Chapter Two: Baa!
At the Juju Altar…
"Jeez, Jibolba, why is this Altar thing so far out of the village?" Young princess Jeera complained as they have been walking for hours.
"It was part of the ritual that all future shaman apprentices go through. The temple was also built where the moon will shine in the sky and grant shamans a deeper connection with the Moon Juju. Plus, it's a great way to lose the extra weight after your relatives bring fruit salad." The High Shaman explained, "Besides, you two didn't need to come."
"Come on and miss Tak becoming a Shaman's apprentice with a super awesome ritual? No way, we wanna see this." Jeera answered then chuckled nervously as she was hiding her real answer from the elder shaman.
"Yeah, and it's not because we wanna get out of cleaning out of the Pupununu Royal Luminescent Boar's pigpen and fixing up the chicken coops or anything." Keeko badly lied as the shaman sighed at the two children.
"Tak, how are you feeling? Nervous?" The High Shaman Jibolba asked his young nephew who had his head in the clouds.
"Excited," Tak answered as he feels jittery about this night.
"You should be. You are about to enter your wright of passage and become a member of the Six Moon Shamans, the assistant to me." Jibolba grinned as they reached the center of the Moon Altar.
There was a sapphire statue of the Moon Juju in a strange position.
Her arms were spread into a 'Y' while she had one leg up and holding two branches that burned with incense. The High Shaman then placed his nephew in front of the statue and helped in that same position and lit the branches on fire. Though it made Tak uncomfortable, it was required of the ceremony.
"Uncle J, why do I have to do this?" The young teen with a feather tied into his hair complained as he felt like a fool.
"Oh, nephew, I know this may look dumb, but this is a special meditation position to connect oneself to the heart of the moon and reach the magic within ourselves. Soon the incense will soon bring your spirit to contact Moon Juju and now, I must begin the incantation."
The elder shaman then rubbed his hands and cleared his voice.
"Alright, you two, take a few steps back."
Keeko and Jeera did so as they watched the ceremony begin.
The chanting sounded musical and harmonious as the Moon shined in the sky.
"Oh, Great Moon Juju, bringer of light in the darkness, Queen of the tides and master of Lunar Magic, I bring you another who wishes to follow in your light. I wish to make him my apprentice and take my place as High Shaman when my time has come." Jibolba chanted as he felt the magic then placed his moonstone, "Come forth and evaluate this soul."
That's when it happened.
The smoke vanished and the magic was gone.
It startled the High Shaman.
"So, Uncle J, when do I meet Moon Juju? Is she coming?" Tak wondered as his uncle began to panic.
"Oh dear, oh dear, something is wrong. Moon Juju is not coming. She is in pain. I can- wait."
The shaman suddenly stopped as he felt powerful magic coming their way!
"Everyone, get behind me!"
"What?" The princess gasped.
"Woah, man."
"Uncle J-."
"NOW!"
The teenagers no longer questioned and hid behind the High Shaman as he held the Moonstone high up and began chanting! As a wave of red aura was coming forth, Jibolba created a barrier to protect himself and the three youths!
"What was that?" Jeera gasped as the High Shaman knew.
"My worst fear has come true… Quickly, to the secret hatch!" Jibolba announced as he pressed a button and revealed a trap door, causing the teens to fall in, and the elder man to follow them.
Outside the Hidden Tribe of Pupununu…
The teens were pushed out of a shoot that looks like a stump and into a bush with the High Shaman not so far behind.
"Ugh. That's the secret hatch to the altar? Why didn't we just take that instead of hiking?" Jeera questioned as Tal and Keeko brushed the leaves off themselves.
"It is about the journey, not the destination." The elder explained as everyone noticed there were more sheep than there were before but no sign of their people.
Jibolba gasped then began to examine the sheep.
"Hey, Uncle J, what's with these sheep, and where's the tribe?" Tak wondered.
"Oh, nephew. It seems our worst fears have come to pass, and our darkest hour is upon us. These sheep are the people." He explained in a horrified voice.
"What?" All three of them gasped.
"Quickly, find Warrior Lok and bring him to the temple. I must find the other Shamans and contact the Moon Juju!" Jibolba ordered as he rushed to the temple with his moonstone.