Dwellers of Ahwahnee (The Beyond Collection)

by Sheryl Seal

  He paused as we all looked at him and then at one another. He continued on with the plan for the day. “Fire Walker, go back to the village for now, a messenger will be coming with some news. I cannot tell what that news will be, but I need to wait here while Brave Eagle investigates the border surrounding Bower’s Cave. This is the only border that we haven’t been able to cross through. Oria has doubled the wards here and only Spirit Walker can release the spells your mother has in place.”

  “Yes grandfather, I will return with news from the messenger soon.” In a showy blast of wind, Fire Walker was in the air and heading away from us.

  Watching as he faded from our sight, I turned to grandfather who was eyeing both Brave Eagle and me with what looked like a satisfied grin on his face.

  “What is it now grandfather?” I asked him curiously.

  “Umm… Oh, nothing my dear just… thinking of the future.” Without elaborating any further, grandfather asked that we walk with him to the edge of the forest. I knew this was where the wards were placed to one entrance where Bower’s Cave was located. It also leads into The World of Man and is a place totally forbidden to go.

  Not that this ever stopped me, but the stories of evil and the feeling that went up my spine whenever I neared this place, was enough to keep me from sneaking into the World of Man from this border. I wasn’t even sure if I used this entrance if I would end up in The World of Man.

  Standing here now, the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end. The evil pulsated from beyond the wards. Brave Eagle was ready though, and now they were just all waiting on me to take down the wards.

  Closing my eyes and calling on my inner magic, I could feel the spell my mother had used to reinforce the wards. They were strong and only the magic of another Golden Queen could lower and reverse the wards.

  Waving my hands and with sparks of fire that flew all around the ward, the first one lowered and then the second one wavered and fell in silver sparkling fairy dust at our feet. At that moment, I felt sick to my stomach as the rancid smell wafted out and encircled me.

  Evil from the depths of hell came to mind. With it came another aroma that I was familiar with and I knew then, this is where my parents were being held.

  Taking a step forward, I was about to plunge headfirst without even thinking about the consequences, when grandfather grabbed my arm and held on tightly. “No granddaughter! You cannot go in. Brave Eagle will penetrate the cave and find out the particulars of the situation for us. Then we will make a plan.”

  He gripped me hard and I knew I could not take him with me. He also knew that I wouldn’t and so he clung on tightly to me.

  “What will Brave Eagle do that I cannot grandfather? He does not have the power to bring them home. Mother and father are there, I can feel their presence and their torture. I have the power to do what I must to bring them home.”

  “You do not know the power of this thing that dwells in the depths. Brave Eagle will scout it out for us in a discreet matter and then we will know what needs to be done.”

  Seeing my hesitation, he continued to try to sway me. “Know well what leads you forward and what will hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.” Shrewd and knowing me very well, grandfather snickered, then coughed to cover up his snort as he cleared his throat and waited for my decision.

  “The best thing for all concerned is to let Brave Eagle go and see what we are up against, we do not need all of us trapped in the unknown where clearly our powers are no use, or my parents would not still be there. However grandfather, I do not like the fact that you used the words of Budda against me.”

  Cackling at my statement he nodded his head in understanding of my admonishment. Then he turned to Brave Eagle and spoke words that were just for him. “Brave Eagle it is time for you to go, heed my words son, we would not want you to be lost to us. The tribe’s safety depends on you coming back with information we can use.”

  “I will be fine grandfather, do not worry about me, I will find them and I bring them back.”

  “No Brave Eagle, you also cannot do this alone, you are to get all the information you can and come back through safely. You must be quick; we can only keep the wards open for a while without danger to the rest of us. Remember Brave Eagle, whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process, he does not become a monster. If you gaze long enough into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. Take care and go now.”

  After looking back at me and smiling, he winked once more at me, morphed down into a puddle of water and seeped his way through the ground and was gone.

  Humankind has not woven the web of life.

  We are but one thread within it.

  Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

  All things are bound together.

  All things connect.

  Chief Seattle, 1854

  Chapter 15

  Grandfather and I were silent for the moment and stared at the ground where Brave Eagle had disappeared. Then grandfather reached into his raggedy robe and handed me the journal that he had been carrying.

  I recognized it as being my mother’s journal and grandfather said it was time for me to read more of mother’s words. “I will guard the border and wait my dear; you go over to the waterfall and sit and read. I will alert you if there is a need.”

  Knowing that the words my mother wrote for me, always came when there was a need for them; I obediently took the book and held it close for a moment. I shoved the journal into my pack that hangs across my shoulder and carries my medicine bag and other items.

  Turning away from grandfather, I shifted and flew over to the Hetch Hetchy Lake, which Wapama Falls flows into. I went and sat over by the two yellow pines that stood like sentinels by the lake.

