The Raven and the Witch Hunter Omnibus

BIG BEAR CHAPTER 8

BIG BEAR CHAPTER 8

"Is that a grizzly?"

Emma Jane’s question was hardly louder than a whisper and Vanessa nodded slowly, her mouth still open in surprise.

"It seems to be. I thought they were supposed to be hibernating?" Vanessa's voice trembled slightly.

"Apparently, this one isn't ready for bed yet."

Emma Jane started to turn back down the hill, when a similar sound came from behind her. "You've got to be kidding me!"

Vanessa's knees felt weak as she looked past Emma Jane to see another, darker colored bear behind her, standing about the same distance away.

"That looks like a black bear. Emma Jane, I’m not a zoologist, but I didn't think different species of bear ever traveled together."

Emma Jane's expression changed from scared to certain. "They don't. This must be part of the test. It's obviously meant to scare us away."

Vanessa's eyes were open as large as she could get them as she swiveled her neck to try to keep both bears in sight."Well, it's totally working on me. I'm terrified! Now what are we supposed to do?"

"Hmm, well, if it were two normal bears, I'd say we were screwed and recommend trying to run or climb a tree, especially if that actually is a grizzly. I'm not sure we're not screwed now, but if this is part of a supernatural challenge, we stand a better chance of not dying as quickly. Vanessa, are you able to transform into a raven right now?"

Emma Jane looked at Vanessa, who she nodded, feeling the calm on Emma Jane's face dampen the fire of her own fear.

"Yes, why?" Although Vanessa might be terrified, she had no intention of transforming and leaving Emma Jane to deal with the bears alone.

Emma Jane considered the grizzly behind Vanessa before throwing another brief glance at the slightly smaller black bear behind her. "You said you have more power and energy in that form, so I'd like you to get behind the bear and head for the ink pots. Don't worry about me. I’m going to keep walking along the path as though they aren't a problem and treat them like another hiker we’ve met along the way."

Vanessa looked at her with horror. "Emma Jane, there are two bears within running and killing distance. What the hell are you thinking?"

Emma Jane smiled and Vanessa recognized it as her usual cool and confident hunting smile. She looked nervously at the bears, which were standing still on their hind legs, just watching the girls, not making any move. Vanessa wondered if they were waiting for them to make a break for it.

"If they get too close, I'll just have to slow them down. Now, go!"

Emma Jane spit the last word out as an order, so Vanessa didn't argue further. Instead, she let the comforting tingle run over her as she transformed into a massive black bird. She then flew straight up into the air while the two bears followed her with their gazes before looking back at Emma Jane, who now stood alone on the path. True to her word, she began walking toward the grizzly, completely ignoring the black bear and stopping when she was only a few feet away. Vanessa hadn't continued to the ink pots as Emma Jane had directed because she'd been unable to leave her. What if she needed help?

Maybe I should fly back down?

Vanessa watched, torn with indecision as the scene below unfolded in a way that clearly highlighted Emma Jane's nerves of steel, the fact that she had a plan, and that this most definitely wasn't a natural encounter.

Emma Jane bowed to the grizzly, showing the back of her neck without flinching.

"I greet you in peace, Mother Grizzly. I am here with my mate to seek your wisdom and blessing in our journey. We have travelled far to bring you gifts and ask for your help, should you find us worthy."

Emma Jane bowed even lower, holding out a handful of sweetgrass and sage she'd brought with her on the off chance that an offering would be needed. Vanessa had thought she was crazy when she’d seen her packing actual grass earlier, but when Emma Jane had explained its significance to the ancestors, Vanessa agreed they needed all the help they could get, even if she didn’t understand or believe in the same things as Emma Jane. After all, with all the crazy stuff she'd seen over the previous few years, she was a lot more open-minded than she'd been in high school, before she knew magic was real.

Vanessa returned, cautiously settling in the branches of a nearby pine tree where she could hear Emma Jane better, as well as provide back up if necessary. She almost fell off the branch when she heard the bear speak, its voice a deep but understandable rumble, not unlike the sound of a large truck going by on a gravel road.

