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VALKYRIE’S CHOICE
FIONA DAVENPORT
Copyright © 2023 by Fiona Davenport
Cover designed by Elle Christensen
Edited by Jenny Sims (Editing4Indies)
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without
written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a
book review.
Created with Vellum
 CONTENTS

Valkyrie’s Choice

Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
Epilogue

Monster Between the Sheets Season 2

About the Author
VALKYRIE’S CHOICE
 MONSTER BETWEEN THE SHEETS SEASON 2

Being turned into a Valkyrie put a crimp in a girl's dating

plans, even when the rest of the town was full of monsters.

Isla Hart figured the odds of finding her happily ever after were slim
when she sprouted wings…until she saved Cooper Madison’s life and
couldn’t get him out of her head. Too bad he was human, and it
wasn’t as though she’d ever see him again anyway.

Unable to pilot planes after an accident, Cooper was in search of

somewhere to figure out what came next. When he rented a cabin
near where his plane had gone down, he never expected to run into
the woman he thought was a figment of his imagination. Or that
he’d fall head over heels in love with her.
PROLOGUE
 ISLA

B eing turned into a monster was the worst thing that had ever
happened to me…but my favorite pastime wouldn’t have been
possible if I hadn’t become a Valkyrie. Soaring through the sky was
freeing in a way I couldn’t explain to someone without the ability to
fly. Being in the air was the only place I was at peace with myself.
Although I always took to the sky for work, I still flew for fun
whenever I could. As the owner of a small business—a local food
delivery service—I never truly had a full day off from my job.
Something always needed to be done, but I’d spent the morning in
the office so I could spread my wings for a nice, long flight.
Usually, I limited my personal journeys to the airspace above
Screaming Woods, so I didn’t have to worry if anyone spotted me
from the ground. The last thing I wanted when I was in the sky was
to get buzzed by a fighter jet because someone mistook me for an
unidentified flying object that needed to be investigated. But
sometimes I felt the need to expand my flight pattern so my wings
got a really good workout, which didn’t happen with shorter trips.
As I was circling to head back home, I spotted a private jet in the
distance and climbed to a higher altitude so I wouldn’t be in the
pilot’s line of sight. I maintained one thousand feet of vertical
separation while I crossed its path. When I was about three miles
past the plane, I turned to glance at it again. My head jerked back
when I saw the aircraft starting to nosedive toward the lake below it.
 I hovered in place, waiting for the pilot to start their descent for
a crash landing. But only a moment later, the door between the
cockpit and wing flung open. I started to swoop toward the jet when
a man appeared in the opening.
Spotting the straps to the parachute that was on his back, I
heaved a deep sigh. Except my relief proved to be short-lived
because he fell out of the aircraft, tumbling headfirst into the air. His
body was too limp for him to be conscious, and I angled myself to
intercept him before he dropped too far for his parachute to do any
good.
“Oomph,” I grunted, barely pulling us from a spiral when I caught
him.
He wasn’t a small guy and was deadweight since he was
unconscious. It took every bit of my strength to reposition the pilot
so his head was even with mine. Then I scanned the forest beneath
us, searching for the safest place for him to land. Tears of relief filled
my eyes when I spotted a familiar landmark—a large campsite
between Screaming Woods and the next town over. Since it tended
to be busy this time of year, someone was sure to find him quickly.
I flew us closer to the clearing in the trees before pulling his
parachute. The pilot was pulled from my hold, but I stayed level with
him so I could make sure nothing went wrong as he began to fall at
a steady speed. So many things could go wrong, so my gaze
continually swiveled between the parachute and the piece of land I
was aiming for.
I guided him to a clearing but didn’t realize that the pilot was
semi-alert until I glanced down and found him blinking up at me. His
bright-blue eyes were filled with pain and confusion, but I still felt
the weight of his gaze in my soul. It was almost as though there was
some deep connection between us, but that was probably because I
saved his life.
His lids drifted shut again as he let out a low groan of pain that
made me wince in sympathy. Worried that he was uncomfortable on
the hard ground, I gathered the fabric from his chute. Then I folded
it into a makeshift pillow and carefully slid it beneath his head.
Staring down at him, I moved some of his light blond hair out of the
way and traced my fingers over the bump on his forehead.
Although I didn’t know the pilot, I hesitated to leave him alone in
the wilderness while he was unconscious. I knew better than most
how one mishap could change the course of your entire life. But
then I heard a male voice call, “I think he landed over here. Come
on!”
Backing away from his prone body, I gave him a final, lingering
look before I spread my wings and took flight. I was high in the air
when four men came running from the woods to see what
happened, and I circled until they carried him toward the campsite.
It was only when I couldn’t see them through the trees anymore
that I flew toward home, the pang of loneliness in my heart stronger
than it had been in years.
 1
COOPER

L ike every day for the past two weeks, my eyes opened slowly and
I stared at the wooden ceiling above me. It matched the walls,
making the log cabin I’d rented feel even more rustic. Not that rustic
was necessarily my thing—if I were at home, I’d be staring at plain,
white walls.
This place was more about the location than lodging itself.
I sat up and tried to shove away the remnants of my dreams.
Another part of my everyday routine, it seemed.
In my dreams, I was falling from an airplane when the most
beautiful woman I’d ever seen, with majestic, colorful wings,
swooped down and caught me—saving my life.
But in the reality of the morning, I argued with myself over
whether those images had been hallucinations brought on by the
fear and adrenaline of knowing I was about to die.
When the electric system in my plane shorted out, the plane
dropped into a nosedive when I reached for an auxiliary lever. I hit
my head, nearly knocking myself out. Luckily, I was able to grab my
parachute and get to the exit. However, I was so disoriented that I
stumbled out the door. I was suddenly falling, and my scrambled
brain couldn’t figure out that I wasn’t floating because I hadn’t
opened my chute.
I remembered seeing the water beneath me and wishing I had
wings but accepted that I was human and was about to die. Then I
was suddenly flying…and I blacked out.
The next time I opened my eyes, I was lying on the ground
surrounded by trees. It was quiet except for the natural hum of
forest activity and…I heard the sound of someone’s racing heartbeat,
one I knew wasn’t mine. Right before I passed out, I blinked up at
the exquisite face of my rescuer. For a moment, I wondered if Norse
mythology had gotten it right, and this was a Valkyrie, come to
escort me to the next life.
When I blinked again, she was gone. I awoke sometime later
with a raging headache. I gingerly prodded the bump on my
forehead, and my hand came away bloody, so I figured it had all
been my imagination, a side effect of my concussion. But as time
went by, I still couldn’t get her out of my mind.
Then the doctors told me my vision was too damaged to ever fly
again. I was lost, but I felt an undeniable pull to return to the place
where I’d seen her.
My best friend, Heath, and I owned a small charter company in
Southern California that catered to people in all walks of life but was
frequently used by the rich and famous. Due in large part to our
discretion. We were excellent at protecting our customers from
paparazzi while they flew with us.
While I wasn’t obscenely wealthy, our business had left me
comfortable. So I could take off for a while and figure out what to do
with the rest of my life.
Not that Heath was very happy about it. When he got my email,
he immediately came to my office to protest.
“Just because you can’t fly doesn’t mean you can’t be a part of
this business,” Heath insisted with exasperation.
“I am the fucking pilot, Heath.”
Heath waved away my comment and rolled his eyes. “We have
other pilots, Cooper. You run this business just as much as I do. And
you’re the fucking face of the company. It’s not like I can step into
that role.”
I sighed and picked up a pencil from the top of my desk and
began twirling it through my fingers. Heath had been injured in a
motorcycle accident when he was twenty-five. He’d broken most of
the bones in his face, and while the plastic surgeon had done an
excellent job repairing it, Heath would always have a few scars and
some areas that were slightly misshapen because shattered bones
didn’t heal seamlessly. He was still a very good-looking man, but no
one had been able to convince him of that. He’d only agreed to open
the business with me if I dealt with all the client meetings.
”You know Greg can step in for that shit.” Greg was our COO.
He’d worked his way up in the company, and we’d been talking
about giving him more responsibility so we didn’t lose him to
someone who could offer a promotion. Since I was president and
Heath was CEO, there wasn’t really another step up for him.
Heath frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. “He can. But
—”
“I’m not saying I’m out,” I muttered. “I’m just saying I need
some time. I need to adjust to my new reality and decide where my
life goes from here.”
“So your answer is to go to the middle of fucking nowhere and
hide in the woods?”
Heath’s brow drew farther down, and he watched me warily—as
if he thought I would have a meltdown at any moment. I wasn’t
having an end-of-life crisis, but not being able to fly crushed part of
my soul. I didn’t know how to fill that hole.
“Not hiding,” I disagreed. “But I don’t have a rational explanation
for my decision either. I just need to be there, for a while, at least.”
Heath rubbed his hands down his face and muttered, “She won’t
be there, man. She’s not real.” He was the only one with whom I
confided the full details of my accident.
I scratched my head and stared at the wall thoughtfully. “I may
have dreamed up the part about some kind of Valkyrie flying in and
saving my life, but I had to have seen that face somewhere. And the
only way I can think of to either get her out of my head or find out
what the hell happened, is to go there.”
Heath nodded in reluctant acceptance. “Do what you gotta do,
man. Just promise me you’ll talk to me before making any major
decisions.”
 “It’s half yours. I would never make decisions about the business
without consulting you.”
Heath pointed a finger at me and grumbled, “That’s not what I
mean, and you know it. Decisions about your future.”
Yeah, I knew, but I’d deliberately talked around it. I couldn’t
promise anything because I had no idea what was next for me now
that I couldn’t fly.
“You’ll still be able to reach me, and I’ll check in once in a while.”
Heath rolled his shoulders and moved his head from side to side,
trying to loosen some of the tension in his muscles. Then he sighed
and dropped his arms to his sides. “I hope you find what you’re
looking for, Cooper.”
As frustrated as he was, I could see that his sentiment was
genuine.
“Me too.”
The next day, I rented a cabin in the forest where the campers
had found me. And here I was, two weeks later, wondering if Heath
had been right to be worried and I’d actually lost my mind.
I climbed out of bed and stretched before walking across the cold
wooden floor to the bathroom. My eyes drifted over to the small
desk situated under a large picture window. The cabin was
technically a big studio, but it had been arranged to make it feel
more like two rooms. The sleeping area was a large alcove with a
dresser, bed, and two nightstands. The living area had two couches,
a desk, and the kitchen space with a table and chairs.
The desk was where I spent a good deal of my time.
I dragged my gaze away and forced myself to enter the
bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, I was showered and dressed, and I
headed to the kitchen to grab some breakfast.
But that fucking desk stole my attention again, and my feet
wandered toward it of their own volition.
A neat stack of used papers was on the left side, and on the right
was a pencil and a pad of fresh art paper.
Drawing had been a hobby for me since I was a kid. However, I’d
never felt the need to put my pencil to paper until now.
 I dropped onto the desk chair and scooted it in, then grabbed an
empty sheet of paper. After smoothing it out on the table in front of
me, I picked up one of the graphite pencils. My gaze lifted, and I
stared out the window in front of me.
Instead of lush greenery, blue sky, and sunshine, I saw a face.
With a mind of its own, my hand began to move over the paper. The
only sound in the room was my even breaths and the scratching of
the pencil as it created a mirror image of the woman I saw in my
mind.
When I finally set down the pencil, I got lost in her eyes. The
picture blurred, then sharpened several times, pricking my temper.
The inability to stay in focus was the major issue with my eyesight.
Whenever I was staring at the face of my dream girl, and my eyes
pulled that shit, it just reminded me that the whole thing could’ve
been concocted as a defense mechanism. A way to explain what
happened since I couldn’t come up with any logical timeline of
events. But if the impossible was true, maybe the doctors were
wrong, and my eyesight would eventually heal.
Grunting in frustration, I slammed it down on the other pile of
drawings.
A few of them blew to the floor, and I reached down to pick them
up. Not one of the drawings was the same. They all focused on her
incredible eyes, so full of life…but some were of her flying through
the air, showing off her bright, resplendent wings. In others, she was
sprawled on the couch or walking in the forest. Sometimes I forgot
to draw her wings, but it didn’t seem to matter. It didn’t change how
she looked at me. If I finally found her, I wouldn’t care whether she
had wings or not…I’d be too busy finding out what it felt like to hold
her in my arms. What her lips tasted like. And what sounds she
made when in the throes of passion.
 2
ISLA

