The Woodland Visitor Ch 16: New Life
#17 of The Woodland Visitor
The Woodland Visitor Ch 16:
New Life
The clearing was quiet and peaceful with birds singing and the sound of the stream playing over the rocks soothing to the ears. Shafts of sunlight spotted the ground turning the morning dew that clung to the grass into gems that glittered with a rainbow of colors.
The only thing that marred the beauty of it all was a small hill of grass that the sunlight seemed to encompass. For at one end of the hill rested a single stone sticking out of the ground like someone dropped it there. I thought that wasn't far from the truth as my mind slipped back to the day I placed it there.
Slowly I made my way over to the hill, not taking my eyes off of the stone. Soon the words 'I Love You' could be clearly seen, carved into the face of it. My legs felt like lead as I made my way closer. Everyone knew what the stone meant, but no one knew what it had cost me to place it there.
My heart began to ache as I remembered the day I placed it five years ago. Finally reaching the end of the hill, I fell to my knees and felt the tears flow down my cheek. It was the same way every time I came here. It hurts just as bad now as it did that day. Time was supposed to heal the pain, but somehow I knew that with this pain, time had stopped moving.
I doubled over and let the tears flow, trying to cope with the loss as I did every time I came here. A pair of eyes watched from the edge of the clearing, wishing that something could be done to ease the pain. Knowing that I had to deal with this my own way, they just waited in silence for it to end.
When I was somewhat in control of my emotions, I sat back up removing the small pack I carried and set it down beside me. Reaching inside, I pulled out a candle and gently placed it into the stone holder in front of me. I repeated this with two more candles, setting one on each side.
Lighting the candles one by one I bowed my head and waited. This was always the most frightening part to me. "What happens if she doesn't come? What happens if she's gone forever?" I would always think.
~Hello Tom.~
I could feel relief sweep through my body as those thoughts entered my head.
"Tonya, my love."
~I've been waiting for you.~
"You know why we're here?"
~Yes I do, and I am so happy that you choose that name.~
"Sienna insisted on it. She said that since you meant so much to me that I could always hold you dear to my heart that way."
~You do that already.~
I bowed my head, "Yes, I do." I softly replied.
~Let me see her.~
Raising my head I turned it towards the edge of the clearing. "Sienna."
Sienna looked up at me and picking up Natasha, she slowly walked over to us. When she stood beside me I stood up and watched as Tonya looked at my daughter. I watched as a smile crossed her face upon seeing her.
~Tasha~
I stood there in shock as I watched my daughter turn her head to find who had called her. When she saw Tonya standing there her eyes went wide then she held a paw out towards Tonya.
~Hello sweetie~
I heard Tonya's thoughts as she reached out and let Natasha grab her finger. Natasha just stared at it until Tonya started wiggling it back and forth. She backed away from it before she giggled and grabbed at the end with her other paw.
I could feel a warmth radiating from Tonya as she played with my daughter. A warmth born from love and peace.
~Little one, I sense that you will bring great things to this world. Through you, many people shall see as one. Peace shall come forth but at a price. It will be a burden for you, but it's something that you will gladly bear. With your mother finding a name for you and your father using it you have fulfilled the dreams of one soul already. The name your parents gave you is the very name I would have given my daughter.~
I stood there stunned. I didn't know she wanted children, let alone had a name for them. I was even more shocked when I heard Sienna speak.
"Tonya, you are and always will be a part of the one love. I know this and accept it. I also know that being part of him, you are also part of Natasha. That is the reason I suggested this name, to show you that I accept that. I would be honored that when you look upon Natasha, that you look upon her as your daughter too. I ask this because I know it to be true, and I know it will help heal more than one soul."
~From the first time I saw you Sienna. I knew that you were the kindest creature I ever met. I now know how great your compassion is. It is I who would be honored to call Tasha my daughter. ~ Her eyes shifted to me. ~I know it hurts you to hear the name Tasha for that is what you used to call me out of love. Just think about how much you love her and use the name knowing I accept it.~
Reaching up, I placed my hand upon her cheek. Being able to touch her like that hurt even worse because I knew she was gone. "No one will ever replace you Tasha."
~I'm not asking you to replace me, just show her the love you felt for me. She needs you now as much as Sienna does.~
"I cannot use that name right now, but for you I will try to accept it."
