A young man was born into a tribe of warriors, though he, himself, was not one. This caused him much trouble, for the other youths in the tribe mocked and taunted him. Sometimes, they even beat him. Yet there was one among his peers who treated him well. The two became close friends, and developed a deep affection and love for each other. But this lover feared for himself, and denied their relationship when amongst the other youths. Try as he might, the young man did not have the skills to become a great warrior. He began to fear that the tribe would force him out as useless.

One night, at the end of a secret rendezvous, his lover said he wanted to tell him something.

“I heard the Shaman speaking today. He told the Elder that a power that would be found in the wilderness which would make our warriors strong, but it was a power no warrior could find. But they also spoke of you. I am afraid that what you feared may come to be. I think they mean to force you out of the tribe. If you could go into the wilderness, and find the power of which the Shaman spoke, you would be a hero.”

“But how can I find such power? No warrior can find it, and I am not even that!” Still, the young man decided that he had no choice. He would have to leave the tribe anyway. Full of sadness, he gathered some supplies, and started to leave for the wilderness. He paused, a moment, at a place where growth had spread so thick, he could not pass, and thought briefly of turning back.

“So you have come.” said a voice behind him. The youth turned to see the Shaman standing there watching him. “I knew you would. Tell me though, why?”

“Shaman,” said the young man. “I am no warrior. I am no use to the tribe. Let me go to find the power in the wilderness so that I can be wanted in the tribe.”

“I am no warrior either,” said the Shaman. “And though I am a Shaman and you are not, you are, and have always been wanted. Still, if you feel you must go, I will get you started.” With that, the Shaman stepped past the youth and pulled back a section of the growth that was loose, revealing a way through the wood.

With a bow to the Shaman, the youth walked into the wilderness. He wandered for many days. The pain of missing his tribe, and his lover was nearly unbearable. But he knew that he was committed to finding the Power to help his tribe. He searched many days, and nothing in the wood appeared to be a power. When his few supplies began to run out, he started gathering food from around him. He found many of the things that grew were nourishing, and made him feel strong. When he would end a day’s travel with cuts from thorns, he found leaves with which to cover his skin. They eased the pain, and closed the cuts. But still, after a time he could no longer count, he felt he was no nearer to gaining great power for his people.

One evening, he rested by an area of dense growth. It made him think back to that day when he left. He then realized, that he was able to think of his people without the pain of missing them. He still longed to return, but not without the power he sought.

Just then, he heard a rustling. He stood in surprise as a portion of the growth was pulled aside, and there stood the tribe’s Shaman.

“Shaman? Have I gone in a circle after all this time? Now I am certainly no nearer to the power than when I began.”

“Yes, you have completed a full circle. But you are closer than you think. Come, you are needed. The tribe is under attack.”

Though panic tried to seize him, he ran to the home he once knew. He did not know how he could help, but suddenly, the people who once teased him meant a lot to him. By the time he arrived, the attackers had been repelled. But many of the tribe’s warriors were injured. Instinctively, the young man reached into his pouch for the leaves and items he had gathered and crafted in the wilderness. He went from warrior to warrior, covering wounds, and instructing others to care for their comrades. As he approached yet another in need of healing, he noticed that he was taking the last of his supplies. Starting his work, he prayed that this was the last warrior who needed help, for he knew that he would not be able to aid anymore. He had just finished, when the warrior reached up and touched his arm. It was one of the men who had taunted and beat him, what seemed like ages ago.

“I’m, sorry for…” the man started to say.

“Shh, rest.” the man replied, and repeated his prayer that this was the last.

“Over here,” came the voice of the Elder. The man’s heart sank. He was out of medicine, which meant that whoever it was still in need of healing would die. He stood to tell the Elder, and his voice caught in his throat. The Elder was kneeling over yet another wounded fighter. It was the Lover he had known before his journey.

The Healer ran to his Lover and fell upon him, sobbing.

“You must help him,” said the Elder.

“I can’t. I used everything. I have nothing left,” cried the Healer. By then, the Shaman had arrived.

“You have been in the wilderness. Lived at the very heart of that which gives life. You carry the pulse of the universe within you. That is the Power which your journey brought to you,” said the Shaman.

The Healer, unable to stop sobbing, took his Lover into his arms. The Shaman’s words were but an echo in his mind, but he felt his heart beating, aching as it was. As it beat stronger and louder, he felt the rhythm coming from everywhere around him, like a drum. He held tighter to his lover and as the drumbeat began to fade, he felt another beat. The heartbeat of his Lover was growing stronger and stronger. The Lover opened his eyes, looked up the healer, and smiled.

The attack on the village had been only an initial advance. The Shaman soon warned that another force would be coming. Because of the Healer’s work, the men were strong again, and ready when the second force approached. Seeing that the tribe had not been weakened by their first attack, the enemy retreated.