In front of Ziibi was a vast sea and on its bank stood Ajijaak. He was croaking out the only sound he possessed. She knew he was crying out for Wiinizik. His croaks echoed across the water. A slight ripple appeared on its surface. Fear leapt inside of Ziibi. She started to run to Ajijaak, but Mikwam jumped into her path. It had been so long since she had last seen her guardian. He would help her. She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him. She told him, “Please, help me.”

Mikwam shook his ruff. His eyes gazed out toward the water. Following her guardian’s gaze, Ziibi realized where she was. She was on the Path of Souls. She let go of Mikwam and stood. The instant she did she saw the Snake King rise from the water and wrap his long slender body around Ajijaak. Ajijaak fought against him.

The Snake King hissed, “Be still man, I have what you seek. Your woman is with me now. Come, and I will take you to her.”

Ziibi shouted, “Do not listen to him.” But Ajijaak did listen. Ziibi released Mikwam and they ran to the sea. As she ran she pulled her tomahawk from its sheath. Ajijaak was slipping beneath the water. She lunged into the water and thrust her tomahawk deep into the snake’s side. The creature shot up out of the water and his eyes held her. Such beautiful eyes. They seemed to reach down deep inside of her and obliterate her clear thought. From the shore Mikwam growled. His presence reminded her of her duty. With all her strength she lifted her tomahawk and hit the snake king between the eyes. Though she did not crack his skull, she did hurt him. The snake king shouted at her, “So you think you can kill me? I heard your threat long ago and I waited. My friend Waabooz tried to bring you to me, but he was too weak. Now I have you, and you will be my woman.”

Instantly the snakes body was wrapped around her and pulled her down. She heard the snarls of Mikwam. Water filled her lungs. She thrust her hand into her medicine bag and pulled out a sharp bone awl. She could feel the beat of the snake’s cold heart. Down, down they plunged deeper into the water. Ziibi managed to wriggle her right hand with the awl free. She punctured the Snake King’s tough scaled skin and sank the awl deep into his heart.

The Snake King shrieked and released her. In the murky water she saw the body of Ajijaak. He was swimming down. She followed after him and grabbed hold of his braid. With a strength greater than her own, she pulled him to the surface of the water. Gasping for air, she drug him to shallow water and with Mikwam’s help, she pulled him onto the rocky shore. She did not know if he was alive or dead. She laid her head on her chest and heard, nothing. She flipped him over and pushed on his back to clear his lungs of water. Though he spit some out he did not breath. As the sisters had taught her, she turned him carefully over and opened his mouth. She breathed her life into him, praying the Great Spirit would carry her life to his heart. He would not respond. With tears streaming from her eyes she rocked back on her heels and looked at the lifeless Ajijaak. Suddenly he sat up. Stupified by his sudden recovery Ziibi said, “Come Ajijaak, we must leave this place.”

In a voice, a human voice and not a croak, Ajijaak told her, “I am beyond the realm of your life now.” His eyes held a light she like she had never seen before. A light many times greater than the light his eyes held when he danced. He said, “I must go now. Wiinizik will not make it to the Land of Souls alone. I must help her.”

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“No, Ajijaak.”

He stepped away from her. It was then that she saw his body, lifeless on the ground. His soul was not longer joined to his flesh.

Desperate she begged, “Please do not go, Ajijaak, your son needs you.” He did not respond but continued along the westward path that ran beside the sea. She ran after him and caught up with him. She pleaded, “Please Ajijaak. Do not go. I can be your woman, I will help you care for your child.”

Ajijaak stopped. He turned and smiled at her. With his hands he cupped her face. She felt the cold wetness of his lips brush against her forehead. Softly he said, “You have done much for me over your life. You have loved me and believed in me as if I were your own flesh. I thank you, but I must go, and you must let me go.”

“What about your son?”

This question, he did not answer. He let go of her face. “I have a long journey. Good bye my friend.” She tried to latch onto him, but he was instantly beyond her grasp. He told her, “The soul moves faster than the body Ziibi,” and vanished into the trees.

Grief stricken Ziibi sank to the ground and wailed. How could he leave? They could have made a life, she could have raised his son and given him other children. Yet there he went chasing after a woman who had betrayed him in life. She had fought the Snake King for him and killed the creature, and yet Ajijaak still wanted Wiinizik. He was a fool. And she was a fool for loving him.

Ziibi awoke. Her face was smashed against the medicine drum. It was wet with her tears. She looked to the place where Ajijaak lay and went to him. She laid her head on his chest. Within, there was no beat. She looked from Ajijaak’s mother Wabisi to his noko. Ajijaak’s noko face was resigned. Ajijaak’s mother let out a terrible wail. The sound of it echoed inside the small house and penetrated the birch bark walls. Others were coming. Ziibi heard their footsteps. She did not want to be caught in the extravagance of their grief. Her own heart felt cold and small. She needed to get away, go somewhere, anywhere but here. She pushed through the door flap, just as others began to enter. Her feet carried her down the path and to the shore. In the distance she could see the island where Ajijaak once lived, was once happy. Silent tears streamed from her eyes. A sob was lodged in her throat that she could not set free. It had been one thing to release Ajijaak to life beyond her village, another entirely to let him travel to the Land of Souls.

A gnarled hand wrapped around her wrist. Startled she turned. It was Ajijaak’s noko.

Ziibi said, “The flowers told me they could save him. Why did they lie to me?”

Ajijaak’s noko said, “The flowers did not lie, they believed in their own power. Did you not believe you had the power to heal him?”

Ziibi nodded.

“You did all you could do, and so did the flowers.”

“It was not enough.”

“Perhaps, it was.”

Ziibi stared at the old woman. Her sightless eyes gazed at nothing. There were not any tears in her eyes. She tugged on Ziibi’s wrist. “Come, we will tell Wabisi you are going to live with us now.”

“What?”

“You heard me. I will speak to your father.”

Slowly, they made their way back to Ajijaak’s home.