(NIGHT OF RA’UN)

CHAPTER ONE:

 

The two Saiyans trudged up the rocky slopes of the mountainside, telltale signs of their exertion beginning to make itself evident. The older Saiyan wiped the sweat off his brow as he blinked at the brightness of the hot sun. Wearing the she’olah was not helping matters either. Za’ani knows that he would have preferred flying, but these were the sacred no-fly zones and if they were caught…

 

Turning around, he smiled softly as he noticed the staunch look of determination on his young companion’s face.

 

“Hurry up, Kakkarrot. We are almost there. Just a little bit further now.”

 

“Yes, father.”

 

Kakkarrot sped up his steps, shifting the weight of the heavy food basket from his left to his right shoulder. Finally approaching his father, he smiled wanly as he felt the strong hand ruffle his dark, spiky locks.

 

“Don’t worry, Kakkarrot.” The older man said, beginning his journey again. “We are almost at the farm lands now. I am sure your brother will be very pleased with the food we got for him, ne?”

 

“Ahi, pa’un.” Kakkarrot replied, feeling the first tingle of his growing excitement.

 

This was the first time he was going to his older brother’s side of the farmlands. Those were at the other side of the mountains and only the really strong and healthy young Saiyans were allowed to work there. Kakkarrot and his father worked on the regular fields, and although he loved working with his father on the relatively fertile land, stories of the farmlands over the mountains were enough to fuel the appetite of any hot-blooded male Saiyan. He especially loved to hear the stories his brother would regale him concerning the goings on at the site. According to him, the best fighters would sometimes gather there at the end of the day and engage in a well-known pastime. The Ra’un. It was rumored that some of the king’s men were there as spies, watching the male and few female Saiyans battle it out for a chance to be chosen as a member of the King’s elite fighting forces. Kakkarrot knew that his brother wanted to be chosen, and he couldn’t be prouder of him.

 

“All right, Kakkarrot. This is where I leave you.”

 

Kakkarrot swallowed tightly as he stared down at the dense forest that separated the two farmlands. If he was to reach his brother, he would have to walk down the slippery, rocky slope, into the forest known as the K’elean na’aru past the river K’atun, which was no easy task, for the river was as wild as a ni’heru in heat. If Kakkarrot were to make it through that, he would eventually reach his destination, and he couldn’t wait.

 

“Now remember, Kakkarrot. You do not want to walk through the crooked path once you reach K’elean na’aru. What are you to do?”

 

“I am to walk down the straight and narrow path, which would lead me straight to K’atun. I remember, father.” Kakkarrot answered, already eager to begin his journey.

 

“Hn. At least you remember something,” came the soft reply. “I will wait for you at the hira. But, you must come back before the sun sets, Kakkarrot, for I shall leave if you do not return. Understand?”

 

“Yes, father.”

 

“Good luck, my son.” The older Saiyan said, releasing the furry brown appendage that had been wrapped tightly around his waist and stroking his son’s cheek lightly with it. Encircling, it back around his waist, he turned away and said curtly. “Hatt’ai!”

 

With a final wave, Kakkarrot spun on his heels and was quickly swallowed up within the gloomy darkness beneath the mountain.

 

Bardock stood with his eyes shut tightly, sensing his son’s carefully measured steps with a frown on his face.

 

~ Be careful, Kakkarrot. Be very careful. ~

 

-*-*-*-

 

Kakkarrot cringed as he felt the crawling vines twist towards him again. The ka’tai things had a nasty habit of trying to bind him up. Reaching into his robes, he brought out the sword he had gotten on his seventeenth birthday, which was a week ago, and with carefully measured swings, favoring the basket still strapped over his shoulder, he sliced through the thick green cords, watching in awe as the plants ‘bled’ with a foul smelling murky colored liquid that reminded him so much of his mother’s nasty pa’thun. Covering his nose, he dashed through the remaining patch of vines, eventually bursting out into a clear area.

 

Sucking in much needed air, he stared at his surroundings in awe.

 

“Mo’zoi! This is amazing!” Kakkarrot spoke out softly, as he stared at the seemingly hundred-za’un high trees that towered above him. The harsh sounds of rare animals he had only read about were heard. His eyes darted around sporadically, trying to catch glimpses of the elusive creatures.

 

“A Mi’ahu! I don’t believe it!”

 

And for the next hour or so, Kakkarrot got completely engrossed in the amazing sights before him, as the sun began it’s slow descent towards the earth.

 

-*-*-*-*-

 

“My lord!”

 

“Yes, Gradun.”

 

“Permission for the men to take a rest, my lord.”

 

“And where do you suggest we take this rest, Gradun?”

 

“My lord, there is a nearby river, K’atun, I believe. The wa’zuai say it has restoration powers and the locals around here say it has the ability to revitalize the body for hours on end. Perhaps a little rest there would do us some good, after all we do have a long journey back to the palace.”

 

The elite warrior, Gradun, watched the stiff back of his prince as the red cape billowed out in the soft wind. For a moment, he thought he would be ignored, but eventually the rider and his black steed spun around to face him. Looking into glittering obsidian eyes, Gradun was finally given an answer.

 

“All right. Gather them all. Let us head to this miracle place. I hope it also has good game. I would hate to have to feast on only water.”

 

“I assure you my lord, the game-life there is beyond compare.”

 

And with a curt command to his fellow warriors, Gradun led his prince towards the dark forest.

 

-*-*-*-*-

 

Kakkarrot stared at the sparkling waters, seeing the tiny fish that darted in and out of the shimmering blue liquid. He had heard of the mysterious healing powers of the river and although his father had not allowed him to get any, he decided that a little drink for himself and some for his brother couldn’t hurt. Dropping the food basket, he rolled up the long sleeves of his robe and getting down on his knees, he giggled slightly at the distorted image of his face. Dipping his hands into the cool depths, he sighed as he felt the rush of the liquid flow past his hot hands. Cupping them, he raised the clear liquid to his lips and drank thirstily, already beginning to feel the restoration qualities of the water flow through his aching and tired body.

