Dwellers of Ahwahnee (The Beyond Collection)

by Sheryl Seal

  I looked around and found grandmother who I went to immediately because she was holding her head and she looked a little stunned. “Grandmother, are you alright? What happened here?”

  Grandmother softly pushed my hand away from her head, “I am fine my dear, it was just a misunderstanding. Your mother is not herself.”

  “Yes grandmother, I heard it all and what I want to know is… Just who is she?”

  Everyone turned to look at me like I had lost my mind, all except Grey Wolf, fortunately he understood all too well. She was my mother, but she was also the Ale. She was growing strong as my mother did and I knew from my father’s story what had happened, even if he didn’t believe it had.

  “Careful my heart, you are treading on dangerous ground, they are not yet ready to hear what you and I both know.” This he speaks to me in my mind, finally, but he picks now, and I could clearly read his thoughts. If only I had time before he blocks them all again. I don’t though, so I just answered him like we had always spoken this way. “So what do we do now?”

  “I have a plan but it will take the both of us. At the moment, she is just resting. We need to put her to sleep for a while, so that we can figure out what all we need to do. Can you do this? I know it will be hard for you.”

  “Are you sure that this is necessary?”

  He nodded and I went over to the bed where my father was holding my mother’s hand and I watched as one lone teardrop fell from his eye and ran down his cheek. “This is so unlike her; I do not know what is wrong. She would never act this way toward any living soul.”

  I touched the hand that father held over mothers. I was trying my best not to fall apart, but it was hard considering her anger was directed at having to stay and get to know her daughter. There were so many thoughts running wildly in my mind. I knew this was not my mother and that she wouldn’t act this way towards me. Mainly, we needed to rid this evil from her. Playing a tug of war game, the confusing thoughts rambled back and forth. Focusing on the facts as I knew them to be, I tried to console father. “Father, I agree that mother wouldn’t behave like this, and Grey Wolf has a plan if you will allow us to help.”

  “Anything that will help my wife, I want you to do.” He had looked to Grey Wolf who stood silently, and nodding, Grey Wolf stepped in front of my father and took my mother’s hand and held his other hand out for me to hold. “Clasp your mother’s hand so that we are joined together Oria. Now we will concentrate and make her rest a peaceful sleep.”

  I concentrated hard that my mother would have a restful sleep and watched as a yellow light started to glow in mine and Grey Wolf’s hands. The light grew warm and moved to my mother’s hands and then spread up her arms to her head. It focused there for a while, and she seemed to fight it briefly, shaking her head back and forth, she moaned.

  Together we were stronger than her. She whimpered and groaned a few times and then she couldn’t fight it anymore and her head stilled. Finally her body went limp and the glowing light faded away and she looked peaceful again, like when I had first discovered her in the village.

  “It is done.” Grey Wolf was still holding my hand and I found it hard to release him. I willed myself to let go and looked into his eyes, they were the deepest golden color and slowly turning to silver.

  “What is it that we have done exactly?”

  In his husky voice filled with sadness he replied, “We have sent her to the land of the deep sleep for a while, I hope.”

  “But she has been asleep for so long already, I thought maybe we were just helping her rest not a deep sleep.”

  “We are my love, you know this is for the best, and for now it is our only choice.”

  Father’s tears were rolling down his face now. It hurt my soul to have to tell him what I thought was going on, but it had to be done. I wasn’t sure how long this would last. “Father, listen to me carefully please. What Grey Wolf and I know will be difficult for you to believe, but this is what I think has happened. I believe that when you and mother fought with the Ale all those years ago, the Ale was somehow released into mother’s body and travelled with her to the Village of Lost Souls.”

  “What, how is that possible? I did not see it happen, I never hurt the Ale, and all I saw was that your mother was injured.”

  “I believe the Ale was injured and hoped to heal quickly when The Golden Queen did. She slid in undetected. Since mother didn’t have time to heal before you were taken to the Village of Lost Souls, the Ale was transported there too. Mother slept for all these years and so did the Ale. When she finally healed in this village, so did the Ale. She was still weak and we were able to contain her that way again, until we have a plan.”

  “Well then, what is the plan? We cannot just wait like this forever and I will not give my wife to the Ale.”

  “It is not permanent father; we just need time to plan on the best way to rid the Ale without harming mother. I also have no idea how long we can keep her asleep in this world. The Ale is strong and with mother healing we may not have long. Grandfather will have to talk with the ancestors and see what we are to do.”

  “So we wait, you are sure about this my daughter?”

  “Yes father, I suspected something earlier and when the storm came, I was unfortunately very sure. Grey Wolf and grandfather are certain also.”

  Father looked around the room and everyone was shaking their heads in agreement, even grandmother who stood and stared at her daughter with silent tears unshed in her eyes. I walked over and gave her hug, I wasn’t sure about her but I sure needed one. I think she did though, because she hugged me back tightly and hung on for a while. Then patting my back she released me. Feeling stronger and more like her old self again, grandmother started giving the orders. “Well then, we have work that needs to be done. Elsu see what the ancestors know about Ale and possession, specifically of a Golden Queen. Grey Wolf, you and Oria gather the Dwellers. Everyone has a right to know the danger that is in the village. Fire Cloud sit with your wife, any changes at all, let me know. I will be with the elders and that is where you can find me Elsu, after you speak with the ancient ones.”

