Prelude:

John Red Feather was on his way home from performing a cleansing ceremony for some friends of his that had brought, an extremely old house that had some history to it. The house itself, was built back during the early 1900's and rumored to have spirits still living in it. The couple that had bought the house, we’re experiencing weird and ususal things ever since they had moved in. They were hearing strange voices and noises at night. Some times during the night, the furniture and pictures they had brought with them, would either be rearranged or flipped upside down. John had managed to release the spirits still hanging around and sent them on their way.

The stretch of road he was traveling down tonight, was the same road he had traveled down a thousand times before. Nothing out of the ordinary ever happened on this stretch of road late at night. The moon was bright and full tonight hanging in the night sky like a polish pearl. The light reflecting off it, lite the night up. Just as John was nearing a spot that had been set aside for visitors to pull over to enjoy the area and take a break. His truck started developing problems. He pulls off the road and into one of the parking spaces that had been made for the visitors to park their cars in. Just as he is about to shut off the truck, he spots a box sitting on a picnic table right in front of the space he is parked at. He also notices a blanket hanging on the outside corner of the box.

John gets out of his truck, leaving the headlights on so he’ll have some thing to light up the picnic table. He approaches the table carefully and once he is next to the table, he looks inside the box.

“Well, What do we have here?” John spots a sleeping baby wrapped up in a bunch of greasy, smelly blankets.

He picks the infant up out of the box. The infant starts to stirs and wakes up. The infant looks up into John’s eyes. John then feels the spirits around this area gather around him.

A Native American woman appears before John. “She is a special child John Red Feather. She has been abandoned by those who are related to her by blood. We ask you and your family to raise her as if she was of your flesh and blood. Teach her our ways and help her learn who she is.”

The woman then turns around and walks back into the night, disappearing from sight.

John looks down at the baby in his arms. He notices that she has fallen back to sleep.

“I have no idea who you are or why the spirits have chosen me and my family to raise you, but I will honor their request and raise you as if you were of my Family.”

John lays the child back down in the box of blankets and picks it up. He carries the box back to his truck and gets in. He notices that his truck is running fine now. A smile appears on his face as he figures out that it must have been the spirits messing with his truck to get him to stop here and take this baby with him. John, backs out of the parking spot and heads back down the road toward his home. The infant doesn’t stirs a single bit during the whole entire time.

Seventeen Years Later:

A buzzer sounds off in a dark room, as a hand comes raising up out of the dark highlighted by the green glow the clock numbers radio gives off. It smacks down hard on the plastic buttons and retreats back into the dark. Exactly nine minutes later, the buzzer goes off again and the same hand that had appeared out of the darkness before. Fumbles around on top of the clock radio and turns the buzzer off. It retreats once more into the darkness from which it came.

“Sayen, Sayen, are you up yet, child?” as a shaft of light chases away the darkness surrounding a red hair woman who is asleep in bed.

She stirs under the blankets covering her, as she turns her head to look at the woman who had been calling her name.

Her eyes try to adjust on the female form with shoulder length black hair standing in the doorway to her and her older sister’s room.

“Mom! I just went to bed four hours ago. Can’t I sleep a little bit longer, please?” Sayen just stares at her mother through sleepy eyes.

“Don’t you have to work today, young lady?”

“Yes Ma’am! I have to be at work at 9:00 a.m. this morning.”

“Well, it’s 8:45 right now young lady. Your going to be late again, just like you were yesterday.” Marilyn Red Feather just stares at her adopted daughter.

“Crap!” Sayen jumps up out of bed and nearly falls over from being tangle up in the blankets.

Marilyn, just shakes her head, as she watches her daughter get ready for work. She knows Sayen is normally better at being on time for work and such, but can’t help feeling that maybe, Sayen has taken on, too much upon herself. Marilyn knows that Sayen has been staying up late working on her paper for a veterinary course she is taking and learning to be a shaman like her grandfather.

Sayen grabs the nearest pair of blue jeans she can get her hands on, after putting on a clean pair of panties, bra and socks. She grabs a clean T-shirt out of her dresser drawers that has the gardening shop she works at printed on it, on after slipping on her blue jeans. She grabs her work boots from under her bed and slips them on and tie them as well. She then runs a brush through her long red hair several times, before gathering it up and putting it into a pony tail. She grabs her baseball cap she normally wears to help keep the glare of the sun out of her eyes as well.

Marilyn had already left her daughters bedroom door, and headed to the kitchen to fix her daughter a lunch to take to work. She makes some cheese toast to eat on the way to work. She knows Sayen is going to be in hurry.

Sayen comes running out of her bedroom and down the hallway towards the kitchen. She runs into the kitchen and notices her mother had made her a lunch to take to work and some cheese toast as well.

“Thanks Mom!” Sayen gives her mom a quick peck on the cheek.

Sayen then grabs her coffee cup she normally takes with her and fills it up with milk. She also grabs two 1-liter bottle waters out of the refrigerator, her lunch and breakfast and heads out to her CJ-7 Jeep.

Sayen hops into the driver seat of her old tan Jeep CJ-7 that was given to her by her grandfather on her sixteen birthday. She starts the Jeep up and put it into reverse and backs out of the dirt drive way. Once she has cleared the drive, Sayen turns the jeep toward the direction on the road she wants to head and heads to work. While she is driving, She munches on the cheese toast her mother made and drinks some of the milk in her coffee cup.

Sayen foot presses down on the gas pedal to increase her speed to make up for being late this morning for work. She knows she shouldn’t be speeding, but she was thirty minutes late for work yesterday and if the clock setting on her display was right, she was going to be forty minutes late if she didn’t increase her speed.

Sayen was to busy taking a sip of milk from her coffee cup to notice the parked Tribal police car that was parked beside some bushes. She zoomed by without slowing down. Just as she zoom by, she hears the siren from the police car and then notice the flashing red and blue lights in her rearview mirror.

“Dam it!” Sayen pulls her Jeep over on the side of the road.

The police car follows suit and pulls in behind the Jeep as well. Sayen watches in her side view mirror to see which of her father’s deputies it was going to be. This wasn’t the first time she had been pulled over for speeding on the reservation. Most of the deputies on the tribal police force knew who she was and knew who her parents were. Heck, it was easy for them to remember her. She was the only red hair woman on the whole entire Indian reservation. They knew she was adopted by the Red Feather family and that her adopted father was the chief of police of the tribal police force and that her adopted grandfather was the tribal shaman.

Sayen kept an eye on the police officer as he walked slowly up to her. Her father had told her, always pay attention to what is going on around you. Especially when you get pulled over by the police. Cause recently, there had been several women assaulted by some men disguise as police officers near the reservation as of late. Sayen wasn’t worried, cause she knew most of the men and women who served under her father.

Once the police officer get to Sayen “License and registration please.”

Sayen examines the police officer standing beside her Jeep. She notices his name badge, the broad shoulders, his strong chin and facial features.

“Sam Bald Eagle, I know you already know who I am and what year my Jeep is. You pulled me over last week for doing the same thing I was doing today.”

A smile appears on his tanned Indian face, as he removes his sun glasses and hangs them from his shirt pocket.

“And your doing the same thing like you were then as you are now. Where’s the fire this morning?”

“I’m late for work. I over slept this morning, happy now?” Sayen just glares at him.

“You’re the one that was speeding Sayen. If anything it’s your fault., Didn’t the spirits warn you I was sitting there waiting for you to come flying by like you did?”

“No!, you know the spirits don’t work like that and stop sounding like you don’t believe in them.” Sayen just shakes her head.

“Tell you what. If you go out on a date with me this weekend, I won’t write this ticket.” He looks at her face and tries to guess what she is going to say.

“You know I can’t do that. My father would have a kitten if he knew I went out on a date with one of his deputies. Besides, me and my Grandfather are going out this whole entire weekend for my shaman training. I won’t be back home till Monday morning.” Sayen brushes back a lock of her red hair that had come loose from under her ball cap.

“I knew you would have an excuse. You always do.” he smiles at her. “I’ll just give you a warning this time Sayen Red Feather, but next time, you owe me a date.” he steps back away from the Jeep.

“Thanks Sam!” Sayen restarts her Jeep and drives off.

She looks down at the time on her dash clock and notice that this time she is going to be thirty minutes late now.

“Dam it! He cost me extra time.” Sayen just shakes her head and keeps her speed just five miles above the speed limit.

Thirty minutes later, she pulls into the parking lot of the gardening center she works at. She jumps out of her Jeep grabbing her lunch and water bottles. Just as she enters the store, Tammy Greenwood, her boss stops her.

“I was beginning to wonder what happen to you Sayen. This is twice in a week you have been late.” Tammy gives Sayen a stern look.

“I’m sorry Tammy, I overslept this morning. I would had been here a little earlier, but I got pulled over for speeding.”

Tammy just shakes her head “Your mother called to tell me you were going to be late this morning. Would it be better if I adjust your hours, so you can be here at a later time instead in the morning?”

“No, I promise not to be late tomorrow morning. Would it be okay if I stayed an hour later to make up for being late, please?”

“Okay, but this is the last time Sayen. If you can’t be here on time tomorrow and the rest of the week. I’m going to change your hours back an hour or so to give you more time to be here on time. I know your working to be a veterinary and that your learning from your Grandfather, but I need for you to be here in the morning to help me open up the store.” Tammy gives Sayen a friendly smile and heads off to take care of a customer.

