Ngaruawahia High School Yearbooks 1994-2009 Ngaruawahia High School Yearbook 2007 | Page 8

I have returned
By Hinemaia Mataira, Year 11
The night before last was the most terrifying and heartwrenching I have ever had to witness. The mere
thought of night triggers the hairs on the back of my
neck.
I was out with a war party for the first time, a party
of about fifty fierce and gruesome warriors. I
however was not one. Instead, I was made to trail at
the back of the cocky kaaka and carry an immense
load of calabashes filled to the brim with water.
I would get a whack from Uirata every time the
water would seep out.
“Honest koro, it’s these calabashes...they
have a mind of their own!” WHAAACCKK!
“Shut up boy...what do you know about
calabashes? You only carry them!” he would
fire back at me. I swear he put a curse on me
for his own pleasure in watching me fail.
We marched forever. I watched the sun
come up...float endlessly across the sky, and
then sink into the mellow horizon. But soon
night fell upon us.
The night brought creatures and spirits,
war parties and death. Again I trembled
with fear, and broke a calabash.
This caused a major riot and I was
pushed all the way to the front, being
kicked and punched and prodded on
the way. I looked back and saw Uirata
sniggering like a wild boar.
As I turned back around I felt a
sharp whisper streak past my ear,
followed by a gut-wrenching yelp. I
spun back around to see one of the
men out cold on the ground. His
eyes were wide open in shock as
his soul swirled out.
I was immediately shoved
recklessly into a bush while all
the men quickly prepared for
battle and hid.
The children of Tane fell
silent as uncontrollable
thoughts of big scary
Marakihau with searing teeth
sprinted through my head.
The next few moments
came in a flash as the
sound of blazing putâtara
boomed through my ears
leaving a ringing feeling
echoing through my
body. I was much too
scared to peek as I
heard men shouting
and the sound of
slashing;
but
something drew me
to believe it was my
duty to.
I slowly parted
the prickly leaves
of my lonesome
haven to reveal
hell
breaking
loose in the
depths of the
night.

6

I gasped in horror
as I saw heads
tumbling to the ground,
patu gashing the flesh
of the ones who had
stolen me, and blood
splashed
carelessly
everywhere.
The only thing I could
think of was escaping and
running as far away as
possible from these animals,
but my timing was to be
extremely crucial. At first I
didn’t even have the courage
to move my feet, but I thought
of what might happen if I stayed
here, so I decided I had to.
The miracle of my life
happened as Uirata was causing
havoc with the enemy and this
became the perfect decoy.
I counted in my head ‘Three,
Two, One. GO!’ I sharply slithe