The Mourning Dove did not hesitate and followed her husband to his horse.
He took her to their place in the mountains. It was their private sanctuary. For the past decade and a half they had come here after the first thunder, once they were settled into their summer camp.
The troubled Brave deep in thought walked the black stallion as his wife sat on the horse’s back examining the new forms of life that surrounded them.
When they reached the top of the highest ridge, the seasoned warrior patted the animal’s flank to let it know it was time to rest. He turned and stretched up his arms to help his wife alight.
It had been too many days that her husband had not been himself. She felt a distance between them that made her heart grow weary. They had always been so close. She always knew that in time he would share the trouble in his heart. That time had now come.
As he helped her from the horse, he took her in his arms and held her tightly. It was not an embrace of passion, but rather one in which he sought for the comfort he trusted she alone could give. As he released her from his hold she could sense the burden within his heart was heavy. She saw a tear forming in the corner of his eye as he looked into hers and then glanced away.
They stood in silence, gazing upon their village below. Her husband’s mood was ominous, and that lay heavy in her heart. For this fleeting moment, before he would speak what was in his heart, she would drink in this place of serenity. The view of the peaceful village from this vantage point always took her breath away. She always felt as one with God and nature when she was here.
She could easily see their lodge from here. She observed her two youngest children at play, carefree as their grandmother watched over them. They had shared this place that had become sacred to them for the entire time they had been married.
She turned to gaze at her husband. He was still as powerful a warrior as he had been in his youth. Now in his middle age he possessed the wisdom not to be foolish in his attempt to display bravery. The years had taught him a skill that can only be attained through experience. Given this combination he was virtually unstoppable.
She put her hand on his bare chest. She was patiently waiting for him to share what was on his mind.
He opened his hand and swept his arm as though indicating all the land that lay below. “There will come a time when the white man’s machine will cross the land of our fathers,” he said as he began to explain. “It will have the power of many horses. It will drive the buffalo away.”
These words cut deeply; not only because she could never envision change in this beautiful land, but because the white world was once her world. They would be responsible for the tragic change.
“I saw it in my vision,” the warrior said, pointing to his own deep-set eyes.
She knew there was much more. It would take some time to hear. Without him having to instruct her she knew she would build a fire. It would wait for just another minute.
She wanted to absorb the majestic sight of the village and the people she saw moving about. They were enjoying the first signs of spring. These were a people he had guided for the entire time she had known him. He was a wise and faithful chief, respected by all those who had trusted his leadership.
For the moment she entwined her arm in his and nestled close to him. “If they only knew,” she whispered. “If only they knew” …
Once the fire was burning brightly Running Wolf laid down a soft dear skin on the ground. When they were seated he took the pipe and lit it. It was not until he felt she was relaxed he continued to share his latest dream.
“There will come a time when I will leave you. I will return to the Great Spirit. It will not take many summers after that for white man to take the land of our fathers away from our people.”
The Mourning Dove backed away from him. She put her hands to her ears. “I don’t want to hear of this,” she protested.
Running Wolf tried to be patient with her lack of understanding of the importance of his vision. “Please listen to me The Mourning Dove.”
She immediately felt foolish. He asked so little of her. Yet, there were things about his culture that even after all this time she had trouble understanding. When she acted out of ignorance it was upsetting to him.
He continued. “When the time comes that I can no longer be with you on this land, you are to take our children to the home of your father. Not all of them will go with you. There will be one who will stay to guide our people.”
“Strong Eagle?” she asked.
Running Wolf nodded.
The Mourning Dove’s heart sank. The pain of him not being in her life was equally as sorrowful as Running Wolf leaving her. She did not want to hear more but she knew she must.
“Along the way you will meet three people. They will help you in your journey. They are important because they will even save your life. Without them you would not make it to where you need to go, the lodge of your father.”
From the three people will descend the ‘great storyteller.’ Do you remember the ‘great storyteller’ I told you about in my vision before?”
She nodded. She remembered it well.
“I did what the Great Spirit asked of me.” He smiled knowing that his marriage to The Mourning Dove was part of his vision quest.
“Now, The Mourning Dove I need you to do your part in this vision.”
His eyes looked at her searching for a response. She nodded as she pulled herself closer to him. She put her arm in his and cuddled next to him.
Running Wolf felt the warm feeling of gratitude at her acceptance of his words.
“Trust your heart. You will know when you meet them.”
He said these things as he gazed at the setting sun.
“It will take many years but the quest for the truth will begin there and end up being told back here. It will be a story of us and how we lived.”
The Mourning Dove was overwhelmed but listened intently. She looked down at the ground. If she looked at him she would have cried. She did not know what to say. She was filled with sadness at the thought of her life being any different than it was today.
