Shaxoa's Gift (8 page)

“Your companion is an animal isn’t it, a
wolf, or a cougar?” she asked.

It was my turn to be shocked then. Quaile
hadn’t said anything to me about Talon when I had emerged from my
house to see her standing with the animal next to my motorcycle,
but later Talon told me she had been terrified by his presence at
first. Only after testing the animal’s ability to hear her thoughts
did she calm down and accept him as a friend.

How was it that Kaya not only accepted what I
had told her, but came to the correction conclusion about Talon on
her own? She looked to be not even thirty years old, but was
already proving more knowledgeable than Quaile. My hopes rose. If I
could convince Kaya that I really needed her help, I might be able
to learn much more from her than I had expected.

Realizing that Kaya still sat waiting for my
response, I shook off my shock and spoke. “Yes, my companion is an
animal, a cougar. He’s listening in on our conversation. I’m sorry
for having to do that, but I’ve been lied to a few too many times
lately, and like I said, I really don’t have time to sort the lies
from the truth right now.”

“Can I meet your companion?” Kaya asked. The
fear had left her eyes, replaced by a curious exhilaration.

I was surprised by her request, but I needed
her help very badly. Reaching out to Talon, I relayed Kaya’s
question. Talon was wary to agree, but as he sifted through Kaya’s
thoughts he felt her genuine curiosity and finally gave his
permission. “Yes,” I said, “you can meet him. He’s in your
backyard.”

Kaya’s entire face lit up with excitement. I
was sure she had completely forgotten what we were talking about
earlier. I tried to keep my frustration at the delay to a minimum.
If meeting Talon would gain me the help I needed, the wait would be
well worth the result. Kaya stood, but let me take the lead. I
could see the back door of her house from the hallway. Calmly, I
walked to the door and opened it. Talon stood about ten feet away,
watching Kaya closely as she came through the doorway.

“What’s its name,” Kaya asked.

“His name is Talon.”

Her smiled widened. “May I approach him?”

“Yes,” I said. Talon had heard her question
and given his answer before she finished speaking.

Brimming with anticipation, Kaya walked
slowly toward Talon with her hand outstretched. Talon remained
still. Her progress seemed painfully slow, but eventually her
fingers met Talon’s sand colored fur. At first she just held her
hand still, but when Talon lifted his head and stepped forward,
both of her hands came up, stroking him fondly.

“This is amazing, Uriah,” Kaya said. “I’ve
heard stories of men being able to communicate with animals. I’ve
even been told that I can ask animals for help if I need it, but I
have never even heard a whisper of anything like this in recent
history.”

“In recent history? So, you’ve heard of this
before, though?” I asked.

“I have read or been told of many stories
where the hero was able to communicate with animals,” Kaya said.
“It was usually a sign that the person was meant to do something
great.”

“Oh, it was, was it?” I mumbled. I was really
tired of hearing about who I was meant to be, or what I was meant
to do. As much as I didn’t want to hear it, though, I would have to
remember to come back to the stories she mentioned later on, if I
could. She may know something that would help me.

“How are you able to communicate with him?”
Kaya asked.

“He sends images and feelings into my mind
that show me what he wants me to know. I do the same back to him,
although he seems to be much better at it than I am,” I said.

“How do you mean?” Kaya asked.

“I can only hear the thoughts he purposefully
sends me, but he can usually hear every thought that runs through
my mind. Actually, I’ve gotten so used to talking to him that the
thoughts and images seem like words now. It really feels like we’re
actually talking to each other,” I said.

“Amazing. Can I speak with him?”

“Not really. Talon told me that shaman can
ask the animals for help, but they can’t ‘hear’ what the animals
are saying back to them. I don’t know why, but Quaile couldn’t hear
him either,” I said.

“How long have you been able to do this
Uriah?” Kaya asked.

“Uh, three days,” I said. I didn’t say it,
but I was sure, now, that I had been able to communicate with
animals in some fashion since I was a child. I just never knew what
was happening. The way animals calmed for me when they wouldn’t for
anyone else, I always just thought I was better at handling them
than others. It was kind of disappointing to realize something
else, something I didn’t understand, was the reason I was so good
with animals.

