Suddenly Serious

" Chief the Clan awaits your presence" he says while kneeling with utter submission. It's only a week left before the full moon, and Bizingo the Chief's right hand man has become less expressive and charismatic than he normally is. The Chief straightens his mystical crown that is delicately made of feathers from the white owl, crystal gems placed in the centre and sprinkle of gold dust. He looks more like a god to his people, but in his heart feels nothing close. "I'm ready, pass me my sceptre" Bizingo humbly hands it to him. With no eye contact required the men quietly walk out of the royal hut. They are met with a crowd of eyes staring desperately for an answer, the elders of the village sitting in the first row, while the rest of clan sit almost cuddled together just behind them. "Good morning my people!" The Chief announces with the last ounce of bravery he has. " With a week left before the full moon we are required to perform the Shadowing Ceremony to ask the gods for mercy, for this virus that plagues us can cause great harm to the land and even to the planet, if a nightmare is dreamnt under the full moon, we all know what happens. "But as we all know we have recieved the bad news that Tonga is dying" The Chief's voice is shaking now. The crowd gasps for air. Tonga is the elderest man in the village, and the last man to have had a dream under the full moon. His dream saved the Namania village from their enemies. With a ray of luck he dreamnt that the village would stay undiscoverable, unreachable to any other human. That's what kept the virus from spreading for all these years, the trees grew high and thick surrounding the village like a prision. But now Tonga is dying, and according to the Shaman healer, his dream dies with him. "How will we remain hidden now" echoes a woman's voice from the crowd. The Chief had been dreading that question since he heard the bad knews, but now he faces all 120 people searching his eyes for answers. " The Shaman healer assures me he will do all that he can to keep him alive while we come up with a new plan." Bizingo stares at the Chief as if he hopes that's the truth. No one really knows what to do, if their enemies contract the virus who knows what evil dream they will birth into reality. "For now let's prepare for the Shadowing ceremony" the Chief announces then immediately pivots walking back into his hut to avoid any further questions. Bizingo remains there with the crowd, standing in disbelief. As the Clan begins to disperse Bizingo notices his only daughter smiling at him, as if she has a secret to share. He trys to avoid her eye signals, but she starts to walk toward him with a tiny bounce in her step. "Father! may I speak with you" she asks with a wide smile, her brown eyes sparking with youth. "Not right now Zara, I have much to discuss with the Chief" Zara trys to gain her Father's attention, "But wait!, I have something that may help the village to survive the next full moon" Bizingo has never felt so helpless before, he can't even be the brave shield for his daughter. She turns 18 after 5 full moons, and all he wants for her is to be alive by then. He quickly silences her with his serious face and walks of. Zara stands there hoping he will turn around, but instead he paces even faster. Bizingo and the elders all walk in the Hut, with quiet whispers chattering as they settle into their wooden stools. The Chief sitting on his thrown, humbly takes off his crown, making him look less larger than life. Two of the leaders begin to discuss between them selves while the rest stare at them like they agree with their contribution. The Chief waves his sceptre, to obtain the silence he yearns. "Let me first greet you in this Holy place, I believe we can discuss solutions and gain the trust of our people, he who has any brilliant ideas, please share" Bizingo straightens his posture as if to switch back to thinking mode. The two elders, one of them smoking his wooden pipe begins to speak. " "My Chief it has come to our attention that the scripture says the dream dies with the dreamer, now that Tonga is dying we have two options, we either continue to physically hide from our enemies or we kill all the people in Namania La, " before he can finish his sentence the other elders burst into rage and louder chatter fills the air "killing the whole village is absurd!" bursts the elder with the thickest feather coat. "Finga! you must be joking!" "How else will we stop the virus from spreading! when Tonga dies we will be exposed to everyone, " shouts Finga, his pipe almost slipping out of his mouth, "don't you see that!, we have been isolated from the rest of the world for over 40 years, who knows what knew weapons our enemies have designed to conquer us, we can't even trade with our neighbours, we have nothing to save us from ruin!" Suddenly a Female figure tramples in the room, falling right on her face. its Zara, she immediately jumps to her feet. "my righteous fathers" she shouts "I Have a better idea!" Everyone stares at her in shock. "Zara! " she immediately kneels before them. She knows she's in trouble, but no one is going to stop her from saving her village. How long have you been listening?" asks Finga while slowly placing his pipe down. "Long enough to know that I have a better way of saving us!" Surrounded by ten men Zara keeps her head down the whole time. One of the elders abruptly stands up, trying to keep his balance with his walking stick he stares at Bizingo in rage. "Is this how you humiliate the Chiefs Council!" Bizingo immediately thumping his feet toward Zara quietly whispers "This shall not happen again' Zara trys to avoid her Father's grip, but he manages to gran hold of right arm. "Father please!, I must speak to the Chief!" pleading on her knees, Bizingo harshly pushes his daughter. "I HAD A DREAM I FOUND THE CURE!" she bursts.