Leela and the Forest of Light

by Lin Northrup

  Maryann looked up at the moon and turned to him. “Her name is Leela. I’ve felt her for a long time. I’ll get things ready for her arrival. But be careful, David,” she warned.

  Under the cover of night, Gray Wolf and the pack moved silently through the forest ignoring their hunger and thirst. Exhausted from the tension, Leela stumbled and fell. She knew the pack would wait for her, but that might endanger them, so she got up and kept going. Her heart ached for the wolves who were caught in the middle.

  “We’ll rest here to gather our strength,” announced Gray Wolf, sniffing the air for the scent of humans.

  Too tired to think about the danger they faced, Leela fell fast asleep at the foot of a towering white pine. During her dreamtime, a vision formed showing her trapped in a dense fog running from men with rifles who were yelling and shooting at them. She heard the roar of a helicopter ripping through the forest. On the other side of the field, a tall man ran towards her. He wasn’t like the others. She tried to call out to him, but no words formed. He stopped to listen and then called to her, “Leela, Leela.” She wanted to go to him but couldn’t get past the wall of men with rifles. She sent her thoughts to him. “I’m here. I’m here.”

  David stood completely still. He felt the child calling to him and hoped she could feel him coming. There was little time before the search teams swarmed over the hills looking for her.

  The Tree Nation felt the approach of the storm about to overtake them. The animals whispered to each other as the night breeze carried its warning. The entire forest was alert.

  David climbed atop a tall rock formation left over from a distant ice age. “Wolf clan, I’m here to help this child. I’ll take her to safety until it’s time for her to bridge the two worlds. Guide me to her, my friends.”

  As soon as he received his answer, David jumped off the rock and ran toward the appointed place.

  As the faint light of early morning touched the tops of the hills, the pack leaped to their feet. Their excited yelps chased away Leela’s vision of a tall, dark-haired man.

  Gray Wolf sensed the presence of the human who was making his way toward them. They would meet at a threshold crossing known to the wolf clan and those who carried the spirit of wolf. The pack was weak from lack of food and water. Leela looked pale and tired, but he knew her spirit was strong. They’d have to make a run for it across the open space to get to the man. Their fate was in the hands of the Great Mystery.

  Gray Wolf went over to Leela. They walked together to the edge of the hill and watched the early morning sun spread its arms over the land.

  “Leela, we’re taking you to a sacred place that’s the bridge between worlds. Someone who knows our ways will be there. You must trust this next turn in your path. All is unfolding as it should.”

  Every part of her longed to stay with him. Instead, she took a deep breath and accepted his council.

  White Wolf ran over to them. “It’s time to go.”

  Chapter 18

  The Safest Place of All

  The sheriff looked out the window at the crowd. The story about a girl running with a wild pack of wolves was an overnight sensation. Three TV news vans were parked outside the office and curious onlookers yelled to the reporters for more information.

  Carl opened the door frowning at the sight of the animal rights group carrying signs supporting the wolves. He didn’t need them stirring up trouble. Elders from the reservation joined the group. He avoided eye contact with them and strode over to the mayor, a retired banker, who was hand picked by Wes and his rich buddies.

  “Things are getting out of hand, Carl. Do something,” said the mayor.

  Bristling at the mayor’s condescending tone, the sheriff stepped in front of a microphone held by a reporter. “Listen up everyone. We’ve got a tricky situation here. I’ve enlisted the aid of the local ranchers. They know the territory and will work with the state police. We’ve cordoned off the area where the wolves were last seen. Armed teams will search on foot and from a helicopter.”

  He shot a warning glance at the tribe. “Of course, we don’t want to harm the wolves, but the safety of the child is our first priority. We don’t want any interference that could make this end in tragedy.”

  Several reporters started to ask questions, but he waved them off. “We have to go. We’ve already lost too much time,” he said, heading toward his car.

  Two women from the animal rights group pressed him for more information. Carl ignored their questions.

  As the early morning mist cleared, the creatures of the forest felt the looming peril the pack was facing. The Tree Nation stood guard. Hawk circled above them. Her shrill cries sent a chill through Leela. She knew the wolves were in desperate need of water and food. They had to get to a stream. Her own throat was parched and the wolf pup was limping and falling behind. This was all happening because of her.

  While she waited for Gray Wolf to give the signal to leave, a scraggly red squirrel jumped down from the branch above and landed at her feet.

  Red Squirrel cocked her head to one side and stared right at Leela. “My, my, my, Leela. You’ve certainly gotten yourself into quite a fix. Are you prepared for what’s to come?”

  “No. I’m scared. I’m scared the men will shoot the wolves.”

  As Leela spilled out her fears, Red Squirrel started running around in circles. The more Leela went on about the danger they were in, the more the squirrel chased her tail until the creature was a blur of red fur. It was such a comical sight, Leela burst out laughing in spite of their precarious situation.

  Squirrel stopped and fixed her eyes on Leela. “I see you’ve forgotten the lesson my cousin Gray Squirrel taught you. Well, we’ll just have to take time to review it,” she said, in a high-pitched voice.

  “Squirrel, you don’t understand. We don’t have time. We have to go. They’re after us and….”

