MM: Why We Fight

[Amorentia]

 

Penelope's parents called in the oldest living Sorceror of their tribe, who was also a powerful seerer and Shaman, to bless with prayers of protection the Pack before they faught the next day. He was the one who had known Dumbledore and gotten Penelope into Hogwarts. Now he was even older and his skin was like wrinkled leather. Course long white hair hung around with weathered face. Though both of his eyes were blind he seemed to see things around him clearer than before the cataracts had changed his eyes from black to milky white.

 

Besides her cousin Leah, Penelope didn't know any other girls who were First Nation.  Knowing Sarah Spiritsong was also Native American, even though she was Navejo not Quileute, she thought to invite her tonight. Sitting upstairs getting read for the ceremony, she was glad she did. The invite to Sarah ended up leading to an invite for Neville. That made the event even more meaningful. Neville wasn't privy to what she went through when she transformed for the first time. Like her kids, he had never experienced any of tribal ceremonies. For them all to be there tonight to not only get the blessing and protection of the tribe, but to experience part of her cultures was pricesless for her.

 

"Did you bring something for the Potlatches." Penelope asked brushing Sarah's long hair to repair to brand it.

 

"I brought the eagle feather my Dad gave me when I was a girl." Sarah said.

 

"Is that really special?" Penelope asked. When Sarah nodded Penelope said, "No! Keep that. Back in the day people offered things of value to show their worth. Now it's just more of a tradition my people do."

 

As an alternative, they braided a small section of on the underside of Sarah's hair. Penelope clipped it, binding a non-sentimental eagle feather to the lock of hair with copper wire, for Sarah to burn during the ceremony. Penelope planned to give a copper bracelet her grandmother had given her.

 

They braided their hair, wrapping ribbons around the braids. They dressed in traditional Quileute dresses with long shawls that had the wolf totem on it. In their hear they wore the woven leather head bands if the Quiluete people. Penelope's mother helped them use traditional jewlery to complete their ceremonial attair. 

 

Traditional Quileute Clothing:

 

 

 

Penelope's favorite spot of beach here in England was deemed perfect for the ceremony. It didn't have James Island where their ancerstors were burried off the coast, but it was close enough to La Push in appearance that it felt as if by some magic the sacred island was there.

 

After a warning from Embry to Sarah that there would be a bon fire there, they all apparated from the House to the ocean front.

 

Smoke from the bonfire carried the sent of Sage and other powerful herbs to them, making their eyes water at first before their minds began to relax. A few holy men were already inside the circle playing drums and singing invocations of blessing as one by one they removed thier shoes to enter the ceremony circle from the East. Each shivered as goose pimples rose on their flesh as they entered the circle while singers called on the Ancestors, Gods, and Power Guides through thier voiced song. Each tossed their Potlaches into the flames as they passed.

 

Jacob with his namesake in his lap sat on a large log to the right of Blaise. Beside Blaise was Penelope, holding tight to little Dean in her arms. Embry sat to her left, followed by Sarah, who was beside Neville. Neville held his namesake in his lap. The rest of the Pack and Penleope's parents completed the circle around the fire.

 

The old Shaman went through the motions of the first Salmon Ceremony,  cutting up the invisible fish, and returning the head and tail to the water from which it came. Then begin the "Raven Tales" with the creation story about the traveling shape shifter that came upon a wolf and transformed him into a man, creating the first Quileute. And the story of the Sorceror and the forming of the Pack. Though her boys knew the stories by heart, they sat mezmerized by the old man who seemed to make the flames of the fire take shape to weave images of the stories he masterfully told.

 

The he called upon the Spirits in song to guide him as he blessed the Pack. As he sang a deeper hush seemed to fall over everything so that even the ocean waves sounded as barely audiable whispers. The Shaman started giving blessing to the newest members of their tribe, the children, saying a prayer of protection over them. To each one he transfigured a stone from the beach into what he was now naming as their Power Animal. Penelope could hold back her emotion as her boys recieved their little carved statues - Little Neville received the Turtle, Deni a Horse, and little Jacob - just like his Papa - a dark russet Wolf.

 

 

Then the seer spoke both to Sam and Jacob as the leaders of the Pack. In their language of vowel intonnations with some clicking noises built in, he encircled sage smoke around them with a warriors prayer. Then he delivered a powerful message to each. He worked his way through each member of  the Pack re-identifying their Totem Animal, giving each a blessing, prayer, and imparting some wisdom for each one. Lastly he came to Penelepe. She held her shawl around her nervious about what he was to say. as the smoke surrounded her, she coulldn't help but realx some, opened to what the Sorceror said.

 

"All lines of magic of our people flow in your viens." The old mans wrinkled lips twisted into a smile as he focused his mind on Penelope. "You walk many paths in many forms. You water is not so clear. Mud from your journey has clouded it. That will change. It must." Penelope felt a shock go through her when the old man touched her head. "Ahhhh.... and the girl with the eyes that speak to the world has brought her Butterfly Medicine to expand you into all that is your Dophin power." He laughed a slow rythmic laugh. Penelope had all but forgot her Power Animal was a Dolphin. Since she transformed, she figured it meant she was now Wolf.

