Grizzly Killer: The Medicine Wheel

by Lane R Warenski

  Jimbo came running up to them and they heard the voices of Running Wolf and Raven Wing coming down the trail toward them. As they appeared at the edge of camp Running Wolf had his arm around Raven Wing and she had a distressed look on her face. She managed a smile at Zach and said, “It is good to have Grizzly Killer with us again.”

  He smiled as he replied, “It is good to be back with my family. And speaking of family, if you can keep that little one inside for just another day or two your mother and father will be here to see it born.” That news brought a smile to all of their faces.

  Jimbo had ran right over to the wolf puppy that was curled up on her mother’s hide and when he licked the little white pup she woke up. Running Wolf eye’s got wide and a strange look came over his face as he stared and the little pup. Zach watched Running Wolf help Raven Wing sit down by the fire but his eye’s never left the pup. Shining Star gently put a little pressure on Zach and Sun Flower getting them to step back. Then Running Wolf dropped to his knees and the puppy ran right to him.

  He picked her up, held her close and she licked his face, then his eyes turned to Zach as he said, “I saw my spirit helper last night in my dreams, a white wolf howling at the moon. Only as the wolf was howling no sound was coming out.”

  Zach looked at Running Wolf in disbelief, and said, “As we camped by the river under cottonwoods last night, the puppy sat up and pointed her nose to the moon overhead and tried to howl- only no sound was coming out.” There was a silence between the two men as they both considered what had been said then Zach continued, “I started to think of her as Luna then, named after the moon she tried to sing to last night.”

  Running Wolf smiled and repeated, “Luna, Luna… That is a fine name for her.”

  Then Raven Wing asked, “Grizzly Killer, where did she come from and what will you do with her?”

  Zach smiled as he said, “I will do nothing with her, she is Running Wolf’s spirit helper, not mine.” At that Running Wolf looked up and his eyes met Zach’s, he smiled and said, “We will care for her, teach her to hunt but it will always be her choice to be part of our family or to leave and live with the wolves.”

  They ate roasted mutton from a big horn sheep that Running Wolf had taken the day before and fresh pan biscuits. Running Wolf fed Luna soft pieces of fat from the meat and after she curled up in his lap and slept. Zach then told of his journey to the village of Charging Bull.

  There was deep concern on all of their faces as he told of his encounter with the killers of Henry Clayson and his men and of the rescue of Elisabeth Allen. The concern soon turned to smiles as he told of reaching the village and seeing their mother and father along with a lot of their friends. Then when he told them that Butterfly already had a beautiful baby girl named Yellow Moon everyone was excited and happy.

  He told of his journey back home… of Ol’ Red being spooked by the sage chickens, of the cinch braking and of him landing in the sage and on the rock. Then he told them of the bear killing Luna’s mother and the other puppies. Of how her mother’s last act was trying to save Luna from the bear and how Jimbo had heard the fight and chased the bear away.

  Although extremely tired they sat by the fire and talked well into the night. They were all excited to see Bear Heart and White Feather. Raven Wing and Sun Flower were very glad Red Hawk and Buffalo Heart were traveling with their parents. They knew how great a warrior their father was but they also knew he was becoming an old man, he was now one of the village elders.

  A distant wolf howled his mournful tribute to the night and Luna jumped down off Running Wolf’s lap and put her little nose in the air and tried to howl. Again the only sound that came out was a faint squeak. Zach noticed the way Running Wolf was watching the pup. He could see in the eyes of his brother-in-law that there was truly a connection between him and the little white wolf pup.

  When Zach opened his eyes the next morning it was completely light. The naked and very pregnant body of Shining Star was snuggled up against him but Sun Flower was not there. He listened and could hear movement outside around the fire. He reached down and kissed Shining Star on the back of her neck and felt her shiver slightly. She then rolled onto her back smiled up at Zach and they kissed. He helped her to her feet and they dressed and stepped out into the light of a beautiful spring morning.

