The Rising Moon Read online

  The thirty-minute drive to Wind River Reservation was breathtaking. In the years I’ve lived here, I never grew tired of the beautiful landscapes of pine and spruce forests and mountains.

  Ryan was waiting for me outside the Cultural Center in Fort Washakie. He spotted me from across the lot and quickly made his way over. "Hey! I'm glad you made it," he greeted with a smile.

  He was dressed in traditional native regalia with his hair tied in a tight braid underneath a black feather headdress. He wore a matching feathered bustle that trailed down his back, and a breastplate made of beads.

  "You look pretty," Ryan said as he stood hovering over me.

  "Thanks but you look better." I replied.

  He looked at his reflection on the glass doors. "True,” he said with a dashing smile.

  I rolled my eyes and we both laughed. "So, where's the rest of the gang?" I asked.

  "They're here somewhere," he replied as he looked over the crowd. "Come on, I see Denise and the girls."

  We made our way through the crowd. Denise, Lisa and Jen were dressed in traditional long deerskin dresses with a long beaded fringed shawl. Their hair in two braids wrapped in bright colored ribbon and beaded clips.

  “Where’s Kima? Will she be dancing too?” I didn’t know why I asked, but I did. The words just flew right out of my mouth.

  "Yea." answered Lisa.

  "She’s going to be performing the crow hop dance. We're doing the group shawl dance." Jen added, as she secured her clip on the end of her long braid.

  Kevin and Tyler walked up to us, along with Brandon and Anne. Kevin held up a camera, "Time to pose for Facebook pictures!" He yelled out.

  The girls, Ryan and his cousins quickly stroke a pose. I took a few steps back. I never enjoyed taking photos. I always look awkward in pictures somehow my eyes always look red in them.

  “Where you think you’re going?” asked Kevin.

  “Uh…” I nervously began to say. “ You guys go ahead. I don’t want to be in the photos.”

  “Come on,” Lisa whined. “You’re a part of our group now. Come stand with us.”

  “It’s ok, really---” Suddenly Kevin pushed me into the middle and Ryan quickly placed his arm across my shoulders as they all shouted 'cheese!’

  The powwow was held in an outside field near the Cultural Center. There were many vender booths set up around the dance circle selling artworks, baskets, music and food.

  “Here you go,” said Tyler handing me an Indian taco.

  “It’s a must to eat these tacos made of fry bread and ground buffalo meat when attending a powwow,” he said with a smile, “just like eating hotdogs and peanuts in a baseball game.”

  “Thanks.” I said as I took the taco.

  The ground rumbled to the steady thumps of the hide-covered drums announcing the opening ceremony. A cadence of mixed voices filled the air as the dancers made their way into the dance circle. Kevin pulled out his camera and began to take photos. Ryan led the male feather dancers into the circle. His dance moves mimicked the movements of a bird and the other dancers crouching positions looked as though they were tracking or hunting. His dance moves with every fast-paced leap, thrust, spin and swirl was in tune with the beatings of the drums. He was the first dancer to perform in the powwow. The black and white fringes on his regalia, twirled in the air as he spanned and waved his arms up and down. Ryan dominated the dance circle with style. The crowd watched in awe and cheered as he performed with such speed. He ended his dance with squatting leaps as he twirled the feathered and fringed batons in his hands. After the male feather dancers, the announcer called on the girls traditional shawl dance. The vibrant colors on their dress and shawls mesmerized the crowd as they showed off their fast footwork. They leaped and spanned as they held out their long colorful fringed shawls, looking like flying birds and butterflies.

  Finally, it was Kima’s turn to take on the dance circle. The drumming and singing began as she slowly opened and closed her arms, revealing the black bird design on her white shawl. As the music picked up pace she began to twirl, hop and leap high in the air. The black and white fringes on her shawl looked like opened wings when she soared her arms up and down. The crowd began to make crow sounds as she held her hands on her hips and spanned with precise highly controlled movements. Not once did she stop to catch her breath.

