Kin of Jörmungandr

The gathered warrior caste back away as I come in to land. In an attempt not to crumble the earth as I touch down, I catch myself in a series of bends and slowly work them down my length before they dissipate naturally. None of the sapients seem to notice the finesse required… but they're also too busy gawking up at me, so I don't hold it against them.

A crowd of varying races stands in a wide circle around me, giving my tail plenty of room to coil as I begin to shrink to their level. Slowly. Wouldn't want to surprise them with a sudden shift in my form. They already all appear unsettled.

As the warrior castes, I don't blame them for their alertness. Neither their reluctance to approach, or the way they hold their unnatural claws at the ready bothers me. I have no doubts about just how threatening I come across. Though I do pay close attention to those scanning my body for weaknesses rather than gawking at my form.

Ceph leaps off my back. She is soon followed by both Hirsh and Albin. The three of them glance around, unsettled by something. I want to ask, but with so many new sapients — many of them clearly fragile — I hesitate to unleash my voice on them.

"That bad already?" Ceph asks, to my confusion.

The sapient she spoke to — one of those I'd spotted running around to stop the other warrior castes from attacking — just nods. Shifting his head, he gives Ceph a quick once over before snapping his eyes back to me.

"I see you were successful," the khirig says. "Is it truly… friendly?" his gaze follows every tiny movement I make. Even if he knows I won't harm him, he cannot hide from his instinctual fear in my presence. It makes me surprised that they feel it at all when they attacked me so many times before finally abating.

"Yes!" Ceph says quickly. "Why don't I let our serpentine friend introduce themselves."

I tilt my head her way, wondering if that's truly the best thing to do with all these clearly tense warrior castes standing around us. But she just nods and gives me an encouraging look.

A hiss escapes my throat, not filled with presence, but resigned. Even that is enough to make half those around flinch. Well, I'll have to do this sometime if I want to improve. Besides, I can hardly say I'm not excited.

"I am Orm. Jötnorm of the Warped Tunnels," I begin, and already I find everyone stiffened in terror. Even the one I'd thought was the strongest of the lot. Well, if they're already like this, I may as well say what I can. "I am interested in speaking with any who is willing, and learning all your species have to teach."

It takes a little while for the gathered group to recover. As my size finalises at about three times their average height — enough to coil my my body and hold my head equal with theirs — I close my mouth to avoid the stench of a particularly unfortunate warrior caste.

"It-" the khirig who knew Ceph swallows before continuing. "We are glad to welcome you Orm. I am Dallen. Active commander, and the only remaining Beith here at Kalma's Pit." He shares a glance with Ceph. "And I am willing to answer your questions… but I must ask that we do so where the weaker of my comrades won't be affected."

I nod slowly as I cast my gaze over the rest of the warrior caste only now snapping free of their terror. It is unfortunate. If only I could speak to all of them together. But I can do nothing but accept his reasoning until I achieve such a time when my presence doesn't permeate my voice so fully.

"Then, shall we?" Ceph asks and presses past through the circle of warrior castes.

Dallen joins her side while the rest of her team follow close behind. I take back to the air to slither after them, only giving the briefest glance back at the couple dozen sapients that gawk in our wake.

Disappointingly, we don't move towards the hive at the bottom of the hill. We instead walk along the raised mound at the edge of the wide pit until we reach an area decently far away from any creature. Not that it will help all that much. No matter how subtle I make my hiss, the presence carries far. Well, hearing it from a distance is still likely better than up close. I'm not unaware that some of those warrior castes took it particularly bad.

"Now Orm," Ceph starts. "Dallen here, along with myself and my team, are Beiths. That is essentially a measure of strength. I understand you want to speak with us, but please keep in mind that any below Beith will not be able to handle your method of speaking."

"I wish to improve," I say. "I will suppress my presence as soon as I learn how."

"Well, I haven't got much experience, but I'm sure we can help as we introduce you to some of the cultures of the pact nations." Dallen tilts his head and looks at Ceph as she says so, but she continues without acknowledging him. "Maybe we can even meet Remus. I'm sure if there's anyone who knows about controlling one's presence, it would be him."

"That would be difficult," Dallen says. "I've heard he's on a mission in Riparia."

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"Right now?" Ceph seems surprised. "Is it okay for him to while…" curiously, her eyes shift over to me as she trails off.

"Well, I heard it was a stipulation from the áed," he says. "Their help has been very much welcome, but I'm sure the numbers we have in reserve here speak for themselves."

Again, Dallen speaks without any of his words making sense. There is so much context they must understand they twists his words into something comprehensible, but for me, they might as well be grunting like any other animal.

I don't dislike it. It just means there is so much I need to learn before I can understand the intricacies of these creatures that have used communication every moment of their lives. It only proves they have something to teach me. Getting frustrated that I currently don't understand would be detrimental.

"What are áed?" Still, I don't intend to let them chat without cluing me into some of the words they use.

