CHAPTER 4

[Zabutur]

CHAPTER 4: TERA AT HER FULLEST
As a direct result of their meeting, Tera lived with Andraz, Knefy and Mateo, and she grew to the age 17. Often times she would go out wandering, sometimes for many weeks at a time. Most Mencuans were travelers, and had a rarely used home. Tera could be considered one of them. When Tera had been 16, many terrible things and great things had happened. She had been all over the place, met new people, and fought in several battles. However, there was one day that was known as the Day of Darkness. Here, many terrible things had happened, many of which would have caused the collapse of prominent Clazmaric leaders and others. As a result, the Gods of Mencu (Maric, Akhet, Duket, and Kemet) had erased it from many people’s memories; Tera’s being one of them. She had actually been recovering much of it, but then lost a lot after that day. What had happened in Tera’s 16th year? It, along with other points in history became known as the book ‘the Koldian and the Queen’ that would later be written by the queen of Krawvill. The reason that the incidents were erased by the gods is still unknown, but there would come a time when they would reveal it.
Though Tera still had not recovered very much of her memory, Mateo’s words had never left her mind: “She is said to be only 14 years old and already exceeds the strength of Artemis the titan and Kemet the god. Not only that, but she was raised by Artemis and her sisters: the titans themselves.” For some reason, this story sounded familiar. She remembered running into Ginny 10 years ago, but that memory stood alone until one day when she remembered that she at one time had had Ginny’s medallion! She had seen a huge fire, and Luna’s medallion slipped out. It looked almost red when she glanced at it, and that’s what she recalled. She realized, (3 years after the event) that the Karuha brothers must have stolen it, or it was still in that chamber. The former seemed much more likely. However, she could not blame Novembre and Decembre, since they had been so nice to her, and that was how Clazmars lived their daily lives. On the other hand, she remembered that she still had Luna’s medallion, since she had used it not too long ago. She took it out and let it reflect in the starlight. It gleamed white in the light and was cool to the touch. Slowly but surely her memories were returning.
As Tera reentered Knefy and Koara’s house, she began trying to piece together the memories that she had, but she fell into a deep sleep before she could.
The next morning, Tera, in order to keep up her strength, (and her skills at Knockout) went into some of the valleys near the bases of the mountains where rocks often fell and began lifting and throwing many of the larger ones around. She had been doing this on a regular basis, and found it fun. When they collided with others, one or both would break. Despite how strange it may seem; Tera was fond of blowing things up or breaking things. She had been influenced so by a Maric by the unlikely name of Zuroc Foxx back when she was 16, but had since forgotten about her. She found it quite pleasurable and did not return until evening. Since Andraz, Knefy and Mateo were always gone until late, (and Tera almost never saw Koara) Tera began doing this every day for a long time. One day however, Tera found her hosts present in the house—they had not left this morning. In fact, Koara was there too.

~Z~

[Zabutur]

