Wind Warrior

by Constance O'Banyon

  They both pushed their horses in an all-out run. At times Rain Song smelled the smoke and knew the fire was not far behind them. On they raced until their poor horses were lathered and weary. Rain Song saw Tall Woman’s horse stumble and she reached for the reins, but the animal managed to keep from falling, and Tall Woman hung on tightly.

  “The horses…cannot run…much longer,” Tall Woman gasped. “The canyon…just ahead.”

  When they finally reached the bluffs, Rain Song released Chinook and leaped off her horse to help Tall Woman dismount.

  The wall of smoke was so dense they could hardly see where they were going. Ash flew into their faces and singed their hair. Their throats were clogged and Tall Woman bent, coughing, while Rain Song took shallow breaths.

  Somehow they made it to the cliff. “It is steep going down,” her mother warned her. “And there is no trail, so we must release the horses and continue on foot.”

  “We will let Chinook lead us down,” Rain Song said, slipping her arm around her mother. Glancing behind her, Rain Song saw the flames were so near, they still might not make it. “Let us hurry.” She heard the frightened horses run away and hoped they would stay ahead of the fire.

  Deep sobs shook Spotted Flower. Nothing had turned out the way she had planned. Pain hit her and stabbed into her abdomen, and then she felt a gush of wetness between her legs. She saw blood dripping down her leg and realized she was losing her baby. The miscarriage had probably been caused by the wolf knocking her off her horse.

  Although she had not wanted the child, she blamed Rain Song for her loss.

  If everything had gone as she’d planned, Rain Song would be dead now. Dull Knife had asked for her help. She was only supposed to start a fire, and then assist the others to escape. He had told her he especially wanted Rain Song to be safe, but she had taken it upon herself to alter the plan.

  Spotted Flower turned to glance behind her and saw the wind had shifted, taking the fire in another direction. As she hated her horse, a slow smile curved her mouth. There was no sign of Rain Song or Tall Woman. They had not made it away from the fire after all.

  A strong cramp hit her as she whipped her horse around and rode toward the buffalo camp. Everyone would feel sorry for her when they found out she had lost her baby trying to help Rain Song and Tall Woman.

  She was in pain, but she had to go on. When she crossed a small stream, she dismounted and washed herself. She had lost the baby.

  After Spotted Flower had washed the blood off her gown, she climbed back on her horse. If the Fates were with her tonight, and if there was any justice in the world, her most hated enemy would be dead.

  Tall Woman fell to her knees. “I can go no farther. I do not think the fire will reach us here.”

  Chinook dropped down on the ground as if on guard. Rain Song knelt beside Tall Woman, knowing she was going to have to deliver the baby. Fear took over her reasoning—she knew nothing about childbirth. Trying to sound calm, she faced her fear and conquered it. “You will have to tell me what to do.”

  Tall Woman moaned, twisting in pain. When the pain subsided, she reached for Rain Song’s hand. Running her tongue over her dry lips, she said, “Stay beside me. I will instruct you.”

  “We do not have water or a knife.”

  Tall Woman pointed to the doeskin bag that had fallen beside her. “You will find a knife and a soft strip of deerskin. They will have to do.”

  Tall Woman labored through the night, and at times Rain Song was afraid she would die. When the pains came upon her and Tall Woman gripped her hand to keep from screaming, Rain Song looked away so her mother would not see her tears.

  The sun had just broken across the canyon when the baby made its way into the world. Rain Song’s heart leaped with joy as she held the incredible miracle in her hands. Against all odds, the child had been safely delivered. Laying the baby on Tall Woman’s belly, she smiled at the lusty crying that bounced off the walls of the canyon. “You have a son.”

  Tall Woman was weak but happy. “And you have a brother. We would not have survived without your bravery, my daughter.”

  The two of them had shared an experience that would bind them together forever.

  Tall Woman ran her hand over the child’s dark hair. “Your father will think we are dead.”

  “I believe he will.” Then a smile curved her lips. “Will he not be surprised when he finds us alive—especially when you present him with his son?”