B eing turned into a Valkyrie would have been a heck of a lot worse
if I didn’t live in a town where so many others were monsters as
well. At least I still had friends who didn’t consider me too inhuman
to spend time with, unlike some of my former acquaintances who’d
distanced themselves after that fateful Halloween night when
everything changed. Not that I could really blame them when my
colorful wings were impossible to hide.
Luckily, that was something I didn’t have to worry about as I
walked into Il Diablo, an Italian restaurant owned by a vampire
named Lorenzo Bianchi. Being a monster—or falling in love with one
—was perfectly normal in Screaming Woods.
I headed directly to a big table in the back of the room that my
friends and I always used when we met for a girls’ lunch. I was the
last to arrive, and they all looked up to greet me.
“Sorry I’m late,” I murmured.
Isabeau blinked up at me, her brows drawn together. The tiny
imp waited until I sat down to ask, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, really.” My shoulders slumped as I sighed. “Just a stray
thought about the night we all drank the Frankenpunch that Dr.
Karloff brought to the Halloween party.” Although Izzy hadn’t been a
resident then. She was born half demon/half imp.
“Ah, you mean the moment when our world shattered?” Maggie
asked, turning her hand over to stare at her green skin. “And we
emerged as monsters?”
Even after all these years, I still remembered the screams of pain
from friends I’d grown up with mingled with my own when my wings
broke through my back. It was utter pandemonium as we all tried to
understand what was happening and why we had been cursed with
such a monstrous fate.
Before I’d even realized that the pounding in my back was
because of the colorful wings that had sprouted from my spine, I
was soaring in the air. I almost crashed into three other flying
monsters before I figured out how to control my flight. It took weeks
before I realized that my wings could lie flat against my back when
they weren’t used.
I nodded. “Yeah.”
Juniper, a human who fell in love with Maggie’s brother last year,
shuddered. “Silas still has nightmares about it.”
“Don’t we all?” Jackie asked, leaning her iridescent, tin-colored
elbow against the table as she propped her chin in the palm of her
hand.
A Valkyrie, the Wicked Witch of the West, the Tin Woman, an
imp, and a human walked into a restaurant owned by a vampire…
there had to be a joke in there somewhere. I just couldn’t find it at
the moment.
The server came over to confirm we all wanted our usual orders,
turning our conversation away from the nightmare of our past.
“Did you hear who has come to stay in one of those cabins out in
the woods?” Maggie asked as soon as the server left, clapping her
hands together as she practically bounced in her seat.
Since she carried a lot of items that could only be found at her
store, Something Wicked, Maggie had a steady stream of witches
and other magical creatures. This meant she was always in the loop
on the newest gossip, but I rarely saw my friend so excited about
anything she’d heard.
Before anyone could ask what she was talking about, Jackie
glared at her and complained, “I knew I should’ve waited to tell you
what I heard. I got this hot tea while you were busy with Eli in the
storeroom. I should be the one to spill it.”
 It was silly of me to get my hopes up, but I couldn’t stop myself
from wishing that the gossip was about the pilot I’d saved a month
ago. Although there was no reason for him to have rented a cabin
nearby—or at least I assumed there wasn’t since I didn’t actually
know anything about him other than the color of his eyes, how much
he weighed, and that he could fly planes—I was impatient to find
out who they were talking about. “I don’t care who tells us, as long
as you do it now.”
Maggie waved a green hand at her assistant manager, gesturing
for her to go for it. Jackie beamed a smile at the rest of us.
“Remember that dragon shifter series I talked all of you into
reading?”
“Of course.” I rolled my eyes. As if any of us could forget when
we’d devoured all eleven books within a few weeks and talked about
the characters as though they were real. “Please tell me there’s
going to be a new book.”
“That would be so amazing,” Juniper agreed with an enthusiastic
nod.
“Yeah, I was so sad when I realized the series was done,” Izzy
added.
“Nope,” Jackie let the P at the end pop before pausing
dramatically. “But Soraya Hart has apparently rented a cabin just
outside of town because she’s looking for inspiration for her next
series.”
Isabeau and Juniper cheered while I slumped in my seat. As
much as I was looking forward to reading Soraya Hart’s next book, it
wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear.
Maggie tilted her head, her blue eyes perceptive as she scanned
my expression. “I expected you to be a lot more excited by the
news.”
I forced a smile. “Don’t get me wrong, I am.”
“But?” Juniper prodded.
“I was kind of hoping you’d say that the pilot I rescued was the
one staying in the cabin,” I admitted, staring down at the table as I
traced a circle on the cloth covering the hard surface. “Saving him
was…special. I was truly happy for the first time since I was turned
into a Valkyrie because I did something good with the talent that
came along with becoming a monster.”
“You’re not giving yourself enough credit.” Juniper patted her
stomach. “Being able to order a meal delivered to our home when
Silas and I aren’t in the mood to cook or go anywhere definitely
counts as doing good as far as I’m concerned.”
I flashed her a grateful smile as I shrugged. “I get what you’re
saying, but it’s not the same as literally saving someone’s life. It just
would have been nice to see him again, that’s all.”
The server dropped off our drinks, along with several appetizers,
and we were all quiet as we enjoyed the delicious food, wine, and
sparkling juice—for Juniper and Maggie, who were both pregnant.
After we polished off the bruschetta and arancini, Maggie patted her
lips with her napkin. Then she turned everyone’s attention to me
again. “Do you know what I just realized, Isla? You told us about
how you saved the pilot from the plane crash, but you never gave us
any details about his appearance.”
I felt my cheeks heat as I replied, “Everything happened so fast,
I didn’t really get a good look at him.”
“Was he old or young?” Izzy wanted to know.
“Um, not too old. Probably around his late thirties or maybe
forty,” I guessed.
“Blond, brown, or red hair?” Jackie asked.
My fingers twitched as I remembered how soft it was. “Light
blond, almost white.”
“And his eyes?” Juniper probed.
I closed mine while I remembered what it had felt like to stare
into his. “Bright blue.”
“What was that you said about not getting a good look at him?”
Maggie teased.
My eyes popped open, and I glared at her. “You know what I
meant.”
“Yes, I do.” She leaned forward and patted my hand. “Because
you sound an awful lot like I did back when I first met Eli. It seems
to me that this pilot made a heck of an impression on you, and not
just because you saved his life.”
 “I’ve been there, too,” Juniper chimed in with a nod. “I couldn’t
stop thinking about Silas after I bumped into him when I was lost in
the woods. At least I knew I didn’t have to wait long to see him
again since we’d made plans to have lunch the next day. But for you,
it’s been so long and you have no idea if you’ll ever have the chance
to get to know him. That’s so sad.”
“She should just track him down,” Jackie suggested before taking
a sip of her wine. “It shouldn’t be too hard since planes don’t crash
in the forest often. I bet his information is included in the accident
report.”
I shook my head while all of my friends loudly agreed with her
wild proposal. As much as I wanted to see my mystery man again, I
couldn’t go looking for him. It wouldn’t be right. “Even if I found
him, nothing could come of it anyway. He’s human, and I’m…not.”
Juniper pointed at herself. “That didn’t stop Silas and I from
falling in love with each other.”
“Only because you’re special enough to look past the electrical
charge running through his body,” I pointed out. And more than
that, Juniper was somehow immune to it.
Maggie poured me another glass of wine from the bottle the
server had left on the table. “You deserve someone special, too.”
 3
COOPER

