Phoenix Child

  * * *

  "Oh, good, you're back. I have stuff to make s'mores!" Gavin called out.

  Usually sweets, especially chocolate would make me feel better, but I bet bears liked s'mores too. I tried to look through the darkness, but whatever hid in the woods I couldn’t see.

  "Why do we always eat s'mores when we camp with white people?" Storm asked.

  "I have no idea," Rebecca answered.

  "I like s'mores," Elijah said.

  "What's a s'more?" Kayin asked.

  "It's a graham cracker with a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow you toast over the fire," Taliesin explained.

  "I like chocolate," Kayin said.

  "They're good, but very messy," I added.

  "Not when they're done correctly," Taliesin said in a superior tone of voice. Like he was some kind of a s'mores expert! He's as much of a city kid as I am.

  "Bob and George made roasting sticks for everyone," Gavin said, handing out pointed sticks. "There are graham crackers and chocolate set up on the table here, so grab a marshmallow and have fun!" Gavin pointed to the camp table he'd set up earlier.

  "Rebecca, will you bring me some?" Grandfather George asked.

  "Have you checked your sugar?" Grandmother Carol asked.

  "Yes, dear. I did it while Gavin set everything up. I can have one," George answered, with affection in his voice. It was sweet how much in love they still were.

  It took a bit of shuffling, but soon we were all around the fire, roasting our marshmallows. Taliesin held his marshmallow several inches above the fire, and turned it slowly.

  "What are you doing?" I asked bumping him with my elbow.

  He snorted and wanted to scoot away, but Gavin sat on the other side of him. "I'm roasting my marshmallow. What do you think I'm doing?"

  "But it won't catch on fire way up there."

  "Heathen. You don't burn your marshmallow, you toast it to a perfect golden brown." Taliesin actually straightened his back so he could look down on me from a greater height, like I wasn't already short.

  "You don't know what you're doing," I said and stuck my marshmallow into the fire. When I pulled it out and twisted it so the flames covered the entire treat, then I blew it out. Grinning, I pulled the crispy black coating off and popped it in my mouth. Perfect.

  "I can't believe you ate that," Taliesin said, several of the others agreeing with him.

  "You're a wuss," I said sucking the melted marshmallow off my fingers.

  "Why? Because I don't like eating ash?"

  "Now children," Paul said soothingly. "Everyone can make their marshmallow however they want."

  "Yes," Gavin agreed. "And if Sapphire wants to set hers on fire and do it wrong, then she's allowed."

  Taliesin laughed and raised his marshmallow. "See? Perfectly toasted. Storm, could you hand me a plate, please, I forgot to get one.”

  While Taliesin turned, reaching out for a plate, I used my stick and pushed his stick down, placing his marshmallow in the flames.

  "For goodness sake, girl you don't shove a man's marshmallow in the fire," Gavin shouted in fake horror.

  "Sapphire!" Taliesin yelped, yanking his stick back and carefully examining his marshmallow. "It's darker than it should be, and now it's uneven." He glared at me.

  I stuck my tongue out and placed another marshmallow on my stick directly into the fire.

  "How do you put the s'more together?" Kayin asked.

  "Oh, do you have your marshmallow cooked?" I asked.

  He held up his stick, which held a perfectly charred marshmallow. "Perfect." I showed him how to pull the hot marshmallow off his stick using the cracker and chocolate.

  Taking a big bite, Kayin smiled around the gooey mess. Melted marshmallow and chocolate dripped on his chin. "It's good, but very messy."

  "Mine isn't. A perfectly toasted marshmallow makes the chocolate soft not melted." Taliesin smirked. He took a bite of his treat and avoided getting anything on him.

  I narrowed my eyes at his prissiness. Anali must have seen something in my look because she suddenly joined in the conversation. "I also like mine on fire."

  "No," Gavin said, his hand against his heart. "How can we stay married with this between us?"

  Anali giggled.

  "Fire is definitely the way to go," Grandmother Carol agreed daintily blowing out her marshmallow.

  "Now, dear, we have discussed this, and we're a toasted marshmallow family," Grandfather George added teasingly.

  "Good luck, Dad," Mary said, blowing the fire off her own marshmallow.

  "At least the men of this family know how to cook a marshmallow," Paul said, turning as Elijah blew out the flame on his own marshmallow with a sheepish grin.

  I hoped our laughter scared away any bears, which might have been tempted by the smell of burning sugar.

  After cleaning up, we sat around the fire in happy silence. I remember Grandmother Carol telling me they were going to drum, and I wondered when that would happen. Right now everyone seemed content, except for Taliesin, who kept swatting at his hair.

  "What are you doing?" I asked. A piece of his white hair floated up and he swatted again.

  "Faeries love my hair," Taliesin grumbled.

