DRUS’ PILGRIMAGE
Drus was a new-blood relative to other more wisened of Krug-Kind. It was unclear to him where he fit within Rexdom, nor what his future would hold within Akaal. He was on his gakh’d (third) trial, the Trial of the Ram, where he must make a pilgrimage on his own into the desert to learn of his future- and the path of the warrior that he had chosen. He was used to being on his lonesome, once surviving in the forests in his youth. The desert was new to him, but the task was all too familiar.
KAKTUZ DAY AZH (ONE):
A towering mountain provided shade for Drus from the blazing sun, as the heat was sweltering. He sat there, pondering on the words the Kukaal blah’d (spoke) to him. What was his path? What was his future within the Akaal? Would the ancestors protect him?
He sat, pondering, for hours upon hours. He felt the chill of the night before he realized how long he was considering his future, forgetting to take into account the need for food and shelter to survive. His first night he slept hungry, still wondering what the future would entail. KAKTUZ DAY DUB (TWO):
Having had little sleep during his night of anxiety and wondering, Drus watched the sunrise in the morning. He continued to wonder as he searched for food, having previously set up a campfire at the base of the mountain where he slept.
Drus spotted a desert rabbit hopping through the sands. His spear, whittled from wood, was prepared for throwing. His thoughts, however, did not cease in his time of need. What would happen if he could not find his path? What would happen if he did not return to the city?
He tried to hush his worrying mind, attempting to focus on survival rather than the task at hand. He threw his spear- and missed. The rabbit would hop away and Drus would have to rely on his rations to survive the day or sleep hungry. KAKTUZ DAY GAKH (THREE):
Drus encountered a human caravan passing through the desert while hunting. One of the carts carrying supplies to a local settlement, unfortunately, lost a wheel, unable to move further. Drus greeted the humans, who welcomed him with open arms.
The humans were, of course, confused about why they would send an uruk out into the desert on his own. Nonetheless, the caravan asked Drus a question. In return for his assistance, they offered him some food as a token of goodwill. He’d happily do so, helping the caravan as they conversed.
They worked for hours upon hours, talking the whole time. It was only the chill of the night that helped them realize how long they’d been conversing! After the caravan finally repaired the cart, they waved to Drus, after paying him, and departed. Drus slept that night with a smile across his face. KAKTUZ DAY FUTH (FOUR):
Drus woke up, still ecstatic after meeting the friendly human caravan. However, his mind started to wander once again. What if he wasted time? Did he forget why he was in the desert in the first place? What would he tell the Kukaal?
It did not matter to him. He already knew his answer. Even if he did not know the exact answer to what his future would entail, it did not matter. He would be alongside his brothers and sisters- and he would be happy. Drus would travel back to the city, a smile still on his face.
