by Alisha Paige
The three men rode horses to the council site which was located past the falls, deeper into the tribal grounds where the ancient, red canyon walls rose higher, hiding the dipping sun. The wind picked up as they neared their destination. The night canyon came alive when insect sounds mixed with those of the frog and owl.
The temperature dropped twenty degrees and cooled Sean’s hot skin as it tingled in anticipation. Goosebumps covered him from head to toe. He desperately wanted to turn the horse and take off in a full run. He felt like a caged animal and fought the urge to change right then and there. What was this about? Coming Wind and Proud Eagle had muttered maybe two words since they had left. Something was amiss and strange. Very strange.
They reached a clearing near the river’s edge and entered a circle of trees where the moon shone brightly onto the emerald grass blowing in the brisk wind. The three of them were alone in the circle for only a moment. Out of the darkness, the men emerged. There must have been fifty or sixty of them, dressed in full Indian garb, looking like they stepped out of a few centuries ago. Their faces were hidden by war paint while feathers stuck out of their hair like strange birds.
As they circled around the men, the horses stomped nervously. Sean heard a multitude of beads and sticks tinkling on their wardrobes as they closed the space between them without uttering a word. What the hell? Sean kicked his horse. Everything told him to leave. Coming Wind grabbed his reins and uttered a command in Indian to the horse. The horse snorted softly and stood his ground.
Coming Wind spoke to the men in his Indian tongue. Riding his horse around the circle, he chanted in a sing song rhythm. Sean could no longer hear the night noises of the canyon. Even the animals seemed to sense something. The only sound was horse hooves running in a circle as Coming Wind rode for several minutes before coming to a stop next to Sean before dismounting. He instructed Sean and Proud Eagle to dismount. An Indian came forward and collected the horses, guiding them out of the circle, tying them to a nearby tree.
Coming Wind asked Sean to sit. When he sat, the rest of the circle followed. What was this? Some kind of initiation or something? He wished Coming Wind would have told him what to expect. He was getting the creeps. These guys looked spooky all dressed in war paint and feathers in the dark. These Indians sure could put on a good show. He wondered if they did this for other tourists or was he getting the special treatment?
“Sean, I brought you here tonight to thank you,” Coming Wind said, finally speaking English.
“For what?” Sean asked, his voice sounding funny to his own ears.
Coming Wind paused as he circled the men and then stopped again in front of Sean.
“For saving my son.”
A chill ran down Sean’s spine. “What are you talking about?”
“From the bobcat,” Coming Wind pressed.
“A wolf saved your son,” Sean replied, realizing after he said it that Coming Wind must suspect him as the wolf. How could he possibly know? But, Sean knew that he knew. What would they do to him? Cage him? Study him somehow? Force him to change into the wolf?
“I saw you, Sean. Riding back to the lodge that night.”
“So?”
“Thank you.”
Sean stood up, completely unnerved and dying to get back to Paige. Maybe he was having a nightmare again.
“You’re welcome. Look, can I go now? This is getting a little too weird.”
Coming Wind faced Sean and placed his hands on his shoulders as he spoke to him, staring directly into his eyes with a seriousness that moved him to his core.
“Listen carefully, my brother. You are one of us.”
Sean backed away from him. Taking two steps, he scanned the circle, looking for a way out.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Your parents belonged to this tribe. Your father was a full blooded Havasupai.”
“I know my dad was a full blooded Indian, but I don’t even know what tribe he belonged to. My parents died in a car wreck when I was twelve. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, I know and his Indian name was Running Wolf. He defected from this tribe. Your mother hated it here. He did it for her.”
Sean felt like his head was about to explode. What the hell was he talking about? Was this some kind of joke?
“Let me go. Why have you brought me here? What was this meeting about?”
“About you. About the tribe. About our future as a people of the wolf nation.”
Sean was stunned. This guy was nuts. How did he know he was a wolf and did they want to worship him now for saving his son? Was he just a freak show for them? Would they thank their gods and add him to their long list of Indian legends?
“You’re crazy,” Sean said as he jumped over some of the sitting Indians and headed for his horse. His blood ran cold when he heard a horrible growl from behind.
Sean spun around and came face to face with a giant black wolf, growling and snorting, circling him. The horses neighed loudly, pulling at the trees, trying to escape. Sean had no choice. He immediately turned into a gray wolf of equal size.
Even as a wolf he was shocked by the fact that he faced a man-wolf like himself. He circled Coming Wind’s wolf form, growling and sniffing as the other Indians changed into wolves as well. A sea of wolves circled the two largest wolves. Growls vibrated and echoed through the canyon. Sean had never seen so many wolves together.
Coming Wind sat back and howled deeply, signaling the hunt. The wolves, one by one, leaned toward the moon, copying his howl until all fifty wolves howled in unison. It was an incredible sound. The wolves filed by Sean one by one, stopping to kneel at his feet in respect.
He stood tall on his haunches, his proud white chest jutting into the moonlight. For the first time in his life, he felt as though he belonged. He was elated. As the last wolf filed past him, he led the way into the canyon, where he instinctively knew they would find food. Tonight they would feast as brothers and dine as one. His silver tail swished in the moonlight as he jumped over cacti and rocks, taking a shortcut through a small cave and out into the windy night again. The pack followed him on whispery feet, anxious for the kill, ecstatic over their new leader. They knew he would come.
