Kalilie B'Urendi and Zakor Iwo : Resources

The Summit Continues : On the Terrace

"Iridians search for energy," Kalile began, "in the strangest of places, in oil wells and coal mines, which are dangerous to build, which are difficult to maintain, and harmful to the natural process."

Zakor's brow furrowed. "But coal and oil, these things are 'natural', are they not?"

"Yes," said Kalile at first. "Earth has produced coal and oil, copper, uranium, and other resources in her many wombs, but the *way* that Man has chosen to utilize these Children of the Deep Earth is decidedly unnatural," he said, meeting the girl's gaze. "Wouldn't you agree?"

Zakor nodded. "I see your point."

"There are many," Kalile explained, "both in Iridian lands and in Mirico, who say there are better powers of nature that we can look to - the powers of the water," he said, gesturing to the cistern by which they stood. "...The power of the wind," he added, opening his palm so that the light flickering through the boughs above their heads danced in fractured coins of gold across his fingers. "And the power of the light," he added. Putting a palm gently on Zakor's shoulder and crouching to be eye to eye with the girl, he continued, "These things gave our ancestors life, and gave them the strength to bring us into being - and so it should be clear to us that, unaltered, these same resources would further sustain the generations to come. It is these things, water, earth and air, that we must protect."

"We," Zakor smiled.
"Yes," Kalile glowed. "You see, as I do, one of our greatest resources, which to some seems invisible, or impossible."
"Each other?" Zakor grinned.
Kalile's eyes sparkled kindly. "Exactly."

Children of the Universe

The Womb, The Tomb and other Cosmic Energies

(Creation Myths of Mirico, continued)

Chimaquatka - The Great Tortoise Cosmos, the Mother Universe - she is older than sound and light.

Chichiari - The Trickster, the Spider, the Cave. His intricate web divides everything that exists, yet holds everything together. 

Glynmarra - 'The Gaia', First Child of Chimaquatka, the Patchwork Bird who created the known universe. She cried the first stars, and some believe the Earth is her back as she flies through the vastness of space.

Minotajo - The Double-Headed Mantis - After Glynmarra the Patchwork Bird flew to tatters, Minotajo followed behind her to put her fragments in their cosmic places.

Tyamulare - 'The Dark' - A great crab moth. Mother of the moons, sister to Oraphau. She is most often the symbol for night, and her energy is benevolent and mysterious. 

Oraphau - the Lion Moth - Father of Suns, Light, The Torch. His roar is felt every day at sunrise. It is said that once he passed too close to the earth and sheared off the branches of the First Tree, called Yirdilfi - the tree that gave birth to many of the creatures of Earth. 

Akhenn - The Sound - Concentric Circles. One of the oldest of Chimaquatka's children, Akhenn's presence can be both felt and heard in reverberations through the Universe. 

Iquatha'apir - The Air, the Unseen Hand, The Winds. He is the atmosphere, often depicted as a strange Jellyfish-like cloud swimming sideways through the sky. 

  Ra'Awudul - The Scorpioth, 'The Warrior, The Survivor  Brother to the Great Ray of Change, D'Mythren. He is the willful, fighting spirit of all who strive to live. It is said that his carapace cannot be permeated by anything, even light. He is ancient, one of the firstborn of Creatoli the Earth Serpent.

D'Mythren - The Seasons, the Cycles - The Great Ray who breathes the underwater blossoms onto the rocks in rivers and streams. He is also a constellation, often referred to as 'The Kite'.

Suryama - One of the eldest born of the Universe, 'The Beads', 'The Strand'. Suryama was at first a great string stretched across past, present and future. She realized that only by falling apart would everything take its place in time - thus she became the string of beads that broke, and within her expanse everything unfolds. 'A bead of Suryama' is a unit of time as it passes. 

Qyla and Oturra - 'The Orb', 'The Moons'. Being a double-headed snail that shares a single shell, the Moon sisters take turns appearing in the sky. The cycles of the moon gradually reveal one snail, and then the other. When a full moon is present, both have drawn into the shell, and when there is a new moon Chichiari the Trickster is creeping across the sky and covering their shell. 

Yirdilfi - 'The Tree of Flame', 'The First Fire'. At first his leaves were lava, and his branches were the beds of steaming stone that stretched across the lands being born. His roots reached deeper into the earth than anything alive, where the beating heart of the Earthfire stirred. Later, as the world cooled, Yirdilfi solidified into a great host of branches, and became greenly alive. He was the father of the Forests, and his fruits were the creatures, among these the people of the Hand, Earth Ambassadors and Humans. 

