Chapter 17 Crow

“Well, let’s just keep this to ourselves for a bit,” Rafe suggested. “Ellen all ready knows enough to make her more alert about things. Let’s see if she finds anything out first before we tell her any more. She could get into trouble over this and we don’t want that to happen.”

Tobal agreed and they turned the conversation to other topics. “I heard you got lucky with your third chevron?”

Rafe snorted and began telling the story. They talked long into the night. Tobal never did get a chance to talk with Ellen and she wasn’t around the gathering spot the next morning when he tried looking for her.

No meditation without Ellen—the quiet hit hard, her absence gnawing at him as he geared up for Sanctuary. He looked around for the girls but they had left already. Judging from their tracks in the snow they were about three hours ahead of him. He didn’t really care since he had a lot on his mind and wondered what Ellen wanted to talk to him about.

Tobal made the long trek toward sanctuary. The trail up the cliff was a problem since it was snow covered and so narrow. He cleaned the narrow ledge before crossing it and needed to make several trips because he couldn’t pull his small sled over it either. At the top of the cliff the terrain looked much different than it had two months before when he had last made the trip. It was also much more dangerous. Brown shrubs with falling leaves and dried grass showed in open areas and there was drifted snow in others. The wind had a bite to it and he was glad for the warm fur parka, trousers, and snow boots. Even though they were bulky and cumbersome, they were warm. As long as he didn’t work up a sweat he would be fine and the open spaces free of snow made the going much easier than if he had to use snowshoes.

He took his time and enjoyed the solitude and the movement. It took four days to reach sanctuary but he was in high spirits when he got there. He had let the girls go on ahead of him and wasn’t really expecting anyone to be at sanctuary itself. He was prepared for a long wait. Snow was falling and the sun had already set although it was still light enough to see. Stepping through the door he stomped his boots and kicked them against the wall to knock the snow off. He proceeded taking off his furs because it was warm inside and the heat was uncomfortable. Then he waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. After his eyes adjusted he saw a small dark figure huddled on one of the cots in the other room.

Moving into the dimly lit room he saw someone that reminded him of Rafe clutching a dark fur blanket or robe around small shoulders and watching with big dark eyes. This boy’s hair was raven black and he looked Native American. He also looked small, scrawny and too young to be here.

“I’m Tobal.” He said extending his hand in welcome. “What’s your name?”

“Crow,” the boy replied. “I’ve been waiting here for three days and was beginning to think no one was going to come. The others already left. You have come for me haven’t you?” He stammered hopefully sitting up straight on the cot.

Tobal didn’t know what to do. This kid was going to be a real pain and it was going to be during the worst part of the winter. He didn’t like the thought at all.

“How old are you anyway?” He asked rather brusquely.

“Fourteen,” the boy said. “My grandfather is a shaman and had a vision that I needed to come here.”

Tobal silently cursed the old shaman and his visions. “Where’s your stuff?” He asked at last.

“Stuff, what stuff?” the boy replied in puzzlement.

“Your pack, sleeping bag and med-kit!”

“What do you mean?”

“Haven’t you processed yet?” Tobal was getting more and more irritated with this kid.

“My grandfather said I was to wait for you and that you would teach me what I needed to know,” Crow said hopefully.

Tobal groaned inwardly and winced at the thought of a two-day delay waiting for the kid to process.

“Ok, Crow,” he said, “listen to me. The first thing is go through that doorway over there and get some tests taken. It will be a medical check up and you will be given some things to wear and use. That will take about two days and I can’t help you. You’ve got to do it yourself. OK? I will be out here waiting.”

“OK.” Crow said meekly and headed for the door wearing the dark fur like a robe that reached to the ground. Crow turned and came back to Tobal. He reached inside the robe and pulled out a rumpled letter and handed it to him.

“This is for you.” He said and then disappeared through the doorway into the med center.

