Dewdrops," Nahemana concurred with his young
grandson. "Your coming was foretold in my sacred vision and soon you
will ride a glorious trail with Wind Dancer to save our two peoples and
lands."
"I pray I am worthy of that challenge, Wise One, and I will not fail
in my duty to the Great Spirit, my husband, and our peoples."
Red Feather grinned. "Do not worry, Dewdrops, for my best friend
has seen your skills and courage and has boasted they are a match for any warrior's. I pray to be chosen to journey with you two on the
exciting task ahead."
"As do I," War Eagle added to Red Feather's remarks.
"When will the Great Spirit reveal what that task will be, Wise One,"
Chumani asked the shaman, "and when we will depart to begin it?"
"Soon, Dewdrops," Nahemana told her, "for the signs I saw in the
vision are close to those which cover the face of Mother Earth this sun."
"Will the hawk who lives and travels with Dewdrops be a part of
the sacred quest, Grandfather?" War Eagle asked.
"I do not know, but a hawk was in the visions and Wind Dancer
was told to paint one upon a new shield to carry."
After Red Feather questioned her about Cetan, Chumani answered
him with the same details she had revealed to her husband last night.
She glanced at the large bird who was perched in a pine tree nearby,
smiled, and finished with, "He is my friend and he will obey any
commands Wakantanka gives him."
"We have far to ride on the new sun, so you must eat before we
rest."
Chumani did as Wind Dancer suggested while the men continued
their talk about past battles with the Crow, then put away the remaining
food and added more wood to the lowered flames. When she returned
from excusing herself in bushes cloaked in shadows, she took her place
beside her husband upon their sleeping mat. Her feelings were mixed
when Wind Dancer cuddled up to her from behind, arranged a blanket
over her shoulders, and allowed his arm to rest over her waist. Between
the cover, his body heat, and her reaction to contact with him, she was
warm and cozy in many ways. Yet, she was tense from suppressed desire
and from wondering if his gentle behavior was genuine or only a pretense
before his family to dupe them about their relationship being a happy
one. She prayed another sleepless night would not follow the previous
one, and to her delight, it did not.
The five men and one woman approached the Red Shield camp late
the following afternoon.
Chumani's heart began to drum within her chest at the thought of
meeting the rest of his family, relatives, and people. As if he sensed her
apprehension, Wind Dancer moved his horse closer to hers, looked at
her, and smiled as if to encourage and comfort her. For a moment, she
felt lost in his captive gaze. Then she returned his smile before focusing
her eyes on the large encampment spread out before her where her new
home, new people, new life, and unknown destiny awaited her.
Chumani was elated by the genial welcome she received, as War Eagle
and Red Feather had ridden ahead to announce their approach. It was
as if the entire band enclosed their horses to greet them, to study her,
and to gaze in fascination at the large hawk which sat upon her shoulder
on a wide and thick leather strip to guard her flesh against accidental
pricks from his sharp talons. Several times she lifted her hand to stroke
Cetan's chest and to speak soothing words to him as he flexed his claws
and jerked his head about, as he was uneasy amidst the unfamiliar
crowd. As their gazes shifted from her and Cetan to the two symbolsa yellow dewdrop and brown hawk-painted upon Wind Dancer's new
shield, she overheard several of the Big Bellys remark on the accuracy
and "big medicine" of the sacred vision. She met countless people in
a rush and realized there were many names and faces to learn: his family
of five, his mother's parents, Winona's brother and his family and her
sister, the sister of Rising Bear and her
grandson. "Your coming was foretold in my sacred vision and soon you
will ride a glorious trail with Wind Dancer to save our two peoples and
lands."
"I pray I am worthy of that challenge, Wise One, and I will not fail
in my duty to the Great Spirit, my husband, and our peoples."
Red Feather grinned. "Do not worry, Dewdrops, for my best friend
has seen your skills and courage and has boasted they are a match for any warrior's. I pray to be chosen to journey with you two on the
exciting task ahead."
"As do I," War Eagle added to Red Feather's remarks.
"When will the Great Spirit reveal what that task will be, Wise One,"
Chumani asked the shaman, "and when we will depart to begin it?"
"Soon, Dewdrops," Nahemana told her, "for the signs I saw in the
vision are close to those which cover the face of Mother Earth this sun."
"Will the hawk who lives and travels with Dewdrops be a part of
the sacred quest, Grandfather?" War Eagle asked.
"I do not know, but a hawk was in the visions and Wind Dancer
was told to paint one upon a new shield to carry."
After Red Feather questioned her about Cetan, Chumani answered
him with the same details she had revealed to her husband last night.
She glanced at the large bird who was perched in a pine tree nearby,
smiled, and finished with, "He is my friend and he will obey any
commands Wakantanka gives him."
"We have far to ride on the new sun, so you must eat before we
rest."
Chumani did as Wind Dancer suggested while the men continued
their talk about past battles with the Crow, then put away the remaining
food and added more wood to the lowered flames. When she returned
from excusing herself in bushes cloaked in shadows, she took her place
beside her husband upon their sleeping mat. Her feelings were mixed
when Wind Dancer cuddled up to her from behind, arranged a blanket
over her shoulders, and allowed his arm to rest over her waist. Between
the cover, his body heat, and her reaction to contact with him, she was
warm and cozy in many ways. Yet, she was tense from suppressed desire
and from wondering if his gentle behavior was genuine or only a pretense
before his family to dupe them about their relationship being a happy
one. She prayed another sleepless night would not follow the previous
one, and to her delight, it did not.
The five men and one woman approached the Red Shield camp late
the following afternoon.
Chumani's heart began to drum within her chest at the thought of
meeting the rest of his family, relatives, and people. As if he sensed her
apprehension, Wind Dancer moved his horse closer to hers, looked at
her, and smiled as if to encourage and comfort her. For a moment, she
felt lost in his captive gaze. Then she returned his smile before focusing
her eyes on the large encampment spread out before her where her new
home, new people, new life, and unknown destiny awaited her.
Chumani was elated by the genial welcome she received, as War Eagle
and Red Feather had ridden ahead to announce their approach. It was
as if the entire band enclosed their horses to greet them, to study her,
and to gaze in fascination at the large hawk which sat upon her shoulder
on a wide and thick leather strip to guard her flesh against accidental
pricks from his sharp talons. Several times she lifted her hand to stroke
Cetan's chest and to speak soothing words to him as he flexed his claws
and jerked his head about, as he was uneasy amidst the unfamiliar
crowd. As their gazes shifted from her and Cetan to the two symbolsa yellow dewdrop and brown hawk-painted upon Wind Dancer's new
shield, she overheard several of the Big Bellys remark on the accuracy
and "big medicine" of the sacred vision. She met countless people in
a rush and realized there were many names and faces to learn: his family
of five, his mother's parents, Winona's brother and his family and her
sister, the sister of Rising Bear and her
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