A New Destiny

A Destiny to Fulfill

"If we cut through Devil's Pass we can get to Plainsway quicker," Jane said leading the small group to the town where Wild Bill had his Show. Geronimo would be there.

Billy felt Rue shudder against his back. "You doin' al'right back there, Rue?"

She didn't respond, just nodded in the affirmative against his back and held on a little tighter. Devil's Pass was where the wolves attacked Bob and his men. She kept thinking about Bob and the fact that he may be her Father. Was that what the vision was about? To show her the connection or was it to show her, her ability to call upon the totems.

Perhaps it was both or neither. Life has gotten much more complicated since she left the Gulch behind. She wondered how Lean was fairing. Did she even know her brother was gone and ThreeGun did he ever get that game of cards going at the Saloon?

She felt so many miles away from all that happened in those days. Things had gotten much more confusing. She should have stayed with her Father...no not her Father but Grandfather. She should have never left the Chief behind. She wished she were there the day that he had died. Perhaps she could have stopped whoever it was that killed him but all that was in the past.

Her future seemed even more uncertain. She was to become Shaman to the West. She shifted into bear form. What other animals could she do that with? There were numerous animal totems, the Bear, the Eagle, the Bobcat, just to name a few. Would she be able to shift into any of them and how does she control such power?

Why did her Mother walk away? Although she could not regret her choice as she wouldn't be here today.

Jane looked back. "We got company folks!"

It looked like a huge black cloud forming on the horizon.

"Company? Looks more like bad weather to me," Billy said looking back.

"That's no storm Billy boy, those are Reaper's minion and they are coming up fast. Cut your horse loose and keep on ridin'. Get her to Geronimo. I've dealt with those hellions before. I know what to do. I can hold them off long enough I imagine, to at least give you a head start," Jane said loading up her guns and riffle.

"Jane I can't let take that risk on your own."

Jane leveled her rifle at him. "I don't remember asking you? Now git! Ruechari is all that matters now. Get her to safety if she is lost we are all doomed. I'm counting on you."

And with a loud, "HeeYa!" She hit the rump of her horse hard and rode right towards the cloud.

Ruechari looked back. "We aren't going to just leave her are we?"

Billy pulled out his knife and cut the tether to his horse. "We must. We have no choice. She's right we have to keep you safe and we need to get you to Geronimo he may be able to help you discover your powers.

Ruechari did not like this decision but was left without a choice when Billy spurred her horse on. The horse ran like the champion racer he was and the distance between them grew in leaps and bounds.

Soon Jane was but a dot on the horizon and then disappeared altogether.

They rode hard for a long while. Billy knew that it could only last a few hours before the horse tired. So, he started to pull back and slow the horse down. If they take a slower pace they will still make it to the town, before long. It would not do well for the horse to become lame and them to be stranded.

Ruechari was not pleased with any of this. She was not one to run from a fight. She was taught to stand her ground; to fight for what was right, running and leaving Jane just felt wrong.

"We need to go back."

"Don't go crazy on me, Rue. We have to keep you safe."

"We should not have left her!"

"She understands she is one of thousands. I don't think you get just how important you are!"

"I am to be Shaman of my tribe. There is a Shaman in every tribe. Geronimo is a Shaman what difference would it make."

Billy wished he were on his own horse so he could look her in the face when he told her this, but he must make her aware.

"Rue, there are only four like you. Each of the four corners of our world has one Shaman that is above the rest, the most powerful of their kind. This one Shaman keeps the balance between the dark and light, good and evil. Without you, millions could perish. Without you, people like me would be lost to hell with zero chance at redemption."

Ruechari stiffened. He could feel her pull away.

"You're...you're one of the walking dead? An immortal?" Her Grandfather had told her stories. "Was it my mother that raised you?"

Billy regretted his words. Part of him wished he could go on playing the part of the living, being the hero of the day, but he needed her to be who she was meant to be. They all did. No matter what other feelings he held towards her.

"Your mother never took her place as Shaman. That's why things are so out of whack."

Ruechari had difficulty handling what he was saying. "You mean to tell me my Grandmother raised you?"

"Yes."

But that would make him years older than her and he looked to be no more than in his early twenties.

"Rue?"

"Take me to Geronimo. It would seem I have a destiny to fulfill."

-Ruechari