Soul of Storm: The Thunderbird Legacy, #3

Chapter 1

"Ivy? Ivy, wake up."

My eyes fluttered open; my vision was blurry. Where was I? I blinked until the world came into focus.

I saw Gabe’s face hovering over me. The sun was rising behind him, forming a halo around his blond hair and reflecting off the sides of his glasses. Above us, the leaves shimmered on the birch tree, one of my favorites along the path to Nimiki Bluff. It almost seemed like the tree was trying to communicate with me.

Then I remembered everything—my night at the bluff, the vision quest, and all I had learned. I must’ve fainted on the walk home. Physically I felt weak and tired, but my spirit wanted to run and laugh. We had hope now. Hope. It buzzed inside me like my own electrical storm.

Gabe, I whispered. He was here, the person I wanted to talk to the most. I smiled at the thought of my news, the best news in forever. I couldn’t wait to tell him. Gabe, I know where the amulet is.

He’d been leaning forward, maybe to check my pulse, but my words stopped him. His eyes, dark blue in the shadows of his face, widened in surprise. What? How? Where is it?

The amulet—it would change everything. The thousand-year curse on the Thunder Clan. Our war against the Great Horned Serpent. Gabe’s looming death because I’d fallen in love with him.

I struggled to sit up, clinging to his shoulder for support as fatigue weighed me down. I couldn’t afford to be this tired on a day of destiny. What day is it? Do we have school?

It’s Wednesday, April 4th. He glanced at his watch. School starts in less than an hour.

As much as I wanted to simultaneously sleep and go after the amulet, I couldn’t miss yet another day of school. Three missed days was bad enough. We better hurry. I’ll explain everything on the way to school. He helped me to my feet, and I noticed he didn’t have shoes on. Where are your shoes?

I ran out the door without them. I saw Jonas drive by my house right before I came looking for you.

I tried to drag my brain out of the hopeful future and concentrate on this troublesome present. Where could Jonas have gone? The only logical answer turned my inner storm into a tornado. He must’ve looked in my room, found me missing, and went searching for me.

The sun rose higher as we hurried down the lane. Gabe was right next to me, his hand hovering near my elbow in case I decided to pass out again. His presence seemed to bring me strength, because I didn’t stumble once.

We reached the house to find Jonas’ truck still gone. We went in the back door to the porch, and I stripped off my coat, hat, gloves, and boots. I had to get my cell phone out of my room, call Jonas, and explain that I was okay. But when I got into the kitchen, I found a note from Jonas. He’d gone to the store to get me medicine.

I slumped against the counter. So Jonas didn’t know I was gone. Stranger yet, he was out buying me medicine in case I was still sick. Who was this considerate man suddenly acting like my father?

No time to dwell on it. Gabe, ready the chariot!

He was good at interpreting crazy talk. I’ll go get the truck… and some shoes.

I took a hot shower to warm myself up, then got dressed as quickly as possible. This day of destiny called for jeans and a soft teal shirt that Dan had picked out for me at Goodwill. I spared ten seconds to look in the mirror. My long brown hair was dripping, and I had the maniacal look of someone with zero sleep jacked up on adrenaline. My eyes . . . were they getting brighter? As if my yellow eyes hadn’t been weird enough already.

Frowning, I slipped on my tinted glasses, grabbed my backpack, and hoofed it to the kitchen. I was filling my hands and pockets with breakfast-on-the-go—toast, juice, apple, banana—when Jonas walked in the back door.

He stopped in surprise. Feeling well enough for school?

Yep, I said through a mouthful of toast.

I got you this, he said, setting down a bottle of pink medicinal liquid, but it looks like you don’t need it.

No, but thank you. I shoved the rest of the toast in my mouth. From outside came the honk of a horn. I mumbled a goodbye, but Jonas grabbed the strap of my bag to hold me back.

You sure you’re okay? he asked. You look.… He trailed off, not finishing the sentence. Something about his expression made me falter. Maybe it was his intense dark eyes, or his unusual focus, or how he suddenly reminded me of my grandfather, Walter. For whatever reason, goosebumps formed on my arms.

