THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

“Brother… what happened?” cried a beautiful dark girl probably in her mid-twenties. She was kneeling with a young man’s head on her lap. He was her twin brother. There were claw marks on her brother’s chest through which blood poured like water. He was also bleeding through his nose, ears and mouth. There was no way he was going to survive. He lifted his right arm towards his sister’s face and before he dropped it and died whispered the word “kranju.”

Nomposuro; the name was a symbol of darkness and the forest itself was dark. But just as the fish lives in water, ants live in the soil and humans live on land, so did Nomposuro serve as the home of many supernatural beings; the kranjus (the immortal guardians).

Some historians say that the forest was created as a prison for the kranjus after they descended from the gods know where to destroy mankind. Others preach that they were summoned by a very powerful man to protect one very important treasure in the forest. Anyway, it does not matter which school of thought you belonged to, the kranjus were here and they do not hesitate to kill trespassers.  

Since the inception of Nomposuro, there had never been a single occasion when all the kranjus (immortal guardians) have met at a single place. Each group of kranjus lived in a well-defined niche; well away from the others. 

But for some unexplained reason, all kranjus were summoned to meet somewhere within the forest. A young girl of about ten years old in white clothing appeared before the leader of each group of kranjus, and, by touching on the forehead blessed each one with powers that will not only point the way but protect them while they crossed the serpents’ bridges, buduga. The kranjus believed trying to cross this bridge will bring death. No kranju ever tried it and so it was difficult to verify this.

Now, I guess it’s time we meet the villains of this fascinating true story. You heard right. It is a true story and I was there.

The fifth shinko (furry beast) in a monstrous voice questioned, “Why have we all been summoned for a meeting? This has never happened before.”

Journeying from Dun-da (caves of darkness) and the darkest part of Nomposuro is the first line of defense, the shinkos (furry beasts). They are the meanest, scariest and senseless killing machines. They had black fur, blood red eyes, hairless nostrils, long sharp claws, long sharp teeth and extra-long sharp and pointy canines. The grand shinko, Arangosango (Aran) shinko, possessed white fur that runs along his spine at his back, and, his second in command Kaki shinko had yellow fur along her spine. They had a roar to die for; literally to die for. They were exceptionally fast considering they possessed bodies as large as bears. They walk and run on either two or four limbs but were fastest on four limbs. No group of kranjus has exterminated more pests (humans) than the shinkos.

Aran Shinko answered in a similar voice saying “I am not sure. But I think it has something to do with the alien who just entered the forest.” He frowned and wondered “where is she? She should have finished him by now. I hope nothing bad happened.” Twelve shinkos instead of thirteen arrived at the first buduga (Serpent’s Bridge; a bridge shaped like a moving serpent). Aran was first to step on the bridge. His step changed the color of the blue river flowing under the bridge colorless. His brothers joined him and together they crossed the bridge.

The white haired nhutu also wondered out loud “I hope nothing bad happens during this meeting.”

 Transcend Dun-da (caves of darkness); cross the first buduga (serpent’s bridge) across the Gajun (Blue River) protected by the sibudu (single headed water serpent) and enter Nhutudan (elemental forest) – the home of the nhutus (manipulators of the elements) – a much brighter part of Nomposuro. Anyway, the nhutus were not bad looking. After all, they do not possess the frightening features the shinkos (furry beasts) possess. They were your average sized female human beings; about five feet tall with dark skins, breasts, hips and buttocks – basically a normal human being. But don’t be fooled, because there is no group of kranjus or beings in the world with the ability to use the elements as weapons of mass destruction like the nhutus. Five of them resided inside Nomposuro. Four of them possessed such similar physical features. It would have been impossible to distinguish between them if not for the difference in hair color and dressing. The black-haired nhutu controls earth; the white-haired nhutu manipulates air/wind; the blond-haired nhutu commands the waters and the red haired nhutu manipulates fire. The much older nhutu, Safihutu controls all four elements; she had all four strands of hair and also possessed the renowned and feared lightning technique.

“If Abra (god of anger) and his siblings are going to be there, then, expect the worse,” said eldest nhutu, Safihutu while they travelled the shortest distance of all suspended on hexagonally shaped flat rocks towards the meeting.

“I hope the vermin do not try anything funny. Because if they do, I will be forced to kill them all,” barked the second, self-absorbed and impatient motiada (dwarf) in his unusually deep voice.

If by some stroke of luck or by some act of providence the second line of defense, the nhutus, are unable to stop intruders in their tracks, then Adopedan (natures beautiful forest) is next after crossing another buduga (serpent’s bridge) across the Gahan (red river) protected by the sabudu (the double headed serpent). What do expect from dwarfs? They were barely four feet tall and possessed dainty features. Ironically, they possessed really deep voices and were really hairy but slightly bald at the center of their heads. They were numbered one to five. Papa motiada (Papa dwarf), the strongest dwarf and their leader was the dwarf wearing the number five. They too, like the nhutus, would have been very difficult to differentiate if not for a few but prominent distinguishing features; the first dwarf called himself the king of plants and often wears a crown made from leaves and branches of plants; the second dwarf was obsessed with circles and had circles boldly tattooed on his forehead, arms and legs; the third dwarf unlike his first two brothers did not have black but reddish brown hair; the fourth dwarf had grey hair and Papa dwarf had snow white hair.

