A Voice From The Past
TAL NATHA'S FROWN was troubled. I am not aware of any such manitous from this Island. Why is it that you ask of this at such a time...?
"Because a mitchi manitou is following the mainlander and her companions," Chakenapok said, "and everything points to him being from this Island. I had hoped that, as the Guardian of the Island, you might know why he would choose to go after them."
Tal Natha was slightly ill at ease in this place. He'd never ventured this far beneath the Island, especially not into anyone else's cave; he made it a point to keep as far away from Devil's Lake as he could, as Ocryx did not care to meet much with his male offspring, and he had never even visited X'aaru's and Khiieta's cave. And so to be beneath Croghan Water, surrounded by the eerie Shadow Wolves, was rather unnerving. He eyed them surreptitiously as he and Chakenapok talked. The lost spirit had asked him to come down here so they could speak in private...but the setting surely didn't look very private.
A mitchi manitou...? Tal Natha echoed. Why do you say he's from here? Why would one of our manitous be so far from home? Most of them are connected to this Island, and cannot venture away very far.
"This is what I thought," Chakenapok said with a small frown. "But there's no other explanation that fits. I feel his medicine isn't strong enough to hide him from me, and he's surely alive. I've had Island manitous manage to hide themselves from me at times..."
Why did you think that I might have knowledge of this manitou's plans? Tal Natha asked, a twinge of suspicion in his voice. Chakenapok looked up at him. You feel I would endanger Charmian in some way--?
Chakenapok shook his head. "I would never assume such a thing of you, Dreamspinner. It's just that, as one of the oldest beings on the Island, who watches over all, I thought perhaps you might know something that I don't."
Tal Natha frowned a little, then lowered his head and stared pensively at the floor. I am not the oldest here though, he said after a moment. Old Mother Manitou is older than I...
"I spoke with her already, and she has no knowledge of this creature," Chakenapok sighed. "And if you don't know, I somehow feel that neither will Ocryx know." He fidgeted a little. "I even attempted seeking out the Nathali...I have not reached her yet...but why do I have the feeling that she would not know either?"
Tal Natha's head popped up and his eyes grew. Even she is not the oldest being upon this Island! he exclaimed, earning a puzzled frown from Chakenapok. Take a look around you, the demon said, and Chakenapok did so; dozens of blue eyes stared back at them from the shadows. The Shadow Wolves are the incarnations of they who were here even before the Ocryxes!
"But...they have told me nothing about this manitou," Chakenapok said, doubtfully.
Tal Natha shook his head. There is one OLDER than they--think! Wasn't there some great Shadow Wolf who led them, before you came down here...?
Chakenapok stared at him for a moment, before realization dawned in his eyes. "The Ogimah-Quae," he murmured, then furrowed his brow. "But...she is gone now. She gave her life..."
She is not gone, Tal Natha said. I was told that she had merely changed, and merged with another to save his life.
Chakenapok blinked. "Wabasso--!" He got to his feet and glanced somewhat eastward. "That's right...she merged her spirit with Wabasso's...and he became Chibiabos. He then gave his own life medicine to save the life of the Wendigo boy, the one with the mainlander." He turned back to Tal Natha with a frown. "You think he would know something--?"
If any part of this Ogimah-Quae is still awake within him, Tal Natha said, then perhaps she can tell you what you need to know. I have heard that she was the oldest spirit upon this Island, aside from when the Sky Mother once walked here! If there is anyone who could know of this manitou, short of Geezhigo-Quae, I believe it would be her. He glanced in the same direction that Chakenapok had. What were you looking at--? You know where to find him--?
Chakenapok nodded slowly. "He went to live in the cave of the Weavers...the cave upon the northeast shore. The mainlander called it 'Scott's Cave'..." He turned to stare at the ceiling, and Tal Natha did likewise, the Shadow Wolves flicking their ears and cocking their heads. "I can travel there myself and speak to him," he said.
Tal Natha's own ear flicked. You are certain...?
Chakenapok looked at him over his shoulder. "You find this a bad idea--?" When Tal Natha just gave him a look he lowered his eyes a little. "I realize it is awkward...considering that I am the very reason why he's there. But you don't know the cave like I do, and I think I rather prefer you keeping to these caves, as the Lynxes have been attempting to break into the lesser ones. If one catches you unaware..."
Tal Natha let out a small sigh and nodded. I know...I have never faced a Mishupishu, and would likely not stand much of a chance. He got to his feet and turned in a circle. Very well...I will go back and see to Red Bird. Please let me know what you discover, and if it's of importance, I will tell it to the Wemitigoji and the others.
