Dwellers of Ahwahnee (The Beyond Collection)

by Sheryl Seal

“As I was saying,” grandfather smiled and continued, “I think our plan to tell the village should be a simple one. We were searching the mountain when the Dwellers that have been lost came stumbling out of the wall. They don’t remember exactly where they were or how they got there. It will be easier if we stick with this and that way we will still be able to lure the responsible party out into the open.” I let grandfather and the others know that I knew who the responsible party was.

  “Yori is the one, I saw her earlier on the ridge. That alone would not make her responsible but it was the aura surrounding her. It is the same as in the mountain, the same as the water. They are connected; she is very powerful and has her own agenda. I do not understand what that is yet but I know it is her and that she is evil. It follows wherever she is.”

  Grandfather and Grey Wolf were in agreement. Then grandfather spoke with conviction.

  “If it were not for Oria, we may never have found any of you. She has many gifts and her power grows stronger with each passing day. What we need to find out now is what Yori is after. She is dangerous and now she may be harder to get close to.” Then he looked at me directly. “You may be the only one that will be able to stop her Oria. You will have to work hard to prepare yourself. She will be ready for anything and everything. You must be also.”

  We would keep what we did know to ourselves. We would just tell people to stay away from the mountain, at least until we knew more about why people were going missing. Grey Wolf was also to continue his new found relationship with Yori in hopes of getting so close she would let her guard down. I, by the way, was against this. Grandfather knew though, no one else had ever gotten closer to her than Grey Wolf. So he directed his attention to Grey Wolf.

  “Yori is very powerful and will make sure there are no prisoners this time. She will be on the war path now that you have all escaped. Be very careful how you act around her. She will probably start to get suspicious and whatever she is planning she will have to move up.”

  Then we decided who we could trust to tell, because we were going to need some help.

  We agreed that we needed to get back to the village before someone else discovered us. We packed up grandfather’s supplies, put out the campfire and headed back to the village.

  Chapter 26

  Right before we entered the village Grey Wolf pulled me behind a tree that we were passing. “I don’t know how long it will be before I have you in my arms again. No matter what you see and hear, know that you are the one that I want to be with. You are the one that has my heart. Without you my soul will cry every day until we can be together.”

  Then he gave me one of those heart stopping, soul shattering kisses. I now believed that I would always feel this way when we were together. Then with a wink and a fiery smile that lit his now golden eyes, he walked ahead and caught up with the others.

  I had to take a deep breath to still my thundering heart and was mesmerized for a moment as I stood there watching him with a growing smile on my face.

  We entered the village with Aponi and I arm in arm and her playing her part well. “Look who has come home to us. Everyone come and see! All the missing Dwellers from the village have been found.”

  As everyone greeted the newly found arrivals, I spotted out of the corner of my eye, Yori. She concealed the shock on her face pretty well. Not before I had seen it though. Grandfather saw it also, I noticed.

  She came running up to Grey Wolf and gave him a hug. She asked him where he had been and told him that she had been waiting for his return for the pic-nic. He had never come back though. “I searched everywhere for you.”

  She whined like a love sick girl.

  Yes, I hated her and her silky smooth lying voice. I was on a mission to take her down and would stick to the plan. No matter how much I wanted to claw her eyes out. Grandfather took my arm and steered me away from the scene so I didn’t have to witness anymore.

  We walked in silence through the village. Before we parted ways at his lodge he left me with a final reminder.

  “You know my granddaughter; this is going to be very hard on you. It will probably be unbearable at times. You will have to give thanks every night for unknown blessings already on their way.”

  I thought to myself, yes I’ll give thanks to unknown blessings on their way. I’ll pray that Grey Wolf can get the information we need to stop this evil before anyone gets hurt. Now that I knew I wanted to be with Grey Wolf, I didn’t want that evil witch anywhere near him.

  This was all to happen in The Great Spirits time though and the days passed by very slowly. It had already been three weeks. I tried to keep busy by throwing myself into training.

  Grandfather sent me to an elder who specialized in the art of healing. Only a few years older than I, he is still an elder, a medicine man. I was mastering all of my training very quickly. So we tried to find other special gifts I might have. He was very good at bringing these out. Things I never even thought to do or try. I had strength now and was not so tired. He worked with me endlessly.

  His name is Matoskah which means White Bear and he is Hunkpapa Sioux. He is also a descendent of (Itonagaju), which means Rain-in-the-Face. This is what the (washichu) or white man called him. He loves to tell me stories of his tribe and the infamous war chief Rain-in-the-Face.

  Matoskah is very tall and his body very appealing to look at. He is strong as well as attractive; he has rugged good looks with brown-black hair to his shoulders. He also has the strangest eyes. They are the color of an emerald or jade. They also looked perfect with his sun kissed skin. He is a very smart man and kind and patient with me. He had to be I supposed, because my mind was not always on the task at hand.

  Like the day we were down by the water picking herbs. I heard giggling and looked over only to find Yori backed up against a tree with Grey Wolf tickling her. She was squealing. “No more Grey Wolf, no more. I will give you what you want. It was in that voice I so dreaded to hear anywhere around the village.

