Kionee spent another two days in the Haukau during her menses, a visit which made her more restless and dissatisfied with her sacrificial rank. She tried in vain to keep thoughts of Stalking Wolf from her mind, and finally accepted the reality that was not possible, but she pined in silence even with Regim. She hunted with others as usual, but now all remained on alert. She knew Night Walker did everything he could to prevent her from being one of those chosen for scouting parties; twice he reasoned with her about her family’s need for a hunter more than a protector. Yet, Kionee decided he was only safeguarding her for himself.
She watched the romance between Runs Fast and her sister grow warmer and bolder, and it brought envy to Kionee’s mind and sadness to her heart. He would accompany Blue Bird when the girl went to fetch water and wood and to gather spring plants for cooking, but always with people around to avoid shame. The couple would stay in sight each time they talked at the edge of the forest or rode doubleback. He played his flute for her enjoyment and to show his selection of her to others. Kionee concluded they would join after the buffalo hunt and ceremonial visit to Medicine Mountain. She told herself she must hunt extra hard and long this season to help Runs Fast obtain enough buffalo hides for their tipi. After Moon Child came of age next summer and joined, that would leave only herself and her parents to provide for and defend. After they were gone, she would be alone, alone with the elders in the tiva tipi, unless…
No, Kionee, you cannot join to Night Walker. You cannot lie upon his mat, in his arms, your bodies united into one. His lips—his children—are not those you desire.
“Come, Kionee, we go to hunt. Red Bull and Tall Eagle say a herd of antelope and deer feed near the river where it bends toward the rising sun.”
“I will get my weapons and horse, Sumba. Maja, stay and guard.” She ordered the wolf to watch over her family during her absence. Others did not care for hunting with a predator whose scent might spook their prey. Maja lay down quietly near the tipi entrance; though eager to accompany her, he was obedient.
Taysinga, a tiva two years older than Kionee and Sumba, and Goes Ahead joined the group as they rode from camp. The six traveled northward along the Big Horn River for two hours to the location where scouts had reported sighting the herd. The animals had not left the area. Even if the hunters had not descented their bodies, there was no wind for a time to carry their smell to the grazing creatures. The three men and three women planned their approach from several angles. After leaving their extra horses secured by reins in a copse of trees until needed to carry home the meat and hides, they carried it out with skill and speed.
As the hunters neared their targets, the herd realized their peril and bolted in many directions. The band separated and pursued their goals. Arrows were fired and hit their marks, but the game raced valiantly onward. Finally, strength depleted, each deer and antelope struck stumbled and collapsed to the ground.
Kionee dismounted and retrieved a knife to give a merciful and swift end to one animal’s futile struggle for life. She lifted her brown eyes skyward and said, “Thank you, Atah, for this gift of meat and skin for my family.” She stroked Tuka’s neck and forehead, pleased with the pinto’s performance. Kneeling beside the deer with her marked arrow embedded in its chest, she eyed the quality of its hide as she skinned the creature without damaging it. She removed and placed antlers, choice teeth, and furry tail in a large parfleche for various uses later. After gutting the animal, Sumba joined her and helped load it onto an extra horse. Kionee secured it there with its legs roped beneath the horse’s belly. Kionee did the same task to assist her friend, then both went to aid Taysinga who was slower at the deed and—as always—crinkling her nose in displeasure at the smell and feel of death.
Afterward, Sumba and Kionee tracked and prepared the antelope they had slain for older tivas. Almost at the moment the two females finished that task and stood washing their hands, Red Bull shouted that Crow warriors were galloping toward them with weapons brandished. The warning was unnecessary for Kionee, who had already heard them. She squinted at the three Hanueva men separated from them by the river and hurrying to come to their defense.
“Taysinga, get the horses and game into the trees for protection while Sumba and I guard our backs!” Kionee ordered the frozen eldest tiva, who stared in fear at the peril riding toward them: eight armed Bird warriors. Kionee seized the immobile girl’s arm, shook her, and commanded, “Sharpen your wits and move fast or we die!”
