Chapter 10: The Run
The next day came around and there were happy faces were at the breakfast table. Eggs, bacon and many other foods were at the table. Joaquin was wearing a necklace that neither Hana nor Yuki had ever seen before. Woven string with a topaz pendent at the center and with claws of a wolf around it attached to the strings. Yuki went along with the question.
"Hey Valero san, what kind of necklace is that?" Yuki asked. Joaquin looked at it and answered.
"It's a necklace my grandmother made for me when I was joining the army. She said it would protect me, she had the shaman bless it for me before I left." Yuki listened as he explained some of the traditions of the Navajo. She then came to the question of his life as a wolf among the Navajo.
"Valero san, what do Navajo think of wolves?" Yuki asked, Joaquin remembers many stories told by his grandfather who mentioned the cunning and wisdom of wolves. How they would offer guidance and even help the people. There were also stories of trickster wolves. All in all, it depended on an individual stand point.
"Well, there's many ways to think of them, good and bad. Wolves are seen as sacred as well as careful. It really depends on what one believes." Joaquin explained. Hana liked that answer because it showed how he was seen. Sacred and protected, she wished Yuki and Ame had that chance to see that wolves are good in other cultures, maybe even be born to them rather than live in fear in Japan.
"So what do the people consider you back home Valero san?" Yuki asked.
"Well, some of the people know what I am and consider me to something of two spirits. They looked at me as sacred and at times a sign." Yuki found that interesting, especially being a sign.
"What kind of sign?" Yuki asked.
"Well, a sign of hope and divinity." Joaquin responded.
"You mean like a god?" Yuki asked.
"No not really a god, more like a symbol of the spirit world existing and a relic of a time before the colonization of America. When the people could hear, see and talk to spirits, especially to Spider Woman." Joaquin said. Yuki found it interesting and was more intrigued. She felt that his land would be better to be the both sides that she is, that she wouldn't have to hide what she is and maybe even be revered as something as sacred and even up to a goddess status.
"Ok Yuki, no more questions right now, finish your food." Hana requested. Both Yuki and Hana were finding this information very interesting. They wanted to see his home and maybe even see if life would be better there. Maybe even Ame would want to come and live where he wouldn't have to make a choice, but rather come and go as he wanted to be. After breakfast, they worked around the house a little. Joaquin was sweeping the outside floors when his cough came back stronger than before. He used a rag to cover them and hid the bloody rag under the rest of the laundry. After a couple of hours, the girls decide to head to the market. They made a list of things they needed and were ready to head out.
"Valero san, we're heading to the market, do you want to come?" Hana asked. Joaquin was still feeling the effects from his hidden ailment.
"Nah I'll stay and hold down the fort. Besides, you two need girl time and less of me." Joaquin said jokingly. Hana and Yuki agreed and went on in the jeep. After a half an hour, he felt much better and decided to go outside. He took in the fresh air and felt stronger. He all of a sudden had a need to run, so he did. He started at a steady pace then began to pick it up, as he got faster and faster, he began to take the wolf form and went even farther into the woods. Jumping over large rocks, quick turns on paths and eventually reaching a cliff that could oversee the whole valley, vast, green and wet like the some of the valleys he witnessed back home. He even gave a howl to let the animals know he is no stranger. He then heard another howl that was pretty close by, so he decided to investigate. He approached a tree with exposed roots at the bottom along with rocks at the bottom, but the culprit wasn't there. He then proceeded to leave; he then saw a creature in front of him, a wolf with blue fur. Joaquin couldn't believe it, a wild Japanese wolf. They stared at each other for a little while, and then the blue wolf made a nudge with head and invited him for a run. Joaquin took the invitation; they headed to the river near a waterfall. Joaquin wanted to say something, but wasn't sure what to say.
"So tell me Valero san, what brings you to my forest?" Ame said. Joaquin couldn't believe his luck in finding a wolf that spoke. Joaquin looked at him with amazement, then answered subtly.
