# Six Paths - Prelude Part 2

Author: Rtlstien
Tags: Clean, Human, Lynx, Story Progression, Story Series, Wolf

#2 of Six Paths

Part 2 to the Six Paths Prelude

Six Paths Prologue Part 2

 

          This prologue will be the starting point of all six paths.  I thought about it, and felt it would be redundant and unnecessary to start off every one of the paths with the exact same thing.

 

Just a note - I will be using "" and \<\> for dialog.

"These will be used when speaking in English" or

"Luno.&nbsp; Suni sua ono" Runga that isn't translated.

\<These will be used for translated Runga.\>&nbsp; The above would be \<Hello.&nbsp; Nice to meet you\> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

---------------------------------------------------------

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Upon arriving in Lukea I began to realize just how different it was from the Saro Islands.&nbsp; Sure, I knew that I was heading to a continent, but I was surprised to see how differently things work here.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cars are the primary form of transportation on the islands, but here cars are basically non-existent.&nbsp; There are cars here, but they fall into one of three categories: the first being that they are owned by someone very wealthy, the second being is they are available to transport anything from people to cargo somewhere in the city. &nbsp;The third it that they are owned for safety- the police force in Lukea, the Nevase, are able to get around more efficiently here since the streets are practically clear.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I couldn't help but chuckle saying their names.&nbsp; Nevase... never say what?

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So... it made me wonder how I was going to get to Serona.&nbsp; Cars are confined to specific cities and there are no roads connecting cities together.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;The solution?&nbsp; I'm taking a train.

&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Trains are the backbone of Lukea, the primary form of transportation.&nbsp; There are subways interlacing the cities and above ground trains for traveling greater distances.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When I arrived at the train station I was surprised by two things.&nbsp; The first that had plagued my mind since landing at the airport was that none of the Koja were paying attention to me.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Huh... either humans aren't that big of a deal here... or they are just too distracted to really care about me being here.&nbsp; The lack of attention actually made me feel like I was still on the island, something that made me grin.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The second thing that surprised me was how huge this station was.&nbsp; There had to be at least a dozen tracks that led to different areas all around Lukea.&nbsp;&nbsp; The larger, longer trains were obviously heading for the more popular destinations; perhaps another city or maybe one of the suburbs?

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So yeah... the size of the train was dependent on how popular the destination was... I looked over at the track were my train was... wow... I couldn't help but chuckle.&nbsp; The train I was going to take was only one car long.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I went to the electronic map in the center of the station to make sure that was the right train.&nbsp; This was a cool device.&nbsp; There were two maps... a smaller one that displayed all of the trains, their destination, and their departure time.&nbsp; There was also a larger map that showed the routes of every train. &nbsp;Little lights on the paths showed where each train was.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I looked at the smaller map and confirmed that the small train was indeed the one I needed to take to get to Serona.&nbsp; I sighed... I was hoping to ride in one of larger ones.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Whoa!&nbsp; The train was going to leave in a few minutes!&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;All trains work on a precise schedule.&nbsp; There are no conductors; everything is computer controlled to maintain efficiency.&nbsp; There wasn't going to be another train coming for four hours and the current one wasn't going to wait for me!&nbsp; I quickly went back to the small car and boarded.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well... it wasn't so bad in this car. I was able to stretch my legs more than I could in the plane, and I would be able to walk around during the trip.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An automated voice spoke on the intercom saying that the doors were about to close.&nbsp; I looked around and figured I was going to be the only one riding this train.&nbsp; As I began to sit back I heard the sound of frantic footsteps and looked just in time to see two Koja narrowly making it into the car.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They were huffing with a look of triumph on their faces.&nbsp; I asked them if they were alright.&nbsp; They looked up at me and their eyes widen with surprise.&nbsp; I guess it was only a matter of time before I would have gotten that reaction...