  "Doesn’t she look amazing?" Ryan said as he joined us on the bench. He never took his eyes off her as she performed her dance. When she finished dancing, he stood up and began to chant her name, then we all followed and did the same. She smiled and waved at us. It was the first time I ever saw her smile.

  I watched the vendors clean and close up their booths as I waited for Ryan at the end of the powwow. Everyone had already gone to Ryan’s house where his aunt and uncle were throwing a barbeque.

  "Hey,” Ryan called out to me. “Are you ready to meet my aunt?”

  “Sure.”

  He insisted I ride with him in his truck so we left my car parked at the Cultural Center. When we arrived at the house, butterflies began to flutter in my stomach, when I saw the crowd of people gathered outside the house. A parade of cars lined the driveway of the white single story house. I noticed Denise and the girls were among the crowd that lounged on the front porch. With no room on the driveway, Ryan parked his massive truck on the front lawn. He beeped the loud, monstrous horn to announce our arrival. My face turned tomato red when everyone turned to look at us. I wrapped my arms across my chest and sank deep into the black leather seat.

  “Lia! We’re so glad you came,” Lisa said as she pulled my hand and led me through the crowd. Denise swooshed some boys off the white wicker couch and Jen handed me an iced coke. Ryan followed close behind. He patted the boy seated beside me on his shoulder and he got up and handed him his seat. Ryan smiled as he made himself comfortable.

  Kima stood at the far end of the porch eyeing me with piercing looks, as always. I tried to ignore her, but my eyes kept creeping back to meet her glares. Suddenly Kima stomped off the porch and headed to the back of the house. Denise and the girls went after her. I sat dumbfounded, not knowing what to think. I looked over at Ryan and he instantly knew what I was thinking.

  "Would you like to go inside? I can show you my room,” he suggested.

  I nodded and quickly got up. I didn't care where we went. I just wanted to get away from the crowd. I followed closely behind as he walked me through the house. Family portraits in mixed matched wooden frames adorned the living room and narrow hall.

  "Come, my aunt’s waiting to meet you." He held his hand out. I reached for his hand and gave him an insecure half smile. "Relax. There’s nothing to worry about," he assured.

  We walked up to a short full- sized woman who was in the kitchen preparing some hamburgers. Her bright round eyes had a glow to them. It reminded me of the same sparkle Veena had in her eyes when she smiled.

  "Lia, this is my aunt Galilani Wahya." Ryan introduced. His aunt rinsed her hands and dried them on her apron.

  “Everyone calls me Ani,” she said as we shook hands. “I’m so glad to finally meet you. Ryan hasn't stopped talking about you since you two became friend." She reached up and lightly patted his blushing cheeks.

  “What’s up with you and Denise, trying to embarrass me?” He snorted.

  “Oh come on. You know it’s the truth.” She said with a smile. Ryan rolled his eyes. “Why don’t you kids give me a few minutes? Your uncle’s waiting for these hamburgers.” “We’ll be in my room,” replied Ryan. He grabbed my hand and led me into the last room at the end of the hall. His room was quiet, a refreshing retreat compared to the rest of the house. I sat on the full size bed on the corner beneath a small bare window. He didn’t have much furniture, just a bed, bookshelf and a small desk. He had a large, white dream catcher over the bed and posters of animals covered the rest of the walls in his room.

  "Let me guess," I said. "You're a fan of ravens and wolves." He laughed as he sat beside me a
nd stared up at the posters.

  “I particularly like the raven. It’s my animal spirit guide.”

  I flinched in confusion, “animal spirit guide?”

  “Yea, we believe everyone is connected to an animal that guides us throughout our life, both in the physical and spiritual world. Our animal guide teach us valuable life lessons and grant us spiritual guidance.”

  "And what does it mean to have a raven as a spiritual guide?"

  "Well, those who have a raven as a guide have the ability to get inside a person's mind and understand their true nature. We’re also the keeper of secrets. And best of all…” He paused to catch my expression, "we carry the mark of the shape shifter."

