Chapter 9: Clan White-Tailed Deer
With a big sigh, Manaia continued telling me the past of her tribe.
"The White-Tailed Deer tribe," she began, her voice subdued, "emigrated here a thousand years ago, according to our ancestors’ records. This island is near the continent and was found by pure chance while one of our ships was wrecking in a huge storm. My predecessor used to say the island was shaped like a crescent moon, so we’d never forget where we came from, but over time that design changed. Now, the reference point is the altar in the center of the village."
"When our ancestors arrived, they found this land was very fertile and had many animals to eat, so they settled. The whole island was conquered by them, absorbing the natives. Exploring the surrounding seas, they found two other tribes on the islands around us. These three islands form a triangle with a strong current connecting them, making it easy to reach the other islands just by sailing in a boat. Even without sails or wind, you could get to the other islands."
"The tribes were called Burning Lion and Dark Serpent. Each one dominated an island and wouldn’t leave their island no matter what. So our ancestors began trading with them. For many years, everything was peace and harmony between the tribes. But five hundred years ago, something horrible happened, changing everything."
"Monsters... Thousands of monsters appeared out of nowhere! They attacked the islands, sealing them off from the rest of the world. Our records say our ancestors fought hard, killed many, but little by little, they kept dying, until we became... livestock for them."
"Livestock?", I asked, frowning.
"Yes," Manaia nodded, her voice bitter. "The monsters don’t kill all of us because they want some fruits that only we can cultivate. That’s why they don’t exterminate us. We cultivate some things to survive, but most of our lands are used for that particular fruit. We call it the Snow Drop."
Manaia gestured with her hands, showing the fruit was just fist-sized. "It’s a white fruit on the outside, and inside it has an intense blue pulp. We tried to eat it, desperate, but... everyone who tried in their desperation ended up dead. Only our ancient ancestors could eat them; my predecessor didn’t know why either. If we ate it, we’d die. It’s poison to us."
My eyes shot open. A fruit that killed the people here, but the monsters wanted... that was incredibly important and strange... very strange.
"I want to see it!", I blurted out, and immediately corrected myself, though my curiosity was burning. "Excuse me, I mean... Later, please, take me to see those fruits." I couldn’t appear that desperate.
Manaia nodded as she let out a chuckle. It was the first time I’d seen her laugh so calmly and naturally.
"Whenever you want, they’re on that hill you see in the background. But getting back to our problems... the list is long. Diseases from not eating well, constant attacks that keep us trapped in this small refuge, few men to defend and hunt... though now there are none. We have no contact with the other islands; we don’t know if the Burning Lion or Dark Serpent tribes still exist or if they were exterminated long ago."