[Sl'askia]

This is the prologue to my non-oddworld fic. I don't know if I will continue to post the chaps here as I want to publish this someday. Anyway, tell me what you think of this. Sorry for the length.
"Eat your pear Chiatsa." a loving father said to his daughter.
Chiatsa looked at the pear with discust "But daddy, I don't like um" she protested.
"They are good for you, so eat it"
"If there good for me then why do they taste bad" she retorted, looking at her father with her yellow eyes daring him to find a way to counter that.
He sighed as bit into his own pear, trying to think of a way to get his 8 cycle* old daugther to eat hers. Then he accendently bit onto a seed, and with a spurt of intution he spat it at her landing on her nose.
"Eww" she said with a giggle as she brushed it off "How did you do that?"
"Well, I can teach you but..."
"But what?"
"But the only way to get the seeds you'll need is to eat your pear. Now eat it."
Chiatsa blinked a moment, then crossed her arms with a snort and glared at him. Got her he thought with a smile when he heard a knock on the door.
"Your pear better be gone by the time I come back or no story tonight" he said as he stood up. Chiatsa gave him a 'you wouldn't' look, and he just smiled at her as he headed towards the door.
When he opened the door he saw no other then his old friend Straki. Something was different about him, he seemed to have fancier armor then what he had last time he saw him, even his Sharpclaw* mount had different armor on. Then it dawned on him.
"Well old friend, it looks like you finally got promoted to the 5 rank. Come on in"
"Fraid I can't stay very long Hachit" he said glumly as he stepped in.
"Well thats to be expected, considering" Hachit grumbled as he closed the door behind him.
"So how's my warrior friend turned pacifest, hmm?"
"Now don't start that again Straki, you know why I left the warrior guild. It was to.."
"I know, I know. To take care of your daughter since your mate died so suddenly, but Jukco doesn't believe thats a good enough reason. You know how Jukco can be."
"Yes I know, he thinks that I should've just asked another female to take care of her and that it's not my place, as a male, to care for children by myself. Sometimes I think his part Alpakian."
"Speaking of which, thats why I came here tonight."
"Huh? What about them? I know they stubborn fighters."
"And you also know that they have no quams about killing defenseless males and females in their path." Straki said sternly pointing a claw at him.
"And what does that have to do with me and Chiatsa? Last I heard their most of their warriors was way north of here."
"Not anymore, they have moved a signifcent number of warriors south, not far from here. Thats why I came here tonight to warn you. There have been reports of Alpakian activity less then a half days ride from here."
"Thats close" Hachit said, getting worried.
"Too close, thats why I risked the journy here to warn you even though Jukco thought it would be a waste of my time"
"What can I do"
"Come back with me to the outpost, I'll see about having you relocated to a place much further into our terratory"
"Humphf, and I bet you as soon as I step into the outpost gates, Jukco will be there to grill me about leaving like the last time I came down to visit."
"Most likely" Straki said with sigh.
"Well I'm sorry, but I don't think my daughter would be able handle seeing me getting my tail chewed by that jerk. I'll take my chances here." he shuddered at the memory of Jukco eyeing his then 6 cycle old daugther, saying she looked like she would be a strong warrior.
"But Hachit, what if..." Straki said shocked.
"I can handle a few Alpakians if I have to. It hasn't been that long."
"Its been over 6 cycles, Hachit, and I don't believe you have be keeping up with your fighting skills."
"I will be fine Straki." he said starting to get angry.
"Then at least let me take your daughter back with me, Shasha can watch her."
"Appsolutely not!" Hachit said now fuming, "I will not give Jukco the chance to turn my only daughter into a killing machine."
"I wouldn't let Jukco go near her Hachit, you know that."
"Still its too great a risk. Chiatsa is staying here with me."
"I see.." Straki sighed defeated "Very well then I...will leave you here then. I wish you luck my friend." he said as he turned to leave.
"Thank you"
Straki paused in the doorway a moment "If you ever reconsider you know where the outpost is right?"
"Of course, but don't expect me to change my mind."
"Very well then." Straki mounted his Sharpclaw and rode off into the night, not looking back.
Hachit watched he friend leave for a moment, then shut the door. "Chiatsa that pear had better be gone" He walked into the room, stared in shock at what he saw. Chiatsa had ripped apart the pear with her claws and picked out the seeds which were now in a neat little pile on the table. The table was a mess with the 'remains' of the pear scattered all over it.
"Got the seeds daddy, can you teach me how you did that trick you did earlier now?"
Hachit stared at her for a moment then at the messy table then back at her again. Normally he would have been horrified at the mess, but this time he burst out in laughter, unable to contain himself.
"Whats so funny?" she said looking at her father with a puzzled look.
By now Hachit had fallen onto the floor clutching his side. "You are" he said when he was finally able to stop laughing, "my little trouble maker". He grabbed her and started to spin her around until he was to dizzy to keep standing. They both enjoyed every second of it though.
"Daddy?" she asked after a moment.
"Yes?"
"What's an Alpakain?"
He had winced when she asked that. She'll find out about it sooner or later he thought grimly "They are a clan of beings like ourselves, that we are currectly at war with" he answered after a moment.
"What's a war?"
"Its when 2 clans with different views on life fight each other."
"Why do they fight?"
"Because...one clan thinks the other clan should follow their view of life, but the other clan doesn't want to."
"So the Alpakians want to.."she paused struggling to find the right word for it "enslave us?"
"More like extremenate us"
"But why? We haven't done anything to them have we?"
"Because they are greedy and think of no one but themselves. They see something they want and they take it, usually by force. They want to rule over all the clans, and have forsaken the gods and the guardians of our lands. As a result there are no dragons anywhere within their lands, even the mindcallers* refuse to set wing into their territory."
"They must be very bad" she said suddenly afraid.
"They are, but don't worry, if they come here, Daddy will show them who's boss" At least I hope I can. Straki was right, it has been a while since I practiced. "Well now it looks like its time for you to go to bed."
"Do I get a story?" she said hopefully as he picked her up.
"No you didn't eat your pear."
"Awwwoooohhhh but daddy!"
"No buts, I said if you didn't eat your pear you'd get no story and you didn't so you have no one to blame but yourself."
He carried one angry, struggling kid to the bedroom.

