As they blossomed into womanhood, their bond was tested by a time of great peril.

As they blossomed into womanhood, their bond was tested by a time of great peril. A bitter drought had withered the pastures of the Oromo, turning the sweet grasses to dust. Neighboring tribes, desperate and starving, pressed hard against the borders, threatening to scatter the clans to the winds. The people were divided, arguing over scarce water holes and dwindling herds, forgetting the sacred laws of Safuu—the moral order and respect that bound humanity to Waaqa and to one another.