Fledgling

by Natasha Brown

  Chance turned to her and she met his clouded eyes. After a deep breath, he answered, “From my grandfather, really. He’s taught me a lot. He’s from a direct line of Navajo shamans or medicine men and lived on a reservation until he was a teenager. He’s taught me a lot about his life and the old traditions.”

  “That’s pretty cool. I bet he has lots of stories. Can you tell me more about the thunderbird? What’s its story?” she asked, fascinated.

  “He told me the thunderbird is a revered bird to the Navajo. And other cultures. It’s supposed to be a large magical bird that protects the tribe from evil. It’s said it rides on the wings of a storm and when it cries out, lightning’s heard.” Chance’s steadfast eyes were clouded with unreadable emotions. However, she could see he was holding something back. There was more to the story. But what?

  Ana pulled out the small silver pendant from under her shirt. An arrow sat beneath the symbol of the bird. “Do you know what the arrow symbolizes?”

  Chance glanced at the silver shape and his brow wrinkled. “The arrow—it symbolizes protection. The Thunderbird and arrow are seen as good luck and a good omen—happiness.”

  I could use a little of that; happiness and good luck. She held it within her fingertips. The metal warmed at her touch and she imagined some of its fortune passing into her.

  Chance stared at the horizon. Dark hair moved over his head in short waves and she fought the urge to run her fingers through it, to feel how soft it was. Bronze skin framed the canvas of his face, his vivid eyes a brilliant umber in the light. She followed his strong jaw line down his throat and noticed a thin leather band.

  “What are you wearing?” she asked, and reached toward his neck, but stopped short, unsure about touching his skin.

  He pulled out a small silver pendant attached to the worn leather strip that was in the shape of a bear. An arrow ran along the center of its body and down through the heart. “It’s something Grandfather gave me. It was his. He said it’s called the bear heart-line. The arrow down the middle represents what you allow into your heart from the outside world will affect you. Moving you toward good or evil. A kind of protector.” He shrugged and let go of it, letting it fall against his chest. “Known for its power, strength and healing abilities. A leader.”

  Ana smiled at him thoughtfully. “You know, you’re the first person I’ve taken here,” she said, changing the subject. It had been a battle to remember why she had avoided boys for so long. She was happier around him than being alone. Like a stone dropping into a well, the realization sank down into the pool of her soul.

  Ana took a deep breath and acknowledged the time. “Well, we still need to take some photographs. Want to go explore a little?”

  Chance jumped to his feet like a cat and held his hand out to help her. While she rose to her feet and brushed off the dirt from her pants, she said, “I heard there’s cougars around here. We should probably be careful.”

  Chance laughed. “I’ve only seen one my whole life. You’re safe with me. Don’t worry.”

  “Okay then. Where do you think we should go? The field?” Ana asked and faced the firs.

  “If you’d like, I can lead us. I think it could be good this way,” he said and pointed at an opening between two fir trees. “Maybe we can explore down in the field next time.”

  Ana flushed. There would be a next time. She followed his lithe body through a thicket and tried to pursue her guide. Chance seemed to sense her pace and slowed to allow her to catch up.

  They stopped often to take pictures. Ana used the excuse to take a photograph when she grew tired or got out of breath. She wasn’t sure if he noticed her fatigue, but at the very least he hadn’t said anything. For that she was thankful.

  The light started to fade and Chance recommended they turn back. By the time they reached Ana’s rock, the sun had just descended behind the Kaniksu Forest mountain range.

  A click nearby made her turn. Surprised by the camera directed at her, she met his eyes as he lowered it and grinned sheepishly. “The light –”

  Ana’s cheeks burned and she returned her attention to the sun as it melted into the landscape. She brushed her shoulder against her chin, and asked softly, “Do you want to join us for dinner tonight? If you can.”

  “Sure, I’ll give my mom a call.”

  They walked back down the darkened path to the blue house, emerged onto the yard, and entered the back door. The smell of pizza engulfed them as they entered the warm kitchen.

