Restless Spirits
Summary: While on a getaway, Angel and Calista run into someone claiming to be one of the final shamans of a sister tribe to Wolf's Valley. Curious about the shaman, Angel seeks to learn more about him and uncover what appears to be an ancient secret between the tribes.
Disclaimer: I own Angel, Nakamo (mentioned), Chief Tashtah, and Akando, as well as Mingano Village. Mara belongs to Mr. Shortman92. I don't own anything else.
A/N: Fun story about how this idea even came to be. A lot of you know that I have Choctaw blood. I also follow my tribe's group on social media, and they do a lesson of the day for the language. I won't spoil it, but the lesson that was taught that day is actually a line Angel will use later on in the story (which will make sense when the time comes). In any case, this is a change of pace from all the other chaos going on, and we get a break from that with a little Calista/Angel story line.
A/N 2: Just for reference, Angel doesn't have a specific tribal connection in real life (in my stories, he's from a fictitious tribe called Wolf's Valley), though I was inspired by my Choctaw roots and the Lakota tribe, so you'll see elements of both, including language, and many others intermingled. Just wanted to point that out. 😊 I hope you enjoy!
*Story*
"I am not sure how you got your mother or uncle to agree to this," Angel began as he and Calista were riding in Cedric's AutoCoach to their current destination, "but I am glad they were all right with it."
Calista laughed. "It took a lot of promising Uncle Ceddy that we'd take care of the coach, and promising Mum that we'd be safe and not be abducted or anything. Of course, with us both well trained in magic, I think they already knew that we'd be fine."
Currently, they were on their way to a beautiful area close to Angel's homeland known as the Mingano Village. It was settled along the mountainous pathway, flush with plenty of foliage and waterfalls that streamed into a large river, giving the inhabitants everything that they needed. Mingano Village was considered a "sister tribe" to Wolf's Valley, because the original leaders of each were said to be siblings, though without written documentation, it was hard to prove. Truth be told, it was just a story that was passed along via word of mouth, like most other legends Angel had heard his entire life. Even still, both tribes had always been close, even if it had been many years since Angel had seen it, considering his unusual circumstances.
"I cannot wait for you to see the village," Angel gushed excitedly, breaking his usual pattern of a serious and reserved nature. Of course, it only seemed to happen when he was reminiscing about his childhood or things that he held dear to his heart. "My family and I used to travel to Mingano a few times a year, but especially during the Winter Solstice. I do miss those times sometimes, but it is not the same now that I am the only one left of my original tribe."
Calista nodded, feeling a bit sad for her boyfriend. It wasn't fair that he'd gone through such a lifechanging experience, and she hated that all his traditions and family were just gone from his life. "I'm sorry, Angel."
He smiled, taking her hand. "Do not be, Chante. I have you now. You are all I need."
The young sorceress sighed, pleased with his words, before leaning against him, drifting off to sleep.
Angel's smile fell from his face as he turned and stared out the window while they flew along. A strange feeling washed over him the closer they got to the village, though he hadn't told Calista. He didn't want to worry her, after all. And besides, perhaps it was nothing… Maybe just a bit of anxious energy, knowing he would be near a location he used to frequent with his fallen family. Or maybe… He frowned. "Time will tell…"
A few hours later, close to around 2:00 PM, the AutoCoach descended and paused near the edge of a dense forest. Calista and Angel exited the coach and stretched a bit before taking in the grand scenery that lay before them.
The entire area was simply glorious. Mountains surrounded them on all sides, and the village itself was clearly carefully placed along and even over the river, which bubbled mirthfully as it rushed toward the edge of the village, spilling over pronounced cliffs to create a large, impressive waterfall, cascading to the secondary river several hundred feet below.