  "Well, it is so lovely the way it glows in the moonlight," Mary said soothingly.

  I could see his hair moving, one piece being separated into sections and then braided, but I couldn't see the faeries.

  "You can't see them?" Kayin said.

  I shook my head. I couldn't see them at all.

  "Kayin, let me switch places with you," Gavin said. He sat behind me on the log. "Close your eyes."

  Gavin's voice pitched low, and he spoke slowly. I wasn't sure what was happening, but I closed my eyes.

  "Now breathe and let your body relax." Gavin made his own breaths slow and deep. Soon I followed along. Then a drum started softly, and a second, then a third joined in. I could feel each beat echoing in my body. The rock encasing my power thrummed and began to heat up.

  "I want you to picture Taliesin in your mind as he is now. He's sitting next to you, the firelight giving his white sweater a yellow glow. The moonlight makes his hair and skin glow silver." Gavin paused giving me time to picture Taliesin firmly in my mind.

  It didn't take long. Once I could see his sky-blue eyes, I nodded my head.

  "Perfect. Now I want you to see what is happening to his hair. Little pieces are being lifted up, separated, and three faeries are making a braid, now that he has stopped swatting at them." Gavin's voice spoke in the same beat as the drums.

  I began to feel light-headed, and part of me wanted to come out of the meditation, force my eyes open, and end this. For a moment I stiffened, and the drums sounded louder, encouraging me to relax and let go. Releasing a breath, I let go and trusted.

  "In a moment I want you to open your eyes," Gavin said. "But first I want you to know there are five faeries playing with his hair. One lovely little faerie in a white dress with pale blue hair, is twisting two strands of his hair together. Three faeries are making a braid, one in a yellow dress with brown hair, another in a bright pink dress with grass green hair, and the third a boy wearing brown pants, a white shirt, and an acorn cap on his head. The fifth faerie is also a boy with an acorn cap. He's the smallest of the five and is wearing brown pants and an orange shirt."

  Gavin paused letting me create the image in my mind.

  "Now hold the truth in your mind. Know this image is real," Gavin said firmly, yet softly. "Ride the drum, let go and when the drum stops, open your eyes."

  I let the image form clearly in my mind. I could even hear the bell-like laughter of the small faeries. I could see Taliesin's scowl at having his hair messed with, and the joy on the faeries' faces as they played with the moonlit strands.

  The drum stopped and I opened my eyes. There they were: five little faeries playing with Taliesin's hair. I gasped as the surge of power released from my core. I arched and shook as a wave of heat flowed thr
ough me. The rock in my belly hummed with power and heat. It hadn't broken open but some of my power released.

  The faeries flew over to me, patting my face trying to sooth me as the energy reestablished itself in my body.

  "Sapphire?" Gavin asked trying to keep the worry from his voice.

  "I'm okay, just a power surge," I managed to answer. "They’re so pretty."

  The faeries preened at the compliment, and danced around showing how pretty they looked.

  My hand shook as I reached for my cup. Suddenly, Storm knelt in front of me holding the cup up. "Let me help."

  Blushing, I let him hold the cup while I took a drink. In the trees I could see lights, some small like the faeries, but others were a large as a person. I could feel my nervousness building. Everyone stared at me.

  "The Lakota tell a story of how White Buffalo Calf Woman brought to the people the sacred pipe and taught them the way," Grandfather Bob began.

  With each word I relaxed more and let myself be taken in by his story, the newly released energy settling within me.

  "Two young hunters were out searching for game when they saw a strange person walking towards them. As they got closer the hunters saw a beautiful woman wearing a white buffalo skin. One hunter let his heart be filled with lust and greed to make her his. The other hunter realized she was special and not human. The young woman opened her robes. The wise man turned his head at her naked form, but the man with lust and greed in his heart rushed forward and embraced her. The woman closed her robes around him and when she opened them again there was a pile of bones and snakes at her feet."

  Grandpa Bob paused for a moment without letting go of the magic of his story. "The wise hunter ran to his village telling his people about the beautiful and powerful woman who was headed their way. They greeted her with respect and she gave the Lakota the first pipe. She taught them the way of the pipe and stayed with them for a long time. When she left, she turned into a white buffalo calf. The sacred pipe, the one White Buffalo Calf Woman gifted to the Lakota, is still used today."

  When the story ended, everyone cleaned up and headed for their tents. I still felt shaky, so Gavin walked me over to mine. Faeries danced among the treetops, and I hoped they would keep the bears away.

  "Good night." Gavin hugged me before heading to his own tent.

  "'Night."

  "Good night, Sapphire. Will you be okay by yourself?" Anali asked.

  "I'm sure I'll be fine. Kayin and Taliesin will be on the other side," I said, faking a reassuring smile. Gavin bought two big tents. His and Anali's two rooms, one for them to sleep in and one to hang out in. The tent he bought for the boys and me contained three rooms. Two sleep areas, one on each end, and a hanging out room in-between.

