Ronnie Coleinger: A Winter Collection

by Coleinger, Ronnie

  The raven spoke into Ginger’s mind again, explaining it intended to ride the thermals up a few thousand feet to provide a birds’ eye view of the surrounding area. As the raven circled and rose, Ginger allowed her mind to relax and began to enjoy the breathtaking sight below her as the raven began to explain some of the lore of the mountain. The bird explained that a raven held a position of honor among medicine and holy men of many tribes for its shape-shifting qualities and they often called upon it in ritual to clarify their visions. The holy men that once roamed the surrounding forests and the river in the valley below understood that what the physical eye sees is not necessarily the truth. They would often call upon the raven for clarity in these matters. Ginger tried to speak into the raven’s mind, but seemed unable to communicate with the creature. She soon found herself overwhelmed at the beauty below her.

  The bird flew low through the valley and then topped the mountain and perched at the highest point within hundreds of miles. As the bird turned and allowed Ginger to look in every direction, she finally managed to communicate with the bird. She asked where the nearest humans lived. The bird took flight towards the south and showed her a small working mine. The mine was located at least forty miles from where Natalie was waiting. Then the bird flew northwest and showed her an aerial view of the hotel and the city they had visited a couple days ago.

  As the raven flew into the tree where it had first engaged the girls, Natalie looked at the bird as if it was an enemy. When the bird released its mental hold over Ginger, she raised her head and spoke to Natalie, assuring her that she was now okay. The bird flew off and soon disappeared into the thick forest. Ginger tried to stand, but immediately felt nausea take hold of her body once again. She sat back down against the tree and said, “Natalie, I am all right. I entered the birds mind and flew with him over the Seines. The bird allowed me to see a high meadow area that might work out well for our new home. There are no other humans living in this area and we should have few visitors. The raven explained to me that occasionally humans will walk along this rocky trail, but they pose little danger to us. Our biggest fear will be black bears that often travel through the meadows where we will be living, but they will leave us alone if we do the same to them.”

  Ginger realized that she had vomited and coated her boots with her breakfast. She tried again to stand and this time managed. Natalie said, “Let’s move down the trail a little ways and then I will return to get your backpack. We can rest there for a while and get some water into your belly.”

  Once she settled Ginger under a small cedar tree, Ginger returned to where she had left her friend’s backpack. As she lifted the backpack up onto her shoulders, she saw the raven flying nearby. She did not understand what had happened to Ginger, but she somehow feared the raven. She laughed at her emotions and began walking down the trail to where Ginger was waiting. When she arrived, she sat the backpack down and plopped down beside her friend. She did not speak, but instead sat quietly, hoping that Ginger would explain the events that took place during the time she sat unconscious under the tree. Natalie knew that the raven had something to do with the event, but could not for the life of her figure out what.

  After Ginger drank some water, she said, “I am feeling much better now. Shall we continue? From the bird’s eyes, I have seen a large meadow an hours walk from here. I think you will be pleased with what you see. We could set up the tent tonight. Once we settle down, I will attempt to explain the events that took place with the raven.”

  As the girls walked, Ginger explained in detail what the meadow looked like and told about the huge oak trees that grew on the south side of the meadow. She also told of a flat area between the trees where they could place the cabin and barn. The area would be out of the wind and protected from the heavy winter snow.

  Natalie asked about where they would get fresh water. Ginger explained that there was a flowing well on the property, which drained into a small stream. The stream originated up in the mountain east of the clearing in the trees. Natalie did not know how Ginger knew all these details, but listened without commenting.

  Ginger stopped walking and looked towards her right. She took a few more steps and found what she was looking for; an animal trail wandered up the incline towards what looked to be a heavily forested area. Ginger could see the huge treetops from where she stood. As the girls began following the trail, they soon reached a plateau and saw the grassy meadow that Ginger had spoken of earlier. As Ginger sat her backpack on the ground and stood looking around, Natalie realized that everything looked just as her friend had explained to her earlier. Natalie left her backpack on and began walking towards the area of huge oak trees. She realized that she had never seen so many oak trees grouped together like this. There were easily fifty trees that all measured at least four feet in diameter. She realized that if a logging company discovered these trees, they would stand to earn many thousands of dollars from the oak logs. The area within the trees felt enchanted.

  Ginger dropped her backpack and took a drink from the flowing well. The water was clear and cold. She filled both canteens and then walked down into the meadow to join Natalie. As she stepped up beside her friend, she asked what she thought about this place for their new home. Natalie did not answer for a moment and then turned around and hugged Ginger. She said, “I have no idea how you knew this place was here, but I approve of it for our new home. I would like to look around a little more and make certain what is around us.” Ginger said, “You will need to do that in the morning. The sun will set in a couple of hours and I would like have a fire and plenty of firewood before sunset. I have seen no sign of bears in the trees up above, but the raven spoke of them.” Natalie turned and looked Ginger in the eyes. She said, “Let’s get camp set up. You can tell me more about the raven while we work.”

