Dwellers of Ahwahnee (The Beyond Collection)

by Sheryl Seal

  I knew the moment that Oria reached Fallyn and she handled her gracefully but firmly and sent her back to the village. Oria was now on her way to get Tim, with Jim leading the way.

  Listening in on her conversation with Fallyn and Jim, I knew everything that had happened. To get out the frustration I felt towards my sister, I stayed as my spirit animal and ran. When I didn’t feel that was enough, and hearing and remembering the way she treated my heart, I ran some more.

  Finally, I came back to the village and went in search of Fallyn. I found her sitting with a group of people in the big lodge, where she was eating and laughing like she hadn’t done anything wrong.

  “Fallyn, you are supposed to be at grandfather’s lodge where you will return Tim to himself.”

  She looked at me with her angel-like face, and her big silver eyes. She looked more like our mother than Sapata and I did, so it was very hard to be angry with her for long.

  “I was just waiting for you brother, and I was hungry.” She already knew that I was a push-over where she was concerned, but she did need to learn how to treat people.

  “Have you even taken the time to get to know your sister, Sapata?” I took her arm a little too roughly and led her out of the lodge, and as we walked to grandfathers, she replied. “Of course I spoke with Sapata. She is soo… sweet.” She jerked her arm away and I let her.

  “She has had a lot to deal with her whole life and could use her sister. I think you will find that she could be a good friend and sister to you if you give her the chance.” I could hear in the way that she said so sweet, she was not impressed with Sapata, and had not given her the chance she should have. She didn’t respond to my statement, the only way I had to know, that she had heard me at all, was in her mind.

  She was frightened that none of us would love her for herself because she had been different her whole life. “You know Fallyn, we are a family here. We all work together to keep the evil from entering the world of man. We are all unique and that makes us… every one of us, special. A healthy use of our powers is encouraged, as long as we do not harm others. Do you understand me, my sister?”

  “Really Grey Wolf, you aren’t mad at me then?”

  I had to laugh at this because she had so much to learn. I could not stay mad very long at anyone. “You turn Tim back first, and never use a power for evil and all will be forgiven. You have to promise this though, promise?”

  “Oh, I do Grey Wolf, I promise never to use my powers for evil.” She cleared her throat and hesitated before she added. “I’m not sure what I did exactly, so how do I fix it?”

  “I think all you have to do to resolve the situation, is to be sincerely sorry Fallyn. Are you?”

  “Yes, I am, I really didn’t know that would happen, but he ran off so fast and I couldn’t find him to make it right. Do you think he will forgive me?”

  “I think he might, Tim is a very nice person, but that is a question you will have to ask him. This is grandfather’s lodge, are you ready? Tim is already inside with the others, you are lucky that they found him so soon.”

  She once again said she was sorry, and I smiled at her and nodded.

  The first person I noticed was my heart, standing next to Jim who was holding on to a very nervous-looking wolverine. Jim backed up a little to stand right behind my Queen.

  That was all I noticed, as my eyes came to rest on the face that I loved with all my soul. I looked into her beautiful blue eyes with the silver flecks sparkling bright and could see the love that she had for me. My soul was singing and for a moment in time, I forgot everything. I remembered the sympathy she had towards my sister and how she always took control. I knew in my heart that The Great Spirit could not have paired me with a better soul in all the worlds. I couldn’t wait…

  Then grandfather spoke up, shattering the picture that I was developing in my mind. Good thing, it was starting to get hot all around me and I knew I couldn’t continue with that line of thinking.

  “Good, now let’s remedy this situation, and move on. There are more important things happening then the antics of a squabble.” Grandfather’s gruff voice penetrated my ears but I noticed a hint of a smile to his twinkling eyes as he cleared his throat and continued. “Fallyn, what do you have to say to Tim?”

  She looked up at grandfather, when he asked the question, and with a look and a nudge from me, she hesitantly stepped forward. “I am really sorry Tim. I didn’t mean to wish that you would be your spirit animal forever.”

