Awakening the Lion

by Crymsyn Hart

  She shook her head and got her mind off of her future. For now she had to worry about the winter. From what she had gotten from the wind it seemed the snow was going to be deep and the cold blistering. At least she could hunt and bring back game so she could show that she was doing something. Ranolo had not brought it up, but it was weighing on her mind. For now she pushed it aside and thought about Ohanzee. It would be better to go see him now while Belik is gone and then tell him about it later. I’m not going to keep this from him. First she checked for him at Asha’s house. She knocked on the door.

  It took a moment, but Asha opened it. Chicken feathers were stuck to her hair and the apron she wore over her clothes had a few splatters of blood. “Hey, Illiana,” she greeted her, wiping the sweat from her face and getting a feather stuck on her cheek.

  “Hi, Asha. I’m sorry to bother you, but have you seen Ohanzee?”

  She glanced around, and her brow furrowed. “Um . . . I saw him at breakfast, but he was gone right after. He had talked about going hunting for stones and carving today. I don’t know. Sorry.”

  “Okay. Thanks.”

  “Sure. If I see him, I’ll let him know you were looking for him. You want to come in? I can make some tea.”

  “No. Thanks. Next time though. Oh, there’s going to be a blizzard coming in soon. It’s going to be bad.”

  The woman gave her a questioning look. “You’re sure?”

  “Yeah. I have a thing for air. Ranolo can tell you the same if you ask him.”

  “No. I believe you. He’s the only one who can read the weather rather well. If you don’t mind me saying, there seems to be a lot of similarities between you and him. The fire speaks of you being different. But it doesn’t elaborate.”

  “Right. I keep forgetting that everyone here has an affinity for the elements.”

  “Wasn’t it like that at your village?”

  “No. I was the only one. Long story. We have many nights for me to tell it when you’re free. I’m sorry for interrupting. I’ll check back for Ohanzee later. Thank you.”

  Asha slipped back into her home. She sighed and listened to the wind again, asking it if he had traveled on its current today. The element took a moment and then pushed her in a direction away from the village, toward the mountains. Illiana fumbled for the tie on her dress, but stopped when she remembered the people here carried their clothes with them. She still had not figured out how that worked yet, so she shifted away from the prying eyes of any villager just in case they were offended at finding her unclothed. That was where Ohanzee had met her the other night when she had transformed into a wolf and she had needed to run. Now she needed to fly, but she did not want to lose her garments and show up naked in front of the other man. Not after the kiss the other night. It would not be a good idea to give the carver the wrong impression.

  A gust nudged her again, steering her in the right direction. It would eventually lead her to Ohanzee and whatever it was that he wanted. These past couple of weeks since their last encounter, he had kept his distance. The more she was integrated into the village, the more she observed a separation between him and the other villagers. Apparently they shunned him. Illiana did not judge him because he might be different than the others. She knew all too well about being different. Maybe that was what he needed to talk to her about. Or maybe it was nothing at all and all he wanted to do was clear the air between them. Whatever it was, she had to figure out what it was.

  Chapter Ten

  Ohanzee stared at the three objects before him. One was completely round, already shaped by the earth, with stripes of various green hues running through it. This was malachite. Another was a dark purple spear shape the size of his index finger, graduating to a lighter purple until it was clear at the bottom: amethyst. The third was a piece of bone that he had dug up. It appeared to be the shoulder blade of some large animal. He suspected it was a bear. He was not exactly sure what he was going to carve from that, but it had called to him, so he would eventually figure it out. It had taken him most of the morning to find the spot where the earth had led him and dig up the objects. It would have been so much easier if he could have convinced the earth to work the stones up to the surface, but it was not being cooperative today. Sometimes it did that, but the earth was stubborn. It did not want to give up its secrets even if it was asked nicely.

