Post by storytime on Jul 9, 2006 11:09:14 GMT -5
Chapter two: The War Club
After Follows the Bear’s naming feast, the Peoples food supply was nearly exhausted. The band had little more than three days food. The warriors met in the Warrior Society’s lodge to discuss a hunt.
Thunder Cloud opened the discussion with a question.
“The cold time comes soon, we have no meat prepared, what is to be done?”
Finds Deer in Winter said, “We must go on a long hunt, we’ll have to hunt throughout the cold time. Perhaps we can take enough fish from the streams to dry for the winter. Did not Bravely limps say that he saw much fish on the drying racks of the Monwoks when he scouted their camp?”
“There was much fish, venison and buffalo too.” replied Bravely Limps.
“How can they have prepared so much food when they spend so much time fighting us?” asked Follows the Buffalo.
“We have but a few more than two hands of warriors. The Monwoks have many times that number. They can send hunters out and warriors out at the same time.” answered Thunder Cloud.
Sees as a Hawk asked, “Is it not time for the buffalo hunt?”
“How can we hunt the same buffalo as the Monwoks? They will see us and destroy us. They will send all of their warriors out for the big buffalo hunt.” Dark Buffalo complained.
“Worse, if we make a good hunt, the Monwoks will steal it.” observed Red Crow.
“We must take the women and children with us whatever we do. We can not leave them undefended.” said Eagle Claw.
“Maybe we should move south to find game.” Red Crow mused.
“Did not Follows the Bear’s vision say as much? We must find new hunting grounds.” said Dark Buffalo.
“We should not leave the other bands of the People.” Thunder Cloud insisted.
“Why do we not join with other bands and become stronger so that we may destroy the Monwoks?” Head Basher growled.
“They always say they will join with us when we meet for the summer campfire,” Running Fox said, “then they drift away.”
“This is the right of any of the People,” said Knows Tomorrow, “all go or stay as each sees fit.”
Yellow Feather stood, he looked at Knows Tomorrow and asked, “What of you, Shaman? Have you seen tomorrow as your name promises?”
“I have not asked my spirit guide, I have not smoked the vision leafs. Tonight I will do so, tomorrow I will speak.” announced Knows Tomorrow as he rose and left the council.
As the other warriors left the lodge, Bravely Limps put his hand on the shoulder of Follows the Bear, “Cousin, you shall come to my lodge until you have taken a woman and gathered your own lodge.” he said.
“Thank you!” Follows the Bear said, “it will be good to see more of you and Walks far with a fist. Is she with child yet?”
“No and that is well. Now is not the time for child bearing.”
“I wonder, what is this time for?” mused Follows the Bear.
“I believe in your vision, I believe we must travel south and find new hunting grounds.”
“But if we leave without food, we will starve. The movement of the band will scare away the game and we will not know where to hunt in the southern lands.” replied Follows the Bear.
“We could send scouts ahead.” said Bravely Limps.
“There may not be enough time before the cold and winter moons to scout and return,” said Follows the Bear, “we must find a safe campground now, before the cold, and it must be safe from the Monwoks.”
“Then we stay here until spring.” said Bravely Limps.
“Then we will starve here, the Monwoks will have all the game and may attack and kill us all.” Follows the Bear gloomily answered.
“Perhaps Knows Tomorrow will have a good vision and tell us what to do. Here is my lodge, we have venison, We will eat, and tonight, we will not worry.” Bravely Limps said.
Walks far with a Fist greeted them. She had received her name one summer when, as a child of only twelve summers, she had tracked a family whose daughter had taken one of her deerskins, found them, recovered her deerskin, and threatened the whole family with her fists. Her father had been very proud of her and had even jokingly suggested to Knows Tomorrow that he admit her into the Warriors Society. Now, she smiled warmly at the two warriors as she led them in the lodge and filled two gourd bowls with venison stew.
