineon not showed up.

“Was it a sign?” Ribbontail thought, “That I should never mourn about the past?”

Ribbontail’s tears once more began to flow as she looked at the mangled, twisted corpse of the Eclipsian beside her. Their guide through the desert lay there, a victim of her own emotions and rage. Now Ribbontail and her friends would have to go on without her, once more left on their own.

“I’ll be brave and strong for you, too,” Ribbontail promised the deceased one, her voice echoing in the dream mist, “Just like I am for Kerberos and my friends, and Electrabbit, and for all the other gods.”

Nuzzled against the Eclipsian who had almost been like a friend, Ribbontail let out a sigh and felt tears course down her face. It was a long, long time before the unwatched memory dream faded into darkness.
-------------------------------------

“Ribbontail. Dude, Ribbontail! Wake up wake up wake up!”

Before reality hit her, Ribbontail felt a sudden weight crash onto her chest. The girl was still dragging her mind from sleep when she opened her eyes, finding herself sprawled on her back with O’liday perched upon her chest. He looked absolutely frantic, his fur and hair a mess and his voice filled with shock. PuppetRibbontail was stooped over him.

“Dude something weird went down,” he spat, “Get up. Look!”

Groaning, Ribbontail rolled over and rubbed sleep from her eyes. She felt perfectly contained, like last night’s events had never happened. Her paws were fine, her fur was fine. There were no cuts and bruises physically- but emotionally she was aching.

It took the tired wolf a good minute to realize that the three of them were totally alone, laying in the shade of the Nde cave’s hill. In the desert morning it was clear to see that there was nobody around but them. Or rather, nothing. There were neither camels nor carriage, and the three sat among a strewn mess of caravan goods- the blankets and provisions that the camel Summonings had been carrying.

O’liday took a long look around. “What happened, man?” he breathed, “Were we robbed or something? And where’s Infin, too, and the carriage? Did she and her camels just up and leave somehow?”

The feliulf stood there scratching his head, looking quite silly without his fur cleaned and brushed.

“They must have all been a part of Infin,” thought Ribbontail, “All magic, even the carriage. When she died, everything went with her.”

Suddenly the thought of Infin struck Ribbontail, and she turned to see that black cloaked form, lying in the sand not far from them. At that very same moment her two friends saw her as well.

“Holy crap!” O’liday explained, jumping back. “Dude, what happened to her?!”

Ribbontail ignored her friends for the moment. She signaled for the two of them to stay back then slowly, almost painstakingly, crawled over the Infin’s huddled body. Her heart sank when she saw that the masked merchant was indeed dead. Laying there looking unnaturally calm, Infin appeared as though she had simply fallen over and gone into a restful sleep, never to wake again.

A sigh escaped Ribbontail’s lips. It was terrible that such a kind soul could in turn also be a mindless Eclipsian.

“Take my necklace with you...” Ribbontail sighed. It had been Infin’s last request- an apologetic gift for the goddess she had tried to slay.

Tentatively Ribbontail reached forth with a paw and stroked the neck of Infin’s robe, where the soft fabric came together in a V. The wolf followed the neckline until she felt, at last, a thin metal chain. Ribbontail lifted the chain and inspected it, noting that it had a simple design and luster.

There was a tiny charm hanging from it- a silver camel which carried a sapphire lantern and bore shining blue eyes. Ribbontail smiled. An Arhil charm was what the merchant had given her.

“O’liday,” Ribbontail asked, “can you help me unhook this necklace?”

O’liday, with PuppetRibbontail at his heels, hopped up and sidled alongside the dead Infin. A look of confusion and disgust crossed his face as he went to work. “So uh... dude... what’s going on here? What’s happening?”

This question got no reply. Instead Ribbontail gestured for him to re-hook the chain around her own neck. When he did so the three friends took a long look at the sterling necklace, contrasting wonderfully with Ribbontail’s blue-ish fur.

Ribbontail thanked Infin inwardly for the gift, turning to give her one last smile. If she could she would gladly undo everything and start from the beginning, at the bazaar. Certainly Infineon did not deserve such a cruel fate. But, with a sigh, Ribbontail recalled just what it was that the merchant had said: “It was a harsh living. You get used to it.”

Infineon wouldn’t want Ribbontail to mourn her. She had called her true of heart, after all... and she had to be brave and strong, just for that...

“Helloooo?” O’liday meowed, waving a furry paw in the goddess’ face. “What’s up? You’re acting kinda weird... does all this have something to do with you? Is it one of your god things?”

“I’m sorry,” Ribbontail sighed after a momentary pause, “What happened is... um... it’s a really long story. But come on, she wouldn’t want us mourning for her. We’ve got to keep on going!”

Exchanging looks of confusion with PuppetRibbontail, O’liday shrugged. “Whatever you say.”

O’liday clapped his paws, dusted off his fur and hat, and clambered up onto Ribbontail’s shoulders.

“I’ll be sure to tell you on the way,” Ribbontail assured him as he snuggled himself into place. There was a moment’s silence as Ribbontail searched the sky for her long-lost guiding star. Once the wolf found it she gave a big smile, took in a deep cleansing breath.

Casting one last look over her shoulder, Ribbontail thanked the merchant one last time for the ride. For Infin- Infineon- had not been just another Eclipsian. She was a kindly soul thrown into madness by an unforgiving world and cruel emotions. And there was a lesson behind the merchant’s tale: know friend and foe both; make sure none of them wear masks.

“Before I start telling you what happened,” Ribbontail said as she stretched, “let’s get going again. We have a quest to finish!”

Feeling a sudden burst of enthusiastic energy, Ribbontail threw back her head and laughed. Into the searing desert she sped, with PuppetRibbontail at her side and O’liday perched atop her back. The young goddess had made promises that would fuel her heart. Old Kerberos had given her his book of stories and his faith. Infin had given the goddess her most precious treasure and a lesson on trust. The gods gave their confidence, and Eclipsians gave reason to be wary. And Ra’kiroo- the man who still waited for the scroll- would get his delivery. Ribbontail for once felt important!

Pounding across the desert like a rocket, Ribbontail and her two partners traveled long into the day. What awaited them beyond the horizon could be anything.

...But one thing was certain: they had passed the desert trials.