  "Shape shifter?" I swallowed hard. “What’s the mark of the shape shifter?” Ryan pulled up his shirt and showed me a small mark on his back that resembled a half moon. My heart stopped for a few seconds. It resembled the one I had in my left eye.

  He turned and looked at me. “We’re more alike than you think.”

  ∞ Chapter 8 ∞

  I COVERED MY LEFT EYE with my hand. “It’s not a mark. It’s called heterchromia and I inherited genetically from one of my parents.”

  Thank God, his aunt stood at the door because I didn’t want to continue hearing about this whole mark of the shape shifter nonsense.

  “I finally got all the burgers out in time before the hungry guests become restless,” she said taking a seat beside me on the bed. “So, Lia, my nephew tells me you’ve been having nightmares.”

  I brought my hand down to my side. “Yeah,” I replied.

  She stared at my eye for a moment then said, “How often are you having them?”

  “I haven’t had the nightmares for a long time. But after my foster mother died, I began to have them regularly. Maybe three to four times a week.”

  “Was your foster mother Veena Miller?” she asked wide eyed.

  “Yes. Did you know her?” I asked, confused.

  “Veena and I grew up together on the same Reservation in Alabama."

  "She never mentioned you before." I didn't want to sound rude, but it was true. She never mentioned having known anyone in Wind River before.

  "I'm not surprised she never did. You see, several years ago we had a disagreement about something foolish, and she just stopped coming around. Veena was one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet, but boy was she stubborn! God rest her soul, I loved her like a sister. I tried to attend the funeral but her husband John refused to tell me when and where it was being held."

  “I’m sorry. I never knew.” I replied.

  “It’s ok. It wasn’t your fault.” She said.

  I turned to look at Ryan, “Did you know your aunt knew my foster mother?” I asked. He shook his head.

  “He didn’t know,” Ani said. “May I?” she asked reaching for my hands.

  She looked into my eyes. As she stared into them, I could feel my left eye begin to burn. Ani closed her eyes and kept them closed for a few seconds. When she opened them, she released my hands and took a step back. Her face was stunned and held a strange expression. I waited for her to speak, but instead she turned to Ryan and whispered something into his ear. I lowered my head and concentrated on my boots.

  "Do you believe in reincarnation?" she asked.

  I drew back, rattled. “Isn’t that when a soul of a dead person comes back in another body?”

  “Yes.”

  “What does that have to do with my dream?”

  "You see, our dreams are images that are played back to us when our souls reach the spirit world in our sleep. Our dreams reveal things that happened to us in our past lives and things that are about to happen in our present life. In your dream, you were happy. The day was bright and suddenly it got dark and scary. The massive wind led you to a cliff, it didn’t knock you off. You chose to fall. The vulture was warning you because you will once again face the same thing you once ran from in a former life.”

  I was amazed at how she knew every detail of my dream, just by touching my hand. "What was I running from?" I asked, but Ani just shook her head. “What do you mean you don’t know? I thought you could help me?”

  “I’m sorry Lia, but that’s all I know,” she got up and walked to the next room.

  I turned to Ryan. “I thought you said your aunt could help me? Instead of finding answers, I’m left with more questions. I’m beginning to think this was a waste of time.”

  Ani walked back into the room carrying something wrapped in an ivory knitted throw as I made my way to the door. I recognized the knit design---it was Veena’s. She unwrapped the throw and handed me a small wooden box. It was old, Victorian maybe. The box itself was simple, except for the engraved initials Z.R. on it. Attached to the copper lock was a decorative key.

  “I may not have the answers you’re seeking, but this might help,” said Ani. “Veena came to see me the night she died. She asked me to hold this box in case something were to happen to her. She said I was the only person she trusted to keep it safe. She also asked me to give it to you when the time came and you needed answers regarding your past.”

  Tears began to fill my eyes as I held on to the box.

  “Lia, sweetie, there’s something else I need to tell you.” Ani said. I could tell it was something serious because of the tone of her voice. Suddenly my breathing became shallow. I had to sit back down. My foot shook uncontrollably, with an edgy mind of its own.

