Talon, Windsong

By Gigi Sedlmayer

Finalist with: BOOK EXCELLENCE AWARD, 2021

 

More thrilling adventures with Matica and Talon.

The poachers are gone, and the birds are safe. Now Mati

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aurora House
• Release date: Aug 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9780648679578

Book preview

2

Amos

Amos watched them until they were little specks in the sky. A teardrop found its way out of his eye and ran down his cheek. Why was I so uncertain and cautious about her, after she told me what Elcano said to her? Now see what I have done. She is not sure about my love to her now. He turned around to go – and bumped into Mira.

Irritated, he wiped the tear away, looking at Mira.

Mira put her hand comfortingly on his arm, not sure what to say. She had heard what her daughter asked him. Amos closed his eyes briefly.

‘Amos, are you okay?’ asked Mira.

Amos said, ‘I do not know. But I think I will be.’ Then he added, ‘I hope. It is all Elcano’s fault. No, it is my fault.’ He knocked his forehead, then cried out, ‘What a fool I have been!’

‘Elcano?’ Mira looked at his troubled face but didn’t say more. She wanted to let him talk it out, whatever it was that was troubling him. She just encouraged him, ‘You can tell me everything.’

Amos called out, ‘It was all too much in the last few weeks and I have neglected Matica because of what Elcano said to her, and what she had revealed to me. She felt that I was unsure about it. But I love her so much.’ He shook his head. ‘Why did I feel that way? Now she is not sure of my love. Did you hear her questions?’

Mira nodded and asked him, ‘You let her feel you were troubled by what Elcano said to my daughter?’

‘No.’ Concerned, he looked at her. ‘Well, yes, but not anymore. When I had time to think about it, I know Elcano is right. But I had to digest it first. But it was bad for my Matica, my princess. I know it is a while back, but with the poachers and the fight I couldn’t dwell on it, and then Elcano’s passing... But then, I guess, it came out. I mean my feelings about what Elcano said.’

‘I understand that and so does Matica. Believe me. Don’t let it trouble you.’

‘But, how could it affect me like that? That is, what I am wondering about it. With the love I have for her?’

‘It was bad timing. But,’ Mira looked him in the eye, ‘now you’re all right with what Elcano said about you and Matica?’ She had to know. After all, they are talking about her daughter. Amos nodded enthusiasticly. ‘By the way,’ Mira went on, smiling, ‘Matica was troubled as well.’

‘She was?’ Amos asked. His eyes narrowed.

Mira nodded. ‘Quite a lot, yes. She wondered how she, the smallest person here, could do what Elcano told her to do, and to be. And how to tell you or not tell you at all. But she had to. She had to get it out of her head.’

Wiping his face and shaking his head, Amos said, ‘I see. Normally, nothing happens here around. And then all of a sudden, hell is breaking out.’

Mira giggled. ‘Don’t say that. But, well said, but it wasn’t that drastic, was it? I think we all have to digest it. At the celebration, no one was thinking about that. Everyone was happy and cheerful.’

Mira took him into her arms and gave him a hug. Amos laid his head on her shoulder. A deep sob escaped him, so Mira held him a bit longer.

When they parted, Amos said, ‘Thank you. I needed that.’

‘You’re welcome. I, we, are all here for you, Amos,’ Mira said. ‘We’re family.’

Amos, with his head full of how to fix it, went home, passing Crayn on the way. Why is he coming back?

Mira, seeing Crayn, motioned him to sit with her at the bench. She asked her husband, ‘Did you want to check if Amos was all right?’

He nodded. ‘Yes. I felt something wasn’t right. So, I came back to see if I can help. But I was too late. You did it, didn’t you? Is he all right?’

‘He will be. He said it was a bit much and fast, everything that happened in the last few weeks. And the main thing that’s been troubling him is what Elcano had said to Matica and his prediction about him and her.’ She grinned at him.

Crayn held her hands. ‘All will be fine. We survived all of it. Even the condors. Well, nearly unharmed. Did you notice anything during the feast and celebration?’

‘What do you mean? We were too busy eating too much armadillo meat and dancing and all that. But what I noticed was, even though the celebration was for Pajaro as well to make him chief and not only for the capture of the poachers, he was very gloomy and reserved. Is that what you mean?’

