Work Text:
a gaze as bright as this...
the jut wake first, setting the stagelights and pulling the curtains
in line, the kiv rise and stand guard, checking the foundations of the caves and seeking signs of rot and invasion
then the tir commune in the deposits, rationing what was left of last veilk-fall
some taliv with veilk-root was enough for the early blinks
once this was done, the younger tir left to care for the younger vel
velzie's most beloved actors, the vel are
most agile and slithering, and so depended upon for surfacing
naelliruesh skittered through the barely-lit tunnel
its interiors were smoothened, as was custom in ekiva
pale corru, making the faintest silhouette of the tunnel for navigation
this tunnel, of course, led to various other branches
smaller, circular holes covered in veilkskin attached to the rim, held shut by a parii latch, were numerous on all sides
these were the chambers of individual obesk
naelli was assigned this segment by her fellow tir following the teachings by the elders
so, each chamber, she vibrated the chitin pallates inside her throat to awaken them
it is not as alarming and loud as a zenruka, instead providing an almost therapeutic enchantment
she crept beside each chamber, peeking inside small crevices in the veilkskin to ensure they were awake
ah, yes
there was one vel who was particularly difficult, the fact instilled by velzie
the veilkskin here was adorned with fungus, surely a favorite of this one
-
gakvukani?
this great gaze is upon us
surely you will not idle so easily again
a great stretching of bone and skin alike emits through the chamber walls
~
ah...
you must understand
one cannot afford to let rest overtake them
skitters and the slip of the parii ensue
~
especially not on the surface
lest velzie cackle at the climax of one's death
everyone gathered in the main social chamber, families and friends grouping together
across the chamber was an altar on a stage, which was also occupied by the council of this cave-city
gakvu shifted into her seat as her family sat firm
her sister sent a side glare at the slack in her posture, forcing her to straighten
she could barely make out the council from here
the city was not big, but not small either
they were many rows behind
along the walls were disgustingly benevolent depictions of Velzie
some decorative, and others surely a monitoring mechanism
from what she could make out at the altar, some of the council were already ascended
their qou bodies let the reflecting light shiver across them
almost painting them as though they were any more important than everyone else
gakvu's receptors twisted distastefully, but carefully
she could not be too opposing
or what her family could do, it
-
on a gaze as bright as this,
it is an apt opportunity to appreciate the efforts Velzie has given for us
it is truly the warmth in its gaze
the light that shines on the veilk
its ever-watching eye that assures us
keeps us strong
we owe a great deal to Velzie for the mockery and blasphemy cast on its name for many eyes
penitence is in order
and so is a physical manifestation of our loyalty and dedication
how shameless, gakvu thought
to be so blind and ignorant to worship that eye upon the large mass
it is more laughable than cursing it and blaming it for our troubles
and yet, how appealing it is to her family, they lean towards the speakers
glee is ever so present on their faces...
gakvu cannot help but feel sick
shoved into surfacewear, given materials and lectures by coordinators ill equipped to do it themselves
thrown into the masses, which felt more of a secri pit than a workforce
under her tongue, she curses velzie
though it is more a habit
how dare she be born a vel, how terrible it is to be in ekiva
she is pushed along the pool of kiv and vel, who may as well be marching towards death
mainland ekiva was littered in veilk that were somewhat thinner than in kazni
while that did make for more room for this awful piece of display,
just how many predators would be about?
the veilk could not hide them for long...
ah, someone is yelling, announcing something
-
there is fear in your hearts
i can nearly taste it, feel it
but we will not fall
settle the foundations where they must be
and circle around
facing outward
we will rid of the threats ourselves
gakvu's receptors tightened, no longer being watched by her family
or so it seemed, the gathering was large
through the veins inside of the city, the council began a chant
and after each verse, the selected group repeated
~
^h€S‡
we are to chant this?
=
of course
it is the okidoia, young vel
a name with no meaning to someone like her
but surely... would nobody notice?
...
to be sure...
she mouths the words, or whatever she remembers of them
making sure they do not internalize
still, fear strikes her
why are we singing?
a rumble of the veilk, seemingly startled in a certain direction
and come the guktik...
``
what have you learned?
ekallani trespassed her chamber, having sneaked behind her after a feast
her sister, vel receptors curling the opposite direction, she had shoved her and tackled her
she was many eyes older, having shed her first set of shells long ago
gakvu had a hint of cracks in hers…
she was pinned down by eka's knees, her arms held down like a secri might do to capture her
no matter how much she struggled against the weight
she could not make eka budge
``
you kelnit! how are you to work on the okizika being such a worthless vel as this?
our parents will learn very soon when velzie shines its eyes upon you in disgust
~
does your velzie smile upon a parasite like you?
taking me down when i am most vulnerable
you are nothing more than a zuzucri!
!!!
for just a blink
eka's hand let go
and collided
…
..
~~
face
breathing blue
as my body is twisted
i cannot think
my vision is blurred
but i can make out...
that zuzucri is slithering her way
…
it hurts
it hurts
it h r s
i tt huur t s
I T HU R T S s
HU R T S
h r
...
the next gaze arrives
and while the jut are letting artificial light shed into the city
while the kiv are keeping those gates closed
the tir making their rounds of 'care'
...
who cares if velzie's favored get hurt...