Year 83.2

  *Griffin takes to the stage as the sun sets. Two pillar-like torches light the area as halflings gather around. Behind him, Dennis takes his form of a thunderbird. He looks down as the area darkens, the fire’s light barely reaches his face as he looks up, and his eyes glow blue.*

  Griffin: I’m not here today to bring good news!

  *The crowd goes silent. Haythum starts walking toward him from the back of the crowd, struggling to get through the darkness. The sky lights up as thousands of stars fill the darkness.*

  Griffin: As you all know! I’m not a halfling. While I’ve put up with the disrespect, I’ve also received gifts of kindness for saving some of those same people. Because. AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU ARE MY PEOPLE! AND I WILL KEEP MY PROMISE OF SAFETY! BUT WITH THE THREAT OF THE HUMANS TO THE SOUTH, WE MAY NEED TO REACH OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS.

  Crowdmember: So once again, the elves are starting a fight and causing others to be involved!

  *Thunder rips through the sky, revealing an overwhelmingly large figure in the sky. Silencing the audience*

  Griffin: WHEN I WAS FIRST GIVEN THE ROLE OF MAYOR. I WAS ASKED BY MANY OF YOU WHAT MY PLANS ARE FOR THE FUTURE OF EXPANSION. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT WE ALL CALLED OUT FOR THAT DAY?!

  Crowd: Equality! Prosperity!

  Griffin: *Points to the north* I’VE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE BEASTKIN FROM LYCARIS THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO AID US. THEY’RE WILLING TO OFFER US PROTECTION FOR THE AID OF OUR HUMAN HALFLINGS. THE OTHER RACES ARE GETTING TIRED OF THE HUMANS AS WELL, AND THIS IS THE START OF SHOWING THEM WE’VE HAD ENOUGH OF THEIR THREATS!

  Crowd: YEAH!!

  *As the crowds get excited, the fireworks begin going off, dulled by the spell. But with each explosion and cheer, another light goes out, and the darkness fades until Griffin stands clad in armour.*

  Griffin: WE’RE THE FINAL BASTION! WE’LL SHOW THE OTHER RACES THEY’RE WRONG! Because where they claim you’re all the spare parts. WE’LL SHOW THEM THAT YOU’RE ALL THE BEST PARTS! WITH THE DWARVEN RESILIENCE!

  *Dwarven halflings all over cheer*

  Griffin: GNOMISH INGENUITY!

  *Gnomish halflings cheer.*

  Griffin: THE DEMONIC FIREPOWER!

  *Some of the demon halflings spit fire to the sky, while some cheer.*

  Griffin: THE INSTINCTS OF THE BEASTKIN!

  *Roars, chirps, screeches and other manner of animal sounds callout.*

  Griffin: WE’LL SHOW THEM TRUE HUMANITY!

  *Cheers of all different kinds ring out.*

  Griffin: AND BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT TO SEEM BIASED.

  *As the darkness of night once again covers the Oasis, the fireworks continue exploding in the sky.

  Griffin: ELVEN MAGIC!

  *The crowd erupts as they begin chanting Griffin’s name. Haythum walks onto the stage, waving to the crowd.*

  Haythum: What’re you saying?

  *The crowd slowly silences as they wait; the fireworks slow down, fitting the atmosphere.*

  Griffin: If we can get enough volunteers, I can send a report back with the Beastkin, and soon after, will have a proper path in the works. This will open jobs for halflings of all backgrounds. The wardens will begin combat training; anyone is welcome, and we encourage it. Those who want to avoid conflict, I recommend volunteering. This doesn’t mean the Oasis is going to be unsafe, but we also don’t know the alternative. Haythum, would you like to go over some of the training the wardens will be going over?

  *Griffin steps away from the stage and meets up with Emma and Haze at Kimmy’s house. Arthur sleeps on the sofa soundly, while the adults talk, sitting around a smaller dining table.*

  Kimmy: Who would’ve thought my letter to Sunflower would turn out like this?

  Emma: I know. I thought at most she might come out here, but now we need to prepare to host some Beastkin nobles.

  Griffin: Can’t you and Haze just make some quick, fancy accommodations? Hells, I’ll request some dwarves from the east to come help if need be.

  Emma: *Chuckles* Tell you what, do we know the nobles' subspecies?

  Griffin: I asked, and the only confirmation I got was that they were the chiefs of their settlements, which I believe is like a mayor equivalent over there.

  Emma: Do you know if any of Ursus? The dwarves adore them, not in an insulting pet way, but in an honourable way.

  Griffin: I’ll reach out, but I believe at least three of the sixteen families are, from the comments about fish and berries.

