Princess Ces'alena (29 page)

Soon after his father’s passing, he did as he was told; which indeed did crush his pride. His desire was to fight with his brothers, but his father had known. He also knew, the white man was not willing to share the land they now claimed as their own. For every full moon that passed, more and more of them invaded the lands, pushing them from it, killing them on it.

European settlers building their houses upon the blood, souls and burial grounds, of the true owners. Many of his brothers stayed on their lands because their belief was strong in view of the facts that they, the Cherokee and Chickasaw supported the British in the contest with France. Also, they had the government proclamation of 1763 stating the promise that from the Appalachians to the Mississippi River was closed to white settlers. Daniel Boone’s report on the lands in Tennessee and other places, opened up another flood of hunters, ‘Long Knives’ who spent months and months killing off bison, deer and bear for their pelts.

Just as his father had said and knew, the British proclamation once again was nothing more than dry leaves blown by the winds. Winds stirred by wagon train loads of settlers, once again ignoring the decrees that the British made no effort to enforce. Chief Long Bow knew of it all, well informed and well aware of the mounting evidence proving all his father predicted, and saw to be true. Sure enough, the Cherokee lands were the first to know the white frontiersmen restless rushing west from the English seaboard colonies; border incidents where bloodshed occurred often, was a normal common place event. Those that stayed behind now relied on their leader, John Ross. He was an officer in General Jackson’s campaign in the Red Stick war.

Chief Long Bow knew that it was only a matter of time before all proofs were laid bare, and he’d give up his place of alliance with the white man, and take it as the President of the Cherokee Nation.

Setting down his empty bowl, Chief Long Bow motioned for his wife to come and sit on his lap. “With you, I can endure anything. I can face all, as long as your eyes hold me in high esteem as they do.” He informed her huskily, savoring the warmth from her supple figure. “Always, always…” She murmured, her passion aflame and soon their lips were engaged into tasting the other. Their son was out of their dwelling and they were free to make love. Half an hour later, Red Dawn pulled her dress over her head, dressing to go wash at the stream. Long Bow sat up, stretched - then got to his feet. “Where is my son? It has been two nights and days since I have talked to him.”

“He is with your brother, Dark Shadow. He says if he is to one day lead his people as Chief like his father, then he must train earlier than the others. This he informed me you see, so that I understood, more is required than an ordinary brave. It takes time to develop a skill for hunting, tracking and wisdom in all these things, you see.”

Long Bow was laughing so hard he bent over with it. “Oh my son. Well then it is good to have a brother like Dark Shadow to see that the steps he now takes are in that direction. I see so little of him now days, it is nice to know that there is someone to spend time with him, teaching him the things a young boy soon to be a warrior should know.”

“Mm hm, I agree. I’m off to bathe in the stream.”

“Emm, can I join you?”

He came up behind her as she was about to exit, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him. “Oh my, surely there isn’t time to again.” She gasped feeling evidence that he most certainly could.

“Time is precious, I choose you to give it, they will have to wait.” He insisted. She whimpered.

At the counsel meeting, all chief’s representing their tribes were present; chief Long Bow, of the present remnant, of Cherokee. Chief Blue Eagle, of the area Creek tribe. Chief Menomonee, of the area Chickasaw tribe. Co-chief WidaCzenaha, standing in for his ill chief, He of Many Voices, of the area Choctaw. The four remnant tribes if united together would amount to over two thousand or more men warriors; this number did not include the women and children.

For the time being, Chief Long Bow’s tribe was residing with the Creeks who had their village set up and stretching out for over a mile along Black river, dividing the lands between the Creek and Chickasaw, who were positioned across the river on the opposite side of Vicksburg scattered about for miles. Three chief’s and their seconds in command, plus many interested elders from various tribes were present as the meeting began.

“My brothers, I wish to make counsel - for it is now of great concern that we do all possible to hold our lands.” Chief Blue Eagle spoke addressing those present. “There are those of us who choose to change our way to that of the white men, that we may live identical to his way. Doing so, will make things comfortable for the white man, that he have no ill feeling in sharing our land.”

“In this, I say - we lose all identity to who we are as a great nation. This will not assure us of holding that which is our own. If change be made, may it be done to a point, but I will not forget the way of our fathers. I will not throw away that which has always been our way of life, in favor of giving in to the white man. In truth, it is he that should conform to our way. But he has learned great ways to kill from afar, and this cripples our battles my brothers. For now, no matter what is done, it is done in vain. The white man has proven that he cannot be trusted, to change completely is the show of bowing…we may bend…but only to buy time. I say, that we continue to train our sons as warriors. For now, more than ever we need to be strong and willing to fight. We must become mightier, faster, fleet of foot, and brave to the death.” He spoke with fire and the taste of battle on his tongue, as if eagerly awaiting what he knew was to come.

“For what I, Chief Blue Eagle have spoken is my greatest concern. I now hand over the following concerns to Chief Menomonee of the Chickasaw.”

“My brothers, I am in full agreement with chief Blue Eagle, as well you appear to be. But I am one, who feels change is inevitable; neither of us can deny the numbers of the white man. Just as we cannot stop the swollen rushing waters of a river. We cannot stop the white man from moving onto our lands. Change must be done in order to live among them. The homes he builds say, we are here to stay.”

“I say we examine his means of dwelling, and show that we are adaptable people. We must show we are capable of compromise so that peace might possibly be found and held between us. We must incorporate his way of settlement, and farming, much as the Georgia Cherokee have done. Thereby proving the label, savage false. Our willingness to change should go so far as to even learn of their Christian God, and perhaps make Him our own.” Great murmurings, both negative and positive erupted at that thought, “For what I, Chief Menomonee have spoken is my greatest concern, I now give way for that of Co-Chief WidaCzenaha.”

