“Although Azula had a life marked for greatness, the weight of tragedy bore heavily upon her shoulders” said U-Dan-Ada, the elder, sitting at the center of the campfire surrounded by one hundred or so Tetachee to mark the end of the twelfth cycle of luna’s full light. Not a sound could be heard, even from the forest, when he spoke. His eyes glazed tears and his face dropped with sadness as if to reveal a great burden. His voice cracked as he mentioned, “Umbah-tah”, first born son of Azula, Queen of Tetachee.”Just five cycles old when he slipped off the falls of Ulaluna with an orchard in hand to offer the water spirits”, said U-Dan-Ada slowly as his gaze fixed upon the flickering embers surrounding the fire, voice lowered to a soft whisper. “I did not see the danger, too distracted by the festivities to notice the royal Prince as he came perilously close to the edge.” U-Dan-Ada paused and looked down at the ground. “I bore responsibility,” as his presence changed from regret to self anger and failure. “I should have seen the danger of an innocent too young to know the slippery rocks, while his mother nursed her newborn daughter.”

Unable to stop his words, he went on. “After the fell moment, Azula let out a single cry so loud it pierced in echo heard throughout the land and left the young Queen with a streak of white at the center of her long black hair, from mid-forehead to hairs end” spoke the wise one, “for no words could console her suffering, and it soon affected the care of her newborn daughter, Elunaliza.” He stopped, looked directly into the flame then began again.

“The Queen was never the same, for guilt was with her. The shadow of sadness followed her every day hence. Even her mother Udna’Dubla could not reach her pain and on the first luna full after her son’s death, Azula disappeared. In my anger, I cursed the gods, and was banished from Tetachee for many years,” he continued with remorse in his voice as the flame of the fire flickered brightly then receeded.

“Udna’Dubla ruled and cared for Elunaliza, for she never lost hope that Azula would return. Messengers were sent to search throughout Africa, but no sight of her could be found.” Again U-Dan-Ada paused, reflecting what had been. “I looked where time had no meaning, with no success, for I had come to my own mist.”

“On the seventh mark of the great tragedy, Udna’Dubla was in the garden of the royal palace, in great doubt, still grieving lost hope, she heard the hum from many orchards in unison. Out of the forest mist, walking slowly towards her was her daughter Azula, Queen Of Tetachee. Although still young, her black hair had turned completely white. After an extended embrace she looked soulfully into her daughter’s eyes, her tears and thought reflected its weight.” U-Dan-Ada sighed for a moment, then said: “Azula rarely spoke to me thereafter, keeping all confidences to herself. Even to this day those years remain a secret.”

“Udna’Dubla died in her sleep soon after and was buried in a place within the forest green known only by Azula and perhaps the panther often seen lying in the same spot under a tall rubber tree. A large never before seen orchard grew at its base that yielded a sweet scent. A mystery since orchards have no scent. Some say this was the very place where Umbah, King of Tetachee first met his beloved Udna’Dubla weaving the leaves of the rubber tree with the token of Tetachee, an orchard in her hair.”

So ended the tale told by U-Dan-Ada, the elder, as a gentle rain began to fall and the last of the embers of the fire had been extinguished.

Umbah Of Tetachee