Spirit of the Elements

The white wolf leads the way, her pack trailing close behind. Their eyes glow in varied hues, but hers blaze with a fierce, fire-red intensity. She moves with purpose, each step brimming with confidence, her ears pricking at distant howls that echo through the night—a sound she understands. Breaking into a run, she heads toward the source, driven by instinct. Is she the hunter, or the hunted?

The forest rushes past, her paw prints pressing into the fresh snow as her pack fades into the shadows behind her. Now, she is alone. She quickens her pace, sensing movement in the trees as shapes emerge, and glowing red eyes appear, watching from the darkness. Raising her nose to the snow-filled sky, she lets out a fearless howl that trembles through the trees. In the next instant, the red eyes close in, encircling her. Black-furred wolves, with teeth flashing white, snarl and lunge, and a pained howl escapes her throat. Then, silence.

Maiun Whitehorse jolted awake, her breathing heavy from the vivid dream. She'd been having these dreams since moving to the small town of Drain, Oregon. A Native American girl about to start her senior year of high school, she'd recently relocated from West Yellowstone, Montana—a town nestled near Yellowstone National Park. Her dad was full-blooded Cherokee, her mom Crow, and she was the oldest of three, with twin siblings, a brother and a sister.

Maiun pushed herself out of bed, her body still tense, and made her way to the upstairs bathroom. Starting the shower, she caught her reflection in the mirror. Her skin was lighter than her parents', and her hair was dyed blonde, a look she preferred over her natural deep brown—much to her mother's disapproval. Her mother valued tradition and had never been fond of Maiun's experimentation with hair colors. Her dad, on the other hand, was more relaxed about it.

She stepped out of her shorts and T-shirt from the night before, tossing them in the laundry basket. The hot water was a comfort, and even though her mom had reminded her not to waste it, today she didn't care. This was her first day at a new school, with new people, and she wanted to start it feeling refreshed. When she finished, she dressed in skintight jeans and a fitted shirt, tugging on her favorite cowboy boots before brushing the natural waves out of her hair. She glanced once more in the mirror, her light brown complexion framed by her blonde hair, then headed downstairs to join her family for breakfast.

"There you are, Maiun. Were you wasting water again?" her mom asked, setting a plate of waffles in front of her younger brother. "We've talked about this, honey."

"Mom, I needed a shower—it's my first day at a new school. I have to make a good impression," Maiun replied, taking her usual seat. "Besides, I didn't use all the water. Just... most of it."

Her dad sat at the table, engrossed in his laptop, working on yet another book. His dark hair and warm brown complexion gave him a distinctly Native look, and Maiun often admired how he balanced his heritage with his love for writing, even if his books hadn't found much commercial success yet.

"Hey, Dad," Maiun said, glancing his way, "can I ask you something about a dream I keep having?"

Her dad looked up, slightly annoyed at being interrupted. "What is it this time? Another wet dream?" he asked, a smirk crossing his face.

"What? No!" Maiun's face turned bright red as she glanced at her younger siblings, mortified. "It's... it's about wolves."

Her dad's expression softened, and he closed his laptop, giving her his full attention. "All right, then. Tell me about the dream."

Maiun took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts. "In the dream, I'm following a white wolf. She's leading a pack, and their eyes glow in all different colors—blue, green, yellow. But her eyes are this intense, fiery red." She paused, shivering slightly as she recalled it. "She's so confident, moving with purpose, like she knows exactly where she's going. And then... she starts running toward something. I don't know if she's chasing something or if something's after her. But as she gets deeper into the forest, these red eyes start appearing all around her, closing in." Maiun's voice grew softer. "The last thing I hear is her howl... and then, everything goes silent."

Her dad watched her intently, nodding. "Sounds intense," he said, thoughtful. "A white wolf leading you... that's a powerful image. Wolves have a strong presence in many of our stories. They're protectors, but they can also be omens. You might want to keep an eye on these dreams."

Maiun nodded, but the thought lingered as she finished her breakfast. Was there a deeper meaning? And if so, why was this wolf calling to her, night after night?