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<Human?\> the male Koja said.&nbsp; He was a feline Koja, similar to a Lynx.&nbsp; Both he and the female Koja, a brown wolf, were dressed very formally.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<Did the two of you just get off work?\> I asked.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<Yes.\>&nbsp; The wolf said.&nbsp; \<We were lucky today... most days we end up missing the train back home...\>&nbsp; The two focused on me intently.&nbsp; \<Are you going to Serona?\>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I nod my head and smile.&nbsp; \<Yeah... I'll be staying there for a full year.\>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The two of them yawned as they took a seat opposite of me.&nbsp; \<Looks like our town is going to be lively soon.\>&nbsp; The Lynx said as he let out another yawn.&nbsp; \<Sorry we aren't more social right now.&nbsp; We get up very early to catch the train to work.&nbsp; We usually take a nap on the ride back.\>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I told them I didn't mind and allowed them to slowly fall asleep as the cityscape started disappearing on the horizon.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was engrossed in watching the sights pass by out the window.&nbsp; As far as I could see there was nothing but land.&nbsp; It was an odd but exciting thing to see.&nbsp; I watched as the scenery changed from wide open fields to lightly dense forests to rocky slopes.&nbsp; We must have been getting close.&nbsp; No sooner that I had thought that the intercom came on and announced that the train would be coming to a stop in ten minutes.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This woke the two Koja.&nbsp; They stretched their arms and legs as their eyes slowly adjusted to the light again.&nbsp; \<Has it really been almost two hours?\> the wolf asked as she looked out the window.&nbsp; The train started to slow down to take a few sharp turns.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was a shame that the ride was coming to an end.&nbsp; I was really enjoying the sights.&nbsp; Luckily... it decided to save the best for last.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The mountain walls became wider and wider until I was able to see the sun again, and that wasn't all.&nbsp; My eyes widened as I looked out the window and saw huge valley.&nbsp; There was a large river separating the valley that flowed into a huge lake.&nbsp; On both sides of the river were buildings that spanned all the way to the edges of the mountains.&nbsp; The area around the lake was less dense.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I couldn't believe all of this existed within these mountains.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<What do you think?\>&nbsp; The lynx asked.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Wow..." I didn't realize I had said that in English.&nbsp; I looked behind myself and noticed the two of them trying to figure out what I had said.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The train stop in Serona wasn't anywhere near as big as the one in the city and definitely nowhere as crowded.&nbsp; As the train came to a stop I noticed there wasn't a single person waiting to get on.&nbsp; I grabbed my luggage and waited at the door with the two Koja.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<Well it was nice meeting you\> said the lynx.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<Perhaps we'll see you again sometime\> said the wolf.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<Perhaps.\>&nbsp; I responded as the door opened.&nbsp; I let them step out first and watched as they walked away.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

I stood outside the train and stretched myself as I took in the horizon again.&nbsp; I could clearly see both moons on the horizon.&nbsp; They looked so different here.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was brought out of my minor stupor by the sound of the train doors closing behind me.&nbsp; As the train started rolling away I noticed there was another map like the one at the station.&nbsp; It didn't have the smaller screen that displayed all the trains, but it did have the larger map.&nbsp; This one, however, didn't have all the paths the like the other did.&nbsp; There was only one path on here... and only one light.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I followed the map in the direction the train was now heading.&nbsp; There seemed to be another town to the north.&nbsp; It looks like the train does a loop in that town to turn around.&nbsp; Well no wonder the time between trains is so long.&nbsp; That car is the only one on the track!&nbsp; I was definitely glad I hadn't missed it.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<I sure am glad you managed to make it on this train.\>&nbsp; I heard a voice behind me say.&nbsp; I turned around and saw a black wolf in an officer's outfit.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<A Nevase, huh?\> I made sure not to chuckle this time...&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<That's right.\>&nbsp; He said.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<You don't seem surprised to see me...\> I motion my hands to point out I'm human.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<Well... you aren't the first human I've seen, but you are the first I've spoken to.\>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<I meant aren't you surprised to see a human in this town?\>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He shook his head.&nbsp; \<We were contacted ahead of time and told that a human would be residing here.&nbsp; The problem is that not all of the residents know about you.\>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<You've told them a human would be coming?\>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<Yes... but we didn't tell them when you would be arriving.\>&nbsp; He scratched his ear.&nbsp; \<We thought it would be better for you and the town if everyone didn't flock to see you.\>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<Yeah... thank you for that.\>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<We also thought it would be a good idea to drive you to your destination so you don't wander through the streets, attracting attention... unless that's what you want?" He gave me a coy smile.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I quickly shook my head, eliciting a bit of laughter from the officer.&nbsp; He loaded my bags into the back of this car.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \<So where are you heading?\> he asked me as he started up the car.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I reached into my bag for the paper that had the address.&nbsp; I pulled it out and handed to him...

&nbsp;

----------------------------------------------------------

Well the stories will start after this.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

What do you think about Runga?&nbsp; I'm just wondering if I should bother creating this language or just use the \<\> every time they speak.&nbsp; I wanted to do something creative, but I don't know if anyone cares about it or not. ^\_^ '

&nbsp;

I have less than three weeks left of college.&nbsp; Once I'm done I'll be able to focus on Andun's story.&nbsp; I'm experimenting with the point of view.&nbsp; I'm not sure if the entire story will be told from the first-person perspective of the human, or if I'll switch between him and the kid.

&nbsp;

It won't be like the narrative of my first story series where basically both told their sides of the story during the same events.&nbsp; I intend to have no overlap.&nbsp; Instead I would do one scene with one person's perspective and then the next scene would show the other's perspective.&nbsp; It would all be dependent on what needs to be focused on during the scene.

&nbsp;

I'll be working that out.

&nbsp;

Hope you enjoyed this short prologue.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/0mv779yn
Part of the series Six Paths
Previous: https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/308855-six-paths-prelude.md
Next: https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/369670-six-paths-andun-part-1.md