89: The Shadow Falls & Destiny’s Child
6/9/2015
Well, I relocated again, this time to Walla Walla, having ended my relationship in Aberdeen. I moved as far away as possible while still being in the same state. But in the process, and within my renewed solitude, I completed the entire rough draft for Chapter Nine: The Shadow Falls. It only took two weeks, completing 13 new scenes to go with the first scene and The Shadow of Damu fable, which were already done prior to my move. I’m not sure, but I think that was the fastest writing of an entire chapter I’ve done so far. I had to do it all off the cuff without my research notes or outlines, so it will require a lot of additional content on the rewrite, but the heart of it is there.
It felt really good writing like that without much editing, which is how I’ve always heard rough drafts should be done. But it makes for a far less satisfying rereading after. Nevertheless, I’m happy with what got accomplished and the inventions and plot details that were born along the way. I particularly like the scene locations, and specifically the Shadow Falls itself, the jola hut, and the jola fire circle – all of which adds new dimensions to the Batu world I hadn’t previously imagined.
Once I had finished The Shadow Falls, I went on to plot out Chapter 10: Jawara Ben-Bella, and the nine scenes I have planned for that. I hadn’t pen or paper at that point though, so I had to work it all out entirely in my head. I’ll try to recapture the outline and write it down today, now that I’m finally settled in here at my new place in Walla Walla.
I promised myself to have Book One: The Song of Mugasha done by the end of this year, so I have to get at least one chapter done per month. I proved it was possible even while moving, so I have no excuses. I have to get Jawara Ben-Bella started ASAP to make sure it’s done by July.
Chapter’s 11 & 12 are still pretty murky in my mind, though I know I want to introduce love interests for Bakar, Tamal, Dougga and Diallo in Chapter 11, perhaps even a marriage – Dougga and Joyul? I also need to bring in their training as hunters, and how they take on their societal roles as men (the four chapters contained within this part is entitled Childhood’s End, which reflects the over-arcing theme).
Siona will also be explored. I see Chapter 12 taking place around another twa yal-jukun, involving Siona as she experiences a vision with Fa and Ardra, where she sees her own death. Following that, she abandons Kamaria and the Batu tribe to return to The Others. I need to work out and establish the prophecy and the threat to the tribe in much more detail in Chapters 11 and 12, too. This may be done primarily through Siona’s investigations.
I also worked out in my head during my move (yes, it was a busy month of long walks and writing) the key nuances of their backstory so that things fit together. The title of this backstory is Destiny’s Child, and will possibly be a scene in Chapter 16: Revelations down the road.
What I worked out is essentially this:
Alena is no longer Diallo’s half-sister, but rather his cousin. Luala and Siona were sisters. Guma is Diallo’s deceased half-brother. Siona and Luala were daughters of Amra, the ruler of The Others and a descendant of Mugasha. An oracle foresaw the downfall of Amra due to a child with ghost eyes (Alena) that would be known as the Fa Hawara. So, when Alena was born by Siona she feared for her daughter’s life, and with Luala’s help they fled and escaped with the baby.
They are found by the bachwezi and brought into Kamaria and made part of the tribe. Siona seduces Mosai, though he’s more attracted to Luala, and with Siona they beget Guma. But after Guma is devoured by a swarm of ants as an infant, Mosai leaves Siona to marry her sister, Luala. Diallo is born from that union shortly after.
Luala was the favored daughter of Amra, and it was from him that Mogai’s amber amulet was passed down. Alena is the Fa Hawara descending from Mugasha through Amra rather than Mosai. There were two sons of Mugasha, one good (spawning the Batu), and one rebel, Amra (spawning The Others). The Amra in Destiny’s Child and later in the Batu narrative is a descendant of the original Amra. All first born males within the lineage are named Amra upon taking the throne.
As I said, all of this will probably get revealed in Chapter 16: Revelations, except the part of Guma’s death as an infant. That gets left until Book Three when Mogai’s mind begins to shatter as his psychoses begin to reveal themselves.
Anyway, that’s the gist of it. It diminishes the taboo of Diallo and Alena’s relationship as adolescents, but that may be for the best anyway. They’re still first cousins though, which is taboo enough for my plotting purposes. The important thing is that Guma and Diallo are both sons of Mosai and represent a remerging through Guma of the bloodlines of Mugasha’s two sons. Which in the prophecy is an indicator that the end times are at hand. It might be more satisfying if Mosai was really Alena’s father as well, but no plausible explanation lends itself while maintaining Siona as one of The Others fleeing with Alena as a baby.
But none of this needs to be written in stone yet. It is enough to have the gist of it now as I proceed into Chapters 10-12.
Present-Day Reflection
8/22/2026
Destiny’s Child is still unfinished today, but it has been developed as far as it needs to be to write the main narratives. There’s a lot of loose ends with all my side projects, but right now I’m entirely focused on getting the first book – Wings of Providence – published. The side projects will have to wait until I’m in between books, or until I’m retired from my day job.
There’s just no time at this point for what’s not absolutely necessary.
