Running Wolf

by Jenna Kernan

  Chapter Nineteen

  Snow Raven went with the others to the lodge of the common women and the infant Stork was returned to his mother. Their bonds were cut and they were permitted a fire and food. Snake opened the flap door to find two warriors guarding the lodge.

  “What?” asked one.

  “We have not eaten since yesterday,” she replied. “My baby needs food and water.”

  “And you will get it. Now close the flap.”

  She did.

  “You saved our lives,” said Little Deer.

  Raven smiled, pleased to know Little Deer would live, not as a common woman, but as a wife and perhaps a mother.

  “It should be me,” said Mouse.

  Raven scowled at her and shook her head.

  “Why?” said Mouse. “Everyone knows I’m dying. None of the men will touch me because they think I am unclean. And my husband has already taken my son ahead to the Spirit World.”

  “You are not the daughter of a chief,” said Snake. “It would be a disgrace for a chief to take a common woman to the Spirit World. Especially one who bleeds. Oh!” Snake covered her mouth with her hand. “I understand.”

  “Yes,” said Mouse.

  “No,” said Raven. “Snake is right. He would not accept you. It is my honor to go with him.”

  “Who asked you?” said Mouse. “Do you know what I was thinking while they were weeping on the ground?” She thumbed at the other women. “I was thinking, at last, I get to hold my boy, kiss my husband, see my parents. I am ready to leave this world, for I am sick of it.”

  “It doesn’t matter what you want,” said Snake. “He has chosen Raven.”

  Mouse folded her arms across her chest. “If I could take my own life, I would.”

  “Well, you cannot,” said Snake. “Not if you want to see your husband and son again.”

  “You heard Turtle Rattler. He said it has been done,” insisted Mouse.

  “I have no interest in what a Sioux woman does. We are Apsáalooke, Children of the Large-Beaked Bird. Our ways are our ways. Frog may wish to become Sioux. I do not.”

  Little Deer crept close to Raven and took her hand. “I, for one, would like to thank the daughter of Six Elks for her sacrifice. If she had not done as she did, right now we would all be screaming as they cut us to bits instead of arguing. This is not how I would have her remember us, bickering like old women. We should all thank her and honor her.”

  Snake began to cry, and Stork, seeing his mother cry, began to wail, as well.

  For the rest of that day and all the next, no one bothered them except to bring them food, good food. Fresh meat that they roasted on their fire and wild rice in an iron kettle and dried cherries that they had soaked in water until they were sweet and chewy once more.

  Raven savored these meals and her time with the others as she wondered how many more days and nights she had before the chief died.

  * * *

  It had been two nights since Snow Raven had made her terrible bargain, and in that time Running Wolf had gone to every member of the council, but none would support his cause. He had tried to persuade them that it was a mistake to send Iron Bear to the Spirit World with an enemy. But none would intervene.

  The scaffold upon which Iron Bear would rest until his spirit left his body behind had already been raised.

  Turtle Rattler had not left the chief’s lodge for two days, and Running Wolf was not permitted to enter. Spotted Fawn came to speak to him and said that her father would not wake and now lived in a dream state between the living and the dead. She also said that Big Thunder had told her what Running Wolf had said to Raven in the women’s lodge, and although she might have been very happy with Raven as their servant, all that had now changed.

  She took hold of Running Wolf’s hand and walked him away from her father’s tent. Their path seemed aimless as she spoke to him.

  “You are still a brave man with many coups. But if I married you, the women here would think me a fool for choosing one who chose me for such a reason.”

  Running Wolf felt he had done this woman harm and she had done nothing to deserve such treatment. “I am sorry for any pain I have caused you.”

  “It will be less than yours. This I know.”

  They walked a little more.

  Running Wolf began to see that the only way to save Raven was to take her by force. Time was running out. He needed to ready his horse and weapons. He prayed to the Great Spirit he might take her without killing any of his own men.

  “Do you really love her so much?” Spotted Fawn stopped before the lodge of Big Thunder. He had had his own lodge for more than a year now, though he had not made any offers for a wife. Because he loved this woman, Running Wolf knew. And Big Thunder loved his friend, as well. Perhaps he loved him so well Big Thunder would have stood aside and allowed her to choose for herself without her even knowing he loved her.

  “I would do anything to save her.”

  “Even risk your life?” asked Spotted Fawn.

  He nodded.

  “What about your people? Is it not your duty to follow the decision of the council of elders and as your chief commands?”

  He could not answer, as he thought back to what Snow Raven had once said to him.

  “Raven told me that she wanted a man who would put her first, above all else. I told her that only a fool would do such a thing. That it was a warrior’s duty to serve his people. But now I find I am a fool.”

  “You could be exiled.”

  “If I am with her, then I do not care. When she came here, all I could think of was how to keep her. Now I realize what I should have been doing was thinking of how to keep her safe.”

  “Her before all else, is that right?”

  “Yes.”

  “That is also what a friend should do. Keep another safe, even from himself.”

  He cocked his head, not understanding what she meant.