Chakenapok nodded. Tal Natha began to walk toward the far tunnel, but he did pause long enough to see Chakenapok start walking toward the dark underground lake which stood before him; as he stepped into the water, he faded from sight. The demon shivered a little and hunched his wings against the chill that crept over him, and silently continued on his way out of the cave system.
Scott's Cave stood above the northeast shore of the Island, overlooking the lake; a great boulder hovered over its entrance, and this alone would have been nearly enough to keep out any adventurous visitors. As it was, something else about the cave had warned them off for years, and so it went mostly abandoned.
Mostly. The cave extended into a vast system of lesser caves and tunnels which went far beneath the Island in every direction--under the lake, out toward Croghan Water, back toward the demon's lake. Some of the tunnels were unused and had fallen into complete darkness. Others glowed faintly from the webs strewn over their walls, and still others were quite active. In one of the smaller caves, there was a great deal of activity, as the group of giant spiders waved their legs and spun bits of web which gleamed like phosphorescence; they wove pictures into them, and symbols that no one would have been able to understand. They clicked and clacked as they worked, and though they bustled around in a chaotic fashion, there was still a sort of order to it, and none of them even ran into each other as they navigated their way through the tunnels, in and out of caves. The tunnels were wide enough for only one Weaver at a time, and so whenever two would meet, one would pop into a side tunnel and politely wave the other forward, then continue on its way.
The tunnels extended into another cave even further back, this one leading to a dead end; one of the cave walls was nearly flat. The spiders, for the most part, kept away from this particular cave, though they did pass by it often. As they wandered about, waving and clicking, something brushed past them down the tunnel, and they froze and quivered, their tiny eyes darting from one side to the other. Once it was past they waved their arms frantically and turned to hurry back the way they'd come, to tell the others of what they'd felt--something which traveled in their passageways, yet which they couldn't see. It continued down the tunnel in question, wavering outside the end cave, then drifting inside.
The cave was nearly black, only a few traces of web lighting its walls. Something sat before the flat wall to the right, shrouded in shadows. As the presence drifted into the cave it moved, and two eyes glittered in the dimness. The shadow moved again and a moment later, its fingers were glowing cool watery blue; the man sitting there, dressed all in white, stared at the presence even though it wasn't visible. They sat in silence for a moment or two.
The person in white frowned a little, then tilted his head. His eyes were as blue as Geezhigo-Quae's, and he wore a pendant shaped like a wolf, with the faint outline of a rabbit within it. The two white feathers upon his head quivered, and he tilted his head the other way, brow furrowing slightly.
"Chakenapok...?" he said softly.
Big Brother, a voice said in response, and the presence began to shimmer and take form, until Chakenapok stood in the cave, translucent and wavering like smoke. His yellow eyes seemed sad and tired somehow; the one sitting on the floor carefully pushed himself to his feet to peer at him more closely.
Chibiabos frowned a little, then his eyes slowly lit up. "It is you," he said, and a smile slowly made its way to his face. It faded a bit when Chakenapok only nodded, and he tilted his head again.
"The reason for the look on your face," he said. "You come here for a reason that is not good...?"
"I rather feel I should not have come at all," Chakenapok murmured, lowering his eyes.
Chibiabos blinked, then took a step toward him. "This is in the past," he said, earning a look. "I understand," Chibiabos continued, "why you did the things you did. As far as I am concerned, that was a lifetime ago, and the person who once did that to me is gone. You have no reason to regret coming here. I am glad that you came." His face lit up again. "You are the first one to visit!"
Chakenapok blinked. "What about Puka and 'Bozho--?"
Chibiabos shrugged and rolled his eyes. "I assume they grew too busy--or else forgot!"
Chakenapok's mouth fell open; a moment later he was steaming. "As soon as I reach them I'll thrash their behinds with fireballs!!"
Chibiabos had to force himself not to laugh. "It is all right...I rather assumed they would be slow in coming. I get the feeling neither of them is used to talking to ghosts!" His amusement faded a bit and he tilted his head again. "But the reason why you came here...? I rather feel it was not merely to visit..."
"As much as I dislike to say it, this is true," Chakenapok replied. "I came to ask a favor of you...if I might." Chibiabos nodded. "I need to seek an answer of the oldest one upon the Island," Chakenapok went on, "but she exists no longer since she merged with you. I had hoped she might know about something that's come up."
Chibiabos frowned pensively. "The Ogimah-Quae? She has been asleep ever since she joined with me. Some of our medicine was given to the long knife to bring him back."
Chakenapok nodded. "Yet she is still within you?" When his brother nodded again he said, "Do you think there is any way you can speak to her?"
Chibiabos rubbed his pendant. "I am not certain...I can feel her within me, but as for speaking with her..." He trailed off, then lifted his head. "I could try. This is all I can say. What is it I need to ask her?"
