Sound of the ancient drum - chapter 01

Sound of the ancient drum - chapter 01

Light wind blew the ancient trees of the land Thalan. It drifted farer noises and smells through the forest. Nobody knew but something bad was in preparation.

A ship arrived to the seaside far away with strange creatures on the board. A bigger being moved to the coast, sunshine shimmered on his golden armor and green scaled body. It was a naga.

“Ahhh what smells” stick out his tongue “Perfect place to build up our new kingdom!”

“May we find other beings here Admiral Nacon?” stepped next to him another reptile.

“Yet if we find something General Centeotl, it had no chance against our army!” answered Nacon “We sweep everything and everybody, who stands in our way. Understood?”

Centeotl saluted “Yes sir!” then he moved back to help in the camp making.

Higher up from the thick three pair of eyes were watching as the nagas pitch camp near the coast.

“What are these?” whispered one of them.

“I don’t know but it’ll be the best if we report this to the chieftain.” answered another. The others nodded and they vanished between the bushes.

The three figures rushed through the forest, their feet make no sound on the soft leaves. Their brown fur fades into the background. They ran across a river, bit farer smog of cloud raised. Behind the trees a small village hid filling up with the same animals like the three scout.

They had graceful, after all strong dog shape, brown fur, bright eyes because of the life, interesting, bestial hind leg and long kangaroo tail. There were altogether a loincloth and a sandal on the males, their body was decorated with feathers and paints. The females wore skirt and a top. The three shapes joined the village of the marsupial wolves.

The scouts immediately moved to the biggest tent.

“We need to talk with chieftain Ehona!” stated a male of them “We brought important news!”

The guard nodded and let them entering. The tigers bowed for the elder chief then whispered something into his ear. Ehona’s face turned serious.

“Call together the village people!” ordered “We convince an assembly!”

Little time after most of the villagers joined in the biggest tent around a fireplace that the shaman Whitestorm guarded.

“Our scouts came back with interesting news from their incursion!” started the chieftain “Typhoon, please tell us what you could see.”

“Yes sir” bowed a wolf “Far away, farer than the high forest is strange creatures arrived. I never see ones like that!”

“Are they dangerous?” somebody asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe the storm swept them onto a coast.”

“And what if they are hostile?” said a big warrior “That would be better if we chase them away before they chase us away!” some of them nodded in agreement.

“So do I think this for advantage but the decision not our” answered Typhoon and glanced upon Ehona chieftain.

“Thank you Typhoon. It’ll be better to prepare for everything. I send there some scout while…” he couldn’t finish because a thin voice sounded.

“Daddy!” a small girly pushed her way between the others and walked to Typhoon.

“Lullaby? Darling, it’s not the right time” looked at her the tiger “The adults are busy now. Why don’t you go playing?”

“I had a nightmare daddy!” hugged his leg Lullaby “It was a very bad dream.”

“Silly talk” patted her head Typhoon.

“Maybe it’s not” the shaman, Whitestorm spoke up now first. With his hand motioned to the little one “Come here child” Lullaby stepped closer shyly to the shaman “Tell us what you dreamed”

“Well… at first I just heard noises. Leaves rustling then soft hissing. From the darkness many eyes spied, there was something scare in them. Then the eyes vanished but the wind blew screams and smell of blood to me. I ran toward the sound and then I realized a big figure without legs, its body covered in blood. It turned to me and managed to attack me but I awakened here.” She trembled from the memories. Deep silent followed her words.

“Tsss who believe in a silly dream?” a warrior sighed ironical.

“Silence idiot!” shouted Whitestorm and threw something into the fire. Smog rose and figures appeared in it “They different from us. Hissing monsters! Their body shining like the sun, came from the far distance to get what they want. Hungrily for plunder they maraud throughout the land and trample everything, which gets in front of them! Do not spare neither woman, neither child!”