Tobal unfolded the mangled envelope and stared at the writing on the front as a chill swept up his spine and he shivered violently. Written faintly with pencil in an erratic hand were the words: “To the son of Ron and Rachel Kane.”

Tearing the letter open Tobal puzzled out the crabbed handwriting.

“You don’t know who I am,” the letter began, “But I am a friend of your mother and father. This is my grandson, Crow, of whom I am very proud. He is much more than he seems. I am sure you will take care of him just as I took care of both your mother and your father in their own time of trial. I trained both of them and grew to love them very much. It was I that hand-fasted them together and taught them the mysteries of bi-location and shamanism.”

“I’ve told Crow many stories about your mother, father and their work. He will tell you these stories when the time is right. But he knows them as the Lord and Lady. He also knows what lies hidden at the lake. He doesn’t know directly but will recognize it when he is there. I hope this will help your search for the truth. I owe your mother and father that much. I wish I could do more. There is help coming and justice will prevail, you must believe that. Some things simply take time! We will meet when the time is right and your questions will be answered.”

Brightest Blessings,
Howling Wolf”

That night, Tobal jolted awake, sweating—Rachel’s voice hissed, “Harry’s close!” The medallion pulsed hot, leaving him gripping it, heart pounding.

Tobal was stunned. He sat on a cot and reread the letter in the dim light. He wanted to tear open the door and find Crow. Only the certain knowledge that the processing area would not allow such a thing prevented him from such hasty action. He was forced to think things through and the more times he read the letter the more cryptic it seemed to him.

He realized Crow couldn’t answer any direct questions about his parents but only relate stories about the Lord and Lady, whoever they were. Also, while Crow knew something about the lake, the letter said he would recognize it when he saw it and not be able to talk about it directly. For the first time Tobal wished he had the freedom to meet Howling Wolf in person and learn the truth about his parents. That was not possible right now and he was committed to his current course.

Tobal thought back on his meeting with Crow. He had introduced himself as “Tobal” and not “Tobal Kane”. How had Crow known to give him a letter addressed simply to “The Son of Ron and Rachel Kane?” Had Howling Wolf somehow known he would be here and be the one Crow would find? Or had the girls told Crow who he was and that he would be coming soon. Such questions made him uncomfortable and it was a long time before he was able to sink into a troubled sleep.

Morning came and Tobal set about making himself more comfortable while he waited for Crow to get through processing. It was amazing what a load of furs could do to add comfort and softness to the otherwise uncomfortable cots. The relaxation was a pleasant change. It wasn’t until he tasted the strange water and food paste that he regretted being there. The mystery surrounding Crow and his grandfather offered no ready solutions and his thoughts gradually turned toward other things.

In particular the weather gave him concern. It had been snowing steadily for two days and there would probably be places where the snow had drifted over his head. This was his first winter in the mountains and he didn’t really know what to expect. Still, he knew the terrain he had to travel to get back to his base camp and in good weather the trip was hard. He had no idea what it would be like on snowshoes. At least he had brought along snowshoes and winter clothing for the boy too or they would really be in trouble.

He found a dried maple branch outside and began whittling out of boredom just to have something to do. He had in mind some small woodcarvings to give as gifts to Nick, Fiona, Sarah, Crow, and of course Rafe. With that in mind he rough cut the branch into five pieces to be worked as time permitted. He envisioned small figurines like charms to be worn on a thong or cord around the neck. He had gotten the idea from some of the carvings he had seen during the last circle.

He wanted to give Rafe a fox since it seemed so appropriate. Rafe was cunning like a fox. He worked the rest of the day on the tiny figure and it gradually came to life in his hands. The carving was simple and recognizable as a fox although it lacked a lot of detail. The real work would be gradually smoothing the rich maple and polishing it to a fine finish. He was in the smoothing stages when Crow finally came out of the processing unit with his equipment and clothing.

Crow hadn’t really wanted to come here but his grandfather had insisted.

“Why?” Tobal asked with curiosity.