Crayn nodded. ‘Well, I would say that’s understandable with his father passing away. Maybe the feast was too soon. But it all came just as it was. We couldn’t let the people down. They had already hunted the armadillo and started to roast it. We couldn’t have stopped it. Everyone was ready for it.’

‘But not Pajaro.’

‘Hmm, but he will be okay. He’s strong, like Elcano was. Have you seen him today?’

Mira shook her head. ‘I think he has locked himself in his hut. I hope Tessa can help him in his grief.’ Then she asked, ‘However, coming back to our daughter.’

‘What about her?’

‘She does not want to go on our holiday.’

‘You’re right about that.’

‘You know,’ Mira then confessed, ‘I was so looking forward to it, but now?’ She shook her head, staring into the nothingness.

‘Yes, I know. I actually feel the same. So, how must Matica feel? Leaving the birds behind and now Amos. I know she’s torn apart. One day, she wants to go, see something new and even is excited, the next minute she doesn’t want to go. But we must look at it that way, it will be great to see all the family again. I hope so anyway.’

Still staring into the air, but keeping an eye on her husband, Mira said, ‘So by the way, could we come home earlier? Not stay all of the six months as we have planned?’

Mira saw him close his eyes briefly. He stood up to go back to the community hall, saying, without looking back at her, ‘We’ll see.’

Mira smiled. Yeah!

3

The Dream

When Matica flew away after talking with Amos, the birds flew to Ramah, their old meeting place and landed there.

‘Wow,’ she called out, after sliding off Talon. She circled the area. ‘I can see we haven’t been here for a while. It’s still so beautiful, but somehow different. It must have rained here because all the seeds have popped up. But the big rock...’ she ran to it and embraced it, as good as she could, ‘is still laying here, overlooking the place, waiting for me to lay on it. Thank you for bringing me here.’ She looked at the birds, as they looked at her, watching her. She thought, they look concerned. Could it be? Are they feeling my uneasiness? Okay, I will forget it, for now.

Deciding to be happy that she can fly with her condors, she lifted her arms and danced around the big rock. The condors watched her amused, their worry-look was gone as well, seeing her happy again.

She stopped in front of the tree where Tamo had come down the first time he landed on a strong branch, knocking off others, and nearly falling off.

‘Look Tamo.’ She pointed up. ‘I still can see where you landed and knocked off some branches.’

Tamo stood behind her and looked up. He grunted and chattered. It sounded as if he told her, I did all that? Poor tree. Well, it was worthwhile. See us now.

‘I never asked, but did you hurt yourself coming down?’ She stroked his beak.

Tamo shook his head.

‘Good, that is good, Tamo.’ She stroked his face. ‘I first touched and stroked your claws. However, when you bent down to me, I could stroke your beak. Then you flew down. It was so amazing. I didn’t realise how big you were. Your huge wings made me stumble backwards. I was afraid of you. Can you believe that?’

Tamo shook his head then he nodded, chattering.

She laughed, embarrassed, and walked to the big boulder, climbed it and lay down, stretching out her arms, ‘All over. All done. You are free. No more poachers.’ They watched and listened to her. ‘I even can say that word freely now. Only, well, you know, our holiday. Holiday.’ She snickered. ‘I don’t want to go. Oh please, don’t make me go.’

Sadly, she sat up, as Talon extended his head and pecked at her foot. Bending over her knee, she stroked his beak. ‘You want me to go?’

All three nodded their heads and grunted. It sounded like: We wait for you.

Matica pouted her lips, throwing up her hands. ‘Okay, I guess. I have to anyway.’ She decided to be happy today and not fall into sadness, so she stretched out her arms and yelled, ‘Here I come, Australia!’ She laid down to have a short rest. A half-awake dream captured her mind…

‘Matica!’ Someone called her name. A smile shaped her mouth. The voice sounded familiar to her, but again, it wasn’t familiar at all. But she knew, she had heard that voice before, in her head, not as an audible voice. She knew who spoke her name. She started to shiver. Goosebumps built up on her arms. She knew what was happening to her, but again, she wasn’t entirely sure why.

She was here alone with the birds and that voice is speaking to her? Into her mind? She waited in her dreamlike state so the voice might speak to her, not just call her name. She tried to open her eyes. It worked, but she didn’t see any clouds, or sky, or trees, for that matter, as she thought she would with opening her eyes, instead she stared into piercing grey eyes, with a grey beak and a reddish matching neck.

