Hidden Moon

by K. R. Thompson

  The huge, hairy mass that hadn’t moved an inch since it had stood up and made its presence known.

  “Sasquatch. Hello, friend,” Adam’s voice was soft and lulling as he switched into his native tongue. I relaxed just a little, knowing Adam would know what to do. But then, I remembered the episode with the bear. He had gotten his chest clawed open that time. What would Bigfoot do to him? I bit my lip, and got nervous all over again.

  A low humming sound answered him that sounded almost like a purr intermixed with periodic clicking sounds. The Sasquatch straightened, standing to its full height. It was bigger than eight foot now. I fidgeted next to Adam. It stared at us a moment longer, still humming and clicking. It looked at us one final time and snorted, as if thinking we were the oddity instead of itself, then turned and walked off through the trees. Its enormous steps not making a single sound as it made its way through the dried, dead leaves like an enormous, hairy ghost.

  “They don’t come this close. They usually avoid human contact. But this one was curious, he wanted to see what you were since you were with me,” Adam smiled. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes, I’m fine,” I said, turning his hand loose. I watched as he flexed his hand to get the circulation moving again. “I thought they were only myths.”

  “Every myth has some basis in truth,” he explained, “and you as you can see, he was very real. They are very shy creatures. He never would have come so close to you if he hadn’t known you were with me. That’s one reason they are thought only a myth or a legend, very few people ever see them.”

  “You told me before that there were things in the forest I wouldn’t understand. Is he dangerous?”

  “No, they have never attacked anyone and are strictly vegetarian. They’re docile creatures and don’t like conflict of any kind. Like I said, they tend to avoid all contact, even with us. They know we are the Keepers and that we would never hurt them, but they still keep their distance. I’m surprised that he came that close.”

  “So the library has a Spriteblood. What else does this forest have? Just werewolves and Bigfoot?”

  “Wherever there is life, there is magic. So many people just don’t see it. They look, but they don’t see. Every tree and every animal are full of life and magic. It’s not just in this forest, but in everything, everywhere. The trick is to teach yourself to see, like you did with the Sasquatch. When you learn to see, you’ll find things you would have thought were only in your dreams.” His amber eyes were warm, their onyx specks pulsed lightly as his wolf came just below their surface to stare out at me and prove that he, too, knew of the world’s magic.

  “Show me something else,” I said, excited with my new-found knowledge.

  Adam laughed. “We have to get going. We’re going to be late, and I don’t want to explain to your mother the reason why I kept you out was to show you how to see wood nymphs and fairies. She might think I’m on something and not let me come back to you.”

  “It doesn’t matter, no one can keep me from you,” I whispered, “I’m yours, remember?”

  “I know,” he whispered, leaning his head down to brush a chaste kiss against my brow, “and I belong to you. But it’s time for us to go.” A dark fog flowed down his body and the black wolf watched me with big golden eyes.

  Sitting atop his back, I stared at the trees and the underbrush and tried to learn how to see something I hadn’t seen before. Adam seemed to pick up on what I was trying to do, and kept his thoughts silent as he padded along the forest floor. I closed my eyes for a few seconds and breathed in slow, deep breaths, willing myself to relax.

  I opened my eyes and focused on different things, a leaf here, a flower there. I took in deep breaths of the forest. I saw a slight flicker on a branch as we went by and turned my attention to it.

  It was just a butterfly, I thought, as I got ready to turn my head back. But then I stopped, and looked again. A pair of powder blue wings fluttered next to a clump of leaves. A tiny pair of hands clasped the edge of a large, round leaf while a small head with curly brown hair watched us with big, curious eyes.

  TWELVE

  ADAM TOOK MY hand and half-dragged me down the dirt road. “It won’t be bad, Jenna has already told them you are the new Seer, so they already know. Trust me, everything is going to be fine.”

  I cringed. “That didn’t help. Are you sure we have to do this today? Can’t we do this later? Like next year, maybe?”

  “No,” he laughed, “If we get this over now, then there isn’t anything to worry about later, right?”

  “I guess,” I grumbled.

