Mgobu leaned in close to him and whispered, "Don't fret, they wouldn't stand achance around us now. After what we did to them." Mgobu walked across the log, followed by the nervous Bowser and Kisota, whowas walking slowly in order to not fall off. One by one, every Raptor behindthem followed, the children on the backs of some. The Dragons went acrosslast because they were so huge. Some flew over, but the others wanted to takethe challenge, and express their wing power if they fell off.On Lana's Ridge, the group walked altogether, and even though the rocky pathwas narrower, it was much stronger than this ancient log, so here they must beextra careful. When everyone reached the end of the log, they stopped to rest. Most took adrink of water in the river right next to them, but Bowser soaked his head init. It was a hot day.The group had to cool off. Seeing what Bowser did, some others dipped their own heads in the water, and some even leaped in to take a swim, being carefulto not go to the edge and not to fall into the waterfall itself. The greatthing about this river is that it's very calm, and the waterfall barely makesa sound, even though its size is great. Mgobu walked to the edge, and dippedhis claw into the water. Small ripples spread throughout, and then theybecame larger and then finally faded. He saw his reflection in the water,pulsating with the moving river, seeming to grow larger and stronger. "Why is my reflection so golden? Golden as the morning sun. Just because I'm King of this land, I always show a power above all. Why must everyone obey me? Obeying me does not do my job. Just because I rule Wircada, Why can't everyone's reflection look like mine? Reflection, reflection, Change your wondrous form! Be good to me, reflection, Take me back where I belong."His quiet song echoed through his head, and the reflection didn't change form.It stayed golden, because he was the King. He sighed, and lied down. Then hesuddenly realized. No one in the group ate anything! He stood up, and calledthe five previous hunters to go fetch some food. "Aye aye, captain!" said Nudari, saluting him.The five close friends ran off, arguing about what to catch and who will dothe best job. Meanwhile, Weshi was wandering about, stepping over sleeping Raptors' headsand practically jumping over sleeping Dragons' heads. She was very bored, and decided to practice balancing on the huge log. She turned around to hermother. Lisara was asleep, with Karitok guarding her side. She won't mind,Weshi thought. She scampered playfully over to the log.It had many cracks on it from the claws of the numerous feet that passed overit. Weshi took one step on it. Then another, and then another. She washalfway down the log, laughing and playing, when suddenly the log emitted ahuge crack! Weshi gasped, and saw the other end of the log breaking in half.She screamed, and ran the other way to her family. Lisara, startled, woke upand looked at the direction of the scream. "WESHI!" she yelled, struggling to her weak feet and limping to the breakinglog.Mgobu turned around from the river and saw his daughter on the log. Then hesaw the injured Lisara running to her. He frantically strode toward Weshi.Weshi was just at the end of the log when it broke in half and tilted sixtydegrees. Weshi screamed, and clung on the roots, which were breaking themselves. Everyone else got up and gasped with suspense. Lisara skidded toa halt at the end of the ledge and tried to grab Weshi in her jaws, but she couldn't reach her. The log was tilting quickly, and when Mgobu got there,Weshi was unreachable no matter what. More and more roots were breaking, andLisara and Mgobu tried to pull the enormous log onto dry land, but no use.Bowser and Kisota assisted them, and all four of them still knew they couldn'tdo it. Other Raptors helped them, and then Dragons, and then everyone, butthey still couldn't reach Weshi or pull the log up. Lisara, desperate, leapedonto the log and crawled down it to Weshi, who was sliding down, soon toplunge into the water. "LISARA! NO! GET BACK!" yelled Mgobu across the other side of the log.Lisara ignored him and reached for Weshi's hand. The log was hanging on its last root.Finally Weshi got a hold, and both Raptors crawled back up the log with Weshiholding onto her mother's freezing hands. Lisara handed Weshi to