  Squirrel chased her tail again. Leela looked over at Gray Wolf knowing he could give the signal to leave at any moment. Instead, the wolves were lying down as if they had nowhere to go.

  Puzzled, she watched her furry friend’s shenanigans and finally gave in. “Gray Squirrel told me I needed to find my purpose.”

  Squirrel stopped spinning around. “Well, have you?” she asked, her tail swishing back and forth.

  The forest grew silent. The Tree Nation waited. The wolves looked over at her. The images of all her animal teachers flashed before her. When she envisioned Fox, her heart warmed at the sight of her guardian. How she longed to put her arms around him and play hide and seek in the forest like they used to.

  “Yes, I know my purpose,” she said, without hesitating. “It’s to be a voice for the animals, the trees, the rivers and oceans and share their sacred point of view, so love can return to the earth.”

  Her words were spoken with strength and conviction. There was no doubt left in her anymore. This was her path.

  Squirrel nodded and did a somersault. “But have you forgotten the rest of squirrel wisdom? Or, are you going to sit here and worry?”

  Leela’s mind drifted back in time. She saw herself sitting on a branch of the ancient sycamore tree with Gray Squirrel. She had been so curious to know her purpose and her gifts.

  “Gray Squirrel told me that to live your purpose you must gather knowledge and store what you’ve learned in the safest place of all.”

  “And where is that?” asked Squirrel, twitching her ears.

  “Why, your heart, of course. All the knowledge you store in your heart will be used for your purpose. It will come forward when you need it.”

  “So you see, there’s no point wallowing in worry. Your new knowledge is stored in your heart, so you are prepared to face your future. Good luck, Leela,” said Squirrel, scampering back up the tree.

  Leela sat quietly thinking about her conversation with Squirrel and watching Gray Wol
f for a signal to start moving across the field.

  Not far away, David was tracking the wolves and closing in on the pack. They were heading for a place known only to the wolf clan. But to get there, the pack would have to cross open land where they’d be easily seen from the helicopter. He had to reach them before the rescue teams got to her. Most of the ranchers were reasonable, but Wes and his men wouldn’t hesitate to shoot as many wolves as they could under the pretense of protecting the girl.

  He knew the wolves would wait for the right moment to cross the field. But the net was tightening around them.

  Leela heard the approaching helicopter and crouched under the branches of a hemlock. She worried about White Wolf who was easy to spot, but Gray Wolf’s mate seemed unafraid as she stood next to him, her eyes fixed on the field.

  The sound of the hunters’ voices echoed in the hills. Leela’s senses were in high gear. The wolves were as still as statues. They didn’t want to be forced into running. A twig snapped. The wolves’ hackles went up, but they didn’t move. Gray Wolf’s forceful presence kept them in check.

  The helicopter flew closer. Leela and the wolves crept through the dense brush. Her heart was beating so fast she was sure the men could hear it. She crawled next to White Wolf. The north wind swept in. A dark cloud slid over the sun. The field was shrouded in gray. More clouds moved in casting a chill over the land.

  Standing at the far edge of the field, Wes warned his men. “If you see any wolves, hold your fire in case the kid’s with them. If she’s dead or wounded, you know what to do with the wolves.”

  “Look over there, Wes. There’s something white. Didn’t we see a white wolf from the plane?” shouted one of the men.

  “Good eye,” said Wes. “Let’s smoke ‘em out!”

  He fired a shot in the air. Then another. The men searching the woods answered by firing back.

  Gray Wolf knew it was time. He and Leela looked into each other’s eyes. He leaped up and broke into a run. The wolves began their flight across the open space.

  David saw them and raced onto the field. The helicopter swerved to the left and circled back. The wolves ran with Leela in the center.

  Wes and his men chased after them. He fired a shot in the air signaling to his men to take aim.

  “What a sight,” shouted Harry, as the helicopter got closer. “Get the cameras rolling.”

  There was a crack of thunder followed by a burst of lightning close to the helicopter. The sheriff and pilot looked at each other. The storm had come out of nowhere and they knew how quickly summer lightning storms could turn dangerous.

  “Can’t you go lower?” Harry yelled to the pilot. This was the chance he was waiting for. He zoomed in for a closer shot.

  Gale force winds tossed the helicopter around making it harder for the pilot to follow the girl. Rain pelted the men on the ground, but they kept up the chase.

  Leela looked back and slipped on the wet grass. Her head hit a jagged rock. She didn’t move. The wolves circled around her. Gray Wolf bared his teeth and crouched low. He and his mate stood their ground growling at the armed men running toward them.

  Hidden behind sheets of rain, David raced across the field into the center of the howling pack. He scooped Leela’s limp body into his arms and ran into the woods.

  “Shoot the big one!” Wes ordered, aiming his rifle at Gray Wolf.

  Just as he was about to pull the trigger, lightning hit him scorching his boots. “Yieeh!’ he screamed, falling to the ground.

  Blinded by the deluge and afraid of the relentless lightning, his men scattered. The thick blanket of rain shielded David and the wolves from their attackers. Wes fired wildly in the direction of the pack, but they’d already run into the forest. The raging winds forced the helicopter to turn back.

