Pompods

11

Zaree watched over Oku as he sat beside Kaia's burial mound. The Elders had decided that it would be fitting to rest her body and spirit close to her home so she could overlook all of the valley and those that she loved.

The passing of a spirit was part of the greater whole of life. It was a time to celebrate that spirit's life and their contributions towards the whole of their being. When a spirit and body returned to the world's collective spirit, a celebration of that spirit was held and the body returned to the lava lakes to be consumed and become one with the world again.

Each podling knew the stories. They were of two beings made one. One came from the world and one from the stars. When one's life force faded, it was an indication that their spirit returned to the stars to rejoin the universe's collective consciousness. To pay homage, they returned the body back to the world to nourish and replenish it so that one day when a new podling hatched, each that had come before it would be a part of this new one.

Kaia's passing had been abrupt and forced, taken away before her spirit had matured. Oku knew the traditions of bringing the body to the lava lakes, the world's life blood. But he had been unwilling to allow anyone near her body after her spirit rejoined the stars.

Elder Ino had counseled with the other elders and they had agreed that it would be in the best interest to bury Kaia instead of returning her to the lake. Her body would eventually return to the world, but he feared the emotional consequences that Oku could suffer if her body was not allowed to remain close to him. It would allow Oku time to transition in the loss of Kaia.

Since her burial, Oku sat day and night beside her mound. He rarely moved and never lost sight of the mound. His vigil had now entered its tenth day and during that time he remained still beside her mound and listened to all those who visited to recall stories of Kaia, of her deeds and how she had inspired them. Even Ezo had come to recall Kaia's influence on him. His attempt to lighten Oku's mood by making faces had no effect.

On occasion a litter of Kashas would venture close and rub up against him to remove their excess fur. They had noticed that it was easier than rubbing up against the trees. Since Oku remained still, they took advantage of the situation. Only once had Zaree noticed Oku grab a Kasha and quietly nibble on its fur while the rest purred and rubbed up against him, wisps of their fur clung to him momentarily before being carried off with the lightest of breeze.

Today's litter of Kashas that had come to remove their fur seemed to have grown in size. Oku's unwavering stillness had made many grow more confident around him. Even a small group of Memees trailed along behind them to venture around him. Their boldness towards him impressed Zaree a little and she wondered how long it would last.

As the Kashas began rubbing against him, several of the Memees would collect the shed fur and make various entertaining things for themselves. One made a dress out of it and flaunted about in a dance as it twirled around the others. Another stuck some fur to its head and started wobbling around as another covered its entire body with fur and frantically ran around the others until it ran into Oku and fell on the ground. All this happened as the other Memees gurgled and rolled around on the ground in what looked like utter amusement.

Oku regarded the one that had run into him as it lay sprawled against the ground and gurgled away while the fur that clung to it quivered. He picked up the mass of fur and pondered it for an instant before squeezing the creature hard enough to cause its head to bulb up and make it squeak loudly.

Its kin must have thought this incredibly funny as they all fell to the ground and gurgled hysterically away at its displeasure. Oku released his heavy grip on the creature and popped it into his mouth. The others fell silent as they watched one of their own suddenly get eaten.