While the Script is Drawn

Mosaic 20 - Rain for Zeltic Tribes

It has been two years since the Zeltic tribe experienced a long drought. A long, stifling drought. As a result, the trees were leafless again, the rivers began to dry up, the heat caused some of the tribe's children to die, the cattle were emaciated, the cows did not milk anymore. Morrie Zuma, the elder of the Zeltic tribe no longer knew how to cope with this long drought. Although actually since the last year, his advisers suggested to do again the ritual of their ancestors, handing a god Tlaloc, the Zeltic rain god. However, elder Morie was unwilling to do so.

Elder Morrie was the wisest elder. For as long as the Zeltic tribe existed, he had replaced men, whether girls or babies, who were made as gods by ancestors, with cattle such as oxen and byson. He did not want to sacrifice his people. Nevertheless, the drought this time shook the heart of elder Morrie. That night the elder gathered his advisers to discuss the drought.

“God Tholic has punished us. For a long time we have not given a god to him, ” said one of the oldest advisers there, a bald man who had lived a long time in the tribe, longer than elder Morie.

“We must immediately give the Tlolic God the most precious water, the blood of the most beautiful and charming girl of our tribe. Otherwise, the god Tlaloc will further punish us with an even more devastating drought,” said another adviser.

Elder Morrie had no other choice, he snorted bitterly. “Well if so. Prepare everything you need for the ritual. Find the most beautiful girl in our tribe.”

“We should do the ritual on the night of the full moon. Another week will come that month,” said the oldest advisor. “In the corner of the village there is a beautiful girl named Maria. We can use it for something. The girl is also known to be a virgin. His blood is best for a deity.”

***

Zoldick and Maria were sitting together on a small hill under an ex tree that had no leaves. The twilight breeze rippled Mary's black hair. The two of them enjoyed this kind of time together by talking about a lot of things, including their wedding plans.

“I'm very lucky to have you, Maria. I will take care of you with my life. I won't let anyone take you away from me. I will make you happy until we are old and dead,” Zoldick said lovingly.

Mary smiled hearing that. “Do not overdo it so. We don't know what's gonna happen next. We just live our lives later as it is.”

Zoldick kissed Maria. “Trust. I love you so much.”

A few moments later came some of the traditional elders' men. Of course Zoldick and Maria were shocked. What happened so that the people of the elders came to them. Then, the elders' men said that Mary should come with them to meet the elder. Mary could not refuse. After all, all this time elder Morie was famous as the wisest elder. There may be something related to the interests of the tribe, Maria thought. Finally Mary left Zoldick, following the elders' men.

Two days have passed since Maria left Zoldick. But there was no word from Maria. Of course this made Zoldick worried. He wanted to go to the castle downtown to inquire about Maria's whereabouts. However, it seemed like the rumor of the customary elder was preparing an enormous and sacred ritual celebration undoing his intentions.

One afternoon, Zoldick heard the truth. Tribal elders will perform a ritual offering to the god Tlaloc to bring rain. And this offering is not the sacrifice of an ox or a byson, but of a man. For a long time the Zeltic tribe did not do offerings with human sacrifices. And what shocked Zoldick the most was the rumor that his victim was the most beautiful girl in the Zeltic tribe.

“Maria.. Maria...” Zoldick immediately ran towards the castle in the city center, where the tribal kingdom resides. He did not dare to imagine if the victim was really Maria, his lover.

Arriving in front of the castle, Zoldick was confronted by the guards. Zoldick insisted on going in to see the elder. But the guards are not allowed. There was a commotion in front of the castle gate and it sounded deep. Zoldick is a young man who is tough enough to make a quail guard.

Finally the elder came out to meet Zoldick.

“Is it true that you will sacrifice Mary, great lord?” zoldick couldn't help himself.

Elder Morrie did not immediately reply. He approached Zoldick and rubbed the young man's head.

“We have been in a difficult choice, young man. It is my duty to guard this tribe from destruction. Now, we need rain to drink, bathe, water crops, preserve livestock and things. Sacrificing one life to save many lives was the wisest choice for now. Cutting a finger to save the hand.”

Zoldick was now riveted, his chest tightened by a feeling of anger. "Why Mary! She's my lover."