  Ani leaned closer. I could see my reflection inside the liquid amber of her eyes. Every wrinkle and white root that framed her serious face was magnified in our closeness, "I made a promise to Veena that I would tell you everything I know when the time was right."

  “Okay.” I said as my heart accelerated.

  “Veena was your mom’s sister.”

  "What?" I gasped nearly knocking the box out of my hands. My heart pounded loudly as I fought to keep breathing. "Why didn’t she tell me?" I cried, “I’ve lived with her for five years and she never told me anything.” Tears streamed down my face. My stomach turned from the disbelief that she could keep such a secret from me. Surely, Ani was wrong. “Why should I believe you?”

  "For years she carried the guilt of your parent’s death on her shoulders and she was afraid you wouldn’t forgive her.”

  “What are you talking about? What guilt?” I asked, breathlessly.

  "It all began when your mother met your father. You see, your grandfather was a very old fashioned man. He wanted his daughters to marry men from their own kind. Your mother, Salina, disobeyed him by marrying a man he had not chosen for her. So your grandfather disowned her and never had contact with her ever again. He also forbade Veena from seeing her sister.

  But she missed her sister so much that at the first chance she had, she too ran away and never saw her father again. For years, she searched for your mother until she finally discovered that your parents were living in your father’s hometown of Arcadia, Louisiana.

  One night, while your parents were returning home from a night out, an animal ran in front of their car. Your mother recognized the animal’s dark eyes and swirled to avoid striking it, accidently crashing head on to a truck."

  "What do you mean she recognized the animal’s dark eyes? Was the animal their pet?”

  "No it wasn’t sweetie. Veena was the animal who ran in front of the car. Your mother and Veena were both shape shifters."

  I looked around myself in shock. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I wanted to get up and run. Run as far away as I could. I took a deep breath, reminding myself to stay calm.

  "Lia I know this is too much for you to bare at the moment, but there’s more. Veena didn’t know at that time that her sister had a daughter. When she found out about you, she quickly packed her bags and went to get you.”

  I was dumbfounded and lost for words. All these years and she never once told me anything. How could she say she loved me and not tell me the truth? I felt cheated, robbed and angry.

  "D
on’t be angry with her. She really felt in her heart she was doing the right thing by keeping this from you.”

  My voice trembled, “so I inherited the mark I have in my left eye from my mother? Does that mean I’m a shape shifter too?”

  "Yes, but not just any shifter,” she replied. “That mark in your eye is a symbol of the immortal wolf. Legend has it that the shifter, who carries the mark in their eye is immortal and posses many powerful gifts. The last known shifter who had the mark was a girl named Zaria Rohan.”

  Something had to have been very off with Ryan’s aunt. First Veena and my mother were shifters and now I was an immortal wolf? Yet the last known immortal wolf was now dead.

  “If Zaria Rohan was immortal, why is she dead?” I asked sounding smart mouthed.

  “The meaning of immortal for a werewolf doesn’t necessarily mean to live forever in the physical sense. Aren’t vampires immortal and don’t they die if touched by the rays of the sun or if a wooden stake is driven through their chest? Yet they’re “immortal.” The gift of the immortal wolf means that he or she can be born again, reincarnated in another body. You’re the reincarnation of the immortal wolf, Zaria. And according to your dream, you will once again face the same fate she faced.”

  I stood transfixed by what she just said.

  “Open the box,” replied Ani. “Inside you’re going to find her diary perhaps it holds the answers to your dream. Veena also placed a picture of your parents inside the box.”

  I opened the box and pulled out the picture of my parents. My mother was identical to Veena except she had long flowing hair and a pair of the most beautiful pale blue eyes I had ever seen. My father seemed tall and thin. He had small brown eyes and dark, wild curly hair. They looked so happy. I smiled at the picture and turned it around. The words Salina + Andrew inside a heart was written on the back in red ink. I closed the box and held it tight.