Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

The Riddles of the Phoenixes Series

The Lost world

Chapter twelve: Memories

Kannon had always been mute. But he hadn’t always minded it. He loved his life in the Shadow phoenixes kingdom. Queen Jenny and King Owen were gracious and kind rulers. He was happy. He lived with his parents, Jaden and Mason, and his older sister Amarinda on a farm in a small city in the Shadow Phoenix kingdom. Amarinda was fifteen. Kannon was only twelve when it happened…

“Wakey, wakey, eggs and bacon!” Amarinda called, waking Kannon. Kannon waved a hand, grappling at Amarinda who was bending down over him. He was rewarded with Amarinda grabbing his arm. “Oh get up sleepy.” She growled. Kannon’s eyes popped open. A girl with tanned skin and dark blonde ringlets of hair and grey eyes leaned over him. “Go away.” Kannon signed playfully. Amarinda gave a mock frown. “Get up princess.” Amarinda said.

Kannon slowly did so, stretching. Amarinda bounded downstairs, calling something to their mother. Kannon dressed quickly and walked downstairs. “Good morning darling.” Mother called to him. “Hi mum.” Kannon signed. Mother smiled softly and went back to packing a picnic basket full of breakfast. Kannon and

Amarinda were going to climb up the high hill close to the small city, and have breakfast in the sunrise. It was a tradition every Friday. Sure they could fall from the cliff edge and die…but they’d never thought about that. “Hiya sport.” Father said and ruffled Kannon’s hair.

Kannon ducked away, grinning. He caught Amarinda’s eye, she was busy trying to sneak past their mom and grab a slice of toast. A slapping sound commenced soon after. “Oh, no, no, Amarinda Katelyn Evans!!! Keep your hands away from this food until y’all are ready!” Mother snapped.

“Aww but mom…” Amarinda whined. “Don’t take that tone with me, young lady! Go help Kannon, get the picnic blanket. And that’s final!” Amarinda stalked off to Kannon, grinning from ear to ear. “Why do you have to harass mother?” Kannon signed. Amarinda smiled at her little brother.

“It’s not harassing technically if I do it every time…she always knows it’s coming. Kannon rolled his eyes and Amarinda and him ran to the closet to find the picnic blanket.

“Ahh. It’s so sunny today!” Amarinda exclaimed. She and Kannon plopped down in the grass on the picnic blanket on top of the hill and raised their faces toward the bright brilliant sky. They ate breakfast in silence, watching the sunrise. Brilliant colors pierced the sky. Purple, orange yellow…

“I could stay here all day. Amarinda whispered. A streak of red shot across the sky. “Ooh! Did you see that!” Amarinda exclaimed excitedly. Kannon grinned and nodded. Slowly the sun rose, and with it all the creatures did as well. And so the did the townspeople.

Eventually they started packing to leave. “I have to do the dishes.” Amarinda said. Kannon nodded. “I have to help dad, shovel new shavings for the horses.” He signed. Amarinda wrinkled her nose. “Eww. Glad I’m not doing that.”

They began climbing down the steep cliff. Amarinda began climbing down first, Kannon after her, holding the picnic basket. “You know what we should do tonight? We should come up here for sunset. Wouldn’t that be even cooler than this?” Amarinda asked. Kannon nodded.

“Unfortunately we can’t bc it’ll be dark and we might-aghhh!” Amarinda suddenly lost her grip. The rocks she was holding into broke off and she fell. Kannon opened his mouth to yell but no sound came out.

Luckily on of her hands caught a unsteady edge. Kannon began scrambling down toward her. “I’m coming!” He wanted to say. “Kannon…” Amarinda whispered. Kannon paused. Suddenly she screamed again. The rock she was holding onto was slowly coming loose. She began breathing hysterically. “Kannon.” She whimpered. They locked eyes. “Kannon. Help me. Please.” Tears formed in his eyes.

He couldn’t tell her to hold on, or that he was coming and probably couldn’t help her nonetheless. He was useless. “Kannon…I-“

And then the rock broke. It was in slow motion. Kannon reached out with his hand but she was too far away. Tears dripped down her face as she fell, her hair swirling softly around her face. Her mouth formed into a “O” shape. Her hand was still reaching upward toward him, grappling for a anchor. And then she hit the ground. A loud crack rang through the air, as her back snapped upon impact.

Kannon didn’t remember dropping the basket. He didn’t remember climbing down the cliff or running to his fallen sister. All he remembered was him being there beside her lifeless body. The back of her head was bloody and her eyes were wide open, staring lifelessly at him. He remembered clutching her dead body to his chest, sobbing silently. Time lost all meaning and eventually another villager found him and called his parents.

~

Kannon woke with a start. His chest moved up and down with panicked breathing. Useless. He clenched his eyes shut, blocking out all tears and feelings and thoughts. If he didn’t care for anyone else, not even himself, then no else would get hurt. He was too useless to help them anyway.

~

“Rowan.” A soft voice called, waking Rowan from her not so deep sleep. Rowan sat up, breathing hard. She looked around. Kannon was rolling back and forth in his sleep. Elayne lay close to her, her arm propped in a uncomfortable angle. Cedric was sleeping soundly, next to Oliver, his boots were off and lying beside his bare feet. His medallion was lying on his chest, as he slept. A snore slipped out of his mouth every once in a while and his dark hair hung over his closed eyelids, a half smile formed on his sleeping face. Oliver was mumbling school stuff in his sleep. “A squared plus b squared equals….”

Cedric grunted in his sleep and rolled to his side.

“Rowan..” A soft voice called. It hadn’t come from Kannon, Cedric, Elayne or Oliver. Rowan couldn’t go back to sleep. It had taken Elayne about three hours to fall asleep. She had complained that the ground wasn’t clean or comfortable. Rowan looked around. There was no one nearby. *SNORE!!!*

Rowan glared at Cedric’s sleeping form. “The triceratops has three horns which is why..” Oliver mumbled. Rowan sighed and quietly stood to her feet. She was supposed to be up right now anyway. The bright stars twinkled brightly above her and the moon was full. Quietly, she crept past the others.

Just as she was about to disappear further into the woods, she heard the voice call once more. “Rowan…”And then she was off. Hopefully she’d be back by the time they woke up…

-SunnyFox57