Chapter One
The children gathered around for a little break from hunting mushrooms.
"Tag!" yelled the youngest, Atepa. She jumped up and down, her black ponytail bouncing with her.
An older girl with long blong hair groaned unpleasantly and walked over to the pond.
"I don't know why," she began, dipping her small feet into the cool water, "you still play with them, Mali. For goodness sake, you're 15 already!"
Mali indeed towered over the little ones. He looked even older than he really was because his hair was greyish-silver, but it twinkled along with his grey eyes.
"They need an extra player, and I don't see you coming over here, Lala."
Lala sniffed and turned her back on them.
"Tag!" Atepa yelled agin.
"No, Teppi, Thema's 'It'. You wait your turn, okay."
corrected another boy. He also had black hair like ATepa, and he also had thick eyebrows and silver patches just above his ears.
"So sorry, Yap." ATepa apologized and got in line to play.
Meanwhile, Lala was trying to wet her hair. After a few minutes of immense frustration, she stood and tried to dry the few places on her head that got wet.
Two unidentified flying objects landed in the pond with two big splashes, wetting Lala from head to toe. She shrieked loudly with annoyance.
the children stopped their game and ran to see what could have caused Lala to shriek this time. Other times had included a spider, a bracelet made of colorful wooden beads, and a toy monkey Atepa owned.
Two figures emerged from the dark blue water. One was a woman with shoulder-length black as the night hair and two large silver hoops attached to her earlobes. Lala watched them jealously. The other was a young man with bushy dark brown hair. Lala turned her attention to him and found that she couldn't take her eyes off him. Too bad the rest o0f the kids, except Mali, were holding onto her legs and it took a lot of willpower to not shake them off.
"Who are you?" Mali asked.
"I'm Hakea Love. This is my friend, Hiji Fire. How about you?"
"I'm Mali Water. This is Lala Song. And this is Yap Land, Thema Heart, and Atepa Run."
"Are there any others? Where are your parents?"
"No, there aren't any others. Our parents left us here several months ago."
"Nine!" Atepa shrieked.
"Yea, thanks. Nine months ago." Mali said.
"Hmm, I guess we'll have to help you kids. Hiji, do you think you could build a fire? Mali, how old are you?" Hakea asked as Hiji left for the woodpile by the south end of the beach.
"Well, uh, I just turned 15 a few weeks ago." Mali answered, scratching his head.
"Good, come with me."
Hakea took his hand and brought him over to the long table by the long hut.
"I'll show you how to research, then I will work on that hut over there."
"Uh, okay, Hakea."
An hour of this, and Hakea was finally able to work on the hut. Hiji, in the meantime, was having some trouble starting the fire, but in the end, a large fire roared in the firepit. Everyone congratulated Hiji, then went to do their own thing. Hiji, with nothing left to do, went to fish, seeing that the food bin had very little food, most of them rotten mushrooms and inedible fish.
Lala approached Hakea. Hiji was fishing in the o0cean, and Lala couldn't help but stare. Finally, she mustered enough courage to talk to that Hakea woman.
"Hakea, can I go work with Hiji in the ocean? Can I?"
"Just one question to pass the test. How old are you?"
"Mmmmm, I'll be 14 next week."
"Then enjoy your last week of youth."
"Fine." Lala mumbled, dragging herself to her favorite spot by the ocean, watching Hiji fish and waiting for her turn next to him.