Q'dala - 'The Muses', 'The White', 'The Architect'. Depicted as a mist of varying shapes Q'dala is among the most mysterious and widely interpreted earth energies. She is silence, and has the properties of light without being able to glow. She is credited by many artisans and musicians as their inspiration, and her whispers are listened for by many creative spirits. 

Creatoli - 'The Root', 'The Earth Serpent', 'The Male Twin'. It is said that Creatoli was a root broken off of the great tree of Yirdilfi, and for a time he swam in the deeps of the world, swallowing earth and growing to enormous size. Slowly he burrowed to the surface, and as the stars fell from the sky to the infant Earth, Creatoli leaped from the soil and swallowed them, taking the sky fire into his belly. Doing this he created mountain ranges and hills, It is said that in a great battle with the fire of the sky he finally fell to rest in the place where the Himalayan Mountains rise, and this place is the bones of his great Earth body. He is brother to L'Wambwah.

L'Wambwah - 'The River', 'The Flow', 'The Deeps', "The Female Twin'. As the atmosphere of Earth began to establish, drop by drop L'Wambwah's watery form began to pool together. She flowed through Creatoli's every crack and crevice, and became ice, vapor and stream. Anywhere she slept became a lake or an ocean. She went to sleep in the far north, and froze into a single mass of ice that is now the Arctic Circle. 

Into Mirico : A Traveler's Poem

Upon the Unexpected Road

On quite an uneventful day, in quite an uneventful way

Walked I within a forest near, and this is what I heard it say:

"Annuk'ha qu'andonad - On'peqin amad-odod."

And inquiring of the nearest tree to speak again - It gave a nod!

And then it spoke the forest deep, as if awaking from a sleep.

"Welcome, stand among us now, and precious do our secrets keep."

"You've left behind your Earthly lands, and things made all by human hands.

Beyond these boughs held up in joy, a place of wondrous whimsy stands."

"Indeed," said I, "As not aloud, have I talked with bark and branches proud.
Into dreams have now I strayed, or with new vision am endowed?"

The trees they laughed a chorus all, and gave me pause to feel quite small.

"You are not changed," the trees replied, "But now is veil that once was wall.

You sought us in your very heart though knew you not the play or part.

The way is made for few to pass and in yourself you set the chart.

And now come in, and hearken close, to what the water speaks and knows.

And stone and wind do find as well a reason for the path they chose."

"But how tis it I've come to roam, in place so strange so close to home,

where trees converse and rocks decide and voices linger in the foam?"

"Child of Earth, the bark and bough cannot explain the why or how,

but set your foot upon the path, and find the answer, then or now."

"But welcome me, in foreign place, with human heart and human face?

Since time was time my kin have harmed, and made a ruin of Nature's grace."

Now all the boughs I saw to shake in memory of such mistake.

Yet seeming so to gently smile, the leaves above me ceased to quake.

"Oh child, do not condemn all deed, but simply plant your caring seed.

For know we well that loving heart is spark for such a fire to start.

Do come, and make your presence known, and gifts within shall soon be shown.

Better are we all indeed, when we in hope stand not alone."

And then beyond in shadows rose a silhouette in standing pose,

a hooded figure walking tall, with slender beak instead of nose.

Appeared did he into the glade, and smartly was his tunic made.

Of braided root and flowered strand and grasses wound in fine brocade.

His pointed boots at toes curled round, and wore he bells of tinkling sound,

and his cape of patch'd moss and fur did drag so gently on the ground.

Bowing low he spoke and said "We greet you well, with lowered head.

Come out now all, where 'ere you be, and child of earth be welcom'd.

And then behind the shapes of trees there moved yet silhouettes in threes.

Uncountable in numbers more appeared a flock of Feathabees!

As slender as the trees they stood, on tiptoe there at edge of wood.

And smiles upon their faces showed intention only to be good.

Some stood more than man is tall, and others were as babe is small.

Rich feathered plumage did they wear of every color, lovely all.

Most everyone wore cap or hat, bonnet, bloomer, boot and spat

and cloak and cape and tunic too, and also rags, imagine that!

Their eyes were brown and silver green, and blue with somewhat purple sheen.

Indeed, I thought, whilst looking 'round, tis strangest sight that I have seen.

"Be not afraid," they all assured, "For though you are not like a bird,

with joyful song we all have come, and of your coming we have heard."

"Do come now, join us if you will, as daylight wanes and grass be still.

And in our yonder home do rest, in safety to the dawn until."

And beckoning with slender hand, who still in hood and cape did stand

the first of them he spoke again, and said, "Of course tis no demand."

"Zwindar is my given name, and leads this merry band the same.