 

"Wolf is your teacher now, Dolphin daughter, but Raven is perched on your shoulder. Don't be tricked into losing control." The old man reach down touching his wand to hers. Carvings appeared on her wand of dolphins in the style of their ancient totem carvings.The enchanted dolphins appeared to frollick in the water as she turned the wand in her hands. Deni gasped at the sight.

 

The old man's pruned hand touched her head again. "The power is all here. And only limited by here too. Allow yourself the pain of growing. Learn to control, to pass freely between all of your worlds. Come to terms with all that is expected of you in all of these varied worlds you call home. You will bring forth new life in more ways than you can know, Night Swimmer. Dolphin protects you as you flow between your worlds of magic and human and more. Heed what messages you receive when you relax your mind and listen to the breeze blowing through the trees be open to receiving help from others. Allow yourself to be supported by the waters of life and you will always find yourself safely on the shore."

 

She sat overwhelmed by his words, unable to take them all in.She wished he had spoken clearer with exactly what to do instead of saying riddles. In her heart she knew he had spoken something profound. The Wizard world in England was so un-spiritual. She fell into habit of thinking of such things as Power Animals where only supersitions. The Shamans words fell on her reminding her there was a deeper magic at work inside of the traditions of her people - thus in her life. Even though she had no idea what me meant, knowing what he said was profound made her feel somehow stronger like she was apart of a deeper purpose.

 

Having spoken individtually to each of the Pack, they thought the Shaman was finished. But he walked over to take Sarah Spiritsong by the chin turning her face up to look at the pools of grey in the center of his eyes. With a laugh he released her face, saying over her the same protections as the tribe. Then he reached into a bag hanging from his hip to hand her something from inside. Laughing he pulled out a long necklace with turquiose beads and two bear claws. Between them was a circular turquose stone that had a smaller metal circle with the imprint of a bear paw cut out of it.

 

 

Handing her the necklace, he touched her head with the flat palm of his hand. 

 

"Ahhhhhhhh... so this is for you, Bear Medcine woman. So balanced between dream and reality, with Powerful healing. Own your powers to heal... and also to protect and defend. They are unfallable strong in you. Don't fear your dreamtime - Bear child. The Dream Lodge is Bears home where the illusion of physical reality overlays the expansiveness of eternity. It is not stronger than you are."

 

Sarah became emotional. The old Shaman smiled reassuring at her. "You have the power to change your dreams. The power of knowing has invited you to enter the silence to find concrete reality. But don't talk to long on introspection. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and stay where you're at."

 

Neville looked a bit shocked when the Shaman then turned to him to begin prayers and protection over him. Nevi smiled up at his Dad as the Shaman began to speak to him: Addressing Neville the wise man said:

"The Beaver lives in you. So in harmony with the earth. But you have forgotten the energies of fertility and new promise that are yours to hold. You are a masterful builder, but you have never known how resourceful and ingenious you really are. Strengthen that foundation on which you stand - Man of the Beaver. Or build a new one.  If you continue to stand on old foundations new opportunities can pass us by. It's time to leave the past life behind to begin a new life waiting for you. Their is so much hidden knowledge and forgotten dreams stored inside of you." Touch his fingers to Neville's head he said, "Awaken! Live your dreams using the resources available. You not afraid of hard work. Be kind to yourself.  When you feel defeated simply call. It's there inside you." With these last word, the man clapped his hand on Neville's wrist leaving this bracelet there.

When the old man turned to walk in Blaise's direction, Blaise met his all knowing face with skeptisim. As the blessings of protection fell over him, he softened just as his wife had. The old man spoke with a laugh saying.

 

"You think you are serpent but your are not. Your a Dove in snakes clothing." Blaise shot a look at Neville whos nickered at Blaise being named a dove which was by far the most feminine of the animals named in this circle. "Your hidden emotions. How you perceive those effect how that is playing out in your life. Go within and release that.  Be it of the past or the present. The little Butterly will bring you the energy of promise.  When that inner turmoil is cleared from our thoughts, words and feelings, the possibility of good fortune awaits you." The man picked up Blaise's hand touching his wand to Blaise's wedding ring. On it a dolphin and dove appeared.

 

 

Next to he and Peni's animal appeared a horse, turtle, wolf. As they appeared, Penelope noticed the appeared on hers as well. Then on both of their rings at the same time a butterfly appeared.

The old Shaman winked a blind eye as Penelope and Blaise shared a look. Even after the butterfly appeared, the Shaman turned the ring to show there was still pleny of room for more carvings as he laughed again.

 

"Tomorrow we do not fight to protect our land and homes," The old Shaman continued. "We fight on foriegn soil to protect the future of our tribe. These," Jaki giggled as the blind man lifted him high. "The little ones hold the future of our people. Your success will define that future. Your failuer will bring disaster on us all."

 

"No, pressue though." Jacob said as he took his son back.

 

The old man laughed, "No, pressure."