Heroes of the Water Monster: Chapter 21–Hwééldi

by Brian Young
In this sequel to Healer of the Water Monster, teenage Nathan is losing his ability to interact with Navajo Holy Beings, so he chooses younger Diné blood, eleven-year-old Edward, to take over guardian duties for Dew while she learns all the songs to control and protect water.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue–Chapter 4, Chapters 5–9, Chapters 10–14, Chapters 15–20, Chapter 21–Hwééldi
40 words 6 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. pristine
    completely free from dirt or contamination
    The pristine water disappeared beneath her scales, and her size increased.
  2. rubbish
    worthless material that is to be disposed of
    Even this far away from the trail, Dew ran over empty chip bags and other light plastic rubbish that must have floated in the winds.
  3. gauge
    judge tentatively or form an estimate of
    It wasn’t easy to gauge the size of the Guardian. But Edward guessed the length of a school bus and just as tall as one with its belly on the ground.
  4. eviscerate
    remove the entrails of
    The moment their eyes made contact, Edward felt its immense desire to eviscerate its prey.
  5. devoid
    completely wanting or lacking
    Above them, the sun shone in a vast light blue sky, devoid of any moisture and cover.
  6. curtly
    in an abrupt and discourteous manner
    Almost as if he was ignoring Edward, he curtly asked Nathan, “What do you want?”
  7. evasive
    deliberately vague or ambiguous
    I wanted to know if you were truthful. And your non-answer was evasive. Not a good first impression.
  8. ethereal
    characterized by lightness and insubstantiality
    Behind the sky was a bright mist, both cloudy and ethereal. His hand disappeared into it.
  9. iridescent
    varying in color when seen in different lights
    Once he popped his head out of the opening, the armor spread across his body like iridescent ink.
  10. brevity
    the attribute of being short or fleeting
    Nathan said, “I hate to be rude, but we must be on our way back to the Fourth World.”
    She said, “I don’t mind the brevity of your visit. Thank you for treating me with respect.”
  11. magnanimous
    noble and generous in spirit
    The last being that could summon rain was the Magnanimous Yitoo Bi’aanii.
  12. indiscriminately
    without paying attention to differences
    “The Lightning Arrow zaps anything indiscriminately,” the Guardian explained.
  13. conjure
    summon into action or bring into existence
    Now, the Lightning Arrow. Nathan, I recommend you not handle it. Only the brother wearing the Obsidian Armor should handle it, for pressing its arrowhead anywhere will make you experience the shock of ten lightning bolts at once. Should you let it fly, it will conjure a storm of lightning.
  14. nullify
    make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of
    Be sure that Yitoo Bi’aanii is fully defeated before using this arrow or else its effects will be nullified and the storm itself will not respond.
  15. exorcise
    expel through adjuration or prayers
    Lastly, holding the Rainbow Knife will allow you to confront the spirit of a downed Enemy and exorcise it, letting it rest.
  16. brine
    water containing salts
    Rolling waves, like living hills, slammed into each other, sending thousands of gallons of salt water to splash everywhere. The smell of brine and fish invaded Edward’s nostrils.
  17. vortex
    the shape of something rotating rapidly
    According to the research he had done earlier, hurricanes looked like one giant vortex of clouds; underneath the spinning dome were several large rings of clouds that resembled a bull’s-eye target. The outer rings were the smallest rainband, and the closer to the eye of the hurricane, the more powerful the rainband.
  18. respite
    a relief from harm or discomfort
    Their respite was short lived as they approached the second rainband. “Keep singing as long as you can, Nathan,” Edward said. “Dew, get ready for a stronger rainband coming up.”
  19. onslaught
    a rapid and continuous outpouring
    All the while, Nathan’s singing protected them from the onslaught of rain above.
  20. phosphorescent
    emitting light without appreciable heat
    First, the ocean above them finally calmed. And then the water around them began sparkling a dazzling neon green. Streaks of phosphorescent lime danced on the invisible dome like the northern lights Edward had seen in YouTube videos.
  21. resonate
    produce a deep, clear sound
    Her melody resonated with the surface of the water around her, creating cymatic shapes of intersecting geometry, like a mandala of circles and triangles.
  22. alleviate
    provide physical relief, as from pain
    The winter of the kidnapping, I left the boundaries of the Four Sacred Mountains to follow the Diné. I did my best to alleviate their suffering.
  23. eradicate
    kill in large numbers
    The Pale People destroyed families. They joyfully stole land and resources. Not only from the Diné. From peoples all over this surface. Such violent tendencies do not vanish unless we eradicate them, just like the Hero Twins did with the Enemies of Old.
  24. vehement
    characterized by great force or energy
    Nathan watched as the wave pummeled the ocean surface, the crimson bioluminescence highlighting every vehement collision.
  25. undertow
    a current that flows away from the shore after waves break
    The undertow tossed them around like rag dolls and pulled them away from Yitoo.
  26. disposal
    the power to use something or someone
    Grow as large as you can, then wrestle with her, the same way you and I did. Only this time, use anything and everything at your disposal to keep the ice armor from re-forming.
  27. integrity
    an undivided or unbroken completeness with nothing wanting
    With the integrity of her ice armor compromised, more and more scales cracked, then shattered.
  28. indiscernible
    difficult or impossible to perceive
    Indiscernible amounts of water from the ocean surged around Dew.
  29. apt
    mentally quick and resourceful
    You have learned much, youngest sister. An apt student. Had I taught you a year more, you would have indeed surpassed my skills.
  30. glower
    look angry or sullen as if to signal disapproval
    Yitoo’s red eyes glowered at Edward.
  31. reflexive
    without volition or conscious control
    Edward controlled his reflexive impulse to grab an arrow from the quiver on his shoulders.
  32. stave off
    prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
    It wasn’t only just up to water monsters, or any other Holy Being, to stave off the effects of climate change.
  33. tinge
    a slight but appreciable amount
    He felt a tinge of jealousy for not being able to join them as they returned Father Sun’s property.
  34. reverent
    feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
    Ted, Nathan, and Janet stepped out of the SUV, silent and reverent, sadness on their faces.
  35. internment
    the act of confining someone in a prison
    To their right was the trunk of a massive cottonwood tree and a sign that said it had been planted by Diné prisoners during their internment at Hwééldi.
  36. testament
    strong evidence for something
    Edward grew angry at the thought of adults letting children play on a testament to the survival of his Diné ancestors.
  37. plaque
    a tablet that commemorates a person or achievement
    A little farther down the dirt path was another cluster of thoughtfully placed pebbles and a plaque: “These rocks were carried from different parts of the Navajo reservation in February of 1971 in commemoration of the Navajo people who were exiled and died here from 1863 to 1868.”
  38. turmoil
    violent agitation
    Sometimes, like now when the pain of the past was right in front of his eyes, the weight of the story grew and the horrors and injustice that had happened overwhelmed Edward.
    Nathan seemed to sense Edward’s turmoil and again rubbed his back.
  39. ramification
    a consequence, especially one that causes complications
    Because even though the relocation occurred almost two centuries ago, its effects were still being felt. Its ramifications still reverberated throughout history. The Diné of today still endured the consequences of the relocation, of the stolen resources.
  40. reverberate
    have a long or continuing effect
    Because even though the relocation occurred almost two centuries ago, its effects were still being felt. Its ramifications still reverberated throughout history. The Diné of today still endured the consequences of the relocation, of the stolen resources.
Created on Thu May 30 15:35:46 EDT 2024 (updated Fri May 31 18:09:45 EDT 2024)

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