Sayen heads to the back of the store to stow her lunch and water bottles away and clocks in. She grabs her apron and puts it on and goes about doing her job.

Most of the day goes by pretty quietly. Sayen manages to take inventory and restock the shelves without to much interruption, which she enjoys. Especially setting up a new display for some products they had just gotten in. While she was busy setting up the display and stocking it. Sayen didn’t hear the approach of some guys behind her.

“Well, well, fellows who do we have here, on her hands and knee’s? The white chick that thinks she is an Indian.” As, a tall long black hair fellow with a scar running down the left side of his face glances at Sayen.

Sayen looks up at the fellow and the other two guys standing behind him.

“Well, isn’t it he-who-is-chicken and his followers. What brings trash like you into a place like this?”

“At least I’m a pure bloodied Indian, Sayen. You are pretending to be of one of us. I bet you don’t have an ounce of Indian blood in you. You’re just some poor abandoned kid that old goat Red Father found on the side of the road.” Jake just glares down at Sayen.

Sayen stands up fast and steps in close to Jake “You can talk trash about me all you want Jake, but you will not talk badly about your elders. John Red Feather is your elder and you will show him the respect he desires. Cause if you don’t, I can always give you another matching scar on the other side of your face. I’ve already proven to you, Edward and Terry there, that I can protect myself from sneak attacks like you like to do.”

“You better watch yourself. Nobody tells me how I’m suppose to act or to respect. One of these days, your going to push the wrong buttons and something bad is going to happen to you.” He gives Sayen a shove sending her falling backwards into a display.

Sayen tries to stop herself from falling backwards, but there was nothing close for her hands to grab onto. She falls backwards into a nearby display. She feels a sharp metal object poke in her back, just under her right shoulder blade. She hits her head on a metal shelf and knocks herself out.

Sayen’s boss and some of the customers in the store heard the crash and come running over to help her. Jake and his two companions hall tail out of the store as fast as they can. Sayen’s boss calls the paramedics and then Sayen’s father.

Sayen has a vision while she is knocked out, of a woman similar to her, except younger. Around the age she would have been when Sayen was born. She is dress in some sort of flowery dress and wearing a ring of flowers in her hair, which is shorter then Sayen’s. She seemed to be traveling in some sort of van or car. The area around the woman is cover in a light cloud of smoke. Sayen could smell the smoke surrounding this woman. She has smelled it before. She remembers some of her friends in high school smoking the substance. The vehicle seems to be weaving all over the highway. Sayen knows this Highway, it wasn’t far from where John Red Feather found her when she was just a baby. Then there’s the sound of a tire blowing out and the vehicle starts skidding off the road and the next thing Sayen hears is the scream of the woman whom she resembles and the screams of several others around her as the vehicle goes off a cliff face next to the bridge you have to cross.

Sayen sits straight up in bed with tears running down her face “MOTHER!” the vision fades from her sight.

“I’m right her baby.” Marilyn, Sayen’s adopted mother wraps her loving arms around Sayen’s trembling body.

Sayen looks into her adopted mother’s eyes with tears streaming down from her own.

“I saw her Mother. I saw my birth mother. She died in a car accident.” Sayen buries her face against her mother’s shoulder and cries.

Marilyn rubs Sayen’s back, while holding her close and cooing to her. She hated seeing her daughter like this. Marilyn knows her daughter has gifts. It all started when Sayen turned ten years old. That was when her gifts first started surfacing. The first gift that had surface, was when she approached a rattle snake and it didn’t strike her. It let her, pick it up and hold it like it was a cherished pet. No one else could get near to Sayen while she was holding the snake. Even, when Sayen would approach an animal that was mean spirited or feral. They would always let her near them, and pet them, like they were her pets. The second gift surfaced a few months later. That gift shook Sayen up really badly. They we’re visiting the burial grounds where her grandmother was buried, and Sayen was reliving what the spirits of the dead that were still there had gone through. She saw what or who killed them and felt what they felt. If it wasn’t for Grandfather placing a spirit talisman on Sayen, to block the visions and protect her. She would have gone insane.

The Third gift surfaced when Sayen turned thirteen years of age. She developed the ability to heal both physical and mental illness. It takes a lot out of her and could cost her, her life if she over extends herself with it. Marilyn had found that out, when she took Sayen to work with her.

Somehow Sayen had made it to one of her patient’s rooms that had third degree burns and when she touched the persons body. The skin started regrowing itself over the burn parts. Missing fingers and body parts started regrowing themselves. Marilyn had found Sayen laying on the floor next to the patient’s bed barely breathing, paled and in shock. It took two weeks for Sayen to recover from that experience. Marilyn makes sure that any time her daughter goes to the hospital or clinic that one of the family members is always with her. Cause Sayen can feel the pain or disease that a person is feeling and if there isn’t anyone there to stop her from using her gift, it will kill her.

This other gift of Sayen’s, This isn’t the first time that this gift has manifested itself. Usually, it only manifested itself if Sayen needs to find some thing or someone. Like if she needed to find a family member or a lost object like a set of keys or something like that. It has never just come on like it did.

Marilyn knew that Sayen could find anything or anyone if she concentrated extremely hard. She could even tell you what the person was doing or was saying at the moment when she tires to locate them. As for objects, Sayen could get you within a ten-foot radius if it was an object or person unfamiliar to her. If it was something she held all the time or sometimes, she could lead you straight to it.

Marilyn just holds her youngest daughter and keeps rubbing her back. She has never cared that her adopted daughter wasn’t Native American. If the spirits felt that she needed this family to bring her up, then that was what she would do. She loved Sayen as if she had given birth to her.

“How’s my little girl doing?” Sayen’s father, Jacob Red Feather comes walking into the hospital room. He has a black gym bag with him.

Marilyn looks up at her husband “Sayen’s a little shaken up right now. She just had a vison Jacob.”

“Oh? What was the vision about?” Jacob looks down at Sayen as she clings to her mother.

“Sayen saw her birth mother’s death. She said that she died in a car accident.” Marilyn stops rubbing Sayen’s back and continues to just hold her.

“Well, what did she see? Maybe I can look into it and find out more to confirm it and find out who she is.”

“I don’t know. Sayen is still shaken up over it.”

“How are Sayen’s wounds?” he sits down next to Sayen and holds her hand.

“She has four stitches keeping the wound she got on her head close and the wound on her shoulder is doing all right. We should be able to take her home tonight.”

“How you feeling pumpkin?” Jacob stokes Sayen’s cheek.

Sayen looks up from her mother’s shoulder and looks towards her dad.

Jacob could see that his daughter eyes were red from crying.

“I want to go home, Daddy. I need Grandfather’s help.” Sayen just stares at her father, while still holding onto her mother.

“Okay, sweet heart, but can you tell me who hurt you?” Jacob watches his daughter eyes. He knows that she has never been able to lie to him about any thing.

“It was Jake Crowfeet. He pushed me backwards, after I stood up to him for bad mouthing Grandfather.”

“Why was he bad-mouthing Grandfather fore?”

“Cause. He started bad mouthing me first about not being a true Native American and that I was just pretending to be one. He said that I was just some abandoned kid that old goat found on the side of the road.”

“He said that about Grandfather?” Jacob was remaining calm about the disrespect to his daughter and about the disrespect that was shown to his father as well.

“Yes sir, I stood up to him and told him that he could talk trash about me, all he wanted to, but he should show respect to his elders.”

“No one has the right to talk trash about you sweet heart or about how you came to us either. As far as we are concern, your more Native American then anybody born in this community. You have always done what was right and respected your elders even when you disagreed with them. You have always made us proud, to call you daughter.” Marilyn hugs her daughter.

“Your mother is right Sayen. You have always done what was right. No one has the right to talk down to you or to question your blood. You did a good thing by defending your grandfather and putting Jake in his place. I’ll have a talk with him later about hurting you. Do you want to press charges against him sweetheart?” Jacob, gives Sayen’s hand a little squeeze.

“No sir. I don’t want his father to be embarrassed by his son’s actions, should it get out.”

A smile appears on both Marilyn and Jacob’s face at their daughter’s statement.

“Always thinking of others aren’t you?” Jacob gives Sayen an approving smile.

“Well, I stop by the house and got you a change of clothes. I knew you would be alright with your mother here with you., After all she is your doctor as well.” Jacob gives his wife a loving smile as he sits the gym bag up on the bed.

“I’ll wait outside, while you change clothes.” Jacob gets up off the bed and heads outside of the hospital room while closing the door behind him.

Marilyn gets up off the bed as well and helps Sayen up. She heads over toward the sink and cleans her face up and notices that the paramedics must have cut her bra.

“I hope father remembered to bring me an extra bra, mom.” Sayen turns around and notices that her mother is holding one of her flowery bras for her.

“I told him to bring one when he got the call you were here. Here, let me help you put it on.” Marilyn steps behind Sayen and helps her put the bra on and then her favorite green T-shirt that has a set of coyote pups wrestling around on the front of it.

“Well it looks like you’re ready to go home now.” Marilyn picks up the empty gym bag and opens the door.

Jacob turns around when he feels the door open. The three of them make their way out to the parking lot and over to Jacob’s 4x4 Chevrolet Tahoe tribal police SUV.

“In you go, Sayen” Jacob opens the door of the SUV and helps his daughter into it.

