Taelo: Dangerous Passage

By Ron Mueller

Taelo is called by the Ancestors to travel to the origin of his people. This takes he and his team north, along a green valley running between two massive glaciers.

Taelo has been called to aid the White Bear Clan that have been conquered by a ruthless people they call the Sky Eyes. These are a renegade group that arrived f

• Language: English
• Publisher: Around the World Publishing LLC
• Release date: May 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781682232668

Ron Mueller

About the Author Ronald E. Mueller [e-mail] Ron grew up in what is now Flint River State Park in Southeast Iowa. The 170-year-old house Ron lived in is built into a hillside. It faces a 125-foot-high cliff towering over the little Flint River. The house and the land talked to him about; the passing of time, the struggle to conquer the land, the struggles people faced and the wonder of nature. He climbed the cliffs, crawled into the caves, dove from the swimming rock, collected clams from the bottom of the pond, gigged and skinned frogs for their legs. He trapped muskrats for fur, hunted raccoon in the dead of night, and with only a stick hunted rabbits in the dead of winter. His young life was outdoors, and nature tested him. He walked to a one room stone schoolhouse uphill both ways. A stern but warm-hearted teacher, Mrs. Henry was instrumental in shaping his character as she shepherded him from the fourth to the eighth grade. A Montessori before its time. It was a great way to grow up. His experiences inter-twined with snippets of fantasy lend themselves to the adventures he leads the reader through.

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Taelo: Dangerous Passage

Book 4

By: Ron Mueller

Around the World Publishing LLC

4914 Cooper Road Suite 144

Cincinnati, Ohio 45242-9998

This book is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Taelo: Dangerous Passage       Published Copyright © 2015

Renewal March 2019, May 2021

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction, in whole or in part in any form.

ISBN 13: 978-1-68223-194-4

ISBN 10: 1-68223-194-1

Distributed by Ingram

Cover Picture By: Hien Mueller

Eagle by Teekaygee - Dreamstime.com

Cover Design By: Ron Mueller

Table of Content

Introduction

Chapter 1: Uneasy Feeling

Chapter 2: Visit to the Others

Chapter 3: Broken Spear’s Guidance

Chapter 4: Departure from the Others

Chapter 5: Team Shelter

Chapter 6: Northern Elk Clan Departure

Chapter 7: Connection

Chapter 8: Dire Wolf Territory

Chapter 9: Northern Passage Approach

Chapter 10: Northern Passage

Chapter 11: Through the Northern Passage

Chapter 12: Pursued by the Great Bear

Chapter 13: The Northern Buffalo

Chapter 14: Ice Bridge: The Empty Land

Chapter 15: Sky Eyed Clan

Chapter 16: Sky Eye Reception

Chapter 17: Sky Eye Battle

Chapter 18: Recovery

Chapter 19: Final Encounter

Chapter 20: In the Cave of the Others

Chapter 21: Winter in the Outland

Chapter 22: Snowed In

Chapter 23: Convergence

Chapter 24: Ice Bridge: Back toward home

Chapter 25: Thin Ice

Chapter 26: The Team Returns

Chapter 27: Back Through Bear Country

Chapter 28: Down through the Gap

Chapter 29: The Others Spring Celebration

Chapter 30: Clan Gathering

Chapter 31: Preparation

Chapter 32: Fall Gathering

Preview Book 5:  Condor Clan Slingers

About the Author

Other Stories by Around the World Publishing

Character names and Roles

Dedication: To My Daughter and Sons

who constantly inspire me.

Introduction

The story of Taelo (Tā low), talon of the eagle, follows the journey of a young, exceptionally talented child.  The eagle, Taelo’s totem always makes an appearance at the critical and important moments in Taelo’s life.

Golden Hawk is Taelo’s cousin, best friend, and partner in their many adventures.

White Swan and Quiet Pheasant their mothers are sisters who gave birth to the two on the same day.

Taelo’s mother, White Swan politically guides both her husband Grey Fox Running and Taelo in their interactions within the Elk Clan.  She also ensured Red Oak and Quiet Pheasant transferred with them from the Elk Horn Clan the main Elk Clan.  She was determined her son would grow up with his cousin and best friend.

The two boys each have leadership totems.  The two families still talk about the boys seventh birthday when a golden hawk caught and dropped a salmon into Golden Hawk’s lap as an eagle cried and flew overhead.

