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  The signal came, halting Kionee’s musings. She took a deep breath to calm her tension; it was win or die, be brave or be trampled as cowards. She cautioned everyone to be alert, still, and silent; and no one took offense at her words. She knew her camp was prepared for battle in case they failed in their mission. Spotted Owl had offered prayers to Atah for success and guidance, but she added hers to the wise and gentle shaman’s. She glanced toward Stalking Wolf, but he was hidden from view. She wished she could have one more glimpse of him before the Crow arrived. She wondered if one or both of them would die today without him knowing of her love and true identity.

  9

  AS THE COLORFULLY DECORATED party came close to the river, Regim made flashes with a shiny metal pan to distract them. The object was a gift from their chief to the Tiva-Chu. Bear’s Head had received it in a trader’s camp from strange travelers with white skin who passed through this land many seasons past and called themselves Lewis and Clark.

  The flickers caught the enemies’ attention long enough for Stalking Wolf to throw a war lance from his hiding place in a tree without being seen by the band. Its sharp point stabbed into the ground with a noisy impact, and its tall shaft wiggled for a time. That action startled the Crow’s horses and caused several to rear, paw the air, and whinny, while others danced about in tension. The lance’s hand-grip was a coyote skin with coyote tails dangling from its edges. The wood was painted bloodred; eagle feathers were secured along its entire length. Its wild movements halted as the riders brought their mounts under control and glanced about for signs of danger.

  Kionee moved into the open. She was attired in the same manner as their last meeting, and was accompanied by silver-pelted Maja. She sat astride the decorated White Cloud, whose hide bore more of the enemies’ sacred and magical symbols this time. Ravens’ feathers were secured to his snowy mane, tail, and forelock; the black made a sharp contrast to his whiteness. “Halt! Why do you not ride for camp as commanded? Tset-acu-tsi-cikyata gave the Creator’s words to Hawate-Ishte and his companions two suns past. Why do Apsaalooke disobey sacred messages?” When a large cloud drifted overhead and shaded her—and them—as she spoke, she motioned toward the sky. “See how Sun hides His face from such evil.”

  Hawate-Ishte shifted his head to compensate for the loss of vision in his left eye. He glared at the intruder. “How do we know the Creator sent you to us on both suns?”

  “That is how I know where and when to find you.” Kionee noticed that rapid and sly response made sense to One Eye’s band. Yet the scowling and fierce leader did not look convinced. “I will prove my power and words.” Kionee beat a small drum as she pretended to call forth the evil river spirit, “Aashe Baleilaaxxawiia.”

  Night Walker, who was hiding underwater with a reed in his mouth to obtain fresh air and clutching the alleged “monster,” heard the drum signal. He used all his strength to shove the enormous and water-soaked doll into sight; only the head at first, then the massive torso.

  Kionee was relieved at the success of the chief’s son. She had feared the doll would become too heavy to lift or that Night Walker could not retain his position or his grip on it in the currents. They had made the creature from stuffed animal hides, the women stitching them together in a hurry. They had given it a hideous face and body: fox heads with jaws agape for hands, antlers protruding from its temples, two snake heads for eyes, sharp badger claws as ears, and eagle talons growing from its cheeks and chest. She prayed their belief in evil river spirits would terrify them into leaving.

  In a hurry, One-Eye grabbed food from a pouch and tossed it into the water to appease and distract the demon, as was the Crow custom. He realized their vivid colors did not frighten the beast, as usual. He watched his offering sink—or float away—untouched, as did his nervous followers.

  “He does not accept your gift,” one of them murmured in panic.

  “We mean you no harm,” One-Eye shouted to it. “Let us cross.”

  Night Walker, his face just above the swirling surface but concealed behind the large object, moved forward in the water and roared a warning for them not to enter his domain or he would eat them as punishment.

  Kionee watched the warrior retrieve his bow and fire several arrows at the mythical creature in a bold attempt to slay it. Of course his weapons had no effect on the frightful “beast,” who moved a few steps closer and roared in fury.

