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Keith just stared at the Great Grandfather during the next moment of silence. Finally Keith spoke first, “The protected One? Are you referring to the Prophecy? Are you telling me that I am the Chosen One?” Keith’s eyes were big, and full of fear yet mixed with awe.

  The second Great Grandfather picked up the sacred pipe and once again begun its circular journey among them. As each Grandfather took their draw, Keith’s mind rambled through all the history stored in his brain, trying to bring up details of the Prophecy.

  Keo, being the great Story Teller, once told of this Prophecy. There was a Warrior who had served his People well. He became a Leader of Peace among the People and a Teacher of Harmony with all that surrounded the People. The very details escaped Keith for the moment, but he did remember that the Peace was at a great cost and left a scar on the Warrior’s heart.

  Keith drew four more times on the prayer pipe, again passing to the Grandfather to his left.

  The second Grandfather began his oral tribute to the Great Council, “Keith, there is a gift we want to give you. Along with it comes great responsibilities. The Mother Earth is the most precious gem and now it is ready for the People’s return. She will be your protector as well as you being Her protector. The enemy is nothing but a shadow in the past. Their’s is a destiny they will meet at another’s hand. The only enemy you will face from here on out is yourself. Remember all that was taught to you on the Solar Star Base, especially the History, the Stories!”

  The third Great Grandfather stood. He motioned to Keith to rise with Him. As Keith did so, he became captivated by the crystal blue eyes of the Father. Keith swore these eyes were piercing him and seeing into his very soul. His long gray hair was in two braids that framed his old face. The wrinkles were deep and well worn.

  The Grandfather stretched out his hand to Keith’s. Keith faithfully answered the call. As they touched hands Keith instantly realized who he was touching. The Son of the Great Spirit Himself!

  The Grandfather’s eye pierced more deeply and then suddenly Keith found himself alone with the Grandfather on a great Mountaintop. In the most strong and melodic voice, the Grandfather spoke, “Look, my son. Look at the beauty that surrounds us.”

  Keith’s eyes grew with excitement, as he took in the glorious view. His heart was pounding! Mountains across the way were covered with white snow, sparkling from the great beams of the Sun. Down the Mountain sides were the greenest fir trees and other beautiful plants, all dotted with late summer flowers. They sky above the Tops were of a crisp blue with puffs of white clouds. The songs of the Birds were all dancing in the air, and the Wind was forever moving.

  Keith felt something cold touch his hand. As he looked down to see, his eyes were locked with the bright eyes of a sleek timber wolf, whose nose rested in Keith’s hand. The wolf’s pelt was a shimmering gold and white. As Keith took his eyes away, the wolf turned and ran down the mountain with his tail waving in the air.

  Overwhelmed, Keith turned to the Father and asked, “Grandfather? What is it that makes the Birds sing? They do not sing as beautifully on the Solar Star Base.”

  As the Grandfather continued his gaze over the valley below, he answered Keith, “They have been given the gift of the wind. Just like that wolf, who ran so swiftly away, has the gift of the wind. Now, I am here to give you the gift of the wind. You, Man of the Wind.” The Grandfather moved his eyes across the valley and up the Mountains across the way.

  Again the Grandfather spoke, “What you see now was once destroyed by the hands of People just like yourself. They were humans, but unlike you, their egos overtook their souls and greed became an obsession. All of these things are enemies from within.” The Grandfather thumped his chest twice with the last remark. “Those People no longer cared about the natural balance or the original instructions that were given them. Only Mother Earth can paint this sight. As you can see now, She has blessed the People with another chance. You shall become a Child of the Earth. You will learn swiftly like the wind. You shall produce children and teach them the ways of long ago. Together, you all shall become the new/old People of the Earth.”

  The crystal blue eyes of the Father clouded up as he took in a heavy sigh and concluded, “Remember, whatever befalls the Earth shall also befall the Children of the Earth.”

  With the last word spoken, Keith found himself back in the circle on the floor of the council. Once again the pipe was stoked and passed in the circle. This time the fourth Great Grandfather spoke.

  As the words began to flow out of the hardly moving lips of the Great Grandfather, the air in the Lodge began to stir. “You have the knowledge of the devastation that was once Mother Earth. Those are stories Keo always made sure his children heard. The Star Peoples’ purpose was to aide in the renewal of what was so brutally destroyed. The People of your Solar Star Base have done this. Mother Earth is now ready to take her Children back to her bosoms. It will be your honor to teach the Way to the Grandchildren, seven generations down, so the People will never have to leave Mother Earth’s arms again.”

  The Grandfather broke for a moment to wipe the tears that began to track down his cheeks. It was not long before he began again, “There is this pain I must always live with in my heart. I have witnessed the streams, once so clear and full of life, and then to be full of poison created by people with egos bigger than their head. There would be all kinds of animals laying dead by the stream - they were only thirsty. And the air was once so pure, and blue beyond compare - then hideous sick yellow clouds surfed on the winds and became the air in the lungs. All the plants and trees suffered. The People were so blind by the enemy within, that they could not see that they were destroying themselves. And to have the attitude that people can destroy Mother Earth is naive. Why, Mother Earth is very capable of destroying us like you and I were a scab on our own skin. There must be respect for Mother Earth, and for the Great Spirit. That is all I have to say.”

  As the pipe was lit one more time and journeyed the circle, Keith began to understand the Honor bestowed upon him by these highly regarded Holy Spirits of the past.

  Keo handed the pipe to Keith and spoke, “I sense that you have reached an acceptance of your destiny? I knew the day your were born what was to be your fate. I have taught you many useful tools for the journey yet ahead. Your Father and Mother will be very proud of you. Your Spirit is a strong one - much like that of your Mother’s.”

  “Mother”, said Keith, “I have not thought about her for many years. I am still sadden not to have known her.”

  “Look inside yourself and you will see her. Come let us leave now”. As they left the Lodge everything turned to the gray mist from before. Keith turned to speak to Keo and found no one there. Instead he found himself lying on the ground looking up through the tree branches at the crisp blue sky. Keith laid there for some time watching the wind move the clouds and dance with the leaves on the trees.

  Chapter 4