The next morning, Follows the Bear was sitting in front of Bravely Limps lodge when Black Rock returned to the campground. He was carrying two black objects that seemed to catch the rays of the sun and glitter. Black Rock stopped in front of Knows Tomorrows lodge and sat down. Then he began to strike the two black objects together. Follows the bear walked over to him and said “You have found your namesake.” Black Rock did not reply. “Perhaps your vision was true.” Follows the Bear continued.
“The vision is of no consequence to me,” Black Rock replied, “I have found that which I sought. Soon, Knows Tomorrow will have a war club that can not be broken or defeated. It will become sacred and will defend our band, and I will keep my name, and I will not enter the lodge of those who refused me.”
“If that is to be, your name will exceed all others.” Follows the Bear declared.
Black Rock rose and said, “If what I say comes to be, and if my name becomes great, I will not forget you, Follows the Bear.”
Follows the Bear laughed, “Even if nothing comes of this, I will remember you, Black Rock. And when I take a woman and gather a lodge, you will be welcome in it.”
Knows Tomorrow, who had been listening from within his lodge, came out and said, “Are you not foolish, Follows the Bear? You would pledge friendship to one who can not enter the lodge of the Society. You would pledge friendship to one who does not eat with the warriors, but only with the women or the Shaman?”
Follows the Bear stepped back and said, “I am of the People. No one can tell me with whom I may be friends. No one can tell me with whom I may eat or have enter my lodge.” Then, fearful of having spoken so boldly and sharply to the powerful Shaman, he turned and walked back to the lodge of Bravely Limps.
Knows Tomorrow looked at Black Rock, who had seemed to ignore the exchange between the two warriors, and said, “How do you know the war club is to be mine?”
“Perhaps it is to be yours first.” replied the craftsman.
Knows Tomorrow turned and walked toward the Warriors Society lodge, calling out, “It is time for council!”
The flaps of the bands lodges opened as the warriors emerged and followed their Shaman to the Warriors Society. Within a short time the warriors were seated around the fire pit and waited for Thunder Cloud to light the ceremonial flame and offer burnt tobacco to the spirits.
Thunder Cloud entered the lodge and lit the fire pit. Then he scattered tobacco into the fire and lit the ceremonial long pipe. Thunder Cloud drew on it a few times and passed it to Knows Tomorrow who did the same before passing the pipe to the next warrior. After all had smoked, Thunder Cloud looked at Knows Tomorrow and asked, “Shaman, did the spirits visit you last night?”
“My vision was both cloudy and clear.” said the Shaman. “At first it was clear, and I saw the People in canoes and on land as we moved to the south. No one pursued us and our hearts were light. There was food. There was a new campground, and it was good. Then my vision became cloudy. I heard, rather than saw, much argument. Two warriors, I know not who, were absent. There was fighting, then I was swept away by quick water. Then I awoke.”
“This is a puzzle!” exclaimed Red Crow.
“Was there a successful hunt?” asked Finds Deer in Winter.
“I saw no hunt.” Knows Tomorrow answered, “But that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”
Thunder Cloud rose. “I too dreamt.” he announced. “We were in a new hunting ground, but I wanted to leave and no one would follow.”
“I do not wish to leave these hunting grounds!” Head Basher shouted. “I wish to kill the Monwoks and drive them from our land!”
“We are too few.” answered Thunder Cloud.
“Do we hunt or flee?” asked Running Fox.
“We fight!” Head Basher yelled.
Yellow Feather, one of the older warriors, and one known for his wisdom, spoke, ”Perhaps we may do all three. First we fight, then we flee, then we hunt.”
“Do you try to joke?” Dark Buffalo snarled.
“Is it not time for the big buffalo hunt?” Yellow Feather asked. “And will not the Monwoks send all of their warriors on the hunt?”
“I do not understand.” said Sees as a Hawk.
“Will not their women remain in camp while the hunters look for the buffalo? Will not all their warriors join the hunt?” Yellow Feather continued.
“Aieeee,” shouted Head Basher. “We will attack their camp, kill their women and their old, and steal their food after the hunters leave.”
“That is my plan.” Yellow Feather said.
