Bright Eyes

Chapter 3

The first day was a hard trek through thick bush and jungle with no real path, grown over since the last trip to help keep the Animum villages hidden from the other Bright Eyes. The going was slow as the stream of buffalo for trade marched with them. He had tamed his buffalo Caffer when he was 5, by heading to the outer herds of the Village with his Grandmother and selecting a baby - like you would from a litter of puppies. Once he lay his hand on the beast, he felt an instant connection. He knew it's name and it knew his, Caffer understanding and bowing to his will completely.

For the last few hundred years, The Market has been the only neutral ground where the bright eyes have been allowed to meet in peace as the Capital had banned Bright Eyed people from settling inside after the last Great War long ago. Making his journey there was going to be a lot of firsts at once for Caseus.

As the day dragged on and the sway of Caffer put him in a trance, Caseus pondered on the other Bright Eyed people he would encounter for the first time as he rode towards the Capital.

As he day dreamed a young brown eyed warrior rode up alongside him on a skinny feline looking creature with whom he had clearly bonded. As it was so early in the year, this must be this warriors first trip as a herd Guard and Adult.

"First trip?" The man asked Soup.

"Yes it is" Soup grinned. Trying to sound mature he said seriously "Have there been any beast attacks on the rear? It's been quiet at this end"

The man nodded solemnly "A couple, but a good run really, only a few missing buffalo and we now have 2 extra tamed creatures to trade when we get there".

Soup looked at him with awe - to make it close enough to a wild vicious beast to lay your hand on it was quite a feat, he wondered if this man had tamed his feline himself, but the look in his eyes told Soup he had.

Soup wished he had been born in a Warrior Village instead of a Cattle village.

"How long until we get there?" Soup asked.

"We will settle for the night soon, I am heading up front to help slow and gather the herd, 2 more nights after that". Soup thanked the man and waved him off.

"Soup!" His grandmother leaned over and pinched him from atop her Buffalo. "You know better than to distract the warriors out here".

"But he talked to me first" he wined.

"You know better and so should he" She replied.

He nodded. "Yes Grandma".

As they made camp and settled in for the night, he had a quick look around their forest surroundings for a potential treat for Caffer. Vera had taught him most of what she knew about wild foraging and herbal remedies. He found a few tender sproutling ferns and fed the tired beast a bonus as it rummaged around the forest floor. He stroked his best friend and reassured Caffer that before long they would be sleeping by paved roads crafted long ago by The Iron Eye.

Soup headed over to his grandma and lay down near her on the rolled out piece of buffalo leather she had laid out for him to sleep on. They didn't talk much before bed as the constant patrolling Warriors kept you feeling uneasy. He drifted off as he watched them ride by, longing to be one of them - knowing he never could as he was destined by the village he was born in to be the next village cook like his grandmother or just another buffalo farmer.