The Lost Clan

The Island

A woman was sitting on the edge of a tall cliff, watching the moon reflect off of the gentle wave below her. Her black hair waved around behind her, dancing in the docile breeze. Her eye flick up, looking into the distance in wonder. Sometimes, if she looked hard enough, she could imagine seeing land. Just barely, a fleeting sight, only see able on clear nights like this. Her black loin cloth flutters against her knees as she stands. Her charms make jingling sounds, like wind chimes. Her pale hand reaches out, clamping into a gnarled walking staff beside her; making a weak silver light pulse out of the clean deer skull on top. She sends a longing look into the distance. She desperately wanted to explore the world beyond, but leaving the island was forbidden. She turns, walking into the forest that had been a few feet from her. She disappears into the shadows, the scant sound of her staff hitting the heathy ground fading away. She follows the sound of rushing water, nimbly weaving through the vines and dark green plants. Moss covered almost everything, and the thick tree canopy barely let any light through. There was plenty of light though. Luminous mushrooms and lightening bugs filled the jungle with a colorful glow. Colors ranging from greens to blues, purples, pinks, yellows, even reds, bathed everything. The sound of the sleeping jungle made the woman relaxes, the hum of the bugs flying, and the singing of the bright tree frogs. Her charms added a few notes to the jungles song, jingling and chiming. Her charcoal eyes reflected the array of colors. She stops by a small stream, crouching down to take a few sips from the crystal clear waters. She looks up, making eye contact with a small piglet. The piglet squeals, which is followed by three more from the surrounding areas. Then suddenly a large boar, that stood almost to the girls shoulders, rushed from the underbrush. Animals here were larger then what normal animals would be, but to the natives, these huge beasts were normal. The mother of the piglet scrambles to her child's aid, thinking it was in trouble. The woman laughs, sitting down. The boar snorts, giving the woman a closed eye smile. Then in a deep, yet female voice, the boar speaks. "Princess Osoroshī, you startled us. Why aren't you at the banquet?" The boar asks. "Oh, tonight was just so clear. I knew I would be able to she the forbidden lands!" She exclaims, clasping her hands together. The boar chuckled in a motherly way. "What would your mother have to say about you sneaking off to look at those filthy lands?" The girl, Osoroshī, sighs, looking down at the dark soil that was sprouting new plants. "She would scold me, and warn me of the savage people that live there." She whispers. The mother boar nods woefully. "Indeed. Now it's best you be off. If you leave now you can make it back before the banquet is over." She says, nudging her four piglets along; speaking of which, sent the young girl admiring and awed looks. They were too young to understand seeing the Princess wasn't a rare occurrence. She loved visiting all of the animal tribes. She smiles at the young piglets, giving a small wave of goodbye. They squeal happily, racing away. The mother chases after them, trying to calm them. Osoroshī shakes her head with a laugh. She gets up, brushing off the deep brown soil. She walks up to a thick tree that had old vines hanging from its ancient branches. She wraps her pale hand around the vine, and starts pulling herself up. Her arms flex, showing her strong muscles. Growing up in a tribe that lived in the tree tops is what made her so strong. They did everything the primitive way, they never got the chance to learn about electronics. Once she had wiggled her way to the top, she leaps off the branch. She lightly lands on a different branch, and leaps to another tree. She soon picked up the pace, and was racing through the canopy. Soon she found herself at a large cluster of massive trees. There was one tree in the center. It was the largest of the island, it was the heart of the island. It was a three miles around, and it's tip almost touched the clouds. It had many hollow spots in it, providing nests for her people. There was always room, her clan was small, but growing. The tree had chimes, charms, feathers, skulls, anything that was beautiful, hung onto. She dropped down, landing a few feet from the tree base. The tree was called Hyjal. Cheers and music could be heard from the inside the tree, laughter was also heard. She smile, and closes her eyes. With a grunt, two large blue/black wings grew from her back. The sound of bones shifting was audible. She was use to this, and felt no pain. She opens her huge silky wings, and pushes off the ground. Osoroshī's wings never falter, and she breezily glides through a crack in the tree. She finds herself in lamp lit room that was full of people. They were ballroom dancing, and were drinking mulberry juice. The juice barely had any alcohol in it, flying while drunk was quite dangerous. She floats to the ground, her wings spread out wide to catch the air. The banquet was in honor of her brother, Rasike, become the Shamans apprentice. Everyone in her clan had dark raven hair, and had either grey eyes, black eyes, or red eyes. Red was the most common color, followed by black. Grey was the eyes of the chief's family. It came in different shades. Osoroshī's eyes were like a thunder cloud, and her brother, a bright pebble. She had taken after her father, and her brother was more like mother. She smiles warmly at her clan mates as they swarm around her, some of the men her age asking to dance. She sadly declines, saying that her first dance was for her brother. Then with a few promises to dance later, she begins her search for Rasike. She found him by his new mentor. "Greetings Shaman, and Rasike." She says, bowing. She looks up with a cheeky smile, watching her brother laugh and the shaman roll his eyes. His hair was wispy and white, and his eyes a cloudy white. He was an old man, and was one of the wisest in the village. His tanned, wrinkly old skin was like leather, very worn leather. He was like a grandfather to Osoroshī. Her brother looked a lot like her, other then his more silver eyes. His hair was unruly and ended right above his shoulders, although; he usually had it up in a bun, with a twig in it to hold it together. "Ah, my dear sister. What do you need?" He asks, his deep and smooth voice. "I was saving my first dance for you. Now if you would hurry I could get this done in a short time." She says, holding out her hand. Rasike fakes a gasp, taking her hand. "I feel so honored. For once you want to be with your clan, then with the animal tribes." He says in a playful mocking tone, as they begin to dance. "I spend more time with the animal instead if you because, they smell better than you." She laughs as he narrows his eyes. "That's not what the woman say." He says, wiggling his eyebrows. She scoffs, and pretends to gag. "Please do not bore me with your whorish tales, known as your love life." He laughs, twirling her around. Dancing was something that rarely happened between them. Usually it was rough housing and wrestling for them. The music was made by a few instruments, but mainly piano. "I'll see you tomorrow, Rasike." Osoroshī calls over her shoulder, getting swept away by another man. The night passed in a blur, dance after dance. As soon as Osoroshī had the chance, she was out of the celebration. She jumped out of a crack, spreading her wings to say airborne. She drifts in lazy circle around the tree, slowly getting higher. She lands in a crouch on a high branch. There, in-between two branches, was her nest. It was vines wrapped around the two branches, with ferns woven in it. Shimmering black feathers were lining the nest, with dream-catchers hung above it. She slides into her nest, and yawns. 'Soon.' She though, 'I'll leave for the forbidden lands.' She though, staring through the leaves at the starry sky above her.

