Taino Territory, Jaragua Chiefdom.
After the first sighting of solid ground, the atmosphere aboard became vibrant and noisy. Everyone presents began to hastily organize their belongings.
The crew members, the emissaries of the Explorer Division, and the assistants prepared their armaments. As for me, my family and I readied our backpacks and the gifts we had brought for one of the caciques of the Taíno people.
This chiefdom was in the southwestern region of a vast island. According to the maps drawn by the navy, this island corresponds to what would in the future be known as Haiti and the Dominican Republic, commonly referred to as Hispaniola.
Currently, this island is divided into five distinct chiefdoms: Marién, Maguana, Maguá, Jaragua, and Higüey. Each of them occupies different sectors of this large landmass.
Each chiefdom was governed by a Cacique, who represented the sole figure of authority, and whose position was hereditary in nature. Their culture was rich and diverse; they possessed strict laws and, in general, demonstrated remarkable kindness towards outsiders. However, if their rules were transgressed or their offerings rejected, one could become their adversary in the blink of an eye.
"Do we have to approach in those small boats?" Nyia inquired, clutching her dress tightly.
"Yes, Nyia, but don't worry, nothing bad will happen," I replied, gently stroking her back to ease her fear.
After ten minutes, we approached a rudimentary port, built by the navy and the inhabitants of the new islands under the Kingdom's control.
These islands have been part of the royal territory for over a year.
Their acquisition was achieved through negotiations with the Taínos and the Caribs. The purpose of obtaining these islands was to mediate the ancient conflicts between both ethnic groups, in addition to establishing a strategic support point in this area.
Foza, a member of the Explorer Division, had been sent here with the mission to mediate between both factions and establish coastal settlements on the islands.
Based on the mapping Foza had carried out of the islands and their location, I deduced that these could be the famous Virgin Islands of the future.
"Young Chuta, you have finally arrived. We were awaiting you," Foza said to me in a respectful tone, looking remarkably different from the last time I had seen him.
Previously, he was a rather ordinary-looking young man, and although he had been trained as a soldier by the Explorers, his build was not robust, as his skills were more focused on soft aptitudes.
However, now he appeared much more corpulent, his skin looked more tanned, and he even sported facial paints similar to those of the natives who were curiously observing around the village. Not only had his appearance changed, but also his posture and charisma. He stood firm and with palpable confidence.
"Foza, you look magnificent. It seems this journey has completely transformed your life," I commented to him.
"It's all thanks to you, Young Chuta. I have done my best to fulfill your request," Foza replied, averting his gaze, a little embarrassed by my words.
"You have far exceeded what I asked, as I've been informed… And because of your results, I have made a momentous decision that will change your future," I informed him, showing an enigmatic smile.
"What is it about, Young Chuta?" he inquired, expectantly.
"Foza, patience is an essential quality for any leader… We will discuss the decision later," I replied.
"Leader?" he asked, confused. "What do you mean…?"
"By the way, who is the woman next to you?" I asked, noticing a young woman of about sixteen years.
"She is Anacaona… She is my…" Foza said, lowering his tone until he ended up muttering: "Wife."
"Oh! Foza, you've found love here. Congratulations!"
"Emm… You wouldn't understand, Young Chuta, customs here are different from those in the Kingdom. They…" Foza was explaining when a native man, adorned with multiple gold accessories, approached.
"Welcome, prophesied child. I am Bohechío, the Guare of the Jaragua," the man introduced himself, using the Chibcha language with some clumsiness.
"There's no need for you to speak our language, Cacique, as I can communicate in Taíno for better interaction," I told Bohechío. My fluency in Taíno seemed to surprise him, as he opened his mouth exaggeratedly.
"You speak even better than Foza, and you are just a boy," he commented.
"Hahaha… He called you a boy," Umza scoffed, also using Taíno.
"I am a child," I commented with an ironic tone.
"She can also speak our language, can this girl also speak it?" he asked, pointing to Nyia after being amazed by Umza's fluency.
"What is he saying? Why were you laughing earlier?" Nyia asked with a nervous tone, seeing a strange man pointing at her.
"I laughed because he told Chuta he's a child… and he was asking if you spoke Taíno," Umza explained to Nyia.
"Cacique Bohechío, I greatly appreciate you receiving us in your lands. I have longed to meet your people for years," I said as I advanced with him and Foza into the nearest village.
"We were also awaiting your visit. When Foza and one of his shamans informed us about the arrival of the chosen one by the gods, we all became quite excited. There are even many people who wish to marry their daughters to you," he commented, looking at me playfully.