  “Ana? Is that you?” Melissa’s voice called from the living room.

  Her mother was sorting through papers while Eva sat on the couch with a book. When Melissa saw them together, her face lit up and she got up to shake Chance’s hand.

  Ana shot her mom a warning glare before she said, “Mom, this is Chance. Chance, this is my mother, Melissa Hughes.”

  Eva watched the introductions and then her eyes turned to the pizza that sat on the dining table.

  “You can call me Mel—everyone else does. I brought pizza home—it’s Eva’s favorite. Are you joining us for dinner tonight, Chance?” Melissa asked.

  “Yeah, sounds great. Would you give me just a minute? I need to call my house.”

  “Of course, go ahead.”

  Chance pulled his phone out and walked into the kitchen.

  Ana’s mother touched her arm. “He’s so handsome! And he has such a friendly smile. I like him.”

  “Shh! Mom, don’t embarrass me!” Ana’s cheeks heated at her mother’s comments. She had often thought Melissa would be happy if she brought the frog prince home or any yahoo for that matter, but it secretly pleased Ana to see her mother share in her excitement. She knew her mom worried because she never encouraged attention from boys or anyone, really.

  To find someone who would look beyond her medical problems was a challenge Ana had no interest in facing. It was cruel to bring someone into her world. But here she was, skirting along the fringe of friendship with a boy she just met.

  Chance wandered back into the room while he flipped his phone shut. Eva jumped up from the couch and resettled at the table before her empty plate. Her saucer eyes grew wide seemingly in an effort to will everyone to the table.

  Chance looked down at the floor and said, “Mom says thanks and wants to invite Ana to our house to return the favor. Could you come for dinner on Friday, maybe?”

  They joined Eva at the table as Ana sought her mother’s face to see if she had any objection. Without a word, Melissa gave her a grin and wink of encouragement.

  “That’d be great. I’d love to come over,” Ana said.

  When everyone appeared full, Chance stood up and collected the dishes and took them to the kitchen. Ana joined him at the sink and they washed dishes together like it was commonplace.

  Ana took a plate from Chance, placed it into the dishwasher, and asked, “There’s one more picture I’d really like to take. You don’t have to if you need to head home but it’s perfect out right now.”

  Ana imagined herself under the night stars with Chance. It filled her with so much joy, it leaked out into a goofy grin. New found happiness pulled her in like a drug. She wanted, or maybe needed more. Ana decided she would face the real world later.

  “Great—no bear could keep me away.” Chance splashed water at Ana who laughed and splashed him back.

  ***

  After they finished up, they dried their hands and searched for their cameras for the last images of the night.

  Outside, with cameras around their necks, Chance took the lead again, confident he had better night vision. The thought made him chuckle in amusement.

  The waxing moon provided plenty of pale light along with a multitude of glimmering stars. After dozens of photos of the night sky, Ana seemed satisfied. She turned to Chance and said, “Well, we should have enough to work with. Out of all of the images there has to be a few that’ll work.” She glanced his way and added, “Thanks for coming ove
r today. I enjoyed myself.”

  “Me too,” he said in an undertone.

  He took the lead again and walked Ana around the brightly lit house to his truck, which was parked discretely on the driveway. Ana moved toward him uncertainly and gave him a sudden hug goodbye.

  Chance was surprised by it and then by the mysterious heartbeat against him. It was unusual. The syncopated beat joined with his and made a unique musical rhythm. Their own song.

  ***

  They parted and said goodbye. Chance ran to his truck and backed out of the driveway. The red glow of his taillights disappeared into the darkness and the dust trail rose and dispelled. Ana stood still until the night was calm and unstirred once again.

  After she finished her homework, Ana grabbed a sweatshirt and returned to the forested observatory alone. Quiet and still, she lay and stared at the stars. She remembered her English assignment was to write a poem about not truly understanding a person until you’ve walked in their shoes. Different possibilities tumbled in her head until a shadow, much larger than the bats, flew above her. Its movement was oddly disjointed and unlike any bird she could think of. After she considered the time of night, she figured it was probably just an owl. A large injured owl.

