Nature's Gift

Kevin had awakened to find Night missing. As he got out of bed to get dressed and go look for him, he heard voices outside by the pool. Wondering who on Earth would be taking a swim at 4AM, he grabbed his jeans and pulled them on as he stepped out onto the balcony. His eyes widened as the scene below sank into his still sleepy mind…

“So, you’re gonna kill me? Is that the plan, Kristin?”

“Very observant of you… at least Kevin picked someone with a brain…”

“You know this won’t make him come back you. He doesn’t love you…”

“Love? I don’t want him to love me. I just want him to pay, that’s all.” She laughed coldly.

“You’re an evil woman, Kristin. Tell me… how did you ever manage to get your claws into him in the first place?” Night asked, trying to keep the conversation going long enough for him to devise a plan.

“I’m an actress… He bought the performance. Plain and simple.”

“I think there was more to it than that… I think you’re a great liar, too.” He reached into his bag.

“Oh! You wound me! But I’ve had enough talking! Its time for you to go…” She said as her finger tightened on the trigger.

“Kris… NO!!” Kevin shouted from the balcony. Kris snapped her head around to see Kevin just as the gun fired.

In that same instant, Night’s hand came out of his bag, tossing the phosphorous into the pool, as he dove to the ground. The bullet grazed his leg and lodged harmlessly in the wooden column that supported the balcony above him. Rolling quickly to the door, he ran inside the hotel. He could hear Kris screaming behind him, firing off shot after shot, but he didn’t dare look back. Kevin was already running from the stairwell toward him.

“Night… oh god, you’re bleeding!” Kevin exclaimed as he embraced his lover.

“Its nothing… She’s still out there, Kevin!” Night said breathlessly as Kevin’s security people ran by them toward the pool.

“It’s ok, baby… the cops are on the way… You stay here… I’m gonna see what’s happening…”

“She’s got a gun, Kevin… she’s not sane…”

“I’ll be ok… Stay here… I’ll be back…” Kevin said as he kissed Night’s forehead and headed for the door, just as AJ and Brian arrived.

“Night! You’re bleeding! What’s going on?”

He cautiously stepped outside, looking for any signs of Kris or his men. Seeing no one, he crept along in the shadows near the wall. There were shouts coming from the other side of the pool, so he decided to go in that direction. By the time he found his men, the police had arrived and were handcuffing Kris. She looked at him with hate in her eyes, and laughed coldly when she saw what his own eyes revealed.

“Almost, Kevin! Almost!”

“Why, Kris?”

“Why? You don’t deserve to be happy, Kevin! But you have your boys, don’t you? See, here they come to save the day! Well you’re pathetic, all of you! You’ll see… I’ll be out in no time… then you’ll see what you really deserve!” She spat her venomous words at him.

“I feel sorry for you, Kris. I’m gonna see that you get the help you need…” He said quietly as Night and the others gathered around him.

“I don’t want your pity, Kevin! I don’t want your help, either! I just want you to suffer!!” She screamed at him as the police pulled her toward the waiting car.

“Come on Kev… we can’t help her now…” Brian said softly to his cousin, as the six of them turned and walked slowly back to the hotel.

*************************************************

AJ took a long drag from his cigarette as he waited for the others to catch up to him at the limo. They had a plane to catch in a little over an hour, and he was anxious to get going. By the time he had finished the cigarette, the others were getting into the car. No one said anything during the drive, nor did anyone speak during the flight. They were all lost in their own thoughts.

Upon landing, they were escorted to a waiting limo for the drive to their destination. Again, no words were spoken. Finally, getting out of the car, they all walked with Kevin into the beautiful wooded area. After a time, they could see the dome of the sweat lodge looming ahead of them. Waiting for them there were the Elders, who would join them for the rest of their journey.

When they finally reached their destination, Kevin, who was wearing his loincloth, dropped to his knees before the fire. The Elders smudged his face with ash from the fire pit, as they danced around him in a circle, chanting rhythmically. The ceremony had begun, and it would last the entire night.

As the sun began to break the horizon the next morning, Night took Kevin by the hand and led him into the center of the circle. Behind them stood AJ, Nick, Howie, and Brian. The Elders stood in front of them, chanting an ancient chant. Surrounding all of them in a large circle were several men with drums, who had begun to drum out a lonely rhythm. Kevin’s heart was beating in time with the drums. As Raven watched from his perch on Kevin’s shoulder, Night drew his knife from the holster on his thigh. In his other hand he held brightly colored ribbons of cloth. The eldest of the Elders stepped forward and took the knife and the ribbons. As both Kevin and Night looked deeply into each other’s eyes, they held out their right hands, palms up. The Elder said a prayer to the Great Spirit as he drew the edge of the blade first across Night’s palm, then across Kevin’s. As their blood began to flow, they each took the other’s hand and the Elder tied them together with the ribbons. He now spoke to them in English…

“With the smile of the Great Spirit, and the joining of the blood, in the presence of the Great Mother and all her children, you are now one. We rejoice with you, Nightwing… and with you, Eaglesong. You are honored and welcomed among all tribes. May the path rise to meet you, and may the wind be ever at your back. Mitakuye Oyasin… we are all related. You may kiss now…”

Cheers rose all around them as they kissed, and the celebration continued. There was song and dance, feasting and revelry all through the day and into the wee hours of the night… even after the two of them had retired for the evening. As he lay there holding a sleeping Night in his arms, Kevin was thrilled to have passed the initiation… but even more thrilled to be starting a new life with his true love by his side.

********************************************

Six months later, as Kevin faced the swarm of reporters, his four best friends stood beside him once again. Night stood to his right with his arm around Kevin’s waist. As he stepped to the microphones to speak, Raven again landed on his shoulder.

“I’m going to make a brief statement. There will be no questions afterward. Today, my ex-wife was sentenced for the attempted murder of the only true love I will ever know. Fortunately, he is standing here beside me today, unharmed. I feel sad for her… but in light of some of the things she said in her testimony, I find it difficult to feel any compassion where she is concerned. Her sentence was just, and it is my hope that she will receive the help she so desperately needs. We will be taking a break for a few months, so that I can have time to spend with Night… a honeymoon of sorts. Until that time, I respectfully ask the media to allow us our privacy. Watching Kris today and listening to her during these proceedings has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and it’s going to take some time to process it all. In the meantime, I have to begin my life again, with a man that truly loves me. I’ve been blessed in that regard, and I know that today is the beginning of a brighter future. To the fans… don’t worry… we’ll be back soon. Thank you… that’s all I have to say.”

AJ, who was on Kevin’s left, put his arm around him as they walked to the limo. The stunned reporters simply stood there as the limo drove away…