It had been three weeks since the cruise ship had dropped off Xander and Veo in Los Angeles. Xander had been randomly driving across country in that time, stopping at various places that seemed to interest him. Today he came across a national park with wide sprawling trails that ran for miles, and a small museum dedicated to the history of the park and the people who had lived there over the centuries.
As he walked through he was drawn to the histories of the native peoples that had lived in this area for centuries before civilization plowed its way through. He was always fascinated by how simple yet sophisticated their cultures were, although what he understood of it fit in a thimble...with room to spare.
He had stopped in front of an exhibit with an authentic teepee, and a canoe from one of the local tribes. As he was bending down to examine it he heard a friendly voice behind him say "Careful, my friend. It may be a bit younger then you are, but it's still quite old."
Xander stood, a bit surprised, and looked up to see an old man wearing a park ranger's uniform. He was clearly Native American with tanned skin, and long black hair kept in a ponytail that Xander could have never mastered. There was a wisdom behind his eyes that was as bright as the smile on his face. "What...what do you mean younger than I am?" he asked a bit nervously.
The old man let out a playful laugh, standing next to Xander as if they were both examining the canoe. "You're an immortal. I'm not sure what kind, but the years in your eyes go back further than these artifacts. But the pain is recent."
Xander just blinked at the man with a confused look. "That's...actually kind of amazing. How did you do that?" he said, genuinely impressed.
The old man simply smiled and gave Xander a sideways look "I told you. I looked into your eyes. Weren't you paying attention?" Xander and the man shared a laugh as Xander had to admit he had a point. The old man continued... "Coming to nature seems to be one of the ways that people of all kinds find a way to heal, a way to balance. That is why you are here I believe."
Xander gave a nod "I'm kind of hoping so, honestly. I just got over a rough patch and I'm kind of...searching for my place in this world again. So far I haven't found it." He said, giving a defeated sigh.
The old man gave a somber, slow nod "Hmmm, that is because in order to find your place, you must first find yourself. Once you have dusted off your spirit everything else will become clearer my boy."
Xander gave the old man a grin "Shouldn't I be considered like an honored elder? I mean after all I am older than you...by millenia."
The old man gave Xander a look dead in the eye and smiled "Are you? Are you really?" he said with a look and a tone that made Xander doubt his assessment almost immediately.
"Well, umm, I think." he said rather shyly. "Sorry, this whole process just has me off balance. I don't know what to do to fix it. To fix... me. Do you have any suggestions?"
The old man smiled at him warmly and nodded "Of course I do, I wouldn't be very good at my job if I didn't." He wrapped an arm around Xander's shoulder and took him outside the museum into the park and pointed to the start of a trail. "This is the hardest and most rugged trail in the park. I want you to walk this trail."
Xander nodded "Until I find myself." he replied confidently.
"No..." the old man started with a chuckle "Till you come across the mock up Native camp site that's down the trail. It's run by my granddaughter." he raised his hand and pointed down the trail. "Feisty Squirrel."
Xander shot the man a sideways look "Your granddaughter is named Feisty Squirrel?"
"What? No! My granddaughter is named Emily. I was pointing out the feisty squirrel, in the tree!" the old man grabbed Xander's head and angled it so that he could see a squirrel on one of the lower branches walking under the branch to avoid the hawk sitting on the branch.
