Sep 18, 2018

Y'SHAATI'S BEGINNINGS: CHAPTER 8 - Q'OYA-YURAKA'I


 Once again, the jungle was the scene of a dramatic collision of species... or at least that was what seemed to have happened at first glance. Humans faced a force unknown to them until this day. One might think that in Amazonia, wars and fierce battles are the most common and routine thing, but the truth is that all the beings that inhabit it know that the jungle is a mother and home of all, and if one wishes to survive in it, it is best to avoid unnecessary fights; nevertheless, each species has its own territory in the jungle, and trespassing its limits in a hostile manner can have consequences such as those that occurred on the same day. Humans learned the hard way that not everything is what it seems...

After recovering a bit of his strength and getting out of his emotional shock, the chieftain of the Tupinámbá-Guaraní tribe decided to return to the main settlement Kayapo, but not before helping the wisemen and warriors who had accompanied him and who were easily defeated by Y'shaati. Sore and battered, the wisemen asked their leader how he managed to survive the attack of the savage girl, but the chieftain didn't answer because he was still shocked to see how Y'shaati had spared his life.
The younger warriors, also wondering the same thing, couldn't believe that a young girl like her had that great strength and agility, far superior to any normal athletic person. It was at that moment that the chieftain corrected them saying that she wasn't an ordinary human female... he described the girl again with the following words: "Q'oya-Y'uraka'i."
The wisemen and the warriors were surprised to hear such a strange union of words, but they agreed that it was really the perfect way to explain what that nude white-skinned girl really was. At that moment, the chieftain apologized to the wisemen, as he now understood the gravity of his foolishness in provoking the wrath of the Tahuayos and, consequently, the wild girl. The wisemen accepted his apology, and in turn, decided that to avoid greater problems like the one that had happened today, they agreed with the chieftain that, when they arrived in Kayapo, they would announce the discovery to the whole tribe, since it was better that the truth be known by all. Finally, the group of humans departed back home.


The next day, the group arrived at the settlement of the tribe, where the community waited anxiously to hear the great news that confirmed the existence of Iara, the promised savior deity of Amazonia. However, to everyone's amazement, instead, the chieftain and the wisemen spoke of their encounter with Q'oya-Y'uraka'i...


In the Tupínámbá-Guaraní language, as well as in several other main languages ​​of Amazonia, Q'oya-Y'uraka'i is a compound word whose more accurate translation would be "Queen of Monkeys" or "Monkey-Queen". This title was devised by the chieftain when he observed how the wild girl behaved like an ape, communicated with them and the way in which she defended them the first time they crossed the forest of the Tahuayos. The cheiftain interpreted that she was some sort of leader/guardian for the gorillas, the monkeys, the baboons, the mandrills, the howlers, and probably all kinds of apes. To convince himself of this fact, it was enough for him to observe how they warmly received the girl and left with them all.
From that day forward, the story of Q'oya-Yuraka'i would be propagated by the Tupinámbá-Guaraní tribe to all the other tribes of Amazonia, since it was better that every tribe and settlement knew of its existence and what represented for humans: just another entity of the jungle to have respect of, as any other creature. A human female living among apes... maybe more ape than human herself...
However, this didn't take for granted that she was Iara, the true divine entity that would save Amazonia, because the tribes thought that the Monkey-Queen hadn't yet demonstrated her deific nature. Perhaps it would only be a matter of letting time run its natural course to know if she really was the Spirit of Amazonia that everyone expected. Only time could tell...


On the other side of this aftermath, circumstances took a different path...


The next day after the arrival of the Tahuayos and the Naka'i just after that tense encounter with the chieftain, Y'shaati and the apes decided to leave that place right away. While traveling thorugh the treetops, Y'shaati was bewildered and puzzled that several families of apes were reunited... it was no coincidence that a violent incident like the one that was avoided, detonated the need to unite the entire order of primates of Amazonia. Since she was a little girl, she learned that when ape families meet, it is because there is a serious and delicate issue that needs to be addressed and solved for the common good of the order. Maybe a similar event was about to happen...
During the journey, Y'shaati was surrounded by intrigue, and in a discreet way, she asked the Naka'i with whom she traveled what was the reason for such a meeting of races. To her misfortune, the Naka'i didn't want to give details of it and told her that this would be known until they reached the place they were going. One could see an uncomfortable tension between the races of apes... because of this, Y'shaati again blamed herself for all the bad things that happened to her near ones, since she believed that her power was uncontrollable and she herself would condemn it not being able to live a normal life like the other monkeys. However, the Tahuayos approached and told her not to think about that, and in a big kind-hearted gesture from the gorillas, they told her that they would support her as she defended the group previously. Thanks to these noble words, Y'shaati was able to alleviate her guilt a little.

Finally, after a one day and half trip, the great group of apes together with Y'shaati, arrived at a place of great significance for the Amazonian primates... a place that the monkey-girl had already heard, but she had never been before: Yvyra, the great sacred tree.
This place, just like Petaity, the rainforest home of Y'shaati and the Naka'i, is located among the most inhospitable places of Amazonia, far from the domains of humans; it is a sacral shrine for all ape families. Old fables tell that the tree saw in its time the origin of the primordial primates, ancestors of all the current races. Yvyra is such a huge and majestic tree, that it is possible to be seen far on the horizon from human settlements, however, men would never dare to explore such distant and dangerous lands, therefore they remain virgin of any human contact.

The order of primates was ready... Naka'i, Papios, Maquisapas, Carayás, Tahuayos, Araguatos... all species of apes were in their branches, prepared to discuss important topics that would decide the future of the apes in Amazonia. When Y'shaati had the opportunity to enter the sacred tree, she was stunned by the crowded audience. Hundreds of apes of all species were just above her, watching her carefully. That imposing scene was proof of the greatness of the primates of the jungle. Once all the apes were ready, the topics of discussion were: the unfortunate death of K'uno, leader of the Tahuayos and the powers of Y'shaati.
During that period of discussion, the howls of the apes were the sound that echoed throughout the jungle. It was impossible not to hear such loud sounds.
Y'shaati was allowed to be present during this meeting, since she played an important role in the survival of the apes. Some primate families argued that the girl was a threat to everyone, and stated that, until she learned to control her power, she would not be accepted anywhere. Other families, including the Naka'i and the Tahuayos, asked for patience from the leaders of the families, and pledged that they would fulfill the last wish of the great K'uno to guide the young human girl on the right path. Y'shaati remained silent during the discussions...
After several hours of debate, the races gave their final verdict: The monkey-girl would be given the opportunity to reform and develop as the Spirit of Amazonia under specific care, since they knew that the will of Yacuruna that lies within her is stronger than any objection from the primates. However, they also warned with the following statement: if the girl did not manage to dominate her power and instead continue to lose control and go feral as she had done twice before, she would be banished from the order of the primates forever.
The monkeys and the gorillas didn't hesitate a second in the capacity of Y'shaati and reiterated that they would train her well, having her always under observation. The monkey-girl herself took a step in front of the audience and swore before all the races that she wouldn't disappoint them again... all to honor the memory of her great master K'uno.
And thus, an historic meeting came to an end that, surely, wouldn't be the last in these uncertain times. Y'shaati, far from continuing to blame herself, celebrated the decision made by the order of the primates.


However, great would be her surprise if she knew that the day she would have to prove her worth to the apes would come earlier than anyone had ever imagined...

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