“That’s cool,” she murmured.
“Here comes Dad and Grandpa,” I said, nodding toward the two tall figures on the far side of the crowd.
“Evan and Evan Black Water,” she said, remembering the time she had called me, having looked up my number in the phone book.
I laughed. “Yeah. I’m glad they didn’t name me Evan Black Water, the third. I’d be like Ed, trying to figure out when I could legally change my name.”
My grandfather moved to his place at the far side of the circle. His salt and pepper hair was pulled back from his face in a tight braid that left his face open. He was deep in thought, as he stared into the flames. There were empty seats on either side of him, places for the other elders to take their seats beside their chief.
Dad hadn’t sat down. Instead, he weaved his way through the crowd to us.
“Hello, Miss Harmon,” he greeted Nikki, who jumped at the sound of his voice.
She nodded. “Hello.”
“I’m Sheriff Black Water. Adam’s dad,” he introduced himself.
“Yes, sir. It’s nice to meet you,” she said, putting out her hand.
He shook it. “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.”
My eyes narrowed. I hadn’t told him anything about making progress. Only my grandfather had asked for updates. As if he knew exactly what our conversation was about, my grandpa looked up from the flames, his gaze locking with mine. He lifted a single eyebrow, as if to say “Well, haven’t you made progress?” then turned his attention back to the fire.
Even though it had been many years since his wolf had passed to the next generation, more than once I wondered how much of the wolf’s spirit had stayed with him.
Nikki’s voice brought me back to the conversation she was having with my father. I caught the last few of her words to piece together the fact that she wasn’t taking credit for any progress I’d made, that I had done it on my own.
Not even close.
She smiled, having picked up on my thought.
“Well, thank you just the same,” my father said. He gave me a quick nod and was turning to leave when he spotted Ed standing behind us. “Where are Barry and Marianne?” he asked.
“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 to tie up, but he’s on his way,” Ed replied.
“Everyone will be here once they arrive. I’ll let him know,” my dad nodded toward my grandfather, whose gaze was now locked on Nikki. “He’ll want to get started soon.”
He left, crossing over to the other side of the fire to kneel at my grandpa’s side, relaying Ed’s message. As soon as he did, I heard a car door shut and spotted Ed’s dad, hurrying toward us.
“They’re all here now,” I told Nikki. “It’s time.”
I took her to two empty seats a short distance from the line of elders and sat down. Everyone around us was talking and relaxed. Tribal meetings were always a social event, and this one was starting no different.
When my grandfather lifted his hand, everyone quieted.
“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,” he began, his voice strong, carrying easily across the fire for everyone to hear. “Elders of the people join me.”
The fathers of my pack moved to take their seats beside their chief. Luke White Hawk, Barry Young Eagle, Donnie Tallman, Thomas Greene—and the last man who still had yet to give the magic of his wolf to his son, the only one of my father’s generation who was still yet a Keeper.
All of the others seemed relaxed as they took their place, except Reuben Windwalker.
My wolf sensed the nervous energy of the man and pushed to the surface, curious as to what was making one of my pack feel on edge. I took a deep breath and pushed him back down.
“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?” my grandfather continued.
Nikki tensed, darting a quick glance at me, wondering if this was her cue. I laid my hand on her leg, letting her know that it wasn’t her time yet.
She bit her lip and turned her attention back to the line of elders as Jenna came to stand opposite them.
Jenna spoke, her voice soft, yet clear. “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.”
Not everyone knew what the meeting was for, proof from the hushed whispers travelling around the circle. A few heads turned to Hannah, who sat opposite us on the other side of the circle.
She folded her arms over her chest and sat back. When she saw me looking at her, she lifted a brow and shrugged.
“Please bring forth the one who is to take your place,” my grandfather told Jenna.
Jenna walked over and offered Nikki her hand. “Come on, Nikki.”
I patted Nikki’s leg as she took Jenna’s hand and stood, noticing that she was gripping her hand with the same ferocity that she’d gripped mine on our encounter with the Sasquatch. I fought to keep the smile off my face. Jenna’s hand was going to be sore.
The whispers running through the crowd had become full-out conversations now as the two walked toward the elders and people began figuring out the reason for our meeting.
“Who are you, child?” The crowd quieted, waiting for Nikki’s answer to their chief’s question.
“I am she who Sees,” she answered, her voice strong and sure.
Go, Nikki! I thought, silently cheerleading for her, no longer caring if I was smiling like a fool or not.
She let go of Jenna and stood in front of the elders, waiting.
“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.” My grandpa nodded to those on his right.
Nikki walked to Luke White Hawk. He gave her an encouraging smile and she went still, concentrating on his thoughts.
Seconds later, she said, “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.” The smile that lit up Nikki’s face was pure sunshine and I knew then that for the first time, she was believing that she would pass the elders’ test.
Luke grinned. “You’re in, Nikki.”
