Unusual Child: Chapter 4
By: jungleboy69
Chapter 4: Meeting Grandmother Willow
For the rest of the morning, Pocahontas showed Songaa all the places in the village. She showed him the river where they fished, the baskets they weaved, the necklaces they made from beads and the tanned hides they used to make clothes.
Most of the villagers had a mixed reaction to Songaa; some were friendly but others were convinced that a pale-child was a threat to them. The children were very curious about little Songaa's soft, pale skin. They tickled him all over and they loved it when he giggled.
Right now, she was feeding Songaa corn meal mixed with honey. Songaa cooed as he ate his meal. "Aaaaauuuu..." He mumbled as his face was covered in corn meal. Pocahontas couldn't help but giggle at the adorable sight.
Meeko snuggled close to the baby and sniffed at the strange stuff. He smacked his lips and tried to reach in to taste some. "No, Meeko." Pocahontas told him off. "This is for Songaa." Meeko pouted and grumbled a bit while Flit chirped in amusement.
Pocahontas smiled as she continued to feed Songaa. The day wasn't done and Pocahontas still wanted to show her new son all the wonders of her home. It was then she had an idea. "Songaa, how would you like to meet a special friend of mine?" She asked.
"Aaaauuuuu..." Songaa cooed, looking at her innocently and confused. Pocahontas giggled. "You'll find out soon enough, little one." She replied.
(Later...)
Songaa cooed softly as he felt the gentle waves of the river rocking him as Pocahontas rowed in her canoe. She had made a sling which she placed in front of her instead behind. After hearing what Nakoma had said, she wasn't going to let Songaa out of her sight.
Meeko stood on the front, chittering excitedly while Flit fluttered nearby. "Aaaauuu...Aaaauuu..." Songaa squealed a bit and giggled merrily. "We'll be there soon, Songaa." Pocahontas assured him, patting him gently in her sling.
Soon, they arrived at their destination; a beautiful glade with a magnificent willow tree at the edge of the riverbank. Its branches stretched out and the vines dropped down like curtains. Slowly, Pocahontas rowed her canoe into the vines.
Inside, the willow vines acted as an umbrella, casting the glade in a cool shade. Songaa looked around in wonder. The willow leaves shimmered like mirrors in the sunlight and all sorts of birds and animals made their homes in its branches and roots.
As they entered, birds fluttered about, squirrels scampered among the branches, rabbits hopped out of their burrows and two owls watched from above. "Aaaauuuu..." Songaa squealed in excitement, reaching out to the animals and wiggling a bit in his sling.
Pocahontas giggled at her son's antics and cradled him gently. "Patience, my son." She replied. "Patience..." As she docked her canoe, she climbed up to the largest of the willow's roots. "Is that my dear Pocahontas?" a voice spoke from the tree.
"Grandmother Willow!" Pocahontas called out. "I have a special surprise for you!" The gnarled trunk of the willow tree shifted into the face of a kindly old woman. It was Grandmother Willow, a wise and ancient old willow tree who had lived for many years and Pocahontas's spirit advisor.
"Hello, my child..." Grandmother Willow replied with a kind smile. "It's good of you to visit again." "What is the surprise you have?" It was then she noticed the strange sling and the bundle inside of it. "And what's that you have there?"
Pocahontas smiled and took Songaa out of her sling, lifting him high to Grandmother Willow. The tree gasped in surprise. "Oh my!" She cried. "Grandmother Willow, I like you to meet Songaa, my son." Pocahontas spoke proudly.
"Son...?" Grandmother Willow asked in shock. "I found him in the forest." Pocahontas explained. "He was in a basket, all alone." "I couldn't just leave him there..." She added. Grandmother Willow was amazed. "A basket in the forest?" She asked, as Pocahontas nodded.
"Aaaaauuuu!" Songaa squealed, getting Pocahontas and Grandmother Willow's attention. "Aaaaauuuu!" The baby squealed, reaching out to the willow tree in excitement. Grandmother Willow chuckled. "Aww...come here, you little scamp."
She lowered some of her strongest vines and wrapped them around Songaa gently, before lifting him up. Songaa squealed and giggled as the vines tickled him. "I can see why you adopted him." Grandmother Willow pointed out. "He's adorable..." "I knew you will like him." Pocahontas replied with a grin.