  There was a loud crash and Jim and Tim hit the floor together. Tim was more than Jim could hold apparently. Everyone laughed, including Jim but Tim still looked unsure. They got up off the ground and timidly Tim began apologizing to Fallyn. “I also am sorry Fallyn; I didn’t mean to make you mad. I will think of the words I choose around you from now. Clearly you are powerful and I don’t want to be my spirit animal forever. I too have learned my lesson, now… can we be friends?”

  Fallyn went over and hugged Tim and said yes. “May we go now, brother? We have practice, and I am going to learn everything and I promise to be good from now on.”

  “Yes go, practice hard and know that you have made a promise to us all.” I thought for a second and was reminded of a saying a wise man once said to me. I stopped her at the door and related the same message to her. “Fallyn, be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is who you really are, while your reputation is merely what people think you are.”

  She smiled prettily at the door before she left, and I hoped that she actually heard the message. I felt better after Fallyn, Tim and Jim left the lodge to go and practice. I had high hopes that she would come around with the love and encouragement she had from the entire village. We could work on all of her people skills as we went along with her training. Or mostly the lack of her people skills.

  I looked at my heart who was now smiling shyly at me and my heart exploded with all the feelings that I had been holding in check for her.

  Grandfather cleared his throat and I tore my eyes away from Oria reluctantly.

  “Yes grandfather, what were you saying? Is there trouble already? Besides my sister, I mean.” I chuckled to lighten the mood.

  “Not at the moment Grey Wolf, but as you and Oria well know, at any given minute evil is not far behind. For now Oria, I want you to go see your mother and then I want you and Grey Wolf to go enjoy the rest of the day together. As a young couple in love, you have missed much time together and deserve some stolen moments. We will talk later of the new issues that have been coming to light while we were away. I need to find out more information first from the elders. There is nothing for you to do as of yet, Oria. Go enjoy the company of each other. ”

  We left grandfather’s lodge and went to Bridalveil Fall where Oria put the wards back up so the village would remain safe. On the way back to her lodge, I took her hand in mine and looked her in the eyes. Then I placed a kiss on the inside of her wrist. I watched her carefully as the heat came into her beautiful eyes and ignited with fire, until the silver flecks that lay there sparkled brightly.

  We decided to meet at Oria Falls as soon as she visited her mother. It was most difficult to release my heart for even a moment. I could tell she felt the same, as she slowly withdrew her hand from mine.

  As usual my body cried out from parting from her and once again, I groaned inwardly. I heard her giggle as she turned away and I knew that this woman would someday be death of me if I were not in more control. Shaking my head as I walked away, I chuckled and thought, Ahhh… but what a sweet death it will be.

  Oria

  I entered my lodge where I now lived with my grandmother and my mother and father. There were voices in the back where my mother was and where she lay sleeping. Grandmother was listening to my father tell about some event that had happened while he and my mother were in the village of the lost souls.

  I didn’t want to interrupt them, so I entered quietly; knowing that at the very least,
grandmother would know that I was home. She always knew where I would be before I did. Turning, she smiled and reached out her hand for me to take it. “Come see your mother child. She is greatly improved.”

  I looked over at my mother and gasped at what had been happening since we had come back home. She was healing, but what I could not get over, was how young she looked.

  Time had not aged my mother while she slept in the Village of Lost Souls. Father had aged and so had Sapata, but mother looked only a little older than me. It was kind of creepy really. “How is this happening grandmother?”

  “You know that you have the healing power in your hands my little Golden Queen. See how the burns heal and there is absolutely no scarring. I believe between your healing powers and yours mothers; she will heal completely without even the scars.”

  “That is truly remarkable. Why isn’t she waking up though?”

  My father smiled happily at me and I could see how proud and relieved he was. “I believe this is so her wounds can heal. I have faith that when the time is right, she will once again wake up and you will be able to meet your mother for the first time since you were an infant.”

