The Skin-Walkers

‘There’s something I need to discuss with you.’ She continued. ‘But first I should introduce you to a man who can explain everything a lot better than I can.’

‘I don’t understand.’ Joshua exclaimed. His grandmother didn’t reply but instead opened the door to let the tribal man in. Both of them stood facing one another as if they were in some sort of staring competition.

‘Hello.’ The native spoke. His voice was a little deep but calm and he had a sort of wisdom to his voice also.

‘Hi’ Joshua replied. Joshua was sure now that this man would have very important information for him that would shed some light to what has been happening.

‘Do you know why I’m here?’ The man asked, Joshua could only guess.

‘Because of last night, it wasn’t a dream was it?’

‘No, not a dream, it was very real.’

‘And the night before, that was real too?’

‘Yes.’

‘What’s happening to me?’

‘I think you might already know.’

‘Please, I have to be sure.’ Joshua needed to know, he needed answers.

‘Ok, let me start with my name. My name is Kumai; I come from a tribe of men and women who have the ability to change into wolves. Most people would call us werewolves but we prefer the term skin-walkers, because we change into a form of a wolf rather than the hairy and scary figures you find in the movies. A long time ago I left you here with your grandparents; you come from our tribe, so you too have this ability. I’ve been watching you for all these years...waiting. You see when we come of age that’s when we begin to change, that’s when our ability surfaces. The things you have been experiencing, the heightened senses and all; they are symptoms from this ability which come on before your first change. That first night you change, it was very real...’

‘Then I killed that man.’

‘Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t get there in time.’

‘And the woman?’

‘She is fine, she’s at the hospital right now but she will live.’ Joshua almost felt happy that he didn’t kill her but it still didn’t fill the hole inside. He still felt lost and confused, he needed more information.

‘What about the first dream I had, of the young girl. That was only a dream right?’

‘As I am aware you have only turned the twice. Sometimes we experience intense dreams of our ability, but they are just that, dreams.’

‘I still have so many questions. Like why did you leave me? Who are my parents? Will I change again?’

‘I had no doubt that you would but there is so much we need to talk about I’m afraid we will need more time.’ Joshua agreed that there was so much to discuss. The native man named Kumai suggested that he travelled with him back to his tribe where Joshua could find all the answers he is looking for. Joshua was more than eager to agree seeing as he needn’t to know everything. Maybe going back to where he started, to have a look where he would have been living if he wasn’t given away, was indeed the perfect place to discover his origins.

Joshua’s grandmother also agreed and was happy to let him go, Kumai explained that they should pack food and water as they would be travelling for a couple of days before they would arrive at his tribe’s camp. He also explained that they would have to travel through the forest to get there; of course they did Joshua thought. He had never really travelled farther than a mile into the forest before, and he wondered about all the stories of the danger that lie deep in the forest.

It was a fast decision on Joshua’s account. Being that it was still so very early in the morning Kumai had given Joshua an ultimatum, if he wanted to come back with him they would have to leave within the hour or he would leave without Joshua. So Joshua agreed.

Joshua packed the requirements plus some clothes and both he and Kumai took off towards the forest. Within hours they were already miles deep in the forest but Kumai had explained to Joshua that he was taking them the long way around because it was the safest path he knew. Sure enough to Joshua’s disappointment and relief, they hadn’t come across any danger or dangerous animals. As Kumai guessed they arrived at his camp two and a half days later. Joshua first saw this camp as they stepped out into an enormous opening in the middle of the forest. It was a huge piece of field that stretched out far enough to leave room for a small village, which is indeed what Kumai’s tribe had built.

Joshua walked slowly behind Kumai as he admired this growing tribe. There were huts built all over, some bigger than others and there were even a few cabins. Native Americans walked around, the adults doing chores, the children running and playing. Joshua and Kumai drew nearer to the small village and eventually were walking right through the middle. People greeted Kumai as they walked and just stared at Joshua. They then crossed a bridge that was cleverly built over a river; more huts were built on the other side also. As they crossed Joshua noticed a few women washing their clothes in the river.

The sun was hovering very low now as they reached their destination, Kumai stopped outside a smaller cabin, he explained it belonged to an old friend who will make him feel welcome. Kumai told Joshua he would be sleeping here. Before they both entered Joshua noticed a group of the natives were starting to gather in a circle not far from a huge willow tree that stood near the river.

Inside he introduced Joshua to his friend who was rounder at the tummy then the others and sprouted a full thick beard too. He was indeed welcoming and very friendly, the kind that would hug a complete stranger. Kumai then told him to get settled and get some sleep and they would talk in the morning.

Soon after meeting Kumai’s friend and having a short tour Joshua was getting settle into his hard wooden bed. Joshua sat with a sigh; he thought about how crazy it was that he was here or more crazy that he was a werewolf. As he sat he looked out of a small window next to him and saw Kumai settling down in the circle outside, they all looked as though all the important adults of the tribe were in a meeting.

