The long wind in the wilderness never stops. It blows through the fertile valleys and the farmland by the river, carrying a withered and yellow smell, and also brings news from the south. It brushed past the unused altar, caressed the vicissitudes of stone walls, and arrived outside the ancient city of Palms until it reached the newly built Red Crow Camp.
Although it is said to be the Red Crow camp, except for an inherited flag, there are not many old Red Crow people. Three days ago, Alan had already migrated east along the Tampen River with eight hundred men, more than a thousand women and children, and loaded with harvested grain.
This long-prepared migration was not hidden from the eyes and ears of the chief of Chichika. However, when the chief knew the number of young men, he acquiesced in the early retreat of the women and children. He even arranged for 400 Red Dog warriors, more than 2,000 Red Dog women and children, plus more than 3,000 women and children from vassal tribes, a total of 8,000 people to move eastward.
Among the eight thousand people who migrated, there were no old or weak people. Even the women and young men of dog origin could draw their hunting bows and wield stone spears. At this moment, they had probably boarded the prepared raft and traveled down the Tampen River, more than a hundred miles east.
After these 8,000 people left, there were still more than 30,000 Guakili tribesmen preparing for war in the valley, plus 6,000 Otomi serfs and prisoners of war waiting to be slaughtered. After repeated hard battles, there were not many troops left in the valley. Only three thousand tribal warriors in the Red Crow camp were left, as well as thousands of adults scattered in various tribes.
Thinking of this, Amosi looked determined, with a fearless fighting spirit in his eyes. He nodded to Zukata who reported the news and said kindly.
"Brother Zukata, thank you for the information you sent! The military situation is urgent. I want to summon the camp soldiers to send reinforcements to the south as soon as possible!"
Hearing this, Zukata's expression changed. He opened his mouth to say something, but Amosi stopped him with a wave of his hand. He could only take a few Chippawa people and retreat to the side.
When the Lancers arrived at Camp Red Crow, they did not hide the military situation in the South. At this moment, the leaders and warriors of various tribes had heard the news and gathered in a hurry. Everyone was talking and looking worried. There was already a lot of noise in the Red Crow camp.
Amosi raised his hands, and everyone gradually fell silent. His eyes were bright, he looked around at everyone, and shouted confidently and boldly.
"Chiefs from all tribes, warriors! The fearless Red Monkey tribe has surrendered, and the brutal Mexica people are attacking the main camp of the big leader! The brave big leader is fighting to the death, blocking the Mexica people from our Outside our home! Now, three thousand warriors have gathered here, let us, with the determination to die, rescue the noble leader and defeat the brutal Mexica people!"
Hearing this, worry and uneasiness appeared on the faces of many canine warriors. Most of them were broken troops from various ministries, and they had not been reorganized for a few days. The sky fire that night still lingered like a nightmare, making them fearful.
Everyone was silent for a moment, then a leader of the Red Salamander tribe stood up and asked loudly.
"Amosi, you are just the leader of a small tribe of Red Crows who fled from the Red Fox Valley. What qualifications do you have to command our Red Crow warriors?"
Hearing this, Amosi's expression did not change. He laughed loudly and answered loudly.
"I am the leader of the Red Crow Tribe and the leader of the rear camp personally appointed by Chief Chichika. I can manage all the reserve warriors!"
"The big leader trusts me, recruits me by his side, and gives me important responsibilities! I am not afraid of danger, and will go through life and death for the tribal alliance!"
Having said this, Amosi suddenly opened his wolf robe, revealing his scarred chest.
"I fought with the Cactus Tribe in the Red Fox Valley and shot and wounded the enemy's Black Wolf General! I went out with the Uman warriors to attack the terrible Death Chief!... In these days, I led the elite several times deep into the south. , attacked the Cactus tribe’s camp and rescued hundreds of warriors!”
Hearing this, the rescued tribal warriors looked excited and shouted Amosi's name loudly. They respected the Red Crow chief and were willing to die for him.
Amosi's expression grew more generous. He clenched his fists, slapped his bare chest, and shouted at the crowd.
"Come! Look at the scars on my chest. They are all marks left by fighting the Cactus Warriors head-on! I am both the leader's favorite general and a warrior of the alliance! How can I not be qualified to rule the warriors of the valley? !”
The soldiers in the camp were impressed by Amosi's courage, and they all clenched their fists and responded in confusion.
"good!"
"What a warrior!"
"I support you!..."
Excited shouts echoed in the camp and never stopped for a long time. It wasn't until an old man walked into the field that everyone quickly became quiet. Zukata looked carefully and saw that it was Zuma, the old priest of the wasteland respected by all Guakili tribes.