~I could ask for nothing more. My time here is done. Remember that you will always be able to talk with me. Until you do, go in peace knowing that I love you and always will.~
"I love you too." I said as I watched her fade from view.
Sienna gripped my hand and Natasha... Tasha, I reminded myself, leaned over and wrapped her little arms around my neck as if saying it was Ok. Holding Natasha I leaned down carefully and blew out the candles. Picking up my bag I wrapped my arm around my daughter and my wife and together we walked back home.
* * *
"Alpha prime, this is delta two. Sector three clear." Came the call over my headset.
"Roger delta two, continue on to sector seven."
"Roger alpha prime, continuing to sector seven."
Turning off my mic I turned to my partner and said, "Are you sure this is where Brenah said it happened?"
She looked around again taking note of the rock wall to our left. "This is where the hunters told him they saw the light at. They said it was right over there."
"Damn." Turning my mic back on I again called over it. "Delta six this is alpha prime."
"Alpha prime this is delta six."
"Delta six, LZ is clear. Bring up the subject for positive site conformation."
"Alpha prime this is delta six, moving."
I scanned the area while I waited for Josh to arrive. Moving from tree to tree I thoroughly scanned the ground and tree trunks looking for some reason one of the hunting parties saw what they described as a bright light floating a couple of feet above the ground.
Five minutes later I made my way over to where Josh and a mountain lion stood.
"Is this where you saw the light?"
"It was right over there." The mountain lion said pointing to the left of where I was.
"Are you positive?"
"As sure as I'm standing here," he replied
"In this direction?" I asked and watched as he nodded. "Alright, I'm going to walk that way. Stop me when I reach the spot you saw the light at."
Turning I glanced at Sienna and nodded before I turned and made my way in the direction that the hunter had indicated. Sienna hefted her assault rifle and followed six paces behind and off to the side.
I had moved about a hundred yards when I was told that I was there. Looking around I took out a can of spray paint and sprayed a couple of trees marking off an area around it.
"He says that the light was about as big as you are and the bottom was where your head is." Came Joshes voice over the radio.
I don't know why but I ducked and looked up, half expecting to see it above me. Feeling foolish I began to search the ground and the trees surrounding the area. Sienna did her own search and shook her head indicating that she didn't see anything. Making my way over to her I turned off my mic motioning for her to do the same.
"I don't see anything. I'm beginning to wonder if they actually saw anything."
"Major Denton seems to think that they were suffering from severe shock. He says that whatever they saw affected all of them."
"And they all had the same story, didn't they?"
"To the fur."
Turning on the mic I looked over to Sienna, "Wolf Pack, fall in on me."
I continued looking until the Wolf Pack had formed, then turned to them. "This is the area where the hunter said they saw the light at. I've marked the general spot with red paint. The hunter says that the light was about my height and the bottom was roughly level with my head. Do an individual search of the area and report any findings. The hunters are convinced they saw something and we need to find out what it was."
Everyone got up and commenced the search of the area reporting that there wasn't anything to be seen or smelled within the area. Deciding there was nothing to find we turned and headed home.
* * *
"So there was nothing there..." Brenah said as more of a statement then a question. We were all assembled in the conference room in the regional magistrate's office.
"No, there wasn't anything. The trees were too thick to have allowed a chopper in and there were no marks on any of the trees or the ground."
"Do you think that they're sick in the mind?" Brenah asked.
"I don't think so." Doc Travis said. "Each one of them has the same story to the letter. They saw something out there and it scared them bad."
"Will they be alright?"
"Just give them rest and they should be fine. Whatever happened to them doesn't seem to have had a damaging effect. They were traumatized by what they saw but I don't think it'll be permanent."
"That's good to hear." Brenah said. "I'm having everyone keep their eyes open. If anyone sees anything even slightly out of the ordinary, they are to report to myself, Doc Travis, Tom or Sienna. Hopefully whatever it was doesn't happen again, but I'm not taking any chances."
There was a flurry of nods around the room as everyone agreed to be on guard.
"If there's no more information then I think we're done here." Brenah said looking around to see if there's anything he forgot.
Slowly everyone stood up and left the room. With my arm around Sienna, we made our way out to the reception desk where Arianna sat with Natasha and Dolean. Duveau came up and picked up his son and placed his arm around Diane.
"Tom, what are you guys doing for dinner?"
I looked at Sienna and smiled as I replied, "Why the same thing you're doing."