“But what then?” Follows the Bear said. “When they discover what we have done they will send their warriors against us.”
“That is when we will flee.” said Yellow Feather.
“But we will have women and children with us and therefore we will not travel swiftly.
They will send only warriors. They will catch us and we will die.” said Bravely Limps.
Yellow Feather spoke, “We have canoes hidden on the bank of the River that Flows South. The women and the children will go to the canoes pulling travois to carry our lodges and the Monwok’s food. Some of our warriors will accompany them. The rest will go south on foot in two bands. We will leave many tracks for the Monwok war party.”
“Where will the women go?” asked Dark Buffalo.
“They will go to the Three Islands.” Yellow Feather answered. “We will all meet at the Three Islands in six suns.”
“But what if the Monwok war party see that the tracks of the travois all go in one direction and decide to follow those tracks?” Bravely Limps asked.
“The women will find the canoes even before the Monwoks start their pursuit.” Yellow Feather said, “After the attack, their women will run to them and they will hold council. They will not know that we plan to flee south. They will dance and smoke pipes. They will decide who will hunt and who will pursue us. It will be two suns before they start their pursuit.”
“Yellow Feather, your spirit guide should have been the Coyote!” Thunder Cloud said.
“This is truly the plan of a trickster!”
“We should not kill their women, their children, or their old during the attack.” Knows Tomorrow said.
“Why not?” demanded Head Basher.
“That way,” continued Knows Tomorrow, “they will chase only food and not blood revenge. Their anger will pass more quickly and they may not pursue us as far.”
The discussion continued until the Sun sought its lodge. Finally, all agreed on the plan.
Bravely Limps said he would go and scout the Monwok’s camp to see when their hunting party left for the buffalo hunt. That night, with the promise of a successful raid and the capture of the Monwok’s food, there was feasting in the campground of The Band of the Hawk.
The next morning, the women began to pack their lodges and belongings on to travois while the warriors built more travois to carry the soon to be stolen food.
Also, that morning, Black Rock presented Knows Tomorrow with a beautiful shinning black war club.
After Follows the Bear’s naming feast, the Peoples food supply was nearly exhausted. The band had little more than three days food. The warriors met in the Warrior Society’s lodge to discuss a hunt.
Thunder Cloud opened the discussion with a question.
“The cold time comes soon, we have no meat prepared, what is to be done?”
Finds Deer in Winter said, “We must go on a long hunt, we’ll have to hunt throughout the cold time. Perhaps we can take enough fish from the streams to dry for the winter. Did not Bravely limps say that he saw much fish on the drying racks of the Monwoks when he scouted their camp?”
“There was much fish, venison and buffalo too.” replied Bravely Limps.
“How can they have prepared so much food when they spend so much time fighting us?” asked Follows the Buffalo.
“We have but a few more than two hands of warriors. The Monwoks have many times that number. They can send hunters out and warriors out at the same time.” answered Thunder Cloud.
Sees as a Hawk asked, “Is it not time for the buffalo hunt?”
“How can we hunt the same buffalo as the Monwoks? They will see us and destroy us. They will send all of their warriors out for the big buffalo hunt.” Dark Buffalo complained.
“Worse, if we make a good hunt, the Monwoks will steal it.” observed Red Crow.
“We must take the women and children with us whatever we do. We can not leave them undefended.” said Eagle Claw.
“Maybe we should move south to find game.” Red Crow mused.
“Did not Follows the Bear’s vision say as much? We must find new hunting grounds.” said Dark Buffalo.
“We should not leave the other bands of the People.” Thunder Cloud insisted.
“Why do we not join with other bands and become stronger so that we may destroy the Monwoks?” Head Basher growled.
“They always say they will join with us when we meet for the summer campfire,” Running Fox said, “then they drift away.”
“This is the right of any of the People,” said Knows Tomorrow, “all go or stay as each sees fit.”
Yellow Feather stood, he looked at Knows Tomorrow and asked, “What of you, Shaman? Have you seen tomorrow as your name promises?”