Priest Zuma has a solemn expression, wearing ancient robes and holding a carved wooden staff. He walked to the center of the crowd, paused his wooden stick, and shouted angrily.
"Don't worry! Whether Amosi is qualified to lead the people in the camp, it doesn't matter what he says, and it doesn't matter what you say, you have to ask the Mother Goddess of the Earth!"
Hearing this, everyone looked startled. The Guakili people fear heaven and earth, respect wind and fire, and regard red as sacred. The Earth Mother Goddess has a revered status. She is not a deity with a specific image, but is more similar to the God of Heaven.
"Come here, light the sacrificial brazier!"
Priest Zuma shouted to the left and right, and someone immediately brought the prepared brazier. Dried pine wood was burned in the brazier, and unknown herbs were added. The breeze blew, and the fragrance of rosin and medicine dispersed with the wind, and everyone looked solemn.
Zukata stood aside, looking anxious. A bit of absurdity arose in his heart. The military situation in the south is so urgent that a decisive decision must be made whether to fight or to flee. At this time, the Guakili people in the camp actually want to perform divination?
Thinking of this, Zukata shook his head repeatedly. Unfortunately, on such a sacred occasion, as a foreigner, he had no right to speak and could only watch silently.
"O divine heaven and earth, O noble ancestors! Please listen to the call of the people of the earth... At this critical moment, please grant me divine enlightenment... May I ask, warrior Amosi, is the revered Mother Earth? God, the chosen leader of Guakili?”
The Zuma priest sang loudly and danced a strange and mysterious dance. The wooden bell on his body swayed with the dance, making a special sound that made everyone present feel dizzy. After a while, Zuma stepped forward and threw a bison skull into the fire. The blazing flames cracked the skull, and the old priest took out a handful of powder from his arms and suddenly threw it into the brazier.
"call!"
The flames in the brazier suddenly exploded, causing everyone to take a step back in shock. Priest Zuma's expression did not change. He took out a piece of rough white "linen cloth" from his arms and wrapped it around his hand. Then, he suddenly stretched out his hand and grabbed the cracked skull from the blazing flames.
The old priest looked at the skull for a moment, his expression changing for a long time. Under the attention of everyone, he suddenly knelt down and saluted Amosi respectfully.
"Ah! The crack in the skull is the most sacred sign! Leader Amosi, the Mother Goddess of the Earth recognizes you, you are the leader chosen by heaven and earth!"
Then, Priest Zuma turned his head and solemnly shouted to everyone.
"Why don't you kneel down quickly and pray to the Mother Earth! Salute to the chosen leader of Amosi!"
Zukata watched with cold eyes, and then tasted a little bit of the taste. As soon as he thought about it, a smile appeared on his face, and he immediately knelt down to salute. However, there are many warriors who can react faster than him. These people knelt down on the ground without hesitation and shouted loudly in unison.
"Meet the leader Amosi! The leader chosen by the Earth Mother!"
Seeing the miraculous scene and hearing the crowd's shouts, thousands of tribal warriors knelt down and saluted the Amosi leader. Hundreds of rescued warriors shouted fervently, and the atmosphere in the field was touching. The dozens of tribal leaders present looked at each other. Although their expressions flickered, they had no choice but to follow the general trend and slowly kneel to the ground.
Seeing the people kneeling down, Amosi laughed boldly. His expression was firm, his eyes were bright, and his passion was burning like fire.
"My warriors, my warriors, rise up! The Mother Goddess of the Earth has chosen me, and I will live and die with you! Now, the noble Chief Chichica is in the south, resisting the brutal Mexica people! The people of the wasteland will never surrender. Let me lead you to support Chief Chichika and fight to the death with Chief Death!"
"I listen to you, Chief Amosi! I will fight to the death with you!"
Upon hearing this, the tribal warriors showed admiration and fell to the ground, shouting wildly. They had been impressed by Amosi, and they all cheered up at this time, inspiring the blood bravery of the wasteland dog-born. At this moment, Amosi's figure was as tall as a big leader. Boiling cheers echoed in the camp, as if everyone had already won.
Zukata frowned when he heard that he was going south. He looked at the older tribal leaders, who all looked uneasy and worried.
At the critical moment, it was Priest Zuma who stood up. He took two steps forward, raised his wooden staff, bowed his head to salute Amosi first, and then looked at the excited warriors.
"Going south to fight is related to the survival of the Guakili people. Please let me ask the Earth Mother Goddess about the success or failure of this battle!"
Amosi pondered for a moment and nodded unusually solemnly.
"Okay! Excuse me, dear Priest Zuma!"
