Kurago walked around the beach, relieved to see his tribe busily stocking their ships for the voyage. It was a few weeks ago now that he had decided the island would not be safe enough to stay on. He was prepared to leave alone, but fortunately he wasn’t the only one who saw the wisdom in this decision. But not all Spirit Speakers shared his ideas. They concluded that Eranika was benevolent… Even though she killed their brethren without provocation! Gormen was merely the last one lost before the storm had settled. Kurago, for one, didn’t want to wait until the storm returned.

Ever since he got hit by lightning, Kurago heard the thunder inside his mind. It sounded angry, disapproving even. At times he could swear it carried Gormen’s voice. It kept him awake for more nights than he wanted to count. He cursed Eranika every time he couldn’t sleep. Little did he know that it would cost him dearly.

Kurago’s already troubled sleep got interrupted once more, people screaming outside of his house? He stood up slowly, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He noticed someone standing in his room and when he realised who it was, his mouth fell open. The person that was standing there was Gormen.

“Wha… How...?” the words barely left Kurago’s lips when he got backhanded.

“Shut up! I should kill you for blaspheming our Goddess, our mother! But I can spare you, if you join us! Join me brother, be my lightning, together we shall be unstoppable!” The unexpected guest yelled at him.

Kurago would have none of it. With a roar of rage, he barrelled forward, crashing into Gormen and smashing him through the wall of his shack. Kurago didn’t relent, he kept hitting and pushing. He took hits too, with each blow he felt a static building up. His muscles kept getting tenser and tenser. Until he couldn’t keep up anymore and one of Gormen fists connected squarely on his jaw and he got slammed into the dirt.

Kurago tried to stand up, but he kept stumbling. The hit had disoriented him, his ears were ringing. It was like he got hit with a sonic boom. Gormen was grinning, his mouth kept moving but Kurago couldn’t understand what he was saying. Gormen pointed towards the side of the islands with the boats and disappeared with a shockwave that floored Kurago again and he drifted away while his rage subsided.

He heard the drums and the cracking of lightning again when he opened his eyes. In the distance the same faint music played that was present the last time he lost consciousness. The storm was watching him, striking lightning all around him. The earth was splitting, and fire sparked everywhere.

“JOIN ME!” The words hit him as much as he heard them. They went through him. They burned into his very core. An enormous creature made from dark clouds, lightning and fire loomed over him. Eranika had drawn him into her domain.

“My new son likes you! I don’t! But you will be my present to him! He wants you to be his lightning! Become my son and you both shall rule these islands and beyond!”

Kurago crawled onto his knees. “If it is by force you claim me, what other choice do I have? You came to my island, killed my friend and now you claim his life and mine. I have no say.”

“Indeed, you don’t. Your words don’t matter. But your obedience does! Go and join your brother!” There was a finality in her voice that left no room for argument. And with those words she let Kurago go.

At the edge of the island Gormen was overseeing the destruction of the boats. It was in the best interest of the tribe to stay on the island, safe within reach of the goddess. Kurago would see the error of his ways he thought to himself. Together they would rule, and all would be well. He felt joy when he saw Kurago approach the overlook. When their eyes met Kurago even started running. Gormen opened his arms, a smile widened on his face. Eager to embrace his friend, he waited.

Kurago ran up the hill, he saw the joy in Gormen’s face. He saw the embrace that was waiting for him. But he shook away the thought. He had but one choice. He quickened his steps, closing in on Gormen and he dove past him over the edge.

“My life is my own”