A Hard Struggle

Finally Meredith's father broke the silence.

"Buffalo Calf," said her father gently, "A hard struggle lies ahead of you, but we will help. You will not be alone. As Earth and Sun, we will be with you."

"You must teach people how to be EarthWise," said her mother. 

"I will, Mother. I'll warn people to take action before it is too late," said Meredith Buffalo Calf Woman. "Hopefully enough of them will listen, and the earth will be saved."

"We wish it too, Meredith. Remember, you will always have a home with us in the sky," said her father.

"I know, Father, thank you."

Hummingbird

The starlight intensified until it was bright as sunshine.

A tall stalk of blue corn sprang up at their feet. Quickly it sprouted leaves and put forth abundant corn flowers which gave forth an exquisitely subtle scent. Meredith Buffalo Calf Woman extended her hand toward the delicate white flowers.

A tiny hummingbird appeared and flitted about, energetically tipping its head to each of the relatives on the cliff. Then it sped over to the flowers of the blue corn stalks and sucked greedily of their juices. Satisfied, it alighted on the outstretched finger of Meredith Buffalo Calf Woman and rested its wings for a well-deserved moment before buzzing off again.

Monuments

Meredith mounted her hybrid SUV and drove off down the mountain road. She must not give up. She must help to reduce pollution and stop global warming. She knew that she would go on.  

There were no other cars on the road, so she pulled over and looked back at the overlook. She saw the five stone figures illuminated by blue light and silhouetted against the cliff.  

A sweet harmonic sound echoed across the canyon. The five figures, their wise faces like monuments to the First Peoples, continued to look down upon upon her stoically. Then they were gone.