Dwellers of Ahwahnee (The Beyond Collection)

by Sheryl Seal

  Racing towards us, I saw a raging, black monstrous dragon with glowing yellow eyes, which shifted to red and shifted again to yellow. Looking at first, like a massive tornado and then into an enormous dragon, it charged us.

  I don’t know about anyone else, but I slammed my eyes shut, as this immense beast approached. In the next moment, she hit us and I felt a shudder all around, but we were still standing. I opened one eye and peeked around, and then I opened the other. I watched the Ale tumble and rise up in the sky again. Almighty, and staring directly at me, I immediately felt a connection to this wild beast.

  I thought I heard Grey Wolf yell again, for the others to stay down. We clung desperately to each other, and prayed that our powers would be strong enough to hold the wards. The roaring that came this time, was ear-piercing and she hit us full force. I once again, felt the tickle in my mind. I think my mistake was opening up to listen to her and with that, our ward crumbled. I felt myself being torn away from the hands of my brother and sister. The last voice I heard was Grey Wolf as he yelled at me. “No Fallyn! Do not let her enter your mind!” It was already too late, and then I was tumbling away in her powerful storm.

  I knew I was spinning around and it took me a minute to get my bearings. At first, I thought that I might hurl, but then things came into focus and it was a wonderful feeling of power and strength. I didn’t have any control though, so I wasn’t able to stop anything else that happened next. All I could do was watch, as my friends and family were thrown all around, like litter caught up in a whirlwind. I felt a shimmering and could clearly see we were heading out of this world, and into the world of man. I could feel the raging thoughts of the Ale.

  One thing that surprised me the most was it didn’t feel evil, not as much as it was just angry and hurt. Could this be possible? We entered into the world of man at Yosemite National Park. The colors here are beautiful, although not as effervescent as beyond the falls. I know now, that nowhere has the vibrant colors as that world. A thought flitted through my mind and I wondered if, I would ever see what had become my home, ever again.

  The Ale with me trapped into her, traveled through the park and with us, came darkening skies and a slight downpour. It wasn’t the chaos that the Ale normally causes and I now knew that it definitely, controlled the weather that came with it.

  All I did know about the Ale was what I had been told. I had no idea how I was going to get out of this situation and the more I thought on it, the angrier I became at Oria. What kind of Queen would allow this to happen to her people? Why hadn’t she come to our rescue? She had to know that we couldn’t hold the shield for long. Yes, the more I thought on this, the angrier I became. Then, I noticed that my anger had an effect on the weather too. It was now hailing and the knowledge of this made me giddy with pleasure.

  Yeah, I like power, and I like having power over everything and everyone. People pushed me around for so much of my life, that I loved the idea, that I could now be the one doing the pushing.

  Then again, I felt my mind being penetrated, and once again the Ale was doing the controlling. The hail that I had created with my anger stopped, and it was just a slight drizzle of rain again.

  We were on a search for something and we were traveling through the park. Over the majestic mountains and down through the deepest canyons, we traveled. There were many wondrous waterfalls and still, we searched.

  As we neared one particular canyon, it appeared that there had been a rock slide here and we wandered around this area, like we were waiting and watching. I had no idea what was going on or what would happen next. We were like a predator, after its prey.

  Once again, we were traveling at such a speed that I knew the Ale was hot on the trail of what it was searching for. I didn’t know what was going to happen to me being caught up in this Ale, but I did know one thing, we were going to cause major destruction in this world.

  If we couldn’t be stopped, the Ale and I would be responsible for every major disaster, which the world was about to experience. I smiled secretly to myself, because there were a few people that, I would love to get even with. I didn’t know if I would get the chance. I knew that the main goal had to be, to maintain some of my sanity or else the whole world would be lost. Then it wouldn’t much matter about me. Everything would cease to exist.

  Grey Wolf

  As both of my sisters and I, held hands in front of Horsetail Falls, we threw up a shield of protectiveness for our friends that I hoped would hold the Ale, and keep her from entering into the world of the man.

  I had watched as my love flew high in sky and with my keen eyesight, I watched as she climbed higher still. Suddenly plummeting towards the ground, Oria was the brightest of illuminations. Falling and sparkling and shimmering to earth. It was like she had been plucked out of the stars above, and then sent back down to fill this part of the world, with the brightest of dazzling lights.

  Heading for Bridalveil Fall in a moments time, she was suddenly a kaleidoscope of colors, and I wasn’t sure what had happened. But, I could feel the evil coming this way again. For one second in time, my heart stilled and I thought I might die. It started beating again and I knew my love was alive and she was headed in our direction.

  Ahead of her came the dark evil Ale. I could sense that Titania was now separated from her.

  However, the Ale was still strong. She was without the help of the once powerful Golden Queen, but her power restored quickly. I had every faith that Oria could handle her. We just had to hold her long enough for her to get here. “Hold on my sisters, she comes again.”

  The Ale threw herself into our shield. It took the hit because we are strong, but I didn’t know how much longer we could hold it. My sister’s powers were dwindling and I couldn’t do it on my own. We didn’t have long to wonder, as she came at us full force again.