  The last thing I wanted was to go meet the elders of the tribe. Now or ever. These guys were the ones in charge. The Keepers watched over the forest, but the elders watched over the Keepers. Everybody had a boss. And if Adam and the others had given me more than my mind could fathom at the time, what were the elders going to do to me?

  I had one last try.

  “If they already know about me, then what’s the use of going? We’re just wasting their time.” I gave him my most convincing smile.

  “We’re not wasting time. This is very important. You have a test to pass to prove you are the new Seer. The entire tribe will be there for this. It affects us all.”

  I stopped dead in my tracks, while Adam kept pulling on my arm.

  “A test in front of the whole tribe?” my voice came out in a squeak.

  He stopped and took my face in his hands. “Do you trust me?”

  I managed a slight nod.

  “Then believe when I say everything will be okay. You are mine. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. They are people the same way that you and I are, and soon they will be your people, too. You have nothing to prove, you are the new Seer. It’s nothing that you can fake, so there is nothing to fear. Just be yourself.”

  “Okay,” I closed my eyes as he leaned forward to kiss my forehead.

  The sounds of laughter came from the circle around the campfire. Erik appeared to be trying to start a fire. His tanned face was scrunched in concentration as he blew on the kindling, trying to coax a flame to life.

  “How long has he been at it this time?” Adam asked Ed as we came to the edge of the circle.

  “Awhile. It’s a good thing he doesn’t show the school kids how our ancestors built a fire. They would have to bring sleeping bags and spend the week with him.” Ed grinned.

  “I’ve almost got it. Honestly. I swear there’s a little flame in there just waiting to come out.” Erik looked at the little pile of sticks.

  “I’ll show you a secret,” Ed offered.

  “Sure. What is it? I’m open for suggestions.” Erik flopped down on the ground.

  “Secret white man trick,” Ed said as he took out a lighter, and set the little pile of sticks ablaze.

  “But this is a tribal meeting. Shouldn’t we be building the fire in the old way?” Erik protested as he got up from the ground.

  “Only if Nikki wants to spend all night here and wait for you to improve your fire building skills. Trust me, son, the lighter is fine.” A tall man with Erik’s big grin walked up and clapped him on the shoulder.

  Jenna came up behind the man and linked her arm through his. “Hello, Nikki. How are you this evening?”

  “Well, okay. No, I don’t think I’m okay at all.” Panic flared up in me again.

  “You’re going to be just fine, you’ll see. Nothing to worry about at all,” she smiled.

  “I promise we won’t eat you or anything.” The man’s eyes sparkled with humor as he put out his hand. “I’m Luke White Hawk, Erik’s dad.”

  I shook the offered hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “So how is the Wrangler working out for you?” he asked, switching tactfully to another subject.

  “It’s great. I love it,” I smiled.

  More people drifted in. I squeezed closer to Adam’s side as I watched them come in and take their places around the campfire. Everyone was at ease, talking and chatti
ng with one another. Tommy and Michael came in with their parents and I saw why they looked so similar. Tommy’s mom and Michael’s dad were twins.

  “I’ve found where they got their dimples.”

  “Yeah, Debbie and Donnie Tallman are twins. Tommy’s dad, Thomas, is standing behind him, everyone seems to get named after each other around here.”

  “That’s cool,” I murmured watching more people come in.

  “There comes Dad and Grandpa.” He nodded toward two tall figures on the far side of the crowd.

  “Evan and Evan Black Water,” I said, remembering my search of the phone book.

  He laughed, “Yeah, I’m glad they didn’t name me Evan Black Water, the third. I would be like Ed, trying to figure out when to change my name.”

  An old man took his place at the circle. His long salt and pepper hair was pulled back in a tight braid that ran a thick rope down his back. His lined face was serious and contemplative as he sat staring into the flames. As if he felt me watching, his sharp, dark eyes pierced into mine through the fire. I jumped when someone on the other side of me cleared his throat.

  “Hello, Miss Harmon,” Adam’s father smiled down at me.

  I nodded. “Hello.”

  “I’m Sheriff Black Water, Adam’s dad,” he said, still smiling.

  “Yes, sir, it’s nice to meet you.” I put out my hand.

