Return To Manitou Island

TITLE: Return To Manitou Island

GENRES: Fantasy, adventure, drama, mythology.

RATING: PG-13

SUMMARY: Almost a year after coming home from her adventure on the magical Manitou Island, Charmian finds herself heartbroken, lonely, and wanting to return...if only the right dream would come. For she has not dreamed about the Island in months, and the last person who seems to have believed her fantastic story is now gone. Grieving and desperate for a change of pace from reality, what can Charmian do? Oddly enough, a gift left by her grandmother...a dreamcatcher...provides her means of returning--and Charmian does so without a qualm. Little does she know that awaiting her on Manitou Island is a force even greater and more evil than the vanquished Ocryana...and there will be lives endangered, dark secrets revealed, and terrible struggles to endure before she can even think of heading home again...

WRITING STATUS: Completed.

WRITING DATE: 2003-2005.

LENGTH: 139 chapters, 605,000+ words.

CONTENT WARNINGS: Fantasy violence, mild adult language, mild adult themes.

COPYRIGHT: This story and all characters, unless otherwise stated in the Disclaimers, are copyright © tehuti_88 and may not be used or distributed without permission. The reader is free to print out or download a copy of this story for offline reading as long as the author's copyright information remains upon it. Please do not distribute; if you wish to share this story, send a link to this page.

DISCLAIMERS: Ocryx and his "species" are © the Haunted Theatre of Mackinac Island. Certain characters such as Manabozho and Glooskap are from Ojibwa and Micmac mythology. Although aspects of this story are loosely based on Ojibwa and Micmac mythology and culture, artistic license has been taken as this is a FANTASY story. Please take note that this story was written between 2003-2005 and that my writing style and understanding of the mythology I created have changed vastly in the meantime.

ADDITIONAL INFO: NA

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Table Of Contents

Part 1: Darkness Awakens
An ominous shadow arises over Manitou Island...

Part 2: Shattered Dreams
Charmian mourns an impending loss, and retreats into her dreams...

Part 3: The Gateway Opens
Charmian sets foot upon a vastly changed Island, and gets a few surprises...

Part 4: How Things Have Changed
Charmian pays a pleasant visit, but the greeting she gets in the woods is another story...

Part 5: Back To The Tribe
Charmian meets the unexpected, and heads back to the tribe...

Part 6: The Watchers & The Watched
Charmian learns of more change, unaware that she is being followed...

Part 7: To The City
Charmian and Francois head to town...but what is this that awaits them there...?

Part 8: The Mad Huron
Charmian meets the "Mad Huron"--but is he really that mad...?

Part 9: Knight In Shining Armor
Another new face appears...is this a friend or a foe?

Part 10: Whose Dreams Are These?
Charmian and Tal Natha meet again--but ominous news spoils the reunion...

Part 11: She's Got The Power
Charmian rediscovers something she had thought long lost...

Part 12: Dark Revelation
Charmian learns a shocking secret about an old friend...

Part 13: Misses & Hits
One miss on Charmian's part leads to an unusual hit...

Part 14: View From The Top
A run-in with a rock sets Charmian off on an odd quest...

Part 15: Into The Crooked Tree
Who is this who lives in the Crooked Tree?...and how does Manabozho know her...?

Part 16: Fallen Arches
Charmian goes in search of the Fairy Arch, but doesn't find what she expected...

Part 17: Night Arrival
Charmian spots an odd sight making its way to the Island under cover of night...

Part 18: All Bark & No Bite
What's happened to Charmian's powers--right when she needs them most?!...

Part 19: The Bear's Den
Charmian asks plenty of questions, but answers aren't easy to find here...

Part 20: Outsider, Looking In
Charmian learns something odd, while a trespasser stalks the Island...

Part 21: Pep Talks
Tal Natha voices his worries, while Charmian tries to allay some...

Part 22: The Grand Tour
Charmian takes Thomas on a tour of the Island, with rather startling results...

Part 23: Blood Ties
Thomas has a very good explanation for drinking blood...doesn't he...?

Part 24: Don't Mess With Manitous
Can't those Shadow Wolves go a day without ruining something...?

Part 25: No Return Policy
Charmian learns that giving something back is harder than keeping it...

Part 26: Leap Of Faith
After much agonizing, Charmian finally takes a running leap...

Part 27: Follow The Bouncing Pinecone!
A forgotten gift leads Charmian and Manabozho in the right direction...

Part 28: Prisoners Of The Fairy Realm
Trapped in the Fairy Realm, Charmian demands to have her say...

Part 29: The Secret Of The Wolves
Charmian learns something strange from the manitou Geezhigo-Quae...

Part 30: Back Through The Fairy Arch
Charmian returns to the Island, and seeks a favor from Tal Natha...

Part 31: Sleeping Aids
Charmian will do almost anything for a nap...almost...

Part 32: The Name Of The Beast
Charmian learns the watcher's name, as well as who named him...

Part 33: The Seeds Of Hatred
Charmian learns the shocking truth about the shadowy Chakenapok...