I saw the puzzled expression on Duvole's face as he tried to figure out what I was saying. "Slow down big guy, you're going to hurt yourself thinking like that. You and your lovely wife and child are coming over to my house for dinner."
"We can't make you cook for us." Diane quickly said. "We were going to take you out for dinner."
"Too late, Sienna put a large roast in the oven and you three along with Steve and Tamanae are to be there."
"We couldn't impose like that." Duvole replied.
"Now listen here big guy. Either you accept and we have a happy dinner or you'll upset Sienna and you'll force me to unleash her on you. Let me tell you, I'd take the happy dinner if I were you." I said with a big grin.
"I guess we have no choice, lead the way." He said.
"Looking at Diane I acted shocked. "Why didn't you tell me he was smart? Is he housebroken too?"
Duvole hit me on the shoulder while everyone laughed. Picking up Tasha we walked down to our house.
* * *
It was fifteen minutes later when Steve showed up with a bottle of wine and a Pregnant Tamanae. One arm around each.
After everyone greeted each other Duvole spoke up. "I wish you would have given us some warning. I fell bad that we didn't bring anything."
"But you did," I said, pointing to Dolean and Tasha playing in the living room. "You brought your little p..."
"Don't say it!" Sienna cut me off quickly.
"I was gonna say Butter Ball."
"Since when does 'Butter Ball' begin with a 'P'?"
"I never said I could spell now did I?"
"Seriously," Duvole said, "I wish you would have given us a warning."
Placing my hand on his arm I smiled. "How about this, the next time you have us over and we forget to bring something, we'll call it even."
He laughed and joined everyone else at the table for dinner. All through dinner we were laughing at the antics of our children. Natasha isn't much older than Dolean, but she acted like a big sister. Every time Dolean would crawl to the edge of the rug, Natasha would crawl over and block his path and turn him around.
When the dinner was over Sienna, Tamanae and Diane insisted on cleaning up. I watched them clear the table then turned when Duvole asked, "Any idea about what's going on? I mean with the strange light."
I looked from Steve to Duvole and thought for a second before answering, "Ummm... Firefly?"
"Yea right, and I'm a fairy."
I started laughing, "You said it big boy."
Duvole placed his muzzle in his paw and shook his head slowly. "Alright smart ass. Let's get serious for a moment."
"No, I don't have any idea what it was. Steve and I have thought of and disregarded a few ideas. None of them could put a light that big in that location. According to the hunters, it wasn't like a light, it was more of a glow. As if something was sitting there and giving off a white light, but not bright enough to blind someone.
"Could some sort of creature made it?" asked Tamanae as the girls came back into the dining room.
"We doubt it. Anything as big as they described would have broken braches or left some sort of sign. There was nothing there."
"Do you think Tonya might know what it was?" asked Diane.
"She might, we just spoke with her before I got the call from Doc Travis. She didn't say anything about it so either it hadn't happened yet or she didn't know about it. I'm kinda leaning towards her not knowing being we were there about the time it happened. Still, I'll go up tomorrow and see if she can help."
Armed with a pitcher of iced tea, everyone retired to the front porch to enjoy the last few hours of daylight. I watched as the women... the furs... Our significant others, that's it, sat down in the grass and formed a little ring inside which the kids played while they talked back and forth.
I was just thinking that life couldn't be any better than this. Boy was I wrong...
About ten houses down a glow began to form in the middle of the street. It sat about thirty feet in the air and slowly expanded from a little point of light into a glow that was as wide as the street.
The girls grabbed the children and ran onto the porch as I jumped up grabbing at the pistol that hung on my hip.
The light changed colors, sorta rippling with them. It reminded me of the ripples on water when something was dropped in it. Hell of a thing to be thinking about when an unknown white glow sat in the middle of town, ain't it?
Everyone jumped when something suddenly appeared out of the light. It appeared at first to be a silvery grey in color and shapeless. It fell the few feet to the ground and sat right in the middle of the street. It was huge, easily the size of a large moving van.
I didn't hear the screams of the other furs as my eyes began to pick out features. My brain clicked right at that moment and I just looked at it stunned.
"But that's impossible... It can't be... They don't exist... It's impossible..."
My aimless ramblings were brought to a halt when I noticed the deep red that marred the perfect silver color it had. Like a bullet I flew off the porch shouting as I ran. "Get the med kit now, it's hurt..." My legs carrying me as fast as they could towards it.