Old Tropes

From within the center of the beam of light, Nganga grew. He grew taller. He grew horns. He grew fangs. He grew fire from his headdress.

He looked very, very mean and very, very angry. He looked down at Kembe and said he was going to wipe out everyone in the village who had ignored him. They deserved to die for their lack of belief.

He asked Kembe to come with him, but Kembe wouldn’t.

He said his parents were there, and lots of people he liked. They didn’t deserve to die. Maybe if they just saw something amazing they would believe.

But Nganga wouldn’t listen. He stomped toward the waterfall, and Kembe and Ayana pleaded with Danh and the Elephant Bird to help.

They fought him, but nothing could stop Nganga. He stood over Kembe and Ayana, gripping Danh and the Elephant Bird by the neck, and said they should have come with him. Now they would have to die in this cave, along with these two useless legends. And he dropped Danh and the Elephant Bird, who fell to the ground and didn’t move.

Then Nganga walked right through the waterfall.