The Eggs

Chapter 1: The Eggs

Tau had always dreamed of riding a dodo. Ever since he was a little boy, he had listened to his father's stories of the majestic birds that once roamed the lands of Mhondoro, the village where they lived. His father was one of the last dodo riders, a proud and brave warrior who defended their people from the invaders who came from across the sea. The invaders, who called themselves the Dutch, had brought guns and diseases, and had killed many of the villagers and the dodos. They had also taken some of the dodos away, to eat them or to sell them to other foreigners.

Tau's father had fought against the Dutch, along with his loyal dodo, Rudo. Rudo was a large and powerful bird, with a curved beak, a tuft of feathers on his head, and a long tail. He had a brown and white plumage, and a red ring around his neck. He was very intelligent and could understand his rider's commands. He was also very loyal and would protect his rider with his life.

Tau loved Rudo as much as he loved his father. He would often sneak out of their hut at night, and go to the stable where Rudo was kept. He would stroke his feathers, feed him some fruits, and talk to him softly. Rudo would make a low cooing sound, and nuzzle his head against Tau's chest. Tau felt a special bond with the dodo, as if they could communicate without words.

One night, when Tau was eight years old, he heard a loud noise outside. He got up from his bed, and looked out of the window. He saw flames and smoke rising from the village. He heard screams and gunshots. He realized that the Dutch had attacked again. He ran to his mother's room, and shook her awake.

"Mother, mother, wake up! The Dutch are here! They are burning the village!" he cried.

His mother, Nandi, got up quickly, and grabbed a spear and a shield. She was a strong and brave woman, who had also fought alongside her husband in the past. She looked at Tau with a determined expression.

"Tau, listen to me. You have to stay here. Do not come out until I come back. Do you understand?" she said.

"But mother, I want to help you. I want to fight with you. I want to ride Rudo!" Tau protested.

"No, Tau, you are too young. You are not ready. Rudo is too. He is still recovering from his wound. You have to stay here, and protect the eggs. They are our only hope. They are the last dodo eggs in the world. Do you understand?" she said.

She pointed to a basket that was hidden under a cloth in the corner of the room. Tau knew what was inside. His father had given him the basket before he died. He had told him that it contained two dodo eggs, which he had found in the forest. He had told him to keep them safe, and to hatch them when they were ready. He had told him that they were his legacy, and that he had to take care of them and raise them as his own. He had told him that he was the last dodo rider, and that he had to restore the dodo riding culture that was destroyed by the Dutch.

Tau nodded, and hugged his mother. He felt tears in his eyes, but he did not cry. He was a dodo rider's son, and he had to be brave.

"Mother, please be careful. Please come back soon. I love you," he said.

"I love you too, Tau. I will come back. I promise. Now stay here, and do not open the door for anyone. May the ancestors protect you," she said.

She kissed him on the forehead, and left the room. Tau heard her footsteps as she ran outside. He heard more screams and gunshots. He heard Rudo's roar. He felt a surge of fear and anger. He wanted to join his mother, and fight the Dutch. He wanted to ride Rudo, and charge at them. He wanted to avenge his father, and his people.

But he remembered his mother's words. He remembered his father's words. He remembered his promise. He looked at the basket, and felt a surge of hope and love. He went to the basket, and lifted the cloth. He saw two large eggs, with brown and white spots. He touched them gently, and felt a warmth. He felt a movement. He felt a life.

He smiled, and whispered.

"Hello, my little ones. I am Tau. I am your brother. I am your rider. I am your friend. We will be together soon. We will be a family. We will be the last dodo riders. We will make our father proud. We will make our mother proud. We will make our ancestors proud. We will make our dodos proud. We will survive. We will rise. We will fly."