W ith another week gone and no sign of clarity, I went for another
walk in the woods. I shoved my hands in my pockets and
strolled down the path that led to the small, nearby town. A place
called “Screaming Woods.”
Who wouldn’t be curious about that?
I often walked down to the tree line, but I never actually
ventured out of the woods. When I’d gone to the grocery store on
the opposite side of the forest, I’d heard rumors about the place.
That it was filled with “freaks and monsters.” Perhaps that was what
intrigued me. If it was true, could it be that my beautiful, feathered
creature resided there?
After watching the small amount of activity that I could see from
my spot, I turned around to head back to my cabin. I was halfway
there when I heard the neigh of a horse and the sound of hooves
beating the ground as it approached. It was coming fast, and there
was very little moonlight, so I came to a sudden stop to make sure it
wouldn’t run me over. Seconds later, a giant black horse appeared,
and a deep voice commanded, “Whoa, Gunpowder.”
My gaze traveled up and up until I stared at a dark-haired
woman with bright-green skin, sitting on the back of a horse with
her arms around a man—at least, it looked like a man. Or most of
one. I blinked a few times, wondering if my eyesight had begun to
actually deteriorate even more, because it looked as if the man had
no head.
The woman giggled and bumped her shoulder into the man’s
back. “See how confused he is? It would make more sense to him if
you were wearing a pumpkin on your head,” she quipped as she
dropped her clear blue eyes down to me and grinned.
“I know you can hear me rolling my eyes, baby,” the deep voice
said.
The woman laughed again and shrugged. “Sorry about Eli. He
has terrible manners when his head disappears.”
I blinked again and shook my head because I had to be
imagining things. Then I opened my eyes. Nope, still there.
“Yep,” she snickered as she flicked her long black hair over her
shoulder. “We’re real. The headless horseman and the Wicked Witch
of the West, at your service, sir.”
A sigh sounded from the man, whose name was apparently Eli.
“Maggie, baby, I think he’s startled enough by what he’s seeing, you
don’t need to make it worse by bringing up unbelievable fairy tales.”
I canted my head to the side and mumbled, “If you’re real…
maybe she is, too.”
The woman—Maggie—raised an eyebrow. “She? Are you looking
for someone in particular?”
My shoulders hunched as I grunted, “Honestly, I have no clue.
I’m starting to wonder if I never woke up from my accident. Maybe
I’m lying in a hospital bed somewhere, still in a coma, and this is all
a dream.”
Maggie tapped her lips as she considered me thoughtfully. Then
smiled. “Sounds like an interesting story. How about we swap?”
“Swap?” I asked, one corner of my mouth lifting. Her
enthusiasm, coupled with her bubbly personality, amused me.
She winked and exclaimed, “Sure! Haven’t you ever wanted to
know the true story behind The Wizard of Oz?”
Eli’s hand raised and scratched the air. I couldn’t help chuckling
at the odd sight.
“His head is still there,” Maggie informed me with a giggle. “It’s
just invisible.” She lifted a hand and knocked. Obviously, I didn’t
hear anything, but I got her point.
I’d been in a constant state of grouchy since I had arrived at the
cabin. It felt good to laugh.
“Okay then, I accept. You first.”
Maggie grinned wickedly and waved her arms in the air. At first, I
thought it was random, but an object began to take shape, and I
realized she traced the outline of a mirror. Snippets from the movie
The Wizard of Oz played inside the frame when it was fully formed.
Then, as she began to speak, still images popped up, showing vivid
tableaux of the scenes she described as she weaved a very different
chain of events concerning an evil cousin, a bratty kid named
Dorothy, and some stolen, sparkly red shoes.
When she finished, she waved her hand, and the mirror
dissipated.
“Wow,” I breathed. “I expected your side of the story to align
more with the musical that’s supposedly about you,” I teased.
Maggie rolled her eyes and huffed, “Yeah well, nobody’s bothered
to ask me the real story.”
Eli suddenly twisted around and grasped Maggie’s waist before
lifting her and settling her across his lap. I saw an impression in her
hair and guessed that he was kissing her head. “No one needs to
know the truth but me and you, baby. Fuck the rest of the world.”
She beamed at him, and my heart twisted for a moment, envious
of the clear love and deep connection between them.
“That’s true,” I agreed, “but nonetheless, I believe you.”
Maggie nodded matter-of-factly and made a “go on” gesture.
“Your turn.”
I chewed on the words for a few moments, having trouble with
the idea of relaying my story to someone else. Jase hadn’t laughed
or made fun of me, but he had been unable to school his expression
completely. I’d seen his worry that my brain had been permanently
scrambled.
However, as my eyes roamed over the couple once more, I
reminded myself that if anyone would believe me, it would be these
two.
 My mouth opened, and the entire story spilled out, starting from
the moment my plane failed until I was standing in front of them
telling my story.
Throughout the narrative, Maggie’s expression had changed a
few times. Going from surprise, to speculation, and finally listening
to the rest in thoughtful contemplation.
Silence followed the end of my tale, and I waited, a little
nervous, for their response.
Maggie tapped her very slightly pointed chin and asked, “Like
some kind of Valkyrie, you say?”
I shrugged. “Or some kind of winged creature, who also
happened to be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.”
I glanced up at Maggie and apologized, “No offense.”
Maggie laughed, and the sound mixed with Eli’s deep chuckle.
“You just keep thinking that,” he told me. “If you thought my wife
was the most beautiful woman you’d ever seen, I’d have to kick your
ass.”
“Stop being such a Neanderthal,” snorted Maggie. Then her gaze
landed on me once more, and she smiled. “No offense taken. I
imagine she was truly magnificent.”
I nodded but remained quiet. This interaction had been fun, and
it had given me a reprieve from everything on my mind, despite
reliving the whole story. But I was ready to return to my solitude and
continue wallowing.
“I can see you’re ready to get back to your cabin and brood
some more,” Maggie said knowingly.
My brow shot up in surprise. “Can you read minds as well?” That
thought was unsettling considering all of the filthy parts of my
dreams I’d left out.
“No, she can’t. Thank fuck,” grunted Eli. “But she is very
intuitive.”
Maggie changed the subject. “I run a shop in town called
Something Wicked. If you’re interested, I just might have something
that could help with your eyesight.”
Hope sparked inside me, and while I would have admonished
myself for indulging in such tomfoolery at any other time, I was
staring at the Headless Horseman and the Wicked Witch of the
West. And I’d seen the proof that she had magic abilities for myself.
Suddenly, the idea that she could cure my eyesight didn’t seem
so far-fetched. I couldn’t fault my subconscious for hoping that it
might be true.
“Thanks,” I said with genuine appreciation. “I’ll try to carve some
time out of my busy schedule of eating, sleeping, and wandering in
the woods to come see you.”
Maggie laughed and wagged a finger at me. “I’d come sooner
than later, before that frown becomes permanent.”
I lifted my chin in farewell as Eli encouraged Gunpowder to get
moving again.
Was it really so far-fetched?
At this point, if I was still in a coma, I wasn’t sure I ever wanted
to wake up. At least in this world, I could believe that my Valkyrie
was real.
 4
ISLA

