We head inside and are greeted by the cawing of crows. Their voices echoed off the metal walls, reverberating in my head. I give a deep bark and silence ensues. Their black eyes stare at me curious. I glance at each in turn. They somehow understand I'm more than I seem to be and keep quiet. "Our weary traveler has returned." Hamish says by way of greeting. "Tell me, did you enjoy yourself?" I nod. "Good. And where might Beta be? I need to speak with him as well."
"He had the twins with him." I say by way of explanation.
"We'll have to catch him next time then. Come with me." He motions for me to follow him. I glance at Mina and Ahna. They are already deeply engrossed in conversation with the remaining elders. Mina having picked up their language from the medicine man she saw over break. Hamish leads me to the conference room. The buzzing from the amulet in the tin is still there. I'm hesitant to step inside, to get close. "Does the amulet bother you?" He asks looking from me to the table where it's residing.
I nod. "The bzzzing hasn't stopped since I discovered it yesterday. Except for a brief moment when I found it. Why is that?"
"I don't know. I was hoping we could answer that. Please come closer." He grabs the tin off the table and holds it out to me. I creep slowly toward him. The bzzzing gets louder the closer I get. I sniff at it, wincing from the intense noise. Hamish opens the tin and the noise stops. I cock my head curious. He kneels down and lets me look. An ovoid piece of spotted agate lies nestled inside. Carved on it was what looked like Nordic runes. I recognized the symbol for wolf. There was a hole drilled through the top with a gold chain through it. "Do you recognize this symbol?"
"Yes. It's the Nordic rune for wolf." I answer. "But why would an ancient amulet of your people have Norse writing on it?" I ask confused.
Hamish turns the stone over. There is another rune chiseled into this surface. It looks to be a combination of three. I can make out protection and warrior but I'm not sure what the third one is. "What about this rune?"
"I'm not sure." I tell Hamish. "I only know two of the symbols. Warrior and protection."
"Can you think of a mythical creature that those two words remind you of?" I think on it but shake my head no. "What about if I tell you the third symbol stands for justice. What creature does that evoke for you?"
"If we are going with Norse tradition, it sounds like a Valkyrie to me." I respond.
"Good job Alyx. That is what it means. At least in this context. I'm not sure this is the actual rune for Valkyrie but that is what our ancestors meant when they carved this." Hamish said.
"What does a Valkyrie and a wolf have to do with each other? And what does it have to do with your people?" I question.
"That is the right question Alyx. This amulet has been handed down for many generations in our tribe. Before this country was settled, we traveled far and wide, from Mexico to Canada across the plains. One season we were run off course of our usual grounds by warring tribes and came to a vast body of water. It was there our ancestors came in contact with the Vikings. We picked up a few tidbits of magic and runic symbols from them, they were willing teachers. One of us, a young girl was especially adept at their magic and wanted to learn more. She traveled with the Vikings on the seas for many years learning everything she could. Later she became one of the greatest medicine women of our tribe. Once she had returned to us, she had a vision of a Valkyrie wolf that would be important to our tribe. This wolf wouldn't be of our people but of the Viking people. This Valkyrie would symbolize that the time had come for change. We have always known about monsters and keep them at bay in our little corner of the world. But the arrival of this wolf would mean that monsters had begun to creep back into the world at large. It was now our job to unite with whomever was fighting them and beat them back once more. I think you are that wolf Alyx." Hamish explains.
"Me?!" I squeak in surprise. "But I'm not even a Valkyrie! I'm just a wolf. And that's only because of Ahna! How could I possibly be this legend you speak of?"
"That I cannot answer. But we all believe it. The elders, Beta, Ahna and I. We watched you change that night. You sprouted golden wings before the form of the wolf overtook you. It's not so much a stretch. Wolves have always been associated with Valkyries. Why couldn't they be one and the same? It's also not a stretch that our people could be identified with Valkyries. The raven, which people often mistake for a crow, has been part of Valkyrie lore. When you were a person, you had the look of Valkyrie. Fair skin, blue eyes, blonde hair, beautiful, that spark of courage in the face of danger, in battle. Why couldn't it be you?" I stare at Hamish completely flabbergasted.
I shake my head no. "It cannot be! I'm not that important. I can't..." I trail off.
Hamish interrupts me. "The amulet has stopped buzzing. Did you notice?"
"I did. I noticed it the moment you opened the tin." I reply.
"It's never done that before. It has always buzzed. No matter who or what is nearby. The silence is answer enough for me. I believe you are her. Once we change you back, I am going to prove it to you if you still don't believe." Hamish says confidently.
"Prove what?" Mina asks popping her head into the room.
"Oh nothing." Hamish says, quickly closing the tin and returning it to the table. The buzzing returns only it's not so insistent.
