Norah laid out her Celtic dance outfit on the bed. She was so excited that the day of the Celtic Highland festival had finally arrived. She’d been practicing for this day for years and was now confident that she was ready to perform. Her costume had been specially made by a Scottish lady who lived nearby on the other side of Lake McDonald. The skirt was purple-and-white tartan. A white short-sleeved button-down shirt went underneath a purple velvet vest with silver buttons. Norah pulled on her white knee-high socks and slipped on her black tap shoes. She had let her long auburn hair dry naturally, keeping her natural curly hair soft.
“Where is it?” Norah said, searching through her closet for her Celtic sporran, a small leather purse that went around her hips. Norah reached for the shoebox on the top shelf and knocked it down, spilling small photos all over the floor. Her sporran landed on top of the photos. Norah threw it on the bed by her vest and sat down to look at the photos. She traced the outline of a little boy wearing red swim trunks with a towel around his neck.
“Wow—there you are, Alex,” Norah said. She was standing next to him with another little girl whose name she couldn’t remember. “We had a lot of fun that summer until…you drowned.”
Norah had lived next door to the Whitefish Lodge, which overlooked the glassy waters of Lake McDonald. Alex had been the same age as Norah, ten, when he had come to visit Montana with his family that year. Norah slipped the photo into her sporran bag and shoved the shoe box back onto the shelf.
“Knock, knock,” Norah’s half-sister, Kai, said, walking into her room. “Wow, you look adorable in your kilt. Excited?”
Norah was more than excited—her hands were shaking, and her knees felt wobbly. She was competing for an all-expense-paid trip to Edinburgh, Scotland for a six-week touring workshop. “Are you kidding? If I win this competition, I get to experience the world!” Norah did a little jump, twirl, and tapped her feet. “I’m nervous as hell, though.”
Kai tied a purple ribbon around Norah’s hair and made the bow extra big. ‘Norah brushed her bangs down over her birthmark above her left eye. It was two inches long and had feathered edges, making it look like a feather. It was called an “Angel’s kiss,” and she tried to keep it hidden. Norah slipped on her vest and her black leather sporran around her hips. Checking herself in the mirror one more time, she grabbed her fiddle case and headed out to Kai’s SUV. Chevy, Norah’s best friend, made a cat whistle when he saw Norah. He walked towards her with a huge grin, making her feel butterflies and giddy inside. Nervous about the competition at the Flathead Celtic Festival, but lately she was getting weird vibes being near Chevy.
“Norah, you look fantastic, kid,” Chevy always called her kid. Norah liked this, though. It was endearing, familiar, and always made her feel safe, even though she was only two years younger than he was. He took her fiddle case and put it in the backseat as Norah climbed into the passenger seat. “I wish I could go. But I’m on call.” Chevy Whitehorse was a paramedic for the Glacier National Park EMS department. He was also the son of the owner of the Whitehorse Lodge. They were always together, and he’d gone with her to her dance classes and learned a few steps, which was hilarious because he was so tall and muscular, but somehow managed the delicate steps.
Kai buckled her seatbelt and looked across at Chevy, who was helping Norah buckle up. “She’s capable of buckling her own seatbelt, dude,” Kai said, rolling her eyes.
Norah blushed, knowing that Chevy just wanted to get closer to her. “Damn, you smell so sweet, too,” he said, kissing her on her forehead. “If I’m here when you guys get back, I’ll have pizza waiting.”
Kai started to roll up the passenger window as Norah smiled and waved at Chevy. The SUV kicked up some dust as it peeled out of the gravel driveway that was between the lodge and Norah’s lake house. The sun was high above the glacier-peaked, jagged Rocky Mountains, the perfect backdrop for Lake McDonald in West Glacier, where Norah lived.
“Kai, do you think there’s a chance that Chevy and I will ever be more than just friends?” Norah asked, looking out across the alpine meadow that was covered with wildflowers in every color possible. An eagle flew high above the meadow, searching for its prey.
Norah watched as Kai looked at her Celtic red curly hair and creamy white skin. “I don’t think it would be a good idea. I think you two are better off as friends.”
Norah felt a pang in her heart. “Why? Because we’re so different?”