She took a step to the side and stood in front of Barry Young Eagle. Ed’s dad looked preoccupied, to say the least. His brows were knitted together and the expression on his face told me that while he was here, his mind was elsewhere.
His eyes finally focused on Nikki. “Hello,” he said.
“Hello,” she answered, then went still again.
Barry must have been an easy read, because it only took her a second to say, “Edmund Rodriguez beats his wife and she won’t admit it. You think it’s an impossible case—and you forgot to get milk.”
“He always forgets it,” Ed’s mom, Marianne spoke up. She shook her head, reminding me of the sophisticated way Eats Dirt Young Eagle shook his.
Barry gave his wife a sheepish grin. “Sorry, Marianne. I’ll go back later.”
Nikki stepped to the next elder. Michael’s dad seemed to be trying to mix things up a bit. Nikki read him easily too. “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,” Donnie Greene smiled. “Good job, Nikki.”
Thomas sat next to him. He smiled,
showing the same familiar dimple that I regularly saw on the cousins. “It’s too bad he didn’t tell me about my smile. I could have reminded him to tell Debbie.”
Nikki went still for the barest of seconds, and then replied. “You harvested five bushels of corn today, two of cucumbers, and four of peppers. Tomorrow you plan on starting tomatoes, radishes, and carrots.”
“Good sight and good memory,” Thomas said with an appreciative nod. “Welcome to the tribe.”
She’d made it to my grandfather now and I knew out of everyone, his thoughts would be serious and that they would pertain to something specific to the Keepers. Out of all of the elders, he would be the most difficult to read.
I heard her take a deep breath, before she went still.
I saw my grandpa’s eyes narrow. He had put his hand in his pocket and was watching Nikki, his dark eyes boring into her, as if he was trying to read her thoughts, as she read his.
“Wa-ya nv-yu. The Wolf’s stone.” Her voice was a bare whisper, but a slight breeze picked it up and the words swirled around the campfire, as if she’d spoken a magical spell.
He took the round stone from his pocket and lifted it out in his palm for her to see. The stone had been a gift from the Wolf, who had given the first Keepers their wolves. The stone was handed down, from one generation to the next, its edges worn smooth from handling. To be the Keeper of the stone was a privilege, and one that my grandfather held dearly.
Firelight glinted off the stone’s surface, making the giant slashes, the Wolf’s mark, stand out in stark contrast.
My grandfather nodded. “You are she.”
Nikki visibly relaxed, then she moved to the last elder. Reuben’s dark eyes locked onto her and I felt a surge of panic from Nikki. I felt her heart speed up, though she stood motionless in front of him. Even though I was a good distance away, I swore I saw his wolf move beneath the surface of his eyes, as if it had decided that it would be the one whose thoughts Nikki would have to see.
A couple of seconds later, she was shaking her head, as if she was trying to rid herself of the things she had found. “You were thinking about your wife when you asked her to the prom after a football game,” she said, her words coming in a rush.
“No. I never asked my wife to a prom. I’m sorry. But you’re mistaken.” The words were polite enough, but they sounded hard and angry.
Nikki was back-stepping. “But…”
Reuben stood and smiled. The firelight caught the single silver streak of hair at his temple. “I’m sorry, but that isn’t at all what I had thought. I don’t agree with the others. I don’t believe in your Sight.”
I came to stand beside Nikki and linked my fingers with hers. My skin had started glittering with my black mist and I didn’t care. I stared at the man who was part of my pack, my wolf surging toward the surface, ready to make him remember who the Alpha was.
My grandfather sighed and then spoke. “I am sorry, child, but without the agreement of all elders, we cannot permit you to be one of the tribe. You are welcome to stay. We just can’t acknowledge you as our Seer…yet.” He stood. “We shall give it time. Perhaps your Sight needs to be stronger and you simply misunderstood. Time will be the answer. It always is.” He turned and left the circle, the motion enough to tell everyone that the meeting was now over.
Reuben turned and left and I growled, loud enough that it would be sure to reach his ears as he walked away.
“Easy, son,” my father appeared at my side. “Losing your temper and letting your wolf try to solve the problem won’t help anything right now. Just calm down. I’ll talk to Reuben later and try to find out what happened. You should take Nikki home. Her mother will be worrying about her.” He turned to the girl who was holding fast to my arm. “It was nice to meet you, Nikki. I’m sorry you had a rough evening. I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding and we’ll get it worked out soon. Please don’t think too badly of us.”
“No, sir,” she whispered. “I don’t.”
As easily as Nikki was letting everything go, I wasn’t. I grabbed her hand tight. “Come on, let’s go. I need to get away from here.” Before I become a ticked-off, snarling ball of black fur, I added silently.
She nodded, easily picking up on my thoughts, proving that she was indeed the Seer, regardless of the opinion of the elders.
Jenna had started to walk toward us, but I continued leading Nikki toward the trees. Once inside the safety and quiet of the forest, I stopped pulling her along and turned loose of her hand. Without thinking, I began walking toward her house, the simple task enough to calm my wolf enough that he faded back into the darkness.
