Set in pre European times, this story follows Kura, who is trained in the Traditional Whare Wananga, or house of esoteric knowledge. Her story takes us into other realms where the patupaiarehe, ponaturi, hapuoneone and many more other beings live. A fantasy story based on the Maori equivalent to elves, etc.
Chapter 14 - Aweko
The karea stretched his wings and rose gracefully
into the air. Te Mano was grateful for his years of
training in balance, but nothing had quite prepared him
for this. The ground fell away and the wind rushed
around them, but the karea, aware of his strange
burden, did not make any sudden manoeuvres.
Te Mano soon found his balance point and started to relax. Looking at Kura, he wondered if she had ever done this before, for she looked so at ease. Pirihonga definitely had not experienced anything quite like this, but his eyes were watching Kura trustingly. Te Mano was once again struck by the faith of the kuri and decided, that when this was over, he would try to become more like the kuri in these aspects.
Higher and higher they flew until they broke through the cover of the arai. The children of Uru te Ngangana twinkled down and lit up the whole place. Te Mano could make out the top of the arai, stretching below them like a korowai, protecting Papatuanuku. Far above him he could make out the tihi of the Maunga Ngangara, stretching into the sky, snow-capped and majestic.
Rising swiftly, the karea headed directly towards a cliff face, dark and foreboding, but at the last moment manoeuvered into a crevice. Passing through this, the karea emitted a piercing cry as they came into an open valley and headed to the other side. Te Mano blinked as the sun streamed down, he looked up and saw the blue sky, he looked down and saw the lush green roof of the ngahere below, and he wondered where they were. He had never seen this place before, and the view was breath-taking.
Another cliff face sprung into view, but at the last moment the karea glided upwards and came to rest on a ledge. Touching his wing to the ground, the three of them descended, to find themselves at the entrance of a cave. The karea moved in, beckoning them to follow. He walked over to some moss that was growing by a spring of water and indicated that they should eat it.
As soon as they had eaten, they heard the karea speak in their minds.
"Welcome to my humble home. You are the first humans or animal," he said, looking at Pirihonga also, "to ever be allowed here. The Patupaiarehe was right; no one will think of looking for you here." he continued, "No one knows where here is," and the karea stretched his mighty wings and let out a screech of laughter. "Now rest, for I must go in search of Marino."
Te Mano looked amazed. "How do you know?" he gasped.
"Aweko," came the reply, "for that is what I am," and with that, the karea stretched his wings and soared off in flight, leaving Te Mano, Kura, and Pirihonga in his home.
The kuri settled himself down in a corner, and was soon fast sleep. Kura curled up next to him, using him as a pillow.
Te Mano and stood on the ledge for ages, thinking. He knew that when they were on the other side of the cliff it was night-time. Yet here, it was definitely day-time. He pondered upon this for a long time and then wondered, if it was possible that Aweko had brought them into another dimension, or maybe, into another world altogether. "Why not," he thought to himself. They had been through the kohu which was another dimension, of that he was now sure, and the Patupaiarehe had spoken of leaving them in their own world. Te Mano also remembered the cryptic comment made by Aweko, about no one knowing where this place was.
And so, as the sun set below the Maunga in this world, Te Mano sighed wearily to himself and returned into the cave. He settled down next to Kura and the kuri and was soon asleep.
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Te Mano soon found his balance point and started to relax. Looking at Kura, he wondered if she had ever done this before, for she looked so at ease. Pirihonga definitely had not experienced anything quite like this, but his eyes were watching Kura trustingly. Te Mano was once again struck by the faith of the kuri and decided, that when this was over, he would try to become more like the kuri in these aspects.
Higher and higher they flew until they broke through the cover of the arai. The children of Uru te Ngangana twinkled down and lit up the whole place. Te Mano could make out the top of the arai, stretching below them like a korowai, protecting Papatuanuku. Far above him he could make out the tihi of the Maunga Ngangara, stretching into the sky, snow-capped and majestic.
Rising swiftly, the karea headed directly towards a cliff face, dark and foreboding, but at the last moment manoeuvered into a crevice. Passing through this, the karea emitted a piercing cry as they came into an open valley and headed to the other side. Te Mano blinked as the sun streamed down, he looked up and saw the blue sky, he looked down and saw the lush green roof of the ngahere below, and he wondered where they were. He had never seen this place before, and the view was breath-taking.
Another cliff face sprung into view, but at the last moment the karea glided upwards and came to rest on a ledge. Touching his wing to the ground, the three of them descended, to find themselves at the entrance of a cave. The karea moved in, beckoning them to follow. He walked over to some moss that was growing by a spring of water and indicated that they should eat it.
As soon as they had eaten, they heard the karea speak in their minds.
"Welcome to my humble home. You are the first humans or animal," he said, looking at Pirihonga also, "to ever be allowed here. The Patupaiarehe was right; no one will think of looking for you here." he continued, "No one knows where here is," and the karea stretched his mighty wings and let out a screech of laughter. "Now rest, for I must go in search of Marino."
Te Mano looked amazed. "How do you know?" he gasped.
"Aweko," came the reply, "for that is what I am," and with that, the karea stretched his wings and soared off in flight, leaving Te Mano, Kura, and Pirihonga in his home.
The kuri settled himself down in a corner, and was soon fast sleep. Kura curled up next to him, using him as a pillow.
Te Mano and stood on the ledge for ages, thinking. He knew that when they were on the other side of the cliff it was night-time. Yet here, it was definitely day-time. He pondered upon this for a long time and then wondered, if it was possible that Aweko had brought them into another dimension, or maybe, into another world altogether. "Why not," he thought to himself. They had been through the kohu which was another dimension, of that he was now sure, and the Patupaiarehe had spoken of leaving them in their own world. Te Mano also remembered the cryptic comment made by Aweko, about no one knowing where this place was.
And so, as the sun set below the Maunga in this world, Te Mano sighed wearily to himself and returned into the cave. He settled down next to Kura and the kuri and was soon asleep.
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