-jay creates-( IKE )

Resilience is the nature of a true warrior Adunga
often told me but I never quite believed him.
During the battle with Umunka three days ago he
wasn't so resilient when he on seeing he was
grossly outnumbered took to his heels leaving
his self assumed courage to rot at the battle
field.
I believe that a warriors true nature is sacrifice.
Ike the weakest amongst us has proven this to
me with a singular act I cant forget.
It was on the fifth day of the feast of Ala the earth
goddess. We had been at war with Umunka prior
to the feast for over two long months.
Those months were the longest in my whole life.
Women and children were not safe because the
enemies had infiltrated our village hiding at well
hidden strategic places emerging only when the
opportunity to carry out an unexpected attack
presented itself.
I, Ike and Ezendu had been instructed to guard
the village entrance against all odds. We
understood the gravity of our mission , because
failure was not an option. To fail was to allow
my dear wife ola and our beautiful daughters die.
In the days that followed we fortified our hideout
with spears,arrows with barbed edges and
goatskins that contained provisions. We took
turns sleeping. A man per nap, while two others
kept watch ,lest our enemies take us unaware.
On the fifth day of our solemn duty, the sun was
shining brightly on the blades of grass that
surrounded us. The chirping of birds could be
heard as they flew around excitedly oblivious of
all our troubles. The fools !!!!!!!! yesterday they
had tried to ambush us at night. Ezendu was the
first to notice some funny movement . He quickly
alerted I and Juntu and we mellowed down our
voices. From all angles the slightest rustle of a
blade of grass earned an arrow , that way we
killed three of our enemies.
The forest was so rich with nature's gift I often
forgot my task basking in the pleasure of
nature's lively company. We seldom spoke for
fear of alerting our enemies , yet we
communicated in nods and gestures . In our
desperation we had become brothers , of a bond
stronger than blood, a bond of survival. We had
assumed a position of looking out for each other,
something that gave Ike a chance to play hero.
The hour rolled into minutes,the minutes to
hours, the hours to days. I lost track of time. We
had stayed in isolation for so long a time,
sometimes venturing further into the bush to
hunt when the hunger became unbearable. "I will
send a messenger "Igwe Duru had said and we
believed, but it had been so long yet not a word
from him. In my pensive moods I visualized Igwe
Duru and his wives been slaughtered one after
the other before the villagers by the enemies.
It was drizzling that morning when Ike died. That
fateful day I had retreated into the bush to
answer nature's call consequent upon the Bush
meat we had for dinner the previous night . I had
just settled down to business when I heard a
shout. Leaving nature's business unfinished I
hurried to our hideout.
On arriving there I saw ten of our enemies
advancing quickly I took to my heals. They
pursued eagerly. Ezendu was no where to be
found nor was Ike. As I ran with all my might
taking all the shortcuts I knew, this was after all
my territory. I was inwardly saying my last
prayer when out of the bush behind my pursuers
sprung Ike. This brief second of distraction
earned me my escape to the village , I a coward
fleeing to the dangers that awaited me in the
village. Ike was not so lucky , he paid in blood
for being the novus actus that occasioned my
escape. Ezendu however was already in the
village when I arrived .