Post by storytime on Jul 9, 2006 9:23:34 GMT -5
BAND OF THE HAWK by Sid Smith
Chapter One: The Quest
Runs Far Without Water sat on Knows Tomorrow’s grass filled deerskin with more than a little trepidation. Knows Tomorrow was the band’s Shaman. He wore a buffalo skin over his slim, angular form and was shaking a gourd filled with his personal medicine of animal bones and hair, along with sacred rocks and arrowheads.
His name, Knows tomorrow, came from his ability to predict when the hunters would find the elusive forest buffalo, but more important, Knows tomorrow knew when the Monwoks might attack.
Runs Far Without Water had seen nearly 16 summers and today was the most important day of his life. Knows Tomorrow had put the deerskin very close to the campfire and had commanded Runs Far Without Water to sit on it facing the campfire while he danced around the campfire chanting. So far, he had put none of the sacred red ochre on Runs Far Without Water’s back or chest. None would go on his face, that would wait for his first war party, but if Knows tomorrow did not paint his back and chest it would mean that the Spirits had turned down his Quest. He would then have to return, in shame, and remain with the women and children. That he could not bear. Bravely Limps and Head Basher, who were both only three moons older, had already completed their Quest and had been given their warrior names.
Head Basher had been given two names. Following his quest, he had been called Wolf That Howls. That name had come because he had told how a Wolf had come to him during his Quest, and had stayed with him for two days howling. When Knows Tomorrow and the other warriors had heard this, they had disbelieved his Quest and he was about to be sent back to the women, when, suddenly, a howling started in the forest and continued throughout most of the night. The next day Head basher had been given his name and had been admitted to the Warrior Society.
Only two moons later, Knows Tomorrow foretold a Monwok raid and Wolf that Howls had been on guard outside the campground when he spied a Monwok scout. He had snuck behind him and killed him with a single blow of his war club. Wolf That Howls had saved the People from a sneak attack by the Monwoks and was regarded now as a warrior. He also was given the name Head Basher, which he could choose to use instead of Wolf That Howls. Of the two names, he had quickly chosen Head Basher. Runs Far Without Water had thought that unwise, since the wolf spirit had wisdom and might now desert him. When he mentioned this to Head Basher, Head Basher had said, “ let the old ones be wise, I will be fierce in battle and be known as Head Basher.”
Bravely Limps had been very lucky. His Quest had shown him a vision of a warrior who, despite a leg wound, had defended his retreating tribe against a larger war party. No one had questioned his vision, since the People had been defeated by larger tribes many times. It would be good to have a warrior who might linger to slow down the enemy. This was very fortunate for Bravely Limps. Had Knows Tomorrow and the Warrior Society not believed his quest, he would have to repeat it, or worse, join the women for life.
This had happened only two summers ago. Young Deer had set out on his quest but had returned after only two days. He told a tale of being hunted by wolves and never seeing the Lake of Still Waters. He said he had gotten lost and only found his way back to the campground by accident. Nevertheless, he had related a vision during which he saw a cliff of hard black rock with war clubs embedded in it. He had not been admitted to the Warrior Society, yet he did not repeat his Quest.
The warriors rarely spoke to him. Now, nearing his nineteenth winter, he spent his time chipping arrowheads, and ate with the women. Knows Tomorrow often gave him meat however, and although they never spoke of it, the warriors wondered why the old Shaman was so generous. There were even more astonished looks when Knows tomorrow gave Young Deer the adult, but not warrior, name of Black Rock. There was no feasting to celebrate the naming, but thereafter, Black Rock shared the Shamans lodge and spent no more time with the women. Instead, he would often wander far, alone, saying that he was looking for his namesake. He had been gone for over three days now as Runs Far Without Water sat listening to the Shaman’s chants.