  At the reservation, Sky Bear stood in the doorway of the lodge and watched the storm. He nodded to Maryann who sat by the wood stove. They knew the wolves had delivered the child to David.

  David headed toward a cave that would shelter them for the night. The wolves followed him. He listened for the helicopter but heard only the sound of the wind and rain. They were safe for now. He stooped to enter the cave and put Leela gently on the ground. Blood seeped from the wound under her matted hair. The wolves gathered around her. White Wolf licked the blood from her face and the wolf pup curled by her side. Gray Wolf watched David’s every move while he attended to Leela.

  He opened his leather pouch, made a mixture of herbs and spread it on her forehead to staunch the bleeding. When he finished, he looked at Gray Wolf. His breath caught in his throat. It felt like he was looking into the eyes of Koda, his beloved companion, whose death had shaped his life as protector of the wolf clan.

  Koda’s mate had born a male pup and he’d always wondered if the pup had survived. Was Gray Wolf Koda’s pup? Had the web of life brought them together so he could meet this girl?

  Chapter 19

  An Unexpected Ally

  Back at the sheriff’s office, it was a madhouse. The storm had put a stop to the search effort, but the story was drawing more and more people into town. Carl and Harry consulted together while they waited for Wes and the ground team to return. David was missing. Carl suspected he was with his father because his loyalty lay with his people. It was obvious nothing more could be done until morning since the driving rain and wind showed no sign of letting up.

  The door flew open. Wes limped into the office. “I almost got fried by lightning. We had to turn back. The road is flooded and the river’s higher than I’ve seen it in years.”

  Wes’ boots were singed and he was still shaking. “I don’t know where that storm came from. It was like being attacked by a twister and a swarm of angry bees. But we got close enough to see the kid and I took a shot at the pack leader. I may be hallucinating, but I swear I saw a man run into the middle of the pack. When lightning ripped into me, I fell and lost sight of him and the kid,” he said, leaning against the desk.

  The two men looked at each other thinking the same thing. There was only one person missing from the search team. David.

  “David will show up in the morning,” said Carl, not wanting to get into it with Wes. He walked over to the window to see who was still outside, but the fog blocked everything from view. “I have a few things left to do. You might as well go. You too, Harry,” he said, sitting down at the computer.

  “David better have a good reason he’s not helping us,” said Wes, heading out the door.

  Carl finished checking police reports and was putting on his raincoat when the phone rang. The mayor was on the other end pressing him for tomorrow’s plan of action. After the call, Carl sat thinking about the freak storm, his missing deputy, and the girl. The ranchers paid his salary, so they expected him to protect their interests over those of the tribe. But this time he wasn’t sure what to do. He felt uneasy when he was around Sky Bear. But he respected him. Sighing, he rubbed his eyes, hoping this whole thing would be over soon.

  Inside the cave, Leela drifted in and out of sleep. David looked down at the girl whose destiny was entwined with his. They were bound by a code that transcended time and by their kinship with wolf. This child and others like her would bring forward ideas that would lift humanity to a higher path. But he and his people knew that during this time of the new earth rising, these forerunners would need great resolve.

  In her dream, she smelled Fox’s musky scent and heard him whisper. “It’s time to wake up. We’re all waiting for you.”

  “But I want to stay here with you. Don’t make me leave.” Before Fox could answer, Wolf Pup licked her face.

  “Whoa, little guy, don’t lick the herbs off,” said David, pulling the pup onto his lap.

  She tried to sit up but fell back wincing in pain.

  “Not so fast,” he said, waving sage over her and chanting words she’d never heard. The peac
eful rhythm of the chant flowed through her body relieving the throbbing in her head.

  Satisfied that Leela was all right, Gray Wolf went to the entrance of the cave. Thunder and flashes of lightning raced across the sky. The danger outside made White Wolf edgy, but the pack was hungry, so she and Gray Wolf went out into the night.

  Still groggy, Leela looked around the cave. “Where’s Gray Wolf? Where’s White Wolf? Did anything happen to them?”

  “They’re fine. They’re out hunting. Gray Wolf and the pack will be back soon.”

  Leela breathed a sigh of relief. “Who are you?”

  “My name’s David. But I believe we’ve already met in a manner of speaking.”

  Leela stared at him. “We’ve already met? What do you mean?”

  “I saw you at a rather fancy party that neither of us belonged at. You were wearing a pink dress. Not a particularly good color when you’re trying to hide.”

  Leela’s memory flashed back to the Rumsford’s party where she’d met a tall stranger wearing western boots.

  “That was you? But what are you doing here? “

  “I live here. I was there on business when I saw you standing on the stairs watching me. It appears we were meant to meet again on this stormy, windy day.”

  “You were there to speak for the wolves and you gave me a picture of a gray wolf. But how did you know I was here?”

  “Life has its own way of bringing people together when the time is right.”

  Wolf Pup wiggled back onto her lap. David gave her time to accept this turn of the wheel. She looked away suddenly shy and awkward under his steady gaze. Her long, tangled hair fell over her face, covering her confusion. They sat in silence listening to the crackling fire.