The Emerging Part I: Dream
CHAPTER XXVIII

Dinner bells ring throughout the Injhihato and the Pentad, who were sparring with each other, makes their way to the Gallery of Rniti. As they are walking and conversing amongst themselves, Fox sees the Rniti he accidentally dumped his food on off to their left. Frightened, he hides himself between Santhemum and Hawk. Hawk feels Fox’s discomfort and asks, “Fox, you okay?”

Fox answers, “Not really, look.” Fox points to the left of them and everyone realizes what has Fox spooked.

Desert jeers, “Oh come on, you’re not scared of going to dinner, are you?”

Hawk says, before Fox can, “Of course he’s not, he’s just going to join me and Santhemum in eating our dinner in our bed chambers. Hawk sees Pork wince as if in pain for a reason unknown.

Desert says, “Bah! But of course you would, have fun and I’ll be sure to let that guy know you are sorry you missed him at dinner.”

Fox tenses and Santhemum puts an end to the conversation with, “Do so, Desert, and wake up with a snake gliding down your throat.”

The Pentad splits a part. Santhemum, Fox, and Hawk to the bed chambers, Desert and Pork to the Gallery of Rniti.

“Just ignore Desert, Fox, he only wants to see your fear,” Hawk begins.

Fox shrugs as he sits on his bed. He looks around to see Hawk on his own bed and Santhemum at the table in the center of their bed chambers. Piles of books sit idle on the table.

Santhemum picks one at random and opens the book with a cracking sound.

“I don’t even remember any of us getting those books,” Fox says.

“That’s because we didn’t. They were here before we got here,” Hawk says.

“Oh,” Fox replies. “So, do you know who put them here?”

“My guess would be the Daijoks. Or the class before us.”

“But that would be nearly ten years ago.”

“Yes, do you see the dust collected on the covers?”

“You don’t think they would have cleaned these chambers?”

“If I were a Daijok, I would not take the time to worry whether or not chambers that are being unused are cleaned everyday either.”

“That doesn’t seem right to me. Shouldn’t the chambers be kept to the highest degree? What if someone came in here and was disgusted and refused to train?”

Hawk just stares at Fox incredulously. “You are joking right?”

“Of course I am,” Fox says with a laugh. “Why would I be serious?”

Hawk laughs, then breathes a sigh of relief. “You had me going there for a bit, Fox, I must admit.”

Hawk glances to Santhemum and sees her smiling as well. He feels himself smiling as a fool and rushes to compose himself. Santhemum merely blinks at him as she continues reading her book.

“What book are you reading, Santhemum?” Fox asks.

She replies by closing the book and showing the cover to Fox.

Fox scratches his head, “You can read that?” asking of the strange language on the cover of the book.

Santhemum shakes her head. She opens the book and shows Fox the colorful and detailed pictures on each page of the book.

Fox nods in understanding, “Oh, you’re just looking at the pictures.

Santhemum smirks and then looks at the book again. She flips through the pages until she stops with her eyes widening drastically. She looks to Hawk with eager eyes and turns the book around so he and Fox can see the image on the page.

Hawk and Fox jump off their beds to see what Santhemum has discovered in the book.

Hawk and Fox gasp as they see what can only be a younger image of Vaiqon engaged in a bitter duel with a dark image with not much detail. Hawk wishes he could read the language the book is printed in, to understand this image, but instead, he makes a mental note to ask their mentor later.

“Wow, that must be important if Vaiqon is in it,” Fox says, twiddling his thumbs.

Santhemum smirks and turns the book around to herself.

Hawk just shrugs and jumps back on his bed.

“I hope Pork is okay,” Hawk says.

“What do you mean?” Fox asks.

“Well, I don’t fully trust Desert.”

“No one does, but he is bound to a truly powerful Rniti.”

“That makes me feel even worse.”

“I’m sorry, Hawk, but its not like Pork is gonna become friends with Desert or anything. There’s something about Desert that puts me on edge.”