All know when an eagle screams from the sky, something eventful is about to happen.

The story of The Early Years begins with his naming and takes the reader through Taelo’s and Golden Hawk’s early years until they are recognized as full members of the Clan.

They constantly contribute to the well-being of all around them.  They are known throughout all the Elk sub-clans as being good luck to have around.

Taelo’s actions lead to the adoption of an older, different kind of people called the Others into the Elk Clan.

The story of Taelo ends with the successful hunt by a hunting team having both male and female hunters for the first time.  The team’s success overwhelms the clan and changes its culture.

In The Golden Feather this same team takes the next step in their development.  They first travel south into the Andes of South America.  They meet the peoples living in those areas.  On their return they go into the North Coastal area where the Elk Clan originally had its home.  Once again, the team changes the culture of the Elk Clan.

In The Journey of Discovery Taelo and Golden Hawk travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean and see the wonders of nature.

In Dangerous Passage the team travels across the northern ice bridge to the origin of their race.

In Condor Clan Slingers, Taelo returns to the land of the Condor to aid his friends in a battle against their enemy.  The team trains the women to become volcano glass slinging warriors.

Read is this order The Early Years, The Golden Feather, The Journey of Discover, Dangerous Passage, Condor Clan Slingers

Chapter 1:

Uneasy Feeling

Much of the water falling from its mighty height turned into a

Fine mist and then as it fell the cold air froze the mist and it landed gently on the valley below as a fine delicate snowflake.  Each flake formed its unique and delicate beautiful pattern.  It would drift down and land on top of the ever-growing mound below.

The water not turned into mist cascaded down from its height into the ice-covered pool, open where the water from above kept it from freezing over.  The water left the pool below a layer of ice into the small river that ran along the cliffs past the compound to join another stream and then flow on toward the sea to the west.

Taelo stood in the compound outside of the main lodge and watched the early morning sun turn the mist into a mix of pink, grey and then a glowing yellow.  Briefly a section of rainbow graced the sky.  It was a cold, frozen display of the beauty of winter.

He had heard the call.  He and the team would head North and backtrack the path Semper, and his followers had traveled.

The Journey of the Heart had been to the South.  The Journey of Discovery had been to the East.  This coming journey was a journey he was being called to go on by the ancients.  There was an ominous nature to this call that he could not quite grasp.  He would consult Broken Spear, the seer of the Others to get a better understanding.

That afternoon as he and Quiet Rabbit sat in the hot water pool Grey Fox Running asked about the next journey.  He and White Swan knew their son would soon take his next journey and had conjectured if it would be to the North.

"When the weather begins to warm, we will set out on a journey to the North.  This journey may be the hardest and the least enjoyable.  Semper and his followers came down from the North and stayed to the valley between two mountain ranges.

Unlike those we rescued from the cannibals, Semper and his followers were migrating here in hopes of finding a better area.  He was keeping track as best he could of the places he traveled through.

Running Stag had been listening to the conversation and shared his memories.

"I remember traveling along the coast.  My father had been warned about the inland route.  Huge bears would hunt people down.  He said it was too dangerous to go that way.  The journey down the coast was very difficult.  We kept going out on a point and then had to come back to almost where we had started.

Then we ran into the cannibals.  You saved us and you know the rest of the story," Running Stag shared as he talked about his journey from the North.

He and his group had fought with and lost a battle with the cannibals.  The cannibals immediately broke the legs of all the warriors.  They were to be eaten first.

All of the older members were kept in a compound unless they were brought out to do work.  The women were made to the work around the camp.

The younger members were ignored unless they somehow caught someone’s attention and then a nasty beating normally occurred.

Running Stag had been rescued by Taelo and together they had gone back and freed the few people left alive.  Two of those people were Running Stag’s mother and father.

Taelo had spent time with all the members he had rescued that were still residing in the Northern Elk Clan.  From them Taelo began to understand the environment and the potential dangers that the journey to the North would pose.

Taelo had already discussed this with Golden Hawk, Busy Bee, and Quiet Rabbit.  The four of them were deep into the planning and preparation for the upcoming journey.

I am glad we took the other journey’s first.  This will be a very challenging journey for all of us, Taelo shared with the group around him.

"Yes, it may be dangerous and challenging but I have been talking to all the team members and they are eager to go on this journey.

Even my grandmother is ready.  She has been riding the mounts and working with the wolves.  She plans to be a leading member of the team," Quiet Rabbit replied.