  The girls had the tent set up and the campfire burning before the sun had set. They sat down on a fallen log beside the tent and discussed their day. As they sat, Ginger finished telling the story of the raven. Natalie just shook her head and flipped the rabbit meat over that was cooking on the hot rocks. Ginger laughed and said, “I did not realize you were such an incredible shot with a rifle. You shot that rabbit in the head at over fifty yards.” Natalie just shrugged her shoulders and said, “After the old man at the restaurant told us the story about the bear eating a fisherman, I decided I had better get really good with the rifle. Since that day, as I squeeze the trigger, I think about that bear tearing a chunk of my ass off for his supper. I can shoot very well with those thoughts running around my head. Besides, I wanted a little meat left for our supper. That high powered rifle can kill, gut and skin a rabbit with one shot.” Ginger began to laugh and had to walk away from Natalie to calm herself.

  Once the rabbit was cooked, they sat down beside the fire and slowly ate. After they had finished eating, they burned anything that might attract the bears during the night. Then they hung their remaining food high up in an oak tree. They intended to keep the fire burning during the night, but even that would not deter a bear if it decided there was something edible lying about. Natalie dug a latrine behind the tent and moved more firewood up close to the fire. Ginger said, “I am going to bed. It has been a long day. Flying around the country side with that silly bird tired me out.”

  When Natalie entered the tent, she racked a shell into the chamber of her rifle and laid it beside her sleeping bag, against the outside wall. Ginger followed suit with her rifle and then crawled into her own sleeping bag. As Ginger turned down the lantern and then turned it off, the sounds of the night began to invade the tiny place they had chosen for their camp.

  They had not slept for more than four hours when a branch breaking nearby woke both girls. Ginger fumbled around and found the matches to light the lantern. Natalie had her rifle ready to defend the camp if someone or something came to close. As the lantern came up to full brightness, they heard the sounds of two bears struggling in the meadow below them. Ginger walked out of the ten
t and spoke to the bears, attempting to let them know of her presence and to warn them they should leave the area. Both bears turned and faced the tent. As the larger bear took the first step towards them, Ginger aimed over the bears and fired a shot. The smaller bear ran up into the forest, but they could hear him walking back towards the tent. The larger bear pawed at the ground and roared his anger into the night.

  As the larger bear approached the tent, Ginger screamed at the animal and said she was going to shoot it if it did not leave. Natalie decided that Ginger’s warning was too little too late and screamed the name of her cat. “Fatin, help me,” she screamed. Within a few seconds, all four black cats were at the girl’s feet. Monique spoke aloud and said, “Bees. I will send a swarm of bees after the bears. It may convince them to leave.” Within seconds, the girls could hear the bears struggling to fend off the bees that were swarming into their ears, nose and mouth. As the girls watched, both bears headed into the forest to find refuse from their attackers.

  The girls could not go back to sleep, although the four cats did join them in the tent. The night air was cold and the cats liked the warmth of their human companions.

  As the sun rose and the girls could see around them, they discovered that the meadow had eight female dear with fawns grazing and enjoying the tender budding willow bushes. Ginger started the fire and put on the coffee pot. As the girls talked and discussed what they needed to build a cabin and a barn on their new homestead, Blacky said, “We could just move your cabin and barn up here so you don’t have to build anew.” The girls began to giggle, but Monique swatted Ginger on the leg and said, “He is not teasing. We can move everything in just a few minutes.”

  Ginger began explaining where she thought the barn should be located and where the cabin would fit. She said that the barn should be along the edge of the meadow so they could build a fenced in area to keep the chickens and rabbits safe from the forest predators. She picked up her rifle, walked up into a small area void of trees and decided that the cabin would fit there nicely. She walked back down to the campsite and discussed her ideas with Natalie. As they talked, they worked on cooking some oatmeal. Blacky sniffed the mixture and said, “I think fresh fish would be a better choice for breakfast,” and headed off towards the creek. Ginger giggled and said, “That stream is much too small to contain any fish. I fear the cats will have to find a mouse or two for their meal.”

  As the girls poured some honey on their oatmeal and sat down to begin eating, Blacky walked into camp and dropped a rather large trout on the ground between the girls. As it flopped around, Monique walked past Ginger and said, “Did I hear a human make a comment about my mate’s hunting skills. It seems that his prowess in the forest will provide fresh meat for his daughters and mate.” Monique picked up the flopping fish and carried it to the ravenous kittens. As the cats ate, Blacky returned with another trout, this one was over a foot long. Blacky laid it at Ginger’s feet and said, “This one is for my human friends who seem unable to find food that does not come from a cardboard container. I will get one more fish for my mate and me.”

