A Tail-Tale of Twilight
chapter 3
I led Kia to my bedroom and found some clothes for him. Since most of my clothes consist of t-shirts and cut-offs, I tried to find something a little warmer, but didn't have much success. I did happen to find a hoodie that should fit him, it was big on me a year or so ago, hopefully it fits him. Kia was big, not big in a fat way, but just bigger than most people around here. He had broad shoulders, thick legs, and a muscular body. *Maybe if he sticks with us, he wont look so big to everyone else, *I thought to myself. Personally I hoped he would stick with us, he seemed like a nice change of pace from the people around here.
After I found him some clothes, I led him to the bathroom and told him where everything was; the towels were on the shelf, the wash-clothes were beside them and the rest was in the shower. I excused myself and went out into my dad's office, where he was nose deep in an old book.
"So whats got you so bugged out?" I asked.
He looked at me like I was blind and then said "Did you happen to notice the markings on his chest? There's something peculiar about them. I feel like I should know what they mean."
"Dad, I don't think they mean anything. He was passed out drunk on the beach and kids stole his clothes. He said that wasn't it, but I still don't know if I believe it. I think he's just ashamed of making a fool of himself."
"Did you smell alcohol? If he were passed out drunk, you should have smelled it a mile away."
"Well, no but still. He was on the beach, the salt water could have drowned it out."
My dad turned the page in the book and found what he was looking for. "Dear spirits. Its happened."
"What are you mumbling old man? What do you mean 'its happened"?"
My dad showed me the page in the book. The book was a collection of legends from our tribe that are more lesser known, my dad is the only one to have access to the book.
"Do you remember when you were younger how people would rant about a woman named Rain?" he asked.
"Uh, I think. Was she the one who ran off with some foreign guy?"
"Yes. Well there's something I need to tell you. It might come as a shock, but what I speak is the truth. You know what 'Skin Walkers' are, right?
"Yeah, they're supposed to be shape shifters right? They have to be wearing the skin of the animal they want to change into; or something like that...?"
"Correct, and have you ever heard of a 'spirit walker'?"
"Yeah, they are able to change into a spirit form and move around, right?"
"Exactly. The Blackfoot tribe had the last known Spirit Walkers; Rain's family. Now, years ago, long before you were born, some of the old men of the tribe came up with the twisted idea that they could combine the bloodline of the Spirit Walker with that of the Skin Walkers. Since there were no known Skin Walkers, they tried with our people's shape-shifting gene. The idea for these children were that they would be able to merge with the spirits of the Great Animals and take on their form, or at least their attributes."
"Is that even possible?" I asked.
My dad looked away and continued, "The Blackfoot at the time were suffering from a terrible sickness that left most of them weak and infertile. So a deal was struck between our people that we would allow some of the girls to live with us, and if any of our 'Spirit Warriors' were born, we would split them among our tribes. Doing so kept these girls safe from the sickness, so that if need be, they would be able to repopulate the Blackfoot tribe."
"Okay, that part makes sense." I was pissed, not so much at the idea, but at the Elder's, for wanting to put girls through this.
"The men with the gene would lay with these girls, hoping that they could produce a Spirit Warrior. Most of the girls were able to conceive after their first, or second try, but before they were far along enough to give birth, the women died; the hope of that power died. The Elders obviously realized that it was impossible and the spirits wouldn't allow it."
My dad looked back at me, with a look of sadness in his eyes.
"That was, except for one woman. Her name was Koko. She tried multiple times with different men, and on her last try, she was able to produce a child, a girl; Rain. Koko died shortly after giving birth. As Rain grew older, the Elders realized she did not posses the powers they had hoped. They asked her if she would try to reproduce amongst our men to see if she were able. She tried many times, but was unsuccessful. Everyone assumed she was infertile, so she lived with our tribe as if nothing happened. It was a part of the deal, that the women, successful or not, would live amongst our people, unless need be for them to return home."
My dad paused, taking in a deep breath before he continued.
" A couple of years passed and she met an Italian man named Alessio. She was happy with him, more happy than she had been her entire life. He stayed with us for a while and when it was time for him to return home, Rain was heartbroken. She wanted more than anything to go back to Italy with him, but the Elders didn't approve because they had the need to honor the deal between our peoples. The night that Alessio was leaving, Rain managed to sneak away with him and by the time the elders had figured it out, they were long gone and that was the last we heard of her. In all honestly Jacob, I'm happy that she was able to get away, she was miserable here."
There was silence for a while and someone sobbed; Kia. I didnt hear him come in, apparently neither did my father. His head was lowered, tears falling like rain, and then he spoke:
"Alessio and Rain. Nice names."
So theres chapter three. I figured I would change it up and go from Jake's point of view to make it a little more easier for the story to unfold. Again, I would love your feedback. timeisafleeting@gmail.com