"They're a race of elementals from the southern wasteland," Dallen says, glancing to Ceph who shakes her head for some reason. "Well, there are a few of them here for diplomatic reasons, so maybe Ceph can introduce you on your… tour of the nations."

Oh, that's right. I overheard something about a sapient elemental species when I rode one of their trains for the first time.

"That might be hard," Ceph says. "But I already intend for us to travel to the home village of the áinfean. They are electricity rather than the fire of the áed, but elementals all the same. Besides, they are much more placid than what I've heard of the áed."

"I doubt Spenne would appreciate that sentiment." I hear Hirsh whisper.

Ceph and Dallen show no signs of having heard, but Tavi — one of the little volans — leans in to to his ear. "Good thing he'll never hear of it then, huh?" As soon as he finishes speaking, he notices me looking his way and freezes.

If not for the tiny bends I've set up to let me hear their whispering, I never would have noticed their little chat. I wonder who this Spenne is? It sounds like they fear him, but also show a type of respect one wouldn't give a predator. At least not one that tried to kill them

"Can I meet with this Spenne?"

Beyond the initial freezing of their bodies, I can tell the reluctance in their eyes when my words register. They don't want me to meet him. I should back off and let follow the path they've already offered to take me, but they've already captured my attention with their comments.

Is he as strong as that ice using warrior caste? I would love to meet a sapient as powerful as that while they're actually willing to speak. I'm sure they'll have some knowledge that will do me favours. I doubt they can reach such strength without boundless experience, what with how weak their base species are.

"Maybe sometime in the future," Ceph hedges. "Far in the future," she comments under her breath.

"That's the last thing we need," Dallen mutters, also not realising that I can hear him.

I'm tempted to press them about it. Why would they not want me to meet with one of their own? Why do they not just be clear about their intent, and tell me outright their reasons for disliking the idea? But I am hesitant to make any demands. I've finally got these sapients to speak with me; the last thing I want to do is send them back to the hostile state they'd been before. I won't learn anything then.

So I swallow the hiss that hovers on the edge of my tongue and hold back my curiosity. Spenne sounds interesting, but so do a thousand other things. Things that don't make each of the sapients before me squirm as they share glances with one another.

And those glances… they've been doing those odd looks and facial expressions with each other ever since I flew out of the hole in the ground. It almost looks like they are communicating. But no matter how I try to inspect them when they do, I can't find any words — spoken, written, or otherwise — that would reveal their intent.

Maybe I'm looking into it too much. Those glances could be nothing more than a greeting or a mating dance specific to their kind. Though, I feel like a mating call in these circumstances would be rather odd, but I still have much to learn.

With how interwoven their species are, I wonder how that works? Something tells me their reproduction isn't like a typical ant colony.

Before I have the chance to ask, Ceph speaks. "Well, Orm, we can speak with Dallen all day, but I'm sure you want to head on, see the sights I promised." I can't help but nod along to her words, the mimicry starting to feel natural. I'd be satisfied with speaking with any sapient, but I do need to learn what I can and not be stuck up here for too long. "Then we won't hold you up from your post any longer, Dallen. We've got an entire nation to show our new snake friend."

"Ah, no," Tavi speaks up. "I've had to deal with your shit for months. I don't care if I get reprimanded. This is where we part ways."

Fay, sitting by Tavi's side, just nods. Albin, the one of the same species as the ice warrior, stands firm as well. "I apologise Ceph, and I understand tensions were high down there, but I cannot continue to be a part of this team under your lead."

"Wha-" The dohrni is speechless as she flicks her gaze between the three. Finally, her eyes fall on Hirsh, who remained quiet as the others spoke. She must have seen something in his expression — likely not the mating call — as she seemed to freeze and gape in disbelief. "No."

"You know this is for the best," Hirsh said with a wince. "We are needed elsewhere and Orm is your responsibility." He nodded at me, though I'm unsure what he's saying yes for. "We will meet again… but please, meditate, and try to move on before then."

I watch on as Ceph stammers, seemingly shocked at Hirsh's declaration. The khirig himself turns to me and bows. "It was great meeting you, Orm. I'm sure few would get the pleasure of being saved by one such as yourself." He chuckles lightly. "I'm sorry we can't stick around, but I'm certain Ceph will do a phenomenal job guiding you through the territories of the pact nation. Do enjoy yourself."

With that said, he and the other members of Ceph's group left. Ceph had stopped watching them leave. Instead, she stares at the dirt of the ground before her, silent.

I turn away from her and find Dallen glancing between me, Ceph, and the retreating forms of the other sapients. His gaze returns to mine, and he cannot hide his flinch. Still, he manages to get out a sigh, before he addresses me. "I guess we should wait until Ceph is ready to guide you. What sort of food do you like?"

I ignore the "please don't say khirig" he says under his breath.

Well, this was one of the reasons I was curious to come up here again, so I'm not about to deny his offer. "Warm meat." I want to know what it was I ate last time.

For some reason, Dallen gulps, and I can smell fear.