Page 20 of Moon Chosen

“The air became hot and thin. The people began to die. The animals began to die. As if in mourning for the dying world, the earth trembled. Much of the land disappeared into the ocean’s depths, hiding from the anger of the Sun in the cool waters, and taking the heedless people with it.”

The Storyteller bowed her head and her voice was filled with sadness.

“Cities became chaos. Chaos became death. From that death new danger was born. That which once was the smallest, the most insignificant of things—creatures that crawled and crept—simple beetles, diminutive spiders, irritating roaches—claimed dominion over people.”

As one the Tribe shuddered. Even Nik sent a quick glance over his shoulder, as if the Storyteller’s voice could conjure a crawling thing from the night.

“The good and wondrous things of the world were dying, leaving only that which preyed on others—that which was the most base, the most sinister.” Ralina paused, and then her bare feet began slowly, gracefully, to tap out a pattern.One two three—one two three—tap tap tap.The shells and ancient coins that were wrapped in row after row around her ankles made music with her steps and her shift shimmered with new life in the light of the brazier. Her magickal voice turned lyrical, changing story to song.

“But before all could be death

all could be death,

from the ending came the beginning

came the beginning.

For not all of the people were deaf,

not all were deaf.

Some left the soulless cities,

the soulless cities.

And followed the promise of green,

of healing green,

To the forest they turned!

To the forest they turned!”

Ralina’s feet still tapped out a musical pattern, but her body stopped swaying and her voice changed again, becoming soft and sad.

“It was slow and painful for the people who had so recently only nurtured that which was dead and deceptive to learn a new way of life.” Ralina bowed her head. “In the beginning they tried to follow the old ways—to build their homes on the forest floor. And in daylight all seemed well. The trees helped the people breathe and shielded them from the anger of the Sun. But as the new world turned and learned, with each night new horrors grew, new horrors slew.

“First came the beetles—the bloody beetles—destroying with their jaws of blades. Next came the spiders—the hunting wolf spiders—trapping with webs like fisher nets. Finally came the roaches—the gnawing roaches—bodies swollen to tenfold in size they swarmed and covered all that remained on the forest floor after sunset, endlessly killing, endlessly craving.”

Ralina lifted her head. “But the people did not give up. Instead they finally, finally took to the trees!”

The Tribe murmured, nodded with her unfolding tale as they watched and listened, rapt with attention.

“The first winter was upon them, and many, many died. But the small group who lived, that first Tribe who survived,discovered… learned… delightedin the life opening to them in a way that had been lost to the people who had worshipped technology.” Ralina turned and with a graceful flip of her wrist, she tossed a handful of herbs into the brazier nearest to her, and the flames leaped blue-green again. “The strongest and bravest and wisest of the first Tribe took to the trees with more than their mothers and daughter, fathers and sons. The best and brightest of the first Tribe took to the trees with their canines.”

Ralina dropped to a graceful curtsy before her thick-chested Shepherd, continuing the tale as if only for him. Bear’s tail thumped against the wooden platform and he gazed at his Companion with absolute adoration.

Nik sat up straighter, forgetting his irritation at not hearing a new tale as the storyteller came to his favorite part of the telling.

“Many of the people complained

Many of the people demanded a change.

If you choose to keep your dogs

You go from here! We have no food to spare!

The first Tribe refused