29/11/2025
Nine Days
Chapter One: The weight of Legacy
The ancestral bull vibrantly moos like it was sending a message to the whole community. It was moving around like it was highly possessed by a stubborn demon, its eyes rolling wildly as it let out a low, rumbling bellow. The sound echoed through the village, causing a stir among the residents.
Kundiso felt a shiver run down her spine as she watched the bull's antics from her window. She had never seen it behave like this before, and she couldn't help but wonder what was causing it. Was it a sign of something to come, or just the animal's usual morning routine?
As she stood there, lost in thought, Kundiso decided to go check on her grandmother. She walked into her grandmother's room, greeting her with a warm smile. "Ambuya, did you hear that bull? It's making a lot of noise today.
Her grandmother looked up from her bed, a concerned expression on her face. "Yes, mwanangu, I did. I don't know what's gotten into that animal. Maybe it's trying to warn us of something."
Kundiso sat down beside her grandmother, and they both sat in silence for a moment, listening to the bull's moos.
Kundiso's grandmother’s face etched with a mix of concern and suspicion. There was a deep-seated suspense in her eyes, like she was hiding a troubling matter that weighed heavily on her mind. Her usual radiant complexion had given way to a pale, almost frail appearance, and her eyes seemed sunken, as if she hadn't slept in days.
As Kundiso sat down beside her, her grandmother's gaze drifted back to the window, her eyes fixed on some distant point beyond the village. The bull's moos seemed to grow louder, more insistent, and Kundiso's grandmother's expression deepened into a frown.
"Ambuya, what's wrong?" Kundiso asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "You look like you're carrying a heavy burden."
Her grandmother's gaze snapped back to Kundiso's face, and for a moment, Kundiso thought she saw a flash of fear in her eyes. But it was quickly masked, replaced by a gentle smile. "I'm fine, mwanangu. Just a little...concerned about the bull's behavior. That's all."
Kundiso wasn't convinced. She knew her grandmother too well. There was something more to this, something her grandmother wasn't telling her.
As Kundiso looked at her grandmother, she couldn't help but think about the rumors she'd heard. People in the village whispered that her grandmother wasn't an ordinary woman, that there was more to her than met the eye. At 110 years old, her grandmother's age was just a number, a testament to her strength and resilience. But it was her eyes that held a deep wisdom, a knowing that went beyond the physical realm.
Kundiso's grandmother's gaze met hers, and for a moment, they just looked at each other, the ancestral bull's moos fading into the background. Kundiso felt a shiver run down her spine as she wondered what secrets her grandmother was keeping, what mysteries lay hidden behind those ancient eyes.
"Ambuya, tell me the truth," Kundiso said, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's going on? You're not just worried about the bull, are you?"
Her grandmother's expression softened, and she reached out to gently touch Kundiso's face. "Mwanangu, some things are not for the young to know. But I suppose your time is coming soon. You need to understand..."
“You taught me about our ancestors, you showed me all herbs, you taught me how to heal people, then why can you not tell me this you are hiding?” Kundiso asked.
Kundiso's grandmother sighed, her eyes clouding over with a mixture of sadness and resignation. "Mwanangu, there are some things that cannot be taught, only shown. And there are some truths that are better left unspoken, until the time is right. But I suppose you are right, I have been preparing you for this moment, haven't I?"
She paused, collecting her thoughts before continuing. "You see, Kundiso, I am not just a healer, I am a keeper of secrets, a holder of ancient knowledge. And the burden of this knowledge is not mine alone to bear. It's a weight that will soon be passed on to you, if you are willing to accept it."
The room fell silent, the only sound was the distant mooing of the ancestral bull, as Kundiso's grandmother waited for her response.
Kundiso's eyes locked onto her grandmother's, a mix of determination and concern. "Ambuya, I've heard you mention the Riva Stone before, but I don't know what it is. What does it do?"
Her grandmother's expression turned solemn. "The Riva Stone is a powerful artifact, mwanangu. It's said to be able to free our community from a great curse and allow my soul to finally rest in peace. But it's been hidden away for many years, and I fear I'm running out of time."
Kundiso's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean, Ambuya? What's happening to you?"
Her grandmother's voice was barely above a whisper. "My time is coming to an end, mwanangu. But I want you to find the Riva Stone and use it to set me free. I want my soul to leave my body in peace, without any pain or suffering. You must go on a journey to find it, and when you do, you must destroy it. It's the only way to break the curse and give me peace."