Kai stretched her arm out against Norah’s arm. “Look how different our skin color is, Norah. I’m half Blackfeet and Chevy’s full-blooded. You know how racist people are around Montana. They’d give you two a hard time.”
Norah looked down at her hands and started picking at her short nails, which were painted a soft pink. “It’s just weird lately, though. I’m getting more nervous around him, and I can feel the same vibe from him. I think he might be like me more than just a friend.”
Kai took hold of Norah’s hand. “You’re still young. You just graduated from high school. Wait a few years before getting serious with someone.”
“I know, my dad would kill me if I started dating Chevy. Plus, we’re about to start working together. No dating allowed between EMTs and paramedics. Just in case things get too emotional,” Norah said.
“Smart policy. You guys are saving lives—it’s a stressful job,” Kai said. “I bet our mom would be okay, but Sam Byrne, he’d run Chevy out of time messing with his precious baby girl.”
Three mountain ranges surrounded Lake Flathead. The Mission Mountains to the East, the Swan Mountains to the Northeast, and the Salish Mountains directly West of the Lake. The Flathead Celtic Festival will be held at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell. It was an annual event in August. A celebration of food, dance, music, and games. Kai pulled into the main entrance and found a parking spot close to the pavilion where Norah would be performing her solo. She would be singing a song from Riverdance, “Lift the Wings,” by Bob Whelan, a cappella, and playing her fiddle to the same tune before and after.
Norah hugged her sister tight. “You got this, sis,” Kai said and kissed Norah on the cheek. She reached into her pocket and handed Norah a lemon, a honey cough drop. Kai checked her phone. “Norah, Mom’s here. I’ll go find her and see you in the audience.”
Norah breathed deep and put the cough drop in her mouth. Dr. Charlotte Byrne had made it to one of the most important nights of Norah’s life for once. Her mother was always too busy at work, making Norah feel she was always getting in the way or was a nuisance. Norah peeked around the curtain and could see her mom and Kai making their way to their seats in the front row. Contestants could reserve two seats. Norah’s music teacher touched her arm.
“You’ll be up next. Nervous?” she asked. “You look perfect, Norah. The audience will love your performance.”
“I’m so nervous, though. What if I forget the words?” Norah said, taking the wrapper and spitting the cough drop into it. Her music teacher handed her a bottle of water.
“Of all my students over the years, you have been the most serious student. All your practicing is about to pay off.”
Norah inhaled and shook out her hands. She opened up her fiddle case and took out the bow and rosin. Then softly played her fiddle to make sure it was tuned. Standing next to the stage, she felt her stomach somersault. You’ve got this! The stage manager peeked behind the curtain on the stage.
“Ready? They’re about to announce your name.”
Norah was left-handed but played the fiddle with her right hand. It was rare to see anyone play the fiddle left-handed, but she was ambidextrous, so she could hold the bow easily with her right hand. It was the bow that controlled the tone and notes. She heard her name announced and walked out gracefully onto the stage to the crowd clapping and cheering. A lot of them had seen her perform before. Norah met her mother’s eyes, and her mother blew her a kiss. She was still wearing her white coat and scrubs since she’d just come from work at the Medical Examiner’s office. Norah brought her fiddle up to her shoulder and started to play the first verse of the song she’d be singing. Holding her fiddle like a guitar, she began to sing about wild winds that could carry her away. She could see by the expression on the faces in the crowd that she had nailed it.
Norah bowed to the crowd’s cheers and saw her sister and mother wiping tears from their eyes. She felt proud at that moment and knew she’d nailed it. Norah walked back behind the curtain and felt her body shake from the energy pulsing through her. She loved music. It was something she’d never get tired of doing. She dreamed of teaching students herself someday. Norah’s mother and sister made their way backstage.
“Norah! I’m so proud of you,” her mother said, hugging her tight. “I have to get back to the Examiner’s office. You were brilliant.”
“Thanks, Mom. I was fine until now. Look…” Norah held her hand out. “Now I’m a mess.”
“It’s just the excitement, hon,” Norah’s mom said, kissing her on the cheek. “Be careful, you two.”
Norah wrapped her arms around Kai’s waist as they watched their mother walk away in a hurry. She didn’t have time to wait to see if Norah won the competition. Norah looked at Kai’s phone as it beeped. “Is that Mom?” she asked.
