Inca-Mair woke up scared. She looked at the entrance of the hut and saw the sunshine. It was day. The parents' hammock was empty and it tortured the girl's heart. The brothers were still sleeping, besides her scream.
She got up and left. She needed to talk to Pajé out her dream and also wanted to know were her parents were.
She was not the only one awake. By the Sun orientation she assumed it was six a.m., but there already were people in the chores by the native village. Women preparing food and men working on the spear to hunt. No woman was forbidden to join the men for hunting, but almost all of them prefered to stay in the village, with their kids and the others.
Kids could only join the hunters group when older than 10. Inca-Mair was ten, and was fascinated by the artillery. She could not wait for the moment to trespass further and learn so much more about hunting from the elders.
Her daydream was over when remembering about the nightmare. She ran towards the Pajé´s hut. She came in as he invited.
— Inca-Mair, tatuí (short person in Tupi Guarani); what brings you here so early? You should be sleeping.
She smiled. It was always so nice to talk to him, especially to hear all his stories. But that was the point that day. This time, she was the one telling all about her nightmare.
Pajé listened with attention to every small detail of what she said. In the end, he smiled.
— Why do you smile, Pajé?
He stared at her big blue eyes, stood up, took her by the hand and said:
— That was a nightmare, guria (female child in Tupi Guarani). You dreamt about Abaçaí, and old enemy of ours. This diabolic spirit hunts us indians trying to make us mad. Our oldest ancestors used to tell with great emotion about how their oldest ancestors had to leave everything behind and run away in desperation to explore now forests after its appearance. But that was just too long ago, in a different time, in a different tribe, in a different forest… Now, it was just a bad dream.
But, that could not be just a dream, and Inca-Mair know that. That felt very real. But it was smart to accept the Pajé's words, or at least to seem to. She asked him about her parents, she was worried about them. They had gone hunting, he saw them both leave. They were interested in a special treat for lunch, for that exact day they were celebrating 32 moons side by side.
Inca-Mair went back to the hut as the siblings peacefully slept. She awaited. Soon they´ll be here, she thought while falling asleep again.
But they didn't.
The whole village was singing, it was lunchtime for everybody. She shook the children up and they went with the others. Her eyes roamed everywhere, but no parents were found. They should have come back already, she thought.
She locked her worries inside her head and gathered for lunch. As soon as Ipê had eaten every piece of food from the plate, Inca-Mair grabbed the boys and took them roughly to the family's hut.
— What is it, Inca? Why such a hurry leaving the okára (patio in Tupi Guarani)? Pajé was just starting to tell the good tales - muttered Cauê, upset for losing his favorite part of the day.
Inca-Mair was sorry for depriving him from that moment, but it would be short, soon they would go back to the Okára, she just needed to let them know about her next steps.
— Sy and Paí (mom and dad) disappeared and I am going after them. I dreamt that some evil force had gotten Sy. They left for hunting 6 hours ago, Cauê, and did not come back, not even for lunch. I am going to find them. We need you to take care of the mirí (litlle one).
Cauê's big black eyes narrowed in irritation:
— Of course we will not stay here doing nothing, endyra (sister). We are going with you, all the three of us.
Inca held the tears of emotion for the strong little creature with such big heart she had as brother. If that was more than just a dream and she took the twins with her, it would be their end. And she would never forgive herself for putting her both treasures in danger.
— No, Cauê; you and Ipê stay here. You will protect him and the tribe from any harm. I cannot lose any more time nor people I love. Stay here, safe and sound. Soon we´ll be back; me, Sy and Paí.
She rushed towards the yukab (indigenous weapons), grabbed the big spear, her favorite and quietly left. Nobody saw her.
From the entrance of the hut, with heart in hand, Cauê and Ipê saw their endyra fade away behind the great trees of the forest. What if they never saw her ever again? When they could not see her anymore, Cauê took Ipê by the hand and followed her.