Taysinga glared at Kionee for a moment, but obeyed. She scurried into the trees, secured reins to the horses and quickly grabbed her weapons, all as she observed the unfolding scene in near panic.
Kionee watched three warriors break off from the band to challenge the Hanueva men who were crossing the river. They knew they were at a disadvantage while in the water, and rushed to get on land. The other five warriors charged toward the tivas with obvious intent to attack and kill. “Sumba, they hold strong shields to defeat our arrows,” Kionee noted with displeasure. “We must trick them. Fire at the first one’s head; when he lifts his shield, I will fire into his belly. Fire next at the second one’s leg; when he lowers his shield, I will fire into his chest or neck. Two will be gone before they learn our trick and guard against it. Fire twice on my signal, then get behind the trees.”
“Dwil,” Kionee told Sumba to loosen the first arrow. The instant the Crow jerked up his shield to ward off the shaft, Kionee fired into his stomach and saw him double over in pain and surprise. “Dwil.” She coaxed the second shot and struck another enemy in the chest as he protected his leg. “E’fa! Ombeg!” She complimented Sumba and ordered a retreat as the astonished men halted in caution and to check their friends’ conditions.
The odds were now three to three, with the tivas having protective cover. The Bird warriors grouped close and whispered as the women awaited a new assault. With loud yells, the enemies whirled their highly decorated mounts and headed to fight with their companions.
“Six skilled warriors are too many for our three hunters to battle.”
“You are right, Sumba. We must help them. Come, Taysinga.”
“I will wait here and guard our horses and game. I am a bad fighter.”
“If you come, our numbers are the same,” Kionee pointed out. “We must ride fast before our friends die.”
Kionee and Sumba mounted and galloped after their attackers before the aggressors could join their friends who were nearing the hunters’ position. The frightened Taysinga did not join them.
Within moments, the three Crow whirled again and galloped toward the two tivas, fanning out to engulf them. It was clear the warriors had not intended to aid their friends, only entice the tivas into the open and into a trap. Kionee and Sumba reined in and began to fire arrow after arrow at their assailants because it was too late for a safe withdrawal; it was face and fight or take a shaft in the back while trying to escape. Sumba called for Taysinga to help them, but the terrified girl remained in hiding. It was fortunate for the two brave women that one Crow headed for the trees and the concealed target cowering there, evening their odds.
Kionee wounded her attacker in the arm and caused him to drop his shield. He yanked a knife from a sheath and charged her in fury. Quickly she dismounted, knowing she had more chance of success on the ground and could prevent her horse from taking a deflected blow. The warrior leapt from his horse and ran to meet her challenge. In his anger, he slashed wildly and missed striking her each time. Kionee cut his wrist and then his calf as she ducked and darted past him. Before he could react, she buried her knife in his back.
Kionee finished in time to see the other Bird warrior lift his blade to plunge it into Sumba’s heart. She heard him taunt Sumba with vows to take her horse and possessions, and to skin the painted masks from her face and hand to adorn his shield with them. Kionee could not come to Sumba’s defense because the third warrior had halted his charge at Taysinga and focused on the “brave tiva” whose “magic and power”
he craved to steal with her death. He shouted to Taysinga that a coward had no value to him.
Kionee prepared herself to battle him. She was tired and tense, and he was fresh and calm, yet, Taysinga still did not come to her aid. The Bird warrior aimed his war lance and flung it at her, an action she sidestepped by inches. The moment it struck the earth, she seized it and drove a lethal blow to the warrior’s belly as he reached her. Without delay, Kionee ran to Sumba’s opponent and jumped on his back to prevent him from mutilating her dead friend’s body. She clawed, scratched, and pummeled him as he tried to rise and shake her loose. Kionee took an elbow to the mouth which split her lip and sent blood flowing down her blackened chin, and sent her falling backward. She wished Maja was there to aid her or Tuka could respond to a summons or Stalking Wolf would appear and—Do not dull your wits!
