Gods of Thunder
By Tiger


                   Prologue

Santa Fe, New Mexico - early 1700s 
 
Singing Waterfall stood in front of the Council of 
Elders and related the latest dream from the Kachinas. 
After much discussion the Eldest of the Council faced 
her and Snow Moon. "This is a matter for the Shaman 
and Singing Waterfall". Thusly dismissed, she followed 
Snow Moon to her hogan and the two women talked and 
discussed the dream. "it is an omen that you are 
dreaming of the Kachinas... Follow what they tell you 
and you will not falter.." Snow Moon's voice trailed 
off as shrill war cries filled the air. Both womens 
blood froze.... That sound was made by Apache! The 
door burst open, two warriors heading for both of 
them. "Remember the Kachinas!" cried Snow Moon, as 
everything went black for Singing Waterfall. 
 
South Carolina - Present day 2002 
 
Tiger woke up with a scream. Her head ached like it 
had been clubbed and her heart raced. Shaking, she sat 
upright. These dreams had been going on for a while, 
but this was no ordinary dream. As soon as morning 
light streamed into her window, she got in touch with 
a teacher of hers and explained the dreams. The two 
met and discussed the dreams at length. Both agreed 
that she should follow the dreams, that it was highly 
possible that she was seeing a past lifetime. One that 
had very interesting complications in this lifetime. 
She mentioned her friends at Girltalk and the band 
members of KISS. The oddest thing... Raven looked and 
acted like Snow Moon, the mentor of Singing Waterfall! 
Her teacher nodded agreement. "It is best for now to 
keep this a secret... as a lot of people will NOT 
understand!" Tiger nodded agreement. Things had passed 
coincidence a long time ago... far too long ago. As 
night fell, her eyes closed again... 
 
1700 New Mexico 
Singing Waterfall woke up to the sounds of keening. 
Her blood froze again, as she staggered up. The 
destruction was horrific. Blood, the dead and 
blackened earth, the remains of the hogans, was almost 
too much for her to take in. She immedately helped 
Snow Moon with the injured. The Council decreed a move 
to safety. Under dead of night they moved to the base 
of a hidden canyon, defensible if necessary. 
Sheltering there, they would be safe from the same 
band of mauraders. Finally exhausted, she fell 
asleep... 
 
The DreamTime 
She found herself in the same place as before, 
surrounded by Kachinas. They smiled and nodded 
greetings to her. There were more Kachinas than 
before. She looked at the Serpent with a question in 
her deep brown eyes. His explanation was enough for 
her. The Fox just laughed and ruffled her hair a 
little. "Patience, little sister. All in good time." 
She listened to their teachings... When they were 
satisfied... they faded away.. into the mist...


                     I

Santa Fe, New Mexico - early 1700s 
 
Singing Waterfall woke up and, after doing her morning 
prayers, sought out Snow Moon, about the dream..Snow 
Moon listened then came to a decision. She spoke to 
the Council at length then returned. Singing Waterfall 
did not question what was going on. Later that day, a 
Council of the People was called. The Elder stood up. 
Singing Waterfall was now to be called Cougar Running 
and apprenticed to Snow Moon. She was stunned at 
this... She had not expected this, but would not 
argue. She remembered looking into a basin of water... 
She had not changed, not outwards... 
 
Present Day South Carolina - 2002 
Tiger woke up... tears streamed down her face... The 
face of Cougar Running was hers, with one 
exception...Cougar Running's hair was straight and her 
eyes were brown, as Tiger's was curly and green. She 
remembered what her own mentor had said about the 
dreams...She wrote this one down as well as the rest. 
She knew very little about the Dineh people, she knew 
more about her own.. Odd she had been an apprentice, 
still was in her view. She had cautiously spoken with 
Raven and Dynasty about things. To her relief, they 
did not think she was crazy...but she didn't go 
completely into detail, per her mentor's warnings... 
What the band would make of this... she shuddered to 
think of it. She continued to write. Finally she fell 
asleep again. 
 