Knows Tomorrow stopped dancing. Shaking his head and muttering, he began to paint Runs Far Without Water’s back and chest. After Knows Tomorrow had finished painting the lightning streaks, circles, and arrows on Runs Far Without Water, he threw tobacco into the campfire and began the sacred chants to the six directions, up, down, north, south, west, and east. The chants to the east were the most important. The spirits of the east had been angry with the People for a long time. They had sent powerful tribes against the People and those tribes were pushing the People west and south, into new lands that the People didn’t know. In spite of the chanting, the burnt offering of tobacco and meat, and the blood letting of the women, the spirits had not relented. The Monwoks, a large and fierce tribe, still plagued the People.
Finally, Runs Far Without Water rose, and taking only his stone knife, his bow, a quiver of arrows, and his medicine pouch, he walked from the village. He would walk to the Lake of Still Water, climb the cliff on the west side of the lake and sit on a ledge facing east. There he would start a small fire, burn tobacco, and begin his Quest chant. He would not eat or drink for three days as he awaited his vision and his spirit guide.
As he walked from the village, he was careful not to look back. If he looked back before he had found his place on the ledge, his Quest would be ruined. To look back would mean that he wanted to remain a child, the women would laugh at him and he would never become a warrior. The best he would have to look forward to would to become a craftsman, making tools, sewing skins for shelter, or making bows. He could never take a women, unless she had been dishonored or disfigured, and he would never sit in council. Passing the last lodge, he broke into a distance consuming jog which he could continue for the rest of the day without tiring.
The first hint of the cold time was in the wind as it brushed his face while he ran. In another moon, the time of snow would be upon the land. This year it would also be a time of want. The frequent attacks by the Monwoks and the constant moving of the campground to flee them, had given the People little time to hunt and prepare meat for the winter. The cold time would bring a great winter kill upon the People unless they made a successful and large hunt, and made it very soon.
Runs Far Without Water was still in his jog as the Sun sought its lodge in the west. He was brought to a sudden stop by a movement in the woods ahead of him. A great black wolf emerged from the green and brown tangle of the trees and vegetation. It stopped directly in Runs Far Without Water’s path and stared at him, unblinking. Runs Far Without Water had never seen a wolf this large, the blackness of its coat seemed to him to have immeasurable depth. Then it bared its brilliantly white fangs and took a step toward him. Runs Far Without Water thought his Quest might end in the jaws of this seemingly supernatural beast, when suddenly it looked back into the woods from which it had come and bolted away! Runs Far Without Water followed the wolfs eyes and saw a massive brown form lumber away parallel to his path. He could not discern what it was, but he dropped to his knees and started a chant of thanksgiving for having been saved from the huge wolf. Finishing his chant, he rose and decided to walk the rest of the way to the Lake of Still Waters so that he could be more aware of what else might be in the woods. When he reached the lake and stood beneath the cliffs, the Sun had long ago found its lodge, but its brother, the Moon, was very bright in the sky. Runs Far Without Water started his climb.
The jagged rocks forming the cliff tore at his arms and knees as he worked his way up. Grabbing at what had seemed a solid hold, Runs Far Without Water felt that hold give way and he fell against and down the rocky face until he was saved by a root embedded in, but protruding from, the cliff. His right leg throbbed. He reached down to feel if it was broken and felt the warm ooze of his own blood. He put pressure on the leg and sharp, shooting pain engulfed him, but the leg held. It wasn’t broken. Very slowly now, he continued his climb. Even though the air had turned chilly, Runs Far Without Water was bathed in sweat as he inched up the cliff face. After an eternity of agony, he pulled himself up on the ledge he had pre-selected. Now, at last, he could turn back toward the east, as he sat, cross legged, and took out the twigs from his medicine pouch and started his fire. The fire could not be large enough to warm him, it couldn’t have been in any event, since the only fuel he had, he had brought with him in the small deerskin pouch that also contained his ceremonial tobacco.