“It’s about time you got up,” Koara growled,
“To a degree, she is right.” Added Mateo, “There are rumors of a great war, and that’s why we have been waiting for you. These rumors always come from the Zabuturs themselves. Usually when they bring something up like this, they capture certain people that their spies watch on and single out. They usually watch us from that bar: ‘The Zabutur Haven’. It’s so popular that Clazmars will go there anyway, despite the possibility of being watched.”
“So my advice is:” added Knefy, “stay inside and never let your guard down. And keeping a ball-and-chain handy wouldn’t hurt either.” After hearing this, Tera realized what Knefy was saying: Apparently, the Zabuturs had singled her out; otherwise, they would not have bothered to tell her. She had no choice now but to run, to leave—anywhere.
That night, Tera snuck out and ran until she came to another Clazmaric city, moving closer to where the temple of the titans stood. A week later, after passing through several cities obtaining what she needed the Clazmaric way, something unusual happened. She had been running across the plains on the outskirts of an Akhet city, when suddenly a girl clad in an orange tunic appeared in front of her. “Tera,” it called. Tera however, thinking her name to be Kai, did not answer. Therefore, the girl tried again. “Tera,” it said again. “Tera, it’s me: Kiya.” This had done the trick. Tera’s memories began flooding back into her mind. She remembered her name, her past, and the major events that had taken place when she was 7, 11, and 14, and that she had been raised by the titans themselves. However, Tera would not recall most of the events at her age of 16 that composed much of ‘The Koldian and the Queen’ until she read the finished copy of the book many years later
“I have come in a time of need;” Kiya warned, “Nacreloo has captured my brother and sisters. She is after me and what I am about to give to you. Take this medallion and run.”
“But what about you,” Tera asked;
“It’s inevitable.” Kiya replied, handing Tera the medallion. It was orange and bore the symbol of electricity. It was the same size as the one Tera had.
“That medallion is the key to our release.” Kiya continued; “You must find the other 7; since I presume that you still have Luna’s. She put it in good hands.”
“Aye,” Tera responded; she set the quest Kiya gave her into her mind.
“Run Tera!” cried Kiya, “Run! We shall meet again. You still have not come of age. Just remember that, and be sure to keep out of trouble!”
As Kiya vanished, Tera bolted. After running for about 10 minutes, she stopped in front of another Tehka lake and looked into it. A girl of 17 peered back at her: one with huge hands and feet and with hair so long it almost seemed that it dragged along the ground. However, it did not, and for all these years, Tera never had to pick anything out of her hair; it seemed to have a slick flow to it. Suddenly, Tera heard the sound of marching and shouting. She looked around for a place to hide, but there were none that she could utilize without being noticed. Realizing that she would have to kill as many Zabuturs as she could before she was captured, she pulled out the medallions of Luna and Kiya, and looked at her hair. Then, having received an idea, she dashed up a tree, appearing in plain sight, her hair hanging about 7 feet down from her head. The Zabuturs rounded the corner and spotted her. What appeared to be the leader of the Zabuturs shouted: “Who goes there?”
“Tera Kyla Zakatau,” Tera replied stiffly and proudly;
“Tera Kyla Zakatau, eh?” exclaimed the Zabutur leader as his soldiers exchanged excited looks. “You know what to do boys: work her over!”
Just like Tera predicted, she was captured, but she had put up quite a fight. Using her hair, which was twice as long as she was, she had distracted the Zabuturs, (Zabuturs being not very intelligent), took two of their swords, and killed about 50 before she was captured. Now she was unconscious, having been knocked out by the Zabuturs. She was being taken to a Zabuturian prison. When they got there, she was thrown inside and remembered no more.

~Z~

[Zabutur]