I turned away, gulping the juice and setting the glass on the counter with a shaky hand. Yeah, Dad, I’m okay.

The D-word seemed to break his trance. He let go of my bag, and I ran for the front door.

A few seconds later, I jumped into the passenger seat of Gabe’s truck. He was wearing the same jeans and blue t-shirt as earlier, but now he also had on tennis shoes. I expected him to slam on the gas pedal before I even shut the door—that’s how late we were—but he just sat there, staring at me.

What? I swiped a hand across my lips in case I had a juice stain or toast crumbs or something.

Gabe opened his mouth, closed it, opened it, closed it. He adjusted his glasses and ran a hand through his hair. Then he glanced at the clock and slammed the truck into gear.

Holy vow of silence, why was I robbing everyone of speech this morning? At this rate, the day of destiny would become the day of quietude.

We have to hurry, Gabe said, which couldn’t have been the momentous thing he’d wanted to say. We still have to pick up the guys.

I nearly fumbled the apple I was pulling out of my pocket. Don’t they know we’re running late? Why didn’t Dan just pick up Cal?

When I told them you were coming to school, they wanted to ride with us, even if it meant being late. Gabe’s eyes flicked to me, then back to the road. I was becoming more adept at reading his looks. This one meant: You’ve gotta whole lotta explaining to do.

In my excitement about the vision quest, I’d almost forgotten the past two days. Dan and Cal now knew that I’d fallen in love with Gabe and accidentally created a life-threatening Spark. I’d told them all I was returning to my childhood home in Broadlands, hoping the distance might break the curse that held Gabe’s life in a trap. Dan had been upset, and Gabe had barged out of my room like he might never talk to me again.

Yet he’d come looking for me this morning. Had he changed his mind and decided to say goodbye to me? Or did he have some other motive?

How did you know where to find me this morning? That seemed safer than the question I really wanted to ask: Why did you come?

I felt you were in danger.

This had happened once before, when I’d stood at the edge of the cliff and nearly jumped. But that had been a life-or-death situation. This morning I’d fainted from exhaustion, or hunger, or maybe dehydration—take your pick. Would Gabe now get notified via magical tracking system every time I swooned?

Before I could ask, we were pulling into Cal’s driveway. He waited for us in front of his yellow house, the sunlight turning his hair to auburn flame. He wore blue jeans and a faded green flannel shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

I opened the passenger door, planning to move to the backseat with Cal like we usually did. Cal was in such a hurry that he jumped inside and pushed me to the middle—right up against Gabe’s side. Gabe and I both went rigid.

Oh, please, Cal said, closing the door. No need to pretend anymore that you two don’t love each other. You’re both terrible at hiding it.

I gaped at him. Was this how life would be from now on? Complete transparency? I couldn’t look at Gabe or think of anything to say, so I took a huge bite of apple. Cowardly avoidance at its best. Yet touching Gabe felt so good. That was part of our curse—a desperate need to be close to each other at all times.

So what did I miss? Cal said, not at all fazed by the grenade he’d launched. Monday you said you were leaving, and yesterday you said you were sick. Now here you are, going to school like nothing happened.

Swallowing, I said, Let’s wait for Dan. I only want to explain this once.

But you’re definitely not leaving, right? Cal asked.

No, I’m not.

I both felt and heard Gabe exhale. Cal started grinning like he’d never stop. I grabbed his arm and squeezed. Day of destiny, my friend. Day. Of. Destiny.

Cal giggled like a little boy, which made me giggle. Gabe sighed like an old man.

A moment later we stopped at Dan’s small gray house. It was convenient that we all lived within a couple miles of each other, especially on days like this.

Dan busted out the front door, slinging his bag onto his shoulder. He wore black jeans faded to gray and a silver vintage t-shirt. With his blue-tipped spiked hair and black feather earring, he looked like a parent’s worst nightmare.

He opened the passenger door, used to sitting shotgun. Well, isn’t this cozy, he drawled.