  There was still a chill in the air and they both stepped over to the fire. Sun Flower handed him and Shining Star a cup of coffee. He took the cup with a smile thinking just how good it felt to be with his wives again.

  He heard a moan come from Running Wolf’s lodge and Sun Flower and Shining Star both went right there. As Zach stepped toward the lodge opening Shining Star held up her hand and said, “Our sister’s time is near, we do not need a man in the way. Go find Running Wolf and tell him he will be a father soon.”

  Zach took a quick look around wondering where Jimbo was then started out toward the horses. They were across the stream and a couple of hundred yards out in the big meadow. Zach had just crossed the stream when he saw Jimbo sitting in the grass about half way to Ol’ Red and the horses. He whistled once and the big dog jumped and ran right to him. He could then see Running Wolf lying in the grass with Luna jumping up on him then off again. She got hold of a lock of his long black hair and started pulling, shaking her head, and growling in the playful way puppies do.

  Running Wolf set up with a smile and said, “This huge wolf you brought back thinks she is going to eat me for breakfast.” His smile turned to a worried look when he saw the expression on Zach’s face.

  Zach then smiled as he told him, “They think Raven Wing’s time is here.” Running Wolf jumped to his feet and took off on a dead run toward the lodges. Luna followed, not able to keep up but running right in his tracks just the same. When she got to the creek, which was running high with the spring thaw, she stopped and cried as Running Wolf disappeared into his lodge.

  Zach picked Luna up but she kept her eyes right on the lodge opening where she had last seen Running Wolf. He put her down again once across the creek and, totaling ignoring both Zach and Jimbo, she ran right for the lodge opening.

  It was only a couple of minutes later when Running Wolf stepped out of his lodge with Luna in his arms. He had a look of frustration and worry on his face. He slowly walked toward the fire where Zach was waiting. He looked into the questioning face of Zach then said, “They told me to leave, the pains have stopped for now.”

  An hour later, all three women came out of the teepee and joined Zach and Running Wolf sitting by the fire. Raven Wing had not had another contraction and she needed to get out and move around a little.

  They all stayed in camp the rest of the day, all except Jimbo. He left late in the afternoon. He wasn’t gone long when he came back into camp with a squirrel. He went right to Luna and set the dead squirrel right down in front of her then stepped back, sat on his haunches and watched. She slowly approached the squirrel sniffing then licking at the fresh blood where Jimbo and bitten through the squirrel’s hide. Everyone was watching her try to chew on it. Then Running Wolf knelt down and pulled the hide off exposing the tender flesh for her to chew on.

  As Shining Star and Sun Flower put more of the mutton to roasting and made biscuits they commented they were about out of bear grease. Zach told them he expected the bears to be leaving their dens by now and he would go hunting with Red Hawk and Buffalo Heart as soon as they arrived. They all knew they would need to make meat as well.

  The evening was noticeably warmer with a slight breeze blowing in from the south. Zach wondered if it would be blowing in a spring storm and silently hoped Bear Heart and White Feather would arrive before any storm.

  That night Raven Wing had more contractions and no one got any sleep. Running Wolf and Zach spent most of the night out by the fire while Shining Star and Sun Flower tended to and supported Raven Wing.

  The next morning the contractions had stopped again and everyone was exhausted. Sun Flower called Zach and Running Wolf t
o help Raven Wing walk around for a few minutes. Her back ached, she was exhausted, and she was very pale. The warm south breeze was still blowing. Running Wolf and Zach was on each side of her and she stopped facing the breeze. She held her face up letting the comforting breeze blow across her cheeks and through her jet black hair.

  Zach made fresh coffee and some more biscuits and they sat around the fire and waited. It was just after midday when Zach noticed Jimbo was pacing around the perimeter of their camp. He would stop and smell the wind then he would listen. He would walk just a few feet and do it all over again. Then he came over to Zach and with the very soft deep growl that Zach understood so well, let them know something was not right. They were all intently watching Jimbo as Zach gave him the silent hand signal to scout. Then, without saying a word Zach, Running Wolf, and Sun Flower all picked up their rifles. Shining Star helped Raven Wing into the dugout for that was the safest place in case of an attack.

