A Short Story: Raksha Green Peaks

Snowcapped mountains roll in the distance. Crisp mount fog settles over every peak. Snow leopards trudge through the snow. Ibex and deer cautiously roam the high plains. The stinging wind whistles through the trees rustling the frost on the evergreen leaves. The scent of pine and wood smoke wafts over the Wahala Alps. The glacial winter has driven the tribespeople of the Mammoth Tribe deep into the mountain caverns of the Wahala Alps.

The Mammoth Tribe has reigned over Wahala Alps for centuries. The folklore says that there once were many tribes within the great land of Wahala Alps, but that a great war during a time recalled as The Frigid; a winter in which Wahala Alps was so bitingly cold that not even winter crops could survive, and the animals of both the sky and land deserted the mountains spurring famine amongst the people. The tribespeople in desperation began to pillage and wage war against one another until only one tribe stood, the Mammoth Tribe; coined after the beasts the tribe members wielded with mythical power to drive out their enemies. This power had not been seen before or after The Frigid, but the knowledge had survived through legend.

Wahala Alps is a seven-peak mountainous landscape. Each mountain peak provides a view unobtainable from the other. Raksha since she was four years old has wandered the peaks of the Wahala Alps and every cavern within the mountains. At seven Raksha discovered a secret space within the third mountain that contained ancient paintings on the walls. A year later Raksha discovered a space within the fifth mountain that contained ancient carvings. Raksha divided her time between the secret spaces in the mountains and wandering the mountain peaks and valleys between each mountain. Around twelve Raksha gained a propensity for traveling beyond the borders of the Wahala Alps to the desolate grasslands that surrounded the mountains.

Raksha wandered around Wahala Alps and the surrounding grasslands every day. After her ventures, she would bring back foraged seeds of vegetables and fruit, herb seedlings, as well as wild chickens she had caught using one of her many hand-crafted traps. The seeds brought new life and variety to the hillside gardens. Amongst the tribe members, the chickens soon became a favorite bird to roast. The women of the tribe enjoyed drying out the herbs and adding them to stews. Raksha enjoyed providing for the tribe in this way as it permitted her the freedom to roam, unlike her female counterparts who were performing textile work to create clothes, shoes, and blankets. The children of Mammoth Tribe were amazed by Raksha's explorations, however, some of the tribespeople and elders murmured in private far from listening ears of their disapproval of Raksha's wandering, her evident disdain towards textile work, and the stories she told the other children of her adventures.

Raksha is the daughter of Shami and Raya. Shami serves as the Mammoth Tribe's chief leader. The elders chose Shami to lead the tribespeople because his character is such that he leads and thinks with both his heart and mind to protect and preserve the tribespeople. Raya serves as the tribe healer. Raya, unlike her husband Shami, was not chosen by the elders. Raya became the Mammoth Tribe healer because ever since she was a child, whenever she would pray and lift her eyes to the heavens the power to heal was imparted and with just the touch of her hand the sick were healed and those destined for death passed peacefully. It is believed that Raya's power is connected to her relationship with God as she was a devoted servant to Him and prayed more than she spoke. Raksha is the sole child of Shami and Raya and thus the future leader of the Mammoth Tribe.

~ To Be Continued