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Sitka had waited on pins and needles for this day. The day he would finally be a capable adult among his fellow tribesmen. Everyone was gathered around for this special moment. His special moment. “Are you ready?” Tanana asked with a glacier meltingly warm smile. “Yes! I’ve been ready all my life for this!” Sitka responded back with so much enthusiasm he would have bounced like a ball if it were possible.
He waited with baited breathe. “Your totem is the Eagle of Guidance!” Proudly stated Tanana. There was whooping and hollering around Sitka. At least, he thought there was. He couldn’t hear anything. It was a flurry of sound and numbing silence at the same time. Had Tanana made a mistake? Were the Spirits playing a joke on him? Guidance? Him? As the crowd made their way to congratulate him he plastered onto his face a forced amicable smile. He had to talk to Tanana.
Tanana had found herself in the tranquil forest after the ceremony. She knew these woods and not a sound was unbeknownst to her. So when she heard Sitka running to her before he called out her name, she indolently swiveled her head behind her. “What brings you here, my child?” She knew very well what it was. She wanted to get him talking so he could get his worries out to her faster. After stopping his feet, Sitka stayed motionless for a minute. How was he supposed to say this to her? Dare say that she had given him the wrong totem? That the great Spirits who could change the very weather, were false in their selection of his totem?
Yet, despite how illogical he knew that all was, it was on the tip of his tongue. Finally, with a massive sigh that deflated his body, he simply asked, “ How can I possibly guide anyone? When will I know that I’m doing the right thing? Let alone guide somebody else?!” His breathing was lofty and he shook with intensity as his voice began to raise in pitch. Tanana thwacked him on the head. The hit has him reel in pain. “Don’t be loud. You’ll ruin the mood.” Tanana gingerly grabbed his chin.
“I and the Spirits are never wrong. When the time comes, you’ll know.” There went that warm smile again that made Sitka weak. It was so genuine, he wanted to- no! He had to believe her. He just hoped she was right. Sitka blinked. Why was he thinking about that now of all times? Oh, right. His youngest brother, Kenai, had failed to listen to his guidance when he was alive. Now, not only was a mother bear dead with her cub forlorn, but his own brother had blood on his hands. He knew what he had to do to amend this transgression.
He looked into his eyes. Words could not describe the shock and utter disappointment he felt. If he was still alive, he would have died on the spot from his heart being crushed. He rushed into his eagle spirit form, and began to raise his youngest sibling into the air. If Kenai could not change in this form, then perhaps through the eyes of another he could empathize. He could fully understand the gravity of the situation and the consequences of his actions. Kenai was hoisted into the air and before he could hardly protest to his older brother to put him back down, he has been transformed into the thing he hated the most.
As the Spirits fled after the deed was done, Sitka couldn’t help but watch on and remember Tanana’s words. “Spirits are never wrong.” He wasn’t in the wrong for this. He couldn’t be. Not if it was for his brother’s benefit. He sighed out of worried habit. Where was Tanana’s hits when he needed it? This was the right choice. He told himself repeatedly. It was. It was. It was.