The morning next Joshua woke with the sunshine burning through the window. It looked so early, or earlier than Joshua would normally get up. Joshua got up and stretched out, he looked out of the window and saw Kumai in the distant sitting on a thick log by the river. After dressing Joshua joined Kumai, sitting down next to him on the log. He faced outwards and stared into the strong following river, he sat for a long while with just his thoughts before he decided to talk.

‘I want to know about this werewolf stuff.’ Joshua said straight forwardly.

‘We prefer the term skin-walker.’

‘Ok.’

‘How much do you know?’ Kumai asked.

‘Not a lot, just that your people were people that all came from the Navajo nation and who have this ability, so you then formed your own tribe of were...skin-walkers.’ That was literally all Joshua knew.

‘You’re not wrong; we did indeed come from Navajo people. Many people hated us, some were jealous or tried to use our ability for their own gain, and others just feared us. It got to be a problem with so many of us that we found it easier to stick together. That’s when we formed our own tribe.’

‘So how is it that we have this ability?’ Joshua was very intrigued now and not just because he was a skin-walker himself.

‘Well there are many stories. The most commonly known source of our power is that it came from Navajo witchcraft, those who claimed this power were known as yeenadlooshi, which means ‘he goes on all fours’. The legend is that there is a distinct difference in which you could tell a skin-walker, or shape-shifters apart, that being their eyes were continuously luminous or that they would possess black tongues which signified their dark witchcraft. They were said to be able to change into owls, crows or beetles, however the most popular were that of the coyote or wolf. In other legends in was said that when in their animal form most traces of human memory were completely gone, which meant that the animal instinct took over and they became dangerous. There are even stories of having the ability to read minds when they transformed, they would use this to lure victims outside or into the dark by imitating the voices of loved ones. And then there were the Christianised Navajo’s, some would believe that it was God who had given all man this power to protect themselves, but because man didn’t follow God’s commandments in time the power was taken away. Only Navajo people were left with this ability, some using it for good and others for evil, some gave up this power and some hid it away. And then some believed it came from the Pagan Devil, and the power was used by his servants.’

‘So what’s true?’

‘None of it...some of it...all of it. It’s hard to be sure really, but we do know what is true. Like it’s addictive, the more you turn the more it becomes addictive and the animal slowly takes over. There have been cases where some have abused their power so often that they couldn’t change back, the wolf completely took over. In fact I would advise you to keep from changing at all cost.’

‘But I can’t control it. It just happens.’

‘When there is a full moon you mean?’

‘Yes, I thought that is how the werewolf thing works anyway.’

‘Most of that is just what you see in the movies, however it is true that the moon as an effect on us. The full moon is what draws the wolf to the surface, the first time you change its true that you can’t control it and you never know in what period of your life it will start happening. Each person is different and so each person comes of age at different stages of their lives. But in time with a bit of practise you can learn to control it. So when there is a full moon you can choose not to change, and even choose to change when there isn’t one.’

‘So you can change right now if you wanted to?’

‘Yes.’

‘Anything else I should know?’

‘Well all the heightened senses I’m sure you’ve learnt by now. Like dogs we can hear or smell a little further than a regular human, even when we’re not in animal form. Sometimes we can sense other skin-walkers, this allows us to know who is or who isn’t, which brings me to something else you should know. We aren’t the only ones who have this ability; there are many more that have this power that has been passed down through their descendants, some who have even formed their own little tribes or gangs. And not everyone chooses to only use their power when necessarily, some use it all the time just because it’s fun, and then others who go even beyond that and use the ability to hunt or kill. Those are the ones who usually let the animal take over...not everyone has the strength to hold on to their humanity.’

Joshua was surprisingly entertained by all these stories and facts Kumai was explaining, he was even coming around to being ok with this. For the rest of the day Joshua pretty much followed Kumai around like a lost puppy while he attempted to continue with his everyday responsibilities. Kumai had said that he would teach a few things to Joshua too, like horse riding and hunting, while he stayed with them. That was something Joshua surely looked forward to, the hunting trips that he was promised he would go on.

By night fall a few natives gathered around a fire as they did the night before, only this time Joshua joined them beside Kumai. For the most part Joshua was just sat there watching the other natives socialise; they were just like the natives you see on the television Joshua thought, they all smoked while they laughed and joked about white Americans. Joshua couldn’t help but laugh himself as he watched the stereotypical natives.

Soon hours passed and Joshua got a sudden thought, he didn’t know why it hadn’t occurred to him sooner but he wanted to know about his parents. So he spoke up and asked Kumai.

‘Where are my parents, why did they give me away?’ Joshua said casually.

 ‘Believe me when I say your parents didn’t want to leave you. Your father grew up with me, we were very close and then one day he met your mother. Your mother wasn’t native, she was white, so their closeness was frowned on by our people, but eventually we learned to accept her as our own. In time she got pregnant and gave birth to you with our help. My people did their best but unfortunately your mother didn’t make it, she died giving birth to you. This next part you may find hard to believe, but your father...well your father was an outcast by then for reasons you needn’t know. He had fled his tribe before you were even born, and when you were, he snuck in and stole you. After that my tribe searched for him and finally we found him, in the forest in the town you now call home...