A bird's song woke Atlantis from her slumber. She blinked against the morning sun as she slowly sat up. It was warm and comfy even though she had been sleeping under the sky.
"Good morning," Cloud Dancing's voice was heard. She looked up at Cheyenne medicine man and replied, "Good morning, Cloud Dancing."
"Did you sleep well?" he asked, sitting down beside her and adding more wood to the fire.
"I can't remember when it was the last time that I slept so soundly," whispered Atlantis. "Thanks," she added, accepting a bowl with food from him.
Cloud Dancing smiled, happy to see Atlantis more at ease. He knew that she had a long way to go, but this was a good start.
They sat in silence for a while, watching the fire and then Atlantis decided to ask what was on her mind since last night, "What's a vision quest?"
Cloud Dancing took one more sip of his tea before he looked at her and started to explain, "A vision quest will join your body and soul again. It will help you find your way."
"What do I have to do?"
"Just sit down and try to connect with yourself. We will put you in the circle. You have to be alone there, for few days, but nothing can harm you when you are in the circle. You will listen to the animals; they will tell you if something is wrong. The coyote can tell you that someone is coming."
Atlantis' eyes widened in fear, "Coyote?"
A small smile lifted the corners of Cloud Dancing's lips as he remembered who else reacted this way a few years ago.
"What if it rains?" Atlantis asked.
"You will stay in the circle."
Atlantis contemplated what was said to her: to sit all alone for days, allowing who knows what kind of beasts and people coming closer and she wasn't allowed to move…to be soaked wet if it rained.
She shook her head, "I'm not so sure about this."
Another similar reply was here. Cloud Dancing could see now that Atlantis and Matthew were meant for each other. "You won't be alone. I will be close by, watching that nothing will happen to you."
Surprisingly, these words calmed down Atlantis' nerves. She watched as Cloud Dancing took something out of his bag and handed it over to her. It was an Indian dress.
"This was my wife's dress she wore at the ceremonies. Wear that in the circle, and Snow Bird's spirit will also watch over you."
Before these words were said, Atlantis admired the material and the way the dress was made and decorated. But hearing what Cloud Dancing said she looked up, surprised. She'd heard about Cloud Dancing from Colleen and Matthew and knew very well that his tribe was massacred at Washita, and among those people was also his wife, Snow Bird. She knew that Cloud Dancing and Live In Hopes were the only survivors. She knew that the medicine man was alone since that day, and she couldn't even begin to imagine the pain he was feeling because he lost his family.
And now, he was giving her his wife's ceremonial dress to protect her during her vision quest. That kind of goodness caused Atlantis' soul to shiver and her eyes filled with tears. "Cloud Dancing, I can't accept this."
"Yes, you can and you have to. While you are away, my son's necklace is in the hands of your son. Walks On Clouds' spirit will protect your son and Snow Bird's spirit will protect you. That is the way it should be so you can find your way back to your son and Matthew."
At hearing Matthew's name, Atlantis felt her blood rising into her cheeks and she quickly looked down at the beautiful dress. Nodding, she whispered, "Thank you."
And with those words, she was ready to go on a vision quest.
Matthew stepped into Horace's office and looked around. "Horace?"
The tall man showed up behind the counter, "Matthew, what can I do for you?"
"I was just wondering: did any telegrams arrive?" asked Matthew, holding his gloves tighter with his fingers.
"Still nothing, Matthew," Horace said. "I'll let you know as soon as I get something."
"Thanks, Horace, I appreciate that," said Matthew, letting out a small frustrated breath. It was four days already since he sent the telegram; he was hoping that by now he would get an answer…
But, twenty years is long time, he thought.
He waved his goodbye to Horace and stepped outside.
Maybe they still haven't seen the notice in the newspapers. Perhaps he should send another one.
He went toward the church, deciding to take a walk. Little Matthew was with family Sully at Grace's Café, having lunch.
His steps took him across the small bridge and he stopped on the meadow, looking up at the hills…He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
I hope that you're feeling better, Atlantis.
Atlantis looked around herself, her fingers taking a stronger hold on the bear's fur she was sitting on. Three days had passed without a sound or some animal or man coming closer. Last night, the sky had opened and it rained like it would never stop. For a moment, she wanted to give up, but something didn't allow her to do that.
She was soaked wet, yet it was good to feel the rain on her face. It felt like it washed away all the tears and worries from her skin. Well, almost…
She fell asleep at dawn, covering herself with the fur. She didn't know how long she had been sleeping when a growl woke her. She gasped in fear as she recognized the sound of a mountain lion.
Frantically, she looked around. Nothing. She started to relax, thinking it had just been a dream when she heard a growl from the other bush. Gasping she turned there. Still nothing.
Then, all of a sudden, the earth started to vibrate beneath her.
She was pale with fear. Nothing was to be seen, yet a feeling of unease and panic rose up inside of her.
Nothing can harm you when you're in the circle.
"Cloud Dancing?" she wanted to call for him, yet it just came out as a whisper.
And before she could open her mouth and try again, her eyes widened with horror as she saw what was coming towards her.
A herd of horses. A stampede. The earth felt like it would crack. They were running straight toward her.
She tried to move, but for some reason she couldn't. Panic and fear consumed her as she watched the horses coming closer and closer toward her.
Only a few meters away now… She gasped in fear and closed her eyes, shielding them with her hands.
But instead of darkness behind her eyelids she saw a fog… and the face of her son as he ran around Matthew's homestead, chasing the chickens and shrieking with laughter… She was totally unaware of the smile that showed up on her lips.
And then she saw Matthew's face.
I hope that you're feeling better, Atlantis.
An eagle cried above her head, high in the sky, and Atlantis opened her eyes. She was alone on the sunny meadow. No horses, no earthquake.
Just herself.
And she was ready to go home. Back to her son… and to love of her life.
"You're ready now," she heard Cloud Dancing's voice. She stood up and turned around, surprised to see her friend.
He helped her to step out from the circle and when she did, Atlantis whispered, "I don't know how to thank you."
Cloud Dancing softly smiled, placing his hand on Atlantis' shoulder, "No need to thank me. It was Matthew's love that led you through this. You don't know this, but years ago, Matthew was on the vision quest and you just had exactly the same vision as he had."
Atlantis' eyes widened in surprise, "I did?"
Cloud Dancing nodded, "Yes. The rain, a mountain lion's growl, waking you up, the stampede of horses, the earthquake."
For a moment, Atlantis was totally confused. How does he know all this? I didn't tell him about my vision.
"The spirits have shown me that Matthew's love will lead you through this. And your love for him and your son. It was their faces that snapped you out. The people you love will stay beside you through every heartache. You saw that just as Matthew did. That is why you two are meant to be with each other."
Atlantis swallowed her tears, her heart thumping faster.
Matthew closed the door of the house, slowly so as to not wake up little Matthew. He grabbed a bucket with water and went toward the barn to give it to the horses. He caressed the horse's neck as his faithful companion drank and then began to unsaddle him. And as the saddle hit the fence, he heard the barn door opening. Turning around, he felt a stone falling of his chest.
"Atlantis," he whispered, rushing toward her. She flew in his open arms and hugged him tightly around his shoulders. Matthew closed his eyes, sending a prayer of gratitude that she came back to him.
They would get over every obstacle on their way… She was back.