  A poem began to fill her head, and it formed like a song. Hazel eyes flashed through her memory as she hummed a soft melody. The evergreens that encircled her observatory held her close. A statuesque fir offered a perch for the black form with pale yellow eyes. There was such a large array of wild life there. She didn’t mind being a minority in the forest. Animals were simple. They lived their lives in such a basic way.

  The nearby fir snapped and rustled. She could sense movement on an upper branch and laughed inside. What a clumsy owl.

  She sang her poem to the night sky and to the watchful visitor in the trees until her eyes closed at the sound of the crickets. After waking with a start, she stumbled back to the house. Safely settled in bed, Ana gazed out her window while tendrils of sleep crept into the recesses of her mind. An elated owl’s cry cut through the darkness and she fell asleep with its song filling her ears.

 

  Chapter 8

  Wind combed through the firs, which inspired a family of birds to abandon their homes and ride the swelling currents. The sun caressed the tips of the needles and delivered one last kiss of warmth before it relinquished the sky to the moon and stars. Trees swayed outside Ana’s second story window. The forest calmed her while she waited for Chance to arrive. She smoothed the creases in her jeans, then closed her eyes. Friday had finally come.

  She had changed out of her wrinkled shirt from school and into a thick woven green sweater with a thin white cotton tank underneath to cover her opaque scar. She hoped they would wind up outside after they ate dinner and knew it would be cold.

  Eva’s voice burst through Ana’s solitude. “Ana, Chance is here!”

  Ana stood up slowly, an ingrained habit. Her jittery fingers combed through her dark hair as she glanced in the mirror. She turned off the lights and went downstairs.

  Chance waited near the front door, still in the clothes he wore to school; jeans and a black t-shirt. He could wear anything, really, and he would be handsome. The black t-shirt hugged his chest, accentuating his strong physique.

  Melissa and Eva sat on the couch together. Sounds from the television echoed as they shared a secretive smile. When Ana entered the room, an extra burst of oxygen filled her lungs as she breathed in Chance’s spicy scent.

  Melissa spoke and interrupted their moment, “You two have a nice time tonight, and Chance—please thank your mother for the dinner invitation.”

  “I will. Thanks, Mel.” He winked at Eva as he opened the door for Ana.

  Outside, the wind picked up strength, bursting through the yard and tossing Ana’s hair into a flurry around her face. Chance pulled aside the stray hairs behind her ear and grinned at her surprise.

  He opened the passenger side of the truck, waited until she was in before he closed the door and jogged around to the driver’s side.

  Buckled up and settled in for the drive, Chance turned to face Ana before he started the engine. “You look nice in green—it brings out your eyes. Not that they need any more help.”

  “Thanks,” she said, self-conscious. Compliments were out of place in her world. Like sunshine warming her from the inside out, it wasn’t an entirely unpleasant feeling.

  “So, how was your first week in Clark Bend?” he asked as he slid his arm behind her headrest.

  “Oh, besides this obnoxious guy I have to sit next to in English and photography class, it was okay.” Ana glanced slyly at Chance. “I guess as first weeks go—with all of my experience—it went pretty well. Better than expected. I think I’ve caught up with all of my classes.”

  “And, how about your house?”

  “Besides the fact it reminds me of Grandma and smells like menthols, I love it. There are so many stars here. Colorado had too much light pollution. I couldn’t see the stars as well as I do here. You don’t have any nice views from your house, do you?” Ana asked hopefully.

  A crooked grin slid across his face. “I have something in store for you. I think you’ll be happy.”

  “Hmm, mysterious.”

  Chance arched his eyebrow and chuckled. “Heh, heh, heh.”

  She laughed with him. “You don’t scare me. Nice try. So, tell me about your parents. What are they like?”

  He cleared his throat and said, “Well, my mom’s a nurse at Sandpoint Hospital and my dad’s a jeweler. He owns a shop down around Hope Marina. My grandfather lives with us, too. After Grandmother died, he was lonely. He hired his old friend to manage his ranch and came to live with us about two years ago.”

