Grizzly Killer: The Medicine Wheel

by Lane R Warenski

  To have one’s spirit helper with him all of the time is really something special, that in his lifetime he had never seen that happen before. He told them that he believed she was sent to Running Wolf to help him and help protect his family just as he believes Jimbo the great medicine dog was sent to Grizzly Killer to help him and to protect his family. He went on telling them all that his heart was glad his two beautiful daughters had found men as great as Grizzly Killer and Running Wolf. That the presence of the great medicine dog and now the white wolf shows that the spirits also know of the good in these men.

  When Bear Heart stopped speaking there was silence around the fire. The glow on the faces of Raven Wing, Sun Flower, and Shining Star was about as bright as the midday sun. Running Wolf reached down and picked Luna up and brought her up to his face, she licked his nose as he stared into her dark eyes with wonderment that the spirits had sent her to him.

  As the baby started to fuss, Raven Wing untied the soft doe skin dress at her left shoulder and dropped it down so the baby could nurse. They all watched with love and wonderment that what was inside her just hours ago was now a living child suckling at her breast. Zach had watched the birth of many animals and had always marveled at the miracle of life.

  Although this was the first human child he had ever been near and as he watched the tiny helpless figure squirming at his mother’s breast it brought a whole new meaning of the miracle of life to him. He watched Shining Star try to stand and both he and Sun Flower was right there to help. She smiled at them both and said, “This child of ours is restless today.” The three of them slowly walked around camp then as they stood by the fire Zach gently rubbed her back trying to lessen the discomfort. White Feather came to her and put both hands on her extended belly and with a smile said, “You will not have wait much longer my child, for your time is near.”

  Zach knew they needed to make meat and take a bear for the grease. This time of year a bear didn’t yield all that much grease for they had used most of their fat reserves during their long winters sleep. This was the same as it was every spring and normally it was not difficult to find the spring bears for they were hungry and out in the open much more than in the summer and fall. He didn’t want to leave Shining Star for her time was indeed close but they all must eat as well.

  The next morning Bear Heart asked Red Hawk and Buffalo Heart to follow their back trail for most of the day just to make sure the Arapaho hunters had not found their trail and were following. Both boys knew this was the duty for experienced warriors and were proud that Bear Heart had the trust in them for this task.

  Zach decided while the boys were gone he would go hunting for just a few hours. He wouldn’t leave their camp unprotected so he made sure Running Wolf was OK with his decision. He saddled Ol’ Red and Jimbo was right there ready to go. He rubbed the big dog’s ears and told him to stay and protect. Jimbo had a look of longing in his eyes but he knew his duty was now to protect everyone in camp. He stood and watched along with Sun Flower and Shining Star as Zach rode the trail up the stream. Then when he was out of site Jimbo left camp making a large circle of the area making sure all was clear.

  Red Hawk and Buffalo Heart were making good time traveling with just the two of them. By midday they were to the point where they had crossed Smith’s Fork. So far they hadn’t seen any sign that they had been followed. By midafternoon they were well out on the flats and the only thing they were seeing were a few scattered herds of antelope.

  They came to a full watering hole and decided to take an antelope before they headed back to the camp of Grizzly Killer. They tied their horses behind a hill west of the pond and set themselves up one on each side out in the tall sage away from the water. They then each took the feathers from their hair and tied them to a small stick that they held just above the sage so it would blow and twist in the breeze. Antelope are naturally curious critters and their eyesight is exceptionally sharp. It wasn’t long before a young buck noticed the movement of the twisting feathers and headed right towards them to see what was moving in the brush. He was approaching from the side Red Hawk was on and was almost in range of Red Hawks stone tipped arrow when he suddenly stopped and raised his head looking off to the east. Red Hawk didn’t move a muscle waiting. The antelope needed to come in another ten yards before he could be sure of a clean kill. He then heard the familiar cry of a crow, but this was no crow, it was Buffalo Heart warning of danger. Red Hawk slowly moved the feathers down out of sight and the antelope bolted off at full speed nearly running over him in the process.

