Back in the human realm.
Three teenagers were scrub collecting in an overgrown field.
The place looked like a frequently explored ground due to the numerous patches of weeded grass and upturned soil which were all in different stages of regrowth.
There was a heavy atmosphere around the boys, as there seemed to be a look of anticipation in their eyes.
Their shovels and hoes were clanging against stones every so often, making their eyes sparkle at the sound of every hit before settling back to an ' I new it wasn't it' expression.
This was especially the case for the boy wearing the bronze ape pendant. It was dripping with sweat that threatened to form a lake beneath him.
Beside him were rotten cudgels, spear heads, and shields that were in different stages of weathering.
He stood up and stretched after shoveling a couple more times. His hand involuntarily went up and scraped the bulging drops of sweat that were dancing at the edge of his eyebrows.
" Jako can I use your gourd, I'm out of water. "
" No, ape king, I'm also extremely thirsty right now, I can't part with the little I have."
"Come on, are you being greedy with water right now? Do you want three years of bad luck?"
"If you're tired, just go home man. The river is too far from here. I can't trek that distance just because of you. Besides, you've got enough stuff right there to get a decent pay from the depths of Togbui Zoglo's greedy Kente cloth.
Don't be a greedy fellow" .
The red haired albino, Jako , ended this statement with an expression of mockery as he also stood up for a breath of fresh air.
"Yeah whatever ... swallow it"
The boy nicknamed ape king and the albino both looked towards the oldest of the group . He hasn't said much since they began ploughing this field. Observing him closely, he looked like a bearded man on a mission.
You know, the 'I'm determined even if you cut my head' type.
"Hey wise man, take a break. Don't be greedy like his highness over here ...."
It was at that moment, they both heard an excited gasp.
" Hahahaha. Brothers we're rich!! Come take a look."
The monkey and albino were actually already there before he uttered that last sentence. It was not normal to see him laugh so 'bwa-harzadly', so they naturally acted on reflex.
They both got to his side and peeked into the dirt. They saw a straight object which still had a good portion embedded in the ground. The very end that was exposed was shining a bright gold color. That part was shaped like the head of a cobra with the embedded part undoubtedly sure to make up it's body.
" Umm that's brass right, it has to be brass! I'm the one with the charm. Don't tell me I threw my cowries away for zero.
" Hehe ... I told you that bokor was a scammer. Just throw that ape away jor..."
The older boy, who had been sipping water with a smile dropped his gourd and stepped back into the porthole he had been working on.
He placed his left foot on a sizable rock and his right hand on the obvious hilt of the charming weapon and with a majestic air, he mimicked a ruler as he drew the sword out of the ground.
" Creakle-crack! "
"Hm?"
The three boys flinched at the snapping sound.
"Dig around the hole boys... we need a bigger picture".
The eldest of the group commanded and scratched his hairy chest.
The very tip of the sword that played an obvious role in that snapping finally broke the earth and came free after a few minutes of digging.
" Is that a bone?"
"A cheesy bone blade with a golden hilt? Such extravagant waste ." Jako said in response to the ape king's question.
" Hehe my ape is just going easy on me. He probably doesn't want to see me running mad in the face of money yet.
The bone might make a pretty good soup though ... mpshehe... cough ...haha
As for that gold,- ouch"
The two boys grabbed their heads as a sharp pain greeted them.
The older had given them hard knocks.
"Two brainless fools.
Won't you consider the fact that this is at least a sword and not a machete?
Bone blade or not, the fact that it was lodged in that ribcage should tell it's worth something. "
Before the three boys was an old dirty, fragile but somewhat intact skeleton which had about three ribs broken. An obvious job of the bone sword.
"Bring me my gourd and help me wash this pretty existence." The bushy head eldest had two bronze snakes twisted in a braid which was lodged in his hair. Their inanimate stiff tongues seemed to be teasing the owner of the ape pendant who was frowning.
"Bro Kofi... are you perhaps going to sell it to Togbui Zoglo? His black smithing skills should help us fix an iron in that gold handle's place don't you think? The sword hilt is valuable yes, but the bone blade is just...
Rustle rustle.
At a stone throw away, a bright yellow light flashed and the boys had to shield their eyes from the brightness. Lest they were blinded.
The light burned on for what seemed like an uncomfortable 10 seconds before it subsided. The brothers averaging 16-20 years looked at each other and with understanding gazes, they approached the spot with caution.
Yeah I know. They should have run right?
" What do you think it is bro?" the albino's eyes shook a bit as he asked the eldest. His fear was understandable since the sight was just like the scary under the moonlight stories their old man had been using to give them nightmares.
"Shh. Bleko hand me the blade." The bushy head brother looked at the ape fanatic and beckoned.
The sight was too suspicious and they all had a vague idea of what it might be. At the very least they had to be prepared for the worst and the hoes they brought didn't look like they would be up to the task.
"No worries bro. I'm good at swinging myself." Bleko clenched his his hands around the sick looking blade and took the lead. Stepping forward until they got to the supposed spot.
*
*
*
"Erm. .. do you believe in the probability that we were and are still hallucinating?" After looking around and finding no anthills or peculiar rocks of any kind, the brothers were unsure whether they weren't seeing things.
... And hearing things.
All around them, they could hear bone chilling laughter as though they were surrounded. But no one could be seen no matter how hard they strained their eyes.
'We should have run away '. The bushy head eldest thought as he bit his lip. As if reading his mind, a short figure rolled out of— nowhere and stood before them. It was an extremely young blood with bushy hair like his and a seemingly oiled beard. It held a cudgel and it's feet were turned back.
"Hehe".