A group of Sioux and Ojibeway passed by him. They had died in battle and were now on their way to the Land of Souls. Some were poorly dressed and poorly provided for, others carried the finest of bows and knives and were dressed well. Some had no food, and others carried bags such as Ajijaak did. The food in Ajijaak’s pouch was running out. His mother or his noko must fill it soon or he would starve.

At midday he reached the great red berry. A heaviness had settled into his body. His arms and legs had become stiff and cold. When he passed the berry it transformed itself into a hideous creature, but Ajijaak did not look at it. Too much curiosity on this path. could more than kill him it could destroy his soul. He journeyed on ward to the forest. He looked from one path to the next. His mind felt so thick he could not remember which trail was his own. He had been in such a hurry to get to Wiinizik he had not paid proper attention. He looked for traces of his own footprints. The footprints of the warriors had obliterated all traces of other footprints. What now? How would he get home?

A female wolf crossed in front of him. She headed down one of the paths. Was she a guide or some sort of temptress? She turned and looked back at him. Her eyes were good, she was a guide. He followed her.

The sun set and darkness fell. Still, the she wolf lead him. He was tired and thirsty. All his food was gone. His lungs ached because of her pace, but she would not slow down. He felt like he was about to drop. Surely he could find his way back to the living alone. He slowed his pace. The wolf growled deep in her throat. Abruptly he picked up his pace. She was not ready for him to leave her. They came to the edge of a great prairie that Ajijaak did not remember seeing when he first traveled on the path of Souls. From the grass leapt a great bear. The wolf jumped out of its way. The bear came after Ajijaak.

It had been a trick. He turned to run on his exhausted legs and tripped. The bear was immediately upon him. He felt its huge arms wrap around him. The force of it claws bit into his flesh and it thrust him upward. He seemed to be flying, up and up he went. A head was a great and blinding light. He smelled smoke and earth. He felt the bear toss him upon his shoulder. His mighty claws held him fast. The bear did not walk on all fours, but on his hind legs. Ajijaak tried to see, but all was too bright. He could smell water. He heard the cry of a crane, and the flap of its wings. Where was he, and were was this bear taking him. Soon he was tossed to the ground in what must be a dim cave. He could not see anything but blackness. Still he could hear. A fire crackled near him. The bear thrust Ajijaak’s head back and poured a scalding liquid down his throat. Next, he ripped Ajijaak’s fine clothes off of him. A hot stone was place on his chest. It burned into his skin. He tried to get out from beneath it but he was too weak. Was this what happened at the end of life. Was he about to exist now more. He felt himself slipping. He tried hard to fight against this feeling but it enveloped him and pulled him into a great nothingness.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

*

A mist clung to him. His eyes focused. He was in a familiar place. He was in his old home on the island, the place where life had given him much happiness. Had he become a wandering spirit? His throat ached. His mouth too was sore. He moved his tongue. It moved as it had never moved before. Always it had been tightly attached to the base of his mouth, and now it moved freely. This was very odd. It hurt when he moved it, but move it he did. He traced the outline of his teeth with his tongue. This was very strange. With apprehension he forced air through his vocal cords. Instead of the usual croak, a soft whisper came out of him. It was not a word, but it also was not an ugly sound.

Confused and dazed he pulled himself in a sitting position. He rubbed his hand across the dirt floor. It left a mark. Was he alive? He crawled out of the house and down the path. The island was surrounded in mist and he could only see a few feet in front of him. He found two graves. On one was a pouch with his family’s totem on the other was the totem of the beaver. The realization of who these graves belonged to exploded inside of him. He was still dead.

A shadowy form appeared in the mist. It stopped when it saw Ajijaak. Was this the bear that had brought him here? He waited.

In a voice he had heard before, a man’s voice, said, “You must go back to the house. You are not strong enough to wander around.” The man came toward him. There was something very familiar about him.

When he reached him, a question passed through Ajijaak’s lips, “Who?”

The man was stunned. Tears filled his eyes. “The curse has been broken. I did not think I could reverse it.”

The world began to tilt and sway. Ajijaak suddenly felt very dizzy. The man caught him in his arms. The sensation that went through Ajijaak was startling. He knew who this man was, this man was his father. He murmured, “Baswewe.” This was the name of his father.

The man shook his head. “No, that man is dead. I am the Ghost of the Forest. I provide for those who cannot provide for themselves.” He scooped Ajijaak up into his arms and carried him back to the house.