Once the fire was established, he took the tobacco and sprinkled it over the flames as he started his chants. Later, the fire long burnt out, Runs Far Without Water tried to clear his mind of everything, pain, hunger, and thirst, as he prepared to receive both his vision and his Spirit Guide. The Sun rose and set with Runs Far Without Water never having moved. During the second night, he fell into a fevered sleep and dreamed. In his dream, he saw the monster wolf. It came from the east while another wolf, equal in size to the first, approached from the south. He heard a furious roar, and a great brown form appeared and took the shape of a bear. The bear bit and clawed the wolf from the south to death. The wolf from the east seemed to smile and the bear turned and started walking south. It turned after several steps and looked back at Runs Far Without Water and waited. Then it continued south for a few more lumbering steps and then stopped again and looked back. The wolf from the east did not advance. The dream ended when Runs far Without Water stood and began to follow the bear.
As the Sun lifted into the sky on the third day, Runs Far Without Water was slowly and painfully climbing down the cliff face. He had his vision and his spirit guide.
Runs Far Without Water didn’t near the campground until long after the Sun had set. The night was black with dark clouds shutting off the Moon’s light. Even though the air smelled of rain, he decided to find a place to sleep. He would enter the campground in the morning. That night the sky exploded with lightning, but no rain fell. Runs Far Without Water missed his robe and sleep did not come. Worry over whether his Quest would be accepted tormented him. As the morning light only dimly exposed the woodland through the clouds, he entered the camp. He hadn’t passed the first lodge before the rain came. As he neared Knows Tomorrows lodge, a brilliant bolt of lightning exploded and illuminated the Shaman standing in front of his lodge. Knows Tomorrow lifted the buffalo hide flap and Runs Far Without Water entered.
“Sit!”, Knows Tomorrow said, as he took his own place on several robes. Runs Far Without Water sat on the ground and waited for the Shaman to speak again. “What is your Spirit Guide?” Knows Tomorrow asked.
“A great brown bear”, Runs Far Without Water replied.
“And your vision?”
“I am to follow the bear south”
“Tell me”, the Shaman said.
Runs Far Without Water recounted his Quest experience in great detail, leaving nothing out. When he was finished, Knows Tomorrow gave him a cold joint of venison and a gourd of water, saying, “Eat now while I seek to speak with my spirits”. He sprinkled tobacco on his fire and tilted his head back, his eyes rolling back in his head as he began to softly chant. Runs Far Without Water had finished eating a long time ago, but he sat without speaking, waiting for the Shaman to come out of his trance. The rain beat heavily on the lodge and the lightning spoke loudly as he waited. Patience, a warrior had to have much patience, the young man told himself. The inside of the Shaman’s lodge was full of animal bones, ashes, stones, and arrowheads. All were stained with what seemed to be either dried blood or tobacco juice. The air was laden with foul smelling smoke and a human skull smiled at him. Two piles of buffalo robes were spread out to the left of the fire. One must be for Black Rock he thought. Knows Tomorrow finally rose and motioned Runs Far Without Water to follow him from the lodge. As they walked across the campground, the rain let up to a drizzle and the clouds began to part, letting down tunnels of sunlight. Knows Tomorrow stopped in front of the Warrior Society lodge. To Runs Far Without Water’s surprise, smoke was coming from the lodge hole and the lodge seemed to be full of the small band’s warriors. As they approached, Thunder Cloud emerged from the lodge and summoned Knows Tomorrow and Runs Far without Water inside.
The lodge of the Warriors Society was large enough to hold all twelve of the bands warriors comfortably. In the center of the circular lodge was a fire pit large enough to roast a deer. Rawhide straps pierced the walls of the lodge and from each strap hung the distinctive shield of a warrior. Each shield was decorated with the individuals warriors Spirit Guide painted in red ochre, further decorations in black, yellow, or blue, bespoke of the deeds of the owner. Surrounding the fire pit were buffalo robes and grass stuffed deer hides. The entrance to the lodge faced the east, as did all lodge flaps. Entering the lodge, the visitor would sit against the wall, awaiting being called to speak.