  Red Hawk slowly curled up under the sage he had been hiding behind as six Arapaho warriors topped a slight rise just east of them and headed right for the water hole. Buffalo Heart was in a better position than Red Hawk. He was further away and near the crest of a small hill. He dropped to his belly and crawled through the sage until he was sure he couldn’t be seen by the approaching Arapaho’s and then he slipped into a wash that fed into the waterhole anytime there was enough rain. Once in the wash he sprinted away, the trouble was that the wash was leading him away from their horses. Once he felt he was relatively safe he stopped climbed up out of the wash and looked at the lay of the land. He could see no way to get to their horses without being seen and no way to help Red Hawk either. He could not see the water hole from where he was and knowing movement of any kind is what made one’s eye look hard in that spot. He figured his and Red Hawks best chance was to stay perfectly still right where they were.

  Red Hawk knew very well his only chance was to stay perfectly still. He tried to slow down his breathing and hoped his jet black hair was far enough under the brush it couldn’t be seen. The Arapaho warriors dismounted and drank their fill then filled their buffalo bladder water pouches and let their horses drink. They walked around the water hole looking at all the tracks. Red Hawk, although he couldn’t see them knew from the sounds what was going on. He was mighty glad he and Buffalo Heart had stayed out in the brush away from the water’s edge. Any sign of fresh moccasin tracks would have started a thorough search by these warriors.

  After just a few minutes, instead of leaving the area the Arapaho hunters had decided to camp right there at the water hole. Red Hawk could hear them joking and laughing with each other. Although he could not understand most of their words the meaning was clear. They started out through the brush gathering fire wood and Red Hawk heard one walk by so close he felt certain he would be found. He kept his eyes closed and tried all the harder to control his breathing. His heart was beating so fast he wondered if the thumping in his chest would give him away.

  Red Hawk was relieved as he listened to the footsteps fading away. As he lay there he remembered when he, Buffalo Heart, and Sees Far first came to the land of Grizzly Killer nearly three years ago. He and Buffalo Heart were only thirteen summers old then. Sees Far had been the oldest of them at fourteen summers. He remembered the Arapaho on that trip as well, how the three of them had tried to outrun the Arapaho war party. They made it all the way to the log lodge of Grizzly Killer only to find he and Running Wolf were not there. A shutter ran through his body as he remembered the beating and torture and he felt a deep sadness remembering the burial of Sees Far.

  Those memories also gave him strength. For he remembered the speed and fierceness of Grizzly Killer’s, and the others attack when they had returned. How within only seconds the five Arapaho warriors were dead. He vowed, those years ago that he would become a great warrior like Grizzly Killer and he renewed that vow again as he lay motionless under the sage with his eyes closed.

  Red Hawk, like most young men had fantasies of grandeur. He could see himself jumping up out of the sage and attacking the six enemy warriors and taking all their scalps back to show his greatness but he knew that was only a dream, for he and Buffalo Heart had been taught well. By Grizzly Killer himself fighting the Blackfeet at Sweet Lake, by Spotted Elk, Charging Bull and Otter, indeed by their fathers and the other great warriors of their village. Yes, Red Hawk knew
life was sacred and to risk it foolishly would only show he had not yet become a man.

  Buffalo Heart was fearful, not for himself but for Red Hawk hiding there in the brush so close to their enemy. He too had the same memories as Red Hawk, of the torture and the loss of their friend. As the sun lowered in the western sky he made his way toward where they had left their horses. He was careful staying in the long shadows on his hands and knees and at times right down on his belly. It was dark by the time he reached them. He gave them the last of the water they carried and made sure they were ready for a hard ride.

  He knew Red Hawk would wait until he figured the Arapaho were asleep before he moved. He got his bow and carefully moved out into the brush nearly half way to the water hole to wait. He wanted to get closer but he didn’t dare risk being seen or heard for that would make Red Hawk’s escape that much harder but he did want to be able to help in case the Arapaho followed.

