An Unusual Gift

[cgraven]

We glide over the snow covered world. “Grandfather White Beard" pulls along his ambling gate comical but we fly over the snow. Deer, rabbit, the creatures great and small of this mountain paradise take no notice as we pass enjoying the moment, the gentle intrusion into their lives , Misty with her collar pulled up around her head and face to protect her from the cold snuggles under the sleight’s blanket. Our laughter echoes through the high mountain pass, Misty’s head resting on my shoulder.

Clouds now envelop us like white wool then thin and clear , again we ride the winds, I feel the threads of life flowing all around us, magic in the very air we breathe.

“I couldn’t resist John. This is just so magical and beautiful, it made me want to see it from above.”

She looks down at the beauty that spreads out below us. I look into her clear eyes as she turns to speak the back of my hand, soft gray fur brushes a stray snowflake from her cheeks, My lips are a breath away form hers our eyes and spirits open one to the other , I slowly begging to pull away. “I couldn’t resist John. This is just so magical and beautiful, it made me want to see it from above.”

 

[Tammi]

Misty

I feel the softness of his fur against my cheek as he brushes the snowflake from it and I turn to him to speak, our eyes meet. Suddenly it is as if time stands still for a brief second, our spirits open one to the other and something seems to be changing.

His lips are so close to mine and I can feel his warm breath against me. I feel something different between us, a new warmth developing and there is a fluttering feeling in the pit of my belly, unlike I have felt before. As he pulls away from me, there is a strong urge to pull him back, wrap my arms around him and kiss him. Yet I resist this feeling, believing this should not be, my emotions caught somewhere in between our similarities and our differences.

And then the moment is gone, and time again is back, the wind setting the sleigh back down at his campsite. His hands go around my waist as he lifts me from the sleigh and sets me on the ground. Impulsively my arms go around him and hug him tightly.

“Thank you so much for this wonderful day, John. I have really enjoyed being with you.”

 

[cgraven]

The moment high up in the currents of the wind passes, for a moment I see something in Misty’s eyes a longing, yet she too pulls away. Our eyes linger basking in the openness of our spirits, the similarities are their as well as the differences. Magic the very essence of warns this is not the time or place. We are in a cocoon of living energy riding the wild wind, part of it but not controlling it. We slip from its living fingers, all is still, we are at the campsite again, and the long shadows of evening warps us in their gold and rose embrace.

My hands encircle Misty’s trim, narrow waist as I set her down her arms around me her body pressed to mine, are eyes lost in each other, again our lips a breath apart., her breath warm, and moist on my cheek as she speaks.

“Thank you so much for this wonderful day, John. I have really enjoyed being with you.”

I do not pull away this time my lips brush hers the kiss sweet long and tender, her lips fully human , mine, part human part beast yet they meet and speak of the feelings that stir with in me, feeling I can not as yet put words to.

“Stay Misty, stay here with me.”

 

[Tammi]

Our lips touch, the kiss so warm and tender, my heart skips a beat and my body melts against his, forgetting for a moment, the barriers that will keep us apart. I can feel a longing in him so similar to mine, sensing the need to reach out to each other so strongly that I feel dizzy, lightheaded.

“Stay Misty, stay here with me.”

I look deep in his eyes with a yearning, wishing to tell him what he wants to hear. There is a sudden gust of wind and I can hear the whistling of caution and I know it is time to leave.

“You know I must go John. I cannot stay here, I can only visit for a short time.”

There is sadness deep in my eyes, a tear rolls down my cheek and I look away from him. Even as strong as the desire is to stay, I know the wind will carry me, breathing life into me, sending me to find those that need help where ever that may be. I turn back to face him and brush a kiss across his lips.

“I will come back to visit you, John.”

I whisper to him softly and let him see a glimpse of what I feel and I why I leave.

 

[cgraven]

Misty’s kiss a burning coal on my lips, her tear a living crystal on the tip of my finger, her words a lance that pierces my heart.

“ “You know I must go John. I cannot stay here, I can only visit for a short time.”

I feel my heart breaking, a sadness so profound I can not speak. She turns, that burning cold of her lips sear mine. Yet I stand their stoic, for in my heart I knew this moment was written on the wind long ago.


“I will come back to visit you, John.”

Youth and laughter gone, her words fading softly as the wind whispering in the cedars. All is still My anguish howled out at the rising moon as I fall to my knees in the snow.