  “That is what Big Thunder would do for you. Keep you safe.”

  Running Wolf felt a sharp blow to his head followed by a splitting pain. He turned to see Big Thunder holding a club. Running Wolf lifted his hands to his head and tried to form his words, but everything was spinning now and his knees gave way.

  “It is for your own good, friend.”

  * * *

  Running Wolf woke on the ground to find his arms bound to his legs. Was it dark outside or was he blind? Running Wolf wrestled himself out from under a buffalo robe and looked about, recognizing the lodge of Big Thunder. The light inside the lodge was dim, as if there was a storm, but he heard no rain.

  Was he alone?

  He wiggled and his arms tingled. It was a moment before he realized that it was not his head pounding, but the drums. Running Wolf straightened.

  “Untie me.”

  There was no reply.

  The lodge door flap flew open and Big Thunder peered in.

  Big Thunder’s head filled the circular opening. “It has happened.”

  Running Wolf did not have to ask what he meant. Iron Bear was dead. Big Thunder did not say so directly because it was improper to speak the name of the dead and it could be dangerous, for calling a ghost was never a good idea. They were referred to only indirectly.

  “Laughing Moon and Spotted Fawn are preparing him for his journey.”

  “When?” he asked.

  “Now.”

  Running Wolf struggled. They would kill Raven any moment now. He had to get up. He tried twice before realizing that he was tied hand and foot.

  “Laughing Moon insists that we wait one day to be sure he is really gone, but they are to prepare his servant and his horse now.”

  Now. Why hadn’t he set her free when he had the chance?

  “Let
me up, Big Thunder!”

  The tepee flap dropped back into place.

  Chapter Twenty

  Raven and the others received word in the afternoon that the chief had died and that they were preparing his body. She was to prepare for her journey, as well.

  “When?” asked Mouse.

  “Tonight,” said the guard.

  She was not afraid, though she was sorry she would not see her father and brother again.

  She spoke to Little Deer and made her promise to tell them what had happened. She wanted them to show her where to find her bones. She knew her tribe collected the bones of important members and placed them around the scaffolds of their leaders. It was an honor to have her bones treated in this manner.

  The following morning, Ebbing Water and Buffalo Calf arrived and all the women were escorted by four warriors to the river to bathe. It seemed they did not want the chief’s servant to try another escape. But she was content with her bargain. It hurt only when she thought of Running Wolf and the life they might have shared.

  “Are you frightened?” whispered Snake.

  “No. Just sad. I wish I could tell Running Wolf once more that I love him and that I am sorry.”

  “I will tell him for you,” said Snake.

  Raven smiled. “Thank you.”

  The men turned away as the captives stripped from their ratty garments. The only one among them with a decent dress was Raven, with her patches of rabbit skin, and Mouse, who had earned enough skins from her admirers to make a fine elk-skin dress. It was hard to believe now, but her figure was once curvy and lush. Now she was small, like Raven, but not so strong.

  Raven helped her draw off the dress, careful of the fine beadwork across the front. That was when they all saw the terrible sores that Mouse had kept hidden from them.

  “She still bleeds,” said Buffalo Calf. “I for one will not touch her.”

  “What if this illness is catching, like the spotting sickness?” asked Ebbing Water. “We might both wind up like that.” She pointed at the gaunt woman.

  “They can paint themselves,” said Buffalo Calf. “Surely they know how to paint their faces black in mourning.” She looked at them.

  Mouse spoke. “We do.” She motioned to the middle of her chest. “Black to here.” And then she made a cutting motion at her elbow. “And to here. Do you wish us to cut our hair?”

  The two Sioux women exchanged looks. Mouse had never spoken to either of them before.

  “Yes,” said Ebbing Water.

  “Very well. We will do so as a show of respect for the one who has left.”

  What was Mouse up to? wondered Raven. She was never so polite as this. The other women did not object and so Raven nodded, as well.

  The women dried their skin and were allowed to dress. Mouse put on her dress decorated with the double strand of red and blue beads and her high moccasins, removing the open sores from the sight of their captors. Raven was brought up the bank first, and two of the four warriors walked her back to their lodge, leaving the others to finish dressing.

  She was alone in the lodge several minutes and it occurred to her that they might be taking them away. Would they not even allow her a last goodbye?

  Raven tried not to let her fear eat her up. But her impending death combined with this forced separation made her throat burn.

  The flap lifted a moment later and the women entered one after another.

  Snake noticed Raven’s panic and moved swiftly to her.

  “Raven?” said Snake.

  “I thought you’d gone. I thought they’d taken you already.”

  “We are here,” said Mouse.

  Raven hugged Snake and then Little Deer. The others gathered near, giving her comfort with their presence. Mouse tended the fire. She looked more lively than usual, Raven thought, which was good because the journey would be long and taxing.

  Another meal arrived. Her last, Raven realized with a start.

  She tried to eat with the others, but her stomach cramped around the food.

  “Perhaps this is a journey one needs to take on an empty stomach.”

  That made Snake cry.

