Banks Dynasty – Day 21.3 (Part 2)

We leave the rental and head up a hill, but Merlin stops when he sees what I’m wearing.

Merlin: Son, you’ll freeze to death wearing that! Let’s go back to the rental and find you something more suitable to wear.

I actually thought I was bundled up enough, but apparently, I’m not. I happily follow Merlin back to the rental for more cold weather protection.

We meet back up with the family and start our trek onto the hiking trails of Yukimatsu.

Kai: *to Me-Me* So what do you think?

Melisa: I think I need to talk to Jay, or he and Lia will ruin this whole trip.

I was asking about my new snow gear, but Me-Me has other things on her mind. She speeds up to catch up with her brother.

Melisa: *to Jay* Why do you enjoy antagonizing Lia so much?

Jalin: Because she makes it so easy to do. I’m trying to figure out when she became so uptight.

Melisa: *sigh* It doesn’t matter, Jay! Just stop, please. This trip is supposed to be fun, and we haven’t been together as a family in years.

Jalin: I’ll do my part if she’s willing to do hers.

Melisa: That’s all I ask.

Judging from the way Lia is stomping through the snow as if she’s trying to kill something, we can only hope that she’ll be willing to lay off of Jay for the rest of the trip…or even for the next hour.

We hike across beautiful landscapes, including a bridge over a frozen river. We stop to admire the snow-topped hills and decide which way to go next.

Merlin: I think the caves are to the left on the other side of this hill.

Kai: This is beautiful. Thanks for inviting me on this trip.

Jalisa: You’re welcome. We’re glad to have you.

We follow Merlin’s directions and find the Cave Statues.

Merlin: According to the brochures, no one knows when these statues were carved or for what purpose.

I’m fascinated and curious about this discovery. So I step closer, finding it hard to imagine that someone would carve something like this without a specific purpose in mind.

We stop and take some pictures. After admiring the details in the carving for a while, the rest of Me-Me’s family hurry off in search of the historic shrine.

Merlin: We’ll meet you two back at the rental.

Me-Me and I remain where we are, happy to take advantage of the time alone.

We take a few selfies, then try to decide what to see next.

Kai: Should we try to regroup with your family?

Melisa: No, you heard my dad. They’ll meet us at the rental.

Kai: I saw that there’s a natural cove not too far from here. Maybe we can look for that.

Melisa: Okay

We follow the trail to where we believe the cove might be until Me-Me stops suddenly.

Melisa: Shhh – do you hear that?

I stop to listen.

Kai: Yeah, it sounds like it’s coming from the trees.

Before we can look, three giant bugs fall from above and land in front of me. Acting on impulse, I stomp the ground hard before me, and the bugs scamper away.

Melisa: Oh my Watcher, Kai! That was close.

Kai: You’d think it would be too cold out here for bugs.

Melisa: Those bugs look like they’ve evolved for living in the snow.

We continue walking while Me-Me tells me about the time a giant centipede attacked her dad during their last trip to Mt. Komo. Finally, we arrive at the cove, which is just a large open clearing.

I suggest that we build a snow pal. Me-Me agrees, so we get to work.

Melisa: I remember doing this a lot with my dad growing up. We’d have contests – my dad and I against Lia and Jay.

I wish I had those types of memories with my dad. Unfortunately, I can barely even recall doing anything like this with my mom since she was always busy with school. All I can do is look to the future and hope to build these memories with any future children that we might have. I don’t mention any of this to Me-Me. I decide to keep the conversation light.

Kai: So you’ve perfected the art of snow pal building?

Melisa: Not exactly.

After we have a decent snow shape going…

Melisa: How should we decorate him?

Kai: Hmmm *thinks about it* How about a heavy metal snow pal?

We use whatever we can find to decorate, then Me-Me takes some pictures of our little project.

Melisa: Awww, our first snow pal together! Say cheese! *snaps a picture*

As we walk away from our snow pal, I continue to think about the future and all the other big and small things I’d like to do with Me-Me. I want to build more snow pals, take vacations, and future hikes through the snow. I want to create memories…even little ones, like her, clumsily slipping on the ice – that lead into trails that make up a lifetime. And more importantly, I’d like this trip to be the start of it all.

(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)

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