  Anali gave me a hug. "All right, sleep well. And if you need anything come on over."

  "I will, don't worry."

  Kayin and Taliesin were already inside taking off their shoes. "We put you in that room," Taliesin said jutting his chin to the room behind me.

  "Okay thanks." Oh, great, the room pointing towards the woods! I forced my hand not to shake as I unzipped the tent flap. Crawling inside I was pleasantly surprised. Gavin bought air mattresses and they created a thick layer of cushion between the hard ground and me.

  Changing into my flannel pajamas was interesting. I couldn't stand because I kept slipping on the air mattress, but eventually I got into them. Scooting into the thick sleeping bag I began to shiver. It was cold!

  "Sleep well," Kayin called from the other side of the tent.

  "You, too." I didn't think I would sleep at all.

  "Yes, don't let the critters bite," Taliesin teased. He’s such a snot!

  "Shut-up," I said turning off the flashlight. Slowly, very slowly, the sleeping bag began to warm up, and I clung to hopes of sleeping until I heard an odd rustle. Did something just bump the tent? It didn't sound like a branch. Holding my breath, I waited and jumped when I heard it again. I scooted further down into my sleeping bag.

  What was out there?

  I listened carefully and almost screamed when I heard something walking around outside. Soft measured footsteps, snuffling sounds, and a dark shape between the tent and the fire.

  "Sister raccoon, good evening,” I heard Grandfather Bob greet the mysterious dark shape.

  Okay, raccoons are small. Nothing to worry about. Go to sleep and stop being such a baby. Closing my eyes, I breathed slowly and tried to ignore the deep silence broken occasionally by the wind and unknown hungry wild animals.

  I dozed off and on for hours, never sleeping deeply and always being forced into consciousness by some strange noise. My eyes ached with exhaustion, but I doubted I would ever fall fully asleep. Putting my hand up into the cold air I shivered and hit the light on my phone. I almost cried. It was only three o'clock. I had to lay lie in here for at least three more hours.

  All right, calm down, I told myself. Everything is fine. It's warmish in here and as long as I don't have to pee I can stay in here and be fine. And of course, I didn't have to pee until I thought about it. Sapphire, you only have to pee because you thought about it, close your eyes and go back to sleep! I lay back down and snuggled into my sleeping bag.

  A few minutes later my eyes popped open. Damn it, I needed to pee now! Gasping as the cold air wrapped around me, I quickly put on my socks and coat, unzipped the flap and shoved my feet into my freezing shoes. Flashlight in hand, I unzipped the main flap and stared out into the night. The moon hung low in the sky, not giving much light. I could see the shape of the pit toilet in the distance. It wasn't that far away. I could go by myself. Turning, I looked at where the boys were sleeping. No, I couldn't wake one of them up, could I?

  I flinched at the sound of the zipper being undone. "What are you doing?" Taliesin snapped.

  "I have to go to the bathroom."

  "So?" he asked.

  I turned big pleading eyes his way. Please don't make me ask out loud, I chanted as I stared at him.

  "For the love of...," he snapped, moving back into the room. I relaxed once I heard clothes rustling.

  "You better be quick," Taliesin grumbled, his teeth chattering.

  I nodded. Of course I would be quick. It was cold and scary out here.

  As quietly as possible we walked across the campsite and down the little path to the toilet. Carefully, I opened the door and shone the flashlight in, making sure nothing scary waited to eat me.

  "Sapphire," Taliesin hissed.

  "I was just checking," I pouted and went inside, squeaking as I sat down. Cold seat, cold seat!

  "Are you all right?"

  "Cold."

  Taliesin chuckled. I glared at the door.

  "Your turn," I said stepping out.

  He grunted and went inside. I walked out of the cover of the trees and looked up. Even though the cold made my eyes tear up, I couldn't look away.

  "What are you doing?" Taliesin snapped.

  "Have you ever seen so many stars?" Bright dots of light covered the sky. I could even make out some of the constellations and the Milky Way.

  "No, I haven't. I can see why so many people made up stories about the stars."

  Maybe I didn't have to go back inside; my camp chair had a footrest. I could bring my sleeping bag outside and stare at the sky for the rest of the night.

  A lonely howl pierced the night. I jumped and grabbed Taliesin's arm.

  "It's probably a coyote," he whispered. He didn't sound sure of that.

  An answering howl was all it took for us to go right back to the tent.

  "Thank you for going with me."

  "Whatever. Go to sleep," Taliesin said, toeing off his shoes and climbing back into his side of the tent.

  I lay in my cold sleeping bag listening to the conversation between several coyotes. At four-thirty I swear one of them laughed.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  "Courage is being scared to death...and saddling up anyway."