The Emerging Part I: Dream

The Pentad meets Shark on the edge of the lake. Shark is in the midst of performing his zoltind techniques. When he senses the Pentad coming upon him, he lets his water fall back into the lake and approaches the Pentad.

“Today, I teach you all the basic stances of each of your special connections. Now, because you all do not share the same connection, it is logical to assume that you all do not share the same stances. That assumption is correct. You each have a unique stance that accompanies your connections to their fullest. Though I am only a fuhok, I can still teach you all of your unique stances. Seeing as I am a fuhok though, I will start with Fox. Fox, follow me to the dock of the lake. The rest of you, remain here.”

Fox and Shark make their way to the dock of the lake and Shark instructs Fox on the basic principles and stance of fuhok zoltind.

“Fuhok is the combination of fluidity and calmness of the mind. It takes great concentration for a fuhok to manipulate water for if the fuhok is angry or rigid, the water will not cooperate. Here is a demonstration of water cooperating.” Shark portrays the smoothest of movements and the calmest of faces as Fox watches intently as the water dances to Shark’s puppeteering. “And now a demonstration of water not cooperating.” Shark then attempts to manipulate the water with stiff, jerky movements and an intense face, but the water merely quivers on Shark’s reflection. “Now, you try, Fox.

“Keep your feet shoulder width apart, your body straight, legs slightly bent, and your arms bent completely at the elbow, but be able to move fluidly. Now, concentrate on the water and move your arms when you are ready. Be calm, fluid, and concise.”

Fox attempts to move the water, but finds it difficult. He then shifts his body weight from one leg to the other, similar to waves ebbing and flowing, and begins to move his arms in gentle, flowing, repeated patterns. The water begins to mirror his movements and soon, rises into a simple bubble. Fox sees his slight accomplishment and loses focus; the water splashes back into the lake.

“Very good, Fox. I believe you have the basics down. You are on your way to becoming an extraordinary fuhok for not many fuhoks can move the water on only their second attempt. Please rejoin the others and tell Desert and Boar to join me.”

Desert and Pork join Shark at the grasses next to the lake. They notice Oukton is with Shark as well. Oukton is moving in strong and concise movements. The grass in front of him vibrating and lifting into the air.

“Ah, Boar, Desert. Now, okits, such as Oukton, must be strong, patient, and a little stubborn. If an okit is not, he could easily launch himself sky high instead of his opponent or the earth he is trying to lift. Watch these Oukton carefully. Notice how his movements are not flowery but rather deliberate. The main principle of okit is function follows form. If an okit were to mix in exaggerated movements and forms, the earth would transform into cotton. Earth is rough and hard, it needs an okit to mirror it. Now, try for yourselves, mirror Oukton’s stance. Feet slightly larger than shoulder width, knees bent, arms at your side with fists clenched. Now stare at the earth and in your mind, command what you want from the earth, then move your arms, legs, fists, and move the earth.

Desert stares at the earth and decides to just lift it into the air. ‘He thinks all I have to do is move my arm up and the earth should go up.’ He motions his arm, and the earth laughs in his face. Desert tries again, this time with more vigor and the earth quivers. Desert tries a third time using his legs’ muscles as well and the earth rises into the air for just a moment. The earth shatters into dust. Desert coughs and blinks to get rid of the dust in his system.

‘That is not comforting,’ thinks Pork. ‘If Desert can only do that with the earth, what can I possibly do?’ Pork looks at the earth, then at Desert. Desert bobs his head at the ground. Pork thinks, ‘Now or never.’ Pork throws both his arms in the air in the hopes of moving the earth just an inch. To his amazement, a boulder the size of his body, launches itself into the air and into the lake.

Desert, disbelieving of Pork, decides to try a fourth time. He stomps into the ground then ejects his fist out in front of him, then punches the air rapidly. The earth mirrors every one of Desert’s movements, resulting in boulders being shot into the air and landing with enormous splashes into the lake.