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Chapter Two
Lala opened her eyes in the dim light of the research hut. Today was the day! She could sing! (But she won't since her rough voice makes her sound like a strangled monkey). Excitement was bubbling in her like an overcooked stew. She took a deep breath and smelled something unfamiliar, but delicious. She tiptoed around the empty beds to the door blinding with sunlight.
Outside, Hakea was cooking in a little bowl. The smell hung in the air, unwilling to go. The children were running around. They had never been to a 'party', whatever that was!
"Lookie!" Atepa yelled. She was pointing to a simple shell with many hues of pale blue.
"What is it?" asked Yap, mystified.
"I don't know." said Atepa, picking her ear.
"Let's take it to Mali."
"No, Thee, I want to keep it."
"Teppi, no, what if it hurts you?"
"It's not gonna hurt me. It's my friend. My best friend!"
"But you just met it. Anyway, look, you made Yap sad."
"Oh, so sorry, Yap, my friend. I think I'll take Shelly to Mali, now. So sorry." Atepa picked it up and ran to Mali. He took it from Atepa and brought it over to the research table. From then on, Atepa was careful to hide every collection she found in the research hut, under her bed. She never noticed them disappearing(Thema made sure of that). Whenever she found a new one, she brought it to Mali. Thema used the copies for other things, although lala would sometimes take them and use them as jewelry. Atepa cried whenever she saw her 'friends' on Lala.
Lala had done her hair for that special occasion. with a littloe help from Hakea, Lala's long banana blond hair was tighlty placed in two flat buns by her ears. Lala liked it so much, she decided to keep it like that.
"Lala, for your 14th birthday, I would like to ask you, which job would you like to start with?" Hakea asked. Lala had been waiting for this.
"I would like to farm!" Lala said eagerly.
"Great! You can start after the celebrations!"
"The what?" Lala had expected to start right away.
The villagers danced and feasted from sunrise to sunhigh. As they were cleaning up later, Atepa itterupted.
"What are we called?" she asked.
"What do you mean, Tep?" Hakea asked.
"The tribe." Atepa said simply.
"I know." said Mali. "We are part of the West Tribe!"
"That's a wonderful name for the tribe! The West Tribe is perfect!" Hiji annouced.
So they now had a name: The West Tribe.

Chapter Three
It had been a year since Hakea and Hiji arrived. Thema was going to be 14 in a few days. Mali had taken some time to discover the healing powers the herbs around the island had. It had caused much celebration.
Also, Hakea had not only finished the small hut, but she also restored a damaged hut that was by the driftwood pile.
One day, Lala was about to go fishing. As she entered the water, something thick and heavy surrounded her leg. She looked what it was and saw a disgusting cloud of green.
"Eww, that is disgusting!" Lala scanned the water and saw a lot of these clouds. Hiji was about to get in, not minding the green clouds.
"Hiji, no! Don't you see these disgusting things?"
"It's okay, it's just algae."
"Well, I'm not fishing in it." Lala wrinkled her nose, as if the algae smelled (it didn't) and walked away to bathe in the pond for a good three hours.
Hiji was left5 confused. Should he fish? He dived in and try to find some fish, but it was fruitless. The algae clouded his vision and it took a lot of effort to swim in it.
"Hakea, we have a big problem. We can't fish."
"Shoot, that is a problem. I'll go tell Mali about this. He'll think of something."
"Hakea, wait-" Hiji said, but Hakea had already left. He watched her hair dance as she ran, and he felt funny. He shook it off (litarally) and went to see the vines.
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Mali worked hard to see what could he do. It has been Week Five of No Fishing, and food was running low fast. Finding a new food source was harder than he imagined. Mali couldn't wait for Thema to turn 14 so she can help him at the research table. Hakea felt bad for Mali, she knew how much he hated work.
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A week later, Thema worked alongside Mali. Mali hasd yelled "Yes!" and punched the air, when she said she would like to research.
Hakea didn't work, along with Hiji and Lala, b ut she did took care of the two youngest ones of the tribe, Yap and Atepa. She enjoyed this a lot and wished for some of her own.
Thema and Mali approached Lala and Hiji that very same day.
"Come with us." they said. The little group walked from the pond to the coconut trees north of the beach.
"Hiji, climb this tree." Mali ordered. With ease, Hiji climbed the tree and ropped a coconut at Mali's feet.
"Brilliant, but the coconut trees won't last. We must go to Hakea." Thema said as Lala climbed the tree. Thema and Mali walked over to where Hakea was playing with the children. Mali noticed how wonderful it was to walk beside Thema.
"Hakea, we would like to ask you to start a building project by the smaller pond. We noticed the strange patch of soil over there might grow something, but it would need more water. Instead of carrying it there, we could just turn the stream's direction toward the soil. Do you think you could build a wall?" Thema asked.
"Sure. Let me just finish up this game." Hakea smiled.
"Perfect." Thema grinned, going back to the research table. Mali stood on the spot before going back to the research table. Hakea smiled again, for she understood what was going on.

