Witi Ihimaera - Sky Dancer

In a trice, the first warrior, a perky whitehead by the name of Hore, flew into the air. Typically inquisitive, territorially alert, Hore rushed up to the strange warrior and stilled just above his head.

“Swee swee swee chir chir! Advance no further unless you can justify your credentials!”

Hore turned and spiralled, winning admiring glances from the Runanga a Manu for his fancy wingwork. But what the runanga was really curious about was how the strange warrior would respond.

“I am Arnie, Chief of Falcons,” the warrior answered. “I come with my Lady Skylark to address the Parliament of Birds, here, in the Great Forest of Tane. Let us pass, little one.” Gently, but firmly, the strange warrior made a quick jab at the capering Hore and plucked some of his bum fluff.

With a slight yelp, his breast burning red with embarrassment, Hore turned away and retreated to the sacred tree with as much dignity as he could muster. Feathers ruffled, the chieftains set up a raucous cry of anger. To treat a sentry like that, when all around him the strange warrior was outnumbered, was foolhardy indeed. Who were the interlopers? Why had they come?

“Go,” Tui ordered the second challenger, Kawe, one of the best warriors of the long-tailed cuckoo clan.

Kawe had psyched himself up to the job. Hissing, wheezing and blowing he launched himself from the sacred tree and, as he came, called out to the strange chieftainess and her warrior. “ Shweesht! State your business! Name your tribe! Why do you seek to korero with the Runanga a Manu —”

Kawe planed back and forth in front of the warrior. His baleful yellow eyes glared at Arnie in anger at the arrogant manner in which his mate, Hore, had been so summarily dispatched.

“I have already stated our names,” the strange warrior responded. “As to our tribe, my lady and I come from the future.”

The future? The Runanga a Manu tried to puzzle that one out. “Have you ever heard of that tribe?” Kotuku asked Chieftain Ruru of owls.

“Noooo,” Ruru intoned. “But I would think that it was a lo-ong way away from here.”

“State your business, state your business!” Kawe screeched again.

“Our business is the business of chiefs,” the strange warrior said, “to be discussed only with chiefs of the Runanga a Manu. Be on your way.” With that, the strange warrior made a deceptive pass then turned on his back and struck at Kawe’s rump. Before Kawe knew what had happened, he was falling, destabilised because he now lacked his tail feathers.

Again, the birds of the sacred tree set up an outraged commotion. “Did you see that? That was below the belt!” Scandalised, they flew among the branches, their feathers displayed in protest. “The stranger is asking for trouble,” Chieftain Kaka screeched. “Tui, dispatch a squad of warriors to teach the arrogant cock a lesson he thoroughly deserves.”

“Yes,” other birds called. “Teach the upstart a lesson! Rid him and his mistress from our territory!”

Chieftain Kahu intervened. “No,” he said to Tui. “The strange warrior is to be admired for his valour. His business, he says, is the business of chiefs? Then let the third challenge come from such a chief.”

Ignoring the gasps of astonishment, Kahu flew up to confront the strange warrior. His flight was so quick and strong that the newcomer, taken by surprise, backed away.

“That’s the way,” Chieftain Kawau yelled. “Show him who really rules the roost, Kahu!”

Kahu smiled at the strange warrior. He made a quick feint and jabbed at him with his long legs and their clawed extensions. The strange warrior did not retreat but, instead, deflected with his raking claw. Kahu felt the thrill of admiration.

“There are not many birds who would wish to engage me,” he said. “I am bigger than you, boy, and I could quarter you so fast you wouldn’t know until you hit the ground — all four pieces of you.”

The strange warrior bent his head in salute. “I acknowledge your mana, Chieftain Kahu of Harrier Hawks, for, although you do not know me, I am cousin to all hawks and eagles. I am Arnie of the falcon iwi, knight to the Lady Skylark, who comes from the future —”

“Knight? Future? Your language is strange, sir.”

“I am my lady’s protector and although you and I are close relatives, my job is to provide safe passage for her so that she may address your Parliament of Birds. Our time is limited and brooks no delay. If you value your life, let us pass, for although you are bigger than I am, I am known as the most aggressive bird of the forest. Nor do I ever retreat from battle.”

With that, the strange warrior opened his wings and gave a cry, such as had never been heard before. “ Kik-kik-kik-kik! Kik-kik-kik-kik! ’

He flew directly at Kahu and, this time, it was Kahu who backed away. Watching from the sacred tree, the Runanga a Manu was stunned into silence. Nobody before had initiated a duel with Kahu. Was not the harrier hawk, with his long-winged, long-tailed, high-soaring abilities, Lord of the Skies?

“Teach the stranger a lesson! Show him who’s boss, Kahu! Send him on his way with his tail feathers between his claws!” The runanga sent their loud voices up to Kahu as he duelled with the stranger. The two birds, chieftain and warrior, darted at one another, displaying their feathers, gesticulating and uttering harsh battle cries. Kahu’s admiration grew as he realised that the strange warrior had an impressive repertoire of military responses. He met every one of Kahu’s attacks with counter-attacks of his own. He swooped, stalled, circled and raked at Kahu and, often, more by luck than by technique, Kahu found himself dancing out of the way.

It was Te Arikinui Kotuku who began to turn the tide of opinion among the runanga. “Oh, strange warrior,” she called. “Who cannot but admire such foolhardiness! Fight well, fight bravely. Kia kaha! Kia manawanui!”

Very soon, chieftains were barracking for both Kahu and the strange warrior. They loved nothing more than to see a good fight. A good challenger. A good defender. Kahu would eventually win, they were certain, but there was nothing like acknowledging the bravery of a young warrior against a battle-hardened veteran.

At that very moment, Kahu slashed at the strange warrior’s left wing and drew blood.

“Arnie!” Skylark called. Terrified, she came rushing between him and Chieftain Kahu, and the harrier hawk backed away. Blood was streaking through Arnie’s wing feathers and dripping like rubies in the air. “Arnie, are you all right?”

Arnie nodded his head. “No matter what happens to me, Skylark, you must carry on and do your job.” He turned to Chieftain Kahu: “Come on then, you bastard, if you must kill me, make it quick.”

But Skylark flew in front of Chieftain Kahu. “No way,” she bristled. “If you want to get at Arnie, you have to get past me first, you fowl piece of flying feathers!”

Kahu watched, amused. He was enjoying what was happening. He turned and lazily circled down to the sacred tree. “What do you want me to do, boys?” he asked. “Do you want me to dispatch the strange warrior?”

“Finish them both,” Chieftain Koekoea called. “Look what they did to my warrior.”

Kahu nodded. He flew back to the strange warrior and the silly brown chieftainess who was trying to protect him. He prepared to give the coup de grâce — and made a quick jab. But Skylark flew at him again.

“Oh no you don’t,” she said.

Kahu laughed and went to peck at her jugular. But at the last moment he saw the flash of something around her neck. The binocular lenses of his eyes located what it was. A claw on a silver chain.

“Who gave you the sign of the hawk?” Kahu asked, his eyes wide with shock.