4 years later and many miles away, in the city of Lyca, the boy Lucius Wilde had been growing up. He was an average Akhet with a love of fighting for a good cause. When he had heard of the prophecy made about him, he was keen to find out who this ‘perfect person’ was. However, he had also heard the rumors of the war. As he went to tell his friends Zak and Raun about it, he ran into them at the Zabutur Haven, and they had news for him. Zak, as the people called him, (since no one knew what ‘Zak’ was short for) was a Kemet with long, spiky hair that stuck out in just about every direction imaginable, and Raun was a Duket with much neater hair and a calm and cool face.
“Your elder brother Remus has returned,” Zak declared; Lucius looked unchanged.
“You know,” Zak added, “the sailor: the captain of the Dak.”
The Dak was a ship that had been piloted by Remus Wilde for many years. He had been in almost every Zabuturian prison and had always escaped. He was known as “the man on the sea” since he was one of the few to set a ship on the seas without it being destroyed by some of the many, many creatures the lived there. (Clazmaric wives’ tales said that if you removed all the creatures from the oceans that they would just be puddles. This of course was over exaggerating, but it was proof of just how much lived down there.) Supposedly, he had had a traveling companion on many of his journeys. If this was the case, then it could have only been Zuroc Foxx, the same Maric who had influenced Tera. However, both of them had fought in the Day of Darkness, and lost many memories of each other after Zuroc went into hiding.
Lucius thought for a moment and then said; “Aye, That Remus, What about him?”
“He’s coming here,” Zak replied, “and he’s looking for a crew: a good band of warriors.”
Lucius was shocked. Until now, he had assumed Remus had always piloted his ship solo.
“We’ve already singled out several likely members of his crew,” Raun added, “Such as: the Karuha brothers: Novembre and Decembre, and Zadenek Kamatu and Teoma Zeken.”
“But weren’t those two in prison?” asked Lucius,
“Aye,” Zak replied, “That was the catch. We had to turn Remus in.”
“You traitors!” shouted Lucius angrily, banging his fist on the table.
“But here’s the good news:” continued Zak, “he’s Remus Wilde. He has escaped from many a prison without a sound. Do you really think that this prison is going to hold him? Besides, he told us to, and we knew what he as up to. We weren’t going to break all Clazmaric tradition.”
“I reckon you’re right;” Lucius replied, “So are you two going to join him?”
“Aye,” Raun answered; “In fact, since we turned him in, he is unable to watch his ship, so he left us in charge. We are the ones now watching over the Dak.”
“So when do you think Remus will be out of there?” Lucius asked;
“We’re not sure either,” Zak answered, “But he’s been in there for 2 days. He’s bound to find some way to escape…”

~Z~

[Zabutur]

Tera had managed to escape the next day by breaking through the wall with all her might, and after all the running it took for her to find a good hiding place, it had left her unconscious for several days. When she came back around again, she spent the next 4 years of her life looking for clues and artifacts that would lead her to the other eight medallions. She traveled through many Clazmaric cities and even into the Maric world with the youngest son (of 9) of the Clazmaric king: Prince Hyrem Westfarthing. There the two of them had met a mysterious curly-haired Maric named Emryk, who seemed different from the others. Together Emryk, Hyrem and Tera read over old Maric history in a city called Fennia, which was neither the biggest nor the capital city of Korzinia, but was well known because of its history. The Marics, being almost identical to Clazmars in nature, (save that they lived underground and away from the other people of Mencu) did not really mind their presence. Tera attracted people’s attention since she was not a Clazmar, but Hyrem was just looked upon like a normal Clazmar, since that was what he was. Emryk was not even looked upon, for since he was a normal (looking) Maric, he fit in all too well. Among the history books was a book of legends. In it, they read about strange legends and old prophecies, but the most interesting part about it was a story about Clazmaric figures called the Children of the Mark, distinguished mainly from regular Clazmars by a red mark that covered one of their glowing red eyes. They supposedly lived in Krippa, but since no one in their right mind ever went there and returned (perhaps because of all of Nacreloo’s creations) this legend was never proved. Both of them however, swore that they saw one, but it had vanished in a wave of brown and green before anything could be proved. From what Emryk saw, it was as if they had met before, for the creature had given Emryk a kind look for a split-second before vanishing.
“She was beautiful,” Said Emryk, “If any of you see her, tell her that Emryk said hi...”
By the time Tera had found eight of the 10 medallions, she was 21. By now the nighttime curse over Koldia set up by Zabutur had lifted, and the second darkness was over; Day and night had resumed. Tera by now had come of age and reached her full height (3’ 4”) and was in all respects, (to Koldian standards, at least) fully grown. Her hair, which she had never cut, was about 13 feet long, and how she managed it without it becoming a hazard was a mystery. Her hands and feet were huge, like almost all Mencuans’ hands and feet were, and her strength exceeded the combined might of Maric, Kemet, Victory, and Artemis. However, no matter how strong she was, (and how this unusual event had occurred) Tera Kyla Zakatau’s personality had remained unchanged: steadfast, humble, strong-willed, kind, and intelligent. Tera also did not realize it, but she was very fast. Of course, with all these strengths came weaknesses. Tera might have been a decent fighter, but she got overwhelmed easier, and, she lacked stamina. Incidentally, she was again captured by Zabuturs who were on their way to some place up north. She was taken to a different prison and saw a glimpse of her cell before the guards threw her harshly into it: two Clazmars were inside.

