Chapter 23

Su’So tapped his staff again, its tip igniting like a glow stick within the pitch-black passageway. “Move,” he whispered, pointing down the narrow, dirt-walled passage.

“Move?” Norm asked, squeezing his square shoulders through the tight walls of the tunnel. “You gotta be kidding me. I’m gonna get stuck in there. I think I broke my ribs on that jump!”

“Shh!” the other little man said from the rear, “Black ones still close.”

“I just wanna know if you guys are the elves who make cookies in the trees and if-”

“Norm, just shut up and go,” Dylan snapped, giving Norm a shove. Exhausted and beaten, they made their way single file through the narrow passage and stopped abruptly. Su’So pointed to a hole in the tunnel’s ceiling before climbing upward. The boys kept silent, exchanging glances and shrugs in the dim light.

As quickly as he vanished, their rescuer’s bushy-haired head re-appeared, hanging upside down through the hole. “This way.” Su’So said. Without hesitation, Dylan climbed into the dark hole. He pressed his knees and back against the walls, lurching up a few inches at a time until the hole opened into an igloo-shaped cavern. After the little men helped Norm into the cave, Su’So tapped his staff on the wall. The mass of earth peeled away, folding over itself like curtains being pulled to the sides, revealing another window to the mountainside. The little men stepped out cautiously and helped the boys through the tight portal.

“Can we talk?” Norm whispered, brushing the dirt off.

“We are safe for the moment.” The little man announced sternly. “I am Z’Keni.”

“Zucchini?” Norm asked, rubbing his sore ribs. “I could go for some Zucchini sticks.”

“Z’Keni!” the little man corrected him. “This is Su’So.”

Su’So bore the same general appearance, but younger with heavier muscles. The little nodded, his eyes keenly trained on Dylan.

“Sorry about my friend. He’s just hungry.” Dylan dusted the dirt off his clothes. “I’m Dylan and this is Norm.”

“You and your friend are known to us, Scion. We are friends.” Z’Keni and Su’So bowed their heads in unison, and then, to Dylan’s surprise, hugged him. “Max was our friend. We will remember him with honor.”

Dylan froze at the mention of Max, and returned the hug, squeezing his affectionate rescuers. “Thank you,” he said, soaking in the strangely warm energy from their hugs. “Thank you, both.”

“Yeah, thanks, guys.” Norm watched the mountain passage close again. “Did we just go in a tree and come out of a rock?”

“Yes.” Su’So said and hugged Norm.

“Wow, you guys sure are friendly, huh?” Norm returned the hug. “Okay, now nothing is going to surprise me.”

“Z’keni, Su’So, you know who we are.” Dylan regarded them. “But why are you helping us?”

Z’Keni’s face flooded with pride. He pounded his fist over his heart. “We are Menehune.”

“Mini-who-whats?” Norm’s face contorted, his brow furrowed.

“Men-eh-hune-” Z’Keni’s tiny nose twisted angrily. “Some call us little people, but we are protectors of our great mountain mother, Shasta.”

“Are there more of you?” Dylan asked.

“There are more of our kind and others who defend her, as well as all who live upon her,” Su’So said in a more jovial tone than his counterpart. “She is well protected. You are not and have brought the black ones and the star-thieves here.”

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“Star-thieves?” Norm asked, perplexed.

Su’So pointed up. “The flying eye.”

“Terovians.” Dylan dropped his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I didn’t mean to bring-”

“Dylan!” Z’Keni pointed at him. “You are the Scion of all. One with all. And all are one.” Z’Keni pointed to himself and Su’So. “This is the way. We are one together. Now we must pray for the one, the all.” Z’Keni and Su’So took them by the hand and led them to kneel. Su’So led the prayer in an unknown language. Dylan didn’t know what he was saying, but could sense what the words meant.

The Menehune rose suddenly. “Come, it is time,” Su’So said, wiping what appeared to be a tear.

“Did you say a prayer for the coyote?” Dylan asked.

“I knew her as a pup,” Su’So said, cradling his arms. “I spoke the prayer for the brave; a prayer for the soul of those who give their life in sacrifice. We hope she returns to us soon.”

“You hope she’ll return soon?” Dylan stopped, wondering if he heard him correctly.

“The black one did not consume her soul.” Su’So answered, walking towards the woods. “All return… in time.” Dylan, confused by his cryptic response, decided now was not the time to press the issue and followed the Menehune into the shadow ridden forest.

