The three goats peacefully returned to Sawa Sawa.
The High Elder reassured the herd "the wolf is gone" and it was safe to revisit Fooka Fooka for its delicious blackberries once again. Half-truths were not the Elder's style, but this was the full truth. The wolf was indeed gone. The "how" was simply omitted. Nogu liked this as well. His riveting tale of tricking and trapping a wolf loses its appeal when followed by the humiliating experience of going back to rescue it. Mei just hoped this all blew over before Tapp heard about it.
To her surprise, this wasn't as big a deal as she feared. With no new gossip about the adventure, the goats continued their casual roaming and eating as always. She blended in with the herd, randomly nipping at the grass around her, just like Mii does. Mei had not eaten all day. She could not get Gabu out of her mind. She could not relax until she saw him once again.
The day continued on to twilight, and the original adventure was mostly forgotten by dusk. Mei settled in with Granny and slept deeply.
The new day brought with it a new problem. Mei bounded up the slope of Chica Chica. She hadn't reached the top before she caught sight of the Elder's horns and bushy, drooping eyebrows ascending from the other side.
"High Elder!" she called out as she slowed to a walk. She was out of breath.
"Mei? What's the matter?" The Elder looked concerned.
"It's Moro! He's eating and Bima is eating and they ran into each other and Bima says 'that's far enough' but Moro says 'the grass is everyone's' and Bima says he always bumps into him because he doesn't look where he's going and Rosso said 'get the High Elder' because it looks like they might start to fight!" Mei breathed in deeply.
"So much grass, yet they only want where the other is standing." The Elder sighed. "It seems I cannot have peace and quiet."
"I'm sorry, sir," she panted. "I thought I might find you here." Mei looked a bit rejected.
"No, Mei, it is quite alright. This is what leadership means. From the important decisions to the petty squabbles, animals look to you for the answers..." He paused before adding, "I apologize for failing you, Mei."
"Failing me? What do you mean?"
"Yesterday. I did not have those answers. Even though that wolf may return to cause us harm on a different day, should not affect our responsibility to do the right thing, today. What was right was not as clear to me as it was to you, Mei. Those are signs of a great leader. One day when you're older, you could very well be that Elder everyone looks to." He bowed his head respectfully.
"I'm sorry I disobeyed you and ran off." Mei hung her head in shame.
"I'm glad you did. Don't do it again. Take a look, Mei. Our artist has made it home!" The Elder stood at the peak of Chica Chica. Mei ascended the last bit of the great hill to stand with him. The Elder smiled as he turned towards Baku Baku. The pair saw an unmistakable pattern on the rocky shelf.
"Do you know what that means? I do," said the Elder.
"What does it mean?" Mei knew what it meant. But did he?
"You see how the three lines are different, Mei? Those represent the three types of grass goats enjoy most. One grows straight, one is crooked, and one is lying almost flat. Things we are most thankful for. To me, that particular design means 'thank you'. Seeing that very design the day after his rescue? Remarkable! Truly a wonder."
Mei stared to the horizon. The Elder was right again! How?
The Elder smiled and laughed. "I guess we best get back to the herd before someone gets hurt, eh?"
Mei laughed too. "It's just a petty squabble."
As the Elder turned and slowly descended the hill, Mei took another look at Baku Baku. She thought about leaving a message for Gabu, and glanced down the far side of the hill. The grass had already been trampled. The impressions formed a neat circle. To her and Gabu, a plain circle - one of the easiest patterns to make - was used for many purposes. It generally meant "yes" or "I agree". In more elaborate messages, it represented the most obvious reply based on the message that triggered it. For example, if one were to say "thank you", there was only one obvious meaning for the circle:
"You're welcome."
Three long days had passed. The pair finally arranged a meeting at one of their favorite spots, the lone tree by the hill. Mei's heart pounded with excitement as she ran towards the brown shape beside the tree.
As she neared, that shape held his paws out to welcome her. "Mei!"
She leaped into them and they embraced tightly. "Gabu!"
