Spheria Read Online Free PDF Page B

the sphere. Details were small but closer. She could see the hives in the Colony from where she was, and even a couple Polyans moving around. She wondered if anyone would look up and see them as well. They wouldn’t believe what they saw, even if they did.
    The view down the other side of the mountain ridge was more spectacular still. Fingered veins of red created a web of rivers between which the foliage seemed sparser, like it was struggling for survival. It was clearly a more inhospitable place on this side, a place she dreaded visiting.
    Sa∙ma met her at the edge and followed her gaze. “That’s the ‘Proving Ground.’ We’ll be walking through there on the way to the Rift.”
    “Through there? But there is a much easier way to the Rift on our side.”
    Sa∙ma focused on the scene below him. He saw something in the distance that he never noticed before, a violet spot on an otherwise average sea of brown, blue, red, and green. This reminded him of an old legend, and he committed the approximate location to memory.
    “Sa∙ma?”
    “Yes?”
    “I asked you why we’re going through there when there is an easier way to the Rift near our Colony.”
    “I know, but getting to the Rift isn’t the only reason we’re on this walk. The journey is the reason we’re here. There will be many trials along the way, as is always the case. So keep a keen watch as we cross these lands.”
    She looked down again. She could see a group of lumbering shapes, which resembled her statue. A group of Zalisks. She’d never heard of more than one together before. But she guessed the harsh environment forced them to band together for protection, even with their mighty tusks. Having to attempt to navigate this gave her chills.  
    A large spiral pattern on the ground caught her eye. It was a dreaded Troaten. Many long tentacles swirled away from its central core, awaiting unsuspecting prey to approach.  
    Sa∙ma looked down upon the scene as well and remembered when he was an apprentice here with his master.
    #
    Go∙ma, Sa∙ma’s master, pointed down toward a herd of Zalisk. A much younger Sa∙ma followed the direction of his leg and saw the lumbering beasts below. He didn’t see the Troaten.
    “Watch,” Go∙ma said. “This is perfect. Our timing couldn’t be better.”
    “Why?” asked Sa∙ma.
    “Shh,” whispered Go∙ma.
    Sa∙ma shrugged and watched the Zalisks wandering through the brush looking for buried crystals. Without warning, one of the Zalisks flew into the air and was caught by three gigantic tentacles. A Troaten! Camouflaged and lying in wait, it had grabbed the closest Zalisk as it ventured nearby. It lifted it upwards toward its center. The remaining members of the herd were confused, and a large tentacle wrapped around another. Realizing what was happening, the remaining Zalisks charged the center of the Troaten. They pounded it with their tusks. This dislodged the second Zalisk, which fell to the ground, and rushed to assist the others. The Troaten then began to spin defensively, many of its tentacles forming a flailing spiral on the ground. The motion forced the Zalisks outward and held them at bay. The Zalisks attempted to poke into the whirling mass with their tusks, but each got swept aside. The herd gave up and watched as the first Zalisk, still being dangled in the air by two of the tentacles, was lowered onto the center. There, its core was pierced by the Troaten’s point, and its life energy was consumed.
    The lifeless carcass of inert polygons was flung over the herd and landed with a thud into one of the red rock veins. There it lay, unmoving. Gradually each piece turned red, and it sank into the river. The herd formed a line along the shore and watched their disappearing brethren. Then they turned, and moved along as if nothing had happened.
    It occurred to Sa∙ma that the Zalisks didn’t care that they’d lost one of their group. Their lack of compassion made him sad with unexpected