Legend of the River Tribe
Kawa no Shi, the leader and living god of the River tribe, was staring at his spear. He had slain a strange snake with legs by the sides of his Holiness, the ancestor river, the night before. But now his people were suffering from vomiting sickness. The water was poisoned, but only for them. The ones not of their tribe, prisoners and travellers, could drink it without suffering. What was wrong with the water?
He got up from his throne of pelts and bamboo frame, and walked out of his hut. He saw the faces of dehidrated children and elders, and the now familiar scent of vomit reeked in every corner. The most desperate ones ate the vomit of their peers. Others resolved matters in another way, they ate their own children. It was only fair that a being that came from them, should return to them.
It could not continue like that. They'd become extinct in a ridiculous manner if it was to continue. Shi then walked to meet his ancestor, the River, and seek council. He arrived, and kneeled before it, bowing once, and clapping his hands twice. "I call for you, my forefather. Awaken, and advise me." He clapped them once again. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the river began to flow faster, then slower, then it stopped.
"What do you want, Shi of the monkey-men? A deep, brooding voice from inside the river spoke up. Shi was not surprised. Many strange phenomena happened at that time, and it was in fact standart fare for a mountain, river or tree to speak. "My ancestor, for generations we have lived off from your essence. We have worshipped you with all the honors you deserve. Why do you punish us now?" The river muttered hateful words, that Shi could not hear, and roared. It was the roar of a great beast, even more fiersome than that of a rabid tiger.
The water began to boil, and a water tentacle emerged. It began to shake, and adopted the form of a large, lizard-like creature, a Dragon. The water turned to flesh, bone and scales. "You seek to know why I'm killing that pathetic bunch you call tribe, ridiculous monkey? The answer is closer than you think. In fact... The dragon grew an arm on his side, and thrusted it to grab Shi, too fast for him to dodge. The man grunted something gutural, as he was squeezed by the dragon. "It is in your spear. The blood of my child..." The dragon's expression became sullen, and he sobbed uncontrollably for a whole day, during which he forgot to apply pressure on Shi. Giant tears flew continuously from his eyes, and made the quiet river flow again. In fact, many times in many spots the river flew overboard, creating many smaller rivers that spread out through the region.
When it finally stopped, he nearly smashed the human in his claw. "And you have the nerve to come here seeking answers... DIE!" The dragon sunk two claws into his flanks, and wrenched of his head with his thumb. It was a fast, but painful death. It grabbed the corpse's head, and opened it, taking out the brain. The dragon grew yet another arm, and grabbed a sphere of water, which he used to submerge the brain. He hid it for a day, and when he brought it back, a man resembling Shi, but much better clad and more clean had been born. "You are Kawa no Shi, the true leader of the River tribe. Go, and rule Heian Kyo." And so, the divine heritage the River tribe leaders claimed became true from that day on.