A mile away, high on a canyon cliff, two white men watched with binoculars as the wolves disappeared into the darkness, their howls fading away into the night.
Chapter 5
Corn Flower was showing the women how to braid pieces of leather into a chain pattern when the phone rang.
Paige looked up from her braiding as she listened to Corn Flower’s conversation.
“Yes, of course. She can stay here. I’ll explain it to her.”
Corn Flower paused and nodded her head several times as if the listener could see her. “Please be very careful. We’ll all be praying.”
Most of the women in the room were members of the tribe and in on the lie. They knew how important the coronation of the new alpha male was to the pack.
Corn Flower walked into the living room wearing a serious expression on her face.
“Coming Wind just called. The park ranger has called wanting our help. Two hikers are missing in Havasu Canyon. They were last seen three days ago. Our men got word of the rescue mission before the council meeting and have already started searching.”
The women nodded and began talking amongst themselves, realizing their husbands would not be home tonight.
“Did Sean go with them?” Paige asked, feeling sheepish for asking and knowing Sean would insist on helping.
“I’m afraid so. Sean wants you can stay here tonight. He doesn’t want you to go back to the lodge alone,” Corn Flower explained.
Paige nodded as a small frown formed on her tiny features. She already missed Sean and worried about his safety. She wasn’t too keen on him going on a rescue expedition, deep into the canyon.
“Don’t worry. He’ll be fine. Our men know this canyon like the back of their hands.”
> Corn Flower gave her a little hug and smiled at her as she tucked a stray piece of hair behind Paige’s ear. She looked like a lost little girl. Corn Flower felt sorry for her. Corn Flower knew it must feel odd to be in a stranger’s house, not knowing where or when she will see her man again.
“We’ll make the best of it. Let’s have a girl’s night. I have an extra pair of pajamas. We can bake cookies and stay up late. We can do each other’s nails and watch old romantic movies.”
Paige smiled and lifted her head, sighing deeply. She already felt better. She felt silly for her reaction. She knew Sean was safe and was grateful that Corn Flower had been so gracious, making her feel right at home.
“That sounds great. I guess I just miss him already.”
“Of course you do, dear. That’s normal and anyone can tell how very much in love the two of you are,” Corn Flower said with a wink as the women in the room cooed at the comment.
“Are you two engaged?”
Paige blushed. “Not yet, but I can’t imagine being with anyone else,” she gushed.
Her face lit up as she rattled on about Sean and how wonderful of a man he was.
“He’s everything I’ve ever wanted, though I never knew what I wanted until I met him.”
“Isn’t he a skiing champion?” one of the women asked.
“Yes. He won the gold in the last Winter Olympics,” Paige said proudly.
The women gasped.
“How did you two meet?” Corn Flower asked as she began hot gluing colorful beads onto a belt buckle.
Sadness flashed over Paige’s face at the memory. “He was best friends with my late husband who was also a skier and medaled at the Olympics.”
Corn Flower wished she hadn’t asked. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay. It was a long time ago and Sean and I were very good friends for a long time before we began exploring our relationship. It just sort of happened. We both live on the same mountain in Colorado and he had always looked in on me after Rob’s death.”
“How wonderfully kind of him,” Corn Flower said picking up a bright green bead.
“We came to depend on each other and our relationship grew. Now that I look back on it, I don’t know how I would have survived all of it without him.”
The room grew quiet. Paige realized she must have been making the women uneasy. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to go on.”
“No, no, honey. Don’t you worry. We’re all friends and family here. I’m happy that you want to share with us.”
The women nodded in agreement as all of them continued to work on their chosen crafts.
“How about I put some cookies in the oven?”
“Can I help?”
“Sure, come on. Let me show you the kitchen. I think you’ll find it interesting. Who else wants to stay the night? We can have a slumber party!”
The women cheered. Some of them left to fetch their pajamas and another change of clothes. Corn Flower showed Paige to the kitchen. Paige’s eyes flew open wide at her surprise. The kitchen was totally open to the outdoors.
The side wall was made of thick straw and was raised like a canopy, tied to large wooden stakes. Beneath the canopy, a beautiful bald eagle sat on a tall wooden perch. Flowering cacti of every kind decorated the patio along with various statues of frogs, fairies, and tiny Indian braves. The kitchen sink was actually outdoors with a large square island for cutting and preparing food. Rabbit’s foot ferns hung from each wood post giving the canopy the essence of a secret rain forest. The eagle turned his head and looked at Paige as she walked under the canopy.
“Hello, big guy.”
“That’s America. Proud Eagle rescued him. He had a broken wing. He nursed him back to health. We tried to let him go, but he keeps coming back. We didn’t know what to name him and considered naming him after my husband, but Red Hawk named him America after learning in school that he’s the national bird.”
Paige laughed at the story and thought of little Red Hawk.
“Red Hawk and his cousin are so lucky. I’m so thankful that a wolf scared the bobcat away.”