The main homestead that housed the tribal chief and his family (and his favorite aids, of course) was a multi-level build. There was a triple-floor entrance to start, where some of the tribe's art and tapestries were on display; a location for a lavatory on the second floor; and an empty lookout room on the top, where the aids would often sleep. The second floor of the first building produced a walkway directly over the rushing river, several primitive windows open, which offered the travelers a generous rush of air and the soothing sound of the water. The walkway led to the sitting room, where the family would gather to talk or tell tales of the past; the bottom floor beneath the sitting room was the cooking room, where a large clay pot and several other cookery items were housed. The final section of the homestead was where the family slept in individual cots (the elders on the bottom floor and the younger ones on the top). The second part of the homestead had a hefty firepit on the flat roof, where the family and other visitors would go most nights to cook and chat outdoors. The third part's roof was coated in nothing but plants, which the chief's wife spent a great deal of time tending to daily.
The homestead itself was surrounded by lush vegetation, smoothed boulders and rocks from the water, the river and its small tributaries that accompanied it, and plenty of smaller huts from the other villagers who lived there. Children were outside, running around and chasing each other along the water's edge. There were even domestic wolves playing with the children, barking like any typical dog would. The elders of the village were sitting around one of the grand fires, talking and planning, while the younger adults were working in their fields or with food or making clothing. Everyone had a part to play in the village, and they were all doing it well.
"Wow," Calista breathed in awe as she looked around, enthralled by the rush of the wind, the warmth of the sun, the aroma of the cooking… It was all so… "It's so magical, Angel…"
"It always was," he verified before smiling as he noticed an older gentleman walking toward them. "That is the current chief, I believe," he whispered to his girlfriend before respectfully bowing slightly to the man, who stopped before them, noting Calista quickly mimicked his motions. He gently grabbed her hand, squeezing it.
"Aƞpétu wašté," the dark-skinned man greeted, his voice warm and rich, a commanding tone yet still gentle enough not to frighten the teenagers away. He wore dark robes over a red and purple tunic tied about his waist, along with some blackened hide pants and matching boots. His graying black hair was tied into a half-up style, brushing just around his upper arms, a few stray feathers tucked into the thin locks. His eyes were dark like Angel's, but much more weathered due to his age. "Táku eníčiyapi he?"
"Um…" Calista was clearly confused, so she couldn't contribute to the conversation. She instead glanced toward Angel.
Angel smiled. "Angel emáčiyapi." He gestured toward the girl next to him. "This is Calista, my…"
"Your soulmate," the man confirmed, watching as Calista giggled and Angel blushed modestly. He chuckled. "I would know a couple anywhere. My wife Fala and I were destined soulmates since birth: from different sides of the Great River but meant to be one." He straightened his robes and smiled kindly toward them. "I apologize for the delayed greeting. I am Tashtah, chief of this tribe."
"My, um…" Angel internally struggled with whether he should detail his actual life story to this man, considering Wolf's Valley was no longer an existing tribal nation, or if he should modify things a bit. Noticing the wise expression that the man wore, and considering how enchanted experiences weren't too uncommon among the nations, he decided to go with the truth. "My family was from Wolf's Valley."
"O-Oh…" Chief Tashtah frowned, stroking his chin in contemplation. "From what I recalled, the last of the tribe passed away not too long ago, so how…?" He raised his eyebrows in mild surprise. "You are… You said your name was Angel?"
He nodded, feeling Calista's hand tighten in his. "I am the son…"
"…Of Chief Cheveyo?" Again, Angel nodded, and Chief Tashtah was even more stunned. "I last heard that you had disappeared as a child, and that some claimed to see you around the Cave of Flames… My grandfather was friends with your father, so… You should be…"
"Among the spirits by now," Angel reasoned, laughing softly. "It is a very long story, but Calista released me from the Cave of Flames curse, and I have been able to continue my life from my youth. Some years ago, I aged for the first time in many, many moons, and it has been wonderful."
"Is it not interesting yet miraculous how life works?" The chief grinned as he beckoned them forward. "Come, young ones. You are just in time for the Shaman's Solstice Predictions."
"The what?" Calista asked, finally finding her voice after having listened to the exchange between her boyfriend and the older man. She hadn't wanted to interrupt, and considering Angel's immense protection over his identity, she was surprised he'd told the chief who he was. Then again, there did seem to be a great deal of history and trust between them, so she assumed he knew what he was doing.
