Really, again . . .

      Yeinar found a large cave in which they all could hide.  Each ran to the back recesses as rocks fell from the walls.  All ran with unsteady footing, but determined spirit.
     The flocks flew closer to the northern range, ever circling.  Again, the young one’s eyes fell to the same spot, but his eyes continued down the mountain to a small ledge.  He spotted a pool of blood.  As others landed throughout the mountain and the ground continued to shake, he chose this spot to land.  He moved inside the cave to investigate further.
     Nom-Mee was awakened by the mountain shaking beneath her.  As she stood, she was greeted by a small figure.  Reaching for her weapon, she realized it was gone.  Then she reached for a large stone, but before she could throw it, the creature spoke.
     “Wait!  I did not wish to harm you.”
     “Just great,” Nom-Mee exclaimed.  More talking buzzards.”
     “Actually, I am an hydra ….”  Nom-Mee glared at him.  “Oh, yes, of course, you know that.  I am here to warn Rock Monster is coming.”
     “WOW!  I do think you are late!”  Nom-Mee declared as she caught falling rocks and tossed them in the air.
     “We did try to warn you last night, but you made it rather difficult.”
     “I made it difficult, yelled Nom-Mee.  “There is only one of me and you were doing the attacking!”
     “Oh, you misunderstood.  We were singing and dancing.”
     “They were singing and dancing.”  Nom-Mee said to herself as she danced around her cave.  “Well, maybe, just perhaps, maybe, you could have sent one to tell me instead of an entire species!”
     “Well, now, I suppose, thinking about it now that does seem a bit more logical.”
     “Of course it does!  Now, what are we supposed to do,” questioned Nom-Mee as she tossed another handful of falling rocks as the ground continued to shake around them.
     “OH, well, we just warn of danger.  We do not get involved ….”
     “Then, leave, I do not need you.  You are in my way,” said Nom-Mee calmly.  As he left, she checked her wounds and was satisfied with their progress.  She removed all bandages, ate a “proper breakfast,” (as she could hear Terba in her head), adjusted her mlooks, and began to make her way out of the cave.
     Before she could step out, she was met with several small creatures.  “OK,” said Nom-Mee, “I thought you did not get involved and yet here you are making trouble for me, the first chance you get.  Do you want to draw all the attention to me today?  I really just wanted to have a nice lovely hike down the side of the mountain.”
     The same young one stepped forward and proclaimed, “We decided to take you to the other side safely, so you will not be furthered injured on the rocks.  I was correct when I said we cannot get involved in danger, but we can do this.  We do not have much time.  You must decide quickly.”  Nom-Mee agreed and the flocks escorted her to the other side of the range.  They also delivered her weapon and what was left of her destroyed pack.
     Nom-Mee hid in the shadow of the mountain with her weapon.  She saw Rock Monster approach as she stepped out of the shadows.  He was too distracted by the flocks to notice her at first.  Again, she stood firm.
     “Twee-Nee, where have you been,” questioned Rock Monster using a most-hated derogatory name and a sarcastic tone.  “We have been so worried about you.  You have us all so concerned.  I see you are still using weak weapons.  Do you really think you can defeat me with that?  Where is your Traveler now?  Who will defend you from me this time?  You cannot escape your just punishment.”
     Nom-Mee spilled the contents of her bag.  Out dropped the two rocks she had gathered at the fires along with other rocks.  Each rock gathered among the others to form a circle on the ground about her feet.  She stood firm.  She stood still.  She stood quiet.  She never said a word as the rocks trembled and then rose simultaneously.
     As this happened, Rock Monster fell to his knees and yelled, “No, I destroyed it!  How do you have it?  How are they here?”  He ordered the few members of the grove who traveled with him to retrieve the rocks, but they could not.  Each one who attempted lost a limb.  In desperation, they tried to dive in together and died.  Finally, Rock Monster himself reached his arm in and Nom-Mee fell, but he was not at all able to pick up a rock.
     Nom-Mee was barely breathing as the rocks rose again.  She lay there as one by one the rocks fell and slowly returned to her bag.  What use were they now?  They had protected her from him, but for what?
     Mal-Nai (mall-NAY) rose face to face with Rock Monster who was still on his knees.  “You cannot kill us all.  We will never die.  We see who you really are.”
     Rock Monster had difficulty standing as stones began to fall out of his knees and his arm.  Mal-Nai collected each.  Then she turned to face Nom-Mee as she was gasping her last breaths.
