Chapter 6 “The Kron”

The creature staring at them was made completely of rock and stone, its fists were large and rough, short and stout, but very strong.

“Weird looking creatures, you are.” the rock monster said.

Shade stood in front of Ix, ready to defend if necessary.

“I can’t believe this!” Nestor said. “Are your kind the current inhabitants of this island?”

“We are, yes,” the rock monster said, looking them over closely. “And intruding, you are.”

“pardon us, we were only curious,” said Nestor. “This colony is astounding!”

“It appears like a bunch of rocks to me…” Shade muttered.

Ix was disturbed from the very moment he spotted the rock creature.

But, it also intrigued him.

“I am Lord Ix, I demand to be brought before your highest authority,” Ix said, sounding very important in tone and speech.

The rock monster scoffed.

“Demands, you make? Pft! Weird, you really are,” it said. “But curious, I am. Take you to Foreman Krag, I will,”

The rock creature led them a long way, they of course followed alertly behind him.

Shade didn’t know what it was about Ix, but ever since he led them on the attack in the first place, she felt a great uneasiness.

The Gizoids were quiet; they looked both ways a lot, keeping their protective programming intact.

The rocks were smooth to walk upon; it didn’t feel like you were stepping on rock at all, it felt like you were walking on smooth wood.

Nestor could not stop himself from taking everything in; this old Echidna had not been so excited in a long time.

After a while of walking, the four of them and the Gizoids, were at the door of what seemed like a cave.

“In, you will go,” the creature said, signaling them with his big hand to enter in.

Ix puffed out his chest in a lordly manner, bearing his staff in his hand.

The cave was not all that bright, but there seemed to be a day-like light when you stepped inside.

There, was the leader of the rock monsters, sitting on a chair of stone that looked to be built into the cave itself.

“Explanation, I ask for,” the leader said, his voice was burlier then the others.

The creature that led them in nodded his head. “Trespassers, they are, wanted to see you, they did,”

Foreman Krag thought this situation was questionable, Ix’s movements and way about him, seemed threatening.

But when he turned his head to Shade, she seemed to peek his interest.

“Who are you?” asked Foreman Krag.

“I am the great Lord Ix, master of the Echidnas,” said Ix in a booming voice.

“Echidnas? Heard of you, I haven’t,” said Foreman Krag. “Funny, you look to me. But she is, not so much,”

Shade was uncomfortable; she couldn’t tell if these beings were friends or foes.

“The Kron, WE are, weapon specialists, we are. Great builders, we have always been. Even before, the day Argus, happened,” said Foreman Krag.

Nestor’s eyes opened up. “Yes! You know of this ‘Argus’? It would please us if you could tell us everything you know,”

“Not trust worthy, you may be,” said Foreman Krag. “New to The Cage, you are? New to us, maybe new to trust,”

“Trustworthy?” Ix gritted his teeth. “It shouldn’t pay you any mind! We don’t wish to join up with you,”

“Hasty you are, unwise, unwise indeed,” said Foreman Krag. “You are not to be told a thing,”

Ix’s approach seemed to change. “Forgive me, we arrived only today,”

“HUH! Today? What is a day? No such thing,” said Foreman Krag. “No such thing,”

Shade did not feel it was her place to speak, but Ix’s aggressive behavior was proving a hindrance on them.

“Sir, I am Shade of the Nocturne,” said Shade. “We are friendly people, if you give us information, we will not betray you in any way, you have our loyalty,”

Ix felt an arrogant annoyance since Shade spoke out of term.

Foreman Krag put his rocky hand to his chin. “Interested, we are. Other colonies, selfish and arrogant they are, if a new one there is, in our favor, your friendship is,”

Shade’s eyes perked up, Nestor hung on every word.

“But proof, I must have, trust YOU girl, I do, them, not so much,” said Foreman Krag. “Loyalty I want, proof I require,”

Foreman Krag nodded. “An offering of friendship, I want,”

Nestor smiled. “And you will have it!”

Shade and Ix looked back at him.

The massive Kron creatures were staring at him.

“As proof Echidnas are mostly friendly,” said Nestor. “I will spend every waking day telling you of far off places, stories, things I examined, things your planet has probably never seen or heard of before. I am a professor, researcher, and scientist, and I have a lot to offer your people, unknown knowledge to your species,”

Foreman Krag looked very interested. “Pleased with this I am, have not heard many new things in a long time. In return, a house you will receive on this colony of the Kron,”

Nestor was completely in agreement, kneeled, and stood next to him.

“Yes, Echidnas, I see as, ‘semi good’ creatures, weird you are, but wise, I can see some of you are,” said Foreman Krag. “Leave in peace, return, you other two, can. Though The Kron, wish for privacy. Return when you wish, but attacked by Kron warriors, you will not be, I will promise. Information I will give, to this, ‘professor’ of sorts, he is the one, I will trust,”

Ix was pleased Nestor would not longer be a thorn in his side, at the same time he had dominance in mind, and the fact Nestor was going to be the only one told these secrets, bothered him.

From the way he was speaking, Shade came to the conclusion, this ‘Foreman Krag’ probably would have attacked The Nocturne tribe without hesitation if they noticed their new colony.

They seemed very fast in action.

Finding this colony was probably a great deal of luck.

But on top of all that being on her mind, she couldn’t help but wonder what this ‘Argus’ really was.

End chapter