Grizzly Killer: Under The Blood Moon

by Lane R Warenski

  Zach hesitated only a moment then finished loading his rifle. He felt weak and shaky and the sounds of the battle were now off to the north away from him, except for Jimbo. He could hear Jimbo fighting over a little rise just to his left and from the sounds Jimbo had another Blackfoot down. He felt his side and the amount of blood concerned him and he knew he must get the bleeding stopped. He quickly removed his buckskin shirt and using the arms tied it just as tight as he could around his middle covering the cut that was deep enough he thought the Blackfoot’s knife had hit bone as it cut through his buckskin shirt and then his skin. Just as he was getting the bleeding slowed, Jimbo came up to him covered in blood but after a quick check Zach could see no wounds at all on his best friend.

  Just as he was ready to get back into the fight, Clay Sanders and Ely came up to him and said it was all over. The Blackfeet were running back north and the Shoshone and Ute’s were in pursuit. While Ely was taking a look at the cut across Zach’s ribs, Clay walked over to the dead Blackfoot and just stared at him for a while. He then turned back to Zach and Ely and with all his might screamed a blood-curdling war cry. Several trappers came rushing up to see what the matter was. Ely had jumped when Clay let out that cry and was once again trying to get the buckskin in a better position around Zach to stop the bleeding.

  Clay danced around in a little circle then with a big ol’ grin on his face stopped right in front of Zach and Clay and said, “Boy, do you know who you have killed there?” Zach and Ely turned to look back down at the dead Blackfoot and just shook their heads. “Why that’s the great Blackfoot War Chief, Thunder Cloud. He has been the hated enemy of the Crow and Snakes for longer than there has been white men in the mountains. He has killed more redskins than any other man. The Crow say he is a ghost, not really a man ‘cause nobody has been able to even get close to him.”

  Zach then told them all, “He came at me while I was in the middle of reloadin’. I didn’t have any choice but to fight.” Henry Clayson stepped right up and said, “Zach Connors, I believe what the Injun’s is sayin’ ‘bout you is real. You do have mighty powerful medicine and that scalp of his is gonna make your medicine even stronger with all these redskins.”

  “I ain’t never taken a scalp before,” replied Zach. Ely tightened the buckskin shirt around Zach’s ribs and said, “Zack Connors you are now Grizzly Killer, one of the most feared and respected men in all of the Rocky Mountains you have to take the scalp of Thunder Cloud as a symbol to all the Blackfoot enemies.”

  Zach winced slightly as he bent over the body of the Blackfoot war chief and with his knife still covered with the Blackfoot’s blood he cut a big circle around the top of his head, took a tight grip on the long black hair and as he pulled he slid the knife under the skin. As the scalp came loose a cheer went up from all the trappers that were gathered there. Just the slight movement of taking the scalp pulled on his ribs enough the cut started to bleed again. Ely said, “That cut’s gotta be sewed together” and asked the others to get a fire started.

  They moved just a little way to a small clearing in the brush and got a fire started while Zach laid down. Ely had a needle and sinew ready from his possibles bag and had Grub come over and keep pressure on one end of the cut while he sewed from the other. The cut was numb on the lower half but he really had to concentrate against the pain as Ely pushed the needle through the upper half of the cut. By the time Ely was finished and had a good tight wrap around him, Zach was wet with sweat and was breathing deep and steady trying to control the pain.

  As the pain subsided someone hollered, “The Snake and Ute’s are comin’ back.” In just a few minutes they were riding up to the fire, many had fresh scalps tied to their lances and war clubs. Running Wolf and Spotted Elk were side by side with the rest all mixed together. Zach was sitting up and smiled as Running Wolf jumped off his Chestnut mare and came running to him.

  With a worried look Running Wolf asked, “My brother is hurt! How bad is it?” but before he could answer there was another blood curdling cry from one of the Shoshone warriors and a lot of mighty excited talk from all the Shoshone. Spotted Elk left Running Wolf’s side and ran back to where all the excitement was and then he too let out a war cry that echoed off the low hills. Several of the Shoshone had started to chant and dance around the body of Thunder Cloud.

