Aggite moved ahead of Geode, talking as he walked.

“Our home is made up of a series of chambers and the connecting tunnels. We are currently leaving the area referred to as the Nursery. There are a few dozen spaces similar to the one we used during our last two cycles, all of which are connected to the Chamber of Awakening. The only other time you’ll come back here is if you are chosen to teach a new Scallionite after his birth.”

For each of Aggite’s strides, Geode had to take four. When the older Scallionite noticed the growing distance he slowed. “Getting the hang of movement?”

“Sort of,” Geode caught himself for a third time before falling over. “It’s still trickier than I thought it would be.”

“Try adding another leg. Shift them two by two instead of one at a time. Or you could add a short tail. They help with balance.”  Aggite whipped his tail around gracefully. “That’s how this one began.”

Geode pulled in a few more pebbles from the surrounding cavern and built for himself a fourth leg and a skinny tail. He turned his base so that the orange crystals were facing the ground, and his blue sapphire was in the front. As he walked he swung it back and forth. Aggite was right. It helped.

“You were chosen to teach me?” Geode asked as they moved down the passageway.

“Yes. After the ceremony of Awakening the Elder chose me to begin your journey.”

“Elder? Ceremony?”

“The Great Elder is our leader. His focus is to care for our brotherhood, to meet our needs and adjust our strategy to achieve success. You’ll meet him after we are done with our tour. And you might remember parts of your Ceremony of Awakening. It was quite the commotion. Some of it hangs on but the memories are always a bit fuzzy. It happened here.”

Aggite and Geode exited the tunnel and entered a huge bowl-like room with a giant rainbow crystal hanging from the ceiling, filling the center of the space. Geode was in such awe that he lost control over his left leg and crashed into the ground. It took him a few moments to retrieve the scattered pebbles and rebuild the limb. 

“Don’t worry. It happens to the best of us.” Aggite seemed sincere in his comment. “The Chamber of Awakening is our second most sacred place. This is where we hold our gatherings and where we assemble to welcome our new brother’s into the fold. It was here that you, and all new brothers were born.”

Geode looked up at the rainbow crystal that dominated the space. It seemed to pulse with energy as if to welcome him. A wave of relief washed over Geode as he stared at the mass, a feeling like an unknown burden was taken away. He felt connected to the crystal somehow, warm and safe under its gaze. 

“That is our Heart-Crystal. She is what gives us life. The Maker placed her here and our first Tenant is to guard her against any and all enemies.”

“Who is the Maker?”

“The Maker is our creator, the one who formed our forefathers, the Guilds and gave us our four Tenants.

“One, guard the Heart-Crystal.

“Two, dig and awaken your slumbering brethren.

“Three, patience, perseverance, dedication.

“Four, wait for my return.

“These are the four pillars we have practiced, our core beliefs that flow through everything we do.”

Aggite paused. “Yes, they flow through everything. And we must also trust the Great Elder. He knows what is best for us.”

“Trust him about what?”

Aggite looked towards Geode then shook his head. “Apologies little one. My thoughts became clouded. Think nothing of it. Shall we continue?”

“One moment, Aggite.”

A harsh voice echoed from near the top of the chamber. Out of the wide tunnel came a massive white Scallionite with a ruby red gemstone. He walked on four legs then rose up to two, pulling his massive upper limbs into fists. He looked like a titan, with powerful legs and arms, staring down at the two of them.

“You know as well as I, Aggite, that this little one is special.” The new arrival growled, “He needs to learn from a, proper, teacher.”

The white Scallionite beat his left fist into his chest. “I will take it from here.”

“Rangar, the High Elder –”

A second, silky voice swept through the chamber. “The High Elder did not summon you here, Rangar.”

From an opposite tunnel a dark gray Scallionite with a long, jagged purple gemstone slithered over to Geode and Aggite. He was nothing more than a long tail with half of it on the ground, the other half raising his gemstone high in the air.

The giant white Scallionite with the red gemstone growled again, “What are you doing here Kag’urr?”

The rock snake ignored Rangar’s question, “Let this little one come with me.”

“No!” Rangar shouted across the chamber. “I will not allow it!”

Kag’urr circled around Geode and Aggite, his stones surrounding the smaller Scallionites, creating a type of walled area. The larger Scallionite dipped his purple gemstone down and lightly touched Geode’s blue one.

“This one is weak.” Kag’urr raised his head up suddenly and looked up at Rangar. “Whatever the Elder has in mind for him, he won’t survive.”

“I am not weak!” Geode growled back, upset both at being ignored and for the comment.

Rangar crossed the chamber rapidly and stood in Kag’urr’s face, each step sending Geode into the air. “Even the smallest of cracks can split a boulder.”

“Brothers,” Aggite interjected. “The Elder has assigned Geode into my care. If you want to train him you must take that up with him.”

“Train him?” Rangar laughed then picked up Geode with his fist, sending his pebbles scattering. Geode struggled but couldn’t break free from the older Scallionite’s grip.

Rangar “We could do that, yes. Or we could end this madness right here.”

Geode could feel Rangar’s fist tighten around him.

Aggite climbed up his brother and whipped his tail around Rangar’s wrist. “If you even think about harming a brother…” He left the rest unsaid.

“Rangar, you and I are of a same mind on this, but this is not the way.” Kag’urr hissed.

“Put him down.”

Rangar turned Geode this way and that, Aggite barely holding on, “I’m hurt Aggite. To think I would even consider crushing this little one between my knuckles. Never.”

With his other hand, Rangar plucked Aggite off of his arm and set him back to the ground, then set Geode on Aggite’s back. The white Scallionite shook his head then turned away.

“Think long and hard about which side you are on Aggite. There is dust in the air.”

Kag’urr twisted and followed Rangar out. “The Elder is right about one thing, Aggite. Change is coming. You better watch your footing.”

As soon as he could after the two uninvited guests disappeared into the depths, Geode moved off of Aggite’s back, embarrassed, and gathered up his scattered pebbles.

“Who were those two?”

Aggite allowed himself to shake with rage. “The white one with the ruby was Rangar, though many refer to him as Rangar the Red. He’s the leader of the Diggers, but his temper is as well-known as his skill in crushing rocks. The other was Kag’urr, the Sniffers’ leader. He’s as proud as we come.”

“What were they talking about? Do they not like me? I haven’t done anything yet.”

Aggite shook his head. “It’s not you, little one, it’s what you represent. I need to leave any further detail for the Elder to explain.”

“What do I represent? Why do I have to wait?”

“Because that’s what I told him to do.”

A dark gravel Scallionite with a huge diamond head slowly walked into the chamber on eight long legs.

“That will be all Aggite. I will take it from here.”

Aggite bowed. “Yes Elder. Before you arrived, Rangar and – “

“Yes, I know. I was watching.”

“Then you know…”

“Yes.”

Aggite relaxed. “I will leave it to you then. We have just left the Nursery. I haven’t brought him to the Pit or the Stores, the Mine or anywhere else for that matter. And I haven’t touched on the Guilds or – “

“Thank you for your thoroughness,” the Elder cut Aggite off. “but none of that will be necessary. Geode is special.”

“Yes.” Aggite nodded, thought then nodded again. “Yes, of course.”

The Elder nodded with him. “You may go.”

Aggite moved up the steps and looked back once when he reached the top. It appeared as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself short before disappearing from Geode’s view.

The Elder moved in close to Geode, his very presence demanding his full attention. “Geode, these are uncertain times, and you unfortunately are in the center of our troubles. Would you like to hear what I have planned for you?”