Tiopa Ki Lakota

by D. Jordan Redhawk

  As Wanbli Zi and Anpo left camp, the young warrior watched with curiosity as she passed the shaman's fire. There sat Kathleen in serious discussion with the old man, a curious thing. Brow furrowed in concern, she continued her course as she followed her ate. Why would Ketlin need to see Inyan? she wondered. She has never met with him before.... Anpo shook her head and forced the thoughts from her mind. It is not my place. Ketlin will tell me if she wishes.

  When they were a ways out from camp, the two warriors urged their ponies into a gallop which then turned into a race. With wild abandon, they whooped and chased each other about until their mounts became winded. Wanbli steered them towards a nearby creek and they let the horses drink their fill.

  Seated on the back of the red stallion, Anpo's eyes wandered about the area. She could see the smoke from summer camp to her right, could smell and hear the water as it gurgled beneath her horse's hooves.

  "What will you do now that Ketlin has returned, cunksi

  ?" Wanbli asked.

  Anpo inhaled deeply of the fresh air, a smile on her face. "I will court her, ate, as she should be courted." Turning to the old warrior, she continued, "I ask that you speak for me with her misun

  ."

  Her father nodded solemnly. "Do you think this is wise?"

  Face becoming serious, the young warrior searched her ate's dark eyes, finding only concern for her there. "Ohan, ate," she said softly. "Ketlin is my mahasanni ki. I cannot be without her."

  "You have been without her for two winters, Anpo. It has been hard, but you have worked through the pain." Wanbli sighed. "I would not have you return to that dark place and I fear that Ketlin will hurt you again."

  Anpo nodded grudgingly. "Ohan, there will always be that possibility, ate. But, I was not alive, I had not worked through the pain." She shook her head and looked away to the distance. "I only waited for the time of my death, hoping it would come soon to end my misery."

  "And that has changed, Anpo?"

  "Ohan!" The young warrior's smile returned. "What happened between us was our mistake, each of us responsible for a piece of it. Ketlin and I will work hard to not let that happen again."

  It was Wanbli Zi's turn to nod. "I will speak to Stu'et for you."

  "Thank you, ate!" his daughter responded with delight.

  Their horses continued to drink deeply and they sat in silence for a few more moments.

  "Ate?"

  "Ohan, Anpo?" Wanbli turned to his cunksi and saw the familiar frown of thought on her face.

  "How do you pleasure a winyan?"

  The old warrior blinked. "You do not know?" he asked in vague surprise.

  Anpo shook her head. "Among Ketlin's people, it is not spoken of. She would not tell me what was good and what was not. It shamed her to speak of it and I would not cause her pain." She shrugged her shoulders with a sigh. "I do not have a ce

  , ate. I cannot do what other wicasa do."

  Thoughtful, Wanbli studied the back of his horse's ears. Beside him, his youngest child kept silent as she waited for his wisdom. "Have you ever pleasured yourself, Anpo?"

  "Ohan, ate."

  He nodded and warmed to his topic. "Then you know some of what winyan like."

  They spoke for quite some time.

  It had taken a very short while for Kathleen to fall back into the pattern of Lakota life. Despite the many similarities between the two cultures when it came to women's work, the blonde found the native lifestyle less stressful. Maybe it's the many other hands to help, she mused, thinking of how the women all worked together towards a common goal. Far different than homesteadin', lass. There ye be, all alone except yer immediate family.

  She'd taken even less time to reacquaint herself with her ti ikceya and its household items. It was a sign of how well Anpo had been taken care of, the warrior's ina and cuwe keeping the usual tools of a woman's trade in good condition, dry food stored, cooking herbs available, old and worn items replaced.

  Kathleen was going through some baskets on the right side of the lodge, seated in her place near the central firepit. With some surprise, she'd even uncovered one that had held pieces of leather and feathers for a project she'd been working on before leaving to visit her parents. She fingered the quills of a crow, trying to recall what she'd planned for it.