“I’ll meet the two of you back at home in a little while. I still have a shift to finish, before I can leave.” Marilyn gives her husband a kiss and then pat’s Sayen thigh. She then heads, back inside the hospital.

Jacob gets in and starts the SUV up and backs it out and heads towards home.

“Daddy, How am I going to get my Jeep back home?” She turns around in her seat to look at her father.

“Already taken care of, sweetheart. I dropped Grandfather off at your job and he took it home. It seems that he already knew what happened to you. He was waiting for me when I went by the house to get you a change of clothes. ” Jacob glances at his daughter.

“It would seem the spirits have been busy today. Grandfather, always seem to have some knack about what is going on, before anyone tells him. ” Sayen turns back around in her seat and looks out through the front windshield.

Jacob just laughs at his daughter’s statement.

“Your grandfather has always been like that sweetie. Even when I was a child and he wasn’t around to raise me. He seemed to know what I did and when I hurt myself or when I gave your grandmother a hard time. That’s what make him a good medicine man. He sees things better then we do and is able to communicate with the spirits. You’re starting to become a lot like him.”

Sayen just continues to stare straight at the road as they drive.

“Daddy, do you know that Highway that is 30 miles away from where I was found by grandfather?”

“I know which Highway your talking about sweet heart, What about it?” Jacob wonders what his daughter is thinking.

“You know that bridge that crosses over the White River?, That was where my birth mother died at. The vehicle she was riding in, blew a tire and they skidded out of control and over the cliff edge there. They were already high from smoking marijuana. I could smell it in the vehicle she was riding in.”

“You could smell it sweetheart? How was that possible?, you would had to have been there at the time?” Jacob looks at his daughter with a puzzled look on his face.

“I don’t know Daddy, but in the vision, I could feel and hear everything going on with her. It was like she was happy and free. I look a lot like her. Except she had shorter hair and was a little younger than I am now. I would have to say at least fifteen or sixteen years old.” Sayen looks over towards her father.

“Well, I don’t remember there being a police report about any accident around the time grandfather found you, but then again, I was only a patrol man at the time. If you’re up to it tomorrow and IF your mother says it okay. Me, your grandfather and you, will head out tomorrow and check it out.”

“I have to work tomorrow Daddy.”

“Nope! You’re off tomorrow and the next day after that. Tammy said to tell you to take a few days off to recover and then come back to work. She’s afraid of what your mother might do.” Jacob gives his daughter a loving smile.

The ride home was peaceful and quiet. Occasionally, the quietness was disturbed, by the sequel of the police radio. Which didn’t bother Sayen, she was used to it. She had ridden with her father several times when she was younger. Sayen sat quietly thinking about the vision.

She was trying to figure out, why out of the blue she had the vision of her birth mother. What meaning did it hold and why now? She had visited the place John Red Feather had found her and hadn’t received a vision from there. What were the spirits trying to tell her now? They never did anything without a reason. She had resigned herself of never knowing who her real mother was or why she had been left her on that picnic table. Something just didn’t feel right about this vision.

During the whole ride home, Jacob watched his daughter. He knew the look on her face when she was thinking about something. It was a look he was familiar with. He suspected that, the vision she had must have upset her or meant something. What, he didn’t know himself, he just knew from experience of watching his daughter and the visions she had, that the spirits were trying to tell her something.

Sayen didn’t even notice they had arrived home, till her dad turned the Tahoe off.

“We’re home, sweetie.” Jacob begins to open his door.

“Oh, I’m sorry, father. My mind was somewhere else.” Sayen opens her door and gets out of the SUV.

As she is walking up to the front door, she notices her Jeep is parked in its normal spot. The exact same spot, she always parks it at. As soon as both her and her father walks through the door, the aroma of fresh cooked beef stew hit their nose and their mouths start to water. Sayen’s mother makes a good beef stew, but grandfathers, has hers beat by a mile.

“Is that Grandfather’s special beef stew I smell?” Sayen sticks her head into the kitchen.

John Red Feather turns around when he hears his granddaughter ask her question. He notices her standing there at the kitchen door.

“You look better. How’s your head?”

“It’s okay. Mom said it was only a little cut.” Sayen looks at her grandfather’s eyes and notice that he had been examining her himself.

“We will talk after dinner Sayen.” He turns back around and goes back to stirring his stew.

Sayen stands there dumb founded. She hadn’t even said anything, and he already knew what she was going to say.

“If I didn’t know any better Grandfather, I would say you’re telepathic.” Sayen turns around and heads for her bedroom.

A smile appears on John Red Feather’s face.

Sayen heads to the bathroom to freshen up for dinner. After washing her face and drying it off, she looks into the mirror and stares at the reflection of herself.

“What are you trying to tell me?”

Her reflection changes from herself to that of her birth mother wearing some sort of necklace. She can tell it’s of Native American design by the bead work in it and the artwork of the precious metals and stones in its design. The image switches to a tomahawk, which Sayen recognizes of being of ancient design. She had seen tomahawks that were newer than this one in museums. Then the images disappear.

“What do they mean?” Sayen turns on the facets and splashes some water onto her face. She doesn’t understand why the spirits are telling her about the necklace and tomahawk now.

Sayen heads out of the bathroom and into her bedroom. She sits down at her desk and opens up her laptop and begins doing a web search about missing Native American artifacts or legends about them. She does search after search on the internet looking for anything that might give her a clue to the items she has seen so far.

She checks nearby towns and far away towns and cities, as well to see if anyone or thing pops up. Nothing unusual shows up from the internet, or from the spirits either.

She leans back in her chair and look out the bedroom window in front of her at the old Oak tree that is growing about 100ft.away from the house right in front of her window. She watches as the cloud’s past behind it and as the little birds that live in it twitter about in the upper limbs of it.

Sayen feels something soft and purring, rub against her legs.

“Jack, what are you up too?” Sayen reaches down and picks up a big ole gray and black tom cat. She holds him in front of him and examines him. His head is about the size of softball and he has a scar near his right eye. His fur is dusty from being outside chasing some animal or leaf.

Jack just blinks his kitty cat eyes at Sayen and his purring becomes louder. It sounds like a herd of horses running, when it comes from deep inside him. Sayen puts him down on her lap, strokes his dusty soft fur and enjoys his purring.

Jack was the first stray, that her mother let stay with her. Most of the other ones, either left on their own accorded or her mother found good homes for them. Jack is a unique kind of cat. He is bigger in size then most house cats. Sayen and her grandfather, thinks that Jack’s father might have been a bobcat or lynx. He also, likes to be able to come and go as he pleases, but always comes home to sleep on Sayen’s bed at night. He always seems to know when things are bothering her and gets along with the other strays that find Sayen as well. If nothing else, he normally brings them home for her to take care of or help get back on their feet.

Sayen scratches behind his ears, where his favorite spot is. His purring, rumbling in his chest increase in volume more loudly and you can hear it echo in the room. Sayen just sits there petting Jack and thinking about the images of the items she saw. She wants to know what all of this means and why now, did the spirits decide to reveal where her birth mother had died at? What purpose did it serve now and Why now of all times?

Also, what did the necklace and Tomahawk have to do with this as well? We’re they meant for her or we’re they meant for someone else or were they stolen, and the spirits want them, return to where they came from? Just from the image of the Tomahawk, it wasn’t of Lakota or Cheyenne design. She knew that much. Her Grandfather and father had weapons passed down through the years from their ancestors preserve in her father’s study. Her mother had a few items as well preserve in there with fathers’ and Grandfather’s. She sits there and pets Jack and thinks about everything. Sayen closes her eyes and recalls the images and such, that was given to her by the spirits.

Grandfather taught her how to store the memories and how to bring them back to the surface to reexamine them. She slowly remembers each memory she has had so far and examines everything in the image of it. What time of day it is, what is happening with the people in the image? She looks for clues that she may have overlooked when she first received the image.

Sayen concentrates on the image of her birth mother. She sees the dress her birth mother has on and the necklace around her throat.

Her eyes open all of sudden “The dress and the necklace!”

Sayen starts tapping away on her laptop looking for Indian dresses of that time frame and dresses like it. Also, she checks for Native American-made jewelry of that time period as well.

“I found it! I found it!” Sayen stands up fast, knocking Jack to the floor. He was asleep on her lap when she stood up.

He looks up at her with a disgust look on his face.

Sayen looks down and notices his look “I’m sorry Jack.” She kneels and picks him and holds him in her arms.

“Grandfather!” She rushes out of her bedroom and down toward the kitchen, excited and holding Jack.

Just as she is walking into the kitchen, she notices her grandfather hanging up the phone and her father setting the table for dinner.

Jacob hears his daughter’s excited voice, when she calls out for his father and then when he sees her. He can tell she is excited about something. He also notices that Jack, isn’t too happy about whatever it is.

“What’s got you so excited?” Jacob watches his daughter’s face and body language.

“I just figured out a piece of the puzzle. I’ve been given about my birth mother.” A big smile appears on her face.

“Well, what is it?” Jacob looks mystified at his daughter.

“The dress and necklace my birth mother is wearing in my vision, is of Cherokee design. It’s a tear dress that was made in 1991. I found one on the web for sale by an Ebay seller. She said that she brought it in Cherokee, North Carolina at a Pow wow there.”

Both men look at Sayen “There was a big Pow wow the day before Grandfather found you Sayen. I should know. I was working security during it. Making sure everything went fine. Chief Running Creek assigned about twenty of us to watch over the Pow Wow. Your mother was there as well, along with your sister and brother. It was their first-time taking part in it.”