"The shaman of our tribe, Akando, is preparing to make his predictions for the Winter Solstice for next month. We must prepare, based on his revelations from the spirits."
"Is that a common practice then?" she wondered, glancing at the teen next to her.
"For many tribes, yes, including our own. It is a time of reflection and awareness, and the members of the tribe take it seriously."
Chief Tashtah led the teens into his home, up a few sets of ladders (stairs weren't available among some groups yet), and finally to the top of the second part of the homestead with the large bonfire, which was already roaring. He paused, watching his shaman in action, and held a finger to his lips when it appeared that Calista was about to say something.
The trio stood silently and observed the man before them.
Akando appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties. His dark bronze skin was smooth and made the man appear just as youthful as Angel, though there was a distinct look of maturity about him. There was a hefty brown leather band that wrapped around his forehead and tied behind his head, nestled among the heavy jet-black locks that were piled into a ponytail on top of his head, falling into a straight stream of locks just around his hips. Two tan and black feathers jutted from the top of his ponytail, and a thick braided lock woven around his hair and the feathers kept everything tied in place. From his ears dangled three different colored feathers, and a jade pendant hung around his neck. On his left ring finger was a ring made of gold and turquoise, looking every bit as heavy as the gem on his pendant. His clothing was extremely vibrant, mixed with dark and bright colors. His long shaman robe was a purple base with circles of turquoise and blue, and random colorful symbols representing birds, flowers, and feathers mixed in hues of red, yellow, green, and white. His sleeves were long and cuffed with soft pale blue material, falling over his hands. Over the robe was a black floor-length sleeveless shawl, which appeared to be made of the finest fabric the tribe had available (or they were able to trade with). His boots, though barely visible through the thick layers of clothing, were dark with encrusted jade and turquoise gems lining the surface. Lastly, his face was partially painted with a blue line down his forehead and partially over the bridge of his nose, and a few blue lines under his right eye and a triangular area spanning from the right side of his eye down to his cheek. His eyes, naturally brown, were currently a shocking (and glowing) white.
His hands were raised above his head, the fire before him shifting between red, purple, and blue, reacting to his subtle movements and hums. And whatever language he was chanting in, it wasn't one that either Angel or Calista had ever heard before…
Axi ezno Ipriu
Axi ezno Priui
Bixazho ezno iaximub
Xylanipriu ezno zinqamub
I axi lani, Priui.
Izinqa ezno timbixaxo!
"He is calling on the spirits for guidance," the chief explained. "He wants details of the season, ideas of how to handle potential issues, and things of that nature."
"And…his eyes?" Calista asked, nodding toward the glowing orbs the other man possessed.
"He is communicating with the spiritual realm," Angel answered. "It happens often in the more magically enhanced tribes."
Eventually, things calmed down, and the fire resumed its normal flickering on the wood pile. Akando's eyes soon reverted to their normal brown hue, and he lowered his arms to his sides before smiling toward the newcomers. "I sensed new spirits here," he said prophetically, focusing his gaze on the young couple. "You are outsiders, but you are not strangers."
"Angel is from the Wolf's Valley tribe," Chief Tashtah explained, folding his arms. "And Calista is his lover."
"Er, girlfriend," Calista corrected, blushing darkly as she imagined the expression on her mother's face if she'd heard that title bestowed upon her. "You know, like…his romantic partner?" Great, now they were turning into Cedric and Sofia with the whole 'partner' thing, but… Well, actually, she found the relationship between her uncle and practically future aunt so adorable.
"Ah, yes, of course… I do apologize." The chief chuckled.
"Wolf's Valley," Akando murmured, looking Angel up and down, looking as though he were trying to 'read' him. "I was led to believe that tribe no longer existed."
"It does not," Angel confirmed, a bit of bitterness welling within him at the very thought; however, he pushed it down, choosing to remain as stagnant as possible. Facts, not feelings… If he were to get emotional, it would be a terrible situation. The last thing he wanted to do was recall his unique and lonely (and far too extended) childhood, along with the death of all those he knew and loved.