  Clay Sanders stepped over to Zach saying, “Your medicine just keeps growin’ stronger. You have just killed the greatest enemy of the Snake as well as the Crow.”

  Running Wolf looked with wonder in his eyes at Clay as he asked, “Just what has happened here?”

  Clay looked back at him and said, “Zach just killed and scalped the most feared and hated of all the Blackfoot War Chiefs and he done it with his bare hands. The entire Crow Nation as well as the Shoshone will celebrate this as one of the greatest of all the battles against the Blackfeet and Grizzly Killer here is the reason.”

  Running Wolf looked again at his partner and asked once more, “How bad are you hurt?” Zach stood, winced as he looked at Running Wolf and answered, “It is a deep cut, but just a cut, it will heal.”

  Zach walked over to Spotted Elk and the Shoshone warriors all came over and very reverently touched him on the arm showing their respect. Spotted Elk spoke, asking Running Wolf to tell all of the Utes and trappers that the Shoshone people will not forget this day and the friendship shown to them. That they all will be remembered around the council fires for as long as the sun brings light to the world.

  The Shoshone warriors threw the body of Thunder Cloud over one of their horses and the entire group walked down to the lake shore where the rest of the Shoshone were waiting. Charging Bull, their chief, greeted all of the trappers as they came in but the Ute warriors were standing back. Charging Bull saw the hesitation of the Ute’s about coming in among their old time enemies and he made the sign of friend and motioned them to come forward.

  Two Feathers was the first and the rest followed his lead. As they entered the grouping of Shoshone and trappers, Charging Bull asked Running Wolf to tell the Ute warriors his words. “I am Charging Bull the Chief of this Village of the Shoshone people. I welcome you, not as old enemies but as new friends. I honor your courage in battle just as I have honored your brother Running Wolf for being the protector of Shoshone women and proving he is a true and trusted friend. Let us forget the past and look toward tomorrow’s sun rise as enemies no longer.”

  Two Feathers came forward and held out his hand to the Chief and nodded at Running Wolf for him to keep up the translating. As they gripped each other by the wrist Two Feathers said, “I am Two Feathers, son of Stands Tall, the chief of our village who could not make the trip. Our brother has told us of the great Charging Bull and of being friends with the Shoshone people. Your women, who are now our sisters have fought and almost died protecting our Ute Village from the Arapaho and it is with a smiling heart that we look toward tomorrow’s sun rise as friends with the Shoshone.”

  In a show of respect, Charging Bull walked to each of the Ute warriors and held out his hand in friendship. As he was doing that, Spotted Elk led the horse carrying the Blackfoot War Chiefs body to where all could see and held up the distorted painted face for all the Shoshone. There was a hush that went over the whole village as Spotted Elk announced, “Grizzly Killer has killed and taken the scalp of Thunder Cloud, the great Blackfoot killer of women and children.”

  At that, he pushed the body off of the horse and two braves dragged it off to where they had built a fire and the whole village with lances, clubs and women with sticks walked by and counted coup on the body. One woman took a burning stick out of the fire and held it to the dead Blackfoot’s eyes. When all were satisfied the body had been disgraced, they rolled what was left into the fire to burn.

  Several Shoshone had been wounded and a man and his wife who had lagged a little behind the group had been killed. They were caring for their dead and wounded when Buffalo Heart and Red Hawk brought an older couple up to where Zach, Ru
nning Wolf and Jimbo were standing and Red Hawk said, “Grizzly Killer, Running Wolf- this is Bear Heart and White Feather, Sun Flower, Raven Wing, Spotted Elk’s father and mother.”

  Enemies No Longer

  Bear Heart was carrying his bow with his quiver over his shoulder and Zach noticed that the quiver was empty. Bear Heart had shot all of his arrows helping protect their village. He was a solidly built man though not large with graying hair. His eyes had the sharpness of a hawk’s and the smile on his face was genuine. White Feather was a small woman like her daughters and it was easy for Zach to see where they had got their beauty from and though the years had aged her skin, she was still a handsome woman.

