Prologue
The forest was full of sound that night even though the crickets and frogs were silent. The wolves had heard the noise from miles away and had slowly come to the clearing to investigate the smells and shrieks that were being made. They circled around the fire, their eyes focused on the man and woman. The pain drew them far closer to the woman then that of the blood.
The man that sat beside the woman stared into the glowing eyes and bared his own teeth, a low growl erupting from the depths of his throat, “Back you hounds of Aabaylon!” he punctuated his yell by throwing several burning branches into the pack and felt satisfied when the beasts moved several feet back.
Turning back to his wife, he felt panic consume him as he stared at her, “Hayla, you must push! The baby is almost here! Its something we have been looking forward to for the last eight months! Come my shireae, push!”
The woman, who was really no more than a girl of sixteen, stared pleadingly into her husband’s eyes, and she cried out when pain rippled through her, “Tama it hurts! The priests never said anything about this kind of pain! The Gods! The Gods are punishing us! They have forbidden this marriage between us because our Gods are bitter enemies towards one another. They have forsaken us!” she shrieked and clutched her stomach as another contraction pushed through her.
Tama shoved his black hair out of his eyes, and green clashed with yellow as the wolves move silently closer. Hunching over his wife protectively, he stared back down into her dark blue eyes and bit out harshly, feeling sick about what he was about to say, “Hayla, by the God’s decree we are man and wife. We exchanged vows within the Sacred Grounds. I command you, as your husband, to push for I will not lose either of you to your foolishness!” he snarled before yelling in rage as he turned around with his hunting knife in hand and began slashing at the wolves who were far too close.
As they fell away into the shadows, three of their numbers lay dead by the fire, Tama turned back to his wife and saw her lying so still and quiet. Fear seized him as he thought his wife dead but breathed in relief when he saw the bundle clutched tightly in his her arms.
Drawing closer, he went to take the bundle but Hayla held on tighter. In a blank voice, her words only a soft whisper, she said, “We must kill it Tama. The Gods demand payment for going against their wishes!”
Tama stared at Hayla as chills ran up and down his body. To kill his own flesh and blood was against his Goddess’ way. Taking the baby gently away from Hayla’s hands, he placed the bundle on his furs and reclaimed his wife’s hands. “Hayla,” he said just as quietly and saw her lovely eyes flicker with hope, “We are not killing the baby. It is a gift from the Gods and I will not let your fear and the laws of a decrepit old man dictate whether we kill this babe or not. This baby will live and grow.”
As he watched Hayla shut down and turn away from him, he had to sigh in defeat. Closing own his eyes in heartbreak, he took a moment before turning back to the quiet bundle.
Gently he unwrapped the bundle and discovered his daughter who stared up at him with liquid amber eyes. Tears dropped down his face as he looked at her, knowing that the Gods had certainly blessed their union but also this baby. His daughter was protected by none other than his own Goddess, Alta, protector and mother of the desert tribes.
“My little Inanna, protected by Alta, loved by your father, Tama, son of Helios and Zeira of the Sasirie Tribe, this I foresee; you will grow strong and beautiful and change the lives of all those you encounter.”
......
Long ago, Earthshakes created a world the former inhabitants had never encountered before. Where there had been land now was covered in water as far as the eyes could see. Mountains appeared where none had been before. Fires ravaged forests, leaving nothing but burnt lumber and ash.
The earthshakes lasted for almost a century. When it had finally stopped, the people that survived crawled out of hiding. It was a world they had never before seen and a fraction rose up giving hope. They said the world was offering them a second chance to take care of her.
The survivors rejoiced and soon people were living easier as they regrew plants and set up homes to live in.
It wasn’t long, though, until a young man stepped out of the shadows and started spouting words to any who would listen. He told people that the Gods were punishing them for being disobedient and for falling away from the true ways of living in Their name. The young man started with a few followers, but soon many came upon him speaking and began to follow him as well. War broke out among the Believers and those of the Mother.
It didn’t take long for hope to die and for religion to win the war. As punishment for fighting against the young man, now named the High Priest, the leaders were commanded to bring their wives and daughters to seek atonement for their crimes.
That night the screams and cries of the women filled the night as the fires burned bright. The husbands, fathers, and brothers could do nothing for they were bound helplessly.
When all went home, the men asked the women what had happened. The women in turn simply told the men that there was atonement and that the Gods accepted so long as they followed their ways.
It was later decreed for all families to give up their daughters at the age of eighteen summers to seek atonement for their own discretions against the Gods. If they were married before then, than they paid the price on their wedding night. Many families tried to marry their daughters before their sixteenth summer.
As time passed, rumors floated that the High Priest was not aging. Some people would laugh it off and later found themselves ran through with a sword.
Families hid, they prayed to their Gods, and tried to live the best they could by being humble and unassuming so that their own lives remained among the living.
