Title: The Fox and the Raven
Rated : PG
Synopsis: Zorro unknowingly insults his Indian totem that results in a very unpleasant few days for the masked man and his alter ego.
Written: 7/05
Disclaimer: This story was written solely for the enjoyment of other Zorro fans and is not intended to infringe on any copyrights held by Goodman/Rosen Productions, New World Television, Zorro Productions, the estate of Johnston McCulley or anyone else.
Notes: Much thanks go to Susan for giving me this idea. Without her encouragement, this story would not have come to be. Thanks for Amy for content suggestions as well as her tireless beta work!
The humor really starts in chapter 3. It took far longer to set up this story than I anticipated, so bear with me.
I don't think I will ever write such a funny story again. This was truly painful and difficult! After this, I'll be going back to angst and romance and leave the funny to Karen!
The Fox and the Raven
Toronado galloped across the flat, dusty valley toward the Indian camp. Victoria had left to deliver welcomed supplies before he, as Diego, could offer to accompany her so Zorro was going to make sure he escorted her safely back home.
With the alcalde's edict preventing Indians from coming into the pueblo, they needed all the help they could get. Victoria had persuaded some merchants to trade on the outskirts of town, but many feared the alcalde's wrath, so the Indians were left to fend for themselves, without the benefit of trade.
Indian children skipped around Victoria's skirts as she helped the braves unload her wagon. Zorro smiled proudly as he slowed Toronado to a walk and approached the crowd slowly.
"Zorro!" A child cried and Victoria's eyes lit when she saw her masked love.
"Zorro!" Victoria shot him a warm smile that made his heart race.
"Señorita." The masked man dismounted his stallion and took his lady's hand. Slowly, reverently, he placed a kiss upon her palm. "Your beauty could cause the most chaste man to reconsider his vows."
Victoria blushed prettily as the chief, whom Zorro had met a few times before, and whom Diego had also met, approached them raising his hands in the traditional sign of welcome for his people.
Zorro returned the gesture with a respectful nod. "Chief Helaku, good to see you again."
"And you, Zorro. To what do we owe this honor?"
"Ah, I heard of the señorita's trip and wanted to provide a safe escort on her journey home." Zorro's eyes twinkled as he took in the sight of his radiant beauty.
Chief Helaku smiled down at Victoria, "An honor it is to be loved and protected by such a brave man."
Victoria smiled, embarrassed. "Yes. It is."
They were interrupted by any further discussion as a young boy walked by them, surrounded and followed by his peers.
"Ah, it is time for Sahale to begin his quest." The Chief smiled warmly as the tribe's shaman blessed the boy for his journey.
"Quest?" Zorro asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes. Before coming of age, each member of the tribe must go into the forest, meditate, become one with the land. Only then will their totem reveal itself to him."
"Totem?" Victoria asked, her eyes darting from the Chief, to Zorro, to the Indian boy walking away from the settlement.
"The way of a totem is something you aspire to - rather like someone who aspires to live according to a code of honor," Zorro answered from memory, much to the surprise of the Chief.
"Yes," said the Chief, a proud look in his eyes. "The ideal which a totem calls you to pursue is reflected in the totem's nature."
Zorro nodded and continued, his attention focused entirely on Victoria, much to the Indian Chief's encouragement, "The Indians believe that their personal totem animal gives them protection, guidance and power, while hunting, in battle and while on spiritual quests."
The Chief turned proud eyes on the masked man. "You know much of our ways, Zorro. Have you met your totem?"
Zorro glanced toward the young brave, nearly out of sight now as he walked toward the mountains in the distance. "I've read much about the totem, Chief Helaku, but I'm not quite sure I believe that one takes on the attributes of their chosen animal."
"Ah," the Chief grinned, "but you do not choose the totem, he chooses you."
Zorro nodded. "Yes, so I've heard."
"If you would like to find your totem, I can prepare you for your journey." Helaku smiled hopefully at the masked man.
"Ah," Zorro shook his head and declined graciously. "I'm afraid I don't have time this evening. I need to escort the señorita safely home."
"Oh, I can wait!" Victoria, having paid close attention to this fascinating tale, wanted to know what Zorro's totem would be.
"The journey in which a totem chooses his master is not a quick one. It can take several days for a totem to appear and approve of you." Helaku smiled politely down at Victoria.
She nodded slowly, disappointed. "Oh."
"Perhaps I will return then, and we will see what kind of totem would feel comfort in the presence of a masked man." Zorro grinned, careful not to mock the Indian's ways.
"I will look forward to it, Zorro." Helaku said. "I am eager, also, to know what animal would come to your side."
"A fox, of course!" Victoria stated confidently, as if it would be any other animal.
"Perhaps," the chief said solemnly, "perhaps not."