  They were still not out of danger. Tall Woman needed water and she needed food. Wrapping the child in the soft buckskin, Rain Song sat beside her mother. “What should we do now?”

  “Send Chinook for help.”

  Rain Song handed the baby to its mother and went to the wolf, slipping the knife into her moccasin. There were cougars and bears in this place, and they were two helpless women. “I hope you can understand me, Chinook. We are in trouble.” She leaned close to the wolf’s face and made eye contact. “Find Broken Lance,” she commanded.

  Much to both women’s surprise, Chinook scrambled to her feet and went bounding toward the cliff, soon to be lost from sight on the other side. “Do you think she understood me?”

  “We will have to wait to see.”

  Rain Song thought of Wind Warrior, wishing he were there. Just thinking about him made her feel safe. A thought hit her that sent her mind reeling: she loved Wind Warrior! Closing her eyes, she could see his face in her mind, and she wished more than anything she could be in his arms.

  Tall Woman had fallen asleep, so Rain Song walked the baby and sang to him. He was beautiful, the brother she had always wanted. She felt fiercely protective—she would give her life to protect this child. But they might all die if help did not come soon. Tall Woman had had a difficult time giving birth and she was too weak to walk anywhere. And of course the horses were gone.

  Evening shadows fell before Tall Woman awoke. Rain Song handed her the baby, so she could nurse him.

  “How are you feeling?” she asked.

  “Proud,” Tall Woman replied, smiling.

  Rain Song touched the baby’s face. “I am proud of him as well.”

  “Yes, but I was not speaking of my son. My precious daughter, it is you who fill me with pride. Without your help, the baby and I would have perished.”

  Tears gathered in Rain Song’s eyes, and she brushed them away. “I love you and this child, my mother.”

  Tall Woman’s eyes glistened with tears. “At last you have said the words I waited to hear. I love you, my daughter. I always have.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Rain Song awoke immediately when she felt something wet touch her face, and she opened her eyes to find Chinook’s nose pressed against her. She smiled, her hands going through the wolf’s thick hair.

  “So you have returned.”

  A shadow fell across Rain Song’s face and she stared into Wind Warrior’s eyes. “The wolf brought us with her.”

  Rain Song scrambled to her feet. “Wind Warrior! I was…I was wishing for you, and you are here.”

  A smile curved his mouth. “Were you?”

  He came to her side, looking her over, apparently to see if she had been injured. She was aware ashes must have smudged her face, her hair was tangled, and her gown was bloody from delivering the child. He seemed satisfied with what he saw, however, and offered his water skin to her.

  Remembering her outburst when she first saw him, she wished she could take her rash words back. A blush climbed her face and she turned away so he would not see her confusion. “Please give my mother a drink first. She is in greater need.”

  Wind Warrior shook his head. “This water is for you. Broken Lance is seeing to Tall Woman’s needs.”

  Seeing Broken Lance bending near his wife, Rain Song gratefully took the water skin and drank deeply, then wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. “How did you find us?”

  “Chinook insisted we follow her.” Wind Warrior removed a twig from Rain Song’s gold
en hair. He could not tell her the despair he had felt when Spotted Flower came into the buffalo camp and said Rain Song and Tall Woman had perished in the fire. After the initial shock, he had known Rain Song was alive because if she had died, he would have felt it in his heart.

  Broken Lance explained: “By the time we saw the fire, it had consumed everything in its path.” So great was his relief that they were alive, he had to pause before he could continue. “I thought I had lost my family. Most certainly when Spotted Flower arrived, telling us of your deaths. Of course,” he said grimly, “now that Tall Woman has told me of her misdeeds, she will be punished.”

  Taking his son in his arms, Broken Lance smiled. “Something good came from this.” He glanced at Rain Song. “My heart swells with pride in you, my daughter. This all would have ended differently if not for you.”

  Rain Song felt tears in her eyes. It was the first time he had called her his daughter. When she took a step, she stumbled and Wind Warrior swept her into his arms.

  “You are weak. I will help you.”

