Dreamseeker.

Chapter One.

Warm sun blazed against the bright, blue skies of Vancouver, it's rays beaming down, as it heated the ground. In the distance, the sounds of moving vehicles, and barking dogs could be heard, as city life rolled onward, unhindered by the tears of a small, weeping child, as her tiny green eyes searched frantically about. Her bright, rosy pink face was bawled up in fright, and in her hand, a long, white stick, glistened from recent rain and dried mud, as she held tightly to it, desperately trying to find her way back to the parents she'd somehow lost in the saturday croud.

It was here that he found her, her long, brown hair hanging loosely down her back, as she balled one tiny fist, and punched the handle of her white stick. His brown eyes travelled over her angry, pink face, and for a moment, he was almost afraid of the power the small child held, as she lifted her white stick, and timidly tapped the ground. As she drew nearer to him, the old Man stepped back, wondering if he might not approach such a fierce little being, when all at once, the small girl bumped softly into him, and tears began to roll down her beautiful, small pink face.

"Little Miss? Are you all right?" The old man asked, as he looked into her face.

"I can't find my mom and Dad, and I'm going to be in big trouble for talking to strangers." the child wailed, as tears streamed down her sad little face.

Chuckling, the old man reached out his hand. Taking the child's small, cold hand into his large one, he shook her hand gently.

"Well, little Miss? my name is Bradey Rain Feather. Now I am not a stranger no more. Is that not right?" the old man asked, as he smiled down at her.

"Oh. No, I suppose not." the child said, as her tears slowed.

"Do you have a name?" the strange man asked, as he smiled.

"Elizabeth. Elizabeth Anne Starr." the child said, boldly.

"Let us find your parents, Miss Starr, shall we?" the old man asked, as he took the small, cold hand once more.

"Okay. Are you a real indian? Your name's indian, you know." Elizabeth said, as she smiled up at the old man.

"I am. I am from South Dakota. I've come up for some meat, you see?" the old man said, smiling.

"Oh. My mom don't like indians much. She says they're evil." Elizabeth said, looking perplexed.

"how about we not tell her I'm indian, then? That way, you don't get into trouble, you see?" the old man said, as he looked about the crowd.

"Won't they know?" Elizabeth asked, as her green eyes looked blankly up at him.

"Hmmmmmm. I never thought of that. How about we tell her I'm a sea captain, and I've come to bring her lost maiden to her?" the old man asked, the laughter just evident, behind his gruff old voice.

"Can I be a maiden?" Elizabeth asked, nearly bouncing on the heels of her small feet.

"Of course you can, Miss Starr." the old man replied, smiling.

"Promise?" Elizabeth asked, her face hopeful.

"With all that I am." the old man said, as his chuckles rang quietly into her ears.

Elizabeth's smile radiated, as she squeezed the hand of the old man. For some reason, she could not quite place, she liked this old man. He seemed to hold some spark of life inside of him, and Elizabeth found it a wonderful change, compared to the drab, cold manner of her own boring, well-mannered family. Not only did he hold a peaceful, childlike air about him, but he was kind and gentle, unlike any old man Elizabeth had ever met.

"I believe I've found them, Miss Starr. There are two people walking this way, and they do have a mighty angry expression on their faces." the old man said, as he ceased to walk any further.

"Can't I go home with you, Mister Bradey?" Elizabeth asked, clinging to him.

"I'm afraid not. It isn't your time, you see." the old man said, as an angry-faced woman approached.

Before Elizabeth could reply, her hand was torn from that of the old man, and an angry look was passed his way. It seemed as though the blonde woman who took the small child did not approve of his finding Elizabeth, and the old man was sorry, for he loved the child as though she were his own granddaughter, though he'd only known her a few moments. However, as Elizabeth was walked briskly away, no words having been said between the old man, and the Starr parents, a tiny hand could be seen, waving goodbye to Bradey, as she was led away.

"Goodbye, miss Starr. I'll see you sometime in the future." the old man said, silently.

***

Late that night, Elizabeth lay in her bed, her eyes dancing, as she remembered the old man she'd met that day. She could not cease to think of how interesting she'd found him, and as she closed her dreamy eyes, she smiled. She would see him again---she was sure of that, and until then, she'd hold true to the hope of a better life, than the one she'd led. For now, she'd sleep, and when she woke, she'd take the old man as a fond memory---someone to look up to when things were difficult. Now, however, Elizabeth was tired, and she meant to sleep, for she didn't want to handle with such happy thoughts, when her own life was left to drab sadness, and eternal boredom.