Maiun's dad glanced at her mom with a look of concern before turning back to her. "Do you know what your name means, Maiun?" he asked, his tone serious.

Maiun shook her head, puzzled. "No, I don't."

"It means 'wolf,'" he explained, his gaze intent. "The wolf is your spirit animal. If you're dreaming of wolves, it's trying to tell you something important. It could be a warning—something bad may be happening, or about to happen. And since you were attacked by black wolves in the dream, it could mean you're about to face something unexpected."

"Oh... okay. Thanks, Dad," Maiun replied, her voice thoughtful but distracted. She grabbed her truck keys and headed out the door, driving the two miles to North Douglas High School. Her light blue, first-generation 1981 Dodge Ram pickup rattled as she parked in the student lot. Just as she reached to open the door, she thought she saw a flash of white across the street. She looked up quickly, but whatever it was had disappeared, leaving her a little unsettled. Shaking it off, she headed inside to the front office to pick up her schedule.

As she turned to leave the office, she accidentally bumped into someone, sending his books flying. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I didn't know you were behind me!" she said, her cheeks flushing red.

"It's okay. Accidents happen," the boy replied, smiling as he bent down to retrieve his books. He looked about her age, maybe seventeen or eighteen, with smooth brown hair, deep brown eyes, and a flawless, almost baby-faced look. His features struck her as Italian or German, and his gentle smile made her blush even more.

She knelt to help him gather his books, feeling embarrassed. "Thank you," he said, his smile warm as he took the books from her. "I'm Logan. What's your name?"

"Maiun," she replied, feeling the heat in her cheeks.

"Maiun," he repeated, as if testing the name. "You weren't here last year. You must be new. Want me to show you around?"

"Um, yes, please," she said with a small laugh, glancing around. "I didn't think a school this size could be so hard to navigate."

Logan smiled, tucking his biology book under his arm. "It can be, trust me. So, what's your first class?"

She glanced at her schedule. "Language Arts Four," she read aloud.

Logan winced slightly. "Oof, Ms. Shannon's class. She's... not the nicest teacher. Pretty strict compared to everyone else around here."

"Great," Maiun muttered with a sigh. "Where is it?"

"She's in Room 14, down the senior hallway, last door on the left." He pointed down the hall.

"Thank you, Logan," she said, starting in the direction he pointed.

"Hey, is it cool if I call you Mai?" he called after her, walking alongside her toward her locker. "It seems easier to remember than your full name."

Maiun nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, that's fine. If it helps you remember me, go for it."

She checked her locker combination and opened it with ease, setting her bag inside and grabbing her binder. "Thanks for helping me find my class. I might need some guidance with the others, too," she admitted, hoping he'd offer.

Logan's smile widened. "No problem. I'll meet you here after class and help you find the rest," he promised before heading off to his own class.

Maiun slipped into her Language Arts class, choosing a seat near the back where she hoped to go unnoticed. Just as she settled in, a girl around her age walked in, dressed entirely in black, with the thudding beat of rock or heavy metal blaring from her earbuds—definitely not Maiun's style. The girl approached with an intense stare, her arms crossed as she looked down at Maiun.

"You know you're sitting in my desk?" the girl asked, her voice clipped and almost challenging.

"Oh, I'm so sorry—I didn't know," Maiun replied, flustered. She quickly gathered her things and moved to an empty desk closer to the front, her cheeks warming with embarrassment.

The girl took her seat, barely acknowledging Maiun further. She turned up her music and pulled out a book—on serial killer Ted Bundy. That's...odd, Maiun thought, glancing curiously at the girl. Why would she be reading about serial killers in school? Wouldn't she get in trouble for that?

Just then, Ms. Shannon walked in and scanned the room with a look of authority. "All right, everyone. I'm assigning a book for you to read, and you'll be taking marginal notes. If you don't, you'll lose eighty percent of your grade—and you won't graduate," she announced, prompting a collective groan from the class.

The girl in black barely glanced up, rolling her eyes. "I'm not doing that," she muttered, her voice just loud enough for the students around her to hear.

