Dwellers of Ahwahnee (The Beyond Collection) Read online

  One day Tutokanula was out hunting near where Tisayac had laid down to rest. When she realized the proud leader was close by she peered out at him from among the tree. Seeing the beautiful woman with her golden hair and ethereal appearance, Tutokanula fell deeply in love. Realizing she was the guardian of the valley he reached out his hand to her calling her by name.

  Confused by the feelings Tisayac had for him she flew away leaving a broken hearted warrior behind.

  Tutokanula spent many days searching for Tisayac, finally one day in anguish he decided to leave the valley.

  Without his wise guidance the valley fell into ruin and many of the people left to find new homes.

  When Tisayac returned again to the valley, she was horrified to find it barren and her people gone. When she learned that Tutokanula had searched for her for many days and nights and had then left his people, she cried out in despair. Kneeling on a mighty dome of a rock, Tisayac prayed to the Great Spirit to undo this wrong and to restore the land.

  Hearing her prayer the Great Spirit took pity on her people, and stooping down from on high he spread his hands over the valley. The green of new life poured forth over the lands. Trees blossomed, flowers bloomed, and birds sang. Then he struck a mighty blow against the Mountains and they broke apart. This left a pathway for the melted snow to flow through it. Spilling over rocks, pooling into a lake and then wandering far to spread life to other places. In the valley the corn grew tall again and the people came back to their home.

  Then Tutokanula himself came to the valley when he heard that Tisayac had come home. Upon his return he spent many hours carving his likeness in the stone, so when he departed this earth his people would remember him. He then sat down wearily at the foot of Bridalveil Fall that the Great Spirit had created.

  Tisayac drifted into the spray of the falls and she watched him. He was ready to depart from his people, from his valley. Would he go with her? She moved forward through the falling water and made herself visible. When Tutokanula saw Tisayac, he sprang to his feet with a cry of joy. She held out her arms to him in welcome. The brave warrior leapt into the falls and took his love into his arms at long last.

  For a moment there were two rainbows arching over the water. Then Tisayac drew him up and up into the clouds and away…”

  There was much clapping and cheering from the crowd and as it quieted down the old grandmother spoke again.

  “This is the story as I was told by my ancestors. There are many variations but the outcome is still the same. There is a true love for everyone. No matter where you have to look to discover it. All obstacles can be overcome even when it looks as if all hope has been lost.”

  Grandmother was staring right at me as she spoke these last words. Everyone applauded her story telling, but I just seemed to get a tingle down my spine and goose bumps all over my body. Grandmother called this a foreboding.

  There were many stories that were told that night. Including the one I had thought of today about the young Indian maiden and Po-Ho-No. It had a different variation. This story was about shapeshifters. It was peculiar because I had only heard rumors before that shapeshifters lived amongst us. Sure there were always stories throughout the years. They were the kind of stories that make you think they only existed in legends. These stories tonight were more modernized. Shapeshifters are Dwellers of the Ahwahnee and I felt like they were still watching it. You could be talking to a shapeshifter and never know it. This story had me staring at everyone like anyone of them could be one.

  With the fires dying down, it was now time for sleep. Grandmother was softly snoring already so I took off my moccasins. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

  The night was filled with many odd dreams. They all collided into each other. Some were of the stories I had heard earlier in the evening. The only things consistent about these dreams were the young man that seems to be at the heart of it all. I could never get a good look at his face, though he seemed familiar to me and his eyes were sparkling silver.

  He shifted right before me into a big grey wolf and his eyes turned a warm golden color. I could still see silver specks in them and I had that weird sense of de’ja’vu. Then the scene switched. I was flying and I could see that I was this huge beautiful dragon airborne high in the sky. I was throwing down fiery arrows at this enormous black wind. It looked like a massive dark mouth. Off to the sides of me I could see two bright suns that were holding steady and somehow giving me encouragement to defeat this monster. Somehow I knew the world would be safe from the darkness if I overpowered it. There was a great crash of thunder and lightning that ignited the whole sky suddenly blinding me.

  I shot up and had to disentangle myself from my sleeping bag. I looked around for my grandmother. I was sure she was watching all of this; I could feel myself blushing all over.

  Grandmother was nowhere to be found though.

  Chapter 4

  That morning started off as any other day does when you’re out camping. Including my dreams, which I’ve had all my life. They have occurred more often in the recent months however.

  I got up, got dressed, and went to the falls to wash up. Everyone had already come and gone. I thought it a little odd that there wasn’t anyone around. Usually there are still a few girls left washing and getting water to cook with. I hadn’t paid much attention as I strolled through the camp with my head down. I thought I really must have slept longer than usual. Oh well, I didn’t feel much like talking with anyone yet today. It was my birthday and I thought I might sulk and feel a little sorry for myself that I hadn’t gotten to spend the day with my friends.

  As I was about to wash up, I thought the clouds had certainly rolled in. Considering how sunny it was when I first came out of the tent. “Fickle weather,” I whispered. I looked around and thought I might as well go for a swim. I stripped down and dove into the water.

