There was a thump as a heavy log joined the pile already on the fire. Burning wood popped. Owen could feel the heat radiating from the pile. Fire was one aspect of shamanism that he struggled with. He knew how to start a fire, to feel the way the sticks were stacked and know where to strike the flint. He could even hear the wood catching. 

But once a fire was lit, things became more difficult. He couldn’t tend a fire without heavy gloves, which dulled the sensitivity in his fingers. He had tried a few times with poor results. Though the gloves had kept him from getting burned, the fire had gone out. He could tell what stage a fire was at based on the sound and the amount of heat coming off of it. He could even tell, often before other people, when more wood was needed. But he couldn’t seem to keep one going himself. 

Today he was preparing the herbs that would infuse the water that would be poured over the coals. His father tended the fire. 

“Papa,” he said. “Can I ask you something?” 

“Of course,” said Orlando. His deep voice was steady as always, but there was a guarded quality to it that Owen hadn’t heard before. Was he nervous about something? 

“How do the elements choose people? I only ask because Ch’usaj said that she had to fight her siblings for me. And I was wondering if that could explain why it took so long for me to be chosen.”

Orlando sighed. “That is a complex answer. Give me a moment to think of the best way to explain.” 

Owen nodded, and he felt the brief pressure of his father’s hand on his shoulder. In an effort to distract himself from his anxiety he tried to focus on stripping the leaves off rosemary stems. The fire let out a particularly loud crackle. A moment later, Orlando spoke. 

“The process is different for different people. For most people, it’s fairly straightforward. There is often a natural affinity between a person and a particular element. For instance, most people who work on river boats are chosen by water. Someone who is good at tending plants would be chosen by earth, and someone who loves storms might be chosen by lightning. That is the simplest method of choosing, and requires little to no deliberation on the part of the elements.” 

“Then there are those who tend towards one element or another through their personality. Someone passionate might be fire, whereas someone quiet and observant might be moonlight. Of course, people are complex, so sometimes multiple elements might be interested in one human. When this happens, there is a meeting of sorts. Only it happens outside of time. Time and space do not matter to the elements. They are everywhere that they have physical representation in the world. And they can send their consciousness to any one of these places. As for time, they have no need of it, so a discussion between elements can take place in no more than a moment.” 

“However, there are other factors that come into play. When multiple elements show up to claim a human, which can only happen during their vision quest, usually the issue is resolved easily. One will have a stronger claim or attachment than the other. Or one will have a specific use for the human, whereas the others might only show an affinity.”

“But sometimes the issue can’t be resolved in a moment. Sometimes a young person’s personality is clearly still developing, so the elements reach an impasse and decide to wait a year to see which features become more clearly expressed. Sometimes, in rare cases, multiple elements show up for one individual and each has a strong claim. These are often the ones that take several years, because when the elements reach that sort of impasse, then they take the conflict back into real time and a sort of ritualized contest. Not much is known about this process. Only that if they cannot resolve the issue within the three day window, it must be resumed during the next vision quest. It sounds like that is what happened with you.” 

“During such a conflict, one thing can bypass the struggle. If the human, consciously or unconsciously, calls out to one of the elements, then that element automatically wins. I do not know if that’s what happened in your case, but it is a possibility. Does any of this help?”

“I don’t know if it helps me understand why Ch’usaj chose me, but it does give me some context as to why she said it was such a struggle.” 

“Also know that Ch’usaj is suppressed by her siblings. They do not allow her to choose many, which is why there is such a strong stigma to being chosen by her. The other elements are afraid of her, and so she must struggle to choose any. Since Ch’usaj was involved, one of the other elements may have weighed in on her side if she had a particularly strong purpose for you.” 

Owen sighed. “That’s the other part I don’t understand. This whole thing about me being her champion. I don’t feel like a champion. And is that connected with the prophecy you made about me? Are prophecies always true?”

Orlando fell silent for a moment. The fire popped and crackled. The breeze whispered through the trees. Owen continued stroking the rosemary stalk, even though all its leaves had long since fallen from it. 

“Prophecies are strange things,” said Orlando quietly. “They do always come true, although not always in the way you think they will. I must apologize for not telling you about the one that was made before your birth. As your mother said, we thought it would be easier to wait until after your vision quest to tell you. Although easier for you or us, I am no longer sure. We could have told you when you were younger, but you wouldn’t have known what to do with it then.”

Owen snorted out a bitter little laugh. “I don’t know what to do with it now.” 

“Precisely. And that’s the problem. It’s essential information, but you cannot allow it to sway your decisions and actions. Will you choose to go with Kaz when she leaves? And if you do, will it be because you want to support her or because you believe that is how you will become a great warrior? I would hope the former, but you must constantly ask yourself why you are choosing to do the things that you do. Otherwise, you could easily train to be a warrior and go into some battle, and get slain gloriously. It would fulfill the prophecy, but would it be true to who you are? And that’s the crux of the issue. Do you understand?” 

Owen frowned. His father hadn’t really answered his question. But he had given him much to think about. He hadn’t really thought about going with Kaz, though the thought didn’t surprise him as much as he would have expected. He hadn’t really gotten that far. “I think so,” he said. “I understand that I shouldn’t let the prophecy guide me without thought. But what I don’t understand is...well, I don’t feel like a warrior, or a champion, or any of it, really. I thought I would become your apprentice and take over as shaman one day. And now...do you think that could still happen?” 

Orlando’s heavy, warm hands settled onto Owen’s shoulders. “Son, I don’t know what will happen. I would love for you to take my place someday. Maybe that’s what you choose now, and that’s how you fight the changes that are occuring in the world right now. That, in itself, is one way to be a warrior. Maybe you will go with Kaz and go on a grand adventure and save the world. And when you’re done you’ll come back and be my apprentice. Or maybe something else will happen. I can’t tell you that. What I can say is that whatever you choose to do is your choice. And I can also tell you that I will support you whatever you decide, no matter what I may advise you to do. Just listen to the elements, Owen. They won’t lead you wrong. Listen to your own intuition, and you will always be able to stand by your own decisions. My advice is to take this question into the ceremony with you. The best thing to do at a crossroads is to ask a clear question, and then sit back and listen. Does that help?”

Owen didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned forward into his father’s embrace. They stood like that for a long moment. 

The moment disintegrated as Jess’s footsteps dashed from the house, closely followed by his mother’s and Kaz’s. 

“Quick!” said Jess, when she reached Orlando and Owen. Although her tone was urgent, she kept her voice low. “We have to hide Kaz. The trackers are coming. They’ve knocked out Joaquin, and they’re searching the houses.” 

Orlando squeezed Owen’s shoulder before stepping towards the women. 

“Follow Maria, Kaz. This will not be comfortable. But they won’t think to look for you here.”

Next Chapter: 11: Kaz - Hay