The day started like any other day

Me and the silver centaur bickering about something. Or I mean, I was bickering about something.

She just kept giving me non-answers as I tried to make her understand the benefits of a governed society.

But nooo-

Such a thing would go against the freedom that their god had bestowed them.

But when I ask her about how to defeat the swarm, she’ll agree that they need to work together to do it.

I think she’s being a pile of hypocritical poop

A smelly pile of poop.

As our discussion continued, we were eventually met with a chorus of high voices.

Something that I’ve gotten used to by now, but apparently these were different.

As the silver centaur seemed to react quickly, jumping up on her hoofs and pulling her sword

A thousand other centaurs mimicking her action

Oh shit, ih no

I have not built it yet.

I’m not done!

I pulled myself to my feet, yelling.

“What’s happening!”

The silver centaur looked towards the shouting in the distance, eyes focused and grim.

“Trouble”

She merely said, making me steel myself as she bolted away. Followed by thousands of other centaurs.

I quickly ran to fetch my bow, trying to catch up to the front. Wanting to be by the silver centaurs side.

But I quickly found myself left behind.

Four hooves are a lot faster than just two hooves.

Eventually, after bumping, pushing and squeezing my way through

I found my way to the front, close behind the silvery centaur.

Who, in turn, was closely followed by ten unknown giant centaurs. All bulging with muscles and with angry glares.

I stepped in between them, taking up position beside the silvery centaur.

Getting a few side glances from the big centaurs.

As I let my sight move up, I was surprised at what I saw.

The first thing I saw was the human and that stupid manly centaur. Running at full speed towards us.

And second

Far behind them, a pretty long distance away. There were silhouettes of an army approaching.

And upon seeing it...

Let’s just say that I...

Did not have the best reaction

Almost immediately starting to erupt makeshift earth walls

Making those behind me yell out in anger.

A few stressful minutes passed.

A small wall encompassing a few hundred of those in the front

Going up to their midsections.

Up to my chest.

I never told them about defensive warfare.

I hope they won’t just... Jump the wall and go on the offensive

They wouldn’t do that...

Right?

Eventually, the girl came close enough to talk to us in the front.

Clearly in distress

Making me both nervous and worry about her.

“Everyone, it’s not the enemy that’s coming. It’s allied, fauns!”

F-fauns?

What... is she saying?

There are no other fauns but those in my city

And they would never leave, it’s our birthright.

Just like the stepp is these centaurs homeland.

...

Unless something big, something impossible strong was coming.

Something that would force their hands.

Something like-

“They are coming here in hopes of fleeing the swarm.”

She loudly declared, sitting on top of the manly centaur. Letting her eyes rest squarely on the silvery centaur.

The centaurs were deathly silent

No words were spoken

Glares being shared.

“We not accept such a large force of fauns on our stepp”

The silver centaur spoke, loud and clear. With an authority that could rival kings.

The human continued her stare, eyelids resting heavily as the manly centaur stood eerily still.

Both of them stared at each other.

One silver, one flesh

Non - giving way

Until the human looked down

No

Bowed down.

“Please”

My heart skipped a beat, like a tear in my soul.

I glanced up at the silvery centaur, taking a firmer grip on my bow.

Seeing eyes dart from the girl, then back to my people.

A second passed before she responded.

“You promise they be safe to the stepp?”

The humans face straightened up, a bright toothy smile. A single tear flowing.

“YES! They will be nicer than a newborn baby!”

The silver centaur raised an eyebrow

“Babies be very bad”

“Oh, eeeh, I mean like.. Nice newborn babies?”

The silver centaur nodded at that.

“That sounds better.”

Turning back around, looking over the gathered army of centaurs. A few words were spoken, unknown to my ears.

Soon after, most were moving away.

Some lingered, but it seemed that the tension had been cut and we were safe.

For now.

I quickly ran up to the human feeling rather nervous and shaky.

Fearing to both ask and to get an answer.

“Wh-why are my people here?”

Staring down on her stomach, avoiding her eyes.

“Don’t you wanna hear that from your mother?”

She said as she jumped down from the manly centaur who remained still.

Relief filled me for a second

My mom is alive!

Then it sank just as quickly.

If she’s here, then... This must be beyond just bad.

“N-no... I’d rather hear it now from you and then ask her for the details later.”

She sighed at my response.

“Okaay, but I don’t know all the details.”

Looking down, she took a second to gather her thoughts. Seeming shaken.

“Sooo. erm, basically. Like I said before, they are running away from the swarm.”

Yeah

I understood that.

But I don’t understand why they would run away.

Wouldn’t it be safer to stay in their walls?

A swarm of thoughts filled me.

But she continued talking, seemingly ignorant of my chaotic thoughts.

“They said that the swarm consisted of-of... Rats. And that they would kill them if they hadn’t run away”

She cracked a bit, words leaving her lips at an almost whisper.