  Hetch Hetchy means Valley of the two Trees and this is the Beyond so everything is like the old days and untouched by manmade devices. There is no dam in the Beyond like there is in the outside world or was before the world was destroyed.

  Mother had told us many stories of manufactured things though. So I had a pretty good picture of how man was well on their way of destroying the world themselves.

  There are many trees of incense-cedar, Gray pine and California black oak. There are red barked manzanitas that surround the mountain areas and smell wonderful, along with the meadows that are full of wildflowers like lupine, wallflower, monkey flower and buttercup. The surrounding forests are alive with Ponderosa pine, Douglas and Silver fir, and black oaks.

  This is the perfect place to live and with everyone gone to the other village, I would not be interrupted while I sat and read my mother’s journal. I like the feel of the breeze blowing through my toes so I unlaced and took off my moccasins.

  I took the journal out of my pack and opening the book I spoke the words ‘Bowers Cave’. I watched as mothers handwriting magically appeared on the pages.

  Once again, I could feel my mother’s thoughts as she penned the words she hoped would help me become a true Golden Queen, fully capable of leading the Dwellers of Ahwahnee.

  I knew this was the moment that would define my life and help me lead the village against the evil that threatened all of us. I started reading and the first words felt like a knife in my heart as I felt my mother’s pain deeply.

  My dear daughter, these words will be hard to hear, but I feel the time has come that you can handle whatever this cruel world throws at you. I am going in search of your father. I can feel that he is being tortured by an unknown creature far beneath the surface of ‘Bowers Cave.’ The bond we have means I need to go to him and it is something I can no longer ignore. I know you are angry and are thinking that you could help also but you really need all the facts and guidance before you embark on this rescue. I fear this creature is strong and if I fail on my own, it will take many Dwellers to defeat this evil and close the borders to this world. Only a Golden Queen as strong as you will be able to do this thing. If it is at the cost of your father and me, th
en that is The Great Spirit’s plan. The rest of the world will depend on you being strong and doing what is right Spirit Walker. Do not pout, I know you are stubborn but I also know that you are level headed and will lead with your brain and not your heart, no matter how hard the choice will be. You have many great powers, along with your brother and Brave Eagle; I have total faith that you will make the right decisions with them by your side. The rest of the Dwellers are at your service and will follow wherever you need them too.

  This part may be hard for you to read but as I spoke with Red Thunder, I felt your father being tortured. His human flesh feels the pain like any other human and since we are connected, I sensed the tremendous pain he is enduring to protect me. I could not leave him to suffer alone and I know that time is running out for him. I left in the night because I also knew that you would insist on coming. There was no time to argue with you. I am in another world so do not attempt to spirit walk. It is too dangerous.

  Now then, grandfather will lead you; I implore you to do all that grandfather asks of you Spirit Walker, and if you need more guidance, grandmother will be there for you also. Together they have the wisdom of many life times and will be only too happy to advice you. Don’t be afraid of what might go wrong; be positive of what might go right. Your father and I love you and your brother. You are the future of the Dwellers of Ahwahnee, so take all the help that is offered and remember this, fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

  The words started to fade from sight until all the pages were blank. The magic between the pages was now hiding mother’s words from evil. I closed the book and let the tears fall. I lay down on the soft buffalo grass and closed my eyes as I let mothers words sink into my mind.

  I felt myself drifting and wondered what was happening with her at this very moment. My spirit left me and I began to walk. It was now like walking through a long dark tunnel before reaching the end where there was light. I walked on but the light never came and I knew that it wouldn’t, my mother was in a dark evil place.

  I felt her presence and she was in the dream world. I walked into her mind and into her dreams. These were not the dreams of a tortured soul; these were the dreams of a happy woman. My mother was remembering a time in her life when she was happy and at peace.

  My thoughts were that she must have been knocked unconscious to be in a dream world that was not full of worry for father. It was also the first time I have been able to do this. I didn’t know if it was because she was unconscious or because the wards were down to the world where she was or both.

  It really didn’t matter because this was my chance and I would take full advantage of it. As I tiptoed closer through her recollections, she was reminded of a time when my brother and I were little.

  Grandmother was with us and another couple with their children. We had gone on a pic-nic to Falls Creek which is fed by Tueeulala Falls. The adults were sitting around with their feet dangling in the water and talking and my brother and I were playing with the other children.

  We were playing a game of hiding which was a favorite of mine. Well, until I was no longer allowed to use my powers of invisibility. It was my brother who gave me away as he often did.

  I felt mothers peace and happiness of that long ago day. How the sun shined down and her skin warmed. I could feel how she had so much love for every one of us and how happy she was we were all safe and growing strong. There was no danger to be had in the Village of Lost Souls, only contentment as she watched us at play.