  It was nearly an hour later before they saw or heard Jimbo again. Then he came running up the creek excited and wagging his tail. Then they could see, no more than two hundred yards downstream, Buffalo Heart. Right behind him was White Feather with her horse pulling a travois, then Bear Heart with Red Hawk bringing up the rear.

  Everyone was excited as Buffalo Heart entered the clearing but there was also worry. White Feather looked very tired. She stopped just as she entered the clearing and seeing her two daughters a smile formed on her face and she was off her horse before Zach could get there to help. Sun Flower was there first with a big hug and with Running Wolf’s help Raven Wing was on her feet by the time her mother got to her. Just as she threw her arms around her mother her water broke and she was hit with the hardest contraction yet.

  When it passed they helped her into their lodge then Running Wolf was escorted out by Sun Flower telling him, “We will call you when you are needed.” For the next hour the men set up Bear Heart and White Feathers teepee. It was actually hard for Running Wolf to help. Every time he moved Luna was right under his feet. Red Hawk and Buffalo Heart would take turns holding the pup until they had their camp set up. Between the pup and Running Wolf checking on Raven Wing every few minutes he really didn’t get much accomplished.

  Red Hawk had taken an antelope the day before and they got it on a spit over the fire then just as things appeared to be calming down a terrible cry came from the lodge and a minute later Shining Star came out with a very worried look and told Zach to get more blankets.

  Several hours passed, the antelope was done but no one had touched it. The men could hear faint talking coming from the teepee and now a muffled moan coming every few minutes. Running Wolf was pale and even though it was now evening and cool he had beads of sweat running down his face. He would sit for just a minute then get up and walk around the fire. He would add a log, sit back down and a minute later do it all over again. Jimbo could feel his worry and would walk around the fire with him. Luna was curled up on the white wolf hide, she would raise her held and watch as Running Wolf made his trek around the fire every few minutes.

  Bear Heart knew the anguish he was going through for he had watched his own sister die in child birth many, many years before. The thought now of his own daughter having this much trouble was about more than he could bare. He could think of nothing to say to his Ute son that would comfort him, so they all sat around the fire waiting and feeling helpless.

  9 A Hard Birth

  Nothing changed throughout most of the night, and they waited and worried. Zach stood and stretched his stiff muscles noting the big dipper was more than half way around the north-star. Running Wolf was making his hundredth or more trek around the fire when a loud mournful moan came from the teepee. They could hear a lot of movement inside, then for a moment no sound at all.

  Running Wolf hadn’t taken a breath it seemed for minutes, then they heard the cry of an infant. The cry was faint and weak at first but within seconds it was the cry of a strong and heathy child. Everyone around the fire was smiling except Running Wolf, his worry for Raven Wing was too great. Just a couple of minutes later White Feather stepped out of the lodge holding a baby. She held it out to Running Wolf saying, “Running Wolf come and meet your son.”

  He rushed to her but the questioning look on his face told her of his worry. As she handed him his son she smiled saying, “She is weak and tired, she has lost much blood, but she is a healthy woman and she will recover.”

  Running Wolf looked into the eyes of his son and smiled. He still couldn’t believe he was really a father. He turned to the others held up his son for all to see then ducked into his teepee. He gently laid the baby beside Raven Wing, leaned down and gently kissed her forehead. He then laid down beside her with their son right between them. His relief was so great as he relaxed he dozed off to sleep almost immediately.

  White Feather checked on them just a little while later and they were all sleeping soundly. Red Hawk and Buffalo Heart took Luna to sleep with them, she tried to go to Running Wolf several times but the boys kept her occupied throughout the rest of the night.