Don't worry, twelve more chapters to go!
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Chapter Four
The dam, as Hiji called it, was almost done. Yap, who had turned 14, offered to help on the dam along with Thema, who mastered science already. Hakea refused their offerings, but after many beggings, she gave in. Thema and Yap were able to help her on the dam.
The coconut trees were half full. Hiji and Lala were both adept. Lala had worked with Hiji for five years already, and Lala decided to take things up a notch.

"Hiji, we have worked together for five years. I want to ask you something. Important."
"What is it, Lala?" Hiji asked.
"Do you love me? As much as I do?"

In the morning, hakea was asked to preform the ceremony so that Lala and Hiji could marry.
So, a couple of weeks later, Lala Song was Lala Fire. Everyone celebrated.
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Just a couple of months later, Lala approached Hakea.
"Oh, Hakea, I feel very sick. My back aches and I feel like vomiting."
Hakea stopped what she was doing and thought for a moment. She bit her lip and took a deep breath.
"You could be pregnant, Lala."
"What!> No way! I'm just 19!"
"You're also married, what else could it be?"
"I guess you're right. I better go tell Hiji." Se left without another word.
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Months later, Hakea presented Lala her newborn child. Lala and Hiji beamed at the sight of him.
"What's its name?" Hakea asked. Lala thought a bit.
"Tamil. Tamil Fire." Lala simply said. A shcck of flaming red hair could be seen from the golden blanket*. This was odd to Hakea because neither Hiji nor Lala had red hair.
Hakea sighed and went outside. Atepa, at 11, was the only child for Hakea to care for. With the dam finished, Hakea went to the research table.
"Mali, would you care to show me how to research?"
"Of course, Hakea." Mali said with a smile. Yap also worked with them, along with Thema. Hiji continued to farm, although for the first time alone.

Chapter Five
Everything was going well. It's been two years and Lala can work with Hiji in the vegetable garden. Hiji had expertly build a scarecrow. Atepa had voluntarily given her mask that Yap made for her to the scarecrow.
One day, Thema came crying to9 Hakea.
"What happened, Thee?" Hakea asked, dropping her research tools.
"I don't know what to do!" She sobbed.
"About what? Come on, Thee, tell me." Hakea urged.
Thema took a moment to stop crying.
"Oh, Hakea, Mali told me he loved me. And then he proposed. I don't love him and I don't want to get married!" Thema explained.
Hakea thought a bit. She felt really bad for Thee.
"Thee, either you marry him, stay alone. Both have their up's and down's."
"Mali isn't a bad person after all, Thee. Your choice."
Thema thought for the rest of the day.

The next day, Thema and Mali talked to Hakea. The next month, Thema Heart was Thema Water.