In all the times that he went to battle or to hunt she did not fathom him gone. She resented this dream. In that moment she wished he had not brought her to this place that she considered sacred. It was a place of joy. Today that had changed and she could feel her heart was heavy.
Running Wolf looked at his wife. His heart was sad when he saw the sorrow in her eyes. He regretted having to tell her this. They had such serenity in their life. When they would visit this special place they had only talked of future grandchildren and the prospect of watching them grow. Today he was shattering that dream.
He looked at his wife and could see her grief at what he had just told her of an end of their life together.
“This is not for a long time, The Mourning Dove. We still have to see our children grow. We still have a life full of first thunders to share. There is a time when we will return to the earth. If you do as I ask there will be someone who will come to this land to learn of our story. It will be retold many times, until all understand. This person will tell of our many nights at the fire during the great story telling time. They will tell of the celebration of the first thunder. They will help others to understand what was once the ways of our people and how we lived,” he said with great conviction. “I must have your word to carry out this prophecy,” he beseeched her.
She did not say a word but nodded letting him know that his desires would be carried out.
They sat in each other arms until the sun had surrendered its command of the day. It was replaced by the full moon that guided them safely back to their lodge.
~
The Mourning Dove was awake long after her family had fallen asleep. She sat with her knees drawn up to her chest. She rested her chin on her knees as she thought about her conversation with her husband in the mountains. She could not sleep.
He was sleeping comfortably with Sparrow S
ong in his arms. She had fallen asleep in his embrace when he was telling her a story. He joined her in slumber shortly after.
The Mourning Dove wished she had his resolve in matters of the future. She gazed upon her husband. He had always been more mature than her. His face had taken on a deeper look of wisdom since his last vision. He had distinct features and the coloring of almost a cinnamon color that turned a beautiful bronze in the summer sun. He had the wisdom of a scholar, and yet could not read. He could tell her of stories of his forefathers yet he could not write. He had attained his wisdom and foresight through the respect of the land and the guidance of the Great Spirit.
~38~
The Coming of Age
Soon after their night on the mountain it was time for Strong Eagle’s right of passage into manhood. When The Mourning Dove and Running Wolf learned of his vision dream it only confirmed what he had told her on the mountain that warm summer evening.
Strong Eagle returned from his vision quest with the glow of a new born Brave. He met with Rides With Fury while the camp celebrated his victory. Rides With Fury was getting very old but was still considered the one who held the wisdom to determine the meaning of a dream. He told the boy that his dream of a souring eagle over the burning forest meant that he was to lead his people through times of difficulty. He told him he would be leader of his tribe when there would be many changes. At one time he would lead them away from a bad spirit that would kill a lot of his people. That was the fire that he saw in his vision.
He would grow in wisdom and strength. His guidance is what the Crow would need in the years to follow.
This disturbed The Mourning Dove. She knew this vision confirmed that she would have to leave him behind when her time came to return to the east. She decided to put it out of her mind. She had many years to live with her husband and children. It was not a concern now and she would not let it ruin the life she had come to love.
When the time had come for Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly to enter into manhood, The Mourning Dove could only pray that he was careful when he was in the wilderness alone. He did not always display good judgment in an effort to demonstrate bravery to his father and older brother.
The night before his departure Running Wolf sat alone in the lodge with his son. He took out a chamois and carefully unwrapped it. Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly looked on with wide eyed curiosity. He had never seen such a beautiful bow.
Running Wolf had carefully packed it away after his father’s death. He had already awarded Strong Eagle the bow that Rides With Fury had given to him many years ago.
Running Wolf held up the weapon for his son to examine.
“How do you like this bow?” he questioned his son even though he had seen his face.
Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly nodded.
Running Wolf put the bow in his hands. “This was once the weapon that your grandfather used in battle and to hunt.”
Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly held it and pulled back on the string. “It is the best bow I have ever seen.”
“It is yours, my son. Take it with you tomorrow and always.”
Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly could feel the tears stinging his eyes. He was careful not to show that to his father.
“I will always take good care of it!” he exclaimed. He could not believe he had been given such a gift.
That night he slept with the bow tucked under his body.
The following morning The Mourning Dove watched her son with a reluctant heart.
“I hope he will be wise,” she said to her husband.
“He will be fine,” the wise chief assured her. He looked on his son with pride as he embarked on his journey.
He carried his grandfather’s bow over his shoulder.
She was not as convinced. The Mourning Dove was blissful when she saw he had returned to camp.
Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly was anxious to share his dream with the great holy man upon his return. He dreamt he was a horse. He ran for miles and miles. Along the way he would entice other horses to follow in his path. He would show them where to run and how to do things that they would not otherwise know.
