Amazon Challenge: Tribe Isla (3/14)

Note: Double update! Here we go!

Rei was happy that the final days of her trip were over. Rei had left the morning after the creator’s child was born. Mahina had told her about the promise to keep the child from harm. Rei in turn swore to the goddesses that she would help. Rei had begged the creator to allow her time to search for the Witch in the Wilds. The Witch was said to posses plants and abilities that would help the child be safe. Mahina had agreed.

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The Shaman didn’t expect to be gone so long. It had taken months to get to the wilds. She couldn’t help but worry for her tribe back home. Before leaving she left writings on how to properly care for a child. Rei had helped raise her siblings when she was younger so she had the most experience. She had a feeling the baby would be in safe hands.

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Rei traveled from village to village until she traveled past the farthest village. It took months to get this deep in the woods. There were places to eat and sleep in the woods but not comfortable. The only upside was that she had found many new types of plants and fish to bring home. She could identify most but needed to grow her knowledge of herbs for some of the others. Rei collected as many sample as she could.

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Towards the final days Rei vowed to find the Witch in the Wilds. She spent most of her days a night wondering the woods. She stopped to set up camp for food and rest but never stayed in one spot for more the a few hours.

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She was about to give up when she stumbled onto a small clearing. There were many plants growing in neat rows. A woman dressed in rags kept tending to one of her gardens with her back to Rei. She went to call out to the woman when she abruptly stood up.

“Hello child of spirits” her voice sent chills down the young woman’s spine. It was both friendly in a grandmotherly way but other worldly and ancient.

“Greetings dear lady. I am looking for the Witch in the Wilds” Rei swallowed dryly. If this was the fabled witch she could destroy Rei’s very spirit. The old woman cackled.

“Of course you are dear! I know what you seek” she older woman walked closer. Shedding her old lady skin and appeared younger and reminded Rei much of her old teacher. That terrified Rei more. Rei’s teacher had been unjustly taken for the world.

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“That is wonderful! You can help me” the witch smirked.

“No shaman. You and your tribe have not yet earned that gift” Rei felt anger serge through her. She had not spent years wondering the woods looking for this woman and her magic. The old hag would send her away empty!

The witch cackled.

“That anger the flows through you is why. Your weak spirit will not handle these gifts. It will burn you and those you use it on” The witch grabbed her, pinning her with her cold inhuman eyes.

“The gift I give you is this. A darkness is coming it will rend your world apart unless it is stopped” The world melted away after those words. Rei blinked the bright light from her eyes. She was in the woods back home.

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The shaman wondered in a daze towards her village. She could see the huts in the distance. Her head spun. She couldn’t remember how she got here. She remember the deep forests and possibly a woman but nothing else. Rei stumbled up behind the huts.

“Stop!” a small voice cried. Rei looked down. A small child in a brightly colored shirt was standing in her way.

“Hello little one. I am looking for Lady Mahina” the child huffed and threw up their arms.

“no! no! no! no tall one sees mama!” the child shrieked. Rei was shocked. She didn’t believe that she had been gone for years. While she had trouble keeping track of days, she didn’t think it was that long. Or that this small force of nature was Mahina’s child.

“I am a friend of your mother’s” she replied. The child squinted up at her, clearly thinking.

“Fine tall lady. I will take you to see mama but no funny things” the child said with the utmost seriousness. Rei nodded and followed the child.

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The pair had made it to the center of the village when a blur hit the shaman with a surprising amount of force. Rei wheezed as she was pulled into a tight hug that forced the air from her lungs.

“Rei! Oh praise the goddesses!” Rei smiled at the voice.

“Mahina” the shaman hugged the creator back with as much power as she could muster. “Goddess, Mahina I have missed you dearly!” Mahina smiled at these words.

“Words can not describe how happy I am to see you home safe!” Mahina gushed. “I see you have also met my son Kale”

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