  It was a little colder than I expected it to be so; I decided to get back out when I was suddenly pulled under the water. It didn’t feel like hands had grabbed me and pulled me in, but more like a force of the water. I didn’t get the impression that I was drowning but I did get pulled under further and further.

  When I finally felt like I had been turned loose, I fought my way back up to the top. Then I swam myself to the shore expecting to see someone coming up from the water at any second. I watched the water like a hawk so that I wouldn’t miss anyone sneaking away on the opposite shore line. I was quite surprised to find myself all alone. There was not a soul in the water or on the land that I could see.

  I must have slipped and just imagined that I was pulled in. Feeling foolish and slightly embarrassed, I looked around for my clothing and moccasins. They were nowhere to be seen. Now I knew someone was playing a trick on me. Occasionally the guys at the camp site would steal our clothes when we swam. We quickly learned to have look-outs. Today I was not as lucky. Everyone had already come and gone, including my clothes. Now what was I going to do?

  I did what any girl my age would do. I ran behind the nearest boulder. Then I started yelling for whoever took my clothes to bring them back to me.

  From behind a big pine tree a young man came out with a handful of clothes. He was laughing at the angry and confused look on my face. He came to the bolder, and handing me the clothes he stated matter of fact.

  “You are Oria! You were in a vision sent to me by The Great Spirit. I’ve been waiting for you; The Great Spirit said you would be coming from the water at the foot of the falls. These clothes were made for you and are your size.”

  He had the nerve to still be chuckling at my expense.

  I glanced up at this man much taller than my height with his copper skin the color of mine. I noticed first his broad shoulders and long raven hair down his back. I knew I had never seen him before and wondered what he meant by, “he had been waiting for me and he had a vision that I was coming.”

  I snatched the clothing and the moccasins from him. Then I spoke rudely to him because I
was in no mood for his games.

  “The Great Spirit told you my name, right! And that I was coming here. Well, I’ve never seen you before and I know everyone in the camp. Anyway, anyone could have guessed that I would be coming to take a swim. You didn’t need a vision for that.”

  “Oh, but you are not in your camp anymore; at least not as you know it.” He smirked as he said this and had a twinkle in his silver eyes that I just noticed. I might have found them attractive had I not been so mad at the moment.

  I came from around the boulder and putting my hands on my hips, I looked at him like he was touched in the head, then I snappily said to him. “Explain yourself! You are not making any sense at all. Who are you and where did you come from? What did you do with my clothes? Most importantly, what are you going on about, you were told I was coming by the Great Spirit! Have you lost your mind?”

  “My name is Grey Wolf. Everything will become clear to you when we get back to the village. All will be waiting for us and there will be a great feast and celebration in your honor.”

  I almost laughed out loud, “Grey Wolf! You are no wolf; you are just a thief, a liar, and a peeping tom! When we get back to camp I will let everyone know that you are just that!” Then I turned around and stormed off towards the camp site. I mumbled all the way there about peeping toms who were named after beautiful wolves. Just wait until my Grandmother gets a hold of this guy she will tear him a new one. He’ll get a lesson about being a gentleman and being honorable. This will be a lecture he won’t forget any time soon. I’ve been on the receiving end of many of Grandmothers lectures and they are always long. Put me in my place and, leave me feeling like a 6 year old child. She would give him an earful of that I was sure!

  Feeling a bit better about these thoughts, I kept marching up the path with Grey Wolf trailing behind me. He was still snickering here and there. I just ignored him until I was around the corner. I stopped abruptly dead in my tracks. Grey Wolf promptly ran right into the back of me.

  I must have taken a wrong trail. I hadn’t seen another pathway, so where did all this come from then? There were huts and a couple of big lodge-like buildings. Were those actual Tee-pees?

  They certainly weren’t here before. Surely I would have noticed, and where was my grandmother?

  All of a sudden the skies grew darker and rain started to fall in sheets. Lightning streaked across the skies and made a crackling sound. Grey Wolf then put his hand on my arm. In a peculiar way I immediately felt calmer. He looked down at me and whispered in my ear.

  “Do not be alarmed Oria, it will be fine now that we are together.” Then, the strangest thing happened.

  I felt an inner peace within me. It grew until I started to burn inside and I felt warm all over.

  I looked down at myself and I was completely dry.

  I looked around and up at the sky and the rain had stopped. The clouds had parted and the sun was shining brightly up above.

  Chapter 5

  People were gathering everywhere. Some were drenched from the shower. Everyone was talking about the freak rain storm.

  These people looked different. We were all dressed about the same. I couldn’t quite put my finger on the change.

  “What the heck is going on? Grandmother, Where are you?” I was yelling. The prickles at the back of neck were working their way down. Nothing or anyone looked familiar.

  Who were all these people? I didn’t recognize anyone from the night before. My Grandmother was nowhere to be seen.

  As I looked closer at the camp site, it looked more like a village. Grandmother had told many stories over the years. This is about how I would picture an Indian village looked like.

  It certainly didn’t look anything like the campsite we were staying at. I really started to worry. Maybe I bumped my head and had either gone on to the Spirit land in the West or I had lost my mind. Neither of which sounded very good to me.

