Graphic © Iced Gem 2003

I awoke lying on my back stareing into a dark sky. Cold winds buffeted my numb, aching body. I some how sat upright looking around. By some force unknown to me I had made it to the top, before or after I' d lost consciousness I do not no. But I was here, alive , for now,.....and much more trecherousground to cover to reach the Spirit in the ice.

Behind me lay a white plane of snow , receding into the horizon, beautifuly pristine and unmarred.The moonlight sent glittering sparkles off the surface. It's effect was dangerously hypnotic.I arose stiff and numb. A voice inside said," you must keep moving, to stop now is to perish..."

I began walking toward the endless horizon, slowly at first but getting faster and stronger as my muscleswarmed.I chewed more of the dried meat as I fell into the rhythm of my steady pace. I quenched my thirst with bites of the pure cold snow, but only a little, too much would chill my insides. I trudged onward for what seemed like hours as I watched the full moon cross the night sky. I sang to myself, told stories, thought of childhood memories, anything to take my mind off my aching leg muscles and numb feet. At last, a thin lineof pink light began to form on the horizon. I concentrated on the thin ribbon of changing light untill the suns edge burst over the horizon sending myriads of colors streaming through what looked like towers of clear ice!

I stopped for the first time in hours and stared at the beauty that spread before me, increasingly brightand rippling with rainbows of color, moving as if a living thing. Shakeing myself from the trance I renewed my march with a prayer song in my heart. Yet the nagging questions kept returning , where, how....

The wind had gotten stronger and colder than any I had ever felt. I increased my pace knowing full well that this may be the last day of my life. If I could not find and free the Spirit by nightfall I would surely freezeto death in those spires of ice. Only this day to search without even knowing where or what to look for.I ate more of my provisions knowing there would be no time later and that strength would be needed.

I reached the first of the shorter mounds of white ice ,grateful that the tormenting winds were beggining to subside.I made my way up the first of wide crevasses, looking ,hoping, but it quickly narrowed then stopped at a dead end. Retracing my steps I climbed higher and followed another canyon with sheer walls of clear ice reaching endlessly to the sky. The reflecting lights and colors played tricks on the eyes. Shadows moved, but no sounds made except my own heavy vapor steam breathing and the crunch of my footsteps that sounded like thunder in the vast stillness.Holding my breath I could hear many faint groans and creaking sounds as if I were inside a living thing. Was it....couldit be.....the heart beat of the earth?.....or the courseing of blood pounding in my own ears?

I sped up my movments, up one ice crevass and down another, climbing slipping, falling on the hard ice again and again.I knew the days light was fading fast. I felt frantic for the first time in my warriors life. I felt afraid.....afraid of failing the tribe.I knew I was to die and accepted that, but to do so without freeing the Spirit of the greening season, of Spring,.....could mean death for the tribe in an endless winter.

Suddenly my legs would move no more.I was at the end of a long canyon that spread out into a circle unlike any of the others.Darkness was falling fast......I began to remember my past life..........as a child......my parents, grandparents.......and mostly Takeena.......my childhood love.....my only love. I thought of my life as a warrior, vowed not to love butto protect. Most warriors would eventually leave the path, take a mate, have children. But not I.....I had shunned Takeena...for the warriors path, only to see her die the following spring in an enemy raid.......with an arrow in her chest.....saying my name over and over.

I had failed.My life was fading with the fast sinking sun. A strange thing happened.......I let go....in my life I had no memories of sheading tears......as a woman......or a child......it was forbidden by the warriors code. But the tears began............hot ,stinging tears,...followed by sobs, .......becoming great wales of racking sobs from my chest.......the echoing, reverberating sounds were deafining in the ice chamber........I cried for a wasted life........for Takeena.......for the children we never had.......I let go........my life was over........

A warm touch on my shoulder returned my awareness. I turned slowly to see a radiant maiden in a pure white leather dress, a warm glow of light all around her. She wore a wreath of flowers around her forhead and tender smile on her face.

She spoke,"Warrior. It is time for you to go home now. Home where you belong. You have freed yourself and in so doing, have freed me. You're warriors tears have melted the frozen bands that held me."

I could not speak. She raised her hand and pointed. My eyes followed her pointing hand and finger to see that thesolid wall of ice had opened into a passageway with pure, warm sunlight streaming through. Beyond the passage I saw fields of flowers and green grass, a tipi village in the distance and there at the opening of the passage stood Takeena.She was young and more beautiful than I can remember.

"Go to her, Warrior!" the Spirit spoke. " Have the life you deserve. You have brought honor and favor to you're people."The cold faded from my body as a feeling of joy and love spread through me as I moved through the passage and Takeena's hand and mine touched................................

THE END

© Mysticwolf 2003

.......