  Which one would he start with? His working mat was laid out with his various chisels and tools. The sun warmed his back, and the wind cooled his face. With each gust the air grew cooler. A storm was brewing. The sky might have been clear and crisp, but winter was coming. He drew in a deep breath and passed his hands over the stones once more. Ohanzee waited for inspiration to strike, but his thoughts were muddled. All paths in his mind led to Illiana. How luscious she had been the night when he found her emerging from the brush as a wolf and completely naked. Her body was luscious, but it was really her eyes that had captivated him. It was the same silver gaze of the beauty in his dreams.

  How was it possible? Was Illiana truly the woman? Was he just imagining it? Being so close and not being able to talk to her was excruciating. Ohanzee tried to go on about his day without watching her or catching a glimpse of her, but he could not. Anytime he had a chance, he had to be close to Illiana. Most of the time he caught Belik watching him.

  Ohanzee tried to clear his mind and tried once more to focus on the minerals before him. The only one that called to him was the carving of the raven-wolf he carried with him. He pulled it from his pocket and stared at the creation. It was connected to his dreams and Illiana. She was the subject of the stone. She had to be the one in his dreams. He never believed in spirits, but it had to mean something that he was dreaming about her for these past few months. In those dreams, she always reached for him. What does that mean? Maybe I have to ask her. Ohanzee tried to push the thought from his mind because he did not want to upset her. But what if the dreams meant something would develop between them? He had to talk to her. Illiana was mated and appeared content with the raven shifter. But when I look at her, there is this haunted look that I can’t quite figure out. It was another mystery about her that drew him to her.

  Many of the unattached men in the village had approached her, but she had turned them down. It had always warmed him to hear that. He smiled as he remembered that kiss they shared. She was only trying to say thank you for him guiding them to the village, but he had felt something else between them. Her body had been warm against his. Bolts of desire ran through him as he recalled the interaction. I can’t be doing this to myself. I can’t be transferring feelings to a woman where they are not reciprocated. He stared at the small carving, scrutinizing it again. Nothing more needed to be carved into the onyx. The shape was complete.

  “What a beautiful piece.”

  He froze when he heard the voice behind him. Ohanzee turned and had to shield his eyes from the sun to see Illiana staring down at him. He could hardly believe he had just thought about her and that she had appeared almost if by some magical wish. “Thank you.”

  “I hope I’m not interrupting you.”

  He glanced and held in a sigh of frustration from having his concentration scattered. “No, you’re not interrupting me. Sit, please.” He tried to move so she would have more room to sit on the rock he sat on. It had been warmed by the sun and sheltered from the wind. It was an ideal spot where no one would interrupt him. Here he found some peace and did not have to worry about the noise. All the people disrupted his concentration and made it challenging for him to connect with the earth element. Being solitary, which was what he was used to anyway, made it better for him.

  Illiana gathered her skirt and knelt down next to him. A rich pine fragrance, along with the sharp animal musk that had to come from her wolf side, saturated the air. The scent made him hard thinking about her and how she had appeared the other night without clothing under the moonlight. The air moved around him. It stirred her locks, and he found himself staring at her copper skin. H
ow had such a beautiful creature come to their village? Something had led her to him and their village. It was more than the little girl and the map she had been following. What was the true reason for such a journey?

  “What is that carving of?”

  The piece was certainly meant for her. He knew it down to the fibers of his soul. “Give me your hand.”

  She hesitated for a moment, but gave him her hand. Ohanzee placed the carving into her palm, and a zap ran up his arm when he touched her flesh. Illiana’s eyes widened as though she had felt it as well. Her fingers brushed along his, and it took her a moment before she pulled her hand away. There has to be something between us. Maybe I’m just reading into this. She examined the figure, turning it this way and that before answering.

  “If I hold it one way, it’s a raven. If I hold it another way, it’s a wolf. This is quite remarkable. How did you do it?”

  He shrugged. “The stone tells me how it wants to be carved. The earth leads me to the stone, and the vision of what kind of shape it wants to be turned into flows into my mind.”

  “Wow. It’s a great affinity with earth that you have.”

