Comprehension dawns within Cynara's gaze which rests upon your eyes, smiling slightly she shakes her head, "It is not the shell of a sea animal, which is why it is so rare," she grins, pointing down the elongated back of the shell and the ripples which almost give it a fossilized feather appearance, "Benjas were flyers. Come, sit and I'll tell you the legend." She motions to an area with a fire that seems nearly deserted.

Stories are the best things of all. BrightEyes willingly and eagerly follows you to the fireside, benja shell cradled in her hand, bag stuffed under her other arm. "Flyers!" With disbelief, she eyes off the shell, folding down to sit in readiness.

Cynara grins and sits on a log, her wings hanging off the back of it. She reaches out for the shell once more, to take it from you gently, "You see, the benja were small, about the size of two of these put together. They had these protective shells over there wings, similar to beetles. When they were seen, they were most often found around the sea, mostly in places where sea lions and porpoises would congregate," she begins the tale, pointing to the delicate lines, showing how one side of the shell is straight and the other curved, just like a beetle.

BrightEyes bends her head to yours, attention focused on the shell in question. Her bag sits forgotten at her side.

"It was said that the Benja were fascinated by water. They would fly above it for hours, watching their reflections in the glassy surface, or riding the subtle breezes just above when it was choppy," she continues, her voice falling into a tale-telling tone as she recounts the story from her youth. "The benja would begin the morning by flying out a distance to the sea, and as always, they would look to find their reflections. Sometimes, their reflection would not be there and this was seen as an omen. That benja would fly back to his home and not venture out for the rest of the day."

BrightEyes curls her arms about her legs in a quiet hug, eyes wide as the sing-song of the story takes her back to her youth.

Cynara smiles at your attention, leaning it a little bit more herself, letting the firelight glint off very small spots of smooth areas on the shell. "You see, the benja thought themselves great and mighty warriors. Their image in the water had told them they were large and they knew they were strong... But, one day, one benja made a startling discovery. He realized that the reflections that they had based themselves on, were in fact, other creatures beneath the water's surface that would follow them about on their daily ventures!" She gasps lightly, adding a sense of shock to the story without thought. "This benja was amazed when his reflection actually stuck its nose out of the water and nudged him in a different direction, just as a larger bird was swooping down to snap him up."

BrightEyes mimics your gasp unconsciously. The fingers of her hands wriggle above the other, acting out the wee, flying benja and the creatures below.

Cynara continues on, "Now, of course, the benja was very grateful for being saved, and he began to speak to the beast he once thought was his own reflection. It was a dolphin, and the dolphin told him that she followed him about every day because when he would fly so close to the surface, it would attract a lot of small fish and it was very fun to catch them just as they were about to jump up to snap at the lure above the water. The benja was shocked that this creature had apparently saved his life many times. The dolphin told him that all the dolphins followed the benja around now, and even some of the sea lions."

BrightEyes' fingers talk to one another. Well, as much as fingers can. The benja in question would no doubt spend quite some time in counseling, having been the cause of many fishes' deaths.

"The benja didn't know if he should tell his people about this, for they all thought they were big and strong--he did not want to hurt them. He discussed this with his reflection, and the dolphin answered that he should tell them that they are magic and that is why they are strong, because they can call the dolphins and the sea lions to follow them. The benja thought that was a wonderful idea and he raced home to tell his people." She pauses dramatically, "His people, however, scorned him and told him it wasn't true, so the benja went back the next day and told his reflection what happened. Puzzled, the dolphin said she would talk to the other dolphins, and they would all prove it to the benjas. So, soon after, the dolphins and sea lions began popping their heads out of the water and speaking to the benjas they shadowed. This surprised the benjas terribly and they all thought it was an awful thing that they were no longer big and strong." Her voice saddens with the story.

BrightEyes' hands begin to follow one another around in the air until you approach the end of the story, wherein they sink back to her lap; no longer benja and dolphin, just hands. "Ohhh..."

Cynara nods at the disappointment and then continues, "The dolphins and sea lions heard about this, and they were angry. They thought it was a wonderful thing for the benja to have the magic to call them, and they were insulted when the benja did not think that a wonderful thing as well. And so, the dolphins and the sea lions stopped following their benja friends. This confused the benja even more, and made them all stay in their homes for weeks because their reflections were not there when they flew." Another small pause. "Then, one day, a group of sharks happened upon the unsuspecting school of dolphins and sea lions, and while sharks do not usually attack these creatures, for some reason, they decided that they would this time. Now, that first benja still spent a lot of time about his reflection and her friends and so, when the terrified dolphin told him what was going on, he immediately went to the benjas and told them.

"At first, the benjas didn't seem to care, but slowly they realized that their reflections did need their help, and they all went to rescue them. The benja went further away from the dolphins, just above a reef and they began diving into the water and then flying out, making lots and lots of commotion, which drew the sharks to them. The sharks then got caught on the coral and could not free themselves. After the sharks agreed to not attack the dolphins any more, the dolphins helped them get free, and they swam away quickly. After that, the dolphins and sea lions promised to come whenever the benjas called because the benjas were such great and mighty warriors. The benja found that they truly were warriors, and they flew with their great underwater reflections always mirroring them after that.

"And it came to pass that every benja had their own reflection, and when that reflection died, so did the benja warrior who protected it." She nods then turns the shell over and hands it back to you, "It is said that a benja shell has the power to call its reflection whenever it is needed."

As you hand the shell back, the cocoon of rapt attention falls away, magic broken by the end of the tale. BrightEyes cradles the smell shell carefully, "That's a wonderful story." She looks up at you, "I hope you wouldn't mind if I retold it some day?"

Cynara smiles and shakes her head, "Of course not. It is a legend, its meant to be retold." Her eyes flicker to the shell and back to your face, "I would polish that up and keep it in a safe place in case you ever need a dolphin."

FIN  

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