Nanaki's Story
Chapter One: The Last Birth
I was born in a place called Cosmo Canyon. I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but it's a very famous place. Cosmo Canyon is where Planet Life is taught. I was raised on many different beliefs, but as a citizen of Cosmo Canyon I was taught the classic studies. My father is Seto, my mother is Kinte, and my grandfather is Bugenhagen, the representative of the town. I have no other family - I am the last of my kind. That is why my birth was such a grand time, yet a sad one all the same. Seto's mother and father had been born in the Canyon, and Mother always told me that we had stayed here for generations. I, of course, knew of no other home as I was a youngster, but during my long life I have seen far more than perhaps any of my kind has for a long time. I remember.. everything, despite the longevity of my life. Soon it will be time for me to return to the Planet as Spirit Energy. It may be peaceful now, but long ago, things were not quite the same. I am Nanaki.. and this is my story.
' Julie! ' a voice echoed through the tunnel. No answer. Where was that bonehead? ' Julie! JULIE! ' Having ignored the 'no-running' rule on the second floor, a young boy raced along the dusty ground that held up the steady town. His dark brown hair was messed, but his face was alight with excitement. Travis was the typical example of his age; young and full of energy. Which of course, was understandable on this day in particular. If it were any other day, one would wonder why the second floor was so empty, it was usually the most packed. At this time of the year there were usually no tourists at all, but many people had been invited to attend the special day. Suddenly a young girl came flying into Travis on his way round one of the corners. He was caught by surprise and flung backwards. Tripping on an untied shoelace, he fell backwards onto the ground. Realising who the young girl was, a broad grin attended his face.
' Sorry I'm late, Travis! ' the girl panted breathlessly, who had obviously been running too. Her brown-blonde hair was strewn across her face and she looked like she had only gotten dressed two minutes ago.. which she probably had, now that Travis thought about it. The two had been friends as long as he could remember, and today was a day that they had both been excited about for a long time now. Travis shook his head to show he didn't mind. ' Lets go! ' The two of them turned to the way Julie had been heading and Travis had been leaving, and were soon racing away at perhaps an even more increased speed as before. As soon as they had gone down the two flights of stairs, they met what would have been the darkness, if not for the bright flare their eyes recieved, most likely to have come from the Cosmo Candle - the huge flame that stood in the center of the outside ground of the Canyon. It had never gone out, never. Apparently it was supposed to keep bad things from happening. Travis wondered whether it was true anyway. Suddenly, someone grabbed his wrist and he looked up in surprise.
' You shouldn't have been inside. This is a whole-tribe ceremony! ' the elder whispered, in an angry tone. But Travis was sure he could hear some amusement hidden in his voice. Grinning, he nodded his head in apology. Julie was so excited she jumped up and down as they saw that sight in front of them. People stood around the Candle, but Travis could just see the two creatures he knew so well. Seto and Kinte were strange things, Travis had always wondered what they were, but whenever he asked the answer was more or less ' a kind of their own '. They resembled what seemed like a cross between a wolf and a lion, he wasn't sure. Their tails were alight with the same sort of flame as the Cosmo Canyon. Kinte's fur was like a flame, a brilliant red. Seto's was a darker colour, a kind of reddish-brown. They were both strange creatures, but in the same way they were very mysterious and beautiful. Travis and Julie and all the other children of the Canyon loved Kinte as a kind of nanny - she was exceptionally good with children, especially humans. Why was this ceremony so big and spectacular? Because this youngster will be the last of his kind. After this one there will be no more. This will be their Last Birth. That was what Julie's mother always said. Travis felt sorry for Seto and Kinte. Someone that was nearer to the Candle moved, and Travis and Julie's view was better and clearer. Both gasped in delight as they saw a familiar old man holding a small creature out on top of the flame. The creature looked dead, but suddenly it moved. The man held the creature's tail over the flame, and Julie cried out in protest, even, but it didn't seem to mind. It's tail was suddenly ablaze, and I saw Kinte reach out and take hold of her offspring in her jaws. Smiling motherly, she placed the creature down at her paws. Julie 'aww'd' and everyone else smiled sorrowfully. Travis had always wondered why the strange flame on their tail was there, and now I realised it was because of the Cosmo Candle, sort of a way to welcome them to the world.
' What's its name? ' someone shouted. Seto looked up, and then cleared his throat. His voice was booming but held a gentle inner tone.
' His name shall be.. Nanaki. '