Those-Who-Watch

Shine was fully awake, the unfamiliar sensation began just as all her receptions did, with a vibration. But this was different.

Dumpling's full moon cheeks filled in the bedside. She reached for Shine's thin arm and started to sign into her palm, "Hungry?" She spoke just as she would have done years ago.

Shine answered, "Seaweed soup swimming with egg noodles." That was something to smile about! Her words were sloshy like listening to the sound of waves riding over boulder tops.

Dumpling was a mix of surprise, relief and sorrow tumbled with hunger. Except for cinnamon toast and tea the rescue party had not eaten. Stan Costa was taking care of that part of things. She wondered whether seaweed soup with egg noodles would reach him.

The round old woman continued to answer through words signed into Shine's palm. Smiling, now that she realized what was going on Shine said in her deep watery voice, "Aunty D I can hear. While I lay in bed, maybe a couple days, or nights ago. It all started with a simple single repetition. NA NA."

How thoughtful of Those-Who-Watch to ease the girl into the world of sounds through the chant. These two, the round one and the girl who was more than just a little bit whale knew how vital the hum was. Each of them in their way made connection to essential factors through that low, slow utterance. Dumpling let one of them out ... 'hmmmm' and then gave credit. "It was Aka."

The fat Hoku Moon was indeed momona in her brilliant holoku, the gown of golden light bright through the upright presence of Trees. The webs that had held him fast released their grip. Fracturing at each spot of potential, the silver threads were drops of spider web and rain. A kind of blessing thought Aka's twin.

The beams of moonlight were the triggers. Wherever Lanalana and her kin go when Spider Season is pau, the exit is quick. On this particular Hoku Moon the children of the Silver-haired Raven and his Border Witch mate watched as the webs went through their metamorphosis. The young magician named for a powerful river wept. Tears of a magician named for a river went unnoticed. It was one of those tricks he had gotten very good at.

"Will you stay awhile now?" Aka was bundling up the silky threads into a sticky ball. There wasn't much to it, but, she would find a use for it.

"I'd like some food." The large bill or beak of a Raven is substantial, and it had been secured for four days. The birdman quickly shifted to human.

"Cinnamon toast. Apple pie?" His sister wiped the last of the webs onto her jeans.

"Funny. But no, I have this strange craving for a bowl of seaweed soup and egg noodles."

"Ah," said the collective voices of Those-Who-Watch, "the story continues." An untrained eye would think those were clouds passing in front of the Hoku Moon. But others with more practice with kilo recognize Those-Who-Watch in all their many holoku.