  “You dare to challenge him?” Kionee shouted. “You are a fool-dog!” She beat her drum again as she pretended to call forth the mythical Little People—Daaskookaate Bilaxpaake—from Medicine Rock to give warnings against defiance. “Do you wish their arrows of death to pierce your bodies? Do you wish them to steal the aim of your arrows on the hunt and in battle?”

  Hanuevas, concealed in bushes and trees and painted with disguises to resemble leaves, pushed small dolls with terrifying faces into sight and shook them with sticks attached to the backs of the dolls’ waists. They clicked their tongues in anger and scolding and chattered, “Dee! Dee! Dee!”, to tell the Bird Warriors to leave fast. The noise was loud and eerie, and all except Hawate-Ishte looked persuaded and petrified.

  Kionee held up a large hoop of buffalo hide with a huge all-seeing eye painted on its surface. As she did so, having timed the incident with perfection, the sun—viewed a great Crow deity—came from behind its clouds as she shouted, “See their defiance, Creator! Little People and River Spirit, prepare to attack if the Apsaalooke do not return to their camp.”

  As One-Eye gaped and listened and hesitated, Kionee shouted again, “Xalusshe asshile!”

  “We go, Hawate-Ishte; we must not offend the Creator and His spirits.”

  “Itchia baawaalushkua,” another warned of the “powerful magic.”

  One-Eye gave the order, whirled his horse about, and charged from the infuriating scene with his panicked party galloping behind him.

  As prewarned, everyone remained concealed, quiet and motionless, until the signal was given the threat was gone.

  The victorious and exhilarated group laughed and talked in merriment. Runs Fast and Red Bull extolled Kionee for her courage and cunning. Regim embraced her, smiled, and sent her silent messages of praise. Others banded together to discuss the deed with great zest. Even White Cloud and Maja were cheered, and the two animals pranced about as if they understood their important parts in the deception.

  When Stalking Wolf came forward, smiled, and commended the hunter, Kionee thanked him. It was difficult, but she managed to conceal her feelings for him from the warrior himself and the others. In truth, she wished she could fling herself into his arms, kiss him, and celebrate with him.

  Gray Fox, Little Weasel, and Taysinga helped Night Walker pull himself and the drenched “monster” from the river. The ecstatic man did not seem to notice he was soaked and chilled.

  Taysinga handed her love a skin with which to dry off, then another to wrap around his body to warm himself. She savored his smile of gratitude. She watched as his brother and best friend congratulated him for his courage and success. More than ever, she decided he would make the perfect mate and father for her children; he was skilled enough to hunt for their tipi and for her family’s. Somehow she must find a way to win him, to pull his eyes from Kionee to her. At least she now knew that Kionee did not desire Night Walker, but there was still a chance that the chiefs son would find a way to compel Kionee to join with him. That must not be allowed to happen, she fretted.

  If only, Taysinga mused, Stalking Wolf would seize Kionee and make her his, that fierce competition would be removed. She wished her rival would yield to desire for the Strong Heart warrior and would escape with him to his tribe. Yet, Taysinga doubted that Kionee would ever commit such a forbidden and perilous act; and it was wrong of her to hope and pray in that direction. She witnessed the scene, as did the Cheyenne, when Night Walker approached Kionee to embrace and compliment her on her successful plan.

  “You also did well, my friend,” Kionee told
him. “We would not know victory if you and those with the Little People had not frightened them, for Hawate-Ishte would have challenged me this time before yielding to my words alone. It is good we worked together to defeat them. We must return to camp and tell the others we are safe. Until our journey begins or we reach the grasslands, the Crow will not trouble us again.”

  The elated Hanuevas returned to camp to be honored and exalted for their clever and brave deed. The chief and shaman acknowledged Kionee and Stalking Wolf as the two responsible for bringing this time of joy and feasting. He hailed his youngest son and the others for their involvement.

