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CHAPTER FIVE
The day had started early. Bags were packed the night before and left next to the lift. Richard and Dee were over at Eric's apartment having breakfast together with him and Maria and they started explaining what was going to happen. After breakfast, they started putting their gear in the SUV and Dee quickly send out emails saying they had business outside of town, they would be back in a weeks time and giving them a satellite number in case of emergencies.
After an hour, they were off towards Ulisi's home to pick her up and then the five Cherokees were off towards their homelands to the north.
Everyone had noticed big changes in Ulisi, she seemed more younger, though they just took it as being around the other Cherokees, to bring that life back to her and by releasing her wolf after such a long time.
After nine hours on the road, Eric turned off the highway and down a dirt track. Maria was amazed with the wildlife she was seeing. Richard explained that this was their homeland and bought the land years ago and made it into a reserve. The only people who were allowed to hunt were the ones who lived there, who were also Cherokee of tribe and who knew of their secret.
When they came out into a clearing, there was a large cabin like building on one side of the road and on the other side there was teepees standing along with other types of traditional homes. Maria couldn't help but stare at them, she was totally amazed, it felt like she was transported back in time.
Eric parked the car next to the large building and they started to unpack. A older man came up with a large smile. "Welcome home warriors" then clasped their arms in the traditional welcome.
Eric smiled. "It's good to be back, old friend." He turned to the side a little. "Let me introduce you to Ulisi and Maria."
The old man smiled. "I'm Charlie, I'm the current chief til Eric decides to step up." Then looked back to Eric. "So what's the plan boss?"
That was one thing he liked about Charlie, he was always straight to the point. "Ceremony tonight night on the first night of the cycle. If their staying here, tell them, their to go to the main house and not to leave til dawn. That will be for the next three nights after tonight."
Charlie nodded his understanding. "Got it, I'll call a meeting now." He then headed away from them.
By the time they were half way thru unpacking the SUV, a bell was rung and people started to head towards the main house. By the time they had fully unpacked, everyone was inside and Eric sighed, "I'll be back soon. Take them home would ya Richard."
Richard nodded, picking up their own gear along with Eric's, then headed towards the woods and Eric towards the main house.
* * * * *
As soon as Eric was inside, people smiled seeing him. He smiled and said a quick hello to a few of the older members as he headed to the front of the room. Once everyone was silent he started. "Every one of you knows what I am. You teach our history to our children that one day they might join me with Brother Wolf. I know we usually only do the ceremony once a year but I'm here now to do it tonight for my mate. Most of you have heard what it involves and as such, as soon as the sun starts to set, I want everyone in this building. You are not to leave til dawn. If I catch anyones scent outside, I won't beable to promise your safety."
There were mummers around the building. The tribes elders nodded. "You know what's best for us, so we'll follow your lead, Eric." one of them said.
He bowed his head to the elders and looked around at the younger people of the tribe. "If any of you want to head back to the city, I suggest you get ready now. And those curious, I highly suggest you do as I said about staying indoors. Like I said, I won't beable to promise your safety. If you are curious. Wait til you hear the wolves and look out the windows and you will see why I'm giving you this warning."
He made sure it sunk in with what he said before leaving them to do what they were doing. Charlie walked with him outside and sighed. "Gray Wolf, a few of them are talking take over. They think they have what it takes to be chief."
Eric chuckled. "That will never happened. I placed you as chief for a reason. But I'll be sure they understand what they are thinking. If they start freaking out, we'll get Richard to alter their memories and remove them from the tribe."
Charlie nodded. "Alright. I just wanted to make sure you knew what was going on before the ceremony, just in case there's trouble."
Stopping at the edge of the forest and shaking hands again, Eric headed into the forest as Charlie headed back to the building.
* * * * *
Their camp was in a small clearing, and consisted of two large teepees painted in their traditional symbols of being warriors and family of the tribe. The emblem of Brother Wolf was painted on the flaps that were considered doors. In the center of the clearing there were rounded stones for the ceremony and to the side there was darkened soil from past open fires.
After they had packed their gear away, Eric smiled and handed Maria a small bundle. "Put this on for me." Softly kissed her lips before he went into one of the other teepees.
