Sherry's hands were slick with sweat, and she surreptitiously wiped them on her jeans, hoping like hell that no one noticed. She was supposed to be confident, in charge, but felt very unsure of herself in the moments leading up to the ceremony. Her first healing ceremony, after long years of study and practice, and she was finally trusted enough to take the place of strength at the patient's feet. She was terrified.
Random moments from her studies flitted through her mind like birds on speed, and she closed her eyes, and forced herself to focus. Her breathing became slower and deeper and then her training began to take over. She opened her eyes, and nodded to her partner for the evening, the shaman doing the actual healing, Diane Littlefeather, who began the song. Sherry closed her eyes, and was gone, somewhere in the ether, watching for whatever might approach and take advantage of Diane's openness.
It first appeared as a patch of darkness, swelling and moving like a fogbank rolling in from the sea, but it felt malevolent. Sherry gathered her strength around her, and her mind called out to her guides, Koi chito (the cougar), Hushi (the hawk), and Sinti (the snake) for help. They were there within an instant, guarding Diane as she worked her healing on the person prone in front of her. Diane's soul was open while she healed and she was depending on Sherry to watch over her.
The darkness came closer, and a pair of cold, blue eyes stared out, meeting Sherry's gaze, and she began to sing the words of strength, her voice ringing through the space. To her astonishment, she heard deep, booming laughter, and the eyes came closer. A snarl came from her right, her warrior side, and Koi chito launched itself at the darkness, muscles bunched and hair standing on end. The fog retreated reluctantly, still laughing; the echoes lingering even after it had disappeared. Sherry finally felt herself being called back down, and she went with the call, grateful it was over.
She opened her eyes to see Diane looking at her, lines of concern etched in her forehead. "It's done...are you okay?"
Sherry nodded, afraid to try to speak. She could feel the cold lines of sweat that had run down her sides while she had been gone, her hands were clasped tightly together, the muscles in her arms so tight they were beginning to ache. Accepting Diane's hand, she stood, and realized her legs were a little shaky, but Sherry made her way slowly outside to gulp at the cool night air.
Diane's voice startled her, "Was it that bad?"
"Oh....no, it wasn't. I guess I just wasn't sure what to expect, that's all. I didn't realize I'd be this tired." Sherry wasn't ready to share her experiences yet, if ever.
Diane smiled as she turned to walk to her truck. "You did good, kid. Relax, the first time's over now, and you did great. It gets easier now."
Sherry's smile was slight as she answered, "Thanks. I'll see you later, then. Joseph's waiting for me."
She heard Diane’s' "goodnight" as she turned towards Joseph's truck. The thought of his warm presence quickened her steps and she found the energy to smile at him as she climbed up in his truck. He leaned over to press a kiss against her lips, and asked, his voice soft and deep, "How'd it go?
"Fine, but I'm tired....didn't realize it would take as much out of me as it did." Sherry impatiently pushed the wayward strands of black hair that had escaped from her braid behind her ears, and realized it was limp and damp between her fingers, as if it had been a humid mid-summer night, instead of the cool temperatures of early spring. She closed her eyes, and leaned her head back against the seat for the short ride home. Joseph was here, she could relax.
The sound of the truck tires crunching on the gravel of their driveway woke Sherry from her doze. She shook the tendrils of sleep out of her mind, and headed inside, Joseph's arm slung around her shoulders, it's weight warm and familiar.
"You want me to make us some coffee?" Joseph asked once they were inside.
"No, thanks, babe...I'm beat. I think I'm just going to take a hot bath and then head to bed." She headed towards the bathroom, her mind turning over the experiences she'd had at the ceremony.
She undressed, laying her clothes across the countertop before pulling the shower curtain back and turning the water on. As the tub started to fill, she sat on the edge and carefully undid her braid, letting her hair fall free, and then running her fingers through it's length.
It was then that she saw it, a movement in the corner of her eye. It was nothing definite, just a faint shadow that moved swiftly past her and was gone. 'A trick of the light', she thought.
A slight chill ran up her spine. She shook it off and chuckled nervously and then stood and eyed herself in the mirror. "You're not going to freak out now, Sherry Hawk. It's just your imagination; get a grip."
Selecting a packet of herbs from a shelf, she poured some out in her hand and scattered them into the steaming water rising in the tub. Sitting again on the edge, she swirled the water with her hand, testing the temperature and stirring the beads. Satisfied, she lifted her right leg into the tub and slid into the hot water, dragging her left leg in last.
She sighed, feeling the warmth soaking into her, closed her eyes and leaned her head back. Swirling the water over her, she let her mind drift, soaring out over the meadow like her namesake, comfortable in the familiar surroundings.
Sherry found herself lying in the tall grass, a warm breeze caressing her bare body. And her companions were there. Hushi circled lazily over her as Sinti wove through her long hair and around her neck, Koi chito lay close by and nuzzled her hand for attention. She absently scratched between his ears listening to the cries of Hushi.
It was Koi chito's ears that caught her attention, suddenly erect and facing forward, his eyes narrowed, and he began to growl softly, rumbling through his body. Sinti released himself from her and coiled close by, head wavering as if looking for an opening to strike. Hushi darted down, turning sharply behind her as a dark, wispy tendril reached closer to her. Koi chito crouched on his haunches ready to pounce. The booming laughter rang out again as the tendril receded out of sight.
Water splashed as Sherry woke with a start. She quickly took inventory of her surroundings. The water was cold and murky. She rose, grabbing a towel and pushed the drain lever. Stepping out, she wrapped the towel tightly around her body. Her hands shook uncontrollably as she dried her hair, and she took a deep breath and made a conscious effort to calm herself.
"Don't let this get to you, Hawk. You are strong enough to handle this. Stop being so jumpy." She stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror, eyes wide, trying to get a grip on her emotions. She smiled as she refastened her towel more tightly around her. "I may not be a teenager anymore but I'm still sexy woman."
"Yes, you are." Came the voice from behind her. "And even more so than when you were a teenager. You are far from old, and you are still the most frighteningly beautiful woman I have ever seen."
