The entirety of the world was called Quagga (1). It was a hot place with a constant sunshine. The sun would only set so far, yet still peeked over the arid horizons to beat down heat on the creatures of the world. There were a lot of animals specially designed for the heat. There were equines too. Large horses roamed in tight and strict bands, or herds. They kept to themselves, for the most part, and that suited them just fine. There were also Zebras. They were descendants of a long line of primitive civilizations. In fact, Quagga was a word that stood for Zebra.
The tribes were spread over the dry land. The waters would be dry soon if the rainy season didn’t start on time. Out from a hut came a large male Zebra. He wore a necklace made of bones, specifically crocodile teeth and a bird’s skull. On his face, he has a little black mustache which seemed to simply blend in with his dark stripes. On his flank was an intricate scar (2), a mark left from the carving of the bat symbol placed there by his elders before him. It denoted his status and job within the tribe. He was Houngan (3).
He sniffed at the fresh morning air. Other Zebras in the tribe were already at work with their daily duties. Some were making or repairing huts. Some were going to get firewood. Some were hunting for roots and berries and other such things for the herd to eat. There was a small farm not far from this main square which grew vegetables. There were even a few fruit trees to provide juicy fruits like mangos, papayas, and bananas. This tribe was very well attuned to the ways of surviving in this arid place.
From the hut came the stallion’s wife, a stocky yet feminine mare with a cauldron in her teeth. She was decorated in colorful flowers and on her flank was a carved scar of a decorative pot, a symbol of her ability with mixing elixirs. She was Mambo (4).
Both Mambo and Houngan served as leaders, a pair of shaman magicians with the knowledge of herbs and ancient magics. They were good leaders, wise, caring, and good parents. As Mambo hung the cauldron over the fire pit, out galloped her foal, a young blank flanked zebra who was to follow in their hoofsteps. He rushed to his mother’s side and began to hum along with her tune. She looked at him a moment before finally giving a laugh.
“Why are you sticking so close, Voodoo? It’s a beautiful day. Go play.”
“Can I help you? I can dig really good! Look!” He began to smack his hoof on the hard ground, chipping away the dry mud.
“No, you go play. Just be sure to stay out of everyone’s way.” And with that, she began to walk off in the direction of the watering hole with a pot on her head. She would need water in the cauldron if she was going to heat up a nice stock for her brew.
Voodoo huffed a bit and trotted off to find something to do. Everyone seemed too busy. Even the other foals were busy in their games. However, these were games Voodoo was not all too interested in playing. They were either too rough from stocky colts or too gentle from young foals or prissy fillies. Soon, it just felt like the looking was too much work. It wasn’t that Voodoo was against work, but the heat of the day was starting to increase. To escape, he chose to go to the edge of the village and seek out the shade of the great palms where the fruit trees grew. There was a small oasis there and he could get a cool drink.
Once he arrived, he brightened as he reached the edge of the forest bordered by fruit trees. The banana trees were the outermost fruits with papaya bushes just a little further in at the base. Zebras were climbing the trees with the different tools of invention. Some used a pully system, some used special climbing straps. Some were just that good. Another method were the pingers. These Zebras had a special talent for the slingshot. It was a common tool among all ages, but only a certain few could truly use it as a deadly weapon or as an effective harvesting tool. The other such talent were the zingers, or harvesters with boomerangs. Voodoo knew to be careful among the pingers and zingers, though he found a particularly favorite face. It was a ragged Zebra with a patch over his left eye. His coat was yellowed, like aged paper. His mane was a bit tattered and he grunted a deep and raspy voice. He was actually much younger than he sounded or appeared. On his flank was a carved scar of a peeled banana in a slingshot. As Voodoo approached, he took aim with his tool and aimed at the base of a banana bunch.
“Banana Razz!” Voodoo shouted. The stallion was taken by surprise and shot prematurely, sending the stone pinging off a trunk, past another harvester, barely able to dodge it, through a coconut, which fell and landed onto the head of a spotter at the bottom of the same tree. Voodoo skidded to a stop and sucked in a breath through his teeth. That looked like a mess.
“ Voodoo?” Banana Razz asked as he noticed the foal. “ What are you doing, kid?”
“ Mom sent me to find something to do. I can’t find anything.”
“ So, you come and startle the dickens outta me,” he sighed as he looked up at the banana bunch again. “ If you’re not careful, you’ll get an eye shot out. After all, who knows better than me, eh?” With that, Banana Razz lifted his eye patch to show the scarred up place his eye had once been. Voodoo grit his teeth and squeaked before slamming his head into the sand.
“ That’s so gross,” came his muffled whine. Banana Razz simple covered his eye and laughed a good hardy laugh. After a moment, Voodoo plucked his head back out of the sand and shook his face to avoid getting any in his eyes. “ I want to go to the glen. It’s too hot to be out here in the sun.”
Banana Razz continued to chuckle. He sat up on his haunches and waves his front hooves about in a spooky manner, “ You might want to watch out, little prince. I hear there be spooks in them there jungles.”
“ Spooks?” Voodoo repeated with an arch of his brow. “ What are you talking about? It’s just the jungle oasis. The worst things in there are probably just regular old leopards.”
“ Well,” Banana Razz pulled Voodoo closer and then nudged him with his elbow, “ on the far side that jungle is a tribe of Arabians (5).”