Okay, this is a short chapter, sweet and simple. Here goes: *gulp*
Chapter Six
A couple of weeks later, Thema went to Hakea again, but this time her face was lit with happiness.
"Hakea, I think I'm....pregnant!"
"Oh, Thee, that's wonderful! Have you told Mali yet?"
"No no, I just discovered this a few minutes ago. I'm telling him, and the rest of the tribe, tonight. I just wanted to tell you first."
"Why me? Why not your husband?"
"Because, hakea, you even more important."
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That night, the tribe rejoiced for Thema. Lala was not happy, though. Sher congratulated her, then sat down, frowning. If Thema could love Mali, just as he loved her, why didn't Hiji love her? Hiji and Lala were not as close as Lala hoped they be, but it was too late now.
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Months later, Thema held her baby boy. Mali was beaming uncontrolably, looking at his son's black little head.
"The only time he will have your hair, Mali, is when he is over 50!" Thema laughed.
"What'll be his name, Thee?" Hakea asked eagerly. Thema bit her bottom lip and thought a bit.
"Hokou Water, after you, Hakea." Thee finally said. Now it was Hakea's turn to beam.
"I'm honored." she said, crying a little bit.
"My my, I think I'm a granny." They all laughed, and this moment truly touched Hakea's heart.

I'll put two chapters here to get things done quicker.
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Chapter Seven
Hokou now ran along with Tamil, as fast as his little two year old legs could take him. Tamil and Hokou were different, and not because Tamil had bright red hair and Hokou had black hair. Tamil liked to be loud and rough, and he was sometimes a bit lazy. Hokou, on the other hand, was quiet and respectful, generous and charming. He would spent days by the resarch table, looking and reading some of the files recorded.

Some weeks later, Hakea noticed that Thema and Mali were very distant lately. She felt a lump in her throat. Hakea felt this was her fault, and the guilt-ridden Hakea walked over to Thema, who was wading by the pond.
"Thema, I need to talk to you." Hakea said nervously, the lump in her throat growing.
"Sure, Hakea. What's it about? Let me guess, is it because of Mali and me?"
"How did you know?"
"I also suspect that you are worried about my happiness. Aren't you?"
"Well, yes, Thee, I am. How are you doing?"
"Me? I'm perfectly fine. I got a handsome little boy, and a nice husband. What's worrying you?"
"I guess it's because I don't see you and Mali talk a lot, so I though-"
"I was unhappy. No. Mali and I made a deal to tell our day at night, so we could always talk more. You know, I've grown to love the guy."
"Well, I'm happy for you, Thee. Hugs?"
"Hugs."
The two friends hugged and m arched off to help the tribe survive.
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Chapter Eight; Part One
Atepa was now 15, and with a year's experience with research, she discovered it was time to clear the thorny plants to the north. Yap, Mali, Hiji, and Hakea worked with sweat in their skin and love in their hearts to clear the rough and tough (and also spiky) plants away.
Atepa took her daily break, which was conveniently at the same time as Yap's. They sat at the pond. "Just wait, Tap. Just three more-"
"years. Three very long years. Why not now?"
"You know why." Atepa said with a smile.
"At least this is allowed, I think." He bent forward and kissed young Atepa's forehead.

She got up, rather dizzy, tripped and fell into the pond, as deep as the jungle. "'Tepa!" Yap yelled as he jumped in after her. Atepa was dropping quickly, mostly because she liked to wear jewelry, big and heavy stones painted in many ways. Yap swam quickly, but his lack of swim made him clumsy, but his strong building muscles moved him a bit faster every second.
He grabbed Atepa around her small waist and hoisted her up to surface.

"We have to help her! Now!" yap yelled. He was shaking with cold and with fear. "Relax, Yap. Let's take her to the re-"
"No! We have to help her now!" Yap's eyes were watering. No, he couldn't cry right now, Atepa needed him.
"*Cough*"

Yap looked up and saw Atepa spitting out the water. Yap grinned and picked her up. "Oh, 'Tep', I'm so happy! I love you! I love you!"

"Stop, Yap, stop!" laughed Atepa.