“I have not asked my spirit guide, I have not smoked the vision leafs. Tonight I will do so, tomorrow I will speak.” announced Knows Tomorrow as he rose and left the council.
As the other warriors left the lodge, Bravely Limps put his hand on the shoulder of Follows the Bear, “Cousin, you shall come to my lodge until you have taken a woman and gathered your own lodge.” he said.
“Thank you!” Follows the Bear said, “it will be good to see more of you and Walks far with a fist. Is she with child yet?”
“No and that is well. Now is not the time for child bearing.”
“I wonder, what is this time for?” mused Follows the Bear.
“I believe in your vision, I believe we must travel south and find new hunting grounds.”
“But if we leave without food, we will starve. The movement of the band will scare away the game and we will not know where to hunt in the southern lands.” replied Follows the Bear.
“We could send scouts ahead.” said Bravely Limps.
“There may not be enough time before the cold and winter moons to scout and return,” said Follows the Bear, “we must find a safe campground now, before the cold, and it must be safe from the Monwoks.”
“Then we stay here until spring.” said Bravely Limps.
“Then we will starve here, the Monwoks will have all the game and may attack and kill us all.” Follows the Bear gloomily answered.
“Perhaps Knows Tomorrow will have a good vision and tell us what to do. Here is my lodge, we have venison, We will eat, and tonight, we will not worry.” Bravely Limps said.
Walks far with a Fist greeted them. She had received her name one summer when, as a child of only twelve summers, she had tracked a family whose daughter had taken one of her deerskins, found them, recovered her deerskin, and threatened the whole family with her fists. Her father had been very proud of her and had even jokingly suggested to Knows Tomorrow that he admit her into the Warriors Society. Now, she smiled warmly at the two warriors as she led them in the lodge and filled two gourd bowls with venison stew.
The next morning, Follows the Bear was sitting in front of Bravely Limps lodge when Black Rock returned to the campground. He was carrying two black objects that seemed to catch the rays of the sun and glitter. Black Rock stopped in front of Knows Tomorrows lodge and sat down. Then he began to strike the two black objects together. Follows the bear walked over to him and said “You have found your namesake.” Black Rock did not reply. “Perhaps your vision was true.” Follows the Bear continued.
“The vision is of no consequence to me,” Black Rock replied, “I have found that which I sought. Soon, Knows Tomorrow will have a war club that can not be broken or defeated. It will become sacred and will defend our band, and I will keep my name, and I will not enter the lodge of those who refused me.”
“If that is to be, your name will exceed all others.” Follows the Bear declared.
Black Rock rose and said, “If what I say comes to be, and if my name becomes great, I will not forget you, Follows the Bear.”
Follows the Bear laughed, “Even if nothing comes of this, I will remember you, Black Rock. And when I take a woman and gather a lodge, you will be welcome in it.”
Knows Tomorrow, who had been listening from within his lodge, came out and said, “Are you not foolish, Follows the Bear? You would pledge friendship to one who can not enter the lodge of the Society. You would pledge friendship to one who does not eat with the warriors, but only with the women or the Shaman?”
Follows the Bear stepped back and said, “I am of the People. No one can tell me with whom I may be friends. No one can tell me with whom I may eat or have enter my lodge.” Then, fearful of having spoken so boldly and sharply to the powerful Shaman, he turned and walked back to the lodge of Bravely Limps.
Knows Tomorrow looked at Black Rock, who had seemed to ignore the exchange between the two warriors, and said, “How do you know the war club is to be mine?”
“Perhaps it is to be yours first.” replied the craftsman.
Knows Tomorrow turned and walked toward the Warriors Society lodge, calling out, “It is time for council!”
The flaps of the bands lodges opened as the warriors emerged and followed their Shaman to the Warriors Society. Within a short time the warriors were seated around the fire pit and waited for Thunder Cloud to light the ceremonial flame and offer burnt tobacco to the spirits.
