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A Legend of the Before People, of Elahu, the Chosen of Atelani

Keoro was gone. In the few short moons since Elahu had been taken captive, the forest had almost entirely reclaimed the earth on which the village had stood. Charred uprights rising above the thick mat of bushes and kuru vines were all that remained of the once-thriving community.

Elahu had known what he would find, but still he had held out the irrational hope that some had escaped, that some of his kin and neighbors had returned to begin life anew. As he took in the scene before him, the young buck realized that he had been entertaining a fool’s notion. Even if there were others like himself, they would not have come back here. The ghosts that hung about this place were doubtless many.

It suddenly struck Elahu that he had neither dwelling nor clan. Until recently, such a predicament was almost unknown among the ouataki. Now it was entirely too common.

Elahu considered his options. His shorn antlers and the shackles around his wrists marked him as a fugitive slave and subject to the Twins’ wrath. Any village under their dubious protection would betray him in an instant. Antlers, of course, grew back and in time he would find a way to remove his chains. Yet he would still be seen as a stranger; as one not to be trusted and perhaps one to be bartered to the Twins in exchange for a few more precious days of freedom. For a moment, Elahu felt as if he might weep. What had become of the ouataki? This was not their way.

Elahu fought back his mounting despair and resumed his deliberations. Taouaru perhaps? It was his mother’s village and as far as he knew, it had not yet fallen to the Twins. Being at some distance from Ti Anaki, it was possible that the unassuming cluster of longhouses had escaped the Evil Pair’s notice. If Elahu were to be accepted anywhere, Taouaru would be the place.

So be it. To Taouaru then. Elahu turned away and without looking back, he left Keoro Village forever.

Description

A Legend of the Before People, of Elahu, the Chosen of Atelani

Keoro was gone. In the few short moons since Elahu had been taken captive, the forest had almost entirely reclaimed the earth on which the village had stood. Charred uprights rising above the thick mat of bushes and kuru vines were all that remained of the once-thriving community.

Elahu had known what he would find, but still he had held out the irrational hope that some had escaped, that some of his kin and neighbors had returned to begin life anew. As he took in the scene before him, the young buck realized that he had been entertaining a fool’s notion. Even if there were others like himself, they would not have come back here. The ghosts that hung about this place were doubtless many.

It suddenly struck Elahu that he had neither dwelling nor clan. Until recently, such a predicament was almost unknown among the ouataki. Now it was entirely too common.

Elahu considered his options. His shorn antlers and the shackles around his wrists marked him as a fugitive slave and subject to the Twins’ wrath. Any village under their dubious protection would betray him in an instant. Antlers, of course, grew back and in time he would find a way to remove his chains. Yet he would still be seen as a stranger; as one not to be trusted and perhaps one to be bartered to the Twins in exchange for a few more precious days of freedom. For a moment, Elahu felt as if he might weep. What had become of the ouataki? This was not their way.

Elahu fought back his mounting despair and resumed his deliberations. Taouaru perhaps? It was his mother’s village and as far as he knew, it had not yet fallen to the Twins. Being at some distance from Ti Anaki, it was possible that the unassuming cluster of longhouses had escaped the Evil Pair’s notice. If Elahu were to be accepted anywhere, Taouaru would be the place.

So be it. To Taouaru then. Elahu turned away and without looking back, he left Keoro Village forever.