I hadn’t been able to get Jackie’s suggestion out of my head since I

had lunch with the girls yesterday. So when my phone rang, and I
saw that it was Juniper calling, I expected her to push the idea of
me hunting down the pilot I’d saved. Bracing myself, I accepted the
call and said, “Hey, Juniper. What’s up?”
“I’m so sorry to bother you,” she apologized. “I know you’re just
wrapping up at work and probably want to get home, but I was
hoping you could pick up an order from Love at First Bite for me.
Silas and I are headed to Something Wicked, but I’m having a
serious craving for cupcakes. I figure Maggie will also probably want
some, so you’d have both of our eternal gratitude.”
Laughing softly, I pushed my chair away from my desk and
stood. “Sure, I can definitely do that. Did you already place the
order?”
“Yup, two dozen delicious cupcakes in a variety of flavors. They
even have banana bacon today! Yum, I can’t wait to try it. I got one
for Maggie, too.”
Banana bacon? Blech.
“I think I’ll pass, thanks. It sounds like a flavor they did for those
of you who are having pregnancy cravings, and that’s not me.” And
it never would be at the rate I was going since I hadn’t even kissed
anyone in all the years since I became a Valkyrie.
 “You might be right. The things this baby has made me want to
eat would blow your mind.”
I heard the deep murmur of Silas’s voice in the background,
followed by Juniper’s giggle. Assuming he was making some kind of
sexual innuendo, I mumbled, “On that note, I’m heading out so I
can grab those cupcakes before Love at First Bite closes.”
“Oops, sorry. And thank you,” she called out before I
disconnected.
Rounding my desk, I grabbed my favorite leather crossbody bag
and exited my office. Braylon was tapping at the keyboard of his
computer, grumbling beneath his breath. He was one of my best
employees, even though he’d been grumpy ever since he was turned
partly into a hippogriff with his large eagle wings and horse hooves
for feet. “Not another one.”
“What’s wrong?”
His head swiveled toward me at my question, and he huffed
angrily. “I got another bad rating on an order I delivered yesterday.”
Leaning over his shoulder, I peered at the screen, laughing when
I saw what he was complaining about. “Four stars isn’t bad.”
“Four out of five is like getting an eighty percent, which is a B.”
He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his broad
chest. “My deliveries get there faster than anyone else. I do a fuck
of a lot better than a B.”
“Ratings aren’t the same as grades, and we’ve been out of school
for a long time.” I patted him on his shoulder. “But if it bothers you
that much, maybe try to smile when you’re making a delivery every
once in a while.”
“I didn’t even see anyone. They requested that I leave their
order on the doorstep for fuck’s sake,” he growled.
“Then maybe that customer is as grumpy as you.” I shrugged
and headed toward the door. “Either way, it doesn’t really matter
because I’m happy with how you do your job, and I’m the boss. So
keep up the good work.”
“Sure, whatever. See you tomorrow.”
I pushed open the door and looked over my shoulder at him.
“Nope, you won’t. I have a rare two days off in a row.”
 “Good for you.” His lips curved into what counted as a grin for
him. “Maybe you can save someone again while you’re out flying.
Next time, try to catch the plane too so it doesn’t go down.”
“Haha, funny.”
With the amount of teasing I got from my friends who could also
fly, I often found myself wishing that I’d kept what happened to
myself. If I had, Jackie wouldn’t have had the chance to suggest I
search for the pilot. Then I wouldn’t have been left wondering about
how he’d react if we met while he wasn’t only semi-conscious.
Forcing my thoughts away from a man I’d never see again, I
walked outside and spread my wings. Lifting into the air, I flew over
a few rows of buildings before landing in front of the bakery that
specialized in cupcakes. It only took me a few minutes to pick up
Juniper’s order, and then I took to the air again with two boxes
carefully perched in my hands.
The flight to Something Wicked was quick, and I headed inside. I
was surprised to find the store empty except for Maggie behind the
counter and Jackie restocking a shelf of black salt.
“Ooh, cupcakes!” Jackie raced over as soon as she spotted me.
Turning to Maggie, she asked, “Did you order some for me too, or
are both boxes for you and the baby?”
Maggie’s eyes had a peculiar gleam as she shook her head. “I
didn’t order any cupcakes, so I’m just hoping some of them are for
me.”
I flashed her a smile. “You’re in luck then because Juniper
mentioned one of the boxes is for you when she asked me to pick
them up.”
Jackie shot her boss a pleading look. “Please tell me you’ll share.”
“Sure,” Maggie quickly agreed. “But since Isla beat Juniper here,
you’d better go put those in the back before I gobble them all
down.”
“Will do.” Jackie took the boxes from me and headed toward the
back of the store, calling out, “But I can’t promise that I won’t eat
one or two of the cupcakes in exchange for keeping them safe.”
“No fair,” Maggie cried, her lips curving into an exaggerated pout.
“Can you believe that she’s going to take sweets from babies?”
 “Only their mommies,” Jackie retorted.
Laughing, I shook my head. “Don’t worry, I think you can spare a
cupcake or two. There’s a whole dozen for each of you.”
“Lucky me.” She patted her slightly rounded belly. “But she better
only take one from my box because I can absolutely see myself
polishing off the other eleven.”
My nose wrinkled. “Don’t be too sure about that. Juniper went a
little wild with the flavors when she ordered. One of them is banana
bacon, and I’m not sure about the rest.”
“Hmmm, banana bacon,” Maggie echoed, tapping her finger
against her chin. “That actually sounds good to me.”
I made a fake gagging noise. “Must be the baby.”
She winked at me. “Don’t knock it till you try it.”
“As if that’s ever going to happen,” I scoffed with a shake of my
head.
Maggie quirked a brow at me as she leaned against the counter.
“Only because you’re too chicken to follow through with Jackie’s
suggestion. For all you know, you already met the future daddy of
your babies when you saved his life.”
My heart fluttered at the possibility of her being right about my
pilot. But I couldn’t afford to think that way when he was a human
who almost definitely wouldn’t accept me. I needed to get Maggie
off this topic.
Planting my hands on my hips, I fluttered my wings. “A chicken,
really?”
“I didn’t pick it because you have wings.” She rolled her eyes and
shrugged. “It’s just that chicken has more panache than coward,
wimp, or sissy.”
“Uh-huh, sure that’s what it was,” I replied, settling my wings
against my back again.
She wagged her finger at me. “Don’t try to distract me from the
point I was trying to make. My pregnancy brain already makes me
forget enough as it is.”
My shoulders slumped. “You can’t blame me for trying.”
“And you can’t blame me for bringing the subject up again,”
Maggie retorted. “Not when it’s blatantly obvious the guy has been
on your mind all this time. What if he’s your chance to find love? You
might be thinking about him so much because he’s the guy who’ll
look past your wings just like Juniper did with my brother’s
electricity.”
My chin dipped slightly as I glanced down at the counter with a
sigh. “Maybe my wings should be more like a chicken’s.”
“I understand being scared.” Maggie reached out to pat my hand.
“But wouldn’t you like the chance to find out if something could
happen between you two? For all you know, he’s been wondering
about you all this time, too.”
I shook my head. “No matter how much I wish that were true,
there’s just no way.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” she muttered, that gleam
reappearing in her eyes.
Tilting my head, I strummed my fingers against the top of the
counter. “How would you even know? Did you do a magic spell or
something?”
“Not exactly,” she drawled, her gaze darting over my shoulder
when the door jingled. Assuming it was Juniper and Silas arriving at
the store, I continued to stare down Maggie, wondering what the
heck she was up to.
 5
COOPER

I didn’t know what I was expecting when I set foot in the small
town of Screaming Woods. Okay, truthfully, a part of me expected
it to look like a Warner Bros. studio with creatures from their movies
hanging around, waiting for their scenes to be filmed. Or possible
like Halloween at an amusement park, with all the monsters
wandering around moaning, groaning, and gnashing their teeth.
However, it was a quiet little town. Although, my imagination
hadn’t been entirely off because I spotted a man covered in
snakeskin walking into a building across the street. A man who
resembled a gargoyle with horns and huge wings—although the
gold, wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose detracted from this
fierceness—was holding a stack of books and walking beside a curvy
blonde who looked at him like he’d hung the moon. I also spotted a
very petite woman with little horns and delicate fairy wings chasing
little kids around a playground.
There was also a couple walking down the sidewalk hand in
hand, but they looked normal enough, despite her long, lavender
hair. The man was tall and muscular with stark-white hair.
I wondered how many humans were living in this town among
the monsters. Although, on closer inspection, I realized that the man
was wearing thick leather gloves, and a current ran over his skin
that crackled like lightning.
 I followed them up to the door of the small shop, Something
Wicked.
The entrance was through a set of glass doors that looked like
they belonged in a Gothic mansion. Big windows on either side
displayed a variety of items from books to antiques to custom
jewelry, although the themes seem to be darker, running more along
the lines of magic and the occult.
The electric man opened the door and ushered the woman into
the store. Before stepping inside, she glanced back at me and
smiled, her brown eyes twinkling oddly. The man followed her but
held the door open until I grasped the handle.
“Thanks,” I mumbled as I walked inside.
The interior of the store was like something out of a movie. It
was two stories, but the whole room was open in the middle. Books
and displays filled the tall walls from floor to ceiling. A large spiral
staircase in the center of the room would take you up to the second
floor, which was really just a walkway along the upper shelves. The
whole place was dark wood and black finishes, with touches of green
and purple here and there. It fit the woman I’d met yesterday.
Along each side of the store was a long counter that held display
cases with unique, and I was guessing expensive, items. There were
also jars of liquid with…things…floating in there that I had no desire
to name. Considering how down-to-earth Maggie had been, I was a
little surprised by some of the cliché items I spotted. But then, she’d
been very tongue-in-cheek, so it was entirely possible that she was
simply leaning into the stereotypes because it boosted business.
Smart.
Maggie was behind one of the counters leaning over it on her
elbows with her face in her hands chatting with a woman who had a
ton of long red hair, pulled up into a messy knot on the top of her
head.
“Juniper! Silas!” Maggie exclaimed when her gaze drifted my way.
“You found Cooper. Cooper, that’s my brother Silas. Don’t touch him
unless you want to die. And Juniper is my sister-in-law.”
I quickly glanced at the couple and gave them a half smile
because I couldn’t seem to drag my attention away from the colorful
wings folded against the redhead’s back. I double blinked, trying to
decide whether she was real.
After a few beats, Maggie grinned and raised a black eyebrow.
“Are you just going to stand there, or come over here and meet my
friend?”
The other woman turned her head in my direction, and my feet
stood rooted to the ground. I was lost in the emerald-green eyes
that I had seen so many times in my dreams. Ones I’d drawn
hundreds of times but never got quite right. “Holy shit,” I uttered.
My dream girl’s face had morphed into shock the moment she
saw me, but at my muttered expletive, her beautiful lips curled down
into a frown.
Finally, my feet moved, taking me closer to her and stopping
when there was only a foot of space between us.
“You’re real,” I effused. “I thought you were a dream. I mean, I
hoped you weren’t a dream—but I’d begun to convince myself that
the accident had done permanent damage to my brain.”
I couldn’t believe she was there, standing right in front of me. All
of that gorgeous hair, those delicious curves, and her beautiful
wings. I longed to run my fingers over the feathers because they
looked so soft and silky.
Maggie cleared her throat, breaking the intense connection
between my dream girl and me, and we both glanced over at our
green friend.
“Isla, this is Cooper. Cooper, this is Isla. I think maybe you two
have met?” There was amusement in her tone, and while I
appreciated this situation might seem humorous to outsiders, I
focused on the frightened expression on Isla’s face. Why would she
be afraid of me?
Isla glanced behind me, and her body shifted minutely, as if she
were preparing to dash away. I tensed in preparation because I
wasn’t about to let her disappear again.
“Thank you,” I blurted.
Her eyebrows rose. “For what?”
I took another small step forward and was pleased when she
didn’t run or even back up.
 “You saved my life. The first time I saw you, I was delirious from
hitting my head and the adrenaline from ejecting out of my plane.” I
shook my head as I stared at her in awe and smiled. “With your
wings and leather clothing, I wondered if you were a Valkyrie,
coming to escort me to the underworld.” I expected her to at least
crack a smile at my joke, but when she didn’t, I hurried on. “Then I
thought perhaps I was the one. The hero in the story that you
decided to let live.”
Maggie snorted. “I’d say that’s pretty accurate.”
Isla’s gaze darted toward her friend. “Don’t you have morning
sickness or something?” she snapped. “You’re turning a little green.”
Maggie gasped with mock outrage. “Low blow, my friend. Low—”
I glanced over at Maggie just in time to see her mouth pinch as
she put her hand over her stomach.
“Damn your power of suggestion, Valkyrie,” she fumed. She
shoved a small bag in my direction and wheezed, “You’re welcome,”
before dashing through a door to what I assumed was the back of
the store.
I couldn’t help chuckling, and when Isla faced me again, I
grinned. “Impressive,” I teased as I picked up the little bag and put
it in my pocket.
One corner of Isla’s mouth tipped up, but she remained silent.
“I’m glad to find out I didn’t damage my brain in the crash.
Although, I’m not sure anyone would believe me if I explained why,”
I laughed.
Isla raised an elegant hand and tucked a few strands of long red
hair that had escaped her bun behind her ear. “Well, now you’ve
seen me and confirmed that monsters are real.” She lifted her chin
and tried to brush past me.
She was so swift and graceful, I didn’t register what was
happening right away and wasn’t able to throw an arm out to stop
her. However, it only took me a second to spin around and stride to
the door. I was at least a half foot taller than her, which meant I
reached it first and blocked her exit.
“What are you doing?” she snapped, putting her hands on her
hips and staring me down with a regal air that might have scared
other men, but I instinctively knew was her defense mechanism.
“I’m not going to let you disappear again,” I declared, my chest
tightening at the thought of losing her once more.
Isla’s brows snapped down, and she closed the distance between
us. Her head fell back so she could look up into my face, but that
didn’t make her less intimidating. Or at least she would’ve been to a
lot of people. However, I just thought she looked sexy as fuck. I was
willing to bet my plane that all that fierceness made her bold and
wild in bed.
“I’m not a side show for you to study,” she seethed. Her
expression wavered, and her voice trembled. Suddenly, her fear of
me made a little more sense. She wasn’t scared of me. She expected
me to reject her.
“That’s not what I meant,” I assured her with a soft smile. “I felt
a connection with you since the moment I first saw you. There’s
something between us, and I’ll be damned if I let you get away
before we can explore it.”
I cupped her cheek, and some of the strain in my body eased
when she ever so subtly leaned into my touch.
“All I want is to get to know you, baby. You don’t have to share
anything that you don’t want to but give me a chance. Let me get to
know the real you.”
 6
ISLA

