Scene: Aboard the U.S.S. Timber Wolf
Date: August 1, 2294
A bundle for another time
Capt. Unyrra Sollace walked along the corridor of the starship she commanded, imagining she could hear the hum and slight vibration of the Kerala-class’ warp core.
All her imagination of course as the warp core could not be felt through the decking or the sound of its power coursing reach her ears from where she stood.
Her imaginations, however, gave her comfort as it was part of what for Unyrra was everyday life aboard the U.S.S. Timber Wolf.
Farther down the corridor loomed the double doors to the ship’s arboretum.
And once inside, it was easy to find the special guests that had asked to come aboard so as to make a private, special request of her specifically.
With no idea what this request was to be, it did raise her curiosity up as it wasn’t everyday that one received a visit from a medicine person of the Bear Tribe Medicine Society — an interracial (now interspecies) society founded in 1971 by Sun Bear, an Ojibwe man who had a vision of people of all ethnicities coming together to learn to live in harmony with the Earth and natural world of the universe.
She found him located down a trail, standing atop a cliff, overlooking a waterfall that poured into a small lake – a lake located in the heart and hull of a starship out among the very stars themselves.
He held up a hand sprinkling something into the wind … an offering she guessed … while he seemed to be muttering words of a prayer under his breath.
Airing on the side of caution, Unyrra chose to wait for him to finish.
Only when he turned away from what he had been doing and in her direction did she speak.
Atohi Walker smiled as he stepped away from the cliff and approached the ship’s captain.
“This is a remarkable place to find aboard a starship,” he said.
Samuel Windwalker was a tall yet slender man, likely in his fifties or early sixties. His heritage was one not just of human mixed, but likely a couple other species as well.
However, his features definitely showed deep roots in one of the tribal peoples of Earth North American origin.
“I have to admit, it’s definitely a favorite spot of mine,” Unyrra returned with a warm smile. “A place to be and escape the calls of command during off hours.”
“Why don’t we sit, Captain, then and take in the view together as we discuss matters?” he asked with a nod, yet waiting for her to accept his offer to sit together.
“Why don’t we indeed?” she returned, moving to sit lotus-style in a position to take in the view as they spoke.
After a moment, he placed the fur wrapped bundle he carried with him between them.
“As you have likely surmised, there is a reason for my visit.”
“I surmised as much,” she returned. “What can I do for you, Mr. Windwalker?”
“Samuel, please, Captain.”
“Only if you call me Unyrra,” she returned.
“Very well.” Samuel smiled. “Unyrra it shall be.”
“So, what brings you aboard the Wolf?” she asked.
In response, he very lightly and respectfully patted the bundle between them.
“This,” he answered.
“It is a sacred bundle that happens to protect a sacred Pipe within … a newly carved Pipe fashioned from black Pipestone,” he continued. “And its spirit has asked that it be brought here to you.”
“I … I don’t understand,” Unyrra said, trying to make sense of it.
“Why would a sacred Pipe want to be brought to me?” she asked.
“Because it wants you to carry it to where it needs to go … and when the time is right, pass it onto the person who it is truly meant for.”
“So, I’m just a messenger then?” she asked, seeking clarity. “Who am I to deliver it to?”
“THAT, I do not know, Captain, only that to say that you will know when you meet the person as the Pipe’s spirit will speak to you in that moment …. Whether through dream, intuition or other means, but there will be no doubt.”
“ In that moment when you meet the person it’s meant for,” Windwalker continued. “You will know.”
“But why me?” Unyrra asked.
“Why are any of us chosen for anything?” he returned in answer.
“Those reasons were not shared with me other than the feeling that you are about to go on a journey and only through your journey will the Pipe be able to reach the person who is destined to carry it.”
Unyrra sat, taking in his answer and rolling it around in her mind … and it was her in her spirit she felt his words to be true.
‘But what journey?’ she asked herself inwardly.
“Then who am I to argue with what is destined to be?” she said outwardly.
“Good!” Samuel exclaimed happily even as he reached for the bundle.
“Then let us introduce you to this … as yet unnamed … sacred Pipe you will be carrying.”
As he opened the bundle and began spreading it out between them, he eyed Unyrra.
“You captain a wolf that travels the stars,” he said.
Many see the wolf as an adventurous spirit, loyal to its pack, a creature of courage & leadership, one who gathers wisdom from its adventures and is a great teacher,” he continued.
“This ship of yours is a beacon of life that runs through the stars as a wolf runs through a forest,” he continued. “The galaxy is her forest and she sweeps all of you along with her.”
As if on cue, a pair of wolves stepped from the tree line of the forest below, looking at them intently as the Medicine man turned his attention back to the Pipe between them.
At some point in the past, someone through adding a pack of wolves to the arboretum a fun addition.
Even if holographic in nature, they seemed to have personalities each of their own.
“Just as this Pipe has the spirit of the stars themselves, this ship has the spirit of the wolf it was so aptly named after.
—
Out of Story: This one is meant to introduce a new captain, ship and item … all of which are destined for a major story arc that is about to begin with the next story that’s yet to come.