StrangeOwl Chapter 3
Chapter 3
What! I thought to myself and at first I thought I had uttered the word out loud. No, the very people who were afraid of what they had seen, remembered who I was and began to protest.. "Why must she go?" "Where will she go?" "Is she not one of us?" Grimly, the Chief raised his hand to quiet the people. "Long time ago the Old Shaman determined that Strange Owl was to leave once her re-birth occurred." explained the Chief. "It was not known exactly when this would occur but now that the time is at hand, Strange Owl must go."
I stood there and felt like my whole world as I knew it had crumbled at my feet. Where was I to go? More importantly, WHY did I have to go? I was afraid for the first time in my life. Turning to me, both the Chief and the Shaman looked on me with sadness. The Shaman spoke first. "Do not feel you are being shunned or turned away from the people, Strange Owl." he said. "You will always be a part of Bird Clan." Nodding in agreement, the Chief spoke as well. "Your story will be handed down from generation to generation and your name will always be known."
I shook my head wearily to myself. Was I strong enough to be a Bird Woman? Did I have the courage to leave the only people I could call my own? There had to be more to this than what was said in front of the people. Seemingly having read my mind the Chief turned to the people once again. "It is late and tomorrow dawns a new story to be written." "Go to your beds and rest now." As the people began to disperse and the fire tender banked the fire, the Shaman told me to go to the river and wash myself clean with the white sand and stones of the river. I was to take what was left of my clothes and leave them on the bank and he would send someone to take them and give me something else to wear.
Tired and achy I started to walk to the river. My wing tips dragged and so I thought about folding the wings close to my body like the Winged Ones did. A thought and my body obeyed. The wings folded flat against my body and it was easier to walk. Once at the river I stripped myself of the clothes and left them on the bank and wadded into the gentle, cool waters of the river. The rocks bit into my feet so I knew this was not a Dream Time event. I was really a Bird Woman. I looked up into the Stars and the face of the Moon as tears fell from my eyes. As I reached down into the river to grasp the stones and sand, I saw my reflection.
I still look like me I thought. As I pulled up the sand and gravel, I looked at my hands; hands that had turned into the talons of a bird of prey. What was I? Where did I come from? Oh Great One! What do you have in store for me? Where does my path go now? Knowing my questions might be answered by the Chief and Shaman, I hurriedly scrubbed myself and then finally reached for my wings. I pulled a feather. OUCH! Hey, I felt that pain! These new wings ARE apart of me. Not separate. I heard a light step approach and I turned to find one of the Elders picking up my clothes and leaving a bundle in its place. The Elder looked at me silently for moment and then she turned and walked away. Not one word did she utter to me.
Rising from the river I stepped onto the bank and then suddenly I fluttered my wings like I have seen the Winged Ones do. It was an interesting sensation to say the least. I then bent to pick up the bundle and found it was blanket made of strange feathers. Or it had been at one time. Now it was a robe with slots cut in it for my wings. The feathers felt cool and soft and I took a deep breath in of its scent. A scent I recognized. My mother!