#and yeah the odds of the two youngest getting into trouble just to sate their curiosity is far too high. :')

[redmoonwanderer]

FFXIV Write 2024, Day 1 Prompt: Steer

At first, the loud sounds, mostly banging on metal and stone, get the whole tribe wary. They think, and rightly so, that the Imperials were dealing with some percieved trouble in the vicinity of their home, and quickly gather their belongings.

Well, the adults do. Qhol’a’s oldest sister Felha is tasked with taking the children to safety, and they rush for the Comet’s Tail, where they would meet the rest of the tribe.

There hasn’t been refugees coming through, lately, and the well-trodded paths in the forest are in places hidden with new grass and bushes. The tree-line has withdrawn closer to Gridania since the Imperials invaded in their hunting grounds, and there’s less cover to take, but his sister knows her way around, and Qhol’a and the other children start to think of it as a game rather than a precausion when they dash from shadow to shadow. “If that monster sees us, the game’s over,” says one child, Reha, and points at a large, three-headed beast whose heads are actually more like plants. Qhol’a wonders how it sees or hears anything, and how they can even decide if it’s spotted them when all the heads are turning this way and that.

But one by one they go by, with Felha leading the way, and find their way safely to the lit caves in the southern Fringes. There they wait for what feels like an eternity and a half, and when the children try to play, Felha tells them to be quiet. The way she hisses at them, Qhol’a’s not sure if she’s angry or scared, but because Felha is fated to be a great adventurer, and they are never scared, she must be angry. Qhol’a thinks it because the Imperials are in their territory.

Finally, the rest of the tribe arrives. Some talk with Felha quietly while others look after their children. Qhol’a is quiet, like the good child he is, and listens. Beyond the murmured greetings and questions between blood-families it’s hard to tell what his sister is talking about, so he sneaks a little closer. When he tries to sneak past two grown-ups, his shoulder hits someone.

“Oww,” says the voice next to him. Qhol’a doesn’t say anything, but rubs his arm and looks at the youngest of his three sisters (who is still older than him, though she’s smaller than him. It’s kind of funny when outsiders think she’s the youngest). Elys seems to pick up on his intent, puts a finger on her lips, then leads him to the side, behind a rock.

“-- to say what, but I don’t like it. Either way, our way over to Gridania is blocked, for now, maybe for a very long time,” Qhol says to Felha.

Aw, they missed the important things. The two look at each other in disappointment, but before they can do much else, Qhol speaks loud enough that the others can hear. “Children, come on here.”

Qhol’a and Felha step out from their hiding place, and Qhol gives them a knowing look, but seems a little proud. Maybe she hadn’t seen them go there? Elys giggles and Qhol’a smiles as they join the group of others.

“Firstly, you don’t need to be scared,” Qhol says. “The bad guys aren’t attacking, they’re building something. We don’t know what, but we might find out eventually. But they are really, very close to us now, so you need to be careful. No going out alone, just like before. If you see something or hear something and don’t know what it is, tell one of the grown-ups. Most important of all, steer clear of whatever they are building. You can’t go to Gridania anymore. If you see anyone trying to go away alone, tell us.”

The kids look at one another, then one, a five-year-old Nilh, raises her hand. “And what if we see Qhol’a going out alone?”

Because he’s the only one who can, because he’s allowed to do magic. It makes him feel a little important.

“If you do, you can still tell the grown-ups. Just in case,” Qhol says with a smile, and Nilh nods her head.

After that, they’re told they’ll be sending the night in the cave, and that they will find a new place for their home tomorrow. Or the day after.

Just one look at Elys, and Qhol’a knows that they’ll be out to see the secret thing the bad people are building. Not today, probably, but one day.