Elder Morie sighed, it seemed heavy to say that "the elders, the counsellors, the priests, had agreed to make the sweet girl a god. Now go, devote yourself to your own tribe."

"I don't want to go, I want my girlfriend back." cried Zoldick, the guards holding her.

"If you can bring rain before the full moon, I promise to release it for you" said elder Morie, then enter the castle again. Leaving behind Zoldick who was trembling with anger.

***

Zoldick couldn't sleep, didn't eat, his work just stayed on the hill where he and Maria usually were. His chaotic mind had taken on the fate of Mary. It was on his mind to find Maria inside the castle where the elder hid Maria and kidnapped her. But either because there is no courage or he respects the laws and traditions of his tribe so as to undo his intentions. Now he was just thinking how to bring rain. Something impossible for him.

Zoldick did not notice from the west a hummingbird was flying towards him. The hummingbird is a symbol of the Zeltic tribe. It is said that the tribe found the Zeltic land today thanks to the hummingbird. The beautiful winged hummingbird perched in front of Zoldick. The young man was still not aware of the arrival of the bird because it was still trapped by his feelings of sadness. The bird pecked at Zoldick's fingers.

"Go you bad bird," Zoldick. The bird flew away to avoid Zoldick's hand but returned, pecking Zoldick's fingers back.

Zoldick wanted to chase away the bird once more but something at the bird's feet intrigued him. Zoldick took the little bird and took something tied to the bird's feet, which turned out to be a small paper roll. Zoldick released the hummingbird and opened the small paper.

In a cave, on top of the highest mountain in the west there is a rock that can bring rain, whether it is just a myth from my great-grandfather or it is true. But my great-grandfather swore he'd had one. And it's not wrong to try. The stone was emerald blue and shiny like a gem.

Zoldick read it again and again to make sure it wasn't a joke. Even though there was no name on it, Zoldick could feel that the one who sent this message was the elder of the tribe. There's hope! Yes, this is my only hope, Zoldick thought. So, at that moment he rushed to his house, pocketed into a bag of burlap some pastries, a handful of sago wrapped in teak leaves and filled a bottle of wood with water. Zoldick walked west. Towards the highest mountain.

***

To get to the highest mountain was not an easy job. Zoldick had to go through the arid desert, the rushing river, the sharp rocky hills. Forest inhabited by wild animals. He was afraid that he could not find the stone before the full moon.

The food that Zoldick brought was also exhausted in the middle of the journey. He ate whatever was found. Fish in rivers, leaves, fruit, wild chickens, hedgehogs and not even eat at all.

Mount Halmeraru, its name is a very high mountain. The peak was not even visible because it was covered in clouds, as if clawing at the sky gallantly. It will take more than a week to reach its peak. The full moon will appear in three days. Zoldick doesn't have much time left. So, with a passionate desire to save his beloved, and to solve the misery of his tribe from the deadly dry season, Zoldick began to climb Halmareru mountain.

Of course it's not easy for Zoldick, but he's a tough young man so in just two days he's almost at the top. Nevertheless, he also wanted to almost die of running out of water. Did not find any water source, fortunately there is a wild spinach tree, squeezed the spinach tree. Despite making dizzy, the water from the spinach tree can drain his throat, saving him from death.

Zoldick found a large cave that looked deep. It was seen from how bright it was in the cave. Zoldick thinks he'd better get into that cave. Maybe the stone was there. So, Zoldick went through the cave. The hallway is deep and dark. Bats flying because of the arrival of Zoldick.

Grrrrrrrr…

What is that sound?

A growling sound sounded from within the cave. Like the sound of a huge lion. Zoldick just kept going inside.

Grrrrrrrr…

The sound of the growling gets louder. Zoldick was silent for a moment. Curious lust overcame his fears.

DRAGON!!!!

Zoldick had never seen a dragon before. He didn't expect to see her now. At that time he had to quickly return to the land of Zeltic with the stone calling the rain, to save.

Mary. oh my beloved Mary, now only a miracle can help me.

It was at this moment that Zoldick saw a sparkling stone at the tail of the Dragon. A beautiful stone, more beautiful than the most beautiful rubies. More beautiful than jewels. Zoldick was convinced that it was the stone the tribal elder meant. Which can bring down rain. Now how do I take it?

However, Zoldick had not had time to think about it, his thunderous voice startling him.

