Billy Two Feathers, the man my mother left me with was very tall and thin; his eyes as black as the night, sank deep into his face, contrasting with the weather beaten scares from the harshness the extreme cold, which the north country often leaves on those that live within the mountains back home. His long dark braids of hair resting over his shoulders and hanging to his waistline contrasted with his headband and the two large eagle feathers that were entwined into it.

I remember standing and staring up at him as he towered high above me. I did not like him much and neither did the wolves that followed me into his cabin. He glanced over at the white wolf and his mate, gazing at them intently just before speaking once more again to me. The wolves must stay outside their place is in the wilds child. He said, and then he pointed to the open door of the cabin.

The white wolf growled at him as he was my protector and his posture quickly became very aggressive as Billy Two Feathers slowly retreated to the back of the cabin. The wolves stay or I go with them; they are my brothers and sisters. I stammered. Then quickly I remember retreating behind the Alpha male and female and backing out the open door slowly, just before turning and running into the forest; the wolves guarding my flank as I went. “Go in peace Little White Wolf.” Billy called out as I ran as fast as I could in the dark of the night through the dense woodlands.

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The wolves and I ran for a longtime before we stopped in the clearing beside the waterfalls near my village. The night air was cold and ice pellets began to form on my long blonde braids; I could feel the frost sinking quickly into my exposed skin. Motioning to the wolves I pointed to the caves behind the waterfalls and disappeared behind the curtains of cascading water, into the crystal caves and out the cold northern winds.

The alpha female followed me into the cave and the White wolf, (leader of the pack) remained outside the entrance as if protecting me from some unseen force. The grey timber wolf nuzzled me with her wet nose much like she would one of her pups and curl up around me as I lay shivering, very wet and extremely cold on the floor of the cave. I remember laying there and staring out through veil of water at my home and seeing the candle light from the parlor in my mother’s house.

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I could not return home as mother would not understand why I disobeyed her and would feel that I did not love her. I was also angry at her too, because I felt she gave me away like those before had and did not want me or my confusion in her busy life anymore. I remember whispering in the she wolf’s ear, I do not like the two legged yet I am of them. The wolf whimpered and nuzzled me as if in her way trying to comfort me. Snuggling close and deep into her soft fur I drifted off to sleep.

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I was awakened early in the morning by the sound of flute music, the crackling of wood burning on the cave floor and the smell of salmon being cooked over the open flames of the campfire. I quickly jumped up on all fours ready to lash out at Billy Two Feathers! He smiled slightly, and then said, “I told you it was your choice little white wolf.” “You’re free to come and go as you choose.”

I was surprised as well as confused that the wolves were not growling and did not seem to mind that he was here now sitting a short distance away from me. “Your wolves and I talked with each other in Dream Walk child; they know I am here to learn from you and you from me.” He said.

I have nothing I wish to learn from you! Go away! I snapped back at him as I reached for a cooked piece of fresh salmon. Quickly Billy rapped my out stretched hand with his flute; causing me to drop the piece of fish and pull back my hand. Young one, you may eat of the food that which spirit allows you to eat, but first we must give thanks to the Great Spirit for supplying us with this food as well as to the spirit of the salmon that gave up the solid form so we may be nourished. He then said a few words and pointed to the food and motioned for me to eat.

Billy Two Feathers watched me carefully as I devoured the fish and threw chunks of it to the wolves, who gladly accepted my gifts. “Your mother loves you and she did not give you away.” He said softly. “She brought you to me because you and I have a lot in common little white wolf.” “Here let me show you?” He said. Then he reached into his medicine bag and pulled out a clear quartz crystal and said, “Watch young one so you may see that the crystals also talk to me as well.” “Unlike you little white wolf, I must concentrate and focus my energy as well as accept the energy that spirit sends; without it I cannot make the crystals sing or glow.”

That was the starting of what would prove later to be a great friendship. I finally did not feel like a freak and all alone. Billy Two feathers grinned as he watched the light inside me grow and for but a brief moment, he knew that spirit allowed him to punch a hole through the many protective barriers that I had put around myself. Handing me the crystal, he said: “Show me how you do this young one?”

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Billy seemed surprised at first, because the crystal started to vibrate and glow slightly, long before I touched it. “So it is as I have been hearing.” “You are a child of the crystals.” “Creator has given you many gifts Little White Wolf and you must embrace them”, he said. “No I’m not gifted! I am the child of the Windigo and I do not belong here. I want to hide from those in the village and remain in the forest with my brother and sisters of the wolf”, I replied.

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“Young one, you can run with the wolf pack if you wish for they accept you as part of the pack.” “But you are a two legged and although you don’t understand the world of the two legged, one day you will leave your brother and sisters of the wolf.” “The Great Spirit has given Mother Earth a gift.” “That gift is you and one day you will walk your walk of life in faraway places, because spirit will guide you to where you must go and through spirit you will help many as they will also help you as spirit leads.”

How long must I listen to Spirit? How long will I be needed? I remember asking. “Forever plus a Day,” was the reply from my mother as she entered the cave. “You spent another night in the cave of crystals?” “You should have come home young one.” She said. Walking up to me, she then put her arms around me and gave me a hug. I thought you would not want me and did not love me because you sent me away. I replied. I could not look up at her or meet her intense gaze so I stared down at the marble floor of the cave.

Placing her hand under my chin she lifted my head upwards so I was looking directly into her steely gaze and said, “I would never send you away; I love you and you our my gift from Creator.” “I sent you to Billy Two Feathers, as he knows a lot about the gifted children of the world and spirit told me in vision that it was your time and he could help you in ways I cannot, because I do not understand your gifts.”

I spent numerous years under the watchful eye and the tutorage of my lifelong friend and mentor Billy Two Feathers. He as well as my mother, medicine woman extraordinary taught me how to use as well as develop the many gifts within me.