After the Dust

High in the clouds rests the nest, a floating testament to the powerful beings that long ago lifted the Earth. The nest is composed of chunks of over-vegetated, ancient Earth drearily meandering the skies. These land masses pass as the clouds do, not changing pitch, but they levitate and creep along the stratosphere. Life in the sky has been good, but the nest is beginning to get full. Cycla has just turned old enough to be kicked from the nest. He will be tasked with an effort to find a habitable place for his kind on the recently settled planet's surface. Really, this is going to be [[war]].

There's a draft entering the peak room. It's from the west, and at certain points, it is vengeful. The long white curtains dance endlessly. There is no other sound, no others to break the silence. Cycla fantasizes being a cloud, and begins to move like the wind. What is it like over the edge? That drop should be endless. Cycla is awoken by a booming call of his name. He knows it is Matra, the eldest of the Furthers that keep the nest afloat. [[Address Matra formally]] [[Address Matra as an old friend]] [[Hold your bearing. Matra must see your discipline]]

"Good evening, Elder Further." Matra towers above Cycla and could easily be confused for the architecture that surrounds. He is in gleaming white robes that have no end. The garments trail him out of the door that he entered. Matra's blind eyes look into the depth on Cycla's [[mind]].

"Matra Nuwi, how are you doing?" Matra's expression changes immediately. His pitch black eyes seem to grow darker as Cycla looks up. He feels Matra's gaze. It is almost paralyzing when the blind old man stares. Cycla always tries to resist. He often asks himself, "Does he know Everything?" Matra releases Cycla from his sightless grip. His gaze shifts back to the skies. Matra finally speaks. He is clear and conscise in his response, "You are on duty, Cycla. You shall address me as Elder Further as I approach you!! [[Apologize]] [[Wait for punishment]]

Cycla practices his silence, and pretends to remain in deep meditation. Matra lightly pats Cycla on the head. He continues to gaze forward, but his blind eyes still seem to pierce right through. "Cycla, you are relieved from duty. You can speak to your elder." [[Pretend to wake]]

Matra shifts his attention from Cycla's thoughta to the situation at hand. "How is your mother doing?, he asks. Cycle takes a moment to realize that he is no longer in a trance. "Cycla ponders for another moment, "Why does Matra bother to ask when he knows my deepest thoughts?" His mother does come to mind. He recalls the night before. Mother is just [[fine]] Mother is [[distressed]] Mother is [[proud]]

"My Mom is handling it. She's really strong and sees my bravery." Matra smiles and tilts his head a little to say, "You are definitely a member of your family. Give your mother my regards! I'll check on your sisters when I can as well." [[Yeah]]

"Mom is having a very difficult time with this. She doesn't even want to come to the party tonight, because she's afraid of crying in front of her friends." [[yeah]]

"She's just really proud of me. She can't stop talking about it, though." [[Yeah]]

"I'm so sorry Elder Further! I must have lost my mind!" Matra's glare burns. He was in Cycla's core. Cycla is certain that he is about to hear one of Matra's shouts. He mentally prepares himself, or can he? Matra slowly grins, with plenty of room for smirk. "Cycla, I've known you since your hatching, and I haven't had to screech at you since you and Gust first began to fly." "Eh, how is your mother doing with the decision of the nest?" Mother is just [[fine]] Mother is [[distressed]] Mother is [[proud]]

Matra slowly grins, with plenty of room for smirk. "Cycla, I've known you since your hatching, and I haven't had to screech at you since you and Gust first began to fly." "Eh, how is your mother doing with the decision of the nest?" Mother is just [[fine]] Mother is [[distressed]] Mother is [[proud]]

"Elder! I'm sorry, I was almost in cloudform." Matra reads Cycla a little more, it does not take long for him to feel his worry. Matra quickly changes the subject by asking, "Have you seen [[Gust]] today? I need to know that he is ready for the festival." Cycla knows that Gust has been with Sala all day. Regardless, he had to answer the question. [[Yes, I saw him with Sala near the Yit Park]] [[No, we haven't been in contact today]]

Gust is Cycla's best friend, hatching only a few months apart, they were inseparable from child friends to now. Gust is Matra's grandson. Cycla's grandfather served in the Sub-Wars with Matra.

I wish that you boys could see that family is the most important. You were wise to take this time apart from Babb, only because your sisters really need you. Cycla hasn't heard Babb's name in days. It begins to ring through his head, and he swells with memories of love and immediately focuses on her as a loss. Cycla reminds himself, "I'm leaving in just a few days, maybe for good, I can't hold on to her." Matra realizes that this has made Cycla uncomfortable, He quickly changes the subject and asks, "How is your mother handling all of this?" Mother is just [[fine]] Mother is [[distressed]] Mother is [[proud]]

Matra just sighs in disappointment. Is he upset, becuase he likely knows that Cycla is [[lying]] or is it [[directed]] at Gust?

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Matra tells Cycla," You will always be one of my favorite students, Cycla. Your power is stronger than you think, and I hope you can find your confidence in your abilities at the right time. You really do only have a few days, but it is inside of you, ready to burst. Go ahead and take off early tonight and get ready for your guys' party. I'll overcharge the crystal for you and you will see me there." Cycla gladly accepts the offer and jumps from the tower immediately. As he drops and before he can span out, Matra yells, "and tell Gust to visit his old Granfather before he leaves!"