Heroes of the Water Monster: Chapters 10–14

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 7 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. sparse
    not dense or plentiful
    Yitoo ran up a steep hill that transformed from smooth orange sandstone with a dark purple line running through it to a sparse forest of stumpy trees.
  2. meek
    evidencing little spirit or courage
    Edward asked Nathan in a quiet, meek voice, “Are we going to have to go up there?”
  3. nonchalantly
    in a composed and unconcerned manner
    Nathan whispered back, “Are you afraid of heights?”
    Edward squeaked, “So what if I am? Not like anything interesting happens near cliffs, except death.”
    “It’s just eight hundred feet high,” Nathan said nonchalantly.
  4. cardinal
    serving as an essential component
    There were also many mountains, including the four sacred ones in the cardinal directions, as well as meandering rivers, colorful mesas, tree-topped plateaus, wide-open expanses, rocky cliffs of canyons, and mountains covered with evergreen trees.
  5. trinket
    a small cheap ornament, knickknack, or piece of jewelry
    Among the rugs hung trinkets, kitchen utensils, and various bundles of flowers, plants, and roots with deep vibrant colors.
  6. predominantly
    much greater in number or influence
    She wore a gorgeous rug dress that was woven predominantly with the four sacred colors: white, blue, yellow, and black.
  7. benevolent
    generous in providing aid to others
    “Benevolent Yitoo Bi’aanii! Welcome back, my beautiful niece.”
  8. humility
    a lack of arrogance or false pride
    The last four Enemies they hunted were Poverty, Sickness, Old Age, and Death. They told me they decided to spare them because those four Enemies taught the Diné valuable lessons, such as the value of humility, the value of taking care of your body, the value of raising and guarding the younger generation, and the value of living.
  9. pungent
    strong and sharp to the sense of taste or smell
    Pungent tea leaves seeped their yellow color into the liquid.
  10. unconditional
    not subject to any restrictions or limitations
    She had the same eyes as all grandmas, reflecting unconditional love and support for all her grandchildren, no matter how distantly related.
  11. atonement
    the act of making amends for sin or wrongdoing
    There hasn’t been a gesture of responsibility or atonement. But letting go of some of that pain, some of that hatred that you have for them, will allow you to build a happiness that isn’t dependent on their actions and apologies or lack thereof. Now, that doesn’t mean ignoring what happened or forgetting their horrible actions.
  12. don
    put on clothes
    He would love nothing more than to don the Obsidian Armor and shoot a sacred arrow or two.
  13. oppression
    the state of being kept down by unjust use of authority
    It seems whenever progress is achieved, those that benefited from oppression throw a tantrum.
  14. wax
    increase in phase
    Nathan noticed the waxing new moon rising.
  15. erratic
    liable to sudden unpredictable change
    It wasn’t erratic energy like when he tried some of his dad’s coffee and wanted to backflip an entire marathon. He just felt focused, alert, and motivated.
  16. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
    Edward wondered if he could coax a bundle for himself to have before his wrestling matches.
  17. paltry
    contemptibly small in amount or size
    They sped past Shiprock and continued until they reached a paltry river that was nearly dry.
  18. rancid
    having an offensive smell or taste
    There was very little water and a feeble stream that zigzagged back and forth on dirt and stones like a lost snake looking for nourishment. But like the water at Arizona Falls, the water was rancid and had turned green.
  19. gouge
    make a groove in
    Huge amounts of water must have been rushing through here when it was full. But now the droughty riverbed gouged deep into the rock bed like a scab.
  20. abhorrent
    offensive to the mind
    She said, “This lake is not natural. What is this abhorrent creation?”
  21. aqueduct
    a conduit that carries water over a valley
    The aqueduct that took water from the river they were on was being directed through Surprise, Arizona. A shiver ran down Edward’s spine. The aqueduct they were in would eventually connect with the Salt River Project, which distributed water through all the Phoenix valley.
  22. marrow
    network of connective tissue filling the cavities of bones
    Her scream echoed into the marrow of his bones.
  23. guttural
    relating to or articulated in the throat
    Yitoo’s breathing evened from her deep guttural growl into a calm flow of a desert breeze.
  24. irrefutable
    impossible to deny or disprove
    “We have irrefutable evidence that Phoenix is taking my river,” Yitoo explained.
  25. loathing
    hate coupled with disgust
    “We have irrefutable evidence that Phoenix is taking my river,” Yitoo explained. Every syllable dripped with loathing.
  26. frivolity
    something of little value or significance
    Nathan answered, “That’s Hurricane Harbor, a water park.”
    “They use my water for frivolity,” she said.
  27. convene
    meet formally
    “I must return to Diné Bikéyah. We must convene with our brothers and sisters.”
  28. emanate
    proceed or issue forth, as from a source
    If anger and despair could be felt, Edward was feeling it emanate from Yitoo’s throbbing heart, from the roiling pulse of her veins, from her forceful exhales of overexertion.
  29. roiling
    (of a liquid) agitated vigorously; in a state of turbulence
    If anger and despair could be felt, Edward was feeling it emanate from Yitoo’s throbbing heart, from the roiling pulse of her veins, from her forceful exhales of overexertion.
  30. extremity
    that part of a limb that is farthest from the torso
    Blood reentered his lower extremities, awakening his toes.
  31. mesmerized
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    Water rushed from her jewelry and froze into a solid platform.
    Edward stood on it, still mesmerized that he was holding wind in his hands.
  32. fester
    decay with an offensive smell
    We all allowed the Pale People to fester and multiply. We all should contribute our efforts to resolving this problem.
  33. indifference
    the trait of remaining calm and seeming not to care
    She didn’t care about hurting the entire population of the Phoenix valley! She was being so heartless. Had this indifference always been there?
  34. condone
    excuse, overlook, or make allowances for
    “The only way they will take responsibility,” Yitoo said, clenching her jaws, “is to force them to.”
    “I do not condone this,” Shaded Marsh said.
  35. sustain
    provide with nourishment
    He said, “Water is meant for nurturing and sustaining life.”
  36. blight
    something that spoils, destroys, or impairs
    Together, we will heal the land from the blight of Phoenix.
  37. idly
    in a lazy, casual, or aimless way
    She lowered her nose to the earth and said, “Please hang on, Mother Earth. We will no longer sit idly by. We will fight for you.”
  38. vivacity
    high spirits and animation
    Yitoo’s voice sparkled with vivacity.
  39. lilt
    a jaunty rhythm in music or speech
    Her lilt, the melody hidden in her throat, was gone. Her tone was much more mature.
  40. unprecedented
    novel; having no earlier occurrence
    Hopefully they would reach Mother Water Monster and prevent Yitoo from putting the entire Phoenix valley into an unprecedented water crisis.
Created on Thu May 30 15:34:50 EDT 2024 (updated Fri May 31 16:57:38 EDT 2024)

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