FACING SUNRIZE
CHAPTER 3, page 2
Lali felt a surge within her and began running and jumping deeper and deeper on the path that followed the stream. She hadn't turned off to the spring as she was supposed to do, and that's when she stumbled and broke the jug. She began hopping rocks that were in and about the stream. She hadn't been this far before alone. But she had come out here with her Uncle Omwanaku and others for gathering certain herbs and plants.
The breeze was combing her hair, and the water made the air so sweet and fresh. In her mind Lali could see Gongi. She knew her Grandmother was beginning to wonder where she was, especially when Tumby returned home alone. She didn't care about that now though. She was dreaming she was an ancient princess of the realm, and could do what ever she wanted to do.
Finally she stepped onto the cool moist grass beside the stream, winded now from skipping rocks. She lay on her back looking up into the clear blue sky. She was out of breath and needed to rest for a moment. She was feeling so comfortable on the soft grass as she lay in the sun. The fresh grass was so soft and fragrant, like a cushion beneath her. Before she knew it, she had fallen into a deep sleep.
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The sun's rays were slanting towards the evening sky when Lali sat up. She'd been dreaming for some time. The thoughts flowed through her like a gentle breeze. She let them pass, watching only, trying in her childish way to understand why she had even been borne. It was just a cruel joke! She still didn't want to go home. She would get a good licking, she knew that. She didn't know what to do.
As she was perplexing about her dilemma, abstractedly looking across the stream, she thought she saw a cave in the small hillside facing the water. There was a large stone near the entrance. It had been rolled away and revealed the dark interior. She got up and crossed over the water to the other side of the stream.
Walking through the tall grass that grew on that side, she came upon the cave entrance. The grass was not tall there and wild flowers popped up everywhere adorning, what to Lali looked like a beautiful garden. Curious and excited, the hair stood up on the back of her neck. She felt strange, and had goose bumps all over. Her heart was pounding within her chest and she knew, although not a sound had betrayed the tenant, that someone was there. She wasn't alone. As she was very curious, she proceeded cautiously toward the mouth of the cave. She just wanted to peer inside. As she did, she felt an invisible hand pull her back suddenly, and she screamed without meaning to. She turned quickly, but no one was there.

LALI GETS BITTEN
Lali fell I the grass, holding her leg, which began aching intensely. As the poison entered her bloodstream, her leg began to swell. She was scaird now and sorry she was so far from home. She began crying aloud in pain, when a young man appeared. He looked to be about 15 years old. She knew him. His name was Hokami. He was from her village, but had disappeared two summers before. Everyone said he'd been eaten by a mountain lion, but she didn't believe it. He was always so careful, and such a good hunter for a young boy. Maybe he'd been captured by a strange band of people. No one knew, for he'd never returned and his body was never found. Not a trace of him. Now here he was, big as life and grown up too.
Please go to: CHAPTER 3, p3