The calamity of Tarón and Tullius

During the time of the first population, in the town of Borlon, Tarón and Tullius were inseparable. With less than one cycle separating them, Tullius never missed a chance to confirm that he was the eldest. Having survived the journey in the newly developed Esterghan and the construction of the village, the two believed themselves to be immortal. Day in and day out, the two could be seen playing together and creating mischief, the usual harmless mischief a boy of fourteen cycles - fifteen in the case of Tulius - manages to conjure up.

The only person in the entire village that was incensed was Taeroe, mother of young Tarón. Never will he be able to lead our village if he keeps this immature state of mind the matriarch of the village thought. It is time for him to settle down and I know the exact push to give. That same night she announced to the whole village how a search for a suitable wife for Tarón would start the next day.

The only person who protested louder than Tarón was Tulius. Upon hearing the announcement, the fear of losing Tarón made his feelings for his best friend quite clear. When it was clear that Taeroe was not listening to anyone and that her mind was made up, feeling his heart squeezed, Tulius blurted out, "but I love him, we are meant to be together!" After that outburst, Tulius' parents hurriedly returned home, fearful of the matriarch's reaction.

Knowing how his mother thought, Tarón kept his joy in check, and tried to concentrate on practical plans. Though concentration did not come easy. How wonderful that Tulius feels the same. He waited until his household were all sleeping before he got up, packed a few clothes in a small carryall, snagged some provisions and left home never to return. He waited silently beneath Tulius' window, listening intently for any movement coming from the inside but hearing only the beating of his own heart. Once he believed that everyone was soundly asleep, he tapped as gently as he could on the window. The window opened instantly and Tulius jumped out with the elegance of a landing albatross.

Hand in hand the two left Borlon behind.

Running through the night, Tarón elected to take refuge in the forest knowing that if anyone came after them, that would be the last place anyone would look. Just being together filled them with such joy that the sound made by the different predators were easily ignored. They walked for three days and three nights without seeing a passage out. Wolves constantly at their heels without engaging. On the fourth morning, Tarón and Tulius stopped at the foot of a Glittermagog .

For three days the entire village, led by Taeroe, had been looking for the two young men to no avail. The only place left was the dreaded forest. At dawn on the fourth day the village entered the forest to continue their search.

Exhausted and ravenous, the two soulmates had fallen asleep arm in arm. The howling of the search hounds echoed throughout the forest and woke Tarón and Tullius. Incapable of running away, knowing there was no way back, Tarón searched his carryall and pulled out an Inkberry . With instant understanding, they both cracked open the inkberry and ate the poisonous berry and juice. Once it was done, they decided to enter the unknown holding each other tight. Cold. Hungry. Tired. Together. Happy. Free.

Even though the town of Borlon searched the forest from one end to the other without finding the young lovers, till this day it is agreed by anyone who enters the Blue Forest that not only the cries and lament of the young boys can be heard, carried by the wind, but before long, they are met with a sense of despair and sadness.