  Bear Heart reached out to Zach and with a grip that surprised him he clasped his hand saying, “My heart is glad to finally meet the man my youngest daughter has chosen.” Then he looked at Running Wolf and extended his hand. As Running Wolf reached out and gripped his hand, Bear Heart again said, “And you Running Wolf, my heart is truly full to finally meet the warrior who my oldest daughter has chosen. You are as others have said, a great one. After our warriors tried to take your scalp you and your people have come to fight by our side.”

  Running Wolf answered, calling him Uncle as a sign of respect, “We are family now and my heart is glad to be able to help the village of Charging Bull. Your daughters fought as warriors with Sun Flower Woman almost losing her life helping protect my village from Arapaho’s and the warriors of Stands Tall are honored to be able to help.”

  Spotted Elk came up to them and with a smile to Zach and Running Wolf he said, “You have met my father and mother, I wish it could have been a happier occasion. When the great Medicine Dog came to us I knew then we would be well. My heart is full that my brothers have come to help us, along with all their people.”

  Zach asked, “How long will it take for your wounded to be able to travel? Your sisters will be wondering about us all.”

  Bear Heart spoke, saying, “It will take some time to bury Rides Like the Wind, Cricket and finish caring for the wounded. You ride ahead of the village and let them know all is well.”

  Zach held his hand out to Bear Heart once more and with a nod he told them to follow Red Hawk and Buffalo Heart to their camp. He then walked over to the group of trappers as Running Wolf went to the Utes. Two of the Ute warriors had minor wounds and one trapper was getting an arrow head dug out of his shoulder when Zach got to them. Within just a short time the trappers and Ute Warriors were mounted and with Jimbo out in the lead followed the shoreline south back to the Rendezvous site.

  As they approached the south end of the lake, the Ute camp was the first they came to and as the Ute Warriors broke off, Two Feathers rode over to Zach and Running Wolf. After a brief farewell the Utes went on into their encampment. Jimbo ran on ahead to let Sun Flower, Raven Wing and Shining Star know they were coming in.

  When Jimbo ran into camp he was still covered with the now dried blood from the Blackfoot he had killed and that alarmed all three women. While Sun Flower was checking for wounds on the huge dog, Shining Star yelled, “Grizzly Killer!”

  All three women ran to the edge of their camp as Zach, Running Wolf and 21 trappers rode in. Grizzly Killer climbed off Ol’ Red and his two wives were in his arms at once, while Raven Wing waited for Running Wolf to get off his chestnut mare. Grub dismounted as well and with a look of total disbelief he walked up to Zach and asked, “How could one man get both of the two most beautiful women I ever did see?” Zach just smiled and answered, “Mighty good luck, I reckon.”

  Running Wolf and Raven Wing had already left the group as Zach was thanking all the trappers for their help as they rode on to each of their camps. Shining Star was undoing the buckskin shirt that was wrapped around Zach’s ribs to see how bad the wound was. Raven Wing was mixing a poultice from several different plants as her and Running Wolf came back.

  Running Wolf said, looking right at Zach, “My brother, it may only be a cut but it is a bad one and it needs to be treated.”

  While Raven Wing was mixing the plants that made up the poultice, Sun Flower and Shining Star washed all the dried blood and dirt from Zach’s side and helped him out of his blood-soaked leggings. He was wearing just a breach cloth of decorated deer skin and, other than his very white skin and beard, he looked as much like an Indian as the rest of them. Raven Wing applied the poultice over the cut and Sun Flower and Shining Star wrapped it tight with a wide strip of soft, tanned deer skin.

  It was only a few hours later that the Shoshone came riding through the cottonwoods right towards the lodges of Zach and Running Wolf. Sun Flower and Raven Wing ran towards their brother Spotted Elk, he was right out in front with Buffalo Heart and Red Hawk.

  Spotted Elk jumped down and ran toward his sisters and as they greeted each other Bear Heart and White Feather rode up as well. Zach could see tears of happiness in Sun Flowers eyes as she hugged her mother and then her father as he approached them. Charging Bull came forward and seeing the bandage around Grizzly Killer ribs, he immediately turned and called for Blue Fox their Medicine Man to come and check on the wound.

