The Gathering

by Sharon Sala

Adam, where are you?

  On the north side of camp.

  We need to talk.

  There is work to be done. Tonight we talk.

  Evan sighed. Adam was right. There was much to do. His steps were slow and his heart was heavy as he moved through the camp. He saw Yuma and Tyhen and promptly blocked his thoughts and turned away. She would know something was wrong soon enough, and he wasn’t talking about anything until he talked to Adam.

  ***

  The arrival of the Dove had sent a surge of excitement throughout the entire Gathering. They’d watched in awe as she flew over their heads and then watched from the riverbank as she turned the strangers away. The young warriors were so full of adrenaline and testosterone they felt ready to burst. They wanted to fight. They’d been ready to go to war when she’d pointed out the strangers and then she stopped them flat. It did not set well with any of them and most especially the Comanche, who were, at all times, a fierce force with which to be reckoned. There were three of the Comanche youths moving through their campgrounds in mute frustration, looking for a way to blow off steam.

  Walks Tall was young, but already a proven hunter and warrior.

  His younger brother, Broken Wing, was his shadow and held Walks Tall in high esteem.

  Little Raven had grown up with the brothers while wishing he was as handsome as Broken Wing and as good a hunter as Walks Tall. Whatever they were doing, he wanted to be doing it, too.

  The arrival of the Dove had been startling and then exciting. They were unsettled about taking strangers back with them into their tribes, but seeing the Dove flying in the sky and then doing battle with the strangers had been inspiring. They’d seen more magic happen today than they would have believed could happen in their lifetime. They were all full of energy and heckling one of the older women in their tribe, trying to talk her into giving them some dried meat when they saw the young woman walk into their camp. Once they realized she was not of their tribe, their first instincts were to stir up a little innocent trouble.

  ***

  Suwanee was afraid and confused.

  She didn’t know if she’d angered the Dove and didn’t know what would happen to her if she had. And seeing the conflict that was now between the brothers hurt her heart because she knew they were fighting over her. She had an older brother who’d died during her eighth winter and none had been born after her. She would never have imagined doing anything to cause him pain.

  Meeting them had given her much to think about. While she was giving the brothers the food, she’d also seen into their hearts. The one called Adam wanted her, but his feelings were frightening. They were strong and had a violent feel to them, almost as if he didn’t know what to do with how he felt.

  The one called Evan had a passionate heart. She’d seen that when they had spirit walked together, but today he had blocked his thoughts and so she knew nothing more about him except what had happened between them in her dream.

  She wished she’d never had that vision. She should not have spoken out of turn and brought them into her father’s lodge. Everything bad that was happening was all her fault. She kept moving through the camp with her head down, walking blindly without a destination other than to make herself scarce, but with so many people, there was no place to hide.

  It wasn’t until she paused to get her bearings that she realized she was lost. Almost immediately her heart skipped a beat. She’d never been this far north inside the Gathering and didn’t recognize any of the tribes around her. Her uneasiness grew when she saw the trio of young warriors coming toward her, and when they began to shout at her and taunt her, she panicked and turned away.

  She’d heard of warriors stealing members of other tribes and using them for slaves, or taking a young woman for a mate against her will. It was clear she’d made a bad situation worse by running away and began to retrace her steps, but the Gathering was so big she was unsure of where her people were camped. She heard one of the young warriors cry out like he’d just counted coup, and then heard the sounds of running feet behind her and panicked.

  She started running, darting in and out between the lodges, flying past meat cooking over fires, running too close to a fresh hide that had been stretched on a rack and knocking it into the dust, which angered the woman it belonged to.

  “I am sorry! I am sorry!” she cried, as she flew past, but the woman yelled angry words at her anyway, and the young warriors were still giving chase.

  Chapter Eleven

  Evan continued to make his way through the camp, helping as needed. He helped the older ones put up their tents and cut down small brush to clear others campsites. He had just finished helping Carver Sees Hawk set up his sleeping tent and paused a moment, looking around to see where to go to next when he noticed one of the old women sit down and take off her moccasin. He recognized her as one of the women from Naaki Chava who used to make cloth on the looms in Cayetano’s palace, and when he saw the suppurating hole on the side of her foot, he frowned. That looked infected…even bordering on gangrene. He hurried over to where she was sitting and knelt down beside her.

  “Keechee, do you remember me?”

  She nodded. “Singing Bird called you Evan.”

  “Yes, yes she did,” he said. “Are you in pain? Your foot looks infected!”

  “It hurts, but I have no medicine,” she said.

  He touched her shoulder.

  “You wait. I will find a healer for you,” he said, and sent a message to Adam as he got up and walked away. Two looking would be faster than just one.

  Adam, help me find Myra Begay. Keechee, the weaver from the palace in Naaki Chava, has an infection in her foot.

  When Adam didn’t immediately respond, Evan frowned. He was getting weary of his brother’s behavior. It was no better than a pouting child.

  Adam!

  I am looking.

  Evan sighed.

  If you find her, take her to where Keechee rests.

  How do I find this Keechee? Adam asked.

  Use your powers for something besides being angry. There is a hole in her foot. Focus on her pain and you will find her.