"About a strange manitou which is following the mainlander girl through another land," Chakenapok said. "I have the feeling it may have come from the Island itself, but as for why it should be chasing her, I have no clue. The Ogimah-Quae is she who knows the Island closest, following the Sky Mother. If she is with you...then perhaps she can explain who this manitou is and what is at stake."
Chibiabos nodded once more. "I will see if I can reach her." He shut his eyes and lowered his head until his chin rested against his chest, and the two of them stood in silence for a while, Chakenapok having to force himself not to fidget anxiously; despite what his older brother had said, he still felt awkward being here. He looked at the walls as he waited, and then back at Chibiabos himself, and saw the way that he frowned as he concentrated, the wolf pendant around his neck glowing faintly. After some time had passed, he spoke in a soft murmur which still managed to make Chakenapok flinch just a little.
"I think I feel her...down in my spirit," he said, sounding almost sleepy. "Something there, like a heaviness, yet not a burden...if I wait long enough, I can feel it living." He paused. "I will try asking her now."
Chakenapok nodded, even though Chibiabos's eyes were closed. Another moment or so passed, then another, and the silence began to drag out so much that he was ready to speak aloud, when Chibiabos spoke again.
"I asked her of this strange manitou," he murmured, "yet she tells me that, without knowing or seeing it for herself, she cannot answer."
"Oh." Chakenapok blinked. "Perhaps she could read my memory? I managed to feel its medicine, just barely; yet most of it is shielded from me. Still...perhaps it would be enough to help."
Chibiabos nodded. Chakenapok opened his mouth to ask what he had to do, then paused. Chibiabos had reached out his hand and placed it against his chest--or rather, through, seeing as he had no substance. Chakenapok looked down as Chibiabos's fingers curled around the spot where his spirit stone would be, and he furrowed his brow in confusion. Chibiabos didn't open his eyes, but was still for another moment. He turned his head slightly to the side and frowned.
"She feels its medicine now...and she says that yes, it is familiar. Whoever this manitou is, he came from the Island."
"He did?" Chakenapok asked without thinking.
Chibiabos nodded. "She says this manitou was one of the old ones who watched over the Island, those who later became the Shadow Wolves." He paused. "But for some reason this one did not do so." He opened his eyes and they fixed on Chakenapok's. "As all of the old ones were transformed into Shadow Wolves, this one must have gone from the Island before this ever happened."
"Why would such a spirit become a mitchi manitou?" Chakenapok asked in confusion. "I had thought that the old ones were good."
"This confuses her as well," Chibiabos said, brow furrowing. "She was not even aware that one had disappeared." He paused. "She says that his medicine feels different now. Like..."
"That of a wabano?" When Chibiabos looked at him Chakenapok's eyes darkened. "There are two of them, also following her. A greater one and a lesser one."
Chibiabos pulled his hand back. "You do realize that a wabano is just the type of medicine man who may sway a manitou's spirit?" he asked. "None others are strong enough. In fact, a wabano is just the sort to hang about with a mitchi manitou in such a manner. Do you feel these wabanos control this manitou somehow? Perhaps this explains where he went wrong."
Chakenapok stared at the wall. "I had not thought of this," he said after a moment. "But it makes sense now." He blinked. "The mainlander! The reason why she travels so far is because of a manitou who is threatening the Island. Surely these wabanos are associated with him--but from what I've heard, this manitou is the very one who was involved in an incident regarding the Island long ago. Perhaps this is how this lesser manitou went astray--?"
"If there is one, then I would be willing to guess there may be more," Chibiabos said, a note of anxiety in his voice. "Is Charmian ready to deal with such creatures? I keep thinking of the difficulty that the Shadow Wolves gave her..."
"She has spoken of only one such manitou, and this is all I've sensed at the moment," Chakenapok said, "but yes, I would bet there are others as well...I should speak with her again to let her know!" He paused, then said, "Oh...does the Ogimah-Quae know anything about a being named the Red Swan, by any chance...?"
One of Chibiabos's feathers flicked as if in curiosity, and he shut his eyes briefly. He opened them up and shook his head. "No...she has never heard of this creature. This also has to do with Charmian--?"
Chakenapok pursed his lips. "Somewhat...though perhaps I just worry too much. Thank you, Big Brother. I'll leave with this news now, but I hope to return sometime. And drag other Big Brothers along with me." He scowled.
Chibiabos smiled again. "Do not be too hard on them," he said, as Chakenapok started to turn away. Just as Chakenapok began to shift into invisibility again, however, he heard his brother let out a gasp, and froze. He glanced over his shoulder, and paused when he saw how wide Chibiabos's eyes had gone. He slowly turned back around, feeling uneasy again.
"Big Brother...?" he asked.