  “You will need the food,” said Raven. “I will not.”

  “You need strength more than any of us,” said Mouse. “And I have something that will help.”

  Mouse rummaged in a pouch that hung from a peg on one of the tepee poles and withdrew a smaller pouch. “Turtle Rattler gave me this.”

  “What does it do?”

  “Eases stomach upset.”

  Raven knew her upset came from anxiety and not from her break with the moon.

  “I do not need it.”

  “Would you lose the contents of your stomach before them?”

  Raven did not wish that. And she did not want to be rude. Mouse was already steeping a tea from the herbs.

  She hesitated.

  “I will have some, too,” said Little Deer. “My stomach is bad.”

  Mouse nodded and crushed the herbs into two horn cups. Little Deer accepted hers and Raven took the other. She drank and then lowered her cup.

  “Bitter,” she said.

  Mouse smiled and nodded.

  Ebbing Water returned, but would not enter the lodge. She spoke from outside, kneeling at the open entrance. She passed them a skin of water, a bone container of rendered fat, two bags and two buffalo horn cups.

  “This one,” she said, lifting a bag, “is the charcoal. Mix it with the fat and water.” She dropped that pouch before them and lifted the second. “This one is white clay ground very fine. Mix it the same way.”

  “We know how to mix paint,” said Little Deer.

  “Fine. That one.” She pointed at Raven. “Her hair, face, arms and legs will be all white. Laughing Moon requests that you paint the symbol of the bear on your hands and face.”

  Raven nodded. “This I will do.”

  Ebbing Water dropped a skinning knife among them. “To cut your hair. Do not cut her throat or we will kill you all.”

  She left them and there was silence as they all stared at the knife.

  “How will they do it?” asked Little Deer, her voice a mere whisper.

  “Suffocate her in the skin with him.”

  Raven blinked at the harshness of her words and felt light-headed. She reached out a hand to steady herself.

  Mouse grasped the knife and lifted it toward Raven. She took a hank of Raven’s long thick hair.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. Her vision was double now and she felt dizzier.

  Mouse sliced Raven’s hair so it fell even with her chin.

  “What?” Raven tried to push Mouse’s arm away but her movements were clumsy.

  “It’s working,” said Little Deer.

  The other women stared at her like a nest of owls.

  “What?” Raven found her words slurred.

  “Sleeping draft,” said Mouse.

  Raven blinked. Was this to ease her death? So she would be asleep when they blocked the air from her lungs?

  “But...sh-she drank.” Raven tried to point at Little Deer but her arm was too heavy.

  “She only pretended,” said Snake.

  “Strip her out of that,” said Mouse.

  They quickly pulled Raven’s dress over her head, and when they had finished she sagged. Wren held her upright but Raven’s eyelids were so heavy.

  Only when Mouse removed her own dress did it occur to Raven what was happening. She struggled to keep her eyes open.

  “No,” she whispered. They ignored her and easily managed to get Mouse’s clothing on to her, dressing her as if she was a child’s leather doll.

  Raven watched in horror as Mouse let loose one side braid after a
nother, raking her fingers through her long thick hair. Snake then took over. When she had finished with Mouse, she had two thin braids at each temple in the unique style Raven wore her hair. Little Deer removed the feather from Snow Raven’s hair and tied it into Mouse’s.

  Snake sliced off the rest of Raven’s hair and then did the others’. They painted their faces and arms black. Raven tried and failed to avoid Little Deer’s quick strokes as she rubbed the charcoal paint onto Raven’s face.

  “Help me,” said Mouse.

  Raven saw that Mouse had already coated her hair, face and arms with the ghostly white paint.

  But that was for her, thought Raven.

  Wren used the black to create a bear’s paw on Mouse’s hands and feet. Then she added one more to her cheek. The effect was chilling. With the paint and her hair now in the style distinct to Snow Raven, it was impossible to see this was Mouse.

  “Do I look like her?” asked Mouse.

  “You do,” whispered Little Deer.

  “Good.” She smiled at Raven. “Do not mourn me, my friend, for I go to see my husband and son. I made no bargain, so Iron Bear will have no servant in the Spirit World.”

  They all gasped at the mention of the dead.

  “What?” Mouse tossed her head in defiance. “Do you think one ghost can haunt another? Soon I will be past his reach and theirs.” She pointed toward the door.

  Then she turned to Raven.

  “You have shown me how to be a warrior. Now it is my turn.”

  Raven opened her mouth but no words would come. She stared at Mouse, her teeth now as white as the death mask that covered her face. The bear paw drawn on her face began to move, widen, until it was a great yawning hole and Raven fell into blackness.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Big Thunder returned after sunset to find that Running Wolf had escaped from his bonds and was just emerging from his lodge. Around one wrist dangled the remains of the braided leather rope Big Thunder had used to secure him. In his fist he held the handle to the war club his friend had used to knock him unconscious.

  “I should have staked you to the ground,” said Big Thunder.

  “Out of my way.” Running Wolf raised the club to strike but Big Thunder moved back.