  There was a long moment of silence, which made Evan angry. This was so awful and none of his fault.

  And stop treating me like I did something wrong.

  Adam didn’t answer, but he had obviously let down his guard because the moment Evan felt his brother’s torment he regretted his anger. However, this wasn’t about them right now. It was about Keechee’s need for medicine.

  He was still thinking about the mess between him and Adam when he felt Suwanee’s panic.

  Startled, he immediately focused to see what was wrong and when he saw her running and saw some warriors chasing her, a rage washed over him. They were laughing and jeering at her and when he felt the blood lust from the leader he knew what was on their minds. It never crossed his mind as to why he assumed it was his business to interfere. Instead, he tightened his hold on his spear, focused on Suwanee’s energy as a means to locate her and started running.

  ***

  The New Ones were just getting settled when members of the tribes began coming into their camps carrying winter robes, food, and fuel for fires. The language barriers were minimal because the New Ones had learned so many dialects from each other over their time at Naaki Chava, and their ability to communicate so easily impressed the tribes.

  Montford Nantay was cutting down a few bush sprouts with his knife to make a cleaner area to pitch his sleeping tent when he noticed several warriors staring at him from a few yards away. When one of them realized he’d been caught staring, he seemed to take the eye contact as an invitation and boldly walked toward Montford with the others following close behind.

  Montford stopped what he was doing, curious about the man in the lead. He wasn’t very tall, but the eagle feathers tied in his hair made him seem t
aller. There was a long scar down the side of his left cheek and he walked with a swagger, making the rawhide ties on his clothing dance. He stopped in front of Montford and then pointed to the knife he was holding.

  “I am Winter Hawk of the Oglala Sioux. I would see this.”

  “I am Montford Nantay of the Navajo,” he said, and handed the little man his knife.

  Winter Hawk pulled his own knife from a strip of rawhide at his waist and held them side by side in his hands, comparing them.

  Montford eyed the crude weapon with dismay. They were far less advanced than the people of Naaki Chava had been. The little warrior’s knife was hardly more than a long sliver of flint that had been worked on each edge to make it sharp. The thick end of the flint was wrapped in rawhide, while Montford’s knife had a metal blade and a finely polished wooden hasp held together with metal bands.

  “What manner of weapon is this?” Winter Hawk asked, lightly fingering the blade.

  “It is a hunting knife and the blade is made of a metal called iron. Be careful. The edge is very sharp,” Montford said, cautioning the man not to cut himself.

  Winter Hawk heard and understood the warning, but he still had to try it and when he slid the end of his thumb ever so lightly against the edge and drew blood, he didn’t seem to care. Now that he’d held such an amazing weapon, the other warriors with him wanted to hold it, too.

  “How do you find such a thing?” Winter Hawk asked, watching as the knife was passed from hand to hand.

  “I made it,” Montford said.

  Winter Hawk retrieved the knife and reluctantly returned it to Montford.

  “You will show how to make this?” he asked

  “Yes. We will teach you many things in the years to come.”

  The warriors heard and were pleased. The worth of these New Ones had just gone up.

  ***

  The day was cold and still. Usually on days like this, once the sun had risen fully in the sky it felt warmer. Wearing their heavy winter clothing was too hot and cumbersome for setting up campsites and gathering wood, so a lot of them had already shed the layer of outer wear.

  Tyhen was unpacking their sleeping tent and Yuma had already built a fire and was kneeling nearby, looking through their packs for something to eat when Lola and Dakotah showed up with fresh food.

  “The people here are very generous. They gave us too much,” Lola said, as she handed him some strips of smoked meat and something that looked like the flat bread they used to bake on hot stones in Naaki Chava. “Dakotah wanted to share with you.”

  Yuma eyed the way the boy sidled up to Tyhen and leaned his head against her belly, as if she was someone he needed to protect. Yuma had been that way with Singing Bird, but that was because of Tyhen. He’d known there was a baby in her belly before anyone else because he’d heard her voice in his head.

  And then the moment that thought went through his mind his heart skipped. What if Dakotah’s attachment to Tyhen had nothing to do with her and everything to do with the next Windwalker’s daughter? He took a deep breath and then stood, his heart pounding and his hands shaking as he stared at her from across the fire. What if that baby was already a fact?

  He watched Tyhen’s face as she laid a hand on Dakotah’s head.

  “Yuma and I thank you,” she said.

  Dakotah spun out of her arms and headed straight for Yuma.

  “I could help. Do you need help?”

  Yuma hid a smile. Dakotah was so anxious for a yes that he was could barely stand still.

  “Why, yes, I do need help.” He looked up at Lola. “He can come with me as I check out the campgrounds. I’ll bring him back later.”

  Dakotah’s gaze shifted to Lola, waiting now for her approval.

  “Then he can go,” she said, and laid a hand lightly on the back of Dakotah’s head. “Stay safe.”

  “Yes, yes, I will stay safe,” the little boy echoed.

  Tyhen smiled. The little boy was always in her shadow, but still seemed to hold himself aloof. He was a child full of secrets.

