generated with meta. ai
Enemoa let out a wild growl. Her fingers clenched and the veins from her arms to her neck bulged. “Why?” She roared. “Why did you take my only child?” She cupped sand in her palms, sank to the ground, and let the dust trickle down on her body.
Suddenly, the earth beneath her shook and the trees began swaying as if being hit by a gentle breeze. Enemoa sniffed and looked ahead to where an old baobab tree stood pulsating a yellow mist from its roots amidst the dense towering forest. She wiped her eyes and drew closer.
Enemoa had always felt a sort of connection to the forest. She had learned from childhood that she came from a long line of whisperers. In the distant past, the kingdom of Zhoran used to be an ancient tribe, guardians of the sacred forest. Among them were whisperers - chosen individuals who could communicate with the spirit of the forest thereby ensuring strength, stability, and prosperity within the tribe.
However, as time passed, the tribe started to neglect the ways of the forest and their ancestors. As such, the forest became silent and hollow. These facts were buried in the thread of time until they became only myths and fibers from a forgotten era.
Enemoa stood in front of the tree half dazed. She had never witnessed any tree look like that before. Like a strong pull towards it, she pressed her hand against its trunk and her eyes turned white instantly. She began to see visions. Enemoa saw a time long forgotten when their ancestors were in harmony with the forest. She saw rites and rituals being performed. She saw the dead being cremated and their ashes buried as seeds in the soil. She saw prosperity in the land and how the Zhorans excelled amongst other tribes with pride. Her eyes turned again and she fell to the ground.
“You will not get any answers coming here every day. Elia drowned by accident. All we need to do now is heal and this isn't the way. Stop doing this to yourself Enemoa.” Kaa clenched his jaw as his eyes darted from side to side. “Come Ene. It isn't safe here. The Galaks have been spotted spying on us.” Kaa helped his wife up.
“I want to cremate Elia and bury her ashes here,” Enemoa said firmly, looking into Kaa’s eyes. “It is the way of the forest. Our ancestors did it and—”
Kaa turned swiftly as his thick brows furrowed. “No woman! You will not turn the memories of my child into ashes.” He fumed and his eyes turned red. “You are mourning. The old tradition has been lost long before us. They could have been mere stories—”
“They are not!” Enemoa raised her voice. She stood on her toes to match Kaa’s height and he backed off. “The spirit of the forest is real. I saw it and I felt it. You are the king. You should know better.” She spat and walked away.
“My king. We have spotted Galak soldiers again.” A young man with a heavily built form came panting. “Some of our men followed them back to their training ground this time.” He caught his breath. “My king, I fear they are planning an attack on us and we might be outnumbered.”
“Hmmh! Call my chiefs to the council. If they want to fight, we’ll give them war.” Kaa's eyes turned darker. He turned and his huge body vibrated as he stormed away.
A few days passed and Kaa’s soldiers were getting ready for battle. The Galaks were a powerful kingdom from the west of Zhoran. From time immemorial, they had threatened to seize control of Zhoran’s land and resources. Over the years, they had conquered several tribes and increased their army. They were now formidable but Kaa still kept faith that they could defeat them.
The day before the battle, Enemoa lay in bed beside Kaa staring intently at the burning torch that illuminated the room with a yellow hue. A heavy silence consumed the space. “We don't know what tomorrow holds. If it is the last thing you do for me, let me honor our ancestors.” Enemoa said with pleading eyes.
Kaa pulled her closer and rubbed her bare shoulders. When the cockerel crowed, Kaa and Enemoa walked to the forest. He stood two feet away as he watched Enemoa dig a hole in the ground. Slowly, she let the ashes fall. A tear dropped from her eyes. She quickly covered the hole with dirt and stood up.
Just then, inaudible whispers filled the air and the trees shook. Kaa and Enemoa exchanged glances and the whispers stopped. “I told you Kaa. The forest whispers. We must go back to the old ways. It is the only way,” Enemoa said.
“Come Ene. We need to prepare for tomorrow. If the forest truly whispers, then she knows we are at war.” Kaa led Enemoa back to the kingdom.
The day passed quickly and Enemoa kept hearing the same whispers from the forest everywhere she turned. She decided to go back into the forest. When she reached the spot where Elia’s ashes were buried, Enemoa froze. Another strong baobab tree with thick bark and gnarled branches stood tall in the same spot.
Just then, the deafening sound of a bell rang and startled Enemoa. “The Galaks are here. I don't know what else to do to help our people. Please, Forest, show us the way." She quickly ran back to the kingdom to find everything in disarray. The women and children were screaming. Kaa and the soldiers were standing in formation. “Go in Ene. Look after the women and children.” Kaa yelled amidst the Chaos.
Enemoa looked to where the Galak soldiers stood and she staggered. Her heart sank in her chest. “Kaa, They have ten men to one of ours. How are we going to win this battle? This is suicide.”
“I don't know Ene. But we can't turn back now. We will either sink or swim.”
For the first time in over fifteen years, Enemoa saw something other than courage in Kaa’s eyes. She caught glimpses of fear. She swallowed hard. As she turned to leave, the forest behind them began to grumble. The trees started to twist and twirl into towering giants. Their backs formed armors and the Zhorans watched in shock as the forest came to life. The ground began to shake as they advanced to the soldiers and stood side by side with them, ready for battle.
Like a contagion, a renewed spirit of hope and unity surged through the entire Zhoran tribe. A smaller baobab tree came to stand beside Enemoa. It rested a leaf gently on her shoulder. Enemoa looked at its young stems and shed a tear. “Thank you, Elia. Thank you for waking the forest again,” she whispered.
As they charged, Kaa smiled in his heart knowing that the battle had already been won. It was now a war between gods and mere mortals.