"Oh." That was all Akando said, but then again, given the conflicted expression on the younger Native's face, that's all he could say. "I do welcome you to the Mingano Village, then. I do not know your reason for staying here, but I have prophesized an alliance between our tribe and another's." He smiled faintly toward Angel. "Perhaps you are the prophecy I see."
Calista placed one hand on her hip as her other one had left Angel's hand and moved to his back instead, gently stroking his hair to calm him down, since she could tell he was a bit uneasy. "That sounds like a lot of responsibility for one person, don't you think? 'You're the prophecy.' Gee, sounds like a big deal and way more to live up to than a normal person should undertake."
Akando laughed disarmingly. "I did not say that he was the prophecy, Miss Calista. I simply said that he could be." He folded his arms. "As a shaman, I see things that may be, granted by visions from the spirit guides. It is one of the grander skills I obtained when I was granted this position. The other is the healing side."
"He has healed many people of ailments in the past," Chief Tashtah confirmed. "There were two women on their deathbed just yesterday, and despite all the medicinal herbs and ointments we tried, nothing worked. Then, Akando came in, and he used what he called 'spirit nectar' and healed them both. They are alive and well, working in the fields with the other women."
"They nearly died, and you have them working in the fields already?" Calista yelped lightly as she felt Angel gently nudge her, casting her a pointed look. She grinned. Sometimes she had her mother's uncanny knack for saying potentially insensitive things at the absolute worst times. "Sorry."
"An unnecessary response," the chief chuckled. "I am aware that outsiders do not always understand our ways, and that is fine. The two women were grateful for their healing and graciously offered to return to the fields, despite their husbands' uncertainty. They actually made that call, no one else."
"Oh… Well, g-good for them." She already felt like an absolute lummox for speaking her mind, so she figured it might be best to say nothing else, or at least change the subject. Before she could try, Akando beat her to it.
"Chief Tashtah, I know you are busy right now. Perhaps I could take our visitors on a tour? I could show them the Bloom Site."
The teens frowned curiously as they saw the men conversing. Bloom Site? That was an instant question both had in mind to query, but neither did. Not after the recent debacle…
"Very well, Akando." Chief Tashtah nodded toward the young couple. "It is a pleasure to have you both here. Feel free to stay as long as you like. What we have, we will share." With that, he descended the ladder that led into the main homestead.
Akando glanced toward the visitors and cleared his throat. "We shall travel to the Bloom Site soon, but first I must get Mara."
"Oh, who's Mara?" Calista wondered cheekily, grinning. "Your wife?"
"My fliegel," he responded with a smirk, causing the other two to blink. "I am sure you are aware of fliegels, yes?"
"Of course," Angel told him. "Our friend knows one in our kingdom, though there are not many in Enchancia, that we know of."
"Mara is certainly one of a kind herself," Akando chuckled, tapping his jade pendant once.
Instantly, a young fliegel (maybe about nineteen or twenty) appeared out of nowhere, sitting on Akando's shoulder. She was between Grotta's and Chrysta's height, sitting at a happy medium. She had an interesting pink hue to her skin, and turquoise eyes that peered out from thick black lashes. Her snow-white hair fell around her waist, braided into tiny sections all around her head, a swoop of a wispy fringe falling to her eyes. Her clothing was interesting, albeit clearly very worn: a mismatched pajama set of a tattered three-quarter-sleeved plum pajama shirt with a soft purple tie on the collar, which exposed a bit of her stomach, and dark lavender pajama bottoms that might as well have been capris, cuffed on the hems with faded white lace (the same around her waistband). And like all fliegels, she possessed a pair of translucent wings, which protruded from her nearly threadbare top.
"This better be good," Mara yawned, her voice relatively high pitched, considering her smaller size, and her body twisting a bit as she stretched. "I was taking a nap."
"That is all you ever do," Akando insisted, rolling his eyes. "I am surprised you have not slept the entire moon cycle away."
"I'll 'moon cycle' you, Akando." She frowned, folding her arms, before blinking at the two teens before them. "And who are these people?"
"Visitors from another village."
"The kingdom of Enchancia, actually," Calista corrected.