M yconsidered
pilot—and I was finally ready to admit, at least to myself, that I
him mine—was saying all of the right things. But I
still couldn’t believe he was in Screaming Woods, let alone Maggie’s
shop. “What are you even doing here?”
Cooper jerked his chin toward the counter. “I bumped into
Maggie and Eli in the woods, and she invited me to stop by her
store.”
I let out a little huff over my friend’s sneakiness. Turning to frown
at Juniper, I warned, “Although Maggie went running for the
bathroom to puke, I wouldn’t count on all those cupcakes still being
in the box when you finally get it. Jackie was eyeing them when she
brought them in back for safekeeping.”
“That’s just mean,” she complained, tugging on Silas’s arm to
lead him around the counter.
Facing Cooper again, I explained, “I actually meant what are you
doing in Screaming Woods.”
He ran his fingers through his thick blond hair, and I took a
moment to fully take in how handsome he was. I hadn’t been lying
to my friends when I told them that I hadn’t gotten a good look at
him when I was saving his life. It was mostly just a general
impression except for his gorgeous blue eyes. But now I was able to
appreciate his strong jawline, plush lips, and tall, muscular body in a
way that I hadn’t been able to back then. Which was probably a
good thing because I wasn’t sure I would’ve been able to steer him
safely to the ground while my panties felt as though they were
about to spontaneously combust.
Wrapping his fingers around my wrist, Cooper urged, “Come to
my cabin, and I’ll explain.”
Remembering what Maggie had said about how he might’ve been
thinking about me all this time too, I nodded. “Okay.”
We were quiet as we walked to the cabin he was renting, but the
silence wasn’t uncomfortable. I was hyper aware of him as he led
me down the path through the woods, the air practically crackling
with our awareness of each other.
When we reached his cabin and he pushed the door open,
Cooper rubbed the back of his neck before gesturing me ahead of
him. He followed close, heading straight for a desk on the other side
of the space. After picking up a stack of papers from the left side, he
handed them over to me.
I glanced down and was stunned to find a drawing of myself
staring back at me. He must have gotten a much better look at me
than I had him because he hadn’t missed a single detail—except for
the fact that the sketch was more beautiful than I was in real life.
My breath caught in my throat as I flipped through the drawings.
There were so many of them, I couldn’t begin to guess how long it
had taken him to sketch them all. They could only mean one thing.
“You were thinking about me this whole time?”
Cooper took the sketches from my trembling fingers and returned
them to the desk. Then he cupped my cheek and tilted my head
back. Staring down at me, he didn’t mask the naked desire in his
blue orbs as he rasped, “Every single day and night. I didn’t know if
you were real or a figment of my imagination, but I couldn’t get you
out of my head either way. So I figured I might as well give in to the
urge to come here on the off chance you weren’t a hallucination.”
I pressed my hands against his chest, blinking up at him in awe.
“You really came here for me?”
“Yes.” He brushed his thumb across my bottom lip. “And I’m so
fucking glad I listened to my instincts because they led me to you.
Finally.”
 “I’ve been thinking about you, too.” I swallowed the nervous
lump in my throat and added, “A lot.”
“Thank fuck,” he groaned before his mouth crashed against mine.
He pulled my bottom lip between his teeth, making me gasp. Cooper
took full advantage, his tongue sweeping inside so he could deepen
the kiss.
I was breathless when he finally lifted his head, but I wasn’t
ready for the kiss to end. Desperate for more, I went up on my toes
and dug my fingers into his shoulders. “Please, Cooper.”
“Fuck, baby,” he growled against my lips. “You can’t say my name
like that. I’m already barely holding on by a thread, knowing there’s
a bed right next to us.”
I’d been so cautious with other people since the night I was
turned into a Valkyrie, but I felt fearless for the first time. Knowing
that Cooper had come all the way here on the off chance that I
wasn’t a figment of his imagination made me feel safe with him.
“What if I want you to lose control?”
His eyes widened as he searched my expression for any hint of
doubt. “Are you sure, Isla? We don’t have to rush into anything. Now
that I’ve found you, I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m positive.” Taking off my crossbody bag and dropping it on
the desk next to the drawings, I tugged him over to the bed and sat
on the edge of the mattress. “I feel as though I’ve already waited so
long. Let’s not waste another minute.”
Masculine triumph flashed in his eyes, and then I was on my
back with his body sprawled on top of mine while he kissed the heck
out of me again. This time, when he lifted his head, it was to take
his shirt off and toss it on the floor.
“I…umm…think I probably should be on top,” I admitted softly,
my cheeks filling with heat as I admired his broad chest and six-pack
abs. “Even though it’s my first time and I have no idea what I'd be
doing, it’ll be easier with my wings that way.”
A muscle jumped in his jaw as he stared down at me. “Are you
trying to tell me that you’re a virgin, baby?”
I nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
 “Don’t be embarrassed.” He brushed his thumb over my
cheekbone. “I fucking love knowing that every single inch of you is
mine and only mine.”
His response was perfect. “Are you sure that you’re not a figment
of my imagination?”
“Not even a little bit.” His fingers went to the zipper on the front
of my leather top. “And I’m sure as fuck looking forward to proving
exactly how real I am to you.”
Getting out of my clothes was harder than it looked since they
were custom made to withstand all of the flying that I did. Sitting
up, I helped Cooper strip me out of everything and then tugged his
jeans off. Then he rolled onto his back and lifted me to straddle him.
Staring down at him, I murmured, “I think you forgot to take
something off.”
“The boxers are going to stay on until I make you come with my
mouth and fingers.” He stroked his hands up my stomach to cup my
breasts. “I need to make sure you’re ready to take me first.”
After I felt his hard length through his boxers, that sounded like a
good idea. But I was curious about how part of what he planned
was going to work. “Can you…umm…use your mouth on me while
I’m on top?”
“I’m sure as fuck going to do my best.”
Stroking his hands up my back and on top of my wings, he
scooted me farther up his body and then bent me forward so he
could circle one of my nipples with his tongue. I felt the tug of his
lips all the way to my core and pressed my breast deeper into his
mouth. More pleasure than I expected steadily built in my body
while he nipped, sucked, and licked my breasts, but it got even
better when his fingers drifted lower to glide through the wetness
dripping from my pussy.
“Damn, baby. You’re already drenched for me.”
I stiffened and tried to close my legs, but he gripped my inner
thighs and held me in place.
“Don’t be shy, Isla. Your body is doing exactly what I wanted.
You’ll need to be wet to take me.” One of his hands drifted up, and
he dipped the tip of a finger into my core. “It’s going to take some
effort for my cock to fit in this tight pussy you saved for me.”
“Oh my gosh.” My head dropped back, and I stared at the ceiling
while Cooper worked his finger into me, inch by inch, until my inner
walls were clamped around the entire digit.
“Do you like that, baby?” he asked, twisting his wrist so he could
stroke against a sensitive spot high inside my channel.
“Uh-huh,” I breathed, rocking into his touch.
“Then you’re going to fucking love this.” I let out a whimper of
protest when he withdrew his finger, but it died on my lips as he
tugged me forward until my pussy was hovering over his mouth. His
breath was hot against my core, making me squirm. Then he licked
me from top to bottom before replacing his fingers with his tongue,
as deep in my core as he could get.
“Yes, Cooper! Yes,” I cried, feeling the waves of pleasure start to
cascade over my body as I held the headboard.
He kept at me, licking and sucking as I moved against his face,
desperate for release. Then he gave me exactly what I needed,
pinching my clit while his tongue continued to thrust in and out of
my pussy. Fireworks went off behind my eyes, and it was all I could
do to hold on while my orgasm crashed over me.
When my shudders started to subside, Cooper lifted me off his
face and settled me over his cock. I had no idea when he’d taken his
boxers off, that was how out of it I’d been while coming. His fist was
wrapped around his hard length, and he stared up at me as he
notched the tip at my entrance.
“Don’t be scared, baby. I’m going to take good care of you.
Always.”
He held my gaze as he punched his hips up, sinking deep with
one forceful thrust.
“Whoa,” I panted, my body tensing as the pain hit me. “I wasn’t
expecting that.”
“That’s why I did it that way,” he explained, wrapping a hand
around the back of my neck to pull me down for a kiss while I
adjusted to his invasion. “I didn’t want you to have the chance to
tense up. I was hoping it’d mean you’d have less pain.”
 I circled my hips in an experimental wiggle, relieved to find he
was right. “Good call.”
“You ready for more, baby?”
Pressing my palms against his chest, I nodded. “I’m ready for
everything.”
“Thank fuck.” He started to move, slowly at first, his hands on my
hips controlling the speed I moved up and down on his cock.
It felt so good to have him move inside me, and it wasn’t long
before my inner walls were fluttering around his hard length. “So
close already.”
“Good, baby.” He bucked his hips harder. “I need you to come for
me again because I don’t know how much longer I can hold mine
back.”
He pulled me down with one hand and used the other to flick my
clit. That was all it took for me to fly apart, and Cooper quickly
followed. The hot jets of his come filling me lengthened my orgasm,
making me feel as though it went on forever.
Once it was over, I crashed against his chest, my body limp as
my eyes drifted shut. With Cooper murmuring sweet nothings in my
ear, I fell asleep.
 7
COOPER

