Passion's Series (31 page)

A shout from outside brought them all out of contemplative thoughts.  The call was echoed by several others.  A runner approached the village walls.

The chief waved the group away in his lodge, “Go for now, we will dream on what has happened and find wisdom for tomorrow.  Let us see what news has come.”

***

Outside, Dancing Cloud acknowledged the runner, as he stood still breathing hard, “Welcome.”

It seemed to be a Choctaw boy, but the response was still good, “I am here.”

“Yes you are.  It is good.”

Before more could be said, a strong clear war cry rent the air and was soon followed by the watchman’s herald from the wall.  Raven and Antelope immediately ran toward the gate in response while the others crowded around the new arrival.

Raven raced toward the cove even as the guard yelled out Dawn’s name to him and pointed in that direction.  Even Antelope could not catch up with Raven who drew his knife and dashed between the boulders.

Before him stood a large man dressed in buckskins, his own knife already pulled and crouched in readiness for a battle he obviously anticipated.

“I didn’t mean to kill the little hell cat.  She should not have attacked me.  I suggest you not make the same mistake.”

A large wolf that had taken a protective stance over the fallen girl chose that moment to growl as he displayed his teeth in warning and moved closer to the intruder.  Startled, the man looked over his shoulder at the snarling wolf.

Raven, blinded by his own anger and anguish, leapt forward, grabbed the barrel of the rifle the man had leveled at his heart and shoved it aside.  The shot flew wild, barely missing Antelope and ricocheted off a bolder.  Raven’s knife hit its mark at that same moment as he yelled in agony and rage.  He twisted the blade, withdrew, and slammed it in a last time before pushing the heavy body away.

He looked down at Dawn and saw a spreading red stain marring the golden strands of hair.  He glanced over to the wolf that dropped his head, turned, and disappeared among the cane.

“Dawn?”  Rave spoke softly as he fell to his knees and lay his ear to her chest.  At the sound of a strong heartbeat, he gathered her into his arms and wept.         

***

New Moon held her ground in the village.  Though her heart screamed for her to run after Raven.  She recognized her daughter’s yell.  She knew there was trouble, but she also knew Raven and Antelope must go to her daughter’s aid.  Her own path was here.

“I am Nipping Wolf.  My mother is Gentle Rain, my uncle is Red Panther.”               The runner’s announcement caused a stir of anxiety among the village members and provided a confirmation to New Moon.  She pushed through a gathering crowd to the front.

Wolf gestured toward the forest, “Red Panther is somewhere deep in the wood.  Several from my village went with him from the trading post in weeks past, and now only one has returned to us.  He says their group had been ambushed, and now I relay this message to you.  We know no more.”

There was a spreading hush among those present.  It became a powerful silence as the news was whispered to those in the back.  Had one of the beloved warriors of Chota Town been killed?  Was he still alive?  Who had done this?  These questions practically screamed through New Moon's mind.

The memory of a vision long past of Panther holding in his arms a beautiful young woman dressed as the women in Charles Town.  She now knew this woman was Dawn.  That vision had brought her much pain before she understood the message from the Great Spirit.

Now that vision was the promise, to which she clung.  Raven will again bring her daughter home.  Did he not bring her home just today?  He will bring her home again and he will bring home her Panther. 
‘This I know.’ 

The chief's expression was as impenetrable as usual, and he raised an arm toward the guest lodge, “You are welcome to stay here until you are rested.  We thank you for this information.”

Nipping Wolf shook his head, “I will return now.”

“Let us give you food and drink for your journey.”

With food in his belly and his skin of water refilled, the boy prepared to leave.  “Your hospitality is gracious, but many from my own village seek action for our missing warriors.  I go.”  Waiting only for the chief's acknowledgment once more, the boy darted through the crowd back for the gate.

The crowd's silence began to break apart in bubbling groups of conversation.  The noise rose as opinions settled in the minds of eager warriors and those with more caution.

“We must send out a party to find him!”

“Where will you go?  It isn't even known where they were ambushed.”

“Are we sure this boy's word is true?”

Questions and declarations of action shot back and forth.  As others from the village came from their lodges, the conversation expanded and grew louder.  As Raven walked through the wide gate all fell silent.

New Moon would have collapsed at the site of her daughter in Raven’s arms, her golden curls turned red, had not the old Beloved Woman supported her.

“Golden Dawn lives,” Antelope’s voice spoke loud and clear.

With the announcement, the village came to life.  New Moon rushed toward her daughter and reached out to take her.  Raven resisted but a moment, relinquishing his hold only when New Moon looked up into his eyes.

“I will take her to Akechee.  She will recover.  You are needed here.”

Raven relinquished his hold and turned to Chief Dancing Cloud.  “There was a white man at the cove.  He is dressed as a trader of goods.  I believe him to be Spanish.  When I came upon him I thought Dawn was…” his voice cracked, “dead,” he completed.  “The evil one said as much himself.  I was too quick to answer the blood cry.  We could have gained information by torturing him first,” he finished between clenched teeth.

Cloud nodded.  He turned toward the villagers.  “I find no fault in Raven’s actions.  The man deserved to die for attacking and injuring a young woman barely out of childhood.”

Raven Cloud stood next to Farthest Running Antelope as the chief told them of the runner’s message.  Together the duo agreed to go out in search of Panther.

Raven proclaimed to the audience, “I will go with Farthest Running Antelope, and we will track these assailants in the woods.  We will find them, and bring them back or their scalps.”  A loud shout of approval rose and increased in volume until the Chief raised his hands.

“I will go with you!”  Soft-Spoken Hawk raised his fist, moving toward the two, “I will not refuse the call for justice.”

“He is my husband.”  New Moon strode toward Raven and Antelope, speaking loud enough for the crowd to hear, “I will not sit by while others seek him out.  This task belongs to me as well.”

