by Sheryl Seal
He also nodded and continued on.
“Shapeshifters are people that can change into certain animals. Everyone has their own personal connection of a spirit animal and they all come with strengths and weaknesses.
Once a person learns all their strengths and how best to use them, then we practice and train daily. It is hard work. When you are ready then you will be able to train other Dwellers. The Dwellers are here to guard the boundaries to the outside world. We keep out the evil that is always trying to get in and cause mayhem.” At this statement, I must admit I flinched. The old man didn’t miss a thing with his sharp green eyes. He took another deep breath and continued as he spooned herbs into the kettle. He then dipped two tin cups into the pot. He handed me one and motioned for me to sip it.
“The training you will undergo is to sharpen your skills. These have been inside you lying dormant until your eighteenth birthday. You have been given these gifts to help you fight against evil. Some people are placed here because they have many other gifts. We are here to learn from them or to find out what they have to offer in our war against evil.
I know you have been told many legends, myths, and stories like all children have in their lives. Many stories told have some truth in them; please keep this in mind as you learn more about this world and the people in it.
Dwellers of Ahwahnee are only a part of the village. The other dogmas that are here you will learn more about as you need too.
There is much evil in the world. Most humans have no idea about us. They watch T.V. and read books. They have no idea how close to the truth so much of it is. There is always some truth hiding in the pages of books or on a television screen.
Evil comes in many forms and can start as simple as a tidal wave and end up as a Tsunami.”
I started to choke on my tea and could not get a breath. Supernaturally, the old man was there slapping me on my back trying to help me catch a breath. When I recovered enough to be able to talk again, I cleared my throat and asked, “Grandmother didn’t tell me about the Dwellers or shapeshifters. She didn’t tell me anything about this place. Why all the secrecy? I could have been better prepared, and she could have been the one to help me. Is my grandmother special also?” I wasn’t sure that I was buying any of this. Of course, it could explain all the weird things in my life and grandmothers. I would listen now with an open mind.
Before he answered me I had noticed that he was clicking his tongue before he spoke. Like he was thinking out loud, then he stopped it and answered.
“Of course my child, who did you think your Grandmother was? You must have noticed something about her that was different after eighteen years. She was once a Dweller herself. She left us to care and raise you. The time came and you needed to come here for training. As for the secrecy, I am sure you can understand the need for that. Most people would not tolerate a thing they do not comprehend. Surely you get that this is something that is not spoken of or about. To do so would break many oaths and could put others at risk. It is much safer until you learn control of the gifts you have been given to be at this facility. Already some of your gifts have shown themselves. We must start your training right away. You need to learn to harness them. Before we all drown, or worse! You will see your grandmother from time to time. She has been preparing you for this your entire life. When you need the knowledge it will be there to draw from. She cannot be here right now and I’m sorry for that. Her attention is required elsewhere.”
While I stared at him dumbfounded, Elsu stood up with the help of a big staff. He smiled kindly and said, “First though, we have a feast and a celebration for all the new Dwellers that have arrived. This will all begin shortly. After you have finished absorbing this information we will begin. You may have this clothing that has been especially made for you. Some of these articles are different than what you are used to. This is what most people wear here. They are said to be more comfortable for the training process. Better than modern jeans or dresses. Most people even continue to wear them long after training is over. I will leave you to change into whichever you prefer. Then you will join everyone at the center of the village. There are many friends to meet and much to learn from each other.”
While I had my eyes on the clothing he disappeared. I was waiting for a chance to ask him how he thought I was responsible for the down pour. I noticed how quiet it had gotten. I looked where he had been and the old man was gone.
All I noticed where he had once stood were some leaves that had fallen off of him, a feather falling gently to the ground, and a faint woodsy smell.
Chapter 7
I was still sitting there a few minutes later stunned. A million questions were going around in my head. I was trying to make some sense of my life and the weird direction it had just taken. How was I supposed to believe all of this? Then again, there was this feather lying on the ground. I picked it up and turned it around and saw that it was brown with black marks on it. Maybe this was a falcon feather.
No old man could have moved so swiftly and quietly unless this was all true. Then of course there was Grandmother. How could she have never said a word about who she really was? Who I was for that matter? I would have to unravel so many times when things didn’t add up in my life. So many stories and legends I would have to go over and find the truths in them.
Weird things often happened in my life. Grandmother always had an explanation. Often times my gut would tell me these things were off.
Like the time I woke up in the middle of the night and thought I had seen a great Grey Wolf in the picture window. I swore to grandmother that there was a big Grey wolf and that it stood there just staring at me with big golden eyes. I ran and got my grandmother and brought her to see it, but it was gone. She talked me into believing I was just sleep-walking. Sometimes I did that. There were no wolves in our neighborhood or the city. In fact I had looked it up on the internet and there haven’t been any gray wolves in California since around 1924. Except for one, and it’s not around here. I had a gut feeling then that something was weird.