She eyes him suspiciously then shrugs and continues on. "I have been talking with the elders about the ceremony tomorrow. They said you are apprehensive of me being there. May I ask why? Is it because I'm a witch or because I'm not of your people?"
"Well..." He starts to say then stops. "It's really not your business now is it?"
"Alyx is my friend." Mina says angrily before regaining her composure. "If me being there can boost the power needed to get her back then I will be there. The other elders all agree I should be, you are the only hold-out. What do you have against me?"
I look at Hamish and study him profusely. "Yes Hamish. Pray tell." I bare my teeth and growl at him. "Or do I need to get violent?"
He puts his hands up and backs against the wall. "Okay ladies. I'm sorry. Yes. I don't want you there for two reasons. One you are not my people. Two you are very powerful. What if you try and steal ours?"
"I knew you didn't trust me. Why? Your grandfather does. He took me in, is helping me find my way. He is a very powerful Shaman and instinctually knew what I needed. He saw the shadow of my supposed mother and saw I was heading down the same dark path as her. He helped me find my way to the light. I only caught a glimpse of the darkness, enough to know it's terrifying and I don't want to be a part of it. I never wanted this. If I could give some of my magic back or to you, I would. Gladly. But I'm stuck with it. What would you have me do?"
Hamish seems to consider this for a moment before answering. "My grandfather did speak highly of you after you came to see him. He asked me to seek you out. I'm a bit lackluster in the practice of magic. I don't have the talent for it you see. I'll admit it. I'm jealous. You have more magic in your little finger then I do in my whole body. As well as being a telepath." He hangs his head, a little shameful.
Mina walks over and cradles his cheek. "Hamish. I'm sorry you feel that way. Maybe after all this is over, we could talk to your Grandfather. He might know something that can be done." His two-colored eyes bore into her. "There is magic in you. Your heterochromia is indicative of that. Let me help out tomorrow.
He closes his eyes and leans into her hand. "Okay Mina. You can help. You have convinced me."
I come over and lean against them both. "Glad we got that mess cleared up. What do we have left to do Hamish? Anything?"
They both look down at me and laugh. "A talking wolf. It sounds crazy right? What will we see next?" Hamish ponders.
"Oh, there's a lot of stuff out there I'm pretty sure you don't want to see... Am I right Alyx?" She asks kneeling down to scratch my ears.
"Yeah. Some of the stuff I've seen already! Kinda wish I could give it back." I sigh leaning more into Mina, melting to the floor in a puddle of ecstasy as she scratches the right spot.
Hamish kneels down too and starts scratching my back. Soon we are all lying on the floor, laughing and relaxed. Ahna walks in. "What are you guys doing?" She hisses "The elders are coming!" We straighten up right away and Hamish is all business when they enter. Ahna pulls us out into the warehouse letting the elders converse with Hamish. "What was that all about guys?" She whispers.
"Mina and Hamish had some sorting out to do. It's all good now." I explain. "Do you know anything about what this ceremony entails? I'm getting kind of nervous about it. I expect some unpleasantness."
"I don't know. I'm not allowed to take part. I have to stand there and watch the whole thing. I'm in charge of the birds. Mina probably knows more than I do." She pouts a little.
"I really don't. I'm going to do what they say, when they say it. I'm more of a conduit to boost the amulet's powers more than anything. Have that energy flow through me so it's more directed in the directions they want it to go instead of flying around willy nilly, hitting whatever and whomever. I know with my help we're going to get you fixed right up Alyx." Mina boasts.
"Sounds like this will be one hell of a ride. I should rest up." I say.
"Yes, you should." I hear a new voice say. I turn and see the only women on the council speaking. "With Mina's help in addition to the amulet's powers I know we can change you back. The part that's still got us worried is if you are really the Valkyrie of our legends. Your time with us is far from over." She frowns. "I think we'll worry about that later. Let's everyone get some sleep. I know it's early, but we can't do anything more until the morning. Let's all make some dinner and head to bed." She whistles at the others and goes about directing everyone where to go and what to do. I head off to my luxurious bed to rest and be out of everyone's hair.
Someone had brought a BBQ grill and as they began grilling my mouth began watering again. I sure had one hell of an appetite as a wolf. The venison long forgotten. That made me think of Beta. I wished he were here if only to comfort me, reassure me about tomorrow. But I knew he had other duties to see to. When everything had been prepared, they all sat down at one of the conference tables for grace. Mina called to me; she had made me my own plate. Complete with potato salad, deviled eggs, potato chips, hamburgers and hot dogs. She even poured some punch into a bowl for me. I smiled up at her and she scratched my ears. We all ate in relative silence. Everyone was thinking and worried about what would happen tomorrow.