“ So?”
“ Well, I heard tell of those Arabians making their bi-yearly migrations through the desert, and they stopped nearby, as per usual. While the mares went to gather water at the watering hole, they came among the Arabians and their bands. The leader of the band, his family, and his closest guards came to the village and they told the tale of how their scouts had come among shadows in the desert and in the jungle.”
“ Shadows…” Voodoo grumbled, finding little amusement in this silly tale.
“ Sentient shadows!”
“ Banana Razz, quit trying to scare me. It’s not working,” the little zebra sighed, getting back on his hooves.
“ It’s all true, kid!” Banana Razz insisted. “ The Arabians aren’t very superstitious folk. They ain’t the only ones, either. The Griffons have told tales of strange creatures too! Flying shadows! Don’t believe me? You go ask your papa!”
“ Don’t think I won’t,” Voodoo called over his shoulder. “ He’ll give you a one-four for fibbing to me.” He turned up his nose in a superior manner. “ I don’t believe it and you’re not scaring me a bit. I’ve gone to the glen countless times. There is nothing in that jungle to fear but leopards.”
“ Don’t you fear leopards?” Banana Razz asked. “ They’d make a good feast of that carcass of yours.”
“ Ho-humph!” The foal enunciated. “ Leopards rarely come this close to the village. What are you on so much about? You really are a trouble-maker. Why do I try to hang out with you?”
“ Because I’m so awesome,” he teased. He pulled his slingshot back and took a shot, severing a banana bunch from the base and sending it falling into a cart. This startled one of the other nearby stallions who had not expected it. “ Papaya Fuze, quit being so paranoid! Pay attention, will ya?!”
Voodoo simply let out a sigh and continued for the jungle. He gave his little head a shake. That Banana Razz…he was such a pain. He couldn’t trust hardly a word he said. Pfft, shadow creatures…what nonsense.
Deeper he went into the jungle until he found the nice cool glen with the soft carpet of moss. He lowered himself and drank from the cool pool until he was satisfied. The shade was very satisfactory here. He could hear the frogs and macaws, as well as other birds and bugs. The jungle area was rich with life. Even here it was warm, but nowhere near as hot as the exposed grounds about the village. Still, it provided little by way of entertainment. After a while, Voodoo ended up on his back on a warm rock, peering upside down into the pool to examine his reflection. His eyes felt heavy and soon, all he could see was dark.
His eyes shot open at the feeling of something slapping his face. His eyes stared right into the buggy buds of a frog which croaked at him. He shot forward, slinging the frog into a tree. It was unhurt. Voodoo rubbed his face and looked around. It was beginning to get a bit cooler. How long had he been out? He hadn’t even realized he had taken a nap. He looked at the frog again and flung himself onto all fours, leaning down like a lion about to pounce. He wiggled his rear and leapt at the frog, missing. He hadn’t really intended to catch it, but this game of chase seemed to prove far more entertaining than doing nothing. Of course, the frog would likely argue otherwise. It finally made the escape into the pool just before Voodoo came down to catch it.
“ Aw,” he whined. A rustling then caught his attention. His ear flicked and he looked about to find the source. Perhaps it was a bird or other jungle animal. It was likely nothing to fear, but it never hurt to be prepared. After all, it may have been rare for leopards to come close to the village, but not impossible. “ Hello?” The rustling continued, but no verbal answer came. “ Hel-lo? Banana Razz, is that you?! You don’t scare me! This isn’t funny! I’m gonna tell my dad! He’s gonna get mad at you again! You’ll be on compost duty for a month!”
He fell silent to listen. It was quiet a moment, but the rustling soon continued again. Voodoo stood tall and approached cautiously. He spoke a little quieter now, “ Banana Razz, if that’s you, I’ll buck you in the shins.” A brief pause. “ Papaya Fuze? Pina Colada? Split End? Wing Ding? Is that any of you?” He hesitated before bushing the leaves aside. “ Please don’t be claws. Please don’t be claws. No spots. No spots. No spots,” he chanted, hoping that he wouldn’t see those leopard paws. A griffon perhaps? No! Hooves. Oh, whew. Well, hooves were good. Though, Voodoo realized there was something very odd about these hooves. They weren’t Zebra hooves. These didn’t look like the slender hooves of Arabians either. The coat was a strange color and the hooves were covered with…some…sort of….well…covering. He peered up and saw a glimmer from a pair of glowing eyes and the shadow of a long and flowing mane. He let out a cry and quickly turned tail to run for the safety of his village.
Voodoo ran without stopping and without looking back. He had learned early on to never look back in the face of danger. However, in his fright, he toppled into the body of one of the stallions, rolling like a tumbleweed with him until he was on his back with the foal on his belly. “ Papaya Fuze!”
“ Voodoo? Geez, are you okay? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.” He picked up Voodoo with his hooves and set him down as he sat up. “ Is it a leopard?”
“ Forget the leopards!” Voodoo cried out. “ There’s some…some…thing in there by the glen!” He flung his forelegs over his head, “ It was huge! It was all shadowy and it had glowing eyes! It was going to eat me!”
Papaya Fuze shot to his feet and looked about in a state of panic. It was safe to say that he wasn’t the most courageous of stallions. In fact, he was an absolute coward. Harvesting fruit was a fine job, but being so close to the scary jungle always had him on edge. “ D-did it follow you?!”
