2 The Tribe

"Sherley, can you slow down or I'm driving it!", Mike yells

"Dad, Nana is not well and the only thing I want right now is to see her. Owh, I forget to update you guys that I'm coming back once Nana's fine. Till that I'm staying there. Don't worry about my job, I've handle it."

"Your daughter is one stubborn brat I tell you dear….why can't you act normal? The reason why we don't let you to stay with you grandmother cause your getting flown away with their stories which is not real…"

Christine frown towards Mike while he just smiles. On the other side, John was busy with his video games.

" You're surely a weirdo sis! Believing in that, so back dated. Can't even digest it, hahahaha", Rachel mocked her.

Rachel just three year younger then her, and she's still in college. She always boast about Mike's business and plans to take over it. Rachel and Shirley, they are far in characters as they live in two different worlds. Rachel and John looked more like Mike, even Christine doesn't have that thick look as Nana. Only Sherley had exactly her Nana look, more like Native American tribe.

"Mike…..Rachel…can both of you stop it! Stop mocking about my family history, whether its still exists or not….you don't have to decide it. I have decided not to follow the tradition anymore and that is the reason I'm at London….", Christine says in a sharp tone.

" Sorry dear….Rachel cut it out…no more of this topic…we are heading to see your grandmother today and will heading back tomorrow morning", Mike says as he winks at his second daughter.

Christine studies in London and there is where she met Mike and both of them fell in love. They married and settled down there. Although her family history are from Native American tribes, but she doesn't look like them much, its just her skin colour and she decides not to follow their customs since she was a teenager. Her parents didn't force her. When her dad passed away, that is when she always visited her mother since she is all alone.

Christine always gets worried when she thinks about her elder daughter. She looks exactly like one of her family and she is also obsessed with the family tradition and believes. Christine had no idea where she gets this from, but her relationship with Nana is close, closer then her…and that worries her too much….worries that her daughter will get carried away with their family history.

A lot of untold stories that Christine knew, but she choose to ignore it as many generations had passed and its still impossible for the myths and legends to be real in centuries like this. One thing that Christine is sure about, seeing her daughter obsessed with wolves, family tradition and also their tradition lifestyle, she is prepared to give the freedom of her daughter to choose it, just like Christine's parents did. She was the only child in the family and her parents didn't stop her to study abroad as well marry with Mike.

A sudden break makes Christine come back to where she was

"God's grace! Sherley!", Christines yells at her

"Sorry, there's a deer in a middle of the road….not my fault you see…"

"That is why I asked you to drive slowly", Mike added

"Sorry…okay…just a few minutes we will be there….just wanted to reach before its dark…" Sherley sighs.

As they reached, Hanska was sitting in on a chair outside the house. Hanska lived a few meters away from Nana's house. It's a small village where all the villagers are friendly and their bonding with their neighbours are more like blood related even its not. The villagers over her are a part of the Native American tribe. Many of them had went abroad and only few are here.

The relationship with each other makes Sherley to adore more, where there is more love and humanity over here. That is the reason her mother is so brave to leave Nana over here alone, cause if anything happens, these villagers will give company to her.

I rushed into the house straight to Nana's room. She was there bed resting and I hugged her as soon my eyes met hers. I was so afraid to lose her. We were so close and she is the one whom I really inspire in my life. The beauty of this culture where my mom doesn't knows how to adore it, even my dad didn't. Only Nana guide me and because of her alive, I'm glad I still can come to this place.

"Dear….nothing happened…I'm fine…I will be fine with some herbs. Later the village shaman will come and look at it….", Nana speaks as she rub my back

"Nana, why don't you come with us to visit the doctor then I will send you back here….why do you still rely on the shaman…." I really worried about her.

"Your Nana is stubborn as you….she only trust the shaman and don't worry….she will be fine", Christine says as she hugs her mother.

" Lucky that we have Hanska and his family….Thanks a lot Hanska for taking care of mom while we are not here…", Christine told as Hanska walks in

"No big deal Christine…its our pleasure plus Nana is more like our family as well. Don't you worry…all of the villagers wont leave Nana alone…", Hanska smiled

Hanska looked more like the real Native American tribe. His muscular bodies with tattoos at most of the part of his bodies. The villagers over here works by their own. They grow their own plants and they fish to by the nearby river over here.

As we gathered around Nana talking, a tall women approaches us. Her eyes is green and she has the prettiest smile I would say. Its Rose, Hanska wife. About her, I don't know much but I remember that once Rose told me that Hanska saved her life while she was about to drown in the river. She came her as a study tour regarding the nature and she slipped into the river. The moment she met Hanska she fell in love with him. Rose is from Canada, and her parents didn't agree her to marry Hanska, because of his career and they claims that she wont have any future. Rose didn't care about it and she was sure of her decision, and now she's here with Hanska happily, gifted with two sons.

"All of you must be pretty tired from the long ride plus I hear that all of you will be going back to London tomorrow morning…why don't you get a hot shower first. I've prepared dinner for everyone. We'll have together!", Rose approached us with a cheerful tone

"Urmm…Rose…I'm staying here until Nana's fine…no matter how long it takes….it's just that the rest are going back"

"Yes Mom, Sherley staying with you…just take care of here will you Rose, from making trouble…you know how she behaves", Christine chuckles as she speaks to them

I just ignored what my mom said. She always call me a wild girl for running into the woods, climbing trees and swims in the river. She says that I'm always careless for listening to my hearts always. But Nana always ask me to do that…she sees me in a different way…inspiring me.

The vibration of my phones aware me. The screen shows Theresa name on it. Picked her call and I walked to the front of the house.