With a happy whoop, Kakkarrot buried his face within the waters, allowing the wetness to caress his hot skin. And with a wild laugh, he tossed his head out again, shaking his head to get the water out of his hair. The experience was absolutely…

 

“Well… Aren’t we having fun?”

 

Reaching automatically for his sword, Kakkarrot jumped to his feet and spun around to face the taunting voice of the taller man. Dressed in the customary black and gray armored uniform of the King’s elite warriors, complete with a matching black cape with the royal elite symbol etched on it, sneering pale blue eyes stared at him. Feeling slightly panicky now, he spun around as the spatter of laughter floated towards him. He saw with growing dismay that there were about twenty of them, all on horseback.

 

~ I cannot fight them all. I will be killed. ~ Kakkarrot thought miserably.

 

Swallowing tightly, he held his sword in a defensive position and snarled in as threatening a voice as he could manage.

 

“I warn you to leave! I will not hesitate to fight you to the death!” His tail now beginning to twitch in growing agitation.

 

“Oh, look! We have a regular wa’zua here, don’t we?” Gradun mocked lightly, earning another round of laughter from his fellow fighters. “Hmm…a Ba’an. Lower class filth.”

 

Kakkarrot felt his face grow hot in embarrassment, and he glared angrily at the laughing man in front of him. He hated being reminded of his status, and as much as he loved his family to death, he wasn’t the happiest of Saiyans in his position, and what was worse, he didn’t need this l’arun to remind him of that.

 

“I might be a Ba’an, but I can still fight you,” he growled out.

 

“I think I was just issued a challenge!” Gradun bellowed out, earning a few whoops and cheers from the Saiyans around him. “Okay, you low-class ka’tai. Let us begin.” And with a flourish, he brought out his own sword.

 

“Ki’an na Ha’tun!” came the loud command, which caused both fighters to spin around in alarm.

 

“Have you not had enough fun for one day, Gradun? We came here to eat, not to waste our time on lower-class fighters!”

 

“I am sorry, my lord. Please forgive me,” Gradun said quietly, getting down on his knees in respect, as his prince trotted over to them.

 

Turning to Kakkarrot, the prince stared into defiant onyx eyes that caused him to grip his reins even more tightly. Wondering idly why he felt suddenly so uncomfortable beneath the penetrating glare, he spoke out in the language of the lower class,

 

“What is your name, sa’an?”

 

“Kakkarrot sa’un ni Bardock,” came the curt reply, which betrayed the growing uneasiness he was beginning to feel. This boy, for he looked no older than he, acted like he was royalty. He had spoken to Gradun in the language of the Ha’ans, and yet he was able to speak in the language of the common people. The shining white armor, the blood-red cape and that symbol…who were these people? He had heard all about the royal family before, but he had never really gotten to see any one in person. They were far too removed from the main city.

 

“Kakkarrot, ne? Ahi, a wa’zua’s name. We do not want to pick a fight with you. All we want is your food, which I see in that large basket over there. My men are thirsty and tired, and we would very much want to share in the feast.”

 

“I am sorry, but the food is for my brother. My mother spent hours making it and I do not think I am going to let you…”

 

“Do you not know who you are speaking to?!” Gradun yelled out in growing annoyance. Who did this l’arun think he was? “You will open up that basket and give it to us or else!!”

 

“Gradun!” the prince snapped in anger, although his eyes never left the dark ones before him. “Shut up!”

 

“My sincere apologies, my lord.”

 

“Now, Kakkarrot,” the prince began once more, “I will ask you again, for my patience is wearing thin. My men need this food, so you are going to feed it to them. Do you understand? If not, I will send them to attack, and I need not tell you who the victor is going to be.”

 

Kakkarrot bit his lower lip in consternation. He knew who the victor was going to be all right, and it definitely wasn’t going to be him. Nodding slowly, he placed his sword back into its sheath, and with a wan smile, he walked over to his basket. Fiddling with the snaps on the woven straw, he glanced slyly at the men surrounding him. Pretending to be engrossed with the workings on the basket, he marked each warrior’s position, noting that there was an opening on his right that he could escape out of. He only needed a diversion….

 

Suddenly, in a move so swift that even the prince couldn’t follow, Kakkarrot unsheathed his sword again, and with a loud guttural cry of ‘M’AIIIIIEEE!!’ he hurled a smooth, large rock towards the group of warriors.

 

~ Ahi!! ~

 

And not waiting to see the outcome of the chaos he had created, Kakkarrot picked up his basket once again, and with sword in hand; he bolted straight into the relative safety of the forest. He had to find his brother.

 

 

Translations:

 

She’olah – traditional robes worn by saiyan males when not in battle.

Za’ani – equivalent to Kami.

Pa’un – father or father figure

Hira – small huts usually found on the farmlands

Hatt’ai – go or leave

Mo’zoi – wow/ general sound made when one is in awe

Pa’thun – foul smelling, brown pasty mix used in healing wounds

Mi’ahu – mythical wildebeests

Ni’heru – wild hyena-like beasts (usually hunted for and eaten)

Za’un – foot (usually used in terms of measurement)

L’arun – fool/ someone who is simpleminded

Ba’an – The lower/third class saiyans

Ki’an na Ha’tun – That will do/ That is enough

Sa’an – boy

Sa’un – son

Sa’un ni – son of (used whenever one is asked for his name e.g. Kakkarrot sa’un ni Bardock…Kakkarrot son of Bardock)

Ha’an – The highest/upper class saiyans (usually close to royalty)