Now, Runs Far Without Water waited while Knows Tomorrow burnt tobacco in the fire pit and the other warriors sat and passed a long stemmed pipe from hand to hand. He waited longer as the Shaman related Runs Far Without Waters Quest. At last, Thunder Cloud, the bands chief, stood up and looked at Runs Far Without Water. “Come, and tell of your Quest”, he commanded.
Runs Far Without Water stood and walked to the fire pit. There, his leg still dripping blood, and his arms and chest red from his fall, he related everything from his departure from the campgrounds to his return on the morning of his fourth Quest day. Having finished, he left the lodge and sat outside the entrance.
Inside the Warriors Society lodge, Bravely Limps, Runs Far Without Water’s cousin, stood and spoke. “Our brother, Runs Far Without Water, has had a true Quest, he may enter our Society.”
Thunder Cloud spoke next, “I do not understand his vision. Is he to leave the band and travel south? If so what is it he shall seek?”
Head Basher rose, “I do not believe his quest. I think he fell from the cliff and never climbed to the ledge. Did you see his leg? After such a wound, even I could not climb to the ledge” .
Swift Canoe laughed, “You are mighty in battle, Head Basher, but lazy in all other things. I believe his Quest is true”.
Finds Deer in Winter Spoke, “I too feel his Quest is true, but what of his vision? Does he now go to the south?”
“Perhaps we are to follow him.”, Thunder Cloud mused.
“He is untested in battle, who would follow him? I would not.” , said Head Basher.
Knows Tomorrow rose, “It was his vision, only his Spirit Guide knows when he must go south. When he does, it will be up to each warrior to stay or to follow. I believe his Quest is true. His name shall be Follows the Bear.”
War cries burst from the Warrior’s Society lodge and the men poured out yelling “Welcome our brother, Follows the Bear! Welcome, prepare for the feast, welcome Follows the Bear!” Bravely Limps stood beside Follows the Bear and said “Come to my lodge, cousin, and rest. Tonight we will feast!”
Chapter One: The Quest
Runs Far Without Water sat on Knows Tomorrow’s grass filled deerskin with more than a little trepidation. Knows Tomorrow was the band’s Shaman. He wore a buffalo skin over his slim, angular form and was shaking a gourd filled with his personal medicine of animal bones and hair, along with sacred rocks and arrowheads.
His name, Knows tomorrow, came from his ability to predict when the hunters would find the elusive forest buffalo, but more important, Knows tomorrow knew when the Monwoks might attack.
Runs Far Without Water had seen nearly 16 summers and today was the most important day of his life. Knows Tomorrow had put the deerskin very close to the campfire and had commanded Runs Far Without Water to sit on it facing the campfire while he danced around the campfire chanting. So far, he had put none of the sacred red ochre on Runs Far Without Water’s back or chest. None would go on his face, that would wait for his first war party, but if Knows tomorrow did not paint his back and chest it would mean that the Spirits had turned down his Quest. He would then have to return, in shame, and remain with the women and children. That he could not bear. Bravely Limps and Head Basher, who were both only three moons older, had already completed their Quest and had been given their warrior names.
Head Basher had been given two names. Following his quest, he had been called Wolf That Howls. That name had come because he had told how a Wolf had come to him during his Quest, and had stayed with him for two days howling. When Knows Tomorrow and the other warriors had heard this, they had disbelieved his Quest and he was about to be sent back to the women, when, suddenly, a howling started in the forest and continued throughout most of the night. The next day Head basher had been given his name and had been admitted to the Warrior Society.
Only two moons later, Knows Tomorrow foretold a Monwok raid and Wolf that Howls had been on guard outside the campground when he spied a Monwok scout. He had snuck behind him and killed him with a single blow of his war club. Wolf That Howls had saved the People from a sneak attack by the Monwoks and was regarded now as a warrior. He also was given the name Head Basher, which he could choose to use instead of Wolf That Howls. Of the two names, he had quickly chosen Head Basher. Runs Far Without Water had thought that unwise, since the wolf spirit had wisdom and might now desert him. When he mentioned this to Head Basher, Head Basher had said, “ let the old ones be wise, I will be fierce in battle and be known as Head Basher.”