Norm trailed behind, hesitating before entering the wooded area. “Speaking of things returning, you guys wouldn’t happen to have any energy bars you’d like to return, would you? At this point, I’m ready to eat a pinecone.” Beyond the trees, he could hear the little men giggling. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

The group hiked quietly through the woods; the Menehune, taking care to avoid their pursuers. Dylan periodically peered up the mountain, locating his destination atop Shasta’s white-capped peak. It still seemed so far away, and the detour through the tunnel did not bring them closer.

“Su’So.” Z’Keni motioned to something ahead, put his finger to his lips to remain silent. Su’So nodded and waved for the boys to follow him. They tip-toed away from the area and trotted upward until they crossed over a ridge, when Z’Keni suddenly put his hand up to stop and sent Su’So in the opposite direction. After only a few steps, a buzz grew steadily louder. Z’keni led them to what sounded like a beehive. Dylan and Norm exchanged concerned glances, the buzz loud enough to block out the mountain wind. Then they saw it. And smelled it. Dylan gasped as they approached the mutilated carcass, swarming with flies. The ground was covered with chunks of torn, bloody flesh, matted fur and bones. Shattered antlers were the only clue.

“What could have done this?” Dylan asked, disgusted by the scene.

“Looks like it went through a wood-chipper.” Norm covered his nose and mouth to keep from puking.

Z’Keni studied the erratic gouges. “Nothing that lives on this mountain would do this.” He bowed his head and said a prayer over the mangled mammal.

“Does that mean you don’t know what it was?” Norm asked.

“I do not,” Z’Keni said, sniffing a tuft of hair.

“Was it a void or one of the space pirates?” Dylan asked.

“They would not kill this way.”

“It looks like it exploded,” Dylan squinted, trying to avoid the wafts of death.

“The elk did not explode,” Z’Keni shook his head. “It was torn apart before it knew it was in danger. The gouges in the trees are deep. They say it was a merciless death.”

“The trees can tell you it was merciless, but they can’t tell you what it was?” Norm wondered.

Z’Keni’s eyes narrowed. “The trees can tell much of what happens here, but they do not know what to call- this.” He cast his hand over the slaughter. “Scion, what do you feel?”

Dylan thought for a second. “Umm, it’s warm. There’s a…nasty smelling breeze, uh-” He shrugged. “What am I supposed to feel?”

“Open yourself.” Z’Keni stretched his arms to the side, his palms turned upwards. “Allow yourself to be one with all, not just what you see or feel.”

Dylan closed his eyes, the tree illuminating his mindscape. Warmth rushed over him, the tree morphed, growing a red bloom in its center. The cherry, Dylan breathed rhythmically, the pull of Shasta’s peak drawing him like a magnet. He opened his eyes, a glint of revelation. “I see a path. The path to the top. We’re on it, now.”

“Very good, Scion,” Z’Keni nodded. “you are becoming one with Shasta. I cannot feel what you can, though I have lived here my whole life. Learn to ask her for help as you would ask your friend… or Max. She will surprise you. Listen to the trees, the birds and those who live upon her as they are all her children. They know you and will help to guide you in any way they can.”

“Gotta love home-field advantage,” Norm plopped down on a rock for a rest. “Z’Keni, is there any food nearby? I know you guys gave the energy bars to the animals and just used the wrappers to lead us, but you guys gotta eat too?”

“Stand up.” Z’Keni walked toward him and turned the large rock over with ease. He dug into the ground and picked a particularly fat grub from the dirt. He held it up to Norm, squeezing its plumpness between his thumb and index finger. “Food, hmm.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Norm’s face twisted with disgust. “I said I was hungry, not crazy.” Z’Keni shrugged, tossed the grub into his mouth, and munched it down. Dylan and Norm both turned away, swallowing hard to keep from getting sick.

“That was seriously nasty, Z’Keni.” Dylan laughed. “By the way, where did Su’So go?”

“He is following the trail of whatever beast killed the elk.” His eyes darted from side to side. “It is hunting us as well.”

“It is?” Dylan stiffened.

“Yes,” Z’Keni said, starting up the slope. “And we have no time, or we will be late.”

“Late? Late for what?” Norm trotted after him.

Z’Keni smiled cryptically. “To meet a friend.”