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A Legend of the Before People, of Atelani, the First Female Chief

Aya! It was good to be clean, Kataku thought. Clean in body and clean in heart. As he washed away the last of the ashes and mud, the buck silently thanked the gods and whoever had made the decision to establish a more permanent camp alongside this small forest river. It was Kohu who had led them here, but he seemed to have done so at the behest of the doe, Atelani. This was not a surprise; with her matted coat of dried blood, Atelani was even filthier than Kataku was.

The young buck reflected. Atelani would be clean, too. She had killed his trail-brother, Heiru, and she would have killed Kataku as well. But the erstwhile warrior felt no anger. Atelani was not herself, and even had she not been possessed by a devil, she would have had good cause for such deeds. Warriors had killed small children and mothers had killed warriors. The whole world had turned upside-down. Kataku could not take part in this world, even though it meant leaving behind everything he knew. The girl, Ala, had forgiven him. He would not go back.

And so he would go forward. Kataku did not know what the gods held in store, but he would no longer seek glory or power. Instead, he would help. He would serve in humility. He would remain clean.

(Previous: 38: A Village of No Chiefs )

Description

A Legend of the Before People, of Atelani, the First Female Chief

Aya! It was good to be clean, Kataku thought. Clean in body and clean in heart. As he washed away the last of the ashes and mud, the buck silently thanked the gods and whoever had made the decision to establish a more permanent camp alongside this small forest river. It was Kohu who had led them here, but he seemed to have done so at the behest of the doe, Atelani. This was not a surprise; with her matted coat of dried blood, Atelani was even filthier than Kataku was.

The young buck reflected. Atelani would be clean, too. She had killed his trail-brother, Heiru, and she would have killed Kataku as well. But the erstwhile warrior felt no anger. Atelani was not herself, and even had she not been possessed by a devil, she would have had good cause for such deeds. Warriors had killed small children and mothers had killed warriors. The whole world had turned upside-down. Kataku could not take part in this world, even though it meant leaving behind everything he knew. The girl, Ala, had forgiven him. He would not go back.

And so he would go forward. Kataku did not know what the gods held in store, but he would no longer seek glory or power. Instead, he would help. He would serve in humility. He would remain clean.

(Previous: 38: A Village of No Chiefs )