Seeing Amosi's respectful attitude, Priest Zuma nodded with satisfaction. He again lit incense and smoke, danced and sang, and then threw the bison skull into the fire.
There was a solemn atmosphere in the vast camp. Thousands of tribal warriors were anxiously awaiting the results of the divination. Priest Zuma sang for a while before sprinkling the powder again, and then suddenly took out the cracked skull from the exploding flames.
The old priest held the skull and looked at it seriously for a long time, but said nothing.
"Dear Priest Zuma, what is the result of the divination? The noble Chief Chichika is still waiting for my rescue!"
Amosi looked anxious and asked. Everyone also held their breath.
"Dear Chief Amosi."
Priest Zuma pondered for a while and said calmly.
"The revelation of the Mother Goddess of the Earth has come down. But before the announcement, there is one last step to be done!"
"Priest, please make it clear!"
Amosi nodded solemnly.
"The Mother Goddess of the Earth said, please ask Chief Amosi to drink the burned divination powder and receive the enlightenment from the God of Heaven!"
Priest Zuma looked around at the crowd with a solemn expression.
Hearing this, Zukata pinched his fingers in confusion, wondering what unfolding was going on.
"good!"
Amosi certainly agreed. He took a handful of the divination powder and swallowed it in his mouth. Then he took the water bottle handed by the Zuma priest and drank it all in one gulp.
"Ah? This is...I saw it!..."
Amosi stood stunned for a moment, his eyes becoming hollow and confused. There was deep shock on his face, which touched the hearts of all warriors. Suddenly, Amosi threw his head back and let out a cry of pain.
"ah!..."
The terrible cry roared like a wild beast, shaking the entire camp. Everyone was shocked and looked up to see that the respected leader Amosi had fainted from the divine revelation.
"What...what's going on?"
"What exactly did the leader see?"
"What is the prophecy?"
The soldiers shouted in panic. High Priest Zuma, however, looked calm and unhurried. He raised the magic staff in one hand and the divination bull skull in the other, and roared in an old voice.
"The Earth Mother Goddess sends down divine revelation!"
After hearing this, the camp became quiet again, except for the old priest's heart-shaking chant.
"The south is a deep darkness, an irresistible return. The shadow of death comes from the south and is about to swallow up everything in the valley!... The Mother Earth said that our home is not here, but after crossing the mountains, The fertile soil where the river flows! The vitality of the Guakili people lies in the east!"
"Ah! This! Dear Priest Zuma, what does the revelation of the Mother Goddess mean?"
"The divine revelation means..."
Priest Zuma raised his wooden staff and looked south again. In his old white eyes, the joy of revenge flashed away.
"The fate has been decided! Chief Chichika will return to the earth, and the Cactus tribe will conquer the valley. And we in the camp must immediately move to the east, protect the tribes that went ahead, and regain a foothold in the east of the mountains!"
"Ah? Migrate to the east!..."
The silence did not last long, and the Red Crow camp soon became agitated. The people of the wasteland have long been accustomed to migration, and as long as they choose a direction, they will not hesitate for too long. Soon, three thousand tribal warriors packed their food and weapons, abandoned their baggage and camps, and quickly headed east. And more than a dozen messengers set out at the same time to go to various parts of the valley to inform the mother goddess of the divine revelation.
Zukata watched all this, thinking silently in his heart. He took several of Tarasco's old brothers, carrying spears, and followed the rapidly migrating team.
"Chippawa."
"Captain Zukata."
"Not bad, very good."
There was a smile on Zukata's dull face.
"Ah, what's cool?"
Chippawa scratched his head, a little confused.
"Chief Red Crow, it's very good... Also, our choice is also very good!"
Zukata smiled lightly and looked at the sky. The sun has already set in the west, and the red glow dyes the sky, fills the earth, and covers the mountains in the south.
"What a gorgeous dusk. The battle in the south should be over by now! The old wolf king sank into the abyss of death, and the new wolf king was born in the mountains. The long day is finally coming to an end!"
Chipawa seemed to understand and nodded repeatedly. He looked not far ahead. The unconscious leader Amosi was lying on a wooden frame two people high, motionless, being carried by a loyal Red Crow warrior.
"It's like carrying a sacrifice..."
The young militiaman whispered to himself. Zukata smiled and shook his head.
"No, from today on, that is a divine hero!"
The conversation between the two disappeared in the wind, flying low and far away.
On the wooden frame, the divine Amosi remained motionless and silently opened his eyes. His eyes were clear and bright, reflecting the red dusk and the vast world.
"May you rest in peace! Chief Chichika...I'm back! Alan..."