Kisota, andasked Mgobu to help her up.But just as she put her good foot onto the edge, the final root snapped inhalf, and Lisara lost her footing and fell down with the log. She hoped for aledge to appear, but none were there and she plummeted into the water, neverto surface again. A dead silence fell among the crowd.Weshi, her eyes filled with tears, stared down at the rushing water. Buka,hearing some talking about Lisara, trotted up to Weshi and looked down with her. "What happened? Where's mom?" he asked. Weshi exploded into crying andturned around and ran away far and fast. She stopped by a nearby tree, andcried into the grass.That moment, the five hunters returned, hearing the log break and fall. They,and then the rest of the group looked at her. Mgobu sat down and patted herback. He then started crying.Some others cried as well. Buka still didn't understand. "What happened!?" he asked again. Mgobu, wiping away his tears, sobbed and said, "B-Buka...the log broke...and...and...your mother fell down into the waterfall with it. We lost our Queen, my wife, and your mother." A tear formed in Buka's eye, but he was still confused. "I-Is she still...alive?" he asked, lowering his head. "I'm sorry son, but she is dead," replied Mgobu, hesitating for a moment.Some gasps were heard, and Buka froze still. His mother for seven years,dead?This can't be! He started crying, and hugged poor little Weshi. Mgobu buriedhis head under them, showing his pain. This was the Raptorine way ofexpressing sadness. "She can't be dead, she just can't be! Not so quick! She already had aninjury, why suffer more! Oh gods! Please help me!" yelled Buka to the skyabove him. "It was all my fault! Why did I have to walk across that log? She wouldhave lived if it wasn't for me! I don't deserve to live!" cried Weshi inMgobu's face.Mgobu gasped, and embraced his daughter. "Oh don't say that dear! Nothing of it was your fault! You, me, or anyoneelse couldn't have done anything! It was an accident," he said to theterrified Weshi.Weshi calmed down, and sat up. Memories of her mother's protective instinctssoared through her. A burning pain in her heart reminded her of her mother'spain as she plunged to her miserable death. Why the Queen? Why my mother?Those questions raced through her mind every living second. "She always tried to protect me. Always being there for me," said Weshiquietly.Buka sighed, and wiped more tears out of his eyes. His mother, his greatestsoul, one of his greatest influences, at the bottom of the deep river. Hethought he should die if he doesn't stop crying. Kisota sat down next to both them. "You know children, death is always a terrible tragedy. Both of my parentsdied when I was about your age. I lived here with them, and when they died, Ithought my life was over.Where would I turn, I thought. What would I do? Was there hope? But then,each night when I looked into the sky, there they were. In the stars. Two ofthe brightest stars in the sky, that was them. I remembered them thatinstant. So you see, you just gotta remember your mother and she will stillbe with you wherever you may go. Right now, she is watching over you, andprobably smiling at what I'm saying." Weshi and Buka both smiled, and looked at the sky.There was one star that gleamed brighter than the others. They knew who thatwas.Lisara's star seemed to whisper, "I'll remember you," while crying. "And when there's rain, that's her crying for you. The thunder is her angerfor leaving you. The sunshine, when she is happy for you," added Kisota. Everyone looked at the stars, and some kept on crying. Bowser walked overand sat down near Kisota. "You know what your speech did? It healed the young ones' broken hearts.I'm so proud of you, my friend," he said as he placed his hand on Kisota'sright shoulder. Kisota looked at him with great gratuity, and hugged him. There will never be anyone like Bowser. Mgobu watched the two. He sighed. "Those two, they will always be good friends."Just then, he was interrupted by an ever alert Mokoti, who earlier was cryinghis wings off. "Sire! Some Raptors are complaining about not getting anything to eat!" hesaid.Mgobu realized that the five hunters didn't bring back anything because theyheard the log cracking, and he called them to him. They quickly woke up fromtheir naps and hurriedly ran over to Mgobu. "Yessir!" said