S omething feathery and soft tickled my nose, and I opened my

eyes, smiling when I saw the bright, colorful feathers that had
been brushing my face. My head was turned to the side, so I
straightened, and when I glanced down, memories of the night
before flooded my mind. Isla’s warm, naked body was sprawled over
mine with her wings spread out, cocooning us on the bed. I smiled
as I felt the whisper of her feathers over my cheek this time, they
were moving with each of her steady breaths.
With her tits pillowed against my chest, and my cock snuggled
into the apex of her thighs, I was hard as a fucking rock. I slowly
inhaled, trying not to lose control. But Isla wiggled her sexy little
body on top of me, chasing all rational thought away. My hands
were already cupping her firm ass cheeks, so I slid my palms down
the backs of her thighs and widened her legs.
A groan escaped my lips when my dick slid through her wetness.
I grasped her hips, lifting her pelvis just high enough for me to
notch the tip of my cock at her entrance. Isla raised her head and
blinked at me with passion-glazed eyes.
“Good morning, gorgeous.” I gave her a lopsided grin that made
her green eyes twinkle happily. Then my expression turned wicked.
“I hope you slept well. You’re going to need your energy.”
Before Isla could respond, I punched my hips up and drove balls
deep inside her. She closed her eyes and cried out, grabbing the
sheets and twisting them in her fists. Taking deep breaths so I
wouldn’t lose my shit, I gently pushed her shoulders until she sat
astride me. She gasped when the new position buried me even
deeper.
I palmed her full tits and squeezed them before pinching her
nipples as I commanded, “Ride me, baby.”
Her emerald pools were heated and swirling with desire as she
placed her palms on my abs to balance herself. Slowly, she rose up,
then dropped down fast and hard.
“Fuck!” I shouted. “That’s it, baby. Fuck my cock.”
She began to move, and I lightly bucked my pelvis to meet her
every time she fell on my dick. Her gorgeous red hair was hanging
over her chest, playing peekaboo with her incredible breasts. The
sight was utterly sensual, and I vowed to convince her to let me
draw her like this someday.
Isla’s pace began to increase, prompting me to move faster as
well. As her passion spiraled, her wings spread fully out on either
side of her.
“Fuck, you’re gorgeous. Absolutely majestic.”
Isla paused and focused her gaze on my face. “No one has ever
said anything that beautiful to me before. I always hoped I would
find someone who would make me forget that I’m a monster. And
when you look at me, I almost believe it.”
I tightened my abs and curled up so I could put my arms around
her. “It doesn’t matter what you are, all you need to believe is that
you’re a beautiful, passionate woman.” Then I took her lips in a
hungry kiss. When I finally ripped my lips from hers, I had intended
to say something else, but Isla dropped her head back and started
bouncing on my cock.
“Cooper!” she whimpered. “Oh, yes!”
For a moment, all I could do was watch in fascination as she took
her pleasure from me. The erotic sight she made would be burned
into my brain forever.
Eventually, the grip of her pussy around my dick took over, and I
focused on my need to drive Isla to the brink of bliss. I sucked and
bit at each nipple, enjoying the sound of her cries as her hands
clutched my shoulders. Her nails bit into my skin, and the sting
streaked to my core, adding fuel to the fire raging inside me.
With a kiss to each peak, I lay back down and grasped her hips
before bending my knees and pressing my feet into the mattress. It
seemed as if every time we came together, I went in just a little
deeper. When I hit her cervix, I worried that it might hurt her, but
Isla just rode me harder.
“Cooper,” Isla moaned. “You’re so big, I’m so full—oh, yes! Yes!
Yes!”
I knew she was close. Her inner walls massaged my dick,
clenching so hard it was almost painful. It wasn’t long before the
base of my spine began to tingle, and my balls drew up tight, so I
slipped a hand between us and pinched her clit, growling, “Come,
baby. Let me feel you come around my cock. I want your tight little
pussy milking my climax and sucking up every drop of me.”
Isla’s muscles tightened, then she screamed my name at the top
of her lungs as she splintered apart.
Her channel was pulsing with her orgasm, sending the tingling in
my spine shooting straight to my shaft, and I exploded inside her.
“Isla! Fuck! Oh, fuck, yes!”
My seed splashed inside her womb, setting her off again.
I stared at my beautiful Valkyrie in fascination, obsessed with
how fucking incredible she looked when she was coming.
After a minute, she slumped down, then collapsed onto my
chest. I slipped my hands around her waist, settling them at the
small of her back, covered by her soft feathers. I was still very deep
inside her, and when she shifted, and I heard a tiny whimper, I
cursed silently and berated myself for being a careless asshole.
“Fuck, baby, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have taken you again,
especially not that hard. Not right after popping your cherry.”
Isla raised a little and folded her arms on my chest before
settling her chin on them. She smiled dreamily. “Last night and this
morning were amazing. Perfect.”
How did I get so fucking lucky? She was almost too perfect to be
real, but she was here, in my arms, with her hot, slick pussy
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
were called Pillagers by the French and other bands, and hold the name yet and are proud of it,
for the deed was done openly and for the sake of their nation.

The Pillagers are nearly all Blanket Indians. They live in wigwams in summer and cover these
with bark huts in winter for greater warmth. The wigwams are covered with woven mats made of
reeds or grass and birch bark. The huts are like a one-room house and are covered also with pine
or birch bark. Each spring these Indians make large quantities of maple sugar, which they pack in
mokuks, or birch-bark baskets, and sell or exchange at the stores in towns. During the summer
they pick and sell the berries which grow near the woods and lakes. They have gardens of maize,
squash, pumpkins, beans, and onions, and some raise potatoes. Their meat supply is getting
scarce, as the deer, moose, and bear are being hunted so freely by white men. The men often
dress in true Indian costumes, with buckskin leggings, beadwork ornaments, [66]blankets, and a
feather in their scalp lock if they have killed an enemy; this honor is hard to give up, and even a
murderer of one of his own tribe has dared to wear the eagle feather.

Chippewa Indian’s Summer Wigwam

From a Photograph

There is a large government school at Leech Lake, and many of the boys and girls have learned
the customs and books of the white people, but when they return to their wigwam homes there is
little chance to change the home life, except in very simple ways.

Some of the finest work in lace, which has been taught in the Indian schools, has been done by
these Chippewas at Leech Lake. They were so artistic in their bead and basket work that a lady
who saw the point lace made in the mission schools in Japan decided to teach it to all the squaws
who would learn the art. Their success has been a pleasure to her and to them. It brings the
money with which to buy food.

The lakes near the source of the Great River abound in wild rice, which is gathered in August and
stored in mokuks for winter use. The wild swan, geese, and ducks also feed upon it, and they
make good hunting.

