Azzi, The One Shoyru Part 2

by Elizabeth Puckett

The evening comes and Azzi sleeps. She will need rest for her trip in the morning. With her new bow and arrow, her food supplies, clothing and utensils packed and ready she sleeps soundly. The night is calm with a cool breeze. The moon rises high and all is well. The other animals are also asleep but they do not know the future and what small Shoyru will save them. As dawn comes the wood becomes alive and Azzi wakes. Slipping her sandals on, she puts her pack on her back and steps outside into the light. Breathing deep she looks at her home one more time and goes over what she has packed in her head. Satisfied that everything is ready she starts out toward the great mountains. The trail she takes is easy on her feet and she covers much ground before noon. Stopping at a small spring to drink and eat, she looks at the beautiful woods around her. The mountain is closer but is still another day's walk away. Finishing her lunch she starts again, but something isn't right. The day animals are quiet. Stopping, she holds her breath. She can hear footsteps not far behind her. She's being followed, and now she realizes her mistake. All this time she's left such a trail that anyone could follow it. She must fly now and risk it. By flying, she can land not too far away and the person will have lost the trail. That will stop them, for at least a little while. Lifting into the air as quiet as she can she can see an orange Lupe. She remembers her dream and flies a little faster. By evening she lands on a huge boulder. Here she will leave no tracks. There is a small burrow under the boulder on the other side, and sensing no one has lived there for quite some time, she decides to sleep there. It is hidden and no one will see it. The stars come out one by one and Azzi slowly drifts into sleep, all the while an orange painted Lupe tiredly pushes on through the wood.

Azzi is awakened by the sound of breaking twigs. Slowly, she peers out of the entrance of the den. It is the Lupe. He has come upon her resting place. He has not found her scent yet, and sits against a rock nearby. He blocks her way of escaping. Twirling his paws he looks around. He looks at Azzi. Gasping, she holds perfectly still. Then he glances around some more. He hasn't noticed her. Finally the Lupe dozes off and Azzi becomes restless and knows she must do something. Realizing she has no time to lose, she concocts a plan.Azzi awakens the Lupe by throwing a rock at its feet . Scratching his head, he bends down to examine the rock. Azzi launches another rock from her den and strikes him on his shoulder. A fierce look covers the Lupe's face as he swirls around looking for his attacker. His back is turned and, soundlessly, Azzi creeps halfway out from her hiding spot. Grabbing the nearest large rock, she aims and strikes the Lupe. He is knocked unconscious. She pulls out a rope as she scrambles out of the den and drags the Lupe to a large rock beside the boulder. She ties him securely to the rock and gags him with sassafras leaves. Dusting her paws off and smiling to herself, she again takes to the air and heads for the mountain. This has been her first test but not nearly her last. By lunch she has only a little way to the bottom of the mountain. This makes her glad and she decides to rest. She will use the rest of the evening to get to the mountain and the next day to climb it.

Starring with awe at the girth of the mountain, Azzi sets off determined to make it to the top in a day and a half. With her pack on her back she climbs vigorously up the mountain. Putting each hand and foot into the slits in the rock and grabbing roots when she can, drenched in sweat, she reaches a small cave by noon. She stops only for a quick bite and to wash her face. Again she starts up the mountain. By this time it is not so hot and the small breeze cools her back. She would fly but she would tire soon and she might be seen. She would have to continue to climb.

“Wow, what a view!” Azzi speaks aloud, “I bet nobody in the whole world has seen anything so beautiful!” With that she sets off again setting a tiring pace. “Hurray!” Throwing her arms out and setting her pack down, she smiles to herself. She’s made it to the top by 10:30! Looking out over the wood it looks so different, so strange. Then she set about finding Bouli. She finds a small hut and a garden not far from where she came up. “Azzi, welcome.” She’s startled by the sudden appearance of the smiling Nimmo. “Congratulations you made it!” Making a motion for Azzi to follow, Azzi follows the Nimmo into hut. Stepping inside she smells the wonderful odor of peppermint leaves and green tea. Bouli has seated herself in a large overstuffed ruby chair and sips her tea. Carefully, Azzi settles into a large beanbag like chair. The conversation begins.