Bravely Limps had been very lucky. His Quest had shown him a vision of a warrior who, despite a leg wound, had defended his retreating tribe against a larger war party. No one had questioned his vision, since the People had been defeated by larger tribes many times. It would be good to have a warrior who might linger to slow down the enemy. This was very fortunate for Bravely Limps. Had Knows Tomorrow and the Warrior Society not believed his quest, he would have to repeat it, or worse, join the women for life.
This had happened only two summers ago. Young Deer had set out on his quest but had returned after only two days. He told a tale of being hunted by wolves and never seeing the Lake of Still Waters. He said he had gotten lost and only found his way back to the campground by accident. Nevertheless, he had related a vision during which he saw a cliff of hard black rock with war clubs embedded in it. He had not been admitted to the Warrior Society, yet he did not repeat his Quest.
The warriors rarely spoke to him. Now, nearing his nineteenth winter, he spent his time chipping arrowheads, and ate with the women. Knows Tomorrow often gave him meat however, and although they never spoke of it, the warriors wondered why the old Shaman was so generous. There were even more astonished looks when Knows tomorrow gave Young Deer the adult, but not warrior, name of Black Rock. There was no feasting to celebrate the naming, but thereafter, Black Rock shared the Shamans lodge and spent no more time with the women. Instead, he would often wander far, alone, saying that he was looking for his namesake. He had been gone for over three days now as Runs Far Without Water sat listening to the Shaman’s chants.
Knows Tomorrow stopped dancing. Shaking his head and muttering, he began to paint Runs Far Without Water’s back and chest. After Knows Tomorrow had finished painting the lightning streaks, circles, and arrows on Runs Far Without Water, he threw tobacco into the campfire and began the sacred chants to the six directions, up, down, north, south, west, and east. The chants to the east were the most important. The spirits of the east had been angry with the People for a long time. They had sent powerful tribes against the People and those tribes were pushing the People west and south, into new lands that the People didn’t know. In spite of the chanting, the burnt offering of tobacco and meat, and the blood letting of the women, the spirits had not relented. The Monwoks, a large and fierce tribe, still plagued the People.
Finally, Runs Far Without Water rose, and taking only his stone knife, his bow, a quiver of arrows, and his medicine pouch, he walked from the village. He would walk to the Lake of Still Water, climb the cliff on the west side of the lake and sit on a ledge facing east. There he would start a small fire, burn tobacco, and begin his Quest chant. He would not eat or drink for three days as he awaited his vision and his spirit guide.
As he walked from the village, he was careful not to look back. If he looked back before he had found his place on the ledge, his Quest would be ruined. To look back would mean that he wanted to remain a child, the women would laugh at him and he would never become a warrior. The best he would have to look forward to would to become a craftsman, making tools, sewing skins for shelter, or making bows. He could never take a women, unless she had been dishonored or disfigured, and he would never sit in council. Passing the last lodge, he broke into a distance consuming jog which he could continue for the rest of the day without tiring.
The first hint of the cold time was in the wind as it brushed his face while he ran. In another moon, the time of snow would be upon the land. This year it would also be a time of want. The frequent attacks by the Monwoks and the constant moving of the campground to flee them, had given the People little time to hunt and prepare meat for the winter. The cold time would bring a great winter kill upon the People unless they made a successful and large hunt, and made it very soon.