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[Zabutur]

(page 27)
Remus was taken by the Zabuturs, who did not deem it strange that Remus’ fellow Clazmars had just handed him over to them; the only thing that they cared about was that they had caught Remus the sailor, and that was why they had let the two Clazmars off. Remus, knowing that his friends were in the prison he was being taken to, had naturally put up a little resistance, but gave up quickly and was carried inside the building and literally thrown into the cell. Inside, he found both his friends: Zadenek Kamatu and Teoma Zeken. Also in the cell was a girl with very long, gold, wavy hair that was so long she had wrapped herself up in it. Her right arm was bound and her head was bruised; blood ran all over her beautiful fair-skinned face. Obviously, she had been thrown into the cell very cruelly.
“Who are you?” the girl asked Remus,
“Me?” exclaimed Remus, “I am none other than Remus Wilde.”
“Aye,” Teoma exclaimed, “You finally came!”
“Of course I have.” Remus answered; “So in order to get us all out of here we’ll have to move the door. The catch is that the Zabuturs must have discovered my secret. They have changed the doors to ones that they open with fire. Does anyone else have a plan?”
“Aye,” Teoma answered, “Let’s do what you did back in 4400: who here thinks they’re strong enough to break us out of here?”
No one answered. They knew they were strong, but doubted they had that kind of strength.
“If only the legendary Tera Zakatau was here.” Zadenek complained, “She’d be able to break us out of here like she did with a Clazmar who went by the name of Westfarthing when she was 16. Ah, the times she had had, back when Miracle was still alive.”
“Miracle…” muttered Remus, “Miracle…” he paused, “that name seems to ring a bell.”
“You know,” said Teoma, “the girl that’d always be with Knefy, Andraz, Mateo, and the rest of us? You’ve seen her angel in these past few years, if I recall correctly.”
“Aye,” Remus exclaimed, “Miracle Lyautey?”
“That’s the one,” said Teoma with a weedy tone.
A few (three to be exact) nights and days later, the girl in the corner looked up. She looked at the Clazmars around her and saw that their faces had been down because of despair. Her own face was deep red because of the blood that had hardened that she had not removed. She stood up. “Stand back,” She warned, facing the wall. With her left hand alone, she broke a hole through the massive solid rock walls. She made the hole bigger and stood back, shaking her hair out of her face. She attempted to smash it with her right hand: it worked, but also failed. The cutting force went through the binding and cut open her hand. The white cloth was soon stained red. Nevertheless, although she did not even need it, Tera kept it on. Few people had seen Tera’s actual right hand after the incident she had had at age 14. “Come on,” She muttered dimly, “someone was bound to have heard that.” The Clazmars and the girl ran through the halls and grabbed some weapons from the deserted guardroom. Tera grabbed some swords, Remus grabbed a huge lance, Zadenek grabbed a poleax, and Teoma grabbed a few javelins. “You know, for enemies, the Zabuturs don’t seem very intelligent,” Zadenek muttered. The others nodded in agreement, but kept their eyes on the girl. It seemed that her hair was always flowing, and they refused to believe that it was normal. It was not; but what exactly happened to it was not known, if anything.