“Well, if my birth mother was there, then why did she leave me on the picnic table for Grandfather to find me? Also, according to the vision, my birth mother was a little younger than me.” Sayen looks toward her father for an answer.

“Maybe she appeared younger to you, Sayen, maybe she was older and might have been around your age or a little bit older. You don’t exactly show your true age either, baby. Most people who don’t know you think you’re younger than you appear. You have that youthful petite look about you. You may be 17 years old, but you look like you’re in your early-teens sweetie. You could easily past for being thirteen or fourteen years old yourself.”

“So, your saying, father that my birth mother might be the same like me? That when I saw the vision, I was seeing what people see me as?” Sayen watches her father’s eyes. He taught her how to spot a lie doing that, but on her father, she has never been able to catch him in one.

“I’m saying that you resemble your birth mother. You have inherited her features and uniqueness. She might have had your gifts as well. Telling her that you we’re going to be safe that night and decided to leave you. Then again, she might have found being a mother too much for her or some other reason we don’t know.” Jacob walks over to Sayen and pulls her tight to him.

“Your father is right, my little vixen. All the spirit said that night, was that you were special and that you we’re left by those who are related to you by blood. That the spirits wanted me to bring you home and raise you as if you were of my blood and teach you our ways and to help you learn who you are. I have never regretted bringing you home and seeing you mature into the woman you are now. We all know how special you are. Now it’s time to learn who you are. I think that’s why you are having these visions now. The spirits want you to learn who you are. It has become very important now. If you are to become the next medicine woman of our people, you need to know who you are. Some of the chiefs of the different clans of our people. That don’t know you, questioning the decision of those that do know you and me as well about me training you to be my replacement in the clan? They want to know about your linage and if you do have any Indian blood running through your veins.” John looks at his granddaughter and his son.

“So that’s what the phone call was about? Thunder Fist was calling you to inform you about what happened at the Chief meeting and what some of them said about training Sayen as your replacement in the tribe?”

“Yes, half of them have no problem with me training Sayen to be my replacement. They all know her and know what she can do. They recognize her as of our people, even though, she has that fire on top of her head.” John just gives his granddaughter a teasing smile.

“Hey! I like my red hair. Mom, told me never be ashamed of it.” Sayen pouts a little bit. She knows, she can always get what she wants from grandfather with her puppy face.

“I know, Little Vixen. But the other half of the council, thinks it will look bad for someone that doesn’t Look Native American or have Native American blood in their veins to be a medicine person of our people. So, what we must do now is, learn about your past Sayen and bring the evidence before the council. We have to show them that you are as Native American as everyone here on the reservations. Even if we find out that you don’t have any Native American blood in you, I would still train you to be my replacement. The spirits and the animals have chosen you. You have their favor and their blessing.” Jacob looks at Jack still in Sayen’s arms.

“Isn’t that right little brother?”

Jack looks directly toward John Red Feather and blink his eyes at him.

John just laughs “well-said, my brother?”

Sayen looks at her grandfather with a puzzled look on her face “Do I even want to know what just happened between you and Jack?”

“He’ll let you know, when the time is right.” And with that John turns around and heads over toward the stove and start putting the stew in a large bowl for the table and pulls some fresh made bread out of the oven as well.

“Father?” Sayen looks toward her father.

Jacob just smiles and goes about finishing setting the table. Jack jumps out of Sayen’s arms and heads outside, just as the door opens and Sayen’s mother walks in.

“Hi, Mom” Sayen starts grabbing six glasses down from the cabinet, when she notices that the able is only set for four people.

“Isn’t Amitola and Kimi eating with us tonight?” Sayen looks over at her grandfather, since he has been home all day.

“Nope, your brother is working late in the garage tonight, trying to get Rebecca Little Deer’s car fix. Your sister is out on a date with Albert Two Moon.” Jacob answers for his father.

“Oh, hasn’t Albert Two Moon been courting Kimi for some months now?” looks toward her mother. As, she goes about setting the glasses on the table.

“Yes!” a warm smile appears on Marilyn’s face.

“Do you think their relationship is getting serious? I mean this is like their third date or something like that.”

“Maybe, it’s too early to tell. Have you had any visions about their pending marriage or anything like that?” Marilyn looks toward Sayen.

“Mom, you know I don’t have vision’s like that. Maybe, Grandfather does, but I never do.”

“Just checking with you, Sayen.” Marilyn comes over and sits down in her seat next to her husband.

Sayen brings the plate of fresh baked bread and places it on the table, while taking her seat next to her Grandfather across from her mother.

Everyone starts eating, after filling their bowls with stew. Sayen watches as her grandfather, grabs a few slices of the fresh bread and dips it into the stew, and then eats it afterwards.

Sayen looks over toward her mother “Mom, can I go with father and grandfather climbing tomorrow, to check something out please?”

“Absolutely not, young Lady. You had a piece of metal pushed through your skin, under your collar bone. You’re lucky it didn’t hit any bone or a major artery.

“It’s important, mom. It has to do with me and where I came from.” Sayen watches her mother’s facial reaction.

“What do you mean who you are and where you came from?” Marilyn lets her spoon rest in the bowl of her stew.

“Remember that vision I had at the hospital?”

“Yes!”

“Well, I had another one here at the house. It showed me an old Tomahawk and a necklace. Both items weren’t of Lakota design. Also, I reexamine the vision, I saw an image of my birth mother the day she died. She was wearing a tear dress and necklace that were of Cherokee design. I found an identical dress on the web at Ebay. The seller said she got it from a Cherokee vendor at a Pow Wow. The vision told me where my birth mother died at. The place is about 30 miles from where, Grandfather found me. The vehicle she was in, blew a tire and went skidding out of control and over the cliff edge near the bridge. I told father and grandfather before you got home.” Sayen just watches her mother.

“You didn’t tell us about the Tomahawk or necklace, Sayen.” Jacob looks toward his daughter.

“Oops! Sorry father, and grandfather. I was so excited about the dress that I forgot.” Sayen’s cheeks turn red from embarrassment.

Marilyn looks at her daughter for a second before speaking. She has been wondering why her daughter has been so interested now about finding her true mother.

“Are you unhappy here, Sayen?” Marilyn searches her daughter’s face for an answer.

“No, ma’am, I love living here and being your daughter. You’re the only mother and family I have. I was confused about why all of suddenly I was having these visions about my birth mother. Why, the spirits decided now to reveal this information to me.” Tears swell up in her eyes. She loves her mother very much.

John looks at his granddaughter and his daughter -in-law “She has no choice in this Marilyn, you know how the spirits are, when, they want Sayen to know something that is important. They give her the visions, so she can do their bidding. It’s important now, because a few members of the tribal council are challenging Sayen’s position of being my apprentice. They think she isn’t Indian enough to be the next medicine woman of our people.”

Marilyn looks toward John “How can they say that? They know, what gifts Sayen possess. There’s no one else here on the reservation other then you that can talk to the spirits the way she can and the animals. She almost died, helping to save Running Crow’s son from a head injury he received from falling off his horse. I didn’t want her to even try, considering what happened the first time her gift showed up and how it almost killed her then.”

“I know, but Sayen needs to learn who she is and bring that information before the council. The spirits feel that the time has come for her to learn who she is. Just like I was told that night to do when they gave her to us. Sayen can take what she learns about herself and show the council. If they still won’t let her be the next medicine woman of our people, I will keep on training her. The spirits have made it clear, that Sayen is to be their representative among our people.” John gives his granddaughter a loving smile.

Marilyn just shakes her head. She knows that some of the men on the council, can be hardheaded and unreasonable. They shouldn’t even question Sayen’s talents, much less question, Grandfather’s judgement about her being his replacement.

Marilyn looks toward her daughter again “The answer is still no. You can’t do any climbing, but you can help them bring up anything they find from the wreckage.”

“I wonder how the council would feel, if I walked into the meeting with a bunch of rattlesnakes and sidewinders in my arms and crawling over my neck and such.” A mischievous smile appears on her face.

“I don’t recommend doing that Sayen. They might react badly to that. I agree with your mother though, tomorrow you can help us, but no climbing unless one of us, have hurt ourselves.” Sayen’s grandfather gives her a stern look.

“You, two better not let her do any climbing either, unless you have a broken limb or something. I don’t want that wound of hers to reopen.” Marilyn shakes a finger at both her husband and her Grandfather-in-law.

The rest of dinner goes by quietly. Sayen, clear’s the table when everyone is done. She also washes the dishes and put away the leftovers. Her mother and father retire to the living room to speak for a while. Grandfather heads outside to the front porch to sit and smoke his pipe, while he stares into the darkness near the house. Sayen heads to the bathroom and strips out of her clothes and takes a nice relaxing bath. She has her hair up in a bun so not to get it wet. She sits there enjoying the heat of the tub and relaxes. Her eyes are close, and her body is relaxed. The scent of the bath beads she used in the water fills the bathroom with their scent. Making the whole bathroom, smell like a flower garden in bloom.

Sayen stays in the tub for about an hour or so. As soon as the water starts to get cold, she gets out and dry’s off her body. She slips on her favorite night shirt and heads to bed. She gives the bedroom, a scan before crawling into bed and falls asleep.

