3.62 Europa

Neter stirred as a soft warm tongue began lapping his cheek, the scent of wet dog was strong... What dog? Consciousness returned fast, instantly he was reminded of where he was, what had happened... He was alive…

         The dog lapping his face again assured him he wasn't hallucinating, he pulled his hand to reach out but it was pinned beneath the rubble. He tried to move his limbs but it felt like his entire body was pinned down beneath the rubble. Slowly he worked his arms free enough to wiggle them out, which enabled him to work the rest of his body out of the rubble. His legs were injured, but now he could sit up and breathe. Breathe the acrid air.

         Injured but alive, Neter was glad to have a companion, realizing now the dog was most likely from Kergal.

         "I’m going to call you Shadow" he rubbed his head, grateful for his life saving affection. "You like that name?"

         The dog wagged his tail and licked his hands, seemingly as happy to find Neter as Neter was to find him. He took a moment to assess his next move, the entrance wasn’t far… The toxic draft and smelly air breezing in from the opening suggested an ugly storm outside. He paused his breathing for a moment to listen; the rumbling in the earth had subsided, but there was another rumble… It wasn’t the hurricane outside… He could feel the draw of a tidal wave… Up at this elevation he would be okay but Mu wouldn’t be!

         Agonized, he dropped his head into his hands as he realized that his home town would likely be devastated! He tried to get up onto his knees, but one of his legs was obviously broken. He sat down again, frustrated, defeated. The air was so bad it was burning his lungs, the pain was so intense it was making him lose consciousness, and thirst was setting in fast.

         Shadow whimpered and pawed his chest. The dog was probably thirsty too… He fumbled around for his pack, still tethered to his side it was now a lifesaver. He thought about his loved ones as he took a sip from his flask, thanking Mina for her foresight... Were they all okay?

         He poured some water into his palm for Shadow and listened to the roar... Inside the tunnel he was sheltered, he had some food and water but it wouldn't last long. If he couldn't make it out to Kergal he would surely perish here in the mountainside.

         Distracted by screams and yelling outside, Orius got up from the breakfast table to take a look out the window. A slow tide of debris was creeping into the city of Ebar, everywhere the people were clambering up onto the roofs of their houses, animals were running for the hills.

         "Nolan, you'd better come take a look at this!"

         The gods got up to go look out the window.

         "The river surged, it's spilled it's banks!!"

         Nolan stared out the window in wonder, he couldn't believe his eyes…

         "Wow.... Is that…"

         "Just a coincidence."

         Orius was speechless, he couldn’t believe this, this wasn’t a coincidence, this was a global storm. He knew Nolan was just a Fall Guy but they let him do this? It was becoming horribly apparent just how dangerous he was, his stupidity was outstanding, there was a serious screw loose, he was just embarrassing.

         "What about Aquilla?" Medena hissed, shuffling to the window to see, now concerned with Lemuria's welfare. "How do you know you even got him?"

         "You don't ever have to worry about Aquilla!" Nolan assured.
         "Will anyone in Lemuria survive?" No one knew the answer. In spite of his reassurances, Medena was growing more concerned by the minute, she knew Orius had been right about the tidal wave now.

         "What about the gang in Kergal? Seton? What do you think? Are they okay?"

         "What gang in Kergal?" Orius grilled.

         No one volunteered. Seton gazed out beyond the flooding streets to the dark clouds on the horizon. They foretold of hazy days ahead, it wasn't a coincidental dust storm. It was becoming apparent, even from Ebar, the damage had been extensive. The toxicity and radiation from destruction of such a grand scale would have a devastating effect, but they would grow stronger from it. 

         "It's hard to say" he replied, wisely. "We'll have to go see when the dust settles, won't we?"

         "You're an IDIOT!" Medena cuffed the back of Nolan's head and returned to her seat at the breakfast table. "You STUPID idiot!"

         Still sitting at the table, Eden followed the discussion with a sinking heart, picking at her food with her fork, terrified for Lemuria...

         Inside the Crystal Temple the slurry of toxic seawater and debris gradually receded as the surge passed, the wind, still blowing through the openings had cooled off somewhat and could begin to dry things out. When out of the darkest sadness, devastated and reduced to despair, the shivering and shattered souls were suddenly awoken from their woes by the sound of a new born baby claiming it's first breaths of life. A round of cheers and joy suddenly erupted inside the temple, somehow amidst the turmoil of the catastrophe Nina had managed to bring a healthy baby girl into the world, filling their hearts with new hope for life.

         "What are you going to call her?" Jasun asked as he held the fragile infant in his arms, wrapped in kitchen towels, the driest blankets they could find. In spite of the darkness, she was glowing with warmth and life, so beautiful, for a moment he forgot all the heartache around him.

         "Her name is Europa" Nina replied, overwhelmed by the new love in her life. The grip of Europa's tiny hand around her finger was tight and strong. She knew what force had brought her into the world today. The Solstice was a sacred day, a powerful day, and today it had been devastated by Evil. Only a sacred child of the Phoenix could have been born from the ashes of such a heartbreaking and devastating time as this.