  I had been feeling particularly lonely this day even though White Bear is quite nice to be around. He is very funny and is always trying to put a smile on my face. It didn’t really help that I couldn’t tell him about me and Grey Wolf. He was really surprised when I threw my gathering bag on the ground and stormed off without a word.

  He found me at the stable with the horses. I had started to go there more and more when I was feeling down. Horses were very good listeners, I thought, especially Little Wolf who I had come to visit often. I hoped she didn’t hate me for almost getting her killed. Also, she was as close to Grey Wolf as I could get. I brought her apples when I came. She would come right up to the fence when she saw me approaching.

  “Oria, Are you alright? Did I say or do something wrong?” When I heard that deep sexy voice my heart almost leaped with joy. I had spun around a little too quickly, but of course it was White Bear. The last stolen moment Grey Wolf and I had together, he had sworn to stay away from me. It would be too difficult and our feelings for each other would show. White Bear watched as my feelings drifted across my face and settled on a disappointed look. Then I felt really guilty.

  I knew how he was starting to feel about me and I kind of liked the attention. He deserved someone who could love him. He was a great man. My heart though, belonged to Grey Wolf.

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have followed you, and clearly you wanted to be alone.” He turned to go and I really wanted him too, but not like that.

  I put my hand on his muscled arm and begged him to stay.

  “I’m sorry White Bear, please stay. Sometimes I just miss home so much and I miss my grandmother.” It was the kindest thing I could think of and in a way it was true.

  I felt the tremors that went through his body at my touch and quickly released his arms.

  “You really do help most of the time by keeping me so busy I don’t have time to think of home.” He interrupted me here. “But something is missing, right? I know what the problem is. Too much work and not e
nough play. How about tomorrow, we pack a lunch and go for a ride. I have a special place I found and I would love for you to see it.”

  I was so excited to do something different that I didn’t even think twice. I just said, “Absolutely I would love to go, what time can we leave?”

  “Now that is the smile I like to see. It makes your blue eyes light up and the silver twinkle like the stars in the night sky.”

  “Well, aren’t you the charmer?”

  “I have been known to charm a bear or two.” He laughed and I joined him. It felt wonderful to forget my pain for a moment.

  “Have I been acting like a bear? Is that what you’re telling me?”

  “There are worst things you could be, a mother bear protecting her young is a very beautiful sight.”

  We walked back to the village arm in arm discussing the day we would have tomorrow. We were laughing and talking about leaving early in the morning. Unfortunately we happen to cross the same path as Grey Wolf and Yori.

  “Hello Oria and Matoskah, don’t you two look cozy. What a nice couple you make. Almost as fine as Grey Wolf and me.” Of course she giggled all the way through this like there was some big secret between them. So I did something I would regret almost immediately. I giggled too, and then I said, “Why yes, we can hardly keep our hands off each other.” Mostly because every time I had seen these two, that is exactly what I saw, groping! Her words haunted me every second of the day. “I will give you what you want Grey Wolf.”

  Yes, it made me mad, but that was no excuse to hurt the people I did care about. It certainly was no excuse to drag White Bear into my lie.

  I could feel auras change between the two men. The offended look that crossed Grey Wolfs face before he masked it was crushing. It made me feel awful. Then his eyes went from silver to a golden color, a killer look that he directed at White Bear.

  I also felt White Bears grip on me tighten and I felt his aura change. A few minutes ago he was a fun-loving man. Now he became a territorial man. So not fair to him. I should have never made him a part of my anger. Pitting him against Grey Wolf, his friend was an awful thing to do.

  Yori was turned in towards Grey Wolf’s chest. She was running her hands all over him and she was purring. Was I the only one that could hear her? I just wanted to rip her arms out of the sockets.

  I tried to release my arm from White Bear but he just hung on tighter. I was not getting out of this situation gracefully.

  Then without taking her eyes off of Grey Wolf, Yori smirked and started leading him away.

  “Well, we have to go; Grey Wolf is going to teach me how to ride today. I’m not very good with horses but Grey Wolf promises to change all of that. See you two love birds later.”

  There were a few grunts between the men and I couldn’t say a word as I stared at the two of them as they walked away arm in arm.

  I knew if looks could kill though, they would go up in flames. I was burning a hole in their backs trying to read their thoughts. Why I couldn’t read Grey Wolf’s thoughts always bothers me. Yori’s feelings were coming in loud and clear and I knew she couldn’t stand this stupid little Queen. I was out of her way as far as she was concerned though, which was good. She assumed I had enough on my plate with Matoskah. She couldn’t figure out what he could possibly see in me. I could feel her trying to read White Bears mind as they walked away. If she got what I was getting all might be lost. He was trying to figure out why I had said what I had. I quickly grabbed his hand turned around and kissed him right on the lips. It had the desired effect. His thoughts quickly turned back to a loud “WOW!”

