The Way They Disappeared

Chapter 1: Peace Time

In old folklore it was said that the Najie would wake the sun. It was believed that the original people were somehow directly related to the strengths and weaknesses of their plane. The humans were taught the exact opposite. They were taught that the Najie were inherently dangerous because they were fundamentally different. The truth is that the Najie were larger than humans, and in most cases more connected to nature. The Najie were all born with a knowing and an elemental traits. Across the plane Najie were known to alter weather, appearance, landscape, even adjust the breeze to fit their needs. These acts were done for the good of all, and never at the expense of others. There was an unspoken harmony, that many foolishly believed would last forever.

It was during this time that Shanjaino was born. Her mother was a fierce warrior and her father an elder. Shanjaino was the most amazing gift that the couple could have ever asked for. At birth, she was smaller than her sister Dasha and half the size of her brother Renee. That was of very little concern to them. She was born with bronzed skin, curly raven locs, and two different colored eyes. One eye was a piercing blue like the swirls in the sea on a calm day. The other eye peared through your soul with its green and hazle radiating core. It seemed when you looked at the child directly she inherently understood everything about you. Shanjaino quickly became known for her gift of discrenment. She saw the world and its inhabitants for what they were but more importantly for what they could be.

Shanjaino developed like every other Najie youth of the time. The only difference was her size and her curiosity. The Najie had direct orders from the Mothers to never go past the silver tree lining. Their world was one of peace and prosperity. Whatever was outside of their realm did not concern the Najie and they found safety and joy in staying to themselves. Shanjaino could not have felt it was further from the truth. She had seen into one of the Mothers' hearts during a Moon Rising; she felt fear wafting off of the older woman. She was smiling as if everything was perfect but Shanjaino could see so clearly that it was not. Shanjaino had reached her Najie 47th and it was a big deal. She had long past passed her Warrior's Run and she was ready to take her place in the Hoarde. The problem was that Shanjaino had no clue what that place truly required of her.

Three nights passed without incident after the Moon Rising. Shanjaino had been buying herself time. She had no clue where her journey would bring her but she was sure that her story did not end on the Najie lands. Shanjaino felt called to something much more dark and exciting. It wasn't that she didn't believe her family and people deserved the peace that they maintaned... it was more that she knew with struggle would also come growth. Shanjaino was playing on the side of evolution. She felt pulled to the woods. Pulled past the green lakes that the children get scolded for playing in. This was too far for a Najie 30 who would be taking the Warrior's Run at any moment. Those things were never scheduled, and there was no way to prepare for it. Each Najie faced a different test based on the bio-soul they presented to the great Mother... the Moon. Shanjaino stopped for a moment to admire the flowers. They glistened in the night sky. The backgrop seemed to be a dark luminescent purple. The flowers sparkled in the moon like stars against the sky. Bright bold colors lit the walking paths to the watering holes, the tombs, and the Mother's Caves.

Shanjaino knew there would soon be no path. They werenever to walk out this far. This was not even permitted during the Warrior's Run. Shanjaino remembered when she took her run so many Moons ago. Her test had been to find the truth in the lies of the forest. She found that plants the Najie thought were poisonous were actually very strong medicinal painkillers. She found animals thought tobe viscious really loved aggressive pets on the backs of their heads. Shanjaino had also found a path that led directly past the Mothers's Caves and to the silver lined forrest. It waas different then Najie land. But the trees gave so much fresh air and beautiful aromas, Shanjaino was positive she could find it again, even under duress.

With that thought, a breeze flooded her senses. It was the familiar and beautiful smell of sweet crisp air. She loved her land, but the smells from this breeze was intoxicating. Shanjaino was prepared to follow that scent anywhere. She stood slowly from her crouched position where she had been hunkered down under the thick lushes bushes of Nojan. Nojan... meant "our land", and once upon a time it was Nojan. Shanjaino waited for a clearance, then ran as fast as her little legs could take her. She was all legs, but she was only 5 ft 6 in after all. The thud of wet earth beneath her feet echoed in her ears. Would they know what she had done? Would she be exiled? Shanjaino trusted that her discrenment was meant for more than the calling of rains, or the theft of grain within our sanctuary. She was meant to be more than a watch dog. Bright colors began rising through the dark night as she disturbed every plant she ran past. Each stem and suckle releasing its pollen waited to be fertilized and was being met with only roughness and greedy abondon. Shanjaino had no time for humility or prayers. She craved change, so she pressed on.

Once she made it past the Mothers's cave, she knew it would be dificult. Shanjaino looked forward in her decision. She knew she would be crossing an invisible line, but she needed to know what was behind the silver forrest.As she scooted under the window sill of her last "Mother", she heard a faint cry for help. It startled her and made her even more aware. Quickly, Shanjaino adjusted her vantage point to see who was coming to help the person crying. No one came. Shanjaino commented that this is the reason children had no time to do anything other than their chores. Shanjaino visually swept the area nearest to her. She needed to make sure there was no other ecape for the family. Shanjaino had spotted the trunk of the first Silver Tree in the Silver Forrest. Before Shanjaino knew how to stop she found herself dancing. "Is this what the silver forrest does?" Shanjaino danced for hours in the forrest. It never occured to her that she would get caught and punished. For the moment she enjoyed the breeze, the colors, and the reception, all while someone else was manifesting. Shanjaino could no longer see herself as prey. She may not have found her purpose for being so honest, but she vowed the next opportunity for her to leave, she would make a run for it.