After people split up into small groups to talk or play cards. I sat around the poker table watching. After about an hour I was ready for bed but needed to go outside. I nudged Mina. "Come outside with me?" She nodded and finished up the hand. We slipped out into the cool, almost freezing night air.
"Wow it's cold!" Mina commented. She mumbled something under her breath and a tiny flame flicked to life at her feet. She coaxed it to a small roar and sighed at the warmth. "That's better. Tonight would be a night I wish I had fur." She smiled down at me.
"You can, can't you? I'm sure your strong enough. Can't you transform into an animal?" I asked her, excited at the thought.
"Probably. I've never tried. Do you think I should?" She asked peering off into the twilight, contemplating.
"Only if you want to. I don't want you tiring yourself out for tomorrow." I replied. Secretly I hoped she would. It would be nice to have a moment with my friend. Just her and me.
She glances at her watch and into the fading light. "I do love twilight..." She looks around and motions me to follow her. She extinguishes the flames and slips down a hill on the side of the warehouse. "I don't know if this is going to work or not. I'm not asking for any specific animal. Something warm blooded with fur and four legs is all." She takes a deep breath. "Here goes nothing." She waves her arms and begins an incantation in the language of the Eelalapito. There's a puff of smoke and standing where Mina used to be is the symbol of our university. A bobcat. "Did it work?" She asks.
I laugh as I tower over her. "What do you think?"
"Why are you so tall?!" It dawns on her. "It worked!" She exclaims standing up, her stubby tail wagging excitedly. Walking in circles she tries to see herself and figure out what she is. "Am I some kind of cat?"
"I don't know Champ. Are you?" I tease her.
"Champ?! Am I a bobcat?" She asks her whiskers quivering with enthusiasm. I nod. "How cool!" She turns her head having caught a scent. "I smell a rabbit." She says suddenly serious. "I want it."
"You go get it girl!" I whisper as I watch her crouch and slink through the grass. It's adorable. She's like a giant housecat stalking her prey. I watch from a distance giving her enough space to do her thing.
She catches it and brings it back to me. Through her teeth she speaks, "Look! I caught it! I can't believe I caught it!" Lowering the rabbit to the ground, I see it's still alive. There's not even a mark on it. She lets it go and the rabbit sits terrified. I jump and it hops of into the underbrush.
"Didn't want to eat it?" I ask.
She shakes her head. "I wanted to see if I could do it. How exhilarating!" She hops around in that weird way cats do. "Do you feel like this all the time?" She asks.
"Pretty much." I smile, a giant wolfy grin.
"Are you sure you want to be a human again... with all our hassles and emotions?" She inquires.
"What about Sam? Don't you think he'd be upset if you were a bobcat and ran off into the woods never to be seen again?" I question her, trying to make her see reason.
"I guess you're right. If we were supposed to be animals, we'd have been born animals." She sighs. "Will you chase me for a little bit at least?" Her ochre eyes sparkled in the moonlight, big as saucers.
"You got it Champ." I snorted at my own joke before I took a stance. Mina takes off running. I chase her. She may have shorter legs than me, and I catch up easily. But oh, is she sneaky. She entangles herself, teasing me. I trip over her more than once. She finally takes me down completely and hops on my chest to gloat. It starts to snow. "We should get back Mina. It's started snowing."
She glances at the sky and nods. We race back towards the warehouse. "You head up. Give me a second to change back." She says at the bottom of the hill. I race up the crest. There's a faint pop from below and Mina crawls up the embankment.
I rush to help her. "Are you OK?" I ask concerned.
She's breathing heavily, her eyelids heavy. "Just tired. I'm ready for bed now. Can you get me there?"
Hamish appears out of nowhere around the corner. "Show-off!" He shakes his head. "I'll take care of her Alyx. Will you get the door?" I scamper ahead and push the door open for them. He's picked her up, carrying her like a rag doll, cradled against his chest. He brings her in and sets her on the cot closest to my cage. I follow watching him intently. He tucks the blankets in around her. He smooths her hair and kisses her on the forehead. "Why are all the women I meet so unobtainable? This one is perfect. She's a witch and she understands magic, understands nature." He sighs. "Maybe someday."
I wandered into my cage pretending not to have heard what Hamish said. I fiddle with my own blankets rearraigning them. Ahna's got her own cot tonight, right next to Mina and me. I let out a big yawn and settled myself. Ahna waved goodnight. "I started snowing." I mentioned.
"Figures." She yawns. "Tomorrow we'll have a winter wonderland." And she pulls the covers up tighter around her chin.
Rosemarue, the women elder crisscrosses the room, making sure everyone has enough blankets and is comfortable. As she passes my cage she whispers. "Sleep well little wolf. Tomorrow we discover your destiny."
"Yeah, no pressure there." I snigger and close my eyes, drifting off into sleep.