1700 Santa Fe, New Mexico 
Cougar Running was now in the midst of her training. 
She was now able to access the Dreamtime at any time 
as well. Long hard hours and much upheaval came, but 
such was the price for one Called. She Cried for a 
vision to come to her, and one came. She saw a fox, a 
mountain lion, and an eagle. They each spoke with her 
at length, Then she saw the Kachinas of the Fox, The 
Mountain Lion and The Hawk. "greetings Wise Ones!" she 
called to them. They nodded a greeting and the 
lessoning began again. Finally, she mastered the 
lessons that they taught her. The Hawk warned her. 
"There will be much upheaval in your life and of those 
to follow, as well as your tribe. You must be prepared 
for the changes that come." She nodded. The Mountain 
Lion surveyed her closely. He nodded as if he approved 
of how she was progressing. The Fox smiled at her. 
"You are a good student. Learn well". All vanished 
into mist, save for the Fox. She Felt a shock of 
recognition hit her hard. 
 
Blacksburg, South Carolina Modern Day - 2002 
Tiger knew... her heart screamed as did her soul in 
shock. She shakily went to the computer and pulled 
information up. "It couldn't be...Damn... it is.." she 
whispered softly. She was too well schooled to let out 
a keening cry. She called her teacher in shock and 
explained that. The designs on the Kachina masks 
matched TOO well. "Let the dreams progress. This ISN'T 
you imagination. You will be shown when the time 
comes." Tiger agreed. Finally she went to Raven and 
Dynasty about what was going on first...They knew 
about the proceedings. They agreed with her 
instructor. She continued to say nothing to anyone 
else save for those two. They did understand...What 
the future would bring... was now anyone's guess.


                  II

Santa Fe, New Mexico - 1700 
 
Cougar Running and Snow Moon were afforded guards. Her 
heart skipped a beat as she noticed the two. One in 
particular had caught her attention. But she returned 
to her duties. The whole camp was vigilant, as they 
did not want a repeat of the attack on them. The Dineh 
were a peaceful people. Time was passing as it should. 
Her lessons were accelerating at a rapid rate. 
 
Blacksburg, South Carolina - Modern Day 2002 
Tiger was journaling the dreams, when she got a 
interesting email...She read it and re read it...same 
thing... She was planning to go to the Charlotte Expo, 
so she had emailed Lori, Raven, Misha, Dyn, SiLK, Des, 
Star and a few others... Most were going to the Expo, 
so they would meet her there. The plans were made and 
the arrangements final...Tiger kept feeling like she 
was being pulled there by an invisable hand... 
 
Santa Fe, New Mexico - 1700 
Cougar Running was speaking with the Kachinas, when 
the Star spoke up.  "A direct descendant of yours will 
be recalling something that pertains to you, very 
soon. She will be in shock, but she will know. She has 
known for some time, that she is dreaming of this, a 
past life of hers." Cougar Running looked at him, 
amazed. The Serpent added "What she will do with this 
information is vital. She is trained herself, and will 
know what to do." What is her name?" she asked of the 
Fox. "Tiger" He answered her with a knowing grin. The 
Warrior added "That is a shortened version of her 
name, but that will do." 
 
South Carolina - Modern Day 2002 
Tiger sat bolt upright in bed... calming herself, she 
rose and journaled what had happened, but something 
started tugging at her...It was cloudy and vague, but 
the answer tugged at her. She sat and watched the sun 
rise... within a week or so, she felt like her whole 
life was about to change... In one week, she would be 
going to the Charlotte Expo. That rang a bell! The 
pieces fell together finally. She shivered and went 
back inside.