"What do you need to do come to my place of refuge son of man?"

Zoldick flinched, the dragon spoke, spoke to him!!!

The dragon turned his head, Zoldick flabbergasted, for the first time in his life he came face to face with a dragon.

***

"I came to this mountain in search of a rock that could bring rain, O dragon lord," said Zoldick. "I must save my beloved so as not to be made a sacrifice by my tribe. Our tribe is in the thickets of a severe long drought. And tonight, the night of the full moon, even if I get the stone I don't seem to have time to go back there to save it."

"Haha... The rock that brings rain." The dragon laughed out loud, imagine for yourself how a laughing dragon, thunderous shaking the walls of the passageway! "Do you think such a stone exists?"

"I will do what I can for the person I love most, dragon lord," Zoldick said.

"Hahaha.... By the way I am also in love with the dragon Nagini on the bottom of the southern sea. By the earth the sky is beautiful" said the dragon.

"So you understand what it's like to fall in love with a dragon lord. What if your dragon, like Mariaku, is about to be destroyed" said Zoldick, sad that he was also looking for the dragon's sympathy, perhaps the dragon could help him.

"Ohh... I cannot imagine that, son of man," said the dragon. "I'll split this mountain maybe. Tore up everything that was."

"Will you help me, dragon lord?" pinta Zoldick is hopeful.

"You mean looking for a rock that can bring rain? Haha... There is no such stone."

Zoldick glanced at the stone at the tip of the dragon's tail. The dragon is beating. "That's ridiculous. The stone on my tail is like a nail on your fingertips. He can't give you rain. It is the water that can make rain. My breath is hot and wet. It can make clouds clump together and bring down water."

Zoldick sparkled, there's some kind of hope now. But time? Tonight! The cupping?

"I remember" said the dragon. "There used to be a man from a distant tribe who also came here looking for rocks that could bring down rain. He said he got information from an old book. I almost burned it. Well... Maybe if I wasn't this happy because my day was loving again by Nagini I might be able to burn you."

Zoldick grimaced in horror.

"All right, I'll help you. Where should I rain?"

Zoldick couldn't believe the dragon would help him. "Ohh, thank you, noble dragon. You're really nice. The Zeltic tribe, that's the place. Miles from here. Where we? Full moon in a minute."

"Don't you doubt my flying speed. Hurry up to my back son of man or I will change my mind" said the dragon. "Oh, yeah, I think I've heard your name."

Then Zoldick immediately climbed onto the dragon's back. It's amazing for him. Meet a dragon and fly with him. He never imagined it. But it doesn't matter anymore.

Maria.

"Ready? Hold on tight," said the dragon.

And, WUUUUUUZZZZZZZ.

***

The people of the Zeltic tribe had gathered at the altar of the Templo Mayor temple to immediately perform the ritual.  The priests of the Zeltic tribe painted all their bodies black. The ritual will be performed in order, first of all, all the inhabitants have to sing with the verse of puja-poja for the god Tlaloc and dance around the temple with their traditional makeup. Later, the priest would speak for a while, praying to the god Tlatoc for rain. Then the priest will cut open the breast of a deity and take his heart. The priest will drink a little blood. At its peak, the heart of the victim will be burned in the flames in the middle of the temple. And his body will be buried.

Mary was already lying at the center of the temple altar. He has resigned and assured the heart that his sacrifice will not be in vain. All this for the sake of his tribe. However, his mind was always overwhelmed by Zoldick. Oh.. my sweetheart.

The event takes place step by step. The elder of the Morie tribe sat on his throne while watching the course of the ceremonial ritual. In the heart of Morie's true elder was hoping that Zoldick would come soon to bring rain. Although actually too grandiose, pinning hope on something that is uncertain.

Take the peak event. The priest was ready to cut open Mary's chest and take her heart. The knife was raised upwards. Suddenly...

BLAMMM. BLAMMM.

The sky exploded. The clouds suddenly rumbled. Lightning was flashing over the sky, its flashes seemed to be rolling. The priest was stunned staring up, his knife loose.  Then with a loud bang, it rained heavily. How swift. The Zeltic tribe welcomed the rain with joy. They then danced and sang again with joy while raising their mouths to enjoy every drop of rain that fell.

Elder Morie smiled meaningfully.

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.

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Finished