Page 128 of Shadow Blind

While Aiden looked exceptionally dubious, he didn’t outright nix the idea.

“You mentioned there were shadows in your dreams,” she continued, her voice thoughtful. “I wonder if your subconscious picked up some of the Kalikoia tribal mythos—like the Shadow Warrior and all the Shadow Realm stuff. For God’s sake, the base is even called Shadow Mountain, and it's full of people who are committed to the Kalikoia mythology. The theme of shadows and gods is everywhere. You could have subconsciously eavesdropped on a conversation between two believers and integrated it into your dreams.” When he didn’t immediately shoot that idea down, she continued quietly. “You really should talk to Benioko. These dreams are obviously bugging you. Maybe he can help you figure out why.”

It surprised her that his demeanor seemed more thoughtful than dismissive, like he was considering her suggestion, which was a giant leap from their former couple’s dynamic—where he’d hop out of bed or distract her with sex to avoid sharing his secrets.

The change made her feel invincible, like they really could work through their problems and share a life together.

Day 24

Denali, Alaska

“I do not know why the heschrmal has chosen your le'ven'a after centuries of absence. But she has been chosen. This I have seen with my own eyes.”

Wolf frowned. Perhaps not centuries of silence. According to the Taounaha, O’Neill was lion chosen as well. O’Neill’s claiming was difficult enough to believe, and he was male with a splash of Kalikoia blood.

Jillian was woohanna and far past puberty.

“You said a lion’s scream woke you from—”

“I did not dream this, Ho'cee! It happened. Jillian carries the spirit lion’s bite and totem. She is lion clan now.”

Squinting into the darkness, Wolf grunted thoughtfully. His anistaa would not mistake a spirit animal bite or the totem cementing the claim. Such things were impossible to mistake. If she saw what she said, then Jillian had been chosen by the heschrmal. Which, if the Old One spoke true, made her clanswoman to O’Neill. Wolf grimaced.

And of the cat clans. Ice pierced his gut.

Cat and bird clans often clashed. While there were no lion clan members on base—with the possible exception of O’Neill—there were lynx and bobcat. He was often required to smooth ruffled feathers and fur after clashes among his men.

The thought of Jillian’s reaction to him, through the lens of her spirit animal, sent the ice in his gut churning.

“Why would the woodland spirits gift Jillian with a warrior’s animal?” Even to his own ears, his voice sounded numb.

“This I do not know.” His anistaa’s voice softened with sympathy. She well-knew the rift between the bird and cat clans. “Perhaps the Taounaha knows?”

Wolf frowned. As the earthside voice and eyes of the Shadow Warrior, Benioko knew many of the Shadow Realm’s secrets. But the Shadow Warrior was the essence of the male life force—the provider, the protector, the hunter, the warrior. He did not meddle in the Blue Moon Mother’s sphere of influence, which was the female life force—the harvester, the healer, the supplier, the nurturer.

As a female, Jillian fell under the Blue Moon Mother’s web of influence. But there was no way to ask the great mother why she had gifted Jillian with a warrior’s animal. The Blue Moon Mother had not chosen an earthside mouthpiece since Silver Spruce had crossed to the web of her ancestors nearly two hundred cycles ago.

Would Benioko know why Jillian had been chosen? Or what gift she had been given? Each animal gifted something different. Both he, Aiden, and Kait had been chosen by the thae-hrata. Yet he and his javaanee had received the gift of future sight, while Kait had received the ability to heal.

“To be chosen by such a powerful animal, our moon mother must want something from Jillian.” Wolf’s voice tightened.

He was expected to save the lives of those shown in his warning flash. Kait was expected to heal when her ability flared. The expectations for Aiden’s claiming gift were unknown, as his javaanee had refused to seek the counsel of the Taounaha.

“Jillian must have been gifted an ability by the heschrmal. What is it? What will be expected of her?”

“We are not equipped to answer these questions,” his mother responded.

She was right. But who was equipped to answer them?

The obvious place to start was with the Taounaha. If the Old One could not answer Wolf’s question, at least he could reach out to the Shadow Warrior and report back on what the Shadow Realm was up to.

After a few seconds of idle chatter, he hung up, his mind buzzing with what he’d learned. It was too early to visit Benioko. He would have to wait for his answers.

By 8:00 a.m., Wolf was more exhausted than ever, but oddly wired. He grabbed a cart from the charging hub and headed for the cafeteria.

The thought of food rolled his stomach, but he piled a plate with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and hash browns. Benioko, indeed most of his warriors, approved of the woohanta breakfast. At least he could provide the Taounaha with a hot meal upon arrival at his door. He snapped plastic lids onto the plate, and the two cups of piping hot coffee—no cream, no sugar—and boxed his haul up. Normally he would have walked to the old section where the Old One lived, but the food and coffee would cool during the walk, so he carried the box out to his cart and climbed onboard.

Benioko’s door was propped open with an old boot when he arrived. This was not a surprise. The shaman often knew of Wolf’s visit before Wolf did himself.

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