The sound of powerful waves crashing against the rocky shore, assaulted my ears. I could feel the cold grains of sand grind between my toes as I walked with my brothers up the slope. Mists of sea water sprayed up over the edge as a reminder of the power that lied just beyond that stone wall. Our skin were wet and cold but I could not turn back, too much was at steak, my father and my brothers would all agree.
Soon my vision was over the crest of the slope and I could see why we where here. A black liquid like sphere hanged in the air, and the beyond was the endless violence of the ocean. Large waves of salt water rose towering over them, only to crash into the plateau. Stealing my courage and quelling my fear I proceeded on with my brothers.
Just as we practised, we encircled the black orb carrying our instruments in tow. I raised my bony horn and prepared myself. I scanned from left to right watching everyone else prepare their drums and horns and in just moments my father gave the signal to begin.
With lungs full of air I blew into my horn with the others. The low drone it emitted washed over everything like the water from the ocean beyond.
“We have forgotten the lessons of survival handed down by our ancestors! “My father shouted over the raging sea and the drone of our horns. “Only you can help us rediscover how to control the forces of nature! Teach us the way!”
The sound of the horns was thunderous and powerful, shaking the stone around us. The effect was instantaneous and ball of black goo distorted in shape. When the drums began to make their deep rhythm, the sphere rippled from the overwhelming volume. It vibrated uncontrollably, distorting and stretching its form into unfathomable shapes. It surface was as crazed and distorted as the deadly enraged waters around us.
"For you are our only hope!"
With those final words the black sphere erupted. It shattered into golden dust that drifted and disappeared into the wind around them. The dust stretched into long strands of hair thin light. They spiralled all around us who had long since dropped our instruments to gawk in awe. Behind my white mask I spun in wonderment as the lines merged together into greater bodies of warm golden light. It was like nothing I had ever seen. Father said it would be a great honour that I would remember for the rest of my life, but this is incredible.
"For you are the Breath of God." The man said finally raising both hands to the sky.
The light slowly faded to nothing, leaving nothing behind, like it had never been there at all. Just when I thought it was over I felt it. I heard it.
Like when the others sighed greatly I heard him. It was a great hot wind on the back of our necks. A strong but gentle whisper in our ears. Its force pushed up loose grains of sand and small rocks all moving in one direction. My father must have noticed it too because he called out for us to look back.
We all did and found we were saved. The way that had closed behind us was now an open path again. It grew more and more as a large sphere of swirling sand above it shrunk into nothing. It was him.
"The Breath of God..."
The Sun blazed over the desolate sands with all its might. The air sweltered in the intense heat of middle day. Hot winds brushed the large green leaves of palm tree to and fro along the few rivers. The trees few branches teemed with colorful birds, playful monkey and other lively critters. They chattered among themselves with their exotic calls and graceful poses. Crystal cool waters ran through intricately carved paths through the foliage.
Among all the chatter of the forest critters was a lone creature. His dark body lay prone under the lush green leaves of lower plant life. His body remained absolutely motionless as he laid. It's white face carried two soulless eyes starred blankly into the distance waiting. With a spear gripped firmly in on hand at his side he waited for his prey.
The wind pushed through the leaves and he shifted his position ever so slightly. His hind legs contracted and tensed like springs. He readied himself to release all that energy at any moment. Time pasted as waited motionless in anticipation, his senses heightened. Seconds quickly turned to minutes as he lay there to no avail, but he was patient like any other predator. He would not abandon his hiding spot under any circumstance. He was confident his would prey come through the path he watched. But whether his confidence was well founded or just arrogance had yet to be seen.
As the sound of thunder finally dawned he knew his patience was soon to be rewarded. The sound he heard was no that of thunder but the feet of his prey. But that was not all he heard, there was something else, the high pitched yipping and hollering that could only come from his kinsmen. The prone creature let out a familiar annoyed sigh.
"They never learn,"
The thunderous sound grew closer and as did the yelling. The prone figure prepared himself to pounce.
"They do not have the hunter's patience!,"
With those final words the figure leaped from his cover down onto his unsuspecting target. With perfect precision he landed directly on the beast's back, bringing down his white spear with all his might. He struck true and its tip pierced deep into the back of the creatures neck. It was over. The creature he boarded dove into the earth taking him along with it. It went careening down the path digging up earth and smaller plant life. As it slowed the hunter was forced to roll of, else be crushed under its weight as it flipped.
