The earliest memory I have is of my grandmother, She had been waiting for this moment for my entire life, which at the time was three years. I remember us searching all day in the woods for the right feather.
In my tribe, it is a tradition that if you are related to the chief, when you turn three years of age you go looking for a feather. But not just any chicken of qual feather, the feather of a Tonitrua bird.
My mother tells me the blue side of the feather represents Night, Fear, Lust, Sadness, and anger. The yellow represents Day, Love, Pride, Loyalty, And family.
She says the day my eldest brother takes my father's place as chief, The feather will be woven into me and my sidling hair. It serves as a reminder that all of us have darkness, but with time the day overcomes the night.
I hear a sudden gasp in the distance, Thinking it's my grandmother I run over to her and hold onto the hem of her dress, I look down seeing the yellow and blue Tonitrua bird feather, I scramble to pick it up. The feather feels soft and fragile in my hand like the slightest breeze could blow away its vibrant colors. My grandmother is staring down at me in disbelief. her breathing is shaking and I can see her hands start to tremble, she looks back over to the place I picked up the feather.
It looks like whoever was here before us had made marks in the sand, along with left the head of a fox just lying around, but they've painted a black mask over its head. Warts and burns cover the patches where paint has faded off, I look closer and the fox has a third tiny eye on the side of its head, I've heard my father talk about the amounts of animals in Mejoro woods that have severe defects. All sport this black painted back, No one knows who paints them.
my grandmother picks me up and carries me through a shortcut back to our tribe. Once we arrive she walks into my families hut. She places me on the table while my mother makes dinner next to me, She turns to face my father with fire in her eyes.
"Ahadi I told you we should have never taken that boy into those woods."
My father turns around to face her."That is the same forest I got my feather from, Majivu got him there, one-day Datchu and Imera will find their own in that woods. Its the Tonitrua's main nesting grounds.If they have to find a feather they will find it there."
My father should know better than to challenge his mother. If anything, he knows that Endala never loses an argument. She's the oldest in our tribe and she's seen thing none of us could ever imagine.
"Ahadi.You know what happens in Mejoro woods. Highest radiation zone in the Fleora tribes territory. Have you seen Tajo's tribe? His people have a great many problems cause of radiation and they're eight miles from Mejoro woods. Strange things happen there. We saw what they speak of...Black fox."
My father throws his hands down in frustration."For the last time mother. Black fox is all in your head. You're filling Malka's head with crazy ideas and one day he'll be just like you. Running around collecting things from people that came long before us. You're more focused on the past than helping us plan the future of this tribe."
"you can't blame me for wanting to know what happened to them. You saw that book Tajo found. It talks about Strange People in those woods, They leave marks in the sand. Malka saw it, Just ask him! He picked his feather from it!"
Her eyes looked pleading as if my father's life depended on whether he believed her theories. My father turns to me, I see the slightest bit of worry in his eyes/He and Tajo were close, Their fathers had agreed to share territories and they've been close since. As a tradition, my brother will have to marry Athena, His eldest daughter. Unlike my older brother, I don't have my entire future planned out for me, Neither does my younger brother and sister.
My father just stands there, his larger frame looking ginormous against my grandmother's small frail body. He can't deny the fact that Tajo has seen them too. He can't argue with his best friend. He just sighs and walks out of our hut. Majivu peeks his head out from the entranceway of our shared room. He's about eight at this point. He just runs over to me and hugs me
He whispers in my ear "Its okay Malka, I've seen them too."
YOU ARE READING
The Mark Of Black Fox
HorrorMalka lives in a world that has become over-run with polution.On his third birthday he continues his families tradition of finding a Tonitrua feather.While he's looking with his grandmother he finds something that will change the life of his tribe f...