After what seemed like forever to get Chiatsa to go to bed and cleaning up the table, Hachit decided to sit outside for a bit to relax. But he couldn't relax, he kept thinking about what Straki had said.
Maybe we should have gone with him. he thought I don't have my armor anymore and my sword is probably in bad shape. What was I thinking when I refused.
He was just deciding to wake his daughter when he saw movement in the forest. His heart leapt into his througt. He had no doubts as to what was roaming the woods No no not now, not so soon he thought as he crept back into his hut. He went into the storage room as quickly and quietly as he could, he rummaged around until he found his old sword. He unsheathed it and gave it a quick inspection, not as in good condition as I would like but it will have to do he thought. He was about to step out of the storage area when he heard the door open. Insticitively he pressed himself against the wall.
No no this can't be happening he thought as he carefully looked around the cornier. There, just in the doorway of the hut, was a large fully armored Alpakian warrior. He could tell he was of good rank by the type of armor he was wearing, only the strongest and fierest Alpakians get to wear full plate like this one was wearing. Even if I knew for sure he was alone I'm in trouble he himself was only of the 4 rank, and this guy was at least 6. Still I have to at least try, for Chiatsa sake.
By now the warrior had stepped fully into the hut and was looking around slowly with his sword drawn. He watched him, waiting for the right opertunity to attack. Suddenly the warriors attention was drawn to Chiatsa room, and started to head towards it. Oh no he must have heard her. Knowing his daughters life was in danger he stepped out ran up quietly on the warrior sword raised hoping catch him off guard. But the warrior must have heard him for he quickly swang around and blocked his attack.
"I was wondering when you would come out of hiding." he said with malice in his voice.
Without any hesitation the warrior attacked, viciously slashing at him with his sword. Hachit was able to block some blows but not all. He recieved several wounds across his chest, back, and arms. And he was exhausted, while his oppenent hasn't even broken a sweat.
"You are obviously out of your prime." the warrior said, annoyed at the lack of a challege. Suddenly he yelped in pain.
"Leave my daddy alone you big bully!" he heard a small voice shout and Hachit realized in horror that it was Chiatsa.
The warrior looked behind him, seeing Chiatsa biting and clawing at his tail (the only part that wasn't armored). Then with a malicious glint in his eye pushed her back and before Hachit could stop him slashed her across the face with his sword, leaving a nasty gash on her nose. She cried out in pain and cruppled up in a ball on the floor holding her nose.
"NOOOOO CHIATSA!" Hachit cried as he dropped his sword and dove for his daughter. He managed to slash the warrior across the face along the way with his claws. He picked her up and managed to shove the warrior down onto the ground and ran for the door. He could only think of one thing now, get Chiatsa to the outpost and a healer.