Kundiso felt a surge of ancestral power coursing through her veins as she listened to her grandmother's words. She knew that she had a special connection to the spirit world, and that her ancestral powers would guide her on this journey.
"I'll find it, Ambuya," Kundiso said, her voice filled with determination. "I promise. I'll go on the journey and bring back the Riva Stone. My ancestors will guide me, and I'll make sure to destroy it and break the curse."
Her grandmother's eyes filled with a deep sadness, but also with pride. "I know you will, mwanangu. You have the heart of our ancestors in you. Now, go, prepare yourself for the journey ahead. You have few days to find the Riva Stone and return. I'm counting on you."
Kundiso nodded resolutely, determination etched on her face. She turned to leave, but her grandmother's frail hand reached out, grasping her arm.
"Mwanangu, wait," her grandmother said, her voice weak but urgent. "You must be careful. The journey will be treacherous, and you will face many challenges. But I can give you some guidance. The Riva Stone is hidden deep within the Heartwood Forest, near the ancient tree of life. You will need to follow the path of the setting sun, and cross the Nyahake River, the Mupfure River, and finally, the Mutserenge River to reach it."
Kundiso's eyes widened as she listened to her grandmother's instructions. She repeated them to herself, committing them to memory. "I'll remember, Ambuya. The Heartwood Forest, the path of the setting sun, and the Nyahake, Mupfure, and Mutserenge rivers to cross."
Her grandmother nodded, a small smile on her face. "You have the heart of our ancestors in you, Kundiso. Trust in yourself, and trust in the spirits. They will guide you on your journey."
With a final nod, Kundiso turned and left her grandmother's room, her mind racing with thoughts of the journey ahead. She made her way back to her own room, her heart heavy with the weight of her task. As she entered her room, she felt a sense of determination wash over her. She would find the Riva Stone, and she would set her grandmother's soul free.
Kundiso lay on her mat, her mind still racing with thoughts of the journey ahead. She tried to calm her thoughts, focusing on the sound of the crickets outside and the distant howl of a hyena. But her eyes kept drifting to the window, where the moon cast an eerie glow.
She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. The ancestral bull's awkward behavior still lingered in her mind, and she wondered what it could mean. With a sigh, she finally closed her eyes, letting the weariness of the day wash over her.
As she drifted off to sleep, the night itself seemed to wrap around her, carrying secrets and whispers on its gentle breeze. The stars twinkled like diamonds in the sky, and the wind rustled through the trees, whispering ancient truths to the sleeping village.
But Kundiso's sleep was fitful, her dreams turbulent. She found herself standing in a desolate landscape, the sun beating down on her like a hammer. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the dust - her grandfather, his eyes stern but loving.
"Be strong, mwanangu," he said, his voice low and urgent. "The journey ahead will test you, but you must not falter. You are the light in the darkness, the hope in the shadows."
Kundiso tried to respond, but her voice was trapped in her throat. Her grandfather's face began to distort, his eyes turning into empty sockets that seemed to bore into her soul. She felt a chill run down her spine as the landscape around her began to shift and writhe, like a living thing.
She jolted awake, her heart racing, the darkness of the night pressing down on her like a physical weight. She lay there, gasping, her dream lingering in her mind like a shadow. It took her a moment to realize she was drenched in sweat, her heart still pounding in her chest.
The village was quiet, the only sound the distant hooting of an owl. But in the darkness, Kundiso could have sworn she heard a low, raspy voice whisper a single word: "Run."
Chapter 2: A Secret Shared
Kundiso walked through the village, the sun beating down on her shoulders. She had decided to visit her best friend, Maidei. Maidei was the one person who knew Kundiso's secrets, and Kundiso trusted her with her life.
As she approached Maidei's homestead, she saw her friend sitting outside, weaving a basket. Maidei looked up and smiled, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Kundiso! What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost," Maidei said, putting down her basket.
Kundiso hesitated, looking around nervously. "Can we talk in private?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Maidei's expression turned serious, and she nodded, leading Kundiso to a secluded spot behind her hut. "What's going on, Kundiso? You're starting to scare me," Maidei said, her eyes locked on Kundiso's face.
Kundiso took a deep breath, wondering where to begin. "It's about my grandmother," she said finally. "She's...she's dying, Maidei. And I have to go on a journey to find the Riva Stone to set her soul free."
Maidei's eyes widened in shock, but she didn't say a word, her eyes locked on Kundiso's face, waiting for her to continue.
