The Gathering

by Sharon Sala

  Crow Walks leaped across the fire and shoved Two Rabbits down onto his back, gripping his throat in a choke-hold.

  “Stop talking! It was not a sign!” he yelled.

  Two Rabbits pushed Crow Walks off and then grabbed his buffalo robe and spear and stalked out away from the camp.

  “Where are you going?” Crow Walks yelled.

  “You are a crazy man. I do not wish to sleep beside you.”

  “You sleep away from fire and wolves will get you!” Crow Walks said.

  “You will scare them away with your yelling,” Two Rabbits shouted, and disappeared into the trees.

  Crow Walks frowned. In the dream he could not find Two Rabbits and now he was gone and would not talk to him. He had not wanted to admit it to Two Rabbits, but the dream sleep had frightened him. If he had not already bragged about killing the witch, he would make up some reason and go back. But if he went back now, Two Rabbits would tell that he’d been crying out in his sleep and run away. He had created his own problem and did not know how to correct it and save face.

  Angry at the man and the situation, he took another bite of jerky, pulled his robe up around his shoulders, and leaned toward the fire as he chewed.

  He sat that way until the fire died and the sun was coming up and he was still sitting there when Two Rabbits came out of the woods carrying his pack.

  “I will go with you,” Two Rabbits said. “But I will not take part in trying to kill a witch. I do not think it can be done. I do not think it should be done. The medicine man I heard talking about her said she was a strong and powerful woman. He said she’d been born to save our People and I do not see a need to kill her if she’s come to do good.”

  Crow Walks was furious. “Then I do not want you if you will be useless to me! Go! Run and hide! I do not need you. I, Crow Walks, will kill the witch alone.”

  Two Rabbits shrugged. “Why do you even care? We are not a part of the people she comes to meet.”

  Crow Walks couldn’t bring himself to confess his fear—that twice he’d dreamed he’d been blinded because of her.

  “She is a witch. She has no place here,” he muttered, and began packing up camp.

  “We don’t belong to the People anymore. She is no threat to us.”

  “She is a threat to me!” Crow Walks screamed. “She has shown me that! I do not hide from my enemies! I attack first! I am Crow Walks! I do not hide!”

  Two Rabbits took a step back, fearing Crow Walks would kill him where he stood, but when he didn’t come at him, Two Rabbits took advantage of the warrior’s hesitation and turned and ran.

  Crow Walks was in shock. No one had ever refused to obey his orders before. The knot in his belly grew tighter as he turned to stare into the west. Many things were going through his mind, all of which revolved around maintaining his image.

  He had been shamed and thrown out of his own tribe, but he’d regained pride in becoming feared, even though it was as a renegade. If he turned around and went back without killing the witch, they would make fun of him. He would sooner die that suffer that.

  Still angry, he packed up camp and started walking. He would find her and cut out her eyes. If she couldn’t see him, she couldn’t hurt him.

  He walked with the new sun at his back and his own shadow for company and when he accidentally flushed a prairie chicken from its hiding place, he considered it a good omen.

  The soft fluttering whirr of wings as the bird frantically flew across his line of vision startled him, but he reacted instinctively. He swung the spear like a club and was surprised when he actually hit it. Stunned, the bird dropped into the tall grass and Crow Walks leaped forward and caught it before it could escape. He calmly broke its neck with a twist and then began plucking feathers from the carcass as he walked, scattering them along his trail. When he came to a small creek, he stopped long enough to gut and clean the bird and then slipped it into his pack to cook later. The simple act of providing his food was calming, and the further he walked, the better he felt. In fact, he had almost convinced himself that the witch sent him those dreams because she viewed him as a threat. And then he came over a ridge and froze. He drew a slow, shaky breath as the knot in his belly tightened.

  There was a long dark snake weaving its way across the prairie—so big and so long that he had yet to see the beginning or the end. That it was made up of people walking together made it even more horrifying. Never in his life had he seen that many people in one place—not even when a tribe would gather up several camps to go on raids against their enemies.

  They were still a long walk away, which was good. It would give him time to get in a safe position to see if he could spot the tall witch. He might have to trail them for a day or two before he got his chance to catch her alone, but he didn’t mind. Now that he’d found them, he was getting excited. It felt good to have purpose.

  He began to backtrack along the back of the ridge until he could see the actual front of the line. At the same time he saw the people in the lead, he saw a lone figure walking the ridge on the other side of the valley. Just like in his dream! It was her! He got so excited he laughed out loud. There she was, all by herself. This would be an easy kill.

  He backtracked farther to where the tall grass had not been eaten down by the moving herds and dropped into a crouch. With one last look at the people in the distance, he began crossing the valley to get to the other side. He paused once to look for the tall witch and saw her on the ridge. Reassured, he kept moving, sometimes in a crouch, and a few times crawling on his belly when the grass was too short.

  He was almost there when he crawled up on a covey of quail. The moment they saw him they exploded out of the grass, flying up into the air. He frowned. That was bad luck to have the birds fly up and pinpoint his location. All he could do was hope if they saw it that they would take no notice, and quickly made his way over the hill. As soon as he found himself a good hiding place, he settled in to wait for their approach.