She too was ready to travel with Taelo.

Their previous journeys had made all of them grow and appreciate the world around them.  They had returned from every journey with newfound knowledge that helped the Elk Clan enjoy a richer life.

There was no shortage of additional volunteers.

A few weeks later, Lily and her new mate arrived.

I was afraid if we waited too long, we would miss your next journey.  You know Slow Runner my mate and you know he is not so slow, Lily said on her arrival as she proudly highlighted her mate.

She felt so lucky to find someone of Slow Runner’s stature and maturity.  He was truly her second soul mate.

She had lost the first to the battles with the cannibals.

We are pleased you came.  Taelo has told us many tales of your bravery but many more about your cooking ability.  I am sure he will be pleased to have you on the team for the journey to the north, White Swan said in greeting the two as they led their mounts through the gate.

It is good that you chose to come.  I was feeling challenged to prepare for the journey to the north.  You will know what you need to pull together to make the journey easier, Floating Cloud said when greeting Lily.

This will be a very hard journey for me.  It will bring back terrible memories of suffering, pain, and loss.  Taelo rescued me and knows how hard this will be, Lily replied.

The memory, of watching her first mate being tortured and devoured in a wild feast by the cannibals, made her feel faint.

Slow Runner quietly supported her as he noticed.  He too remembered the horror they had all lived through.

The team’s Journey of Discovery gave me a chance to grow and to learn to manage my pain and loss.  Taelo’s courage became my courage.  Taelo’s vision has become my vision, Lily continued after a brief pause.

Those around her were surprised at her emotional reply.

I know how she feels.  Taelo has been my hero since the time he returned and freed my mother and father.  I was very lucky.  I know the pain and sorrow that Lily speaks of.  It will be a tough trip for me as well, Running Stag said quietly to Feather-in-the-Wind.

"I am beginning to understand why Wise Owl created and gave the title of warriors at large to both Taelo and Golden Hawk.  They have given each of us a second life.

I too understand the loss of family.  Mine live on, but I can never return to the condor and the mountains to the south.  But I have new purpose and I will follow Taelo and Quiet Rabbit anywhere they wish to go," Feather-in-the-Wind replied to Running Stag.

The smell of spring was in the air, but the snow had not yet yielded the valley to the flowers and the grass.

The river still had ice along its banks.

The promise was only in the air, not yet in the strength of the sun.  The valley and all within were coming awaked after a long cold winter.

Taelo’s core team had continued their tradition of having a meal together once a week.  They had found a comfortable location down by the river where they could sit and watch the sunset.

Once again it was Taelo’s turn to cook.  This time he was showboating.  He had been out and was lucky enough to bag a young boar.  He and Lasher had run it down and brought it back for this occasion.

He had sought out both Lily and Floating Cloud for cooking guidance and had carefully followed their advice.

Well, both of you will know if I followed your detailed instructions well enough, he said as he turned away from the fire.

The coals had slowly cooked the young boar.  The aroma was tantalizing.  Everyone was eager to get a piece.

All the members of the team were present.  There was Lily and Slow Runner, Floating Cloud, Quiet Rabbit’s grandmother sitting next to Quiet Rabbit, Golden Hawk and Busy Bee, Running Stag and Feather-in-the-Wind.

Saber Scar and Marigold were not present because they had returned to their own clan for a short visit before the next journey.

"Tonight, we will discuss the upcoming journey and how to prepare for it.  I have talked to everyone who has recently come from the north.

Golden Hawk has agreed to work with each of you to organize what will be needed and each of our responsibilities," Taelo announced as he began to cut and pass out the sizzling boar’s meat.

"Each of you has suggested items that we will need.  We will leave with more supplies for this trip than we did for other trips.  What we have learned from talking with those who have recently arrived is to expect it to remain cold and that we may not find the food we need.

Hunting will also be hard.  All of your input is useful," Golden Hawk added.

I have an uneasy feeling about this journey.  I think that a trip to the old ones and a visit with Broken Spear is in order.  When do you think we should go, Taelo asked Golden Hawk?

As soon as possible, the entire team spoke at once.

They all had the same vision of sitting in the hot spring pool located in the cave of the Others.

Chapter 2:

Visit to the Others

Spring was threatening to warm the air and to turn the valley

green.  The melting snows had greatly increased the flow over the fall at the far end of the valley and the cold water flowing energetically past the lodge area, no longer supported ice on the banks.