  *As Emma and Griffin lie down in bed, Griffin’s soul flickers, and Emma looks at him with concern as she rubs his back.*

  Emma: You’re hiding something. Come on, tell me and you’ll feel better.

  Griffin: Depending on how things go, I think Lycaris might be getting ready to claim the Oasis as their land, at least to trade it to Inferna. Dennis found some reports resting on the desk from one of their Halfling Ambassadors, and they mentioned they have an alliance with the Demon’s, and any land is split equally. But he specifically said. “This outta cool down those hotheaded Scalies.”

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  Emma: *Snorts* Um, you know what. *Nods* Maybe.

  Griffin: Why do you sound like you’re about to laugh?

  Emma: Hotheaded Scalefiends?

  Griffin: You’ll have to ask him, but that does sound better. *Scoffs* Sorry *Emma shakes head*

  Emma: You’re fine, just promise me you’ll never say that term again. *Smiles*

  Griffin: Is it offensive?

  Emma: *Bob's head* You could say that.

  Griffin: Hey.

  Emma: Hmm?

  *Griffin turns to Emma, a soft smile and distant gaze tell her he’s thinking of something.*

  Griffin: If that does happen, what if we left? Just the six of us.

  Emma: Kimmy wouldn’t let me. I promised her. Technically that we’d live together, but after some time, even she wanted her distance. *Smiles*

  Griffin: What kid doesn’t want to live on their own eventually?

  Emma: I can make a list, but it might take a while. I can even clarify race, although the humans may need a bigger chapter.

  Griffin: Yeah, but they live such short lives, it makes sense since they can leave it behind for their next of kin.

  Emma: Exactly. *Pause* Where would we go?

  *Griffin smiles and lies on the bed next to Emma; they both sit in the darkness quietly for a moment until Griffin exhales through his nostrils.*

  Griffin: Depends, does this include unsafe options?

  *Emma snuggles up against Griffin and smiles, wiggling playfully.*

  Emma: Don’t think I can keep you safe?

  Griffin: *Smiles* I believe you could. *Pause* I think I’d want to terraform the Infernal wastes.

  Emma: *Blinks* Wait, like what your Whatcha ma call it wanted to do?

  Griffin: Yeah. *Smiles* I still called her my Mom. She might’ve been since she never stopped me, and she smiled when I did. She gave an ancient scroll on the last night I saw her. I never had it appraised. *Scoffs* I haven’t even opened it. All she said was. “Use this to make my dream a possibility.”

  Emma: Wait, is it a scroll or a satchel?

  Griffin: It’s in a tube, it has a small envelope in it, I assumed it was a charm, but the seeds I figured are for the spell.

  Emma: Where did she get a spirit tree seed?!

  Griffin: SHHHHH!

  Emma: Sorry. It’s just. Those aren’t something you just come across.

  Griffin: Isn’t that what’s supporting the Oasis’s ecosystem?

  Emma: And the area around here has begun showing signs of life, rapidly growing. The landscaping we’ve done helps block the sands, but the tree is why we’ve been able to grow more sensitive crops as of late. How did a slave get hold of one?

  Griffin: Uhhhh, you were a slave not too long ago.

  Emma: We both agreed mine was more like forced employment.

  Griffin: *Sigh* But I don’t know where she got it. She had been used as a servant’s maid.

  Emma: Is it possible that's what got her killed?

  *A knock on the door interrupts them, Griffin opens the door to Haze, holding Iniko by the back of his shirt*

  Griffin: Iniko?

  Haze: So you do know him?

  *Emma walks up behind Griffin.*

  Emma: He’s the one I told you about, although I haven’t seen him for some time now.

  *Iniko looks away in guilt.*

  Haze: He was hiding in the entry hall.

  *Emma sets Iniko on his feet and lifts his chin.*

  Emma: What’s up? Why aren’t you at the church?

  Iniko: I didn’t make it before curfew.

  Emma: Okay? Kimmy would’ve let you in.

  Iniko: I knocked, but she didn’t answer.

  Emma: Haze, can you go check? And just explain it to whoever answers. He just needs an adult with him, or he can get punished.

  Haze: Of course, if she's not at home?

  Emma: I’ll trust your judgement. *Yawns.* But I’m going to sleep. *Waves* Night, Iniko. Night Haze.

  *Haze bows and uses his other hand to make Iniko bow down as well. Emma and Griffin return to bed, where Emma falls asleep as soon as she gets beneath the covers.*

  *The next morning, Emma wakes up to a letter on the nightstand, inside which confirms Kimmy’s safety.*

  Emma: *Smiles* *Softly* Thank you, Haze. *Closes eyes*

  Emma (TL): Good morning, Lily.

