EXTRACT FOR
Lara's Tribe
(Kelly Addams)

Hours later, and just as the sun was beginning to set Kauan staggered back into the settlement, and bypassing his own hut he dragged his leaden limbs to the far side of the clearing, to the hut that aroused so much superstitious awe within the tribe... the home of Tupã.

"You saw clearly," he gasped as sinking to his knees he lifted the litter from his shoulders and cried out softly as skin pulled from his body, dried to the poles. "Iara sent her to me, from the body of the giant bird she was cast... my wife."

"Not yet." the old shaman chuckled from the shadows of a stand of banana plants that grew some way from his simple thatched hut. He had watched Kauan arrive, and he had been expecting him. Tupã had also seen the giant bird struck down in fire and thunder, and he had dropped to his knees and debased himself before the gods, never before had his sight been so clear.

From afar he had followed Kauan's trials, bringing Iara's gift home had been fraught with difficulties. He had closed his eyes and watched Kauan burn up the majority of his boundless energy carrying the litter and his comatose prize across the storm riven gulley. His energy had been sapped almost to the point of defeat, a lesser man would have broken down and sobbed, but Kauan had dug deep into his inner reserves, and driven by the gods he had forced his body to carry on.

"Aided by the gods." Tupã whispered as the hunter laid down his sacred burden then sunk backwards breathing heavily. "Give thanks, Hawk, because you are only here by the grace of the forest spirits."

"I know this very well," Kauan gasped, "And I am grateful, but is it not also the truth that the spirits guided me to her, and that I was destined to find her... then if that is so, why is it a surprise that the gods aided me?"

"Be careful who you taunt and tempt." Tupã said quietly, "Because has not your arrogance and conceit already led you to difficult paths?"

Kauan took a deep breath and calmed his heart, of course Tupã spoke the truth, hadn't his over confidence placed the gorge before him.

"I apologise, to both the spirits and yourself. I spoke without thinking... and I am sorry." Kauan lowered his head as the shaman walked from the shadows and peered down at the copper haired girl on his litter.

"It was foolish to move her in this condition." Tupã said, then held up his hand to quell Kauan's indignant response. "But I see that you believed that there was no other option. She would have been safe, Iara would have watched over her... but I understand your motives and conclusions... let us hope that you have not done too much damage by dragging her through the forest on this strange hammock!"

Kauan swallowed hard, biting back the derisive remarks that were marching toward his lips. He had made a decision, maybe it was wrong but at the time it felt like the correct thing to do... now Tupã was belittling him as though he were a naive and innocent child.

The shaman placed his hand against the unconscious girl's chest, and after a few seconds of intense concentration he nodded slowly.

"She will live, the goddess's gift is a strong child, but she is seriously injured, she bleeds inside. The spirits have shown me this. Now you, hunter, forget your own injuries because you must enter the forest and find for me the tree that bleeds blood. You know of which I speak. Cut the bark and collect the thick blood in a leaf, bring it to me while it is fresh because I need its healing power."

Quickly, now filled with energy and purpose Tupã turned to his girl and barked his orders, she was to boil water and prepare an infusion of medicinal leaves.

Tupã reached into the capuchin skin pouch that was always at his side and produced a tube of tightly rolled leaves and herbs. This he lit in the fire and puffed frantically until the glowing end burned evenly. Bending close to Lara's face he blew the smoke against her skin. The unconscious girl groaned then gasped before coughing softly. Again Tupã blew the smoke against her face and began to chant a sacred incantation. He had been taught the same words by his mentor, it was a charm that drove out the spirits that made a body bleed inside, and combined with the sticky tree sap that Kauan was gathering, would heal the girl within the space of a day... that is if the gods decided to be merciful.

But they will be merciful he told himself as he stroked her fiery copper hair, because isn't she the daughter of the goddess?

She is sacred he told himself firmly, of course the gods will protect her... and isn't she the one who has been chosen to ease my own burden... and lift it from my shoulders when my time has come!

Long had Tupã waited for one to come that could carry forward his skill and knowledge. Usually a child would have been selected at the moment that they could speak, a child that would train and learn, an apprentice of kinds. One who would absorb the ancient knowledge and tribal memories. Tupã had never felt the connection with any child born into the tribe... and now the white girl was in his presence he knew why.

"I have been waiting for you, daughter of Iara." he whispered.

"My name is Lara." the semi-conscious girl mumbled in response to his words. "Not Iara..."

"I am Lara."