After a couple of moments, Nikki took a deep breath, and let out a huge sigh, breaking the stillness.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing.”
“I’ve told you before. You’re a terrible liar.” I put a finger under her chin, tilting her face up so that she would look at me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I will be. Although, I don’t think my going back to the Res is such a good idea,” she murmured, her brown eyes finally meeting mine.
“Why not? Everyone knows you belong there and everyone knows you belong to me. There won’t be any problem.” I rubbed my thumb along her chin and the air warmed and sparked around us.
“But Reuben…”
“You will always be welcomed there. No matter what.”
I sent her all of my thoughts of why I wanted her to be a part of my tribe. Of my wish to give her my family so she would have one of her own. You are a part of my tribe, they just haven’t acknowledged it yet. But even more than that, you’re a part of me and nothing can or will ever change that.
She reached up, her hands finding their way into my hair that had fallen over my shoulder. “You’re beautiful,” she whispered.
That caught me off-guard and I smiled. “Umm, no. That would be you.”
My hands went to her waist to draw her closer to me. In an instant, I knew there were words that I wanted to tell her—something that I wanted to say. Out loud.
Nikki, I have something to tell you…
“Yes,” she whispered, she looked up, staring into my eyes.
“Nikki, I…”
“Click, click, click, snort, click, huff!
At the first click, I had picked Nikki up and swung her around, dropping her behind me before I realized that the one speaking was the Sasquatch we had seen before.
He continued clicking and grumbling, obviously irritated over something. I felt Nikki press against my back, hoping to look over my shoulder to see what was happening.
The Sasquatch took a hesitant step forward and glanced behind him, before turning back to us, still clicking, sounding more anxious with each second that passed.
“Is he the same one we saw before?” Nikki asked.
“Yes.”
“He isn’t acting the same as he did before. He looks worried,” she said, stating the obvious as the Sasquatch turned and looked behind himself again.
“No, something is wrong. He’s asking for help.” I changed over to my own language, hoping to soothe him. “What is it?” I asked.
Assuming that I understood his situation, he turned and took a step back, looking over his shoulder to see if we were following.
“Get on,” I told Nikki as I shifted. He will be quick and this is the only way we’ll be able to keep up.
She hopped onto my back easily, as if we regularly traveled this way through the forest, knotting her fingers into the fur between my shoulders as I leapt up and ran to catch up. The Sasquatch was taking enormous steps, but I tailed him easily enough, taking care to keep a safe enough distance behind him.
My nose caught the first indication of what had happened. The scent of Sasquatch became stronger, even though I hadn’t gotten any closer to the one in front of us. Then I smelled the blood.
Then came the high-pitched keening sounds from a short distance in front of us. At the cry, the Sasquatch let out a
long moan and leapt over a small embankment. He clicked a couple of times when he reached a rolled up ball and a furry form unrolled itself and sat up.
“Chewy’s got a baby,” Nikki said in awe. The sound of her voice caused the little Sasquatch to scoot backward in fear.
Chewy? You named him Chewy?
“Yeah,” Nikki gave me a grin once she slid off my back. “I think it fits him.”
I laughed as I switched back from wolf, and then took in the scene around us.
The Sasquatch’s baby had been caught in a bear trap, the sharp metal teeth clamped around her foot. It was no wonder that her parent had come seeking help, as the more she struggled, the firmer the grip became, digging even deeper into her flesh.
“You poor baby,” Nikki said softly, moving to get closer to try to help. At this, the baby started crying again and the big Sasquatch gave a loud, aggravated snort.
“Better wait, Nikki. I don’t think they trust you. Let me go to her. Just stay right here,” I said, sliding down the embankment.
The Sasquatch was anxious, moving from one big foot to the other as I knelt down to inspect the trap. The baby stared at me. “Hello, little one,” I said quietly. “Let’s see if we can get this thing off, eh?”
As gently as I could, I moved her foot, sliding my fingers along the back of it, searching for the springs on the jaw of the trap. The baby jerked at my touch. “There, there now. Just a minute more, little one. Everything’s all right now. Just another minute…”
Finally, I found the latch and I stood, placing my feet on either side of the trap, so I could pull the metal jaws open. The instant her leg was freed, the little Sasquatch jumped away and limped over to her father, clicking happily. He picked her up and held her close. In the next instant, the two had left, melting into the forest like ghosts.
Once they were gone, I knelt down and inspected the trap. I picked up a dead branch near me and poked the end down in its center. It clanged shut, smashing the wood to bits, leaving me with the broken end of the branch still in my hand.
I dropped it on the ground, then reached over and picked up the trap. “Trappers,” I muttered, angry. I jerked the trap sideways, snapping the chain that had held it to the ground.
The Keeper Saga: Wynter's War, Charmed, and The One (The Boxed Set Book 2) Page 32