  I hesitated as I thought on what she might think of me. I felt a little scared too. Would I hold up to all of the expectations she had of me when I was born? Am I the woman she hoped I would be? There were just so many fears I had of finally meeting her. Really though, how bad could it be? My father seemed happy with who I was. “I can hardly wait father.” I whispered.

  Grandmother spoke again and brought me out of my contemplations of my mother. “Go on ahead and meet your young man now Oria, you both deserve to spend some time together. We will see you later my dear.”

  I left the lodge thinking how wonderful and unpredictable life can be. Just when you think you have things figured out, something happens and everything you thought you knew changes it all.

  My life would be very different now with my parents in it. Then I thought on what the future held for me and Grey Wolf. I couldn’t wait to spend some time alone with him. I felt like my legs would collapse when he took my hand and then turning it over, his lips met my wrist in a slow kiss where he never took his eyes off of mine. I didn’t know what he had seen in my eyes, but I saw a lifetime of love in his. When he winked at me, my knees just about gave out on me.

  Shifting into a cheetah because I knew this was the fastest land animal, I raced towards Oria Falls to meet Grey Wolf with my heart keeping beat to my pace.

  As I crossed the meadow full of the beautiful blossoming flowers, I shifted back because I loved walking here. The aroma was intoxicating with so many varieties that bloomed daily. Defeating the Ale was the beginning of this meadow and Oria Falls. They were the magical events that had occurred after the battle and something I was very proud of.

  I started to get butterflies in my stomach as I neared the falls. Knowing that Grey Wolf was right around the bend, my heart had picked up again and was pounding so loud that I thought it would burst.

  I started to get mixed signals in my mind though, Grey Wolf was there but he wasn’t alone. Waiting with him were Red Thunder and Aponi. My heartbeat slowed and before I came around the bend, I wiped the disappointment off my face and tried to bury it deep so that nobody would have hurt feelings. I had been looking forward to spending time with Grey Wolf and once again I had to share him with others.

  I rounded the curve and there they were, all three of them sitting by the golden pond, which sat at the bottom of the sparkling silver falls. I smiled brightly even though I wasn’t feeling it very much.

  Grey Wolf looked up at me and I could see the love he had for me in his eyes. I was also sure he could see the love I sent him with a look of my own. Then I arched an eyebrow in question at the two sitting beside him. He just smiled and getting up he started to come towards me.

  As usual Aponi was rambling on in her unique way and so she hadn’t heard me coming. She had found the time to re-do her hair since we had been back. I couldn’t figure it out. No matter what was going on, Aponi always made the time to color her hair. She watched Grey Wolf and then turned to see where he was headed. When she noticed me, she instantly harassed me about being late. Feeling self-conscious, I touched my hair that still had the color in it and needed a good wash. It would have to wait until later.

  “Oria, it’s about time you showed up, I thought we were going to wait the rest of the day before you came.”

  I smiled politely and waved at her and Red Thunder. “Have I missed something? I didn’t know that you and Red Thunder were going to be joining us.”

  She flipped her bright red hair that turned burgundy towards the ends and apologized. “Well, sorry about that, but grandfather and your father discussed it and decided that it was unsuitable for the two of you to be alone. So, here we are. We thought we could maybe show you where I would like the ceremony for Red Thunder and me to be. I think we have waited quite long enough. I wish to be married to this handsome soul now, I can wait a few more months, but that is all. So, what do you think? Do you want to see the spot I have picked out?”

  Wow! My father is back one day and totally acting like we were living in the dark ages. Who had chaperones at my age? It did make me smile though and I knew that he liked playing the father role to me. I was hoping to spend the rest of the day alone with Grey Wolf, but who could possibly be mad with a friend like Aponi and her quirky ways. I knew that she and Red Thunder would give us a few minutes here and there, after all, they probably would like some time together also.