"You say you found him in the forest?" Grandmother Willow asked, gently bouncing the baby up and down. "Yes." Pocahontas replied. "I heard his cries in the wind and the spirits guided me to him." "The spirits guided you to him...?" Grandmother Willow asked. "How unusual..."
She looked back at the baby, still cradled in her vines. "I must say, I never met a child like your son before." Grandmother Willow pointed out. "Such lovely eyes, blue as the sky." Songaa giggled as the vines gently tickled him. "and beautiful skin like the color of pearls."
"Does your father know about this?" She asked. "Yes, he does." Pocahontas replied. "He let me raise Songaa as my very own." "Oh, that's wonderful." Grandmother Willow replied. "Well, he agrees." Pocahontas added, worried. "But some of the villagers don't agree with him staying with us."
"Why not?" Grandmother Willow asked. Pocahontas sighed. "Some of the villagers think that Songaa is a demon." She explained. "They believe he will bring our people to ruin." "A demon? It can't be." Grandmother Willow frowned before turning to baby Songaa who was now cooing softly.
"How can this cute, innocent child ever be a demon?" She cooed softly, tickling the baby's feet and making him giggle. "That's not all." Pocahontas replied, nervously. "Some of the villagers even believe that Songaa must be killed."
"Killed!?" Grandmother Willow exclaimed in shock. "They wouldn't dare harm an innocent child!" "I know..." Pocahontas replied. "But still, I'm worried for Songaa." "What if they do try to kill him? What if I can't protect Songaa anymore? What if they-" She asked.
"Hush, my child!" Grandmother Willow assured her. "I only have one mouth, I can't answer all your questions!" Pocahontas took a deep breath. "Sorry, Grandmother Willow." She replied. "I'm just...scared..."
Grandmother Willow gently lowered another of her vines to lift Pocahontas's chin to her head. "My child, if you keep worrying about what hasn't happened or will happen, you will lose sight on what you have now." The wise old willow tree advised.
"I don't think you will let anything happen to Songaa, but you can't let your fear stop you from being a good mother." She added. "As it is, your son is growing up in a land where people fear and despise him and he needs someone to guide him onto the right path."
"I can't say what future this child will bring, but I am sure he will bring great change to us" Grandmother Willow added with a smile. "Besides, I would never let anything happen to my great grandson!"
Pocahontas smiled back and looked at her son who was cooing gently as Grandmother Willow's vines rocking him gently. "He seems to like you too." She added. Grandmother Willow chuckled. Songaa started to yawn and rub his tired.
"Looks like Songaa needs a nap." Grandmother Willow replied as she handed him back to Pocahontas. The latter smiled as she held her baby boy in her arms, placing him in her sling again and caressing him over his little head.
"Hush, little one..." Grandmother Willow soothed to Songaa. "Let the spirits of nature lull you to sleep." As the wind blew gently, Grandmother Willow began to sing.
(Play Muru's Chant from Balto 2)
Grandmother Willow(singing): Praise for the high tide
Praise for the seaside
Praise for the sun at high noon
Baby Songaa yawned again and rubbed his eyes, trying to stay awake. Pocahontas giggled and hushed him.
Praise for the lightning
Praise for the singing
Praise for Father sun
And Sister Moon
The wind seemed to sparkle with little lights, blowing all around Pocahontas and Songaa. The baby cooed louder, reaching out at them with his tiny hands. Pocahontas giggled some more and kissed him on the forehead. "Hush...my son." She whispered. "Hush..."
Praise for the red dawn, Grass that we walk upon
Praise for the river's whispered tune
Songaa was growing more tired and sleepy, snuggling close to Pocahontas. Flit and Meeko were also yawning and stretching themselves.
Praise for the Wind Brother
Praise for the Earth Mother
Praise for Father Sun
And Sister Moon.
Praise for Father Sun and Sister Moon.
Pocahontas smiled as she continued to stroke her son gently while Grandmother Willow continued to sing, her vines swaying gently to the beat.
Hey-ya, hey-ya, hey-ya-a-a...
Hey-ya, hey-ya, hey-ya-a-a!
Soon, Songaa was fast asleep, and so were Meeko and Flit. "Sleep, my son." Pocahontas soothed gently into her son's ear. "Sleep, my brave little warrior."