school. You look… different when we’re outside.”
Ana wondered, was she that transparent to everyone? Or was he that observant? Chance seemed to understand her well for someone she just met. She liked being understood.
Suddenly, it felt as if an invisible band compressing her chest had burst. Air rushed into her lungs and her heart beat like a mustang running free. Joy trickled through her willowy body, a smile played at her lips.
They sat in silence, observing nature. Ana decided to ask Chance something that had stayed on her mind, “I wondered how you know so much about my necklace? The Thunderbird?”
Chance turned to her and she met his clouded eyes. Taking a deep breath, he took a minute before speaking, “From my grandfather, really. He’s taught me a lot. He’s from a direct line of Navajo shamans or medicine men and lived on a reservation until he was a teenager. He’s taught me a lot about his life and the old traditions.”
“That’s pretty cool-I bet he has plenty of stories. Can you tell me more about the Thunderbird? What’s its story?” she prompted him, fascinated.
“He told me the Thunderbird is a revered bird to the Navajo. And other cultures. It’s supposed to be a large magical bird that protects the tribe from evil. It’s said it rides on the wings of a storm. And when it cries out, lightning’s heard.” Chance’s steadfast eyes found Ana’s with a mixture of unreadable emotions. One thing she could see was the fact he was holding something back. There was more to the story. But what?
Ana pulled out the small silver pendant from under her shirt. An arrow sat beneath the symbol of the bird.
“Do you know what the arrow means?”
Chance gazed again at the silver pendant, his brow wrinkling. “The arrow…it symbolizes protection. The Thunderbird and arrow are seen as good luck and a good omen-happiness.”
I could use a little of that-happiness and good luck , she thought. She held it within her fingertips feeling the metal warming at her touch, imagining some of its fortune passing into her.
She studied Chance while he stared at the horizon. Dark hair moved over his head in short waves and she fought the urge to run her fingers through it, to feel how soft it was. Bronze skin framed the canvas of his face, his vivid eyes a brilliant umber in the light and following his strong jaw line down his throat, she noticed a thin leather band.
“What are you wearing?” she asked, moving her hand toward his neck and stopping short, unsure about touching his skin.
He pulled out a small silver pendant attached to the worn leather strip that was in the shape of a bear. An arrow ran along the center of its body, down through the heart. “It’s something Grandfather gave me. It was his. He said it’s called the bear heartline. The arrow down the middle shows what you allow into your heart from the outside world will affect you. Moving you toward good or evil. A kind of protector,” he shrugged. “Known for its power, strength and healing abilities. A leader.”
“It’s nice.” Ana smiled at him thoughtfully.
“You know, you’re the first person I’ve taken here,” she ventured, a rose blush settling on her cheeks. She had been battling with herself over and over, trying to remember why she had avoided boys for so long. It was so much better being with him, than alone. Like a stone dropping into a well, the realization sank down into the pool of her soul.
Ana took a deep breath, and acknowledged the time. “Well, we still need to take some photographs. Do you want to go explore a little?”
Chance jumped to his feet like a cat, holding his hand out to help Ana. She accepted his hand as he pulled her upright.
“Where do you think we should go? The field?” Ana asked facing the firs.
“If you’d like, I can lead us. I think it could be good this way,” he said pointing at an opening between two towering fir trees. “Maybe we can explore down in the field next
Ana wondered, was she that transparent to everyone? Or was he that observant? Chance seemed to understand her well for someone she just met. She liked being understood.
Suddenly, it felt as if an invisible band compressing her chest had burst. Air rushed into her lungs and her heart beat like a mustang running free. Joy trickled through her willowy body, a smile played at her lips.
They sat in silence, observing nature. Ana decided to ask Chance something that had stayed on her mind, “I wondered how you know so much about my necklace? The Thunderbird?”
Chance turned to her and she met his clouded eyes. Taking a deep breath, he took a minute before speaking, “From my grandfather, really. He’s taught me a lot. He’s from a direct line of Navajo shamans or medicine men and lived on a reservation until he was a teenager. He’s taught me a lot about his life and the old traditions.”
“That’s pretty cool-I bet he has plenty of stories. Can you tell me more about the Thunderbird? What’s its story?” she prompted him, fascinated.
“He told me the Thunderbird is a revered bird to the Navajo. And other cultures. It’s supposed to be a large magical bird that protects the tribe from evil. It’s said it rides on the wings of a storm. And when it cries out, lightning’s heard.” Chance’s steadfast eyes found Ana’s with a mixture of unreadable emotions. One thing she could see was the fact he was holding something back. There was more to the story. But what?
Ana pulled out the small silver pendant from under her shirt. An arrow sat beneath the symbol of the bird.
“Do you know what the arrow means?”
Chance gazed again at the silver pendant, his brow wrinkling. “The arrow…it symbolizes protection. The Thunderbird and arrow are seen as good luck and a good omen-happiness.”
I could use a little of that-happiness and good luck , she thought. She held it within her fingertips feeling the metal warming at her touch, imagining some of its fortune passing into her.
She studied Chance while he stared at the horizon. Dark hair moved over his head in short waves and she fought the urge to run her fingers through it, to feel how soft it was. Bronze skin framed the canvas of his face, his vivid eyes a brilliant umber in the light and following his strong jaw line down his throat, she noticed a thin leather band.
“What are you wearing?” she asked, moving her hand toward his neck and stopping short, unsure about touching his skin.
He pulled out a small silver pendant attached to the worn leather strip that was in the shape of a bear. An arrow ran along the center of its body, down through the heart. “It’s something Grandfather gave me. It was his. He said it’s called the bear heartline. The arrow down the middle shows what you allow into your heart from the outside world will affect you. Moving you toward good or evil. A kind of protector,” he shrugged. “Known for its power, strength and healing abilities. A leader.”
“It’s nice.” Ana smiled at him thoughtfully.
“You know, you’re the first person I’ve taken here,” she ventured, a rose blush settling on her cheeks. She had been battling with herself over and over, trying to remember why she had avoided boys for so long. It was so much better being with him, than alone. Like a stone dropping into a well, the realization sank down into the pool of her soul.
Ana took a deep breath, and acknowledged the time. “Well, we still need to take some photographs. Do you want to go explore a little?”
Chance jumped to his feet like a cat, holding his hand out to help Ana. She accepted his hand as he pulled her upright.
“Where do you think we should go? The field?” Ana asked facing the firs.
“If you’d like, I can lead us. I think it could be good this way,” he said pointing at an opening between two towering fir trees. “Maybe we can explore down in the field next
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