The Guardian Of Osakeh

Chapter 1

  Their joys knew no bounds. Amaira had, after all, given birth to two beings, at once. This sort of phenomenon was unknown to the Osakeh tribe, and the whole village assembled outside their humble dwelling that stood in close proximity to The Holy Osakehra. The chief, who seldom ventured out of his little shack, was left dumbfounded when he first heard the news. He decided to check for himself, and limped his way with the support of his only son to The Osakehra first, and then to the shack where the implausible had happened.

  Seeing a horde of tribesmen and tribeswomen outside the shack still didn't convince him. They made way for him to venture inside, before two women requested him to wait outside.
"Amaira is still recovering. The babies are fine. Their father will be out in a few minutes, with their babies," said one women in a voice that was as soft as the flutter of a butterfly's wings.
The chief was visibly angry. "If it wasn't for your politeness, I would've barged right in. No one stops me, but here I shall, because The Osakehra is close, and He is watching," he complained.

  The women stood with their heads hanging low, but on the inside they were exhilarating. Never had they heard of something as remarkable as this, and they were to witness the same very soon.

  One of the women had lost a child not long ago, but there wasn't a hint of envy seen when she first heard about Amaira's fortune. She had rushed from her shack in order to see for herself the very historical event unfold before her. After all, in the history of the island, no one had ever given birth to two babies at once. She prayed for their survival, and wanted to help Amaira get through this situation in every way possible. By the time she reached, the shack was overflowing with women, and she decided to stay outside under the scorching hot sun, only for one glimpse of Amaira and the babies.

  The chief sat on a rock and commanded two men to bring him water and a wet rag. He spoke to his son, something he didn't do very often, only to ask him to learn something from Amaira's husband. "Befriend him. Ask him what magic they learnt for this to happen. I expect the same from you, Jvai. I want to show them that the chief's son is capable of the same."
The son, visibly annoyed, kicked a stone and said, "Ajvaho is my friend. He is not someone who would ever visit the magicman. It is nothing but the blessing of The Osakehra. Be happy for them."
Just as he completed his statement, the feeble door of the shack swung open. Ajvaho, who's watery eyes and red nose made him appear gentle, which he was not known to be. He was a rough man with a brawny physique, often seen beating traitors and thieves single handedly. Today, he stood with trails of tears on his uneven cheeks, holding two tiny humans, both wrapped in thin, white sheets. Their dark skin shone under the sun, their eyelids flickered. One of the babies smiled at intervals, while the other seemed to be in deep slumber.

  The entire community stood before him. That teared him up even more. "Th-Thank you. The Osakehra has truly blessed me. Thank you," he reiterated, before he took a deep breathe, walked to the chief and announced, "Our elders suggested that we name the babies, a boy and a girl, Alek and Alaira. If the chief approves of these names, this shall be our final decision."
The chief, not a fan of naming babies and digging for their meanings, nodded an approval. With his gaze fixed at the babies, he blessed both of them by resting his palm on their chests while feeling their hearts beat. His son congratulated Ajvaho, and blessed both the babies like his father did.

  After everyone got a glimpse of the babies and blessed them, Jvai took both the babies one by one, and announced, "Alek and Alaira, the miracle babies of Osakeh. The Osakehra Birth Festival shall start right now, and end only when the father and his men find the leaves that were born with the babies. May he find their soul leafs!"