“Yep. She wants me to text her if you win the music workshop trip,” Kai said.
Norah paced back and forth, feeling butterflies in her stomach. The possibility of going to Scotland was all she could think of. She couldn’t believe her name was being called as the winner of the singing contest. Taking a deep breath, she walked gracefully onto the stage and shook hands with the festival’s producer.
“Congratulations, Ms. Byrne. Well deserved.”
Norah was handed a silver trophy and a brown envelope. Inside were accommodations and round-trip tickets to Edinburgh, Scotland, for the following June, so she had 11 months to get ready for the big trip, which would require her to get a passport. Norah posed for pictures, and her sister texted some to their mom and Chevy, who called right away.
“Hey, Kai. Let me talk to Norah,” he said. “Norah! Wow! You did it! Montana’s very own Celtic Woman.”
“Thanks, I can’t believe it. Kai recorded the performance if you want to see it,” Norah said, feeling her cheeks getting warm. “We’re leaving now, so I want some pizza!”
“You got it. Anything you want. I’ve got a huge hug waiting for you, kid,” Chevy said.
Kai grabbed the phone from Norah. “Hey. We gotta go,” Kai said. “I will. Should be there in an hour.”
“What did he say?” Norah asked her sister.
“He said to drive safely,” Kai said.
Norah’s sister turned left onto Highway 35, which was the scenic route along the lake. Norah stared out the window, looking at the beautiful cherry orchards and farms with fruit stands selling cherries during the summer. It was dusk, but the sun’s rays still sparkled off the water, making it look as if thousands of crystals floated on the surface. Norah jumped when she felt the SUV jerk and looked at her sister, who was looking in the rearview mirror with an angry expression. Norah looked in her side mirror and could see a jeep tailgating them. The driver was leaning out the window, shaking his fist at Kai, who kept tapping her brakes.
“Just ignore them, sis,” Norah said, turning around to look at the aggressive driver. “Let them go around you. Who cares?”
“Jesus. I’m driving ten miles over the speed limit. Why does he have to be such an asshole?” Kai said, getting pissed off.
Norah turned and looked out the rear window and could see that the jeep was so close she couldn’t even see their headlights.
“Slow down and make him pass you,” Norah said. She looked out the window, and they were driving along the edge of the lake. Swallows were swooping up and down, skimming the lake for bugs. One wrong move and they’d tumble down the embankment and into the lake. Norah tightened her seatbelt, getting annoyed that the idiot driver was ruining their peace and scenic view. That’s when complete chaos happened.
The jeep pulled around them, flooring the gas pedal as a few beer bottles were thrown at them. Norah grabbed the dashboard as her sister slammed on her brakes, and the jeep came to a dead stop in front of them. Kai swerved to avoid rear-ending them and overcorrected, causing the SUV to flip and tumble down the embankment, landing upright on top of the lake. They were sinking fast, and Norah tried kicking her window out but couldn’t. The murky lake water was already up to her neck when she remembered the sunroof was open. She was terrified and knew Kai couldn’t swim.
“Kai! Wake up!” Nora screamed, but her sister was unconscious and slumped over the steering wheel. The vehicle was completely underwater now, with Kai’s cell phone nowhere in sight. It had fallen out of the stand attached to the vent. Unbuckling her sister’s seat belt, she held her breath, trying to yank her sister loose, but her seat was so far forward she was wedged in. Norah swam through the sunroof and broke the surface to take a breath.
“Help! Help us!” She couldn’t see anyone from the roadway. Not even the jeep. Norah inhaled and went back into the car, holding her breath as she yanked at her sister’s arms. Bubbles were coming out of Kai’s mouth. Someone pulled her up and out of the SUV. Norah’s eyes couldn’t believe what she was seeing. It looked like a birdman with blonde hair, glacier-blue eyes, and massive blue feathered wings that spanned at least twelve feet across his body. He was completely human-looking except for his wings and white feathers that covered the lower half of his body.
Norah started to cry and shake. She was terrified; her heart pounded in her chest as he carried her to the shore, where he gently laid her down.
“Stay here. I’m going to save your sister,” the birdman said.