I set the false faces in place to guard what is left of my spirit and there is a dull ach where my heart once was. From the snow feild I walk out on the gathering storm clouds, I ride there crashing thunder, the flashing lightening.


The rain falls on me as I look for shelter, the bedraggled man and the mangy looking wolf dog make their way into the north country logging town.

 

[Tammi]

As the wind carries me away, my heart cries as I hear his anguished howl. There is a pain I feel unlike any other I have ever felt before, my spirit torn between my world and his. I reach out, searching for him, for his understanding and for my own as well. I can feel his pain as if it were my own. I cry silently, now wishing for needed answers.

A storm gathers, violent, crashing, loud, flashing and my emotions are in turmoil, yet I cannot let go, his pain and need so strong blending with mine. The rain begins to fall, the storm seems to be building, the clouds so black and the wind is howling. I am still near him caught in the swirling of the wind, as he goes for shelter.

A vacant log cabin appears not far from where he approaches, I grow week fighting with the wind, yet I wish again. He can see the small glow of light coming from the cabin and the faint sign of smoke coming from the chimney. I grow weaker, but I have to help him, I don’t want to leave him. I fight the wind as it continues to rage, I feel torn, pushed and pulled in opposite directions, yet with something else that seems to be holding me there.

“John, please go to the cabin!”

I try to cry out but can only whisper in the wind, hoping he will hear me. I wish again for what’s needed in the cabin, and blankets appear, but then there is nothing. I am dizzy, I have never felt such turmoil in the wind before, and I am unsure of what I have done or why. And then I am outside the cabin, there is a mist around it, and I fear he will not see it.

“John please come to the cabin. Come to me, I am here.”

I cry out, yet still a whisper, and then there is nothing. With the rain beating against me, I slowly slip down to sit outside the door, my eyes close and although very weak, I try again to reach out to him.

 

[cgraven]

The cold bleak rain pelts down on me as I slog up the muddy street of the logging camp. The smell from the cooks’ tent holds no allure for me. The skidders lined up like monsters ready to devour the pine and spruce fill me wit a rage to match the storm and my fury and its feed and intensify on each other’s anguish

The is singing and rowdy, bawdy talk as I pass the loggers bunk house . Passed it all till again the north woods begin to enfold me in her loving arms.

Suddenly a voice weak, tiered, near to exhaustion reaches through my anger.

“John, please go to the cabin!”

The voice is felt more then heard and where my heart once was ther is a twinge of recognition. A snow field high in the mountains, laughter, innocent joy. No I scream to myself it can not be, love is not for beasts but for man. I turn form that voice, that temptation of what can never be. Yet again weaker this time as the life force is fading I hear.

“John please come to the cabin. Come to me, I am here.”

that voice so pure and sweet. I can’t……….I mustn’t……..I have to no matter what it coast me. I see the pale shimmering light dancing on the wind of the storm and I run to her.


She is weak so frail barely conscious. She is in my arms her legs dangling, so light so weak . I kick the door in lay her on the bed, by lips brush hers I hold her tight to me and whisper in her ear.

“Misty I am Here”

 

[Tammi]

“John, I had to help. I couldn’t leave you.”

My voice a faint whisper as I feel him holding me tightly. The storm outside begins to soften, the rage dissipating within it as I feel his spirit pulling me, giving me strength.

My eyes open slightly, they look into his, I am overwhelmed by something I have never felt before. Yet I am frightened by what has occurred, my spirit weak from fighting and wishing and wanting for what I am not sure of. But as I look deep into his eyes, I know this is where I want to be, at whatever the cost.

“Misty I am Here”

“Help me John, I need you.”

My voice still a whisper as I look deep into his eyes searching and the barriers drop for I am too weak to hold them. I let him see that it is he that has kept me here, showing him that he was not the reason I had to go, but indeed he is the reason I am still here. And then there is nothing again, I am fighting with the winds; I refuse to leave, hearing only his words now, holding me, helping me. I am confused; I am weak and tired, yet my arms go around him holding him.

“Please don’t let me go John.”

I whisper, afraid the winds will take me from him once again and I know I have not the strength to fight them now.

 

[cgraven]

“John, I had to help. I couldn’t leave you.”

Misty’s voice is so weak her breathing shallow, her breath catches I am scared and the storm wind howls its fury at us.

