Gods of Thunder
By Tiger

                  IV - Introspection

South Carolina... Modern Day 2002 

Awaking early, Tiger took off and headed for Pearson's 
Falls. She was quiet along the way. She reached the 
Falls about 10 am... It was quiet, and that is what 
she needed. She needed to think about what was 
happening to her, and what she should do with that 
information. An internal struggle was going on. Should 
she approach the band, or what? No answers were 
forthcoming. She sat, also wondering why Raven wanted 
to know where she was... She suspected that several of 
the girls knew more than they were telling. She let 
the waterfall lull her into a more clear state. Time 
passed quickly. A sudden noise snapped her to 
alertness.. "Damn! Can't sneak up on you can I?" a 
familiar chuckle rang thru the path...She groaned, 
."Not this time StarChild!" she said quietly. Raven 
appeared. "Any answers?" "Quite truthfully, more 
questions than answers and a tangle of emotions to 
boot." Tiger answered her... "Too much information 
still running around inside and no clear way or sign 
of what to do". "Why don't you let us decide?" This is 
what she dreaded.. She agreed cautiously, explaining 
as best as she could. "Time travel appears to the the 
only solution" Ace piped up. "One problem..."Tiger 
explained. "I don't have the key to that, yet. Despite 
what has been said about me... I definately don't have 
all the answers. Nor am I insane". "I'm not certain I 
believe in all this!" Gene stated flatly. "I 
understand that all too well." was the only reply.Her 
vision focused on the waterfall. "my question is to 
all of you, is do you even want to proceed with this, 
and why.. which is the same question I have asked 
myself!" Raven noticed Tiger's eyes were unfocused. By 
that time, Eric Singer had moved behind her. She Saw 
several images in the flowing water. A gasp of deep 
surprise came from deep within. Eric's hands tightened 
on her shoulders. "Tiger-girl, what is it?!" She 
couldn't answer for a moment then shook her head to 
clear it. The image remained. She asked Raven if she 
had seen aything. "Maybe" she answered. "The key to 
the riddle" Tiger spoke, her eyes still unfocused. 
 
 
                  V - Path to the Portal

Santa Fe, New Mexico - 1700 
Cougar Running and Snow Moon were discussing the 
latest dream and the advice given in regards to Strong 
Heart, as well as the advice given by Tiger about the 
possibility of time travel. "She is wise and knows 
enough to discourage you from doing this for a reason. 
She would not want to cause you any grief." Snow Moon 
stated flatly. "However I have seen that she now has 
the key to travel backwards into time. She is debating 
the issue with a divided heart. She wishes to really 
learn the Old Ways from those who knew best, but is 
uncertain of the damage that she would do traveling 
into the past." 
 
Pearson's Falls, North Carolina - Modern Day - 2002 

Those thoughts kept running through Tiger's mind as 
she had to stop and think hard. Eric Singer knew the 
moment her eyes refocused, as did the rest, that she 
was in deep turmoil. They sat down and deeply 
discussed the situation. "I am being drawn to that 
time. However I cannot and will not risk all of you 
going... Myself, maybe." "Why not?" Gene demanded, 
then stopped when he saw the pain in her eyes. "Even 
myself going back thru time could distort history and 
alter the outcome of certain events. Think on this 
also... Those of you that wore makeup would be 
considered Kachinas, which are sacred to the Dineh 
people. Consider that for a moment.. there is much 
that I do not know, but consider the outcome before 
you even think about this!" As her eyes filled with 
tears, she moved down the path a bit to pull herself 
back together. Eric Singer followed her down the path. 
Raven spoke up. "Tiger knows the risks of doing 
this... we don't. I know why she is being drawn back, 
but none of the rest..." "You were saying?" inquired 
Ace...at nods of agreement from some of the rest. she 
shrugged. "You will have to convince Tiger that you 
know what you are doing, and that you want to do 
this." Meanwhile, Eric had caught up with her and 
whirled her around. Before she could even say 
anything, he just held her. It was obvious that she 
hurt like hell. He also knew that she wasn't telling 
all that she had seen either. Her heart held a painful 
secret...

She sobbed as her heart broke into pieces... Eric 
just held her, much to her shock. "The guys know about 
the fan fic..." he told her.. which made her cry even 
worse. He just held her tighter. "I couldn't and 
wouldnt go back thru time to change the outcome of his 
life... I just couldn't. That isn't the reason I am 
doing this.." He nodded "I know you wouldn't, but 
others that were less ethical would." The pain grew 
worser, like she was being torn apart... Everyone else 
was in earshot as he told her..."Wrong thing to tell 
her, right now" Peter mused quietly. Ace nodded 
agreement. A deep cry of pain ripped thru her as 
everything went black. The last thing she remembered 
was Eric yelling for her. 
 
