Origins

The Pacific Northwest is a specific area for people who enjoy hiking, overpriced hipster coffees, and having seasonal depression 95% of the time. La Push, Washington is nestled in the middle of said area, but thanks to the close-knit community of the Reservation, that last stat drops to about 85% and we don't have any chain coffee shops..

My mom once tried to leave the area, but then she got pregnant and needed the support of her family. So here we are, seventeen years later, enjoying bonfires, family traditions and marginal mental health. My mom and I have a decent relationship. We are all each other have, and I wouldn't have it any other way honestly, but I know there's days my mom wishes she had more. Whether it was with the man that fathered me or just anybody else to help shoulder the burden of raising a teenager. She shoulders things well, I get my strength from her and well our family has a history of raising strong women.

We have a long history on this land. It's a lot of the reason why nobody leaves, and trying to live in any other community that isn't as interconnected..would probably massively fail us. More than it already has for indigenous people anyways.. Not to mention we have a magical connection with the land, like actually, even though some of us still only believe them to be "scary stories". My bloodline is as ancient as the land, and as long as we stay connected to our ancestors, our magic remains strong. Yeah, magic is real. Although you'd have a hard time convincing anyone without showing them outright.

It's one hellish equation if you ask me. Ancient legends, magical creatures, temperamental weather and mental states, and then everyone hits the age of dating...and well pickings are slim–especially if you only have one gender to pick from...the boys are gangly (except a select few–and they have anger issues), and most of the chicks are obsessed with the boys that it isn't even worth your time.

So I keep to myself for the most part. Freya Redbird Matthews, the eclectic ancestral witch, with my one friend Leah Clearwater against the world.

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On any normal day I find myself going to school, listening while lessons drone on and relationship gossip is threaded through the desks. Once school is finished, I head home to study and practice my magic with my shimá sáni–grandmother. We prepare and have dinner as a family, and after I'm free to hang out with Leah Clearwater–my best friend since grade school.

Growing up with the same people is always nice and exciting at first, before drama seeps in. Being in such a tight-knit community, everybody knows everything about you: who you are, who your parents are and what they do or don't do, your friends, enemies, lovers, and everything in between.

Leah and I have had our ups and downs-as every friendship does, every one of them minor...until the breakup happened. To say it was rough would be an understatement. Freshman year, Leah gets serious with her boyfriend, talk of the town, Sam Uley. It's all sunshine and rainbows until Junior year. Sam suddenly disappears for two weeks, and comes back a totally different person...

"Maybe he was on a soul-searching journey to try and figure out what he wants to do after school." I throw out as Leah finishes her frustrated explanation.

"I dunno. I'll give him the space he needs, but I just wish he would've included me just a bit."  I feel bad for my friend..wishing I could give her a more conclusive answer.

"Wait a sec," She sits up quickly and looks at me intensely. "Freya, can you do a read? See if the cards hold an answer?"  I feel a pit in my stomach, something already telling me this won't be a happy read, but seeing the desperation in her eyes..I can't tell her no.

Shuffling my deck, I clear my mind of thought or any biases and focus on the question that is Leah and Sam's relationship, and what the future holds for her. I decide to do a three card spread to see what is currently happening and what will happen for Leah.

The first card I place down is the Three of Swords...my blood runs cold as this card indicates grief, heartbreak and sorrow..I try to keep my face neutral as I pull the next. Ten of Swords....a painful, dramatic and unexpected ending, that could take a while to heal from. There is a possibility this card can bring about new beginnings..eventually. And lastly, Two of Cups-upright. Which I wasn't expecting after the last two cards–this one means there will be an emotional connection and strong bond formed between two people...

So overall, Leah is gonna suffer greatly at the hands of her boyfriend, possibly take a while to heal from this suffering, but eventually create a new bond with someone else.

"So what do they say?" She asks as her eyes sweep over each card, no doubt admiring the artwork on them as she has done before.

How can I make this blow a little easier to take..?

"Well.... It isn't a great spread overall, to be completely honest." I say lightly, monitoring her facial expression, going with some truth knowing she'd catch me in a lie.

"There seems to be a lot of pain and sorrow, but eventually things heal and new bonds will be formed and strengthened..."

I watch as her brow furrows, trying to understand how I came to this conclusion and whether or not she is going to believe it..nobody wants to be told they're gonna suffer... Truth reflects in her eyes briefly before being diminished by doubt and denial, she shakes her head slightly to rid herself of the negative possibilities. I watch as the shaking becomes more pronounced before she runs her hand through her dark hair, before looking away from the cards–at me with conflict in her dark eyes.

"So Sam is just going through something painful and when he heals our bond will be strengthened.." The sentence ends in a silent question mark, even though she tries to make it a statement. "I mean, what do silly old cards know anyways..?" She amends before I can even open my mouth to say anything else. She quickly bids me good night and is walking back to her house, in the chill night air.

In my experience...they know a hell of a lot more than we do...

And they still do... a few weeks later, Sam quickly dumps Leah for her cousin Emily and seems to be as happy as ever, and I have to watch my best friend slide headlong into bitterness and apathy.