Episode 6: Soyon’s Warmth
Summary:
Erin and Soyon are taking care of the eggs from Lagoe Swamp, which require constant attention. Erin hopes they hatch soon. Seeing them makes her wonder if she was kept warm and rolled around in her mother’s belly. Soyon recalls how she always kicked her stomach a lot, but Erin can’t believe she had bad sleeping habits back then too. That night, a storm rolls into the village. Soyon is busy patrolling the Touda Grotto and seems deep in thought, touching her whistle and bracelet. As this goes on, a close-up of a Touda statue is shown; as the rain falls, it seems to be crying. Back in the grotto, Soyon looks sad once again, as if she had just made a decision. A fly soars past her as she exits. Back at home, Erin awakens to find her mom kneeled over a bucket of water in the adjacent room, again deep in thought. Erin calls out to her and Soyon is surprised she’s still awake. She explains that its due to the thunder; her mom tells her not to worry, but as she looks over, she realizes Erin has jumped into her sheets. Erin rationalizes how the rain must have been cold. She then asks if she could join her on the next night patrol for the Touda. After a brief pause, Soyon tells her “sure,” and Erin declares it as a promise. As her daughter closes her eyes, Soyon’s somber eyes continue to stare at the ceiling.
Early that morning, a screeching sound fills the village, and Erin awakens to find her mom heading towards the grotto. Soyon tells her to stay put, but Erin follows her anyway. On the way, she falls into a pile of mud but manages to overhear other villagers talking about a “Touda funeral cry.” As Erin enters the grotto, a similar fly that had passed Soyon from before flies by, and she smells something strange. She joins the large crowd and sees an apparently dead Kiba. Soyon is busily examining it and notices a strange mucus. The Chief then arrives, taking his place by Erin’s side and breaks the silence with the question: “Is it dead?” All the Touda dive back into their pools with his words. Erin listens with surprise. Soyon confirms its death, and the Chief asks whether all the Kiba in that pond have died. Wadan arrives to inform him that a Kiba is dead in the adjacent pond. The Chief asks about the other Touda in the same pond, and Wadan says they’re fine but panically swimming around. He tells everyone to go to their respective ponds to make sure they don’t lose anymore. He asks Soyon what the cause is, and she does not know. The Chief mentions that it’s a felony to let all the Kiba die, and Erin is immediately concerned for her mom.
Soyon says she’s prepared for the punishment, and the Chief, clearly troubled, says he must be as well. Erin drops to her knees in shock. Soyon tells her that everything will be alright, mentioning that there was a case when all the Kiba under Erin’s great-grandfather’s care died as well. She says everyone knows that Kiba are more susceptible to disease than other Touda. As she climbs up from the pond, Erin helps pull her up and gives a hug. She then wonders whether Touda smell different when they die, or if it’s because they’re sick. A surprised Soyon asks why she thinks that, and Erin tells her it smells differently than usual, making her think that’s what attracted the flies. Soyon inquires about more details. Erin says she knows the scent of Washu, but has never seen these bugs before; however, she says that since flowers carry different scents depending on the kind, different bugs must be attracted to them. The same holds true for a Touda: if its scent changed, then wouldn’t that have attracted the flies? Soyon marvels at her sharpness, and tells her never to let anyone else know what she has said. Erin wonders why, and Soyon claims that being too smart can bring disaster; she reassures her that she will understand one day. A still-puzzled Erin promises she won’t tell anyone else.
Soyon and Erin then pay their respects to the deceased Kiba. Checking Lulu’s pond, Erin is glad to see it’s ok. Soyon tells her to go back to Saju’s house because she has other things to do. Once there, Erin wonders what is going to happen to her mom, and Saju’s parents tell her not to worry; however, this doesn’t make Erin feel better. Back in the grotto, Soyon notices the other villagers eying her and Wadan tells her to make sure the Kiba are ready for inspection; he crudely remarks how he’s sure she and the Chief will also be inspected throughly. Saju’s dad glares at him, making him to go away. Soyon only contemplates sadly. Outside Saju’s house, Erin thinks worriedly, and though Saju tries to cheer her up, Chok interrupts her and the two fight over dolls. Erin wanders away. At the assembly hall, the villagers discuss what to do since they have yet to discover the Kibas’ cause of deaths. The Grand Duke’s inspector will arrive in the morning. Wadan wonders whom will take the blame, and asks whom was punished last time. The Chief replies that it was the one taking care of the Kiba: Asson. This implies that Soyon will take responsibility, but the others try to defend her; however, Wadan doesn’t want the entire village to be ostracized. He states how she will be questioned heavily because she is an Arryo of the Mist People, and that the Chief will be asked why he gave her the responsibility. Erin listens in on the entire conversation, but stumbles on the barrel she is standing on. Soyon notices the noise and discovers her, along with Saju and Chok, after the meeting is over.
At the village spa in front of the heater, Erin and Soyon sit down together. Her mother notices how she doesn’t look well, and wonders if she is hurting somewhere. Erin thinks back on the events and expresses concern for her mother’s well being. Soyon again tells her that everything will be alright. She then surprises Erin by taking off her whistle and tossing it in the fire; she no longer needs it. Though Soyon realizes Erin wants to take care of Touda, she’s relieved that she doesn’t have to carry that whistle anymore. She explains that she didn’t like using the whistle and seeing the Touda petrify in response. “Beasts tamed by humans are miserable,” she states, adding that they also become weaker. Erin is confused, for she thought benetrophic water made their scales stronger. Although this is true, Soyon tells her that there are things one cannot see that get weaker. Erin wonders what that is, and her mom tells her she’ll find the answer one day. She hints it is something only wild Touda can do. Soyon warns her not to tell anyone if she finds the answer. The two then embrace.