“Yes, we have really come to respect our friend, the wolf. He has been known to help our people many times. You know, the modern dog descends from the wolf and dogs are so loyal. It’s no wonder that a wolf will also come to a man’s aid.”
“I never thought of that, but it makes sense.”
The two women walked back into the kitchen and began mixing ingredients for chocolate chip cookie dough. Corn Flower tossed in a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Paige began to stir the sweet concoction, tossing the flour, butter and eggs around the bowl.
“I’m so sorry about the incident with my brother, Dark Horse,” Corn Flower said.
She had wanted to apologize to Paige the moment she saw her, but decided to wait until the right moment to approach the subject.
“Don’t be. It was his doing, but thanks for your concern. I’m fine. Thanks again to a wolf.”
Corn Flower wanted so bad to tell Paige their tribal secret and to tell her that her beloved was the new alpha male of the pack, but knew she couldn’t. Coming Wind had told her not to breathe a word. It was Sean that must break the news. No one knew how she would take it. There was only one guarantee. No matter how things settled in the end, Paige would be in shock.
Corn Flower was only ten-years-old when she was told the great secret. Females are only carriers of the gene and only become wolves if bitten. At present there were only three females in the tribe with the ability to change and each of them had their own particular circumstances that forced the change. Her grandmother was the first woman in her lifetime to experience life as a wolf. She had been bitten by a rattle snake and her husband had tried to extract the venom by sucking on her leg. He accidentally bit her leg with his sharp teeth. Corn Flower’s grandfather prepared his wife well for her change and she adapted well. In fact, the hunt brought the two closer than ever. Her grandmother was completely surprised and said she was actually thankful that she had been bitten by a rattler.
“Dark Horse has been a handful since he was born,” Corn Flower explained. “He was an unhappy little boy and extremely jealous of Coming Wind.”
“That’s too bad. You would think that twins would be close,” Paige said.
“You would think. He got worse as he neared his teen years. He began drinking alcohol in secret and before my parents knew it, he was an alcoholic by the time he turned thirteen. They put him in a rehab and thought he was much better when he returned. He seemed better for a couple of years, though he had a couple of relapses. When he was 19, he raped a member of the tribe and was banished. Of course he went to prison first, but was forbidden to return. Ever so often we hear about him and it’s usually bad news.”
“I’m sorry. I know that must be hard.”
“We’ve all learned to live with it and he’s had more than enough chances. We finally gave up on him.”
Paige shook her head, not knowing what else to say as they began spooning globs of cookie dough onto a cookie sheet.
“Do you want me to braid your hair? I’ve been dying to braid it for you. You have such beautiful hair. I can tie beads into them.”
“Do you really think that will look good on me?” Paige asked, unsure of a head full of braids.
“Sean will love it!”
“Why not? It’ll be fun,” Paige replied, now totally at ease with Coming Wind’s sister.
****
Dim sunlight began filtering slowly through the trees as Sean awoke in wolf form, deep within the canyon, surrounded by his sleeping pack. They slept peacefully, lying on their sides to allow their full bellies the most comfortable position. One by one they awoke, sensing their leader was up. They stretched languidly, yawing and extending their claws before standing and shaking the red dirt from their fur.
Coming Wind sat up first, stretching his beautiful black neck to the sky, sniffing the air as he closed his blue eyes. The earth
smelled of ancient clay and rock. He could hear the creek tinkling a mile away and thought of Corn Flower and wondered if all was well at home. He was sure it was. Their plan had been executed carefully. He was relieved that the night was behind them and had been such a success.
Sean yawned and shook to the very tip of his silver tail before leading the pack out of the woods and back to the horses. Upon reaching them, he glanced back at his pack, almost sad to change back into a man. Last night had been exhilarating and glorious. His life was forever changed. He thought of Paige and what it meant for them.
How would he tell her? He shook his large gray head at the thought. He didn’t want to even think of losing her. He would cross that bridge later. Right now he just wanted to get back to her and familiarize himself with manhood again. His experience had yet to sink in and he wanted to give himself ample time to absorb all of it. Coming Wind had expected that, hoping that Sean and Paige would consider staying longer now, though he too had no idea how Paige would take the news or if Sean would even tell her.
He hoped Sean would want to move to Havasu Canyon, but that still remained to be seen. He knew Sean had a life away from the pack, but why couldn’t he have both lives? He could marry Paige and move here, but these were thoughts he hadn’t even shared with Sean yet.
The wolves changed back to men as birds took flight in the trees, startled by all the grunts and growls. They mounted their horses, heading toward the village.
On the way, Coming Wind explained how Paige had spent the night at Corn Flower’s house, assuring Sean that she had been taken very good care of. Sean appreciated the gesture and was angry at himself for not even thinking of her last night during the hunt. How could he have forgotten her? He had been mesmerized and caught up in the moment. She had never entered his mind. Thankfully Coming Wind had had the foresight to take care of things. Sean was torn. He knew without a doubt that he belonged with Paige, but he felt equally possessive now about his pack. He was a natural born leader and needed to guide the other wolves, just as much as they needed him as the alpha male.
