Chapter 7: Traitor

During the winter months, I studied that book, learning their language as I went. It was hard at first, but the more I read the stories it held, the more infatuated I became. This new realm of fantasy and adventure I discovered was like nothing I'd ever experienced. Some of the stories made me laugh, some made me cry, others made me want to sing… The many emotions each story awakened in me were almost too much to handle.

After having to remain an empty vessel to receive Nature's words, having all these new feelings thrust upon me was a foreign sensation. In fact, I was so immersed in this new word, I had not heard a wind song in many months and I had forgotten completely about Shizen's warning.

When spring finally came once more, I had memorized Kichirou's book from cover to cover and could recite each play, sonnet, and poem. He was impressed by my skills indeed, for I had not only learned a new language I had never heard before, but I had also internalized an entire book of Shakespeare's works.

"You certainly have some skill with words!" He told me after I recited the final line of Sonnet 139. I smiled at my new found friend, my sense of pride growing within. "It seems that you, having grown up in a society of oral tradition, are quite masterful in portraying emotions through words! It's almost as if you were made for being an actor!"

It was true that my people did not have a written language, but we did pass on our traditions and stories through storytelling. It felt very natural to speak my lines instead of reading them from the pages. My history as a Windtalker helped me to purvey the emotions of others better than my own, so it was only natural that I had this gift.

One day, I decided that I would show my gratitude to Kichirou for his kindness by singing him a song I had learned when I was young. It was a song of fortune and friendship Shizen had taught me. After I finished, he stared into my eyes just as he did on our first meeting. This time, however, I did not feel the same fear as I had then… I trusted this man now, he was a friend.

"Where did you learn that beautiful song?" He inquired, a hint of intrigue in his brown eyes.

"Shizen taught it to me when I was four years old," I replied, "it is one of my favorite blessings."

"Who is Shizen?" He asked, his rising interest evident in his voice.

"She is the All-Mother: sister to the wind, animals, plants and rivers. She lives in the heart of the forest, inside an old willow. I have met Her once because I am the chosen one." I told him without realizing. I stopped talking, knowing full well that I had said too much.

He raised his eyebrows as he spoke his next words, "Would it be possible for me to meet Her too?"

I hesitated. In my mind, a myriad of thoughts buzzed, each telling me something different. You can't, he's a foreigner; yes you can, he's a friend; you can trust him; no, yes, no, yes… I didn't know what to do. In my heart I knew that I shouldn't, but at that time, I didn't think there could be any harm in any of it. After a long pause, I finally made up my mind, thinking to myself that, by sharing this with him, I would make Her see that Her song of warning had been unnecessary after all.

"Okay. I will bring you to see Her."

The next morning, I took Kichirou to the center of the forest, back to the sacred willow tree where Shizen lived. I had already decided that I would keep this a secret from Obasan. Once more, I could hear Her song whispering to me in the breeze, rustling the branches as they swept across the forest floor. I led Kichirou through the branches and halted inside, awaiting Shizen to appear to us. Soon enough, a large object flew towards us both, landing on a nearby branch: a giant wasp the size of a hawk. Kichirou stared in bewilderment, not truly understanding what he was seeing; for all he knew, it was just a giant bug.

I walked closer to Her, my hands outstretched and ready, but this time She did not act as She had before. She buzzed angrily at me and refused to sing anymore. For the first time ever, the air was silent. What have I done? I thought to myself, I must have angered Her. I should never have brought him here with me. Suddenly, Kichirou started to walk towards Her, before I could stop him, he was standing within inches of Her, reaching out his hand to try and touch Her. Louder still, she buzzed in warning. It was clear that She did not trust him, nor did She want him near Her.

I was starting to panic. I knew we needed to leave before She did something to show Her powers. I tugged on Kichirou's sleeve, silently begging him to retreat, but it was too late. She had already begun to glow, Her anger had piqued, She was getting ready to attack. This is bad, Shizen only ever attacks those with wicked intentions. I had thought I would be safe, being one of Her chosen sons, however it seemed that even that fact would not save me from Her. I finally got Kichirou's attention, forcing him to run away from the site. We made it back to camp, but instead of eyes full of fear, like my own, his were filled with a mad passion that told me he was planning something wicked.

Little did I know that I would learn to regret this day for many years to come… the day I angered Shizen… the day I let an outsider see Her true face… the day I truly became a traitor to my own people.