"It was a brave and kind thing you did, bringing the supplies out here today." Zorro sat beside Victoria in her wagon, Toronado's reins tied loosely to the side.
"Well, I can't let the alcalde's . . . edict," she said the word as if it were a curse, "cause these people to go without supplies for the winter."
Zorro pulled the trotting mare to a stop and turned to Victoria, clutching her hands in his. "Please promise me you will not make another journey out here alone. The road is far too dangerous," he gave her a wry smile, "and I can't be everywhere at once."
Victoria fought back the rising ire. She was a grown woman and was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. But as she looked into his beautiful, concerned blue eyes, she relented. It was nice to have someone care about her safety.
"When I can't come with you, ask Don Diego or his father to accompany you?" Zorro asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.
It wasn't often he made a request of her, and when he did, that request usually had something to do with her wealthy friends.
"If I didn't know better, Señor," Victoria's eyes sparkled with mischief, "I would think you're trying to see to it that I spend a lot of time with the de la Vegas."
Zorro blinked rapidly, trying to find a suitable retort. But then he smiled a warm and caring smile that sent a tremor of pure longing down Victoria's spine. He lifted a gloved hand and cupped her cheek. "Don Alejandro thinks of you as a daughter."
Victoria fought the blush that crept along her cheeks and leaned into his gloved hand. "Well, my love, for that to even be possible, I would have to be married to his son."
A small grin turned the corner of his lips. At least she didn't say the words with a disgusted air as she had in the garden so long ago. "I do believe that was a suggestion I'd made at one point, did I not?"
Victoria blinked and pulled away. This conversation was not going as she had anticipated. "And your – your feelings on that matter haven't changed? I – I thought we shared certain –"
"We do, querida." He placed a gloved finger on her trembling lips. "They are good people, the de la Vegas. They can give you so much more than I ever could." He let his eyes drop, hoping that she would understand his words.
"I don't want what they can give. I only want you." Victoria embraced him tightly, pressing her cheek against his shoulder.
"Never turn down assistance when it is offered, querida," Zorro whispered into her hair. "It could come from the least likely of places and surprise you when it does."
A few days later, Diego pulled Felipe into the cave.
"Tell my father I'm going to Santa Barbara for a few days."
Felipe's eyes narrowed and he signed a few quick comments.
Diego chuckled. "I'm going to take Chief Helaku up on his offer to teach me about their totems. I've read a lot about them but they are steeped in a great tradition I would like to learn more about."
Felipe nodded slowly as Diego began to change into Zorro's clothes.
Not more than five minutes after Diego had gone, Felipe heard his father calling. The mute waited a moment before ambling into the front part of the hacienda, where Alejandro was sure to come across him.
'Ah, Felipe!" Alejandro was careful to step around the front of the mute so as not to startle him.
Felipe looked up with a wide smile.
"Have you seen Diego?"
Felipe signed the instructions he was given.
"He's gone to Santa Barbara? Again?" Alejandro's brows knitted together. "He's been spending an unusual amount of time up there." A thought popped into his head, making the older man smile widely. "Ah, maybe he's courting a lovely señorita!"
Felipe frowned as Alejandro stepped away, rubbing his hands together. "Yes. Yes. That must be it! Well, it's about time!" Alejandro turned back to Felipe and clasped the boy on the shoulder. "I'm not getting any younger, you know! I'd like to live to see my grandchildren!"
Felipe shook his head, trying to dissuade Alejandro from this train of thought but the man was too excited to hear anything else. He walked off, happily mumbling about grandchildren.
Zorro was welcomed with much enthusiasm as he rode into the Indian village.
Chief Helaku greeted the masked man warmly and bade him to enter his lodging.
"So, you wish to meet your totem."
Zorro nodded, taking a seat and crossing his legs in the customary position. "I do. This tradition fascinates me and I would like to learn more about it."
"It is no easy thing."
"I will do what is required of me," Zorro assured.
"You must retreat to a secluded place and fast from food and water." The Chief glanced at the sword fastened at the masked man's waist, "and you must leave all weapons behind." The old man lifted a small supple leather bag from around his neck and pulled open the string holding it shut.
Zorro watched as the old chief dropped many dark, smooth stones into his hand and offered them to the masked man. "You must place these in a circle and sit within. You will meditate and during this meditation you will be visited by animal spirits of all shapes and sizes. Finally, one will come forward – your future totem animal."
The Chief took a horn filled with unidentified liquid and gave it to Zorro. "Drink until it is gone. It will be your only liquid until you return."
Zorro took the horn and lifted it to his lips. He closed his eyes and drank deeply of the sweet liquid until it was gone.
The Chief regarded the masked man with a serious stare. "Are you ready for this task?"
"I am."
"Then go and do not return until your totem has found you."
Zorro rose slowly and the Chief's eyes slid to the man's sword belt, "No weapons."