  Then her memories moved on further into a time when we were older. I felt her fear as first Fire Walker came into his powers and then me. We were just sixteen and it was still a few years before we were supposed to come into our powers of shapeshifting.

  There was more to us than mere shapeshifting though, we were gifted the powers of the Ale. Mother knew that the Ale had gifted her and father powers but did not know they had transferred to us.

  We were all amazed in the beginning. Fire Walker started spinning into a mighty whirlwind with the strength of a forest fire at his beck and call. Out of control, I felt mothers fear as she thought he might burn down the entire village.

  She spoke with grandfather in hushed tones and was relieved when he told her not to worry; he would take on the training of Fire Walker. She watched me from the corner of her eye, and once again her fear was transferred to me. Having no idea what power I might possess, she guarded me carefully all day.

  It wasn’t until that night when I crept into her mind while she slept, that we all discovered my powers. She felt my presence immediately as I carelessly stumbled through her peaceful dreams. Startling us both awake, she came to me on my furs where I lay and moved my hair aside and kissed my forehead.

  She hadn’t the slightest idea how to help me with this power I had been given. Groggily I spoke of the strangest dreams that I was having of first father and then her. I told her that it was as if I were there but I knew I couldn’t have been because it was a place I had never been too.

  She explained what she believed was my power and that hopefully grandfather would know more of these powers I had been blessed with.

  It would not be until later the next day, that we found out I could also magically disappear and appear somewhere else. This could only happen in the world I was in at the moment. It was disappointing that I couldn’t enter other worlds.

  I keep trying though because sometimes as we age powers change. I was assured there would be more powers to come and I thought this should be one of them.

  Grandfather said The Great Spirit had over blessed me and I would have to be careful with these powers. He explained that I could never abuse such a gift and they were only to be used for the good of the tribe.

  Mother’s thoughts were a mixture of joy and trepidation of my future. My brother and I were gifted with strong powers, stronger than any powers known to a shapeshifter.

  Was this an omen of the evil that is to come in our world? The fear mother felt for the future of our tribe sent a shiver up her spine and I felt it as my whole body trembled with her thoughts.

  It wasn’t just that old memory I was walking through. Now it shifted to a startling realization that she was somewhere she had never been before. A dark cold place and the odorthat struck her nose, made her sick. It was the smell of rotting flesh and not just any flesh; it was her husband and my father.

  As that realization hit her, she dazedly called out to him. Her head felt weird and she was disoriented but it was all coming back to her. There was a strange scent as she entered the cave and she felt herself collapsing quickly to the cold cave floor.

  Now in some sort of glowing green cage, she was more alert and she felt my presence and shook her head, as if she could deny my presence. “No, no Spirit Walker, follow the advice of the grandfather. Wake up NOW Spirit Walker!”

  Instantly I was awake because no one could deny the command of a Golden Queen. Clutching the journal tightly, I noticed that I was shaking and I sat up, put on my moccasins and tried several times to lace them before I finally got them tied.

  I sat and watched the ripples in the water for a long while to calm my nerves before I stood up. Looking around me, I could not find mother’s journal anywhere. It had disappeared once again.

  I briefly wondered who would have it next as I walked back over to grandfather empty handed. He had a sly grin on his face that told me, he knew everything as usual. “Did you seek the answers you need my dear?” He asked a little gruffly.

  Grandfather had a way of knowing certain things, we all knew this. I snapped before I caught myself. “I think you know the answer to that grandfather.” I was angry and he knew it.

  The only thing I had of my mother was gone again and I was to wait to help them... “I am sorry, I did not mean to be rude but I don’t understand why mother will not let me help her and father?”

  Grandfather took my hand and patted it and with his eyes sparkling in understanding he asked, “And wha
t is it you would do exactly Spirit Walker, all on your own with no help and not even a plan yet?” Grandfather knew these answers would have to come to me so he stood and waited patiently for my reply.

  “I could see mother lying on the cave floor in some sort of cave and the smell all around her was of burning flesh. It was my father. I did not have time to gather more information as mother woke up and forbade me not to be there. As you know my spirit was forced to leave her then. I very well know that we need many Dwellers for our plan to work.”

  My eyes were watery which happened when I was angry and my throat had tightened up as I spoke. Grandfather put his arm around me trying to console me, believing me to be sad but I shrugged him off and forced myself to stand straight with defiance.

  With a deep chuckle he said, “So much like your mother, you know then, there is nothing you could have done at the moment, your mothers will is very strong and she knows there must be a well thought out plan. We will be able to move forward with the other information that Brave Eagle brings us. He is coming back now.”

  As we stood there and watched, the dry ground at the border grew into a puddle of water and shifting, Brave Eagle stood in front of us. He was wet and shaking, and rubbing his arms, he told us of all that he encountered.