Voodoo looked around from the direction he had come, “I…don’t think so.”
“ Are you sure it wasn’t a Griffon or Arabian?”
“ I know what a Griffon looks like!” Voodoo shouted, almost offended by the absurdity. “ I also know what an Arabian looks like! Griffons don’t have hooves like this,” he held up his front hooves to use as a visual aid only briefly, “ and Arabians aren’t blue black!”
“ No hooved creature is blue black that I know of,” Papaya Fuze mused as he brought a hoof to his chin in thought. “ That doesn’t sound like anything I’ve heard of before.”
“ What isn’t?” Came the teasing laugh from a mare. She was the one nearly hit by Banana Razz’s pebble earlier in the day. She had a wild mane and a carved coconut on her flank. “ Don’t tell me…something scary happened, right? Honestly, Papaya, I don’t know how you get any work done with that paranoia of yours on constant overload.”
“ I didn’t say anything!” Papaya Fuze insisted. “ Voodoo says he saw something in the jungle!”
“ Oh?” She looked down to Voodoo curiously. “ What did you see? A leopard?”
“ Would you forget the leopard!” Both Voodoo and Papaya Fuze insisted. Voodoo hoof-palmed and let out a growl of frustration. “ I don’t know what I saw, Pina Colada. I just know it wasn’t a Zebra, it wasn’t a leopard, it wasn’t a Griffon, and it wasn’t an Arabian.”
“ So, what are you suggesting it could be?”
“ I…” Voodoo shook his head. “ Never mind… Forget it. Maybe it’s just Banana Razz’s story getting to me. He was trying to spook me before I went into the jungle.”
“ Oh, for Houngan’s sake… Banana Razz? Seriously?!” Pina Colada huffed. She marched off with an air of annoyance as Voodoo and Papaya watched.
“ Ooooh,” the cowardly stallion remarked. “ This isn’t going to turn out well.”
“ I’m not even worried for Banana Razz,” Voodoo stated. “ I’m more concerned that he’ll think he actually was able to scare me…and then never let me live it down.”
*
Voodoo peered out the window of his hut, watching the bats in the sky as they flittered about and caught the bugs in the evening air. It was significantly cooler, though still the deep red of dusk. The sun would go down no further as it peeked over the horizon. He let out a sigh as he unrolled the thatched blind and tied it down to prevent the sun from glaring into the dwelling. The front entrance had the curtain pulled aside and that offered a softer blaze of light. The breeze blew the air of the fire outside about with a kiss of cooler breeze behind it.
Voodoo let out a heavy sigh as he flopped onto the ground. Houngan noticed and approached his son with a hint of concern. “ Are you okay?”
“ Yeah,” he huffed. “ I’m just bored.”
“ Fatigued any?”
“ A little,” he replied. He peered up to see his father with a knowing smile. “ What? What is it? I tell you I’m tired and you get happy?
“ The rains are coming,” Houngan stated. “ It makes one feel heavy and fatigued. It can bring about a wave of gloom. It’ll pass, my son.”
Voodoo took a sniff of the air. “ I smell peppers (6).”
“ You should. We’re having a pepper stew,” Houngan laughed. “ But, it will have to prepare a little longer. Come along out and join with the village. You will lead them, one day.”
“ Somehow, I doubt they’d take me seriously,” Voodoo said as he sat up.
“ In time, they will, my son. You’re young, so they make great play with you. This is how they choose to bond with you. It’s tradition, I suppose.”
To that, the colt perked and gained an interest. “ You mean…you were joked with too?”
“ Oh yes,” he replied. “ No one ever meant any malice by it. It was just a way for us all to have fun.” He got behind Voodoo and gave him a nudge with his muzzle to force him out. “ Go out, now. We must get ready.”
“ Ready?” Voodoo repeated. He was shoved over the threshold and received nothing more than a nod before Houngan vanished back into the hut and joined shortly by Mambo. Voodoo let out a hmph over the idea of being removed. He scowled as he took a seat in the gathering place. He felt a presence and noticed Banana Razz watching him. “…What?”
“ Hey,” the stallion sat beside him and studied his little features with his one good eye. “ Y’know, I didn’t mean ta give you nightmares or nothing.”
“ You wanted to scare me. You got your way,” he stated simply and coldly.
“ Oh heck, spook ya, sure. I didn’t think you’d panic. I’d expect that more from Papaya Fuze. You’re normally a pretty stubborn lad.”
It took a moment, but Voodoo finally sighed and loosened up. He turned to Banana Razz, “ I saw something. I’m not sure what it is. It was like some…equine shadow with glowing eyes. It was blue black. It had the longest mane I’ve ever seen. At least, I think it was a mane. I didn’t see much else of it.” He waited a long moment. Nothing was said. This confused him and he studied the older zebra’s face. Wasn’t this the part where Banana Razz was supposed to admit he had made the whole thing up? Wasn’t this where he should make fun of Voodoo for seeing things? It never came. “ Banana Razz?”
“ It wasn’t anything you’ve ever seen before?” He suddenly asked, as if to verify he heard it right.
“ Right…”
Banana Razz went quiet for a long time again. This began to confuse Voodoo greatly.
“ Are you absolutely sure?” He asked.
“ I’m pretty sure,” he nodded.
“ Did you notice anything else?”