“You and your magic are mine now, tiva, and those of your friend.” Her attacker grinned malevolently. “I will have great power when your masks are on my shield and your scalplocks are on my coup stick. As One-Eye says, we will show others it is not bad medicine to slay those with painted faces. Come, tiva, and kiss my blade with your skin and blood. You die this su—”
As the cocky man reached the position Kionee wanted and he took a spread-legged stance to tower over her to gloat, she kicked upward with haste and drove her foot into his groin. When he doubled over, she bolted to her feet and slammed her knee into his chin. The jarring blow knocked him to his back. She leapt on him, grabbed his armed hand, and shoved his knife into his chest before he could recover in time to react. She hurried to stand and check her surroundings for another challenge. She saw the one remaining Crow riding northwestward and two of the Hanueva men riding toward her. She noticed in dismay that they led the horse of Tall Eagle with his body lying across it.
The Hanuevas had witnessed Kionee’s prowess, courage, and loyalty to Sumba. All knew the peril of a tiva body falling into the hands of an enemy and their secret being unmasked. They knew Kionee had prevented Sumba’s exposure at great risk to herself. They had many questions to ask of her.
“Where is Taysinga?”
“He waits in the trees, Red Bull.”
“Why did he not fight with you and Sumba? Five were many for two.”
“I do not know, Goes Ahead; you must ask him.” Perhaps she acts more like the female she is than the male hunter she pretends to be. She hides in fear and will know great shame from this dark deed.
“We must take our friends and game home before our enemy brings others to fight with him,” Red Bull said.
“He will not return, for he will not reveal their defeat and shame at the hands of five Hanuevas.”
“Perhaps that is true, but we will hurry.”
“How did you and Goes Ahead defeat your attackers?”
“While you battled many, we killed two and the other ran away. But one took the life of Tall Eagle before we defeated them,” he explained sadly, then said they must go.
As they retrieved their horses, loaded their last burden, and mounted to depart, Kionee noticed the bitterness in Taysinga’s expression. For some reason, the girl blamed her for what she would face for being a weakling and coward! Taysinga’s sorry attitude worsened during the men’s praise of Kionee’s skills. Kionee did not attempt to lighten her mood, as she held the girl partly responsible for Sumba’s death.
The hunting party entered the winter village and were met by people shocked to see Tall Eagle and Sumba dead. News of trouble swept through the camp.
Kionee let Red Bull and Goes Ahead reveal their successful hunt, fierce attack, defense and victory of sorts, and their two losses. It did not escape anyone’s attention that Taysinga’s name was darkened or that the tiva rushed to her family’s tipi to avoid humiliating questions.
Everyone praised the exploits of five of the six Hanuevas who had left camp only to hunt. A council meeting was called for later that evening to make defense plans and to mourn the deaths of their two friends. During that meeting, it would be decided how Taysinga must repay the families of Tall Eagle and Sumba for their losses, which might have been prevented if she had not failed in her duty. It was revealed they recovered all telltale arrows and signs, and they took no possessions from the fallen Crow to be found in their camp. Most agreed with Kionee that the survivor would hold silent to “save face.”
Before Kionee reached her tipi, Night Walker halted her and said, “You must not endanger yourself; your family has great need for you alive. I have great need for you alive; I will make those words clear before snow blankets our land once more. You are brave and skilled, Kionee, but do not become bold and foolish. If there is fighting to be done, I will do your part.”
“I did not seek a battle this sun or on any sun, Night Walker. My friend has joined Atah and my heart is sad, so speak no more words.” She moved past him and entered her tipi to grieve for Sumba. Maja snuggled close to her on the sitting mat and offered his friend comfort. “She is gone, Maja,” Kionee whispered into the wolf’s ear. “I could not save her. She will never know the joys of love and mating, or bear children; that should not be so. I will miss her, for she was my best friend behind you and Regim. Protect her and guide her feet to you, Atah.”