  Once Zach was in his lodge with Shining Star and Sun Flower he could feel the relief of his two wives. Sun Flower said in a whisper, “I was so scared, there was so much blood.” Although Shining Star didn’t say a thing Zach and Sun Flower could both feel the worry Shining Star had over her own baby that could come any day now.

  Zach never really slept, just dozed a little. He held Shining Star comforting her the rest of the night. He was up before the morning sky started to lighten and had their large coffee pot full of steaming coffee by the time anyone else stirred.

  White Feather came out of her teepee first, smiled and greeted Zach saying, “Grizzly Killer is up with the birds this day.” She then went right to the teepee of Running Wolf and Raven Wing.

  She moved the flap, stepped in and breathed in a deep sigh of relief at what she saw. Raven Wing was leaning up against Running Wolf. She was holding the baby as he suckled at her breast. She was pale and her eyes were just dark circles sunken into her pretty face. She needed rest and time to replace the blood she had lost. White Feather worried that the nursing baby was going to take too much out of his mother as weak as she was right now.

  By the time dawn arrived everyone was up and moving. Sun Flower had two pans of biscuits setting on a bed of coals just to the side of the fire. She again reminded Zach that the bear grease was just about gone. The boys had gone out to tend the horses and Luna was trying to push her way under the flap of Running Wolf’s Lodge to get to him. Jimbo had left on his morning hunt. Zach stood back and smiled at all the activity, knowing this could have been a much different scene if things would not have gone well last night.

  They cut off strips of the antelope they had roasted last night, drank the hot black coffee, and enjoyed fresh biscuits. White Feather boiled a little meat and fat off the antelope to make a broth for Raven Wing then made a tea from ground plants from her medicine kit she said would help Raven Wing build her blood back up. By midmorning Raven Wing wanted out of the dark teepee. With Sun Flower taking the baby, Running Wolf picked her up and carried her out into the light of another bright spring day.

  Luna was occupied chewing on a rabbit leg that Jimbo had brought back into camp for her but she stopped and come running over as Running Wolf set Raven Wing down on a buffalo robe that had been laid out by the fire for her. The effort of moving had hurt her and she laid back on the robe with her face to the sun enjoying the light and warmth from its rays.

  The leaves were growing larger each day on the aspens, cottonwoods, and willows. And the grass of the meadow was getting greener each day as well. The horses were starting to put the weight back on they had lost during the winter. Game was becoming more plentiful in the higher meadows and parks as they returned from their wintering grounds out on the flats away from the deeper snows of the mountains.

  The passes were still blocked with snow but it was melting fast with each warm day. The warm south breeze
was still blowing but not hard and there had been no evidence that a storm was blowing in. The water in the stream was running faster with the melting snow and Zach knew the wild flowers would start blooming in only a few more weeks. It was a time of new life. The deer, elk, and mountain sheep would soon be dropping their fawns, calves, and lambs. He looked at Running Wolf and Raven Wing there by the fire holding their new born baby, then at Shining Star. He was both excited and frightened about being a father and wondered if he was really ready. He had spent most of the winter preparing in his own mind and was determined to be as good of father as his own had been.

  They spent the afternoon around the fire talking. Bear Heart and the boys told of their journey coming to the land of Grizzly Killer. They too had seen the camp on the Seeds-Kee-Dee and said it was indeed an Arapaho hunting party where Grizzly Killer had gone north and then west around them, Bear Heart had led his small party south and then west. They had taken care trying not to leave an easy trail for the Arapaho’s to follow but pulling a travois they all knew if the tracks were found they could be followed.

  Zach told them of finding the wolf puppy and of Running Wolf’s dream of his spirit helper. Bear Heart took that as a very good omen. He told Running Wolf that a man’s spirit helper is always there to help him throughout his whole life. He told them stories of one man that had become lost and his spirit helper, the great golden eagle had appeared in the sky above him and lead him back to his camp. Another time when a friend of his was dying of thirst and the water holes were all dried up, his spirit helper a fierce wolverine, had appeared and led him to a small pool of water.