“As I geared up to go into battle with the monster of a guard, the enticing creature, who would later become your grandmother, took my hand in hers. Immediately, I felt calm rush over me. I no longer wanted to hurt the man in front of me. Instead, all I could think about was getting the woman alone so we could talk. I needed to know her name, where she was from, and every other detail of her life.
“Honey, I have been looking for you everywhere. You’re late.” She pouted as the final words fell from her plum stained lips.
“I am sorry to keep you waiting, love. It won’t happen again.”
“I played along so the guards would leave us alone. That’s when your grandmother leaned in and kissed me for the first time.”
“Eeew!” The children always reacted that way when I mentioned any sort of affection between Raven and me. Everyone except my Zoe. She always had this dreamy look that came over her face as if she was able to feel the love I had for their grandmother. My little romantic smiled up at me and urged me to continue.
“How did you feel, grandpa?”
“I felt like the luckiest man in the universe. Of all the humans left in existence, I was the one chosen to be next to her. It felt like the wings of a thousand hummingbirds were fluttering inside of me. I wanted her to do it again just to see what would happen next. Perhaps instead of hummingbirds, I would feel frogs leaping or deer prancing. I didn’t care what would happen as long as she was the one making me feel special like that.
“I wrapped my arm around my ‘wife’ and escorted her up the escalator so we could talk in private without prying ears and eyes on us. As we walked away, I heard one of the guards state how lucky I was that she pulled me away. I wanted to confront him, but your grandmother gripped my arm. From the first moment we met, she was always looking out for my best interest.”
“What do you mean, grandfather?” My grandson Jacob asked.
“It means that she looked out for me to keep me from arguing with those guards. I told you before how large they were. Your grandfather was formidable in his day, but I was no match for five armed guards. No doubt they would have pummeled me. I would have endured it too if it meant I could be close to your grandmother. From the moment our eyes locked, she was my entire world.”
“Raven was very strong willed, insisting I follow her to an isolated table in the little café area on the observation deck. She was nervous as she looked around to ensure we weren’t followed.”
‘Thank you for coming to my rescue, but you really should be more careful. Those things are not very friendly. They would have no problem killing you. They hate our kind.’
‘What do you mean, things?’
She laughed as she looked me in the eye in disbelief.
‘No one told you? Those, so called guards are alien soldiers. They are covered from head to toe in order to hide their scaly pink skin. They were sent here to ensure a smooth transition to the Planet of the Seven Moons, but they hate humans. They are only here because they are being forced to do so.’
‘What? How do you know any of this?’
‘My brother was a part of the Space Force. Everyone thought it was a big joke when it was first announced. However, it was really a group of elite soldiers sent into space to take over planets in order to make room for humans to live. We are the last part of that takeover plan. We ruined our own planet and then traveled lightyears to another planet that was similar to ours. The original inhabitants are worried we are set to repeat history in their home.’
‘If I didn’t know the nature of mankind, I would dispute your tale, but I can’t. It is how we operate. However, there is a hole in your theory. The climate on Earth changed during the pandemic. We saw things shift where normal citizens were getting along with people who would otherwise be considered their enemy. How do you explain that?’
‘Yes, of course you saw the changes take place in everyday citizens because of necessity. The political leaders, however, never missed a beat. How else would you explain being on this transportation ship headed to a new planet to start a new life? We are doomed to the same fate as before unless we can figure a way to combat the greedy and destructive nature of man.’
‘Can I have my breakfast first?’
“That, children, was when I heard the most wonderful sound in the world. Your grandmother’s laugh was hearty and full of life. Her face lit up causing her eyes to shine. My heart stopped for just a second as I watched her. I didn’t know it at the time, but that would be one of the things I missed about her the most. She exuded joy. I was compelled to reach out and hold her hand. When she didn’t pull away, I took advantage and held onto her for an extended period of time. To anyone watching us, it would look like a loving couple having a chat. As a matter of fact, it felt like we were that loving couple. I remember feeling like I never wanted to know what it felt without her warmth and beauty to keep me company.”
‘So how do we do this married thing? I don’t even know your name.’
She was right. I felt myself blushing. Here I was falling head over heels for a woman and didn’t even know her name, her favorite color, her favorite flower, food, the list went on and on. It was something that needed to be rectified immediately. We would need to know intimate details about each other in order to appear married.
‘Well, that can easily be fixed. My name is Joseph Nev and I am a proud member of the Navajo Nation. I am the only child to my parents who went to live in the sky when I was a child. I was raised by my uncles and aunts of the community. My chosen profession on Earth was meteorology. Now that we will be traveling to a whole other planet, I will need to re-educate myself. What about you, Mrs. Nev? What is your real name and anything else you would like to share with me?’
‘My name is Raven Zoe Dodge. I was born and raised in a small town in North Carolina called Goldsboro, where I grew up with my older brother Bobby and my parents Linda and Sam. My family lived on a small farm on the outskirts of town where we raised tobacco. My mother had a very lucrative side business growing vegetables and spices.’
