Globusz^® Publishing 

he invitation had said to come alone. The journey to the sprit retreat would take two weeks, and travelling there in solitude would be part of Shonim’s meditation. This is what the grandmother ancestor had written, what the spirits had decided. Virella was of course nervous about letting him travel so far, but she had to abide by the request of the spirits. Sarah could not go with him, but not only for the rule stated by the retreat. There was no nearby human town for miles. Even two weeks apart felt like such a long time, but Sarah and Shonim consoled themselves with the idea they could communicate by mind, and when they were reunited they would have many stories to share.

March approached, the month of Shonim’s departure. Both Sarah and Virella were on edge; Virella’s soups were too spicy and a few exploded when Shonim and the Council Leader tried to eat them. Sarah could not concentrate on her lessons, though fortunately Mrs. Bun, Sarah’s teacher, decided it was just a case of ‘winter doldrums’ that would clear up as soon as spring came. Though it was bonding for Virella and Sarah to be united in their concern for Shonim, neither was sleeping well. Neither looked forward to March, but atleast April would bring the spring, and the hopeful early return of the tiny fairy.

When it came time to leave, Virella had made too many loaves of her most sustaining bread (made with nuts, honey and grains) and Shonim’s tiny pack overflowed with food. Shonim took several loaves out before he placed his flute inside and sealed the pack, then raised his eyebrows meaningfully at his mother. He promised again, looking back and forth between Virella’s almond-shaped eyes and Sarah’s round sapphire-colored ones, that he would not go into any enchanted caves, and he would be back before they knew it. Sarah tried not to cry, though several sniffs escaped her as she gave him her green band, the one Virella had infused with luck and protection. Though Shonim was smiling with excitement, Sarah knew he would miss them both, once he started to wander into the forest.

Shonim set off with a sense of a great adventure to come. For some time he had felt his powers growing. He was more connected to the ones he loved through dreams and visions. His music was stronger than ever, coursing through him. The first few days he walked through the forest he whistled as he dreamt of being able to protect the tribe, along with Sarah and her family, against any enemy, even the cat Sammy. He knew it was possible to fly high up above the clouds, and his heart leapt as he thought he himself might do just that. They might teach him to fly, he thought, and then he could be home in a short time.

He did miss Virella and of course Sarah so terribly, especially in the hours just before sleeping. But he was not alone. There was always someone to eat with, always company by his tiny fire warming the winter nights. Dragonflies visited with him, and birds that had decided not to migrate chatted to him about the goings-on in the forest (mostly nothing, as it was winter and most animals were away or sleeping).

It did not snow very much at all during Shonim’s journey. He made good time, as several birds had given him lifts, and a dragonfly even flew him the last few miles before passing out from exhaustion due to the thin mountain air. Shonim reached the mountains that housed the retreat on the 8^th day. When he saw the tiny wooden structure nestled among pines, he smiled with relief and his legs wobbled. For a moment, he had to sink to his knees. It was not an impressive house, but Shonim had heard of the great spirit retreat all his life. Now he was here. He never thought he would actually see the retreat. He took a deep breath, threw a silent message of home and comfort to Virella and Sarah, who were always near to him in his thoughts, and walked slowly to the front gate.

For 8 days he had walked through windy places, through forests and hills, he had wandered missing Sarah and Virella and his home. He had told owls, squirrels, anyone that would listen on his journey how excited he was to meet such a revered group of beings as the ancient spirits. He felt the thrill of it increase until he almost passed out, knocking on the door of the spirit retreat. The grandmother ancestor, bright and luminous as ever, greeted him warmly, and let him into the little wooden building. Shonim’s heart beat strongly as several strange beings, a black fuzzy floating ball, a giant hunk of ice, nodded and peered curiously at Shonim as they passed. The grandmother led him to a small wooden room with a small table and bundle of blankets in the corner. Shonim excitedly put down his bag and started to follow the grandmother out of the room, but she indicated he should rest. She told him they had heard of his travels from the birds and beasts neighboring the mountain retreat, and she said she was ‘certain he needed some peace’. Shonim wanted nothing but peace, he wanted conversation and enlightenment. He wanted to meet these amazing spirits and ask them how to fly, how to communicate without words. However, he found, as he sank onto some blankets in the corner of his room, that he was tired after all. So he slept quite peacefully for awhile, waking only to finish the last piece of Virella’s sustaining bread that had still not lost any of its fine taste.

The next morning, Shonim sat on a smooth stone in front of the grandmother ancestor. Only one hour with the grandmother had passed and Shonim was already bored. He had already lost the feeling of awe upon reaching the retreat, had quickly recovered from the travelling, and was now disappointed. Since he reached the retreat he had not received any answers. In the last hour, the grandmother ancestor had answered none of his questions. He had not seen any other spirits, except for when he had arrived and two had greeted him with interest. He longed to speak with them. He told the grandmother this, and she only nodded and replied, ‘in time, in time.’ But how long was Shonim supposed to be there?

The week progressed in the same way. Every morning the grandmother sat and listened to Shonim’s questions but did not answer them. Every afternoon Shonim was left to sit in his small room. Each day seemed like the next, they were so similar. Over the week, the black fuzzy spirit sometimes passed him in the hall and stared at him, and sometimes even smiled. Two days after Shonim arrived at the retreat, a blizzard had come. The only thing the fuzzy spirit said to him was, ‘my such a lot of snow, isn’t there?’ in his own fairy tongue. Shonim could see there was a lot of snow outside. This was obvious- what was the point of a higher spirit talking about the snow? It must know more, so much more. Shonim began to get the feeling the grandmother was withholding information, he felt sure of it. He began to feel very lonely. He had to take all his meals alone, and his lunch and dinner was very plain. No dragonflies or birds were allowed within the retreat walls. After four days, he slept without being able to reach Sarah or Virella in his dreams, only the faintest feeling in his heart told him they were safe. He felt they were very far from him, and was beginning to lose their connection.

Finally, in the last conversation Shonim ever had with the grandmother ancestor, he learned something. But it was not what he had come to learn.