He always does . . .

      The Spear Bearer had cleared the kingdom for the spring thaw.  She was left to mind the statues.  Suddenly, the Rock Monster returned with a task for the spear bearer.  A hush befell the kingdom.
      She alone would be left to the task.  She must do this task perfectly, though she had never learned how.  No one had ever taught her.
      She must polish the Rock Monster’s shield.  It took her many failed attempts lifting it on the table.  Finally, she gave in and knelt beside it to polish.
     Wee-One rubbed and it became shiny, then it became dull.  She put more oil on it and buffed harder with all of her might.  Her heart pounded as she heard his familiar gate approaching.
     The cloth pushed harder matching the rhythm of her heart. She saw it before she heard it; the imperceptible crack appear beneath the rag.  In a panic, she grabbed the cream and with great dismay, realized she had not been using buffing cream for a shield, but magic dissolving cream!  What was she going to do?  There was no escape!
     The Rock Monster’s heavy footfalls were unmistakable.  He would soon arrive to dole out her just punishment.  Should she wait or just turn herself in?  Left, right, left, right, left, right, there was no place to hide.  The table would be the first place he would look.
     Her heart raced faster.  Wait!  There are more footsteps coming from everywhere!  How could this be?  The kingdom had been empty.  The monster knows and he has called upon his grove to finish her.
     She slid under the table with the shield in full view.  Her heart now on the floor next to her as she watched the beats mimic the ever-closing steps.  These sounds were different.
     She could hear the monster’s voice, but could not distinguish the words.  She dare not creep forward for she recognized his tone.  She heard the clash of swords and turned to stare.  “The Rock Monster has NO shield today!”
     “Who is trying to defeat him,” she wondered.  Having no heart at the moment, no muscle could move.  Even if she wanted to see, she could not.  No member of the kingdom has ever wanted to protect her in such a manner.
     The traveler wounded the Rock Monster, but did not kill him.  The wounded monster spoke many threatening words, but he left alone, for indeed the kingdom had been empty.  The traveler and his bevy found her crying.
     The bevy carefully replaced her heart.  Traveler held her close until her tears of fear turned to tears of relief, then tears of comfort.  He whispered in her ear, “Is this the day you can cry tears of love?”  The wee-one trembled and shook her head.  The bandage on her chest still oozing as it covered the deep wound beneath.
     Wee-One awoke to someone singing.  She instinctively reached to her chest.  It had not been a dream.  It was real.  The Rock Monster had been wounded and left the kingdom.  Had he returned?  Would he return?  Where was she?  The last she spoke aloud as a singing member of the bevy approached.  Although she had a beautiful voice (most of the time) like the rest of the bevy, she was awkward and a bit clumsy like the wee-one herself.
     As she tended to Wee-One’s wound, Terba (tur-ba) spoke lovingly, “You are in the cottage of the Traveler.  You cried so hard last night, your heart broke.  It was necessary to call upon the back-up wedge led by the Dweller.  He comes for the most specialty cases.  I have only heard stories about him from my grandmother.  You must have found favor in the eyes of the Traveler.”
     Wee-One learned she had not cried for one day, but many days.  She did not know how much time had passed.  She only knew she now felt safe.  Yet, part of her still felt curious.  When would the Rock Monster find her, for he . . . always . . . does…