been four weeks since conception and in an open field, despite the dangers of being vulnerable to birds of prey, both Kahu and Quillac stepped onto a flat-surfaced stone where the moon’s lunar rays would light the way for their new arrival. I made sure that no fowl creatures were present to disturb the birth of this child . . . especially since I knew what fate he would soon play sometime in the future, but as I had promised, the wings of the birds were still and Quillac was protected by the safety of a destiny that awaited. As the she-mouse dealt with the pressure and stress of labor, I felt Kahu’s prayer to me – O Great Spirits . . . Please, guide our child safely onto our loving arms . . . and allow him to roam this wonderful land by our side . . .

I wished I could offer an answer, but I could not; it was not my place to speak, for each groan from his wife led closer to the delivery of their miracle mouse-child. I could feel the nervousness in the male’s bones as he watched on with worry. I could even hear the thoughts of doubt running through his brain, but I knew that once he remembered my message, he would know that tonight was going to be a most special night. 

Before long, a son was born onto them, and I asked the Moon Spirit to beam a ray to the happy family. Its gentle silver sheen against their brown coats and the stone-gray rock made the new parents gasp with joy and awe.

“Oh! Look there, Kahu,” an exhausted Quillac pointed a finger towards the moonlight with a smile as she held her newborn baby in her other paw. “Even the Great Spirits offer their blessings to our son. How wonderful this is!” She was in tears with happiness as she allowed her son to nurse on the teats lining her belly.  

“It’s just as the Great Aniu stated,” Kahu murmured as he gazed at the tiny light-brown bundle of joy. “Muru . . . our son . . .” He sighed with a smile as he looked up to the starry sky. “Oh, bless you, Divine Aniu! Thank you for this gift that I now see with my own two eyes!” He gave a loving lick to his wife, licking away her tears. “Ah, the stars seem much brighter tonight, don’t you think so, Quill?”

“Yes,” she sighed happily yet quietly enough for her son to rest. “The Great Spirits must have something special awaiting for our son, huh?” 

“Indeed,” The mouse husband nodded as they continued to bathe within the moon’s light and bask in the blessing that was given to them.

Little did they know how important their son was to become later in life, but right now, the two field mice were just happy to be able to pass their knowledge and survival skills to a live mouse-child of their own; I allowed them time to bond and enjoy little Muru’s company until he reached a certain age, but there was another event that was fast approaching – one moment that would lead to a difficult decision. 

The time was now July of the year 1924 . . .

(Piece I completed – 2/23/08)