The low leader's longhouse was dark, and the scent of mixed herbs lingered. The faint moonlight fell into the room, illuminating the two figures sitting opposite each other. The figure is surrounded by a circle of sacrificial bones and a silent silence.
Crow Chief Kakaro lowered his head and said nothing. He stretched out his thin arms, picked up a pine flute from the ground, and put it to his mouth. The ethereal flute sounded in an instant, whining into the night. The sound was distant and desolate, like a call from the wilderness.
Outside the longhouse, Alan opened his eyes wide. This is the flute music that the chiefs always play on the days of worshiping gods every month. She listened to the flute quietly, looked at the full moon in the sky, and thought about the lone wolf in the wilderness. She closed her eyes and thought about her former relatives and home, as well as the tenacity and loneliness of the wolf. The memories of the old days were gone like the wind, and the desolate flute sound didn't last long before everything came to an end.
Kakalo slowly put down his wooden flute. He raised his head and looked at Amosi.
"My child, what do you hear?"
Amosi opened his eyes, showing some longing.
"Chief, I heard the moon god's sacrifice and blessing. In the world under the full moon, there are eagles flying far away and vast plateaus..."
"Asimo, the world of the wasteland is vast. Tribes are constantly migrating, and eagles are flying away. Everything is for life and hope, inheritance and continuation. Now, this valley has become a dead land, dark The shadow is coming from the south. We can't resist the shadow, and it's time to leave...ahem!"
Kakalo spoke slowly, the wrinkles on his face trembling, making him look particularly old. However, the calm narration was interrupted by a violent cough. The old chief bowed down in pain and covered his mouth with force. Amosi immediately stepped forward, supported the respected chief, and supported him from behind.
After a while, Kakalo stopped coughing. He let go of his hand, but there was a dazzling bright red in his palm. The old chief silently clenched his palms again and said in a deep voice.
"Asimo, please pass on the message. Throw away the unnecessary baggage, we only take food... and leave tonight!"
"Ah?! Are you leaving tonight?"
Asimo was a little surprised.
"Yes, let's leave tonight! From a withered yellow leaf, you can see the chill of the entire autumn. The Aztec reinforcements will arrive at the mouth of the valley tomorrow. The danger is imminent. We can't delay it any longer! We have harvested new crops in the past few days. With some unripe corn and the pumpkins from before, the tribe's food can last for another four or five months. Once they escape from this dead land, there will be new life!...Ahem!"
Kakaro ordered sharply, then coughed again. Amosi was about to step forward when he saw the old chief wave his hand heavily.
"Ahem...I'm fine! Seize the time and send envoys to tell the tribes you have good relations with near the mouth of the valley: the great chief of the Aztecs has arrived with reinforcements. His magic is more powerful and his wisdom is more profound. We will never let go of the northwest valley entrance! Holding on to the valley is a dead end, so escape as soon as possible!..."
"Asimo, the battle at Taniguchi was so tragic that all the tribes were originally afraid. The three major tribes forcibly annexed each tribe, and the ordinary tribes were even more panicked. Now that the enemy's reinforcements are coming, it is a good opportunity for the tribes to retreat. , no one will stop us anymore! The main force of the Red Frog tribe is arranged at the mouth of the east valley, and the old fox also wants to retreat, we have to leave one step ahead of him!..."
"After leaving the valley, head north for three days to avoid the Aztecs' front. Then turn east, all the way east, over the towering mountains, to reach the territory of the Huastecs! Guaquili The vitality of man lies in the east and north..."
Kakaro paused. His eyes were deep, staring at Amosi in front of him, as if staring at some kind of hope. Then, he slowly opened his palm, revealing a large ball of bright red.
"Asimo, I've said all that needs to be said. There are some things that don't need to be said, but that you need to understand by yourself. I will leave it to you to command tonight's retreat!..."
"Ah, coughing up blood! Chief, you...you...can't..."
Asimo's expression changed drastically. He looked at the red color in Kakalo's palm, as if he were seeing a scourge. For the first time, deep fear appeared on this tough man's face, which was the parting he had seen countless times. His eyes widened and he shouted in pain.
"Chief...father!..."
"My child, it's okay, don't be sad... My road has come to an end. I can't go anymore and I don't want to leave. Just let me stay here quietly and leave alone!...Asimo , your road is still long, you must carry hope and fly like an eagle in the vast wilderness. From today on, the Red Crow Tribe will be handed over to you!...Ahem!"
"Dad!..."
"I'm tired, you go out. Don't come in again... seize the time and leave with the adults and children!"
After speaking, Kakalo lowered his head, no longer looking at Asimo's face, and stopped speaking. The longhouse was filled with a deathly silence.
Asimo was silent for a long time, then slowly knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to the old chief. Then, his eyes looked sad and he turned away in pain. However, when he walked out of the leader's longhouse, his sadness turned into perseverance and into a stern cry.
"Everyone! Pack your luggage, hurry up, and prepare for the tribe's migration! Within two hours, all adults and children will leave! Envoys who have been to various tribes, please come quickly!"
Muffled shouts drifted in the night wind of the valley. Soon, the entire camp became busy. Several messengers left with messages and rushed to the tribes near the mouth of the valley to bring urgent news.
Asimo stood at the bright campfire, looking into the dark longhouse. His heart seemed to be divided into two halves, one half fell into the flames, and the other half disappeared into the darkness. Then, a voice like a songbird woke him up from his silence.
"Dad! Why doesn't Chief Daddy come out? I heard him coughing!"
Alan stood in front of him like a deer, his eyes as bright as the full moon.
Asimo stretched out his hand and rubbed Alan's head vigorously. Then, he lowered his eyes and whispered.
"Alan. Grandpa always loves you very much. He doesn't want to come out, and he won't let dad in. When the alpha wolf in the wilderness reaches a certain age, he will leave the pack alone, find a hilly place under the full moon, and lie down quietly. There...it's a full moon today. Alan, go in! Before you leave, I want to see my grandpa one last time."
Alan stood there in a daze, his eyes covered with mist. She looked at her father, but Asimo strode away, shouting orders and directing the tribe's migration. Alan looked at the dark long house again, hesitated for a long time, and then walked in carefully.
Kakaro still lowered his head and sat among the bones. Hearing the sound, he looked up, and a kind smile appeared on his old face.
"Alan, it's you."
Alan walked over and squatted down next to the old chief. The obsidian dagger strapped to her thigh made a crisp scraping sound when it hit the bone. The girl stretched out her hands and held Kakalo's arm firmly.
"Chief Grandpa, it's me, I'm here to see you! Well, it's dark in the room and I can't see your face clearly. I'll light the fire pit!"
"Child, we always have to face the darkness..."
Alan, however, had a cheerful temper. Before Kakalo could finish speaking, he lit the fire pit three times. Then, by the firelight, the girl looked closely at her grandfather's vicissitudes of face, as if she wanted to remember his appearance firmly.
Kakaro laughed dumbly. He shook his head, his gaze resting on Alan's obsidian dagger. The old chief thought for a while and waved.
"Alan, give me the dagger. The black wolf head on it is the symbol of the Mexica god. I seem to have heard of it somewhere..."
The full moon gradually sets in the west, and the night falls into darkness, but the valley mouth in the northwest of the valley gradually wakes up. Countless torches were lit at the entrance of the valley, and the nearby ordinary tribes were in a noisy mood. Under the moonlight, a Red Crow flag was flying high, and thousands of canine descendants were migrating, carrying luggage and holding torches, like a pack of wolves howling at the moon.