  “Do you feel anything while you’re holding it?” Ohanzee asked.

  “The stone seems warm, but nothing else. I don’t have a kinship with earth.”

  “Maybe you do and you don’t realize it. Mine started first with feeling the energy of rocks and plants. The energy moves through the roots and into the trees. The bigger the plant, the better you can feel it.”

  Illiana’s eyes widened as though he had said something she recognized. “Back home, we have this tree, we call it the Mother Tree, because all of the forest had been birthed from this tree. No one knows how big around it is. Whenever I touch it, I can feel the life of the tree going through me. But I assumed it was part of the air. I never really figured it out.”

  “Give me your hand.” She set the carving down on the mat and gave him her hand. He tried to dismiss how smooth her skin was and how much he wanted to explore the rest of her curves. Ohanzee placed her hand flat on the rock and covered her hand with his. An instant jolt of the earth’s energy ran through him. It was so intense it was a hum that rattled his bones. Normally he ignored the vibration, but today he focused on it and wondered if she could hear or feel it.

  “I don’t feel anything,” she responded.

  “Close your eyes and reach out with your mind the same way you do with the fire or with the air. You should sense a tingling sensation in your palm.”

  Illiana finally closed her eyes. It seemed she might have distrusted him or waited to see if he would do something to her. Unlike last time, he was not going to make the mistake of trying to kiss her. Even though the warmth of her flesh enticed him and the scent of her skin and everything about her stirred his passions, he would not drive her away.

  The buzz of the earth vibrated louder the more it appeared Illiana concentrated. Ohanzee placed his other hand on the stone they sat upon. The tremor shook his teeth. Somehow holding Illiana’s hand in his amplified his ability. It had never happened to him before. He closed his eyes and focused on the strength pouring into him. Something else stirred within his mind. At first it felt like the flutter of hawk wings across his thoughts, but it intensified and became more primal. He followed it deeper into his thoughts and came to the dark void he always had within his mind. The block was more pliable, and he saw something within the shadows. The realization that something else was there shocked him. A gasp left his lips, and he opened his eyes.

  “What are you?” he asked her, bewildered.

  “I’m not sure what you mean. I’m two-natured.”

  He shook his head. “No. It’s more than that. You’re something else. I need to know what you are.” Before he could stop himself, he cupped her cheek. Her skin was so soft.

  Illiana shivered underneath his touch. “You have mistaken . . . ”

  “No. You felt something stir within the earth, didn’t you?”

  “Maybe. I don’t know.” She did not pull away from him.

  “I don’t know what you are to me or why I’ve been dreaming about you, but I know you’re meant to be in my life. I can’t stop thinking about you, Illiana. I can’t . . . ” Ohanzee could not help it any longer and drew her to his lips. She resisted at first, but then she seemed to be caught under the spell that held them together. Once she began to return his kiss, Illiana placed a hand on his chest. He was not sure if it was to push him away or pull him closer, but immediately the warmth flashed through him so hot it seemed he was before a fire. He closed his eyes and lost himself to the softness of her lips. In that moment a presence stirred within his mind and he could feel it. It seemed the warmth reached deeper into his mind and shed light on the darkness that was there. He could almost see it. There was a flash of reflective eyes and what seemed to be trees. But it was the eyes that captured him. He needed to explore it further, but Illiana pulled away. He opened his eyes and saw her startled expression.

  “This can’t be happening. It can’t. I have a mate who I’m happy with. I can’t have this happen to me again.”

  He reached out and grabbed her arm. “I need to know. You have feelings for me, don’t you?”

  She shook her head, and tears fell down her cheeks like wasted diamonds. “I don’t know. I don’t —”

  Illiana bolted up and raced off. He got up and followed her, but heard a flutter of wings and saw her blue gown on the ground. Ohanzee searched the sky and saw a large raven flying away from them. He picked up her dress and brought it to his nose, inhaling her scent. It was intoxicating even when it was just on her clothing. He touched his lips and was lost in the moment all over again of being close to her. With the thought of her, he saw a glimpse of reflective eyes once more in his mind. It had to be something. Ohanzee hurried back to his things, gathered them up, and rushed back to the village. He had to speak to Ranolo and confront Illiana again. There were things unsaid between them that he had to work out. Things he had to tell her and things he had to discover. It seemed she was conflicted about her feelings toward him.

