Myths: Fatherland

...Chibike stared at her has she fixed her gaze at nothing in particular but with efforts made not to look in his direction. He moved a bit closer to her to draw her attention and said, "Ulomma, my wild flower, you know how much putting a smile on your face makes me feel fantastic. If I could, I'd give into your demand right now, but it is not within my power at the moment. " She turned her face towards him, taking in the sight of him. He was by far not the most handsome bachelor in the village nor was he the most skilled fighter, but all that, he made up for with his courage, bravery, boldness, intelligence, leadership and not to forget his being the first son the village head. She had been betrothed to him the last new yam festival, and she had come to realize that they would make a fine match. She had just one issue with him, "Why do you still feel the need to prove yourself to everyone in the village? You've shown us all enough! Pls stay your family in the village, let the others do the patrol today. " She took his hands in hers as she tried to plead with him. He sighed, looked into her deep brown eyes that matched her ebony skin and he made a move to relent, but before he could, Arinze, the head scout, announced that the team was ready to set out for the farms. Taking one last long look at the pleading and expectant expression on Ulomma's face, he planted a kiss on her forehead, took away his hands and said, "I'll see you when I get back tonight" and followed Arinze towards the waiting patrol team, after which they all departed. After walking for a long time, they came to the edge of the vast farmlands. Up ahead, they could hear loud noises. They were more of shrieks of terror than noises, and the men quickened their pace now, gripping their arms more firmly, dreading their worst fear coming true. They could see the sky turning orange as flames rose into the air from within the farms. Not to waste anymore time, Chibike broke into a run towards the farms, the men following close behind. In the back of his mind, he struggled with images of horror trying to break through. Just at the entrance, they were met by the sights of fleeing farmhands and the booming rings of gunshots from the slave hunters with multiple bodies laying dead on the blood-soaked grass. He felt the heat devouring him and a cold air constricting his lungs at the same time. Never had he felt such a mix of fear and dread, and for a second, he stood still, like the village's tar statue. He knew the men behind him were also shaking with fear. His thoughts were now inclining towards him turning on his heels and fleeing the horrific scene, the thought of the comfort of his father's compound, the safety of Nnayi's arms, the sweet caress of Uluoma's touch floating through his mind and the lives of a few men and farmers and crops started to meant little to him. But the guilt of fleeing from a chance to prove himself to the village that he, rightfully, could protect them at all cost fought to take hold too. His mind's moral struggles were cut off by the nudging calls of the men behind him. "Chibike! Chibike!! What should we do?" Said the man directly to his left, his voice fear stricken and shaky. It was Arinze. Chibike was born during the time of war between the 'Ohana' and their western neighbours. His clan saw births that occurred during a night of the red moon as auspicious as it was a reminder of the Tales of the Night of Nature's Nemesis and always feared one. On that particular night, when the men from the village were out camping, waiting for the enemies, Chibike sauntered into this world heralded by the screams of labour. There were mixed feelings about a boy born and such an auspicious birth. Surprisingly, his father was more suspicious of the kind of birth rather than joyful over the birth of a boy. But his mother was always full of bright words for her first child. She'd tell him stories of great men in history, those from their lands and beyond. She'd take him aside when he came to her crying about being called an auspicious child, and she'd say, with her eyes filled with emotions and solemness, "You have a greater tribulation ahead...and you will overcome it". And at that moment, standing by the gates to the farm, he decided that this was what she must have meant. Unsheathing the short dagger he always carried when going outside the village walls, the young courageous and fearless warrior ran headlong, roaring at the top of his lungs, towards a slave hunter who was struggling with a farmhand. Buoyed by their friend and leader's roar, the men raced along with him, bringing their arms to bear. He jabbed at the slave hunter from behind, aiming for his backbone. The man hit the ground with a thud, and he struggled to reach his fallen weapon. Chibike picked up a nearby rock with his two hands and struck the hunter's head with it. Blood poured from the hunter's gashed head. As he stood to help the farmhand, he saw she had taken to her heels the moment he had struck the hunter, while the other men were also in struggles with the other hunters. The fighting continued. It was starting to get dark, which meant more hunters would be heading their way to see the catch of the day. Chibike turned to face Ifedi to whom he had always relied upon to carry his messages whenever they left the village. He was a boy just into manhood whose grandfather was famed for being the village's greatest warrior during his time and young Ifedi always wanted to live up to his reputation as his father had died shortly after his birth from a mysterious illness. "Ifedi!! Go back to the village and warn them of what we are faced with here." " What?! No, let me stay and help out! I can fight and protect the village too." "Now is not the time for reckless showcasing. The village should be prepared for an attack and be ready to receive us should we have to flee the farm!". Ifedi was blowing hot as the young leader spoke, "We mustn't lose on both sides Ifedi!" Ifedi seemed to understand the implications of this, and he relented, turned on his heels, and raced towards the village. "Chibike!!" An utmost familiar voice shouted, and as he turned to seek out its maker, a sharp pain stirred in the back of his head, and he fell and rolled on the ground. The moon seemed to go in and out of focus, it's light up in the sky grew dimmer, and then, there was only darkness.