     “No,” she yelled to Rock Monster, to the sky, to no one in particular.  “Take me!  Leave her!  I have no one!  She must care for Wee-One.”  She ran after Rock Monster and when she returned she fell on her knees next to Nom-Mee.  “Please, do not die.”  Mal-Nai lifted her into her lap and began to stroke her face as she continued to cry.  She could hear a noise beyond the trees, but she did not care if Rock Monster came for her.  She knew she must care for Nom-Mee.
     Mal-Nai’s tears continued to stream down her checks onto to Nom-Mee’s face.  She could hear a strange noise, but did not know the source until she recognized the sound of her own voice wailing and the echo bouncing off the mountain walls.  “I cannot report you as lost,” she sang to Nom-Mee.  “Please rise and live.  Do not live for me.  Live for Wee-One.  Live for Terba.  Live for Traveler.”
     Mal-Nai heard a louder noise and turned in time to see Traveler approaching.  She continued to cry as she stroked Nom-Mee’s face.  Traveler knelt beside them both and gathered them into his arms.
     Mal-Nai laid her head on his shoulder and wept aloud.  She answered his question before he asked, “distraught.”  He gently kissed her forehead.
     “I must return Nom-Mee to Wee-One.  They draw strength from each other.  I wish you well on your journey.”  As Traveler left, Mal-Nai collected Nom-Mee’s bag to secure it.
     She collapsed to the ground crying uncontrollably.  When Mal-Nai fell, she scraped her head, which she did not notice.  Her blood began to pool around her head as she continued to cry.  She recalls hearing a familiar voice as she drifted off.
     Nags ran around the base of the mountain.  “I know Rock Monster was here.  I heard him.  Magsbraenty, where did you find that lake?”
     “It was on the other side of the mountain,” Magsbraenty said.
     “I agree with Cleinags,” Yeinar said.  “We should follow where we heard Rock Monster.”
     Magsbraenty said she would fly above to see.  She returned quickly and said she saw what looked like Nom-Mee on the path they were traveling.  The squad ran ahead hurriedly.  Terba came upon the figure and knelt beside her.  She bandaged her head while singing the healing lullaby.  The squad stood around silently.
     Yeinar ran toward them and breathlessly shouted, “The … lake … ballet … here … help.”  Terba stayed with Mal-Nai while the rest of the squad followed Yeinar to the lake.  On the lake, the squad saw the entire ballet, who had been sent to aid Mal-Nai.  The water surface could not be seen for the number who had landed upon it.
     The ballet assisted Terba in carrying Mal-Nai to the edge of the lake.  Gruashe was confused.  He had known his sister as an infant, but not in this form.  He turned his head as a tear streamed down his check.  “You cannot die.  We have too much work to do,” he said to himself.
     Terba found Gruashe in the crowd.  “She needs your tears.  This time only someone related to her can help her live.”  He looked at her with questioning eyes, but followed her without argument.  Before arriving at Mal-Nai, Terba gave Gruashe her packs and told him to carefully search them.  Again, he was hesitant, but did so without question.  He found the ornately carved box that was now empty.  Terba knelt and whispered in his ear.  He rose from his knees to find the bag of rocks and returned them to their rightful place.  He could no longer control his tears as one by one they fell upon the carvings.  He knew this wood and could faintly remember the smell, but did not recall the clasp or carvings.  Gruashe returned the box to its hidden spot.
     He slowly made his way to Mal-Nai as more tears streamed down his face.  He was beyond caring who saw now, for all he wanted was to speak freely to his sister.  Perhaps, she would remember his name and tell him.  Gruashe gingerly kissed her hand for fear if he touched her face she might break.  Her wounds were bandaged tightly.  Terba and Mags encouraged him closer.  Trembling, he wiped dirt from her fragile face and kissed her ear as a tear fell on the ground.  Again, Terba and Mags pressed him forward.
     Gruashe looked at them fearfully as his head bowed.  He was unsure he could complete the task.  How could he make it this far and fail his sister?  His sobs could be heard throughout the forest.  Even the hydragety had returned to investigate.  Finally, he gently placed his hands on either side of her face and while his tears streamed into her eyes, her bandages began to fall.  The more the bandages fell, the more Gruashe cried.  As the last bandage fell, Mal-Nai lay still and silent.