"Greetings, my child. You have shown yourself to be wise and courageous by your very presence here. You have fought the sásq’ets and lived to tell the tale of the ghost of the mountain, with your spirit and heart intact. You have been found worthy to continue with your quest. At the top of the trail you will find that which you seek with all the fire of hope in your heart. You will face one more challenge before you can succeed, however. Be prepared and be humble, lest it slip out of your grasp forever."

As Vanessa watched, waiting to see what would happen next, both the black bear and the grizzly faded into mist. Their previously solid forms vanished without a trace. Even the sweet grass Emma Jane had placed on the ground in front of the bear had disappeared, as though it had never been there in the first place.

Vanessa changed back, using the air to glide down and came to stand beside Emma Jane. Awestruck, she shook her head. "That was amazing! How did you know what to do? How did you know it wasn't a real bear?

Emma Jane smiled, shrugging one shoulder. "It was a real bear. Well, the essence of one anyway. I didn't know, not for sure. But like you said, two bears that don't travel together in nature blocking our path in such a deliberate way wasn't likely to be an accident or a coincidence, unless it was part of something bigger," she said, then smiled. "As to how I knew what to say, I grew up listening to the stories Samuel taught me, remember? You must always be polite and bring gifts. There’s never a guarantee the spirits won’t be offended, but good manners can save the day in many different situations, even when nothing supernatural is at play."

Vanessa tilted her head. "True. Sounds pretty much the same as the fairy tales I grew up listening to at bedtime. Don't piss off the little people if you want to continue to have a good life, or something along those lines."

Vanessa looked up the trail, suddenly tired at the idea of more hiking and the possibility of what else lay ahead of them. Her earlier hopefulness faded to a bare remnant of what it had been. "Should we continue? It seems like this is the right place after all, if we’re meeting spirit animals. What do you think the next task will be?"

Emma Jane shook her head, following Vanessa's gaze up the snow-covered path.

"I’ve no clue, but I’m sure it'll be more difficult than this one was. We just got lucky."

"That's kind of what I was afraid of." Vanessa groaned, turning to continue up the mountain while hoping they weren’t marching to their deaths.

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IT TOOK ANOTHER TWENTY minutes before they reached the end of the path. The narrow trail widened to reveal beautiful emerald green pools of free-flowing water, which glistened in the sun in varying shades of green, blue, and hints of yellow. Vanessa leaned over to touch the water, finding that while it was cold, it was quite a bit warmer than the surrounding air. Vanessa smiled back at Emma Jane, who'd stopped to watch her by the pond. Vanessa was struck with awe, as Emma Jane's smile caused the corners of her eyes to crinkle into a smile.

She stopped, breathless from the sight of the soaring mountains behind Emma Jane. The smile on Emma Jane’s face, however, eclipsed even nature’s beauty. She looked timelessly elegant and Vanessa couldn’t imagine anything more precious.

"You're so beautiful," she whispered.

Suddenly, Vanessa felt herself being pulled toward Emma Jane by a strange and overwhelming force, desperately needing to touch her more than she’d ever needed to touch anyone before.

Emma Jane's expression changed to one of confusion as she began to back away. "Vanessa, what are you doing? You know we can't, especially not now. Vanessa!"

She spoke sharply, almost yelling as she continued to move away from Vanessa, who was advancing with complete disregard of Emma Jane’s words.

But Vanessa could hardly hear the concern in her love’s voice, trapped in something she couldn't control. She felt compelled by an external force that threatened to crush her chest with its power. She couldn't stop; she needed to touch Emma Jane so badly that it felt like a hot poker was being pushed through her heart.

"Emma Jane...I need you...please..."

Vanessa tripped and fell, slowing her progress, but when she looked up to see Emma Jane's horrified face she knew that something wasn't right and that her feelings weren't entirely her own.

"Emma Jane, I'm so sorry. You have to go, please. Don't touch me. Something’s wrong. I can’t... I can’t stop myself. Leave now, before I get to you. Please..."

Vanessa's words trailed off in a whisper, as she got up and began to move toward Emma Jane again, fully aware it wasn’t a good idea, but unable to stop herself from continuing.