Shepherd, Mark - SE 0.2 by Spiritride

Author:Spiritride [Spiritride]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-02-25T10:30:38.078000+00:00

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The sleep became a tunnel, pulling him from the now to the then. Shuombish Hoshontikatcni Yaakni , the Spirit Shadowland, the place you go when you die. Only the Medicine Men could go to this place without dying, and they often did so when they wanted to know something. Here, they spoke to the spirits. Fast Horse knew this, and now Wolf knew. But he wanted to know more, as it pertained to his now: What was the bad magic that killed his grandfather, and what was it planning to do next? The tunnel became a river, and Wolf saw a vast land, wild and natural. Entering from the sea the winged canoe sailed upstream, slowly, fighting the mighty current with the breath from the sky.

Okoshi, the medicine man, followed the canoe with the rest of the tribe, and after the gods had argued and warred among themselves he came across the first, a chi-en and an evil one. Though the warriors were with him, Okoshi was afraid of this chi-en , who looked more godlike up close.

You will let me pass you worthless human ! the chi-en spat, using the wind to carry his venom. I am Nargach, prince of the Unsaylee, and you will get out of my way now ! The warriors heard this as well, and raised their loaded bows; Okoshi raised his hand, stopping them.

" I hattak taha ishtimanokfila. Apülachi Uhokoffi" Okoshi said.

(This one is too much to worry about. Let him go.)

The warriors obeyed, but they kept their arrows trained on Nargach, who walked away laughing. The chi-en Continued walking into the fire, and Okoshi knew the chi-en was no more. The ring of fire disappeared.

Wolf woke with a start, not knowing where or who he was. Then he caught the unmistakable stench of burnt plastic and fiberglass, saw the smoldering coals of the trailer glowing dimly in the dark. A waning, near-full moon burning orange on the horizon had begun its ascent. Wolf had seen the moon rise and set on this barren landscape many times, made all the more brilliant by the Milky Way, a single, violent brushstroke of light across the clear sky. But this time things were different, the full moon spoke to him…

or rather the goddess she represented beckoned him from the future, and the past, intersecting on the now.

The moon is different tonight, Wolf thought as he lay back down, slowly, on the bloodied sand. I am different tonight .

Fast Horse's spirit, still lurking in the darkness, whispered, There's more. Go back to the Land. Ask the Hoshontikatchi, the shadows themselves, what became of us, what became of the Yaakni Alackchi, the medicine men… and why we brought the chakka to us, made them what they are now .

Wolf closed his eyes on the brilliant Milky Way, and did as he was told.

A bear had probably killed the wolf; there was nothing else around mat could have done so complete a job. Okoshi had no doubt that it was a bear, with its tracks left all over the place.

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