A/N: This is a story based upon the characters of the ancient Ainu epic Kotan Utunnai. I don't expect a whole bunch of people to have heard of it, but I loved the little English summarization of it that is in my World Mythology book and I thought I would enjoy writing a fanfic on it. (It's supposed to be from Shipish-Un-Mat's P.O.V.)
**Disclaimer: Oh yes, the dread disclaimer. Let me just say: this disclaimer will apply for the whole freaking `fic so I don't have to worry about it in the future. Deal? Good. Sooooo...I do not own nor claim to own any of the characters of the Kotan Utunnai. Thank you, drive through.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Death of the Ainu, the Birth of Japan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun dawned on the great island of Hokkaido and the early-morning autumn front left the land glittering like a thousand diamonds for the light of a new day. Oxen squinted their eyes against the brightness of the rising sun, silver fish appeared through the clear and cold streams, and rooster came out of their huts to give their daily alarm. The chickens must wake up and count their newly laid eggs. It was a new day, doubtless like any other day of the year for the Yaunkur, the people of the land.
Yet, that day was not like any other day, for in the great township of Shinu, home of the Yaunkur King, a watchman ran the fastest he could across the major Shinu road that led to the King's palace.
"Komuroi! What is wrong?" cried one of the King's gate guards as he saw the watchman running to him. The look on Komuroi's face was pure agony and the gate guard noticed that Komuroi was holding his side, which was bleeding profusely.
"I need to talk to the King!" panted Komuroi.
"But Komuroi, you are hurt! I must send you to the palace physician," the second gate guard said with authority.
But Komuroi wouldn't have it. "No!" he said determinedly. "I must speak to Shinu-Un-Kur, even if I die in the process!" He fell to his knees.
The first gate guard helped Komuroi to his feet and led him into the palace, through the royal courtyard and into the King's meeting room. The room was cold and poorly lit. The stone walls were grey and depressing. There was a grand wooden chair in the middle of the room and in front of it set a massive wooden table. On this table is where the gate guard helped lay down Komuroi. Soon, the Shinu-Un-Kur, the King of the Yaunkur people, strode in and sat down in the large wooden chair.
The gate guard bowed deeply in respect of his king. "Irankarapte, my king! Please forgive Komuroi for not bowing, Master, but he is experiencing a great deal of pain."
The Shinu-Un-Kur nodded his head and asked, "Why is one of my royal watchmen bleeding all over this wooden table and not in the physician's quarters?"
"My king!" began Komuroi. "Do not send me to the royal doctor until you have heard what I must say!"
"Continue," said Shinu-Un-Kur.
"My watch partner is dead. There are men on the outskirts of Shinu of which I do not recognize. Their whiskers are long and their faces are dark. They have cold eyes like hawks and they speak in an unknown language! My partner tracked them a short distance to see where they were headed. When he came back, he had a spear in his side and he died in front of me! The strange men followed him to me and took me by surprise. I thank the gods that I was able to escape them, although I am badly wounded."
Shinu-Un-Kur stroked his beard. The only people other than the Yaunkur were the nearby Repunkur, the people of the sea. Yet, the Repunkur language was not unknown to his Yaunkur people. Who could these strange people be? thought the king.
Shinu-Un-Kur then deployed twice the amount of watchmen for Shinu and spies to travel about the villages and into the lands of the Repunkur. If the Repunkur were gaining allies, thought Shinu-Un-Kur, their punishment will be worse than what it was when they took his younger brother and most fearsome Yaunkur warrior, Kamui-otopush. After he send that order out, he sent out another one: to call upon his youngest sister-in-law, Shipish-Un-Mat.
**Disclaimer: Oh yes, the dread disclaimer. Let me just say: this disclaimer will apply for the whole freaking `fic so I don't have to worry about it in the future. Deal? Good. Sooooo...I do not own nor claim to own any of the characters of the Kotan Utunnai. Thank you, drive through.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Death of the Ainu, the Birth of Japan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun dawned on the great island of Hokkaido and the early-morning autumn front left the land glittering like a thousand diamonds for the light of a new day. Oxen squinted their eyes against the brightness of the rising sun, silver fish appeared through the clear and cold streams, and rooster came out of their huts to give their daily alarm. The chickens must wake up and count their newly laid eggs. It was a new day, doubtless like any other day of the year for the Yaunkur, the people of the land.
Yet, that day was not like any other day, for in the great township of Shinu, home of the Yaunkur King, a watchman ran the fastest he could across the major Shinu road that led to the King's palace.
"Komuroi! What is wrong?" cried one of the King's gate guards as he saw the watchman running to him. The look on Komuroi's face was pure agony and the gate guard noticed that Komuroi was holding his side, which was bleeding profusely.
"I need to talk to the King!" panted Komuroi.
"But Komuroi, you are hurt! I must send you to the palace physician," the second gate guard said with authority.
But Komuroi wouldn't have it. "No!" he said determinedly. "I must speak to Shinu-Un-Kur, even if I die in the process!" He fell to his knees.
The first gate guard helped Komuroi to his feet and led him into the palace, through the royal courtyard and into the King's meeting room. The room was cold and poorly lit. The stone walls were grey and depressing. There was a grand wooden chair in the middle of the room and in front of it set a massive wooden table. On this table is where the gate guard helped lay down Komuroi. Soon, the Shinu-Un-Kur, the King of the Yaunkur people, strode in and sat down in the large wooden chair.
The gate guard bowed deeply in respect of his king. "Irankarapte, my king! Please forgive Komuroi for not bowing, Master, but he is experiencing a great deal of pain."
The Shinu-Un-Kur nodded his head and asked, "Why is one of my royal watchmen bleeding all over this wooden table and not in the physician's quarters?"
"My king!" began Komuroi. "Do not send me to the royal doctor until you have heard what I must say!"
"Continue," said Shinu-Un-Kur.
"My watch partner is dead. There are men on the outskirts of Shinu of which I do not recognize. Their whiskers are long and their faces are dark. They have cold eyes like hawks and they speak in an unknown language! My partner tracked them a short distance to see where they were headed. When he came back, he had a spear in his side and he died in front of me! The strange men followed him to me and took me by surprise. I thank the gods that I was able to escape them, although I am badly wounded."
Shinu-Un-Kur stroked his beard. The only people other than the Yaunkur were the nearby Repunkur, the people of the sea. Yet, the Repunkur language was not unknown to his Yaunkur people. Who could these strange people be? thought the king.
Shinu-Un-Kur then deployed twice the amount of watchmen for Shinu and spies to travel about the villages and into the lands of the Repunkur. If the Repunkur were gaining allies, thought Shinu-Un-Kur, their punishment will be worse than what it was when they took his younger brother and most fearsome Yaunkur warrior, Kamui-otopush. After he send that order out, he sent out another one: to call upon his youngest sister-in-law, Shipish-Un-Mat.