Sayen wakes up the next morning before her alarm clock goes off, which for her is a miracle in itself. She gets out of bed and begins to get dress. Sayen hears her mother getting up and moving around in her bedroom. She looks over toward her big sister’s bed and notice that she didn’t come home last night. Sayen quickly gets dress and heads into the kitchen to make morning breakfast for everyone.

She knows the first thing her father is going to want, will be his coffee. Her grandfather and mother normally drinks tea. Sayen on the other hand is like her father. She likes a good cup of fresh brew coffee to start the day. As the coffee is brewing along side the tea. Sayen takes out some eggs, bacon, and English muffins from the refrigerator and starts cooking the eggs and bacon. She toasts some muffins for her mother and set the table with the home made jams and preserves they made.

By the time everything is ready, Sayen’s grandfather, father and mother all come walking into the kitchen.

“Good morning pumpkin, I thought I was going to have to get you up out of bed this morning.”

“Nope, not this time mother, I was up before my alarm clock went off.” Sayen fluff’s the scramble eggs with the whisk and turns down, the stove another level.

“The water is ready for yours and grandfathers’ tea and the English muffins are ready for you mother.” Sayen dumps the scramble eggs onto one of the platter plates she got down for them. She then takes the bacon and dumps it onto another plate and set both plates on the table.

“It would appear, you thought of everything this morning.” Marilyn picks up one of the toasted muffins and spreads some jam on it.

“Where’s your sister at?” Marilyn looks outside the nearby window to see if her oldest daughter is home.

“She never came home last night, Mom. I think her and Albert Two Moons had other plans last night.” A teasing smile appears on Sayen’s face.

Marilyn just shakes her head at her younger daughter’s teasing.

Jacob and John Red Feather comes walking in and both men head over toward the counter and make their tea and coffee. Sayen sits quietly at the table and watches her father and Grandfather. She knows both men do not like being disturb first things in the morning, till they have had their coffee and tea.

Marilyn joins her daughter at the table and begins fixing her plate. Sayen fixes her plate right along with her mother. Sayen prefers to drink her coffee at the table like she was taught, instead of hovering near the counter like her father and grandfather are doing.

“So which car are you three going to take?” Marilyn looks toward her husband and father-in-law.

“Sayen’s jeep, it has the winch on the front of it. We can use it to pull any thing up out of the debris we might find. It can also act as a back-up secure line for us.” Jacob looks at his wife and his daughter, while drinking his coffee.

“So, I have to remain in the Jeep, while you and Grandfather get to climb down?”

“Yep, kiddo., Your, job today will be to operate the winch and make sure everything is safe while we climb down. You heard your mother last night.” Jacob just smiles at his little girl.

Sayen looks toward her mother and notices the look on her face that says you better do what I said.

“Fine! I’ll be the good daughter today and do what you want me to do.” Sayen drinks her coffee and finishes her breakfast.

It takes them about an hour to get everything they will need for the climb and on the road. Sayen sits quietly in the back seat of her Jeep, while her father and Grandfather take the front driver and passenger seats. She can barely hear the music coming from the back speakers of her Jeep, because of the wind rushing by as they travel toward their destination. It’s been a while since she has ridden in the back seat of her Jeep.

The last time was when she was fourteen years old. Her brother and some of his friends had borrowed the Jeep from their grandfather to go to the rodeo. Riding in a vehicle with a bunch of teenage boys, wasn’t her idea of fun that day. They were noisy and full of energy. One had touched her several times on her butt or brushed up against her chest by accident. She was just glad by the time they got to the rodeo that she didn’t have to hang around with them.

“Dad, could you turn the music up back here, please?” Sayen looks toward her dad.

Jacob reaches forward and turns the knob for the back speakers up for Sayen. Sayen relaxes and listens to the music, while her father and grandfather talk. She watches as they pass the picnic area that John Red Feather had found her when she was a little baby.

“We’re getting closer Sayen. Have the spirits sent you anything else yet?” Jacob turns around in his seat to look at his daughter.

“No sir, not yet. I think that all the information they gave me is all I need right now.” Sayen pulls a loose strand of hair away from her mouth.

John looks into the mirror toward his granddaughter “How far did you say they went?”

“Just, before you get on the bridge, Grandfather. The vision showed them blowing a tire and skidding off the cliff near the bridge. “

“You would think, that someone would, had seen the wreckage from the bridge?”

“I don’t know, father. I’m not familiar with the area near the bridge that much. What do you think Grandfather?” Sayen looks toward John.

“There are some ledges that the wreckage could have fallen on before hitting the canyon floor that you can’t see from the bridge. If it fell on one of those ledges, then it’s possible, that no one has seen the wreckage, but you have to know exactly where.” He looks up into the mirror toward Sayen.

“Lucky for us, we have a guide that can tell us.”

“Only if my guides tell me Grandfather. You know how the spirits are better than anyone.” Sayen looks at her grandfather.

“For you Sayen, I think they would come in person to help you. You are their chosen person and favorite. I’ve never seen the spirits as active as they are with you.”

“Which I don’t understand Grandfather, as far as I know. I don’t have any Native American blood in me and my birth mother, from the looks of her and me, are of some other nationality. I knew you, father and mother treated and raised me as if I was a native Lakota child, but why would the spirits choose someone like me? I don’t understand.”

Jacob reaches back and holds Sayen’s hand. “Cause to them your special, just like you are to me and your mother. You may not have been born from us, but you’re my daughter and nothing will ever change that. Besides, you only know of your birth mother. You have no idea who your birth father is or where he is from. So you can’t say for sure you don’t have any Native American blood in you, Sayen. We need to find out who he is and contact him. He may know that you’re alive and he may not. He might think you disappeared with your birth mother. He might be as worried about you and love you as much as I did the first day grandfather brought you home with him. So, don’t worry about the spirits. Just know they need you and have always looked after you. They will always be there like us, to protect you and help you.”

Tears fill Sayen’s eyes. Her father always knew what to say to her and how to say it. He has always loved her no matter what she did. Sayen reaches forward and wraps her arms around her father and gives him a hug.

“Thank you, Daddy!” Sayen places a kiss on his cheek.

About half-n-hour later, they come into sight of their destination. Sayen spots a fairly new black Jeep Wrangler waiting for them. She notices the gentleman sitting in the wrangler and recognizes the driver.

“What is Sam Bald Eagle doing here?” Sayen looks toward her father for an answer.

“I asked him to help out on this. I figure you might need some help just in case. I know how your shoulder is and your mother would kill me if you injure yourself helping me and Grandfather. So, Sam was available and since, the two of you grew up together. I figure that I can trust him with your safety. Why, is there something wrong?” Jacob looks toward Sayen.

“No, It’s okay daddy. I just wasn’t expecting him.” Sayen sits back in her seat. Her Grandfather pulls the Jeep right up next to Sam’s brand new one.

“I hope we didn’t keep you waiting long Sam.” Jacob looks at Sam.

“No sir, I wasn’t sure where the bridge was. So, I left home early to be here on time.” Sam looks toward John Red Feather and then Sayen in the back seat. A smile appears on his face.

“I notice you didn’t let your lead foot daughter drive today, sir?” a teasing smile appears on his face.

Sayen just sticks her tongue out at him for that comment.

“She hurt her shoulder yesterday at work, so I figure it would be best for my father to drive today.” Jacob notices the sly smile on Sam’s face. He figured Sam had feelings for his little Sayen.

“So, what are we looking for out here, Sir?”

“It concerns Sayen, and her birth.” Jacob and John both turn around to look at Sayen.

Sayen had been quiet, while she was looking at something only, she could see. She gets out of the Jeep and starts to walk away from everyone like she is in a trace. All the men watch her as she walks about 300ft. from them and over toward the cliffs edge.

“She went off over here Grandfather and Father. The van is just below here.” Sayen lays down on the ground and peeks over the edge of the cliff.

Sayen can feel the ground rumble as the two Jeeps move carefully over to her location.

“They’re down here. I can see the wreckage. It’s resting on a ledge.” Sayen stares down at the burn out wreckage of where her birth mother died. Sayen can feel her spirit hovering nearby.

“Mother!” Tears leak out of her eyes.

Sayen hears footsteps as they approach her. She looks up toward the sound of them and notice her Father and Grandfather. They kneel next to her.

“I’m sorry, baby.” Jacob rubs Sayen’s back carefully. He makes sure not to go anywhere near the wound from yesterday.

John Red Feather looks out toward the open sky in front of him and prays in Lakota. A gust of wind blows by and Sayen feels her mother’s spirit leaves along with the other spirits that were near her.

“No wonder, no one never saw the wreckage from the bridge.” He helps Sayen. Stand up and pull her close, to him and holds her as she cries. He looks over toward where the bridge spans the distance over her head.

Sam Bald Eagle watches everyone and keeps his distance from them. He has known Sayen ever since they were little. He knew about her being abandoned and adopted by the Red Feather family, but he never knew anything about her birth mother. Now he sees that maybe there is more why Sayen’s birth mother did what she did. That there are more pieces to this mystery then even he knows.

“Do you want me to call your son and the coroner, Sir?” Sam Bald Eagle looks toward Jacob. Sam knows that Jacob’s son Amitola has the only wrecker capable of pulling a wreckage up a distance like that.

“First, let’s find out if the wreckage can be brought back up safely and how many bodies’ are down there.” Jacob let’s go of Sayen and looks into her eyes.

“Are you going to be okay?” He brushes a lock of her red hair out of her eyes.