  A warm, sure grip enveloped my hand. “Likewise. I hear you are the one to thank for Adam’s progress in English class, so I thought I would come over and say thank you.”

  Not to mention that I have been very curious to see who my son has been keeping such close tabs on.

  Focus, Nikki, I chided myself, this is not the time to pry into any Keeper or former Keeper’s thoughts. Pull yourself together.

  “You’re welcome, but he did most of it by himself. I didn’t help that much.” I shrugged and smiled up at him.

  “Thank you just the same.” He nodded at me and turned to Ed who had wandered closer to us. “Where are Barry and Marianne?”

  “Mom should be here any second. She was cleaning up some paintbrushes when I left the house. She said Dad called. He had some loose ends at the office he had to tie up, but he’s on his way.”

  “Everyone will be here once they arrive. I’ll let him know.” The sheriff nodded towards the serious face of the old man at the fire. He had never stopped watching me. “He’ll want to get started soon.”

  He crossed over to the other side of the fire to kneel at the older man’s side. A car door shut a few seconds later, and a man in a business suit appeared and walked toward us.

  “They’re all here now. It’s time.” Adam took my hand and drew me to two empty seats near the fire.

  I tried to keep my face looking as calm as I could in spite of my heart that tried to beat its way out of my chest. There were so many people. No one had paid any attention as we took our seats. For a few seconds, I was expecting someone to offer marshmallows and hot dogs to roast. It was as if they had these kinds of meetings all the time. I started to relax, when the old man raised his right hand and the group hushed.

  “We are the children of the wolf. Generation after generation we have come, one following the next. So it has been for many years. We have been the Keepers of the forest, the protectors of Mother Earth,” his voice was calm and sure, strong in spite of age. “Elders of the people join me.”

  Luke White Hawk, Barry Young Eagle, Donnie Tallman, Thomas Greene, and another man I hadn’t met, took their places on either side of him. Everyone seemed to be at ease except the last man. Something just didn’t feel right with that one, I thought, watching him.

  “Since the first of the Keepers came, there has always been one to See. Just as the Keepers watch over the forest, so the Seer would watch over us, to warn and protect us. Will the Seer join us?”

  Wondering if this was my cue to stand, I looked over at Adam. He set his hand on my leg as if telling me not to move. Apparently, this wasn’t my turn. I bit my lip and looked back over to the old man. Jenna White Hawk came to stand opposite the elders.

  She spoke in a clear, soft voice, “Seer I have been, but one comes to take my place. I have seen her visions and she is true. Her sight is stronger than my own. My sight fades as hers grows clearer. I ask the elders to let her join them now in my stead.”

  Voices muttered around us. This must not have been common knowledge. My stomach started turning cartwheels as I saw several heads turn to look in Hannah’s direction. Hannah stared at me with some kind of look that was a cross between contempt and someone who just sucked on an entire lemon. Well, no help was coming from that direction. I wanted to find a way to melt into Adam and become invisible.

  “Please bring forth the one who is to take your place,” the old man said.

  Jenna walked over to me and put out her hand. “Come on, Nikki.”

  Adam patted my leg as I took her hand and stood. Sure that I was going to fall or trip since my knees seemed to be knocking together, I gripped Jenna’s hand like a lifeline as she led me towards them. Everyone seemed to be talking at once now, and I felt as if I was being led through a gauntlet, waiting for the first blow. Each step seemed to take longer, as if I were moving through a huge bowl of Jell-o. I didn’t think we’d ever make it to the other side of the fire. Somehow we made it and the old man raised his hand again. Everyone quieted.

  “Who are you, child?” The question caught me off-guard.

  I caught myself before I just said my name. “I am she who Sees.”

  His dark, sharp eyes twinkled, as if he was pleased with my answer, and I loosened my death grip on Jenna.

  “It is time for you to prove your gift if you are she. We must all be in agreement for you to be accepted into our people. To each elder, you must prove your sight. Show us that you are whom you say,” he nodded to those on his right.

  Feeling more certain of myself, I walked to the closest elder, who was Luke White Hawk. He smiled and I took a deep breath and concentrated on him. I let my breath out and tuned out the rest of the group, focusing as Jenna had taught me to do.