Nudari. "Bring back something to eat for us, and please don't get interrupted byanything this time, okay?" asked Mgobu, a little annoyed. "Will do, sir!" said Nudari again, being the "trooper" that he was.The five walked off to scan for food, and on the way, some chattered aboutsomething like usual.Nudari and Doleri argued, while the others were rather quiet. "Nudari, what's with the ‘captain' attitude?" asked Doleri, now sick ofhearing that. "Well, I happen to like being loyal," replied Nudari, crossing his arms.Harusha thought that no one was looking for any food, so he and the otherthree who were paying attention scanned the horizon for movement. Harushastopped in his tracks, and whispered something to Dalsoti. Dalsoti nodded. "Me being unfair? Well look who's talking, Mr. Loyalty!" yelled Dolerisarcastically and angrily. "WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP?" screamed Dalsoti, running in front of them. "There is a small herd of Felks right over there and we could be missing outon it!" she added. Nudari and Doleri quieted down.The small grouping of Felks were resting on the ground, not aware of thehunters' presence.Felks had great vision, hearing, and smell, but they didn't have much of abrain, so they were pretty stupid and totally unorganized, unlike the Raptors.Dalsoti, the genius of the hunting group, planned out the hunt. "Okay, Nudari, you take the left flanking position. Harusha and Doleri, youguys are together, and you take the right flanks. Niseye, you divert them, and I will surprise them from up front. All flankers, you guys run in after I take off. Everyone got it?" asked Dalsoti, looking around. Everyone nodded. Nudari, Harusha, and Doleri all got in their positions in the hunting field.Niseye sneaked from behind the Felks, and then jumped out and scared them. The panicking Felks scattered from their places and ran in every direction,away from Niseye, who was chasing them.Dalsoti sees the running Felks, then leaps out of the tall grass ahead of theherd, landing on several, crushing their backs. The flankers see the signalto run, and then chase after the other Felks. Nudari took down three more,and the other two helped Dalsoti with seven others. "Boy, that was great. Probably the best hunt we've ever made together," saidDoleri, dragging five Felks by their tails. "It was our second hunt together, remember?" asked Dalsoti, carrying threeFelks in her claws. Harusha carried the last two. Finally, they reached the Raptor/Dragon group. Some of the members dashedtoward the hunters for the meal, almost trampling them. The majority, though,were very quiet and solemn. The evening meal that night was definitely not the usual frenzy for the lastpart of the meat, or getting as much to eat as one can. It was very quiet andsober, for the remembrance of Lisara. They will have to get a new Queen. Butwho? Weshi didn't eat at all, and neither did Buka. They just couldn't. The twojust rested under the moonlight. Mibura, the only female Koopa there,finished her meal and turned to Bowser, who was already asleep. She got upand walked closer to him. Mibura poked him in the back, and he almost jumpedup in surprise. "Mibura? What are you doing here?" he asked. "Well hello to you too," Mibura replied.Bowser growled, and stood up and walked away. "Bowser! I just want to talk to you!" yelled Mibura, chasing him into sometrees.She finally caught up with him, and swung him around by the shoulder. "I have to talk to you. This is very serious," she said, looking at himsternly.Bowser didn't understand. What could she be so serious about? "What do you want?" he asked, frustrated.Mibura pulled him closer and whispered, "Let's sit by the waterfall."Bowser shook his head yes, and they both walked out of the patch of trees.Every other member of the group was sound asleep, some sleeping with theirfeet in the air. Weshi and Buka didn't sleep though. They just stared at thestars. Bowser looked at the Raptorlings for a second, then followed Mibura tothe waterfall. She sat down, and Bowser, hesitating for a moment, sat downwith her. Mibura's violet eyes glared at the starlight reflecting off of themoving water, still as time. "What do you want me to talk to you about?" asked Bowser, scooting back.Mibura grabbed him by his spiked collar and pulled him back to where he