Berganashio - Chapter 34

Kunya's muscles were starting to ache from flying, "Don't you find it odd that we're heading back to the caverns of Mem where the battle occurred just days ago?"

Keenwai nodded, "I just hope we can find her and that your idea works."

"It's got to work, it worked for the blinded meerbirds. Those merfaries sure have some unique powers. They can blind creatures with their scales but then their bottled tears are used to heal. To think... they had never thought the tears were useful, until we needed them!"

"Right. More than ever, I am glad that you were anointed with the anointing of healing, Kunya!"

She smiled. "It makes me wonder, what other creatures may need healing in this land..."

"...but don't take the burdens of entire world of Berganashio on your shoulders, you cannot fix everyone. I know you're heart's in the right place," Keenwai dipped down several yards, as they were nearing the rocks where the caverns of Mem were located.

"You're right. At the end of the day, without the Spirit, we wouldn't even have the anointings in the first place." Kunya fluffed her wings and one of her feathers fluttered down.

They landed where the battle had happened.

Keenwai observed the scene with a fresh perspective, "There are not many trees at all here, but see that tree line down there where the rocks seem to end?"

"She's bound to be near where those horrible trees grow."

They walked toward the trees and soon enough the putrid smell of the manchineel trees wafted into their nostrils.

Kunya's face twisted into an uncomfortable expression. "Oh, that is awful, Keenwai. I think it's the strongest I've ever smelled before!"

As they walked closer to the manchineel trees, they discovered that there weren't any other types of tree other than dozens and dozens of manchineel trees. The bright red berry clusters were so full that many of the limbs were sagging down, almost hitting the ground in some places. Many of the berries had fallen to the ground in piles. Keenwai's stomach churned. He reached down and grabbed a pile of the berries. The overpowering smell made his eyes water. He was overcome with a mixture of horror and excitement as he'd never felt before.

"Keenwai! Put them down! Why even touch them?" Kunya was alarmed.

Keenwai's head swam with dizziness and longing. He wondered what they could possibly taste like. Surely, one berry wouldn't cause him to be like his brother and mother.

Kunya saw the glossy look in his eyes. "Keenwai, put them down... now!" She could see that he was in a bit of a trancelike state. Without waiting for him to drop the berries, she chopped his wrist which made the berries fall to the ground.

He shook his head and the trance seemed to have ended for him. Keenwai rubbed his eyes.

Kunya shook his shoulders. "We came here to find Finy and Bargan, remember."

"Yes, yes, of course. I know. I don't know what came over me... It was such a strange sensation. I've never held them before."

Taking a deep breath, Kunya acknowledged, "Clearly, the berries are far stronger than I ever expected. Keenwai, we must focus though!"

A piercing shriek commanded their attention.

"Eeeeekkk! I'm sinking!"

Without another word, Keenwai and Kunya run further into the forest of manchineel trees. It became darker in the forest because the thick branches blocked more and more of the sunlight. The smell of the trees made Keenwai dizzier than even before. He blinked his eyes. They heard another scream. Running toward the scream, they finally came to a large mud pit. It was the darkest part of the forest. The shroud of trees twisted their limbs together in a hideous unholy matrimony of sorts.

"That's her!" Kunya was breathless from running.

Keenwai's mother, Finy, was stuck in the mud pit. Her body had grown so thin. So skeletal was her appearance, it appeared as if she was hardly alive at all.

"I must have them!" She reached her paw toward a hanging cluster of red berries, as if her life depended on just one more taste of the intoxicating berries. Sinking further into the mud pit, she hadn't noticed Keenwai and Kunya yet. The only thing she was focused on was the cluster of berries just outside of her reach.

"I need youuuu!" She yelled wildly, lusting for the taste of them.

Keenwai held back a sob that tried to escape from his throat at the sight of her.

"We got here just in time!" Kunya yelled.

They scanned the forest for anything that they could use to help get her out of the mud pit. One of the trees was covered in gnarly vines.

Keenwai pointed, "Let's use the vines!"

Pulling out knives that they had strapped to their belts, they attacked the vines, cutting them and ripping them desperately from the tree.

"Quickly, Keenwai!"

Finy saw them now, but looked at them with confusion. She thought they were trying to steal the berries from her instead of pull her out of the mud pit to safety.

"They're mine! You can't have them! I saw them first!" She jeered at them. "Stay away!"

"You're sinking, mom! You must grab the vine, now!" Keenwai fed the vine toward his sinking mother. Kunya was behind him. They were on the edge of the mud pit now.

"We cannot get too close otherwise we'll get stuck too!" Kunya bellowed.

Finy grabbed the vine but looked at it with confusion.

"Grab it! And we'll give you more of the berries!" Kunya desperately tried to lure her out of the mud that was pulling her away from them.

Keenwai flew up into the air above the mud pit and tried to hover downwards pulling at Finy's shoulders but the mud just seemed to pull at her thin frame even more.

Kunya grabbed the cluster of berries that had held Finy's attention. "See! Here, you can have them, but first, hold that vine and we'll pull you out of the mud!"

Finy bellowed, "No! Mineeee!"

"Yes, I know. I'll save them for you!" Kunya held them in her paw as if she was offering them as a treat.

Finy grasped the vine. Keenwai fluttered back to where Kunya was and they pulled the vine with all of their strength. The mud quivered and blooped defiantly. Finally, her body started to give way. They pulled her to the edge of the mud pit. Her wings were caked in mud and her fur was matted in grime. She tackled Kunya, shoving her out of the way. Tearing into the berries as a savage, the berry juice dripped down her filthy body.

Out of breath, Kunya yanked the vial of merfarie tears from her neck. Pouring a few drops from the vial on more berries, she then gave the berries to Finy. Finy tore into the berries. Her eyes were bloodshot and her paws tremored.

Keenwai and Kunya waited, watching to see what would happen. She still seemed to be in a hallucinatory state.

Swallowing back tears, "I don't think it's working..."

Finy looked at them both with horror in her eyes. "You've come to kill me! I knew it!"

Keenwai shook his head, "No, no, not at all!"

"The opposite!" Kunya tried to reason, but it was no use.

On all four of her paws, Finy bolted through the woods. She was determined to get away from them as fast as she could.

~~~~~~~

Author's Note:

Stay tuned for chapter 35 which will be coming soon...