My Life & Trials: Chapter 1

[Khaos King]

It has been several moons since i buried my Mother, the village people gave her a funeral fit for royalty. There is nothing left for me here, she was the last remaining blood tie after my grandparents had joined the Great Sun many seasons ago. It hurts each day as the longing grows my cursed memory once thought of as a gift to remember sights, smells and words now brings me the growing painful sorrow with perfect clarity, it is now my curse that i must bare...

I return to my Mother's home as i pack my belongings and stare at a shell necklace that once belonged to my Mother, i reach for it as a tear of sadness falls on my hand.
This is all that i have of her that i will take with me, it's radiating colors shimmer like the colors of a Hummingbird's feathers, it flickers like the flapping of butterfly wings.. I lower my head as i don the necklace and reach for the bee wax candle that i use for lighting, the flame dances as i pick it up and light my home on fire.

I walk out of my once childhood home as it is engulfed in fire, i carry with me nothing but a small traveling pack and my robes that my Mother once made for me of fine colored cotton of bright red, green and bright white with trim gold, my hair braided to keep it off my face decorated with an eagle feather. The village people come out to witness the conflagration and see me leave, none speak to me as i leave the village and enter the forest.

I spend the 1st of many nights in the forest alone sitting in the dark being watched by unseen eyes of animals and things that live in the dark, natural and supernatural. i stoke the fire with a large stick as i try to bury the sadness of my recent loss, i conquer my emotions and banish the sorrow from my heart. As i wrestle with my emotions i hear a growl emanating from the dark, it is close. Most animals would not come this close to a fire yet this thing appears to be stalking me.

I peer into the dark forest and see two glowing eyes reflecting the light of the fire as it steps out of its covering.. I stand up ready to face it without fear to my surprise it simply moves back and fourth and walks up and down before taking a seat in front of me as it stares at what feels like my soul, it is a Jaguar.

I try to scare it away as i reach into the flame and pull out a flaming branch waving it in front of him in hopes that it will retreat back into the forest, it does not move as i feel its gaze studying me.

Shoo, go away! go!....

to my surprise it answers back..

where would you have me go, Brother?

what?! you can speak?!

i cautiously keep my distance as i stare at it hoping it is some kind of trick or pondering if i had lost my mind...

why are you so surprise do you not speak to animals?

Yes, but they do not speak like men do but sing, chirp, growl and move.....
I understand them and they in turn understand me we do not always do as asked.

I came to see the man god, i had heard he was the Son of the Sun.
If this is true he should know me but, i see you do not.

It turns to walk away excitedly i scream to it:

Do not go! i would know what you know!
It is true they say i am the son of the Great Sun.
That i too was once a great spirit but i do not know if this is true.
I do not remember the stories that many claim i was a part of before i was born in the world of man.

It is true you are different not like any other men....and you do look like he that i once knew.
but, he is gone buried beneath the flesh.
where do you go, Brother?

To the great floating city where the gods dwell.

what do you hope to find there, family?

My family is dead, i go to seek answers there is where i feel i will find them.

you are sadden because of your loss?

yes.

He who i knew would not be sadden for the loss of life, he would know that all things come to an end.

tell me what do you know of me before i was born into flesh?

The animals of the forest speak to each other and bring news of you.
that you are special not like others and that you can understand them.
i came to see for myself, i knew of the spirit that was you before you were made flesh.

Are you a god ?
What do you know of me, tell me..

gods, great spirits we had no need of such titles or even names prior to the 1st Cycles .
it would take too long to tell you and relive the old stories...

Please, i wish to know who i am..

The Jaguar moves closer to the fire as he takes a seat and stares at the flames... it plays with me knowing how anxious i am to hear what he has to say....

why do you suppose your memories were taken away, do you think he would want me to tell you of who you were?
perhaps another time...

It leaps over the fire and runs back into the forest leaving me with more questions than answers angry i kicked the fire scattering the ember and wood..

Is this what you gods do, play games with us ?!

i yell at the forest but i dont expect the jaguar to listen or answer back, it entices me with answers only to take them away. I sit on a log in the dark alone frustrated with not knowing who i am or am expected to be. The thought of my dead family creeps up on me during my moment of weakness as i try to hide from it and bury my head between my crossed arms... I sob quietly in the forest as sorrow overwhelms me.


.................

