CW - Sorry! I meant to mention in the notes in chapter 1 that it took me far longer to set up the story than I thought so there is not much humor in the first one. There's a little in this and then the real fun begins . . . hehe
Chapter 2
Zorro sat in the circle of stones for a long while, contemplating the dream – the very lifelike vision.
"There must have been something in that liquid Chief Helaku gave me." Zorro rubbed his chin. "I've never had such vivid dreams before."
He glanced up to find the raven sitting still as could be, watching him with intense golden eyes. Zorro shook his head. "Well, time to get back." He stared up at the sky. "Looks like I've only been gone for the day."
Chief Helaku greeted him as he walked back to the camp. Children bounced around his legs and braves of all ages came out to greet the one who returned from his quest.
Toronado snorted and whickered at his master as Zorro stopped to scratch his muzzle. "Easy, boy. I'm back now."
"Welcome. It is good to see you. I wondered when you would return." The Chief bade Zorro enter his lodging and followed, sitting himself opposite the masked man.
Zorro cocked his head and regarded the Chief carefully. "What do you mean? I've been gone less than a day."
The Chief chuckled. "No, my friend. You have been gone for nearly three days."
Zorro blinked. He had been gone for nearly three days? How was that possible? Did time pass more quickly in his dreams? Why had he not been covered in dust? Sore? Why was he not ravenously hungry? Oh, Felipe was going to be more than a little upset by his little quest. Hopefully, the pueblo hadn't needed him while he'd been away.
"Before we give you some food, for it will make you tired, I wish you to tell me what the spirits showed you."
Zorro recounted every piece of the dream from his memory. It was startlingly clear and he was astonished that he could remember every little detail.
When he was finished, the Chief looked at him in silence for several moments. "I, too, had a dream while you were on your quest." He reached into a supple doeskin bag and pulled out a small pendant. "It bade me to carve this into the shape of the one who had just been introduced to his animal ally." He held out the pendant, carved into the shape of a raven in flight, and Zorro stared at it for a moment before reaching out a gloved hand.
"Our dreams were – connected?" Zorro asked, with an air of disbelief.
"Yes."
Zorro slid the pendant into his sash as the Chief continued. "It is a custom among my people to give each brave who returns from this quest a tribal name. It is most unusual, this totem that has chosen you. And by that token, I am giving you the name 'Absaroka'. It means many things to many tribes. But the common translation in your tongue is, 'child of the crow.'"
"I thank you for the honor." Zorro bent his head in appreciation. It wasn't often that a white man was given an Indian name.
"The raven has chosen you for a reason. Listen for its call. Listen for its warning. It will be your ally in battle. Concentrate and you will see through its eyes. It is a powerful totem. And a deadly one."
Zorro swallowed his instinctive response, which was to deny that this would even be possible. His intelligent mind simply refused to believe anything his science couldn't explain.
"You don't control your totem, and you can't explain him... but something deep inside you will respond to its call." The Chief paused briefly, watching the disbelieving expression pass across the masked man's eyes. "Raven is a provider and a thief. A hero and a fool. He is cloaked in midnight black. He is a symbol of dark brooding sadness, and of death, yet he brings life, and unrivalled joy. The smallest secret attracts his attention. He is a silent spy. He is many things... And sometimes he is nothing." The Chief regarded Zorro with an emotionless stare. "This is the Raven who has chosen you."
Zorro found his voice after a few moments of silence. "I understand why you regard him as a powerful totem."
The Chief stood and beckoned Zorro to follow him out of the lodging. "Be certain never to ignore its call. Listen, follow, and learn. There are consequences to every action and reaction – or to inaction."
The Chief bade him goodbye as Zorro mounted Toronado and glanced gratefully down at the chief. "Thank you."
As Zorro wheeled Toronado around and trotted out of the settlement, Chief Helaku stared after the man with a cautious grin. "Do not forget, my friend. The Raven is not as forgiving as the other spirit totems."
"So, Son," Alejandro rounded the corner to grin happily at his son.
Diego looked up from his book and smiled widely at his father. "Hello, Father!"
"Have a good trip?"
Diego didn't miss the inflection but dismissed it as nothing to be concerned about. "Oh yes. I didn't find anything I was looking for, though."
"Oh, didn't you?" Alejandro's raised a curious eyebrow and pulled a chair next to where his son sat. "There's nothing you need to tell me?"
Diego regarded his father with a confused look. "Tell you? I'm not sure I understand."
"Diego," Alejandro was unable to contain his glee. "When do I get to meet her?"
Diego blinked. "Meet – her?" Something happened while I was away. I knew I should have stayed in the cave until I saw Felipe.
"Yes!" Alejandro stared at his son. "Yes, meet her. I've finally figured out this little secret of yours!"
Diego stared at his father in stupefied silence for a moment. He'd discovered his secret! Dios, he really should have waited for Felipe!
Alejandro was clearly agitated by his son's unwillingness to be forthcoming with any information. "Have you asked her to marry you?"
Diego finally found his voice. "What?"
"Diego," Alejandro's voice honed a serious edge. "Son, I raised you better than to –" The older man gasped. "Oh! Is she of a different class? Son, you know that won't matter to me. As long as you love her."
Of course I love Victoria! Diego's brain screamed but he kept his mouth firmly closed. Something was not right here.
Alejandro's eyes turned wide as saucers as a new thought popped into his mind. "Or – no, Diego, you wouldn't."
