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Reading Totems	By : GrizzlyTeddyBear Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 1242 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Author�s Notes:� Shino
entrance countdown:� Shino will appear in
5 more chapters!� Why?� Because I figured I�d do a good job of establishing
my OC before throwing shinobi love at her.�

Title:� Reading Totems
By:� GrizzlyTeddyBear
Disclaimer:� I
don�t own Naruto, and this makes me sad.�
I do own Paige Stone, my OC!� All
information regarding totem animals was taken from Dancing the Wheel by Sun Bear and Animal Speak by Ted Andrews.
Main Pairings:�
Eventual ShinoxOC, NaruxHina,
SasuxSaku
Rating:� M for
mentioned adult themes
Warning:� AU,
Post-series start time.� Rookie 9 is
23-24 years old.� Fic
mentions pagan religions, if you can�t handle it, don�t
read! Also is OC-centric.� Hold your
pants, all will be revealed as the story progresses.�

Chapter Summary:�
Paige uses her abilities to read the rest of Team Kakashi�s
abilities.� How does each react?

***Chapter 3***

She awoke gasping for breath and struggling against her
attacker�an attacker which turned out to be her borrowed bedroll.� Trying to calm her breathing, she squinted and
noticed the rest of the group had gone silent and were looking at her.� She blushed and scratched the back of her
head with a hand, �Sorry, bad dream.��
Paige then squinted up at the sky.�
The sun was already pretty high in the sky.� It looked like they decided to let her sleep
in.� �How long have I been asleep?�� Her stomach growled.� Giggling she asked, �And is there anything I
can eat?�� As she untangled herself from
the bedroll, a canteen and a ration bar appeared before her.

�Here.� Breakfast was
a while ago, so this is all we have for now,� Sakura explained.� �You slept about eight hours.� How do you feel?�

Paige closed her eyes and did a mental once over.� �Better.�
Kinda stiff, and still a little frazzled
mentally, but definitely better.�

�You were squinting before, is your migraine still there?�

�It�s lessened, but yeah, still there.� I think the squinting is because I don�t have
my glasses though.�� Deciding the medical
tone was a bit of a downer, she tried to lighten the mood.� �Naruto looks orange and fuzzy right now;
Sasuke looks dark and fuzzy; and well, Kakashi�Where is Kakashi?�

Dark and fuzzy answered her as he moved closer into her
field of clear vision, �He went into the town the bandits were giving
trouble.� He wanted to add a few charges
to their record for you.�

She didn�t know what to say to that.� Paige opted for �Oh.� I guess I�ll have to thank him or
something.�� She then felt the familiar
presence of wolf behind her.

�No thanks necessary, but you�re welcome anyway.�

Despite the slight warning she received, she was still
startled.� Paige gave a rather girlie
yelp as she jumped and clutched her now racing heart.� �Gah!� Alpha, that was not nice!� Thanks have been officially rescinded!�

�Alpha?�� Kakashi�s eye brow was raised at her again as
he too walked into her clear field of vision.

�Well, aren�t you?� Paige questioned.� �The alpha male, I mean.�

�I�m the team leader,� he replied with a slow nod.� The eye brow was still raised at her.

Paige closed her eyes and experimentally went to that place
in her mind where her gifts were.� She�d
take a little peek in the box, just to see if she could find more answers.� The pain returned, but not had bad as it had
before.� It was tolerable, but not
something she should do too often until she could return to her
meditation.� Reopening her eyes, she took
in Kakashi and also the rest of the group, Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke who was
back to having his eyes red.� Finding the
answers she was seeking, she carefully closed the box and sent another prayer
of thanks.� �It�s more than that.�� Knowing answers and putting them into words
were sometimes too different things.�
�You lead a pack of humans, but you lead another pack as well.�� She cocked her head to the side and let her
eyes go completely out of focus�concentrating on her gifts once more.� �They aren�t exactly wolves though�they�re
not the wild spirit you are, although still spirited�� Dogs?�

Kakashi nodded, and considered her latest information.� �Sasuke?�

�Nothing.� She relaxed, and then tensed up again.� No jutsu,� Sasuke
replied.� �It�s completely natural to
her.�

Naruto finally shifted and brought Paige�s attention to
him.� �What else do you know about us?�
he asked.

�I�m sorry.� I usually
ask for permission for a reading first.� I�m
still out of balance.�� Paige looked
down, a little ashamed of her lack of control.�
�I know each of your totems, and from that, some basic personality
characteristics for each of you.�
Sometimes I can get hints of events in a person�s life if the totem is
associated with events.� I saw Kakashi�s
dogs because they are very close to his wolf.�

�So what does wolf mean?� questioned Kakashi.