  Chapter 27

  When I got to the stables the next morning I wasn’t in that great of a mood. I hadn’t slept well and had nightmares all night of Grey Wolf and Yori. Sometimes they were frolicking along as a big gray wolf and white tiger. Other times she was leering at me from the falls with a snake like monster face. There was always a big black wind around her. Then the dream shifted and there was a giant Sasquatch. It was wrestling with a mighty bear and the growling was deafening. There was a light that exploded and then there was only silence. I finally threw off the blanket and gave up on sleep. I didn’t want to have any more dreams, or visions, or whatever they were.

  I went to the lodge that was always fully supplied of food. I would pack something for the trip today.

  I ate some fruit and drank a cup of coffee. I packed a lunch for White Bear and myself and thought about how I would explain what I had said yesterday.

  I hadn’t had a chance to talk with him yet. After Grey Wolf and Yori left us and I had kissed him on the cheek, he gave me a quizzical look and then turned around and stormed off. I tried to stop him but he said he would meet me in the morning by the stables.

  The nightmares of last night were probably my guilt of the situation I had put him in. I’m sure it had something to do with the fact that Yori is evil too. I hoped that Grey Wolf was getting closer to a solution and that was all he was doing. I can’t think about it. “Let it go, before it drives you crazy.” I whispered to myself.

  I tried to change my attitude and think like my grandmother. She would have something wise to say. Maybe something like, “Oria, most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

  Another saying she really like to repeat to me was, “Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness. The word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.”

  Thinking of my grandmother brought my spirits way up. By the time I had reached the stables I was humming “I got friends in low places.” It wasn’t an Elvis tune but Garth was my second favorite singer. I was lost in my humming until I got to the chorus where I belted out, “I got friends…” I hadn’t even heard White Bear when he came up behind me. I jumped just a little and stopped the rest of the lyrics. That’s when he chuckled.

  “Well, aren’t we high-spirited today?” He was holding the bridles of two horses. “Nice song. Are you ready to go Oria? You may have this horse. Her name is Buttercup and she is a very docile mare. She does have her moments of high-spirits. It should be a perfect match. She is yours to keep and will be a good friend for you.” He smiled his brilliant smile as he winked and added, “In high or low places.”

  We both laughed while I was pleasantly surprised that he would even know a country song.

  Looking at the exquisite mare I could see right away that she and I were a perfect fit for each other. She came right over and nuzzled me.

  I wrapped my arm around her soft neck with the flowing long honey colored mane and hugged her.

  “Oh, White Bear, she is lovely. I absolutely love her already. I will take such good care of her. Thank you so much.”

  “You are very welcome. This is the first of many gifts that I will shower you with. To see your eyes light up, I will give you a gift everyday forever.”

  “Not necessary, White Bear. This is enough for a lifetime.” I thought to myself, we are going to have to talk about this. I can feel and read his thoughts. I need to control this. I don’t like to read everyone’s thoughts all the time.

  “You deserve to be showered with gifts every day Oria. Let’s get mounted up and head out before it gets any later.”

  Maybe there will be time to bring this up today. He was so excited though, I just couldn’t do it this very minute.

  We rode through the forest with the biggest giant Pine trees all around and it was a comfortable ride. I was on Buttercup and White Bear riding Hotah, which means white. He was a beautiful horse. He is white with what looks like a brown bear paw with claws right on his rump.

  The dreaded question finally came up that I couldn’t seem to approach yet.

  White Bear didn’t seem to have the same problem though. “So, do you plan on letting me in on what that was all about with Grey Wolf and Yori yesterday? To help you with some embarrassment, I will tell you what I saw and felt. I am not so blind you know. I saw the looks and felt the vibrations coming off of
you and Grey Wolf. Is there a past there that you are not over? Clearly Yori is taken with him. I can feel some unfinished business between you and Grey Wolf though. I don’t mind being the one that you picked to not be able to keep your hands off of. If that were the truth I would love it more. However we both know that is not the case is it? Given the chance I would like to change that. We could have a very good life together, you and I.”

  I knew already everything he was going to say. I thought I had been prepared for this. So I thought. What I didn’t see was that he thought he did love me. After only a few weeks or so of spending time together, He had a crush on me. How was I ever going to let this man know that it could never be?

  I decided as close to the truth as I could, I would tell him what was in my heart.

  “White Bear, I am sorry about yesterday. You’re right; you deserve to know what that was about. You have heard of Grey Wolf’s vision haven’t you?” I looked over at him and he nodded that he did. “Well, he thought we were supposed to be together because of that vision. You cannot make love happen though. We tried, we are not compatible.”

  I hoped I could leave it that and continued on. “As for the tense feelings that were there with Yori, I simply do not like her. She has no love for me either. I get crazy around her and I’m sorry I involved you. I feel she is an evil person. You deserve better than me putting you in the middle of my feelings about her though. You have been a very good friend to me and I would not like to risk that. More enemies I do not need. I enjoy spending time with you and for now I would like to keep doing that. There really is no time for love in my life right now. Do you understand?”

  I was watching the different moods cross over his handsome face as I tried to let him down easy. He smiled broadly at a conclusion he had come to. He nodded and said, “For now, this is acceptable. In time we shall see what happens. I can be very persuasive and you will come to love what your heart already knows.”