“Very good, Boar, Desert. You two show great promise as okits. But, ahem, Desert, how were you able to make the earth move like that?”

Desert responds, “I just felt after Pork was able to do what he did on his first try, my fourth should be even more powerful.”

“So, you were able to do what you did just because of Boar?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“I see. From now on, you two will spar every day, I will let Vaiqon know of my decision. Now, go back to the others and tell Santhemum to join me in the middle of the lake.”

‘The middle of the lake,’ thinks Santhemum, ‘how am I supposed to get there?’ She walks along the edge where she sees a faint glowing rising from the lake. When the water breaks, Santhemum sees an ice bridge forming. She strolls across the bridge and discovers Shark and another Rniti standing on an ice pad in the center of the lake.

Santhemum smiles widely as she sees Firose waiting with Shark. Santhemum runs to her sister where the two embrace warmly. Shark waits patiently for the two to separate, and when they do, he gestures for Firose to explain her presence.

Firose smiles widely as she turns to Santhemum, “Santhemum, Shark has asked me to teach you of sigo. I remember being a neophite such as you ten years ago when I learned I was a sigo. Fortunately, I had Vulcan as my Daijok to instruct me, but seeing as I learned from the best sigo in all of the Injhihato, I believe I may suffice as your teacher,” Firose concludes with a spark shooting from her hand.

Santhemum chuckles and nods in agreement having witnessed Firose’s sigo prowess in passing multiple times.

“So,” Firose continues, “sigo is a rather simple connection really, as you can create fire from air just from your body. As a sigo, your body heat is normally much higher than others, and by tapping into the source of your increased body heat as well as energy of all kinds and forms, you can manipulate the fire you create and other flames. The basic stance for a sigo is turned sideways with your feet a foot apart, your hands clenched in fists, and your body tense ready to make any twitch necessary.”

Firose molds her own body so that Santhemum can mirror the stance. Firose unleashes an incredible display of fire that lights the dark waters of the lake. Santhemum follows by performing quick but smooth movements that cause nothing more than a few embers to escape from her fist.

“Remember, energy is the key to sigo. Just imagine yourself as a huge fireball being ejected from a volcano with enough energy to cycle the entire world.”

Santhemum pictures Firose’s words and goes through the motions again. This time a stream of fire explodes from her fist. Santhemum maintains the stream and ignites a second with her other fist.

“Very impressive, my sister,” Firose praises. “I have often enjoyed the thrill of fusing two streams of fire together.

Santhemum smiles deviously at the encouragement and moves to fuse her two streams together. She whips the combined streams behind her and shoots them into the lake, where they steam and dissipate.

Firose smiles widely, “Most excellent.”

“Santhemum, very good indeed, you may leave now. Do tell Hawk for me to meet me at the docks at the far end of the lake,” says Shark.

Santhemum and Firose embrace quickly before Santhemum walks back across the ice bridge over the lake. Firose watches as her sister waltzes towards her bed chambers. She feels pride in her heart.

“I believe Santhemum will become the next sigo Daijok,” Firose predicts.

Shark nods in agreement, “She has the potential.”

Hawk approaches the docks, carefully observing everything about the docks and their surroundings. He confirms all of Santhemum’s words seeing there is absolutely no obstructions within hundreds of yards. He makes his way out to the central dock and finds Shark, and surprisingly Vaiqon, waiting for him.

Shark speaks, “I actually know very little about ire. It is perhaps the most mysterious and expansive connection. So I asked Vaiqon, the most knowledgeable of any ire, to instruct you in the ways of ire. I shall leave you two be and wait on the shore.”

Vaiqon waits for his fellow Daijok to return to the shore and then speaks to Hawk, “Ah, Hawk, before we begin, how have you and the Pentad been adjusting to the Injhihato?”

“Rather well, I would say. Each of us are becoming accustomed to the Injhihato and its traditions on our own way and time. We have even started our own little tradition where we talk about the day’s events at the end of day in our bed chambers.”

