“Campfire Stories” -Haiiro @ Tatsu
WARNING: This got really REALLY fucking long but like.... It needed to be, I think. I love this personally but I’m gonna stick this under a “Read More” cut due to length.
“Hm? A story?” Tatsu muses next to him as he watches the fire pit. They’ve finished their mission and are in a Fennekinsy settlement deep in the desert, having both been welcomed Blade and Royal. The Giant had just brought back to where they were sitting, “I can certainly tell you a few. But I think the Rao Nak’NaNa is about to spin a tale...”
The Fennekinsy who stands up is bone white and bent with age, his movement enough to silence every single person in the circle. He looks up at the sea of stars and the moons before he looks at them all again, “I have been told... a child among us has not heard the tale, so I shall spin you the Legend of Krak N’mai N’mai, The Great Devourer.” Several kits squeal in fear as well as delight, shushed by their mothers while the Rao winks at Haiiro like a mischievous grandparent.
“Long ago and Again, many star cycles before the very first Emperor, when Galmora still only had one sun was our tale. A time of plentiful harvests despite the harsh sands and rocks, where water was not scarce, and the Fennekinsy grew too bold.” He begins in a hiss, “They were arrogant, fat on their prosperity and blind to their foolishness! A leader among them, Rao Hi’Zarii, spoke to a gathering of all the cohorts of all Galmora one day. ‘We are Great!’ Hi’Zarii cried, ‘We are Strong! We are Fearless!’ And she spoke true because the Rao Hi’Zarii feared nothing in this world or any other. ‘The Gods look upon us and tremble! I am Greater than Them! Jas Ni’Mayu trembles at MY shadow!’ The Foolish Rao shrieked to the heavens.”
A smile curls the old man’s lip, “Now. Jas Ni’Mayu is a good God, He the Patient One finds us all amusing as he watches our journeys to his waiting claws. But Jas Ni’Mayu was famous among the other gods for one thing, even more than his patience, His Temper. He is the God of Death and walks us all to our final home beyond the stars and the Living, but he is also the God of Justice and Righteous Fury.” the Rao explains all this in a teasing voice and easy tone but it all takes a sharp turn to ominous and ringing, “Jas Ni’Mayu was in the shadows watching all this with concern, but at the words of Rao Hi’Zarii the God flew into a rage! The sky became unnatural with violet glowing lights and bloody red stars as he came from the shadows shrieking, making such horrible sounds that some in the crowd dropped dead right then.”
“He hissed up at the Rao who dared to dismiss him as if he was a chattering Kit, ‘You say to me that you are fearless? That even I, Jas Ni’Mayu, should tremble? Rao Hi’Zarii hear me this day and hear me well: Any kit to carry your name shall die, whether in the womb or out of it. A curse on you and all of your peoples! I shall send to you a beast the likes of which has never been seen! And mark me well, Rao Nak’Na Na Hi’Zarii of the Swift Fangs, you will regret this insult.’ With that the Patient One vanished, the sky returned to normal, and the crowds rallied themselves back to their former cheery mood.”
The old man shakes his head and lowering his ears continues, “It came in the night. No one really agrees on what it looks like; A great terrible beast with many sharp teeth and sharps spines by some accounts, others say it is a slithering thing with a wide mouth to wallow you whole. My Rak NaNa told me this and I find it to be the most sensible, that it has thick shaggy fur that looks like the night scattered with galaxies, a long snout with a sharp nose, and mouth so full of teeth that when it opened wide they looked like an armory of knives. That first night it did not eat. Only killed and gored a few warriors so horribly they had to be named by their scent alone, the second night was worse. It stole into the dwelling of the Elders and ravaged more than half, many stories were lost to our Tribes that night but still it did not eat. But the third night was the worst.”
“On the third night Krak N’mai N’mai stole into the Nursery. It took all with the namesake of Hi’Zarii, and further still, it took every single kit born of the Foolish Rao’s Cohort. No children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, or great grandchildren were left. Hi’Zarii was driven out once the dawn revealed the tragedy of the night. Out of the safety of the Tribes and into the Great Beast’s jaws. Krak N’mai N’mai hunted Rao Hi’Zarii for many days and many nights, toying with her until it finally cornered the Swift Fang at last. She fought furiously but all her weapons shattered as soon as they touched the beast’s fur. In the end Hi’Zarii fell to the sands almost dead with exhaustion and defeat, at the monster’s great paws. At great length it moved closer and after three nights of terror, in the deepest desert on the fourth night, Krak N’mai N’mai feasted.”
The Rao looks over the crowds before him, “Krak N’mai N’mai did not vanish though. He ate all the crops so there was famine, drank so many lakes that the Oasis are scattered now, and took any kit foolishly named Hi’Zarii. It has not vanished even in this day. Our People know, and when we grow too brave or foolish so that we forget the warnings of the far past Krak N’mai N’mai comes to us to make the lesson stick. This is our tale. Now come, all of us, there is work in the morning and guests to attend. They will stay in my house this night, to bed with all of us.” All of the cohorts have been silent, watching on with awe and wonder as the oldest among them spoke but burst into activity as the fire is banked and they gather themselves back into their houses. Haiiro and Tastuma had been subjected to acting as hiding spots for a few stray kits who all scurry away at the call of their mothers.
Tatsuma only smiles and whispers to his companion, “I like the way my Father used to tell it better. Maybe I’ll give you that version sometime, now c’mon. The Rao is waiting for us and we could both use the sleep.”