Chapter Eight; Part Two

Three year passed and Atepa and Yap were happily married. Soon, Atepa held a little boy in her arms, eager to be named and run in the sun.
Meanwhile, Lala was annoyed that most of the attetion was going to Atepa. Ready to take the spotlight back, she prepared he annoucement for dinner.
At dinner, most of them were tired. They had discovered a metal piece. The builders now worked at the research table, researching until something came up.
Lala coughed for attention.
"Gesundhuit." one of the villagers responded.
"I have an annoucement."
"What is it?" another said, mouth stuffed with food.
"I'm going to have another child."
"Congratulations." called weary voices. lala frowned, knowing this was hopeless.
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Hakea cleaned the wailing baby. Giving it a gentle kiss, she hannded her over to lala.
"Ugh. Look at this ugly thing." Hakea, who could never find anything ugly, gasped. True, the baby was dark skinned, tue that the red hair didn't match, and true she didn't look anything like her beautiful mother ofr her handosme father, but false to call her ugly.
"Bindi." Lala said, wrinkling her nose. Hakea gasped again, for lala had not given Bindi her last name.
Hiji entered the hut. He grinnd at the sight of another red haired child.
"What's her name?"
"Bindi." Lala said again.
"Oh." Hiji answered, trying not to ask why Bindi didn't carry 'Fire' in her name, but held his tongue, picturing Lala in her wrath. He had experianced many of Lala's anger, 'tantrums' as she called it.
Hakea had left the hut when Hiji entered. She ran to the diving rock and fell to her knees.
"Guiding Hand, show Lala how wroung she is with her daughter! Help Bindi grow up strong and wise, even without her mother." hakea pleaded. A wind blew and swirled around her, which Hakea took for as a good sign.

Chapter Nine

Atepa got hold of her new son. He was big and chunky, with black hair. Hakea left the hut for a moment, coming back with Yap and their first son, Chip.
"Look at him. What should he be named?" Atepa asked, thinking.
"I like Kuruk. Kuruk Land."
"That's sounds too tough for my little man."
"Well, your little man will be a big strong man."
'"Fine, he'll be Kuruk Land."
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Outside, Bindi was playing with Hokou. The two had grown close since their parents hadn't much time for them. Bindi was a feee spirit, running around, while quiet Hokou followed her ready to laugh at whatever she did. Hakea was glad that Binidi found such a good friend in Hokou.
Meanwhile, Bindi's older brother, Tamil, worked at the research table. He almost never talked, and when he did, nobody listened. Tamil was in his own world, his mother Lala doting at him like he was still two years old, and not alomst eightteen.
Thema and Mali were the talkitive ones of the tribe. Everyday, at lunch, they would invent stories.
Hakea worked in the research table. A few others were building something. Hakea went over a few times to help. It was a totem pole. They were building it for Yap, who mastered science, farming, and building.
One day, Hakea sat with Bindi at the diving rock. Hakea was taking her daily break and Bindi was free at the moment, like she always was. Hakea decided to tell BIndi something she had never told anyone.
"Bindi, when I was much younger, before I came here with your father, I was very good friends with him. And I grew to love him with all my heart. He, being adventureous, went to explore a cave that the Golden Child discovered.
"I came with him, fearing I would never see him again. He went too far, slipped and fell. I wentr after him, not caring.
"He met your mother. The two fished. Lala loved him and went to him one day. The next day, the two were married. It broke my heart, but I learned we were not to be.
"I still wanted lots of children. For some time, I was a mother to Thema, Yap, and 'Tepa. I've raised their children. And I have raised you, Bindi. You still are the child I never had, or will have."
"Don't say that, Hake'."
"I'm too old. 51, it's too late."
"A miracle could happen."
"There's no miracle to stop aging."
"Then I'll have a million kids! Just for you!"
"I don't think I'll live long enough to see them."
"It doesn't matter! I'll have many beautiful children! I'll never neglect any of them! For you, Hakea."
"I'll even raise my children's children!"
Hakea had tears in her eyes as she hugged little Bindi. Little Binidi, whose mother forgot about her, little Bindi who was raised by an old woman, little Bindi made this promise. Hakea could hardly believe her, but inside, a little bit of hope told her to believe.