“ No. I was too freaked out to stay and investigate. Do you know something I don’t?”
To that, Banana Razz forced a smile onto his face and faked a more pleasing mood. “ Oh, don’t you worry your wee little head about it, little prince. It’s nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
Well, he got to hear the words he would have expected. Still, Voodoo was no idiot. He knew there was something Banana Razz was keeping from him. However, he chose to let the matter go…for now. More of the other Zebras of the village were beginning to find comfortable spots about the fire in the gathering place. There was plenty of space between them and the fire. Several of the villagers were not yet present…even by the time most everyone had finally gathered. It couldn’t be due to work, though there were a few sentries performing the graveyard shift.
The drums soon began to play. Voodoo glanced towards them, seeing the heavyset Rumpapum leading the other stallion drummers. Then came Rattatat and her group of tambourine players. Bone flutes and other instruments began to create a tribal orchestra. The atmosphere had been set. From the closest huts came the missing zebras. They were decorated so ornately. Saddle-like costumes adorned their bodies, with such amazing feathers. They were such bright colors: red, blue, even browns and whites. Feathers from all sorts of birds, and even Griffons had been used. Some of the feathers had been dyed strange colors that were not natural of the animals of this area. Large plumes similarly sprouted from headdresses and wooden masks places over their heads. Wide ribbons trailed behind some of the costume as if to fly behind them as they danced. The masks were smooth and covered most of the face and head, leaving the lower jaw area exposed. Some had colors and designs on them, aside from the plumage. Strange coloring went about the eyes and the top part of the mask, as if a sort of helmet were being worn. A spike had been carved and attached to the forehead, laced in leaves of gold. Some costumes glittered with small diamonds like stars and some feathers were woven with transparent lace like water.
The space between the zebras and the fire was where these costumed characters were to perform an intricate dance. And an intricate dance it was. Houngan and Mambo faced one another and touched their golden horns and placed a front hoof forward in a majestic manner. The others bowed before them in a well-placed manner. Once the music changed tempo, the dance had begun and each member of this play moved in well-rehearsed choreography, telling a wordless story that Voodoo could not understand, but enjoyed nonetheless. They swayed and dipped and twirled about one another. The firelight almost made the movements psychedelic and hypnotic. Those bright peacock feathers only seemed to further the spell. The music grew to a grand crescendo, and then…all at once…they stopped, halting the dancers in a perfect position.
“ Wow!” Voodoo cheered. In reality, he had seen such displays before, but they never ceased to please him. He clapped his hooves together as the performers removed the ceremonial costumes and rejoined the rest of the village to portion out the meal that had been cooking all day.
“ Mom! Dad! That was fantastic! I wish I could do something like that!”
“ In time,” Mambo laughed in her motherly way. “ One day you will be leading the village in these ceremonial dances.”
“ Why do we do them?” Voodoo asked. Mambo seemed a bit surprised. Didn’t he know? Then again, did they ever explain it to him? She seemed almost sad but amused at the same time. “ Oh, my poor baby. Where has the time gone?”
“ Eh…what?” He asked with confusion.
“ You were just a little thing it seems like only yesterday. Now you are getting more and more grown and we haven’t even taught you the basics. How negligent of us.”
“ What’s wrong, now?” Houngan asked as he came close.
“ We never educated Voodoo properly about why we do our ceremonies,” Mambo sighed.
“ Aha!” The stallion chief laughed. “ That is easily fixed, my dear. I shall take him to the caves tomorrow, bright and early”
“ Caves?” Voodoo perked. “ What’s so special about caves?”
“ Ah, you’ll see, little button head.” Oh, how Voodoo hated that nickname. Still, Houngan continued, “Do not underestimate the value of anything. You will pass this knowledge down to your future generations and our legacies will continue long after our names are forgotten.”
Voodoo seemed very unamused. “ That’s all so…mystical and all. I…”
“ Tut, tut!” He interjected. “ No more backtalk. You must rest. Tomorrow, you will see just how lucky you are to be a Zebra. You will see just how much of an honor it is to be part of this family.” He then became dramatic, “ No…you go! You go and chase after dreamland creatures like a grand warrior! You go!”
“ Houngan…” Mambo said with a warning tone. It caused the stallion to blush and chuckle a little sheepishly. He then cleared his throat and puffed out his chest, “ Ahem! Bedtime now.”
*
The sun was still low in the sky, allowing for a cool and even chilly air. Voodoo let out a yawn, an exhale that came out as steam as he walked in such a tired trudge behind Houngan. The older zebra walked with a high step, proud and very awake. On top of it, he wore saddlebags over his back, containing some provisions. He hummed a happy little tune as well. Voodoo just wasn’t feeling it. He wasn’t exactly the morning sort.
Of course, they weren’t alone, alone. Four warriors from the village came along for precaution. It would do no good for something to befall the chief and his son. Two went ahead and two trailed behind, encircling a perimeter of safety about the pair. If Voodoo fell too far behind, one of the trailing warriors, Split End or Psychedelic Fury would nudge him firmly forward. Normally, it would result in him falling forward and plating his face in the dirt before waking him enough to trot back to his father’s side.
“ How much further is it?” He finally whined.
“ Suck in the air, Voodoo!” Houngan cheered. “ It’s glorious!”
Voodoo looked over his shoulder at Split End and Psychedelic Fury. They weren’t smiling at all. “ I don’t think those two find it so glorious.”