The voice spoke. It was forceful and strong: Don’t be alarmed, it’s all right, all good. I must talk to you that way to ease your mind. Listen carefully. A shiver went through her body. His beautiful and soft voice calmed and reassured her to relax.

Then the voice went on: You are so strong, bright, brave and enthusiastic and loving in your wonderful life with me and my parents, don’t lose that, ever. Keep it up. Your disability is your greatest strength. We know you don’t like going, but you must go to find yourself. We will be all right. It will be the most important moments of your life and you need to experience everything, and we as well. Everything will be fine. We are connected, as you know. But now, wake up, wake up, we like to fly.

Her eyes shot open. She sat up and bumped straight into Talon, as he stood beside her on the boulder. He stared into her eyes, as it was in her wake-dream. ‘Talon,’ she yelled and fell around his neck. ‘You spoke to me. You spoke to me. Wow, what a beautiful voice you have. Thank you, thank you so much. Yes, that makes it much easier for me to go. Now I know, you will be all right.’

Talon looked at her, as if he didn’t know what she was talking about. But he grinned.

She hopped down, followed by Talon and embraced them. Talon, still smiling, placed himself in front of her. She leaned on his back and soon they were in the sky.

Talon flew to the mountains and deeper over the mountains, since there was hardly any wind. They had a wonderful time. Just flying, enjoying each other’s company.

The time went quickly, and they had to fly home again. But Matica never lost the focus about what Talon had said to her. It was now imprinted into her brain, even into her heart, because it came from Talon. And she knew that his words were helping her now, even though she still didn’t want to go, not really. But it was helping. A bit, anyway.

Arriving home, she embraced them. Shortly after they flew off, screeching loudly. She looked after them. A big smile on her face.

Talon spoke to me.

4

He Spoke to Me

‘What’s up?’ Mira said, coming out to her. ‘Something the matter? You look, well, distracted. Did something happen?’

‘Wow!’ Matica said, focusing her big, round eyes up into her mother’s eyes.

‘Wow what?’ Mira put her hands on her hips. ‘Something did happen?’

Matica giggled, then the words came out all muddled up, ‘Talon spoke to me.’

‘What? Did I hear right? Talon spoke to you?’ Mira looked at her with narrowed eyes. ‘Are you kidding? Talon can speak?’ She kneeled in front of her daughter, touched her arm and looked into her smiling eyes. The frown on her forehead deepened. ‘You sound and look as if it is true. But how is that possible?’ She shook her head. ‘Mat, be real.’

Matica just nodded.

‘Like a parrot is speaking, not grunting or chattering?’ said her mum.

She nodded. ‘He spoke to me. Can you imagine it?’ She looked dreamingly behind her mother.

‘No, I can’t imagine it.’ She shook her head. ‘Come on, tell me the truth.’

‘It’s the truth. Only…’

‘Aha, now comes the truth.’

‘It was in my dream. I was laying on the big rock in Ramah and fell asleep. There he spoke to me in my dream.’

‘Now we’re getting there. Yes, I can imagine that. So, tell me. What did he say?’

‘He has a wonderful and soft voice. It was amazing to hear.’

‘That I can also imagine. Being Talon, as he is.’

In the distance she saw Amos coming, followed by Aikon, Nunoa and several Indians.

‘Mum, you must have alerted them when you screamed. Look, they’re coming to find out what’s happening.’

Matica waited. Nunoa stayed back with the Indians, but Amos came up to her, took her into his arms and kissed her. ‘You came back. Had a good time?’ Aikon had followed him. Mira stood up.

Matica could only nod. ‘Oh yeah!’

Aikon, seeing her face, said, ‘Something special has happened, right?’

‘How do you know?’ Amos asked him, letting her go.

‘I know her, her expression is telling me. You will learn it as well.’

‘Talon spoke to her!’ Mira shouted out. She couldn’t hold back.

‘Muuuum,’ Matica cried out. ‘I wanted to tell them.’

‘I’m sorry, Mat. But I’m so excited about it and long to hear what he said. But, come, we’ll sit down and you tell us.’

Amos and Aikon, following them to the bench, shouted out together as they sat down, ‘What? Wow? How? Tell us, tell us!’

Mira sat opposite Matica and Amos, with Aikon beside her. Nunoa and the Indians crept close to hear what was going on.