  Outside, Stewart sat at the firepit, trying to get used to the loincloth he had been put into by Anpo and Wanbli. The hair on his pale legs tickled from the breeze and he was constantly rubbing his shins to relieve the itch. There'd been a while where he couldn't quite get comfortable, not wanting to show off his wares to the passing young women who giggled and pointed at him. He paused in the sharpening of his knife to twitch the leather and readjust his seat. It's positively indecent! he griped. Mum'd have a conniption if she saw me now! In contrast to his sun deprived legs, his chest and arms were tan from many years of farm work in hot fields. His longish hair had been pulled back into a tail and tied with rawhide.

  Apparently the Lakota were gearing up for a major celebration, the Sun Dance. The summer camp was vast with hundreds of lodges throughout and a central cleared area that was almost as large as the east field at home. Within the next couple of days, the shamans were to be finished with their vision quests and the celebration would begin. Stewart was looking forward to it, despite the horrid descriptions his sister had told him. Should be interesting to see how they worship their gods.

  A shadow fell across him as he worked the sharpening stone. Looking up at the silhouette, he peered at the dark figure until he could make out the features. "Anpo!" he said with delight, setting the blade down. "Han! Sit at my fire!"

  The warrior would not answer, shaking her head no.

  Puzzled, Stewart put his hand over his eyes to see better. His eyes widened.

  Anpo was dressed head to toe in her leathers and leggings, despite the heat of summer. Her hair was loose about her shoulders and two lightning bolts of red and yellow were on her cheeks. To top it off, she wore a large white robe.

  The white man blinked. Movement caught his eye and he looked around to see others of the camp gathering to watch. Still confused, Stewart turned to the warrior who had moved away and was now stomping back and forth. "Uh.... Kath....? I think you'd better get out here," the young man called.

  Hearing her name, Kathleen set the basket she was looking through to one side. At the tiopa, she lifted the leather cover aside, mouth open to ask what her brother wanted. Her mouth remained open as she stared in shock at Anpo, pacing back and forth as if angered. Oh, my God.... Is this what I think it is...?

  "Kath...?"

  The blonde tore her gaze from the warrior and looked at Stewart. She almost laughed at the look of bewilderment and worry on his face. Biting her lip, Kathleen smothered her mirth. "Do not worry, Stew," she murmured as she stepped from the ti ikceya. "Ease your heart and remain still. Everything is fine."

  With a reluctant nod, Stewart agreed. He kept a wary eye on the agitated native, however, glad that his nephew was off visiting Hca.

  Kathleen saw others of Wagna's camp as they appeared out of nowhere in support of the warrior before her. She reddened at the attention but stood tall, her head held up as the courtship dance continued.

  Anpo's dark eyes glittered in happiness though her face was stoic. She paced back and forth in mock anger, 'hunting' her prey as she moved closer and closer to the winyan standing before her lodge. The warrior could feel the strength from her people as they stood witness and it filled her heart with pride.

  With a sudden move, the dark woman was on her prey, long arms wrapping about the smaller form. Kathleen put up a struggle, trying to free herself despite the overwhelming urge to melt into Anpo's grasp.

  The speed of the attack startled Stewart and he jumped to his feet, the knife held in a white knuckled fist.

  "Stu'et, hiya

  ," came a voice to his left.

  Shaken, the young man turned to find Hca smiling at him. She held Teca by the hand, her
own son on her hip, and they were smiling at him. "But.... But, Anpo's...." he stuttered as he gestured to his right with the knife.

  "It is what our wicasa do when they choose a winyan, a winuhca." Hca released Teca and held out her hand. "All will be well, Stu'et. Anpo will not harm Ketlin."

  Stewart swallowed and turned back to the couple. He chewed his lip, flustered, as he saw his sister wrapped in a calm embrace with her warrior. The man frowned and scratched at his neck, mind awhirl as the white buffalo robe engulfed them both.

  "Do not look at them now, Stu'et," Hca instructed. "This is a moment of privacy for them. Sit. I will get you and Teca something to eat."

  The white man looked away and blew out a breath. "I'll never understand all these customs," he muttered in English. He sat beside his nephew who was peeking around Stewart at his parents with a wide smile. "Least she coulda done was warn me!"