At the outpost Straki was pacing in front of the gate, with his mate Shasha and Jukco not far away.
"Will you quit that already!" Shasha said annoyed "You're making me dizzy"
Straki stopped and looked out worryingly across the plain.
"Will get through your head already, he's not coming" Jukco said clearly aggitiated "He's too full of pride to admit he was wrong."
"I know I know, I just wish I could've done more to convice him." Straki said.
"You did all you could do, now please come home, you've been up all night."
"Oh all right." he said reluctently as he took one last look. He had just turned around to head back when he thought he heard something. He looked back straining to hear.
"Straki will you come on already." Jukco said.
"I thought I heard something."
"You're hearing things now come on."
"No wait I heard something too." Shasha said.
"Your both hearing things"
"Straki!" Jukco suddenly heard.
"Its..its Hachit"
"Well, well looks like he decided to come after all" Jukco said amused.
"Oh no he's hurt." Straki cried "Shasha go get your bag"
"One step ahead of you."

The outpost was in sight and with it safety, but Hachit did not stop running, despite that fact that his lungs and legs felt like they were burning. All he cared about was getting his daughter, who had fallen unconsious some time ago, within the outpost as quickly as possible. He could see Straki pacing in front of the gate, and called out to him. But he appearently didn't hear him as started to walk back inside. He called out again, this time Straki stopped and looked back, but looked unsure. Again he called out, this time he did hear him and saw him and started to run toward him. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his back, followed shortly by another. He fell immediately. No, so close...

"No!" Straki cried when he saw his friend fall with 2 arrows in his back. He reached him within seconds. "Easy my friend, Shasha coming with her healing bag she'll.."
"It's...too late for me...Straki" Hachit said weakly, couphing up blood.
"No, no its not, we'll see to that." he said as Shasha joined them, she immediately started accessing his wounds.
"No you must...take care of...Chiatsa first." he protested.
"But.."
"No he's right my love, I can't do anything for him." Shasha said, tears in her eyes.
"No.."
Shasha looked over Chiatsa, and started applying slaves and bandages to her.
"Will...she be...alright?"
"She will be fine, her wound only looks worse then it really is."
"Good" Hachit said with a smile. "Straki...I entrust you...and your mate...with her care. Please...do what you can... to keep Jukco from...making her a...mindless..killer."
"I vow to do my very best, my friend. May the guardians watch over your spirit in the spirit relim."
"Thank you Straki...Chiatsa" he said as he weakly took hold of her small hand, "I know you cannot hear me right now...but I want to let you know...that I'll always be with you...and that I love you...and always remember what I have...taught you."
And with a final breath, Hachit died.