The Thunderbird heard Aru's question and slowly folded her wings back. "Another name? What do you mean?"
Aru said excitedly, "I want to know your name so I can write lyrics to praise you!"
The Thunderbird spoke slowly. "I... have no name."
Long, long ago, someone had given her a name. But the Thunderbird had no need for it, and no one had ever called her by it. As time passed, that name had been abandoned and long forgotten.
Hearing that the Thunderbird had no name, Aru looked disappointed. But then he shook his head, thought for a moment, and a spark of inspiration struck him.
Since the guardian deity had no name, why couldn't he give her one?
Aru said happily, "I've learned to read and write, and I know many new words. Let me give you a name!"
The Thunderbird said indifferently, "If you like, go ahead."
Aru thought for a while, racking his memory for all the words he had learned, trying to find a fitting name for his guardian deity.
After a moment, his eyes lit up. "I've got it—Kanna Kapatcir. What do you think of that?"
The Thunderbird looked puzzled. "Kanna Kapatcir?"
It was a strange name. Even the Thunderbird herself didn't understand its meaning.
Aru explained with a smile, "In our ancestors' language, Kapatcir means 'thunder eagle,' and it carries a sense of reverence. Since you live on Mount Kanna, I'll call you Kanna Kapatcir."
He was very pleased with the name he had come up with. It was both majestic and respectful, perfectly befitting the guardian deity.
The Thunderbird remained indifferent. "I don't fully understand, but if you like it, that's fine. I don't care about names."
With that, she spread her great wings and gave a gentle flap, nearly blowing Aru away again.
The next moment, she soared into the sky, circling overhead. She called down to Aru, "Aru, don't forget our promise in three days. I hope to hear your song then."
Aru waved and shouted excitedly, "Lady Kapatcir, don't worry—I won't forget!"
A moment later, the great Thunderbird beat her wings and vanished beyond the horizon. As she left, a large feather drifted down through the mist and landed before Aru.
He rushed forward and picked it up, his eyes shining with excitement. "This must be a gift from Lady Kapatcir—a token of friendship!"
He couldn't wait to see her again. In the three days ahead, he would compose a beautiful song in honor of Lady Kapatcir, to sing for her when they met again.
Just thinking about singing for her made him jump for joy. He had become friends with the guardian deity! He had gained her protection!
Happily, he hoisted the gleaming feather onto his shoulder and made his way through the mist back to his village.
When the villagers saw the enormous feather Aru was carrying, they were astonished.
"Is that the guardian deity's feather?"
"I've lived my whole life and never seen such a perfect feather—all the ones I've seen were damaged or decayed."
"Where did you find this?"
"Did you see the guardian deity?"
The people were shocked, for in their eyes, a feather from the guardian deity was a sacred relic. And this one was especially perfect—it could be carved into dozens of Wooden Reed Flutes.
Aru, basking in the attention, said proudly, "Of course I saw the guardian deity. She gave it to me."
As the villagers gathered around to admire the sacred feather, Aru told them everything that had happened that day: singing for the guardian deity, being carried into the sky, giving her a name, and receiving her gift.
Every detail was beyond their wildest imaginations. The guardian deity, revered by all, had taken a liking to a mere child like Aru? She enjoyed his singing? And he, a human, had dared to name her? Kapatcir—a fine name, to be sure, but the act itself was audacious.
Hearing this, the way the villagers looked at Aru changed. They began to see him as an extension of the guardian deity—someone who could speak on her behalf.
Aru paid no mind to the stares. He happily carried the precious feather home.
When he saw his father, the High Priest, he said excitedly, "Father, look! This is the feather Lady Kapatcir gave me!"
His father looked puzzled. But the moment he saw the glowing feather, his expression grew serious. "Kapatcir? This... is the guardian deity's feather? Where did you get it?"
Aru eagerly recounted his adventure again, saying how kind the guardian deity had been, how they had become friends, and how he had earned her favor and protection.
Hearing this, his father did not look pleased. Instead, he asked sternly, "How many people saw this feather?"
Aru said happily, "A lot of people! They all praised how beautiful it was—of course it's beautiful, since the guardian deity gave it to me."
His father sighed and said nothing more. He silently prayed that the coming ritual would not go awry. Then he left.
In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Under the tribe's collective effort, a great altar had been built, and all the necessary offerings had been prepared. The ritual was about to begin.
But when the people opened the cage where the sacrifice had been held, ready to bring out the little girl for the blood offering, they were shocked to find that their carefully chosen offering had mysteriously vanished.