  Kathleen closed her eyes, a wave of emotion rolling over her. She felt relaxed, satisfied, hopeful and nostalgic all at once. She inhaled deeply of Anpo's scent, laying her head against the strong chest. The familiar arms wrapped about her and, though she began to perspire from being covered in a heavy robe, the blonde didn't want to be anywhere else. Beneath her ear, she heard the thump of Anpo's heart and the rumble of her low voice as she began to speak. That's right! She's to tell me an old tale!

  When the blonde had stopped her struggles and relaxed into the embrace, Anpo let out a soft sigh. She cuddled the smaller woman closer and wrapped them both with the robe of tatanka

  ska

  , their legacy.

  Up to this point, Anpo'd had no idea what she was to say to Kathleen. Her ate had told her she would simply know when the time came. The young warrior had accepted that. Leaning her cheek against the yellow hair, Anpo began to speak.

  "Many winters ago, a warrior's winuhca

  bore his third child. Despite his desire for a cinksi to teach and take care of him in his old age, a girl was born. But the shaman had a vision when he held the newborn. He heard the scream of the igmu

  in all her mystery as the child cried out for life. It was decided that the cunksi would be raised as a hoksila

  , taught by the warrior to hunt and fight though they were not the traditional ways of a woman.

  "The child grew strong over the winters. She learned the ways of wicasa

  , developing great skill in all areas of men's work. When she was about eleven winters old, she had to begin wearing a shirt because her body was growing into a wikoskalaka. As she reached twelve winters, the bleeding time began for her and she was taught the ways of women in this matter. It was a confusing time, her lifelong teachings at war with her body's changes.

  "As is usual for the wicincala

  of the Lakota, the cunksi took her first bleeding and found a tree. There, she climbed as high as she could and placed the bundle into the branches. Then, she sat at the base of the tree and asked the spirits for a vision. All day she sat there, looking down at summer camp, feeling confused and lonely. No vision came to her."

  Kathleen's heart reached out at the sense of hopelessness that shimmered off the warrior holding her. She hugged Anpo closer, eyes closed as she envisioned the solitary figure under a tree.

  "The wicincala, her vision denied, thought that she had gone about things the wrong way. She might be wikoskalaka

  , but she was raised as koskalaka. The only way to get a vision was to do what her ate and his ate had done. With some fear, she braved the fire of the shaman and asked to be guided in this manner. After some thought and questioning, the wise wicasa agreed to teach her the way of the vision quest.

  "Happy, she went to the oinikaga tipi

  after much preparation and cleansed her body and spirit for the vision quest. Then, dressed in a loincloth, moccasins and a robe, she left the summer camp in search of a likely place. Several hours of travel passed before she found a hill that felt right and the wicincala began more preparations. She cleared an area of all living things and entered it, placing the spirit banners given her by the shaman at each corner. She began a small fire and burnt sweet smelling herbs to entice the spirits. She smoked a pipe in honor of the spirits, offering it to the four directions as she waited for her vision."

  The blonde could almost feel the confidence rolling off Anpo, knowing deep down inside that the warrior had had no doubt she'd be granted a vision by the spirits. The story intrigued her. Kathleen had known for years that there had been a pretty serious vision in Anpo's past, but she'd never been told what it was, always assuming it was a personal, private thing and not to be shared. That the warrior was telling her now was a great gift, and the blonde's heart thumped in happiness that it was being given to her.

  "For three days the sun rose and set as the wicincala prayed to the spirits, asking for a vision. Three days of no food or water, little sleep, all alone. It was a difficult time. The wicincala knew if she did not have a vision soon, she would have to return to camp without one or die there on the hill. She was facing east as the sun rose when it happened.

  "The Sun seemed to flare into a brilliant white light. She had to squint to peer at it, one hand raised to shade her eyes. As the light faded, she could see a cloud of dust rising and feel the ground beneath her shake at the stampeding of a thousand buffalo. They were running towards her, led by the most sacred animal of all, tatanka ska.

  "Watching in dazed awe, she saw a warrior woman swoop in from the south, screaming her cry as she attacked the white buffalo with a spear. The warrior's hit was solid and tatanka ska was mortally wounded. It seemed that the remainder of the herd simply disappeared, as did the warrior woman. The white buffalo staggered closer to the wicincala, blood pouring from its side and its nostrils flaring wide as it panted for breath. It fell just outside the cleared area and looked so real that she could almost touch it. The Sun flared again, and she lost the image, covering her eyes with her arm. The light faded and she looked again, only to find tatanka ska gone."

