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A Legend of the Before People, of Elahu, the Chosen of Atelani

Elahu woke with a start, his heart pounding. As had become usual of late, his face was wet with tears. The buck slowly shook his head as he collected himself. Again.

Focusing on the soft night sounds of the forest, Elahu willed himself into the present. Quite a few moons had passed since he had escaped Ti Anaki. The rainy season had come and gone, and so apparently had Ouentaku’s marauders. Now Elahu had a new life, a new family, and a new village of sorts. In the wake of the Twins’ depredations, he and his four companions had worked diligently to restore a semblance of normality. Together with his sworn sister, Ala; the reformed warrior, Kataku; the shaman, Kohu; and Atelani, their chief, Elahu had forged the bonds of community. They had food, shelter, and finally, after all that had happened, peace.

Yet for Elahu, peace was elusive. His ordeal as a slave of the Twins was never far from his mind. During the day, he could beat back the memories. He could justify his survival and his freedom. But at night, the horrors of Ti Anaki dominated his dreams. In those dreams, Elahu was surrounded by blood, fire, and death. His kin cried out to him, but Elahu could not help. Or worse, he would not help; he would simply run away.

It occurred to Elahu that his dreams were increasing in their monstrousness. The more settled and ordinary the waking world became, the more vivid and terrible were his nightmares. The thought itself was deeply unnerving. If this evil continued to grow, Elahu would be too afraid to sleep.

Description

A Legend of the Before People, of Elahu, the Chosen of Atelani

Elahu woke with a start, his heart pounding. As had become usual of late, his face was wet with tears. The buck slowly shook his head as he collected himself. Again.

Focusing on the soft night sounds of the forest, Elahu willed himself into the present. Quite a few moons had passed since he had escaped Ti Anaki. The rainy season had come and gone, and so apparently had Ouentaku’s marauders. Now Elahu had a new life, a new family, and a new village of sorts. In the wake of the Twins’ depredations, he and his four companions had worked diligently to restore a semblance of normality. Together with his sworn sister, Ala; the reformed warrior, Kataku; the shaman, Kohu; and Atelani, their chief, Elahu had forged the bonds of community. They had food, shelter, and finally, after all that had happened, peace.

Yet for Elahu, peace was elusive. His ordeal as a slave of the Twins was never far from his mind. During the day, he could beat back the memories. He could justify his survival and his freedom. But at night, the horrors of Ti Anaki dominated his dreams. In those dreams, Elahu was surrounded by blood, fire, and death. His kin cried out to him, but Elahu could not help. Or worse, he would not help; he would simply run away.

It occurred to Elahu that his dreams were increasing in their monstrousness. The more settled and ordinary the waking world became, the more vivid and terrible were his nightmares. The thought itself was deeply unnerving. If this evil continued to grow, Elahu would be too afraid to sleep.