  Kionee’s parents and sisters, her paternal grandparents, Long Elk and Yellowtail, her maternal grandmother, Fire Woman, Regim, Little Weasel’s parents, Four Deer and Swift Fingers, and the rest of her kin gathered close to praise and honor her for saving them. There were so many people around her that Stalking Wolf had to sit with Runs Fast and his family. She wished the Cheyenne were part of her family, but that could never be.

  With the rising of the dark new moon two days later came Kionee’s menses. She headed to the Haukau to endure her confinement in private, as was the Hanueva custom. She had told Stalking Wolf she was going to carry out a sacred tiva ritual to pray and purify herself for the tasks ahead before their departure on the sixth sun. She was pleased when he said he would hunt for her family and would protect them during her absence. He also had promised to tend her horses and to guard Maja. Her heart was touched by his generosity.

  As she entered the willow hut, Kionee admitted to herself she needed some time away from the tempting man who was becoming more desirable to her each day. She was delighted to have her blood flow come while they were in camp. It would remove her from Night Walker’s sight, and she hoped Taysinga would take advantage of that.

  During the few days while Kionee was absent, Martay was compelled to scold her youngest daughter again about making romantic overtures to their visitor. She was glad the Cheyenne either did not notice the girl’s infatuation or was politely ignoring it. She tried to keep her energetic daughters—Moon Child in particular—busy gathering spring berries, greens, and various roots, bulbs, tubers, and corms. It did not escape her notice that Runs Fast always went along to guard them when he was not hunting. The love between him and Blue Bird was strong; their joining—she decided—would be a good one. Perhaps she would have little ones to help tend by the next buffalo hunt after this one. Thoughts of the continuation of their family circle excited her. She wondered if Kionee ever resented the fact a tiva could have no mate and children, or was bitter because her mother had not born a son to be head of their family. They had never spoken of such things and feelings since Kionee returned home after her training. It was sad that a female would be denied such joys. Perhaps, Martay reasoned, it was not impossible. Kionee could be the first tiva in countless seasons to leave her role if she had not misread the way Night Walker looked at her son. Night Walker had the skills needed to fulfill their laws, and it would be an honor for Kionee to join to such a man, a man with great prowess and rank, one from the bloodline of a chief. For a wild minute, Martay was overjoyed at the idea of having Kionee back as a daughter. But, she cautioned herself, the decision belonged to Kionee alone.

  The tivas and men hunted for extra meat to be prepared by the women in their family circles to be used during their imminent and long journey. The females gathered extra berries, roots, and so forth. They also made additional parfleches for carrying food and replaced any worn water bags. They stretched hides and pelts on racks or staked them to the ground to dry for tanning later. They repaired torn garments and moccasins and made any new ones needed. The best poles from winter tipis were chosen and marked to be used in the construction of travois for transporting their possessions. They believed it was wrong to cut more wood when using the tipi poles would prevent a waste of Atah’s creations, trees that might be needed at other times.

  Men sharpened, repaired, or made new weapons for protection and hunting. They braided leather bridles and harnesses for their horses and travois. The camp was a busy and noisy place with many tasks to be done to get ready for the seasonal move to the grasslands.

  Stalking Wolf supplied more than enough game and many hides for Kionee’s family, so they shared the abundance with the older tivas. That generosity endeared the warrior to Strong Rock and Martay and to the elderly tivas who could no longer perform their duties.

  In small parties, the hunters scouted and continued to place guards around the camp in case the Crow returned. But time passed and no trouble threatened. And as the days went by, the tribe grew restless and eager to get under way with the yearly hunt that would provide them with hides and food and other needs to sustain life during the long and harsh winter.

  On one occasion to relax between chores, men played a game where bones—carved into squares with designs marked on their sides—were tossed from a wooden bowl onto the ground, certain symbols designating the winner. As the group enjoyed themselves, questions were asked about the plans for their trip to Thunder Basin to camp near the Cheyenne.

