Chapter Three
The Journey Begins
Kai stood defiantly with his hands on his hips looking into the faces
of his family and the other members of his village. The Great River was
in trouble, something was turning her waters black, and if helping the
river meant finding the Waterkeeper then Kai would be the one to do it!
He addressed his father, “Papa, someone needs to find the Waterkeeper.
I understand that there may not be time for my manhood ceremony now that
you have to relocate the village, but I can still make up my mind like
any of the other men of the village.” His voice softened, “Please
Papa, let me go. I want to do something to help.”
Before Kai’s father had a chance to protest, Noni, Kai’s
grandmother, spoke up. “That’s an excellent idea Kai, good
thinking. I’ll help you get ready for your journey.”
“Noni!” Kai’s father exclaimed. “What are you
saying? We don’t know what’s poisoning the river, or what
happened to the Waterkeeper. It could be dangerous! One of the other
men should go.”
Kai stepped forward, a serious look on his face. “Father, you’re
going to need everyone’s help relocating the village, that’s
the priority, but I’m fast and can make my way through the forest
as well as anyone. You taught me that. I know how to spot the signs of
danger and avoid them. I promise you that I will do nothing but find
the Waterkeeper, deliver our message and then return to you."
Noni leaned into Kai’s father and whispered something that Kai
couldn’t hear.
Kai looked hopefully into his father’s eyes, silently pleading
for his blessing. After what seemed like an eternity, Kai’s father
nodded his head and the whole village breathed a sigh of relief and awe.
Noni smiled to herself as Cousin Thom stepped forward, “ I will
escort Kai up the river for a few days. I need to return to the village
of Apsu to collect some belongings before I meet the rest of you on the
shores of the Great Lake. My horse shouldn’t have any trouble carrying
both of us,” he offered. “We should leave right away though,
while we still have daylight on our side.”
Twenty minutes later Kai stood with his father and Noni in front of their
hut, a small leather satchel over one shoulder and a water skin over
the other, ready to set off in search of the Waterkeeper. Never having
left his family before, Kai was surprised to find a lump in his throat
and the threat of tears stinging his eyes. He tried to sound brave, “I’m
sure it will only take me a few days to find the Waterkeeper. I’ll
be joining you before you know it.”
“Be careful my son,“ said Kai’s father, “And
be sure to ration your water. If you run out, trek inland from the river
and look for a spring. And take this,” he said handing him a bulky
package wrapped in a simple cloth. “It was meant to be for your
manhood ceremony but you’d best take it now.”
Kai solemnly unwrapped the gift revealing a hand carved bow and quiver
with several fine arrows. He recognized his father’s craftsmanship
immediately. Not knowing what to say Kai threw his arms around his father’s
waist and whispered, “Thank you,” into his chest.
“And remember,” Noni said, wrapping Kai in another embrace, “You
are never alone.” And she gently tapped the stone-carved dragonfly
that Kai wore on a piece of leather around his neck – the gift
Noni had given him for his birthday that very morning. He may have imagined
it, but Kai thought he felt the dragonfly tingle against the skin of
his chest as it had when he put it on for the first time. He cupped his
hand over it for a moment and rubbed it unconsciously with his thumb.
Noni smiled.
“Time to go little man,” said Cousin Thom as he reached down
and hoisted Kai up onto his horse’s back in one, smooth motion.
Thom nudged the horse with his heel and they set off, waving goodbye
to the village until they could no longer see them through the dense
green of the forest. They rode in silence, Kai’s mind teaming with
thoughts:
‘What was poisoning the river? How long would this journey take?
Was it really possible that he might encounter dangers along the way?
How would he face them? And above all else, WHERE was the Waterkeeper?!’
