4. The curse is born - Arawa

The next morning was met with a group of survivors making their way down the rocky path. 

The little boy had made it through the night and there was every chance that he would live but then, the  angry bites of hunger pangs might just finish him before they could make it to where. Kuka no longer  had any idea how far they had to keep going for them to reach their destination. He had thought that it  would not take much time but now, he could see otherwise. Nulaa was getting weaker and could barely  move, he had to support her with help and assistance from Orau. This was really time for the gods to  show mercy on them. Looking behind, he was embittered with how his people had to rely on each other  for support. Their movements had slowed down to the very least progressive. He had to try making the  path for them as they continued heading north. They had finished the meal given to them and the little  water they had gotten from the morning dew had successfully scorched up and their tongues dry. Of  course, they could not take any from the cactus plant as that was rather risky on an empty stomach. He  could tell that the people behind him were barely hanging on. Forging ahead, he tried to get his mind  off the pain when suddenly, something could hit him deep in his feet. Kuka let out a yelp and stopped,  pausing the company behind him. Orau assisted him in putting Nulaa down, by now, the pregnant  woman was groaning in pain as she could not tell whether to focus on her husband or the hunger pangs  gnawing at her. She could only sit and watch as he inspected the injury. Orau had taken one glance and  disappeared into the bushes surrounding the forest area. 

His wound was rather deep and was bleeding steadily. It was torn and Kuka was trying his best to pull  it out of his leg. It had sunk deep and was really painful. Why did this happen to him, he wondered.  Taking a deep breath, he braced himself for the pain to come, heaving hard, he held it with his fingers as  he prepared to pull it out. Giving himself a count of five, Kuka managed to successfully pull it out at five.  It was rather big torn and he wondered why he had been blind to It. As soon as he pulled it out, blood  started gushing out heavily from the wound as he tried in vain to suppress it. He needed to stop the  bleeding somehow and began to look around for any insect he could use as treatment. None was in  sight. That was when Nulaa had to draw closer to him, she placed her hands in he's as she looked at him  with those eyes that used to be so bright and cheerful, now they were steadily hiding away in their  sockets.

“It’s okay Kuka, Orau probably went to fetch medicinal herbs “, she said and he tried to maintain calm. 

Thinking about it right now, he never had any idea that the lady had the knowledge of medicine. But  then it occurred to him that at some point when he had rejected her, she had to run away in shame and  pain to the priest's home where she spent several moons. Possibly at that time, she had begun her  journey into medicine. Now, she possessed qualities that a single human should not possess. She was a  woman, a warrior and had knowledge of medicine. Kuka wondered if there was anything else she  could do that he was not aware of. Possibly she might have made a stronger bride. That was when he  felt Nulaa’s hands on he’s again, he felt guilty immediately. He had a woman by his side who really loved  him and cared a lot about his progress. It was rather sinful and stupid of him to desire another while she  lived. Kuka snapped out of it immediately and gave her a smile. Soon she would give birth to their son as  expected, who would take after his father’s fierceness and strong will. 

Orau went to get the herbs and more. She had actually taken her time doing that as she returned,  carrying some things in her cloth which looked like fruits. She also had the needed herbs in her hands.  She had found some wild fruits on her way and got as many as possible for everyone, she dropped it on  the floor as she picked out four while the others took their bite, muttering their thanks. One for herself,  one for Kuka, and two she gave to Nulaa. 

“Have this Nulaa, for you and the baby,” she said. 

“Thank you so much Orau.” Nulaa said calmly and accepted the fruit. The next instant, she put it into  her mouth, no one cared about dirt anymore. Everyone was rather hungry. Orau went over to Kuka,  working the herbs in between her palms, and she looked at him carefully. 

“This might sting Kuka, are you ready?” she asked him, making him brace himself for what was to  come. 

Kuka positioned himself properly, getting ready for what pain was to come, Orau began squeezing it  onto his wound. She had been right, it did sting and shoot up to his brain but he had to endure it like a  man. He could not seem weak to his people after all. Closing his eyes shut, he let himself find calm. Orau  tied more herbs to the wound with the help of reeds around, to prevent the wound from rubbing  against the surface of the earth. Kuka thanked her sincerely but then, she barely acknowledged him with  her eyes. She was still probably hurt from how he had treated her back then. But then, she did not need  to treat him nice. Looking at her now as she sat amongst the others, Kuka saw the admiration and  respect she got. Maybe he had made a mistake abandoning her back then but Nulaa was also a good  woman. Nulaa was also observing her husband but had nothing to say. The sun was over them already.

They had to continue their journey again, Kuka leading this time but limping as Orau and one other guy  supported Nulaa. It was well past noon and the fruits they had no longer held in their stomach. They had  to move steadily when Kuka heard something, it was the sound of water. They were getting closer  obviously. Soon, he anticipated that he and his people would find rest finally, he looked behind him at  them. They probably did not hear that which he had heard as they were struggling with themselves,  Kuka understood except he was having auditory hallucinations. 

As they advanced, however, everyone could hear it and suddenly they brightened up as they began to  get into a greener part of the forest with wild flowers. Kuka’s smile knew no bounds. It was evening  already by the time they saw the river and its mighty waterfall. There were fruit trees on the other side  and luckily, they might not find it hard going over. A big tree had fallen over, providing them with a bridge.  Kuka made a mental note to remove it soon as they crossed, so that the enemy would not get to them.  His people were already cupping water from the river into their mouths when suddenly, someone  screamed behind him. It was Nulaa, he followed her gaze and saw water gushing down her legs. Kuka  was rather confused as he looked at her for answers. 

