Dwellers of Ahwahnee (The Beyond Collection)

by Sheryl Seal

  I was very moved by the words of grandfather. Through the tears I noticed in the background, that all of my friends were too.

  All but one, “Where is Grey Wolf?” I cried frantically. I looked desperately to anyone that could answer my question. They all hung there head in a silent acknowledgement of the inevitable.

  Red Thunder stepped forward now, and looked at me with sadness in his eyes. He clutched me and hugged me tight. I tore myself away from him and looked at all of them like they were accomplices.

  “No, do not tell me he is dead. You searched the cave where he was held before, didn’t you?”

  Tim and Jim said that they had, but that he wasn’t there. Jim came forward and said, “We searched the whole mountain; we were in our spirit animals and looked near and far. He is not to be found anywhere my Queen.”

  I felt like my heart was breaking. “No, this is unacceptable, we did it, and we killed the Ala. He has to be here. He has to be somewhere. I will not stop searching until I find him.”

  How can half a soul survive without the other?

  “We are soulmates this is what Grey Wolf has told me. He needs me and I have to find him. He is somewhere, he couldn’t have just disappeared.” My ranting’s were getting wilder by the second and I had just been to hell and back. I was getting the feeling that I would never see him again. Odd though, I didn’t feel that he was dead. I didn’t feel him at all though. My heart would know if he were gone forever right?

  Grandmother was talking but I didn’t comprehend her words. I turned to her and willed myself to focus.

  “We will search for him my dear, but for now we need to get the rest of the village home. You need to lie down for a while and rest. You need to get your strength back. We will send shifters out in search of Grey Wolf.”

  I was still so full of energy and anger. I felt very annoyed and I didn’t want to lie down and rest.

  “But grandmother, he will expect me to find him. I need to find him.” I was trembling and weeping as grandmother tried to hold me still. I knew she was worried about me. I also knew she was hoping that if I went and rested for a while I would be able to think clearly again. Grandfather motioned White Bear over to me.

  White Bear came up and lifted me in his powerful arms and started carrying me back down the mountain. I tried hitting him with my fists and kicking at him to get free but he held me tightly and there was no escape from his powerful embrace. I wore myself out and then I burrowed into his broad chest and wept. I finally gave in and let him take me home, like I had any choice in the matter.

  The others would go and get the rest of the village people. We would all rebuild what the Ala had destroyed with the hail storm.

  White Bear talked soothingly to me about how everything would be fine and he was here and would take care of me. He continued on with how proud he was and that I was very brave today. I had defeated the Ala and saved the worlds. “You are just indescribable and all will truly know the power of their Golden Queen now.”

  All I really knew was that I couldn’t feel the life force of Grey Wolf.

  Chapter 34

  Grandfather and grandmother both came to speak with me one day. It had been several months and there was still no sign of Grey Wolf.

  Grandfather clicked his tongue for a second and reached for my hand, squeezed it and stated matter of fact.

  “It has been months now Oria, when are you going to move on with life? If Grey Wolf were here he would tell you the same thing. We send shifters out every day and there has been no sign anywhere. Life must go on and there are things we need to do.”

  “What could possibly be more important than finding Grey Wolf? How can I move on? I know he’s out there somewhere waiting for me to find him? I put him in the position of getting close to the Ala. Now he is someplace, maybe suffering. How can I stop looking for him knowing this?” I whimpered sadly.

  Then grandmother had her say.

  “Oria, at the time, you thought Yori was just hiding something. You did not know she was Ala. Grey Wolf would be the first to understand that you have done all you could to find him. Now it is time to move on. There are things that you as a Queen should be helping with. There are Dwellers that need to be taught and evil still lies in wait at every border. We cannot keep sending shifters when there is other work to be done.”

  I thought on their words and of course they were right. I would never stop searching for Grey Wolf. Dwellers had their own work to do and it was time they got back to their duties. In a voice that was full of regret I submitted to their requests.

  “You are right of course. It is time to call off the search and continue with the training of the Dwellers.”

  Later that day, White Bear came and said we were going for a ride to a special place that he needed to show me.

  We went to the stables and got our horses. We headed towards the mountain where we defeated the Ala. I had not been up here since that day. More than a great win it reminded me of the loss of Grey Wolf.

  I often searched for him but always somewhere else. I made sure there were always Dwellers here looking for him. Since I had called off the search, there was only quiet here now.

  We headed further up the path and rounded a big boulder. To my surprise the ground was scattered with the prettiest flowers all over. It was passed the time for them to be blossoming. I thought it was a beautiful sight but odd. I looked over at White Bear who had a broad smile on his face. It reached all the way to his eyes. “Beautiful isn’t it? I have been coming here since the battle with the Ala. Since you defeated her and the silver shards rained down, this place has been covered with flowers daily. They bloom and die and then others take their place and life starts all over again.”

  It was so beautiful. There was every type of flower that grows here wildly; from Mountain Dogwood to Blazing Stars to Bush Poppies and Mountain Bluebells. Apparently this happened daily. There was a new variety of wild flowers popping up constantly. I wondered for how long this would continue. Everywhere the Ala had been there was only death until I defeated her. Now life was renewing all over the land. And here, on this mountain it just kept repeating the daily cycle like spring.

