CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO ONE PEOPLE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
ONE PEOPLE
“All things are connected
like the blood that unites us all.”
Chief Seattle
9:00 PM
June 19th
Pine Ridge Reservation
Greyeagle sat next to the fire with Sarah seated in front of him, leaning back into his chest. He had his arms wrapped around her and his chin resting on top of her head.
Next to him, Kade sat on the ground while Raven was braiding his long, dark hair.
Rose sat not far away beside Jay, and they each held one of the Greyeagle twins.
Rose held Mato Watakpe, and Jay held Wambleeska.
The dinner dishes had been cleared and cleaned, the fire was burning bright, and they were all sitting together as one pack.
No separation or animosity. Just one group that had found a home together.
Kodiak and Tala sat together holding hands and talking quietly.
Greyeagle noticed that Tala’s hair was braided in the Ute fashion, the way Kodiak wore his.
Across from Greyeagle sat Dusty and Betsy Marlowe. They were sitting with Mason Iron Shield and Leah Red Willow. Leah laughed at something Dusty had said, and Betsy braided Mason’s hair. Aiyana Broken Sky was sitting and listening to the Mohawk Twins tell stories, seemingly amused by their antics.
Tashunka Kills Twice, Evan Black Elk, and Jonah Red Cloud sat with Jason, Mika, and Cassie. They were breaking out drums and musical instruments.
“Look at them,” Kade said, gesturing. “You could easily forget they were enemies just a few days ago.”
“No,” Greyeagle said, nodding. “They were family that hadn’t met yet. You shouldn’t think like that. We were only enemies because we didn’t know each other yet.”
Kade glanced over at him and smiled.
“You always had a way with words, little brother,” Kade said, winking at Sarah.
Sarah smiled, reached up and rubbed Greyeagle’s biceps with both hands.
“He has his moments,” Sarah said, smiling.
“Looks like we’re about to have a sing,” Kade said, looking up at Raven.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Raven said. “Our first as one pack.”
“I agree,” Kade said, nodding. “Maybe I’ll tell them all that Greyeagle is the new Alpha when we finish with the sing.”
“Why tell them?” asked Greyeagle. “There will be situations where I will default to you and your experience. Or Mika, or Mason, or any of the others. I find it best to let those with the most experience take the lead as needed.”
“That’s great, in theory,” Kade replied, “but I think it’s best to know who’s in charge, for all of us.”
“If you really think it’s the best way to approach this,” Greyeagle said. “However, I prefer just to let things feel natural. Soon enough, all of our people will look to both of us when things get bad. I don’t need to be labeled as in charge. I want us to be one pack. One family.”
“I can get behind that,” Kade said. “You’re shockingly wise for the guy who was still avoiding eating oatmeal.”
“Jackass,” Greyeagle said, punching Kade lightly in the shoulder. “Yes, I haven’t trusted raisins in a very long time because of you. But there’s part of that story that I never told you.”
“What’s that, little brother?” asked Kade, grinning.
“When you were getting the milk,” Greyeagle said, smiling broadly, “I switched our bowls.”
“No, you didn’t!” Kade said, sitting up. “How did you know?”
“Grandfather warned me,” Greyeagle said, grinning.
“That old fart,” said Kade. “He helped me catch the damned things in the first place. He never told me he warned you.”
Kade glared at Jay, who smiled serenely and waved back at him.
“I hate you both,” Kade said, mock pouting.
Everyone began laughing.
“Never try to out-shenanigan me,” Jay said, smiling. “I have had a very long time to practice.”
“Alright, old man,” said Kade. “What’s the best prank you ever pulled?”
“Probably the time I convinced your father that the cattails growing in the pond were wild corndogs,” Jay said.
Black Fox scowled at him and shook his head.
“I will never forget that taste,” Black Fox said. “And I was still a child.”
“I will never forget the look on your face when you took that big bite,” Jay replied.
More laughter erupted.
“And I used to wonder where you got it,” Sarah said, nudging Greyeagle.
“My mother was the real prankster,” Greyeagle said. “She made us laugh all the time.”
“Yeah, she sure did,” Kade said. “Remember the time she tied rattlesnake rattles to the cat and grandfather spent all day looking for the snake in the house?”
Jay frowned.
“That was not funny,” Jay said.
“Oh, it sure was,” Greyeagle replied. “You have no idea how hard we tried to keep straight faces while you were looking.”
Black Fox burst out laughing. Kade and Greyeagle exchanged looks and cracked up. Even Black Fox was remembering who he used to be. The grip of the Oolonga-Doglalla was weakening, and he seemed more like himself than he had in a very long time.
Greyeagle stiffened when his cell phone rang. He checked it quickly and saw it was Declan calling. He nodded at Sarah, then stood up to walk a short distance away so he could hear before he answered it.
“Greyeagle,” he said.
“Are ye all t’gether?” asked Declan without preamble.
“We are,” Greyeagle replied.
“Good,” Declan said. “Get ‘em mobile. I think I know where the rock beasties are fixin’ t’ hit.”
“Where?” asked Greyeagle, his voice taking on a deep timbre.
“Red Basin Oil Rig number sixteen,” Declan said. “Stone Creek.”
“What makes you think that they’ll hit that next?” asked Greyeagle. “It’s not the next closest on the map.”
“Aye, I know,” Declan said. “But tomorrow mornin’ there’s a protest at Rig Sixteen.
Got activists, reporters, tribal folks, the whole bloody parade.
The Marshals heard about it through their channels.
