Cheaper 3: Mori no Hito
(The People of the Forest)
Shion looked at Nezumi with a look of pure shock. He had tried many times before to ask about his past but had been snubbed every time. He wasn't sure what to say. He simply stood there, staring into Nezumi's silver eyes. Together, they walked over to the table where Karan was seated.
Once the pair had finished eating, Nezumi stood up and announced to everyone, "Well now, who's up for a story? I think this would be the perfect opportunity for Eve to make her debut, don't you think Shion?" He said with a wink. Shion nodded silently, his smile widening. Nezumi walked to the center of the room, inhaling and exhaling deeply, getting himself into character. "And now, esteemed guests, I shall tell you the tale of my people, the Mori no Hito, better known as 'The People of the Forest'..."
Long ago, before No. 6 was even a thought, even before war and famine ravaged this land, there lived an ancient people who called the forest home. Within these people were four clans, each with their own specific deity they worshipped: Kaze-Gami (Wind God), Mizu-Gami (Water God), Kasai-Gami (Earth/Plants God) and Dobutsu-Gami (Animal God), all of which were sisters to the main goddess, Shizen (Nature God/Mother Nature).
We nurtured the land and protected all Her wonders. We were hunters and gatherers who only took what was necessary to survive and gave back to Her in return through praise and care. All four clans cooperated with each other under Shizen's rule. Never in our history did we fight any wars against each other because it was forbidden through Shizen's law; thus my people lived in peace for many centuries.
Each clan was named for and responsible for all matters which concerned their respective God; in other words, those who worshipped Dobutsu-Gami were called the Dobutsu Clan and cared for the animals, Kasai-Gami worshippers were called the Kasai Clan and cared for the plants, and so on. It was our job to preserve balance in nature and protect all within our world. I was a member of the Kaze Clan, or the Windtalkers. We were considered the closest to Shizen because we could understand the wind's songs: the language of the Gods.
According to the old legends, those who were born with silver eyes were the chosen ones because they reflected the moonlight, or Shizen's soul, within them. For many generations, only one family within our clan had been born with such a gift. My family had been bestowed with this gift, for we all possessed the sacred silver eyes of Shizen. It was for this reason that my family was given the name Gin'nome, meaning 'silver eyes'.
My story began twenty-two years ago… Although I don't actually know my real birthdate because I was born in the forest and my people did not use the traditional calendars as you do. I only know my age, which is the same as yours Shion, because my people kept track of the passing years by following the cycles of the sun and moon, as well as watching the stars. As my mother had told me, I was born to a full moon on a midsummer's night. It is because of this that I was given the name, Gin'nome Munsuta (Silver-Eyed Moon-Star), my true birth name.
Part of the tradition of my family was for the first born sons to learn Shizen's songs, so I was taught by Obasan (grandmother), my clan's shaman and wisest member, at a very young age. By the time I was four years old, I could recite Her words with ease. One of the most important things that I was told is that, in order to properly understand and convey Shizen's wishes, I must void myself of my own emotions and let Hers flow through me. I must remain an empty vessel to hear all the voices of the wind.
This was not to say that I was not allowed to feel anything, it was just that I had to keep myself open to receive Shizen's emotions at all times. I still felt love and compassion towards my fellow brethren and the many creatures and plants that lived within the forest. As a Windtalker, I was called upon by members of the other clans to relay Shizen's message. Sometimes this would mean giving warnings for coming storms, while other times it meant singing a celebratory psalm for the oncoming season.
Once, I was called upon to sing Shizen's song of death to ease the suffering of an older member of the Mizu Clan who would soon pass on. Obasan and I walked to the river together to see him. He had fallen ill with a sickness that my people could not cure. When we arrived, his fellow clansmen brought us to his tent, where he lay on the ground, wrapped in many blankets, shaking violently from his pain.
The caretakers let me in and left along with Obasan, leaving me alone with the dying man. I stood by his side and waited for Shizen's words to flow through me, then I began to sing:
Oh, my child, fear not death,
For thy soul shall come to me,
For I will hold you safe and sound,
When the final winds encompass thee.
Fear not this time, for 'tis not the end,
My sweet, my dear, my faithful friend,
I shall take you now with all my grace,
Into my loving, warm embrace.
I could see how the man relaxed as I sang. It seemed that the blessings of Shizen had taken away his suffering. I will never forget the peaceful smile he possessed as his soul silently passed on to reunite with Her; his death came without fear or pain through the power of the wind's song.