Ms. Shannon zeroed in on her. "You can spend the day in the principal's office if you don't want to cooperate, Natasha. Either you complete the assignment, or you can plan on another year here," she said firmly, her tone brooking no argument.

Natasha, unfazed, leaned back in her chair, her expression defiant. She was strikingly pretty, with a soft tan complexion, a slim but athletic build, and long, jet-black hair streaked with a deep blue stripe through her bangs. Her dark brown eyes held a mystery that seemed to pulse with a quiet anger. "You can try to make me stay another year, but we both know I'll pass without those stupid margin notes," she said coolly, a trace of amusement in her gaze.

Ms. Shannon's face tightened. "Then you can go to the principal's office. I'm sure he'd love to see you again—second time this week, right?" She reached for the phone, dialing the principal's extension.

"Fine. This class is a waste of time anyway. Can't wait to graduate," Natasha said, grabbing her book and standing up. She shot Maiun a smirk as she walked out, her expression both challenging and strangely familiar.

Maiun found herself giving Natasha a slight smile and a wave, feeling an odd pull toward this girl. Something about her stirred something in Maiun's soul, a connection she didn't understand—yet.

The feeling Maiun got from Natasha was strange—both dangerous and trustworthy. It was as if respect would earn Natasha's loyalty, but disrespect could make her a real threat.

"I'd be careful around that girl if I were you," a voice said beside her.

Maiun turned to see another girl sitting nearby, studying her with a friendly but cautious look. "Why?" Maiun asked. "She seems cool—mysterious, but cool."

This girl looked like she could handle herself. She wore glasses over sharp, observant blue eyes that hinted at life experience beyond her years. Her deep brown hair framed her face, and she was dressed in a Disney T-shirt and ripped jeans, giving off a laid-back vibe. Light-skinned, neither heavy nor thin, she looked strong, as if she wouldn't back down in a fight.

"She's trouble," the girl said, smiling softly. "Not really the friendly type. The fact that she even acknowledged you is kind of a big deal. She's not one to notice people, let alone talk to them."

"Really? She didn't seem that bad," Maiun replied, a bit confused.

"I'm Sarah, by the way," the girl said, glancing down at the book in front of her.

"Maiun," she introduced herself, "but I guess you can call me Mai. Logan does—he said it's easier to remember than my full name," she added with a small laugh.

"Oh, you met Logan already? He's a friend of mine," Sarah replied, her smile widening. "You should come hang out with us at lunch. You can meet the rest of the misfit gang."

"Okay, I'd love to," Maiun said, smiling back, feeling her nerves about the new school start to ease.

Class seemed to drag on forever, and when it finally ended, the next wasn't much better. U.S. History. Maiun was good at history, especially when it came to topics on Native Americans being forced off their lands, their lives changed by people who decided their fate for them. She often thought that history hadn't changed all that much—there were still people in power telling others where to go and how to live. When the bell rang, she was ready to move on.

Next up was Physical Education, her favorite. On the reservation, she'd often go hiking or jogging with her class, and her favorite activity was horseback riding on the trails. This class was held indoors, in a large, open gym with bleachers. There were no desks, just an expansive floor space, and it had the feel of a place where things actually happened. Mr. Denmark, their P.E. teacher, seemed cool—a welcome change from her history class.

"Okay, class, we're heading outside to the track," Mr. Denmark announced, scanning the group. "We're running pacers and laps around the track today."

Maiun's eyes brightened; she'd seen the track when she arrived that morning, a mile-long dirt path circling the field. Changing into her Physical Fitness gear, she noticed the school logo and mascot—a Native American boy aiming a bow at the sky. She felt uncomfortable about the mascot, its "Warrior" image more of a stereotype than a tribute.

Once outside, the group gathered on the track, and as they started their laps, Maiun felt a familiar rush. Running was freeing for her, but today something felt different. It was as if a switch had flipped inside her, unlocking a power she didn't know she had. She felt faster, stronger, like some hidden force was helping her move. As she pushed herself, she caught a flash of white on the hill behind the track. It looked like a dog, but when she paused to look closer, it vanished. Shaking off her confusion, she continued running, feeling the cool air in her lungs.

