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| − | |There was an ojibwa tribe that called home on a northern shore of Lake Michigan. Its spring and the tribe hunters have been out hunting all day long,this is the first warm day of the season so the hunt needed to be a success as the winter food rations would not be enough to feed the tribe much longer. The sun is setting as the hunters ride into camp whistling and celebrating the rewards of this days hunt, some of the horses have limp elk bodies draped across their backs while others carry some elk and bear. The women run to meet the hunters and quickly begin to divide the meat, some for dinner, the skin and fur for clothes and blankets and some meat to be preserved. They do not waste any part of these animals. The shaman exits his tee-pee and lets out a howl, showing his appraise and gratitude to the hunters. "Tonight is a full moon and we shall have a great feast" he shouts and pounds his chest before returning to his quarters. | + | | |
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| − | I was just a small child, I had no parents that I remember. The Shaman and his wife cared for me as if I was their own. I was taught how to prepare food, make clothes, and herbal medicine from my Shaman father. He was a healer and was well respected in the tribe, I even saw other tribes almost scared of him because he was such a good healer. I am unsure of my age, I just remember on this night, the moon seemed brighter than normal, it was massive in the sky and lit up the night like the sun lighting the day. I remember laying in our tee-pee and listening to the adults celebrating as it went well into the late hours. I drifted off to sleep listening to the drums and singing, only to be jolted from a deep slumber by loud howls, growls and distant screams. My heart was beating so loud in my chest as I lay still in the teepee, not knowing what is happening outside, shadows danced across the leather canvas and loud foot steps rushed past the flap entrance. The whistle of arrows flashing past just before the flap ripped open with a bright orange glow and a dark shadow emerged.
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| − | I was scooped up, blankets and all as I buried my face in fright, all I could hear was growls and felt like I was flying, we were moving so fast. whoever was carrying me, was leaping through the air and running at a speed that was not normal for a human, I wondered if somehow I was on a horse, a dragon, a giant bird. we stopped suddenly and I was gently dropped. I layed completely still waiting with baited breath on what my demise would be, after what seemed like several minutes of no movement, I peeked out from the blankets but all I could see was darkness, I was in a forest and it looked like I was alone. I poked my head completely out from the blankets, the bright moon peeked out from behind a cloud and illuminated the forest, it was thick with tall trees, shadows whispered across the leaves. It was dead silent, all I could hear was my beating heart. I slowly emerged from the blankets, the moonlight absorbing into my soul. I feel strength and courage as I fully step out, my eyes piercing the shadows until I finally see it. An ember glowing softly, 100 yards infront of me. my eyes are straining to focus on it as I begin to see an outline of a face, its not human, but doesnt seem animal either. I take a step towards it, followed by another, the body starting to align in the shadows as I notice its a bear like creature. A faint whisper hits my ears, "you are safe here", I answer, "who are you?" the voice whispers, "I am your protector, your healer, your spirit" I glance around to see that its only the creature and myself standing here in the woods. we are having a conversation but its not in words, its only in my mind. The creature leans forward and takes my hand within its paw and rotates my hand so the palm is up towards the sky, "you are one of us" it says as it points to a scar on my wrist and then to the scar on my forehead, I knew these scars, the scar on my forehead was like no other. No one in the tribe had this same scar, it was if it was carved into my skin. "The next moon, you will see" then the bear faded into the shadows and I was left standing there alone. "what happened to my home?" I asked into the darkness, "why am I here? " I asked but there was no response.
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| − | I had no idea where I was, I curled up into the blankets and somehow I drifted off to sleep, I woke up to the sun beaming down on me and stretched as I opened my eyes to realize that it was not a dream, I was still in the thick forest but this time, I could at least see. my eyes combed the surroundings and I found an entrance to a cave. I gathered myself up with the blankets and began walking to the cave, wondering what I would find inside, was I really safe here? I'm just a girl and I have no weapon to protect myself. Once I arrived at the cave entrance, I noticed there was carvings and drawings on the walls, bears with weapons and people wearing what looked like bear skins. I glanced around again but nobody was around and proceeded into the cave, it was dark and cold but then i could see light coming from deep inside, the light almost seems to pull me in as I continued, then I could smell food. My stomach growled so loudly, I thought forsure they would of heard me. I peeked inside to see a long table with a fireplace, a kettle hanging over the fire with steam and bubbles escaping the lid. a voice inside called out, "well took you long enough, come on in and get something to eat" I looked over to see the Shaman, the one I called father. "Father", I gasped and ran to his arms. hugging him tightly, tears streaming down my cheeks as the weight of being scared lifted. He smiled and held me for a moment, "come and sit, we have much to discuss" he said and filled a bowl from the kettle and returned to the table, setting it down infront of me with a tall glass of chilled water.