Runs Far Without Water was still in his jog as the Sun sought its lodge in the west. He was brought to a sudden stop by a movement in the woods ahead of him. A great black wolf emerged from the green and brown tangle of the trees and vegetation. It stopped directly in Runs Far Without Water’s path and stared at him, unblinking. Runs Far Without Water had never seen a wolf this large, the blackness of its coat seemed to him to have immeasurable depth. Then it bared its brilliantly white fangs and took a step toward him. Runs Far Without Water thought his Quest might end in the jaws of this seemingly supernatural beast, when suddenly it looked back into the woods from which it had come and bolted away! Runs Far Without Water followed the wolfs eyes and saw a massive brown form lumber away parallel to his path. He could not discern what it was, but he dropped to his knees and started a chant of thanksgiving for having been saved from the huge wolf. Finishing his chant, he rose and decided to walk the rest of the way to the Lake of Still Waters so that he could be more aware of what else might be in the woods. When he reached the lake and stood beneath the cliffs, the Sun had long ago found its lodge, but its brother, the Moon, was very bright in the sky. Runs Far Without Water started his climb.
The jagged rocks forming the cliff tore at his arms and knees as he worked his way up. Grabbing at what had seemed a solid hold, Runs Far Without Water felt that hold give way and he fell against and down the rocky face until he was saved by a root embedded in, but protruding from, the cliff. His right leg throbbed. He reached down to feel if it was broken and felt the warm ooze of his own blood. He put pressure on the leg and sharp, shooting pain engulfed him, but the leg held. It wasn’t broken. Very slowly now, he continued his climb. Even though the air had turned chilly, Runs Far Without Water was bathed in sweat as he inched up the cliff face. After an eternity of agony, he pulled himself up on the ledge he had pre-selected. Now, at last, he could turn back toward the east, as he sat, cross legged, and took out the twigs from his medicine pouch and started his fire. The fire could not be large enough to warm him, it couldn’t have been in any event, since the only fuel he had, he had brought with him in the small deerskin pouch that also contained his ceremonial tobacco.
Once the fire was established, he took the tobacco and sprinkled it over the flames as he started his chants. Later, the fire long burnt out, Runs Far Without Water tried to clear his mind of everything, pain, hunger, and thirst, as he prepared to receive both his vision and his Spirit Guide. The Sun rose and set with Runs Far Without Water never having moved. During the second night, he fell into a fevered sleep and dreamed. In his dream, he saw the monster wolf. It came from the east while another wolf, equal in size to the first, approached from the south. He heard a furious roar, and a great brown form appeared and took the shape of a bear. The bear bit and clawed the wolf from the south to death. The wolf from the east seemed to smile and the bear turned and started walking south. It turned after several steps and looked back at Runs Far Without Water and waited. Then it continued south for a few more lumbering steps and then stopped again and looked back. The wolf from the east did not advance. The dream ended when Runs far Without Water stood and began to follow the bear.
As the Sun lifted into the sky on the third day, Runs Far Without Water was slowly and painfully climbing down the cliff face. He had his vision and his spirit guide.
Runs Far Without Water didn’t near the campground until long after the Sun had set. The night was black with dark clouds shutting off the Moon’s light. Even though the air smelled of rain, he decided to find a place to sleep. He would enter the campground in the morning. That night the sky exploded with lightning, but no rain fell. Runs Far Without Water missed his robe and sleep did not come. Worry over whether his Quest would be accepted tormented him. As the morning light only dimly exposed the woodland through the clouds, he entered the camp. He hadn’t passed the first lodge before the rain came. As he neared Knows Tomorrows lodge, a brilliant bolt of lightning exploded and illuminated the Shaman standing in front of his lodge. Knows Tomorrow lifted the buffalo hide flap and Runs Far Without Water entered.
“Sit!”, Knows Tomorrow said, as he took his own place on several robes. Runs Far Without Water sat on the ground and waited for the Shaman to speak again. “What is your Spirit Guide?” Knows Tomorrow asked.
“A great brown bear”, Runs Far Without Water replied.
“And your vision?”
“I am to follow the bear south”
“Tell me”, the Shaman said.
