248 Woya

Astila wakes first jumping up when his mother is not on the sofa. Looking around he sees her. Smiling at her he holds his breath hoping she is alright now. 

"Mother good morning how are you feeling this morning?" Astila asks anxiously. 

"I'm confused to say the least. I don't understand why I am in a strangers home and not in my room. I don't understand why I feel as if a fog has gone and that I have forgotten many things. Anyway I want to go back where I am comfortable not in a strangers gone around people I do not know. " her tone is gruff and irritated. The same as every time they have visited her. She has not come back to them. Astila sadly looks at Yona and wakes him up. 

"Yona , it's time to get up we need to take mother back. She doesn't recognize us still. " Astila watches his brother stir awake , Astila sadly goes into the kitchen. 

Onacona hands him a cup of coffee and tells him. 

"You knew there was a chance she may not change , give her time  we do not know what she remembers. " placing his hand on Astila's shoulder the older man gives him encouragement. He takes a cup of coffee out to Yona and heads upstairs to give one to John. The two brothers are just staring at their mother when they hear a commotion coming from outside. Before they get to the door the twin burst in yelling for their grandmother. 

"Elisi we are here , how did you sleep?" Lotus and Lilli call out at the same time.

when the girls walk in Woya gasps. It's the children from before. How are they here.

Woya holds her head as memories begin to swirl around inside bringing horrific pain with them. 

Lotus and Lilli run to their grandmother's side to help her sit back down. Woya looks at the two girls and begins to cry. Everyone just stares not knowing what to do. Crystal walks over to the older woman and takes her hand. Looking at lotus and Lilli she whispers

"Elisi your memories from ages past cannot hurt you anymore. It's time to release the sadness and pain to tell us what happened. That is the only way you can be healed. " the three girls place their hands on Woya's head Crystal and Lotus hum the sage song while Lili prays for her grandmother to have peace and feel safe. When Lilli ends her prayer Woya bows her head and begins to tell them her story. 

"You came and convinced him not to give the crystal to the woman. She ripped his heart out in front of me. Then you destroyed her, just as she said. I dont understand how that could be. I thought I dreamed the whole thing and that I had lost my mind. Everything was so confusing and it was my fault. How could I face my children knowing that I caused their father's death. So I went into the darkness and let my husbands brother raise them. It was the best I could do for them. I don't even know how many years it's been since I looked upon their faces. " the sadness in Woya's voice stirred Astila's heart his mother blamed herself for someone else's actions. Aisling goes and kneels in front of Woya taking her hands in hers she begins to tell her who she is.

"I am Aisling, I am the child born of death. I was born clinically dead but my family prayed for the father to save me. I am the one they call Unelanuhi I came to save your husbands ancestor when she gave birth. My ancestor was Waya while my husbands is Unole. It was our children who killed the fallen one. We are descendents of Uktena. All of us in this room have been given special gifts because of his blood. You were not at fault for either your husband was fated to die that day. Even if the fallen one had not come he still would have died. Your child also, it was not your fault you cannot change what is meant to be. You missed so many years with your children because of thinking it was your fault. It's time to give them the love you were meant to. Your granddaughters went into the cave and tried to change the past. They were not able to change fate but because they defeated the fallen one they saved many from having to lose their lives to her. She fed off of the grief of mothers who lost their children, because of the mark she left on your heart a demon was attracted to you and attached its self to you. Keeping you from coming back to your family when you should have. That demon has been vanquished and you are now free to forgive yourself. To take back your life and to get to know your children and grandchildren. This time the choice is yours. It's a choice no one can make for you. If you want to go back and continue to live in the darkness you may do so. If you choose that I will not have my children hurt or my husband. If you go back with the intention of not getting better. I will not allow them to contact you again, they will no longer try to gain your attention. If you want to be apart of their lives you will need to make the first move." Aisling makes it very clear to her mother in law that this is her last chance. That she will not have her children hurt or her husband. Standing up Aisling walks over to stand beside Astila. Woya looks at him and Yona and then to Lotus.  

"You are beautiful girl, you look like my daughter. She is the sweetest and kindest child. She fusses after her brothers as if she is their mother instead of their sister. She has a medicine woman's heart. What is your name child?" Woya asks her. 

"I am Lotus and my twin is Lilli. Though we do not look alike we are twins. Lilli looks like our mother but has more of my fathers traits. She is like our Aunt Salali the most. She knows all about the plants and she is the one who knows all of the traditions of the Cherokee. I look like my father but am more like my mom in many ways. I am the one who makes the decisions and takes responsibility for others. We both are like our father in the fact we both are healers. You cannot love one of us you have to love and accept both of us. It was Lilli who convinced grandfather she explained to him that nothing could change the fate of your child that to betray his gifts for a lie was wrong. " glaring at her grandmother making sure she understands that she may look like a Cherokee but she is still Aisling's daughter as well not fully Cherokee. Woya is taken back by her harsh tone and looks at her son. 

"Have you taught them no manners in how to speak to an elder?" Woya asks him. Before he can answer a voice coming from the front door answers. 

"Yes he has but only if that elder deserves it. If our lotus spoke to you in a disrespectful tone then she must have a reason. Normally that reason is because someone slighted her sister. Do not tell me that you my dear sister in law is unaccepting of your grandchildren. I know you think our blood should be pure but I raised your children to find love not blood. So I'm sorry to tell you this but none of your children married a Cherokee. Neither did I , you have missed out on more than twenty years of your children's lives . I suggest that if you do not want to die alone, you accept them for who they have become and love them. They deserve to have all the love they can get. You have a lot to make up for unless you choose to take the easy route and go back and live in that home as if you have no one to care for. It makes no difference to me your children are adults and are amazing ones at that. I hope you will try to get to know them." Inola stares his sister in law down, not giving her an inch to feel sorry for herself. As far as he is concerned she abandoned her children and doesn't deserve even a moment of their time.