“There is no way to stop the swarm. Apparently, they are a thundering natural disaster. There have been no known cases throughout history where they’ve been stopped”

Then she went silent, looking down on her feet as she lightly wiggled them.

No stopping them?

Natural disaster?

Then... Why the hell am I building this goddamn wall?

If our ancestor’s walls can’t stop them, how will my puny shit pile do anything?

A somber atmosphere enveloped us both. Stuck in our thoughts.

....

What should we do now?

Sitting down, we made ourselves as comfortable as possible.

I sat beside her with the manly centaur to her left.

And to my right sat the silvery centaur.

Even though we could see them on the horizon, we still waited several hours before they came close enough to spot the distinguishing features of fauns.

And once they did, the army of centaurs gathered again.

Although with fewer swords and friendlier faces.

Once they were about a kilometer away, they stopped. Dispatching a small group of what I can only guess where the elders with the oldest and wisest on top.

My mom.

As they neared, our little sitting group rose. Walking up with the usual ten big centaurs behind us

I felt a slight tension in my steps, walking a little too stiff.

The human walked with her head down, smile nowhere in sight.

The centaurs... Seemed to not even be bothered, talking amongst themselves.

I guess saying that the fauns won’t be a danger to the stepp is a good way to get on their good side?

I think?

Eventually, both sides came close enough to speak.

Seeing my mom glance to me, a small smile on her face. Then going past the human and up to the silver centaur, saying

“We are happy to have been greeted by such a prestigious member of you centaurs.”

She said as the group of elders bowed deeply.

As they rose, she waited for a response.

But as the seconds ticked by in silence, she coughed slightly.

“Ahem, so ehm. We Fauns were wondering if we could have safe passage through your great stepps”

At that, the centaurs smiled widely.

It seems mom has gotten some inside information from the human.

Knowing how much they loved their stepp.

But once again.

No one responded.

I could see mom slightly shuffle in place, a nervous gesture that I would have never thought I would see from her.

She coughed lightly again.

“Ahem, soo. What is your response?”

The silvery centaur just stared blankly at her, seeming to finally realize that everyone was staring at her.

She bent down to my ear, whispering.

“Who is that eeeer.. Fuaon talking too?”

...

“You”

I quietly said.

“Oh”

She responded, raising again as she looked over the gathered elders. And then focusing on my mom.

“Hello.”

A response no one was prepared for. Taking my mom by surprise.

“Er... Hello?”

She responded unconfidently.

Then there was silence again.

Now the entire group of elders seemed to be awkwardly shuffling in place. Whispering amongst themselves.

And once again, my mom nervously coughed.

“Ahem, so, as I was saying. We were wondering if we could have safe travel through your wonderful stepp”

“Sure.”

The silver centaur responded quickly, making the group of elders sigh in relief.

“Amazing! Now, we would be very happy if we could have a discussion with your leaders. As the rest of our population moves I-“

“Leaders?”

The silver centaur said, cutting off the old faun in the middle of her little speech.

She, in turn, seemed puzzled again.

“Yeah.. yeah your... Leaders”

“We have no leaders.”

The group of elders looked around in puzzlement, eyeing the army of centaurs that stood behind us.

“But who is commanding this army then?”

Now it was the silver centaurs turn to look puzzled.

“Army?”

“Yeah, those behind you”

The silver centaur looked behind.

“Oh, no that’s not army. That is just many centaurs”

“But they are all armed.”

“Yeah”

“Then, why has everyone gathered here?”

“To defend stepp from swarm”

The group seemed taken aback at the statement, talking loudly amongst themselves.

It took several minutes for the group to quiet down, and a lot of hushes from the old faun before they did.

“Okayokay, if I’m understanding this correctly. You have no central leader?”

“Central?”

“Uuuhm. Commander, general.”

“Ooooh. No”

“Then, who are you?”

“I’m me”

She sighed loudly at that statement, making me happy that I was not the only one incapable of dealing with her.

“I mean, why are you the only one coming up here to talk?”

At that, the silver centaur shrugged her shoulders.

“I wanted to meet new people... I mean... foauns?”

And then I saw something extremely funny. I would have laughed if not for the situation.

My mom actually facepalmed.

“Then, you don’t actually have the authority to say that we can just walk past. Do you?”

“No.”

She responded easily, flashing a bright smile.

The old faun shook her head, ignoring the loud chatter behind her

“Then, ehm. Do you know if anyone amongst you will attack us as we come closer?”

“No one will attack you unless you harm stepp. Some will come up and want to speak to foouns, and might want to have challenges. But otherwise, you will be safe here.”

“That is good enough for us.”

She said as she turned back to the group of elders, giving out a few orders as they started to move back.

But before they came far, she turned her head towards me, yelling.

“Are you coming?”

I looked to the human who flashed me a small, but encouraging, smile.