  “Let us leave this place,” Broken Lance said, gazing about him. “We will carry the women up the path.”

  Wind Warrior started toward the cliff with Chinook trotting behind. “You will ride with me,” he said to Rain Song.

  “I must tell you,” she said, looking into his eyes, “Spotted Flower admitted she started the fire to discredit you.”

  “I know. Tall Woman told us while you slept.”

  “She hates me so.”

  Wind Warrior’s eyes hardened and he nodded. “Do not think about it.”

  When they reached the top of the cliff, Wind Warrior placed her on the horse in front of him. She closed her eyes, feeling as if she belonged in his arms. She was young, and so was he, but love knew no age, and she loved him desperately.

  As they rode away, Rain Song snuggled in his arms.

  “You are mine,” he whispered. “I will always look after you, my soul.”

  But Rain Song had not heard him because she had fallen into an exhausted sleep.

  Broken Lance looked at his woman. “What will we do about Spotted Flower?”

  “She must be punished,” Tall Woman replied.

  “She is Charging Bull’s wife and he is an important member of our tribe. Perhaps we should allow him to decide her fate.”

  “It would be justice to allow our daughter to decide her punishment.”

  He shook his head. “Rain Song’s heart is too soft. I will decide. For our daughter’s sake I will not have the woman killed, although she deserves it. I will banish her from our village, and everyone will be told of her shame.”

  “It is just, my husband. The penalty of shame is a powerful punishment. Spotted Flower will be too ashamed ever to show her face in a Blackfoot village, and no one will take her in.”

  They came to a halt, and Rain Song opened her eyes. In the morning light, there was nothing but devastation all about them. As far as she could see, the prairie was blackened by fire.

  Wind Warrior handed her down and joined her. “It is a sad sight.”

  “Such destruction. I do not understand why Spotted Flower would do such an evil deed.”

  Wind Warrior studied her closely. “One with your honor will never be able to understand a person like your friend.”

  She turned to look at him. “She is not my friend, Wind Warrior. I do not believe she ever was.”

  He studied her, his eyes gleaming with an expression she did not understand. “Do you consider me your friend?”

  Rain Song considered him so much more, but how could she tell him that? “Yes. I do.” She smiled mischievously. “You gave me Chinook.”

  That was not exactly what he wanted to hear, but it would do for now. “I must speak with your father,” he said, turning away.

  Rain Song went to her mother, taking the baby in her arms and touching her lips to his cheek. “He seems to be thriving, my mother.”

  “He has a lusty cry,” Tall Woman said with pride. “He will be like his father.”

  After they had rested the horses and Tall Woman had fed the baby, they were once more on their way.

  Rain Song felt Wind Warrior’s breath against her cheek and went weak all over. He must have sensed her feelings, because his hand slid about her waist and he pulled her closer.

  “Do you feel what I feel?” he whispered against her ear.

  Not knowing what he felt or how to respond, she shook her head.

  “I think you do.” He laid his cheek against hers. “In that one moment when I thought you were dead, I felt as if someone had torn away pieces of my flesh.”

  She turned her head so she could see his eyes, trying to understand his meaning—he did suffer for others, she had come to understand that. “I do not know what you want to hear.”

  “Then I will wait.”

  She was befuddled. “Wait for what?”

  “There are things I would say to you. But this is not the time.”

  By now they had reached the encampment and Wind Warrior handed her to the ground. Those who had been concerned about their safety quickly surrounded them. Everyone had to see the chief’s new son, and many praised Rain Song for saving the lives of mother and baby.

  “Until his vision quest,” Broken Lance said, raising his son for all to see, “let this child be known as Fire Wolf because he survived the great fire and I was led to him by my daughter’s wolf.”

  Rain Song glanced about her. Spotted Flower was nowhere in sight. Perhaps she had heard they had survived the fire and was afraid to face Broken Lance.

  Her gaze went to Wind Warrior, who was still mounted. He dipped his head to her, whirled his horse around, and rode away.