Matica saw her dad with Pajaro between them. She waited until he and Pajaro were sitting down as well. Crayn sat at Mira’s other side. Pajaro sat beside Crayn. The Indians stood around the table.

Aikon, getting impatient, shouted out, ‘Now, let’s hear it!’

‘Dad,’ Matica said, as he sat down, ‘what are you doing here? And everyone else. What happened?’

‘You tell me,’ Crayn said. ‘We heard the birds and heard mum cry out. Now we are here to listen to what the birds have done this time. They have done something, right?’

‘Sure they did. Talon spoke to me.’

‘Whaaaat?’ Crayn yelled out, as the rest cried out as well.

Nunoa, too stunned to move or say anything, wasn’t sure if she had understood right.

‘What do you mean, spoke to you?’ Crayn asked, trying to be objective, not believing what he heard. He narrowed his eyes. ‘Can’t be in an audible voice? I know, he’s chattering and bubbling, but speaking?’

A murmur came from the Indians. They all looked surprised. Then one of them cried out, ‘And why not?’ It was Mito. ‘I believe he can do that.’ He stood behind Pajaro, nodding his head. ‘Talon can do everything he wants to do.’

‘That’s right, Mito. Why not?’ Matica countered. ‘He did. Well, not actually really talking to me as you talk to me now, it was in my dream.’

‘Aha, here it comes, the truth,’ Crayn said. But no one listened to him. They shouted, ‘What did he say to you?’

Matica said, ‘We flew to Ramah and landed there. I went up the big rock and lay down. Nearly falling asleep, Talon came to me in my half-sleep.’ She closed her eyes. ‘He said, Don’t be alarmed, it’s all right, all good. I must talk to you that way to ease your mind. Listen carefully. You are so strong, bright, brave and enthusiastic and loving in your wonderful life with me and my parents, don’t lose that, ever. Keep it up. Your disability is your greatest strength. We know you don’t like going, but you must go to find yourself. We will be all right. It will be the most important moments of your life and you need to experience everything, and us as well. Everything will be fine. We are connected, as you know. But now, wake up, wake up, we like to fly.’ Matica opened her eyes again.

‘W-h-o-a,’ Aikon cried out. ‘Typical Talon!’

He broke the silence that had followed her revelation. Everyone cried out, ‘Wow’ and ‘yeah’ and ‘whew’ and ‘whoa’ and looked astonished at Matica, hardly believing what they had heard.

Pajaro looked as if someone had slapped him in the face. His jaw dropped, his eyes wide. When Matica finished, he sat there, unable to say anything, just staring at her. But then he whispered, ‘That certainly is an omen, I would say. That is fantastic. It’s amazing.’ He shook his head. ‘Everything will be fine, after that revelation from Talon. You heard it from an expert. Hold on to that, Matica. That is very important, yes, it is.’ He stood up and deep in thought, he walked back to his hut.

Crayn and Mira watched him walk away, wondering how he knew something was happening with the birds and Matica to come out of his hut. They hadn’t seen him for a day. But they didn’t say anything.

Amos asked quietly in the middle of the shouting, ‘What kind of voice does he have?’

‘Very soft and beautiful.’

Crayn embraced her, whispering into her ear, ‘You’re okay now with going?’

Matica gave him a dour look. ‘Should I be?’ But then she smiled. ‘Got you!’ Crayn embraced her again.

‘Okay, show is over,’ Crayn said. ‘Be off.’ He and the Indians went back into the community hall, or to their business, or still cleaning up after the feast, thinking about Talon, how he can do such a thing as speaking to Matica and know what to say.

Mira was happy hearing about it. But she had her doubts. Is she really okay now? Did it work? But it came from Talon so that must count. She left as well, to do her chores.

Aikon ran to his friends to tell them Talon had spoken to his sister, but he found out they had heard it, and they all talked about it for a while longer.

As the Indians left, Amos and Nunoa were the only ones still sitting at the bench.

‘Matica, that is amazing and wonderful. Talon spoke to you. Whoa. Amazing what Talon can do to help you,’ Nunoa said.

Amos nodded his head. ‘Yes, you are right Nunoa. What an understanding Talon must have. That is what fascinates me most about the birds. To make it easier for you, he spoke to you in a dream, well, since he can’t really speak.’

