THE FORGOTTEN COVENANT

 PART TWO – The Rise and Fall of the Healers

Olúkàyọ̀dé was no warrior, no priest. But his hands knew how to soothe a limping dog, how to mend a broken wing. He was raised in the forests, where the whispers of spirits mixed with birdsong. One night, as he nursed a wounded leopard, a cold wind rushed through the trees. The great Osanyin appeared before him and spoke:
"Heal them, and they shall heal you. Betray them, and the world itself will turn against you."

From that night, Olúkàyọ̀dé traveled far and wide, healing cattle in Oyo, tending to the king’s warhorses in Ife, soothing restless camels in the deserts of Sokoto. But healing was not always easy.
In a village near the great Owu forest, a prized white cow named Ajagunna was gravely ill. Her owner, an aged hunter, had tried everything—charms, herbs, even sacrifices—but the cow refused to let anyone near her. Her eyes burned with fear, and at the sight of men, she would kick and thrash.
When Olúkàyọ̀dé arrived, he did not rush to touch her. Instead, he sat on the red earth, a few feet away, humming softly. He did not look her in the eyes, did not challenge her. He simply waited.

Minutes passed. Then an hour. The villagers whispered.
Then, slowly, Ajagunna took a step forward.

Olúkàyọ̀dé did not move.

Another step.
By the time the moon was high, the great cow stood before him, her breath warm against his face. Only then did he reach out, his touch gentle as the evening breeze.
She did not flinch.

The next morning, Ajagunna walked among the villagers, strong once more. And from that day, Olúkàyọ̀dé became known not just as a healer but as the one who could listen to the soul of a beast. His knowledge spread like wildfire. In Benin, the priests of Esu combined medicine with magic, crafting charms that could calm a wild bull. In Oyo, the warriors of Sango forged iron horseshoes to protect their steeds. For a time, the world was in balance. The Oníwòsàn Ẹranko—the Keepers of Beasts—were honored, feared, respected.

Until greed came.

Kings, blinded by power, saw animals only as tools—warhorses for battle, cattle for feasts, dogs for the hunt. The sacred bond was broken. The healers were cast aside, their knowledge scattered like dry leaves in the harmattan wind.

Then, the plagues came.

Cows fell. Horses weakened. Goats and chickens died by the thousands. Hunger followed. Sickness spread like wildfire. And men, in their desperation, began to remember what they had forgotten.

Among them, in a quiet Yoruba village, a young scholar stumbled upon a forgotten Odu Ifá—a lost verse of Orunmila’s wisdom. His name was Olákàyọ̀dé, the Silent One.

Written by: The Ghost Doc
Edited by: Olaniyonu Temilade .O
                         Editor-in-chief