  I turned around to look at White Bear. He handed me a pretty bouquet that he had picked while I was looking around awe struck. Bleeding Hearts, Bear Clovers, and some white flowers that I was not familiar with. He was smiling like he had some kind of secret. I accepted the flowers he was handing me with a genuine smile of gratitude, and a heartfelt thank you. “This is a very beautiful arrangement and I recognize the Bleeding Hearts and Bear Clovers but what are these pretty little delicate ones in the center?”

  “With a smile that lit up his jade eyes and made them twinkle he said, “The Bear Clovers are intertwined with Bleeding Hearts that are surrounded by Fairy Lanterns.”

  “Those are not called Fairy Lanterns, you made that up.”

  “That’s what their called, and they all grow here in perfect harmony. I think it must be a sign.” He added all smug.

  “You think everything is a sign White Bear. I just think that it’s lovely here. How long do you think this will continue? It really can’t bloom day after day forever here, can it?”

  “I would say as long as you breathe it will probably do this. I am no expert on this type of thing though. The Ala brought nothing but destruction and you are the renewal of life.”

  “Do you really believe that White Bear?” He looked distracted for a minute. Then he recovered and he said with a very serious tone to his voice. “I believe this more than all the stars in the sky. Remember I was there that day. I saw many things that would seem unbelievable happen with these very eyes. Are you still in doubt of your powers?”

  “No, not exactly, it just seems for all my powers, why can I not bring Grey Wolf home?”

  There, I said, it was too late to take it back. I waited for the frustration that would surely take hold of him. When that didn’t happen, I slowly looked up at him and there was a
thoughtful look on his face. There was no irritation at all. So I carefully watched as he thought of what he would say.

  “You know of course the obvious answer to that question? I think it needs to be said aloud that Grey Wolf has probably gone on to the happy hunting grounds. Perhaps you are just not prepared to accept this yet. We have searched for a very long time. He is not on this earth or we would have found him. Please try to accept he is gone Oria. If not for yourself, do it for all those that love you.

  I thought on this for a second and said the only thing that he wanted to hear, not that I really believed it myself.

  “Yes, I suppose you are right. I have already called off the search parties. The people can get on with their work and the training of the new Dwellers. I’ve heard that we will have some new arrivals soon. It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was a new Dweller. In some ways though, it seems like a lifetime ago.”

  “Enough business for today, I want to show you something else. Come with me my Queen.”

  He took my hand which seemed so small in his and led me through the beautiful flowers. We came around the bend and there before us was another spectacular sight. It was a Silver looking pond with gold laced all through it. There was a waterfall that fell at least five hundred feet. Not the biggest for these parts but definitely stunning and new.

  “Correct me if I’m wrong but this was not here before was it? It is so amazing. How did it come to appear here?”

  “It is remarkable, and you are right, it wasn’t here before. Some come here to give thanks and pray now. It has become most sacred. Like the flowers, it came to be here at the same time. All believe this is because you defeated the Ala. They have started calling it Oria Falls.”

  “I am honored by the name but I could not have done it without the help of all of you. We are all a good team. We should name it something for all of us.”

  “Yes we are a great team but we would not have been able to defeat the Ala without you. The name will remain. It will forever be Oria Falls; Where the Golden Queen defeated the Evil Ala.”

  “You and the others no longer have the powers you had during the fight with the Ala, do you?”

  I already knew the answer to this question. I wanted really to see how they all felt about not having the gifts I had given them.

  White Bear was thoughtful for a few seconds. He said what I would expect him to say because he was so diplomatic.

  “We used them for what they were meant for. To help you defeat the Ala. If we were meant to have great powers like you, then our destinies would be elsewhere. We’re all at peace with this. We were not meant to be Gods. We are all who the Great Spirit intended us to be.”

  He sounded so sincere but then there was suddenly something that flickered for a brief second across his face. His eyes sparked a red glimmer so briefly that I wasn’t sure I had seen anything.

  When he looked directly at me though, I was sure it must have been the sun glinting off the necklace he wore.

  Chapter 35

  I went to Oria Falls more often after that day. I spent many days and evenings practicing the bow and arrow there. I gathered herbs and many of the new flowers were used for salves and teas and other various things. The flowers were all more than just beautiful. White Bear came sometimes and he was very patient with me.

  Whenever I wanted to spend the day in silence, he would leave me alone. Sometimes Aponi or Jim and Tim came. We spent a lot of our other time watching the boundaries and putting up new wards. At the end of the day when I lay down exhausted, it was the sparkling silver eyes that I would see before I fell asleep. Sometimes those magnetic eyes were so silver and sparkly. I couldn’t believe they were not a shining life force in this world. There was always hope for the future in them. I would watch as the desire in his eyes turned a magnificent golden color.

  Sometimes I was so torn up and guilt plagued me constantly. Still, there was always something at the back of mind that kept me from completely letting go. I was so unconvinced that he was just gone forever. I didn’t know why that was but had decided I would just go slow and try to heal my broken heart.

