by Mark Omodia
Chapter 4
New Moon
We all gathered round the bonfire which lit up the square as we waited for the new moon to appear. The square was alive with music, meat and lots of wine. Yes they drank wine. I put on the typical male Morflon attire - a skirt made of jute and kenaf. I sat with Morriah and his family. His wife Euphina carried their youngest child Kayne who was still a baby. The little, chubby and furry Morflon was fast asleep. His mother cradled him as she watched her other two children, Gaiel and his younger sister Lily play.
Gaiel appeared to be in his mid-teens. He was smaller than an adult Morflon and he had short brown dreadlocks in the form of a high top fade. He looked so much like his father. Lily on the other hand looked like her mother; petit and long haired, although she was much smaller. Like all female Morflon, Euphina was curvaceous and had the figure of a woman, only she was covered in fur and had tails. Their faces had some semblance to that of a lion or other big cats. They were not bare-chested like the males. They wore cropped tops over their skirts.
I saw them all, different shapes and sizes, all frolicking round the fire awaiting the new moon. I also saw the obese Azadus sitting at a distance. Our eyes locked as he looked at me in suspicion, twirling his white moustache with his fingers. I felt rather uncomfortable.
'I apologize for the way my uncle reacted today', Morriah said, taking my attention from Azadus.
'Who is your uncle...?' I asked before it dawned on me. 'Oh...! Oh...!' I was speechless.
Morriah giggled.
'Ai! Azadus is my uncle', Morriah said with a smirk. 'He is the patriarch of my extended family, the Bighearts.'
'Bighearts!' I exclaimed.
'Ai! I know what you must be thinking, what an irony', Morriah continued. 'He is not always like this. He just doesn't do well with strangers. He is always suspicious. Do not worry! He is nice when you get to know him.'
'Really', I asked.
'Relax!' Morriah comforted me. 'You two would get along. You'll see.'
Ozin got up and called everyone's attention. The music was reduced so everyone could hear him.
'Brothers and sisters', he said. 'Tonight is a special night. Not only is there going to be a new moon, it marks the beginning of the cycle 2255!'
The Morflon cheered.
'But before we commence merriment we must first welcome a special guest', he continued. 'Brothers and sisters, behold the newest addition to our family, the human, Eric Harper!'
The Morflon cheered on. They were ecstatic to see me. I got up so that all could see me.
'I am grateful to all of you', I said. 'You took me in and treated me like a brother. I look forward to having a wonderful time with each and every one of you. Thank you.'
Many Morflon, especially the young ones, surrounded me and began bombarding me with questions. Questions like where I was from, what my home looked like, were there others like me, etc. even those bordering on the ridiculous. They flooded me as though I was a celebrity. Some were even touching me to see what I felt like. The music was on again and they pulled me to join in their dance. I was reluctant at first, but I eventually gave in. We all danced round the fire to the rhythm of the local drums.
We continued to dance as time flew by. Some Morflon slept in the square. Others, especially the young and the female went home to sleep. The bonfire had become dim. The thunderous drum solo metamorphosed into a mellifluous melody of flutes which soothed our nerves as we got tired and sat scattered around the square waiting for the moon to appear. Morriah and I sat together. Euphina and the children had gone home.
'Morriah', I said. 'I have been wondering... I mean it's not that I am ungrateful... but, one thing has been on my mind for quite a while... Why?'
'Why what?' Morriah asked.
'Why did you save me in the forest?' I asked. 'Why have you been so kind to me?'
'Ai...! You know', Morriah replied. 'I cannot say the same question has not crossed my mind. But to be honest with you I do not know... I really don't. I just believe it is the right thing to do... But one thing is for certain, it is not merely a coincidence that you were brought here. I believe nature has something in store for you.'
'Thank you Morriah', I said. 'Thank you for everything.'
We stared at each other in silence before Ozin came and sat beside us, holding a jar of wine and three cups.
'I hope I am not interrupting anything?' Ozin said giving each of us a cup and serving us wine before he sat down.
'Not at all', we replied.
'Euphina?' Ozin asked.
'She's gone home with Lila and Kayne', Morriah said. 'Gaiel is still here. He is with some friends.'
'Well that leaves us three', Ozin said.
'Ai!' Morriah said.
'...To the new moon!' Ozin toasted.
'To the new moon', we replied, raising our cups.
'The new moon always brings back fond memories of my late wife and I', Ozin said after taking a gulp from his cup. 'We were an inseparable pair she and I. But whenever I was out in battle sometimes we could stay moons away, even cycles. Whenever the golden moon was out and I was at camp, I would sit outside, gazing at the moon with a smile on my face.'
He then looked at us and asked; 'You know why?'
We shook our heads.
'Because I knew that back home my lovely wife was also staring at the moon', he continued. 'It always felt comforting to know that though we were miles apart, we could share the same beautiful sight. It was always surreal... It's too bad nature took her away from me.'
'When did she pass away?' I asked.