The extensive pine forests owned by the Chippewas have attracted many white men who are
trying to gain possession of them, but the wise chiefs know their value and their people’s need,
and they remember the years of warfare when the land was won; neither have they yet broken
their treaty promises. A few years [67]ago the courts wanted several of the Leech Lake Indians for
witnesses in a trial. It was cold, and if the men went their families would suffer, for they must be
gone some weeks. The old chief would not let them go until the government promised money to
support their families. The white men in council did not think best to make the promise, and the
chief refused to send the witnesses. The soldiers came to take the men forcibly. There was a
battle, and soldiers fell and much money was spent, but still the chief has not given up the men.
The white people feel that the Indian chief had much in his favor, for he would not see his people
suffer; the squaws and papooses must be cared for, and he had not the money with which to buy
food for them.

The Sioux in southern Minnesota made an uprising during the Civil War. Some friendly Indians
warned the whites of the coming troubles and helped them to escape. A monument erected in
1900 to these good Indians shows the friendly feeling of the whites to their rescuers. These
Indians were called traitors by the Sioux and had to flee for their own lives. Some of them settled
at Mendota and are much respected by their white friends. The son of one became an Episcopal
minister. The present chief of all the Chippewas is also a minister of the same church and an able
leader of his people. [68]

[Contents]
 CHIEF LOGAN AND OTHERS

he Delaware Indians of eastern Pennsylvania

have always called the Iroquois the Mingo
Indians.

Skikelling was a Mingo. He was chief of the

Cayugas, one of the most intelligent tribes of
the Iroquois union. The son of Skikelling was
also a chief. He is celebrated in the history of
Pennsylvania as Chief Logan.

When a babe Chief Logan was brought by his

father to Fort Augusta in 1742, to be baptized
by the Moravian missionaries. Hence his
American name, which is famous in history and
romance.

There was another Chief Logan who was for a

time chief among the Delawares. This chief lost
an eye in a battle and was then deprived of his
position, as a chief must be physically perfect.

History has preserved the names of numbers

of Indians famous in war and peace.

Samoset, who greeted the Pilgrims with the cordial “Welcome, Englishmen,” is one of the first on
the list. [69]Squanto, Massasoit, Canonicus, Miantonomoh are well known in New England history.
These are the names of men who kept their promises and fought bravely for their white friends.

King Philip saw the ruin of his country and people and commanded an uprising. He was a terrible
warrior, and his name is both famous and infamous. Tecumseh, Red Cloud, Black Hawk, and
others are well known in western history. These names and hundreds of others are kept in
memory as the names of cities, rivers, or lakes. [70]

[Contents]
 A NAVAJO MEDICINE CHANT

The Navajos give a medicine dance and chant a long song when a sick person asks for this
service. This chant is the story in song of the capture and escape of a young Navajo brave. He is
helped by his people’s gods, who are like the creatures that live in his own country.

This is the part of the chant telling of his escape:

“He came to the house of the Butterfly. It was filled with butterflies and rainbows.

“Kacluge, the great Butterfly, welcomed him to his lodge. His wife took the young brave by the
hand. He was welcome.

“She left the room, but came back with a great pearl dish in her hand. It was a sea-shell filled with
water. She gave him soapweed. He washed and was white. He dried his hands with meal and
painted his face with white earth; then he was fair as a white man. [71]

“Kacluge gave him fine white moccasins. He gave him a collar of beaver skin, and a whistle to
call for help.

“His arms looked like wings, for plumed prayer-sticks were fastened to them in the Butterfly’s
lodge.

“The young man was no longer tired. He was strong again, and like a white butterfly in beauty.
Kacluge fed him with white corn meal mixed with pure water. He slept in the house of the
Butterfly.

“In the morning the young Navajo stepped on the white sand. The wife of the Butterfly put two
burning lines of white lightning before his feet. He stepped upon these, and his white moccasins
fastened to the lightning.

“ ‘Now,’ said the Butterfly, ‘the lightning is yours; follow where it leads.’

“With one step he stood on a high hill. He saw a flash of lightning fill the valley.

“ ‘It is the trail I must follow,’ said the young Navajo. Across the valley, on the trail of the lightning,
he ran to the mountains; and now, pure in face, in heart, and with white feet, the lightning led him
home.”

Adapted from Powell’s Report. [72]

[Contents]
 HOW THE CAVE PEOPLE FOUND DRY LAND ON THE EARTH

(Zuñi Chant)

n the old days all men lived in caves in the

center of the earth. There were four caves,
one over the other. Men first lived in the lowest
cave. It was dark. There was no light, and the
cave was crowded. All men were full of sorrow.

“The Holder of the Paths of Life, the Sun-

father, heard the people cry. He created two
children for himself, and they fell to the earth
to help the cave people.

“The Sun-father gave his two children eternal

youth. He gave them power to do things as he
would do them. He gave them gifts. One gift
was a painted bow that reached from one end
of the sky to the farther end. It was the
rainbow. He gave them an arrow of fire. It was
the lightning. He gave them a great shield
[74]like his own. The shield was a net of cotton cords on a hoop of wood, and the last gift, a great
magic war knife of flint, was fastened to the center of the shield.
 Interior of Zuñi House

From a Photograph

“After the two children had cut the face of the earth with the stone war knife, they rode on the
magic shield to the lowest cave where men lived. There they lived with mankind as leaders.

“The priests prayed to the Sun-children for help in the darkness. The Sun-children led mankind
into the second cave; it was still all darkness. Men asked the priests to pray for more help. They
came to the Sun-children, and the people were led into the third world or cave.

“This was a larger world than the other two. It was like twilight in this cave, but at first all thought
that they had reached the blazing sun, it was so light.
“After a thousand years this cave became crowded. Men sought the priests and prayed them to
find some way to help them.

“The two Sun-children cut their way through the cave above them, and led the people out upon
the earth. It was only a small island, for all the rest was water.

“Men covered their faces with their hands, for the light made them blind. They fell down and tried
to hide in the sand, they were so hot. The people were taught to make clothing of yucca fiber.
Their eyes [75]were like owls’ eyes, and they covered them with their hands till they were strong.

“The Sun-children led the people over the quaking earth to the east, where the Sun-father had his
home.

“The Sun-children were told to dry the earth. They put the magic shield upon the earth and laid
the rainbow upon it. They put arrows of lightning to the north, south, east, and west, and the
arrows crossed each other. The older brother shot with an arrow the lightning arrows where they
crossed upon the rainbow.

“Thlu-tchu! the lightning arrows shot toward every point. Fire rolled over the face of the earth. The
earth was dried when the fire storm was over.

“The earth was then full of great beasts that had lived in the water. The Sun-children shot the
beasts with their arrows; then the beasts became stone. The people were free to go on the earth
wherever they wanted to go.

“Thus the people were led out of the deep caves; thus the land became dry, and men came to live
on the earth.”

From report by F. H. Cushing, who was adopted by the Zuñis. [77]

Part II
 TRADITIONS AND MYTHS

[78]

Copyright, 1901, by Ginn & Company

The Indian Story-Teller

Original Painting by Angel de Cora (Hinook-mahiwi-kilinaka)

[79]
[Contents]
 INTRODUCTORY—INDIAN STORIES

The Indians, when trying to speak English, often use very short sentences with easy words, just
as foreigners do. They will repeat a statement in different ways, so that their listeners will be sure
to understand; this makes the stories they tell sound very queer sometimes.

The Indians do not like to have any one laugh at them. It is not an easy matter to get them to tell
their legends about trees, rocks, or living creatures. They once believed that everything had its
manitou, or spirit, which took care of it, but by their contact with the white people they have lost
much of their fear of these manitous, and also much of their faith in their power.

The paleface must show himself a very good friend indeed before he is allowed to hear the
stories told to native guests or to the children. The white friend may be a hunter, and then his
Indian guide will tell in his own way stories connected with objects seen by them in the forest, on
the plain, or on the mountain. [80]

Henry R. Schoolcraft, an American geologist, was much among the red men, from eastern New
York to the source of the Mississippi, which he discovered. He married the granddaughter of a
chief. He was allowed to hear the ancient legends, and published them in prose form in 1830.

Henry W. Longfellow read them with so much interest that he told them again in his beautiful
poem of Hiawatha, weaving into the story the bride Minnehaha of whom the Indians have no
legend.

The Ojibways, or Chippewas, tell stories of a hero called by them Menabozho. He is called the
Foolish or Sly One; he is always playing tricks, for which he is usually punished. Many of these
Chippewa stories which they are telling of him even now are woven into the poem of Hiawatha,
as the poet thought that Iroquois name more musical than Menabozho, and, like many others,
supposed the Iroquois and the Chippewas to be the same people.

As they have no written language, their legends may change a little; the same story may be told
in different ways, and the words they use may have various forms. [81]

[Contents]
 I. IAGOO, THE GREAT STORY-TELLER

(Algonquin)

he white man laughs much. The Indian is wise. He can

see a joke, but he does not laugh as much as the white
man. The papoose and the squaw may laugh. The brave
must not let his face show what he feels. It is not wise.

The white man has stories to tell his children, and his
children laugh. The Indian tells the stories of Iagoo to his
children. The teepee is shut, for it is winter, and you
cannot hear the papoose laugh.

The white man when he tells a story which is not true

says, “Once on a time.” The Indian says, “My grandfather
told me.” The papooses know when the story is true. An
Indian teaches his children to tell the truth; his children are
wise; they speak the truth to their tribe.

Lame Buffalo could tell good stories. His children were

happy, and they laughed often in their father’s teepee.
There was a fire of sticks in the middle of [82]the teepee,
but the smoke was not bad; it went out of the teepee by the top of the poles.