Chapter Ten

Hakea sorted the tools out, polishing again and again. The sun was high, and she was waiting for her break. Suddenly, she felt a presence beside her. She turned around to see young Tamil. His brown eyes were scared, or love struck, Hakea wasn't sure.
"Hakea, could yolu come with me?"
"Sure, Tamil. Let me just put these away, okay?"
"Sure. I'll be waiting by the coconut trees." He turned to leave, but not without a big sigh.
Hakea put the tools in the research hut, pondering as long as she could to think why Tamil would want to talk to her.
Hakea gulped and walked to the coconut trees, where Tamil was pacing.
"Um, you wanted to talk to me, tamil?"
"Yes, yes I do. I love you Hakea and I want to marry you!"
Hakea froze. How could Tamil love her? She thought of his father, Hiji, the man she used to love. No, she had given up love a long time ago. It was time to be alone. Plus, she devoted her time to work and Bindi.
"I'm sorry Tamil. I'm 54. I'm not interested, but I wish you good luck. Hope you find someone to your liking." Hakea turn to leave, her heart in her throat.
She went back to the research table, where Bindi was working.

By the pond, Atepa and Yap were playing a game.
"I can't believe you can't guess." She laughed. She pretended tpo hold something and rocked it back and forth.
"Are you seasick?"
"I'll give you one more chance."
"Um, you need a masssage?"
"Ugh! Yap, I'm, pregnant!"
"Oh. What?! You are!Yes! That's wonderful!" He kissed her then stood to tell everyone else.

Chapter Eleven

Bindi woke up from na long sleep. The light was dim in the research hut, but Bindi was used to it. Only a few people slept in the research hut; Mali, Thema, Hokou, Hakea, and her. After that day at the pond, Bindi had moved in with Hakea.
Bindi got out of bed to wake Hakea up.
"Hakea." Bindi whispered. Hakea didn't stir.
"Hakea!" Bindi said a little louder. She pressed her ear against Hakea's chest. Nothing.
"Hakea, please don't do this to me." Bindi whispered. Hakea still didn't move. Bindi understood. She wiped her stray tears and went outside.
"Papa, Hakea's dead." She sobbed. Hiji's face fell and ran to the resarch hut. Bindi followed suit.
Hiji had his head on Hakea's stomach and cried like a baby. Bindi wasn't sure to pat his back or something.
"She would have liked you to know, Pa, that she loved you very much." Bindi said softly. That made Hiji cry harder.

The next day, Hakea Love was the first villager to be buried. Also crying were Thema, Atepa, Bindi, and Tamil. A large bouquet of flowers were placed on her grave.
"I'll keep our promise, Hakea." Bindi said. She felt the slightest breeze ruffle her hair.

Chapter Eleven, Part Two

A scream flollowing a splash was heard from the pond. The villager raced just in time to see two figures stagger out of the pond. One looked remarkably like Hakea, making some of them fidget. The other looked like the son of the woman.
"Do anyone of you have any idea of who my mother is?" the woman asked hesiantly.
Bindi opened her mouth, then closed. Hiji stepped forward, angled so as to protect the tribe, although physically, nothing needed to be protected.
"What do you want?"
"My mother came here after I was born. I want to present to her her grandson, Seven." she said, waving her hand to the boy, who looked about 16.
"Nobody has come here beside me and a friend of mine. What's you name and who is your mother?" Hiji asked, his tone more agressive by the second.
"My name is Dada Heat. And my mother is Hakea Love."