  Anpo paused in her narration, drawing in a deep, steadying breath. The woman in her arms was tense with curiosity, having shifted her stance to peer up at the warrior with intent dark blue eyes.

  "Someone was in tatanka ska's place, a strange woman with pale skin. Her hair was long, longer than the wicincala's, and a yellow the color of the Sun itself. Her eyes were the blue of a deep lake, still and clear. She was wearing the cuwignaka

  and moccasins, her hair flowing freely in the breeze."

  Kathleen's mouth had dropped open in shock. She saw me in her vision...!? When she was... only twelve!!? Her mind kicked into gear. I was only fourteen! We'd just settled into the cabin on the river! Hearing Anpo's voice continue, she forced herself to pay attention, thoughts whirling about in her head.

  "This strange apparition rose from where tatanka ska had been, blood pouring from her side where he had been wounded. She walked closer to the wicincala staring at her in wonder. And then the woman put a hand to her wound, bloodying her fingers. She reached forward and brushed the blood onto the wicincala's face, two thunderbolts beneath her eyes. As the Sun flared again, the wicincala could see those brilliant blue eyes staring at her and hear the words whispered into her ear."

  Anpo dropped her head, bringing her lips closer to the blonde's ear. She whispered the words from her vision. "Mahasanni ki."

  Kathleen nearly swooned at the words, her arms tightening about the warrior's waist. "Oh, Anpo," she whispered, full of disbelief, desire and wistfulness. The arms holding her shifted and she felt a finger on her lips. The blonde looked up into a smiling face.

  "The wicincala returned to camp, singing a song of her vision to all that would hear. She was happy the spirits had gifted her but unsure of its meaning. When she came upon the shaman, she sat and smoked with him, telling him what had happened. With his help, she was able to understand some of the vision - that tatanka ska was to point the way to this strange woman, that she would meet this woman in the future, that she would be love
d by this woman very much." Anpo closed her eyes in pain. "That she would hurt this woman though she would be loved despite the pain she caused."

  "I love you, Anpo, with all my heart."

  The warrior pulled on a blonde braid with affection and continued her tale. "The shaman changed her name to reflect the vision that day. She was no longer known as Cinksi. Her name forever after became Wi Ile Anpo, the sun burning at dawn. And she continued on as a wikoskalaka in her camp, doing what the koskalaka did.

  "Four winters passed. The vision would return to her in her dreams, sometimes when she was awake. The shaman told her that this strange woman was very powerful to be so strong for so long. Many do not remember their visions with such clarity as time passes, but hers remained strong and real. It was decided that maybe this strange woman was a spirit that would be revealed to the wikoskalaka when the time was right.

  "And then I saw you," the warrior said, changing the point of view of her tale. She brushed her knuckles against the soft skin of Kathleen's face. "And you were real, not a spirit. I knew I had to have you, that you were mine forever. When I killed tatanka ska and Hehake challenged me, I wagered a pony against you. He did not know of the vision and I felt if it was meant to be as it was shown me, it was the only thing to do.

  "I had spent many winters worrying about hurting the strange woman of my vision. I then spent more winters worrying about hurting you, Ketlin, my mahasanni ki. My vision never left me - it stayed with me when I was asleep or awake, haunting me with its puzzle. When we left to see the white traders, it changed. Teca would appear beside you and the two of you would walk away into the light without me." Anpo could feel the lump in her throat and she swallowed around it. "I did not know what to do. My ate and Inyan were far away. I could not talk to them...."

  The blonde reached up a hand to caress her warrior's cheek. "Shhh, Anpo. I understand. Let me finish your story." When she received a hesitant nod, Kathleen smiled, staring into dark eyes. "Teca almost died and I became hysterical, demanding to have my family see him. You gave up your people and support to bring me to my parents' lodge so that your cinksi could meet his family. I was confused, unable to speak to my family about us, about our joining. I let my ate and ina make my decision for me, allowed them to put you in the barn for the night, followed their command to sleep in the lodge. I left you alone with your vision and your fears."