“He wants me to become a citizen of Heliopolis,” Crow said. “It is also time for me to solo. In my village we can solo at fourteen. It is when we are considered adults.”

“Wait a minute! I’m getting confused. Are you telling me you are already able to solo?”

“My Grandfather says I am.”

“Why don’t you solo in your own village?”

“To become a citizen I need to solo here and have training with you.”

“But you said you were already trained,” Tobal said in a perplexed tone.

“There are some things only the son of Ron and Rachael Kane can teach me. That is what my Grandfather told me. He said you are my next teacher, which is why I am here. Perhaps things like the map reading,” he suggested helpfully.

Tobal was getting baffled and somewhat alarmed at the repeated mention of his parents. He had no clue what he was supposed to be teaching Crow if he already knew enough to solo.

“Where is your pack and equipment then if you are ready to solo?” He asked.

“You didn’t have any gear when I saw you at sanctuary?”

“In my village we are only allowed clothing we have made ourselves, a water flask and a knife.” Crow said, “when I went through processing the machine took all of my things.”

Tobal thought back to what Crow had been wearing. He remembered seeing him sitting on a cot with a fur Robe wrapped around him in the dark room. He hadn’t really seen the rest of what the boy had been wearing and for some reason hadn’t thought that much about the fur robe because he had been wearing furs himself.

“What is the name of your village?”

“It has no name,” Crow said, “We just call ourselves People of the Oak. The oak tree is sacred to us. There are many oak trees near our village.”

“Where is your village located?”

“It lies ten days march toward the setting sun.” Crow pointed to the West. “It took me longer to get here because of the weather.”

“I have heard of such a village,” Tobal said slowly. “It is said there are many children and many elders. It is also said many of the elders once came to our gathering spot and shared circle with us.”

“That is not true!” Crow stomped his foot in anger. “Our elders worshiped at the Lake with the Lord and Lady of the Oak. We did not share circle with the evil ones ever! I do not want to join your clan and learn its evil ways but my grandfather says I must. He said the time is right and you will need help in fighting the evil. He also says you need to hear the stories of the Lord and Lady and need to know they speak with me.”

“They speak with you?” Tobal said stunned.

“Yes, at circle and in my visions they come and guide me. I ask them for help and they protect me.”

“The Lord and Lady come to me at circle too,” he told Crow. “We ask their blessings. I see them within the circle and at times above the fire, but they don’t talk to me.”

“Grandfather says the Lord and Lady were once people just like we are,” Crow babbled excitedly. “He says he knew them once. He knew them when they lived at the lake. He even says he hand-fasted them together. Grandfather is a powerful shaman and a good friend of the Lord and Lady. My parents were good friends of them too.” Crow fought back some tears. “My mother and father went with the Lord and Lady and never came back. The Lord and Lady came back but my parents never did. Grandfather said you would tell me why.” He looked at Tobal expectantly.

It was too much. It was just too much! Visions of the Lord and Lady at circle swept through his mind…they couldn’t be his parents, they were the God and Goddess. They were there before he was. He thought of the mass grave down at the lake and the cairn of stones piled high around a large dead oak tree. He thought of Crow’s parents and Howling Wolf who had hand-fasted his parents together. His head felt like it was going to split. He pressed his fingers against his temples rubbing furiously.

“I don’t know yet,” was all he could say. “I don’t know yet but I’m going to find out somehow.”

His gaze met and locked with Crow’s.

“We will find out together,” he said. “I am going to need your help and learn the old stories. Together we will find out about your parents and about my parents and what happened to them.”

Crow rushed over and hugged him fiercely.

“You promise?” He asked.

“I promise.”

They made their way back to Tobal’s base camp by the evening of the fourth day. Tobal had expected it to take five days and was amazed when Crow actually found it. The kid really knew his way around the wilderness.

It felt good to be in a permanent shelter that was actually warm. It seemed a luxury to heat water for a much-needed sponge bath and change of clothes. The next few days were spent just getting things around the camp into good repair and hauling in firewood for the coming week.