  Stalking Wolf told them the plan again. “The tribe will travel down the canyon of the winds and round the mountains to journey along the river near the Medicine Bow forest. Four men will ride toward the place where it is Ten Sleeps to the yellow rock lands where water shoots into the air and bubbles in earth kettles. Leaning Tree and Yar will go with me and Kionee, for they are not the sole providers for their families; their fathers are strong, good hunters and fighters. The scouts will part there and take different trails to watch for Crow to see where they head to camp and hunt on the grasslands. They take the same trail each season; they first visit Medicine Wheel, then follow the river from the mountains of the Big Horn creatures, pass Ten Sleeps, and ride along one of the rivers with three forks. After they reach the grasslands, they choose a location to camp where many buffalo graze and there is water. The scouts must also prevent eager Bird Warriors from leaving their tribes to sneak raids on Hanueva. If we watch them and their tracks, we can learn their location and we can give the needed warning.”

  “Why do you take Kionee with you?” Night Walker asked.

  “If Crow sneak near your people, they will see Stalking Wolf, Kionee, White Cloud, and Maja; they will know they were tricked at the river and in their raiding camp. Their anger and shame will provoke an attack. It is best for all if we are not found with the Hanueva. We can conceal ourselves along the way and work against them while your tribe’s safety is guarded.”

  “You endanger Kionee’s life too many times when he rides with you, great enemy of the Crow,” Night Walker said. “His father is injured and his family needs him. You must choose another to ride with you.”

  Before the Cheyenne could respond, Spotted Owl said, “No, it is Atah’s will for his companion-helper to be Kionee; that is why they met. Do you forget how many victories they gather when they ride as one? Kionee’s skills and courage are great; he will come to no harm with Stalking Wolf. The Cheyenne’s words are true and wise; it is dangerous if they are seen.”

  Stalking Wolf was intrigued by Night Walker’s obvious concern over Kionee, and assumed they were longtime friends. He also suspected the Hanueva was envious of the coups he and Kionee were obtaining. To prevent problems, he said, “When camp is broken and the journey is under way, Night Walker will have one of the most important ranks and duties to carry out for his people.” He noticed those words seized the man’s attention. “While our scouting parties work their way over the passes and through the canyons, you must ride behind your tribe and protect their flank. If and when Crow strike, that will be their first target. You must choose and lead the band which will challenge and defeat those Bird Warriors. It will be a dangerous task, but Night Walker possesses the courage and prowess to do it. Little Weasel should be your companion-helper; he has great skills, and best friends work well together.”

  “How can there be danger when scouts will ride between
us and Crow and will stop them before they reach us?” Little Weasel asked.

  “One-Eye and others like him will be tempted to continue to ride along the river to your old camp and follow your tribe from the canyon to raid,” Stalking Wolf reasoned. “We will be in the mountains and will not see them pass to halt them or to warn you. It will be your duty to stop them.”

  The chiefs youngest son asked, “If Kionee travels with you, who will hunt for his family when fresh meat is needed?”

  “Night Walker can do that generous deed when camp is made before the sun goes to sleep. You have no mate and children. Your brother, Gray Fox, hunts for your father when Bear’s Head is unable to do so. Gray Fox will travel close to the chief to protect him from harm. If danger comes at their faces, a signal will be given for you and your warriors to come to help them. You must choose which warning sign is best to cover such a distance. You must also be ready to accept the rank of chief if injury befalls your father and brother. All know Night Walker is the best trained warrior of his tribe.”

  “Stalking Wolf speaks wise and true,” Spotted Owl concurred. “We must follow his words for our people to survive.”

  The Cheyenne was relieved when others agreed with the revered shaman, leaving the two overeager men no way to argue or refuse.

  Night Walker smiled and said, “I will hunt for Kionee’s family and protect them from harm during our journey, as my love and respect for them is large. No hunger or danger will come to them while they live in my shadow. The same is true for my people in the rank you give to me.”

  “Your heart is big and good like your father’s,” Strong Rock said. “You will be as our son while Kionee is gone. We thank you and honor you.”