Chapter 3: Out with the Old

“Calm down everyone. Calm down please! We have heard your concerns. We too are worried and hurt by this new revelation. Do not use these feelings to turn on your fellow Weti and fellow Huts.” Mother Ratata addresses a crowd of people in a large building within New Chibli. The attendance is so great that people are gathered outside the windows in doors with others relaying what is being said from the inside. “We need answers! What happened to the Titans? Why is one of their skulls on this land?” A man yells as the crowd encourages him. “The Titans that we know, and worship are in no danger. Though we have not seen their physical form, we have contacted them, and their power is…” Mother Ratata hesitates, “their power is still with us. It may be paused for now or weakened with this new discovery.” Mother Shannon interjects: “Just how you people of Boogatata are confused and saddened, the Titans are too. Mourning for their fallen.” The crowd mumbles to themselves, discussing with their neighbours about this mourning.

“How can there be a Titan skull with no Titan? I thought they could not die being as powerful as they are.” A small Weti man says with a shiver in his voice. The crowd erupts again with sound with this question. “We…are uncertain.” Mother Ratata replies with the sound of despair in her voice. “Why would the Titans not share their vulnerabilities? What have they to hide from us? Did…did they lie to us?” A voice from outside yells this into the rooms and the crowd descends into chaos. The Mothers look to each other with uncertainty. They take in the voices of the angry crowd and compose themselves. More questions from the crowd berate the Mothers: “If the Titans can die, what separates them from us?” “Yeah! Why can’t we get our own tower with powers in it?” “If these Titans aren’t lying to us, then they should come and defend themselves.” The crowd calms with this question as they turn to the unfamiliar voice.

A very pale Weti man moves through the crowd towards the Mothers to the Wet at the front. He moves with a stiffness to himself, as if parts of his body were made of wooden planks. He gets to the front and kneels. “My dear Mothers of the Wet. We Weti and Hut respect the burden you have taken on from the Titans. To be the bridge between them and us has taken its toll on you. We are not mad at you. We just want the Titans to show us what they show you. They have given you a powerful tool, no? Please, if you will, allow me to gaze into the scrying pool or, tell us yourselves what you see.”

The Mothers turn to each other and whisper briefly before turning back to face the crowd. Mother Hamick nods to Chibhier to retrieve the scrying pool. After a few minutes, he returns with the help of other Weti and Hut with the pool. They place it down on the raised platform where the Mothers are. The Mothers gather around the pool and join hands as they gaze into it. The water is a clear blue and begins to spin around. Near the edge, a single green drop appears and begins to spin with the rest of the water, growing as it travels. Eventually, the water turns fully green and opens to show a vision: great waves plague the ocean, toppling over the beacons that have been built along the water. Great winds and storms pick up and destroy buildings and forest. The Titan door opens wide as fire erupts from its base lighting the continent ablaze. The vision shrinks and the water calms in the pool. The Mothers of the Wet look up to each other horrified.

The pale Weti man steps back from the pool as he watched from over their shoulders. People in the crowd call out: “What did you see? What was it?” The man replies: “What I knew they would. Destruction and ruin. The Titans have lied to us. They tried to hide secrets from us and now that we have discovered them, they will lash out at us like children who do not get their way.” “That’s not true!” Mother Shannon shouts out to the man. “Oh? You saw it yourself. Giant waves, powerful winds, and fire to burn us all to the ground so that they can start anew. Well I say no to that. Why should we worship that which is not great but mortal? You, the people of Boogatata, have proven your strengths and that you too have great powers. Why do we need the Titans when they have left us for dead?” The crowd cheers the pale man on as he speaks. “So, let us show the Titans that we do not need their blessings or powers. We do not need to communicate and convene with them. All we need to do is show them that we are the alpha and the omega of this world!” The cheering roars louder as the pale Weti looks towards the crowd. The Mothers of the Wet look at the man, then to each other. They all grab the scrying pool and attempt to take it away. Before they can get far with it, Chibhier stands in the doorway, blocking their path.