  He was belly down in the tall grass a short distance away from a small pile of fresh dirt. He recognized it as the diggings of a small animal that lived in tunnels underground. Every so often the soft pile of earth would move slightly, proof that the animal was directly beneath. He’d caught one once when he was younger and brought it home to show his mother. She was the one who showed him it had no eyes. The moment he thought it, he thought of his dream of being blinded and frowned. Again, it felt as if he was being warned of what was coming.

  He thought again about running away—not going back to the camp and finding a new place to live. He already knew he could live on his own. If he had to he could do it again.

  His heart was beating hard against his chest. Sweat was running out of his hair and into his face. He was not good at waiting. After a short time, he began hearing a low rumble and realized it was the sound of voices—so many voices. The strangers must be close which meant the tall witch would be close as well. He raised up just enough to get a glimpse of the ridge in front of him but didn’t see her. He glanced up at the sun. It was directly overhead. Even his shadow was gone. He was definitely on his own.

  Chapter Six

  Yuma had stayed out of sight all morning, using brush and tall grass as a means of concealment but staying within shouting distance of Tyhen. If she knew where he was, she had not given him away. He had watched her walk with that same lanky stride, her head up and gaze forward, always looking to make sure there was no danger ahead or behind.

  He was crouched within the tall grass on the valley side of the slope when he saw a large covey of quail suddenly take to the sky. When they did, he flashed on a memory from his childhood of hunting with his father in the pasture outside of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Their bird dog had flushed a covey just like that, and in his mind he was waiting for the sound of gunshots when he remembered where he was and that guns had yet to be invented.

  That wa
s when the skin crawled on the back of his neck. Something had flushed those birds and he immediately thought of the two men after Tyhen. He took off through the grass, going over the ridge and down the backside of the hill, moving fast to get ahead of her.

  ***

  Montford Nantay was in the lead today.

  Adam was about a hundred yards behind and walking with the New Ones when he had a vision of a warrior crawling through the grass. No sooner had he thought it than Evan’s voice popped into his head.

  Brother, Tyhen is in danger. Where’s Yuma?

  Guarding her.

  I do not see him.

  You are not supposed to.

  Ah. Should one of us go tell him?

  About that time Adam saw the birds fly up into the sky and smiled. No way would Yuma miss that.

  See those birds? He already knows.

  Although Evan accepted his brother’s opinion, he sent a quick warning to Tyhen as well.

  ***

  Tyhen had been looking in the wrong direction when the birds were flushed, and by the time she turned around they were just birds in flight. Still, she sensed something was wrong. When she caught part of the twins’ private conversation and then Evan’s warning she knew her instincts were right. After that, her first thought was Yuma.

  Yuma, Evan said someone is hidden and waiting for me.

  Don’t look for me. I already know where he is.

  Her heart skipped a beat. So the threat was real! It was troubling to know that while she was coming with a message of peace, someone wanted her dead. Even though she wasn’t afraid for her life, she was concerned about Yuma. It was all she could do to keep walking.

  ***

  Crow Walks was so intent on watching the tall witch that he didn’t see the slight ripple of movement in the grass downwind. She was close to him now. So close that he could almost hear the inhale and exhale of her breath. He couldn’t resist looking up, but when he did, her height and the length of her legs were exaggerated by his angle of sight, giving him the notion that she was too tall to be human. And once again, he second-guessed his plan to kill a witch.

  He was still giving it consideration when she paused, and when she turned, giving him a clear view of her back, he took it as a sign that she was his. He leaped to his feet with the spear in his hand and was adjusting for an upward throw when he heard the sudden rustle of something running through the grass. He spun toward the sound, and after that, everything seemed to happen in slow motion.

  He saw the tall witch turn at the same moment he saw the man running toward him. The man was big—even bigger than the witch, and he was carrying weapons unlike anything he’d ever seen. He saw the warrior pull a stick from his back and fit it into what he was carrying. He was so taken aback by the strange weapon that he forgot to protect himself. Before he could think what to do, something was flying toward him.

  One second he was standing and then it felt like he’d been punched in the chest. The next thing he knew his knees were buckling and a hot, searing pain was spreading throughout his body so fast his legs went numb.

  Crow Walks was flat on his back and looking up at the sky when the man’s face blocked his dimming view. Anger mixed with regret that he had failed and even then, he was defiant.

  “I am Crow Walks,” he whispered.

  Yuma reached down and pulled the arrow from the man’s chest then wiped it on the dying man’s clothes. Rage was still thick in his voice as he leaned down to make sure the man heard every word.

  “And I am Yuma. I am the Eagle who protects The Dove.”

  Crow Walks exhaled slowly.

  The vision was coming true. He’d tried to kill the tall witch and an eagle had blinded him.

  The sky turned black and then he died.

  ***

  Tyhen sensed danger even before she turned around, and was startled by the man running toward her. Then she saw Yuma coming at him with a look of cold determination on his face. Transfixed by the life and death moment playing out before her, she did not move as the arrow left Yuma’s bow.