Sayen just nods her head yes. John Red Feathers just gives his granddaughter good shoulder a squeeze before heading over toward the jeep and grab the climbing gear.

Both men suit up in the climbing gear, securing their lines to the front loops on the jeep. Sam attaches the winch to the lines so that the two men could be pulled up just in case. Jacob goes over toward the ledge first.

“All right you two, I’ll call back up here in a few.” He makes sure the line is ready and that he has his walkie talkie with him as well.

He goes down the cliff face first. John watches as his son goes down first. He rechecks everything as he moves into position to go next.

“You two, be careful Grandfather. Don’t let anything happen to daddy. Mom, would never forgive me if anything happens to him.” Sayen looks at her Grandfather with a worried look on her face.

John notices the worried look on Sayen’s face “I promise everything will be okay Sayen.”

John goes down the cliff face next following his son. Sam controls the winch as the two men climb down toward the wreckage. Sayen paces back and forth worrying about her father and grandfather. She knows both men are capable climbers and are considered experts, but she can’t help, but not feel worried about them. Now she knows how her mother feels when she goes climbing with her father and brother.

Sam watches Sayen as she paces back and forth. He could see the worried look on her face. Her fair skin and fiery red hair give her an exotic look. Even with her hair tied into a ponytail and tucked up under her favorite baseball hat. She still looked beautiful to him. He watched her grow up and mature into the woman she is today. She may not look Native American, but she dresses, acts and talks like one. He knows if her shoulder wasn’t hurt, she would be right down there with her father and Grandfather. Sayen is a capable climber and he knows she can climb a cliff face free style without any gear at all.

Sayen stops and looks toward Sam Bald Eagle. She could tell or feel that he had been watching her pace back and forth. She was worried about her father and Grandfather. She wanted to be down there with them, instead of up here on the side lines waiting to hear what they found out. She just watches him as he recovers from watching her. A smile creeps onto her face. She always knew or felt that he had feelings for her, but he never ever told her, except those few times he would catch her speeding and makes that offer of dinner with him in exchange of dropping the tickets. She might have taken him up on that offer yesterday when he caught her speeding, but she knew her father didn’t like any of his children dating anyone under his command at the tribal police station.

“Sayen? Are you receiving?” Jacob’s voice cuts the quietness as it comes from the walkie talkie laying on the front seat of Sayen’s Jeep.

Sayen rushes over toward the jeep and grabs the walkie talkie “Your coming in clear daddy. Are you and Grandfather Okay?”

“Yes, sweetie, we’re okay. The vehicle looks like it can be brought up by your brother’s wrecker with some help from me and grandfather. We found a big lock box down here that survived the impact along with several other things. It looks like your birth mother was an archaeologist or something, Sayen. There’s a bunch of scatter shoves and other instruments down here. Put Sam on sweetie.”

Sayen hands the walkie Talkie to Sam Bald Eagle “Go ahead, Sir.”

“Sam, get on your cell phone and call David White Face and tell him, we have six human remains down here, also call my son and tell him as well. He’ll need to bring his flatbed to pull this wreckage up. Also, send down the camera from up there along with the duffle bag on the back seat. Disconnect our line from the winch line and use it to pull the items back up, after we get them secure.”

“Yes Sir.” Sam hands the walkie talkie back to Sayen, grabs the duffle bag from the back of the Jeep.

“Father, do you want me to do anything?” Sayen speaks into the walkie talkie.

“Yes, help Sam out with everything and show everyone to where we are.”

“Okay, Daddy” Sayen releases the talk button. Sayen holds the duffle bag open and puts a spare climbing rope inside, along with the camera her father had brought with them inside the bag. She secures the rope and gently lowers the duffle bag down to her father and grandfather.

Sayen listens while Sam makes the necessary arrangements. After a while the rope, that the duffle bag is connected to, is tugged and Sam uses the winch to lift the bag back up to the surface. He disconnects the bag and sends the winch cable back down to Jacob and John.

After about an hour, several tribal police cars, the coroner and Sayen’s brother shows up with the flat bed wrecker. Sayen stays out of every one’s way, while Sam handles everything.

Sayen’s older brother Amitola spots her sitting in her Jeep and walks over to her.

“So, what’s father and Grandfather doing down there?” Amitola looks over toward the cliff edge.

“They went down to investigate the vision I had yesterday about my birth mother. They found the vehicle that she died in along with the people she was traveling with. They also found some items that concern me and my history.” Sayen watches her big brother’s reaction.

“Does mom know about this?”

“Yep, she knows. I would have gone down with them, but I got hurt yesterday at work.”

“I heard. I don’t know what is wrong with Jake Crowfeet. I know he hasn’t forgiven you forgiving him that scar on his face.” Amitola watches his little sister.

“He shouldn’t have attacked me like he did. He knew better then to try and rape me. He should had realize you and father, would had shown me how to defend myself with my bare hands and with whatever is laying around for me to grab and use.” Sayen looks at her older brother.

“He tried to rape you. Is that how he got the scar from you?” Amitola faces starts to get red and his voice was getting angry.

“It was at Jessica White Deer birthday party. You were away at boot camp for six weeks. I went to the birthday party and someone had spiked my drink with something. I stumble outside behind Jessica’s house and was throwing up, when Jake and his friends showed up. Jake said that he wanted to prove that I was trash and had his friends try to grab me. I kicked one in the family jewels sending him to the ground in pain and the other one, I punched him in the nose like you showed me. Jake tried grabbing me from behind and I threw him over my shoulder, like grandfather showed me. I was barely standing after that. The drug that was put in my drink was taking affect. Jake got back up and wrapped his arms around me and was holding me extremely tight against him trying to kiss me. I manage to bring my left hand up and claw the left-hand side of his face. The bracelet grandfather had given me had come loose and I used it to dig into his face. He tossed me away from him and would have tried something else if it hadn’t been for Jessica’s brothers coming out the back door. They saw what was going on and would have stumped Jake and his friends into the ground if I hadn’t passed out. They called mom and she came and got me. I was out for a day and half. Mom and Dad, we’re, worried because of it. We decided not to tell you about it, because dad didn’t want to have to put you in jail for killing Jake. He knows how protective you are of me.” Sayen watches her brother’s face.

Amitola just shakes his head in disbelief.

“Dad was right. I would have killed him for trying to rape you. I’m surprise, Dad didn’t do it himself.”

“Mom cooled him down. She told him that it wasn’t worth going to jail over. We went to court over it, but Jake’s dad brought in a high-class lawyer and got the charges dropped down to assault. Ever since then, Jake has had it out for me. He is the reason I’m not down there with dad and grandfather right now. He shoved me yesterday at work and caused me to impale myself on a shelving peg that went all the way through my shoulder just under the bone. Mom doesn’t want me to reopen the wound up, so I’m up here on the side lines. Dad asked Sam Bald Eagle to come and keep an eye on me and to help out.”

“Sam is a good person to have at your side. We went to the same boot camp and served in the same group together. I’m glad dad had him come along. I know he has feelings for you, little sister.” Amitola just gives Sayen a friendly smile.

“I think you’re right, but what about dad’s rule about dating people who are under his command? I know you broke it when you went out with Sara Blue Sky. Dad almost went through the roof when he found out.”

“I don’t think it will bother dad too much. After all he was the one that asked Sam Bald Eagle to come and watch after you now wasn’t, he?” Amitola just smiles and walks away from his little sister.

Sayen follows behind her brother as he makes his way over toward the group of policemen and their father. She notices that Grandfather is sitting in the Jeep drinking some water and eating one of the sandwiches they had packed before they left the house. She heads over toward her Jeep to talk with him.

“Are you okay Grandfather?” Sayen sits down in the passenger seat next to her grandfather.

“I’m fine Sayen, what were you and your brother talking about?” John can feel his granddaughters’ emotions and thoughts.

“Jake Crowfeet and his friends. I finally told him, how Jake ended up with that scar on his face. Also, about what happened at the store and me being impaled yesterday. He took it better then, I thought he would.” She reaches for a bottle of water.

“He’s grown-up a lot, since returning from his tour of duty in Afghanistan. He would have stormed off to avenge you.” John takes a sip of water from his bottle.

“I know. He’s very protective of me and Kimi. I feel sorry for Albert Two Moon if he ever strikes Kimi in anger. If Kimi doesn’t throw him around like a punching bag, Amitola will use him as a punching bag. I’m glad you and dad decided to train us to defend ourselves, grandfather. So, what did you find down in the wreckage?” Sayen looks toward her grandfather with a curious look on her face.

“Several bodies, shovels, and other digging utilities. Some maps, broken cell phones, ruined clothes, and the stuff in the duffle bag.” John looks back at his granddaughter.

“I think your birth mother was traveling with a bunch of grave robbers and pottery collectors Sayen. Everything, which was down there, were items that had been buried. They’re in the duffle bag. Your father is trying to protect your reputation.” John’s face shows no emotion.

Sayen stares into her grandfather’s eyes and can tell he is telling the truth. His words ring true to her. Sayen had this feeling before, when she learned the truth about where she came from and how her Grandfather found her. A hawk flying overhead comes down and lands on top of the front windshield of her Jeep and looks down toward her.