  My heart started to pound hard and my breathing started to come too quickly. I started to see little fuzzy dots before my eyes. Then the voices around me got quieter.

  All of a sudden my knees started to buckle and I felt myself beginning to shake all over. All I could think was. I’m going to drown right here on land. I couldn’t breathe and then Grey Wolf grabbed a hold of me as I started to drop. He spoke to me softly, “Oria, you will be alright, you just need to rest.” That was the last thing I remember. There was nothing but darkness.

  Something was tangled around my legs and I couldn’t free them. I struggled to get away while yelling for my Grandmother.

  “Where are you Grandmother? Where did you go? Why did you leave me alone with people I don’t know?”

  From out of the blackness I could hear my Grandmother say to me. “Hush my little Golden Queen, all will be well, I told you this would be the summer for adventure. Are you ready to begin your journey? I hope you are, but even if you are not, it will not matter. The journey has begun. You will need all the knowledge I have taught you throughout your life.”

  “But Grandmother, I don’t understand! What is going on? Where are you? This is just a nightmare right? When I wake up everything will be back to normal again. We will be together and go home. I just want to wake up from this strange dream and go home with you.” I was trying hard not to whine, or for that matter cry like a child. Grandmother was telling me that it would be fine and something about this being my destiny. She had been preparing me for this my whole life so she hoped I had learned my lessons well. “I feel like I have given you all that you will need for this passage granddaughter. You must listen to grandfather now. He will help you with this part of your life. There will be many things that will be hard for you to understand. I am sorry that I could not tell you or show you more before this day came. For reasons that will become clear to you soon, I hope you will forgive me. The changes that you will be experiencing are natural. This is what happens in our blood line when we reach eighteen summers. Do not resist; grandfather will help you with this part of your journey.

  Know in your heart that I love you Oria. One day soon we will be together again. I know you are strong enough to let destiny take its course. You will soon see that all of your dreams are coming to pass. This is your future. I will be there when I am most needed. If you do what you fear the most you will be able to control that fear.”

  That’s when I woke up in a sweat. Tears were streaming down my cheeks and I was crying for my Grandmother like a little girl. I had a terrible feeling that everything would be different now and that my life had just changed drastically.

  Chapter 6

  “There, there, Oria all will be fine. You are safe here with us. We are all so happy to have you at the village.”

  I turned my head to look behind me. Sitting on the ground by a fire sat an ancient man. He had pale skin. His gray beard reached to his waist. His hair was also gray and long flowing. He had many wrinkles with the brightest green eyes. I knew he held much knowledge and probably many secrets. He had on a long ratty robe that was too small. His long arms stuck way out of the sleeves and he had enormous hands. His slender fingers were bent with arthritis. Even though he didn’t seem to notice, I saw that his shoes were on backwards and he had leaves scattered throughout his hair and beard.

  “My name is Elsu but you may call me grandfather. I will be here to help you adjust. It will be frustrating and hard for you at times. I have a feeling that you are a remarkable young woman and that you will rise to the challenges set before you. I know that you have many questions and are very confused so I will start at the beginning.”

  I wiped my tears away and sat up straight. The old man stoked the fire and put a kettle of water over the coals to heat up. All the while I was staring at him and thinking how strange he looked. I’m with a total stranger who I’m supposed to call grandfather. He somehow actually knows more about me then I know about myself. Maybe I am dreaming again. This is like one of the many stories from last night. I couldn’t believe any of this was happe
ning.

  “You are a shapeshifter. You are here to learn the ways of a shapeshifter.”

  Mouth agape, I stared at him like he wasn’t real.

  Sure I know the stories and legends. I had just heard many tales last night. I guess I just never really believed there was anything magical about the folklores. I thought they were just myths.

  “Excuse me, sir?” I started… “Grandfather,” He interrupted before I could go on any further.

  “Umm, yes, G- Grandfather, can you tell me where my Grandmother is? I think there has been a big misunderstanding that only she can fix; I don’t think I am supposed to be here. Wherever I am… I need to speak with her.”

  Softly but sternly he replied.

  “You have already spoken with her and now we will speak.” Even I knew that was an indication to sit back and listen.

  Even if he did think I was a shapeshifter.

  “You are familiar with the story of Po-Ho-No, I would hope.” I nodded yes, and he continued on. “I will not bore you with all the details then; except to say, that some stories get turned around in the telling after many generations. They are not always accurate after that. The story of Po-Ho-No is one of those stories.” The truth of the matter is the young Indian maiden in this story was not taken by a tortured spirit. She was not left there in the water to wait for other victims. She was escorted here. We are the Keepers of Bridalveil Fall. To some; we are the Dwellers of Ahwahnee. This is where the selected are brought. We provide training here for shapeshifters. This is the term you might recognize. We are also known as Therianthropy, mimics, skin walkers, and many other names. There are also other magical beings here.”

  Here was where the old man paused and took a deep breath. He looked at me from under his gray bushy eyebrows. He waited to see if I had any kind of comments, arguments or reactions to this statement. Ever respectful of the beliefs of my ancestors, I looked straight at him and motioned with a nod for him to continue.