meaning?”
Small Elk shook his head. “I do not understand it all. I saw many things, but this one… I am made to think it is more important than all the other visions.”
“Yet this is not your spirit-guide, your medicine animal?”
“No. That is the buffalo. But this one… with the turties… is of great importance, somehow.
Aiee
, I do not know!” He shook his head in despair.
“Do not be concerned, my son,” the holy man advised. “Some things we understand now, some later. Some, never, maybe, because they are not
meant
to be understood. But now, about the buffalo. You think that is your medicine?”
“Yes, Father, I am sure of it now. And I am made to think that I should follow you. Can it be so?”
White Buffalo nodded, pleased and proud. “Of course, my son, it is good that you wish to learn the duties of the medicine man. But it is hard. You must accept much responsibility.”
“Yes, I know. I am ready.”
“Good. What about your marriage?”
“I cannot do both?”
“It would not be best. Either would demand your complete attention for a while. But why not start your instruction and plan for the marriage later?”
Disappointed as he was, Small Elk managed to control his feelings, at least in part. After so long a time, when he felt he had lost Crow Woman forever, it had been such a thrilling discovery to find her again. Their reunion had been partly marred by the necessity to part again, even for a little while. Now he had the vision quest behind him and was looking forward to planning their own lodge.
But he could see the difficulties in a marriage at this time. It would be very hard to turn aside from the company of Crow Woman in their own lodge to devote time away from her to learning.
Aiee
, there should not be such a thing, the necessity to make such a choice. But it must be. He should not postpone his apprenticeship now that the trail lay plainly before him with his quest behind. And now that he and Crow Woman had resolved their misunderstandings, they would be able to share each other’s company. What little time he was able to spend away from his duties as the medicine man’s apprentice they could share.
He dreaded telling Crow Woman of his decision. He was certain that she had her heart set on an immediate marriage, as he had. Now he must explain….
“It does not matter,” she assured him. “We were apart for a long time. Now we can be together when we can, when your duties allow. And later, together always.”
She snuggled next to him in a suggestive way that implied that the rewards would be worth whatever delay was necessary.
Aiee
, this could become more and more frustrating!
He also told her of his vision quest, omitting the part in which he identified his spirit-animal, the buffalo. Later, perhaps, it would be good for her to know that too; he felt a closeness in their spirits that said so. But he wished to share now the visions of the strange creatures, especially that of the hornless elk with the turtles on its feet.
“You are joking,” she accused, eyes wide with wonder. “You are teasing me.”
“No, no, it is as I told you. It came close to me, rose on its hind legs, and pawed the air!”
“Like the real-bear?” she asked. “The bear-that-walks-like-a-man?”
“No, not like that. It is hard to tell, but it was different.”
“And it seemed something special? Your spirit-guide?”
“No. White Buffalo asked me that. That was another… I will tell you some day. But this… Crow, you know my spirit well. What could it mean?”
“Aiee
, I know nothing of vision quests, Elk. It must be something of meaning. If it is for you to know, someday it will be shown to you. You have dreamed of it since?”
“Yes, twice. It was the same both times. The strange animal came and stopped on a hill near me, to stand and cry out. Its cry was frightening and loud, a roar almost, but there seemed little danger.”
“Then it must be a good sign. I do not know,
Small Elk shook his head. “I do not understand it all. I saw many things, but this one… I am made to think it is more important than all the other visions.”
“Yet this is not your spirit-guide, your medicine animal?”
“No. That is the buffalo. But this one… with the turties… is of great importance, somehow.
Aiee
, I do not know!” He shook his head in despair.
“Do not be concerned, my son,” the holy man advised. “Some things we understand now, some later. Some, never, maybe, because they are not
meant
to be understood. But now, about the buffalo. You think that is your medicine?”
“Yes, Father, I am sure of it now. And I am made to think that I should follow you. Can it be so?”
White Buffalo nodded, pleased and proud. “Of course, my son, it is good that you wish to learn the duties of the medicine man. But it is hard. You must accept much responsibility.”
“Yes, I know. I am ready.”
“Good. What about your marriage?”
“I cannot do both?”
“It would not be best. Either would demand your complete attention for a while. But why not start your instruction and plan for the marriage later?”
Disappointed as he was, Small Elk managed to control his feelings, at least in part. After so long a time, when he felt he had lost Crow Woman forever, it had been such a thrilling discovery to find her again. Their reunion had been partly marred by the necessity to part again, even for a little while. Now he had the vision quest behind him and was looking forward to planning their own lodge.
But he could see the difficulties in a marriage at this time. It would be very hard to turn aside from the company of Crow Woman in their own lodge to devote time away from her to learning.
Aiee
, there should not be such a thing, the necessity to make such a choice. But it must be. He should not postpone his apprenticeship now that the trail lay plainly before him with his quest behind. And now that he and Crow Woman had resolved their misunderstandings, they would be able to share each other’s company. What little time he was able to spend away from his duties as the medicine man’s apprentice they could share.
He dreaded telling Crow Woman of his decision. He was certain that she had her heart set on an immediate marriage, as he had. Now he must explain….
“It does not matter,” she assured him. “We were apart for a long time. Now we can be together when we can, when your duties allow. And later, together always.”
She snuggled next to him in a suggestive way that implied that the rewards would be worth whatever delay was necessary.
Aiee
, this could become more and more frustrating!
He also told her of his vision quest, omitting the part in which he identified his spirit-animal, the buffalo. Later, perhaps, it would be good for her to know that too; he felt a closeness in their spirits that said so. But he wished to share now the visions of the strange creatures, especially that of the hornless elk with the turtles on its feet.
“You are joking,” she accused, eyes wide with wonder. “You are teasing me.”
“No, no, it is as I told you. It came close to me, rose on its hind legs, and pawed the air!”
“Like the real-bear?” she asked. “The bear-that-walks-like-a-man?”
“No, not like that. It is hard to tell, but it was different.”
“And it seemed something special? Your spirit-guide?”
“No. White Buffalo asked me that. That was another… I will tell you some day. But this… Crow, you know my spirit well. What could it mean?”
“Aiee
, I know nothing of vision quests, Elk. It must be something of meaning. If it is for you to know, someday it will be shown to you. You have dreamed of it since?”
“Yes, twice. It was the same both times. The strange animal came and stopped on a hill near me, to stand and cry out. Its cry was frightening and loud, a roar almost, but there seemed little danger.”
“Then it must be a good sign. I do not know,
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