The Mystery Gang went too far, didn’t they? They pushed Ihaan with their gifts, thinking he would readily accept them, but forgot that he had been living in solitude in the wilderness for eleven years. The thought bombarded Freddie, who lifted his hand, the gang behind him, and knocked on the longhouse’s door. “Ihaan?” he called, no longer wearing his Elvis sunglasses. “We’re sorry. We didn’t mean to overwhelm you.”
Velma came in and nudged Freddie aside, knocking on the door herself. “We just want to help. You don’t have to accept our gifts, but at least tell us more about the Thunderbird.”
Shaggy gulped, and his knees knocked together. “Like-Like the Thunderbird?”
He was right—that was the first time the rest of the gang had heard that name. What was it, and when did Ihaan tell Velma? Was there another mystery for the gang to solve, on top of trying to help him? Fred almost hoped so; maybe a mystery was better than shoving modern tech in Ihaan’s face.
Scooby, holding Ihaan’s birthday cake, slipped in front of the gang and stood tall like a waiter serving a five-star meal.
Pounding soon came from the other side of the longhouse’s door, and it opened, revealing Ihaan, who looked panicked.
“Rirthday rake?” Scooby asked, offering him the cake.
“Ro go-gone,” Ihaan stuttered. “I lay down for a bit, and now she’s gone.”
“Aw,” Scooby said, lowering the cake. “No rirthday rake?”
Shaggy playfully and seriously smacked the back of Scooby’s head. “Like, Scoob, my stomach says the same…”
“… but we should find Ro first,” Velma finished, turning on a thoughtful face. “She hasn’t flown since the Thunderbird, right, Ihaan? So, she couldn’t have gone far.”
“What if Thunderbird’s back?” Ihaan chewed on his nails. “What if Thunderbird hurt her again?”
Velma clutched his shoulder. “We’ll find her, Ihaan. You just need to tell us more about the Thunderbird.”
Ihaan gripped the inside of the doorway and met the gang’s eyes instead of looking at the technology still sitting around the fire. “Thunderbird is Lightning Spirit. Only appears when someone needs help. It hurt Ro a few months back.” He pushed off the doorway. “There was a sudden lightning storm, and Ro flew toward it, returning with broken wing.”
“Really?” Fred said, smiling. “That’s sick, man! A bird made out of lightning?”
Daphne grasped her hip. “But why is it attacking if it’s supposed to help someone? Surely, Ro hasn’t done anything wrong.”
That was when Shaggy and Scooby put their hands/paws together and closed their eyes.
“Please don’t say we have a mystery on our hands. Please don’t say we have a mystery on our hands,” Shaggy begged.
“Reah, rease,” Scooby chanted after him.
“Well, gang,” Fred cheerfully explained, “it looks like we have a mystery on our hands.” He couldn’t believe that his wish had already come true. They could start with it and then gradually discuss the next steps of their gift mishap and how to make it up to Ihaan. Mystery first, though, mystery first, and another look into Ihaan’s world compared to the one he and his friends lived in.
“Let’s start by searching the forest for Ro,” was Fred’s first order. “If we don’t find her, we’ll split up and look for clues—maybe even this Thunderbird.”
“Like, great,” Shaggy said. He and Scooby had returned to the fire and roasted marshmallows over the open flame. “And while you guys do that, Scoob and I will keep watch here.”
Scooby nodded—“Reah! Reah!”—and stuck six marshmallows on his stick. Two caught fire, but Scooby blew them out.
Daphne rolled her eyes and offered the cowards a box of Scooby Snacks. “Would you two come for a Scooby Snack, limited edition?” she inquired, shaking the box for emphasis.
Instantly, Shaggy and Scooby were beside her, empty hands and paws up in surrender.
Daphne chuckled and tossed a Scooby Snack into each of their mouths. The two swallowed so quickly that it almost looked like they would choke. Afterward, they patted their tummies, and Daphne finished with, “Now, let’s go find Ro.”
Ihaan lit a wooden torch, and Freddie grabbed a few flashlights from the gang’s tents. For the next thirty minutes, they searched the darkening forest and the surrounding lakes and ponds around Ihaan’s longhouse for Ro. The crescent moon eventually poked out from behind a few trees, casting a light path on the forest floor. At the end was a faint, golden glow that faded within a minute.
“Let’s try here,” Freddie ordered, shining his flashlight in the area where the path used to be. He checked on Ihaan, who nervously held his free hand against his heart. “Don’t worry, Ihaan—my mystery senses say we’re close.”
“Um…” Daphne tapped her chin. “Should we be worried, Fred?”
Fred hooted and closed his eyes. “Worried? That’s a good one, Daph!” However, when he realized that Daphne was serious, he added, “Oh,” and opened his eyes. She had a point, considering that Fred couldn’t even read a translation book when the gang traveled overseas.
Velma’s voice interrupted the awkward moment. “Guys, look!” She kneeled on what was the path and picked up a brown feather with slightly charred tips. “A feather and it’s warm.” Velma stood and handed the feather to Ihaan.
His lip twitched, and he clenched his fist around it. “Thunderbird. Thunderbird attacked her.” He looked up—“Ro!”—and took off at a sprint, the gang close behind.
They ran for five more minutes before finally stopping at a point that overlooked Lake Anima Nipissing’s shadowy waters. Ro rested on her front at the point’s edge on a rock, her wings outstretched, head and neck dangling over it.
“Ro!” Ihaan cried, blowing out his torch. His boots pounded the entire way to her, and he knelt over the eagle. “Ro, what happened?”
She peered up and whistled quietly, holding her beak open like she panted.
Ihaan gently took her wings, unfolded and folded them, and Scooby carefully sniffed Ro as if she were a cat.