  *Lily opens her eyes, and Emma looks through her eyes as she blinks, struggling to keep her eyelids open.*

  Lily: Morning, Mama. Haze said Kimmy asked them for assistance, and they left this morning.

  Emma(TL): Why didn’t they put it in the note?

  Lily: Because Kimmy came here earlier. I assume the note was when they returned. So Iniko was here last night?

  Emma(TL): Yeah, I don’t know what that boy is thinking.

  *Emma wakes up Arthur, and as they head off the lift, Iniko runs up to them excitedly.*

  Iniko: Good morning!

  Emma: *Rolls eyes* Morning, Iniko. What’s on the agenda today?

  Iniko: I was going to ask if Arthur wanted to come with me and some of the others to go swimming. Since Mrs Hope is going to be gone, I thought I’d come get him.

  Emma: Wait. What do you mean? I thought she came by this morning, so where is she then?

  Iniko: Yup, she and Haze went somewhere, said they’d be back in a few days.

  *Emma rubs her forehead.*

  Emma: Is this how she felt? *Sigh* Okay, *Looks at Arthur* Do you want to go with Iniko? You’ll need to listen to any adults.

  *Arthur happily agrees, and Emma walks out of the Warden's den before stopping on the edge of the street.*

  Lily: Where do you think Kimmy and Haze went?

  Emma: Honestly, I’m assuming they’re just doing it to get back at me.

  Lily: *Excited*So we have the whole day to ourselves?!

  Emma: What did you have in mind? *Smiles*

  Lily: Nap time!

  *Emma laughs.*

  Emma: You can. I’m. *Sigh* I’m tired of all this sand.

  *Lily decides to follow Emma as she strolls through the city.*

  Emma(TL): Humans are the ones fucking everything up. I don’t understand why we haven’t just wiped them out as a species.

  Lily: You’re still mad about what Haze told you.

  *A few days ago, Emma had heard from Haze that Seers are incapable of reproducing. And on inspection, they lack the inner organs for doing so.*

  Emma(TL): I heard it before, but I still hoped it was more nonsense. How am I supposed to tell Griffin?

  Lily: Easy! For now, you don’t. If it gets brought up, then just comment on how unsafe it would be.

  *Emma walks slowly in silence when a shockwave hits the city and the ground begins to shake. Emma falls to her knees, and the sound of crashing can be heard all over. As quickly as it arrived, the shaking stops. Emma stands up and looks around; the outer houses have collapsed. Emma looks up at the Warden's den and notices a couple of holes. She senses Arthur's presence in the distance and moves toward him. Emma and Lily arrive at the water to find a crowd forming. Flint walks away from the crowd and approaches Emma as she walks toward Arthur, who’s still playing obliviously.*

  Flint: It seems the inner parts are all fine, but I heard things break to the north west.

  Emma: Yeah, I know. Can you watch over Arthur? Just make sure he stays here. *Passes key* Stay at Kimmy’s if I take too long. He knows how to listen to you.

  Flint: Okay, but Emma. What’s going on?

  Emma: I wish I didn’t have to go find out, but it seems like whatever it was has stopped. Just explain to the people it’s fine and we’re looking into it.

  Flint: That just makes them ask more questions.

  Emma: And you don’t need to answer those. *Smiles*

  Flint: Okay, fine. But this is costing triple.

  Emma: *Pause* Wait! That’s not fair.

  Flint: Babysitting, Announcing, damage control. Triple.

  Emma: *Sigh* Okay, fine. But the third might not be chilled.

  Flint: Works for me. I can’t drink more than one a month.

  Emma: *Glares* I hate you sometimes, you know that, right?

  Flint: Yeah, but I’m the only on-demand, Jack of all trades.

  Emma: Yeah, I’m going to need to start getting more of you if this shit keeps up.

  *Emma returns to the Warden's den, the damage is minor, and Griffin is discussing with some workers, pointing at the holes. Emma waits until he walks up to her. He lets out a long sigh and hugs her.*

  Griffin: Before you ask, I have no Idea what that was. So please just tell me it was you testing some crazy new spell.

  Emma: No. I went to check on Arthur. How’s the house?

  Griffin: Arthur has a new window, but everything is fine.

  Emma: Good, Flint is keeping an eye on him, but he says it’s going to cost triple.

  Griffin: We can’t get that much ale until after Spring. You told him that, right?

  Emma: *Shrugs* I may have left that out. But he won’t know that until afterwards.