  Awesome in length and with the darkness of evil, she was an enormous sight to behold. Black as the darkest night that was approaching swiftly, she brought with her, the storm and all its fury. With only her eyes a bright yellow, and then a raging red, she swooped in fast and furious, but she could not get through. Bounding off of the protective shield, she rolled through the air.

  She recovered quickly and rose into the air again and up out of sight. I heard, more than saw that she was heading back towards us, when the deafening roar sounded. She was enraged at not being able to get through, but was not giving up. She sensed our weakness.

  Grasping my sister’s hands and yelling at the others to stay down, I watched the skies as the Ale came in at an unbelievable speed. We held tight and when the Ale hit us this time but our powers were not enough. Stunned, all I remembered was a great force that shook the world and turned it upside down, and scattered the debris that were my friends, sisters and I everywhere.

  With the protective shields shattered, the Ale had gone through into the world of the man, and taken my sister Fallyn with it. I felt her spirit, as she gave way for the Ale to enter her mind. It only took one split second, and they were gone.

  Everyone else was accounted for that I could see, except for Jim. I could feel his presence, so I knew he was here somewhere.

  Sapata was weeping and blaming herself for not being strong enough in her powers, to protect her little sister. White Bear was trying to comfort her.

  I noticed that Tim was lying on the ground and looked to be in tremendous pain, as his leg was turned under him, at an awkward angle. He was yelling for his brother, Jim. Kierra was trying to make him comfortable, as she also yelled for Jim. I went in the direction of Sapata and told her, I would find our sister no matter what it takes. “The Ale is all powerful and was determined to get to the other world. It needed a living soul and took Fallyn, and there was nothing anyone could have done. I will get her back, don’t worry.”

  “Oria is coming, wait for her...”

  “I have already wasted enough time; tell her I love her and she is my heart and soul.” I headed straight for the falls, and walking int
o the world of man, I turned and looked back at the skies that were starting to clear. The sun was peeking out through the soft clouds, and I could see my heart, coming in swiftly and shimmering brightly, with grandmother and grandfather right behind her.

  I watched as Oria shifted from a blinding light, and landed at the feet of my sister and White Bear. She was looking around and I knew she was searching for me, by the look on her face. I also could feel her thoughts, so I whispered my final words to her and prayed to The Great Spirit, we would find each other again. Then I shifted and took off after the Ale. I hoped that I could find both, before they devoured the world of man.

  Oria

  Coming to Horsetail Falls and shifting as I landed, I kept my eye on the last spot I had seen Grey Wolf. Once again he was gone from my world. I heard his words as he spoke in my mind. “I love you, my heart. We will find each other again, I promise you.”

  My heart cried out in pain and agony. NO! NO! NO! THIS CANNOT BE! I watched as he shifted into his spirit animal and turned and sprinted away. The door to the world of man closed behind him, and I looked around at my friends that were lying all around.

  With a heavy heart, I knew that as Queen, my people came first. I went over to where Tim was badly hurt on the ground. Kierra was sitting with his head on her lap trying to comfort him, but he was in a lot of pain. I ripped open his pant leg and put my hands to his wound. I could see that the bone had come through the skin and there was a lot of blood. It was a clean break and the glow from my healing hands, immediately took over and started to mend the break. Tim passed out in the arms of Kierra. I straightened out his leg and continued to heal the cut, where the bone had broken through the skin.

  Kierra was whimpering softly. She wasn’t alone as silent tears slid down my face. I continued to heal Tim and listen as she told me how it went wrong so quickly. “We didn’t have time to shift or move out of the way or anything, before the Ale came through the shield. We were just all flying through the air.” She sobbed now, as she described the events.

  I noticed that grandmother and grandfather had gotten here, and they were speaking with White Bear and Sapata. Red Thunder and Aponi swooped in and shifting, they instantly came to see what they could do to help. Kierra was still sobbing incoherently about Jim.

  “Stop crying Kierra, please! I can’t understand what you’re saying.” But I had gotten Jim’s name out of it, so looking around me, I tried to locate him. Kierra dried her eyes. She said that, she and White Bear and Jim and Tim, were huddling under the protection of the shield. The next second, Jim was torn away from her. She started crying again and Aponi tried to comfort her.

  “Red Thunder, please try and locate Jim.” I ordered, as I swiped at my own eyes. I told Aponi to just stay here with Tim. I was going to get some information out of White Bear.

  “Oria, what of Grey Wolf? Where is he?”

  Right now, I didn’t have time for the breakdown that threatened to overwhelm me. I was trying to keep my mind off of him, because I didn’t know if I would ever see him again. “He’s gone into the world of man.” I felt rather defeated at the moment and snapped. The look on her face was shock. I told her what I knew and turned and walked over to where grandfather and grandmother were speaking with White Bear and Sapata.

  I listened as White Bear explained how the Ale had already hit them once at full force. I remembered the evil black wind that had whipped past me when I had separated my mother from the Ale. She had come straight for this border, where there were no wards protecting it. She must have been quite surprised to find a shield of protection up.