There were many other things now that I thought about it that didn’t really add up. There was another time out in the garden. I thought I had seen a couple of deer eating vegetables and snuck out to watch. My grandmother was there weeding, alone. She said on occasion the deer did come down from the hills to taste out of her garden, but today she was the only one here. I had looked around and noticed a big old oak tree to the side of the garden. I never remembered the tree there before. I thought at the time it was odd. The next day that tree was gone. When I asked grandmother about it, she said it was old and rotted and she had the neighbor cut it down. There was nothing there to suggest a tree had ever been there. No stump, no roots, not even a hole in the ground. My instincts told me then something was off. Were these all shapeshifters? Were they friends of my grandmothers? There are also these fast rolling up clouds and sheets of rain and lightning. Was I honestly supposed to believe I had anything to do with that? There has always been strange weather around. I am not in all parts of the world when weather happens. I couldn’t figure that one out. Only Mother Nature controls the weather, right? There was grandmother though. Her name meant Falling rain? Umm, my head was spinning.
Great! More Indian clothing, I actually thought an old worn out pair of jeans, tee-shirt and tennis shoes were more to my liking. I knew I had been wet earlier. I was dried now so I didn’t really see the reason for changing. I picked up the dress made out of tanned leather and tossed it aside. I looked at the pants that were also tanned leather and looked small enough to fit me. There was a pretty Indian tunic with bead work on it. I thought these were pretty cute and looked comfortable. I could give them a try. As I got dressed and put on the moccasins that also fit perfectly, I heard a rustle at the lodge door and then a girl’s voice say, “May I enter Oria?”
“Oh, yes, come on in.” “Hi, my name is Aponi; I’m here to help with whatever it is you might need. Afterwards I will escort you to the celeb
ration.”
“Hi Aponi, guess you already know my name, I don’t think I need any help. I’m dressed and ready to go. I just need to lace up this moccasin.” Then I stood up and looked into the face of a very pretty girl. This girl was about my age. Her eyes were a dark obsidian color. She had brown little freckles splashed across her little button nose. Her hair was in two long black braids. There was a streak of neon pink hanging down on each side framing her face. She was dressed in a tanned leather dress and knee high moccasins. I wondered where I had heard that name before. My mind was still reeling from everything that grandfather had told me. I had many thoughts and memories swimming around in my head.
“Wow! I love your hair! How are you able to do that here?” I sounded like a total idiot. “I mean, I wouldn’t think they would have modern things here.”
“Oh, you will find that it is quite comfortable here and that we have many modern things. Some of the elders just like to keep it simple. That means not many modern conveniences. We’re actually encouraged to be ourselves. It helps bring out our unique qualities. Although, when that downpour hit I thought I was doomed. It’s just a wash out product. I like to change it up. Here, let me help you with your braids. You do one side and I will do the other. How does that sound?”
“That sounds great Aponi. I completely forgot about my hair. I would’ve just waltzed right out of here looking like I have rats in my hair.” Together we laughed. She talked of things to expect tonight. It was get to know the other Dwellers and learn your spirit animal night. There would be lots of food and cakes. We would be put into groups. “They will be small groups. All designed so that we can see what each of the new Dwellers can do. Don’t worry; we’re in the same group. There! We are done and you look beautiful Oria.” “Why thank you Aponi, you look beautiful too!”
By this time I had remembered where I had heard this name. Could she be the girl who had disappeared last year? If so, where was Red Thunder? Was he here too? I kept silent on this until another time.
It was great to find a friend and Aponi was very nice and easy going. It was funny how she talked a hundred miles a minute. I thought we would both be very great friends.
We left the hut arm in arm to join all the other Dwellers of Ahwahnee. It was time to find out what my life had in store for me.
It was scary and exciting all at once. I had a friend already. I had a Grandfather, and of course Grey Wolf. He scared me a little and I wasn’t sure where he fit in yet, especially with all that weirdness earlier with him.
I was ready to get some answers; I mean seriously, what choice did I have? I could hear grandmother in my head.
“Grin and bear it, what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.” So this is me, hoping, “It” doesn’t kill me!
Chapter 8
“This celebration is for our new Dwellers that have arrived, we will train them well. We will help them use their gifts and skills to protect. Now, eat, get to know each other and we will talk more later in the evening!”
This came from a beautiful Japanese woman named Yori. She was very tall and had her raven black hair in an upswept bun. Within a blink of an eye she was gone. I stood there like a statue with disbelief written all over my face. Then, I snapped out of it. I looked around and noticed there were a few others that were shocked also. I was in awe. There was some applause and then everyone broke apart and headed to the tables with food.
No one would starve here; they had everything you could want and then some. I didn’t know where it came from and didn’t care I was famished.
I took a dish made out of what looked like a tree. It was a wood platter. There was real silverware. It was wrapped in soft leather. Then I made my way to the table with the food.
I made a platter with chicken and wild rice and asparagus. I topped it off with a piece of blueberry cobbler on the side. I so could not wait to get started eating. I heard a voice beside me say, “Can a little bit of a thing like you really eat all of that?” I knew that voice before I even turned around. It was a deep slow sexy drawl, with a hint of cockiness to it.