She followed into the womens teepee and started to unwrap the outfit. She blinked a little then smiled seeing a small branch inside the clothing. She held it up to show Dee and Ulisi and they both smiled brightly at her. In their tribes traditions. If a man wants to claim a woman, he would give her a branch. If she showed him using the branch to start a fire, he would know she accepted to be his woman. If she didn't use the branch, it would mean she rejected him. Maria knew what her answer was straight away and couldn't wait for Eric to return from the hunt.
Dee giggled as the women were getting dressed. She couldn't help but stare at Ulisi, she seemed more different than before, even Maria noticed it. Ulisi looked over to them. "The wolf is getting stronger, so she's making me strong. Wait til I turn back after the first night," she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
The women got dressed in deer hid breech clothes and small vests to go with them. As Maria changed and was about to slip the vest on. Ulisi shocked her. "When did you get that young lady?"
Maria turned slowly and buttoned up the vest. "Get what Gran?"
Ulisi walked straight over to her, pulling the shoulder of the vest down and tapped a tattoo on the back of her shoulder. "That."
Maria and Dee just stared at her, both in shock. They had only ever known her as blind, how could she possibly see now. Maria softly said, "I got it when I was sixteen.... How come you can see? Or have you always been able to see and just pretended to be blind?"
Ulisi shook her head. "You should of told me you got it done." Having a better look at it. "I was blind, it's because of the herbs I took to make my wolf sleep. The wolf is a predator, it has to see where it's kill is going to beable to stay strong. Going blind is one of the effects to put the wolf to sleep. I won't get my brown eyes again, they'll end up being as they are now with a pale blue. They probably won't get any darker than they are now. But I will beable to see clearly if you decide to mark your body again, young lady."
Dee was curious. "What other effects will happen?"
Grinning. Ulisi said, "After this cycle, I'll be the women I should of always been." Not elaborating any further than that.
By the time they women had finished dressing and preparing themselves. The brothers had made a fire and took out their old weapons and laughing to each other. "Just like the old days, brother."
But they stopped when the women walked out of the tent. Eric couldn't keep his eyes off of Maria. He felt like he traveled back in time and back in the tribe. He softly said, "Wow."
Richard smiled at Dee and bowed his head to her to which she returned, then he grabbed Eric's arm and started half dragging him into the forest to hunt.
Dee went over to Richard, lacing her arm around his waist. "That sneaky old wolf can see again and she didn't tell us."
Richard blinked and Eric looked up and said, "You can see?"
Ulisi smirked. "Yes, I stopped taking the herbs and all of my senses are returning. By tomorrow I'll be the woman I should be." She stood there with her hands on her hips. "Shouldn't you two be off hunting for the ceremony by now."
Eric put his hands up as if he was wanting to stop a lecture before it came. "Ok, ok, we're going," he said chuckling, then quickly gave Maria a quick kiss before dragging Richard away from Dee's kiss.
* * * * *
Eric and Richard decided to hunt the human way. They headed straight towards one of the well-used deer tracks and followed the freshest tracks towards their targets. But something else caught their attention. Both men weren't able to completely shut off their senses and smelt a bear was in the area.
Richard looked over to Eric as they stopped and softly said, "The tribe hunts and we can't exactly have a bear in the area, just in case something happens to one of them."
Eric nodded. "So guess we're going bear hunting," he said with a grin.
Richard nodded with a chuckle. "Same rules tho, no shifting for you."
Eric shrugged and started to track the bear. "Yeah, it's no fun taking it down within the first minute."
After about an hour and further into the mountains, they had finally caught up with the large male grizzly, Eric put his bow and quiver down next to Richard and Richard handed him his dagger.
Eric took his own dagger out and held both and grinned. "Just like the old days, brother." Before standing up and walking towards the bear.
Richard knew what Eric was meaning. When they were human and they went bear hunting, Eric would do close range combat while Richard did range. They had always been in-tuned with each others movements so other than Eric ending up with injuries from the bear, he would never be hit with the arrows that Richard released.
The bear looked up when Eric exposed himself and roared, but Eric didn't flinch at all so the bear ran at him to make it's attack.