Papa dwarf was quick to interrupt, warning that their host was a fearsome one. “It would be wise not to start any quarrels” warned the leader of the dwarfs whilst they too run as fast as their legs could carry them across the buduga on two limbs after his first step had changed the red river colorless.

The meeting spot was actually a circle similar to the one within which something magical happened to the young traveller. This second circle was situated inside Nhutudan. It was wider and at the center was placed a white rectangular stone. On the sides of the stone were written the following inscriptions “Ishfa sai ki ta” meaning “time rules all things” or something like that. Hey don’t blame me for not adequately translating some ancient text. I am doing my best here you know.

Speaking of time the first to arrive at the meeting spot was the dream god, Daale. He stood a tall dark man with no hair on his head – to put it bluntly, he was bald. But please do not mention the word ‘bald’ around him because it makes this naturally kindred spirit mad. Despite the lack of hair on his head, he was very attractive. He had really thick eyebrows and large bright eyes with dark brown pupils. His face like his head was smooth and lacked even a single hair. His nose was neither pointed nor too big – it fit him just about perfectly. His lips were reasonably thick and he usually wore a smile revealing his perfect white teeth and dimple. His shoulders were broad and straight. It is difficult to adequately describe his body since it was all covered and wrapped up in a multicolored cloak. He placed his index finger on the mysterious white stone and paced around it.

No intruder had ever reached Nomposumu, the home of the ruhas (gods) and ruhushis (goddesses). But to reach it, an intruder will have to also cross the third buduga (Serpent’s bridge) across the Jadan (black river) protected by the sobudu (triple headed serpent).  

“What are thinking about?” asked a feminine voice from behind Daale. Without necessarily turning around, he said, “Welcome my beautiful sister, Suome (goddess of beauty and attraction). I have been expecting you”. He turned and in an instant had Suome wrapped within the large frame he called a body. Suome said, “You know I hate close contact, yet you have decided to greet me this way. Are you trying to avoid my question, Daale?”

Daale pulled back and while looking at her straight in the eyes and with a charming smile answered “You are both beautiful and wise, my sister. Is it not obvious? This meeting, does it not bother you? Do you not wonder why we have all been summoned here?” “Listen brother, my beauty is the only thing that matters to me in this world” said Suome in her beautiful voice.

“Why am I not surprised? Nomposuro, our earthly home can burn, and all she cares about is her beauty. I must say that is too shallow; even for you, sister,” said another feminine voice. Suome turned and in a calm and sweet voice spoke “welcome Mayale (goddess of material wealth), it is great to see you are doing well and (she paused and sized her sister for a while) wearing your usual look.”

Suome and Mayale were not on the best of terms. Suome was very beautiful and attractive, and, Mayale was jealous of her. Don’t get me wrong, Mayale was extremely beautiful. With her beautifully braided hair; her excellent make-up and her beautiful gold, diamond and ruby necklaces, etcetera, she was very beautiful. But for some reason, like snow white and the evil queen, she could not surpass Suome’s beauty.

Suome’s innocent, childlike face; her long hair; her charming smile; the way she walked and the way she talks mesmerizes men and gods alike. She could do no wrong in the eyes of men and Mayale simply could not wrap her head around it all. What exactly do they see? What do they like? Suome dresses in rugs. She wears cheap beads and perfume and yet just one look at her and every man cannot stop looking – they are mesmerized and desire her.

But you know what, Suome also envied her sister. Mayale did not know just how lucky she was. She had everything – the gold, the diamonds, the beautiful clothes and make up, and, many servants at her beck and call. Suome felt her beauty would be complete if she had all these things to herself.

 “Let the entire world bow in fear of my greatness, for fear himself has arrived,” was how Shutu (god of fear) introduced himself this time interrupting Mayale’s attempt to say something. The three gods shook their heads in disdain. The ancient god of fear, Shutu, whom loves to behave like a child has arrived. “What a disgrace!” they all thought. He was immediately followed by his rival and brother, Abra (god of anger), whom arrived wearing his usual foul mood.

“Let us get this over with quickly. Some of us are very busy trying to enslave men,” were his first words. He was the shortest amongst all the gods; just a few inches above five feet. His long afro hair was unkempt. All the muscle s of his face looked really tense. He had one distinctly thick blood vessel on his forehead. He too like his two brothers had his entire body wrapped up in a cloak. He looked around for a while and asked gesturing, “Where are the rest of the vermin?”

A small voice that almost sounded like a voice in Abra’s own head responded; “we are here!”

The god of anger and his siblings turn to face the angry looking faces of the other kranjus.