Get in the back, Gabe said. We’re late.

Really? I hadn’t noticed. Dan scowled and climbed in the back, slamming the door shut. As soon as he was inside, Gabe peeled out of the driveway and accelerated down the road.

Anyone care to inform me of the latest drama? Dan asked.

I took a deep breath. Not knowing whether to look at the boy on my left, the boy on my right, or the boy behind me, I compromised by staring out the windshield. Last night I went on a vision quest.

Gabe’s chest expanded so much I feared he might break a rib. You were at Nimiki Bluff all night? Why didn’t you— He broke off, but this time I knew the question burning his tongue. He wondered why I hadn’t brought him or at least told him I was going.

I had to go alone. I glanced sideways at his clenched jaw. You know that’s how the vision quests were always done. I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up in case it didn’t work.

"But it did work?" Cal asked eagerly.

Yes. I saw Walter.

A shocked silence wrapped around the boys, leaving only the hum of the engine as we entered Galena’s town limits.

We had maybe five minutes before we reached the school, so I tried to hastily explain everything from the quest: communicating with the trees, finding Walter’s spirit, meeting the Thunderbird, and seeing a native girl from a thousand years ago. I hoped I wasn’t forgetting anything. The details of the quest were getting fuzzier as time went by.

She led me to a cave below the edge of the cliff. She told me to find the cave in the real world, and then I would discover the amulet. I leaned back against the seat and waited for their reactions. Most people would’ve called me a liar or a mental patient or a teller of tall tales. But these three boys were honorary members of the Thunder Clan, and we’d been through a lot together. We were way past the point of secrets and doubts.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t Gabe who spoke first, but Dan. When are we going after the amulet? His voice held grim determination.

Right after school, I answered, feeling a surge of gratitude. We were strongest when together, and I couldn’t imagine doing any of this without them.

*****

School was never all sunshine and rainbows, but this day was worse than normal. I’d missed three days of school because of Walter’s death and my fake illness, so I was behind in all my classes. The teachers stared at me with sympathetic eyes and whispered their condolences, which made me squirm with uneasiness. The students watched me from the corners of their eyes, as if looking full on would transfer my grief to them.

I didn’t want these reminders of Walter’s death. I wanted to remember him as I’d seen him during my vision quest—young and healthy and reunited with my grandmother, Iva. I wondered if they were watching me now and praying I’d find the amulet.

At lunch, the boys bombarded me with questions, and I did my best to answer them. They needed to be prepared for whatever we might find in that cave. If only I knew how to prepare myself.

The day dragged on until finally, finally, school was done.

For once, the circumstances were in our favor. Dan’s mom, Pam, was working a twelve-hour nurse’s shift, so she wouldn’t even know he was gone. Cal’s parents were used to him going to my house, and they agreed without suspicion when he called them. The vet clinic didn’t have any appointments scheduled for the evening, so Gabe was free to go. Jonas was gone on a farm job and wouldn’t be home until dark. I didn’t believe in coincidence or good luck. I chose to believe these were signs from God that the time to go after the amulet was now.

Gabe, however, believed otherwise. You just finished a vision quest. You’re tired and rundown. Wouldn’t it be safer to wait until tomorrow so you’re operating at full strength?

The four of us were in Gabe’s truck, driving up the long lane to Nimiki Bluff. Storm clouds were gathering overhead—another good sign.

I don’t need full strength to walk into a cave. I sounded cocky even to my own ears, but I was still riding on a joyful high. Besides, I’ve been waiting ten months to find the amulet. I’m not waiting another day.

Gabe frowned with clear disapproval as he parked the truck in the empty lot. I opened the passenger door before he could lecture me.

Dan jumped out of the back seat, landing right next to me. That brings up another question. Why didn’t you go on a vision quest ten months ago if that’s all you needed to find the amulet?

I hesitated too long. Gabe and Cal gathered around us to hear my answer. A belated excuse would be an obvious lie to all. I couldn’t see any other choice but to tell them the truth.