�Totems in general can have different meanings for different
people at different times.�

�Sounds confusing.�

Paige shrugged at Kakashi�s comment.� �Not really, I just have to take other things
into account.� We�re in a �pack�
situation right now, so that�s what I picked up on.� Last night��
She cocked her head to the side again, trying to remember the more
pleasant parts of it.� ��last night there
was definitely the feeling of pack leader, but also the other aspects the wolf
is known for:� guardianship, loyalty,
spirit, and trusting of instincts.�
You�re very protective of whom you consider good enough to be in your pack,
but you also covet your privacy.�

Naruto�s mouth hung open during the short silence
afterwards.� Closing it, he lightly
laughed.� �Man, Kakashi, she has you down
already!�� The last words were spoken in
loud disbelief.� Becoming quieter, and
more withdrawn, he asked Paige with wide blue eyes, �What about fox?�

�I�m guessing what you�ve heard hasn�t been good.��

Naruto shook his head.

�It figures.� Most
people fear what they don�t understand.�
Most of the rumors of fox spirits come from stupid farmers who can�t
understand why foxes like easy meals of chickens.� I know I like easy meals.�� Paige�s eyes lost focus one more time as she
tried to remember the feelings, impressions, and that other something that allowed her to read
totems from when she opened that box in her mind before.� There was something besides fox as Naruto�s
totem, but she didn�t want to risk worsening her headache.� �People always know the trickster part of the
fox.�� Paige smiled.� �I bet you were hell as a kid, but it was
never malicious, mostly harmless pranks.�
Traditionally the tricks foxes play are lessons in disguise.� Foxes can also be guardians.� They can teach persistence through adversity
and creativity and�.�� She scratched her
head, not quite knowing how to put the last point she was getting a reading
on.� She blushed, �Have a girlfriend or
someone special?�

Naruto nodded with a quizzical expression.� �Hinata.�

Clearing her throat, she continued, �The fox�teaches�Hinata�s probably extremely pleased you�ve had a few tips
in the love department.�

Sakura giggled.� Paige
was pretty sure Kakashi was silently laughing.�
Sasuke was sporting his first official facial expression, a smirk.� It was Naruto�s turn to blush.

It was Kakashi that recovered first.� �I think it�s time to break camp with that
lovely image in our heads.�

The group of four set about what looked to be a well
coordinated routine of folding and packing although she noticed there were only
three packs for the team of four when they finished.� Sakura and Sasuke took every opportunity to
tease their blond teammate about his relationship with Hinata.� At one point Kakashi joined in with his
orange book.� He dangled a rather
provocative picture in front of Naruto asking him if he ever tried it.� This was met with a loud scream of �Pervert!�
from both Naruto and Sakura.� Sasuke
smirked again and just shook his head.

�You�re just jealous Teme.�� Naruto declared to Sasuke.� Paige watched the interactions between the
team.� She smiled, sensing friendship and
openness.

�Sakura, have any complaints?� Was Sasuke�s response to the challenge.

Sakura replied with an elegant, �Um�� and a blush.

Sasuke turned his smirk from Sakura, to Naruto.� �Dobe.�

�How tall are you, and how much do you weigh?�� The question came from Kakashi and was
directed at Paige.

It was her turn to raise an eye brow at the older man
now.� �Those aren�t questions you ask a
lady.�� Paige grinned, �Lucky for you I
have no shame!� I�m 155 centimeters tall
and weigh 57 kilograms.�

�Right.� That means I get you.� Hop on my back.� We�re leaving this area now.�� Kakashi made all of these statements as if
they actually belonged together.

Paige was lost.� �I
thought I was recovering.� Can�t I
walk?� Why do you �get� me?�

�We�ll be taking the trees to Konoha.� It�s faster, and I don�t think you�re in any
condition to keep up.�� It wasn�t an insult;
it was a statement of fact.

�So I get a piggyback ride?� Paige asked.� Her face took on a rather devious gleam, �I
haven�t had a piggyback ride since I was little.� This is gonna be
fun!�

***

She was grinning like a loon, but she could care less.� This had to be the best way to travel!� They were actually leaping from branch to
branch, and they were going so fast!�
Paige just closed her eyes and enjoyed the wind in her hair.� Ninja�s indeed.� Her doubts about ninjas were rapidly fading,
but she wondered what else would surprise her.

Paige felt the chuckle from the man currently giving her the
piggyback ride of her life and opened her eyes.�
�Enjoying the ride?�� Paige also
noticed Kakashi was still reading his orange book while he somehow navigated
the team through the trees.

�Definitely!� It�s exhilarating, and kind of relaxing,
too.� The trees are so beautiful.� I wish I had my glasses so I could appreciate
the view more.� And you keep a steady pace, the rhythm is what�s relaxing.�� Paige closed her eyes again to enjoy the
ride.� After a few moments of
companionable silence followed when Sakura�s voice interrupted her.