  Yuma checked to make sure his knife was at his belt and was looking around for where he’d put his heavy coat. Lola was about to leave when Tyhen suddenly felt Evan’s panic.

  “Wait!” she cried. “Something is wrong with Evan.”

  Everyone stopped as Tyhen sent him a message.

  Evan? Is something wrong? Is it Adam?

  Adam was the first to answer, and she was surprised by the tone of his voice.

  Nothing is wrong with me. Evan is the one who’s going to ruin our lives over a girl. I saw her first, but she’s going to choose Evan over me. I saw it happening. It isn’t fair!

  Before Tyhen could comment, Evan shouted back.

  I’m not ruining anything! Suwanee is in danger of being kidnapped and raped. I’m trying to find her, but she’s on the move and I keep losing her location.

  Tyhen was shocked the brothers were fighting, and Adam was shocked all of that was happening and he hadn’t picked up on it. Now his personal desires seemed petty compared to what was happening. He sent a quick message to Evan.

  What can I do?

  Evan was running through the Gathering as fast as he could run, chasing the energy he felt from her fear. He was so upset about the danger she was in that he spoke to Adam without thinking.

  Can you fight? Can you outrun three warriors? Do you know how to use a weapon to save her? I don’t know, Adam. What can you do?

  Adam reeled as if he’d been punched. Evan’s words had been harsh. But they’d also been honest and it was another reminder that he didn’t belong in a world this primitive. Here everything was always a matter of life or death. He couldn’t hunt. He couldn’t fight. He couldn’t even do women’s work. He was useless—even worthless to these people and to himself. He was like the old people. Someone had to take care of his needs for food and clothing or they wouldn’t get done. He sat, staring blankly at the tall grass bent beneath his feet. It was a hard thing to learn you were a burden.

  Tyhen was upset the twins were fighting, but the most important thing now was to help Evan which meant changing all their plans.

  “Dakotah, you must go back with Lola. Something bad is happening and Yuma and I have to help Evan.”

  Anxious about the discontent, Lola took Dakotah by the hand and led him away, explaining as they went that there would be time to do this again.

  Yuma forgot about his winter coat as he grabbed his spear and reached for Tyhen.

  “If you fly, this time I go with you.”

  His arm slid around her waist and then the wind began to spin around them. She sent a message to Evan as they were rising above the Gathering.

  Yuma and I are coming. We will look for her from above.

  Yuma was trying not to be a little terrified by how high they were off the ground, and at the same time in awe that this wonderful woman was his. He glanced at her face, felt the tension in her body, and knew something bad was happening.

  “What is Evan doing?” Yuma asked.

  “Trying to find Suwanee. Three warriors are chasing her. Evan says they intend to kidnap and rape her. He’s trying to get to her before that happens.”

  “How did he know about this?”

  “He must have seen it happening in his head. And there’s something else. He and Adam are fighting over her.”

  Yuma felt sick. Everything kept changing and never for the better, but now was not the time to worry about the twins.

  “You know this incident could start a war between tribes we will not be able to control,” he said.

  She nodded. “I’m going lower. Look for a running girl being chased by three men.”

  Yuma tightened his hold on Tyhen and kept his gaze on the camp below.

  Tyhen kept a sharp eye out for something amiss, but couldn’t help
thinking about Adam. She’d heard the pain in his voice. As the Windwalker’s daughter she could do many things, but changing the heart of a woman who loves was not one of them. All she knew to do was ask the hard questions the brothers seemed bent on ignoring.

  Adam?

  What?

  If you already know this is Evan’s destiny, then why are you angry with him? That is out of our control. Look at my life! I was given a task I did not choose. This must be what’s happening between you and your brother. You are both part of what must happen so that the future is not destroyed, but maybe you do not do it together. Maybe this is what you must both accept as I have had to accept my fate.

  There was a lengthy silence, long enough Tyhen thought he was ignoring her, and then she heard what sounded like a soul-weary sigh. She felt sad for him, but it couldn’t be helped. Right now she had to stop a disaster before it happened.

  ***

  Adam thought about what Tyhen said. He was beginning to understand some things were out of his control—a concept he rarely had to face. He was still unsettled by what felt like betrayal and trying not to be mad at Evan. It felt terrible and he didn’t want to feel like this anymore.

  Remembering he’d been on a mission to find a healer when all of this began, he resumed his search until he finally saw Myra Begay. He quickly told her what was needed, and when she went to get her medicine bag, he focused on the pain Keechee was feeling and took the healer where she needed to go.

  ***

  Suwanee had made it all the way through the Comanche campgrounds without getting caught and was halfway across the Gathering before she stumbled. By the time she regained her balance her pursuers had drastically closed the gap. In a panic, she glanced over her shoulder then darted to the left just in time to escape the leader’s grasp. She heard him grunt in frustration and kept on running, unaware help was closer than she knew.

  ***

  Evan wished he could fly like Tyhen instead of dodging so many people and their cooking fires and dwellings. He could feel Suwanee’s heartbeat as he ran. He knew she was close but had yet to see her. He’d already tried sending her a message but she either didn’t have the ability to hear him, or she was too afraid of what was happening to focus.