A Whisper of Wings (71 page)

Kotaru left the village and soared up into the forest’s hush. The trees reared all around him, steaming as the sunshine dried the morning dew; finches clustered in Kotaru’s wake and hoped for an offering of food. The wanderer passed them by and flew towards a tiny silver waterfall - a place where they had eaten crayfish so many lives ago.

Silent Lady waited for him. He could sense the beauty and the breath of peace long before he saw her orange fur. The little teacher sat beside the waterfall surrounded by flowers as she looked up at Kotaru and warmed him with her smile.

They sat side by side and watched tadpoles wriggling in the stream. Shadarii’s naked fur gleamed in the filtered light. She finally turned and looked at him with love shining deep inside her eyes.

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“You won’t be coming?”

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The woman pursed her lips and called to something deep inside the water. A great black eel rose up into her hands. They communicated nose to nose as the creature wagged its tiny fins. Shadarii hoisted the eel around her neck and carefully walked downstream. Kotaru walked beside her as she moved between the ferns.

Shadarii’s powers and her wisdom had grown side by side. When the river had flooded in the spring, Silent Lady had held back the waters while the people saved their flocks. She came and went as quietly as the summer breeze, spreading her sacred word of peace.

The Silent Lady was not a creature to be trifled with; the people in the new desert villages had learned it to their cost. All through the winter months they had refused to dig their wells, and when the crops failed, the villagers had wailed for Shadarii’s aid. She had come and slowly walked the dusty ground sewing seeds, lush green plants instantly sprouting in her wake. The woman had quietly flown away as the villagers slapped each others backs and cheered.

Their laughter died after their first meal. Shadarii had sown the fields with a crop of budenga plants. The leaves were wholesome, nourishing, and tasted like rancid earwax.

The villagers had instantly begun work upon their wells. Shadarii had returned and plied a shovel along with all the rest.

Kotaru followed Shadarii down the forest stream, tickling the eel with her snout. Finally she sank into the ferns above a bathing pool and peered down through a curtain of moss.

Beside the waterhole, a pair of girls slowly combed their hair. They made a perfect reflection of each other; one shining silver, and the other gleaming black. At the age of fifteen, Rooshïkii and Kïtashii were innocently lovely. The two girls sat naked in the water, talking softly back and forth; from time to time they hopefully glanced towards the surrounding trees. Shadarii hefted her pet eel and gave a smile.

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“What are they doing?”

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Long wings flapped as a pair of skinny boys alighted by the rocks. They goggled down at the girls with stars shining in their eyes.

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Kïtashii artfully posed in the mists, letting water trail down her skinny curves; Rooshïkii rose and stretched. Suddenly the two girls noticed their admirers and pantomimed their shock. They ducked back into the water, fast enough to preserve their modesty, but not too fast to hide themselves from the boys…

Shadarii quietly unshipped the eel and dropped it in the creek, and the creature sped away towards Kïtashii’s rump. The girl had half risen from the water as one boy craned towards her for a kiss. Their mouths parted, almost close enough to touch…

Shadarii ambled back upstream with her hands clasped behind her tail, while at the swimming hole, female voices raised a sudden squeal of fright. Shadarii slitted up her lashes and wandered on her way.

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Kotaru reached out to hold Shadarii’s hand, then looked up into a beam of light and slowly closed her eyes. Her ïsha aura swirled as her face grew sad and wan. The tall hunter turned and looked at her in sorrow.

“Are you happy, Shadarii? Is this life truly what you want?”

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She looked up at him with eyes as deep as forest pools.

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“You are wise, Shadarii.”

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They walked to the edges of the forest, and stood poised high above a whole new world. Below them, plains and forest now lived in harmony. Sea peoples worked side by side with alpine gardeners and shepherd girls. Shadarii looked across the scene and sighed.

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Kotaru looked around in shock.

“Zhukora? Zhukora was mad!”

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Tears stood in Shadarii’s eyes.

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A bell boomed out to call the leaders into council. Kotaru turned to his companion and looked into her eyes.

“Are you sure you won’t come to the meeting? You know that you are welcome. You are loved, Shadarii.”

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The woman reached out to hold Kotaru’s hands.
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Behind them the great bell rang once more, and Kotaru turned to go. He looked back to see her standing on the rocks above him with the wind streaming through her hair. The forest spread about her as she gazed into his heart.

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A rainbow spread its light behind Shadarii’s tail as Kotaru-Keketál wandered onwards to bring life into a dream.

Far above, the Silent Lady smiled. She watched over him until he passed far beyond mere mortal view.

Notes:

1) Kokïku: In alpine speech “Two beauties joining” . In Plains speech, “New Dawn”.