  I left the lodge reluctantly with the task that grandmother had given me. I noticed grandfather held back. To comfort grandmother, I’m sure. Grey Wolf met me outside the elder lodge where the rain had slowed to a drizzle and the wind had all but died out. The smoky clouds were parting and moving away and the sun was peeking through. It was still a muddy mess all around us and I was frustrated, yet without even thinking and a flick of the wrist, I dried it all out.

  I stood there looking around and Grey Wolf took my hand and pulled me towards him, where I fell into his arms and snuggled into his broad chest. I struggled to hold back the tears that came to my eyes and willed them not to spill over. There was work that needed to be done to save my mother and I was not about to give in to my feelings of pain, that were haunting me.

  Grey Wolf inhaled deeply and I pulled away from him and lightly slapped him in the chest. “Seriously, you pick right now to smell my hair?” I couldn’t help laughing and he knew that this was just what I needed.

  “I cannot help what you do to me my heart, even in a time of crisis. But I do not want you to worry. All of this will work out and you will have your mother back.”

  “I’m not so sure Grey Wolf, how can you be certain?”

  He pulled me into him where he lovingly stroked my hair and whispered near my ear. “If you are unsure of what to do and if you are scared of what is coming next, lean on me. I will always be here for you my heart. This is my promise to you, now and forever.” He kissed me lightly on my ear and his hot breath sent my body trembling clear to my soul.

  “I love you so much and I will never be able to live without you in my life Grey Wolf. Thank you for believing in me.”

  “Of course my little Golden Queen, I will always have faith in your abilities and in you. I love you and without you, the stars would fall from the sky. My heart would cease to beat.” He k
issed me tenderly and we walked together hand in hand to the center of the village.

  Grey Wolf rang the bell that would bring all the Dwellers of Ahwahnee to the warrior lodge, where they would hear the news of the day.

  Grandmother

  I gave up being The Golden Queen to my daughter, who after a few moons disappeared and was thought dead for all this time. My granddaughter came of age and now the title is hers. I have no desire to take over this position again, so I hope my granddaughter did not take offense at this old woman’s urgency at the situation. Thoughts were scattering through my old mind and I had thought everyone had left when Elsu startled me. “What exactly is it that you think you need to prove Huyana? Oria can handle this, she has before. You are not the Golden Queen anymore.”

  “She is an extraordinary Golden Queen Elsu, all powerful and I would not take anything away from that. But right now, my concern is to rid my daughter of the evil that is in her soul. Oria has defeated the Ale before and I have no doubt that she could do it again. This is not the problem. This is her mother. I have doubts that she would be able to do what has to be done, if it comes to that. I just don’t believe she needs to be put through it with her own mother.”

  Elsu clicked his tongue a couple of times, something that annoyed me about the old man. He is however dear to me and after so many years together; of course there would be some annoyances. Just like an old married couple, we have lived and laughed and experienced triumphs, as well as tragedies together.

  “You think you can do what might have to be done with your own daughter?”

  “I will be able to handle it more than Oria could. I also would not put her through possibly having to destroy her mother.”

  “We will think of something Huyana; do not give up all hope yet.”

  I mumbled to myself a quote I keep always at the top of my mind, but of course the old man’s ears are sharp and he heard me. “More people would learn from their mistakes, if we weren’t so busy denying them.”

  “What do you mean? What mistakes have been made Huyana?”

  Exasperation overwhelmed me. “I suspected this, and don’t tell me you never considered it Elsu. There were signs we were given. I should never have allowed her to be brought into this world from the Village of Lost Souls.”

  It would be no one’s fault but my own, if the Ale were allowed to regain full strength. Trying to be supportive and relieve me of responsibility, Elsu tried to help with the blame. “I think that we did not have a choice, we had to leave the Village of Lost Souls. I don’t think Titania could have been helped there. We did what had to be done.”

  Yes, I knew this and there really was no other way. Feeling frustrated I looked to the back where my daughter lay and then back at Elsu. “The struggle now would be that I have to speak with the elders and you need to speak with the ancestors to see if we have the okay to do what is necessary.”

  “Yes, right away, try not to worry Huyana; The Great Spirit will see us through this.”

  After Elsu left, I watched and listened towards the back of the lodge again, where my daughter still lay peacefully with Fire Cloud watching over her. I also heard his prayers to The Great Spirit. I could still hear the rain falling, only lightly now that my daughter slept. How long this would last, I did not know. Summoning the courage I would need, I grabbed my shawl and went in search of the elders.

  I passed the warrior lodge, where meetings and meals were taken daily. I could hear Oria and Grey Wolf taking questions from the Dwellers about the Ale. There had recently been a battle with the Ale and the village had to be rebuilt. Many lodges were destroyed in the hail storm alone. People feared that this could happen again, if Oria’s mother were allowed to stay here with the Ale in possession of her body. I heard my granddaughter assuring the people that precautions were being taken. The Great Spirit helped us through it before and he would again she reminded them all.