  I sat in the recliner watching the football game, hoping the 49ers would score the winning touchdown. They did. The phone rang. My assistant from the shop was on the other end. He sounded out of breath and frantic. His wife had gone into labor.

  “Greg’s wife went into labor and the 49ers won the game. You have to call and check on Greg later. You’re thinking he will be the one needing the hospital more than his wife,” I smiled. This was going to be simpler than I had thought.

  He grinned at me. “You’re in, Nikki.”

  I sidestepped over to Barry Young Eagle, who looked preoccupied. I took another deep breath. He noticed me and smiled politely, “Hello.”

  “Hello,” I nodded, and focused in on him.

  This case is impossible. I can’t focus on something for her to see. I can’t focus on anything. Edmund Rodriguez is as guilty as hell. His wife just won’t admit that he beats her. Too bad they aren’t in this tribe, we’d take care of him ourselves. Oh well, I’ll just have to keep trying. Shoot. I forgot to get milk. Marianne is going to kill me.

  I grinned at him. “Edmund Rodriguez beats his wife and she won’t admit it. You think it’s an impossible case—and you forgot the milk.”

  “He always forgets it.” A woman with paint splatters on her t-shirt shook her head in Ed’s familiar, sophisticated way.

  Barry Young Eagle gave his wife a sheepish grin. “Sorry, Marianne. I’ll go back out later.”

  Two down, four to go, I stepped over to Michael’s dad.

  Hmm, I need to think of something better than Barry did. Let’s see. Debbie has the most beautiful smile in the world. It’s as if the sun shines just for her when she laughs. She is the only woman I will ever love.

  “You thought of your wife. You think she has the most beautiful smile in the world and you wonder if you ever told her that before.”

  “I should have thought
of something else so I could have told her myself. Good job, Nikki,” Donnie Greene smiled.

  His brother-in-law sat next to him. He smiled and a familiar dimple dented his cheek. “It’s too bad he didn’t tell me about my smile, I could have reminded him to tell Debbie.”

  Let’s see if you can remember this, Nikki…

  “You harvested five bushels of corn today, two of cucumbers, four of peppers. Tomorrow you plan on starting tomatoes, radishes and carrots,” I recited.

  “Good sight and good memory. Welcome to the tribe.”

  I stepped in front of Adam’s grandfather, and looked into his wrinkled face. Poker face, I thought. He wasn’t going to let me see anything easily. I was going to have to work for it. He had put his hand in his pocket and held something I couldn’t see as he sat watching me, waiting with that careful, blank stare it seemed the whole tribe had.

  The Wolf stood before the elders, making his covenant with them, promising them protection as he clawed a small stone. The stone had been handed down for generations, from one down to the next. Used ceremony after ceremony, its presence had been expected and revered. To be the Keeper of the stone was a privilege, an honor. It was a reminder of the past…a promise for the future.

  “Wa-ya nv-yu. The Wolf’s Stone,” I whispered.

  An eternity passed, then the old man moved to take his hand out of the pocket. A round stone, smooth from generations of handling, lay in his palm. Giant slashes were scraped across it, a testament to what had been, and the Wolf of long ago. Low murmurs ran through the crowd as everyone stared at the stone and then at me.

  “You are she,” he nodded.

  I let go of the breath I had been holding. I knew that they all had to agree, but for some reason, this man’s acknowledgement meant more than the others. There was only one more to go. I stepped in front the last man and froze. The uneasy feeling I had earlier was back and it was stronger than ever. Panic surged through every nerve ending in my body.

  There was a small shock of silver hair at his left temple, though the rest was dark. As I watched, he gathered his hair back and tied it in a ponytail at the base of his neck. It was a quick, efficient manner of one who had done it for years. His eyes locked into mine and I froze. Something animal lurked behind those black eyes. It watched me as if I was prey and he was waiting for me to run so he could give chase. I struggled to take deep breaths. So this was the final of the six Keepers, the only one who hadn’t passed his gift on. He was staring at me as if I were food. I fought an irresistible urge to shake all over.