She was moving faster than she ever thought possible, her feet pounding against the dirt. She nearly collided with a muscular boy who had stopped dead in his tracks, wide-eyed as she skidded to a stop in front of him.

"Whoa, sorry—I didn't see you there!" she said, breathing heavily.

The boy stared at her, baffled. "How are you that fast? I just saw you on the other side of the track, like, seconds ago."

Maiun shrugged, just as surprised. "I don't know. Maybe it's from all the jogging back on the reservation."

He was built like a football player, his dark skin and athletic frame giving him an imposing look softened by warm brown eyes. "Too bad you're a girl—I'd love to see someone like you on the football team," he said, smiling.

Maiun crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean? Just because I'm a girl, I can't play football?"

The boy's expression shifted, realizing he'd struck a nerve. "Whoa, that's not what I meant! It's just... our coach doesn't allow girls on the team."

"Well, I'd be amazing at football—if I knew how to play, that is. We don't have football on the reservation," Maiun admitted with a sigh.

"Wait, you're Native American? But your hair's blonde. Don't Native Americans usually have black hair?" the boy asked, eyeing her bleached hair with curiosity.

"My natural hair is black," Maiun explained, glancing down. "I dyed it... I don't really connect with my culture."

The boy nodded, picking up on her discomfort and shifting the subject with a small laugh. "I'm Samuel, but my friends call me Sam, Sammy, or, you know, Asshole. Nicknames."

Maiun rolled her eyes, smiling. "I'm Maiun, but you can just call me Mai. Seems to be what everyone's doing here."

"Cool name," he said, grinning. "Anyway, it's lunchtime. See you around, okay?" The bell rang, and Samuel gave her a friendly nod as he headed off.

Maiun went to her locker to grab her lunch, a salad her mom had packed to make sure she was eating "brain food" instead of the school's greasy options. She grabbed her salad and dressing and went off in search of Logan and Sarah.

"Mai! Over here!" Logan's voice echoed from across the hallway. He was standing with Sarah, Samuel, and a few other students she hadn't met yet.

"Hey there, we were just talking about how cool you seem," Logan said with a wide grin as she approached. "Sammy here said he's never seen anyone run like you. We're hoping you'll join the track team—you'd kill it with that speed."

"Don't push her," Sarah interrupted, rolling her eyes as she bit into a slice of pizza. "She probably doesn't want to think about all that yet. Let her get settled in first."

"I'm not pushing. I'm just asking," Logan retorted, rolling his eyes back at her before taking a big bite of his burger.

"If Coach would allow her, she'd make an incredible football player," Samuel chimed in, nudging Logan. "Just give her the ball, and we'd be set!"

"What is it with boys and sports? Not all girls are into that," said a girl dressed in genuinely nice clothing. Maiun looked at her with a bit of awe; the girl was wearing makeup—good makeup—and everything about her hinted that she had money.

"I'm Sharleen, but you can call me Shar, Mai," the girl said, flashing a friendly smile at Maiun.

Maiun nodded, though she felt a bit strange around Sharleen, as if there was always a breeze surrounding her, even indoors. Sharleen had naturally styled blonde hair that fell in loose waves and light tan skin that looked sun-kissed.

"I don't want to go to my last three classes," Logan grumbled, finishing his lunch and tossing his wrapper away. "Today is just dragging. This whole year's going to drag."

"It's our senior year, Logan," Sarah replied with a sigh, closing her Criminal Justice college prep book. "I just hope the teachers aren't lying about this year being easy—otherwise, we'll be swimming in homework and pop quizzes all the way to graduation."

"I just want my parents to stop treating me like a kid and let me stay out past ten for once," Sharleen chimed in, letting out a frustrated sigh.

"You have strict parents too?" Maiun asked, suddenly interested in the conversation.