To take you safely to our lands was altogether here our aim."

"Go I along I shall a while," I answered with a merry smile,

and taking Westered path through trees we followed sundown for a mile.

Meadows wide and streams we passed, through tow'ring trees and fragrant grass.

And soon the winking village lights did twinkle yon in golden mass.

"Thereon be Lands of Mirico," said Zwindar paused at high plateau.

Soon all hungers, thirsts and yearns shall pass away along with woe."

And putting 'round myself his wing, he spoke as might a regal king,

"For though you be quite far from home, you shall not want for anything."

And downward into valley lush the Feathabees they all did rush,

all dancing, even singing too, at first in happy humming hush.

Then voice by voice they all sang out so merrily along the route

In homeward mood and pleasant tones a homebound tune they sang about.

"Sweetest light we bid you go, but back again you'll come we know.

Let moons against the dark be strung, and like the Beable, let them glow."

"Rest we all, together here, in comfort to each other near

and welcome Child of Earth anew, and bring her rest devoid of fear."
Given was I place to sleep, in mossy grotto soft and deep,

within the shelter of the trees in nightlong vigil sure to keep.

"This humble bed please do accept," said Zwindar, "And do safe be kept.

For many ages in the trees like this have all our kin well slept.

Do dream, and look to'ward the rise, where sun shall warm the waking skies,

and I to you will then return, as the night that now lives dies."

Then bidding me goodnight at last, Zwindar into shadows passsed.

And for a time the songs rang out, until to silence all was cast.

Then the night took up the song, with swaying leaves and humming throng.

And quite content was I to dream, for in this place did I belong.

Dashmanaug the Great Moth and Zakor

Dashmanaug and Zakor – The Origins of the Ambassadors

“In all our far travels together,” Zakor observed, “I have never asked Zwindar what he was, or why. Somehow, I don't know, it -” She shook her head now, puzzling, “- it seemed to me... Impolite.”

Hm,” Dashmanaug chuckled again to himself, and he saw as the child searched his eyes that a deep inquiry stirred in her.

“Great Moth,” Zakor continued, “I wonder if you might explain to me something I have pondered since first I came here... As I look at your books and carvings, and at the drawings and stories of many earth beings, it seems there have always been creatures who are both man and animal. I think of the gods and goddesses of my mother's religion, of Ganesh and Hanuman. I think on the hieroglyphs of Egypt, where there are godlike beings with human bodies, but their heads are those of the hawk, the wolf or the crocodile... When I was more a child I saw these heads as masks made and worn by people – but then I saw the costumes of the Native American nations, with their feathered bodies and animal faces. And also the nursery rhymes of my books, talking rabbits and bears and foxes who wore clothing. And here, again I see, in the writings and drawings of my own people, these powerful animal beings. Did we imagine so much and for so long as to make you a reality, or have you always existed, and I have only recently become aware of you?”

Dashmanaug chuckled. “Your questions are at times like my answers.”

Now Zakor smiled as well, and the moth man and the little girl regarded each other, with no uncertain barrier between. After a moment of thought, Dashmanaug answered, “We have been children of this world for ever so long as you, small one who is not so small.”

He went to a combed, ornate wall, one of many such facades in his elaborate, airy library, and from a high shelf he retrieved a weathered book on which Miriconian symbols were inscribed. Zakor watched patiently as the moth man leafed through many of the vellum pages, until at last he set the book down before Zakor. The writing, intermingled with flourished illustrations, as was often the custom with Miriconian books, had been laid down by hand to painstaking detail.

At first Zakor squinted – the style of the handwriting made the symbols harder to discern, and of course while speaking to the earth had opened her mind to the language, it was still quite new to her. So as she began to read aloud, if she stumbled upon a phrase, Dashmanaug gently asserted the correction.

Anyafa'hare'a – The Ambassadors

Now know me as the crow or jay whose hoarse voice blades against the draw of morning or of night

and coat of feather cloak me in the laughing glades where oft you find me peering from a height

and know me as the flash of scale beneath the foam who elusive swims in tide or river's run

and though to all above I seem the shadow's kin with a watchful eye can see all that is done

and know me as the light of hoof upon the leaf with antler broad and coat of shaggy hide

subarctic wood I wander under Northern light and staring from the pines keep eyes a'wide

We unbeknownst to those who walk in human ways all hear with ear far better than supposed

and keeper of each deed throughout the human days we take back to nature all so that She knows

Not long ago when humans danced to natures drum we altogether spoke in tongue the same

but wander off did humans most from rhythms old and into knowledge new the humans came