  Rain Song watched him race his horse across the blackened plain, his ebony hair flowing out behind him. Her feelings for him were more intense than she would have thought possible. She thought about him every day, and he visited her dreams at night.

  Remembering the words he had said to her, she dared hope that he cared for her just a little.

  Chinook nudged her nose against Rain Song’s hand and she bent to hug the wolf. “You are amazing. You saved our lives.”

  Chinook turned her head to watch Wind Warrior disappear over the hill. “I believe you will miss him as much as I do,” Rain Song said, rubbing the wolf’s head. “He has a way of affecting a female in a most unusual way.” She laughed aloud. “Especially you and me.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  When the Blood Blackfoot finally reunited at their fall encampment beside the river, they were a bedraggled lot. With winter just a short time away, new tipis had to be quickly erected, robes cured, and supplies replenished. The people worked tirelessly, helping each other when they could.

  Sadly, twelve members of the tribe had lost their lives when the stream burst through the rock barriers, flooding the village, just as Wind Warrior had predicted.

  A touch of early winter was on the wind. Cool air settled over the land, bringing the first frost.

  The village was unusually quiet as the people waited to hear the outcome of the meeting the elders had called. Dull Knife had been summoned, as had Tall Woman and Rain Song.

  Wind Warrior approached the council lodge, reminded of that day years before when he had been given his name. Now he was a member of that honored council.

  Many eyes watched Wind Warrior as he moved through the village with the lethal grace of a mountain lion. He did not seem to see the young maidens who tried to draw his attention or those who watched him longingly. His mind was set on a single purpose—to settle the matter of the prairie fire. On entering the lodge, he acknowledged each of the elders and Chief Broken Lance. He nodded toward his father, who seemed much frailer since the tragedies of the fire and flood. His gaze brushed over Dull Knife, and his eyes widened when he saw that Rain Song and Tall Woman were present.

  Wind Warrior had not seen Rain Song since the summer season, and it seemed to him she was even more beautiful than bef
ore. Her golden hair was decorated with beads and hung down her back in a single braid. She wore a buff-colored fringed gown without ornaments. She looked into his eyes and dropped her head. In that brief moment he had read joy in her green gaze, as if she were happy to see him, and he felt a squeezing sensation around his heart.

  “Join us,” Broken Lance said, motioning for Wind Warrior to come forward. “We were discussing the flood that washed away the tipis of those who remained in the river camp. It took some time to recover the bodies that were washed down the river. Twelve are dead, three missing.”

  Wind Warrior dropped to his knees, waiting to be called upon to speak. Dull Knife, however, did not wait to be asked, but rose angrily to his feet. “The flood was not as bad as my brother predicted it would be. We have lost more people when our enemies raid the village.”

  “Yes,” Broken Lance agreed. “We have lost many of our friends and families when the enemy came upon us unaware—but those who died in the flood were warned and could have survived. If the rest of us had not moved, we would have suffered untold loss of life.”

  Dull Knife held his temper with effort. “Two lives were lost in prairie fire, and all the tipis were burned as well. My brother did not foresee that.”

  Broken Lance glanced at his daughter. “I will ask Rain Song to tell us why there was a fire on the prairie. Stand up and come forward, daughter.”

  Rain Song was nervous but determined to speak of the events as they had occurred. She stood, clasping her hands, feeling everyone’s attention centered on her.

  Broken Lance smiled encouragingly. “Speak, daughter.”

  She wet her lips. “The fire did not begin spontaneously. Spotted Flower admitted to me and my mother that she was the one who started it.”

  “Why would she do such a thing, Rain Song?” asked Big Hand, the elder who had taken Lean Bear’s place when he grew sick the previous winter and died.

  Rain Song looked into the elder’s earnest eyes and realized he wanted to hear her opinion, which surprised her. “I do not know why she did such a thing, but I do know she wanted to see me dead and Wind Warrior discredited.” Her gaze moved to Tall Woman, who encouraged her with a nod. “Spotted Flower attempted to take the remaining horses so my mother and I would not have a way to escape the fire.”