Kaya stared at me in disbelief. “Three
days?”

“Yeah,” I said. “A lot has happened in the
last three days.”

Folding her legs beneath her, Kaya settled
herself on the grass next to a contented Talon. Kaya said, “I think
you should tell me why you’re here.”

The sun continued its blazing path across the
sky as I tried to explain the events of the past three days. I left
out select details of Quaile’s betrayal, but covered everything
else quickly. Better not to make her think I had a bad opinion of
all shamans. It was only Quaile I wanted to lay into with every
foul word I could think of.

Thankfully, Kaya listened without
interrupting. I could tell she was bursting with questions, but she
held them in until I finished my rambling explanation. I struggled
to explain the things that had happened, but in most cases I fell
extremely short. As many questions as Kaya asked, I felt confident
that she could answer some of the questions still burning in my
mind. But first, I needed to see the Shaxoa. Everything else could
wait.

“Kaya, you see why I need to speak with the
Shaxoa, don’t you?” I asked.

Finally, Kaya was quiet. “I guess I do,
Uriah, but you have to understand why I don’t want you to see
her.”

I nodded. “I do understand, Kaya, believe me.
I don’t really
want
to see her, but I have to. I know it’s
dangerous, but Claire is worth it, worth fighting for. You have to
believe me.”

Kaya’s smile was kind. “I do understand,
Uriah, and I will help you. I’m just scared of what you’ll
find.”

“You’ll take me to see the Shaxoa?” I
asked.

“Yes, I will.”

7: Small Cracks

My face was stuck to the fake leather of the
photo album when I woke. I felt awful. I had to force my eyes open,
even though I could feel the hot sun already warming the room. It
had to be well into the morning. Taking a deep breath, the
persistent pull of emotions washed over me and I longed for Daniel.
Hugging the pillow to me in place of the blue-eyed boy I wanted, I
was suddenly confused.

My pillow was not the usual blue, it was
yellow. I sat up trying to figure out where I was and why Daniel
was not with me. The small room swam before me for several long
minutes before tears began to fill my eyes, clouding the view even
more. I was still in Uriah’s room. I had woken up, in his bed,
looking for Daniel. What was wrong with me?

It had only been one day, and I was already
losing ground. How had I let myself slip so badly? Memories of
Daniel’s face and touch kept trying to slip in past my horror, but
I refused to let them tangle themselves in my mind any further.

Turning my face into the pillow, I breathed
in the scent of Uriah. The mixture of smells calmed my mind.
Alfalfa, sheep, the cologne I had given him, his shampoo. I picked
apart the individual smells, each one a part of Uriah’s life. I
wanted to stay wrapped in his blankets all day, but knowing that I
was there alone instead of with Uriah, as I would have dreamed, I
pushed the blanket away.

Swinging my legs over the side, they dangled
just above the floor. My painted toenails stared back at me,
waiting for the command to move. Resisting the urge to climb back
into bed, I forced my feet to touch the floor and carry me to the
small bathroom. Glancing at myself in the mirror, I blanched. I
looked worse than before. It shouldn’t have been surprising. Even
though I had slept half the morning away, I couldn’t force away the
memory of my dreams. They had been torturous. Thoughts of Daniel,
promises of a future more perfect than I could imagine, invaded
every sweet memory and dream of Uriah. Touching my dark locks, I
looked longingly at the shower.

I had no other clothes with me. I didn’t
really mind wearing my jeans again. I usually wore each pair a few
times before sending them off to be washed. I would be more than
happy to borrow another of Uriah’s shirts, but I didn’t think I’d
have much luck finding some fresh underwear anywhere in his
dresser.

I would have to go home today. There was no
way I would stay, not with my father there, and not when I was so
desperate to immerse myself in reminders of my love for Uriah. I
would simply gather a few personal necessities and leave. I had
nothing to say to my dad, anyway. Still, I didn’t want to leave the
house without having showered since Thursday morning.

