We head to the forest, to gather medicinal herbs.
We leave the village down a rocky path.
As we walk lower, the scenery gradually changes into lush greenery.
Suddenly, we find ourselves in the midst of giant trees as far as the eyes can see.
Oh life-giving Great God,Anikushet,Yatiker,listen to my prayers!
Hm?
Kwese, Eruruw, Potum, Sotukai.
Kwese, Aruruw, Potum, Sotukai.
...
...
(Hmm. They are holding their hands to a small, model wooden house...)
(What are they doing?)
...
Eruruw?
No...what was that, exactly?
Oh, I was just offering a prayer to Yaanaun Kami.
Yaanaun Kami?
Yes. Most of our food and medicine come from the forest.
So, it's right to offer a prayer of thanks before we enter the forest.
(Yaanaun Kami...hm.)
(I guess that is some kind of make shift shrine.)
Ah that's right.
The Deep.
THE FORBIDENN ZOONE!!!!!!
Why?
The Deep is where Mutikapa-sama, Lord of the Forest, dwells.
Mutikapa-sama?
The servant of Yaanaun Kami and guardian of the forest.
If you ruin any part of this forest, Mutikapa-sama will eat you up!
Eruruw raises both her hands in the air and makes a gesture much like a wild beast chomping down.
And her expression seems entirely serious
( I stifle a laugh.)
We laugh at the ridiculous superstitions of these primitives.
Oh I'm sorry.
I see this forest has one of those legends.
What? Mutikapa-sama is no legend!
Mutikapais...real?
Yes, Mutikapa-sama is really real.
Grandma always tells us never to go to The Deep when we go out.
She says it is because of Mutikapa-sama.
I haven't seen Mutikapa-sama, but there are rumors that...
Oh.
S-sorry for making you wait. We'll go soon.
Excuse me for rambling on about this odd stuff.
No, I found it quite interesting.
So there were rumors?
Come on, let's go.
Wait...what rumors...?
(Insert mudcrab joke...)
….
….
…
(I omit some talk about not going to the forest at night, at last Aruruw finds a nice spot).
It's a smile that could make the flowers themselves bloom.
(This is the first time I've ever really seen her smile.)
So, shall we look around here?
Mm.
There should be landmarks somewhere around here...
...
♪
These?
Okay.
...
(These two are harvesting the various herbs that grow in the grasses here.)
(But still...what am I to do?)
(They brought me here...I hope they don't forget about me.)
Eruruw, can I speak to you for a moment?
Yes?
What?
Oh...
No, Hakuoro-san. We're fine. We can do this by ourselves. Please rest.
Eruruw and Aruruw begin harvesting again.
(Wow, even though she said they could, I'm amazed at how well those two work together.)
♪
As Eruruw carefully harvests the sprouts of a plant, she hums a flowing song to herself.
...
Those are all medicinal herbs?
(Some chatter about herbs, she is learning from her grandmother)
We try to help...
…..
…
Oh this one? This bright, rainbow one should beit!)
Ah that plant!
So it's good, right?
…
FUUUU
We let her be...
…
…
Well,it looks like we're finished.
Aruruw, come, let's return home.
….
…
(When did Aruruw disappear?)
…
We see her climbing a very tall tree...
She ignores us...
That kid isn't paying any attention!
Heh, won't it be alright? I mean, she has what she wants, she'll probably come down soon.
After climbing so high, it's hard to get back down.
I knew it...and she's so high up...
(That's true...)
(And you probably can't climb that high yourself.)
What? No! It's too dangerous. Your body isn't completely healed!
Here I go!
(I'm not all the way up yet? I feel like I've been climbing for hours...)
(And Aruruw...is still much higher...)
(And to think a kid was able to climb so high.)
Just a little...bit...more...
(Hey,why is she running away!?)
Hey, what's the matter? Come tome.
...
(It's useless. No matter what I say, she won't budge.)
(There's going to be trouble no matter what I do. This is quite the bind.)
Hey,Aruruw.
...
(Oh and now I'm starting to ache...)
(I can't do this for much longer...)
...
C'mon, c'mon, don't be afraid. Here girl, c'mon girl.
If you come to me, I'll give you my share of side dishes tonight.
...
(It feels like I'm dealing with a little animal...)
...
...
(Oh,good! She's gradually coming closer.)
GAH!
(The sudden scream of pain scares her...)
(I startled her, and she went further up.)
( I've almost reached my limit...)
(If she keeps up like this...I'll have to force her...no,we'll just both fall...)
We try to calm her to no avail, but then...
Aaaaah!
!!!
Gah...
I reach out my arm and grab Aruruw before she falls to her death.
-bam-
Aaaaah!
-boom-
My vision blurs and I resist passing out.
Ah...
Please...you can ride...on my back...as I...climbdown.
...
Hurry!
-cling-
Good girl. Now...just...hold on...tight...
...
...
Wow, it's gotten completely dark out.
(Finally, we get down and leave the forest, carrying Aruruw in our back...)
...
Hey,Eruruw, why are you so unhappy? Cheer up.
We made it down safely, but it's been rough since then.
Once I got down, a very worried Eruruw joined Aruruw in squeezing me tight.
She started scolding us, but soon just broke down in tears.
Aruruw and I weren't quite sure what todo then...
(It was a big mess...)
I thought...my heart would stop back then...
Uh...yeah ,but...well, she's safe now, isn't she?
Uu...
C'mon, let's go back before Tuskur-san worries about us.
...
...Okay.
Aruruw,you can come down off Hakuoro-san's back already
Zzz...Zzz....Zzz...
Oh Aruruw...she's asleep.
That explains why she's so quiet.
On the way back, she was on my back the whole time. So she was asleep?
Aruruw, wake up...
No, don't bother. She's finally asleep, there's no need to wake her.
Oh...I'm sorry.
But...I just worry about her so much...
...Father?
Aruruw...
Hmmm.
Wait a minute...
Father...do I really look that old?
Huh?
...
Hee hee, ha ha...
Who knows?
E-Eruruw!
Mmmn.