“Yes, me as well, but Pork does not seem to feel the same as we.”

“Let Pork make his own decisions. He will see who his true friends are when the time comes,” a velvet voice rings out.

Hawk and Fox turn to Santhemum who continues to stare at the picture of Vaiqon engaged in bitter combat.

“Why do you sound as if Pork is in trouble?” Fox asks.

Santhemum glances at the boys. She shrugs. Places the book down on the table. Goes to her bed. And pulls her covers over her head.

Fox looks to Hawk who just shrugs with confusion clearly etched upon his face.

“Maybe its just a girl thing,” Fox says.

Hawk nods with a smirk upon his face. His smile disappears instantly when he feels something soft strike his face. He looks down to see a pillow at his feet. He looks to his right to see Santhemum’s body shaking beneath her blankets.

Hawk shakes his head in amusement, picks up the pillow, and throws it back at Santhemum’s bed. A slight squeal is heard caused by the surprise attack. Hawk and Fox burst into laughter.

Laying his fork down, Pork rubs his full belly. He looks at his nearly-empty plate and then at Desert across the table from him. Desert sits with his arms crossed, glaring at Pork across from him.

Pork quickly glances away after seeing the intense glare upon Desert’s face. Desert smirks as he sees fear etch its way onto Pork’s face. A thought occurs to him. He tilts his head to his right side and observes Pork carefully.

He watches as Pork’s eyes dart about. He watches as Pork’s right thumb drums on the table next to his plate. He watches as Pork’s left fingers tremble rhythmically on his belly.

“What are you so scared of, Porker?” Desert chides.

Pork stares at Desert in shock.

Desert places his hands calmly next to his empty plate and scrutinizes Pork’s face and eyes. He believes he sees sweat beading on Pork’s forehead. He leans in closer, his stomach now pressed against the table.

Pork leans away from Desert. Desert backs away from Pork with a devious smirk on his face.

“Surely you aren’t afraid of me, Porker?” Desert laughs.

Pork’s face changes drastically from hiding his fear to exuding anger. “Why would I be afraid of you?”

Desert laughs again. “If you expect that attempt at anger to scare me, you need to believe otherwise.”

Pork blinks and his show of anger disappears as his fear yet again etches its way across his face.

“You don’t need to be scared of me, Porker.”

Pork just stares at Desert in reply.

“Clearly, I don’t fully terrify you, you did come to dinner with me.”

“But that was because... because...”

Desert scrutinizes Pork’s stammering. He grunts impatiently. “Oh, I understand, you just didn’t want to go the bed chambers just yet, is that it?”

“No that’s not it. I just was really hungry.”

“The others took their food with them, Porker.”

Pork opens his mouth to respond, but then closes it quickly.

“Hawk doesn’t even notice me anymore,” Pork says slowly and so quietly Desert can barely catch Pork’s words.

Desert smiles deviously. “Ah, you feel Hawk isn’t your friend anymore, is that it?”

“Yes... we used to be the best of friends. But... ever since we learned what the prize was gonna be, Hawk has become totally different.”

Desert looks at Pork with sympathy. An idea occurs to him, “Pork, maybe Hawk isn’t the one that is different.”

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe, it is you that is different.”

Pork stares at Desert in disbelief. “Did you just call me Pork? No e-r at the end?”

“Well, that is the name everybody else calls you right?”

“Right, I just didn’t know you knew.”

“Well, Pork. You will always have a friend in me.”

“Why?” Pork asks suspiciously.

“Why not? We are the black sheep of this ‘Pentad.’ We have to stick together.”

Pork’s suspicion wanes away slowly as he watches Desert’s eyes and sees sincerity in them.

Pork nods slowly, “You are right, Desert. We need to stick together.”

Desert smiles fiendishly as he rises from the table and leaves his empty plate in front of Pork.

Pork watches as Desert leave the Gallery and follows suit. He picks up his plate and Desert’s empty plate and takes them to the kitchen window where a maid takes them from his hands.