5

Inca-Mair and her siblings were cornered on the edge of the cliff. Abaçaí were right in front of them, smiling and showing its big teeth.

They could finally see the moon. Time flew. It seems I am here for only a couple of minutes, she thought.

The demon`s hooves were personally even more scary than in her dreams and it had sharp, long nails.

— I think it is the end of the road, Oh, daughter of the sun and the moon. I gave you the option of giving me them both - said the creature, pointing it`s sharp finger towards the twins - so I could spare the others, but, since you scaped and the deal was not signed, after I finish with you, I´ll then finish with the whole tribe too.

Inca-Mair did not know what to say. She did not know why the demon was doing that to them. She had never been mean… So she risked asking:

— What did we do to make you so angry, creature?

Abaçaí guffawed. Looked deep in the girl´s eyes and answered:

— You did nothing, daughter of the sun and the moon. The ones to blame are your parents. They begot those children by your side. They are the source of my power. When one twin sibling feeds from the flesh and blood of the other, I get stronger, so I get to stay in this plane for longer.

Abaçaí advanced and Ipê stepped back, scared. It's foot slipped on the edge of the cliff and he lost balance. Inca-Mair was fast enough to grab him by the arm and pull him in the air up again, bringing him back to safe ground.

Abaçaí was surprised and she noticed that. If any of the twins died he would not be able to feed again.

The creature kept walking towards them and Inca-Mair did not know what to do. She was praying for help. Not aware of what god she was praying for, but she kept on, silently crying for help, for someone who could save them from that beast.

It was Cauê who screamed, catching Abaçaí by surprise:

— Leave us alone! Pick me, but leave my sister and my brother in peace! Do whatever you feel like to me, but do not hurt them!

Tears ran on his face. He loved his siblings and could never forgive himself if anything bad happened to them, now or ever.

— Ah, little Cauê, how brave… But there is no reason why I should accept your life in exchange of theirs, now, that I already have your whole three lives in hand. Besides, I need you two together and not apart.

The kid lost faith falling on his feet, head in hands. He had lost. He had failed to the siblings and to the tribe. They were all going to die and it was his fault. He should had never followed his sister to the forest.

Inca-Mair hugged Cauê and pulled Ipê by their side. They stayed there, hugging and holding on while Abaçaí advanced. She had no faith. But then she noticed, something started shining on the way that took them there.

The creature noticed a flash of hope on the girl's face and turned around to face a white deer with big red eyes coming out of the forest. When spoke, it´s voice sounded like thunder in words.

— Leave the kids to peace, Abaçaí. Them and their whole tribe.

Inca-Mair observed certain fear in Abaçaí´s tone:

— Stay away from it, Anhangá (spirit). Your mission is to save animals and not interfere with my business with humans. You know this is my feeding and this is how I stay alive and strong.

The white deer seem not to care.

— I am here to protect the innocent from the corrupted, demon. Leave them alone and come back to the deepness of the woods, a place you should have never left.

Abaçaí went towards Anhangá. The deer turned into a human spectrum with a very sharp wooden spear. It´s hair was yellow just like Inca-Mair´s and it´s skin was so white it seemed to shine by the light, just like the Moon. Both creatures fought a battle.

Anhangá jumped over Abaçaí, aiming it´s spear right to the creature´s heart, who was able to scape by a fews centimeters from dying, but not from scratching.

While Anhangá recovered balance from the unsuccessful attempted, Abaçaí projected it´s claws and hit it on the back, dropping it on the floor. Stepped on the adversary´s back, pressing it against the ground.

— I was never a fond you yours, Anhangá. What a great opportunity I was given now: to wipe you out and then destroy these filthy little creature and their whole tribe.

Anhangá tried to get up, but Abaçaí stepped a little harder on its back and then began to punch it. Anhangá was about to lose consciousness when it's spear crossed through Abaçaí´s chest, causing it to spit blood.

The spectrum pushed the demon, knocking it on the floor in fetal position, still with the spear crossing it´s body. Saw that the one who had saved it was the girl with yellow hair and white skin. The daughter of the Sun and the Moon, as all the spirits called her.

Anhangá pronounced a few words that Inca-Mair could not understand and took the spear off Abaçaí´s chest. Turned towards the three tupis and said:

— Come with me. I will take you back to your tribe safely. Remember well what you saw today and never again go in such adventure. There are things in this forest that you do not know. Things that are worse than it - it finished, staring at Abaçaí´s still body.

Inca-Mair grabbed the siblings by the hand and went to the spectrum who now turned again into a white deer. It asked them to ride on its back. The girl was very curious and asked:

— Is it dead? Did I kill it?

Anhangá looked at her, turning its head back, and kindly explained:

— No, guria; you just put it to sleep. One hundred years from now it will wake up again, furious and seeking revenge. But, for now, do not worry; you are safe.

Inca-Mair nodded as they came back home.

Shortly before getting to the right spot through where, hours earlier, the siblings entered the woods, Anhangá left them.

— Go, children. Your parents and the whole tribe has been searching for you. Tell them what happened and tell Pajé about the need of protection. Abaçaí is just one among many demons who live in this forest, and the tale of the daughter of the Sun and the Moon that defeated it will echo through the darkness of the woods and will get to the ears of all other creatures who feed from murk. You are not safe anymore walking around by yourself. No tupi is.

The figure turned his back and left, as occultly as had appeared. Slowly the bright light that it spread was swallowed by the forest.

When they saw the village, Inca-Mair opened a big smile as her heart started beating faster. Running towards them were their parents, who quickly gathered the three siblings in one long and tight hug.

Inca-Mair was decided to do what the creature had asked: alert Pajé and the tribe about the danger they was exposed to from that day on. However, a sensation of being observed mixed to the sensation of being safe fulfilled her mind. She could swear there were a pair (or even several pairs) of eyes through the trees and bushes, observing her, studying them and planning the exact moment to attack of even avenge Abaçaí. Nevertheless, the parents´ hug was taking those emotions away, far away, until the feeling of being safe and sound and loved dissipated it completely.

She was home and, for that moment, nothing else mattered.