Diego's heart plummeted into his stomach. Dios, what now? And where was Felipe!
"Wouldn't?" he squeaked.
Alejandro regarded his son with a scornful stare. "She's not married, is she?"
"Married?" Diego repeated quietly.
"Yes, married!" Alejandro exclaimed. "Son! No matter how much you love a woman, keeping a mistress –"
"Father!" Diego stood suddenly, catching his father off guard, "what are you talking about?"
Alejandro stared at his son. Perhaps he was wrong. Maybe his son was not having a sordid affair. His heart sank into his stomach and with it his recent dreams of grandchildren.
"You don't have a mistress?"
"A mis –" Diego spluttered. "Whatever gave you that idea!"
Alejandro sighed, eyes downcast. "All of these trips you've been making to Santa Barbara, Diego. There has to be a reason."
Diego hid his laughter behind his hand as he coughed loudly.
"Oh, don't mock me, Son! Am I supposed to believe you keep making these trips to check on some new scientific – thing?"
Diego swallowed the insult and dropped his eyes to mask the pain that flickered in them. "Yes, Father." Diego said quietly. "I'm sorry to disappoint you. That's all it is."
Alejandro huffed in irritation, more from his own incorrect assumption than disappointment in his son's lack of manly pursuits. The man sighed. "I'm sorry, son. I shouldn't have jumped to such conclusions without speaking to you first."
A smile tugged at the corner of Diego's mouth. "It's all right, Father. I'm sorry it couldn't be as you suspected." Diego resumed his seat and returned to his book.
Alejandro stared remorsefully down at his son and for a fleeting instant believed that there was a deeper emotion hidden beneath his son's calm exterior.
Hours later in the cave, Diego recounted his conversation with his father. He shot Felipe an annoyed look when the mute doubled over in silent laughter.
"I knew I should have waited for you." Diego muttered. "I'll not be putting myself in that situation again! It's quite clear that I need to find another excuse other than going to Santa Barbara every time I need to explain my disappearances."
Diego crossed his arms and waited for Felipe to stop laughing. "Now if you'll kindly be quiet, I'll tell you what happened. But first, I trust the pueblo was quiet while I was away?"
Felipe nodded taking deep, calming breaths.
"And Victoria?"
Felipe stood straight at the mention of her name and his eyes took on a dreamy expression. He held out his arms toward Diego in a feigned dramatic posture and wrapped them around himself.
Diego rolled his eyes. "Oh, stop it. I do not look like that."
Felipe smirked and nodded, hugging himself tighter.
Diego groaned as Felipe laughed silently for another moment and then composed himself enough to listen to Diego's intriguing tale.
Once he was finished, Diego grinned at Felipe's wide-eyed expression. "Interesting, no?"
The fear in Felipe's eyes caused Diego to chuckle. "Yes, well. I'm sure there was just some kind of hallucinogen in the liquid Chief Helaku gave me just before I set out on the quest." Diego dismissed Felipe's concern with a wave of his hand. "It's the only explanation I have for why I was unconscious for so long, and why I had such vivid dreams." Diego considered this for a moment. "Hmm, I should ask him about the contents of that drink. Such a powerful drug falling into the wrong hands could be dangerous indeed."
Felipe shook his head and gestured wildly.
"Oh, Felipe. Superstition can always be explained by science. I refuse to believe otherwise."
Felipe winced and glanced at the carved image of Zorro's totem lying on the desk at Diego's fingertips. He signed slowly, hoping Diego would understand. Insulting the totem was not the wisest of ideas, even if you didn't believe in its power.
As Diego unbuttoned his crisp, white shirt, he glanced back at Felipe, who was watching him with concern. "Felipe, think of my experience as a entertaining and informative tale we will tell our children one day!" Diego finished changing into the masked hero's guise, missing Felipe's concerned stare.
Zorro tipped his sombrero at Felipe before turning Toronado toward the entrance to the cave. "See that my father doesn't get any other wild, impossible ideas from my absence this evening. I'll be back shortly."
Felipe hugged himself and forced a dreamy look into his eyes while Zorro laughed.
"Yes, I admit it. I want to see her. And it's too late now to go as Diego. She's probably nearly ready for bed. Now stop distracting me so I can get there before she does."
As Zorro cantered Toronado across the desert toward the pueblo, he heard that ka ka screech again. Looking toward the night sky, he was not surprised to see nothing. The moon was a mere slit in the sky and there were very few stars to light the way.
Ignoring the cries, he continued on into the pueblo, unaware that the golden eyes of his spirit totem soared above him, warning him of danger.
TBCChapter Notes: In my research about the Raven totem, this, in my opinion, fit Zorro perfectly.
Raven holds a unique place in many native myths.
Raven is a creator – he is mankind's protector and sometimes savior. He brought light and fire to the early people so they would not die. He gave them salmon so they wouldn't starve. In some stories, he even brought water to break a terrible drought. He is a cultural hero.
Raven's children must understand the value of humor. They need to see the joy which pervades all living things, and bring that joy to others. They also need to develop their sense of curiosity.
So many fascinating things happen around us all the time – and raven's children want to know about all of them. They also want to bring things into the light. Some people might not want to see what Raven's brood expose to the bright light of day, though… since many people have secrets which they'd prefer to keep hidden. Those who follow Raven aren't always appreciated for what they do, but they still share a certain satisfaction at a job well done when they make someone stop and reevaluate themselves or the world around them.