Crow was very curious about the tools Tobal had made and spoke of things he had seen his grandfather make. Crow was a quiet boy that didn’t talk much, but once you got him going he could tell stories for hours. His parents had died while he was young and he didn’t know much about them. He had been raised by his grandfather in the mountains and taught the old ways. His grandfather was a powerful shaman and healer that others came to see when they were injured or seeking his wisdom.

Tobal was a little nervous about his first travel in deep snow and wanted to get started early. The days were getting shorter and there was only about six hours of travel possible during the day. They took extra rations from the food dispenser, enough to last each of them a week just in case there were problems. The nasty paste was divided into small cubes that could be added to water or eaten individually after they had been frozen. The benefit of the cold weather was many perishable food items would keep much longer, especially if they were frozen.

Day two on the return trek, a black shape slithered by, leaving no footprints. The medallion pulsed warm against Tobal’s chest, making him pause. Crow muttered, “Jotunheim’s creep—trouble’s brewin’.” Day three, a drone hummed overhead. Tobal frowned, “What’s that?” Crow shrugged, “Beats me.” “Federation scouts—seen many?” Tobal asked. Crow shook his head, “First one.”

They started out using snowshoes and made good time. The sled pulled easily and they took turns pulling it. The snow had stopped falling and it was a bright day. It was almost too bright as he squinted against the glare. Tobal decided to keep to his normal travel path even though the snow suggested taking shortcuts over ground that now seemed smooth and snow covered. It was not worth the risk of falling into open holes or being trapped in some crevasse. At least following his normal path he would be familiar with any hazards that might lie hidden beneath the snow or ice.

Crow turned out to be a tough, wiry kid that could run circles around Tobal with or without a pack on his back. He was much lighter than Tobal and took to the snowshoes immediately. He said they were like ones his grandfather used in the winter.

The boy seemed to have an endless supply of energy and crisscrossed the trail ahead of him checking out things that caught his interest. Crow had obviously spent a lot of time in the mountains and knew how to travel by landmarks. He had an instinctive awareness of direction even in bad weather. This worked against him at times. He did have trouble with the map and compass and understanding how to use them together.

“I know where I am,” he complained to Tobal. “Why should I need to know where I am on this piece of paper?”

Tobal was frustrated, “See this ‘X’ ,“ he pointed at the map. “That is where my base camp is and where we are going. How can you find it if you can’t read the map?”

“How can this piece of paper tell me where your camp is?” Crow retorted growing angry in turn.

They finally compromised when Crow was able to understand the map and locate the different landmarks on it.

“If I take you to the spot you have marked will you leave me alone?” he asked resentfully. “Will you let me take you there my own way?”

Tobal agreed and to his great surprise Crow headed cross-country toward his camp over terrain he had never been through. Crow seemed completely at ease in the rough terrain and several times showed him danger spots he had not noticed. Once Crow kept him from breaking through the ice as they crossed a small ice covered stream.

Since Tobal was not familiar with winter weather his goal was to simply head to his base camp as quickly as possible where he knew it was safe and there was extra food. He didn’t even bother setting snares or looking for food other than what they stumbled across accidentally. They relied exclusively on the food reserves he had brought with him and the frozen food cubes taken from sanctuary.

Firewood was the biggest trouble and they found themselves breaking dead branches off trees and placing them on the sled as they traveled through the day. In this way they had much of their wood when it was time to set up camp in the evening. Camping was greatly simplified and they simply dug trenches into the deep snowdrifts in a “V” shape and covered the roof area with branches and the blanket material.

The snowdrifts made excellent insulation from the wind. Each leg of the trench was a sleeping area and at the place where the trenches joined they built a small fire using the firewood they had gathered during the day. They also used this fire to melt water and refill their canteens.

