And here's the eight chapter of this story. Wolfsong

Life Happens chapter eight: Settling In

Six years after she and her mother had moved into the village with Grey Wolf, Earth, or Morgana as she now called herself, was busy packing. She had graduated from private school with honors, and had been accepted to Harvard Law due to her grades and credits as a law student, and thanks to student loans and grants. She was to move to Massachuset before the first semester started. She didn't want to leave her mother, father, Water, or her grandfather; or the land that she loved. The land she was connected to. But this would give her the chance to help her tribe in a greater scale. After graduating from college, she could become a lawyer and help bring their land back from the government. She had to do this.

She had packed everything from her favorite sleeping hides, to her dream catcher the medicine man had made her, to the legs and antlers of her first official kill. She even took the handmade bridle last used on Ravenhold. It had never touched another horse. It was sacred to her.

She looked around the tipi. Nothing of her left in here. It would go to another family until she returned. If she returned. She stepped outside, looked at the exterior, memorizing every detail. Two of the young warriors, younger then she, took her larger bags and placed them atop a mount. She would walk and carry the smaller one herself. Her bow and quiver had already been packed, and the small knife Wolf had given her was strapped to her waist. Water, Chief Whispering Wind, and her mother and father walked over to her.

"May all the spirits watch out for you, Earth," Water blessed and hugged the young nineteen year old. Quickly she walked away, hiding her tears. She would not say goodbye. The chief was next.

"You have not had the best life, but you have become a fine young lady, and a wonderful Cherokee because of it. Be blessed, Nature. Never forget who you are. You are Nature herself." He hugged his granddaughter then placed a bundle of leather in her hands, and walked away. She opened the package. Two leather arm bands with a small amount of fringe were inside. She placed one on each arm, feeling the pride and strength of her people and their chief.

"Are you ready, Earth," her mother asked, her voice not wanting to ask the question. She nodded her head. Spotted Fawn and Grey Wolf mounted their horses, took the lead from the young warrior, and they left for the city, Earth on foot.

Two days later they reached the outskirts of Colorado Springs. They stopped, unloaded her bags and said their farewells. Earth's other siblings had been left with friends at the village. Her mother was crying.

"Don't worry, mom. I will return as much as I can. I will not leave for ever. But I feel I must do this." They hugged tightly.

"I know, my daughter. This will be the first time we've been separated since you were born. It will be lonely without you." She cupped her daughter's face in her worn hands. "I love you, Earth. Always remember that."

"I will." Morgana was close to tears.

"And never forget what you are," Grey Wolf stated, now the one hugging her.

"A mutant," she said confusedly.

"A Cherokee," he replied bracing her shoulders. "Bring pride to your people."

"Thank you,...father." She hugged him again tighter. He and her mother along with Water had been the only constant things in her life. Now they would not be there physically to run to. But their love would be. "I must go," she said through the tears.

"Here. Take these with you." Fawn handed her a bag. She took and opened it. A pair of knee-heigh boots made of the finest deer hide with fringe around the top and a matching top and skirt were inside. Earth was in awe.

"They're beautiful. Thank you." The tears were returning.

"Your father made the top and skirt, and the boots. I just put the fringe on." She smiled through her tears as well. "You may not be able to wear the outfit to class, but the boots can go everywhere."

"Just something to help you feel at home." Wolf had been making her clothes since before she was born. Morgana would treasure it.

"I love both of you. I will write...and have the birds bring you my letters," she informed, trying to get a grip on herself.

"And we shall send our own."

About that time they saw the bus coming down the road. Morgana closed the bag and threw it over her shoulder. With one last hug to each parent, they mounted up and rode off. When the bus stopped in front of her and the doors opened she picked up her bags and boarded.

The ride to the bus station wasn't long, and she made it to her next bus early. Three bus rides later, Morgana found herself right out side of Boston. With the change and card she had received from the college, she made her first phone call.

"May I speak with Rhonde Connors, please."

"Speaking," the voice answered.

"This is Morgana. Morgana Greywolf. I was told to call you once I made it to Boston," Morgana informed.

"Yes. My new roommate, right? You're at the bus station, right? I'll be down to get you. Jus' hang tight, hon." The voice was gone and a dial tone replaced it.

It was twenty minutes later when a tall woman, with the brightest red hair Morgana had ever seen strode over to her.

"Morgana?" the familiar voice asked. She heard but was distracted by the black, leather-looking miniskirt, bright pink tube top, and cheetah print jacket. "Welcome to the city, kid. You'll get use to the style eventually."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare. I've just never...This is my first time in a large city."

"You should see San Francisco sometime," Rhonde said nonchalantly under her breath.

"I'm just use to..." She looked down to herself, and back.

"No harm, sweetie. If you've got it, flaunt it. And I've got it, so I flaunt it. But don't let my appearance fool you. I'm highly intelligent." She looked over her new charge. "Now, let's get you home. My car is over here. You have ridden in a car before, right?" she asked taking one of the large bags.

"I've been on several buses recently," Morgana answered.

"Well, this is different." They placed the three largest bags in the trunk of the little compact, and she kept the smallest one with her. "Here's the plan: We take your stuff back to campus and unload. Unpacking can come later. I say we go get you some school clothes. Brown looks great on you, babe, but you need some variety."

"If you say so." Morgana had no clue about this world.

"Careful. That can get you into trouble. Now," Rhonde smiled starting the engine, "Let's shop!"

They took the bags and left them in the dorm room. They then went to the nearest, and in Rhonde's opinion, the best shopping mall in Boston. After a few hours of shopping, trying on clothes and eating at Rhonde's favorite diner they made it home around one in the morning. They placed her purchases in Morgana's room, where Rhonde left her to get settled in. With a "Class starts on Monday" and "Nighty, night" Morgana was alone for the first time since she had arrived.

She started by putting her new things in the lat three drawers of her oak dresser-she could tell what each piece of furniture was just by looking-and a few things in the small closet. When she had thrown away the plastic bags, she began on the ones from home.

First she opened the one with her sleeping hides. She placed one, a large bear skin, on top of her bed. A smaller one she took and rolled into a pillow and placed it behind her. Two more hides.

"What to do with these?" she asked herself, and noticed the pictures on the wall. "Rhonde," she yelled out the door. "Can I decorate how I want/"

"Yeah. Have at it," she yelled back. So she did.

Taking down the two pictures of fruit and finding a hammer and nails, she hung one of the hides-her first official kill- next to her bed. The other one she placed on the wall next to the door. She hung the dream catcher above the bed. After hammering a large nail in the wall, she hung Ravenhold's bridle where she could easily see it. She placed a few other things around the room, things that reminded her of home. Finally, she took out the new outfit her parents had given her and placed them in the top drawer. Settling onto the bed, another new experience, under one of her hides, she fell asleep, head cushioned on the smaller skin.

End chapter eight. 9 coming.