With a loud thud it landed lifting dust into the air. The hunter slowly got back to his feet as the dust fell. Dusting himself off briefly he walked over to his kill. A behemoth of a beast nearly five times his size lay dead on the ground. The creature extended a hand to were his spear had pierced. A small hole leaked a red clear fluid onto the sandy forest floor.
"A clean kill." He said sounding pleased. "I am Sorry..."
"Kali?"
The creature turned to be faced with a similar white masked creature. With a rustle of leaves more came and the obnoxious shouting quickly halted.
"How did you get ahead of us?"
"I was never behind you," Kali planted his white spear into the sand and crossed his arms. "I laid in wait for my prey like always, while you and the others gave chase and led it to me... yet again."
The other creature scratched the back of his neck. "Ah.. Um Sorry Kali."
"What did I tell you?"
"To... Lay a trap." The man said squeamishly.
"That's right. So where is the trap you were running it into, and don't say it was me."
"Uh... We didn't prepare one..." The Man said lowering his head. "Sorry Kali."
"Apology accepted," Kali said turning to the corpse. "Now have you and your friends help me with this. It's a big one."
"R-Right away! Everyone help get the prize home!" He called, waving to the rest of his companions.
The masked men hurried up to the felled beast with pointed shafts of wood, crude knives and other assorted tools. As they began the task of transporting the beast one of the man ran after Kali. Kali had began to walk off with a strong gale at his back, creasing through the foliage. His long braids swaying in the breeze.
"Kali," He called out, taking a place just next to him. "Thanks again."
"It was no trouble really," He said, slowing his pace so he could keep up. "I would be lying to say I don't enjoy our little sessions, But please at least try and exercise my practices more."
"I will try Kali," He said rubbing his neck once more. "I'm just glad you got permission to be out here and that we were lucky enough to come across your path."
"I am here on my own accord Tu" Kali said with a hint of venom.
The other man stopped dead in his tracks. "Does that mean..."
"Exactly what it sounds like." Kali said carrying on, only to have his path blocked by Tu.
"You can't keep doing this Kali," Tu said his voice just short of a concerned shout. "You are the chief's son! You need to think more about your safety and your future! Half the Elders already think you should be stripped of your right to be next head. Just think about what your father would th-
"My father is an idiot!" Kali shouted in a flash of rage. "Him and his Elder council! They branded me a liar and a trouble maker for bringing the truth to them and then expect me to simply bury it so it never see's the light of day! Then they tell me to accept their way when I know it's wrong!"
Tu shuttered at the Sight of the anger Kali displayed. "I know Kali... And for what its worth I believe you, but if you keep openly defying them it's only going to get worse."
"I will never bend to them." He spat as another breeze moved through his hair. "I have somewhere to be, hurry and help the others get the prize home."
Kali quickly picked up his pace again,shouldering his water skin and disappearing into the lush green forest, leaving the disgruntled Tu behind.
"You know if you applied the same patience to them as you did to hunting, we would all be better off!" He pointedly called after him.
"He is almost as bad as the rest of them," Kali grumbled as he stomped angrily out of the forest. "The fool!"
His bare feet continued walking as the fertile soil changed to scorching sands. He kept his pace undeterred by the burning sensation under his every step. He walked up the first dune that surrounded his home in the oasis. At the apex of the dune he could see it's entirety. Sparkling lines of rushing water segregated the land into varying size slivers of green. He could see past all the tree tops to where it all gathered as one massive body of water where a single stone platform protruded from.
Kali took one last long look at his home. Although it was not his first, and certainly would not be his last home, it was the most beautiful land The Breath had ever shaped. It was a wonder that if this wondrous utopia was not what he was leading us to, then what was? Would it be even grander then this? Only time would tell he supposed.
"At the end of the line among the waves..." He muttered starring into the barren wasteland.
A deep uniform trench reached out from him to the next dune and no doubt past it still. He watched as the air danced in front of him waving from left to right, like an invisible ocean. He stared out at the trench his focused secured on it alone. With a gentle brush of warm air on his back he took his first step of many outside the oasis into the barren wasteland.