  Zach told him his wound was fine, that the daughter of White Feather had mixed the healing plants and cared for the wound. Hearing that, White Feather stepped forward and ask what plants they had used. As Raven Wing was telling her mother what was in the poultice she had mixed up, Blue Fox walked up and listened. He then told his Chief that Raven Wing had learned very well and he could do no more than she had already done.

  There was a large open space just west of the cottonwoods where Zach had set their camp and it was quickly decided that the Shoshone would make their camp there. The speed in which a village could set up their lodges and have a camp finished still amazed Zach. Within an hour there was a village of 14 lodges set up with fires going and not long after that the smell of roasting antelope drifted over the camp.

  Sun Flower and Raven Wing had gone to help their mother set up the lodge. Zach and Running Wolf watched several Shoshone warriors dragging in large cottonwood logs and were using them to build a very large fire pit.

  Charging Bull and Spotted Elk came over to the fire of Grizzly Killer and Running Wolf. He then looked at Running Wolf and said, “Tonight we dance to honor the bravery of the Ute Warriors and white men that came and fought by our side today. Will you go ask all of your people to come at sundown to be our honored guests?”

  Then, turning to Grizzly Killer he asked, “Do you feel well enough to ask the white men that helped us this day to come as well?”

  Zach smiled and said, “It will be my honor.” Spotted Elk then spoke as he turned to Shining Star, “My heart reaches out in happiness to meet my new sister just as it has with my brothers Running Wolf and Grizzly Killer.”

  Shining Star stepped forward speaking near flawless Shoshone and said, “Our sisters have told me so much about you, I feel I know you and Butterfly already. I look forward to meeting her, as well as your father and mother.” With a slight bow of his head he and Charging Bull turned to walk the short distance back to their camp.

  There were white puffy clouds over the mountains to the west that separated Sweet Lake from Willow Valley and as the sun set, the brilliance of the red and orange colors that rimmed the clouds was really something to see. There were fires going throughout the Shoshone camp but one small fire was set out away from the rest. There were robes set in a large circle around it and as Zach and Running Wolf approached they could see the Grizzly robe that they had sat on before at the fire of Charging Bull. There were thirty or forty trappers standing in groups and then the entire Ute village walked into the Shoshone camp.

  Charging Bull was sitting on a buffalo robe and Spotted Elk had Zach and Running Wolf sit to his immediate left. All of the Indians were dressed in their finest with full head dress and their best furs. The Shoshone Warriors were seated on Charging Bull’s right with Spotted Elk next to his Chief. The Ute warriors were seated next to Running Wolf and the trappers were
seated between the Utes and Shoshone. The rest of the Ute and Shoshone villages stood in a circle just behind the seated warriors.

  When all were seated and quiet, Sun Flower and Raven Wing stepped up beside Charging Bull and as he spoke, Sun Flower translated into Ute and Raven Wing into English. “Tonight we dance to remember our dead and to honor the bravery of our warriors in battle. For as long as I can remember the Ute people have been our enemy, but today they fought by our side with such bravery we will sing of it around our fires for as long as we have breath to sing. Even though the white man is new to our land he has proven to be a friend of the Shoshone and he is welcome in our villages and in our lands. This night we dance to honor the Ute people who are enemies no longer and the white men who has shown us true friendship. We honor one above all others; Grizzly Killer and his great Medicine Dog, the killer of our greatest enemy. The Blackfoot War Chief, Thunder Cloud, who was the killer of our women and children.”

  A loud cheer pierced the night by the entire Shoshone Village and then a drum started to beat out a rhythm and the large fire was set alight. A group in full costume started to dance around the fire to honor the bravery shown in battle and the defeat of the enemy. As the first dancers were finishing, others started to take their place and soon there were both Shoshone and Utes alike dancing in a large circle around the fire. Even a few of the trappers were trying to stay with the rhythm of the drum and dance with all the rest.