‘Yes, that is what fascinates me too, Amos,’ Matica said. ‘And, yes, it has helped me.’ She nodded. ‘I hope anyway.’

‘Can we study, or is it too difficult now?’ Amos asked.

‘Okay, on with it,’ Matica said.

5

Was It My Imagination?

Crayn and Mira watched Pajaro during the celebrations, and saw he wasn’t really enjoying the time. But what could they do? He had to digest it on his own terms.

Today, after their study, and Amos and Nunoa went on their way, Matica sat for a while longer, staring into the big tree. And then Talon’s words really hit her. That was the first time she could ponder over his words. And there, the old uncertainty haunted her again. She thought Talon’s words had slipped into her heart, but… Did Talon really speak to me? Was it only my imagination because I wanted Talon to speak to me? She wasn’t so sure anymore.

‘Are you okay?’ Amos whispered, as he slipped back, sitting beside her. Matica turned her head, looking at him. He noticed tears in her eyes, then, as she closed them, they ran down her cheeks like two streams.

Amos wondered why she was crying. He wiped a tear off her cheek. ‘Why are you crying, my love? Are these tears for joy or sadness?’

Matica laid her arms on the table and let her head drop onto them. Her shoulders shook.

‘Matica, please. What is it?’

She looked up. Her mouth quivered, and then a thin smile built up around her mouth. She wiped tears from her cheeks with the sleeve of her jumper.

He took both of her hands tenderly into his, then pulled her close and embraced her. He didn’t want to let her go. Hot flushes ran through his body. Oh, I love her so much, my beautiful princess.

Hot flushes raced through Matica’s body as well as she cuddled her face into his neck. She trembled. ‘Hold me close,’ he heard her voice against his neck. She knotted her arms around his neck and snuggled closer.

Feeling the wet, hot tears on his neck, Amos continued, ‘What is the matter, love? You know, that you can tell me everything. So, what is the matter? I love you.’

Before she pulled out of his embrace, she whispered into his neck, ‘I love you too.’

Then she pulled away and wiped the tears away with the back of her hands. She said, ‘Amos.’ She swallowed hard and looked past him, closing her eyes, then continued, ‘Everything was fine when Talon dropped me off today. It even was fine when we studied. But then, sitting here alone, I suddenly was lost. I can’t help it, it overcame me again. I think, I still haven’t digested it properly. With everything that had happened in the last months or so.’ She now looked into his eyes, knitting her brows together. ‘You know, catching the poachers, then the celebration that the poachers are gone and Pajaro chief of the village now, then Talon talking to me.’ She paused, then said, ‘Did Talon really talk to me? Was it real? Or did I imagine it?’

‘Matica, how can you think like that now? Of course Talon spoke to you. You know that. You told us about it.’

Matica nodded. ‘Really?’

Amos stroked her cheek and nodded. ‘Yes, he did. You told us so.’

Matica just stared past him, brooding.

Amos waited.

After a while Matica continued, ‘Well, you see, there was so much. All in a very short time. And then, Talon spoke to me. Really? I can’t comprehend it and was thinking it all through. I think for the hundredth time.’ She pursed her lips. ‘Not only Talon’s talking, you know, all of it. From the time Dad and I went to Cajamarca.’ She shook her head. ‘No, not true. It actually started when we rescued Talon, well, in the egg still. So many times I think about it.’ She smiled, then shook her head. ‘Talon.’

Amos looked at her, with his hands in his lap. But a light smile was playing around his lips. He knew, what was coming, and was looking forward to it.

6

Twelve Points

She lifted one finger, and for each other point, she lifted the next finger. ‘One, we hear shooting and we rescue Talon, well his egg. Bringing up Talon with Tamo and Tima’s help. Talon learned to fly.’ She grinned happily. ‘The best thing that happened to me. Two, Dad nearly... you know.’ She went on quickly, not dwelling too long on that. ‘Three, hearing that the you know who are snooping around. Four, meeting Elcano. Not only once, no, it had to be three times and what he said to me. And that he called me the daughter he never had and told me to preserve the condors at all cost. And I have to watch over his people with Pajaro, with you and of course with my parents as well. And then his passing away.’ She went on, ‘Five, the poachers came. Six, the fear of the poachers getting Talon. Seven, the fight between all of us, the Indians and the condors, then the capture of the poachers by us and the condors. Eight, holding them captive in the hall with Tamo and Tima guarding them.’