And those of us ambassadors from long before appointed to the tasks of earth and man

we mourned the time when all accord was sought and found and era new to nature soon began

And watch did we ambassadors in earthly form with fur and antler fin and scale and wing

and go we back to nature telling naught but tears we song of separation feared to sing

For spoke no more to us did people through their walls and hacked the earth with terrible machines

Forget they did the wealth of nature's simple ways and sought survival by some other means

Yes break from realm of humans said all voice of earth for they from us have broken long ago

to save all realms of nature for which we do speak we into shadow must agree to sow

And nature's human children they were most estranged but mother wished her children to come home

so some of us were given task to search and find and into human realms were told to roam

Some said too savage were our forms of earthly realm suggesting we make form of man our own

if walked and talked alike perhaps we might reach out and seed of understanding might be sown

so made ourselves part animal and then part man and cloth upon our bodies did we wear

and strode upright and learned the words to plead our case we wandered into every here and there

And when appearing to those in the human realms oft were the closed of heart and mind afraid

but children and the child in spirit did not fear and these in human realms we did persuade

and welcomed into nature's realms were humans few, and awed were they to find a kinder land

and knowledge we did pass between our world and theirs and together did we come to understand

appointed are we yet today a few sharp eyes and ears which close to human deeds do lean

and know that some among do speak in wonderway ambassadors yourselves who intervene

still awe of star and branch and beetle do you hold thinking not in thoughts of profit greed and steel

do reach out to your kin among tis time to speak, and to pose to them a spirited appeal

For as is now must soon be done in better way, and altogether must we change our ways

for all of leaf and meadow sky and sea and stream wish not to see our very end of days

not only for ourselves but for all of life we speak, and for the good of all we must construe

for humans born of earth you all are kin to us, and as such we must also speak for you

As she finished reading the words, Zakor looked up at the Great Moth, and asked, “Can things not go back to the way they were before?”

Dashmanaug thought for a moment before responding. “There are three places of awareness in which we exist. In the first we only know what is, not seeing the change which should be made. The second comes to us when something makes us realize the wrong, and yet we choose to do nothing about it. The third awareness, and perhaps the most difficult of the three, is where we choose to do something, and in doing so, we create change.”

Zakor sat for a while, and so did Dashmanaug, and it was a comfortable silence that passed between them.

“I think,” Zakor said finally, “ that so many of my people know that something should be different, and yet we do nothing. I think only with a sudden, perhaps terrible shift, which is made outside their control, will the people of my world change their ways. And perhaps then it will be too late.”

Tsukenna and Kalile : Who is Okie?

Left on the veranda of New Che-Uin, with the rooftops of the city below sparkling in the eveing's golden light, Tsukenna and Kalile regarded each other.

"This Auntie Okie," Tsukenna said, addressing Kalile B'Urendi. "She was such a strange old woman. I didn't trust her - I thought..." She hesitated for a moment, wringing her hands and staring into the distance before speaking again. "I thought she was crazy." Again she paused, longer this time, at the brink of a dark thought that had left her ragged as it clawed within her. "Did she... do something to make my children disappear?" When her eyes met Kalile's, there were tears welled beneath her irises, and a flint of anger sparked in her depths.

Kalile's gaze held hers unwaveringly as he answered, "I greatly doubt it." He touched the back of Tsukenna's hand with his fingertips in assurance, and added, "Okie is kind and strong and wise, a child of  Mirico, with deep ties to many of our greatest allies and friends."

Tsukenna looked puzzled, still suspicious and wounded. "Why does she stay in Iridia then, if she would better be here?"

A shadow passed through Kalile's gaze. "Some who come from Mirico cannot live here, for it has for some time been a dangerous place for those like us. When she was yet a young woman in Mirico, a raid came upon her village, led by turned Ambassadors seeking to expel all human beings from the Hidden world.These raids were common in Okie's time, as some in Nature made great efforts to bar Man from its lands. Okie was spared in the raid, but her husband Alel, and their daughter and son were lost - it was presumed that those taken would be cast out into Iridian realms, so Okie went there, hoping to find them again." He regarded Tsukenna carefully before he added, "There was nothing left for her here."

"She had a daughter with her at the house in And'yolek, but the girl, last I saw her, was ill, dying of cancer."

Kalile looked reverently grave, folded his hands and nodded, absorbing the news. "Okie has raised and buried many children, most of whom were not of her womb. Her strangeness comes, not only from her origins in the Hidden Realm, but also from the sadness of a broken world. For just as you have been separated from your young ones, Earth too has lost its children. Now, through us in the Hidden Realms, it calls out to these lost children, asking... hoping for their return."