"We can wait here for the tide to bring us into shore," Hi'iaka always appreciated the Equinox of equalizing time. Unpinning her kikepa from the linkage with Dumpling's skirt Hi'iaka paused and felt Shine's forehead with the gentle touch of a loving aunt. There was neither fever nor chill, but, the girl needed something. All about her it was obviously feeding time. The Herons gathered nearby and a ways away from the muddle of Gulls engaged in many conversations. Decisions about meals perhaps. The goddess put out the request, "The girl needs something more than the limu. A share of your dinner would serve her well." The Gulls were too busy arguing among themselves, but, Heron heard. With her long bill she speared a small fish. "Mahalo, thank you." Hi'iaka pulled the still flopping fish from the long bill, opened her mouth and chewed. The masticated flesh would be easier for the weakened girl to digest. Like a mother bird the goddess fed the muliwai small bits, massaging the girl's throat to aid her swallowing.
Dumpling still a hen, watched the miracle of border life from the stilled platform of Madrone. Instinctively she began to vocalize. Simple hums, like bees, Dumpling hummed. The sun quickly sunk behind the ridge leaving that inimitable color of Sunset when the atmosphere is clean. Not so much brilliant as beautiful, the last days of summer coated her throat. Above them Mahina the moon in her 'Ole Pau face looked at the scene below. The water was very shallow where the two birds and the girl floated. Dumpling's humming was not only coating her throat it was the sound necessary to bring her through the square hole. Like a wild snail chewing the hums returned Dumpling to woman.
The log tettered, but only momentarily. Dumpling the hen slipping from bird to woman with little drama. Her feet found the sand easily. Dumpling stood, holding the Madrone. Stan remained rooster mesmerized at the capacity of the female. A goddess chewing fish for a small girl-child. His lover and partner drawing ancient sounds from some primal spot only women knew, he speculated on that one. Yet, he had watched what happened again and again when women hummed. His bass could do that as well.
It was not quite dark when Shine made a small sound. Stan was familiar with the way music came together for her. The tide was beginning its flow. Hi'iaka pushed the Madrone so it remained at standing level for Dumpling. "Keep pushing them toward the beach, Dumpling. When you are beached, Stan will be your man again. There is a place to shelter you tonight and then the morning will be ready for you."
"Won't you stay?"
"No. This girl needs the company of Familiars. In time, we will meet again. But now, she needs family. Be that for her." The goddess was gone, but not before she fastened the brass safety pin to the front of Shine's tattered blouse. "This will hold her fast enough."
What happened next?(click to find out)
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