Chapter Twelve

"Mother loved me, she did. Only legend says that she left with a good friend into the cave and never came back.
"Everyday, since I can remember, I'd go to he cave and listen to the voices there. The elders say it's the spirits of my mother and her friend, but there was too many. I realized Mother had uncovered a new side of Isola!
"After some time, I concentrated on work. I got married and had my son, Seven. Then the plague came and killed many, including Seven's father. WE were lucky.
"That's when I decided to come here. I wanted to see my mother, who I have little memory of. I don't even know what she looks like! I'm too late, I guess.
Dada was telling her story around the fire, all eyes on her. SHe stopped.
"Dada." Hiji suddenly said, eyes somber."I drew Hakea once, and I still have the picture. You could look at it if you want. Even though it'll just look like a mirror to you. You look just like her." He stood and left, coming back a few minutes later. He showed Dada the picture, and her eyes welled up a little bit with tears. She showed Seven. He smiled, then nodded. Then, Dada stood.
"Well, thank you all, but Seven and I think that we will be more comfortable together back home. Thank you."
"Spend the night here. In the morning we can give a few things for your journey, it'll be harsh going around that jungle." Mali said.
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The next morning, Dada and Seven were gone before Bindi woke up. She went outside to the pond, and cried a bit.
She felt a hand on her back. She looked up and saw Hokou, smiling a half-smile, his inky black hair pointing in every direction. With instincts in control, Bindi put her head on his shoulder and cried, because she just lost the closest thing she had to a mother, and to Bindi, she never wanted to feel that way again.

Chapter Thirteen
Some years later

Atepa held her son, Laki, in her arms. He looked just like Kuruk, only with the air of elegance around him. Chip, the oldest, was a wanderer. He was never seen near his family. He hung out a lot with Bindi. She and Hokou spent a lot of time together now. It crazed Chip a lot, but he held strong.
Being 16 and already a master scientist, Bindi had still a long way to go, but she didn't wanted to become an elder, like Yap, who after being granted a totem, ran all over the village dealing with problems.
No, Bindi wanted to be a mother, but with who? She desperately wanted to keep her promise to Hakea. With a lot of free time on her hands, Bindi decided to do some farming.
Lala was still beautiful, even with her shiny golden hair a little duller. Her blue eyes sparkled, and she loved being beautiful. She was arrogant and loved to gloat. Yet, she spent the rest of her days buildning a new sewing hut with her own two hands.
Hiji was buried next to Hakea. Mali came next, along with Thema. Hokou could hardly believe it. He had just turned 22 and both his parents were dead. Hokou, being very careful, buried both of them. Bindi was there, with comforting words.
Tamil became very private after Hakea's death. He had become more withdrawn from the world since Dada had come to visit. Almost nobody remembered him. Even his doting mother forgot about him, living as if she had never married and never was a mother, just a free young spirit always.
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On Bindi's seventeenth birthday, she and Hokou celebrated by the lagoon, behind the waterfall.
"Bindi." Hokou suddenly said, solemn.
"What is it, Hokou?" Bindi asked, getting worried. She hoped he didn't have to ruin her birthday by speaking of the dead.
"Bindi, I'll like to give you something." He took out a beautiful shell necklace, intertwined with feathers.
"Bindi, on your eighteenth birthday, I want to marry you."
Bindi spaced out. Her mind went blank. Then, she imagined, with all her new free time, many children playing around her. Bindi immediately smiled at that thought, because she would share her life with Hokou. And she couldn't think of anything better than that.

Chapter Fourteen
Years Later

Again, the little group of villagers gathered round the clearing as they buried Atepa and Yap. The Land brothers, Chip, Kuruk, and Laki, were silently burying their loving parents. Bindi watched with her husband, Hokou. Holding Bindi's left hand was her first daughter, Aziza Water. Aziza had black curly hair and deep blue eyes. She was fair skin and mostly quiet and dutiful. On Bindi's right hand, between both her parents, was Safari Water, the life of the family. Her brown hair fell around her little waist and her brown eyes were certainly something to look at. Safari proudly wore a headband which she claimed was made of gold and could never take of or 'her family will disappear.' Hokou held hands with his only son, Okau, which Bindi had named after him. He also had brown hair, curling like crazy just like Aziza's.
Bindi was due any day now, to give birth to her fourth child. Old Atepa and Yap had died just weeks of each other. Bindi thought that they couldn't stay away from each other that long. She smiled at the thought of Hokou and her like that, dying days of each other because of the grief. Which was nearly impossible since Hokou was a few years older than Bindi, and that could make a lot of difference.
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The next week, the baby was born. It was a boy. He looked just like his brother Okau.
"I guess the girls take after Papa, cause the boys are just like Momma. Although I look better than Azi here." Safari had sniffed. Bindi sighed, thinking how much her mother and Safari were alike. Lala had died not too long ago. Lala had asked for an apology of her awful behavior to Bindi, which she regretfully refused. Bindi gave in though, just two days before Lala's heart gave out.
Bindi named her new son Mau, named after Okau for looking so much like him. Hokou thought his wife didn't have a lot of imagination.