"Hey there….Nana's fine…she told me that the shaman will be here tomorrow and sorry for the rush, but I've completed every part of mine in the office. I even told this to our head, she's aware of my situation."

"No need for the sorry….its just Darren is so worried about you…his quite annoying you know…hahaha", Theresa laughed like a jerk over the other side.

"Hmmph….saw his text but no mood in replying…his a nice guy its just I looked him as a friend not more then that…"

"Heh…friend to love….you might like him one day you know Sher…", Theresa teased me over there

"Naaahhh….his not my choice….you know what I'm like more too…a love where you will feel the bond and his not that…it never sparks me…hey….I got to go…my stomach is growling…need to feed it..catch you later and just update me if there's anything"

"Sure…just take care of yourself Sher….and regarding the tour…will catch up later when Nana is fine", Theresa said calmly and hangs up.

She is a kind of girl who really understands me and she doesn't look me weird for following Nana's tradition. Perhaps she calls me unique for following the culture and customs.

After a hot shower, headed to the kitchen. Everyone was there except for me. Out of nowhere, a guy punched my arm and smiled.

"Heyya….long time no see uh", Chayton gleams at me

"Heyyyyyy…..it hurts you idiot!"

Chayton just laughed and took a plate. I just settled down beside him.

"Hey Sher, how are you doing?", Chatan asked

"Yeah I'm good and you?"

Chatan just nodded his head with a warm smile. He does not talk much as I know, not as talkative as Chayton. Both of them are sons to Rose and Hanska. Chatan the elder and Chayton the next. Chayton and me are the same as age. We grew up together and used to play since we were young.

Chayton is my best friend over here. He brings me everywhere in the village and we get along well together. It feels like to be in real home when I'm at Nana's place. These people really make me comfortable.

Chayton and Chatan have the best brotherhood relationship. They will back up each other. Not like mine, minding their own business and they call me weirdo. Chayton and Chatan never study abroad, they decide to stay here and follow their father's work. It's a nice life actually, having a quality time with family and the bond grew stronger. Its just like no one leaves your side forever. The family treat me as one of theirs, especially Chatan, he really protect me as own sister. I'm glad to found these peoples actually. Thanks to Nana. Without her, I wouldn't knew any of them.

"Hey new tattoo on the arm eh Chayton, wow…its an eagle"

" Yeah…got it last week…you should have one you know…", he says as he winked his eyes

"I don't think it's a good idea kids…"Mike interrupted before I could answer.

"Ergggghhhh...", I just growled as I stand up and put away the plate to wash

"Opps…wrong timing I guess", Chaytan says as he too moved away from the kitchen

"Its her right Mike….she is one of us….she's in the tribe…that's our family history you know…as a Native American one will tattooed according to which spirit they are bond to…and we encourage our children to follow their hearts. Sherley is just a nice girl.." Nana said as she looked at mom.

I looked at mom and she sighed.

"Okay guys, its bed time…off you go…Rachel…John…we need to move in the morning", Christine says with a sharp tone

Nana start to speak when both of them where gone.

"I'm aware that Sherley choose to learn our tradition even when you choose not to Christine. You should not control here with her decision and I and your father didn't did that to you. You were free to do and choose your own path", she told as she looked at dad

Mike sighed and nodded, understanding what was Nana trying to say as he looked at me.

"Ermmm…guys…I think Nana should rest…Nana come on you need to get to bed early…we're done cleaning up the dishes…",

"We too will be heading back….do call us if you need anything Mike…Christine…Nana should really rest…boys shall we?", Hanska said

They nodded and together with Rose they went off.

"Thanks for the dinner Rose. It was really nice…appreciate it a lot…and Hanska again thank you for taking care of mom…" Christine told to them

" Not and issue Christ…." Rose replied with her lovely smile as she walked towards the door with Hanska

The boys waved as I was about to bring Nana to her bed. I waved back and was heading to Nana's room.

I was making sure that Nana was okay before heading to bed. Nana pulled my hand and lead me to sit beside her. I kiss her forehead as a goodnight kiss and she gave me a warm look.

"Remember dear….your from the generation of the Lakota Tribe….that's our tribe real name….but most of them will know us generally as the Native American tribe and we still do exists my dear…", she said in a soft voice

Nana place her hand at my heart and she smiled, "Follow your heart…it never brings you wrong and the bond you felt here is not created today but created in previous birth as well"

I could not really understand what Nana meant by previous birth as she had not told me this before, but since its too late and she needs rest, I decided to speak with her when she's better.

"I will Nana. You don't worry and sleep well…goodnight"

As I stood and closed her door. I went towards my room that was meant for me here. I always sleep in this room when I'm at Nana's place. The room facing the woods, always gives me a nice feeling as if I'm at the place I belong to. I opened the window and the fresh chill breeze entered my room.

It was sure a tiring day and my body felt super tired. I jumped on my bed wearing my favourite shorts with baggy shirt. It feels comfortable in it, as the room was lit by the moons itself.

I felt the warmth again, wrapping around me. I felt the heavy breath near my neck and I felt a nice feeling about it. It's so nice, the feeling of real belonging and the smell of the wet mud suddenly makes me jumped out my bed.

There was nothing over there. Strange….for a few weeks I had been smelling tis weird wet mud smell, like the smell of an animal fur. And the feeling that I felt just now, it was like real.

It might because I'm too tired. I jumped into the bed again and a few second later, the sound of the wolves howl is heard. Loud and clear…as I drove away by listening to the wolves howl as a lullaby

….In the woods, the deep blue eyes was gazing Sherley….waiting for the right moment...