"Ooh, a fancy village," Mara taunted with a grin. "Let me guess: with people wearing crowns and tiaras, fancy clothes, expensive perfume?"
"Only when necessary," Angel laughed, thinking immediately of Amber and her former obsession with the fancier things. Of course, since becoming a wife and mother, and since she was growing closer to her time of reign, she'd focused less on that and more on other important matters: like ruling the kingdom well.
Akando led the Enchancians back through the homestead and eventually outside, showing them around the village and all the different things that people were doing: some were weaving baskets, some were sorting and smoking meats, some were tending to small children, some were designing pottery… Everyone had something to do. As they moved onward, Akando pointed out the different plants that were growing and clothing some of the seamstresses were designing.
"It is like home," Angel sighed, feeling a rush of nostalgia as they walked. "My friends' families had many of the same jobs. I enjoyed watching them weave tapestries and…and paint the pots…"
Calista smiled as she listened to him speak. He rarely talked about his childhood anymore, and even less about his former friends or people from his village.
"Sounds…exciting," Mara attempted, sounding more bored than interested. "Where are we going exactly?"
"To the Bloom Site," Akando told her.
"Yeah, what exactly is that?" Calista had been wondering that since hearing the title, because she wasn't entirely sure what to make of it.
"It's nothing special," the fliegel warned the young sorceress, yawning. "Akando thinks everything dealing with medicine is neat. It's actually very boring, even if he doesn't believe it. It's just a place where he stashes his healing potions."
"It is more than that," the shaman argued, rolling his eyes and sighing in exasperation. "But you are not wise enough to understand."
"I know you didn't just call me dumb."
Akando smirked. "You are correct." He reached up to the fliegel, affectionately stroking her hair, causing her to purr softly. "You are merely unaware, Mara… There is more to my work than you see."
Calista tapped her chin, humming thoughtfully to herself. The way he said that… She then giggled as Angel wrapped an arm around her, forgetting her train of thought.
"You said you were from a kingdom," Akando mentioned a few minutes later as they neared the Bloom Site. Seeing the teens nod, he directed his next question toward Angel: "Do you work for the royal family?"
The boy shook his head. "No, no… But Calista's uncle does, as the royal sorcerer. I merely reside in the castle now, thanks to the kindness of the royal family."
Calista smiled, still very much appreciative of that fact. It definitely made seeing her boyfriend easier, rather than waiting for him to travel back from one of the villages.
"Have you considered seeing if they need a royal shaman? The role is less common now, but many kingdoms could do with such a position."
Angel gasped softly upon hearing that title. He briefly recalled his conversation with Nakamo several months ago, and how the older Native had told him that he would be glad to train him if he was interested in pursuing such an avenue. "I, um… My friend Nakamo from Carpus has mentioned that before…"
"Nakamo? I remember him." Akando frowned as he stopped, Mara vacating his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his neck from behind, leaning against his back instead. "We do not always see eye to eye, unfortunately."
Calista tilted her head. "What do you mean? Nakamo seems like a nice guy."
"Until you question him," the shaman interjected, practically sneering. "Then, brace yourself for an onslaught of insults. He believes his ways are superior to others' ways, and he sees nothing beyond his own ideals."
Angel stayed silent, pondering the man's words. That didn't sound like the Nakamo he knew. Maybe Akando was just jealous? Or easily offended? He wasn't really sure how to take this new information.
Mara groaned when she felt a light tap to her head, and she flew up, stretching in midair, before lazily flying over to Calista, her fingers brushing against the young sorceress's hair. "You have two colors of hair," she observed. "To represent good and evil?"
Calista laughed. "No… I had my mum fix it to honor my uncle, whom I love and admire very much."
The fliegel blinked as she flew in front of the other girl, dramatically placing her hands on her cheeks. "Is he dead or something?"
"No! No, Uncle Ceddy is very much alive…" She giggled. "He's…more alive now than he's ever been, actually… So…" She gestured between the fliegel and the shaman. "How did you two meet, anyway?"
