A Short Story: Raksha Green Peaks

The next morning Raksha arose early, completed her chores, tended the garden, and then rushed to the base of Wahala Alps to greet Zuber. Raksha found Zuber waiting for her at the base of the mountain just as he said he would be. "I've never been this close to the mountain range before, it's more beautiful up close," Zuber said with a smile as he stared up at the seven lush grassy green peaks. "Come, I'll show you around, but we have to stay on the outskirts," Raksha said as she led Zuber on a tour of the Wahala Alps. "Why do we have to stay on the outskirts?" "Because I do not want the elders or any of the tribespeople to see you." "Ashamed of me?" Zuber asked with a half chuckle, "No, it's just the elders and the tribespeople would not welcome you; they don't like strangers" Raksha said emphatically and then began to show Zuber around the outskirts of the mountain range. As Raksha led Zuber around the highlands she recounted all her ventures and the secret cavern spaces with the carvings and paintings she had discovered. Zuber listened intently to Raksha as he found her to be a great storyteller.

As they walked into the valley between the sixth and seventh mountain peaks Zuber stepped on something that tore his shoe and yelped as the artifact bit into his foot. "Are you okay?" Raksha asked as she turned and found Zuber holding his foot. "Come let me see," Raksha said as she put her arm around Zuber to bear his weight and then led him to a dry space to sit so that she could examine his foot. The cut was surface level, but his shoe was torn. "You'll live," Raksha said playfully as she tossed his foot and then pulled a small needle and thread pouch from her waistband and began to mend his shoe. As Raksha mended Zuber's shoe he hobbled back over to where he had stood before to see what had cut into his foot and tore his shoe. Zuber dug slightly around the object to loosen the soil. Just as Zuber was lifting the object from the earth Raksha walked over with his shoe. Raksha gasped when she saw the object as she could not believe her eyes, "what is it?" Zuber asked noticing Raksha's excitement. "It's part of a mammoth calf tusk," Raksha said and then she handed Zuber his shoe and Zuber handed her the tusk. "How do you know that?" "I've studied mammoths my whole life, it's where my tribe gleans its name," Raksha said and then she went and sat down, and Zuber followed her. A few moments of silence passed between them as Raksha examined the partial calf tusk and then Zuber said, "You know that would make a great necklace" and then Raksha handed it back to him. Zuber took his whittling knife out of his pocket and began to carve out a necklace for Raksha; knowing how special the find was to Raksha Zuber ensured no parts were wasted. As Zuber carved the necklace Raksha began to recount the tale of The Frigid. Zuber listened intently and considered each aspect of the story as he carved the necklace; allowing the words of the story to inspire the detailed engravings of the necklace. Just as Raksha finished the story, Zuber was putting the last touches on the necklace and stringing the carved pieces on a string of scrap material he had in his pocket.

"It's beautiful," Raksha said as Zuber presented the necklace to her. "Put it on me, please," Raksha said delicately as she bowed her neck to him and then gently Zuber fastened the necklace around her. "Shall we continue now?" Zuber asked as he stood up and extended a hand to Raksha. Raksha accepted his hand and together they finished exploring the outskirts of the seventh peak. As they explored, Zuber expressed to Raksha that his people occasionally talked about a time like The Frigid and how during that time the migration patterns of the mammoths shifted because of the extreme temperatures and that's why mammoths had not been seen before or after The Frigid. Raksha listened intently to Zuber, as they continued to walk around Wahala Alps; Raksha was fascinated by how Zuber's people merely recalled instead of storytelling. After Raksha and Zuber finished exploring the outskirts of Wahala Alps they started on their way to the grasslands, but in the distance, just a few paces from Wahala Alps Raksha heard her mater calling her name and froze. "Is everything okay?" Zuber asked as Raya called once more for Raksha. "I'm not sure, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Raksha said somberly, "okay, meet me in the grasslands – same place as before," Zuber said, Raksha nodded in agreement and then Zuber continued on his way and Raksha headed back up the mountain to meet her mater.

"You called for me mater?" Raksha asked as she walked up to Raya. "Yes, the elders have summoned you" "where is pater?" Raksha asked nervously, "he is with them, come let us not keep them waiting any longer," Raya said and then led Raksha to the elders meeting quarters. As Raya and Raksha stepped into the elder's quarters Raksha could not help but notice the sullen spirit that filled the room as she entered. The elders sat together with unreadable stern faces. Shami stood opposite of them, Raksha could not read his face either. "Glad you could join us," Elder Zahir said as he motioned for Shami, Raya, and Raksha to sit. Seated before the elders Raksha was filled with concern as this was the first time the elders had ever summoned her.

The elders each took turns greeting Shami, Raya, and Raksha before sharing their reason for requesting Raksha's presence. To Raksha's surprise and dismay, one of the tribe members had seen her with Zuber and notified the elders. This news came as a shock to Shami and Raya. The elders candidly noted and recalled previous conversations in which they had shared their disdain for Raksha's constant wandering throughout the mountain range and grasslands. Elder Zahir scolded Shami most scrupulously on account of Raksha bringing a stranger within the mountain range without permission and shared that he feared the boy to be a spy, which meant war and bloodshed were coming to Wahala Alps. Raksha, ignoring all honorifics, spoke out against Elder Zahir for bringing false claims against her friend Zuber. "Silence your tongue," Shami said and quickly Raksha recoiled into herself. A moment of silence passed through the room before Shami permitted the elders to question Raksha about her friend. Raksha answered all their questions truthfully. Amid being questioned, one of the elders took note of the necklace around Raksha's neck and inquired where she got it because the markings were not of the Mammoth Tribe. Raksha admitted to Zuber whittling the necklace for her out of a broken calf mammoth tusk that they had found in one of the mountain range valleys. The elders began to admonish Raksha for keeping such a piece of their history to herself, Elder Zahir said, "Your behavior is unworthy of the mammoth" and then lunged forward to snatch the necklace from around Raksha's neck to which she hastily pulled away and clung to her necklace, then a beam of light burst forth in the form of a mammoth. Shami and the elders all leaped to their feet and stood aghast as Raya sat in silence with quiet certainty. Raksha sat amid the mammoth spirit bewildered by the site she was taking in. Just as swiftly as the light of the mammoth appeared the light soon faded. "God has spoken, we shall continue this trial no more," Raya said and then bowed her head. The elders and Shami bowed to Raya and then swiftly Raya led Raksha out of the elders' quarters.

"What is going to happen now mater?" Raksha asked as they stepped out into the light "What is next is still yet to be seen" Raya said as she gazed deeply into Raksha's eyes unable to tell her that God had already shown her the blood and war Zuber's tribe would bring.

~ To Be Continued