dark underground. More were killed and some took sick from the evil spirits the white skins brought.
“Finally, a few made it to the other side of the mountains where they found the Ardath, the woods we live in today. There were so few of our fathers left that for many cycles it was unsure as to whether our race would continue.” TanVerPa paused and looked up. Thane quickly wiped a tear from his eyes and they sat staring at one another while the others looked grimly into the fire. TanVerPa smiled sadly with a poorly masked effort at cheerfulness. “Well,” he finally said, “as you can see, we have survived and our numbers are many again.”
Thane looked down into the flames and tried to control the deep emotions that such a terrible story brought into his heart. How could one betray his people so? How could his heart become so twisted and evil to help kill those who loved him? “And what ever happened to the great one?” Thane whispered.
“It is not known what happened to the great one. Even his name is not remembered because of his great evil. But, one who died in the mountains of the white skinned sickness said he saw the great one with the white leader soon after the forests became no more. It is in this way that we know he betrayed our people. For who else had such power?”
All sat in silence while each went over in his own thoughts the significance of what it meant to the Chufa.
Finally, Thane hesitantly asked, “Has no one ever returned to see if the white skins still remain in the land of our ancestors?”
“A few have gone in the past,” TanVerPa responded. “But they never returned. It is thought that they were either killed in the mountains or were taken and killed by the white skins on the other side. The white skins have not come after us here so it is believed they think us extinct. For this reason it is no longer permitted to cross the mountains and seek the lands of old. For, if the white skins were to find us again they would surely destroy us all.
“Now my young friend,” TanVerPa breathed trying to clear gloom that had settled in the hut like a thick fog, “we must continue on with your lessons in Chufa life and the five Tane that help us to live as we do.”
Each of the Kinpa took turns explaining the duties and activities of the Tane in which they were chosen to lead and the significance it had on the lives of every Chufa. They droned on about the importance of the ceremonies and other things but Thane’s mind was elsewhere. He would nod every once in awhile to feign an attentive ear but he couldn’t escape the horrors of his people’s past. Until this day his world was safe within the confines of their little forest. All the dangers that existed were the trolls. Now he realized how large and dangerous the world really was. It made him afraid and excited all at once. Many times he had ventured down to the shores of the great waters and strained his eyes to see if he could spot anything on the horizon. What was on the other side of the water or behind the mountains for that matter? The wonder at it ate at his bones and made his feet itch. One day I will find the answers , he thought nodding again to the droning Kinpa.
The following morning he was up before the sun. Today was the day he and Dor had been awaiting for most of their lives. Finally they would receive the training they most desired from DaxSagn the great protector. Dax was the most skilled in the entire village at the bow, the knife, tracking, and wood lore and now the two boys were old enough to enter into his teaching.
Thane didn’t want to be late, so he had arisen an hour early to get the dead wood gathered for the cook fire and fetch the water
“Finally, a few made it to the other side of the mountains where they found the Ardath, the woods we live in today. There were so few of our fathers left that for many cycles it was unsure as to whether our race would continue.” TanVerPa paused and looked up. Thane quickly wiped a tear from his eyes and they sat staring at one another while the others looked grimly into the fire. TanVerPa smiled sadly with a poorly masked effort at cheerfulness. “Well,” he finally said, “as you can see, we have survived and our numbers are many again.”
Thane looked down into the flames and tried to control the deep emotions that such a terrible story brought into his heart. How could one betray his people so? How could his heart become so twisted and evil to help kill those who loved him? “And what ever happened to the great one?” Thane whispered.
“It is not known what happened to the great one. Even his name is not remembered because of his great evil. But, one who died in the mountains of the white skinned sickness said he saw the great one with the white leader soon after the forests became no more. It is in this way that we know he betrayed our people. For who else had such power?”
All sat in silence while each went over in his own thoughts the significance of what it meant to the Chufa.
Finally, Thane hesitantly asked, “Has no one ever returned to see if the white skins still remain in the land of our ancestors?”
“A few have gone in the past,” TanVerPa responded. “But they never returned. It is thought that they were either killed in the mountains or were taken and killed by the white skins on the other side. The white skins have not come after us here so it is believed they think us extinct. For this reason it is no longer permitted to cross the mountains and seek the lands of old. For, if the white skins were to find us again they would surely destroy us all.
“Now my young friend,” TanVerPa breathed trying to clear gloom that had settled in the hut like a thick fog, “we must continue on with your lessons in Chufa life and the five Tane that help us to live as we do.”
Each of the Kinpa took turns explaining the duties and activities of the Tane in which they were chosen to lead and the significance it had on the lives of every Chufa. They droned on about the importance of the ceremonies and other things but Thane’s mind was elsewhere. He would nod every once in awhile to feign an attentive ear but he couldn’t escape the horrors of his people’s past. Until this day his world was safe within the confines of their little forest. All the dangers that existed were the trolls. Now he realized how large and dangerous the world really was. It made him afraid and excited all at once. Many times he had ventured down to the shores of the great waters and strained his eyes to see if he could spot anything on the horizon. What was on the other side of the water or behind the mountains for that matter? The wonder at it ate at his bones and made his feet itch. One day I will find the answers , he thought nodding again to the droning Kinpa.
The following morning he was up before the sun. Today was the day he and Dor had been awaiting for most of their lives. Finally they would receive the training they most desired from DaxSagn the great protector. Dax was the most skilled in the entire village at the bow, the knife, tracking, and wood lore and now the two boys were old enough to enter into his teaching.
Thane didn’t want to be late, so he had arisen an hour early to get the dead wood gathered for the cook fire and fetch the water
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