...And We Will Have Snow

Chapter 3-6: Explosions

Ghandl has heard Bear. Ghandl sees Bear, and he sees with Bear what Bear wants to hear from him. He also sees things that Bear does not yet see, things that Bear must understand if he is to learn the Haida lesson.

Ghandl sees Xayna also. He sees that his daughter has heard Bear as well. She has heard him through her recognition of him as her spirit guide. Ghandl sees that Xayna is on the brink of exploding into her own shaman awareness as a result of the way Bear has been sharing his shaman dream.

Ghandl sees that Bear, for his part, is swimming in his awareness of Xayna, restraining the urge to plunge deeper purely out of respect for Ghandl's presence. Ghandl admires the young man's maturity in this, a sign of great shaman potential. He sees that with the spirit guidance Xayna can give him Bear's potential is about to explode along with hers.

Ghandl knows that there is no place for his presence in this. They must experience it alone together. So he says, "Xayna, take Bear to bed. There will be time for more talk tomorrow."

Xayna hides her excitement as she nods briefly to her father, then rises, drawing Bear to his feet with her. They exit the room to find themselves not on the beach but inside a small family apartment. The door they close behind them is an ordinary door, except for the Haida eagle mask that hangs on it.

Xayna is still leading Bear by the hand, but Bear hesitates.

"Did your father just say what I think he said?"

Xayna turns to face him, excitement evident on her face. "He favors you. He named you. He agrees you are to be my spirit guide."

"And you are to be mine. But...are you ready for this?"

"Yes!" She fairly screams it. "And you are too, mister spirit bear, don't you deny it!" As she speaks she draws him toward another door in the room.

Bear is not about to deny anything. He is simply dizzy with amazement at how quickly his life has taken this turn.

She opens the door, he steps inside, and is instantly intoxicated. This is her room, her place, the center of her being. He inhales, and with the breath her essence penetrates to his very soul.

She turns and tilts her face to look up at him, as he tilts his down to look at her.

Although they already feel intimately connected through their long walk, holding hands together in the shared shaman dream, they have as yet barely touched. Bear opens his arms, and Xayna steps into them. As his arms wrap around her, she reaches up to take his shoulders. They connect at the same instant, and both feel a powerful electric surge like nothing they have known before.

In the other room, Ghandl smiles as their explosion of awareness echoes to him through spirit space. The first of many, he thinks. They have much to learn from each other.

Early in the morning, Bear wakes to the presence of his mother Dema.

You know?

I know. Congratulations.

Bear blushes. Do you like my new name?

I do. And I like your new family.

Ghandl is wise. Xayna is...glorious. I may stay longer than I had planned.

Take your time. I know you will do what you must.

Xayna, who is sleeping with one arm across Bear's chest, stirs slightly. Dema quietly withdraws her presence.

"Who was that?" Xayna mumbles sleepily.

"My mother."

"I love her already."

Bear is wondering what more to say, how to explain his connection to Dema. Xayna rolls closer and presses her lips to his. All thoughts of conversation vanish.