One evening, after Crow let slip that the Lord and Lady spoke to him, he nudged Tobal by the fire, eyes bright. “They talk to me, y’know—guide me. Grandpa taught me to reach ‘em. Wanna try?” Tobal’s pulse quickened, but he nodded. They sat cross-legged, breaths slowing, the fire’s crackle fading. A strange pull hit Tobal—his body slumped, cold and still by the flames, Crow’s doing the same. They rose, weightless, soaring above the snowy treetops, the crunch of frost echoing below. An owl glided past, its wings slicing the air. “Spirit animal, it guides us.” Crow whispered, awestruck. They drifted to the lake, a shimmering force field blocking the frozen waterfall. They couldn’t go any further until Arthur’s warm glow appeared. “Follow me,” he said, voice steady, leading them through the icy cascade. The rock parted like smoke, revealing a cave lit by flickering torches. The Lord and Lady stood to greet them, Rachel’s smile soft, Ron’s nod firm. “Welcome son,” Rachel said, her voice wrapping Tobal like a warm breeze. Crow was excited to see them as well. They lingered, hearts racing, before slipping back to their bodies.

A few nights later, Crow grinned, “Let’s go again—see what they will show us.” They meditated, bodies slumping by the fire. They lifted off, the snowy forest a blur, the owl’s hoot echoing as it guided them once more. At the lake, the force field hummed, Arthur waiting. “This way,” he urged, guiding them through the waterfall, the cave’s torchlight dancing. Rachel stepped forward, “Feel the air, Tobal—time’s yours to bend. Arthur will show you how.” Ron clapped, “Push it, kid!” Arthur added, “The Nexus is near—practice this.” Tobal stumbled through a time ripple, laughing as Crow whooped, the warmth holding them longer as they went through ripple after ripple.

Another night, Crow’s voice trembled, “I want them to show me somethin’—my folks.” They projected, rising above the snow-dusted pines, the owl’s eyes gleaming as it turned and led them across the snowy expanse . At the lake, the force field pulsed, Arthur leading them in. The air grew thick with restless spirits, their murmurs filling the cave. Rachel face turned grave as she took Crow’s hand, “Come, see where your ma and pa rest—beneath the cairn above the waterfall.” They rose through the roof of the cave into the center of the haunted village and floated to a misty gravesite, the burnt village’s outline faint. Ron nodded, “They were innocent.” Crow’s breath hitched as his mother’s ghost smiled, her love radiant, his father’s form solid, voice warm, “We’re proud, son.” Tears streaked Crow’s face as he reached out, his parents embraced him, the ghostly moon’s light illuminating them.

Yet another evening, Tobal said, “Let’s ask more.” They meditated, bodies still by the fire, soaring over the snowy treetops, the owl’s shadow flickering ahead of them. The force field welcomed them, Arthur guiding through the torch-lit cave. Rachel coached, “Shift time again, Tobal—feel the flow.” Ron added, “Strengthen it, Crow—push harder!” Arthur nodded, “The Nexus fuels this—Reptilians can’t breach it yet.” They wove ripples, the cave’s warmth a comfort, returning when ready.

The days turned bitter cold and it seemed like they were out in the snow every day doing something. On the worst days they stayed inside. It was sheltered in Tobal’s little valley but there was a lot of snow on the ground. The only way to travel was with snowshoes and pulling a supply sled.

They spent the days trapping and hunting and the evenings working on winter equipment and telling stories. Tobal was amazed at Crow’s abilities. In addition to beaver and muskrat Crow routinely trapped mink, fox and wolf. He kept the hides from every snowshoe hare and was making a rabbit blanket.

He said it would take a long time because he needed fifty rabbit hides for the blanket. But he told Tobal a rabbit blanket would be extremely light and extremely warm. They were considered a luxury to have back in his village.

Crow also snared partridge and kept the wing and tail feathers. Once he trapped an owl and was anxious all week over the bad omen. Crow was highly skilled at leather working and created functional and decorative winter clothing Tobal envied. As the days wore on it seemed Tobal was the student and not Crow.