     No one moved.  There was no noise to be heard in the land.  No pebble broke loose from the mountain, no ripple in the lake, no insect buzzed, no sound at all.  It was as if the universe stopped moving, waiting for Mal-Nai to blink, to breathe, to wiggle a toe, to do something.  Mr. “Never-Get-Involved” young one of the hydragety had silently stepped forward.  He dropped a small, almost imperceptible pebble onto Mal-Nai’s left foot.  No one saw him, for they were all looking at her face.  The pebble slid off, rolled toward her arm, and settled next to her left hand where she holds her weapon.
     Mal-Nai’s hand turned to grab the pebble and she stood to fight to the surprise of all around her.
     “Renkwles (ren-quails), what is going on?  Where are we?  Who are all these people?  Why … why do you look like that?”  Mal-Nai looked around dismayed at the crowd gathered and was unsure about everything.
    “Mal-Nai,” Terba stepped forward, “many things may seem odd to you, but soon you will remember and understand.”
    “I do not know you,” Mal-Nai said, “how is it you speak to me in such a familiar tone?”
    “I have known you since your birth.  I have watched over you many, many nights,” Terba cooed as she wept.
    Mal-Nai’s heart ached as the pebble within her hand began to glow.  She remembered more than just her brother.  As she looked around, she saw many familiar faces and recalled the tragedy.  There was one face she did not know.  One that was strange, but looked kind.  Mal-Nai said nothing, but the seed of the mission was still planted deep in her soul that she would not soon forget.
    Yeinar spoke, “Are we ready to continue with our search, now?”
    Terba glared at him as if to say, “She just woke up.  Can you give her a couple of minutes?”
Mal-Nai took Yeinar to a small cave to speak alone.  “I know who you are, my friend.  I know who you are and I know we have a spy among us.  I will not reveal them until necessary.  I know we will continue to search for the haleakala flower.  I know where it can be found or at least I think I do.”
    “Terba said it is written in code in your chronicle,” said Yeinar.  “Perhaps, you could look there.”
    Mal-Nai looked through her chronicle to find no secret code.  She had not written the location of the flower, but she had written many things in it.  The chronicle contained many secrets from before the tragedy.  Now, she wished there really was a secret code for if anyone knew these or if Rock Monster knew, he would kill her and the others.  As she closed the book, she found a hidden compartment.  She very carefully opened it.  The seal had never been broken; thus, the contents were safe.  The date at the top displayed it was moments after the tragedy before her memory slipped away.
    “Mal-Nai, when you find this please know you are loved very much.  Know that your flesh can be broken and torn.  Your mind can be damaged by needless words spoken in anger.  Your very soul can be torn apart.  Yet, you alone have the power to make it whole again.  Your heart must heal for the curative powers to go forth.  You will not find the haleakala flower to heal the rest of us until your soul is whole.  I can tell you this.  The flower is found beyond where the river meets the mountain and the forest.  When provisions are needed, they will be provided for you.  Your weapons are only weak, if you allow them to be.  Trust only Poppie.  Love Majka (may-kay “mom”).”
     Mal-Nai recalled the delicious lillyfruit and nushaggle bush that provided sustenance when she needed it the most.  She was trying to unravel the riddle “beyond where the river meets the mountain and the forest.”  Perhaps, Renkwles would be more help.  She pondered.  She wondered who “Poppie” could be.
     Mal-Nai asked Renkwles if he knew what was beyond where the river meets the mountain and the forest.  “That is where my family is,” he exclaimed.  “How did you know to look there?  I had not told you.  It is not much farther from here.  You see, here is the mountain, the forest, and the river.”  Mal-Nai looked as he pointed out each
     Mal-Nai gathered her pack and weapon.  The squad looked and waited to see if they would be invited to come along.  She began to walk away and looked over her shoulder, “Do you expect me to find this invisible flower by myself?”  The squad looked at each other, chuckled, and ran after her.
     The gathered crowd cheered as the squad departed.  Gruashe led them into the forest for the sun was beginning to rise over the mountain.  Although Rock Monster had been defeated once, it was likely he would return with the full grove.  The squad moved somberly through the forest for they could also work for Rock Monster.  Soon the trees began to shake.  The squad ran looking for a cave, but none was to be found.
     Yeinar finally found a pile of rocks under which the squad could hide.  They could hear the trees shake and watched as the leaves fell.  Mal-Nai crept to the opening.  She could see no other movement in the forest.
     Mal-Nai laid down her weapon and held the pebble.  In the trees, she could see the hydragetys hiding.  She speculated they were “singing and dancing” again.  Thus, decided she could exit her refuge safely.
     As she did, something grabbed her from behind . . .