Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

February 8, 2003 - Issue 80

Thunderhawk - The Great Cross Country Adventure - Part 3

Back at the homeground Fiona had a very bad feeling. She became very emotional and as Virginia O'Malley and Penny came to help her, they tried to find out what was upsetting her. As Fiona cried and sobbed she finally began to speak in a quivering voice. She softly said that she had a horrible vision that something had happened to Paddy and Paden. Virginia and Penny tried to calm her down, but she just kept getting more upset. The feelings that she had were very overwhelming. The vision had been so real.

The other little ones gathered around because they also had became upset by Fiona's hysteria. It was very difficult because none of them had ever been this separated from their family before and to think that something horrible might be happening to any of them was awful. Unfortunately there was no way for them to know for sure if Fiona's visions was true.

Baby Shannon asked Penny, "Do you think that when someone has a vision like that about something that they can't really know is real or not, that it could be true?" Penny thought a long time before answering. Baby Shannon's little eyes were full of tears and they stared deeply into Penny's as she politely waited for an answer. Penny finally said, "Baby Shannon. The Great Creator has made all of us different. Yet, we all have times when we seem to know that something isn't as it should be, but we can't explain how we knew. Many times the feelings turn out to be true. This is made more upsetting because it seems so real, yet there won't be any way that we will be able to know anything until at the earliest the end of this coming summer. Then, if their trip has gone well, we won't know for at least a year because they will travel way out west. Baby Shannon burst into tears and Penny gently pulled her soft little head into her chest and gently rocked her back and forth in order to try to comfort her. Penny looked around at all the other little mice and saw how upset they were also. Her eyes slowly started getting wet with tears of her own. She wondered deeply, "Is Fiona right?" Then she wept.

Andrew the Apache had thrown down all of his gear and run down to the frozen river. He cried out for Paddy. The dogs also ran down and began chaotically running along the slippery riverbank barking like crazy. They too wanted to help little Paddy. Thunderhawk and Blaze flew fast and low downstream to try to get ahead of where the river's current would naturally take the little mouse. Paden didn't know what to do. He was filled with fear for his dear friend. He cried out, "Paddy! Remember Thunder Jack! Thunder Jack could never be defeated! Please Paddy! Fight!" Then Paden fell on the ground and cried uncontrollably.

Paddy was being bashed into underwater rocks by the raging current. He couldn't get any air and the bone chilling temperature of the water was quickly draining his life energy. His mind began to have vivid memories about his family. He imagined that he saw his mother, Virginia O'Malley crying and calling his name. Then he remembered the story about his hero, Thunder Jack and how Thunder Jack was able to defeat the terrible dragon Lorcan when it threatened his family and friends. Thunder Jack never gave up in any situation. Paddy didn't know if he was dreaming or if these thoughts were real. Then everything went blank for Paddy O'Malley and the terrible loud sound of the raging current faded to silence in his ears.

As Andrew the Apache ran downstream he also was trying to get ahead of where the current would take the little mouse. He knew that it was dangerous for him around the river also. The bank was icy, the river was only partially frozen in places due to the current and if he made the wrong move at the wrong time he too could be facing possible death. He instinctively called, "Paddy! Paddy! Where are you?" He knew that in a very short time Paddy O'Malley would be beyond help due to the frigid conditions.

Hawks have a great advantage over people and most other animals. Their site and hearing are far superior to that of any human and most critters as well. In this instance the hawks would have the best chance of saving little Paddy if there was any hope at all.

Blaze landed in a tree by the riverbank and began scanning the water for any sign of the little mouse. Thunderhawk flew frantically back and forth across the river surface looking for any sign of Paddy. Suddenly Blaze saw the little mouse's body wash into a swirling eddy along the riverbank next to a large boulder. She immediately launched herself into the air and flew to the spot where she had seen Paddy. As Paddy whirled around in the eddy he was just about to be taken under the ice again as Blaze struck with her talons. She tried to be gentle, but the speed needed to get to Paddy made the impact very hard. She immediately flew to Andrew the Apache and hovered next to him with her talon and Paddy extended for the human to take.

Andrew the Apache was surprised and in his eagerness to get Paddy from Blaze he slipped and fell on the ice. It knocked the wind out of him, but he was okay. Blaze simply hovered in place as she waited for the human to get Paddy from her talon. Thunderhawk had seen Blaze make the great rescue and he had flown into a nearby tree to wait for her. The dogs all ran over and were barking and Andrew the Apache yelled, "Silence!" and the dogs went silent and drooped their heads in shame.