The change of weather immediately energized the team to act.

They would go and visit the Others and seek Broken Spear’s consul.

It is a beautiful day for you to start your trip to the home of the Other’s.  Have a good visit.  We will organize all the food and goods we will need for our trip, Floating Cloud said.

She, Lily and Slow Runner were staying behind.  They had volunteered to get all the gear that had been identified collected, organized, and ready for the trip.

Thank you for volunteering for this thankless but very important task, Taelo said addressing the three.

The trip south through the Marker Mountains, down to the sea went smoothly.  Lasher, Arrow and Walker were the only wolves accompanying the team.  Each walked beside their owner.

Lasher and Taelo were inseparable.

Arrow had a similar relationship with Running Stag and Walker was devoted to Feather-in-the-Wind.

It will be good to visit with Burley Bear and Meadow Flower, Quiet Rabbit commented as they came out on the coast to the thundering spring waves.

Yes, and I will enjoy bathing in the warm water pool, Busy Bee said as she dashed to the edge of the ocean.

They all walked to the edge of the water and dipped their hands into the water.

The water is still very, very cold, but even in the summer it remains cold, Busy Bee noted.

Yes, the sea currents are from the north and remain cool throughout the summer months, Golden Hawk added as he joined the rest of the team as they walked skirting the waves.

The beach ended and the team walked single file along the base of the cliff.  This approach would bring them to the small stream that made its way to the sea from the cave of the others.

Look ahead and you will see our friend Burley Bear, Running Stag commented as he bolted ahead.

Both Burley Bear and Meadow Flower were waiting.

Besides them were two other familiar friends, Saber Scar and Marigold.

I am honored that the leader of the Others personally came out to greet me, Taelo said as he gave Burley Bear a hug.

He turned and gave Meadow Flower one as well.

I hope you and Marigold had a good visit with your clan, Taelo continued as he greeted the other two who had also become very close friends.

Yes, we have enjoyed our time here, but we are ready for our next journey with you, Saber Scar replied.

Your scars make you look as fierce as I know you are, Quiet Rabbit said putting her hand on Saber Scar’s chest.

The two of them had a special relationship.

Quiet Rabbit was the one who had stitched every one of the scars on Saber Scar’s chest.  He had one set of scars from a saber-tooth tiger that attacked Taelo and one set of scars from the lion he, Feather-in-the-Wind and Running Stag had killed during the Journey of Discovery.

Your arrival is timely, and the entire clan is waiting to share the evening meal and to listen to the tales you will be asked to tell, Burley Bear said as he turned and led the way back to the entrance of the cave.

Broken Spear, the seer of the Others sat at the entrance of the cave.  As always, he was attended by two of the older women of the clan.

He was by this time an ancient and most revered figure.

We have been waiting for your visit.  Tonight, we eat well.  You will be asked to tell more stories of your many travels.  Tomorrow you and I will talk about your journey North, Broken Spear said in greeting.

Taelo was his personal inspiration.  He had first seen Taelo through the eyes of an eagle during Taelo’s naming ceremony.

At that time Broken Spear had not known he was seeing one of the new ones.

Quiet Fox and Little Doe were standing behind Broken Spear.  Quiet Fox had stepped aside and put Burley Bear into the clan’s leadership position.

It is good to see our Eagle return.  We look forward to this evening and to many more visits, Quiet Fox said in greeting.

Well, I am sure we will learn what is up.  There is something in the air that says we will be surprised by something the clan has decided, Taelo said to Quiet Rabbit as they were led into the clan’s living area.

This was the first time they had been so formally greeted.

After they had been shown the area where they would stay and given a few moments to put their things down, they were led to the central area.

There they were served a variety of meats, cooked roots, and barley.

The cooking of the Others was similar to their own, but the salting and spicing was unique.  It was always a surprise at the flavors that were different but very enjoyable.

I always look forward to the meals here, Feather-in-the-Wind commented as she ate her second piece of meat.

I don’t know where you put all the food that you eat, Running Stag commented in a jealous tone.

He could never eat as much as Feather-in-the-Wind and yet she was half his size.

Let the story telling begin, Burley Bear announced once he saw that Taelo and his team had finished eating.

I will begin with the story of how I met Taelo.

Several people had previously told the story of Burley Bear’s first encounter with Taelo.  This was the first time Burley Bear was going to tell his own version.

