Táltos of Godwhip

As was his habit now days, Rahul woke up at the crack of dawn before Teveli could wake him. So, when the Koál boy crouched down next to the adventurer to wake him up, Rahul sat up smiling and took his place by the faintly flickering fire.

"I don't recognise myself, I've never been someone who gets up so early." He ran his fingers through his hair, then out of habit he started picking at his earring.

"It's because of the protective field." He suddenly heard a low voice and when he looked up he saw Razvan approaching him.

"What protective field?" He asked and rested his arms on his knees. Razvan sat down next to him and turned to face the fire.

"In order to protect our people, there is a protective field over all of Madüjawr, maintained by the great leader. Thanks to this, we quickly notice when they want to attack us. It usually has a strange effect on those who live across the border. Since you also came from there, it is not strange that it affected you. If you ask me, you still got away pretty well." Razvan explained.

"I liked to sleep though." Rahul sighed sadly and closed his eyes as he hit his head against the wall, when he suddenly felt Razvan put his hand on his shoulder.

"You'll get used to it on your own after a while, but don't worry I'll get you something for it when I get home." The boy smiled.

"Oh, so the team splits up again?" Rahul asked with a hint of desperation in his voice. He was already getting used to the strange team.

"Who the hell is spliting up?" A voice came from the sleeping team and when Rahul looked there, he saw Achilleus sitting up rubbing his eyes.

"Don't you have to go back to your tribes?" The chüvigh boy was surprised, according to his thinking, it would have been logical for the team to sign off with their tribes at the end of the competition and after that, somehow, although he didn't know how, the boys would somehow manage to meet again.

"No way! If we don't get away now, they won't let us go until next summer." A sleepy voice spoke. "Sorry, Wandi." Citar groaned as he pulled himself up.

"I'm used to you always punching me." Came the answer and the snow-white-faced boy sat up.

"Are we escaping?" Rahul blinked at the team.

"I would rather call it a tactical retreat." Teveli yawned as he straightened his messy hair.

"I think escaping is a good word for it. Isn't the point that we don't want them to notice us getting away together?" Suk also spoke, but unlike the others, he didn't sit up and didn't even open his eyes.

"You are up early." Razvan remarked, but after what he said, he smiled faintly.

"Not all." Achilleus cooed, then shook the person lying next to him. "Hey, peeing boy, get up!"

"Motherfucker!" The boy growled in a sleepy voice and punched the other, who woke him up in the nose. Which got Rahul to start giggling.

"Really, boss, we didn't discuss it in the end. Where are we going this year?" Citar asked, and the team curiously turned to the leader.

"First to our place, then we could go moonwalking to the east, it wouldn't hurt to test our skills in unknown terrain." He said seriously, but the team members now looked at him with shining eyes and even Suk sat up.

"Are we going to the boss's?" Suk muttered and his eyes were almost on fire. Razvan, on the other hand, just nodded, and the team started cheering enthusiastically.

"Now what made you all so enthusiastic?" Asked Rahul looking at Razvan, who turned to him and spoke with a half smile on his face.

"You'll find out when we get there." He said suspiciously, and Rahul just rolled his eyes.

After a quick breakfast, the team set up camp and took on the mountain roads, as before Rahul went next to the leader, followed by Citar and Wandi, behind them Benkó and Achilleus, whom Rahul called a quarrelsome pair, and behind them Suk and Teveli.

Their journey took several days, and Rahul had to realize that the mountain roads were much more difficult to drive than the valleys or fields he was used to. Several times he almost fell on his nose and there were times when he clung to the Tapló boss longer than he should have, when the path was too narrow and he could see perfectly how high he was. However, their journey came to an end after four days. To another cave, at the entrance of which lanterns lit with blue flames were burning.

"We won such things at the Heginjülin." Rahul said surprised.

"Yes, these are eternal lanterns. If you light them, they can light up for a whole year. That's why these prizes in the competition are valuable things." Razvan explained as he led the team into the cave. He walked the corridors as if he already knew every little detail of the place. Rahul blinked curiously at the corridors they passed. He saw people bustling along several corridors, or a dim light at the end of them. There were scents that made his mouth water.

"Sir! You are back! Welcome home!" Razvan was addressed by several passing people in red clothes, who all smiled and waved to the team. And Razvan just nodded at them.

"Didn't you say the tribes weren't on good terms, so why aren't they mad that we're here?" Rahul asked the question.

"Ah, the Zaukáns and the Vojks are exceptions. They are neutral." Suk waved.

"The chief is the next chieftain of the Zaukáns. It's not the first time we've been here." Benkó continued the story.

"It's okay, guys, shut up. We are here." Razvan silenced the team and then entered a huge room. Rahul could clearly see that colourful glowing plants were growing on the ceiling of the room, which filled the whole place with blue, purple, and pink light. On the far side of the room sat two women and a man at a table, who immediately turned to the team when they entered. A wide smile spread across Razvan's face. "Hello! I came back!" He announced, before they jumped up and hurriedly came to the team.

"My baby! My pride and joy has come home." The taller woman hugged Razvan tightly. "And you brought your friends too! Welcome, I hope you had a successful shooting." The woman smiled at the children. Rahul was not surprised that there was a strange mark next to her eyes as well. Already in the Heginjülin, he realized that this could be something that applyed to all Zaukáns.

"But he still hasn't brought home a wife." The man sighed as well, before the woman let go of Razvan and slapped him on the shoulder.

"But Gusich." She put her hands on her hips grumpily.

"What? It's about time." The man rolled his eyes.

"You don't have to try that hard, dad, you know that brother can't stand women." The shorter girl came forward, who looked almost exactly like Razvan, only as a girl.

"Lolla!" The team leader spread his arms and hugged the girl. "You're the only girl I can stand, little sister." He giggled.

"You are stupid brother! Well, could you introduce the new boy? Anyway, hello to the others." The girl let go of her brother and waved to the team.

"Right sweety, introduce your new friend." The other woman cheered.

"Dear Viola, you could let them sit down first. Judging by their energy, they had been walking all day." The man spoke.

"Good gods! Come on, come on!" The woman started to the table and when the other two members of the family and Razvan started to follow her, the team hurried after her too. After a few minutes, they were already sitting at the table, Rahul again next to Razvan, although he still didn't know how he got to this place.

"They are my family, my father Zaukán Gusick, my mother Viola and my wonderful little sister Lolla." Razvan said when everyone settled down. And his family smiled kindly at Rahul, it's true that their attention made the hair on the boy's back stand up, but when the rest of his team didn't show any sign that something was wrong, he tried to calm himself down. "And he is the newest member of our team." Razvan started, but his mother interrupted him.

"What is your name, my son? You have very interesting energies." She said.

"Which tribe are you a member of?" The man continued.

"Let him speak." The girl giggled, and Rahul swallowed hard.

"I don't belong to any tribe, sir. I've always been called that since I came here, so I'm getting used to that being my name. So nice to meet you, I'm Chüvigh Rahul."

"Chüvigh?!" The three Zaukáns asked at the same time.