The commotion caused Paden to look up and through his tears he saw the incredible site of the hawk holding Paddy in her talons. He screamed at the top of his lungs as he thought that the hawk was gong to eat Paddy. Then he passed out of consciousness. The whole scene had been too much for him.

As Andrew the Apache slowly got back to his feet he gently took little Paddy from Blaze. He smiled at her and nodded his head to thank her. She flew over to her mate to watch and see if Paddy could be saved.

Andrew the Apache called his dogs to lay down and put little Paddy in between two of them to try to raise his body temperature a little as he got wood together to make a fire. There was no time to waste trying to figure out if Paddy was gong to make it or not. Time was of the essence. If the little mouse was going to make it then immediate warmth and a little blessing of the Great Creator were all that could save Paddy.

Andrew the Apache tried to move quickly but conditions were not ideal for building a fire. He saw that Paden had passed out of consciousness, but that was of little concern right then. Building the fire was all that mattered.

To make matters worse, the short winter day was quickly turning to night. The fire must be built quickly! Andrew the Apache was highly skilled and even with the terrible conditions he was able to get enough dry wood together and got a fire going in a very short period of time. As the fire's heat grew strong he went over to the dogs and took little Paddy over by the warm fire. He used his buckskin pouch to serve as a soft bed for Paddy as he laid him down by the fire. Then he went to get little Paden and brought him over as well.

Darkness descended quickly. Blaze and Thunderhawk were now roosting for the night. Thunderhawk congratulated his mate on the great rescue. They both hoped for the best for the little mouse. Their eyes were fixated on Andrew the Apache and his frantic efforts to save little Paddy.

As Andrew the Apache worked to gain control of the situation he gently picked the little mouse up and stroked his head very softly. The mouse was breathing, but just barely. Andrew the Apache was rightfully concerned. The fate of the little mouse was beyond his control. He knew that he had done everything that he could and he was grateful for the help of Blaze, because without her quick action, Paddy would have already left the physical world.

As Paden began to wake up he screamed out in fear. He was completely disoriented and didn't even know where he was or what was happening. The dogs started barking and Andrew the Apache silenced them. Then he gently picked up little Paden who blinked his eyes and shook his head back and forth trying to either wake up or figure out if what he was experiencing was real or a dream.

As his eyes quickly focused he saw his friend Andrew the Apache. Paden said, "Where's Paddy? I saw a hawk trying to eat him!" Andrew the Apache slowly smiled and said that Paddy was by the fire and he was very sick. He told Paden that the hawk was actually saving his friend. Paden;'s head tilted to the side and he said, "Huh?" Andrew the Apache slowly shook his head up and down in a "yes" manner. Paden just stared at the human in disbelief and then said, "Can I see Paddy?" Then the human took Paden to see his little friend.

When Paden saw little Paddy he burst into tears. Paddy looked dead to him. He was soaked and wet and he wasn't moving. Paden jumped out of Andrew the Apache's hand and ran over to his friend. He wrapped his arms around him and cried hysterically. As tough a man as Andrew the Apache was, a tear came to his eye as well.

The mighty warrior turned his eyes towards the Heavens and asked The Great Creator to have mercy on the little mouse. As he stared at the evening sky he was amazed at the splendor and beauty of it all and what an awesome job The Great Creator had done in creating Mother Earth and the Heavens. As he breathed, his breath appeared a white cloud as it left his mouth due to the bitter cold of the crystal clear evening. He was hoping for a sign from The Great Creator that things would turn out well for Paddy. There was no sign that evening. The beautiful sky revealed nothing except its beauty.

As Andrew the Apache slowly brought his eyes back to the two mice he watched Paden cry himself to sleep tightly embracing his dear friend. The human slowly shook his head back and forth in sympathy. He went and got a blanket and gently laid it over the two little mice. One mouse was sleeping and one mouse was fighting for his life. Andrew the Apache felt a slight sense of guilt in that he had been the reason that the two little were along with him. As he looked at them and thought these things he heard a coyote howling in the distance. He thought to himself that Mother Nature has her own way of handling situations. This one was now out of his hands. He had done everything he could to save Paddy. He was also grateful for Blaze's assistance. He wondered what the morning would bring for little Paddy and the effect that the answer to his question would have on Paden and all of his loved ones back at the homeground. Then he sat down to await what the answer that the morning light would bring.

The End - Part 3

The End

Geoff Hampton is an internationally known author, speaker, motivator and business consultant. He is also the Marketing Director for Indian Voices newspaper and is a regular columnist for the wellness business Website www.fitcommerce.com. He can be reached by E-mail at GEOFFLHAMPTON@aol.com.

© 2002 Geoff Hampton

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