“Misty I am Here”

“Help me John, I need you.”

Her voice now a barely audible whisper she is near to, I dare not think it never mind say what I fear. All the barriers to her spirit are dropped and Misty’s eyes invite me in to see what she is too weak to say. A tear trickles down my furry jowl I am filled with a deep sadness. Then slowly a quite rage builds with in me. The storm wind now howls with a living force and I slip slowly into the living stream that is the wind.

There in the calm of the heart of the storm is Misty, young strong and beautiful in the full bloom of life. Father wind sits there, stren, tacit and unmoving
I appear as the Chenoo the wild beast of the north the cloud dancer that brings snow and ice to blanket the forest so it may rest and sleep.

My kilt is of woven cedar bark, my mitas of bear skin, my breay a fox pelt, my headdress and cloaks a mouse head and hide.

“Grand father I have come for your grand daughter she of the mists, why do you kill her with your selfish ways?”

My tomawack an oak tree.

“Grandfather I am no stranger to you I dance upon the clouds that your breath sets to dancing why do you fear m?” And so I beg for him to let Misty live as other women, to find a home, a love , a mate.”

Again I am in the small cabin Her breathing eased but shallow and I kiss her sharing the breath of my life with her.

 

[Tammi]

I stand in shocked wonder, not that he has come here to plead for me, but at who he is. Our spirits, our gifts, who and what we are, so much the same and I question why I haven’t known of this before.

I look at Father Wind, my eyes angry and hurt, and he sees the questions, but gives no answers.

“Why have you held me from him? Why have I not been told of him? Why do you keep me here especially now, knowing that I have found him?”

“You are very young and know not the ways to survive living like he does, walking the earth among the humans.“

“But that is because you have not allowed me to learn. You have only let me play and frolic there always bringing me back. He can show me, and I wish to be with him and learn.”

There is a long pause, and I feel myself slipping away from John. My eyes plead with Father Wind, tears streak my face and my heart cries out.

"Please trust him and let me go."

There is another pause before he speaks.

“We shall see what happens.”

His words whispering on the wind, neither cold nor warm.

I am then with John, his lips pressed to mine, sharing his breath with mine. I breathe in, my chest rises and falls, with warmth and tenderness; I return his kiss. I open my eyes and look into his, a soft smile on my face, and I gently brush my hand against his cheek.

“I am here with you now. I will not leave this time.”

 

[cgraven]

My lips on Misty’s she is so pale, so cold to the touch, my heart aches, a tear kisses her cheek and her chest rises and falls with the rhythm of life. Misty returns my kiss and I am filled with a sheer, simple, joy, a joy I have never know before, a joy that warms my whole being.

I enfold her in my arms, her voice so soft, tender and now full of life

“I am here with you now. I will not leave this time.”

Nor I you Misty.

 

[Tammi]

He embraces me and my body begins to warm as I relax within his arms. I sense and feel his joy, my own mixing with his. Although still weak, my heart beats rapidly with excitement, anticipation, and also anxiety at the uncertainty and unknown path I have asked to take.

The storm outside has calmed, the rain has changed to snowflakes dancing in the light wind. I look up into his eyes, feeling his warmth surround me, and I know he can sense the thoughts and questions running through my mind that words could not express.

“He might have let me die if it weren’t for you. Thank you for this gift you have given me. It has made me very happy, but also a little afraid.”

I brush my hand across his cheek and my lips go to his with a soft and tender kiss. Then there is a low growling noise, we both look at each other, eyes wide, before I burst out giggling.

“That came from me, and I think I’m hungry. Should I try and wish for something to eat for us, do you think?”

 

[cgraven]

The storm‘s fury slowly subsides into an eerie calm as if it was holding it’s breath waiting for something to happen. It is a lull in the storm rather than a true calm or clearing.

“He might have let me die if it weren’t for you. Thank you for this gift you have given me. It has made me very happy, but also a little afraid.”

There is a sense of expectation in the air. Misty’s hand shyly caress my fury cheek, her soft lips brush mine. We are like young high school lovers awkward sharing our first real kiss. Suddenly there is a low warning growl. My nerves on edge alert . Misty breaks out in a girlish giggle, I blush and our eyes smile into each other’s.

“That came from me, and I think I’m hungry. Should I try and wish for something to eat for us, do you think?”

