Kooichidon
Kooichidon grew up in a small wooden house on top of a big tree that rested on a loaf-like hill. Him and his father were the only ones living on this mound. The villagers that lived on the foot of the hill were always cautious about this rise in the earth. They warned against the ill nature of the breathing of the hill. However, their house was as secure as it could be. It was even bolted to the ground with ropes running down from all sides. And all items in the house had their own secure spot for whenever the hill was taking a breath. They had been keeping track how often and when it happens to then either not be at home at that time or to grab onto one of the many railings that were built into this cozy tree-house. There were a few exceptions, like the time a few winters ago when the hill let out a sound that was louder than thunder.
One evening the hill started breathing but, by their calculations, not at a time when they had expected it for. The breath was the longest they had known yet. But what’s more — the hill took a second breath. And a third.
The whole hill now tilted the earth sideways. Kooichi swiftly fastened himself onto the house. The framing of the house would’ve withstood even falling down from that height. His father, however, did not have such deft hands anymore. And with all the rumbling had fallen out of the house.
As far as Kooichi was concerned this whole debacle seemed to last for an eternity. The tree upon which they had built the house swung from left to right like a lazy metronome.
The ropes loosened and the house went swinging towards the forest.
Koo was knocked out by the small flight, but nevetheless kept safe by the structure of the house. When he woke up he unstrapped himself and looked around the house. Other than being sideways, it only had some minor scratches, and here and there a few pieces of wall caved inside.
His head started to slowly clear up. He remembered that his father had tumbled out of the house. Outside of the house now he started looking around to figure out what direction he was flung in.
The hill was gone from the horizon. He wondered if he had really flown that far. Then he noticed some trees that weren’t quite praising the sun and looked like they were tired, leaning on their brethren.
He looked for traces of his father, but was not able to find him. He looked checked everywhere near the house. He even looked up, in case his father had gotten stuck in one of the trees.
Not being able to find his father, Kooichi gathered the most important items, at least the ones he could reach, and the ones that were still intact. His backpack ended up with some sourdough bread and a flask of maple juice, a small shovel and some rope, and a compass. The route to walk back to where the hill once was would take him at the most a half a day, he thought. He looked at his compass and was now set to first wander back to where their house had been.