Mara hadn't been expecting that question, but she shrugged as she chose to rest on Calista's shoulder instead of Akando's. "I was locked away when I was younger for causing a lot of mischief. Because you know… I'm a fliegel. We're kind of known for being mischievous…"
Akando chuckled, rolling his eyes. "I would say that is a bit of an understatement, Mara."
"Hush, Akando. Anyway, I actually did it for attention, because my parents were killed by some evil guy named Wolfy or Wolfrik or something."
Angel and Calista exchanged glances upon hearing that familiar name, but they decided not to say anything on the subject. It would probably be a bit too awkward and touchy.
"I didn't exactly have anyone after that… And then one day, some magical humans captured me when I was just a little fliegel. I didn't exactly have spare changes of clothing, and then they cursed me to where I couldn't even change these clothes, even if I wanted to!" She groaned as she gestured at her tattered apparel. "So, every time I grow, the clothes don't exactly grow with me, and they end up getting torn or stretched until they rip. I'm honestly scared that before long, I won't have any clothes left!" She glared toward the shaman, who'd smirked. "Not that it would bother Akando, of course."
"I am not that corrupted, Mara. I just find it mildly amusing…"
Angel raised his eyebrows upon hearing this information. "Out of all the magic in the realms, there is nothing that can fix that?"
She shrugged. "Not that we've tried. It's kind of crazy." She placed one hand along Calista's head, absently stroking her hair as she sighed. "Life, right? Weird!"
Calista glanced up at Mara, and she suddenly winced as she felt a strange tug on her body that she couldn't explain. It nearly sent her falling to the ground, but Angel caught her, and Mara flew up and began circling them.
"Calista?" Angel comforted her as he patted her arm. "Chante, what is wrong?" He gasped as he felt her skin growing cold, and her features were growing sickly and…skeletal…the more he watched. He glanced up at Akando, worried. "What is happening to her?"
"I…am not certain." He trailed off, muttering something to himself as he turned away. "We are almost to the Bloom Site. I should have something there to help, or I hope so…"
Angel wasn't entirely sure what it was, but there was something…strange…about the shaman and his fliegel friend. Granted, as far as he could tell, they hadn't done anything sinister or dangerous, but there was definitely something off about them. His intuition was rarely wrong, but he didn't have any way to prove anything… Choosing to give Akando the benefit of the doubt for now, for his girlfriend's sake, he lowered a bit so that Calista could climb onto his back, her cheek resting against his shoulder as she barely was able to hang on. "Hold on, Calista," he told her gently, earning a soft and pained moan. "We will figure this out…"
As they finally reached the area known as the Bloom Site, Angel stopped, still holding Calista, and stared at the location in confusion. Rather than what he'd been expecting—namely, blooms, as in flowers and plants and such—there were several open plots (which looked eerily like graves to him). There was also one solitary shrub, and all along its surface were sparkling multicolored berries. Or he thought they were berries anyway.
"Welcome to the Bloom Site!" Mara cheered as she flew up to Akando's shoulder, propping herself on her favorite spot. "Beautiful, huh?"
Calista wearily looked around. Had she not felt like death, she would have delivered a very needed sarcastic comment. "I…don't feel well…"
"That is likely due to Mara's fast-acting salve she used on you," Akando responded simply, a smirk now growing on his face. "Every time she stroked your hair, the salve seeped into your hair follicles and flowed into your bloodstream."
"W-Why would you do such a thing, Akando?" Angel asked in shock. "Y-You might kill her!"
"Oh, come now, Angel…" He laughed. "I am a shaman. I heal people…for a price." He waved one hand, summoning what appeared to be a dark blue wisp of magic, which circled his fingers like a snake. "Those women you were told about? I certainly healed them…after they did something…very pleasing for me."
Mara groaned in disgust and flew around the couple, yanking on their hair and tossing each of them into an open grave, smirking at the sound of their bodies crashing against the hard ground. "Let's just get rid of them already! They're not even from this place. No one will miss them!"