  From the outcry of questions that stormed her and Grey Wolf, it was clear that many people weren’t comforted by her assurances. I hurried on to the elders’ lodge where they waited for me, with the exception of Oria, Grey Wolf and Elsu.

  The elders were all chatting about the weather and the bad foreboding that had come to Ahwahnee. I wasted no time and got right to the issue at hand, I described to all what has happened and what has been done so far to keep everyone safe.

  There were many volunteers to watch at all the borders into this world. We could not let our guard down for a minute and all the wards needed to be reinforced.

  With Ale in our midst, we all knew that one slip and every evil could break loose. Everyone understood how shrewd the Ale can be. While a distraction was going on in one place the cunning Ale could take advantage of the situation. We had to stay alert and everyone had posts to attend too.

  Grey Wolf and Oria joined us after their talk with the Dwellers and stood in the back of the room. We made plans for Oria to put up more wards on all of the borders into this world. Grey Wolf would go with her. We did not want anyone to be alone from this time on; it would be too easy to take possession of a soul.

  This would all have to be done tomorrow when everyone had some sleep. Titania slept peacefully this evening, so I felt comfortable in saying that we were all safe, at least for tonight.

  I just prayed that I was right and we had the time we needed, because we were all exhausted from the Village of Lost Souls and really needed to regain our strength. I prayed also for my daughter and my granddaughter.

  Oria

  We left the meeting with grandmother and she said she was going in search of grandfather. He was supposed to meet her and hadn’t showed up yet. Grey Wolf asked that we walk in the moonlight above the falls, before we part ways for the night.

  We held hands and were talking about which areas we would start at tomorrow. We were going to reinforce the wards. Well, I would and Grey Wolf would be my bodyguard. Seriously, I couldn’t think of a better body that I wanted to guard me. He read my mind and I heard him snicker as he squeezed my hand tightly.

  “That really isn’t fair you know.” I said sulkily.

  “What exactly is it, that you think isn’t fair my little Queen?” He snickered.

  “Ha, do not act like you have no clue what I’m talking about, you know it’s not fair to read my mind. I cannot ever get into yours.”

  He chuckled huskily as he replied. “You might be quite embarrassed of my thoughts right now if you could read my mind, my heart.”

  “I highly doubt that, we probably have much of the same thoughts.” I teased, and then he gave me a brief look into his thoughts and my whole body stiffened and I heated up all over.

  “Now what do you feel about my thoughts my heart, are you embarrassed?” He laughed so heatedly that I felt my stomach start to flip-flop.

  Well, I had to get my thoughts in order, I wasn’t embarrassed, but I wished with all my heart we were together the way he envisioned us. I also wished the words would come out of my mouth without sounding shaky and like a little school girl. I decided that probably wasn’t going to happen so, I did what was becoming familiar to me. I pulled him in close and wrapped my arms around his neck. I looked into his sparkling eyes that had turned a deep amber color. He met my lips with the intensity that was getting very hard for both of us to control. As the kiss lengthened, his breath was hot in my mouth and tasted sweet, and I found myself with an aching desire for him and… I was getting tired of all the waiting.

  I pulled away from him and spoke my feelings in a whisper that trembled. “I want us to be together Grey Wolf, what are we waiting for?”

  He groaned audibly and stepped away from me, and I could hear him take a ragged breath, as he ran his hand over his face before he miserably replied. “You know you are my heart and soul right?”

  I hesitantly nodded that I did. Knowing already what he would say. “I just want you to be happy and I want you to be sure that this is what you want. It will be a very big step for us. You are a treasure
to me like the morning and evening star. Wouldn’t you prefer that we are man and wife first?”

  I was thinking what if he is too good for me, he is after all a God, but with his captivating charms and his blissful whispers of love, I had almost missed the question.

  “Wait… What?”

  He was smirking and I knew that once again, he had been in my head listening to my rambling as I tried to block, what I knew he was going to say about us waiting.

  “Is that a proposal? Did you just propose to me?”

  “Would you agree to marry me, even though I am only the son of the Gods?” His eyes were smoldering as he gazed into my eyes and waited for my answer.

  “If that is a proposal, I most certainly would agree to marry you, but wouldn’t your parents have something to say to that?” I teased him but I was up in the clouds and very nervous, maybe they would say no.

  He didn’t let me down as he triumphantly exclaimed, “You know very well that my parents have no control over what The Great Spirit’s visions are. They do not have the power to stop a union between a man and a woman, not when The Great Spirit wants it to be this way and has already given me this vision.” He hesitated a moment and with a devilish smile that touched his eyes, he let me off the hook. “If it makes you feel any better though, they do approve of you and that was a proposal.”

  I could hardly contain myself as so many sensations came over me. Wow! We could get married. Emotions overwhelmed me and I could feel as the tears gathered in my eyes and started to drip down my face. Through the blurry haze, I looked up and saw Grey Wolf’s expression go from happy to uncertain about what was going on. I knew I had to explain my reaction immediately. So I threw myself in his arms, as I explained my tears of happiness. “I would love to marry you; I just never let myself believe that this would ever be possible with us. I am so happy.”