Part 34: Bitter Reunion
Charmian's attacker returns--and finally shows his face...

Part 35: Pet Project
Charmian desperately seeks information on her mysterious attacker...

Part 36: Deep In The Woods
Manabozho's been hiding something from Charmian all this time...

Part 37: Potential
Charmian unknowingly passes a test, and runs into something odd...

Part 38: The Old Dog's New Trick
An encounter with Augwak proves he's actually learned something new...

Part 39: Invitation
Charmian receives an odd item, and learns an even odder secret...

Part 40: Too Much Information
Charmian learns a little more than she needs to know about her friends...

Part 41: The Back Burner
Charmian makes a difficult decision, and faces a difficult foe...

Part 42: Reclamation
Charmian's fight with Moon Wolf takes an unexpected twist...

Part 43: Back In The Land Of The Living
Charmian plays host to an unusual reunion...

Part 44: Realization
Charmian ponders Chakenapok's motives, and receives some strange advice...

Part 45: Devil's Advocate
Charmian explains her plan to defeat Chakenapok--and it isn't an easy one...

Part 46: Into The Shadows
Charmian confronts Chakenapok on his own terms, with bizarre results...

Part 47: The Cry From The Grave
Shocking news from Chakenapok leaves Charmian struggling for her life...

Part 48: Echoes
Charmian learns that Chakenapok's tale is not unfamiliar to Geezhigo-Quae...

Part 49: Preparation
Charmian makes plans to set off on a mysterious journey...

Part 50: Crossing Over
Charmian and the others set out for the Sky Tree, and the magic portal...

Part 51: Interim/Land Of Confusion
Charmian can't get even one night's rest in this strange new realm...

Part 52: A Thief's Welcome
Charmian confronts a pint-sized pickpocket, and strikes an odd deal...

Part 53: Secret Hideout
Is Marten's shortcut to Glooskap's home all it's cut out to be?...

Part 54: The Lair Of The Liar
This can't be the mighty Glooskap of legend...can it?...

Part 55: Low Spirits
Charmian requests aid, but Glooskap's response isn't what she expected...

Part 56: Hogging All The Glory
There are three small hitches in Charmian's latest plan...

Part 57: Old Wounds
Charmian learns an awful secret about an old friend...

Part 58: Fool's Boast
Charmian struggles to convince Manabozho not to face Chakenapok on his own...

Part 59: Lonely Farewell
Charmian is forced to set off alone on her strange quest...

Part 60: First Contact
Both Charmian--and someone else--make surprising discoveries...

Part 61: All In The Head
Manabozho enters the dream realm to find someone awaiting him...

Part 62: Dreamland
A stowaway pops up, and Manabozho's dream becomes a nightmare...

Part 63: Severed Ties
Manabozho and Charmian both fight mental enemies of their own...

Part 64: Booby Trap
Charmian and company get too close to an odd discovery...

Part 65: Crazy Grasshopper
Say hello to the weirdest member of Manabozho's family yet...

Part 66: Filling The Shell
Manabozho sleeps, while Charmian and the others reach the mountains...

Part 67: Land Of The Bear
Charmian and company make a treacherous crossing into strange territory...

Part 68: Pride & Prejudice
Convincing Mudjikawiss to help will be like squeezing water from a rock...!

Part 69: In The Out Door
Where is the exit back to the Sky Tree, everyone wonders...?

Part 70: Sleeping Beauty
Charmian returns to the Island, and finds Manabozho somewhat unconscious...

Part 71: Family Reunion
Manabozho and his siblings face a rather dysfunctional reunion...

Part 72: Deal With The Devil
Augwak is given the means to resurrect a hideous Wendigo power...

Part 73: Stolen Goods
Odd behavior from Ocryx sparks a new idea for Charmian's dreamcatcher...

Part 74: Pressure Rising
Suspicion grows, tempers flare, and Charmian settles on a risky plan...

Part 75: The Wicked Mirror
Charmian faces an eerie presence, and an even eerier revelation...

Part 76: Reality, Harsher Than Dream
A strange rescue can't save Charmian from a waking misfortune...

Part 77: Return Of The Ice Chief
An icy wind and an awful shadow descend over Manitou Island...

Part 78: Shelter From The Storm
Tales are told, and plans made, as the storm rages at Sugar Loaf Rock...

Part 79: Careless Gestures
An act of kindness leads to discomfort for Niskigwun...

Part 80: The Road Less Taken
Geezhigo-Quae offers an appealing option for reaching the Spirit Land...

Part 81: Deaf Ears
A warning to Black Elk Horn goes unheeded, but Francois proves helpful...

Part 82: Scott's Cave
Charmian and company make their way to the mysterious Scott's Cave...

Part 83: The Weavers' Web
Charmian and Thomas meet the strange Weavers face to face...to face...

Part 84: Spirits Crossing
Charmian meets an old friend in an unexpected place...

Part 85: Great Minds Think Alike
Two unpleasant surprises await the group on the East Bluff...

Part 86: A Spy In Our Midst
A race for life turns into a race against death...

