Grandma Babi called for all the children to gather in a circle amongst the furious fire, that was blazing untamed in the middle of the sloppy oval the kids had formed. I didn't join the group, though. I was always the terrified rat that would scramble away to the comfort of my mother's skirt before Babi could spit another word for her terrifying tale. Then, of course, the people there would make fun of me and call me a good for nothing fool. But, it was true.
So, to escape any future embarrassment, I sat a few feet away from the bright-eyed children, and quietly watched from afar with my mother, and other women of the village. Since the men were out on another hunting trip, the female villagers always gathered around each other. There was safety in numbers, and considering the type of world we live in, that saying will be a proven survival tip for our pride (a group of village people). You never know when another pride might decide to massacre everyone you know, or, when a monster could jump out of the bushes and skin you alive to a bloody pulp.
I brushed away my overactive imagination as Babi began her story. This time, it was about a foolish girl who had gone playing into the spirited forest (which separates us from the forbidden land). The forbidden lands are basically grounds that haven't been discovered or settled. There is fear that if you would go into that land then you'd be angering the gods, and they would put you to a test to see if you deserved to stay, or, be punished in some form. Anyways, nobody who has ever gone in was and will never be seen again.
Babi's booming voice startled me awake from my wondering thoughts, and she started her story. Her voice slithered through everyone's ears as she carefully spun a sinister tale for the lost girl. Babi's old boney fingers danced around in the night sky as she told the tale.
"Long ago." She started, making her large brown eyes connect with mines; making me shudder like mad.
"Before there was ever light, and the seas and land were still in harmony. There were only one direction, north, which is where the god Upon, maker of all things, formed the first humans. For many dark and cold seasons, our ancestors roamed the land, in search of greater wonders. Among the people was a girl named Hik. Hik was always a curious and devious girl, and never lent her ear to her elders." Babi paused and gazed carefully around the group.
"And that was her biggest mistake. One day out of curiosity, Hik entered the dangerous thickets, and there she was greeted by Lopi, the god of Misery and Death. There, Hik fell in love with the god and gave him her rose. And there, the god Upoin descended from the heavens and cursed the lovers and the land. After this Upoin, created the Earth once again killing everyone, but two. To those two he ordered them not to venture into the cursed woods, or they would meet the same fate as the foolish lovers. To this day, the curse still hangs with powerful guilt over our heads. If you go in, you will never come out."
Babi finished her story and stared at the children's gazes. The children shifted uncomfortably under her glances, and when the long period of silence was cut by the woman announcing the food was prepared, everyone hurried away from Babi's eerie vibe.
As everyone moved away from Babi, I moved towards her, until I was directly in front of her. Babi had her head down as if she was focusing on the pebbles and grains on the ground.
"What do you seek Zax?" She whispered; still hiding her face under her tangled hair. I swayed from one foot to another, hesitating. I soon decided to sit next to her, on the feeble log.
"I wanted to ask a question." I started, waiting for a response the never came. "Why did Upoin curse us too, if we weren't the ones that betrayed him? And why did he care what his brother did with Hik? It makes no sense."
Babi raised her head and looked at me. Her eyes dragging me into her endless wisdom, then, she scowled at me. Babi rose from her hunched position on the log and turned to glare down at me. Her features twisted into pure disgust.
"Why?" She croaked with her small frame trembling. "Why, is what gets foolish people into trouble! Why will be the death of us! Why is what raises war after war. Why is what will get you killed. Sometimes, child, it is better not to know."
With that she turned away, heading for my family's tent. I sat on the log, gawking at the tent. I never knew Babi would create such an outburst on a simple question. I had always asked questions such as these after a story. Why was she vexed now?
Mother came to call me to dinner. "Zax, food is ready. Why don't you come and join us for the meal."
"I'll come soon," I called back to her. Mom smiled and nodded her head, as she made her way back to the group.
I stood up from the log and headed towards the end of the cliff, which our pride had settled at. The breeze was rough at this part. It was like the four great winds wanted to push me off to my death. I looked beyond the grazing fields and gained focus on the forest. It was dark, and still, like everything in it was either asleep or dead.
The full moon provided no light on the lurking shadows. The trees were probably hiding any evil that was lurking behind them. This thought scared me and I walked back to camp, but not before I heard a beastly howl.
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