"I just felt like running. It was like the forest called me and then I answered to witness it and to hear what the forest had to offer." Joaquin answered. Ame found the answer interesting, then Joaquin asked.
"How do you know my name?" Joaquin asked. Ame looked at him and grinned.
"I have my ways of knowing. This forest tells me many things." Ame replied. Joaquin was still confused on who this wolf was. Then he looked back on his memory and realized that Yuki had a brother, could it be possible?
"I see, Ame." Joaquin said. Ame looked at him with shock then subtlety. Joaquin then put it together, Ame chose the wolf while Yuki chose the human.
"Now then next question. What is going on with you and my mother?" Ame asked. "And don't worry, I'm not one to judge, just curious." Joaquin looked back on that as well. He felt something building up but kept a low key.
"What's there to tell? Me and her are friends, she helped me in a time of need so I figure I just return the favor." Joaquin replied.
"I see, you are good help around the house and garden. I thank you for helping her. She's all alone in that house; I always kept an eye on her to be sure she is ok." Ame said. Joaquin thought about what he said and asked to improvise.
"You miss her don't you?" Joaquin said. Ame thought about it and agreed.
"I do her and Yuki. I feel I want to come back, but I have chosen to be the guardian of the forest. I can't just leave it." Ame replied. Joaquin still didn't understand why. He then proceeded to tell about power.
"You know, we all have power. It's an entity that never leaves us; you for example have the power of the guardian. I have huge respect for that. You also must realize that you have a different power as well. The power to walk in two worlds." Joaquin explained. Ame took this to the heart and began to understand that part.
"Valero san, let me ask you something. What did you choose? Wolf or man?" Ame asked. Joaquin looked at him with a bit of a mystic look.
"You know, I asked my grandparents that one time when I was a child. My grandfather looked me in the eye and said 'Joaquin, you can't separate the two from you, you were given the ability to walk in two worlds, use it. Because Joaquin, what the hell is wrong with being both child?' That's what my grandfather told me." Ame couldn't believe his answer. Here is a man who chose both.
"What do you mean walk in two worlds?" Ame asked.
"You and I have the ability from Spider Woman to walk in two worlds. Spider woman made everything and gave some more. The world of man and the world of the forest. There are others as well. The spirit world where she resides." Ame began to want to hear more. Joaquin started telling him about the Navajo ways and about being both and able to live a life. Ame took every word to heart. Hours passed and Joaquin decided to take leave.
"Wait Valero san, are you ok?" Ame asked.
"Yea why do you ask?" Joaquin replied. Ame felt life slipping from Joaquin bit by bit.
"I don't know, I feel your hiding something that you don't want others to find out. It's not meant to harm others but it is harming you." Ame said. Joaquin knew what Ame meant. He reassured him and Ame decided to get off the subject and let Joaquin on his way. Ame had a lot to think about what the newcomer said. Joaquin made back a few minutes before the girls got home. When they did, he helped put away the groceries and relaxed for dinner to be ready. Hana and Yuki wondered what Joaquin did today and told them about the run in the forest, but left out the part about Ame until it was time.
"Did you see anything else in there?" Hana asked. Joaquin decided to tell.
"Well, lets just say Ame misses you all." Hana and Yuki couldn't believe that Joaquin met him let alone talk to him.
"YOU FOUND AME?!" They said with excitement. "How is he? Is he ok? Is he doing well?" Hana and Yuki said
"He's fine, we just talked and I left." Joaquin said. Yuki got up and went outside and began to call Ame to come home. No response, Yuki then began to tear up. Hana was dumbstrucked, how was Joaquin able to find him?
"I just ran into him, it was just fate I guess." Joaquin replied. Hana felt it was more but left it alone for now. She then called Yuki back in and got dinner ready. It was silent until bed. Hana before going to sleep came up to Joaquin and thanked him for talking to Ame. Joaquin knew it was just an accident, but took the gratitude out of respect. He could tell that Hana wanted her family back.