I couldn’t go on a vision quest until.… The rest of my words were so muffled the guys didn’t understand them.

Until what? Dan asked.

I tried to swallow my pride and nearly choked on it. I became a woman, I said again, louder this time.

Dan made a sound like someone had just performed the Heimlich maneuver on him. "You had sex?" His angry eyes flashed to Gabe.

Heat scorched my face. "If sex is how you plan on becoming a man, I hope you’re not holding your breath."

Dan glared at me. Not funny.

So get your head out of the gutter, ‘k? You know me better than that.

He crossed his arms. If you’re not talking about sex, then what are you talking about?

I slapped my hand against my forehead. Don’t tell me you need a brochure on puberty?

He gagged, holding up his hands to ward off my explanation. "Oh, that? Spare me the bloody details."

Gladly! Steaming, I turned away from Dan—and finally realized that Gabe and Cal were gawking at me, shell-shocked.

I groaned. C’mon, guys, it’s just puberty. You’ve all started the process too, you know. I’m the only one late to the game.

Dan snorted. Now you’re an expert on male puberty?

"You would be too if you’d been listening during Health class instead of staring at Cassandra’s legs, I snapped. There’s a whole list of symptoms for boys. You can tell that Gabe is further along in the process because his voice doesn’t crack anymore, and he has more facial hair. Cal is still in the early stages."

Cal winced, and I regretted saying anything. Gabe scratched his stubbled face uncomfortably.

Wait a minute, Dan said, dread creeping into his voice. "Is that why you chose Gabe for the Spark? Because he’s the most pubescent?"

A noise like a growl came out of Gabe, and my face burned even hotter. "I didn’t choose Gabe for the Spark. It wasn’t a conscious decision."

So who decides? The Thunderbird? Maybe she picked Gabe because he’s the most Indian-like. He’s a hunter, he knows a lot about nature, and he’s strong. It guarantees a good bloodline—survival of the fittest, and all that. Or maybe she picked him because he hit puberty first, so he’s the most likely to knock you up. That’s all the Thunderbird cares about—

Gabe surged forward and grabbed Dan by the shirt collar, yanking him close until they were nose to nose. Shut up! You don’t know what you’re talking about.

And you do? Dan took Gabe’s wrists and twisted them, breaking the hold.

Cal and I rushed in to separate them. I put my hands on Gabe’s chest and pushed him backwards. You don’t need to fight my battles. To Dan I said, And you don’t need to provoke him.

Gabe’s chest muscles were tensed under my fingers. That was a little too distracting for me, so I dropped my hands. We have to work together. Can I count on you guys?

They nodded sullenly.

I sighed. Let’s go, Thunder Clan. We have an amulet to find.

Chapter 2

The sky seemed to darken with every step we took down the trail. I pulled my hair back in a low ponytail to keep the wind from whipping it in my face. The sweet, pungent smell of the approaching storm overwhelmed the usual scents of the prairie and the trees. Ozone tickled my nose and filled my lungs. I didn’t see any lightning yet, but I felt the buzz of electricity in my blood.

I led the boys to the edge of the cliff. Spread out, I told them. Look for a small ledge, maybe ten or fifteen feet down.

We crawled through the grass and peered over the cliff. The rock wall below looked different than it had in my vision. The slope now seemed steeper, with fewer plants and trees dotting the hillside. At the very bottom, about seventy feet down, the railroad tracks formed the backbone of the forest.

Is this it? Dan called from nearby.

I hurried over and dropped to my knees beside him. With my hands biting into the rocks, I carefully leaned over the edge. About fifteen feet below us was the small rock ledge, looking just like it had in my vision. Yes, I whispered, clapping Dan on the shoulder. Good eyes.

Cal and Gabe crowded near us to see the ledge. "You’re supposed to land on that? Gabe said. What if it crumbles under your weight? It’s probably deteriorated in the past thousand years."

I swallowed hard. Thank you, Mr. Worst Case Scenario, but why would the Thunderbird lead me to certain death?