If the Stone Claws have been listenin’ t’ the land, I doubt they'll be able t’ ignore somethin’ like that. ”
“You’re probably right,” Greyeagle replied. “We’ll be there around first light.”
“Fair warnin’,” Declan said, “the CAT Team recommended Team Odin get involved. Team Two is already on the way with a full deployment t’ follow. And the lads with Praetorian don’t seem any too pleased ‘bout it, neither.”
“I would imagine not,” Greyeagle said. “Why would Red Basin pay them for security when the Hunt will be there to stop the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso?”
“Exactly, me friend,” Declan replied. “Praetorian’s given me a powerful case o’ the doubts. Whate’er they’re up t’, the Hunt ‘ll suss it out.”
“I agree,” Greyeagle said. “I noticed something odd about Praetorian myself. In my military career, I only met one Rhodesian ex-pat. On one site, I met at least three or four working for Praetorian. Something about that seems off.”
“I’ll do some diggin’ on me end,” Declan said. “See what I can figure out.”
“Thanks,” Greyeagle said. “Is there anything else?”
“Nothin’ comes t’ mind,” Declan replied. “Just t’ let ye know, Margolin’s got a new toy he’s dyin’ t’ try out on the Stone Claws. Just sayin’.”
“Thanks for the heads-up,” Greyeagle said. “Knowing Margolin, it’s high explosive and illicitly obtained.”
“Sounds like Margolin, alright,” Declan answered, chuckling. “I’m sure he’s loaded for bear.”
“Last time I checked, there weren’t any dragons in South Dakota,” Greyeagle said.
“Aye, but try tellin’ him that,” Declan replied.
“Alright, thanks for the information,” Greyeagle said. “We’ll see you at first light.”
“I’ll be on site a mite earlier,” Declan said. “Just in case.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Greyeagle agreed. “We’ll do the same. When is Team Two scheduled to arrive?”
“By mornin’ was all I was told,” Declan answered. “Likely comin’ in by chopper since there ain’t an airfield t’ speak of in a hundred miles o’ here.”
“Are they deploying the MIMIC Units?” asked Greyeagle.
“I got no idea, boyo,” Declan replied. “It ain’t like they’ve been a fountain o’ information lately. The Hunt is playin’ things mighty close t’ the chest since losin’ Clark. What ‘bout ye? Do ye still have contacts within the Hunt?”
“Not that I’ve tried to use,” Greyeagle said, frowning. “I think I burned some bridges by leaving and taking Kodiak with me.”
“Aye, ye might’ve at that,” Declan agreed. “Two top-tier operators leavin’ had t’ hurt. I mean even among the Tier One operators o’ Team Odin, ye two were a fair piece above the rest.”
Greyeagle let that sink in a moment before speaking.
“Yeah, I might not have many friends left on the team,” Greyeagle said softly.
“Oh, I’m sure the operators ‘ll remember ye kindly,” Declan said. “Ye fought and bled b’side ‘em. They ain’t likely t’ forget that. Ye seen the elephant t’gether. It’s the brass that might get a bit tetchy.”
“Thank you,” Greyeagle said.
“No thanks needed for speakin’ the truth, boyo,” Declan replied. “Now, get some rest, and we’ll meet up at the rig in the mornin’.”
“See you there,” Greyeagle said, then ended the call.
He sighed a moment before turning to head back to the group. He almost ran into Kade.
“Something wrong, little brother?” asked Kade.
“More than I’d like,” Greyeagle said. “Come on back to the fire with me. I’ll tell everyone at once.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” Kade said with a crooked smile.
“It’s not,” Greyeagle replied. “The stakes have gone up considerably.”
Kade put his hand on Greyeagle’s shoulder and nodded.
“We’ll handle it, brother,” Kade said. “Together.”
Greyeagle nodded, and they returned to the fire.
“Everyone,” Greyeagle said. “I have news to share. Everyone gather round the fire.”
Once everyone was in place and paying attention, Greyeagle filled them in on everything Declan had told him, leaving out nothing. Once he was finished, Greyeagle leaned back to wait for the inevitable questions.
“You keep mentioning this team,” Kade said. “Just how tough can the Wild Hunt be?”
“We once went after a pack of dogmen in Arizona near the Mogollon Rim,” Greyeagle said. “It turned out to be a group of Sekhmet-Ajai in service to an Elder Vampire named Khas-Khem Seteta. The battle was intense, and we ended up changing the topographical maps of southern Arizona.”
“That was you?” asked Raven. “We heard about that on the Rez and never believed the earthquake story.”
“Wait, what do you mean changed the topographical maps?” asked Kade.
“We removed three mountains from the map,” Kodiak said. “Erased entirely.”
“Well, they weren’t very big mountains,” Greyeagle said with a shrug.
Kade shook his head.
“If they can level mountains,” Kade said, “then we’d better figure out a way to solve this before they turn the badlands into the worse lands.”
“So, what’s the plan?” asked Sarah.
“We need to be on site before sunrise,” Greyeagle said. “I’d like to be there by zero four hundred.”
“That’s four o’clock to those of us who weren’t in the Army,” Sarah said, grinning.
“Or cops,” added Cassie.
“So, let’s cancel the sing and get some rest,” said Raven. “Four AM comes early.”
“No, let’s have the sing,” Kade said. “We need it now more than ever.”
“What song do you want to start with?” asked Mika.
“The song of gratitude,” Kade said. “Some of us might not be here to celebrate tomorrow night. So, tonight, we’re family, and we’re thankful for that.”
“Well said, brother,” Greyeagle added, nodding.
“You heard the man,” Mika said, pulling his drum up in front of him. “Let’s dance!”