Rides With Fury looked intently at Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly after he had shared his dream.
“You will travel many miles for a long period of time. Along the way you will find those who do not know the ways of our people. It will be your duty to inform them.”
Rides With Fury also saw some hard times for Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly. “You will not always have an easy life. But, at birth you were given the gift of great strength. It will be your salvation as well as your burden.”
Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly was too young and anxious to see anything except adventure in what the elder was telling him.
“You will tell them the stories of our life here in this beautiful country. At first they will not believe you. But in time they will see your intensity and admire you for that strength.”
He shook his head while he spoke as though he was reassuring himself of the prophecy. “The enlightened ones will follow you.” Rides With Fury paused for a moment. “You will eventually make it back to your home land where you belong. You will not be able to adjust to the ways of the white man and therefore need to come back to the Plaines.”
Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly was uneasy with what he was told. He did not have any desire to leave the Plaines. He loved his mother very much but had no need to enter into the white world that she had left behind. However, he knew in his heart he would do whatever it was that was needed for the good of his people.
~
This passage into manhood meant a lot to Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly as it did most young men in the tribe. In a couple of years he would be able to participate in the hunt. He had waited a long time for this.
~
Years later, when he first entered the meadow for the hunt, he remembered the time he had wandered there with Sparrow Song. He realized how foolish he had been. He could have killed himself and his sister. Running Wolf smiled at his son as they entered the hunting field. Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly knew they were thinking the same thing.
Running Wolf looked at his son in admiration. This was the child that was very much like his mother. Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly would be the child that would have the most challenges once the life of the Crow would change. He was always the one who desired righteousness. He would have a difficult time with the treatment of the Indians as time changed the life of the Indian and the injustices prevailed.
As Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly grew older he looked more Crow than white. He was still the strongest-willed of the children Running Wolf shared with The Mourning Dove. His father prayed that his strength and fortitude would carry him through the difficult times that lie ahead.
~
When Strong Eagle turned twenty-five he married First Fallen Snow. They had grown up together and had spent a lot of time in each other’s company.
The laws of marriage were very clear to the Crow. The men married at the age of twenty-five. Young warriors had to prove they were brave in battle before they could marry. Their prospective bride could not be from the clan of their mother. This was done to insure a healthy offspring. In all the years that The Mourning Dove had lived among the Crow she had not seen a child who was born deformed or without normal intellect. She was impressed by their wisdom. Because of this rule it would make it easy for her sons to pick a wife.
Strong Eagle had his heart set on the slender and tall First Fallen Snow all during the Pow-wow. What he did not share with his parents is that he had longed for her during the entire long winter.
During the Pow-wow Strong Eagle gave his first buffalo and five horses to the parents of First Fallen Snow, asking to marry her.
The Mourning Dove was grateful that Strong Eagle had found a woman who lived within the tribe. She was happy that she would see her grandchildren grow within the community.
It was the following first thunder when First Fallen Snow presented
Running Wolf and The Mourning Dove with their first grandchild. She was named Gentle Wind After The First Thunder. The Mourning Dove was one of the oldest in the tribe to become a grandmother. She and Running Wolf were in their early sixties when they were finally blessed.
~
Sparrow Song had passed seventeen summers. There were many who looked at her in wanting. She had the delicate features of her grandmother. She was a feminine copy of her father. The Mourning Dove made it clear to her husband that she was not to marry at this young age.
Still there were many young Braves who would approach Running Wolf for her hand. The father was asked but the mother determined marriage. Running Wolf was very protective of his young daughter. He was relieved when approached it was met with a definite ‘NO’ from The Mourning Dove.
~
Gentle Wind After The First Thunder was the light in the life of Running Wolf and The Mourning Dove. The Mourning Dove had been present for her birth. Running Wolf took extra time with this child to teach her things that were not usually taught to a female child. He would take her and show her how to fish. He had done that with Sparrow Song so it was not a surprise to The Mourning Dove.
When First Gentle Wind After The First Thunder was three her brother, White Horse was born. As these children grew so did the tension among the tribes because of the decline in the buffalo.
~
The following winter, Running Wolf lost his mother and The Mourning Dove lost her trusted and loving mentor. It was not a long illness. Bright Star Over The Mountains had caught a cold that turned to pneumonia. The peace that she lived by in her life was given to her in death. She expired during her slumber on a cold and bitter January morning. Once again Rides With Fury found himself alone and despondent.
The camp was grief-stricken as she was a revered elder and had served on the council since Running Wolf was just a child. Her passing would be a great loss to the tribe. The Mourning Dove did not know how she was going to go on without her. She had relied on her steadfastness and wisdom through her entire marriage to Running Wolf. She could not imagine life without her.
The Spirits of Nature Page 25