The gang watched in the background, seemingly lost in thought with concern.
“She’s okay,” Ihaan said after a bit. “She’s just shook up.” He sighed and scooped up the animal.
Scooby sat back and gestured at Ro. “Rire, rire,” he almost barked, studying the gang.
“Like, you smell fire, Scoob?” Shaggy licked his lips. “Maybe the Thunderbird’s holding a barbecue with extra hot sauce.” He laughed at his joke, but for once, Scooby didn’t.
“Ro,” he tried, pointing at her again. “Rire.”
“Hm.” Velma clutched her chin and leaned over Scooby, Ihaan, and Ro. “Just to clarify, Ihaan, she didn’t start acting weird until after you began growing?”
He nodded. “Right. Maybe Spirits are trying to tell us something. Maybe that’s why Thunderbird’s awake.” He stood and hugged Ro to his chest. “Thank you, guys, but I must figure this out myself. My duty as forest protector.”
“No, you don’t,” Daphne elucidated, tilting her chin. “Please, Ihaan, let us help you. We could try some of those outfits I brought you in the process. Maybe they’ll help us blend in while we look for the Thunderbird.”
Ihaan glared. “I don’t want to blend in; I want Thunderbird to stop attacking.”
Daphne blushed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” Backing away from Ihaan, she gave him and Ro space. She maintained her distance on the way back to Ihaan’s longhouse and, every once in a while, looked at Fred, who examined the nighttime sky with Velma.
It wasn’t long until the gang reached Ihaan’s longhouse and broke off for the night; Ihaan slipped into his longhouse, and the gang changed into their pajamas. They soon sat before their tents in a circle, Ihaan’s birthday cake and presents still untouched behind them.
“So, what do you think it is, Velma?” Freddie questioned. “Why do you think the Thunderbird’s attacking?”
While they chatted, Shaggy and Scooby tugged on a nighttime sandwich and fell backward simultaneously.
“I’m not sure, Fred,” Velma answered, ignoring them. “What I do know, though, is that there is no doubt that Ro is torn about Ihaan growing up.” She crossed her legs. “Think about it—she didn’t start acting weird until after he started growing. Ihaan himself said that the Spirits said it’s time for his rite of passage. I don’t think Ro’s accepted that yet. Maybe the Thunderbird attacks when it senses strong emotions? I just don’t know.”
Shaggy yawned and stretched his arms over his head. “Like, not to be the party pooper, Velma, but Scooby and I are ready to hit the hay—away from ghosts and demons.”
“Yeah, we need to get to bed,” Daphne agreed. “We’ll figure something out tomorrow.” At the same time, she, Shaggy, and Scooby stepped over their friends and ducked into their tents, leaving Freddie and Velma the only teens left under Ontario’s Star Canopy.
There was a long silence between them, and then Freddie patted his thighs and asked Velma, “So… do you think Ihaan liked our gifts?” Shut up, Fred! he thought right after.
Velma slapped her hand to her face and shook her head.
***
Bluish-white lightning sparks crackled in the giant bird’s wings as it hovered over Lake Anima Nipissing, eye level with Ihaan, who was dressed in one of Daphne’s outfits and holding a flashlight instead of a torch. The low-rise jeans touched the tops of his heels, and Ihaan wore a jacket over the olive green shirt.
He checked his hands before focusing his attention on the sacred Spirit Animal. “I’m sorry,” Ihaan apologized. “I didn’t want to change.”
The Lightning Spirit’s cry, a mix of an eagle’s call and the sound of lightning, resonated across Anima’s surface. Amidst the lightning, a rumbling, thunder-like voice echoed, but Ihaan couldn’t tell if it was male or female. “Red Squirrel Lake, where you had your accident,” it explained. “It’s the only way.”
What did it mean by that?
Ro is torn just like you,” the Thunderbird continued, moving closer to Ihaan. “This is your rite of passage, Ihaan. Do you want to stay… or leave? Ro can’t make that decision, only you.”
Ihaan lowered his head, thought for a minute, and lifted it again. “Why are you attacking Ro to help me?”
The Lightning Spirit seemed to huff. Before Ihaan tried again, it flapped its wings, sending an array of lightning sparks toward him.
Ihaan dodged them and watched as the Thunderbird soared into the sky, vanishing behind a few storm clouds.
He woke with a start, yelling, “Red Squirrel Lake!” Ihaan shot up in his bunkbed-like bed, which rested against his longhouse’s wall, and caught Ro, who began sliding off his chest. He set her in the corner and tossed off his covers, sliding down the ladder with both hands. His feet hit the dirt floor, and Ihaan flinched, shaking out his right ankle.
He paced back and forth before his bed and considered the Thunderbird’s words. Red Squirrel Lake was where he woke up eleven winters ago, with Ro beside him. Perhaps he would get answers there, but he had to consider the Mystery Gang, too; after all, they went through their rite of passage not too long ago. Now, it was Ihaan’s turn, but was it appropriate for the forest’s protector to ask for help for his rite of passage, or was that a sign of weakness? Was Ihaan weak? Was that why the Thunderbird attacked Ro—to punish him?
So many thoughts and guesses about the mystery swarmed through Ihaan’s brain. He should’ve never gotten taller and stronger, and now he wasn’t sure if he should’ve met the Mystery Gang in the first place.
Regardless, one thing was sure throughout all of this: the Lightning Spirit was definitely awake, and it was testing Ihaan with Ro and the Mystery Gang.
But how long would it be before the Thunderbird attacked the Mystery Gang, too? That was something Ihaan wouldn’t wait around for.
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QSTv6F6Nh
Prompt: "Torn" - Natalie Imbruglia
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