was. "Let's not make them hear it, okay? It's...personal," she said.Bowser winced, sort of confused, and wondered what the Koopa was thinking.She had a strange smile on her face that made her seem as if she was about toask him something that no one else dared ask him. "Bowser, you know that poor Queen Lisara died in that awful waterfallaccident, right?" she asked in a very sad voice. "Of course. Everyone knows about it. Why?" Bowser asked. "Well...I was wondering...do you think that I could be the new Queen?" Miburaasked, lowering her head below her shoulders, not wanting to hear an answer.Bowser scooted back in surprise, and turned around. Mgobu was still awake,thinking about his wife. "Well, maybe, but you do know that Mgobu's a Raptor, and you're a Koopa? Howcould it work out?" Bowser asked. Mibura frowned. "But what if he likes me?" asked Mibura. "I doubt he ever paid attention to you. He's probably gonna marry Dalsoti,IF he marries at all again," said Bowser. "You're right. I'll just leave you alone now." With that, Mibura got up andwalked away. Bowser stared at her, and then got up and left to go to sleep.The next morning, everyone got up solemnly and not so energetic. Mgobu askedBowser if he could lead in front of him. "How? I don't know the way!" said Bowser, looking in all directions noticingthat they all looked the same. "I'll guide you, Bowser, I'm right behind you," replied Mgobu. Bowseragreed, and everyone lined up. Weshi and Buka trotted up to the front of theline where their lost parent has been and walked in that spot. Kisota wasjust nearby and thought the little ones are not going to make it bythemselves. But Mgobu, Bowser, himself, and many other considerate helperswould lead them on. Kisota glanced at some others, and they smiled at him,knowing what he was thinking about.They started walking, but then Mgobu stopped. Everyone was puzzled at whythis happened.Mgobu slowly turned around and said, "I don't know where to go...I suddenlyforgot."Bowser froze, because Mgobu said he'll guide him, but if he forgets where togo, how can he guide him, or anyone on this journey? "What do you mean you forgot where to go? How will we find our way?" askedBowser, a little angry, but still calm. "I don't know...something happened just now...all this confusion...I...don'tknow!" said Mgobu, putting his hand on his forehead. Bowser thought for a moment, then remembered. "Mgobu, remember that song you sang to me? You told me to believe in myself!Now...you must believe in yourself," he said, lightening up.Mgobu put his hand down, then tried to remember. He was a rather old Raptor,and his memory held many secrets and thoughts. "Yes! I remember that song very well. But, this time it's different. Youcan't just....make someone remember something they knew for so long. It justisn't easy anymore." Weshi overheard the conversation, and peeked in for a closer look. "What are they talking about, Nudari?" she asked the nearby Raptor. "Well, my dear, it isn't serious. Nothing to be worried about," Nudarireplied.Weshi turned back at the conversation, then at Nudari. "Why have we stopped?" she asked again.Nudari sighed, and said, "Don't worry, we'll be on our way in a minute.Just...some little troubles, you see." Weshi was a little worried, but Nudari's gentle tone told her that she andeveryone else is safe and well. Mgobu was still talking with Bowser, and they weren't very light and spiritedtalks. "I just can't find the way," said Mgobu.Bowser didn't know what to do, so he looked at the stars that were still inthe morning sky. They told him the answer. The Kings told him the answers.Lisara told him the answers. "Look, Mgobu. Look at those shining stars. They bring good luck if they areshining in the morning. You can still see Lisara up there. Tell her you wantto go on, Mgobu. Tell her you need to find the way. Tell her we must survivethis journey." Mgobu, after hearing Bowser say this, looked at the stars. Lisara's starshone brighter now. She felt his pain. Mgobu whispered some words to thesky. Everyone behind him glanced and some were really puzzled. The words ofprayer were those of vain and sorrow. "Lisara, though you are long gone, I have some troubles on this journey, Help me and all my dear Lisara, Show me the way to the end."Suddenly, a rush of wind soared by the whole group. Gasps and mumbles