  “So, your grandfather lives with you? How’s that?” Ana frowned at the thought of her grandma sitting on their couch chain smoking.

  “I’m pretty close with him. We go hiking a lot when I’m not working.”

  “That’s nice. I wasn’t really close to my grandparents. Didn’t know them too well.” She gazed at darkened shapes flitting by her window and wondered if he had any friends.

  After a moment of silence, Ana asked, “So, your mother’s a nurse? She’s following your family’s tradition for healing?”

  Chance frowned. “Uh, how so?”

  “You said your grandfather came from a long line of Navajo Shamans, right?”

  “Riiight. I guess you could say that. She’s a very compassionate person and loves her job. Ever since she was a little girl she wanted to help people.”

  “And, what about you? Do you want to heal people, too?”

  An enigmatic expression crossed his face, and he shrugged. “That would be cool, but I don’t know if that runs in my genes. I’m not sure if that’s possible. What I really want to do is travel. Although, that isn’t exactly a profession.” He laughed and returned the question. “What about you? What do you want to do?”

  Unprepared to give an honest answer, she grappled at a quick reply that was true but unrealistic. “Well, I’d love to see the world, too. The drive from Colorado is the most I’ve ever done. I’d like to make it further. See things I’ve only seen in magazines.” Ana ran her fingers along the contours of the door, her excitement fading into sorrow.

  Just past town they drove along a large lake, then turned north and wound up in the mountains. Ana knew they were close when he turned off on a gravel road and reduced his speed to a crawl. Evergreens filled her view until they passed a curve in the drive. Nestled in the trees, his home seemed to belong in the verdant growth. Tiny lights lined a rock pathway that led to the front door. The interior of the house glowed and poured soft yellow light from the windows, illuminating elongated rectangles on the ground.

  Chance parked at the end of the drive next to a sedan and got out. He circled the truck, opened the passenger door and led Ana along the walkway down to a porch that wrapped around the length of the home. It was unlit, excep
t for what emanated from two long windows that paralleled the carved front door.

  “Nice place,” Ana said, her eyes wide. Her house would look like a funky guest house compared to Chance’s.

  His cheeks reddened as he opened the door and ushered her past a stairway and into a brightly lit living room. She lifted her eyes to stare at the vaulted ceiling and skylights.

  “Niiice,” she whispered.

  A large tapestry hung on the inner-most wall. An angular bird with wings outstretched was displayed at the center, and intricate designs framed it. Ana recognized the emblem immediately and peered down to her necklace. A thunderbird.

  Just past the living room was a dining table set for five. An archway appeared to lead into the kitchen, based on the noises and smells that issued from that direction.

  “Mom, Dad?” Chance called out.

  A moment later, two figures emerged, one holding a dishtowel, the other a spatula.

  “You’re here. Welcome—you must be Ana. We’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I’m Aiyana.” Chance’s mother gave her a reserved smile. Ana could see where he got his good looks. She was a graceful woman with long dark hair and chestnut skin. Soft hazel eyes crinkled when she spoke, and her melodic voice instantly captivated Ana.

  Chance’s father stepped forward. “Hi Ana, I’m Ben. I hope you’re hungry. We’ve been cooking a feast for you. We’re just so happy he finally brought a friend home.” He gave a stiff grin and grasped the back of a chair tight. Deep blue eyes squinted behind his glasses and sandy brown hair frolicked in waves around his head.

  Chance shot Ben a glare and Ana quickly spoke up to relieve the tension. “Thanks for inviting me.”

  “Ana, let me introduce my father to you,” Aiyana said, and fixed her gaze behind Ana. Ana turned, surprised. She didn’t notice anyone there when she entered the room.

  An old man sat almost camouflaged in the padded chair near Aiyana. His eyes shined like reflective pools. Deep creases lined his leathery face and long gray hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. Sober eyes appraised her silently. Ana felt hollow, like he could see right through her.