Xlauax felt almost disoriented and dizzy, feeling a strange nausea shiver its way down his body as his mind numbed for what felt like minutes but in actuality was mere seconds whilst the starseer’s gaze lingered on him. Izqux’s face became completely blank as unknown emotions, unforeseen thoughts and forgotten memories flicked through his wrinkled face.
Ensnared Xlauax felt his eyes meet with the skinks for mere moments. During which the seer’s burned with a strange intensity causing the chameleon's vision to become hazy and out of focus until Izqxu moved on after what seemed like an eternity
In a heavy silence, Izqux’s face turned back to a slight sorrow before he gently turned back around to address the room.
“I-it is in these m-moments of seeming desperation and sorrow in which we must strive to endure in defiance of anguish... May we only ever become more focused and ever devoted to the great plan through these unsparing times, Not for ourselves, Not for our camp but for our brothers, for our species. And for the old ones who surely gaze down upon us!”
The starseer’s emotions begin to leech through his mask as his whole form burns with a reignited passion causing the many gathered lizardmen to now all become silent before giving a gentle nod.
“Some is all we need to begin our recovery Tiqxtoltiq, Those huts that are repairable should be reclaimed as should the cold stone of rubble and ruin be utilised, With little work and time we can first begin by scavenging what we can from the already destroyed, our few Emergency supply stocks should be brought forth... ” Izqux continues, advising minor priests and skinks in between breaths as he focuses his attention onto Tik
“S-scourched jungle, withered trees and mounds of ash are of no use to us, no use to us at all… Must our Scavenging parties hunt deeper and further? Foraging efforts are otherwise fruitless... ” Uykar sternly interrupts Izqux amongst a storm of other chatter from other similar skinks.
“The jungle has always been relied on, and in these times this reliance only further grows. As you say… We must send out parties deeper, but also in more number… More foragers to feed the wounded... More gatherers to collect supplies… Uykar, Can our Ahuatli be prepared? We first need more inspection of the damages before Tiqxoltiq should gather kroxigors and Talock Withdraw more saurus for the cause...” Izqux replies, his eyes darting from skink to saurus as his speech echoes throughout the room, the recent mention of the wounded causes Zuztle to stand up, his breaths rapid as he is permitted to leave the room in order to attend the many that undoubtedly need his help...
“Must I take men from the artefacts for gathering?”
“N-no, No… The artefacts should be further guarded and protected. We will not lose yet anot… w-we must protect them at all costs until further food, and resources can be gathered...” Izqux replied to the Saurus's simple yet effective questions
“Our primary Excavations must be ceased until recovery… Kuoteq’eko, How many chambers did you uncover? Must we send down yet another party? Only after every item has been reclaimed and the resources required we must undoubtedly begin the preparations f-for T-Tlaxtlan... ”
The cities words still reverberating from the walls with the sound of a gentle hiss, Uykar and other skinks now glance at each other before looking up at the seer in anticipation as too did Xlauax, the singular word sending his mind back into a relapse of memories and past...
----
Taking a deep breath of the smokey air Xolek glances around, The beast tamer’s bay had seen better days… But despite that, the building still stood tall in ignorance of its injuries and broken, burnt wooden beams. Luckily most of the area had been scavenged in order to construct many makeshift pens which held an array of distraught beasts and a cacophony of screeches and grunts.
The already hard and intensive job of the beast tamers only became more evident as the noise of commotion blasted from around the corner, taking the form of a cloud of fresh, blazing smoke.
“Xiuhcoatl” Xolek whispered turning the corner, his words carried away on the wind, riding the smoky fumes as both the salamander and a desperate skink handler came into view.
Unnoticing of the oricle, the handler was attempting to move the beast into one of the outside pens with the use of a handling stick and an array of tools all seemingly useless as the beast whipped around in a frenzy, pulling the skink down causing him to frantically doge its ferocious attacks... Unnaturally active it was as if the presence of flames and smoke had reinvigorated the salamander into new heights of energy and aggressiveness which only stopped for a mere second as the animal noticed Xo.
Flicking around yet another time, the handler’s attempts of regaining balance were swiftly ended by a swing of the tail before the beast stood distracted, its eyes mesmerized by the oracles presence. With each step closer, the now faint handprint embedded within the creatures face almost flashed in a dim spark of azure blue...