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Osoroshī was awoken by an angry shriek. She opened her eyes to find her mother standing before her, in a dark purple gown. "To your fathers story room, now!" She spoke in her scary, calm voice. Osoroshī nods in fear. Her mom was horrible when she was mad. Even father feared her terrible rage. Mother gracefully flys down to the base of the tree, where the story room was. The story room was exactly what it was called. It was a room to hold meetings or tell legends of our clan. Osoroshī hesitantly walked in, instantly seeing the face of her angry father. She was put on edge, what had she done to make them so angry?

"Osoroshī, I was informed that you are still visiting the cliff side, trying to see the forbidden lands?" Father asks, his voice deep and masculine. "Yes, Father. I can't help but wonder..." She says in a timid voice. Her mother, who was now seated beside Father, spoke up. "How many times have we told you, stop yearning for those accursed lands." She says, in a somewhat kinder tone. "Mother, I want to explore those lands! I so curious, that it's eating me up inside." Osoroshī exclaims to her mother, flourishing her hands. Father slams his large fist on the wooden table in front of him. "Enough! You are no longer allowed near the cliff side, nor are you to talk of the forbidden lands!" He yells, his eyes thunderous. She stands up, ignoring her mothers warnings to sit down. "I will see those distant lands someday, discover its secrets." She snarls, her eye brewing like a storm. "Fine!" He yells, his face red with rage. "You're banished to those lands, then. You're not to return until we fetch you!" she looked at him stunned. Banished? She wondered, absentmindedly. She started running, hearing her father calling for the guards. The next thing she knew she was racing through the forest. She could hear the wails of alarm from the animals, seeing their beloved princess being chased by guards. A few stepped forward, blocking the guards. "Go, Princess! We'll hold them off so you get a head start." She feels a warm feeling in her chest, then a terrible sadness takes hold. "Thank you, wolf clan." She calls over her shoulder to the two, massive wolves that had helped her. The forest had come to life. Beasts of all sizes were running beside her, keeping her safe from the mass if guards that was now chasing her. There! She could see it. The ocean was coming up fast. She didn't break stride as she shoots off the cliff, her silky wings easily catching the air. She pumps her wings, shooting up high. She twirled in the air, a smile gracing her lips. She could hear the fading howls and roars behind her, the animals tribes farewell. She was soaring at a amazing speed, her hair whipping around her head. There was a determined gleam in Osoroshī's dark eyes. She could she the shape of land in the distance, like the shadow of the sun. Below her was the deep blue sea, sparkling in the sub light. She was surprised that no one had chased her into the sky. They had given up long ago at the island, not wanting to anger the animals. This was it. Osoroshī was heading to the infamous forbidden lands.