[ussbansheec] Ma'heono'soo's Vision

_Ma'heono'soo's Vision
_by JT & Hakan Swiftwind

Ma'heono'soo knelt in front of the fire, dark eyes staring into the dancing light. Chanting softly, he tossed handful of sage and sweet grass into the flames, inhaling the holy smoke as the herbs began to burn. His hands reached to cup the smoke, bringing it closer so that he could brush it along his arms, down his chest, and through his thick black hair. It was his second time performing the ritual but the results were the same as the first time. The vision was the same.

He sat back on his heels and shook his head. "Maybe this is the one time it's a vision, a possibility, and not the truth," he muttered softly. Looking up at the darkening sky, Ma'heono'soo blew out a soft breath. "I wouldn't mind being wrong for once you know." He almost smiled. His brother called him disrespectful but how could he help it if he had a good relationship with Ma'heo'o?

He took his time dousing the fire and putting away his herbs, all the while softly chanting prayers of thanksgiving and completion. He knew he had to say both, whether he liked the visions or not. Such was the lot of the shaman and he had to follow tradition. When each herb bundle and every tool was properly stowed in his bag, Ma'heono'soo stood up, dusted off the knees of his jeans, then headed toward his home.

"You okay, son?"

He looked up and smiled. The physical resemblance aside, the two men did not appear to be father and son. The son wore old, comfortable jeans, a flannel shirt, and soft soled moccasins where the father, his black hair now shot with white, wore a neat clean uniform with creases so sharp that the thing could have stood up by itself.

"Yeah, Dad, I'm fine," Ma'heono'soo replied, accepting his father's one armed hug as easily as he had when he was a child.

"You still comin' with, Hakan?" JT asked.

Hakan's brows drew together in a frown. Dark eyes looked up at the setting sun then back at his father. "I know I took a little extra time but I'm not makin' you late, am I?"

"Son, after twenty-nine years, I know how you are. You've always operated on Indian time and you're only getting more set in those ways," JT said with an affectionate smirk. Explaining his youngest boy's laid back attitude to his fellow Marines often left them shaking their heads, wondering how the Chief of the Military Police and commander of the Parris Island training camp could deal with such non-Marine-like attitudes. "Besides, I told you an hour off just for that very purpose. You still have an hour of you're comin' with us."

"I'll be ready before that, Dad, don't worry," Hakan said as he walked into the house.

People outside the family quite often didn't know what to make of the youngest Swiftwind. Should they call him Hakan or Ma'heono'soo? Was he really a shaman? And who really believed the nonsense anyway? Magic and spirits? Nutcase was what he was.

Ordinarily, Hakan would never even have thought about attending a Starfleet function with his parents but this was a special one. It was a ship's relaunch party where two of his 'sort of' cousins would be aboard the ship and also one of his friends from childhood. Not only was he going, but he was going in his full dress mode. After all, if his father was going in dress blues, then he could at least do his equivalent. After a quick shower, he pulled on the fine dark linen pants he had and then a fine, hand made ribbon shirt and densely beaded knee high soft boots. Then began the makeup application. No chance of embarrassing his parents. They knew exactly what he was up to.

When he finally stepped out of his bedroom, his father grinned widely. "Son, I do believe you've out done yourself this time."

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