The Ugly One by Leanne Statland Ellis

that he spoke. “So she
does
have a voice.”
    Sumac bobbed his head up and down. He did this often to show he was pleased with himself, but now it looked as if he was agreeing with the shaman. The Paqo cocked his head at the bird. “Perhaps. We shall see.” Sumac spread his wings and flew over to me. His claws curled into my shoulder reassuringly as he landed, his bird body a welcome weight.
    â€œUcho is cruel,” I said hotly. And then I spewed forth feelings I hadn’t shared before with anyone. “He is very cruel. I would stomp him into the ground if I could. I would feed him to the serpents. I would tie him to a rock for many days and nights and listen to him cry out for water, and I wouldn’t move to help. Not at all.”
    The Paqo replied in a tone that was much calmer than mine. “All creatures serve a purpose. If it weren’t for the boy, you wouldn’t be here now, speaking your mind, showing you have thoughts other than how to hide. He has given you courage.”
    I spoke more quietly now. “He is the reason I hide.”
    â€œAh. There is strength in this new voice of yours. But it lacks wisdom.”
    The Paqo’s comment made me bristle. I believed he was wrong, for I thought myself wiser than most. But I wasn’t about to argue with this powerful man.
    The Paqo stood and joined me, pulling aside the door weaving to reveal the trees outside. “Learn the lessons hidden in the leaves.”
    This was riddle talk I didn’t understand, so I said nothing.
    â€œSee how the wind blows the tree?” he went on, pointing to a young
molle
. “Do the leaves fight the wind? Of course not. Are they angry because it moves them back and forth? No. Does the wind change the nature of the leaf? Not at all. The leaf is. You have allowed the wind to change your nature.”
    I didn’t care much then about the leaves and the wind. “But Ucho stings at me all the time. I am tired of it.”
    â€œWe all have our troubles. Cruel words. No rain.” I couldn’t tell if the shaman was mocking me. “You have chosen your way.”
    â€œI never chose this!”
    His face softened. “No. No, you did not,” he said gently, staring at my right cheek. “But you choose to fight what is.”
    The wind shifted direction. With it, a sense of unease filled my chest.
    â€œThey are coming for the bird,” the shaman said.
    These words immediately filled me with fear. Of course they were coming for Sumac. He had bitten Ucho. They would kill my beautiful bird, my one true friend. My entire body began to tremble. What was I to do?
    â€œHe attacked a member of the
llaqta
,” the Paqo stated.
    â€œUcho attacked him first.”
    â€œThe bird is a menace.”
    My shaking stopped at this accusation. Here I met the Paqo’s gaze and held it firmly in my own. “You know he is not.”
    The shaman smiled fully, the gap in his top front teeth a message of enjoyment. “You presume to tell the great Paqo what he does or does not know?”
    It was because of the smile that I was able to reply, “Yes.”
    â€œThey will see the bird as a threat. Does this not make him a threat?”
    â€œI don’t know how to answer your questions. You speak in riddles that I don’t understand.”
    â€œAh! The new voice speaks first with strength and now with wisdom. I will discuss the matter with Yawar. It is time for you to leave, for soon they will arrive with the injured boy.”
    I nodded. It wouldn’t be safe for Sumac if Ucho and the others found us now. Better to hide and let hot tempers cool.
    As I turned to flee, the shaman chuckled. “So you see? You came when the bird told you to,” he said.
    Sumac squawked and bobbed his head up and down once more in agreement, as if the two of them had conspired to bring me there.
    â€œYou will come back tomorrow.”
    â€œI will?”
    â€œYes.