Gabe frowned, and I got the impression he wasn’t a big fan of the Thunderbird. I have some rope in the back of my truck. We can secure one end around a tree and rappel down to the ledge. He took off running before I could protest.

In the dream, I climbed down by myself, I grumbled. If I had it my way, I’d walk into the cave, grab the amulet, and march out triumphantly. The boys would wait here to celebrate with me.

Cal draped an arm over my shoulders. Ivy, we want to help if we can.

You’re not in dreamland anymore, Dan said. This is harsh reality, and like it or not, we’re going with you.

We locked eyes, and I became very aware of the wind around us. The storm seemed to be reflected in his dark brown eyes. I’d been noticing a lot of intensity from him throughout the day, but I had no idea why.

I gave a curt nod. Knowing my luck, I would need them as backup in the cave.

Gabe returned with the rope, and he tied one end around a nearby oak. Then he tossed the rest of the rope over the cliff. The bottom end dangled just past the ledge. I picked up the rope and got a firm grip with both hands.

I’ll go first and test the ledge, Gabe said, trying to take the rope from me.

I pulled the rope back. Only one of us can fit on the ledge, and that door needs my hand to open it. So I have to go first.

Gabe could easily win our tug-of-war if he wanted to, but he had no hope of changing my mind on this issue. He must’ve known that by studying my face, because he sighed and relinquished his grip. Hold the rope until you’re inside the cave. And please… be careful.

His words and expression were so concerned that I felt a sudden urge to kiss him. Though to be honest, my urges to kiss Gabe were never far off. Judging by the way his eyes trailed down to my mouth, he was feeling a similar urge.

Cal cleared his throat. Um, guys? Sometime today would be good. 

Startled, I turned away. Cal had a little smile on his face, but Dan looked ready to strangle someone with the rope. I made a big show of getting situated at the edge of the cliff, trying to hide my red cheeks.

The wind howled at my back, and a few drops of rain splattered on my skin. Gabe stood near the tree, ready to grab the rope in case the knot didn’t hold. Cal and Dan lingered at the edge to watch my progress.

With both hands gripping the rope, I took the first step down. It was tricky to balance—feet on the rocks, leaning way back, walking down the cliff wall. The rough bristles of the rope threatened to rub my palms raw as I lowered myself hand over hand.

Plant your feet, move your hands, two steps down, plant your feet… I repeated the words in my head, as well as the occasional Don’t look down! The hardest part was not getting distracted by the seventy feet of open air below me.

I stepped on a patch of moss and slipped. I yelped as my weight dragged my hands down, flaring pain into my skin.

Get your footing! Dan called down to me.

I kicked my legs desperately. My toes brushed the cliff—once, twice—before my body swung too far away. My hands slipped again, making me gasp. My arms trembled with the effort to hold on.

No, put your feet on the rope! Dan said.

Of course. Ivy, you idiot. I squeezed my legs around the rope and tried to get leverage with my feet. It helped a little, taking some pressure off my hands.

Risking a glance down, I saw the ledge was only a few feet away, but farther than the jump I’d made in my dream. Could I make it? I wanted to get closer to be sure.

Situating my legs the best I could, I tried lowering myself. With a cry, I lost my grip on the rope and fell. Someone called from above, but the wind snatched the sound from my ears.

My feet slammed into the ledge—knees buckled. I scrabbled at the vines hanging in front of me. The first vine tore free, tilting me sideways. The second vine held fast. I slumped against the rocks, my whole body shaking.

Ivy Nimiki! Gabe bellowed. Are you hurt?

My pulse felt like thunder in my ears. I tried to catch my breath and evaluate myself. My left ankle throbbed—I must’ve turned it when I landed on the ledge. Even worse was the pain in my hands, which were slick with blood. I didn’t dare look at them, fearing I would faint and tumble off the ledge. I squeezed my eyes shut.

I’m fine, I shouted blindly. The wind sucked up the lie and spit it back out, causing it to echo around me.

I’m coming down there, Gabe yelled back.

That snapped my eyes open. I had to get out of the way before he landed on me. I pushed myself up on trembling legs and swept