‘Wow, those skills will come in handy on the new planet, once you are able to study the soil to see if it is fertile. But looking at you, I couldn’t tell that you liked to get your hands dirty. You seem so polished and well put together.’
‘Just because I toil in the dirt doesn’t mean I can’t clean up well. Would you prefer I was wearing a pair of dusty overalls and boots?’
‘I am sure you would be just as beautiful.’
“My words made her blush. There was a slight change in the hue of her skin, and she grinned uncontrollably. My attempt at flirting was working. She was very receptive.”
‘Thank you, Joseph. So tell me something random about yourself. What is your favorite color?’
‘My favorite color used to be blue, but after seeing you in this dress, I have decided to change it to white.’
Chapter Three
“The next twelve days Raven and I spent twenty-four hours a day falling in love. We learned more about each other than either of us would have liked so soon in our relationship. The funny thing about it was we both felt so at home with each other. By the time we arrived on the space station, we were finishing each other’s sentences and acting like an old married couple. We shared the same living quarters and became quite close in this time.
“As we arrived on Space Station number 12, we were processed by the official who happened to notice the absence of paperwork proving that our marriage was legitimate. We, of course, had no such paperwork. All her identification still had her listed as Raven Dodge.
‘Miss, our records show that you are single, no husband. We will not be able to allow you entry into the station.’
Raven turned to me for help and I stepped right in.
‘I am not sure why your records still show my wife as single. I can assure you she is not. We were married recently, so maybe the paperwork hasn’t had a chance to process.’
�
��I am sorry Mr. Nev, there is no record of a marriage license, nor is there an official filing from an officiant stating they performed the ceremony.”
‘Well, how can we rectify this. I can not allow you to return my wife to Earth to die. We need to get this taken care of now.”
The woman processing the paperwork paused and looked at us. She could see the love we had for each other. She smiled and then nodded her head.
‘I’ll tell you what, if you are willing to have another ceremony right here, then I will have no choice but to process you and allow you entry.’
Raven was taken aback. She almost blew our cover because she was thinking about the fact that this would be our real wedding, not just some made-up ceremony for the record. I took your grandmother by the hand and looked deep into her eyes.
“Raven, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, right here, right now?”
She giggled and smiled and then nodded her head. The only ring I had was the one I wore around my neck. It had been my mother’s before she passed on and now it would be my Raven’s. I removed the diamonds shaped turquoise ring from around my neck and lowered myself to the ground on one knee, offering it to her. Raven stuck her hand out and smiled at me as I placed it on her ring finger on her left hand. I stood and kissed her with so much passion I almost forgot where we were and who was watching. The official behind the table giggled before clearing her throat.
‘If I didn’t know any better, I would think this was the first time he proposed. You two are so sweet. Come on over here and let’s make this official so we can get you settled into your residence for the next few months.’
‘Wait, just one minute please. Do you have somewhere I can change. I want to look nice for my husband. If we are going to do this, it needs to be right.’
‘Of course, follow me. Sir, you stay right here. If you move, the guards will arrest you.’
I watched as my beautiful woman followed the lady into a building dragging her suitcase along. It seemed like forever, but it was probably only ten minutes or so that Raven returned to me looking like an angel fallen from heaven. She was wearing my favorite white dress. Her cloud of black hair was adorned with white flowers and her makeup was flawless. She once again used white eyeliner to highlight her eyes and a plum lip color stained her smiling mouth.
“Forty-seven years ago, I said my vows to the love of my life against the setting sun and the rising orange moon. It was the best day of my life. After the ceremony and paperwork, we were granted access to a small cabin of a house where we shared the bed together for the first time. While on the transportation vessel, we maintained our distance with me sleeping on the couch and your grandmother in the bed. Now that she was my wife, it was time for us to be intimate. I won’t go into details for obvious reasons, but I will tell you this funny part.
“I went to finally run my fingers through that fluffy cloud of hair only to have it come off in my hands. I was so shocked I tossed it across the room.”
“Grandfather, that is the funniest thing ever. Tell us why she was wearing a wig.”
“Right, Zoe. My Raven laughed and laughed as she made her way into the bathroom of our temporary home…”
‘Oh my goodness, you should have seen your face! That was worth allowing my new husband to see me without my wig on our wedding night. Come in here while I let my hair down. Now that you are my husband, I can trust you with my secret.”
“I sat on the edge of the bathtub and watched as my beautiful new wife unwrapped her hair. Under the wig cap was an intricate pattern of braided hair. It was beautifully done in patterns I had never seen before. Not that I was a black hair care expert. I was fascinated as she revealed her secret along with her real hair. It was just as big and puffy as the wig. I was mesmerized as she worked her fingers, unraveling each braid. Then I noticed her removing something from her hair as she went along. Every few inches, she would take out what appeared to be small sacks. I was intrigued to say the least. She looked at me through the reflection in the mirror and smiled as she held up one of the sacks.”