  Ginger field dressed the fish and packed it in some wet cedar bows to keep it fresh until lunch, then returned her attention to the oatmeal that was now pretty much cold. As the girls ate, Black returned with another fish. Ginger and Natalie watched Blacky place the fish at Monique’s feet and then walk around her, rubbing his shoulder against her and purring. Monique snuggled up close to her mate and thanked him for the fish. As she began to eat, Blacky sat down and began cleaning his paws. He would eat after Monique finished her half of the delicacy. Ginger spoke to Blacky and said, “I am sorry for my comments about your ability to catch fish from the stream. The three fish you produced for your family and for the human who insulted you humble me. Again, I apologize.” Blacky walked over to Ginger and rubbed his body against her leg. He looked up and said, “Apology accepted.” Natalie reached down and rubbed Blacky ears with her fingers, which produced a loud purring noise from deep within the cat’s throat.

  The girls packed up their backpacks and then spent another hour deciding where they would place the cabin and how to fence around the barn to prevent the predators in the area from killing their animals. They finally decided upon a plan to have only one door on the barn and that would face towards the cabin. They would build the fence in front of the barn so that the goats, chickens and rabbits would always be in site of the cabin. Ginger and Natalie could shoot a predator from the cabin if they had to. Once the girls were comfortable with the locations for the barn and cabin, they decided to return to their home and begin packing everything they owned.

  As the girls began climbing up the rocky trail that would take them to the top of the mountain range, they saw the four cats sitting under a scrub tree. They were looking up at a raven that sat on a branch. The black bird appeared to be the same raven they had dealt with once before. The cats seemed to be listening or maybe communicating with the bird. Finally, the bird flew off with a squawk and headed towards the mountain range to the east. As the girls walked up near the trail, Monique explained that the raven had seen humans around the cabin and barn. The intruders seemed intent on looking around, but did not take anything with them. Blacky said, “We will quickly return to the cabin and run off the humans if they return.”

  The cats headed down up the trail and the girls lost sight of them as they rounded a bend in the trail. The girls walked fast all day and only stopped when they had to. By nightfall, they could see the barn up ahead. They could see no one else, but Ginger removed her rifle from its case and racked a shell into the chamber. As the girls walked up to the barn, they could hear voices out on the main road. They walked up to the front of the cabin and listened carefully. The sounds they heard seemed to be from a survey crew. The girls could hear the men discussing elevations and the topography of the area as they worked. Natalie pulled her rifle from her backpack and racked a round into the chamber. The girls looked at each other, nodded and headed out towards to road to confront the men about intruding on their property.

  As the girls walked out onto the road, one of the men spotted them and spoke to the foreman. He walked up towards the girls and greeted them. Ginger said, “We were told by a very wise raven, that some men were trespassing in our absence. We heard that you were looking in windows and entered the barn.” The man nodded and said, “Sorry if it seemed we were trying to steal from you, but all we wanted was to talk to you. We could see the cabin and barn with the high-powered lens on the survey gear, so we walked up to the cabin to discuss our work with you. We planned to camp here tonight and wanted to inform you of our intentions. Hope we have not offended you. We did not enter your cabin, but did step inside the barn to see if we could locate someone to talk to.” Ginger nodded and said, “You and your men are welcome to camp here tonight. You can get fresh water from the well if you need. Please be very careful to douse your campfires with water from the well before moving on. Oh yes, and don’t come near the cabin after sunset. We have an attack cat that will cause you more pain than you can deal with.” The man started to laugh at Ginger’s words, but the black cat at her feet hissed at him. The man did not fear the cat, but realized that some strange power possessed these ancient forests. He had no desire to test Ginger’s warnings or question her further about the raven she had mentioned.

  The girls turned and headed back towards the cabin. As they entered the back door, they removed the bullets from the chamber of the rifles and sat them in the rack by the door. The girls hung the water kettle over the fire in the fireplace and began to prepare some supper. They had skipped supper in an effort to arrive at the cabin before dark, now they were starving. Natalie opened the small door in the floor of the kitchen and climbed down the wooden ladder to the cold storage area. She retrieved some carrots and potatoes and carried them up to the table. Once the water was hot, they washed up and then began slicing carrots and potatoes into a blackened pot. The fish that Blacky had caught was still in Gin
ger’s backpack, which she retrieved. The fish was still cool and fresh inside the wrapping of the cedar bows.

  Once supper was prepared, they sat down at the table and began eating. The cats were tired and had curled up beside the hearth. The girls giggled over the sounds they were making as they slept. Blacky seemed the most restless, he might have been fighting black bears or the foreman of the survey crew. Ginger giggled and said, “Shame that I told that foreman not to approach the cabin after dark. He was rather cute.” Natalie laughed and said, “If you must seduce him, you can do it in his sleeping bag, not here in the cabin where I have to listen to you giggling all night.” Ginger rolled her eyes and returned her attention to her supper.

  Once the girls had cleaned up the kitchen, they quickly packed away the dishes and anything breakable. Once they were packed, Ginger spoke to Blacky and said, “We are ready. Can we have this property clean by daylight? I wish for no human to be able to detect our presence here once we leave.” Blacky nodded. Natalie said, “I will go with the barn and animals if you will travel with the cabin.” Ginger nodded as Natalie loaded her rifle and headed out towards the barn. Ginger loaded her rifle and placed it in her backpack. She spoke to Blacky and said, “When Natalie is inside the barn, you may begin.”