"Yeah. They're making me come home right after school because of my 'failing' grades," Sharleen said, glancing down at her pricey watch. "They're all C's, but to my parents, that's basically failing. So they want me to come home and study more."

Maiun nodded in sympathy, but her attention drifted to the hallway, where Natasha was pushing a first-year student out of her way with a cold glare.

"Maybe we should ask her to join us?" Maiun suggested, nodding toward Natasha.

"No way," Sarah replied, shaking her head. "She's a lot of trouble, and we don't need that in this group."

The bell rang, and everyone headed to their next class. Maiun walked into science with a smile—she loved science. Spotting Sharleen waving her over, she took the seat beside her, glancing around to take in the lab's bustling energy.

"Mr. Emmet is great," Sharleen said with a laugh. "He always comes in with goofy hats and costumes."

Right on cue, Mr. Emmet entered, wearing a hat adorned with a rubber chicken, drawing a few chuckles from the class.

"I think I'm going to love this class," Maiun said, grinning at the sight.

When it came time to partner up for an experiment, Maiun and Sharleen were assigned to dissect frogs. Sharleen stared at the frog on the tray, her face scrunched in distaste. "This is... really gross," she said, holding the scalpel hesitantly. "I'm not supposed to be doing things like this," she muttered, making a face.

"Oh, come on, Sharleen. It's not that bad," Maiun teased, taking the scalpel from her and confidently cutting the frog open.

Sharleen gagged. "I think I'm going to be sick..."

Maiun couldn't help but laugh. "Aw, little rich girl can't handle a dead frog?"

"That's not fair," Sharleen shot back, laughing through her disgust. "I just prefer animals when they're, you know, alive."

Maiun kept working, ignoring Sharleen's constant comments about how gross it was. Once they'd finished their notes and handed in the frog and report, Maiun wandered over to the classroom shelf, where she found a book on scientific theories. Flipping through it, she landed on a section about the concept of multiple universes connected by bridges—and how certain people might be able to cross between them.

She didn't believe in parallel universes, but the idea sparked her curiosity, bringing her back to the strange dream she'd had. She wondered if there was a hidden meaning behind it, something she needed to understand. But maybe she was overthinking it.

The bell rang, snapping her out of her thoughts, and she packed up her things for her last class of the day: math. She sighed as she checked her schedule—geometry. Math was never her strong suit, and she braced herself for the struggle ahead.

Maiun walked into geometry, hoping she wouldn't run into Natasha in this class, and took a seat near the back. She pulled out her textbook, ready to stay unnoticed. The class went smoothly until it was time to dive into the actual assignments, and Maiun found herself struggling to finish before the bell rang. She sighed—another class, another pile of homework.

As she headed out toward her truck, she spotted Logan and a few others waving her over by the river that wound through town. Smiling, she walked over.

"Hey, Mai!" Logan called out, grinning as she joined them. His intelligent brown eyes met hers warmly. "We're planning to go river rafting before it gets dark. There's this amazing spot with some fun rapids—so long as you don't fall in," he added with a playful smirk.

"Wait, river rafting? In the middle of fall? Isn't that dangerous?" Maiun asked, glancing around with a mixture of excitement and nerves. "It's going to be freezing out there, and if anyone falls in, we're at serious risk of, you know... freezing to death."

Sarah smiled reassuringly. "We do this all the time, Mai. Just one rule: don't fall in. You're right, it's cold."

"All right, I'm in. Let's go before my mom and dad decide to give me a million chores," Maiun said, jumping into the driver's seat as everyone else piled in. Logan slid into the passenger seat beside her, directing her down the narrow, wooded road.

"This is way better than walking or asking someone for a ride," Samuel said, glancing at Sarah, who was gazing out the window at the slow-moving trees.

"Walking isn't so bad," Logan replied with a laugh. "Good for the legs."

After a few minutes, Logan pointed ahead. "Turn right here, Mai," he instructed, and she carefully navigated onto an even narrower road, watching for the potholes and exposed roots that made the truck bounce and shake, drawing a few laughs and grumbles from those in the back.

