Bear Child (Book 1)

Chapter 14

               14. Spirit Animal

          Alex and I waited impatiently for Amorak to return from the cabin. Then, I realized something. Amorak was only talking to me and Alex when he asked if we knew our guardian animals. What about Sonia? “Sonia, do you already know your guardian animal?” I asked. She nodded eagerly. “My guardian animal is the eagle.” She announced proudly. “Those with the eagle spirit are said to be majestic, graceful, smart, skillful, and very protecting. Not to mention agile, fast, and providing.” I laughed.

“I know the animal suits you well,” I said through my laughter, “but really, there’s no need to boast.”

“Well I think those qualities are easily seen in you, Sonia,” Alex said. Sonia blushed. He was giving her goo-goo eyes again.

“Oh, God. Please, spare me,” I said.

“What?” Alex and Sonia asked in unison.

“Will you two just get together already? Before I go mad? It’s driving me crazy!”

“W-what are you talking about?” Sonia asked nervously. She stared at me with worried, shocked eyes. “Never mind, never mind,” I told her as I waved a hand dramatically in the air. Just then, Amorak came out. He was carrying an old looking book in his hand. It was brown, it seemed worn, and it had a carved image of a totem pole on the cover of the thick-leathered book. “Alright, calm down.” He told us. Our chattering stopped.

“This is the Book of Spirits.” He told us, holding the book up to show me and Alex. “This is a book containing the information on anything related to the Great Spirits and Spirit Animals. But for now, we will just find out what animals you posses. But, I think a little information on Spirit Animals should be given.” Me and Alex nodded.

“Spirit Animals are spiritual guides that everyone possesses. Everyone has three different totem guides, and it is even possible to have more than one Spirit Animal. But we shall stick with your Birth Totem.” He gave us a brief smile. “Now, I am going to need you to tell me your birthdays. Ladies first.” He said, turning to me. “When is your birthday, young one?”

“August twenty-sixth.” I told him. He gave an assuring nod, and looked down at his book. His finger ran down the page, over the hand written words and skimming throughout the page. Amorak looked up from the book and smiled at me. “Brown Bear.” Was all he said. “What?” I asked, not quite able to understand what he was saying.

 “You are a child of the brown bear. People of the bear are said to be practical and industrious.” He told me, and then looked down to the Book of Spirits, turning to a new page, and he began to read. “You have masculine energies, you’re very warm and thought out, and are very detailed, humble, and trustworthy; although you can be finicky, judgmental, and sometimes hypocritical.” He said reading from the book’s yellowed pages.

“Your strengths are optimism, tolerance, and self acceptance. Your weaknesses, however, are fault finding, pessimism and putting things off. Although, you’re not fond of being in big crowds and are much more comfortable when spending time with your loved ones. You’re very protective of those you hold close, and bring out much ferocity when someone angers you.”

I thought about what Amorak said. I knew that I had some of those qualities in my personality. For example: I really, really didn’t like being in crowds, surrounded by a lot of people. I always preferred being by myself, or with really small groups of people that I knew. I always did get protective over my friends and my family, and I always did like to spend time with them. I wasn’t so sure about the other personalities, though.

“The thing that I don’t understand is: Why was a bear protecting you? Did he already know you, Clair?” Amorak asked. It took me a moment before I realized that he actually wanted me to answer.