It was clear he had matured to a higher level of self-confidence.

The ground slapping response of his audience also signaled that this was a special event.

This will be interesting, Taelo whispered to Quiet Rabbit.

"I begin with the trickery the Elk Clan displayed the first time we encountered them.  Our food shortage was severe.  I was out hunting for deer or elk.  Then I smelled the odor of smoking meat.  I followed my nose to the edge of a cliff.  Carefully I peered over the edge of the cliff at a hunting party of the new ones below.

They were drying strips of meat.

My mouth watered.

I am the largest among us, but you all know I am a ghost when I want to spy on someone.  No one but Broken Spear has ever been able to see me coming.

Somehow the leader of the new ones sensed he was being watched.  He sent out several scouts to determine if there was someone watching.

I quickly retreated back to our camp on the beach.

We all knew our camp was not in a good location, but Broken Spear had declared this was the location we would meet the person who would lead us on a new path.

We would meet the man of the Eagle.

On my return to camp, I organized a raiding party.  I was determined we would get the meat this hunting party possessed.

Quiet Fox was not supportive of this venture, but he knew the clan was on the verge of starvation.  He considered the alternatives and allowed me to take a team to see if we could steal the meat.

He gave strict orders not to kill anyone or even injure them.

This was a tough challenge for a raiding party.

We were brash and brave and knew we would come home with all the meat and be seen as heroes.  We found a place down the beach and waited for the hunting party to appear.

YES, we all whispered when the loaded travois being pulled by four warriors appeared.  We waited until they had committed to their direction and then we came swooping out of the forest.

What a surprise.  Even with the loaded travois the warriors were close to out running us.  Slowly we gained on the travois they were pulling.  When we were a spear’s throw away, the four dropped the travois and accelerated and disappeared into the woods.

We triumphantly turned the travois and hastily pulled them back to camp.

We were triumphant and were loud and brash in our boasting.  We were thoroughly embarrassed when we took the cover off the load and realized the load was almost all wood with only a thin covering of meat.

Instead of being treated like heroes, we were greeted with laughter.  The old warriors had their day pointing out to us the difference between a piece of wood and buffalo meat.

Well, it seems you have met your match in trickery, Quiet Fox publicly praised me.

"Though I was angry, even I had a good laugh.  Such trickery can only be admired.

I now know Red Oak the current leader of the Elk Clan was the person who planned the trick.  We have laughed together, several times, about that evening.

He has told me about how hard he found it to keep running while laughing to the point he had tears in his eyes.  He and his men stopped at the edge of the woods and collapsed in laughter.

He told me that if we had been able to keep up with them, they would have surrendered in laughter.

The audience all let out a light whooping in appreciation of the story.

"So, you can understand how I felt later when two beautiful women and two scraggly boys trying to be warriors approached our camp.  I looked up and down the beach and into the forest.

I knew this was another trick.  I just could not figure out what kind of trick it might be.

Why would the new ones come to us with gifts?

Never before had any of the new ones even acknowledged our existence.  The best treatment we ever received was to be left alone.

What possibly could they be up to?

I kept looking up the beach and into the forest.  Something was up.

Immediately I knew these two were trying to find out what we were doing.  They were spying.

I reached for the one that seemed to be in charge.

I was just going to get her attention.

Then…. Well then…, Burley Bear stopped and looked slowly around, …then the lights went out."

The whooping of the clan members was thunderous.

Burley Bear raised his hands into the air and slowly turned a circle.

"I woke up in my lodge.  It took me a moment to recall where I was and who I was.  I was furious.  I came roaring out of my lodge to find the warrior that had blind-sided me.

As all of you know, no one in the clan has ever beaten me in combat.

What did I find?

There sitting next to Quiet Fox was a small, barely above my waist, boy.

Where was the warrior that had turned out the lights, I angrily shouted?

The boy stood up and put out his hand and said, I am Taelo, claw of the eagle, the claw that strikes,

Burley Bear clawed the air in an exaggerated motion and slowly turned with a grimace on his face.

The clan members were whooping as they watched Burley Bear.

Then high in the sky, an eagle cried, and I realized that Broken Spear’s prediction that the Man of the Eagle would come to guide the clan.  His prediction had come true!

I stopped in my tracks.  At that moment I realized Taelo was to lead us to our new home.

You all know that Taelo made me see.  He made me see new possibilities.  He made