I nodded in turn and jogged up to the group of elders, all staring me down, but none saying anything.

This could get awkward.

A last wave to the centaurs, and the human before I caught up.

Walking towards the fauns in the distance.

After many hello’s, welcome back’s and hugs. Our group of elders made our way into the center of the big crowd.

Being greeted by the rest of the elders.

But my mind where elsewhere

As I felt shocked by the number of fauns who had run away.

If I’m not too far off, this must be close to the entire population of our great city.

How could they have moved so many people so quickly?

But I would get no answers, as I was the one required to give them answers. Being bombarded with them.

“How could you abandon us?”

“Why a human?”

“Who are these centaurs?”

“We should execute you for your crimes.”

“When did your horns grow so big?”

“Where is the dragon?”

Questions upon questions. I remained silent during the barrage, but I could see that most did not really expect an answer.

Although, once my mom had stood, the rest of the elders went quiet.

“Great one, you have been summoned to answer our questions.”

She said, using my status as the great warrior to instill a sense of seriousness. Something I already understood.

But before she could speak, I quickly asked.

“Why are you here? And I don’t mean why you escaped our city. But here in the stepps?”

A question that’s been bubbling in my thoughts ever since I learned of their escape.

Why not just run up north? The swarm seems to be on a straight path towards the stepp.

Why follow their path?

The old faun seemed to understand the question, answering loudly with a neutral expression.

“To the south, we are blocked by the borders of the human settlements. A path we discussed walking to as we’d be safe in their territory. But letting the humans have control of our faith seems like a bad idea.”

Something I could understand, as the humans would probably demand some sort of payment for the fauns safe travel.

Or worse, just attack them as they could be perceived as an invading army.

“But up north then?”

A simple question, but it made the hall go very silent.

“A good choice, a straight shot to the waters. Just a few small forest and wildlife would be in our way. Except for the fact that we have sighted an entire lizard army marching from there.”

An..

What?

“And it seems that the lizard army is moving perpendicular with the swarm. They might be working together, but I doubt it.”

The surrounding elders nodded in agreement.

But I felt like someone had dropped a stone in my chest, a weight heavier than iron.

“It also seems that they are aiming for this stepp, as they are moving diagonally towards here. So, our only choice left was to move quicker than both the swarm and the lizard army.”

The lizard army is moving here

To the stepp?

But... why?

There’s nothing here.

“So, as you can probably guess, we have to be swift. We were hoping that you could help us in understanding these centaurs as we had not anticipated such a large force of them would be blocking our way.”

I felt myself listening, but not quite

As my thoughts were circling my head in a total mess.

But I was not spared from unraveling my thoughts, as I was asked a question.

“Now, tell us, great one. Why have the centaurs built a wall here of all places? Especially when the silver armored centaur said that they have no way of organizing themselves.”

A question asked and answered without thinking

“I built it.”

At that, many gasped in surprise.

The old faun blinked a few times before speaking again

“You.. built it? Why... and. How?

Once again, answering without much thought

“I used earth magic to build it. I have spent about fourteen days on it... Was told by God”

I droned on, not really thinking about what I was saying as I was lost in my mind.

A stunned silence

The old faun made her first expression as she smiled, but quickly turned sour as she heard the word “God”

“God told you?”

“Yeah, the centaurs God told me to build a wall to save the centaurs from the swarm. Said something about a prophecy.”

At that, the room went ballistic.

Almost everyone standing up as they shouted in disbelief

First towards me, then towards each other.

“It can’t be true.”

“What is the prophecy?”

“Is this a test from God?”

“Is God punishing us for following a dragon?”

“We are gonna die.”

Back and forth, elders were yelling

Like a bunch of headless chickens.

“SILENCE”

The old faun shouted loudly, a magically enhanced shout that made most stumble backward at the shock.

“WE NEED MORE ANSWERS BEFORE WE START SPECULATING”

She shouted, making the gathered elders silent again.

A loud sigh escaped her mouth, a clear vein on her forehead.

“Now. God?”

She said, tired and wanting answers

I locked eyes with her.

“Yes, their god had a prophecy where the swarm would devour the stepp if someone could not come and build a wall to defend it. ”

I let the words sink in for a bit, not for any dramatic purpose. Only trying to gather my thoughts.

“He told me that.. we were prophesied to save the stepps”

“We?”

“Or, maybe not we? Maybe it was me? I don’t know, he was so unclear, he even said that he did not know who he had prophesied about”

The elders seemed shocked.

A God not knowing something?

How?

“Then, are you saying that God wanted you-.. us to defend the stepp?”

For the first time during my questioning, I looked up certain.

Saying one simple word.

“Yes”

And with that, I had brought about change to the world.

Change that would save a race

Change that would give power to a god who did not long for it

And change that would make me lose something dear

But that was for the future me to discover.