�Paige?�

�Yeah?�� She turned to her right to notice Sakura was
keeping pace with Kakashi now.� They had
assumed a loose diamond formation previously.�
Sasuke was to Sakura�s other side.�
Looking to her left, she noticed Naruto also keeping pace.� It looked like everyone was interested.

�I was wondering if I could ask you some questions.� I don�t want to get too personal, but I saw
your tattoos when I put you in my clothes.�
And well, I was curious about totems for me and Sasuke.�

Paige looked to Sasuke.�
�Is that OK with you, Sasuke?�

Sasuke gave a slight nod in her direction.

�Alright, I feel like saving tattoos for last, but I�ll
throw in more on my personal totem too.��

Sakura beamed at Paige, �Alright.�

�You�re actually lucky Sakura.� You have what many consider a powerful totem,
although it does depend on who you ask.�
You walk with buffalo, and Waboose also walks
with you when you need that extra help.�

�Waboose?�

�Yes, it has to do with an old legend of the White Buffalo
Woman who brought many sacred rites to a tribe of people.� The buffalo in general is sacred because it
is a symbol of following the right path with the right actions.�� At Sakura�s quizzical look, she tried to
explain better.� �It�s basically saying
that you see what needs to be done, and you do it.� That�s not something everyone can do.� Think of all of the people who struggle to
accomplish something that is either meaningless to them or to others.� Waboose is the
White Buffalo Spirit Keeper of the North and a great totem of physical
healing.� And I know you�re a great
medic!�

Sakura flashed a bright smile at Paige.� �So my totem can help me with my healing?�

�Kinda.� Waboose helps those
who ask, and those who help themselves too.�
You can�t get something for nothing.�
She probably has always helped you.�
Now you just know the name of that force that lets you heal for a little
longer, keep that person alive that everyone else thinks is lost.� Do a little more than you or others think you
are capable of.�

Sakura regarded this information seriously now.� �Thank you.�

Paige turned her attention to Sasuke while he actually
switched positions with Sakura.� Now he
was keeping pace next to Kakashi and her.�
�You�re actually a little more metaphorical.� Your totem is the thunder bird, also known as
the phoenix, legendary bird that rose from the fire and ashes anew�symbol of
resurrection and rebirth.�

Sasuke�s eyes widened slightly.� �My clan has an affinity with fire.�

�Makes sense the thunder bird is also the elemental fire
clan leader, but it�s something more than that.�
I�m not sure what kind of phoenix legends you have here, but the thunder
bird legend that I know may be different.�
The general idea is that the thunder bird was the greatest hawk to have
lived.� He could soar higher and farther
than any other bird.� And because of this
ability he was often chosen to give messages to and from Wakan
Tanka, the Great Spirit.� However, this soon caused him to become
extremely arrogant, and he would rub it in the faces of others that he was
better than them.� Wakan
Tanka was not please and decided to teach him a
lesson by consuming him in flames.� But Wakan Tanka was saddened by the
loss of the great thunder bird and chose to let him rise again from the
ashes.� After his resurrection the
thunder bird changed his ways and decided to serve all of the peoples with
respect in his ability to give messages.�
Thunder bird teaches us about the dangers of arrogance and how we can
rise from the ashes of personal darkness to heal and serve others with
respect.�� Paige finished her explanation
and realized they had all stopped on a single branch and had been listened
avidly.

Kakashi gave her a quiet, �Going down� warning before gently
lowering Paige to stand on the branch too.

Sasuke now stood not two feet from her.� He regarded her with those intense dark
eyes.� Paige found him slightly
intimidating, and briefly considered backing away when he closed the distance
between them.� She found herself in
another hug, tentatively hugging back after exchanging a glance with
Sakura.� The two obviously were together;
she didn�t want to upset anyone.� She
also figured since Sasuke wasn�t much for emotional displays for all the time
she�s known him, that not responding to the hug would be a bad idea.� She wanted these people to become her
friends, to feel like she belonged somewhere.�
She wanted to give him comfort.

�It�s a lesson I have only recently learned,� Sasuke
revealed when he pulled back.

�It�s a powerful lesson, use it well.� Paige counseled
him.� Sasuke nodded curtly.� There was a long silence in which she
eventually broke the intense stare she had with Sasuke, and looked at everyone
else.� �Why have we stopped?�

�Half hour break time.� We�ve been traveling for about four hours
straight.� Kakashi replied.

Paige nodded.� She
carefully navigated over to Sakura and asked her to help with stretching out
some of the muscle cramps from her extended piggyback ride.� After being pulled and contorted in odd
directions by the pink-haired medic, she accepted the canteen and ration bar
which were handed to her.� Soon she was
back to enjoying the feeling of wind in her hair, and not enjoying the
occasional bug in her teeth.

