Chapter 12

"Well...what do you have to ask me?"

The chief asked, turning away from the burning fire while it crackled loudly, facing the young boy.

"Well, chief...uhm...I need help with my fishing skills, I haven't caught any bass this full moon cycle."

He stared at the young boy for a few seconds before responding.

"Well, my dear young one, the full moon doesn't amplify the fish's presence, it amplifies your personal strengths and weaknesses, making you aware of your troubles, if you came to be that means it worked."

He stood up slowly, his white, long hair came down like a large mop on his head, contrasting with his darker skin.

"So, our gifted one is struggling? Well, I hope Munik isn't to blame."

He thought to himself. Munik was the god of the night and shadow according to their beliefs, they found this young boy in the woods one day and raised him as their own, the Honiko People praised the boy and believed he was a gift from Munik.

"I have something to show you."

He took a few steps back, looking into the dark forest while nodding for the boy to go towards him. His face was hesitant as he watched his chief do this, but in the end he followed the man into the woods. 

"Where are we going?" 

He asked, pushing aside a cluster of branches while keeping his eyes locked on the chief. He simply kept silent while pressing on, eventually reaching a cave which stretched about 20 meters in width, and looking inside would only have your eyes greeted with an inscrutable darkness.

Without speaking the man grabbed a branch which was lying on the ground next to him, before taking out some flint and steel from his pack and clashing the 3 together until the wooden tip ignited with flames, slightly illuminating the dark cave. 

Then they both proceeded into the cave, the more the darkness swallowed the both of them, the both felt the urge to cling tightly to the man's leg, which he allowed while letting out a tiny chuckle as the boy did so. 

"Don't be scared, young one, this cave isn't filled with spirits, and if there were any, they would be the ones of our ancestors."

The chief moved the torch to his left and near a cave wall, which was filled with intricate carvings of past events in their culture, from the birth of the first human, to the coming of the "dark-child". 

"These are paintings of our history, our way of life, our meaning."

The chief's voice gradually got softer as he explained to the young boy, insighting him on the past events. 

"Why are you showing me this?"

The boy asked, looking at the carved images while pressing his hand against the carved wall, as if he felt a connection to his past. 

"Well, our culture is bent by stories, lessons, fables, and other ways to convey a message. The full moon symbolizes growth and change under its white light, not physical growth like muscles and bone, but evolution of the spirit."

The boy pondered.

"What does this have to do with fishing?"

The chief laughed like he just told the funniest joke in the world.

"Well, the reason you aren't cultivating fish isn't because the fish aren't in the area, the reason you aren't cultivating fish is because you aren't in your area, you're puzzled, dazed, confused...and you have every right to be at this moment, you are a child after all, but that doesn't mean you're non susceptible to growth and change."

The chief continued 

"Think of the wind, how it changes during the winter and the summer, it grows bitter during the winter months, and warm and gentle during the summer. We are like the wind, forever changing and growing as the binds of fate see fit."

The boys eyes widened as he heard his chief explain.

"So, it's my fault I can't collect any fish?"

The chief nodded.

"It is, but don't be discouraged by that. Personal growth and experience aren't defined by any outside forces, but it's defined by the inside..."

The chief laughed as he tapped the boy's temple.

"It's defined by what you do to grow, you could practice fishing more, you could practice less, you could dance in the wind, whatever it takes for you to grow, you must grow, growth is essential for us."

The chief blew out his torch with a big puff of the mouth, engulfing the environment in a blanket of darkness, but this time the boy didn't cling to his chief, but stood idly by like it was any other time of day.

"Now, let's get you back to the river, and see if you can collect any fish, shall we?"

He asked the boy, stepping out of the darkness, and back into the light, looking down at the boy. The boy nodded happily, grabbing the chief's hand with his small hand as they proceeded to the river.