“Your Grandfather speaks the truth little sister. You need to return and rebury the items that were taken. The necklace is yours by birth right. It was given to your mother by your birth father for you. He knew she was pregnant when she ran off. She was feeling guilty for disturbing the graves of his people and left him. You were born months later in the back of the van she was traveling in. Your birth mother was forced to abandon you because of her friends. They convince her you were a burden and poisoned her mind and body with their words and drugs. You will need to be careful in your quest, to rebury the items taken, little sister. There will be men who will try to stop you from exposing the truth about their collection and try to keep you from returning the items your father and grandfather have recovered from down below” The Hawk then spreads it wings and flies off.

Sayen watches the Hawk as it flies away from her. Tears start to slide down her cheek and she throws her arms around her grandfather. She buries her face against his shoulder and cries. John just holds his granddaughter and let her cry. He heard the message the Hawk gave his little vixen and feels sorry for her. He just holds her and let her cry. He knows if she doesn’t let her emotions out, it will turn inward and poison her pure soul.

Jacob notices his little girl cling to her grandfather. He saw the Hawk when it landed on the edge of the front windshield as well. That in itself was unusual, but the reaction on his little girl’s face was enough to break his heart. He knows Sayen is always outgoing and full of energy, but seeing the expression on her face just now, concerns him. He’s only seen that expression a few times and that was after something bad had happened to her. Even when she was told the truth, about how she came to be adopted by him and his wife. She felt like her birth mother didn’t love her and didn’t want a strange child like her. He walks over toward her after giving his men their orders and talking with his son.

“I take it, that the message you were given was bad news?” Jacob looks toward his father.

“Yes, the spirit of the Hawk just told Sayen the truth about her birth mother and the circumstances of her birth. He also told her that she has to return and restore what was done.” John just holds his little vixen. Sayen means a lot to the old man and to the family. She’s their baby and nothing will ever change that.

“I’ll ask Sam Bald Eagle to drive her home and we’ll finish up here then.” Jacob turns around and heads over toward Sam.

Sam was busy talking with a few of his fellow officers about what they had found when he spotted Jacob walking toward him.

“What’s up Chief?” He stands at ease.

“I need for you to drive Sayen back home for me. She just received some bad news and it’s best if she heads back home, till I get there. I don’t want her to be there by herself. So, it would be a big favor for me, if you hung around and watched over her for me.” Jacob didn’t feel comfortable having his little girl here upset or by herself either. He knew that Sam would watch after her and make sure nothing happens to her.

“Sure Chief, I can do that for you.” Sam glances over toward Sayen and saw how she was cling to her grandfather sobbing. His heart goes out to her. He knows about her gifts, but he really never put that much stock into it. Even tho, he is Native American. He is a man of the world. He didn’t really believe in the old ways or the mysticism of his people. He wanted to serve his people and protect them from outsiders and themselves sometimes, but as for the beliefs and traditions. He still had a long way to go before he could accept that.

John looks down at his granddaughter “Sayen, why don’t you go home with Sam and relax. Me and your father can finish things up here and we’ll talk about everything when you’re feeling better.”

Sayen looks up at her Grandfather, she wanted to stay here, but she knows he’s right. “Grandfather, I don’t want to be by myself right now.”

“I know my little butterfly. Sam’s going to stay with you and keep you company, til we get home.” John strokes his granddaughter’s long red hair that is sticking out of the back of her baseball cap.

Sayen wipes the tears away from her eyes and watch as Sam comes walking up.

“You okay?” He can see the tears still sliding down her cheeks. Her sky-blue eyes are all red and puffy.

“No, I just need to go home and figure some things out.” Sayen turns and walks over toward Sam’s black Jeep and climb in.

Jacob just watches his granddaughter and feels sorry for her.

He then turns and directs his attention toward Sam “she’ll be okay, after a while. She needs some time to think. Take care of her Sam.” The old Indian walks over and places his hand on Sam’s shoulder.

Sam couldn’t believe the trust Sayen’s Grandfather and father was showing him. True, he cares for Sayen and he suspected that she has feelings for him as well, but he has never expected in all his life, that he would be by her side now.

“I will Mr. Red Feather”

John Red Feather looks at Sam and he felt the emotions that this man has for Sayen. “Just give her time and stand by her. She has a lot that has been given to her and it will take time for her to work through it. Just be there for her and one day the two of you will be as one. As, it should be.” John removes his hand and walks away from Sam, who is looking perplexed at the old man’s words.

Sam turns around and watches as the old Indian heads back over where everyone is working. Why did that old man say Sayen and he will one day, be as one, as it should be? , What did he know that proved this? Sam just shakes his head and climbs into the driver seat and drives off with Sayen sitting next to him quiet.

The ride back to the house was quiet. Sayen kept to herself and just stared out at the road and the terrain as they headed back to her parent’s home. She knew no one was going to be home, cause her mother had the morning shift down at the hospital this week. Even if her older sister Kimi came home, it would have been to change clothes and head to work herself. After all, it was still a school day and the weekend was still a day away.

Sayen just closes her eyes and listens to the road underneath them and the feel of the wind, as it rushes past her face. The internal turmoil she was feeling, right now hurt her. Normally, she was at peace with herself and centered, but right now she was angry, sad and felt like she was betrayed by the spirits. Why hadn’t they told her before now, that her birth mother was a thief? Also, why had her birth mother done these things as well? Why had she gone to scared ground and stolen items that didn’t belong to her? You don’t disturb the dead. Even Sayen knew that. The spirits of the people, who had died, were very protective of the items buried with them. The spirits of the dead, don’t like to be disturbed at all. They’ll listen if a loved one or friend comes and speaks to them. Other than that, you don’t disturb them. Sayen breathes in the wind and lets it course inside her. She lets the wind take hold of the bad emotions she is feeling and exhales them out. She needs to cleanse her body and get all these bad emotions and feelings out. She needs to center herself and cleanses her soul so that she can feel better about herself and do as the spirits want her to do now.

After a while, Sayen feels the Jeep turn a corner. She listens to the sound of crushed stones as the tires of the jeep drive over the packed stone driveway that makes up the driveway on her parents’ property. She feels the Jeep come to a stop.

Sam had been watching Sayen out of the corner of his eyes, as they drove back from the cliff edge. He could tell from the emotions she was showing on her face that something was bothering her big time. When she closed her eyes and went completely still, it startled him. He watched her closely and noticed that she had breathed in through her nose and was holding it and then releasing it back out from her mouth.
He had seen many people on the football team do this when they wanted to concentrate on the game and block everything else out. He has done it himself a few times, when he felt his temper starting to rise because of him dealing with an uncooperative person or when things got too much for him to deal with at work. He just watched Sayen for a while and then paid more attention to his driving. He tried to figure out what the old man's words meant. Did the old man see Sayen and him, one day marry each other? True, he had feelings for Sayen, but he didn’t know how Sayen felt about him.

All of sudden, the driveway for the Red feather’s place came up and Sam barely made the turn into the driveway. He notices that Sayen hadn’t moved or noticed at all. As he parked the Jeep, next to John Red Feather’s light blue pick-up.

Sam turns toward Sayen “We’re here.”

Sayen slowly opens her eyes and look at him “I know, I knew the moment you made the turn into the driveway. Would you like to come inside and get something to drink Sam?”

“Sure, thanks.” He climbs out of the driver's side as Sayen gets out on the passenger side of the Jeep.

The two of them head toward the house. He notices the flowers blooming near the front porch and around the house itself. The last time he had come out here, they had just planted them. Sayen and her mother Marilyn had been out here on their hands and knees planting the flowers.

“Looks like the flowers you and your mother planted are doing well, for this time of the year.” Sam stops to admire them.

“They came out better than mom and I had hoped. We thought we were going to lose a few and would have to replant them, but everything grew up nice and strong. Mother Earth, blessed us.” Sayen stops and kneels to pluck some grass out of the flower bed.

Sam just watches Sayen. Sayen seems so peaceful kneeling there and plucking weeds out of the flower bed.

“How are your father and Grandfather’s gardening doing?” Sam looks over past the left-hand side of the house and back toward the backyard.

“It’s doing as well as the flower bed. We should be able to harvest some of the vegetables and corn by this weekend. Mom can’t wait to start bottling and preserving some of them.” Sayen stands up and heads around to the steps that lead up the front porch. She heads inside the house.

Sam stops just outside the front door “You don’t lock your door?”

“Nope, there’s no reason to. When we’re gone Jack or some of the animals around the house you don’t see, guard the place like it is their home.” Sayen stops in the hallway separating the kitchen from the living room.

“Jack? Isn’t Jack, a cat, that looks like its part bobcat and doesn’t like strangers in here?” Sam looks around for the cat. The last time he was here, it jumped him.

“Yelp, that’s Jack. He is very protective of me and this area. Grandfather, thinks it’s because he considers this his territory.” Sayen looks around for Jack as well.

“He might be out hunting or something. He normally stays out during the day and comes home at night and sleeps with me.” Sayen gives up looking for him and heads into the kitchen.

Sam watches as Sayen heads into the kitchen and closes the screen door behind him. He knows the Chief keeps the front door open most of the time to cool the house down. He heads into the kitchen as well and watches as Sayen fills up two tall Iced Tea glasses with tea.

She turns around toward him “Would you like a lemon slice in yours?”

“No, it’s fine, but it’s okay the way it is,” Sam remembers that Sayen and her mother both drunk their tea without lemon in it. It doesn’t matter to him, because he enjoys it either way.

She hands the glass to Sam “I was thinking about sitting outside on the porch, you want to join me?”

“Sure!” Sam gets up out of his chair and follows Sayen outside.