"I greatly appreciate your people's gesture, but I'm afraid I must decline such proposals beforehand," I refused with a polite and somewhat guilty tone. "As you can see, I already have two fiancées, and if I were to choose another, it would have to be for a special bond," I explained, pointing to Nyia and Umza, who were curiously observing the almost naked women of the village.
"I understand… Our people will greatly regret not being able to establish ties with you, but Foza has already married my sister, so we are already like family," he commented, looking at Foza, who averted his gaze, embarrassed.
"You don't need to worry, Cacique, we do not betray our allies, and we treat our people as family regardless of blood ties… As for my marriage, everything depends on the gods. Only they know the futu…" I was commenting when a girl caught my attention.
The young girl was leaning against a tree, sheltering from the sun.
Around her, a varied collection of animals rested on her body or simply roamed in her vicinity.
She smiled as she watched the animal's approach. It seemed as if there was communication between them.
When she wasn't petting or smiling at the animals, her gaze was lost on the horizon, deep in thought. She seemed to catch the whisper of the wind and decipher the movement of the waves.
She seemed mysterious to me and, at the same time, gave me a feeling of closeness.
"It seems the gods did have someone prepared for you here on the island, Prophesied Child," Bohechío commented with satisfaction.
"Who is she?" I asked, lost in my thoughts.
"She is Turey, a girl blessed by the goddess of the earth and the spirits of the animals."
"Turey," I murmured.
"She can communicate with animals as if they were people. Not even the fiercest beast would attack her… I once saw her petting a caiman as if it were a guinea pig… Birds dance around her, rodents bring her seeds, wild animals cling to her as if they were pets, and even insects seek her presence."
"Incredible."
"Yes, this girl is amazing… However, that same gift distances her from people. She spends so much time with animals that she forgets how to interact with people. Sometimes I feel she forgets how to speak our language, or perhaps the spirits have made her lose her ability to speak with us."
"Are we going to talk to her?" Umza asked me, excited.
"Of course," I immediately accepted.
Like Umza, I was also eager to meet a 'special' person. Deep in my mind, I had always wished to find extraordinary individuals or perhaps others like me. So far, I had only encountered geniuses, but nothing truly fantastic or supernatural.
"I think she could be our sister in the future, Nyia," Umza commented to Nyia, taking her arm and dragging her along.
"Do you think she'll let me paint her with all those colorful animals?" Nyia asked Umza, not giving much importance to her comment.
"Of course, as long as she becomes our sister, she'll accept anything," Umza replied, as Nyia's face lit up with that answer.
"Girls, she won't become your sister," I told them in an annoyed tone as I followed them.
When we arrived in front of the girl, we noticed she was still looking at the sea, deeply absorbed in her thoughts. Nyia and Umza tried to speak to her gently so as not to startle her or the animals, but she didn't react.
I slowly approached the girl and looked in the same direction as she was looking, trying to figure out what she was thinking. I looked at her and the animals again, and noticed how a colorful bird, like a macaw, gently stroked her face, trying to get her attention.
To my surprise, the girl reacted to the bird's gesture and slowly turned her head in our direction.
First, she looked at Nyia and Umza, who were observing the animals still around her, and then she fixed her gaze at me.
Her eyes opened slightly, more than they had been all this time. Her gaze seemed to gain some clarity. Her hands caressed the bird's head, as if she was thanking it for notifying her about her unexpected guests.
"The gods and spirits favor you too," she suddenly commented.
Her voice was soft, slow, almost ethereal. Every word was modulated with the utmost tranquility. The rhythm of her words was slow, but not annoying. The vibration of her voice seemed to please the animals around her.
"You also seem to have the favor of the gods," I told her calmly, trying not to be a nuisance to her or the animals.
"That's right… They helped me find family and friends," she said, looking warmly at the animals.
"Do you want to be our family?" Umza asked her, showing her unfiltered side.
"Umza, you shouldn't say…"
"Of course," Turey accepted as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
Chuta is on his first vacation trip (he'll hardly rest, hahaha) and is visiting the Caribbean islands. He just happens to meet a very special character, who will be an important part of his expansion into a certain part of the continent in the not-too-distant future.
Unnecessary Fact of the Day: The Tainos and several other island cultures practiced exogamy. There is evidence in the navigation charts of Columbus's first voyages that they received women as gifts.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future.
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis from Visions of Future Saga.
You can find them on my profile.]