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Something More

Sleep. It was one of the things in my life that I absolutely loved, but had so much trouble getting to it. After what was probably two hours of tossing and turning I finally got off of my back and sat up. It was dark in my tent, as it was dark outside, but that was fine. I could see okay… ish. I reached for the zipper of the tent flap and pulled it open. I did so slowly, so not to catch it on the tent's material itself. Once the flap was down, I stepped outside.

It was cold, as most nights were, even though it was summer. I was in my green coat, the thing was nice; warm and water resistant. I started walking to the east through the pines. Life up on the mountain was hard, but quiet. Moonlight pushes past the pine boughs. Gosh it was beautiful up here, I was glad I stuck around.

Lichen, moss, small saplings and ferns covered the pine forest's floor. A pleasant little ecosystem, one I was happy to live in. I had most everything. Food came in the form of fish in the nearby river, which was where I got my water as well. The pines were shelter themselves, my tent even more so. My sleeping bag was warmth, as was my fire. Though the fire had been extinguished; I didn't want anyone finding me, especially when I was asleep.

I stood on a trail that ran north and south. Just letting time pass for my eyes to grow heavy. Rubbing my wrist, I felt my watch. I paused, and held my arm out to look at the timekeeper. I let out a small sigh. Oh Robert, if only you were still here. My watch had once been my fiance's, however he was no longer with me. Not in this world.

My time of reminiscing was cut short when I heard the telltale click of a hammer being pulled back. I reached for my own gun, but words cut me first. “Still yourself, trespasser." His voice was clear, and he was certainly a native in these lands. I let out an annoyed sigh, and put my hands on the back of my head. “Good, you're a smart one."

They, five of them, crawled out from the darkness. One lit a torch, illuminating the trail with firelight. All of them had bits of plant material mixed in with their clothes, allowing them ample camouflage. These were them. The men that the others described. One approached me, and patted me down, removing all my weapons, or things that could be considered a weapon from me. These were the men that picked off travelers, never to be seen again. These were the men who danced around flames in the dead of night, preaching about their goddess, begging for her blessings. These men ate the flesh of others. These men were going to kill me.

One placed a bag over my head, and tied my hands at the wrist. They pulled me along, having me follow them. They were silent in this, quiet. I knew we were walking through the woods from the softness of the ground. Pine needles were prone to making the ground softer than just grass in a field. Our trek seemed to take about three hours, though I couldn't tell. I just knew that when we finally stopped, I wanted to sleep more than anything. “We regret doing this." One spoke, as he removed the bag from my head. I looked around, as they were lighting a fire. We were in a grotto of some type. “We've met you, talked with you. We know you're one of the smart ones. The ones who understand the world… but she demands a sacrifice." His words held sorrow, it seemed as if was speaking the truth.

“If you think I understand, then why not let me join?" I asked. I didn't want to die, anything to avoid that would be great.

“Words you use to keep on living. I know you're scared, but it's okay." He put a hand on my shoulder. “Like our brothers the wolves, we must take from the land. Many people do not give back, but we've seen you do just that. You picked off the old or the weak. You used all that you could from their bodies. You used moderation, did not slaughter so many simply for food only to be thrown away. For that we are thankful." He smiled at me, though his eyes were sad. “We wish to know your name, so we can remember you."

“James." I replied, my voice in a rasp. The man grabbed a canteen, and pressed it to my lips. I drank his water as I was very thirsty after our trek. Once I was done I gave a small nod. “Thanks."

“James." He said softly. “Though you did not walk with us, through your actions we consider you a brother. We will not desiccate your corpse like we do to scare the others. Your bones shall be placed by our fallen." He looked over to the men as they prepared their altar, as it would seem. “You are truly a rarity, we will allow you to part with us some knowledge before you join the earth."

He lead me to a stone altar, where he had me kneel. The other men stood around me in a circle, before the man who had talked with me came before me. “James, this is a rare occasion. Never have we ever had a ceremony so bittersweet. For you shall leave our world to walk in the other." He looked to all his men. “For this, we shall allow you to share with us your knowledge, so that we may pass it on to our children. Your life will not be in vain."

They all quieted, waiting for me to speak. I didn't know what to say. I couldn't beg for mercy, these men were going to kill me. My memory called back to college and my cultural studies. They spoke as if wolves were their brothers. I took a deep sigh before speaking.

“This comes from the Anishinaabe, my people. What we believe." Of course I didn't have enough native blood to be considered native american, I still like learning about my ancestor's way of life. “You call the wolf your brother. To my people, that was literal. The great mystery, as life is, created man and wolf as brothers. Together the roamed the earth, finding and naming all of it's creatures and plants. When their task was complete, they returned to the great mystery. They were forced to separate and live their lives independent from one another. However, they were told to not harm each other, for what happened to one, would happen to the other." Why was I telling them this? There was no way I was going to make it out alive. Respect maybe? I didn't know. I had hoped it would persuade them to set me free.

The men remained silent for sometime, before their leader spoke. “Now it saddens me even more, that we must do this. James you were a brother and we didn't know. Your people, you, and our people. Thank you for sharing their story, your story." He raised a knife high above me. “Your death shall be something more, James. You are not just a sacrifice. You shall be our guide. You will be our leader in the afterlife. When our bodies can no longer support our souls, you will come to us as the great wolf you are, and take us to hunt forever after." The circle raised their spears, and hit them against the ground. Each uttered an agreeance. He made it sound like I was to become a god. Their leader drove his knife down.

It hurt, only for a moment, and then there was nothing. I was finally able to sleep.

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I was cold. Very cold. I was also moving. Sitting up I looked around, I appeared to be in a sled… No, a sleigh. tt was snowing? I could hear the sound of hooves on hard ground. On me was a heavy blanket. I looked to the left and the right. There were street lights lining the snow-covered road. A sharp pain screamed through my flesh on the back of my neck, at the base of my skull. I gasped and let out out a groan as I grabbed the spot. It felt rough, like a wound scabbed over. As soon as I touched it, the pain faded.

“Good. You're awake." Came a friendly voice from behind me. I turned my head to look. It had the body of a man, but the head of a coyote. “They call me Charon, don't worry this ride's free. Welcome to your second chance."