Norah wrapped her arms tightly around her soaking wet body, and she watched him dive under the water. Another birdman joined him, and after several minutes, she watched as her sister’s limp body was brought to the surface. Both birdmen looked toward Norah as she stood up and yelled for help again. The blonde birdman hovered above her.
“We will save her. But we have to take her with us.”
“No! Where? Take me too!”
“Trust me. We won’t hurt her.”
Norah stood frozen, her teeth chattering as she watched her sister be carried away by something she couldn’t explain. She yelled after them, screaming, and slumped to her knees. Her head was pounding.
“Stop! Please! Don’t take her!” Norah said, hearing sirens getting closer. Somebody must have seen the accident. When the first responder came running down the embankment, she couldn’t speak.
“Miss? Miss, what’s your name?”
Norah felt her world spinning around her before she passed out. She woke up surrounded by her parents and Chevy. A police officer was standing in the doorway, looking at her. Her mother went to find the nurse.
Norah felt the bandage around her head and winced at the pain on the left side of her head. Chevy grabbed her hand.
“You hit your head hard. Busted it open. They think you might have a concussion,” he said softly.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Her dad said, leaning over and kissing the top of her head. “They found Kai’s car and pulled it out. But they’re still searching for her.”
Norah tried sitting up. Every bone in her body felt like jelly. “Kai. She…She was taken by something.”
Both Chevy and her dad spoke at the same time, “What?”
The nurse came in and checked Norah’s vitals and her pupils. “The doctor’s on his way, hon. How are you feeling?” The nurse asked, checking the fluid bag beside her bed.
Norah tried to move again. “My sister. I have to go find her!”
“Norah. You’re not going anywhere,” her mother said, tears running down her cheeks. “I don’t know what I’d done if I’d lost both of you.”
The monitor started beeping rapidly. Norah’s blood pressure was going up. “Mom. She’s alive. Some creatures took her. They flew off, carrying her body.”
The nurse pushed everyone back. “I’m going to give you some medicine to make you sleep, okay?”
“No! I know what I saw,” Norah said, looking at Chevy, who seemed to understand her more than anyone in the room. The room started to dim, and Norah couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. The state patrol officer was told he’d have to talk to her the next day and left. Everyone left except for Chevy, who wouldn’t leave her side. She wanted to speak to him but couldn’t. It was like she could hear everything, but her body was completely limp. The medicine was taking its toll on her. Norah started to dream and could see her sister’s body being carried up into the mountains. There was a waterfall that the birdmen flew behind. She gasped and opened her eyes to see Chevy sitting next to her. He still had his uniform on and could be called out on an emergency call any minute.
Norah had to wake up and talk to him before he could leave. She had to tell him something that she’d been trying to say for hours. Norah slowly opened her eyes and took a deep breath. Chevy reached for some water and held it to her lips as she slowly took a drink.
“I just had a dream. I saw them carrying her up into the mountains…near a waterfall,” Norah said, trying to move again.
“Stop trying to move. I believe you. I know what you saw,” Chevy said, looking over at the door, then pulled a chair closer to Norah’s bed. He leaned closer to her and kissed her forehead, which was covered in bandages.
Chevy took hold of her hand and gently kissed it, holding it against his cheek. “I wish I could have been there to help you. You cut your head on some broken glass. They had to put twenty stitches in to close up the gash.”
Norah felt a sting on the left side of her head. “Great, another scar to match my birthmark.” Norah felt the area above her left eye.
“I think I know what you saw,” Chevy said quietly. “They’re called swallow people. Half-swallow and half-human. They live secretly behind Bird Woman Falls.”
Norah grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “We have to go there and get Kai.”
“Norah, listen. Kai’s safe. They aren’t evil beings, and they have some supernatural power of bringing people back from the dead. If Kai drowned, they would help her.” Chevy said and then cleared his throat as the nurse walked into the room.
Norah lay her head back, feeling nauseous. The room was spinning around again, and she closed her eyes to stop feeling dizzy. She had to get out of the hospital and find where these swallow people lived. After the nurse left, Norah opened her eyes and looked at Chevy. “You have to help me find her,” Norah said before passing out again.
Paula Mallonee lives in the Seattle area in Washington State with her family. She is pursuing an MFA degree in creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University. She is looking forward to completing her debut novel, “Season of the Swallows,” by November 2026.
Mountain Jay Books 