  White Bear was speaking and stroking Sapata’s hair, while she cried softly into his chest. “Full force she barreled into us. I don’t know how they held her. The Ale bounced off, and all we could hear was the wailing of the wind, that she brought with her. She was more enraged and came at us again. There was a mighty roar that was deafening, and this time nothing in all the worlds, could have stopped her.” He visibly shuttered recalling the event, and taking a deep breath he continued. “The colors that I witnessed as the shield was shattered were so blinding. I had to shut my eyes against them. The next thing I knew, we were all flying through the air and being tossed all around. I didn’t see who was thrown where.”

  White Bear looked at me specifically and with sorrow in his eyes he tried to approach the subject of Grey Wolf carefully. “Oria, the Ale took possession of Fallyn and escaped into the world of man. Grey Wolf felt there was no time to waste, he couldn’t wait one more second or the Ale could be anywhere in the world. He knew he would forever be one step behind, as the Ale caused total chaos. He didn’t want to leave you Oria, but this is his sister.”

  I knew that, and I would have done the same thing. Tears were blurring my vision again though. It wasn’t because he left without me. It was because this was my fault, and I should have protected my people. The pain in my heart and for the whole world, vibrated through my soul. “Poor Fallyn, this is my fault, I should have been here sooner, I… I should have had the wards in place… I could have prevented all of this. What have I done but make a mess of everything, and now all the worlds are in danger.”

  My mother and father had joined us and she appeared normal again, and determined. I flew into her arms and was grateful for the wonderful and loving embrace, which now wrapped around me. My mother, I had saved her from the Ale. She was alive and normal and so comforting. I just wanted to curl up in her embrace and cry like a child.

  “Oria, this is nobody’s fault, but the Ale. You are the Golden Queen, but you are not alone. We are here to help you my daughter. No one knows better than I, the rage that the Ale is feeling. We will go into the world together and with all our powers, we will destroy this evil.”

  She was no longer possessed and she was giving me the strength I would need, to enter back into the world of man. The strength, I would need to stop the Ale from destroying all worlds.

  Red Thunder came back with Jim, who apparently had been thrown into a nearby tree, and had been unconscious. He was now hugging Kierra and Tim. When I felt I had the strength I needed from my mother, I looked around at everyone. The exception was Fallyn and Grey Wolf, who were sadly missing from our tribe. Everyone was looking to me, for the plan of action we would take.

  Before I could say anything, grandfather spoke up and said there is one thing everyone should know, before we go into the world of man. “Gather around and heed my words, because if there is one thing we have learned, it is that we need all the information we can accumulate, to win against this evil. This is a story that your grandmother should tell. It is more her story. This is something she has not spoken of, in many years.”

  He then looked at grandmother and took her hand in his, as if to give her strength. Nodding at her, he said only these three words. “It is time.”

  Grandmother seemed to be a bit frazzled, as she looked around at each one of us. We waited for what she had to say. I could feel her immediate sorrow, and an ache in her heart, that I had never felt coming from her before. When my mother had been missing for all these years, I never felt my grandmother’s pain. I felt her pain now, and it was heart wrenching. I was thinking, what else could there be? My grandmother was so full of secrets and I never had a clue. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath, and I could see her squeeze grandfather’s hand. “Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong; sometimes though, it's having to let go, so we can live the life, The Great Spirit intended for us.”

  We were all waiting for grandmother to go on, and I watched as my mother went to her and put her arm around her. Grandmother took another deep ragged breath, and I felt as if she were taking her last. “We are all listening mother; you have been here for all of us at one time or other. Whatever it is…you need to lean on us, and give us your burden to share.”

  Grandmother

  “It was back when I was but a young girl, and my brother who was older than I was possessed, like you were Titania. Th
e Ale was but a young one, that we suspected came through to our world by accident. I am sure that is why the Ale torments our world unceasingly to this day. I now believe they look for their own. My brother, a name I have not mentioned in many years, I will now name…Falling Rock.”

  There were gasps from our crowd. We never knew my grandmother had a brother. I certainly had never heard of him. Mother silenced us all and motioned for grandmother to continue.

  “As my family came for the yearly celebration, Falling Rock was possessed by Ale without our knowledge. We entered back into the world of man and shortly after, we discovered what had happened. Immediately there was a forest fire. We discovered the Ale must be young and didn’t know how to use its powers yet. So the fires were small and sporadic. Fires grow quickly in a dry season though. Everyone in Yosemite National Park was evacuated, and we lost them. We have searched all of our lives for him, and there are postings everywhere. We are always in hope that Falling Rock will see the signs. He travels in the spirit of the Ale, but somewhere deep inside; we hope he will be aware enough, to preserve some part of himself. The posts are reminders of his name, so he will not forget who he truly is. You have seen them, since you have all come from areas where there are mountain cliffs. Whether it is on a mountain road, or highway by the seashore, the signs say simply, Falling Rock. There are Dwellers all around the world, which will always search for him. There are reminders for them so they never forget to search. These signs say, “Watch for Falling Rock.”