“ Well, that’s because you’re dawdling,” Houngan explained. “ I bet Hawk Eye and Mercy are smiling!”
The two leading soldiers stop and looked back at Houngan and then to each other. They hadn’t been smiling per se, but more focused on keeping watch. However, not wanting to displease the chief, they forced big, goofy smiles onto their face and turned to face forward and march again.
In due time, they reached a large rock face with caves. It was massive and looked rather old. “ What is this place?”
“ This whole area once was a seabed and then a shore. That was long, long, long, long ago. It became a great place to gather away from the heat and elements when we came here.”
“ Weren’t we always here?” Voodoo asked.
“ No,” he replied, leading Voodoo closer to the creepy caves. “ We were farther east, in a once luscious place in the center of Quagga, in the once glorious countries of Neigh-Robi, Tan-Zebra-Neigh-Ah, Meh-Zebra-Tania (7).”
With a bit of effort, Houngan led Voodoo to the mouth of a cave and then looked to Mercy. The warrior quickly went through his tools and began to set up a lamp they had brought. Once it was lit and placed on the specialized pole, the three ventured into the caves, leaving the other three warriors to stand guard outside.
“ So, Zebras used to live in caves?” Voodoo asked, feeling a chill. He couldn’t help but shiver. The stones kept it so cool, and with the chill the morning had brought, it was freezing. That was a sensation Voodoo, or any Zebra these days, would almost never feel. They went back, back, back. Voodoo could already see evidence of past residency. Old pottery and some abandoned tools still remained.
“ Pina Colada told be about you and Banana Razz,” Houngan said, disregarding Voodoo’s question. “I think that is a sign that you are indeed ready to know of our heritage.” He stopped and looked towards the colt as Mercy came alongside his chief to light the wall better. Voodoo couldn’t help but gasp.
On the walls of the cave were paintings and carvings. There were strange marks that were writings. Voodoo had never really seen writings like this before. Sure, something similar on papyrus, but this was so intricate and…amazing. Scenes were drawn like pictures in a story. He suddenly gasped and pointed to a strange image. It seemed like a giant Arabian, but it was purple with a long flowing mane and glowing eyes. Great wings were sprouting from its back and a golden spear was on its head.
“ That was it! Different color, but that looks like what I saw in the jungle! What it is?!”
Houngan observed the image and, despite trying to seem unphased, was obviously surprised and glanced down at Voodoo. “ You…saw one of these?”
“ Yes! It was a different color, but that’s the mane! Those are the eyes!” Voodoo insisted.
“ That is…impossible,” Houngan chuckled nervously.
“ But, obviously they were seen before, weren’t they?” Voodoo asked. “ Look at the drawings! There are so many of them. What are they, Dad? Please, tell me!”
Houngan looked to Mercy. The warrior seemed worried. He was not entirely as educated in the legacy as Houngan, but he knew enough to know such creatures could not have been seen. The chief took a deep breath and sighed. “ Very well. Come with me to the furthest back wall of the cave, son. It is there that our ancestors tried to preserve some of our oldest history once our kind was driven into dwelling in these caves.”
Voodoo followed obediently with Mercy lighting the way. Few bats chirped overhead. That would explain the strange smell. It was guano. He stopped and noticed the etchings in the stone. They began with very primitive looking images, though he recognized the lifestyle. It was similar to the village, only…something was different about it.
“ No one knows just when we came into existence,” Houngan explained. “ But, in the beginning of our sentient intellectual consciousness, we lived a very hard life. Even back then, the lands were overall arid with vast deserts between great oases. The rains were even scarcer than they are now. Our folk were always hungry, always thirsty, and always on the move. Here, we only have to worry about leopards most of the time. Back in the ancient days, we had to fear other great beasts that fed upon our hides. We even had to fear the Griffons overhead. Our kind was not on good terms with them at the time and they would just as much enjoy feasting upon us.”
“ Whoa!” Voodoo gasped. “ I knew they looked creepy, but I didn’t think they’d actually eat us!”
“ Oh yes,” Houngan nodded as he ran his hoof from one set of images to the next, leading Voodoo along the story. “ We had to always follow the food and water, and competition was fierce. We used to have to huddle so close together. Our stripes used to confuse the predators. But, one evening, the Zebras saw a big explosion in the sky and a star fell onto the earth. The Star Being was beautiful…” He pointed to the image of the winged horse. “ She had fallen from the stars and was weak. Our ancestors sacrificed what little they had to care for her. She was called Destiny Essence. She got better at the expense of the band that had cared for her.
“ Once she was well enough, she began to help the band. She taught them to thatch leaves together to make parasols and taught them to dig for water. She even taught them to build basic shelters. Destiny Essence was a heavenly blessing. Taking pity on the suffering of the Zebras, she manipulated the winds to cool them, and once in a while manipulated the rains to quench their thirst. She was even able to sprout a bean from the ground where nothing would grow. She was revered as a goddess and led the Zebras well.
“ One day, more Star Beings flew to the earth in search of her. They led the Zebras to a place deep in the center of Quagga where they were taught agriculture. They taught Zebras to make mud bricks and build huts and make wells. For the first time, we didn’t have to move around. We had control of our world. Well, some control, anyway.”