The wolf gently put her down and said, "Mei, I'm so glad to see you! I'm so glad to be here!" He pointed at the ground.
"I'm so glad you're alright! I nearly lost you."
"Aww, I was fine," Gabu lied. "Thanks for bringing help and coming to my rescue though. How did you know it was me?"
"I didn't know for sure. I figured that had to be you everyone was talking about. Those two just sort of followed me."
"You were going to go alone? What if some other wolf was there?" Gabu was taken aback.
"Then that would be a wolf I would want to get to know." She thought quietly and asked, "Gabu, what made you decide to help them?"
"I thought, what if that was you? After they saw me, they wouldn't leave to get more help. Not even if I left first. They didn't trust me..." His eyes began to water. "Why didn't they trust me, Mei?"
The young goat smiled at her friend. "Gabu, you always forget. You're a wolf. When other animals see you, they see this..." She held her cloven hoof to the wolf's jowl, exposing a sharp fang. Gabu licked the bitter taste of grass from his lips.
"But when I look at you... what I see... is right here." Mei gently touched the center of Gabu's chest.
"Thank you, Mei," Gabu sniffled. "You're the best friend a wolf could ever have... Can you imagine though if that was some other wolf you went to rescue? Can you imagine having two wolf friends?"
Mei giggled. "Never thought of it before! That would be wonderful though. Gabu, you're the best friend a goat could ever have. Can you imagine having two goat friends?"
"I almost did. Your High Elder seems like a great guy. I wouldn't mind hanging out with him," Gabu said.
"He'd probably like that."
Gabu nodded his head side to side as he imitated the old goat's gravelly voice, "Mr Wolf, listen to all the wise things I have to say."
Mei laughed. "That's him!"
"What I don't get is how he knew about the rainbows. What he said makes sense though. We just used something you made up."
Mei gasped. "It all makes sense now!" Her mouth opened wide.
"Mei?"
"No, I didn't make that up! You learned 'tomorrow' from me, but I learned it from Grandma! I never knew what it stood for! She and the High Elder were kids together! This was a game they played. This was their game! They sent each other secret messages by the river. These are their secret messages we're using!"
Gabu was stunned. "Wow!" The pair sat and considered how this might affect things. Gabu asked, "Does that mean we need to change all our messages now?"
"I don't think so." Mei's eyebrows showed her concentration. "Most of them we made up ourselves. The High Elder seems to be staying home more now. I think we're safe."
"So I guess everything worked out!" Gabu smiled.
"Yeah. I guess it did."
Granny stood with her little granddaughter at the creek near Sawa Sawa. It had been three weeks since fate had thrust the youngster solely in her care. Granny tried her best to keep the little one's mind occupied.
"All right Mei, what does this one say?" Granny scratched into the wet earth.
The curious youngster watched with interest. "Umm... Let's play..." she pointed to each of the three designs as she spoke, "at the big rock... tomorrow!"
"Yes, dear! Very good! Would you like to play at the big rock tomorrow? What would you write back?"
The tiny goat reached forward and carved a little circle. She turned and smiled wide. Granny spoke. "It's a date. I will see you at the big rock tomorrow! Ready for another?"
Instead of replying, Mei asked the question stuck in her heart: "Grandma, when will I see mom again?"
"You will, dear. Some day."
"But when is that?"
"I can show you. But you have to read it." Mei followed her to a wider patch of fresh soil. "Close your eyes."
"Okay. I won't look!" Little Mei was excited Granny actually had an answer for her. She could hear Granny stretching and straining, the quiet sounds of hoof on sand, and the creek trickling beyond.
"Open your eyes." Mei uncovered her eyes. Granny asked, "What does it say?"
Mei stood up excitedly, and looked out in amazement at the designs laid out before her. Granny knew exactly when. "Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow!" There were rainbows everywhere.
"Yes, Mei. It may seem like a lot now, but each day is one less tomorrow. When the only thing left is 'today', you and your mother will be together again. I promise." Granny smiled.
Little Mei smiled back and looked again at the answer in the dirt.