Runs Far Without Water recounted his Quest experience in great detail, leaving nothing out. When he was finished, Knows Tomorrow gave him a cold joint of venison and a gourd of water, saying, “Eat now while I seek to speak with my spirits”. He sprinkled tobacco on his fire and tilted his head back, his eyes rolling back in his head as he began to softly chant. Runs Far Without Water had finished eating a long time ago, but he sat without speaking, waiting for the Shaman to come out of his trance. The rain beat heavily on the lodge and the lightning spoke loudly as he waited. Patience, a warrior had to have much patience, the young man told himself. The inside of the Shaman’s lodge was full of animal bones, ashes, stones, and arrowheads. All were stained with what seemed to be either dried blood or tobacco juice. The air was laden with foul smelling smoke and a human skull smiled at him. Two piles of buffalo robes were spread out to the left of the fire. One must be for Black Rock he thought. Knows Tomorrow finally rose and motioned Runs Far Without Water to follow him from the lodge. As they walked across the campground, the rain let up to a drizzle and the clouds began to part, letting down tunnels of sunlight. Knows Tomorrow stopped in front of the Warrior Society lodge. To Runs Far Without Water’s surprise, smoke was coming from the lodge hole and the lodge seemed to be full of the small band’s warriors. As they approached, Thunder Cloud emerged from the lodge and summoned Knows Tomorrow and Runs Far without Water inside.
The lodge of the Warriors Society was large enough to hold all twelve of the bands warriors comfortably. In the center of the circular lodge was a fire pit large enough to roast a deer. Rawhide straps pierced the walls of the lodge and from each strap hung the distinctive shield of a warrior. Each shield was decorated with the individuals warriors Spirit Guide painted in red ochre, further decorations in black, yellow, or blue, bespoke of the deeds of the owner. Surrounding the fire pit were buffalo robes and grass stuffed deer hides. The entrance to the lodge faced the east, as did all lodge flaps. Entering the lodge, the visitor would sit against the wall, awaiting being called to speak.
Now, Runs Far Without Water waited while Knows Tomorrow burnt tobacco in the fire pit and the other warriors sat and passed a long stemmed pipe from hand to hand. He waited longer as the Shaman related Runs Far Without Waters Quest. At last, Thunder Cloud, the bands chief, stood up and looked at Runs Far Without Water. “Come, and tell of your Quest”, he commanded.
Runs Far Without Water stood and walked to the fire pit. There, his leg still dripping blood, and his arms and chest red from his fall, he related everything from his departure from the campgrounds to his return on the morning of his fourth Quest day. Having finished, he left the lodge and sat outside the entrance.
Inside the Warriors Society lodge, Bravely Limps, Runs Far Without Water’s cousin, stood and spoke. “Our brother, Runs Far Without Water, has had a true Quest, he may enter our Society.”
Thunder Cloud spoke next, “I do not understand his vision. Is he to leave the band and travel south? If so what is it he shall seek?”
Head Basher rose, “I do not believe his quest. I think he fell from the cliff and never climbed to the ledge. Did you see his leg? After such a wound, even I could not climb to the ledge” .
Swift Canoe laughed, “You are mighty in battle, Head Basher, but lazy in all other things. I believe his Quest is true”.
Finds Deer in Winter Spoke, “I too feel his Quest is true, but what of his vision? Does he now go to the south?”
“Perhaps we are to follow him.”, Thunder Cloud mused.
“He is untested in battle, who would follow him? I would not.” , said Head Basher.
Knows Tomorrow rose, “It was his vision, only his Spirit Guide knows when he must go south. When he does, it will be up to each warrior to stay or to follow. I believe his Quest is true. His name shall be Follows the Bear.”
War cries burst from the Warrior’s Society lodge and the men poured out yelling “Welcome our brother, Follows the Bear! Welcome, prepare for the feast, welcome Follows the Bear!” Bravely Limps stood beside Follows the Bear and said “Come to my lodge, cousin, and rest. Tonight we will feast!”
this have at it! I'm not at all thin skinned.
and 
all
time for me 
echoes, hope you all are doing well 