He moved to the next sets of images, “ The Star Beings used their powers to protect the Zebras from predators and from the Griffons overhead. Those Griffons, they got so angry that they amassed an army and attacked the little village. It was a disaster. The Star Beings used their magic to lift heavy stones to create shelters, safe from the dropping dangers. The Star Beings battled the Griffons in the air and brought them down. Their magical skill was enough to humble the Griffons and force them to retreat.”
“ Then what?” Voodoo asked, intrigued.
“ The ancestors were so grateful that they wanted to build a palace for the Star Being to live and rule over them. One palace went up with the favor of Star Beings. They used their magic to help move the heavy stones and taught the Zebras technologies to help move them along without magic. Another palace went up. More Star Beings began to come to the growing village. It soon became a city…then several cities with grand palaces for the growing number of Star Beings to rule over the Zebras! They were adorned with paints and pottery and fabrics and precious gems and gold. All of it was taught to the Zebras. Great rituals and events were centered about celebrating these great beings, and in some cases, to appease them when they were angry. The world was happier with them. Rains came regularly, the sun would cool.
“ Then, one day…they just all…left. Not a one of them knew where or why. They just vanished one day. Zebras mourned the loss and thought for sure the Star Beings would return. They kept the palaces clean and furnished and cared for. These places became temples and the keepers became priests and priestesses. The chief’s role became that of a king and kingdoms sprouted, gleaming with riches. It is this bloodline that you and I have come, Voodoo.”
“ We…did?”
“ Yes. The first great king, appointed by the Star Beings, was King Lwa (8). He was a great warrior,” Houngan explained proudly. “ He was fearless! He was so well loved that even the other budding kingdoms bowed to him. He even managed to win the respect of the Griffons, and a treaty was formed. It is this king that sired the seeds that would become many of the great kings and tribal leaders.”
“ But, that begs the question…if we had these great stone and gold cities…why do we live in villages? Why did we move to caves?”
Houngan had to think on that a moment. He moved to another part of the cave with a heavy sigh. “ The Star Beings were not entirely benevolent. Some were neutral in their personalities and some were aggressive. As I said before, a lot was done to appease the Star Beings to stay in their favor. Without their blessings, failure was much more likely in our endeavors.” He paused a moment. “ When the Star Beings left, the Zebras were left to rule over themselves for thousands of years. There were ups and downs, like any civilization, but overall, Zebras were the supreme beings of the world. Perhaps that warranted the pride…but pride comes at a price.
“ It is said that the Star Beings, though no longer in this world, could see from the heavens the happenings of the Zebras. They grew displeased for one reason or another. Some say that it was a group of evil Star Beings. Some say that Zebras had grown too proud. Some have even suggested that the rulers of the Star Beings was unhappy about the interaction in the first place and wanted to erase the interference they had caused by teaching us. Whatever the reason, the skies grew dark and cold and it became a massive storm. The entire civilization was brought down in utter chaos and blaze. The Zebras fled the once powerful cities to save their own lives. Each king taking his own folk into hiding, driven out into the wilderness.”
“ So that’s how we ended up here?” Voodoo asked.
“ Yes. When our ancestors came here, there was a beach not far from this place. During the great storms, our ancestors hid in these caves. Eventually, we moved out of them to begin creating villages again. We wanted to appease the angry Star Beings, so the rituals continued, and remnants of agriculture were put into use.”
Voodoo wasn’t sure what to think. He mulled over the story. So, the feathers were to symbolize the wings of the Star Beings. “ No one has seen them since?”
“ Oh, it’s all likely folderol,” Houngan chuckled. “ The Star Beings are not physically real. They are ethereal…an idea that motivates Zebras to do the right thing and give them strength when they are in need. We still try to appease the ethereal force, but we no longer believe in such a silly looking creature.”
“ What if they weren’t… fall…der…all?” He asked, unable to say the word his father had said.
“ Such a creature cannot exist,” Houngan said matter of fact. “ It is illogical and impossible for something like this to even function. Equines do not come in these colors, they do not have the horns like rhinos or stags or gazelles. They especially do not have feathers or wings. Can you imagine? A flying equine? How silly.” He let out a laugh.
“ Well, what about the Griffons?” Voodoo mentioned. “ Isn’t it odd for such a creature to exist? Not a bird and not a lion… It nurses and it lays eggs…”
“ Such creatures are strange but not impossible,” Houngan smiled. “ Ever hear of a platypus?”
Voodoo’s eyes went wide. There was just so much he didn’t know or understand. He looked to Mercy who simply shrugged back at the little prince. Houngan began to wander back towards the front of the cave. Voodoo and Mercy hurried after him. The colt had to squint his eyes once the light filtered in. He scurried to his father’s side. “ Do you think we know all there is to know?”
“ Certainly not,” Houngan replied. “ There are things we have forgotten. However, we shall not forget anymore. That is why we pass down what we do know through the generations.” He sat himself down. “ This is a comfortable place. It isn’t too hot or too cold. What do you say we have a little bite to eat before we head back?”
It was then that Voodoo’s tummy rumbled. He hadn’t realized how hungry he had become. Perhaps the smell inside the cave had suppressed his appetite, but now that he was within reach of fresh air, it had come full force. He gave a sheepish nod before coming to sit beside him. “ I think that would be great…”
*
Life had returned to normal. It had been months and not another shadow had been seen. Voodoo began to believe the whole thing was nothing more than just a dream. Yes, a dream spurred on by Banana Razz’s crazy tale.