Sayen heads out to the porch and sits down on the porch swing.

Sam takes a seat in one of the old wooden chairs near the swing.

“So, how did you learn about where your birth mother was?” Sam takes a sip of his iced tea.

“The spirits showed me, Sam.” Sayen watches Sam’s face.

“I don’t know if I believe you or don’t believe you.” He takes a sip of his tea.

“It doesn’t matter if you do or don’t. The spirits know, I listen to them and do as they ask me. If it wasn’t for them, I would have died either with my birth mother or out in the desert by the elements.” Sayen looks over toward Sam with a puzzled look on her face.

“For someone that is from a long line of warriors, why do you, find it hard to believe that there are spirits? Especially, since you are directly descended from Red Cloud himself?”

Sam quickly looks at her “who says? I’m directly descended from Chief Red Cloud himself?”

“He does, he said that you’re his great, great, great, great Grandson. There are few more, Great’s that need to be put in there, but I figure four was enough. He speaks to me every so often. His accent is kind of heavy, but his words carry power. I like him. He’s a gentle spirit. He feels protective of his people and his land. He and the others, which have gone before us, come back sometimes to check on their families and people. He said that I should give you time to find yourself. He said that like me, you’re still discovering who you are. That you love your people as much as he does and that you one day will realize that the old ways aren’t a bunch of hocus, pocus.” Sayen sips her tea.

Sam just stares at Sayen. He had heard stories, that his family was related to Chief Red Cloud, but not that they, we’re directly related to him. He watched Sayen carefully, sure she knew how he felt, but her words struck deep into how he felt. He never told anyone that he believes that the old ways were hocus pocus or that they were dead either.

Sayen notices how Sam was examining her with his eyes. Parts of her were excited and giddy, that he was paying attention to her, but the other part of her. He wanted him to know that, she knew, and the spirits knew he didn’t believe in them. For her, anyone she gets involved with must know that the spirits will always come first to her. She was chosen by them to do their business here on the mortal plane.

“What’s wrong Sam Bald Eagle? Did you think the spirits wouldn’t know how you felt about them or your disbelief? Just because you may never have told anyone, doesn’t mean that they don’t or can’t tell how you feel inside of you.”

“How do you know what I’m thinking? Do you, possess some sort of telepathic ability?” He glares at Sayen.

He didn’t like the fact that she was trying to make him believe in things that couldn’t possibly exist. Part of him was resisting the idea that in the 20th century that spirits existed, and that certain people could communicate with them. It was impossible, still the other half him, the part that made him such a good cop. Had a notice that Sayen and her grandfather have always been kind of unusual? That they always knew things that other people around them didn’t know. Some things just seem to fall into place for them.

Sayen could sense that Sam was getting angry with her. She watched the lines on his face and the way his eyes would narrow. She knew that to make him believe in the spirits, it would take something extraordinary to prove to him they existed.

“Sam, come and walk with me please.” Sayen stands up off the porch swing and put her glass on the little sun bleach wooden table.

Sam looks at her “Where are we going?”

“Just for a walk. There’s something I want to show you.” She holds out her hand for him to take.

Sam reaches for Sayen’s hand and closes around her small delicate hand. He gets up out of the chair he was sitting, leaving his glass of iced tea sitting next to hers on the same small round table. Sayen leads Sam down the steps from the porch, past the back of the house and the garden her father and grandfather grew. She keeps leading him further back onto the property, past the modern-looking sweat lodge. Sayen keeps heading deeper into her parent’s property. She leads Sam past the stables and down a very old dirt path.

Sam lets Sayen lead him deeper onto her family’s property. Most of the area back here he knows. Sam and her brother use to go horseback riding and hunting all the time when she was little. However, when they come to a dirt path he didn’t know about, he wonders where she was taking him on it.

“Where are you taking me Sayen?” as he continues to hold her hand.

“You’ll see when we get there.” Sayen continues to lead Sam by the hand deeper onto the property.

They passed some deer grazing nearby and into a heavily wooded area. Sam could hear a creek nearby. Sayen leads him to the creek. Once they reach the creek, she continues to lead him upstream of it. They have been walking for about an hour when Sam stops Sayen.

“Where are you taking me, Sayen? I know about this creek and the pass up ahead.” He looks at her.

“True, you do know those areas. The place I’m taking you too is where only me and my grandfather go. No one else in our family knows about this spot. You want proof that the spirits exist, then I’m going to prove to you that they do.” Sayen stands there looking at Sam with determination in her eyes.

“Wait a minute., I never asked you to prove anything to me. If you and your grandfather say they exist, then?” Sam stares pass Sayen’s shoulder as a woman dress all in white buckskins and has long flowing black hair, comes walking towards them.

The woman continues to come closer to them. As she approaches, the air around them takes on a cooler temperature. Sam notices that her white buckskin outfit is highly decorated in the old way of his people. It has bright color porcupine quills all over it. Her facial features make her appeared to be the most beautiful woman around. She stops a few feet behind Sayen.

“Sam Bald Eagle, I would like to introduce Pte Ska Win.” Sayen steps aside so Sam could get a full view of her.

Sam Bald Eagle looks into the face of this beautiful woman. He notices that her eyes watch him with gentleness and care. He remembers the stories that his grandmother told him about the White buffalo calf woman and how she had come and gave their people the scared pipe and rituals to follow. He never once figures she would appear before him.

A smile appears on her face “It would seem Sayen Red Feather that your young warrior companion is speechless.”

Sayen smiles “Which is unusual for him, Mother. Normally, he has a reply to everything I say.”
Sam looks towards Sayen when she says mother “Are you her daughter?”

“Yes, and no, Sam Bald Eagle. We’re all children of the creator. Pte Ska Win has taken a special interest in me and has always been there when I have felt lonely, hated or even shun by my school mates or people on the reservation. It was her that caused grandfather’s truck to act up and it was her that sent the coyote to him. She even looked over me when I nearly died from overusing one of my gifts.” Sayen gives Pte Ska Win a daughterly hug.

She returns the hug and looks down towards Sayen “Your path will become more difficult little butterfly, know that you have started on this path of self-discovery. There will be many obstacles and heartaches along the way, and at times it will feel that it is too much to deal with. However, remember this. You will always have support should you need it and the love of a good man by your side.”

Pte Ska Win turns her gaze towards Sam Bald Eagle. “Watch over her, be supportive and always be truthful to her. Cause, in the coming months. Sayen will need your strength and support for the challenges she must face.”

Sam looks at Pte Ska Win and then towards Sayen. He hadn’t even told Sayen how he felt about her.

“I promise.” Sam gives Sayen a loving smile.

Sayen's cheeks blush beet red from Sam’s smile.

Pte Ska Win turns towards Sayen and gently caress Sayen’s cheek.

“You be careful and return to me, my little butterfly.” with those words said. Pte Ska Win turns and walks back in the direction she came and disappear.

Sam looks towards Sayen “You never said that Pte Ska Win herself looks after you.”

“No one was to know about it except grandfather. My mother doesn’t even know. So now that you know, you need to keep it secret. Pte Ska Win still looks after the Lakota people.” Sayen spots an Eagle feather laying on the ground where Pte Ska Win had been standing.

She kneels and picks up the Eagle feather and gives it Sam.

“I believe she wanted you to have this.” Sayen places the feather in his hand and then turns and heads back the way they came.

Sam looks the feather over and then hurries to catch up with Sayen. They walk back not saying anything but thinking about the words that were said.

When Sayen and Sam got back to the front of the house. John Red Feather was sitting on the porch in his favorite chair. He looks up when they emerge from behind the house.

“Did the two of you enjoy your walk?” he looks towards Sayen with a gleam in his eyes.

Sayen just smiles at her grandfather’s teasing.

“Yes, we did grandfather. It was very helpful. Wasn’t it, Sam?” Sayen looks towards Sam for his answer.

Sam looks at John Red Feather and then back towards Sayen “I have to agree with your granddaughter Mr. Red feather. It was very helpful.”

Sayen stops and bends down to pick up a rattlesnake that had slider out from under the porch.

“So that’s where you been hiding.” She stands back up with him in her hands.

Sam steps a couple of steps back as the rattlesnake looks towards him.

“You know, it’s creepy when you do things like that.” He watches Sayen stroke the rattlesnakes head.

“What, he’s just a critter of nature and doesn’t like to be bothered.” She smiles towards Sam, while still holding the rattlesnake.

He starts to rattle his tail some, not in a threatening manner, but to let her know he wants to be placed back on the ground.

Sayen places him on the ground “You be good and catch those mice that have been sneaking into Running Winds house, okay?”

She watches as the rattlesnake sliders off away from them.

“They understand you?” Sam looks towards Sayen.

“Yep! They understand what I ask them.” Sayen just smiles and heads up to the porch to sit in the chair next to her grandfather.

Sam just stands there and watches as the rattlesnake heads off into the field away from the house. He knew that Running Winds house wasn’t too far from the Red Feather’s home and property. They had been living near each other for a long time and had even intermarried with one another.

“Since your grandfather is home, Sayen. I’ll go ahead and head home.” Sam turns to leave.

“Why don’t you come over for dinner tomorrow, Sam?” Sayen figures she should fix something special for him.

“Alright, I’ll come over after my shift has ended. Will that be okay?” Sam turns to look at Sayen up on the porch.

“That will be fine.” A smile appears on Sayen’s face.