Sharleen looked down at her cell phone, groaning as she saw the signal bars disappear. "No service out here," she muttered, rolling her eyes before tucking her phone away.

"No one else is worried about cell service except for you, Sharleen. You're the only one who cares right now," Sarah said, smirking. Maiun kept driving as the road smoothed out a bit, allowing her to pick up speed.

"Right here, Mai," Logan said, pointing to a large turn-off on the right. Maiun pulled in and put the truck in park. Everyone piled out into the freezing rain, carrying the raft down toward the fast-moving river.

"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Sharleen asked, eyeing the river warily. "It's already freezing cold, and if anyone falls in, hypothermia is a real risk. Plus, we don't have cell service to call for help. Does anyone even know we're out here?"

"Sharleen, stop worrying about it. We do this every week, and none of us have fallen in yet," Sarah replied, rolling her eyes as Logan began pumping up the raft.

"We could fall in, though—that's the thing," Samuel said, looking concerned. "The water looks like it's moving a lot faster than usual. I'm not sure how safe it's going to be downriver where it gets rougher."

Sharleen glanced at her phone again, holding it up in a futile attempt to get a signal. "Still nothing," she muttered, visibly uneasy.

Everyone climbed into the raft and set off down the river, the rain pouring down hard around them. "God, you've got to love this Oregon weather, right?" Sarah laughed, gripping the side of the raft. Sharleen, on the other hand, clung tightly, looking terrified.

"Something isn't right," Logan said, his gaze fixed on the river ahead.

"What do you mean?" Samuel asked, concern flickering across his face.

"You're not joking, are you?" Sharleen asked, her voice trembling as she glanced at Logan, her fear making her look as though a single wrong word could make her faint.

"This river is way stronger than last week," Logan replied, scanning for a safe spot on the shore where they could pull out. Just as he leaned forward to steer, the raft hit a hard bump, jolting them all. Sharleen lost her grip and tumbled over the edge, her scream piercing the air as the river's swift current swept her away before anyone could grab her.

"Sharleen!" Sarah shouted, reaching out desperately.

"We have to help her!" Logan yelled, urgently paddling the raft toward the shore.

"I'll get her!" Maiun called, diving headfirst into the icy water without a second thought. The current seized her, pulling her downstream alongside Sharleen.

"Mai!" Logan shouted, jumping out of the raft and running along the riverbank, following them as best he could.

Maiun fought to keep her head above water, swimming hard through the rapids as she dodged jagged rocks and debris hidden by the murky, fast-moving water. The cold stung her skin, sapping her strength, and she felt her body temperature drop with each second. Up ahead, she spotted Sharleen struggling, her head barely above water as she cried for help.

Summoning every ounce of energy, Maiun swam toward Sharleen, reaching her just as they collided against an unseen rock. Gritting her teeth, Maiun held on to Sharleen and looked around for anything that could help them out of the water. She spotted a large, overhanging log near the riverbank and kicked toward it as hard as she could, pushing against the current.

"Go, Sharleen! Grab it!" Maiun shouted, summoning a strength she hadn't known she possessed as she pushed Sharleen toward the overhanging log. Sharleen, freezing and coughing, managed to grab onto it, then reached back to grasp Maiun's arm, keeping her from being swept further downstream.

"Don't let go!" Sharleen shouted, feeling her grip slipping against the icy wood. "Just hang on!"

Logan, Samuel, and Sarah arrived, and Logan immediately crawled out onto the log, reaching for Sharleen. Grabbing the back of her shirt, he pulled her closer to shore. But as Maiun tried to hold on, her fingers slipped, and she lost her grip, tumbling back into the current.

"Maiun!" Sharleen screamed, her voice echoing over the rushing water as Logan lunged, narrowly missing Maiun by inches.

Maiun fought against the powerful current, but the river only grew faster and more violent, sweeping her toward hidden rocks. She felt a sudden, sharp impact as her head slammed into one, her vision exploding with stars before everything went dark.

"Mai!" Logan yelled helplessly as he watched her unconscious body disappear over the edge of the waterfall, plunging into the turbulent river below.