  The dreams at night were the hardest. I used to have the same dreams throughout my life but now they had somewhat changed. Some were of Grey Wolf and the future we could have. At times I could hear his voice calling to me and then I would see golden imploring eyes watching me. I had finally recognized those eyes. They had watched me at home and had often been in my dreams as I grew up. He had followed me for most of my life so I had a hard time believing they would not be around the rest of it. I just knew he had to be out there somewhere.

  Other dreams were filled with him under a full moon reaching up to the sky.

  I kept this all to myself and everyone assumed I was moving on. The truth was, I put on a bright smile, got better at not wearing my heart on my sleeve and took it day by day. My dreams gave me hope that he would come back to me some day.

  Aponi came by and asked that we spend the day together. She wanted to go for a flight instead of practicing. I thought it would be nice to soar with her again.

  We were in the air for a few hours. Aponi had gone on and on about her and Red Thunders upcoming wedding. I enjoyed talking about her wedding but now I was distracted. I drifted away from her. I knew she was behind me still talking but I wasn’t listening. I noticed that I had started looking for Grey Wolf again. I couldn’t quit thinking about him no matter how hard I tried. So I quit trying to ignore my feelings.

  My instincts had not let me down yet. I knew that I had to follow them. That’s when I saw what I thought looked like a glorious giant limping wolf. I drifted along above it for a while to see what was going on. My heart was pounding fast. I knew somehow, that when I had made up my mind of what my heart already knew, I had found Grey Wolf.

  I must have gotten too close for his comfort on my last sweep because he turned around and looked up at me with golden eyes that pierced my soul. Then, with a snarl and a growl to go with it, the great beast scampered away into the forest.

  I came undone and with no concentration on what I was doing crashed onto the ground in human form. Thank goodness I was already low enough that by the time I realized what was happening I was able to tuck and roll.

  A million thoughts were going through my head. With the eyes of Grey Wolf haunting me I yelled for him. It could have just been any wolf, but it wasn’t and I knew it. I recognized those eyes and I could tell the difference between a wolf and a shifter. That was Grey Wolf and I knew it. Why wouldn’t he come home? Why wouldn’t he shift? Where had he been all these many months? All kinds of questions were running through my head and I needed the answers.

  I would keep looking until I found him. He was limping; I could heal him if he would let me get close to him. Why would he just run off?

  As I stood there shouting for Grey Wolf. Aponi had come gliding in and shifting asked me why I was yelling for Grey Wolf.

  “I thought that was behind you and you accepted the fact that he wasn’t coming back.”

  “Yes, I had, well I was trying, but I just saw him. There was a big grey wolf that was limping right over there.” I was pointing to a place where the woods started.

  “You realize of course how many wolves are in the area.”

  “Well of course I do, but I can tell the difference you know. This was Grey Wolf, I’m sure of it. I can still feel his presence and those eyes, the way they looked at me. It was him, I’m telling you. I don’t understand why he ran away though. Why wouldn’t he come home where he belongs? I’m going in to look for him.”

  I was becoming hysterical and Aponi was looking at me like I had lost my mind, but she was kind enough not to say it. So, just to appease me I’m sure, she complied. “Let’s go have a look around then.”

  She shifted and flew into the forest and I followed but I went in as a wolf. I could shift into anything so I shifted into a wolf, Right? What better way to lure him out then another wolf.

  That’
s what you would think. We searched everywhere. In every hole and cave but there were just too many hiding places. I came out of the forest feeling defeated and wondering if I had imagined the whole thing. I had tried talking to him through my mind but as usual there was nothing there but the brick wall. If only he would let it down. I knew now that some of the Elders could block me, Grey Wolf happened to be one of them. I felt the wall, so I knew it was him. I hadn’t felt that since he had disappeared and now I could.

  Aponi was standing there in the clearing and she wasn’t alone. Grandmother and grandfather were with her.

  It hit me like a massive punch in the face that she hadn’t believed me. So, suddenly feeling out of control and questioning my own sanity I raged at her.

  “Did you even search Aponi? Or did you just run off and bring them here to tell me I had lost my mind? I haven’t lost anything except Grey Wolf, again.”

  “Of course she didn’t tell us any such thing granddaughter, but could you possibly be mistaken? We only came to help. Do not blame Aponi for caring too much for you.”

  “No of course I don’t grandmother.” I looked over at Aponi who was looking miserable and very much distressed.

  “I’m sorry Aponi. I’m just so upset; I don’t understand why he would run from me. There’s no sign of him; he has just disappeared into thin air.” I whispered almost to myself. Aponi hugged me and whispered in my ear, “We will find him.”

  “His eyes, I would know those captivating eyes anywhere. What should we do? I know he’s out there and wounded, he was limping, and maybe he can’t shift back. I just don’t understand why he would run and hide.”

  Grandfather spoke up at this point and said, “If, he is hurt maybe he can’t shift. His mind might not be his own. He would be in great danger of always being a wolf if he stays this way for long. We will all go in search of him, others are on their way. If he is here we will find him my Queen.”