“It’s stupidity.” Retorted Parisa to no one in particular as she leaned outside of her window to watch the dispersing crowds. Another gathering had occurred outside the small home she shared with her Uncle “Scooter” and the girl couldn’t believe half of what she heard. Someone had been desperate to share stories they had gathered from those in Tendaji - crazy fantasies about bugmen who basically could control anything with a flick of their wrist or that could easily be your neighbor in hiding, honestly the stories kept twisting as the rumors continued to spread through the population. At first Parisa had been intrigued by them but now she felt more annoyed than anything. All these rumors and people acting skittish to even go outside of their homes now was really hindering the whole country. And now their leaders were going to travel to the heart of this Tendaji? Wasn’t that were more of these creatures resided? Sure some Belreans had gone missing, but Parisa could only imagine how many more on that big continent across the Great Ocean had disappeared.

Seriously though if these creepers were so strong then why wait until now to do anything? What were they bored or something? Parisa rolled her eyes before pulling back and slamming the windows closed, “And how the hell do they think that leaving will help things?” She snorted as she crossed her room to pick up a stringed instrument. Plucking at a few strings to tune the instrument she furrowed her brow in concentration. Leaders of all the tribes and cities going overseas to the heart of things? To talk about what to do? What if something happened at that gathering and then who would lead? She felt as if it would make more sense to simply fortify the countries and if any talk had to be done then they should only send messengers who knew intent or a right hand man or something. Just not the whole freakin’ crew of important earthlings - what if the creatures wanted that to happen? What would happen if there was an attack there? She had heard about the big gathering and how the creatures had come out of thin air to snatch someone, “Seriously how do we stop that?” She plucked at a string harshly and winced when her finger throbbed and her ears rang from the sharp note.

It would be like trying to grab music from the air and forcing it into a bottle or something. Parisa sighed as she continued to slowly pluck out notes on her instrument, “I mean…” If they could do something productive then that would be great, but what if it was truly hopeless? Shouldn’t they be making a plan to hide away until these creatures got tired of whatever it was that they were doing? Why were they taking people anyways? It wasn’t like they were leaving dead bodies behind so maybe they were looking for something. The thought made her even more disturbed because it showed intellect of some manner. She just hoped the leaders had some damn good guards with them else they truly would be screwed.

Parisa would have normally been excited to hear about leaders meeting because surely that meant ideas would be shared between them. And sharing ideas meant new things for Belrea since they loved to take knowledge and transform it into something even more amazing. Already she had friends who had siblings or cousins that had travelled overseas and while some aspects were very tribal compared to their cities the items and tales they brought over were fantastical. Parisa could only imagine what type of music they created. But did any of that matter in a time like this? The girl grit her teeth as she slowly lowered her instrument back into its chest, “I suppose only time will tell.” Even if she thought it was absolutely crazy and stupid to gather in one place the girl couldn’t stop it from happening. All she could do was hope that everything would be okay in the end and that these creatures would stop and go far far away again, back into whatever void they had originated from. That would be the ideal ending since no one else would have to disappear or die because of them. Yet the world wasn’t that simple or ideal was it? No, Parisa knew that. She just hoped that when war came they could somehow find a way to fend off these creatures. Perhaps if they can come up with something and they don’t all get eliminated then this gathering could be useful. Still didn’t like the idea of it, but at the same time….perhaps it was a risk worth the gamble?

[791]