                      III

Charlotte, North Carolina - KISS Expo - 2002 
Everyone had met as planned... Little warning bells 
were going off in Tiger's head. She attributed it to 
nerves. The girls chattered and talked and started 
meeting some of the band members and the shockwave hit 
her. She kept herself under TIGHT rein. She had just 
spoken to Eric Singer when the wave hit her. Raven 
noticed, she was pale as a ghost. "Tiger, is your 
thyroid..." She shook her head no and kept talking. 
She went with the girls around the Expo. Later that 
night, in her hotel room, she felt free to let loose 
with the tornado of emotions and memories that 
beseiged her. She heard a knock at the door. She 
quietly opened the door... Raven stood there along 
with some of the other girls. Tiger sat them down and 
slowly explained what had happened. Raven nodded 
agreement. "I was afraid of this...You are 
experiencing some form of past life experience." 
Finally Tiger sent the girls off, her emotions still 
whirling. Another knock sounded. She jumped this time. 
She still wasn't sure how much she could take before 
she reverted back to a wounded animal. Forcing herself 
to do a calming exercise, she made it back to the 
door. Opening it... There was Dynasty... "got someone 
I want you to meet" She nodded numbly, following 
Dynasty to another room. Dynasty was watching her 
every move, knowing that something had set Tiger off 
real bad. Des, Misha, Raven and Star were inside too. 
Her mind was numbed. She snapped to attention quick. 
And reined herself in quick. Gene asked her quite a 
few questions... as did the others...She answered as 
best she could, then once they started in a low voiced 
talk, Tiger disappeared back to her room, unable to 
hold in everything much longer. Gene noticed that and 
commented , only to be caught off guard with Raven's 
comment. "You would be acting the same way if you were 
in her position right now!" Raven tartly explained a 
few things. Tiger hit her bed headfirst, the memories 
still pouring into her. She knew now without a doubt 
that she wasn't crazy...Everything finally fit. The 
tears streamed down her face, and her heart ached and 
screamed in complete agony. She prayed quietly for 
guidance. She didn't hear her door open. Her body shook 
with sobs as she tried pulling herself back together.

The only light in her room was a candle she had lit. 
Suddenly she felt a strong body lay beside her on the 
bed. Strong arms wrapped around her holding her, 
adding his strength to hers. She calmed down finally, 
only to notice that the candle was out. "Who?" she 
whispered, only to be silenced. Hands drew her closer 
holding her tight. Long hair gently spilled over her 
face. She fell asleep, only to awaken with the close 
of the door. She had slept without dreaming! The 
shrill ring of the phone jolted her upright. Raven 
laughed..."Ready for some fun this time?" Tiger agreed 
and was out the door like a shotput. "Record time 
Tiger!" Des grinned at her. She grinned back. Another 
day came and went without the shocks that the first 
day brought. She felt much better, but let it slide 
that the thyroid had brought her down. That was 
accepted by all. Finally the time had come to leave... 
Dynasty and Des asked her if she was going straight 
home. She said yes, but added that the next morning 
she was heading to a place to think about some 
things. Raven slyly got that information out of her. 
"Raven, I swear that you have the "Cat that ate the 
Canary" look on your face." Tiger laughed, back to her 
old self. Making it home she silently padded to bed... 
What to do now. She remembered the conversation with 
her teacher about this...Still jumbled, emotionally, 
she fell asleep. 

Santa Fe, New Mexico - 1700 
Drums pounded out a rhythm as the Festival was now 
commencing. Cougar Running Felt the faint Echoes of 
her descendant, as she went through the Awakening. Her 
heart ached for her. She watched as the Kachinas 
danced in celebration. Snow Moon watched her charge 
carefully. She also had felt the Echoes. The singing 
and dancing went on until near sunrise. The two women 
conversed about the matter after the Festival was 
complete. She resolved to speak with the Kachinas in 
the Dreamtime about the matter at hand. 
 
Dreamtime 
The Kachinas were waiting when she arrived. Someone 
else was also, but hidden in the mist. She voiced her 
question to the Celestial. "Is there nothing I can do 
for her? Even try and go to her time?" The Celestial 
looked into the mist. "Your answer approaches now." 
"No, Ancestor" Tigers voice was steady, as she gave a 
bow of respect to her ancestor.. "You do not wish to 
travel forwards in time. The time I live in now, there 
are many things that would cause you to go upon the 
Spirit path, and this I do not wish. There is good in 
this time, but also bad. Please do not try and come 
forwards in time. I am comforted by knowing..." her 
voice trailed off. With a respectful bow.. she 
vanished into the mist. "She is much like you..gentle 
of heart, but full of courage and fire as well." The 
Star spoke.

(to be continued)