“My brothers, I come to you in behalf of chief He Of Many Voices, and his greatest concern is to voice the error of the white man. Let us look at what he has done since his prescence in our land. From the time of his coming, there has been nothing but disruption for our way of life. He traps in our fields and streams with iron teeth. Torturing what is snared within until his return to destroy them; often to escape, the animal is forced to gnaw off its own limb, only to die away from the trap near our waters. If not found by other predators and eaten immediately, it lays and rots, defiling our streams where we drink and fish for survival. In turn, this scares away the deer; that is also vital as our main source of food. Since arriving at our lands, with them, a strange fire water, many strong braves have fallen to and now…are possessed by it. Its evil power caused them to neglect their duties as warriors, as tribesmen, as fathers, as husbands. This evil has also caused some to slay his brother. Anything so powerful, that changes ones spirit into a spirit so evil, should be banned from the villages. Anyone unwilling to abandon this spirit water should be abandoned by the tribes. This is the greatest concern of my chief in which I fully agree. We make request that it be mandatory to each village and not allowed to be broken. Doing so will be left to the Chief and elders that will dole out the punishment equal to the crime. That is all I have to say; I now hand over to Chief Long Bow of the Cherokee.”

“My brothers, I stand as well in full agreement with my fellow chiefs, and I would like to add to all concerns one that is my greatest. That we equip ourselves mentally with the knowledge that makes us familiar with the white mans laws and procedures. As many of you know my mate for life is a woman of much knowledge into the workings of the white man’s thinking. Simply because,
she
is white. Yet, her heart is with me…with my people, with our fight. Her contribution, her gift to us, is knowledge of the white man’s scribbling. She calls it reading the written word, this she extends to all and any wishing this ability. It would be wise to learn these words they speak to us. She is right in that if we can read the exact words that are promised; that if we understand the laws and rights that are given…”

“…and we conform to their description, or what they define as a man…then we can use their own laws to trap them! We can then, wage a legal fight! Before we shed their blood, we must have shown that we can be sound in mind, as civilized as they believe themselves. I know that sometimes fighting is the only way…but before we choose that way, let us show we are able to adapt. Then my brothers, if all we have done proves in vain…and our worse fears come to be, and war be the end of it all,
then
- we will fight. Because our conscious is clear, any blood that we must shed at that point, will flow and the taste of victory will be ours as the shedding will well be deserved! For what I, Chief Long Bow have spoken, is my greatest concern. I now make it known to the present co-chiefs, if there is more they feel to be discussed, say so of it now.” Each stood in order of their chief, announcing the counsel meeting complete, and nothing more need be said.

“Then I chief Long Bow, hereby state that at the close of this meeting, all things spoken and discussed come into effect immediately. Let us announce this to all those within our villages, erect a hut house large enough so that the learning can begin. I call this meeting to a close.”

It was a sunny spring day, and chief Long Bow made time to spend with his son by taking him hunting. Lil’Bear was almost nine years old. Long Bow regretted spending so little time with him, and felt a need to amend that. This particular day they rode from the village a distance stopping at a nearby stream. It was a good spot for hunting, with deer, rabbit, possum and beaver always coming to drink as well other game. They chose to wait and hide by a heavily shrouded tree and bush area, just near the stream; slightly hidden by the rocky bank between them. As they sat, they witnessed a large flock of raven flying over head to landed near the stream, cawing for their mates, it seemed.

“Father, they are a strange bird, and yet …they hold me.” He whispered.

“Yes, they are a strong independent breed. No matter what takes place in their world they survive; by whatever means necessary, they thrive and continue to be. Scavengers yes, but they have their purpose, there is a reason for their being.”

“Do they have a leader? Like us, one that they follow?”

“Quite possibly…shhh, let us watch them. We must be silent and patient. If there is a leader, he will make himself known.”

They continued to spy on the active group, when suddenly they heard a call from above, turning to the sound they spied to see a large raven circling above, which swooped down in the midst of the group and back up again. He repeated this act four times, but did not land.

Lil’Bear patiently observed all about the birds strange behavior. “Why does he not land with the others, room has been made for him?”

“I don’t know, but let us wait a moment more and see what happens.”

Minutes later, he still hadn’t landed. “Come son, we have watched and waited long enough.”

“Please, a little longer father, please.” He whispered. “Alright, just a little longer.” Soon as he spoke the words, that something they were waiting on happened. In the spot the others made for him, he finally landed. He strutted about it, cawing and calling as his movements nudged the others further and further away from the clearing. He then began pecking at the ground as if clearing it. A moment later, he flew off again.

Once more he landed, repeating his last actions. Then suddenly in the center of the circle, he stilled his motions and began calling skyward from the ground. Over and over he made his call, with the ravens surrounding him now doing as they would. The longer Lil’Bear stared at the leader, the more noticeable something about him was.

“Look father, he has red feathers on the side of his head, just as I have red hair on the side of mine.” Long Bow had noticed that earlier on, and so agreed. “Yes son, so he does.” Then both gasped softly as the raven backed up a few steps and there landing before him, a gold raven. Her feathers shone and glistened in the sun. She appeared to be slightly smaller than the rest of the ravens, as well the one with red markings.

“Is that who he was waiting for father? She is beautiful!”

“My son, I believe she is; she is beautiful. I have never seen anything so rare as she.” They sat quietly watching as the two rubbed beaks and seemed to be cleaning each other. She then turned away from him, seeming to ignore his presence. His father chuckled. “Just like a woman.” He whispered. “That my son, is why he did the things he did, he was awaiting her arrival, and now, her approval.”