Chibiabos stared off into space for a moment, then peered at Chakenapok from the corner of his eyes, and bit his lip. "I have not ever told you, have I, Little Brother...of something else which I acquired when the Ogimah-Quae joined with me...?" When Chakenapok frowned and shook his head he lifted a hand to rub at his neck. "Once in a while...I can see things," he murmured. "Things which have not yet come to pass, but will happen, some time from now."
Chakenapok turned fully around to face him. "You saw something?" Chibiabos nodded. "Does it have to do with the mainlander?"
Another nod, this one more hesitant. "I...do not see her," he clarified, "yet when I see this...I somehow think of her." He paused, seeming to try to think of what to say. "I see a giant web breaking."
Chakenapok's frown grew. "A giant web...?"
A nod. "A glowing web, lit up in all colors...this is the closest that I can describe it. Not like the Weavers' webs...but thicker...and...more powerful, somehow." He paused. "And fear. This I sense...great fear." He lifted his head and gave Chakenapok a confused look. "Why should I see an image like that? Can you think of what a web would have to do with her? This manitou you've sensed, do you get any such feeling from it or these wabanos?"
Chakenapok shook his head slowly. "No...I do not." He fell silent for a moment, then said, "Perhaps it's something far in the future. Something unrelated to this."
"Perhaps," Chibiabos said, nodding as if he didn't wish to think it over much further. "Perhaps this is so." He watched as Chakenapok turned away once more. "Goodbye, Little Brother. If you speak with her again, let her know that I think of her."
"She would not be afraid to come down here," Chakenapok muttered, but waved anyway. "Goodbye, Big Brother...I'll make certain to tell her of what you said." Without another word, he slowly faded away, and the cave grew dark once more. Chibiabos wrapped his arms around himself and sat before the flat wall, staring pensively off into space.
"What is that--?" Winter Born exclaimed, casting a quick glance back at Charmian. "Did I do something wrong--?"
Charmian opened her mouth to answer, but didn't get the chance. Before the greenery burst open, and the huge manitou from before came leaping out, landing on the other side of the pit with a fearsome snort and livid eyes.
Everyone else's eyes goggled in surprise. Before she knew what she was doing, Charmian grabbed onto Winter Born's dirty hand, yanking her out of the pit. Which was just as well, as the manitou chose that moment to swing its head at her, its antler just missing slashing across her chest. An image of Tooth, his chest slashed open by the strange oki, flashed through her mind, and again without even thinking she bared her teeth and flung her hand out toward its head. A fireball smacked it between the antlers and it snorted and shook its head, startled and blinking.
Charmian shoved Winter Born toward Singing Cedars, Marten clinging to her shoulder. "Get GOING!"
"May--maybe I can help--!!" Winter Born cried, even as Singing Cedars pulled her back and whistled at his two okis; they came out of the dense woods again, but milled about briefly, whistling in return and not seeming to know what to do. Winter Born stomped her foot against the ground and opened her mouth. "Little Brother Woodlouse, Little Sister Earthworm--"
Charmian saw the manitou's eyes shimmer blue before it bellowed and dug its hooves into the loose soil, charging up at them. Her eyes went wide--Is it after ME?--or after HER?--and it was only because Marten jumped onto her shoulder and bit her ear that she finally yelled and scrambled away. As soon as she did, the two okis jumped out of the woods, landing in the manitou's path; it skidded to a halt and snorted at them before bristling and swinging its antlers threateningly.
Move it! Charmian heard it say, and she could tell from the startled look on Singing Cedars's face that he heard it as well. Or I'll slash your piddling hides so wide open--!
"Get going!" Singing Cedars shouted at Charmian and Winter Born, who both jumped and turned to look at him. He made a face and jerked a hand at the okis. "They'll take care of it!"
"But what about the--"
"We'll just have to take the LONG way back! Now get going!"
Charmian bit her lip--she HATED giving up now, after they'd gone to so much trouble--but realized that he made sense. She grabbed up Winter Born, who let out a yelp, and scrambled toward the stream. The okis both lowered their heads at the manitou, now that the path was clear, but all that it did was jerk its own head up, and turn to follow them.
"Charmian!" Singing Cedars yelled.
Charmian met the approaching manitou's eyes--but then she saw that it was staring at Winter Born. She blinked once with surprise, then dropped Winter Born behind her and stood right in its path, holding up her hands and baring her teeth again.
"Just TRY it, jackass!!"
The manitou's eyes fixed on hers and they glittered. Its nostrils flared and it lowered its head.
Soon you'll be as dead as that ISLAND of yours will be, "little girl"--!
Charmian's mind went blank. Every thought of hurling a fireball fled her thoughts, as the manitou's eyes narrowed and its antlers came straight her way.
No comments:
Post a Comment