A ball bounced off of his head, pulling him from his thoughts. He let out a hiss of pain and rubbed his head as the ball rolled to a stop. He frowned at it and looked around for a source. Two other colts seemed to be the cause. One was sepia toned with dark brown stripes and one was gray-toned with charcoal stripes. “ Sorry, Prince Voodoo,” the gray-toned one apologized. “ It got away from us.”
Voodoo continued to rub his head, “ What is that ball made of? Ow…”
The sepia colored colt was around the same age as Voodoo. His name was Dust Devil. He looked the part. Due to his color, he always looked like he was covered in dust, mud and dirt. The older colt was Tumbleweed. He was a cousin of Dust Devil, and had already received his Destiny Mark. The scar was still raw. He hadn’t gotten it too long ago. It was healing, but slowly. A salve glimmered from the wound. That would certainly explain the bit of a limp from him.
“ When did you get that?” Voodoo asked, eyeing the mark. “ What…exactly is it?”
Tumbleweed looked to his swollen and sore flank. “ A briar patch,” he sighed. “ It looks awful…feels awful. Your dad carved it fourteen days ago. He said when the swelling finally went down all the way and it healed, the thorns would be more visible.”
“ So, what’s the job? I can’t exactly imagine you working a briar patch.”
“ I’m supposed to train to be one of the warriors,” he sighed. “ I didn’t think that’s where I’d end up. I thought for sure I’d be making bricks and building huts.”
“ Really? I want to do that too!” Dust Devil declared. “ But…I’m not looking forward to getting my Destiny Mark. It looks painful.”
“ It is painful,” Tumbleweed grumbled. He glared at Voodoo. “ Trust me, you’ll know what it feels like. Your job was chosen from birth. Just that fact that you are Chief Houngan and Lady Mambo’s son is enough. I’m surprised you don’t have yours already. I can almost promise you’ll get yours before Dust Devil gets his.”
Voodoo gulped. His family normally did get them early. It was for that very reason that Tumbleweed mentioned. He was the son of the chief, therefore he was his heir and would likely receive a mark sooner than other foals his age. The chance for infections was really high, so perhaps that’s why they waited this long. He’d need a strong immune system and a sturdy rump.
“ Tumbleweed!” Came the voice of one of the warriors. It was Split End. “ Hurry up! No time to dawdle!”
“ Aw,” he whined. “ Guess I’ll go and start this boring apprenticeship.”
“ Good luck, Tumbleweed,” Voodoo grinned. He only got a scowl in response. Dust Devil came closer to Voodoo and frowned.
“ Do you think the Destiny Mark could be wrong? Chief Houngan goes through a lot of divination to determine what our purposes in the village should be. Just, …sometimes, they seem to make some of the villagers so unhappy.”
“ You noticed it too, eh?” Voodoo asked. “ I’d picture Papaya Fuze as more of a potter than a harvester. He’s too skittish for that job. Banana Razz, I’d picture him as more of the warrior type. He always seems so tough. And he’s the best pinger in the village.”
“ Do you think he’ll be okay? Tumbleweed, I mean.”
“ I don’t think he has much choice, Dust Devil,” Voodoo shrugged. “ Remember what happened to Xylophone Jingles? He spent his whole life learning to play music like his parents. Then he was set on the path of a beekeeper. He stunk so bad. Rather than give him a new job, he was exiled from the village.”
“ I remember hearing about that,” Dust Devil frowned. “ You don’t get to question your destiny. Who ever heard of a blind beekeeper?”
“ Apparently, that was what the divination told my dad Xylophone Jingles was meant to do.”
“ When you become chief, will you be like that?”
Voodoo thought a long time on that. He had wanted to be like his father in most cases. When he heard complaints like this, it made him second guess just how eager he was to learn the trade of leader. “ I can’t honestly say one way or the other. I’ve not learned divination yet, so I don’t know how to translate this…destiny that is supposed to mark us for our lives.”
Dust Devil retrieved the ball and stood erect, kicking the ball between his hooves. “ Hey, want to kick the ball around, Prince Voodoo?”
To that, he nodded. He ran ahead as Dust Devil gave it a good kick. Now that he was expecting it, the ball wouldn’t cause him any discomfort. He gave it a good head butt, bouncing it on his noggin a few times and then balancing it just to show off a little. Another bounce and it was brought to his knees and bounced back to Dust Devil. They played in this way, chasing the ball and laughing as they wandered further and further from the village. They didn’t even seem to notice. It wasn’t until they finally grew exhausted and stopped that they realized the huts were much further away than they had thought.
“ Whew, how’d we get way out here?” Dust Devil panted. “ I’m thirsty.”
“ Me too.” Voodoo replied as he looked around. “ I think we’re close to one of the watering hole. C’mon.” He got back to his feet and led Dust Devil along, further from the village. He closed his eyes and put his nose in the air, smelling. The air smelled dusty but a high level of dank as well. The rains would be coming soon and the watering hole would stretch far beyond its tiny puddle of an oasis. There’d be a huge lake soon enough.
Soon enough, they reached the edge of the watering hole and hurried to get a drink. That was risky in and of itself, as they’d both forgotten to check for crocodiles. A gazelle was there too. It lifted its head and saw the two little zebras.