“Well if it isn’t Grey Wolf, I had wondered what became of you.” I had looked for him earlier through the crowd, wondering why I was hoping to see him. Then my hunger got the better of me and I didn’t give him another thought. I turned around not really realizing he was so close and ran right into him with my plate. Yeah, it went all over his chest. I looked up at him. As my face heated up with embarrassment, I noticed he had a mischievous sparkle in his silver eyes. He also had a swaggering grin on his face. I tried to stammer out some sort of apology. “No need to apologize I was invading your space.”
This is what I thought he whispered but I was lost in his eyes that were so familiar. I watched as they turned to a soft golden shade with silver flecks. He just kept on smiling.
Then a strong wind came up and made dust devils all around us. I whirled around and ran away. Once again I was embarrassed in front of him. I didn’t know why I cared. I had never let people get to me before.
I ended up at the waterfall with tears streaming down my face. I was talking to my grandmother like she was right there. “Why didn’t you at least prepare me for what I needed to know? I just want to come home. How can I possibly fit in here? There is nothing so special about me. I’m alone and confused.”
“You are not alone Oria, and you will never be alone again. We are family. You can come to any of us at any time whenever you need to. Give us all a chance. We are all trying to fit in and become what we are supposed to be in this life. It’s easier for some. Most people of all walks of life have trouble fitting in with others. I for one will always be here for you. We will be the best of friends. You will see I can be a very good friend. Now then, dry yours tears, and forget about that silly man. We’re all trying to figure out what the little twisters mean. They just started up out of nowhere. There was no other kind of weather before that.”
“What twisters are you talking about Aponi?” I sniffled and wiped at a tear that ran down my cheek. “There were only a couple of little dust devils when I left and came down here.”
“Yes, and out of nowhere they turned into twisters that tore up the area where Yori had given her speech and then died down just as suddenly.”
“Oh, Aponi, No one got hurt did they?” She said nobody was even touched. It was just mostly dusty. The podium where Yori was standing and giving her speech had been tossed and then it was gone. “It was the oddest thing to be sure.”
Yes it was strange but not the only time peculiar things had happened in my life.
She grabbed my hands and held them tight and looked me in the eyes. “It does get easier Oria, you will see. Once you start learning to use your gifts you and I will have all kinds of fun. Besides, I have already been here since last year, and I remember how alone I felt at first. Except for Red Thunder I was alone too. You will be so busy you will hardly miss anything about your old life. You will have me. Can we go eat now?” “Yes we can go eat now; I don’t have much of an appetite after that incident with Grey Wolf though. He must think I’m such a klutz. I am so embarrassed!” “Why should you be the one to be embarrassed? He was practically standing on top of you when you turned around.” Giggling I said, “I know right? Oh wait, if you saw that then…”
“Yeah, pretty much everyone saw it, sorry. But then there were the twisters. That is what everyone is talking about now. There is always something more to talk about.” She added a little too quickly.
“Well then, let’s get this over with; Grandmother always says, “When defeat is inevitable it is wisest to yield. I’m sure you will keep hounding me until we go back.”
Laughing and feeling much better now. We got our platters of food and sat down and ate a nice meal with no other incidents. And I was glad I had.
There was a lot of talk about the twisters that seem to have been what some called sisters. Why they appeared and vanished so quickly nobody seemed to know. Nothing I heard made anything
clearer to me or to anyone else. I heard some talk of evil and magic. No one seemed to have any answers that made much since. It was all just speculation.
Things were put back in order and the podium where the Elders spoke from was replaced. I think they found it in the woods somewhere. Lucky it didn’t hit anyone when it went flying through the air.
Then Yori came back and addressed us all again.
“Well, that was certainly exciting right? Hopefully there will not be any more excitement until we are all in our groups. Now, on your eighteenth birthday it is important to be in a safe and controlled environment. You need other shapeshifters around. For those of you that need guidance in other ways, we are all here to aid in whatever kind of assistance you may need. You may not be aware of these gifts yet. The Elders will all play a vital part in helping any of you through this change that will from now on be a part of your life. Transformation doesn’t always happen as fast as some will like. Sometimes things don’t always turn out the way they should in the beginning. In the end each of you will find your place in the world. We have five new Dwellers this year so we will all break off into groups of five with a new member in each. Do not expect too much your first time; everyone will not be able to call your inner true nature at first. For some it will just happen and for others gradually. The elder leaders in each group have been specifically assigned to you because of your gifts or what we think they might be. They will help you to achieve your goal.” She paused and I could swear she looked right at me and finished.
“Before there’s another disaster, let’s all get started, and Happy Birthday to all of us.”
Chapter 9
I waited where I was and watched as the old man approached me. He took my hand gently and led me over to a big tree away from all the noise. “Please sit with me granddaughter.” As I sat down on the ground and waited anxiously, grandfather said in a soft voice. “Do not be so worried Oria, you will be fine. We will just sit here until they find us.” I relaxed a little and smiled at this because clearly the old man was in no hurry to get on with this night. He had already leaned back against the tree and closed his eyes like he was napping. I was sitting there on the ground. I was looking up into the night sky at the brilliant stars when a beautiful Golden Eagle flew in front of my line of vision and then landed in front of me. I was just extending my hand towards it when Grey Wolf spoke up from behind me. “Showing off Aponi?” I jumped and right before my eyes, she shifted.