Weak in Body, Strong in Mind and Spirit

The next morning was just a tad chilly, but it made the coffee taste even better, thought Pamela. She stepped out of the long house and saw that the fire was still burning and Kamela and Zena were still there.

“Good morning,” greeted Pamela.

“Good day to you,” projected Kamela with a smile.

“Zena is rubbing her eyes,” said Pamela. “Why don’t you put her inside with Caesar for a nap while we go riding.”

“Thank you, a good idea,” said Kamela.

She gently picked up Zena and, ducking low, followed Pamela through the long house’s entry portal. Caesar was sleeping soundly on a mat and Kamela gently laid Zena next to him.

“I’ll watch them,” channeled Megan.

“Thank you,” smiled Kamela.

They walked to the sapling corral behind the long house. Kimberly had saddle things on Jeremiah and Gracie.

“I don’t have a saddle big enough for Kamela’s butt,” said Kimberly. “No offense, Kamela.”

Kamela smiled. “I know I’m bigger then you.”

“Any bigger, and Trooper couldn’t carry you,” said Kimberly. “You must be four hundred pounds. Sorry.”

Kimberly and Pamela mounted their Beasts. Kamela watched and did as they did. Kimberly explained how to guide the Beast to go in desired directions.

“I like this,” said Kamela. “I’m not sure why.”

“Giddy up!” said Kimberly.

“Giddy up!” said Kamela aloud in the odd language of Little People.

Pamela simply hit her Beast gently with her feet and Jeremiah the Beast moved away.

“Let’s ride to Line Lake,” said Pamela.

“OK buddy,” answered Kimberly, whose words were echoed by Kamela, making everyone smile.

It didn’t take long to arrive at Line Lake. The Beasts waded a bit into the water and drank. It was another glorious Ratirontak morning.

“Momma!!” channeled Megan.

“What?” answered Pamela.

“There’s something wrong!”

“What do you mean?” asked Pamela.

“There is a giant monster here, and he’s looking very mean and aggressive!” Megan yelled. “I don’t think he’s a friendly Forest Person!”

“MADU! PUYALLUP!” channeled Pamela.

“I heard,” I said. “But we are far away Hunting! We shall return as quickly as we can! All of the Young Warriors are here! We’ll hurry as fast as we are able! Sentries, please respond!”

Pamela and Kimberly turned their Beasts, kicked them hard with their heels, and rode them at a terrifying speed. Kamela also turned her Beast and kicked as they had done. The distance to the long house was covered quickly. Pamela and Kimberly halted their Beasts when they saw who it was... Zolfo!

“How did...” said Pamela, as Kamela flew by on her Beast.

Zolfo had Caesar in one hand and Zena in the other. Megan and Bishr were beating on him to no effect whatsoever. Kamela then stood on the back of her Beast and as it passed she sprang at the mighty Skunk Ape. She grabbed him by the head and bit his neck hard. Zolfo dropped both Caesar and Zena, yanked Kamela off of him and threw her.

Pamela and Kimberly charged. They drove their Beasts at the massive Ape, but Zolfo merely shoved them to the side sending both the Beasts and their riders sprawling.

Kamela stood and glared at Zolfo. She looked over at Zena and Caesar to make sure they were alright and safe. She then lowered her gaze and snarled at the monster Ape. Zolfo laughed.

“A mere Female dares challenge Zolfo?”

“Watch me,” growled Kamela.

Kamela attacked, and Zolfo backhanded her and sent her into a tree. Megan, Bishr, David, Kimberly, and Pamela also charged at him, but he laughed and slapped them away as well.

Kamela sprang to her feet. Zolfa sneered. He walked up to her and swung a backhand at her. Kamela ducked down very low and swung a hard right uppercut into Zolfo’s genitals. Zolfo howled and doubled over and Kamela clasped her hands together and struck the back of Zolfo’s neck, sending him to the ground on his knees. She then kicked his chin, sending him backwards.

“Megan, take Zena and Caesar and run!” mind yelled Kamela.

Megan picked up both and ran off towards where she heard the Warriors approaching.

Kamela felt Zolfo grab her ankles as he swung and flung her away from him. Kamela hit a tree back first, sending her sprawling to the ground.

“Where are your Males? I need a real challenge.” scoffed Zolfo rising to his full height.

