Konui and the Magic Hinau Berry JREdmonds 987words.

Suddenly, in front of him, there was a loud rustling sound. He saw a flurry of leaves, which cascaded around him. Kōnui froze. A sturdy parrot stood in front of him. It had a mossy, green, owl face. It was blocking Kōnui's path into the sacred garden.

“I am Oriwa,” said the Kākāpō bravely. "What brings you to my forest?”

“Hello!” said Kōnui shyly, “I am searching for the hinau berry. It will help me grow wings, so I can fly."

Oriwa laughed. “Your wings won’t grow," she jeered. "Just keep to the path till you find Earina,” sighed Oriwa, giving Kōnui a strange stare. "She will lead you to the sacred garden. But be careful,” she warned, “as the forest is full of mustelids, with sharp teeth and claws.”

“Thank you for the advice,” said Kōnui.

The moon was reflecting on the river, as brown trout and mullet played in the shallow waters. Stone boulders and pebbles dotted the river edge. Further along the riverbank, Kōnui spied men in chest waders. They were casting shimmering lines, with colorful fly hooks, into the swift river. The currents collided, and the shining surface of the river held many secrets. The path that he must follow went upwards, away from the men, and their night fishing towards the dense forest. The deeper into the forest Kōnui walked, the further away his home became. Kōnui emitted a high-pitch, ascending whistle into the night. Then all fell silent.

Softly, he walked through the decaying leaf matter, sprouting fungi and past swarms of flying insects. A moth, with iridescent eyes, flew around Konui. It landed on a beech tree, near a Weta. The Weta was sitting on the beech tree, looking like an armor-plated alien under the full moon. She crawled along slowly, feeding on the fruit that had fallen from the miro tree. When she saw Kōnui, she hissed, lifting her spiny back legs.

Suddenly a morepork screeched, 'quee,' which echoed around the forest. Bound by the morepork’s spell, all creepy, crawly things fell silent. Kōnui moved on, past the swarms of insects, fungi, Oriwa, Weta, and the beech trees, which hid Konui from danger.

Kōnui knew he was close to the sacred garden. He could smell the scent of the beautiful orchid, Earina, warming the air with autumn fragrance. Suddenly, the forest was filled with night birds singing: Thrush, Kaka and Weka. ‘I must be close,’ thought Kōnui. He spied Pīwakawaka sleeping silently. He was tucked into the sheltered branches of a small cabbage tree. The dense vegetation and shrub layers hid the sleepers of the forest.

In the open space, which permitted the moonlight to fall on the lower leaves. Kōnui spied the Hinau tree. It had dropped a plentiful number of berries, which had darkened. Happily, Kōnui gave a little leap of joy. He had found the berry to help him grow stronger, so he could fly. Landing in the Hinau tree, a morepork looked down on Kōnui.

“Hello little kiwi,” said a Morepork, “what brings you to the sacred garden?”

“I am hunting for my evening meal,” said Kōnui, feeling shy, “I am not little!!! Plus, I have a great secret to tell!

“What is your secret?" said Morepork.

“You can’t tell anyone if I tell you,” said Konui.

“I promise,” said Morepork.

“I want to fly,” said Konui slowly. “I heard that the Hinau berry has magic properties that will make my wings grow.”

Morepork laughed softly, “No ‘little 'kiwi'—nothing will enable you to fly!“

“I am Kōnui, the great spotted Kiwi, "You need to address me as this."

Morepork listened patiently, "Kōnui, the great spotted kiwi," Morepork replied, "you are a kiwi, a bird of the night. Your strength lies not in flight but in your ability to live in the darkness. You are flightless, with a loud-bird call and swift-sturdy legs. These are your gifts!"

“I want to drift and float across the sky,” said Konui, “but I accept that I can’t.”

“Wise of you!” said Morepork.

Close by, a rabbit was outside a warren. It watched Kōnui, as he ate some of the succulent Hinau fruit. As he ate the fruit, Kōnui reflected on his journey to find the sacred garden. The surrounding forest was full of variations: a leafy groundcover, loose stones near the riverbed, cascading moonlit areas, and merging dark foliage and tree shadows. Plus, he had found the sacred Hinau berry and listened to wise morepork and ancient Kākāpō, and he’d learned to love and embrace his unique gifts.

Konui thanked the forest for all it had to offer and the kindness shown from Atua, guardian of the forest. Fulfilled, he was drawn home, to the comfort of his warm burrow, where Rere, his mate, would be waiting for him.

The End.

*The berries and fruit eaten by Konui are not for human consumption. They will not help you to fly.

End of chapter one.