Chronicle VII of the Pleiade’s Daughters ( Cheetah’s Queen)
The green valley is well known by any body seeking for advice, wise guidance or merely to request the help of these mysterious inhabitants who could guide the visitor to consult the seeress, the wild Cheetah’s Queen. Located farther south from the Yew-Trees Realm, the green jungle is well remote. Crowned by high rocky mountains eternally keeping their summits bathing in windy and snowy cold environment. It is a no man land indeed, except for these humans driven by a powerful need to know where they are from and where their destiny draw them.
« Well, well!...Cold as the kiss of a snake. » Cailla says to himself.
He finds shelter in between two boulders of rock, taking his breath back and listening to the couple of prime giants, the only living creatures able to survive at this cold snow realm. He waits for them, anticipating already the encounter with a confidence smile. Silently, Cailla reach back the entrance of the rocky wall shielding him from the blizzard. He hears feet beating at the thick layer of snow. Their silhouettes finally appear in the white mist of snow shower. The tall figures are closing quickly, with their long strides, agile and graceful despite their gigantic mass. More then five times the height of the human waiting for them, they seem unaware of Cailla’s presence, since they don’t care to be vigilant. They stop like statues when they hear from the crevice :
« Blessing, brothers of the win! »
On their surprised face, a large smile stretches out with their eyes all wet in recognition of the old friend long time ago departed from their clan. One of them responds :
« Tiny brother Cailla! What a warm surprise seeing you back, our loyal Guardian of Life… How come are you here, far from your Yew-Trees Sacred Forest? »
While the white giants are friendly expressing their pleasure with hugs, we hardly see Cailla almost swallowed by these furred arms, chests and thick necks. As a reflex of true friendship, Cailla finds himself comfortably sit on their both arms extended, holding each other by their shoulders, looking at their tiny friend, while they walk easily with long strides on the surface of the white ocean of snow. Muted by some gusty winds, Cailla catch up with his giant friends, pure inhabitants of the white peaks crowning the realm of Cheetah’s Queen. After few hours of march, it is amazing to follow these tall furry children of the snow realm passing through the white veil of snow without any lack of confidence. These snow-brothers are one of a kind. They know well all the rocky folds, crevices, caves and shortcuts heading down the greeny valley of the prestigious seeress and her feline companions. It doesn’t take long, despite few disappearances in the core of the mountains, to find our three friends standing in front of the jungle contrasting with the white crest of eternal snow.
A warm wind blow its aromas of exotic plants. A green tapestry is covering all vales, cliffs and hills. Here and there, waterfalls stretch their white ribbons of long life carriers in between some virgin summits.
« Well, my tiny friend, there we are, you at the door of your destiny and us… »
« And you both are at cross-roads in your life! Did you ever consider to see where you go with your life? What is waiting for you ahead of all possibilities? Despite the fact that you are already that far down in the valley, don’t you see an opportunity to look from a different angle at what life is offering to you? I would suggest you to jump on this extraordinary sign shown only to you both, here, now, since you are ready… to do so! »
Cailla has his way with his giant companions. They look at each other while their tiny wise man unfolds a new reality in front of them. Perplex and confused at first, their furry eyebrows change slightly their angle and shift gradually over eyes sparkling with curiosity, excitement and amazement. Their long hairs covered faces radiate a kind of youth effect not felt since they were together, with Cailla, at the Great Tribes Gathering, few thousands Moons ago. Cailla knows that he is just playing a sensible string on the two white giants. Cailla remember well, when the greatest Tribes Gathering has been called by the Sacred Sisters, the loyalty manifested by these creatures of the snowy summits.
« CHEEEKREEETEYYYACK! YACK! YACK! »
Protecting his ears with his two palms, Cailla is glad to embrace the wave of sound. An echo reflects the happiness shout of his giant friends. The mountains seem to answer back their gratitude.
« So… May the wisdom of the rocky mountains guide our strides towards our destiny! » Saying these final words, Cailla takes the lead and climbs down with an agile grace. « Ah! It is good to feel the snow free land again! Lets have a little exploration of the most intriguing corner under the Pleiade’s Daughters’ protection : Cheetah’s Queen’s Realm. »
***
« My queen, the signs have been seen! The long hairs giants are walking among our brothers Trees. Sister jungle is guiding the intruders toward your Sacred Standing Stones. By the sunset, they will reach the Star field Vault. » The feline face lifts up her chin and then only, he opens his cat eyes on his venerated Queen.
« Rrrr. Rrrr. Rrrr… » As the Cheetah’s Queen purrs thoughtfully, she adds : « It is indeed unanticipated seeing those guardians so far away from their cold and white tapestry. Let me meditate a little… Rrrr. Rrrr. Rrrr… I see! Are they alone, acting like lost souls? »
« Yes, my High Sacred Mist’s Miss. They are all by themselves, lost amidst our roots and marshland. I told you, High Seeress, it’s a sign! The great changes are taking root in our realm. The Awaken Strider will follow soon! »
« I am sorry to disappoint you, my dear Priest of the Foreshadows Order, but my visions show me otherwise. For instance… »
Suddenly, a blur appears in the air between the Queen and the Priest, cutting short the Seeress out of her breath. A human figure is taking shape in a spiraling vortex.
« Sorry to interrupt this private conversation of yours. I humbly bow low before your sacred meeting and forgive me for my brutal, unexpected and intrusive behavior. » Says Cailla, calmly.
A smile and a spark of light in her eyes is the only answer from the Queen Oracle, except a short purr is heard when she bent her body forward, pulled by curiosity.