  It was over as quickly as it began and when Yuma started walking up the slope toward her, she took a slow, shaky breath.

  “I didn’t hear him,” she said.

  Yuma slipped an arm around her waist.

  “Do you still hear the drums?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “Then lead us, Tyhen. We are all ready to reach the Gathering.”

  She leaned into his body as he pulled her close. The wind encircled them as his mouth centered on her lips, and when she moaned the wind spun harder. As he pulled away he heard a sigh and did not know if it was part of the wind or if it came from her.

  When she lifted her chin, he met her gaze.

  “Thank you, my Yuma.”

  Quick tears blurred her vision. No one down in the valley knew what had happened, and she had no intention of revealing it and causing them to fear what lay ahead.

  “I will protect you with my life and you will love me forever,” he said softly, then waited until she turned and walked away. Yuma watched, seeing her first steps as hesitant, but she quickly picked up her normal stride. His eyes narrowed as he looked out at the vast landscape of the country before them, wondering how many more dangers they would face before they were done.

  Adam and Evan watched Yuma and Tyhen’s brief embrace from the valley below and knew that the danger was over. They also knew the man had acted alone and that he was no longer of this earth.

  ***

  Two Rabbits ran most of the way back, returning only to find them breaking camp and packing up to leave.

  “What’s happening?” Two Rabbits said, as he ran to where Black Hand was standing.

  Black Hand pointed at Red Deer, who was busy turning the poles of a tipi into a travois to carry the owner’s belongings.

  “She had a vision. She saw Crow Walks die. She said an eagle killed him and she did not want to be blamed again for something he had done. We decided to go to the mountains with her. Winter on the prairie is hard.”

  “I would go, too,” Two Rabbits said.

  Black hand pointed at Two Rabbit’s tipi.

  “Red Deer is taking it down for you. She said you would be back.”

  Two Rabbits looked nervous.

  “How does she know all this? Is she a medicine woman?”

  Black Hand shrugged.

  “Crow Walks left me in charge. He is dead and I am taking his woman.”

  Two Rabbits frowned.

  Leaving with Crow Walks had left him absent when the woman came up for grabs. He slumped. Maybe he would find a woman on their travel to the mountains. He did not want to winter in his tipi alone.

  “I will go pack up my things,” Two Rabbits said.

  “We are leaving soon. You should hurry if you wish to travel with us.”

  Two Rabbits punched Black Hand on the shoulder.

  “Do not order me around. Even if you took his woman and his tipi, you are not Crow Walks.”

  Black Hand frowned. “I am in charge.”

  “I think your woman is the one in charge,” Two Rabbits muttered, and then went to reclaim his things.

  ***

  Night came none too quickly for Captain DeVille and his men. They were exhausted, hungry, and in need of water. The fact that they’d found a river solved one problem, and a good night’s sleep would solve another. But they needed food—fresh meat in particular.

  He’d sent a half dozen of his men out hours ago to hunt and they had yet to show up. He was beginning to believe they were either lost or dead when he heard one horse whinny and then others answer from outside the camp. He didn’t let on but the relief was huge. The men were coming back. Hopefully they’d had good luck on their hunt.

  As soon as the hunters rode into camp, he b
egan issuing orders. Soon, the scent of cooking meat was in the air and the knowledge that they would sleep with a full belly tonight made all of them jovial.

  The two ailing soldiers were still sick and stayed in their bedrolls instead of getting up and eating. Diego didn’t know what to do for them, and was beginning to worry that whatever was wrong with them might be catching. Later, as they were getting ready to bed down the camp grew quieter, and it was then he heard the wolves.

  Their yips and howls sounded close. But there were many men in camp and he had no fear that they would be attacked. The danger lay in losing horses to them. He moved through the camp until he found where Estevez was sleeping and kicked the bottom of his boot.

  “Lieutenant! The wild animals are coming in too close. The horses are drawing them. We need to pull the horses into the camp, not tether them outside of it.”

  Estevez was already up and fastening his clothing.

  “But Captain, if something spooks them, they might trample us.”

  “Then make sure you tether them well. Hobble them if you must, but we cannot afford to lose a mount.”

  “Yes sir,” Estevez said, grabbed a dozen men and began moving the horses inside their campground.

  Once the horses were moved, the wolves disappeared, looking for easier prey. Everyone was bedded down for the night now, including the horses.

  Diego couldn’t get comfortable and kept turning from one side to the other until he gave up and laid flat on his back looking up at the stars.

  Out here the sky seemed like it went on forever. The stars seemed closer. The world was bigger and unfamiliar and most times frightening. He didn’t know why the King wanted to lay claim to this godforsaken place. There wasn’t one facet of civilization, and so far he’d seen nothing of value. He watched some night bird fly between his line of sight and the moon, tracking it until it disappeared into the night.

  He didn’t know when he began hearing the drums, but when he did, he jumped up and turned toward the west to listen.

  The sound was faint but constant. Sound carried a long distance out on a prairie, so he had no idea of where the natives were or how far away. He couldn’t help but wonder if they would have answers to what happened to the soldiers from the outpost, then realized being unable to communicate would most likely leave the question unanswered.