DreamTime 
She walked through the silver mist, alone and hurting, 
in more ways than one. Suddenly she saw Eric Carr 
walking towards her... She froze in place. dreading... 
"easy, Kiddo...I'm not upset... hell, far from it." 
She relaxed a little and he grinned. "I know damn well 
that you would not use the extra stuff you have to 
hurt me or mine... nor the band either. Besides 
Beautiful...I'm flattered as hell, and intrigued. I 
heard your coment to Eric Singer. I know that you 
wouldn't change my life in any way, even though it 
means sorrow to you now. I've known about you for a 
while." He grinned devilishly. "Back you go!" 
"We will meet again!" 
 
Santa Fe, New Mexico - 1700 
Cougar Running knew of the turmoil inside her 
descendants heart. She prayed to the Creator to send 
her relief from the soul pain. She saw a sign that all 
would be well and she smiled. 
 
Pearson's Falls, North Carolina - 2002 
Tiger woke up groggy and being held.. She shook her 
head to clear it. "You ok?" Eric Singer demanded. She 
shook her head... I think I had better rest for a 
while. They all soon returned to Tigers house in 
Blacksburg for more planning...

Blacksburg, South Carolina - Modern Day - 2002 
Tiger's house was crowded, and everyone was talking 
and chatting..Tiger had called her teacher and they 
both were upstairs talking about the turn of events. 
She had the key now to go back into time. The question 
was, was it worth the risk?. She finally agreed that 
is was worth the risk, but under strict guidelines. 
She rarely let anyone into her work area, so she was 
just about to begin, when she heard footsteps coming 
up the stairs. Looking, she saw no one, then 
proceeded. She finally relaxed and went forward. 
"Tiger?" a male voice called.. She didn't answer..for 
a while. She heard the steps on the stairs again, then 
wandered. Her mind reeled at the implications. Finally 
she had her answer and started back. Feeling something 
brush gently against her face, she finally woke up 
enough to stir. "Who..." 
 
Santa Fe, New Mexico - 1700 
Cougar Running, as well as Snow Moon began making 
preparations for the visitor they would have soon. 
With the advice from the Kachinas, everything was soon 
in place. Their visitor would be there for a year and 
a day, then return to her own time. The Kachinas had 
hinted that others might follow her, and Tiger herself 
had asked permission to enter this time period. Now 
all was in readiness. 
 
Blacksburg, South Carolina - Modern Day 2002  
Tiger's eyes fluttered open. Her breathing resumed its 
fullness. She stared in a little shock at Eric Singer, 
who was kneeling beside her as she woke up. 
"Tiger-girl, you didn't answer when Bruce called you. 
Then Alex said you were wrapped up in doing something, 
so I came up here to check on you. Did you get an 
answer?" She nodded.. "The answer is yes. Now we all 
need to talk." 

Tiger and Eric Singer both came down the stairs. She 
caught her teacher's eye as soon as they were within 
view. "What was the answer?" he asked her, bringing 
all talk to an end. "The answer is yes. I will be 
there for a year and a day, then return to this time.  
I understand that some of you were thinking about 
going back with me. I need to know those reasons, 
please." The shocked looks on their faces were 
priceless. Each one answered her with yea or nay. She 
nodded. At least some had changed their minds about 
it. But one or two were still insistant. She nodded at 
their reasons. It made perfect sense. "What is the 
worst case scenario should the entire group of us go 
back with you?" Gene asked, still not quite believing 
in this. Tiger spelled it out plainly, with a 
bluntness that no one expected of her. "Interesting!" 
was his only reply. "very" Tiger said dryly. "What 
about you, Tiger-girl? WE know your reasons, and they 
are sound, but what happens if you choose..." She 
replied carefully "if I chose to stay there, then I 
would no longer be here. I've thought this through 
thourougly.. In any case I will not be allowed to make 
a decision about that until near the end of the time 
period." Two days later, the house cleared for all 
except Tiger. She was thinking twice about involving 
the band in this. One going back would be enough, but 
Gene's request had her a bit puzzled. That request was 
simple... stay in touch with the band, and Raven had 
made her promise the same thing. She began making 
plans with Alex to make the trip into the past. All 
clearances had been taken care of. 
 
Four weeks later.. 
Now Tiger was completely puzzled... She had phone 
calls every day from different people... She didn't 
understand this at all. She wasn't THAT flipping 
important!!!. Looking at the time, the phone rang 
again. She jumped out of her chair and dived for the 
phone...A politely worded request was made, and Tiger 
reluctantly agreed to it. Alex came along as well, as 
her instruction had increased dramatically. Soon they 
were at their destination. Both went to work and Tiger 
understood now why they had done this.  
 
Four months later.. 
Her training was finished. Within the next four days, 
she would head out alone to Sedona and the Vortex.  
She would have a year and a day to complete what she 
needed to do, then return to the present day. Why did 
she feel like her world would change drastically 
within that time? Within four days would be "All 
Hallows Eve". She didn't know that there were at least 
three that wanted to go along with her to Arizona. 
Only one would reveal why. Alex grinned as he heard 
the reason.


Go to Part VI-X Gods of 
Thunder 

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