  Back at the village, he pounded on the shaman’s door and waited for it to open. It took a few minutes, and then it did. Sleep crusted his eyes, and his hair was disheveled. It appeared he had awoken the older man.

  “What do you want, Ohanzee?” Ranolo rubbed his eyes.

  “I need to talk to you.”

  He sighed. “And I need to get some sleep. Get to your point.”

  “I think something’s wrong with me. I don’t know. I was with Illiana. She touched me, and something stirred within me that wasn’t there before. Or maybe it was and I never figured that out. I saw eyes. I need your help to figure it out.”

  The other man shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to help you until tomorrow night. Come back after sunset. We’ll work on it then. Good-bye.” He shut the door, leaving Ohanzee with too many questions and not any answers.

  He did not want to wait, but he was being forced to. He clutched Illiana’s dress and figured he had to bring it back to her. Ohanzee glanced at the sky and did not see any ravens soaring about. How could he tell her that the sculpture she had held was based on her? He did not know at the time that it was her. The piece he had carved was the first he had ever sculpted showing two natures of a person. It was a powerful talisman. He held the dress to his nose and at once envisioned her wearing it and how it clung to her form. When he approached the house, her words slipped through his mind once more. What can’t be happening again? What did I awaken in her? Does she feel something for me? She has to if she returned the kiss. Maybe I’m misreading her signals.

  Ohanzee sighed and went to Illiana’s hut. He knocked on the door, and Belik answered. “Hi.”

  “Hello, Ohanzee. Can I help you with something?” Belik asked.

  He tried to ignore the contempt coming from the other man. He knew that Belik had watched him whenever he was trying not to watch Illiana. Ohanzee held
out the dress. “Illiana left this behind after coming to talk to me. She shifted, and I figured she might want this back.”

  Belik took the dress and held it close to him. His fingers trailed over the smooth fabric. A flash of something went over his face, and Ohanzee could see how much the raven shifter cared for the woman in the way he handled her dress. When he looked back at him, his expression had hardened. “What did you do to make her run off and shift?”

  “We were talking, and I crossed a line. I—I kissed her and—” Before he knew it, he was shoved on the ground with Belik hovering over him, his fist ready to strike him again. Ohanzee placed his hands up, trying to ward off the other man. “Whoa! Cool it. I know what I did was wrong.”

  Belik grabbed his shirt and hauled him back up. He threw another punch across Ohanzee’s jaw, splitting his lip. He winced from the pain and tried to get away. Ohanzee did not fight back because he did not want to make more of a scene. A third hit came and struck near his eyes. This stirred his other side, and so did his rage. Normally he kept the fury at bay. But this was different. Belik threw him down again, but he got up and was about to return one of the punches. Asha came and grabbed him. He broke away from his sister and stepped forward and hit the other man.

  “What is going on here?” Illiana demanded.

  Ohanzee glanced at his sister and at Belik, who picked up his mate’s gown and returned it back to her. “It was my fault. I said something that I shouldn’t have.” He wiped the blood from his lip across his wrist. The vehemence in him had still not subsided. Instead it was like an itch underneath his skin from which he could not get away. He turned to talk to Illiana, but Asha snatched his arm and held him back.

  “Are you crazy? What’s going on with you?” she asked.

  His sister would not understand the raging emotions that tumbled inside of his mind. All of a sudden seeing how Belik was being fawned over by Illiana awoke some buried emotions that he knew he should not take this slight from a bird. All he saw was red. Ohanzee broke from his sister’s grasp and went over to the other man and planted one across his cheek. Belik stumbled backward and knocked Illiana to the ground.