Tobal had learned the basics but Crow had grown up in a culture that had gone far beyond the art of simple survival and had turned these skills into an art form. Tobal was fascinated and asked many questions. Together they worked on projects Tobal had never even thought about doing.

Still thoughts of his parents were never far away. He wished he knew more.

It was time for Crow’s initiation in late November and Tobal was thinking about it as they snow shoed their way to the gathering spot. Perhaps he had been initiated and soloed at his own village he mused thoughtfully, not that it mattered. Gaining citizenship meant going through sanctuary and no other way. As they trekked to circle Tobal explained about joining the clan and being initiated into the circle. Crow still wasn’t certain he wanted to become part of the “evil” ones clan.

“There is no ‘evil’ in the clan or the circle.” Tobal kept telling him. “The Lord and Lady appear during the rituals and ceremonies so it can’t be bad. Everyone at the gathering place is young and could not have been part of what killed your parents. Many of them were not even been born yet.”

Crow remained suspicious and untrusting. In the end it was the mention of the Lord and Lady being present during the initiations that convinced Crow to finally go through with it and join the group.

“If they are not there, I will not go through with it,” he said simply.

Tobal shrugged, there was not much more to say on the matter. Tobal filled Crow in on what to expect during his entry into the clan itself. He didn’t want a repeat of what happened with Melanie and he didn’t know the true extent of Crow’s abilities yet. He only knew that Crow was better than he was in survival and he suspected Crow knew quite a bit about taking care of himself self defense wise. He had a feeling that small or not. Crow was not going to be in the Journeyman degree over a year. His hard time was going to be training six newbies to solo simply because it would take up so much time and be boring to him.

They had to snowshoe avoiding areas of possible snow slides and avalanches. Winter travel was certainly different than what he had become accustomed to and carried its own unique dangers. Again more than once Crow showed him dangerous areas and explained how to avoid them in the future. Tobal felt grateful, but he also felt like the student and not the teacher.

It felt good to be going back to circle and he was looking forward to spending time with his friends. After leaving Crow with the guards he made his way into the gathering spot looking for people he knew and chatting with them. The first thing he headed for was the Circle of Elders to see what was happening that month. He saw Ellen there and waved at her. She smiled and waved back. He knew he would have to talk with her later that evening.

During Crow’s initiation, Ellen’s eyes widened as Tobal and Crow’s astral forms, glowing with the Lord and Lady’s light, joined them and hovered above the bonfire. Later, she grabbed Tobal’s arm, voice low, “What the heck were you doing up there?” Tobal rubbed his neck, “That was my ma and pa, I think.” Crow piped up, “They guide me too—Howling Wolf’s kin.” Ellen stared at Tobal, “Your parents? Tobal nodded. Then she turned to Crow, And you’re part of this?”

At circle Zee’s newbie, Kevin’s newbie, and Wayne’s newbie and two others were at last allowed to solo after a grueling examination by the elders. All of their winter clothing was examined and they needed to have snowshoes, a sled and a two weeks supply of jerky they had made themselves. For the first time they were asked about what they planned to do during their solo month. They were told medics would be checking on them and if they needed help they could signal the medics. One last final warning about frostbite and the elders were done.

Char’s newbie, Rory had soloed and she received her first chevron. Tobal noticed she had also brought a newbie for initiation. It was pretty clear they were planning on spending the winter together without Wayne. Her newbie was a pleasant faced blond girl that seemed a little shy around everyone and didn’t talk much. She seemed friendly enough and Tobal didn’t think Wayne should mind too much.

Besides Crow, Fiona’s newbie, Anne; Becca’s newbie, Derdre; and Nikki’s newbie, Seth were all going to be initiated that night. They would be spending at least the next month in training. They were all being prepared for their initiations. Tobal planned on being introduced to each of them later in the evening. As they waited Nikki got her second chevron and was now tied with Becca and Fiona. It was obvious these three women were more competitive than average.

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