"Yes I think I could use a bit of a bite myself"

I palyfuly nip at Misty’s ear lobe.

“Oh you meant food I tease.

 

[Tammi]

I giggle as he nips at my ear lobe, and my neck goes to the side my shoulder comes up feeling the tickling sensation. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him to me and hug him, then whisper softly in his ear.

“If you keep that up, I might not be able to wish for food and if I don’t eat, I may not have the strength for what I wish for.”

I giggle softly again before kissing him, this time more passionately than before, pressing my tongue between his teeth. My body is leaning into his, my heart beating rapidly at these new feelings stirring in me.

When our kiss breaks, we both silently stare into each other’s eyes and there is the tension of excitement, anticipation yet also anxiety at what we are feeling in the air. Smiling, I finally blink my eyes, trying to focus and regain my train of thought and break the silence.

“….Uhm food….. Now about that food.”

The small wooden table near the fireplace is set with the bowls and spoons from his camp site, a candle is lit glowing in the middle of it, bread is on the table and a pot of soup is heating over the fire filling the room with it’s aroma.

“So are you hungry John?”

 

[cgraven]

Our kiss lingers then misty slowly breaks it our lips rebel clinging to each other till at last they part in regretted.

“….Uhm food….. Now about that food.”

Her voice soft and gentle yet stronger, more alive than before and my eyes smile at my love. The small candle lit table so simple , so intimate my heart is moved to the point of breaking at its simple loving joy.

“So are you hungry John?”

"Yes Love I hunger for you."

I pause teasing her a bit, a roguish smile cresses my face.

“Shall I serve or shall you?”

 

[Tammi]

My heart skips a beat hearing his words and seeing the smile across his face when he teases me. My head tilts slightly with a spirited look in my eyes and grin on my face I can’t help but tease him as well.

“Maybe I better serve, seeing that look in your eyes, I’m not sure if soup is on the menu.”

I giggle softly and feeling much stronger, I stand as he helps me up. Walking over to the fire, I am finally aware of the clothes I have on are still wet from the storm. Within a blink of an eye, I am dressed in a simple, but soft white and baby blue gown the touches floor and barefooted. I then fill the bowls, place them on the table and sit down at the table across from him.

The room has a soft glow to it with the candle and the fire. I gaze into his eyes and feel I could get lost there. The atmosphere and being with him fills me with a serenity I have not felt before, making me smile and my eyes twinkle.

“Seems the only thing we are lacking now John is something to drink. What would you like?”

 

[cgraven]

The small hearth and its fire cast a soft romantic light in the cabin all bathed in soft reds and gold’s. Misty’s cloths still wet from the chill rain cling to her like a second hinting at the perfection of her supple body.

“Maybe I better serve, seeing that look in your eyes, I’m not sure if soup is on the menu.”

There is a light teasing quality to Misty’s voice more alive now than it has ever been. The wet sodden outfit is gone in the twinkling of an eye. Replaced by a simple, but soft white and baby blue gown the touches floor and brush her bare feet barefooted. The light from the hearth back lights Misty her young body silhouetted in all its youthful perfection and I blush for it so moves me this simple and loving woman so innocent in all she does. So naive of this world she now walks in and its intolerance for all that is different or strange.

My eyes are clear, opened to he, all the barriers are down, and my spirit is naked before Misty. My eyes lost in her clear quite spirit.

“Seems the only thing we are lacking now John is something to drink. What would you like?”

“Mead the honey wine of the north it reminds me of you sweet gentle loving.”


We eat talk and laugh as we slowly get to know each other, sharing little thing of our past the little things each a thread that makes up the tapestry we call life.

 

[Tammi]

A warm blush fills my cheeks and a fluttering in my belly when he speaks of the mead reminding him of me.

Talking and laughing, I see him, his spirit without the barriers, and feel the warmth of his gentleness, the kindness of his soul and the love in his heart. I see glimpses of his life and the courage he had to walk in his world with those that are not like us. I sense his protectiveness for my lack of knowledge in the ways of this new path I’ve chosen.

I share things of my life, so different from his, from running in the rain, to walking and kicking sand on a beach, to finding lost children in the woods. All free of worry, filled with magic yet always until now, searching for something I had not words for.

I take a sip of the mead and smile, enjoying the sweet taste of it.

“This is very good. We may have to drink this a lot.”