Lame Buffalo sat with his wife White Deer and their children around the fire in the teepee. The
oldest boy asked for a story.

Lame Buffalo told this story of Iagoo:

“In the days of my grandfather, Iagoo used to come often to the lodges of our tribe.

“Iagoo was tall. He was straight as a pine that stands alone on the hilltop. He was always hungry.
He would come to a lodge of our tribe, my grandfather said, and would look at the duck the
squaw was roasting. He would tell her no squaw could make such a fire as she could. No one
could bake in the ashes as she could. When the duck was done, the squaw would put it on a
stone by Iagoo. She and her papooses had no duck. They were hungry, but Iagoo did not go
away hungry.

“The braves were always glad to see Iagoo, for his stories were never the same. He saw things
no other Indian ever saw. He knew more than any other brave ever knew; he said so himself. He
never went into battle, for he had much to keep him away; yet he wore eagle feathers in his scalp
lock. He told great stories of battles, but no one ever saw him when he was fighting. It is not wise
to look around in battle.” [83]
“Iagoo told my grandfather this story of the mosquitoes that lived on the marsh. His tribe had their
teepees by this marsh.

“Iagoo said that he heard one day a great roaring. It was like ten bears, but he was the only brave
who dared to go out to see what the roaring was. He saw mosquitoes flying in the tamarack trees
in the swamp, but he could not tell the trees from the mosquitoes, they were both so big.

“He killed three mosquitoes with his war club. He shot them first with his arrows. Iagoo tore off the
left wing of one, and he made a sail for his birch-bark canoe from that wing.

“He called to his wife. His wife heard, for his voice and his war club drove away the mosquitoes.
His wife came out to see the battle, but they were gone. She tore off the bill of one of the slain
mosquitoes and used it to dig with, and she used it twelve moons.”

“Ugh! It is good,” said the oldest boy.

“Another time Iagoo was on a trail. The trail was a creek with no water. It went through the land of
the river where the buffaloes feed when it is wet.

“The trail was wide and full of sand. The dry grass was on the side of it. Iagoo saw on the sand of
the trail a new animal. It was far from him, but it was large. He could see it. It was long as a
wildcat, but it [84]had no hair like the wildcat. It had two horns like the buffalo. It had many legs,
and its eyes were like fire.

“Iagoo took his war club with his two hands. He walked like a brave in battle. He ran on the trail to
kill the strange beast. He raised his war club to strike it, but it was nothing but a big ant dragging
a rabbit to its hole in the trail. Iagoo sat down in the sand and laughed, while the ant pulled the
rabbit into the ant-hole. The rabbit was killed by the ant. Iagoo said so, and he knew it. The ant
killed the rabbit with its horns.”

“Ugh! ugh! ugh!” said the boys around the fire.

White Deer laughed, and her daughters laughed.

“Tell another,” said the boys.

“My grandfather said that Iagoo told of the willow trees. Iagoo went to the willow trees to take
some of the little creeping-cats from them. They are the flowers that come when the snow has
melted.

“The willow trees looked small to Iagoo. He broke off a branch and went to get one on the other
side of the tree. He made a heavy trail around the tree to mark the bush. The sun was over his
head when he began to make the trail. He walked around that one willow bush, and the sun was
going down in the lake when he was done. It was a long trail. No one but Iagoo ever saw such a
willow bush.” [85]
White Deer laughed. She had gathered many willows for weaving.

The oldest boy looked at his brothers. They were laughing too. He did not laugh, but said “Ugh!”
like a great chief.

Lame Buffalo looked at the fire. White Deer put on more sticks and blew the fire with her breath;
when it began to blaze Lame Buffalo went on with more stories of Iagoo.

“My grandfather said that Iagoo went in the cold moon of winter to the south. He went alone in his
canoe. His tribe was in the far north, in the fur country. Iagoo liked to fish. His wife could hunt for
the fur skins, for it is cold in the far north.

“Iagoo let his canoe drift like a leaf as he fished. It drifted near the shore of the river, then Iagoo
stepped out on the shore. It sank under his feet. As the water came over where he stepped, he
saw that he had not stepped on land. He had stepped on a thick lily leaf.

“Iagoo jumped back into his canoe. He broke the stem of the lily leaf with his fishing spear and
put the great leaf in his canoe. It covered him and the canoe. He dried the leaf and rolled it in a
pack. He went back to the far north when he had fished all he wanted to, and he gave the leaf to
his squaw. She was glad. It [86]was like a wide buffalo skin; she made dresses for herself and her
daughters out of it. No other squaws had such fine dresses.”

White Deer smiled, and the little girls laughed. They knew the pond-lily leaves were small in the
lakes; they could not be so wide in a river.

“It is a story for squaws,” said the oldest boy.

“We will go to sleep,” said Lame Buffalo, his father.

The next night Lame Buffalo told this story of Iagoo for the boys:

“A white man gave Iagoo a gun, so my grandfather said. He could shoot better than any white
man.

“Iagoo went hunting. It was the time for ducks. He went in his canoe, and he hid in the rice by the
ducks. The ducks flew up and made the sun dark. He lay on his back and shot straight into the
flock of ducks. A swan fell dead into his canoe. Its head was shot off; the ducks fell around his
canoe like hail in a hailstorm; the water was black with the ducks he shot. He piled them up like a
great teepee on the shore. He shot them all with one gunshot.

“The shot from his gun fell back into the lake; it struck two loons and killed them. The shot fell
through the loons and killed a muskalonge; this is the great fish that lives in the lakes. No one
else ever fired such a shot as did Iagoo. He told this to my grandfather.” [87]

“It is good,” said the boys.

“Tell another,” said White Deer.

“Iagoo went hunting in the Hunting Moon. He killed a great deer and threw it on his back. It was
heavy, but he must have food in his teepee.

“He sat down on a stump to rest. He was very still, and he saw the great elks go by him on their
trail to the far north. It was like a great tribe going north. The trail they made was deep, and they
did not see nor smell Iagoo.

“The first elk had horns like a great tree. He was very big; Iagoo wanted him; Iagoo ran swifter
than all the elks; he came to the leader; he shot the leader of the elks; he fell like a tree in the
forest; Iagoo lifted the elk to throw him over his shoulder; the elk horns struck the deer horns.
Iagoo knew then that he had carried a big deer all day. Iagoo was not tired. He hung the deer in a
tree and carried the elk home. No other brave in his tribe had ever brought home an elk with such
horns. Iagoo said so to my grandfather.”

Lame Buffalo stopped.

There are more stories of Iagoo, the great story-teller, but Lame Buffalo did not tell any more. [88]

[Contents]
 II. HOW CLAY DISHES WERE FIRST MADE

The Indians in the west tell this story:

A squaw left her two boys to care for her papoose while she worked. She was hidden in the
wickiup, or tent, and did not see what the boys were doing until the papoose began to cry.

The squaw found them all down by the river. They could not stir, for their feet were stuck fast in
the wet clay of the river bank. She got her three children back to the wickiup. They laughed at
their footprints in the clay, for they had left deep holes everywhere.

The band of Indians left their camp before the sun was over their heads. The squaw, with her
papoose and her boys, was soon far away from the river bank; but during the hot summer, which
was soon upon them, the same band returned to the river they had left.

Indian Woman making Clay Dishes

From a Photograph

The two little Indian boys went down to the clay bank where they had stuck fast. No rain had
fallen [90]since they had been there, and they found their footprints in the clay. These had dried
until the mud was like stone.

The squaw came and looked at the holes. She took some clay in her hands and wet it in the river,
then she shaped it like the hollow stone she used for cooking. She dried the clay in the sun, and it
was soon hard.

An old chief saw the clay dishes and told the other squaws to make them, but the clay dishes
would not hold water and broke very easily.
A squaw put some ashes and fire in her dish one day. She wanted to save the fire, for it was hard
to get. The hot coals baked the dish, and it would not break. It held water; then the Indians knew
how to make their clay dishes in the right way. [91]

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 III. LEAPING ROCK IN THE PIPESTONE VALLEY

ear the Falls of Winniwissi is a great rock; it is

as tall as two braves. The water manitous have
cut the sides of this rock; it is smooth on the
top; it is smooth on the sides; it is like a piece of
ice in the Big Sea Water.

It is small on the top. A brave, if he lay down on

it and put out his hands, would put his hands on
nothing. It is small; it is a high rock.

When they gathered in the Pipestone Valley the

chiefs stood by this rock. It is in the Valley of
Peace. The young braves stood by this rock.
The chiefs tried the young braves here, for this
was Leaping Rock. It stood above all the other
rocks.

The chiefs called the young braves of their tribes. The young braves came. The chiefs said: “Leap
from this trail in the valley to the top of Leaping Rock. Then you are brave; then you are strong.”

It was a leap as high as two braves are long. It was a leap like an arrow shot into the sky; like an
[92]arrow which falls and breaks on the rocks the young braves fell sometimes.

Sometimes the young brave was strong; he would stand on the slippery rock like an eagle resting
on the mountain. It was well. He was then a great brave. The chief of his tribe gave him the
feather of an eagle to wear, for only a strong brave may wear a feather in his scalp lock.

A Dakota maiden had two lovers. She told them to go to Leaping Rock. They went; one came
back. The other the chiefs buried where he fell as he slid from Leaping Rock. The maiden took
the one who came back; but she was missed one day, and they found her at the foot of Leaping
Rock with eagle feathers for the Pawnee’s grave.

“He was brave but no one mourns for him. He shall have two eagle feathers,” she said.

“It is right,” said the Dakotas. [93]

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