Zorro unfastened the baldric. "I will leave it with Toronado."
The Indian chief nodded and exited the lodging, bidding Zorro to follow.
Zorro followed a path he knew from previous travels, up the side of a mountain and into a small clearing that was little bigger than he was tall.
"Well, this looks like a good place to begin."
Zorro placed the stones in a circle and then sat within them. Closing his eyes, he began to meditate. Almost immediately he could hear a loud ka ka overhead. He opened his eyes and searched the sky but could see nothing. Returning to his meditation, Zorro's mind sank into a deep, peaceful nothingness.
A white world surrounded him, full of sunlight and life. Laughter, in the distance, but there nonetheless, filtered through his waking dreams.
His first thoughts were of a happy and content life with the woman he loved, filled with many loud, beautiful children. For countless minutes, or was it hours? he let his mind focus on the scene.
But, soon a large black stallion galloped up to him and in his mind's eye he could see himself reaching toward the dark muzzle. But his hand passed through the animal as it disappeared into the fog. Time and again, Toronado would approach but disappear as Zorro attempted to touch him. After an uncounted amount of time, the masked man stopped reaching for the stallion – and he stopped appearing.
A cougar stalked around Zorro's sitting form and then a deer. An eagle flew right at the masked man and as he reached up to protect his eyes, the bird sailed right through his arm. A bear ambled forward and Zorro fought the rising urge to back away. A snake slithered around the circle, hissed and then lunged –straight through the masked man's leg.
Zorro could feel his heartbeat quicken but regardless of his fear, something kept him still, unmoving.
A butterfly fluttered above him and he tried to catch it, but his hand passed right through the feathered body. A dog barked at Zorro and then launched himself at the masked man, but this time he didn't even flinch and the four-legged body sailed right through him. A white dove beat its pretty wings in front of his eyes and he watched it carefully, waiting for it to come closer. But it flew away, leaving the masked man with a strong sense of loss.
An ant moved slowly towards him and Zorro watched in fascination as it was stomped into the sand by a large, formidable mountain lion. By now, Zorro knew not to fear these images – for they were only spirits of their more earthly selves.
A scorpion skittered close to Zorro and he resisted the urge to flinch. It cracked its pincers at him before vanishing into the ether. A coyote padded stealthily around him, sniffing his body. Zorro found himself wanting to reach for the animal but resisted, knowing that it would only vanish into the fog. A wolf bounded out of the trees and growled at him and this time he lifted his hand, only resisting the urge to touch the animal at the last moment.
Finally, came the timid little fox, shy and scared. It tiptoed around his body and Zorro smiled. This time, he reached out to it and it stepped forward, sniffing his hand. When Zorro moved to touch the animal, it, too, vanished beneath his fingertips and into the fog.
An audible gasp slipped from Zorro's lips as he felt himself being pulled away from his vision. One more time, he heard that loud screech again. The one he'd heard when he'd first began his meditating. Ka Ka, it called, closer now.
Zorro opened his eyes and above him flew a raven, black as night, with golden eyes that bore into his very soul. He inhaled sharply as the vision tilted, preparing to thrust him from it. At once, Zorro raised his arm and the raven stretched its wings, diving toward the outstretched limb. Large, sharply-taloned claws wrapped around its perch and a large beak opened to emit another series of loud ka ka's before Zorro collapsed, his world turning upside down, his vision going black.
Zorro's eyes snapped open and he found himself lying flat on his back, staring up at the star-filled sky. He shook his head and sat up, noticing that he had fallen asleep and disturbed the rock circle in which he had been sitting. Resting quietly in a tree overhead blinking down at him, he could see the eyes of the last creature he saw in his dreams – a Raven, black as night, with glowing golden eyes.
TBC
Chapter Notes: The animals used in the dream were chosen for their similarities to my view of Zorro/Diego's personality. Below is a list of the animals and the powers they grantedThe meanings can vary greatly between Indian tribes so the below list is simply an overview.
Cougar - Power, Swiftness, Balance
Deer- Gentleness, Compassion and Kindness
Eagle -Spirit Connection to Higher Realms, Courage
Bear -Gentle Strength, Introspection and Dreaming
Snake -Power, Life Force, Sexual Potency
Dove -Love, Gentleness and Kindness
Dog - Protection and Loyalty
Butterfly -Self Transformation, Balance, Grace
Scorpion -Defense, Self Protection, Biting Truth
Coyote -"The Trickster" , Humor, Charm, Folly of Self-Deception and Survival
Wolf -Teacher of New Ideas and Wisdom, Intense Loyalty with Balance of Independence
Fox-Camouflage, Adaptability and Integration
Mountain Lion- Wisdom and Balance in Leadership
Raven - protector and savior. A provider and a thief. A hero and a fool.