“Right here,” growled Ouragan.

Ouragan was the first to arrive, having been the closest.

“Try slapping me,” challenged Ouragan. “I don’t know how you got here, but it is time to finish what we started!”

“You again! Sprites,” laughed Zolfo. “We have Elders and Wizards too!”

Zolfo charged at Ouragan, who stood his ground. When Zolfo was close enough, Ouragan made a fist and struck Zolfo on his chin, sending him to the ground in a backwards somersault. Zolfo looked up and smiled an evil smile. He rose slowly and looked Ouragan up and down. Kamela prepared to join in, but Ouragan raised his hand.

“No,” said Ouragan. “This is a battle for only us Warriors!”

Kamela reluctantly stepped back, respecting the Code of Combat.

Zolfo picked up a huge rock and flung it at Ouragan, striking him in his chest. Ouragan fell backwards onto his back. Zolfo was on him instantly and pounded his head and chest with his fists. Ouragan was bleeding from his nose, mouth, and ears. He struggled and shoved at Zolfo, but the massive Ape had him pinned.

There were roars! It was Elders who were approaching. Zolfo stood defiantly.

“This is your Great Warrior? Pathetic.” laughed Zolfo as he pointed at Ouragan.

Ouragan struggled to rise, but fell back to the ground. Zolfo picked up a boulder and raised it over his head to smash in Ouragan’s skull. Aurora had walked up behind him and knocked it out of his hands. Zolfo spun and glared at Aurora, grabbed her by the throat, and lifted her from the ground.

“A pathetic ancient Female hag dares challenge me!” roared Zolfo.

Aurora started to lift her hands over her head but Zolfo grabbed her by her wrists.

“No Sprites!” yelled Zolfo.

I shoved the Elders aside as I approached. Zolfo looked at me and tossed Aurora away.

“You will regret that,” I snarled. “I challenge you to Warrior Combat!”

Zolfo scanned me up and down... “You’re barely eight feet tall! And what, perhaps seven hundred pounds?”

Puyallup was next to me, but I motioned for him to stand down.

“You have threatened my mate and my child,” I said in a low voice. “And now even an elderly Female. No one does that. Not you. Not now. Not ever. And never in my presence.”

“Who will stop me? You?” laughed Zolfo.

I walked to Zolfo and stared up at his ugly face. I huffed. Zolfo smiled and swung his right fist at me. I ducked and planted my right fist firmly in his stomach. He doubled over and I hit his chin with a left uppercut, which sent him backwards. Zolfo laid on the ground and viewed me more seriously. He reached over and grabbed a large rock. He threw it at me. I caught it in my right hand and I flung it right back at him in one fluid motion, striking him in his mouth.

He bent over and spit out a few teeth. His head snapped up and he then charged me. His head met my foot, which snapped it back. He fell in a heap. Zolfo looked to the side and saw Kamela holding Zena. He growled and sprang up and ran at them. I tackled him, knocking him to the ground. I sat on his chest, and as he snarled at me, I remembered my battle with Shaniko the Bear, also much larger than me... and I straightened my fingers, made them rigid, and jammed them into his neck and ripped out his wind pipe.

Zolfo looked first surprised, and then dismayed... and then he died.

I rose and looked at him as I tossed his wind pipe aside, and felt tears well up. Kamela approached me.

“Madu, you did what needed to be done,” she said gently as she placed her hands on my shoulders.

“The Earth Mother does not want us to kill,” I sobbed.

“Madu... you were protecting your Family, your Friends, and your Tribe. You did what had to be done.”

Kimberly was bent over Ouragan. She looked to Aurora who also approached.

“He is badly hurt,” said Kimberly.

Aurora looked in his eyes, and said “Please take him to my nest.”

Several Warriors hoisted up the massive one and carried him to Aurora’s. Aurora prepared potions to administer. As several held Ouragan up, Aurora pressed a vessel to his lips. Ouragan drank.

“He will be alright,” she said. “He took a beating, but he will survive. Thanks to Madu.”

I tried to muster a smile, but could not.

Windago looked at Zolfo’s lifeless body... “Bury him!” he commanded. Several Young Warriors began digging. It took several of them to roll the giant Ape into his grave, and he was soon gone.