'It's been a while now', he replied. 'She suddenly fell ill and after two moons of being bedridden, she died.'
'I am so sorry to hear that', I said.
'Such is life', Ozin replied. 'One just has to move on...'
Showing me a strand of his locks, he said; 'I weaved a strand of her hair with my hair and I also weaved a strand of my hair in hers. That symbolizes that a part of me died with her while a part of her lives on in me...'
'Do you do it every time a loved one dies?' I asked.
'It is not mandatory', Morriah replied.
'It just depends on how you feel', Ozin added. 'I have done so for a few comrades I lost in battle... Enough about me... I hope you had a good time tonight Eric?'
'I had a lot of fun thank you', I replied.
'Do you have such events where you are from?' Morriah asked.
'We count down to the new year', I replied. 'Every December thirty-first, we gather in large numbers around the world just before midnight... some stay at home, party with friends... do fun stuff... you know... to count down. Impressive fireworks are exploded and everyone cheers as we usher in the New Year.'
'What is December thirty-first?' Ozin asked.
'December is the last month of the year. 31st is the last day of December', I explained. Both Morflon looked lost, much to my frustration.
'On earth, seven days make a week and four weeks make a month', I continued. Twelve months make up a year.'
'Oh!' they exclaimed.
'Is that how you measure time on...?' Ozin asked.
'...earth', I replied. 'That is where I'm from.'
'It's pretty much the same here', he continued. 'Only here, we do not count our "months" like you do. We just recognize the moons. Every four to five weeks, a full moon appears, rising from the North, precisely at midnight.'
'So how do you identify each moon?' I asked.
'That, my friend is the best part', Ozin said, rather excited to tell me. 'It is one of the most awesome sights to behold! Each time a moon rises, it displays a different colour. We have the green moon, the red moon, and a couple of others. There are nine moons in one cycle. The last moon in the cycle is the red moon. That was the one before this one. What you would see tonight is the golden moon.'
My eyes were open wide in amazement.
'Would it be golden throughout?' I asked.
'No', Morriah replied. 'It
would only be golden as it rises. Before long it would turn back to its normal white self.'
'The moon would be out any minute', Ozin said.
'Ai! There it is!' Morriah said, pointing frantically towards the moon.
The Moon was awesome. It looked like the sun, only it was not as bright and one could look directly at it, almost like dawn. Everyone awake gazed at the new moon as it rose out of the darkness due North. It was magical. It illuminated the forest with its soft Golden rays.
'For over seventy cycles I have gazed at this new moon', Ozin said as we stared on. '...and it is still a wonder to behold!'
We were not the only ones gazing at the new moon. Up in one of the balconies of the king's palace, Egon also gazed at the moon. Although he found it magnificent, he had other things on his mind; top of the list was his grieving father.
Egon left the balcony and walked into the throne room were the king lay on the floor drunk. There were empty jars of wine beside him. He sipped the last drop from his golden cup as he soliloquized. All the while he wept. Egon helped his father get to his feet.
'Wipe your tears father', he said. 'All is not lost.'
'They killed my brother', King Sett sobbed. 'My only kid brother...!'
King Sett broke down in tears. He reached for another jar of wine but Egon took it from him.
'You have had enough drinks for one day', Egon said. 'Get yourself together. No one wants to see the most powerful creature in the forest like this.'
Egon picked up the King's crown from the floor and placed it on King Sett's head. He helped King Sett sit on his throne.
'It is not your fault Lord Boas is dead', Egon said. 'Everyone knows he had mental issues.'
'That doesn't change a thing!' King Sett snapped. 'Boas was not always like this you know. He used to be calm, charming, respectable... fate was unfair to him.'
King Sett wept again.
'Do not despair father', Egon said. 'I have had the soldiers who were supposed to watch him executed.'
'Punish them, most definitely. Kill them, why?' King Sett said.
'They failed to perform their duties', Egon defended himself. 'They had to be made examples of'
'And you think killing them was the best way to do so?' King Sett scolded. 'If you kill every single soldier who falters, who would defend the fortress?'
Egon was silent. Just then, Nyra, the King's second wife walked. She was much younger than King Sett and just a few cycles older than Egon. Egon turned his face away as she came in.
'Can you not see I am speaking to my father?' He said, scowling.
'Be quiet Egon!' King Sett scolded him. 'You shall not speak to my wife in that manner!'
'It is alright my King', Nyra said, sitting on his laps and caressing his chest; much to the fury of Egon who she ignored. 'I woke up and I didn't see you in bed.'
'How can I sleep when my brother's corpse is all I see when I shut my eyes?' King Sett asked.
Egon stormed out as they began to romance. He was obviously not happy.
'I know dear', she said in a soothing voice. 'He was your beloved after all. But you should try to let go. The kingdom needs their king. I need you. Do not let grief take your life.'
'Oh Nyra my sweet', King Sett said. He became more and more tranquil as they pecked each other several times. She rubbed his chest and massaged his shoulders.
'You do know how to lighten my mood. What would I do without you?'