“ I’ll be, don’t normally see the little ones out this far. Normally just the water mares. They left hours ago.”
“ We wandered a bit too far,” Voodoo explained. He didn’t feel strange at all about talking to the gazelle. Granted, he had never done it before and they didn’t normally interact with the village. Still, he knew the gazelle wouldn’t be a problem for him or Dust Devil, even without the adults present. If anything, he was glad there was someone else there. A light rumble rolled overhead and Voodoo peered up. The clouds were starting to form and get grey. That seemed like a good sign.
“ The rains are comin’,” the gazelle stated. “ Thank goodness. This water is getting stale. It tastes fishy.” As if to emphasize the point, a mud puppy lurched and smacked a muddy tail across the little nose. “Ugh! Nasty little beast!”
“ Where’s your herd? Don’t gazelles normally stay together?” Dust Devil asked nervously.
“ Oh they are trying to graze on what is left a ways over there.” He then perked and his ears went erect. He could hear the rapid hoof beats. He swallowed hard, trying to find the source of panic. Voodoo and Dust Devil found themselves looking around too and gasped, back to back as a shadow loomed over them. The great wingspan made them nervous.
“ It’s a rogue!” Voodoo shouted, looking up to see that a large charcoal colored Griffon circled high above them. “ We have to get to cover!” He noticed the small patch of wooded area and began to gallop towards it. Dust Devil hesitated, almost unaware he’d been left, but then hurried once he noticed to follow after his prince. He tripped and toppled a few times. Voodoo turned and tried to help the sepia zebra to his feet. “ Hurry up, Dust Devil! It’s coming!”
The beast landed. He was shaggy with what looked like part of a mane that went down to his elbows. “Don’t much get to see little Zebras ‘round this watering hole,” he laughed. His black beak gleamed in the sun. Dust Devil cowered into the dirt. Voodoo stood defiantly over him, locking eyes with the rogue. It actually surprised him that this little Zebra had such guts. The huffing and stomping of his hoof was a nice touch. “ Oh, you aren’t honestly going to try and fight me, are you? My talons could slice you to pie- AH!” The rogue let out a squawk as he was suddenly bowled over by a great head butt from the gazelle.
“ Get to the ferns!” He shouted before turning and starting to run. He had to rejoin his herd. It was risky enough to have made that sort of move. The two zebras began to run, Dust Devil lagging behind as he began to cry.
“ Hurry up!” Voodoo called back to him, without actually turning back. Dust Devil, on the other hoof, looked behind him and tripped on a stone and toppled again as the rogue pounced on him.
“ Gotcha!” He shouted as the foal screamed. He tried to kick at him, but it only delayed the matter. Voodoo had made it to the patch of bush and peered out. He gasped. He couldn’t just leave Dust Devil out there, but what could he do?! He wasn’t much bigger and he would be in just much danger! Griffons and Zebras just did not mix. They had already used up the blessing of interference when the gazelle had struck the monster. Oh, if only there was some way to frighten off that Griffon!
…Wait! Maybe there was! He looked around and saw the vines and great ferns. He saw the large briar thorns. The sun was placed just right in the sky! It was his only chance! He hurried and shimmied up the briar, using the thorns as a ladder, breaking one off on his way up. He galloped along a branch, through a tangle of vines which snapped and ripped some ferns from their plants. This had to work! It just had to!
The rogue lifted a talon menacingly. “ Say your prayers, little foal!” He then stopped short as Dust Devil covered his eyes with his hooves as a strange sound echoed overhead. It sounded like a zebra. Oh, what was that little pest up to… The rogue gasped and fell backwards. Hovering above the canopy was a looming shadow! The spike cut the sun like a pie and the great feathered wings spread out threateningly. Just as a breeze came by, a swarm of some sort of magic whisked close. The Griffon cried out and covered his eyes.
“ My eyes! My eyes! The shadow beast has taken my sight!” He scrambled before taking to the air where he would be less likely to run into anything. Flying blind wasn’t wise, but it beat incurring the wrath of the shadow creature. Dust Devil took the opportunity to finally dart for the underbrush and deep into a rose bush. He was small enough to get through the thorny stems. He panted in panic and then looked around.
“ Prince Voodoo!” Oh, he couldn’t go back without the prince! He’s be exiled for sure! He poked out his head from the rose bush and heard the laughter overhead. He peered up and saw Voodoo trotting town the bent trunk of the tree and then down to the ground. He was wrapped about the torso with the vines which held the giant fern leaves. The sap held the thorn onto his head. “ Voodoo!” the sepia foal shouted, tackling him and glomping him to the ground. “ What in Quagga did you do?!”
“ I remember my dad telling me that the Star Beings used to fight the Griffons. So I threw this together on the fly and climbed up to those branches up there over the canopy. The sun was in just the right place to cast me as a shadow. That ol’ rogue thought I was a Star Being!” He let out a wild laugh. “I can’t believe it worked!”
“ What about the magic?” Dust Devil asked. “ How did you make the rogue go blind?”
“ Pfft, oh he’s not blind. I just used some sand and sent it on the breeze. Eventually, he’ll be able to see again, but he may very well think a Star Being is still around here. Either way, we should get back. The others will be worried if we don’t show up soon.”
“ I’m totally with that idea,” Dust Devil whined. “ I want to get as far away from this experience as possible…”