"Patience, Mara," Akando chided, grabbing one wing and tugging her closer, pressing a kiss to her cheek and making her grin. "They are clay in our hands now…"
"Calista, wake up!" The Native boy sobbed as he held the young sorceress's hands, feeling how cold they were. She was dying, and he could practically feel her life leaving her body. Angry, Angel glared up at them both, stepping in front of the weakening form of Calista. "Holabi kυt chimponna! You are a skillful liar with the tongue of a snake! You destroy hope with your silver words and your lust for power and praise…" He fisted his hands, feeling his powers welling within him, fury pooling in his heart at the reality of his love disintegrating before his eyes, her form frail and fading fast. "You will regret your existence when I finish with you…"
"It is fitting that you are both in a grave," Akando jeered with a raucous laugh. "These will be your last moments. I will see to that." He thrust one blast of magic toward Angel, smirking as he knocked the boy back into the dirt, a sharp hiss coming from his lips as he cut his leg on a jagged boulder. "Had enough, boy?"
"Keyu kisha… Washohυt issa li!" He struggled a bit as he pushed himself up to a hobbling/standing position, and after concentrating his powers into his palms, he growled and released a powerful blast toward both Akando and Mara, knocking them onto the ground, evidently unconscious. He panted, collapsing beside Calista and feeling her neck for a pulse. He sighed in relief as he felt a very faint one, and he quickly contemplated what he could do.
He knew that shamans healed. Or at least, real shamans like Nakamo did. And their healing could come from medicinal herbs, berries, chanting… Magic…? He glanced down at his hands, feeling the magic still coursing strongly through his body. Who was he kidding? He was no shaman.
"A-Angel…" Calista's breathing was labored, and her skin was so ashy and seemed to merely cling to her skeletal frame, the bones evident on her arms and legs. She was withering away. Panting a bit, she gazed at her boyfriend sadly. "I…l-love…you…"
"Calista, do not leave me!" Without thinking, he pressed his hands to her heart, willing his magic to do something—anything—to save the girl who'd saved him. To give her another chance at life, just like she had done for him. To keep her with him, just like she'd kept him with her all these years: mentally, emotionally, physically…eternally. He closed his eyes, suddenly hyper aware of the blood rushing through his ears, the wind in the trees, the sun's warmth beaming on them, even the tiny ants in the grave carrying blades of grass across the dirt… He felt his magic concentrated into one pivotal point: his palms, directly over Calista's heart.
Akando groaned as he slowly sat up, rubbing his head and frowning heavily when he noticed that there was blood on his fingers. He'd struck his head on something sharp, more than likely. He slowly crawled over to the edge of the grave, glowering down at Angel's concentrated form. "Y-You are no shaman, boy! You cannot save her! She will die! You will both die!"
Angel ignored the heated remarks and kept focusing, finally feeling a powerful surge of magic spreading through Calista. He could feel her pulse quicken, her blood flowing, her heart beating, her lungs expanding… He opened his eyes slowly, watching her skin return to a normal color, and her body revert to its normal non-skeletal form. Noticing a slight sheen to her hair, he growled and ran one hand over it, removing the apparent salve Mara had spread, which was the cause of this mess in the first place.
Calista slowly breathed deeply before exhaling, opening her eyes. She smiled tiredly as she reached up, cupping Angel's face in her hands. She could see the anger and the fear melt away as he focused on her, a look of pure adoration forming on his features. "Angel…. You saved me…" She couldn't say anything else as he took her hands, lowering down and kissing her fervently.
Mara was next to rise, and she nearly gagged at the sight of the kissing teenagers. "Ugh, human emotions… I thought you said humans were easy to kill!"
Akando glowered at her. "Most are. That boy is no mere human…" He raised his hand, prepared to strike the Enchancians down while they were distracted. "It ends now, Angel…" He sneered as the boy broke the kiss with Calista and glared up at him challengingly. "Now you die!"
"No." Angel's voice was deadly as he held up a hand. "Now I live." Instead of killing Akando (like many would have done in this case), he used his powers to freeze the man and his fliegel in place, and then he grabbed Calista's hand and transported them out of the grave.
Calista held onto Angel as she stared at the frozen forms of the shaman and the fliegel, both looking angrily alarmed. "Well… Mingano Village is lovely, Angel, but these two seem to be the ugly parts that need to be eliminated." She withdrew her wand from her sleeve and smirked at him. "Mind if I do the honors?"