“Yes, and the bed chambers? Are they sufficient?”

“Oh, yes, Daijok.”

“Hawk, I know Rhino told you to address us as such, but please refer to me as Vaiqon, titles ruin the majority of things. I am sorry I could not teach you the past few weeks myself, I had urgent matters to attend to. In the future I will not miss a single day of your education, I assure you. Now onto the mysteries of ire.

“Ire is actually the simplest of any zoltind. The reason why Shark finds it so overwhelming is because of the many properties ire can be categorized as, you will discover these on your own time. Ire has many basic stances, but the one I want you to learn is the most underestimated and the least utilized stance. Listen to my directions and put yourself in this form. Follow my directions, Hawk.

“First, split your feet at exactly shoulder width. Good, now bend your knees at an angle you find comfortable, remember this position well, Hawk. Good, next, raise your right arm parallel with the ground to your side and stick your hand flat out then point it into the air. No, no, not with just your fore finger, with all of your fingers. Very good, just like that. Next, raise your left arm parallel with the ground to your side and stick your hand flat out, but instead of pointing it into the air, point at the ground. Perfect, then turn your head to the left. Finally, lower your arms so that they are comfortable. Too low. Too high. That is perfect. This is your stance, Hawk, often called the Ire Mokwoy Stance, or Ire Perfect Stance.”

Vaiqon puts himself in the same stance. “Time for us to shift air. Ire is all about smooth movements, being comfortable, and rejecting all clouds. After all, air is clear, you need to be clear yourself to fully understand the complexities of ire. Follow my movement exactly.” Vaiqon goes through a simple three step motion and creates a simple wind current that blows waves over the lake.

Hawk mimics Vaiqon’s motions perfectly and a small wind current blows from his finger tips.

“Excellent, but I did assume you would be able to perform that one. Let us move on, shall we?” Vaiqon then performs a more complicated six step motion that ignites a vortex across the water. A second vortex joins Vaiqon’s, controlled by Hawk.

“Perfect, though I did think that one would give you some trouble. Nevertheless, I have one more movement I would like for you to try.” Vaiqon goes through an immensely complicated ten step motion that causes an impressive wall of air to glide over the lake, causing the water to be moved about so thorough, Hawk sees the bottom of the lake. “Remember, be comfortable and be smooth.”

Hawk attempts the wind wall, but fails terribly. He is blasted backwards and slammed into the ground next to the Lake where he rolls to a stop. He stands up, rejoins Vaiqon and attempts the wind wall again. Again, Hawk is blasted backwards. This time though, crashing onto the ground with a resounding thud. Hawk stumbles over to Vaiqon and before Hawk can try again, Vaiqon says, “I believe I said follow my directions exactly, Hawk. Look at yourself, do you see the mistake that I do?’

Hawk looks himself over and hits himself in frustration. His right hand was pointed directly towards the ground. He corrects himself and attempts the wind wall for a third time. A magnificent wall of wind erupts over the lake and shows the same lake bottom as Vaiqon’s.

“Hawk, that was impressive. I am actually at a loss for words at how impressive that was. You are possibly the most gifted ire I have ever witnessed. No other ire has been able to succeed at the wind wall in their Ummkoniyojim,” blabs Vaiqon.

Shark joins the two. “Well, Vaiqon, is Hawk ready to be trained by you?”

“Yes, he is Shark, in fact, I will have him spar with Raptor as soon as I can.”

“Speaking of sparring, Santhemum should spar with Firose, when at all possible. Fox needs more training in the basics, he should spar with just basic Rniti. And Desert and Boar should spar everyday with each other. They have a strong competition between them and bring out the strongest in each.”

“Ah, thank you Shark. I will take your decisions into consideration. Hawk, Shark, veqxon xucj wek cea.” Vaiqon says as he leaves Shark and Hawk.

“What did he just say?”

“Golden days for you. Hawk, Let us rejoin the rest of the Pentad.”