| "The light had faded, but all was not lost." |
| "They were Raveen, like you. Only much, much, more advanced. I called them friends, but they had to leave me behind." |
| images and content © Alicia Brons |
| They were not the only Raveen on the planet. There was one who remained, who found them when they were cubs, and helped them to survive in the harsh world of Arkuras. His name was Luuntao, and he'd been on Arkuras since it's beginning, and he would be there till it's end. "This world and I are the same. As long as it lives, I will as well." The Eternal Kat was soft-spoken, but focused. Keeping the Sensors thriving was his only goal until the WoRs arrived - then it became his goal to keep them alive. Luuntao taught them how to survive in the world, how to use the Sensors, and kept them away from the dangers of the Swarm. As they grew older he allowed them to wander on their own - trusting them to keep themselves alive. Unfortunately, Arkuras was an unforgiving world, and the it took the lives of a number of WoRs. Luuntao, sick with guilt, began to keep a closer eye on the adult WoRs, but was never able to keep them completely safe. Especially from each other. When the WoRs returned to their own world, three years had passed for them. They returned fully grown. |
| The Swarm was a massive hive of insects that had grown out of control. Originally created to help maintain the plants that had once covered Arkuras, they mutated in unexpected ways. They became larger than intended, and their hunger grew out of control. They began to eat everything, and left nothing behind in their wake. In a matter of months, Arkuras had been reduced from a garden world to a ravaged desert. The Swarm still thrives; having adapted to eat energies, and they've set their appetites on the Towers that hold the energies of Arkuras. It will only be a matter of years until they've devoured the energies, and killed the planet and surrounding stars entirely. The WoRs would've been seen as food by these hulking insects. Any unlucky enough to approach a Swarm would not return to tell the tale. |
| The planet was called Arkuras. Originally inhabited by a very tech-advanced species, it had once been a thriving garden of towering plantlife. When it had been inhabited, the Arkurasans built massive Towers they used to pull the energy of the stars into Arkuras itself; creating a humming energy beneath the world's surface that kept the world above alive without the necessity of a sun or moon. It had the unexpected result of causing the plantlife to grow uncontrollably. The Arkurasans were forced to create a species of insects to regain control of the plants, but they - the Swarm - became another unforeseen mistake. They ravaged the world, leaving it in ruin, and the Arkurasans were forced to leave or become food to their own creations. The Towers remained, and so too did the robotic Sensor units that kept them operational. Arkuras became a world where life only existed in the Swarm and the Sensors. |
| (above) The Sensors. |
| (above) Luuntao. |
| On the day of the Eclipse those born beneath the cursed moons were taken away in a mechanic whirl of light. They were teleported into a world very different from the one they were born into. Arkuras. A world cursed by mistakes, and inhabited by the things left behind. It was a hot, humid, world covered in orange sands and blue waters. Always humming with the static of energy, it was a world that felt alive even when it was long abandoned. The WoRs were lucky to be found by the only surviving Raveen left. He took them under his wing, and raised them as best he could. Arkuras was not a world forgiving of youth, and it had been so long since the young had wandered the sands. "To survive, you will need to do exactly as I teach you. You will need to work with this world, or it will let you die." Arkuras had no prey animals left on it. Though there was water, there were no fish or other lifeforms to eat. In order to survive, the WoRs were altered and given devices that let them siphon energies from the Towers that were built all over the world. They were also given Sensors - small pieces of tech that were bonded to them and acted as translators and guides. "You have everything you need to survive. Avoid the Swarm, and keep alive. One day, you'll leave here. It's up to you to survive until that day arrives." |
| (above) size comparison between a Swarm insect and a grown Raveen |
| (with a quirky sense of humour, Luuntao had given names to the WoRs that were either types of rocks, crops, or trees. Since most of the WoRs didn't know their original birth names, they were often stuck with these names.) |
| (Sensors are mechanical in nature, and have the illusion of personality. They communicate through whirls and clicks - but have the capability of speech. Their primary operation is to keep watch over the Towers, but some have been re-purposed into guides for the WoRs.) |
| The Whispers of Rekura who existed on Arkuras were: The Survivors; "Nettle" - female Flower Kat "Taro" - female Bone Kat "Citrine" - female Sun Kat "Okra" - female Explosive Kat "Pitch" - male Gloom Kat "Maize" - male Moon Kat "Kumara" - female Robotic Kat "Elm" - male Snow Kat "Quartz" - male Star Kat "Sassafras" - female Evil Kat "Kyanite" - male Water Kat "Prasiolite" - male Insect Kat "Mica" - female Dream "Henbane" - female Jinx Kat The Fallen; Chokos - female Chime Kat. Went missing in a sandstorm, believed to have been buried alive. Granite - female Nightmare Kat. Killed by the Swarm. Birch - male Sand Kat. Incinerated by a Tower. Pear - female Cloud Kat. Killed by the Swarm. Arborvitae - male Wind Kat. Killed by the Swarm. Balsam - male Plant Kat. Froze to death. Agate - female Magic Kat. Drowned. Heliodor - female Light Kat. Killed under mysterious circumstances. Larch - male Wreath. Accidental death. |
