The Myrk, the Atomi & the Cati

Written by Leigh_Wright

Tempest’s favourite stories were those told to ne by ne Cati friends. Ne were driven from nir home by the chitinous Myrk, those mysterious labyrinth-builders in the desert. There were five of them in the family. Three Elders, rooted into the ground: Toca, Cukt, Tkot. Two adults who, as is the norm, prefer to root only when necessary for nourishment or rest: Kio and Tikit.

Once the desert had many Cati families, but the desert soil has become increasingly hostile and devoid of the precious nutrients the Cati need. The Myrk are ever-expanding their chaotic towers, walls, trenches, tunnels and grottos above and below the ground. It must be they who are sucking the life out of the desert so that the Cati cannot survive.

The Elders knew the time had come for Kio and Tiki to leave the desert behind. Three branches from each of the Elders was cut, to be taken to fertile land for the chance of propagation. Kio and Tiki did not want to leave nir Elders behind, but ne knew ne must.

Ne found the Garden of the Lyal, where many Cati live in peace and serve as Guardians. Four of the nine branches were propagated, to much celebration, and now ne are Tempest’s friends: Tek, Octa, Takt and Kica. Tek had looked after Tempest and nir siblings when ne were younglings, and Tempest had started following Tek around as soon as ne developed legs. Not many Lyal venture to play in the Cati part of the Garden, but Tempest was there as often as ne could get away with.

Kio and Tikit were now Elders, rooted in fertile land. Ne tell stories of the desert to the Cati younglings. Tek, Octa, Takt and Kica have heard these stories many times and told them plenty as well, but ne never mind telling them again when Tempest asks. Ne believed all the stories were true until ne recounted some of them to ne siblings and was laughed at as a fool for believing in tales of imagination.

Some of the stories were about the Myrk fighting terrifying beings of stone and iron called the Atomi. Out of the ground, they came, or were discovered underground by the tunnelling Myrk. As big as a Cati and twice as hard to kill, the Atomi swung huge sharp weapons that destroyed everything they came into contact with. It took all the skill and magic of the Myrk to hold them back, and even so many lives were lost. The stories go that after this incursion, the Myrk were never quite the same, becoming less friendly and more industrious. Some say the ever-expanding labyrinth they build is some great defence against the Atomi, to keep them away or imprisoned. The stories may well be myth, as nir friends say, but Tempest would secretly love to visit the Myrk, and perhaps even see an Atomi for nemself one day, though ne would never admit it.