wereheard, and Weshi, scared, hid behind some others. Mgobu smiled, and immediately knew what it was. "She's answering, Bowser, she hears me!" he yelled excitedly to his friend.Bowser was entranced by everything happening, and didn't answer. Then, some sort of sound rushed through the crowd. It was a soft femalevoice, echoing throughout. Mgobu felt it in his face. "Mgobu, I feel your pain, I feel your sorrow. Hear these words and havefaith, my love. You will live. You all will survive. Keep heading north until you reach ahuge rocky mountain.Be careful, though that mountain is not steep, it has falling rocks. Climbthe mountain, and you will reach your destination." This was Lisara's voice. "I'll remember you," she said. The phrase kept echoing off of the valley.Mgobu felt a burning tear form in his eye. Lisara's spirit touched everyonein the group.The dumbfounded children were confused. Weshi thought that her mother didn'tdie and was actually there, but soon she knew she was wrong. Mgobu calmedhimself down and did what Lisara said, and then everyone continued along. Hesaw that the direction ahead of them was east, so he turned toward where hethought was north. The afternoon walk was a quite hot one, although the Paradise Valley is avery cool place. Kisota asked Bowser if he's scared. "Scared? What do you mean?" asked Bowser. "Well, I mean, are we gonna make it in this weather?" Kisota asked. "Of course. It's not a long way from here," replied Bowser, with a hint ofdoubt.Kisota groaned in a sudden urge of disbelief, looking every which way. Behindthem, some Raptors were complaining to others about the heat. Zaari theDragon, with some others, shaded his head with his massive wings. Mokoti, whoflew above them as usual, took the most damage from the sun. He couldn't keephis wings over his head if he wants to fly, so he decided to walk. "I HATE this heat! Oohh...why can't Mgobu just stop for the day and walk atnight?" he asked himself quietly, so Mgobu won't hear him. He scampared intothe shade of some Dragons' wings, and finally relaxed. In the front, Bowser,who led the team with Mgobu, walked briskly. Kisota was still looking aroundfor predators. But then he realized. The whole group were carnivores! Hesighed, and smiled. Then, in a long, long distance ahead, something caughthis eye. He squinted at the sight, which seemed to be a dark figure. "Uhh...Bowser..." he started as he poked Bowser in the side, still notkeeping his eyes off of the figure. "What?" asked Bowser, turning to him, alert. "What's that?" asked Kisota, pointing to what he saw.Bowser squinted his weary eyes, and made out something. He tapped Mgobu onhis shoulder.Mgobu, who was focusing at something on his left side, turned around quickly. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Look!" Bowser said, running in front of everyone and pointing with his clawat the figure. Mgobu gasped, and told everyone to halt. "Oh, what is it NOW?" asked Mokoti, who seemed to have enough rough stops.Mgobu looked at him annoyingly, and cleared his throat. "Attention everyone! I apoligize for the inconvenient stop under such harshconditions, but take a moment to look ahead." Everyone followed his command and stared at the horizon. The Raptor andDragonlings didn't understand what everyone was looking at. "Oh my! Is that the mountain which we have to cross over and see the Paradise Valley?" asked Dalsoti, running up ahead of some others. Mgobu walked up to her and loudly and proudly said, "Yes. We are almost there."A plethora of cheers and hoots were rising among the crowd. Kisota and Bowserheld hands and danced up and down. The children still didn't get what wasgoing on. Nanki, a small male Raptorling, scampered over to Mgobu and nudged his leg. Mgobu looked down at the child sweetly. "Is something wrong, little one?" he asked, petting Nanki's soft neckfeathers. "What is happening, King Mgobu?" Nanki asked, looking him straight in hiswarm, red eyes with his soft, blue ones. "Well, child, we are almost there. Almost where we wanted to go. We willmake it. Now you go tell your friends that, okay?" Mgobu asked.Nanki smiled and trotted off to tell the other children. The other ones,espacially Weshi and Buka, jumped up and down at the good news. Mgobu felt soproud. He knew the journey would take a long time, but he didn't