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[Zabutur]

(page 28)
“Aye,” Teoma added, “and you think they’d learn from their flimsy prison mistakes.”
Remus, however, was occupied with the Koldian girl.
“What did you say your name was?” Remus asked her;
“Mine?” exclaimed the girl “It’s Tera,”
“Tera?” exclaimed Remus as they started up again, looking for the way out,
“Aye,” The girl answered, stopping. “Here is the exit.” She pointed her bound hand at a tunnel that looked like a cave. In fact, the hallway they were in just seemed to get rockier and rockier until it looked just like a cave.
“Let’s go,” Teoma whispered; eager to leave. They descended into the cave, which had glow stones lining the walls, just like the prison. Apparently, the Zabuturs used parts of it as transportation. They ventured through the passage until they came across a fork in the path. One branched off to the right, and the other went left and ended with solid rock. It sloped downward into very clear water.
“Obviously that’s ‘the way less traveled’.” Tera muttered, pointing at the water. Without hesitating, the four of them jumped into the water and swam through the tunnel. About 10 minutes later, they found themselves in the waters near an Akhet city (A Tehka). Since Clazmars could hold their breaths for about 15 minutes (Tera was unnatural) and they had only been in for slightly over 10, they were all right.
After they found out what city they were in, they realized that they were really close to where Zak and Raun were; and the two of them could reveal the location of the Dak, which they had hidden.
When Lucius saw his brother, the two were overjoyed that the other was still alive. Now Remus’ crew was almost all together.
“Remus,” said Lucius, “here is Raun Tungu, Zak Matu Dreggite, Novembre Karuha, Decembre Karuha, and myself: Lucius Wilde the Akhet at your service.”
Remus looked at the Clazmars and nodded. Zak was a Kemet, and the rest were Dukets.
“Good,” He said, “Now where are Andraz Takeo, Knefy Lahka, Mateo Fenyk, Koara Jenyx and Kada Lahka? Did you not recruit them?”
“They are watching over the ship.” Zak replied, “And I think Koara is getting more supplies.”
“Aye,” Zadenek muttered, “So that is why you have brought the ladies.”
“Aye,” Novembre exclaimed, “So who are they?” he asked, pointing at Remus’ comrades.
“Well,” Remus answered, “this is Teoma Zeken, Zadenek Kamatu, and Tera.”
Raun looked over Remus and the three of them. Remus was a proud and slightly cocky-looking Akhet with wavy, shoulder-length blue hair, Zadenek was a thick, burly Kemet, Teoma was a sturdy-built Akhet, and the girl called Tera stood out from all the others and looked completely different from the others. For one, she was obviously not a Clazmar, nor was her unusually long hair the right type. When she was asked what she was, she just said she was not a Clazmar.


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[Zabutur]

(and the first part of page 29)
“What is that Tera’s last name?” Decembre asked,
“Zakatau:” Tera replied, “Tera Kyla Zakatau.”
“You wouldn’t happen to be the legendary Tera Zakatau would you?” Decembre asked,
“I’m not sure.” Tera answered casually, “What sort of characteristics does she have?”
“Well,” Novembre responded with the same tone, “she should be about 21 by now, and was said to be raised by the titans themselves for starters.”
“Aye,” Remus replied, remembering everything, “and she supposedly sports electric violet eyes, wavy gold hair, and a weird bandage on her right hand…”
Tera pretended to be thinking. About 10 seconds later she replied: “aye, that’s me. How, Remus, did you know that that was Tera’s trait?”
“Don’t ask,” Remus answered, “just admit that I was right,”
Tera sighed, as if not wanting to admit that she was so high-and-mighty, “Aye, I’m that Tera”
“So modest...” Lucius exclaimed, “Tera, I see why my brother chose you for a member of his crew.” Suddenly he was interrupted by Remus.
“Speaking of which, there is one more person whose presence on my ship would be most helpful.”
“Who?” asked Teoma, making a wild guess, “the prince?”
Remus slowly turned to Teoma, his face lighting up. “Exactly,” He answered, “Before we go, we must kidnap the one and only Hyrem Westfarthing.”
The Karuha twins gasped. “How will you do it?” they asked together,
However, few knew the real ways of Remus Jenyx Wilde.

~Z~

[Zabutur]

the chapter has concluded. any discussion can go here

~Z~