“It’s the baby Kuka.” she said weakly as Orau and the other found a place with shade where she would  give birth to her baby. 

Kuka was sure now that the river god was going to guide them. He could not wait to see his son. 

Kuka was there watching it all and looking at his wife as she passed through the pains and pangs of  childbirth. She had been trying to push out her baby to no avail and he could see her grow weaker. Orau  was assisting the only matured woman in the group to aid her in giving birth. It was getting rather  scarier by the minute especially as it was nightfall already. Kuka no longer had words of encouragement  to give to Nulaa, all he did was hold her hand and pray to whichever spirit could hear him to grant her  safe delivery. It was their first child after all, as much as he anticipated their baby, he also anticipated  her safe delivery. The gods which had guided them to this point had better come to their rescue. The  entire people of Wuwa were all seated around waiting anxiously and anxiety written over their eyes.  Some had crossed earlier and brought back fruits but no one was going to start living there until their  leader’s wife had her baby. They huddled close to one another as they made silent requests to the gods. 

Suddenly, the older lady caught sight of something. “I see the head,” she said with excitement as she  braced herself.

Kuka felt rather relieved when he heard the news. Finally, some good news to make the night lively. The  gods were praised, they were probably trying his patience to know how strong he is. Nulaa was asked to  keep pushing and she squeezed her eyes tight shut as she pushed again with all her might. The baby  finally came out and the old lady caught him, Kuka rushed to look but was confused at what he saw.  There were some sort of entanglements around his son’s neck, it was a boy quite alright and he would  have been excited had he not seen the look on the face of the woman. She looked rather sad, and he  cast his eyes back to his son. The light of the full moon provided him with luminance, the baby was not  crying as he had heard previously when the women of Wuwa used to talk about new born babies. 

“I’m sorry my lord but the baby is dead. There are some entanglements around his neck, and if you ask  me, there seems to be another one,” Urumai, the old lady said. 

Kuka could not believe his eyes when suddenly, Nulaa let out a gasp. 

“What is happening?” he demanded as he went over to her side, worry written all over his face. “The second baby, my lord.” the woman said as she swung into action. 

Nulaa was trying her best to deliver her baby, she knew very well that she was not going to make it  through. She had seen a vision the previous night about her child which she had told no one about. She  had been walking around a land so beautiful and it had a waterfall. She needed to scoop water from the  river, when she saw a child in a basket shield, just like theirs crying. In the dream, she was already  pregnant but she had taken pity on this child and strived to get to her, but then the current continued  leading her away. Nulaa saw where the shield was headed and that was the part with heavier current  which obviously was deep. She needed to save this child, thus, without thinking twice, she stepped into  the river to save her. As she advanced closer, the water continued rising and by the time she reached  the baby, it had gotten up to her shoulder, Nulaa peered at the baby. It was a girl with such beautiful  eyes. Who would cast away such a child, she wondered. That was when she noticed the current getting  stronger and had to leave the river, but the water had gained weight. She had to struggle to make it to  the shore, by now, the water was around her neck and the baby, she lifted up on her head. She  managed to save the child by raising her to the shore and was about to leave the water when something  caught her by her heels and pulled her back into the river. She heard a voice saying, ‘MINE’ Nulaa  began struggling but it was too late. She knew from the moment she woke up that this would be her  own end. Her son was dead already but no way was she giving up her daughter too, she took a deep  breath as she pushed with all her might. The baby had to survive at all costs.

Soon enough, the child was out but Nulaa was dying. It was actually her umbilical cord that had killed  her brother, Kuka was upset. Urumai was trying to cut it when Nulaa held Kuka tightly, bringing him to  understand her signal to lean closer. He did so as she spoke weakly to him. 

“She… she.. is our gift….. fro… from the river god. Her name is… is…” Nulaa could not finish the  statement as she began gasping for air. Suddenly, she went out cold as she shut her eyes forever. Kuka  would never accept this. He called out her name but she had gone silent forever, never to hear her voice  again. 

Orau was at his side consoling him and reminding him that she had given him a daughter at least, he  turned to look at her angrily. 

“What daughter?” he asked. 

“Look Kuka, you have a daughter right now, don’t you understand that?” Orau asked. 

“A daughter you say, that thing is a curse from Ara the river god. She killed her mother and brother as a sacrifice.” he yelled. 

Orau could not believe her ears that he would ever say anything like that whether or not he was in pain.  She could see the hate in his eyes and anticipated his next move. She quickly shielded the baby when he  aimed for her. 

“Get a grip on yourself Kuka, she is just a baby,” Orau yelled. 

Kuka was not going to accept that child ever. His wife was dead and it was obvious that the river gods  had taken his family. He rose up quickly and went to the riverbank. 

“Are you happy now? Are you? You could have taken me instead of my family.” he yelled and went  down on his knees crying.

He was left alone for sometime as the entire community remained quiet. He had stayed out there for  sometime when someone touched his shoulder, it was Orau. He turned to look at her with those eyes  full of pain and contempt. 

“We have to bury them, Kuka.” she said and he nodded. 

She sighed as she thought if she could ask now. Making up her mind, she decided to do it. “What shall we call her Kuka?” she asked him. 

Thinking for sometime, he gave the cursed thing a name. 

“She is Arawa.” he said and walked past Orau. 

(Arawa – The curse of Ara, the river god).