Thunder Cloud entered the lodge and lit the fire pit. Then he scattered tobacco into the fire and lit the ceremonial long pipe. Thunder Cloud drew on it a few times and passed it to Knows Tomorrow who did the same before passing the pipe to the next warrior. After all had smoked, Thunder Cloud looked at Knows Tomorrow and asked, “Shaman, did the spirits visit you last night?”
“My vision was both cloudy and clear.” said the Shaman. “At first it was clear, and I saw the People in canoes and on land as we moved to the south. No one pursued us and our hearts were light. There was food. There was a new campground, and it was good. Then my vision became cloudy. I heard, rather than saw, much argument. Two warriors, I know not who, were absent. There was fighting, then I was swept away by quick water. Then I awoke.”
“This is a puzzle!” exclaimed Red Crow.
“Was there a successful hunt?” asked Finds Deer in Winter.
“I saw no hunt.” Knows Tomorrow answered, “But that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”
Thunder Cloud rose. “I too dreamt.” he announced. “We were in a new hunting ground, but I wanted to leave and no one would follow.”
“I do not wish to leave these hunting grounds!” Head Basher shouted. “I wish to kill the Monwoks and drive them from our land!”
“We are too few.” answered Thunder Cloud.
“Do we hunt or flee?” asked Running Fox.
“We fight!” Head Basher yelled.
Yellow Feather, one of the older warriors, and one known for his wisdom, spoke, ”Perhaps we may do all three. First we fight, then we flee, then we hunt.”
“Do you try to joke?” Dark Buffalo snarled.
“Is it not time for the big buffalo hunt?” Yellow Feather asked. “And will not the Monwoks send all of their warriors on the hunt?”
“I do not understand.” said Sees as a Hawk.
“Will not their women remain in camp while the hunters look for the buffalo? Will not all their warriors join the hunt?” Yellow Feather continued.
“Aieeee,” shouted Head Basher. “We will attack their camp, kill their women and their old, and steal their food after the hunters leave.”
“That is my plan.” Yellow Feather said.
“But what then?” Follows the Bear said. “When they discover what we have done they will send their warriors against us.”
“That is when we will flee.” said Yellow Feather.
“But we will have women and children with us and therefore we will not travel swiftly.
They will send only warriors. They will catch us and we will die.” said Bravely Limps.
Yellow Feather spoke, “We have canoes hidden on the bank of the River that Flows South. The women and the children will go to the canoes pulling travois to carry our lodges and the Monwok’s food. Some of our warriors will accompany them. The rest will go south on foot in two bands. We will leave many tracks for the Monwok war party.”
“Where will the women go?” asked Dark Buffalo.
“They will go to the Three Islands.” Yellow Feather answered. “We will all meet at the Three Islands in six suns.”
“But what if the Monwok war party see that the tracks of the travois all go in one direction and decide to follow those tracks?” Bravely Limps asked.
“The women will find the canoes even before the Monwoks start their pursuit.” Yellow Feather said, “After the attack, their women will run to them and they will hold council. They will not know that we plan to flee south. They will dance and smoke pipes. They will decide who will hunt and who will pursue us. It will be two suns before they start their pursuit.”
“Yellow Feather, your spirit guide should have been the Coyote!” Thunder Cloud said.
“This is truly the plan of a trickster!”
“We should not kill their women, their children, or their old during the attack.” Knows Tomorrow said.
“Why not?” demanded Head Basher.
“That way,” continued Knows Tomorrow, “they will chase only food and not blood revenge. Their anger will pass more quickly and they may not pursue us as far.”
The discussion continued until the Sun sought its lodge. Finally, all agreed on the plan.
Bravely Limps said he would go and scout the Monwok’s camp to see when their hunting party left for the buffalo hunt. That night, with the promise of a successful raid and the capture of the Monwok’s food, there was feasting in the campground of The Band of the Hawk.
The next morning, the women began to pack their lodges and belongings on to travois while the warriors built more travois to carry the soon to be stolen food.
Also, that morning, Black Rock presented Knows Tomorrow with a beautiful shinning black war club.
and 
all
time for me 
echoes, hope you all are doing well 