[Khaos King]

After the night with the talking jaguar i make my way through the forest to open clearings to find the 1st of soon to be many pocket villages, tribes and clans. I become more disturbed the people make me feel uncomfortable as they bow before me offering bowls of fruits and meat. An old woman cries as she crawls on her knees and backs away as i try to lift her up to her feet..

Please do not bow before me grandmother and do not cry, rise, please.

Nonononono... i am unworthy to stand before you My Lord.

as i lift her up to her feet she shuts her eyes refusing to see me, i look around me an at the rest of the villagers who all lower their heads and bow before me. Something is wrong this is not respect but fear for why they do this. A woman comes running out from her home sobbing as she attacks me and beats on my chest..

Dont take our children, you've already taken our young Warriors is that not enough?!

she beats on me as i try to make sense of her words, the men of her tribe come to her and drag her away, one of the men with his head lowered speaks on her behalf..

Please excuse her My Lord she is overwhelm with grieve having lost her husband several days ago to be an honored sacrifice.

I understand now what has happen to this village and its people.

i am no Lord that you should fear me, i do not come for your men or children!
nor em i of the people who took them your men.

One of the Men slowly raises his head as he listens to my words...

But, your Clothes, it is for royalty the colors?

hear my words and do not fear me, stand up an on your feet as an equal.

i look as they slowly rise and begin to raise their heads to meet my eyes already some have noticed that i am different and do not look like them.
Many do not know what to make of my appearance, the children who were in hiding begin to peer out from their hiding place their courage exceeding their size as they run out to investigate my odd appearance.

The villagers look at me in awe as they come forward to look at my face and clothing, The Old Woman cups my face and strokes my beard as she asks her questions..

Are you a spirit, have you come to help us?
will you bring back our men?


The children pulling on my robes as they run around me and hide from each other, the men and women begin to gather wishing to know what i am having already made the decision in their hearts. I dont know how to respond to her question as i look deep in her eyes a lifetime of hardship can be seen...

I am not a spirit, Grandmother. i am made of flesh same as you.
Had i the power i would bring back your men but, i do not.

She lowers her head already knowing my answer would be painful to hear, the men and women begin to speak.

We had heard that a child was born many years ago that he was the son of the Great Spirit is that not you?

That is what they say of me.

Can you not help us?

The people begin to argue among each other each competing to be heard.

* you cannot ask the spirits or gods to help you* * bow before him* *No, he is just a man!*
*Do not say that!*

They start to become confused many not knowing how to act or behave a few doubt themselves unsure if they should bow before me. I begin to grow annoyed at their bickering and start to walk away and begin my journey again. I have known many people in my life and more often than not they are all the same..

Wait! dont go, please!

A woman's voice calls out to me in desperation a part of me wishes to ignore it but the light touch of her hand on my shoulder forces me to acknowledge her. As i turn she pulls back her hand in fear that she should not have touched me. She cries as she speaks to me...

My Lord, please i did not mean to offend you.
i have a child, he is sick if you can help him i would do anything..

* do not beg this stranger, he can do nothing!*

i look at her and i feel her sadness mirror my own.

I do not know what i can do for you child, mother.
are there no healers better suited to the task?

My words cut like a dagger as her pain grows.. i place my hand on her shoulder as i answer...

I will see your son and i will pray for him...

she takes me to her home where her son lies on a straw and fur matt, he sweats profusely. he has a fever brought on my unknown forces. i sit beside the boy as the mother watches waiting for me to do something.. I feel overwhelming sadness knowing that this boy may die and be taken from his mother, i grow angry as i close my eyes and pray over the boy on the mother's behalf for the boy to whomever may hear me.

* why must you take a son from her mother?*
* you took all those i loved from me*
* can you not give something back?*
* give her back her son, i ask that she not share my pain*

As a tear falls from my cheek landing on the boy's chest while praying i open my eyes and see where the tear had struck had begun to shine, i soon realize the light is emanating from within me as well as my chest begins to glow. I stand up and place my hands on the boy's chest as he begins to breath normally. The Mother having initially backed away begins to approach as her son is revived from his sicken state and rises from his bed. The mother and son hold each other as she cries tears of happiness..

I walk out of the woman's home and to my surprise i see the villagers kneeling before me having witness the light display from outside. The mother coming out to show them her healthy son who is laughing and giggling. The boy runs with the rest of the children telling them his story of what waits for them on the other side in the world of spirits and gods.

....................................