‘Right,’ Amos nodded. ‘Cannot forget that, can we? That was so great to see how they guarded them. They never would have let them go. Did you think they would do that?’

Matica smiled. ‘No, not really. But again, yes. I knew they would do something until they were taken away.’ Then she went on, ‘Nine, Mario and Emanuel and Pito came and took them away, by horseback. Ten...’

Amos, surprised, said, ‘Ten? There is more? Oh yeah, you have not even mentioned Talon speaking. Okay, go on.’

Matica nodded her head and pouted.

Since Matica didn’t go on, Amos said, ‘I am waiting.’

‘Okay.’ She held up all ten fingers. ‘Ten, the feast for Pajaro and the freedom, no poachers anymore.’

‘Right, we should not forget that. You are right. That was a great event. I really enjoyed it.’ He shook his head. ‘But I do not think Pajaro did.’

‘He didn’t look happy. He’s still grieving. I think it was too quick after. We should have waited a bit longer, but everyone wanted it. Okay, Eleven...’

She grabbed Amos’s right hand and lifted his thumb, wiggling it. ‘Talon speaking to me.’ She grinned. ‘That was the best. But, was he really speaking to me? It seems so… I don’t know.’

‘Matica. You know he did, and I know he did. You told us so.’ Matica grinned. ‘Yes, that is one of the best,’ Amos agreed. ‘Now, will there be a Twelve?’

‘Yes, there will be. But that is more difficult to say.’ Holding his hand, she pulled a finger up on his right hand. Then she looked at the ground, thinking how she could go on with that twelfth point. That was the part that started making her sad, the hard part. She sighed heavily.

‘Okay here it comes.’ She let Amos’s hand go. ‘It’s actually something different, not really a point after all that. It’s something else, but it’s lying on my heart a long time now.’

She sighed again. ‘Up to now I have witnessed and done a lot in my life.’

‘You can say that again,’ Amos interrupted her.

Matica looked at him with narrowed eyes.

‘Okay, okay, go on. Sorry, will not interrupt again.’

Whispering now, which Amos found difficult to follow, she continued, ‘When we came here, I was rejected by the Indians. That’s why I made friends with Tamo and Tima, to have a companion. I was so alone. And then bringing up Talon after Dad and I rescued his egg from the you know who. Then I was loved. Then Elcano. But now...’ She stopped, not knowing how to go on. Slowly she went on, ‘That was the beginning. Where will it go?’

‘What do you mean? I do not follow you.’

With a quivering voice Matica continued, ‘We have to go to Australia, and I have to leave the birds behind, and you.’

‘Now we are getting somewhere! Is that what this is all about? That you have to go with your parents on their much-needed holiday? And you don’t want to go, because you are scared…’

‘More terrified,’ Matica interrupted him.

But Amos just went on, ‘…they fly away, and when you come back, they are gone? Is that what you are worried about? And, you might think that I find another girl?’

Matica nodded, tears in her eyes.

Amos reassured her with, ‘I promise you, firstly, I will always love you,

Reviews for Talon, Windsong

[gisela.sedlmayer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review by Uvi PoznanskyTalon, Windsong tells the story of friendship between Matica, a girl with a handicap, and a family of condors, and their flights together. I read all the books in the series and when this one came out, I was delighted to buy it.The thought of an upcoming holiday in Australia makes Matica anxious. She hears a voice in her mind, which she interprets as Talon’s. “Your disability is your greatest strength,” it says. “We know you don’t like going, but you must go to find yourself.” This is a call to overcome obstacles, most of all from within, and meet any challenge.Her friend, Amos, doesn’t stand in the way of her new exploration. His love for her is not the clinging type. “Yes, I will miss you and you will miss me and the birds, but you will see a lot of other things. New things.” Later, the journey would bring them together for a first real kiss, gently and lovingly described.Going to great heights may feel intimidating at times. “Matica, looking down past Talon’s neck as he stood at the edge of the abyss, became nauseous. Why am I feeling like this?” But then, she soars in flight, which is exhilarating.Her travels are not only about mountains, cliffs and ledges—they are about dangers, too. For example when she meets the Puma-mum. “Matica looked straight into the yellow, piercing eyes… She also saw her very long white fangs and could feel her hot breath… She will beed me to her cubs, she thought.”A heartwarming story, told with a note of innocence. Five stars.