Part 87: Squeezing Water From A Rock
It doesn't look like Charmian's prisoner is going to be very forthcoming...

Part 88: Somewhere, Over The Arch...
Charmian has to see a rock about a Road...

Part 89: Road Of Sorrows
Charmian figures out exactly how to talk to a Road...

Part 90: A Secret, Unearthed
It turns out old Noko's got more than one dark secret...

Part 91: Every Little Thing He Does
Charmian and Thomas seek Chakenapok's body in a familiar place...

Part 92: Promises, Promises
Charmian learns the truth of her training, and renews an old promise...

Part 93: Come & Get Me!
Charmian makes a mad dash to defeat Augwak...

Part 94: Transfusion
Thomas sets Charmian straight--but where is that Wendigo spirit stone...?

Part 95: The Second Denial
Charmian's promise is proving rather difficult to keep...

Part 96: Wrath Of The Ice Queen
Chepi has never seemed THIS violent before...!

Part 97: My Friend, My Enemy
Charmian is forced to fight someone she never thought she would...

Part 98: Fire-Juggler
A desperate Moon Wolf seeks to end the fight, by strange means...

Part 99: Fleeing Cedars
Singing Cedars runs for his life, but meets a few obstacles...

Part 100: Wood Run
Charmian, Singing Cedars, Black Elk Horn, and the others make a mad dash...

Part 101: The Lost Tribe
An argument leads to a shocking discovery upon the East Bluff...

Part 102: Evacuation
The tribe seeks safety, and Charmian seeks the Iroquois...

Part 103: Into The Silent Land
Charmian and the others enter the Fairy Realm in search of the Wendigoes...

Part 104: The Vision Of The Lake
Charmian receives a baffling clue from an ominous source...

Part 105: Fallen Brother
One tragedy leads to another in the frozen Fairy Realm...

Part 106: Interim/Coming To
Thomas heads for the Fairy Arch, while Charmian faces a harsh reality...

Part 107: Return From The River
Desperate plans to return to the Island are rudely interrupted...

Part 108: My Silent Guide
Charmian and Thomas argue; and Charmian takes a strange detour inland...

Part 109: The Secret Of Croghan Water
Charmian learns that a tiny pond holds a big secret...

Part 110: Bare Bones
The Ogimah-Quae presents Charmian with a chilling burden...

Part 111: Shock To The System
Charmian has a brush with death, and a brush with a terrifying foe...

Part 112: Tough Love
Justin, Thomas, and Moon Wolf have a few choice words for Charmian...

Part 113: Back To The Bluff
Charmian learns how the others really see her, and heads for the East Bluff...

Part 114: The Reluctant Visionary
Charmian returns to Arch Rock for a long wait...

Part 115: Mind Games
Charmian's walk on the Spirit Road won't be a walk in the park...

Part 116: Out Of The Frying Pan...
The most difficult path is going to be a bit harder than Charmian thought...

Part 117: Pauguk
So, how DO you address a gigantic, flaming-eyed skeleton...?

Part 118: Playing Orpheus
Charmian must convince Wabasso to leave the Spirit Land behind...

Part 119: Hide & Seek
Where has Wabasso gone? What will it take to get him back...?

Part 120: This Way To The Egress
It turns out that finding Wabasso's body is only half the problem...

Part 121: The Drowned Labyrinth
Charmian and Shadow Water prowl far beneath Devil's Lake...

Part 122: The Return Of White Rabbit
Charmian finds Wabasso's spirit, but it's not as agreeable as expected...

Part 123: Crossed Signals
An odd reunion leads to a confrontation with Tal Natha...

Part 124: Burrowers Beneath
Tal Natha tells the truth, and Charmian heads back to the Crack...

Part 125: Heart Of Darkness
Charmian descends deep into the earth, and meets someone waiting there...

Part 126: Family Feud
Chakenapok and Manabozho mix it up like oil and water...

Part 127: Fear & Loathing
Is this Nathalit?...and how do you fight what's unfightable...?

Part 128: Stupid Is As Stupid Does
Niskigwun seeks Marten, while Mudjikawiss does what he does best...

Part 129: The Underground Resistance
Glooskap reaches the Borderlands, and the fight with Chakenapok continues...

Part 130: Counting Chickens
The fight is over!...isn't it...?

Part 131: A Hatred Like Fire
Alone and grieving, Charmian is left to fend off Chakenapok...

Part 132: Alike, Unalike
Charmian is forced to face a self she never though she could be...

Part 133: A Bitter Pill
Charmian has to convince everyone of their cruelty--to earn their help!...

Part 134: Night & Day
Will the ultimate battle for the Island end with a bang or a whimper...?

Part 135: Last Act
Chakenapok speaks his last, and Chibiabos makes an offer...

Part 136: Goodbye, My Brother
It's time for a final goodbye between brothers...

Part 137: RIP
Thomas receives a gift, and Charmian keeps a promise...

Part 138: Farewells
There are a couple of surprises left before Charmian heads home!...

Part 139: Always Home
Back on the mainland, Charmian meets with an old friend...