« IDENTIFY YOURSELF AT ONCE, STRANGER! » Order loudly the Priest in an offensive stand, pointing his dagger toward the unknown visitor.
« Calm down, my friend! Here stands your prophecy. Don’t you see or are you just seeing what has been written eons ago. Be here, in sight of the present instant, like the cheetah is at his prey. » Says the feline woman.
« Yes! I am your present, but I need to consult the gift of yours, my venerated seeress of the wild. » Cailla adds on, ignoring the dagger pointed at his chest.
With grace and slowness, the Queen lays her back on the wooden throne and lifts her left hand to temper at distance the nervous priest. She opens her sensual lips :
« So, my dear Cailla, you need guidance to secure your steps on your path? »
Cailla nods with respect while he is following the inviting gesture of the seeress to proceed and walk behind the curtain hanging behind her throne. A quiet roar coming from the shadows of the royal seat reveal the feline presence of the Queen’s familiar; a graceful wild beast well tuned to his misstress’s mood. The cheetah’s fluid moves are in harmony with the majestic bearing of the mysterious seeress.
The corridor is quite narrow and few flickering lanterns enhance the Queen’s golden skin shown sometime through the majestic cape and the exotic garments in the hue of forest green and amber earth. Different air currents carrie spiced aromas mixed with the sound of some smooth and fluid rhythms from far drums. It is showing well the underground complex network of tunnels, cave, vaults and corridors of the Cheetah’s Queen realm. While Cailla is following the mystic woman, he cannot help but let his eyes flow along the feminine curves easy to visualise with a glimpse of desire. He doesn’t see her face blossoming with attracting passion. She knows well what is going on and what is drawn in her own near future. Prophecies are revealed by many signs, like her High Priest said and she is accepting all consequences.
She stops and turns her head towards the stone wall. Her hand touches few carved symbols and right away the illusion spell vanishes and the true seeing reveals an opening warmed by a sweet current of air swirling in nostrils like a soothing caress. Cailla reacts calmly and respectfully to her sparkling glance and both know their destinies are about to become one.
***
In the meanwhile, two furry friends are in the middle of a strange stone arrangement. Seven standing stones are circling the two giants. Soaking in their own sweat, they keep their eyes sparkled with admiration looking at these stones carved with strange signs and symbols half buried by the vegetation stretching roots and stems along the stony surface. One of the Yeti shakes his head sprinkling a mist of sweat in the warm air and says in one breath : « Before he disappeared, what said Cailla again? »
No answer is heard from his companion yet, except a tin wind breathed out through clenched teeth. Both giants are looking at each other showing a little perplexity in their glances. Each of them knows what meant their tiny friend before he took a short cut through the Ether land. Cailla’s voice is echoing with what they gaze at : « BE VIGILANT AND WALK STEADY EVEN IF YOU SEEM LOST. JUST WALK WHERE YOUR STEPS GUIDE YOU. THE SEVENS WILL CHANT THEIR SECRETS IN TIME. »
Here they stand, far from their comfortable windy peaks and refreshing pure white snow. But then, a spark of curiosity lights on in their eyes. They are driven by a new force and they start to run from stone to stone recognizing the signs… the same lines, curves and dots carved in their far mountains. They remember the common message written in the core, in the heart, in the cold clear quartz of their sweet home. The mood of both guardians is lift up by joy and a sense of deep meaning in their life. In a silent and secret link, both consciousnesses are awaken as one with their mutual tiny companion of life, Cailla, the Consciousness Traveler. In a perfect triangle, all three of them are in the same radiance. Here and now is the only reality. The time is the witness of what is in the making now. Here is the space and time shifting, enhanced by a new link passing by all three hearts and souls.
-Here, in the core of the jungle, stand Cailla and the Seeress, Cheetah’s Queen.
-Here, in the core of a forgotten realm, stand two snow men, guardians in the realm of eternal snow, finding themselves in a remote environment, pushed to their limit of endurance, facing an alien reality freeing their inner selves from their routine.
-Here, a blend of realities makes all destinies melting together on the same path of enlightenment.
-Here is the extreme experiment of the being/soul freed from the chains of these four bodies accomplishing a mission of life in a timeless game of lives after lives.
-Here stand four futures giving birth to all essences of life breathing the four winds of the North, South, East and West.
EPILOGUE
All these memories taking roots in the heart of the jungle are still full awaken in the mind of the two snowmen. They are back in their windy, cold realm with this enhanced consciousness. Now they know and feel the close presence of their tiny friend Cailla. A link has been created in between them. All three are therefore reunited in the web of destiny shown by their Seeress Queen.
Cailla is walking up the path leading toward the Sacred Yew-Trees Forest. Never more he will walk alone. His Yeti companions and the feline Cheetah’s Queen walk beside him despite the distance, despite the print of time, despite their different race.
Cheetah’s Queen is contemplating the sun rising over the misty jungle. Her glance is dancing along the silhouettes of the rocky peaks crowning her green valley. A spark of tear slides along her cheek and a surge of pure joy is taking its flight all the way up her spine, like a winged snake freed from his loneliness. Nevermore she will feel this solitude again. For now… a new mood is taking a stand in her heart. She knows well that her destiny is leading her in a new realm, warmer then any corner of her jungle. She knows that love is born, like an egg crackling open in the secure nest of her soul… Cailla’s seed may find his way now, since she embraces her destiny.
The end of Chronicle VII of the Pleiade’s Daughters.
Soon… the VIIIth will be revealed!
Renatus, your chronicler.
Author’s note : If you want to know more about Cailla and his previous adventures, follow him in the Chronicles of the Pleiade’s Daughters.
