[b]Isáwa[/b]

[b]Population:[/b] 125

[b]Tónda Méšra (Good omen)[/b]

Several days had passed since the Beida Kowán. The expedition parties had been formed, and supplies were being gathered for the departure. 

In her hut, lit by a warm hearth, Sôwán was conversing with Muwáya, who was considered by all to be the closest to Šewár. [i]«My friend», she said, «have you foreseen what awaits us? Is it disaster or good luck? Will our friends and lovers die in faraway, hostile places, or will they find lands of plenty?»[/i]

[i]«The gods have so far given us no omens. The water has kept flowing, the stars gone on shining, the wind blown as always.»[/i] answered Muwáya. [i]«And as you know, omens are but a question Šewár asks us. What they mean is our answer to this question.»[/i]

[i]«How very true. But whatever is the case, we can be certain nothing will be the same for us. Not since the families went on to found the nine settlements has something so important happened to the Isáwa.»

«Perhaps it is time for us to walk out of the cradle.»

«But what if in so doing we stumble down? What if our friends do not return? We would then have no choice but to abandon the settlements and return to Eláda (Home) the gentle, or leave for good. I have to tell you I cannot trust Óngi (water) and Lekému (sky) anymore, nor can I Bîma or Ífo. They have been too cruel to our people.»[/i]

[i]«Šewár has her reasons.»[/i] consoled Muwáya, rather unconvincingly.

Sôwán seemed pained and angry. [i]«Why must we suffer? You who have an answer to everything, do you have an answer to this? Tumák was the kindest of us all ; I had never seen her angry or mean. What purpose was there in her taking away? Had she caused any wrong, unbeknownst to us all? Even if that were the case, are the Gods not merciful? Is it a lie we repeat every morning? Why did she have to go? Why did anyone have to go? It's not fair. It's not.»[/i] She looked around her, melancholy. There was no point in hurting Muwáya, she thought, there was nothing she could do to change this.

[i]«Sôwán,»[/i] began the shaman of sorts, [i]«what Onúma the generous (giver of life, creator) gives to us, in time we must return to Bahéra the silent one. We can not hold on forever to those we love ; we can't hold back the water ; it has to flow for life to resume. Now Tumák is returned to Šewár. Soon she will be returned among us. Maybe you will witness her return ; is Jitámba not about to bring forth life? Maybe she will return as a fish in the water, or a shadow-in-the-night (nocturnal avian). Who knows? I am sure she will be rewarded.»[/i]

Sôwán, somewhat appeased, was about to answer when Koyéma, her youngest child, stormed inside.

[i]«I told you not to disturb me, Kôwai!»[/i]

[i]«Come see outside! It's dark!»[/i] was the only thing she replied.

Walking out, Sôwán and Muwáya saw the most incredible thing : Ánde the shimmering (moon) was moving towards Ráma the powerful (sun) in the midst of the day. Ánde, located right between the cliffs of the valley, was rising ever so quietly towards Ráma, then nearly at the zenith. The whole population was assembled in silence, stunned and awed by the event. Children were running around, fearful, but their parents, many of which had already witnessed the joining of the friends (name for an eclipse) at least once in their life, caught them under their arms and explained to them what was happening. 

Sôwán, herself, whispered in her child's ears, [i]«Calm down, this is nothing to be afraid of. Ánde will rise until she meets Ráma, and for a time it will be night. But it will pass, and then day will return. Promise me not to look at Ráma during the short night : she might blind you if you do.»[/i]

Koyéma hid herself behind her parent, shaking a bit, but moved by curiosity, she soon asked : [i]«Why is Ánde doing that? Why is she coming back?»[/i].

Sôwán smiled tenderly, held her tightly in her arms, and told her : [i]«Kôwai, this is what we call the joining of the friends. You know that Ánde and Ráma are friends, don't you ?»[/i]

[i]«Yes. Muwáya told us.»[/i]

[i]«Well, do you know why ?»

«She said...Umh, they... I don't remember.»[/i]

Her parent laughed a little. [i]«In the times before time, Ráma and Ánde were the only beings in the sky. They roamed aimlessly, not knowing of each other's existence. In so doing, they lit each part of the world one after another, and so life thrived. But being so lonely, they were terribly sad. This went on until one day, Ráma caught a glimpse of Ánde's back. She didn't know what she was, so she called her from afar. Ánde, hearing a faint voice in the distance, looked around her, and after Ráma called her again, louder, she turned around. Both then got progressively closer to each other, until they could see each other's face. They spoke a bit, trying to understand who the other was ; how could they have know, since they had always been alone? Soon enough, they realized they weren't so different ; Ráma shone brighter, but Ánde was more delicate. They became inseparable friends. They had no need to wander anymore ; they had found a friend, a purpose, someone with whom they could share everything. Unfortunately, this disturbed the world below. The land beneath them was overrun by ice and snow, and darkness. Remember how it feels when the snow falls, at night, on the plateau?»

«Oh yes. I don't like that. It's cold, and dark, and windy. I really don't like that.»

«That's how it was almost everywhere. Clearly this couldn't go on, could it?»

«No!»[/i]

[i]«And so the gods were compelled to act. They sent Emát, who keeps the balance : as hard as it was for Ráma and Ánde, they had to part ways ; otherwise the Earth would die. And so they did. To keep them company, Onúma created the stars, with whom they could converse during their voyage  in the sky. Furthermore, once every few years, they were allowed to meet again ; today they have been allowed to rejoin.»[/i]

The child nodded, pensive.

Around that moment, Ànde touched Ráma. The sky began to darken. Soon, only a fiery halo was left of the sun, shining in the obscurity. Turning to Muwáya, Sôwán spoke a few words. [i]«Here is our omen, isn't it?»[/i]

Muwáya did not say anything. She simply put her hand on the Kanúm's shoulder.

[i]«If Šewár is asking us a question, I choose to answer : yes, our friends will return.»[/i]