  It was nearly midnight before Red Hawk decided to make his escape. He was sore and stiff for not moving at all for all those hours. His legs and feet had gone to sleep. He started very slowly moving his feet in a circle and flexing the muscles in his legs. The pain was intense at first then as the blood started to flow again it was like he was being stabbed by hundreds of porcupine quills all up and down his legs. It was several minutes before he felt like he could move, then he very slowly began to crawl. He paid very close attention to where he placed each hand and knee as he carefully moved around one sage then another. He knew Buffalo Heart was out there somewhere and he hoped he was there with the horses.

  The more he moved the better he felt. By the time he was far enough away from the Arapaho that he wasn’t as concerned about every little sound he felt pretty good again and he figured he could run now if need be. The moon was just coming up and was nearly full, casting long shadows in front of him. Then as he looked up to get his bearings there was a man standing right in front of him.

  10 Ambushed

  Red Hawk was startled, adrenaline shot through him as every muscle in his body tensed for the fight. Only after he had his knife in hand and he was ready to lunge to his feet did his eyes focus on Buffalo Heart standing there in the dark in front of him. He breathed a silent sigh of relief and relaxed as the adrenaline rush faded away.

  With a silent hand signal, Buffalo Heart signaled toward the horses and as silent as two ghosts in the night the two of them made it back to where their horses were tied. They approached carefully letting the horses smell the familiar smell of their riders. Both of them knew if one of the horses whinnied the Arapaho would come to investigate. Their mounts stayed calm and with just some reassuring whispers the boys led their horses away to the north towards Blacks Fork and water.

  Zach had hunted for only a few hours before returning to camp but had not been able to get close enough to any game for a shot. He found it very hard to concentrate on hunting, all that was on his mind was Shining Star having his baby. He sat for quite a spell watching a small clearing but all he could see was in his mind, Raven Wing sitting by the fire with her tiny so very fragile baby suckling at her breast. No man scared him, and he really had no real fear of any animals. He had respect for them, the cunning of the wolf, the awesome power of the mighty grizzlies, the silent stealth of the cougar but no real fear. For the first time in his life he felt real fear, or at least that’s what it felt like. Fear of something happening to Shining Star, fear of taking care of a baby, fear of not being a good father.

  He had grown up on the frontier, on a homestead in Kentucky. He had been in the woods his whole life. He knew about the animals, the weather, and all the dangers Mother Nature could bring upon you, but he didn’t know anything about babies. As he headed back to the dugout he was more determined than he had ever been. He would learn to care for a baby and to be a good father.

  He thought about his own pa and that brought back the pleasant memories of his childhood. He wondered just how his pa had learned to be such a good father. Although he had never met his grandfather he had been told stories of him throughout his childhood. He realized his pa had learned from his pa and he would do the same. He would teach his child just as his pa had taught him.

  The closer he got to camp the faster he rode. When he got to the clearing and could see everyone around the fire he jumped off Ol’ Red and ran toward them. Without saying a word, he hugged his wives, holding them tight for the longest time. When he released them they both had a wondering look on their faces but he didn’t say a word, just smiled back at them.

  Running Wolf was sitting on a buffalo robe with his arms around a pale Raven Wing. Luna was curled up on his lap. On the other side of the fire White Feather sat with the baby fast asleep in her arms. Bear Heart was standing at the other edge of camp looking off to the north with Jimbo right by his side. Running Wolf then said, “Bear Heart thinks Red Hawk and Buffalo Heart should be back by now.”

  The sun was nearly set; Sun Flower was getting what was left of the antelope in the pot over the fire. Bear Heart walked back over to the fire and said, “Should have gone with them.”

  Zach stood looking his father in law in the eyes and told him, “The boys will be fine, they are both capable young men.”