‘This is something my family learned from our ancestors. When they were forced onto boats to sail to the Americas, to keep a piece of their homeland with them and to ensure there was sustenance, they would braid rice or wheat into their hair. In modern days, my family decided it was something I should try since I would be going to a new planet. Instead of putting the seeds onto my actual scalp I placed them in small pouches and hid the pouches within my braids. There are seeds for several kinds of fruits and vegetables, as well as rice and wheat. I also have various spices.’
‘What happens if you get caught?’
‘It’s not as if it is contraband. No one said I couldn’t bring seeds with me. I just made sure they did not confiscate them for their own personal use. When we arrive at our permanent home, I will plant us a garden so we can eat. Did you notice they did not bring any farm animals for us to use as meat? Everyone will be required to go either vegan or vegetarian. We will have a head start. From the crops we grow, we can share with our community. Maybe open a general store. At any rate, we will be ahead of the game.’
“Your grandmother was a very smart lady. She was right about everything. When we arrived on our new home several months later, we were ahead of the game. No one else had thought to bring seeds to start gardens. Our harvest was plentiful, and we were able to not just feed ourselves, but we helped to feed the entire community either by helping them start their own gardens or by selling them food. Her idea for a store came in handy as she was pregnant with your father when we landed on the Planet of the Seven Moons. If not for her genius, we may have starved.”
“Grandfather, how did Grandmother Raven know she needed the seeds?”
“It was passed down to her from her mother, who got it from her mother all the way back in her bloodline. Just like I passed on to you the stories of our lives, it will be up to you to relay that to your children, as well as your nieces and nephews. Zoe, run into the house and go to my dresser. In the top drawer is your grandmother’s book. Bring it to me.”
As my little one ran inside, her brothers and sisters buzzed with excitement. They had all heard about the book, but I had never shown it to them for fear they would damage it. Now was the time. If I didn’t give it to them now, they would never know. My time was drawing near. I could feel it pulling at me. I needed to do one last thing before making my journey. As Zoe bound back onto the patio, I held out my hand for the treasured book.
“Children, this book was your grandmothers. It contains secrets from her family’s way of growing plants, how to use them for medicinal purposes and how to live an honest life. It also has, in great detail, the history of her family before we came here to this planet. It is a part of who you are. I have gifted Zoe with the stories of your Navajo heritage, and now you shall have your African heritage. Guard this book with your lives. I am entrusting it to you, Riley, since you are the eldest grandchild.”
“Why are you giving it to us now?”
“It is time, Riley. It is time. I want you all to know how much I love you. Always remember family is the most important gift you can receive. Treasure each other and treat each other with kindness. When the time comes, look to the sky, and know you will never be alone. Your grandmother and I will be watching over you.”
“Grandfather tell us another story about how our father was born. Grandfather? GRANDFATHER?”
Epilogue
“Joseph Nev was a simple man. A man who longed for the love of his life. He joined my grandmother in the great heavens in the Year of the Orange Moon 2082, finally reunited with the beautiful Raven. Together they will watch over our family throughout eternity. Come little Joey, let me tell you all about how great a man your great grandfather was and how he loved a woman so much that it transcended death. Their love story is your history. It is your heritage and you must learn these stories so when I am gone to the great unknown, you will know where yo
u came from and the people who loved you before you were born.”
“Mother, please tell me the story of how great grandfather and great grandmother met. How did they find each other on the transportation vessel? How did he know she was the one he was looking for? I have so many questions.”
“Don’t worry son. I will tell you all about Joseph and Raven Nev and the love story to beat all time. Before we sit down in front of the fire, I want you to point them out to me in the sky.”
My son looked into the purple haze of the setting sun. We were in the year of the Blue Moon now, but no matter what moon was visible on this planet, our ancestors were there in the sky watching over us. Keeping us safe and ensuring that we never gave up hope for the future. Love was the one thing that could transcend time, space and even death.
“There! That big glittering star right there is Great Grandfather Joseph! The sparkly one next to him is Great Grandmother Raven. Look Mama, they are happy. There is a shooting star trailing behind them.”
A shooting star indeed. Legend has it that anytime there was a shooting star, Grandfather Joseph was kissing Grandmother Raven. There had been at least one shooting star every night for the last fifteen years. Ever since Grandfather made his journey to the sky.
About the Author
Bestselling author, L. Loren created her own brand of erotic romance that she dubbed LoveRotica - Love stories with an edge of sexy. Her catalog of sexy stories is self-published and available.
The Warrior’s Whisper
By
S.E. Smith
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my husband Steve for believing in me and being proud enough of me to give me the courage to follow my dream. I would also like to give a special thank you to my sister and best friend, Linda, who not only encouraged me to write, but who also read the manuscript. Also, to my other friends who believe in me: Julie, Jackie, Christel, Sally, Jolanda, Lisa, Laurelle, Debbie, and Narelle. The girls that keep me going!
The Glittering World Anthology: Native American Romance Paranormal Fantasy Page 23