He laughs, at what I’m not sure of, but it warms my heart and body hearing him laugh, listening to him talk. My hand impulsively reaches on top of his feeling the softness, a need to touch him, fascinated with this new closeness that I feel between us.

 

[cgraven]

The little things of our lives come together each thread a vibrant color each thread interwoven with the next till the pattern of our lives emerges. Misty’s one of protection carried by the winds to where she is needed to stay briefly then to move on an innocent observer. Mine dancing on the clouds, storm clouds that gather when conflict arises. I am a rider of the wild winds of conflict walking the world half man, half wolf, giving voice to the lonely, oppressed and forsaken. Helping to relive their pain in my own way

The common thread is our loneliness. Always alone always drifting upon the ever changing winds of fate. Ye now we have found each other two sides of the same coin, alike yet different as man is from woman and woman from man yet each complementing the other.

Taking the glass from Misty’s hand I kiss her with a passion wild and free as the winds we ride.

 

[Tammi]

His kiss so passionate, wild, and exciting stirs my own passions. My arms go around his neck pulling him even closer to me and I feel a want and desire for him that I have never known with anyone else before.

Our kiss breaks, both of us starring into the others eyes and seeing each other’s passions and desires. The pleasure and joy of finally finding each other mixed with the overwhelming urgency to discover what we had so long waited for had my breath quicken and my heart racing.

Keeping my arms wrapped around him, I scooted off my chair to sit on his lap. My body rubbed lightly against his soft fur and my hands gently caressed him before going under his chin, pushing it up to look at me.

“John, I want you so much.”

I kissed him with the same passion and wild abandon that matched his own.

 

[cgraven]

“John, I want you so much.”

Misty’s kiss so wild so passionate, deep so deep I am lost in it and her eyes. Our lips part there are no words to express my need for this wild rider of the winds slowly my hands come to her shoulders ant I slip one strap then the other. Misty’s skin is like ivory so smooth and pale her gown hands around her waist and my lips kiss her taunt nipples my soft gray fur dancing across the fir contours of her up turned breasts.

 

[Tammi]

I nuzzle against his neck, my hands softly caress his back, and my body quivers feeling the soft fur of his hands slip the straps of my gown off. I feel warm flush throughout my body from his touch and my growing excitement.

“Oh John….”

I gasp softly with the kiss of his warm lips on my erect nipples and the light tickling feeling of his fur against me. The incredible pleasure I feel instantly makes my head go back, my back arch and my breasts push out to him. My hands go to the back of his head, pressing him to me, while his lips and tongue kiss and tease my nipples making my entire body squirm on his lap.

 

[cgraven]

Misty delights me her body arching to me. How can this soft delicate creature see any worth in this low some beast.. I raise my head, my eyes sad , I caress her cheek.

“Is this right love?”

A tear wets the soft gray fur and I rise, setting her on her delicate feet. I walk to the hearth, gazing into the glowing embers alone with my thoughts.

There is a deep longing for Misty and a deep sorrow in my heart as well.

 

[Tammi]

I see the tears in his eyes and watch as he walks away from me. With his back to me, tears falling down my cheeks, my heart cries out not understanding and feeling his rejection.

“I am confused.”

I sense his sadness but his thoughts are blocked from me. The dress now slips down to the floor and I step from it, now naked.

“Look at me John. Take my hand and come with me then to the clouds where are spirits are free to be the same. Where the magic is and we can wish to be anything. Will that make it right?”
There is a sad silence as I wait for him to turn around, the barriers between us once again felt strongly. My heart weeps for having found him, yet to be kept from him still.

“Unless it is me you do not desire, John. Is that it?”

 

[cgraven]

I turn at Misty’s words; my eyes glisten with my tears. She stands there naked, so fragile and beautiful my heart almost aches with my need for her. I do not remember moving, but her body is presses to mine, her nipples bite into my chest, my lips find Misty’s I kiss her with a love I have felt through the long ages of my wanderings. It is tender, savage, gentle, and rough all at the same time

‘The magic is in you my love, be it here, in the clouds or riding the wild winds.”

Misty is in my arms her dainty feet dangling as I carrier her to the cabins bed.

“No magic, just us Misty as we are “

I lay her on the bed my eyes speak of my love for her, my need of her. Slowly I disrobe and stand before her, neither man nor beast but a mixture of both. I must appear so strange to her I wait, will she reject the beast or bid it come to her bed.