The villagers listened their shaman’s words stunning, their eyes filled up with dread. Little Lullaby cuddled to her father.

“What should we do? Fight?” asked a female.

“Of course we fight!” snarled a warrior “We handle them easily, than with the rest of the tribes, who ventured onto our area!”

“That’s right!” surrounded from the others.

Then suddenly from the smog a howl sounded and a silver coyote soul jumped out for the villagers’ surprise.

“It’s Mother Willows’ soul!” moaned the shaman whereof everybody bowed respectfully.

“My children! I came to warn all of you!” said the coyote on a voice of an old woman “Your clan is in great danger. The strangers who arrived are nagas. Bloodthirsty and power hunger beasts. Don’t fight against them!”

“But why not?” shouted Typhoon “They are the invaders and we shall chase them away!” the warriors agreed with him.

“Don’t be fool! If you fight all of you die!” answered Mother Willow.

From outside shout sounded “The scout team back!” all head turned to the entry through that only one wolf tottered in then collapsed. Some of them hurry moved to help him but their movement stopped in shock. His whole body covered in blood, throughout deep cuts and bites were visible.

“Holy souls…” moaned Typhoon.

Ehona and the shaman quickly moved to the injured “What happened, Black Feather?”

The warrior panted, one of the females gave him a little water whereof he awakened.

“Chieftain… we patrolled… around the high forest… when we realized… some stranger. We tough… give a look… at them closer…”

“How they look liked? What happened with the other scouts?” urged him Ehona.

“They were scaled… golden and green… discovered us” the warrior shivered, he was near the end “We fought with them… Raven and Nightclaw…”

“Where they are? Respond!”

“They… they died!” rattled Black Feather “The hissing… creatures… they slashed apart… both of two” in the background two females sobbed loud. The warrior twitched by the poison in his body “We’re in… great danger…” moaned at last, his eyes widened, his body twisted as he breathed out his soul.

The shaman murmured a pray and closed the warrior’s eyes “Rest in peace, brother.”

“See, my children?” said again Mother Willow “If you start an insensate war…” but nobody heard her voice. The senseless death of their mates made the tigers angry.

“The serpents will get back this!” they shouted.

“For this only one way we can answer: With war!” said chieftain Ehona “Organize teams and scan, what the strangers want, just then we attack!” everybody nodded, the assembly took an end with this.

“Let’s go home darling” Typhoon picked up Lullaby into his arms then walked out the tent.

The outside peace was so relaxing for both of them after the assembly’s happens. In front of the huts women and elders worked, warriors came back from the hunting, children played.

“Daddy, it won’t be a war, will be?” asked the little girl.

“Unfortunately we have no other choice” answered his father.

“I’m scared. I have a very bad feeling” snuggled him Lullaby. Typhoon patted him to comfort her.

Slowly they arrived to a hut where a female waited for them.

“Mommy!” hoped Lullaby off and ran to her for a hug.

“Where were you are dear?” she asked.

“Daddy took care for me!”

“I see” caressed her the female “Now let’s go playing!”

“Yay!” laughed Lullaby and rushed away. Typhoon smiling looked after her then moved closer to the female.

“Hi River” touched her nose with his one. River kindly hugged him.

“I missed you!”

“I missed you too” murmured Typhoon and kissed his wife. Something poked the tiger near his stomach “Hmm?”

“It must be the baby” giggled River and caressed her tummy “Would you like to come out darling? Then come to mama” reached into her purse and took out a tiny wolf cub. The little one was not bigger than her father’s hand. Typhoon smiled proudly.

“Hi Petal! Oh my what a beautiful baby you are!” cooed and touched his daughter’s cheek. Petal softly squeaked in River’s arms and buried her head into her mother’s soft fur.

“Day by day she’s even more beautiful” chatted River.

“It’s good to hear” hugged both of them Typhoon gently “My darlings” whispered kindly then they slowly walked into their home to take some rest.


End of chapter 01.