They enter the bath as the others are heading out, and Erin recalls Wadan’s remarks. She wonders if they always get the last bath because she’s an Arryo. Soyon says that “Arryo” is not the real name, for “Ar” means “mist,” and “Ryo” means “people.” The authentic name is “Aowrow.” “Aow” means “precedent” while “Row” means “keeper.” It is an example of what the Mist People use to prevent a terrible mistake from happening again. In the “Aowrow clan, that tradition is valued more than one’s life or family. Erin wonders what the mistake is, and her mom tells her it is something that would cause all humans and beasts to die. She details how her ancestors swore to pass on the knowledge of the mistake to avoid repeating it. Soyon was part of that responsibility, but abandoned it after meeting her father; Erin points out how some in the village are skeptical she has left her role. Soyon suddenly takes off her bracelet and gives it to Erin, explaining how it was a gift from her mother; she had planned to give it to her when she was older, but things have changed. Erin remarks how Soyon’s mom probably gave it to her so their hearts would always be connected no matter the distance. It ends up being too big, but Soyon says she’ll make a necklace out of it for her. As they finish up, Soyon proposes shishi meat for dinner, and Erin is overjoyed but surprised since there’s no festival or celebration going on. Soyon explains how they should eat hearty so they may work hard tomorrow.
Back at home, Soyon shows her how to prepare the meal and the ending theme song plays. As they wait for it to cook, Soyon transforms the bracelet with her whistle’s rope into a necklace and places it around Erin’s neck. The two enjoy their meal together and Soyon shares her portion with Erin. Soyon watches her with humble eyes.
Afterwards, as Erin falls asleep in bed, her mom is the one to join her this time. She says it is warm. Erin wonders what she smells like and Soyon tells her, “like the sun.” This is similar to her father, who was like the sun when he smiled. Soyon bids her goodnight but Erin expresses her desire to keep talking. Her mom looks at her one final time as she falls asleep.
The rain continues to pour through the early morning as the inspector and his soldiers arrive at their house. Erin wakes up just in time to witness her mom being taken away, her hands tied with rope. Soyon hears her daughter call out to her, turning back to see Wadan stopping her from running after them. Erin continues to yell, “mom!” but is unable to do anything. As the thunder roars, a shot of Soyon’s bracelet back home is shown. It is perhaps the last time it will ever see Soyon again.
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My Thoughts:
Soyon confirms that she didn’t enjoy some aspects of her job. Like mother, like daughter, right? This makes me think that perhaps she only took on the responsibility out of respect for her husband and to ensure Erin could grow up peacefully. The episode starts pretty regularly but quickly leaps into a darker side. The way Soyon was acting during her patrol seems to indicate that she was aware of what was happening. Add that to how she looked remorseful back at home and during the “promise” of taking Erin with her on the next patrol, and things don’t bode very well. Then again, I was curious about Erin’s observation and how Soyon told her not to tell anyone else. When she mentions something about a different smell, I wonder what exactly could have changed the Touda’s scent. I do recall how Damiya (the royal blonde-haired guy) recently brought gifts to the village. Perhaps he disguised something lethal in his donation? He also seems made out to be a villain of the series. Perhaps her mother was acting suspiciously because she noticed what was going on but realized nothing could be done.
Also, it was touching when Soyon told Erin more about her past and gave her the bracelet. Another thing Erin pointed out and that was evident in this episode is that they get the last bath. What, does everyone think they have cooties or something? All the women seem kind towards Soyon, but I’m sure there are those we don’t see who are frightened of her. Again, I have to say it ticks me off that they get the short end of the stick because of who they are… and it looks like that will count against Soyon when she faces interrogation. By the way, what was up with the hand rope tying when she was taken away? Are they afraid she’s going to karate chop them? One person against that band of soldiers. Watch out guys, she might cast one of her Mist People’s spells *sarcasm*.
As the episode progressed I knew something big was going to happen, despite Soyon telling Erin that things would be alright. Add in the promise, the whistle burning, the bracelet, a special dinner, and Soyon leaping into Erin’s bed, and it’s clear. Speaking of the last thing, I was happy but sad to see Soyon reciprocate her daughter’s actions. Having seen the entire episode, one realizes that in the back of her head Soyon knows this is the last night she’ll have with Erin. Yet, she never says an official “goodbye,” even when the soldiers arrive; I sympathize with her because that decision is definitely a hard one. She probably knew Erin would try everything to prevent her from getting taken away had her daughter known beforehand. However, looks like next episode she’s going to do something anyway. Go Erin! Save your mom!
I was hoping that the rest of the series would be about Erin trying to free her mom from a life sentence or something. The intro has always indicated they’d be separated eventually. However, it looks like she’s getting executed next episode! The punishment seems too cruel. Guess we’ll see how it all goes down, next time, on Kemono no Souja Erin: Mother’s Whistle.
Tags: anime, fantasy, heart-warming, Kemono no Souja Erin
