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Back to Wesoomi's Archives The Legend of Wesoomi: Fourteen, Grey: June 3, 2002: In his twelfth summer, Spirit Guide spent much time with Strong Oak and Spirit Healer. It was a coming of age for Spirit Guide. More and more, the Elders questioned him and heard his answers. Little guidance was necessary for Spirit Guide was beginning to feel the hand of the Great Spirit on his heart. He was learning how to open himself to that wisdom. As always, he went into the forest to ponder on the wisdom as the Great Spirit revealed it to him. As always, Grey went with him everywhere. As Spirit Guide was in his twelfth summer, so Grey was in her thirteenth summer. Spirit Guide thought not on this thing. He knew only that Grey was always with him, but it was no longer to be. Grey felt it in her body. She had lived to the full of her time. One night, in the full of the summer, Grey went to the hill beyond the Shrine. There she sat and sang to the Great Spirit while the moon shone full upon her. In the morn she came down. She went into the lodge of Gentlehand and Spirit Guide. She nuzzled Spirit Guide awake. "Why, good morn, Grey." said Spirit Guide. "What be this?" The wolf nuzzled him again and rubbed her head on his hand. Spirit Guide rubbed her ear and stroked her coat. Gentlehand was sitting up and saw. "Look at this," laughed Spirit Guide. "What do you think has gotten into Grey. She wants my attention." Gentlehand looked sadly at Spirit Guide. He understood. "She comes to say farewell, my Son," he said sadly. "Farewell! What farewell?" asked Spirit Guide, but he was beginning to know. "She has come to the end of her time, my Son." "No!" exclaimed Spirit Guide, but he knew it was true. He threw his arms around Grey and buried his face in her fur. "Not yet Grey. It cannot be time so soon," he cried. Gentlehand came and sat beside Spirit Guide. He too put a hand on Grey and stroked her grizzled fur. He put his other arm around his son. "It is time," he said. "We heard her last night, singing to the Great Spirit. She sang just as she sang for your mother so long ago. I was there. I remember. This time she sang for herself." "Oh, Grey," whispered Spirit Guide. The wolf licked his face and pulled away from him. She turned to the door. "Wait, Grey. I will go with you," said Spirit Guide. "You need not be alone." Grey continued out the door. "Wait, Grey," cried spirit Guide, starting to rise. ""You must let her go, Son," said Gentlehand. "She must go alone. It is the way of the wolf." "Won't she be afraid?" cried Spirit Guide. "I think not," answered Gentlehand. "She knows what she does. She will go to the domain of the Great Spirit." "Can a wolf go there?" worried Spirit Guide. "I so believe," answered Gentlehand. "This wolf can." Spirit Guide was sore of heart. He stood in the door and watched as Grey went down through the gardens and into the forest. She did not look back. "Farewell my good and true companion," he whispered. "Farewell." He turned and leaned into the arms of Gentlehand. Suddenly, he was not the wise Spirit Guide of the Nation of People. He was just a cub in pain. Tears filled his eyes and he trembled with grief. His father held him gently. For many days, Spirit Guide worked quietly in the gardens. His solemn countenance showed his pain. There was no joy in his heart, no laughter, nor any smile in him. Gentlehand watched his son with pain in his own heart. Then one eve, Spirit Guide spoke to Gentlehand. "This passing of Grey weights heavily on me, Father. I thought not of it ere she passed. She was always here and it seemed it would always be so. Now my heart is sore." "You have lost a true friend, my Son," replied Gentlehand. "It is a great pain and so it must be. The Great Spirit so creates us. It is given us to love, and the price of that is pain." "Aye, Father. You speak wisdom, and I feel a need to know this thing to the full. I must embrace the full sorrow of it and come to peace." "It is a good thought you have, Spirit Guide. How plan you to seek this knowing?" "I think I must needs go into the forest and cleanse my body, Father. I must not partake until I can open fully to the Great Spirit. In this way, I wish to come to a knowing of the destiny of my good companion. I hope that this will bring me peace." "It is a good plan, my Son. The cleansing can help. Others have done so with good result. The elder and Spirit Healer do so often." "Thank you, Father. You words will sustain me in my effort." "When shall you do this thing?" "Come first light, I will go." "You were never one to delay after coming to a plan," smiled Gentlehand. At the dawn, Gentlehand watched Spirit Guide as he walked through the gardens and continued into the forest. He whispered a silent entreat to the Great Spirit and to the Golden Earth Mother. Then he went to work in the gardens. Spirit Guide continued on to the place where the streams joined and his mother had first found Grey. There he built a small shelter in the lee of the hill in which to sleep and ponder. He refrained from all food and took only water. He spent each day in singing the praise of the Great Spirit and seeking guidance. On the night after the fifth day, Spirit Guide was awakened. He opened his eyes and looked out of his shelter at a forest glowing in the full light of the moon. He stood and looked about. Then his eyes came to a vision of his mother, standing golden in the moonlight. Beside her, stood Grey. "You have come," whispered Spirit Guide. "We have come, my Son, at the bidding of the Great Spirit, to bring you this message of peace." "All is well with Grey?" he asked. "All is well with Grey," she replied. "He abides with me in the domain of the Great Spirit." "I had hoped for this," said Spirit Guide. "Thank you, Mother." "Know you that Grey served us well. She was sent, by the Great Spirit to guard me and guide me to the Quiet Folk. She was also sent to guide and to guard you in your first years. Her wisdom is deep. Honor her always." "Indeed, Mother. I honor Grey and love her." "That is well, my Son. And now, I must needs chide you." "How have I failed, Mother?" It is about your trust." Spirit Guide cast his eyes down. "Indeed, Mother. I have failed in my faith. I vex my sleep and peace of a matter in the domain of the Great Spirit. I worry those who love me with my fretting. I dishonor myself and you. I beg forgiveness." "Then you know the failing. Forgiveness comes out of that. It needs no more." "Thank you, Mother. Your words strengthen me." "All is well, my Son. Always remember to trust in the Great Spirit. And, trust your own wisdom. Great strength comes from that. It is strength you will need, for you have a great destiny." "A great destiny, Mother? Is it to be as the Elder speaks? Am I to be a true Spirit Guide?" "You are to be the Spirit Guide of the Nation of People, my Son. You have much yet to learn, but you shall learn. Then, through the guidance of the Great Spirit, you shall come to a great wisdom. Thereafter you will be the chosen tool and the teacher of the Nation of People." "I am humbled, Mother." "Before the Great Spirit, it is well to be humble. Return to your village in peace. We go now." The vision of his mother and Grey faded quickly as the moon slipped behind a cloud. Then Spirit Guide lay himself down in his shelter and slept a sleep of total peace. Come dawn, he started toward his home. His spirit was light and he laughed and sang his praises to the Great Spirit. It was well with Grey. It was well with Spirit Guide. It was well with the Quiet Folk. Back to Wesoomi's Archives
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