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| − | his warm smile turned serious and his finger outlined the scar of my forehead, "daughter this is your home now, you must never return to the camp." his words cut my heart like a sword in a million peices, he was outcasting me, but why? "father what did I do wrong? please dont outcast me!" I pleaded and he just sighed softly, "you didnt do anything wrong my child, it is what you will become, you will be hunted and killed by the people that you loved. This scar, this is what you are. " he said and then turned to a drawing on the cave, "The people with these scars have great powers and gifts, you are a healer, I tought you everything I know. You will be a great shaman to your people. " he continued, " daughter you are a bear person, a true born berserker. You will fight many battles and you will gain the strength of a giant, I am banning you from our camp to keep you safe. You will discover your gift with the next full moon, until then, you will stay hidden here and the forest animals will protect you, they know that you will be their leader someday.
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| − | He sat down and took my hand into his, I could feel the callouses of work in his hands, tears are still streaming down my cheeks as he smiles, "dont be sad daughter, I will always be here for you and you will be a great warrior Shaman. He motions to a smaller cave opening and whispers, "I left you some gifts in there, when you are ready to figure out who you are, you will know what to do. There are also some herbs for healing, strength and some food that will last you a few days, You already know how to hunt, so I have no doubt that you will be able to feed yourself. Now, I must go before they come looking for me, I will visit again before the next full moon. " he kissed my forehead and slipped out of the cave, I sat there at the table in silence, staring at the cave drawings, the food on the table, and feeling the scar on my forehead. I was alone,,,
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| − | A few weeks passed and the full moon was coming soon, I could feel the energy growing inside of me as I gathered some herbs and began to prepare. I finally gathered the courage to enter the small cave opening to see what my father had left me. it was dark in the small room but soon my eyes adjusted and I could see, there was a sword, a knife and a large staff with some kind of ancient carvings leaning against the wall. There was a picture of a beautiful woman wrapped in fur coverings and surrounded by large and ferocious looking animals. My breath catches when I see she is holding the same staff that is leaning against the wall. What does this mean? Who is she? How did my father get this picture? Just when I was about to leave, another detail caught my attention, it was almost hidden in the portrait, the womans forehead... the scar.
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| − | I took the knife and the sword in my hands and gripped the handles tightly. The moon will be bright tonight. I look at the staff, not knowing its power. I leave it and exit the cave. The moon light wraps around me like a warm blanket on a cool night. I feel the power, the warmth, the glow. I feel so much energy, the energy is so strong that I let out a large growl and my entire shape changes into a large beast, the sword and knife are dropped as my body transformed. echoes of voices bounce off the trees in all directions and the smell of ..... everything, overwhelms me and I sprint into the woods trying to get away from the voices.. the scents.. my vision is sharp as I slow down to a walk, the sounds quieter and the scents not so strong now. I glance down at my enormous paws and sharp claws. Then I catch the scent of something unfamiliar, my nose twitches in the direction of the scent and I begin to follow it. Creeping slowly and as quietly as I can.
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| − | I slip between pines, the moon laying pale hands on my back. In the open space below, three men feed coals to a little iron beast. A wolf is tied to a post, arrow sunk to the fletch. It watches without blinking.
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| − | The change holds like a song in the chest. Then it breaks. I am weight and claw. The net falls, the spear snaps, the fire flashes and kisses dirt. When the last man sleeps, I roll the iron brazier into the creek and listen to it die.
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| − | I cut the rope. The wolf is free. The voice that answers me is not of sound but in my head. Hunters of Silence, it says. They cut the forest’s tongue. Your scar is a bell.
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| − | The cave knows my feet. I shed my fur and find the staff, the herbs I could sort blind. The wood hums in my palm, and the scar heats like a coal. The woman in the painting is my mother. The knowing hurts and heals in the same breath.
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| − | At the three old oaks I wash the wound. I ask the world without a mouth. Eyes open in the brush. Lynx, deer, hawk. A bear eases out of shadow and sits like a slow river.
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| − | A horn threads the trees.
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| − | “I am Maddie Bjorn Fang,” I say, “healer-blood and bear-blood. I won’t vanish.”
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| − | Names are earned. The wolf says it like a blessing.
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| − | “Maddie Bjorn Fang.”
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| − | Dawn puts a thin edge on the carvings. The river bends like memory. Hawk for the eyes. Deer for the push. Lynx for the legs. Bear and I for the wall.
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| − | They wanted a quiet night.
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| − | We will give them a speaking forest.
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| | |} | | |} |
