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Te Wai Pounamu
Freezing and with an empty stomach, Chuck woke up, sore from shrivelling all night. His skin was almost adhered to his bones and he seemed to be moulting, but was just weak. He was astounded, his duck instincts indicated that it wasn’t time for winter yet but the temperature was dropping drastically day by day. The animal council was getting desperate but no one was thinking of a solution.
Chuck was getting tired, he was too young to die. After minutes of meditating, he decided to go for advice with the wisest of the animal kingdom but there was a problem, this animal had been hibernating for months and Chuck was not going to survive much longer. The old Eloise, was deep into the cave and did not like to be bothered, this was making Chuck anxious but something had to be done and he needed help. In his way to the end of the cave, he ran into Tim the vulture, his old thoughtless friend. “Hey Chuck, where are you going in such a hurry?”
“I’m on my way to see Eloise the tortoise.”
“Really? Mind if I join you?”
“Nah.” Chuck said reluctantly.
After arriving to Eloise’s chamber Chuck told Tim to be quiet, but Tim as always, didn’t listen and made Eloise furiously wake up. “What is this nonsense, who dares to wake me up?”
“They call me Tim, did I wake you up granny?”
“Shut up Tim, show some respect.” Chuck interrupted.
“What’s the big deal Chuck?”
“She’s Eloise the wise, I came to ask her something.”
“Well ask her damn it, don’t tell me to shut up again.”
“Alright Tim, whatever. So, Eloise, you know we’ve been having a hard time because of this weather right?”
“Right” Eloise answer irritated.
“Well, I’ve been trying to find a solution for this problem, we can’t keep on like this, not for much longer. Do you know if anything can be done?”
“I don’t know, but hundred of years ago in the last ice age, I heard a story of of the Ice Sage whose advice helped to prevent an even greater disaster.”
“Really?” Chuck asked excitedly.
“Yes, but if you want to talk to the Ice Sage, you must go to his lair and ask him yourself.”
“I will, where can I find him?”
“The peak of the highest mountain in Te Wai Pounamu.”
“Te Wai Pounamu?”
“Humans used to call it, New Zealand. It’s a land far far away, you must fly south-west. Take this with you, it’s an ancient charm, Greek sailors used it to ask Aeolus for help when their boats were stranded because of the lack of wind.”
The next morning Tim and Chuck began their journey to Te Wai Pounamu.
At first the journey was simple, the sun would slightly warm them up but as soon as the moon shined, the weather got worse and steady gusts started blowing against Chuck and Tim’s will. They knew, they wouldn’t be able to keep up flying in this conditions, and asked to Eloise’s charm to help them in their journey. Minutes passed, and Aeolus seemed to be helping them. The air warmed up and it started blowing in their favor. Days of devastated landscapes and suffering passed. Out of nowhere Tim said “Look Chuck, is that it?”
“Is that what?”
“You know, the mountain we’re looking for.”
“You’re right! I’m quite sure it is.”
“Let’s hurry, I’m getting tired of this.”
After landing in the peak of the mountain they scanned their surroundings, looking for the Ice Sage. They found a sign made out of bronze quoting “Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it’s how we behave while we’re waiting -Joyce Mayer”. After not finding the Ice Sage, they decided to wait for the night in a nearby cave to continue searching in the morning. After a long and exhausting journey, both fell into a deep dream where fantasy appeared to be real. In the middle of the dream, Chuck saw a bright speck of light. “Am I dead?” Chuck asked to himself. “No.” A deep voice emerged from the speck of light. “What are you?” Chuck questioned.
“I’m who you’re looking for, I’m the answer, I’m the Ice Sage.”
“So you know why we came looking for you?”
“Yes, I know why you’re here.”
“So? Tell us how to stop this disaster, please.”
“Stay strong, fight for your survival only the strongest and the most patient will survive.”