He grasped her hand, slowly lowering her wand as he kissed her forehead. "There is enough evil and violence in this realm already, Calista. I have another plan instead." He tugged her along briefly before turning back to Akando, kicking him into the same open grave they'd been in, and then he tossed Mara in after him, both frozen forms lying flat on the ground, unmoving.
The sorceress smirked at her boyfriend. "I thought you said there was enough violence, Angel…"
"There is, but no one threatens my love." Satisfied, he led her back to the village, smiling as he noticed the warm blush on her cheeks.
"Akando is a disappointment to our people," Chief Tashtah lamented as he watched the former shaman being dragged across the village, over to a small hut, where several elders followed with some strange instruments. "He will be handled as a traitor, stripped of his title and his abilities, and outcast for the elements to deal with. He and his little fliegel. I am sorry you both had such a terrible experience, especially you, Angel." He sighed. "As a brother to our tribe, you deserved a better visit."
"Do not think on it anymore, Chief Tashtah." He smiled gently as the older man blinked at him. "I do not blame you. Calista and I will return someday, after Akando and Mara have been exiled, if…that is all right with you."
The man nodded, smiling warmly. "Of course. You are both welcome here any time." He placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "You have the spirit of a shaman yourself: a true healer with compassion for your fellow man. I hope you find your way in this life, Angel." With that, he stood and left, leaving the teens behind.
"What now?" Calista wondered as she and Angel sat near the rushing river, the mist from the water relaxing them.
"Now?" He took her hand, running his thumb over her knuckles. "Life is a journey, Calista. Simply choose your destination, and I will follow you."
She smiled sweetly, kissing his lips. "Let's go home."
He nodded, pulling her closer as he kissed her again before pressing his forehead to hers. "Home…is where you are."
Calista giggled. "I love you, Angel."
"Chi hullo li, Chante. I love you too."
The end
BONUS!
The weirdest epilogue I've ever written… lol After this, Akando and Mara both belong to Mr. Shortman92. Haha!
A few weeks later, Akando and Mara were on their own several miles away from the Mingano Village. They'd been exiled, but certainly not captured or arrested or anything. Tribes liked to deal with traitors in their own way, and this was no exception.
Being outcasts wasn't much of a surprise for either one, but the frustration of living off the land, just trying to survive, without a stitch of magic left? It was enough to drive anyone mad.
"When I get my powers back," Akando snarled, brushing his loose hair over his shoulders as he leaned forward to try to warm his hands near the fire, "I will destroy the entire village. And then, I will destroy that pesky couple who ruined my life."
"Our lives," Mara corrected, shivering as she tried to snuggle into his now ripped outfit, sighing in relief as she nuzzled her cold cheek against his warm chest through the fabric, their skin connecting in a surprisingly sensual manner. "Mm, our lives, Akando…"
He scoffed, shooing her away, rolling his eyes as she fell to the dirty ground, scratching her legs and arms in the process. "That is what you get for trying to take advantage of me."
Instead of sounding offended, she merely smirked up at him, her sea-blue eyes narrowing in concentration as she flew up, placing her hands on either side of his face, dragging her lips over his as she whispered, "You didn't seem to be complaining last night…"
"Mm—no. No, Mara." He frowned at her. "I am a human. You are a fliegel." He gestured between them. "We are not the same—not from the same species, that is."
"Well, neither are tigers and lions, and yet tigons and ligers still exist!" she ranted, throwing her arms up in the air.
The ex-shaman frowned in confusion. "…What?" He then smiled mischievously as he saw her fuming. "In that case, that must make me the tiger, yes? Calculating, powerful…"
She snorted, smiling dangerously at him. "Then I'm the lioness: the hunter…" With a surprisingly powerful shove, she knocked him onto the ground, hovering over him and whispering, "And you're my prey, Akando…"
The look of surprise melted off his face, replaced with one of intrigue. "Revenge can wait then…" He carefully grasped her chin, smirking. "I am all yours."
THE END