Soon enough, nine had gathered together with Raven that intended to look for the missing Red Panther.  The crowd had gone quiet.

Dancing Cloud stood in the center of this group now, spreading his arms as he addressed them, “This is no war party.  We have no blood debt, and there is no confirmation of what has happened.  If you go, go with quiet grace.  Seek answers in caution.  If those answers you find lead to bloodshed, then fight with honor and return to us.”

The Chief's gaze rested on Raven Cloud for a moment and Raven knew he considered recalling him from participating.  Instead, Chief Dancing Cloud simply nodded, “Then it is settled, this will be.”

The village rippled with voices once more.  There was general approval in the action to be taken.  Slowly, all dispersed except the group of nine, plus Raven.  Eventually, it was decided they would split into two teams.  New Moon, Farthest Running Antelope, and three of the older warriors would go toward the woods near the trading post.  Climbing Bear was with this group and took the lead.  Raven Cloud, Soft-Spoken Hawk, and the two remaining volunteers would explore nearer to Chota Town.  Tomorrow morning, they would leave at first light.  Raven was surprised to be chosen by the Chief to lead his party.

Raven approached New Moon.  “I must go to Golden Dawn.  Will you permit this?”

“Come, she is in the medicine lodge.”  New Moon hurried toward the lodge, causing Raven to worry about the severity of Dawn’s injury.  When they arrived, Moon stood to the side and motioned for Raven to enter.

Raven bent and passed through the doorway.  The air was thick with smoke created from a blend of medicinal herbs used by the medicine man.  He could also smell the strong odor of astringents Panther had taught New Moon how to use.  Akechee was busy putting away the things used to clean and bandage Dawn’s head.

Akechee looked at Raven.  “You look frightened.  She will be fine.  This is nothing to the scrapes and bumps she has brought upon herself.”  She looked down at Dawn and shook her head.  “I have never seen a child like this one.  I hear she is much like her mother.  I say she is much like her father.”

Raven turned his attention to Dawn and left Akechee to her work.  He found her words strangely comforting.  As he sat down beside Dawn, he noticed a slight frown on her forehead.  She moaned softly as she turned her head to one side and gingerly touch the thick bandage.

“Dawn, are you awake?”

Dawn smiled and Raven drew in a long deep breath as he relaxed.  Her brow wrinkled farther as she slowly opened eyes that were sensitive to the smoke floating on the air.

“I knew you would be the first I would see when I opened my eyes.”

Raven could not help but smile in response.  The bright blue of her eyes was brighter still in contrast to the red that formed there from the irritant in the air.  

“I think I have missed many of your mishaps.  Akechee tells me this is nothing compared to the injuries you have endured.”  He gently ran a finger along her cheek to wipe away a tear.  “I count myself blessed.  If I were here to witness all your miss-adventures I would be as a mad warrior living in the caves.”

Dawn smiled.  “Poor Akechee.  I think I have frightened her too many times.  I think now she is used to me.”

Raven could easily see the love pass between the two when Dawn looked toward Akechee and the old woman smiled at her in return.

“You should rest now, little one,” Akechee scolded gently.

“I will, I promise, but I want to talk to Raven first.”

Akechee turned her frown toward Raven.  “Do not stay long,” the old woman repeated as she made emphasis with the spoon for which she was famous.

Raven nodded in agreement and then watched as Akechee passed through the door.

“What can you tell me about the man that hurt you?” he asked as he turned his attention back to Dawn.

“He was big and he smelled.  Do you know how stupid he was?  He did not even see the wolf!  Was the wolf still there when you came to save me?  He is a beautiful animal.  I have seen him often.”

“What?”  Raven nearly choked on his own spit.  “You have seen him often?  You go there alone knowing there is a wolf den nearby?”

Dawn patted his hand and smiled patiently.  “You’re missing the point, Buffalo.  The wolf is my spirit animal.  He will not hurt me.  I have no doubt that if you were not here to protect me, if you had not come…my wolf brother would have kept me safe.”

“The wolf stood over you.  I know as well he would have protected you.”  Raven assured himself as well as her and he took her small hand in his two much larger ones.  “But I am hearing how you take too many chances.  If I had been here these past years, you would not be so reckless.” 

             
Dawn giggled, “If you had been here you would now live in a cave and howl at the moon with my wolf brother, for I would have been no different.”

Raven smiled at her teasing.  He watched as her face sobered and she looked intently into his eyes.

“If you had been here with me,” she continued in a serious tone, “I would not have walked the same path.  This I know.  I would not have learned the lessons I have learned.  I begin to see the wisdom of the Great Spirit.  We will walk the same path, Raven.  But our time is not yet.”

“You speak of nonsense, Funny Face.  You hit your head harder than you realize.”  Raven could not stop the hand that rose and gently pushed a stray golden curl from her cheek.  “I have been away too long.  You have grown much and unwise notions are filling your head.”

“Your path has taken you away.  It will take you away again.  There are two things I know, Buffalo.  I know if you are near and I need you, you will be there.  Do I speak the truth?”

“Yes, little sister,” he knew inserting,
little sister
, would irritate her, but felt the need to gently insert a little reality into her babble.  “I would gladly lay my life down to protect you…even if that meant I had to be away from you to do that.”  He raised her hand to his lips knowing it was a custom of white men and not recognized by the Cherokee.  It seemed the right thing to do…it felt right…he knew Golden Dawn would understand the deep love he felt for his little sister.”

“Now who is talking nonsense?” she whispered and smiled softly but Raven saw the tiny tear escape her lashes and knew it was not from the smoke in the air.

Raven wanted to change the conversation that he felt strangely unsettling, “What is the second thing you know, my Little Funny Face?”