  “I would love to see where y… you would like to hold the ceremony Aponi. Where… where is it from here?” I was almost giggling as I tried to concentrate on my words to her. Grey Wolf was standing behind me with his arms around my waist and nibbling on my ear. The effect he was having on me, sent chills up and down and in and out of my entire being. He knew it as he whispered in my ear. “You know that I love you my heart and soul.”

  Not caring what Aponi or Red Thunder thought, I suddenly twisted around in his grasp, wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to my lips. We kissed each other tenderly and it was a promise of love never-ending. He held back some of the passion I knew he felt and released me when I would have liked more. His eyes were smoldering amber and I could tell there would be much time for love in our future.

  I faltered for just a moment and then found my words, whipped back around and related to Aponi. “Alright, that ought to hold me for a while. I’m ready to go Aponi. I probably missed where you said we were headed, so just lead the way.”

  She and Red Thunder were standing up now and looking at me like they didn’t know who I was.

  “What? Is there something wrong?” I laughed.

  Still not speaking and shaking her head at me, I couldn’t help myself, I really started laughing, and it felt wonderful. “Aponi, speechless, this has to be a first.”

  Now everyone was laughing and agreeing, except Aponi, she giggled a little but clarified. “I am hardly speechless, just a little surprised, but then you, my Golden Queen, always amaze me. Shall we all go? We’ll have to shift because it is several miles away and the only way we can get there and back before nightfall.”

  Everyone agreed we were ready and we all shifted. I joined Grey Wolf as his spirit animal and of course Aponi and Red thunder were two spectacular Golden Eagles. Then Aponi shouted in our minds. “Keep your eyes on the sky.”

  Aponi

  I was thinking with the side of my brain that no one could read. Oria has come a long ways since she arrived here. She was just this little scared thing that had no idea what her future was to be or even who she was. I was her first friend and we have been best friends since that day. Yes, I agreed with myself, she has come a long way. A leader of our people, she is brave and at every turn she is keeping the evil away or preventing it from destroying other worlds. She fell in love, lost it, found it again and brought her mother and father home. All of my life, I will be grateful that The Gr
eat Spirit has brought her into our lives.

  I looked down through the trees in the forest that ran along the mighty river that’s in our world. I watched as Oria and Grey Wolf stopped and playfully chased each other before they traveled on.

  “Hey you two try to keep up, I don’t want to have to come back for you.” I giggled as I relayed this message in Oria’s mind.

  Oria came back with, “You just worry about getting us there. Where are we headed anyway Aponi?”

  “Top secret, you’ll see soon enough.”

  She laughed at me then, I do believe she had caught on to my ruse.

  “You have just run us out in the middle of nowhere only to take us back around the long way. Did you forget I can read your thoughts Aponi? You did a good job at first, and I was distracted, but I’m on to you now, you are nothing more than a charlatan.”

  Oh, how she made me laugh. When I got control over myself again, I countered. “It was just to keep you two busy and out of trouble. Not my plan actually, just doing what I’m told. I thought it might come to you sooner or later, but you were preoccupied or you would have figured it out before now.” Then I made kissing noises at her. We both laughed and she replied sarcastically. “You’re supposed to be my best friend, Aponi, and you knew I wanted time alone with Grey Wolf. I thought you were on my side, rat.”

  I had to snicker at her again, she was right of course; I am her friend and didn’t like that I had to deceive her. I really felt she deserved time alone with her man. “Well, sorry girl, I thought you would have guessed sooner, you knew I wanted my ceremony at Bridalveil Fall. If you had thought about it, we would not have had to go anywhere.

  “Yes, but for some reason, I thought maybe you had changed your mind, and don’t act like that’s something you’ve never done.”

  “Why ever would you say that, because I tend to change my hair occasionally?”

  “Occasionally? Try every few hours, and you also change your dresses and your moccasins as often.”