Chapter Fifteen
Few Years Later

Bindi was crying tears of joy. Aziza and Kuruk were finally married. Hokou squeezed her shoulder affectionally as a fresh roll of tears came down. She wasn't even that old and she was to be a grandmother soon.
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Just a few months after Aziza's wedding, Aziza ran up to her mother, showing her the bump growing in her.
"Oh, Aziza! Guess what?"
"What, Mom?!"
"I'm pregnant too."
"No way!"
Bindi nodded.
"Although yours will be older than mine." Bindi laughed.
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Aziza and Kuruk named their little girl with short black hair and bangs Chirita, Bindi's and Hokou's first grandchild. Safari had happily taken the post of an aunt. Okau and Mau, both grown boys, had taken a liking to Chirita, who was like her mother in every perspective, quiet and loving and caring. Bindi was overjoyed.
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Bindi had a little girl with chin length black hair and thick red lips. Paima was to be her name. Safari had let her theory of the girls taking after her handsome father fall; Paima was a bit too much like her mother. Hokou laughed and saw that his favorite little girl was no longer a little girl. Safari Had grown lovely, but her way of talk either sometimes made her more appealing or more rude and dislikeful. When told she was now to pick either Chip or Laki Land, she said "I would marry Laki. Chip is too old. I think Paima would do good with him." Bindi had scolded her, but Hokou and the others just laughed. It would be such a prize for the either of the Land brothers to marry beautiful loud-mouthed Safari Water.

Chapter Sixteen
Few years Later

Bindi felt a wave of emotion. She felt happy, sad, anxious, giddy, and overall confused. She was 49 and with her last child. Her last, she was going to miss this.
She had already told everyone. Aziza laughed and told her mother that Chirita would have an aunt or uncle younger than her.
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When Bindi looked at her son, she saw the spitting image of her father. She bet that if her new son would talk, she would hear the echo of her father's voice.
"That's it! His name will be Ecco." Bindi annouced.

Chapter Seventeen

And now Safari turned 18. The Land brothers that were still bachelors, Chip and Laki, looked their best everyday.
It was a clear morning when Bindi went to get some wood and found Safari and Laki together. He presented her a delicate yet beautiful necklace.
"My baby girl already going to be married. So soon?"
"Mother, you know you married at 18 too." Safari said.
"Well, I just want to say congratulations. And Laki?"
"Yes, Bindi?"
"Take good care of her."
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A few months later, Aziza and Safari were all giggles. Well, first they stared a bit, then Safari giggled, then Aziza giggled too. Kuruk and Laki had never seen their wives act silly before.
At the fire one night, both women stood.
"WE're going to be mothers." they proudly spoke. Laki stumbled, but then stood and kissed his wife. Kuruk laughed and explained the situation to Chirita.
Bindi and Hokou sat together. Hokou had grown old, his magnificent black hair lined with brilliant grey. He had gone a little stiff, and as the oldest, he devoted his time as a doctor, but he mostly enjoyed himself. Bindi wiped a tear from her eye and looked at all her children, grandchildren, and in-laws. She had gone so far. She was proud, and she knew, somewhere above her, Hakea watched, also proud.

The End