The peace-talkers sent to Red Plume and Long Hair returned with words which relieved and elated the Hanuevas, but the two men sent to Swift Crane’s camp never returned, if they reached it alive…
The weather became unusually warm in the day and almost balmy at night. The remaining snow melted and trees and grasses flourished in green splendor. Scrubs and plants sprouted in abundance; yellow bell, fireweed, spring beauty, snow lily, arrowleaf, and others were gathered for food. Birds and animals returned and sought mates. Insects did the same.
But the glorious weather coaxed more and more Crow to hunt and scout too close to the mouth of the Wind River Canyon. Guards were a routine sight around the Hanueva camp, and a warning system was ready for speedy use. Kionee and her people also hunted and scouted, but in larger groups than usual and with great caution. Whenever Crow tribesmen were sighted, they were avoided; whenever they were encountered, Hanueva made signs of peace and left that location. So far, no more attacks or raids had come. Still, the Hanueva could not relax or trust their enemies, though two bands had sworn peace and appeared to be honoring their word during chance meetings. It was concluded the band they should fear was Swift Crane’s, the one Night Walker and Little Weasel yearned to challenge.
Several days and nights had passed in rigid alert and increasing edginess when Kionee was heading to take over Goes Ahead’s guard position. Along the way, she met the sister of Blowing Rain, who was mate to Red Bull. The young female was frantic as she halted Kionee to relate that she and Blowing Rain had been gathering wood and plants when her sister’s baby decided it was time to be born, fast and on that spot.
“Go for help. I will guard Blowing Rain. You are too far from camp,” Kionee scolded. She did not have to ask the pregnant woman’s location, as shrieks of pain and fear were loud in that direction. “Go! Hurry! If enemies are close, they will hear her cries and follow them.”
As Kionee neared the scene, she heard sounds which halted her for a few moments as they warned her of grave peril. She whispered cautions to Maja, who already had detected the problem and come to full alert.
Kionee listened: a grizzly was making its way toward the helpless woman. She saw bushes shake as the great beast passed them and left the trees upriver. The huge creature had a dark and sleek skin, and appeared deceptively slow and lazy. Its nose was dirty from work in the earth. Its mouth was open, pink gums and long white teeth in view. She knew from experience that the enormous and deadly bear could charge across that shallow water and attack either her or Red Bull’s wife with ease. Kionee watched the back muscles ripple and hunch beneath the protrusion between its powerful shoulders. She saw the animal stand to sniff the air, to listen, and to get a view of his intended meal. She noticed the claw scrapings on nearby trees at
heights of seven feet, a bad sign. Rotting logs revealed teeth and claw marks where the bear had foraged for insects and chipmunks earlier in the day. She knew the bear could not be outrun; and running usually provoked an attack. Fortunately, Kionee did not see any cubs, as. a sow would be more threatening than a foraging male.
Kionee and Maja worked their way between the grizzly and Blowing Rain. She motioned to the suffering woman to remain silent and still to avoid luring the awesome predator to her vulnerable position. Obviously the baby’s birth could not be slowed or stopped, and soon its wail of life would entice the threat closer. Kionee had her weapons ready, as she must defend Blowing Rain with her own life if necessary. She sighted several squirrels across the river and wounded two with hopes those noises would cause the bear to reverse his movements to inspect them.
The grizzly paused for a few moments, glanced toward the fussing squirrels, then continued onward toward the Hanuevans’ location. The bear halted five tree heights away and looked at Kionee, Maja, and the woman on the ground. He made a bluff run at them using a short burst of speed at a loping gait. When they remained still and quiet, he seemed to debate whether to leave them alone or attack. Kionee knew he was testing them as a threat and assessing their strengths. He would not charge unless he was certain he could defeat them or they threatened him. Kionee guessed he was about to ignore them and depart, but Blowing Rain could not suppress a scream of anguish as the infant’s head surged from her body and its shoulders tried to free themselves.
Kionee saw the grizzly stretch his thick neck, flatten his ears, assume a stiff-legged challenging stance, and glare at them: all ominous signs. He shook his massive body and growled his change of mind about leaving. Kionee watched in alarm as the fierce predator lowered his head and ran toward them at full speed, a target too huge to take down with one or several arrows.
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