After a while of traveling, Paige noticed Naruto was keeping
pace with Kakashi again.� �You forgot to
tell us about your tattoos and totem,� he informed her.

�Oh yeah!� Well, they�re related actually.�� This was the signal for them to start
traveling in a line again, Kakashi obligingly finding tree branches sturdy
enough and wide enough for the four who actually got to put their feet on solid
surfaces.� �My totem is the grizzly
bear.�

Naruto gave Paige the look she was considering having
trademarked as the �Naruto lemon and rotten egg look.�� But you�re so�nice�and short�

She giggled.� �Totems
aren�t about looks or size, that�s a human thing that we tend to force on the
rest of nature.� Grizzly bears are a
symbol of many things.� For me, they
symbolize wisdom, the strength to use it, the courage to wield it when
necessary, and protection that comes from using knowledge wisely in difficult
situations.� They�re also quite
possessive, I know of a saying warning against getting between a mother bear
and her cubs.�� She looked sheepish, �I
can be quite�interesting�if something or someone I consider mine is being
hurt.� And I already told you about Mudjekeewis last night.�
That was new for me though.�

�All of your tattoos area symbols of bears.� Paige smiled at
Sakura.� She was smart at putting things
together considering she was just receiving all of this information in the past
two days.

�Yes, the one on my lower back is a spirit shield honoring
the grizzly bear.� My left shoulder
blade, the picture of the woman�s head just above a bear head, is a symbol of
my connection with grizzlies.� And my
right shoulder blade is a picture of what I thought Mudjekeewis
would look like.� The two black figures
below my shoulder blade tattoos are called kokopeli.� It literally means dancing flute player.� Dancing and playing music is one of the ways
to honor the spirits of nature.�

�I would think it would be painful,� Sakura said this with a
small frown on her face, the crease just above her green eyes.� She was obviously referring to
tattooing.�

�Not really, at least for me.� But it�s an individual experience, depending
on pain tolerance and the person giving you the tattoo.� It�s definitely not for everyone, but it is
one of the ways I chose to honor the spirits.�

�What are other ways?� Sakura questioned.

�Well, I can�t play the flute, but sometimes I sing, chant,
and occasionally dance when no one is looking.�
The main way I honor the spirits and nature is through my meditation
called walking the medicine wheel.� Part
of the ritual is making a small offering of something you value and giving it
up to the spirits in gratitude.� I also
just try to live by helping others in any way possible, whether through my
training as a therapist or my other abilities.��

�How did you find your own totem?� Is it different than reading other people�s?� Naruto questioned.

Paige laughed softly and blushed.� �I�ve been marked by Wakan
Tanka as a grizzly bear.��

Naruto looked rather confused.

�Symbols can be powerful things.� You have man-made symbols, and natural
symbols.� Natural symbols are considered
more powerful.� If you find something in
nature that looks like an animal, then it is said it was marked by Wakan Tanka and is holy.� A person can also be marked by Wakan Tanka with something that
symbolizes their totem as a sign of their power and closeness to their
totem.� I have a birthmark that looks
like the paw print of the grizzly bear.��
Paige turned mischievous eyes to Sakura and asked, �Did you find it?�

Sakura blushed and nodded.

�Where is it?�� Paige
figured Naruto always wanted in on secrets, and she couldn�t resist seeing what
his reaction would be.

�On my left butt cheek.�� She could have sworn the group, with the
exception of Sakura, faltered a little on their next landing.� Paige giggled again.� �You�ve been marked too, but on the cheeks on
your face.�

Naruto gave a soft smile and nodded, �I know.� And I like your explanation better than
hearing it�s a demon mark.�

�Demon is a relative term.�
It�s all different shades of morality, and that was made up by
humans.� Animals and animal spirits can�t
be measured by human morality.�

Naruto nodded again.

�And if I�m remembering correctly, you mentioned something
about being able to communicate with your fox.�
That is one of the highest honors.�
Always treasure it.� He will give
you insights that no other can simply because he does not think like a human.�

The rest of the day was spent in either companionable
silence or listening to Naruto and Sasuke banter back and forth.� It seemed Sasuke was more comfortable around
Paige now.� His willingness to joke and
tease proved some of that.� Kakashi,
Sakura, and Naruto also appeared to be more comfortable with Paige.� As for Paige herself, she was in her
element:� observing people and making
friends.

***

Author�s Notes:�
Please review and let me know what you think. �I realize I�m appealing to a narrow audience,
with the their world/our world AU. �If you reviewed this story once, Thank You!!� (OX King,
HumanInfiltrator, Lady Slave) And review it
again!� It lets me know that I should
keep posting.
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Reading Totems