L O S T
The view from Linus Farm, Nadiem
Linus Farm had once been a sprawling mass of agricultural integrity, boasting several large domains across Nadiem each with its own caretaking branch of the lineage. But with time, and external pressures, these abodes had been rendered obsolete until just one ranch remained in the Northern Hemisphere. Brothers, Uncles, distant Cousins, all had left the world in search of better things, leaving Josiah Linus, his wife Ralien, and their two sons, the last remaining of the Linus Ranchers on the world.Josiah was a firm believer in hard work, and was extremely proud of his profession. He sought to instill the same view into his sons, with the hopes that they would begin to build up their name once again. But even their home was sorely lacking these days; scattered across the ranch, which was a formidable size, were outhouses which had seen better days. Many were crumbled to the ground, some lacked roofs, and none would be suitable to house even the lowliest of critters. Nevermind the large herd of Eopi they wrangled.
There was even a small grain farm, though it was mostly used to create feed for the herd and provided their household with a little extra sustenance when the harder seasons blew in.
With times so tough, Josiah had been forced to hire farm hands. They were brooding looking men, with stern expressions and very little to say. Sometimes the younger of the boys, Ilia, wondered if they were simply too dumb to speak; he himself was very ill educated, but he still held a conversation. These farm hands though did little more than eat, work and sleep. Ilia could swear they never took a bath, and their clothes were always caked in mud and dust. Then again, so were his. Even his best clothes were feeling tight and had scraggly ends.
Today was no different from any other day in the boy's frightfully average life. With his favourite stick in hand, held like a crook, Ilia wandered through the high grass plains of the ranch with his gaze set up to the sky. In the clouds he could make out all sorts of shapes; starships he rarely caught glimpses of as they flew overhead from the sprawling town below, the Eopi he was tired of looking at, a warm loaf of sour dough...
Ilia's stomach grumbled. He had been out since the crack of dawn, and had wolfed down his breakfast prior to that so he could come and watch for predators in the field. None had ventured close to the herd or the ranch from the looks of things, and now he was regretting not savouring his food. Glancing toward the sun, he noted the time and heaved a heavy sigh. Supper was a long way off.
Resuming his constant walk of vigil through the tall grass, the boy tore his gaze from the sky and instead peered across the grazing Eopi. As much as he was sick of the sight of them, he was rather attached. He loved the Eopi, even more perhaps than his Father. He just couldn't help but long for a little something extra to spice up his life. And that thought made him cast around his gaze in search of Julius. His brother could always make his day a little more fun, but the older boy was probably off running errands as usual.
Leaning against the crook Ilia sighed. It would be time to move the herd on soon, which meant seeking out Aida - his most favourite Eopi in the entire world whose skin was not the same mottled green as her brethren but instead a grimy shade of turquoise. Only a quick scan of the surrounding landscape yielded nothing.
Alarm bells ringing in his head, Ilia picked up the pace and began to practically run through the fields. "Aida!" he yelled, despite knowing that the creature didn't come when called, his eyes frantically scanning the ranch. Halting he put his hands together and brought them to his mouth, whistling loudly. The sound echoed through the surrounding hills, but still Aida was nowhere to be seen.
[member="Julius Linus"]