  Then Running Wolf added, “They might have taken time to hunt on their way back, they know we need the meat.”

  Bear Heart just nodded at that but there was worry in all of their thoughts. Zach didn’t say it but he was well aware of the history the two boys had with the Arapaho. How they both had been beaten and tortured. He thought of their friend Sees Far that the Arapaho had killed and they had buried on the hill overlooking the big meadow. He wondered if the boys might be seeking revenge.

  As bedtime came there was still no sign of the boys and Zach figured maybe he should try to follow their trail, but Bear Heart told him, “It is dark and we don’t know what the trouble might be. We do not need another to worry about. If they are not back by morning, then we will need to follow.”

  Zach spent a sleepless night, Shining Star was extremely uncomfortable. He and Sun Flower would take turns rubbing her back. Every hour that passed with the boys not returning increased the worry and just before dawn Zach knew he had to go find them.

  Everyone was up as Zach was getting his saddle on Ol’ Red. Although Jimbo didn’t know what the trouble was, he could feel the tension within Zach and was tense himself and ready to go. When he told Jimbo to stay and protect the camp, Sun Flower stepped up and told him that Running Wolf, her father, and she could protect the camp that Jimbo would help him find Red Hawk and Buffalo Heart.

  As Zach started to object Running Wolf said, “Grizzly Killer, you know she is right. You will need Jimbo with you much more than we need him here.”

  Zach looked at Bear Heart and he nodded his agreement saying, “It is a hard thing you do Grizzly Killer, to leave at this time, but we will protect this camp. The great medicine dog must go with you for together you both have stronger medicine than you do apart.”

  Shining Star smiled at him and said, “Our little one will wait ‘til you return.” He climbed in the saddle as Sun Flower handed him a small bag of jerky and with the pointing of his finger Jimbo hit the trail heading down stream. He urged Ol’ Red into a lope following the big dog.

  Red Hawk and Buffalo Heart led their horses ‘til they were more than a mile from the Arapaho camp. Then mounted up and continued straight north ‘til they came to Blacks Fork. They were downstream from where Smith’s Fork enters the larger stream. If the Arapaho’s found the tracks, they didn’t want to lead them right back up Black’s Fork to Grizzly Killer’s camp. After they let the horses drink their fill they crossed the river and continued north out into the sage covered flat land. By the time it was light they were many miles north of the river and had started to make a mile-wide turn toward the west.

  They used all the cunning their short years of experience had taught them, making their trail as hard to follow as they could. They would split up going separ
ate ways and meeting back up miles later. They stayed on the hardest ground they could find, they backed tracked themselves many times. By midafternoon they and their horses were exhausted. None of them had slept or eaten for more than thirty-six hours so they started looking for a safe place to rest.

  They finally came to some hills and found a grassy area down between two of them that had enough grass for the horses. After hobbling them on the grass Buffalo Heart climbed to the top of one hill where he could watch their back trail. He sat down in the sage and could see for miles in the direction they had come. Red Hawk stayed by the horses and slept for a couple of hours then he climbed up the hill to watch while Buffalo Heart slept.

  As Buffalo Heart went back down the hill to the horses he almost stepped on a snake. It didn’t coil and start to rattle, it just tried to get away. He picked up a big rock and smashed its head then took it with him back down to the grassy area and gutted it. That would be their food for tonight. They had been there four or five hours and there was no sign they were being followed. They only had a few hours of daylight left and they both knew they couldn’t make it back without spending another night. They needed to find water before night fall so they mounted up and continued on.

  Just before dark they crested a small rise and on the other side the land just fell away into a very wide shallow canyon. It must have been a mile or more to the bottom and they could see a small creek running down through the middle of it. There were a series of beaver ponds off to the south a ways so they headed for them.

  After hobbling the horses, they built a small fire up in the willows that were growing along the west side of the pond and set the snake to roasting. It was going to be a cold uncomfortable night again as neither one had brought a bed roll with them.