thinkeveryone would make it. And everyone did--except for his wife. He thought about her for a moment, and a tear rolled down his cheek. Bowser happilyromped over to Mgobu and put his hand on his shoulder. "Well, we made it," he said.Mgobu turned to him, and quietly said, "Almost. We have to travel for anothernight to reach the mountain, then cross it. Then, we are officially there."Bowser was a bit disappointed that instant, but one night wasn't anything. Heleft to talk to Kisota about something. Mgobu stared at him as he left, thenturned back around to face the dark mountain. Then he thought for a moment.What if Bargos live there? He didn't want to lose another life, especiallyone so dear to him. They have no choice but to cross over. Mokoti earliersuggested that the Dragons could carry the Raptors over the mountain, so theydon't have to walk, and they could fly. Mgobu thought it was great at first,but then he thought, where would the pride of going do far be? We can't cheatourselves. So he turned it down. Sighing, he walked a little more. Then heturned toward the travelers behind him. Some rested, others stretched and yawned, while some others just fell asleep. The children were running around playing, with the watchful eye of their parents on them. He smiled, knowingthat going this far, putting so much effort in this journey, they would surelymake it. "I never knew, That we would make it, Like this, together. Though I do know, It goes to show me, That going so far, Placing the strength, Now we are almost there! Almost there, we're almost there, At our great destination. For days and weeks, Through mountains and their peaks, Through the powereful waterfalls, We made it, we love it, we'll get there, A moment....to SHARE!(Mgobu and chorus) We're almost there, almost there, This journey of power, Soon will end. We're almost there, almost there, Show us the grateful spirit again, Night through night, and day through day, We only have one thing to say! We're almost there, almost there, Almost there finally. Just almost there, almost there, Our power as one shows...we did survive."The wind, which was much stronger earlier, died down now, and Mgobu's voiceechoed throughout once more. Bowser finished his talk with Kisota, whichhappened to be about what they will do when they get there, and walked up toMgobu and tapped him on the shoulder.Mgobu turned to him, showing great happiness. "Mgobu, I'm so glad you're here with us. Without you, we couldn't reach thisparadise ahead of us. Thank you." He smiled as he said that, and Mgobureturned it. Kisota walked up to them, and stood still for a moment. He looked at theground, and then scratched something in the dirt with his claws. He then,hesitating for a moment, looked at the two. "Umm...Mgobu. I just also wanted to thank you. Thank you for helping my friend here.If you weren't here to guide us, where would we go? Where would we turn? Iowe you." Mgobu was a bit surprised when he heard this, but then, as being a King,returned with a "no need to debt me" announce. He turned back around, andstared at the horizon, which seemed to get closer and closer. "Shall we go on?" he asked the two Koopas. "I think so. I just want to reach this...paradise...as soon as possible,"replied Bowser.They both turned to Kisota. He looked at the two of them, and backed away. "Well, I guess we can depart," he said meekly.Mgobu sighed, and decided that they really should move on, because these partsof Wircada were getting scarce on things to eat as well. He walked in betweenBowser and Kisota and, as usual, cleared his throat. "Alright everyone! It is time. Let's head onward."Everyone, some a bit startled, turned around. They quickly got up andstretched their now-rested bodies. The children, now finally happy to stoprunning around in one place, jerked on their parents' tails in order for themto leave already. Mgobu swirled around and started walking swiftly toward themountain. It was getting dark, and the air felt at least twenty degrees cooler. A strange light seemed to shine above the mountain, seeming to welcome thetemporary visitors until prey returns to the Kingdom. Weshi and Buka were a little surprised at this phenomenon.Maybe it was Lisara welcoming them. They smiled at the thought, and felt muchnicer inside.

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