Sanga was sobbing quietly. Chul sat next to her, barely moving an eyelid. The whole tribe had gathered in front of the Jin-stone pole as the three Elders took their seats. Jidoja in the middle, Jiye to the right and the feeble Naigun to the left. An eery silence covered night with only the crackling of the bonfire in the air. No tribe-member held a grudge against the couple. They were trusted and helpful folks and Chul as skilful a blacksmith as his father had been. It was an open secret that they had wanted a child for a long time. Eventually Sanga got pregnant and one could see a permanent smile on her broad face. Even Chul would - occasionally – be caught giggling. But when the boy was born blind and it became clear that he would be cast out, their spirits were thrown into a dark well.

'It is decided!', Jidoja's voice boomed.

'Chul...The child that was given to you was not protected by the Shield of An on its journey from Hey-Yu. Its eyes are of no use, and so it is of no use to the tribe...'

He paused.

'It must be cast out!'

The two did not budge but everyone could sense her pain - and his anger. Jidoja stood up from his stool, imploringly raising his hands.

 'Is anyone challenging the Elders' word?'

 It was a formal question. Not to be answered. No Jeong had challenged a ruling in generations. The right was there, it had been given by the Yellow Priestess to all the tribes. But it was a dead right. No-one defied the Elders.

 'I want to weave their fates!'

A voice pierced the cold air.

Jidoja looked bewildered. Naigun lifted his grey head from a snooze.

 'Weave...fates?' he asked incredulously scanning the crowd for the cause of this disruption. As Jidoja tried to regain his authority a tiny smile was dancing around old Jiye's mouth.

'Yes!'

Yua stepped forward and walked towards the Jin-Stone pole. Not a breath, not a sound. Kemujin could only hear the blood pumping in his head as he followed her.

 'I want to weave their fates!' she repeated, now standing in the center of the semicircle.

 'Whose fates?'

'Their fates!’

Pulling away her overcoat she lifted Jun up into the air.

A murmur swelled from the crowd. Naigun squinted his eyes and, leaning forward, mumbled 'Where is this child...coming from...?'

'Kemujin found him at Panta Hole on his way back from the Plains.' Yua declared.

A hot wave spouted into Kemujin's head. He was not very skilled at lying and was taken by surprise by her swift rearrangement of events: Not only was Jun a boy now, he also had found her in a different place. Much closer to home, but much further from the truth. He pictured the setting and tried to imagine where Jun could have laid when he first discovered her. At the very least he did not want to scramble for words when questioned by the Elders.

'Bring the child to me!'

A sharp order cutting through the night. Yua walked towards the three masters.

'His name shall be Jun...' she proclaimed as she handed the child to Jidoja.

Then she solemnly whispered '...I spoke to the Jin'.

Jiye looked at her as he rose from his seat.

'Why do we only now...' , he moved closer to Jidoja '...have news of this...found child?'

 'The gathering was set for tonight and I know how little time the Elders can spare due to the burden of leading our tribe so wisely.'

'Your words are sweet like honey, Yua...'

Naigun's opaque eyes were scanning her

'...pay heed you don't stick to them!'

The oldest of the three masters never had been fond of the moon-women. And Yua, being the the voice of this unnecessary three-leaf clover held a special place of contempt in his cold heart. 

'How can we know it is a Jeong?' Jiye quickly stepped in, his words softer than the suspicion that was guiding Naigun's tongue.

Kemujin mustered up his courage and stepped forward.

'I found him at Panta Hole. Not many know of the well. Only the Jeong use it!'

'Still...' Jiye scratched his chin. '..an unusual place to cast out a child.'

'The Jin...' Yua hastened to add '...also said, that he is a Jeong, when they gave his name to me'

Lifting the child closer to his eyes Jidoja scrutinised the tiny face. 'He has soft features...are you sure it is a...'

But he could not finish his question. Little Jun snatched the old man's lower lip and pulled with all her might. From the master's mouth emerged a gurgling sound. And a hushed giggle rippled through the silence of the gathering.

'He has quite a grip, that boy...' Jiye winked to Yua.

'...perhaps Yua can handle him a bit better...'

He gently wiggled her out of Jidoya's hands. When little Jun finally released her grip he seemed shaken. He hastily sat down, trying to regain his air of sovereignty.

'Kemujin...',

Jiye now took the reigns '...are you aware what weaving the fates means? Which rules to obey for a lifetime?’

He was adressing the whole tribe now: 

'We do not take this ritual lightly...it comes with big burdens!'

'I know...I...'

But Jiye cut him off.

'The two will live as one... One bowl, one bed, one bow! And only one horse when they set out for their Boro!'

'IF...they ever get there....' Naigun added spitefully, raising his crooked fingers.

Vivid images suddenly flashed before Kemujin's eyes. It had been more than ten years when he was sent on his own Boro. And still he could remember every little detail. There had been times when he thought he would not make it back to the tribe, when he thought he would die there and then in the forest, frozen to ice or mauled by a bear. But he had survived the test and when he returned it was Jiye who had given the sword to him.

'That only the Jin will know...' Jiye turned to Naigun. One could sense an air of grudge on Jidoja's face, but the authority lay with Jiye now.

'Chul, Sanga...!'

Timidly the two stepped forward, the child in her arms.

'Shall the two fates be woven or will you forfeit your child's life?'

Sanga stared at the Elders, then looked at Jun. Her eyes hastily jumping back and forth. She could not fully comprehend what was happening.

'We will weave their fates!' Chul's declared in a clear baritone as he put his hand on Kemujin's shoulder.

'What is the boy's name?'

'Hiya...his name is Hiya'

'Then it is decided...Jun and Hiya's fates shall be woven at the gathering in a fortnight's time! ONE BOWL, ONE BED, ONE BOW!'