Resigning myself to a clean body even without
fresh clothes, I undressed quickly and slipped under the hot water.
Steam filled the small room, wrapping around me, clouding my
thoughts. Tilting my head down, I let the water run over my scalp,
fanning my dark hair around my face. I took my time washing my hair
and body, filling my mind with each scent that normally belonged to
Uriah. I sighed when I realized I had nothing left to wash.
Reluctantly, I stepped out of the shower and began putting my
clothes back on, all except my shirt.

I searched Uriah’s closet for the smallest
shirt I could find. His large t-shirts made wonderful pajamas, but
they might get in the way while I helped Uriah’s mother. Toward the
back of the closet I found a small cache of clothing Uriah couldn’t
have possibly worn since he was ten or twelve years old. Removing
one shirt from a hanger, I laughed.

The screen painted t-shirt was an old
baseball jersey. Not the embroidered, button-down type he wore in
high school, but the one piece style handed out to the peewee
leagues. Uriah had only played baseball once before high school,
when he was twelve years old. Bigger than most of the other kids
his age, even then, the shirt looked like it would fit me.

Pulling it over my head, I smiled. The
sleeves were too short, but it looked as if it had been designed
that way. Uriah might have a hard time getting this back from me, I
thought. How long would it be before he came back for it? That
question forced my smile to turn down and disappear. Could I last
long enough to have his gentle hands run down my cheek again?
Refusing to dwell on such doubts, I forced the smile back onto my
lips. He would be back, and he would love that I raided his
closet.

Tucking the photo album I had slept with
under Uriah’s pillow, I was at last ready to leave the room. In a
better mood than I had any right to be, I hurried into the living
room. Uriah’s mother was propped up in an armchair going through a
stack of mail. Lina looked up at my arrival with a sweet smile. Her
eyes looked weary. I doubted she had slept any better than I had
last night.

“Good afternoon, sleepy head,” Sophia said
when she stepped into the room. “I was beginning to wonder if you
were ever going to wake up.”

Afternoon? “Is it that late?” I asked.

Lina threw a withering look at Sophia before
answering. “It’s one o’clock, Claire, but don’t worry about it for
a second. You’ve been through a lot and needed the rest. I’m sure
Sophia has something for you to eat in the kitchen if you’re
hungry.”

“Sorry,” I said, “I didn’t mean to sleep so
late.”

“There’s a mutton sandwich on the table for
you,” Sophia said, her voice much softer than usual.

“Has Uriah called at all?” I asked
quietly.

Lina’s lips pursed and her fingers seemed to
falter. “No,” she said, “not yet.”

“He’ll call when and if he’s able,” Sophia
said. Her stern expression made me wonder whether she had already
had the same discussion with Uriah’s mother before I came into the
room.

Lina’s face hardened as she fought to control
her emotions. I wasn’t nearly so disciplined. Tears sprang to my
eyes. Given his strange departure, I hadn’t really expected Uriah
to want to speak with me right away. I knew I had hurt him badly by
admitting that I might not be strong enough to resist the Twin Soul
bond. I had been hoping that he would at least stay in contact with
his mother, though.

Sophia’s firm hand grasped my shoulder.
“Uriah has something important to do right now. It’s better if he
stays focused. He’ll be home sooner if he does.”

I nodded. Sophia was right as usual. My
whining would only keep Uriah from doing whatever he believed he
had to do. I just hoped that he wouldn’t leave me to fight alone
for too long. I needed his strength. Sophia’s hand fell away from
my shoulder and gestured toward the kitchen.

Food. I should have been ravenous, but hunger
was only a dull thought lost somewhere behind the longing desire
for Uriah and the awful pull of the Twin Soul bond. Still, my body
needed something. Managing an appreciative smile, I walked into the
kitchen. A hearty sandwich sat waiting for me on the table.

I hardly tasted the meal as I ate. I knew
that both Lina and Sophia were talented chefs, and I felt bad that
their efforts were going to waste on me. I ate the meal quickly and
was back in the living room after a few short minutes. I hadn’t
forgotten my promise to help out wherever needed. I walked up to
Uriah’s mother, my footsteps alerting her to my presence. She
looked up at me with an expectant smile.