Buffalo lying in wallows got to their feet with amazing swiftness and agility for such large and sluggish-looking creatures. Their massive dark heads swung in the direction of the noise. Bulls, young and old, seemed to surround cows and calves, unaware the females and young were not in jeopardy. The more aggressive males appeared to take stances of attack and intimidation. Many were brought down fast by the hunters’ prowess.
Clouds of dust were kicked up as the herd dispersed in three directions, and determined riders pursued them. Bulls snorted in anger and tossed their heads in warning. Mothers guarded their calves as they urged their offspring forward. The beasts moved with surprising speed. They seemed to know the intruders presented danger and death. Their pounding hooves sounded like ceaseless roaring thunder; the loud noise seemed to reverberate in the warm air and in the ground.
Kionee was pleased by the number of buffalo, as the herd dotted the grassland for as far as she could see to both sides and beyond her. The beasts’ hides were in splendid condition this season; they would make fine robes, tipis, shields, quivers, drums, parfleches, and other possessions. The thick hair of winter mantles was sturdy and long for braiding ropes and soft for padding cradleboards. Shiny horns would become good drinking holders or be made into scoops for eating and cooking. Strong bones would be carved into knives and tools; their marrow, would be used in cooking. Sinews would hold tipis, garments, moccasins, and other things together. Galls would be collected for making yellow dyes. Part of their meat would be eaten now and the rest would be made into winter supplies. She already knew which greens and herbs her mother used for flavoring certain cuts and for tenderizing tough ones.
Kionee clutched Recu’s belly with her knees and feet for balance and security and drew back the bowstring for her first strike. She watched the arrow enter the selected point. She fired another, and the beast stumbled and fell. She glanced up to mentally mark its location before taking off after a second target. A large bull was nearby, and she focused her skills and attention on him, bringing down the powerful creature. Again, she made a mental note where it had fallen. Though the symbols on her shafts proclaimed the beast to be hers, she wanted to be able to guide her mother and sisters to the sites.
Groups of antelope and solitary coyotes fled in panic. Prairie dogs barked warnings and disappeared into their burrows. Other small critters scampered into their holes. Birds were flushed from their nests in tall grasses. Butterflies took flight to avoid being trampled.
Frantic buffalo stampeded over a prairie dog village where many broke legs and were trapped. Alert riders used caution in picking their paths into the hazardous area. With skilled shots, they made certain the creatures suffered no more.
Kionee withdrew an arrow with Taysinga’s markings. She had decided to help the other tiva who had promised to hunt for Sumba’s and Tall Eagle’s families. She also reasoned a successful hunt would make Taysinga look good in Night Walker’s—and in others’s—eyes, make her appear more worthy of the chiefs second son. Kionee brought down five buffalo with the arrows she had painted with Taysinga’s symbols.
The huntress halted in the shade of several trees on a creek bank to rest, drink, and eat from the pemmican pouch suspended from her belt. Recu drank and grazed, at the same time. Kionee was grateful the summer sun did not blaze down on the plains without mercy this early in the season, but their exertions caused both woman and horse to perspire. Kionee’s disguise—the face paints, breast band, buckskin shirt, and leggings—increased her discomfort. It was also a dirty chore, as dust, animal hair, broken grass, and other debris clung to her and Recu. She was glad creeks snaked across the plains to provide water for man and beast, and that a few trees and bushes to grew along their edges for shade. She knew, as the hot season progressed, many of those water sources would either slow to tiny trickles or dry up until rains nourished them back to life. Then it would be necessary to bring along water bags to wet and soothe their dry and scratchy throats. Also, hunts would be done early or late in the day to avoid laboring in scorching and dangerous heat.
When their break ended, Kionee returned to hunting for her family. Many hides were needed to make Blue Bird’s tipi for the time when she would join to Runs Fast; any excess meat would be given to elder tivas and to others. The thought of herself being unable to mate to her secret lover saddened her, so she pushed it aside to prevent distraction. She returned to the noisy action and shot several animals from a small group that came her way as countless other hunters darted in and out amongst the large herd.
A wounded bull made a charge toward her, which Recu avoided with nimble footing. A Cheyenne warrior chased it, took it down, then returned to Kionee to make certain she was all right. “He did not injure us. Recu is quick and alert,” she said as she stroked the chestnut’s neck in gratitude.
“Another ran against my target, so my arrow was not true. I am Five Stars, adopted son of Big Hump, our chief, and my grandfather long ago,” he identified himself. “Strong Hearts welcome Hanuevas to camp and hunt with us.”
She studied the handsome man. She was pleased by his kindness and concern. “I am Kionee, son of Strong Rock and Martay.” She saw his brows lift in recognition of her name and watched his intrigued gaze roam her colorful mask and small frame. When he smiled, it was a genial gesture; and his expression was one of respect and surprise.
“You are the friend and companion of my brother, Stalking Wolf. He says your skills and prowess are great. He spoke of your coups in our council meeting. It is an honor to look upon you. It is good you rode with him to find our enemies, the Crow. It is good your people join mine for safety.”
Kionee hoped her astonishment in hearing that news and the sheer delight in the name of her secret lover did not show. “We thank the Strong Hearts for their protection. The name and deeds of Five Stars are known to the Hanueva. You are a great warrior, as are your brother and father. Our protectors and guardians can learn many things about battling Bird Warriors from your people. We desire peace with all tribes but the Crow will not allow it. They hunger to take us captive, to steal our lands and possessions.”
“The Strong Hearts will not let them do so. The Great Spirit sent us a sacred vision and commanded us to protect the Hanueva. My brother told us of the cunning tricks you played on Crow raiders. My father, our shaman, and our people want to chant your many coups. You must come to our tipi where we can speak more after the hunt,” he said, nodded, and rode away.
Kionee watched him race beside a bull and fire several arrows as he made another successful kill. She saw him glance back at her, smile, wave his bow, and gallop off in search of his next goal. She longed to see Stalking Wolf but doubted he would seek her out amidst the commotion, and both knew he should not do so. Most of the Cheyenne were hunting to the right, far away. The only reason Five Stars had neared her position on the left was to pursue the buffalo he had wounded and end its suffering.
She was glad she had met Stalking Wolfs brother. She had taken an instant liking to the man who would become chief of the Strong Hearts after Big Hump’s death. From stories told about his prowess and many coups, she reasoned that Five Stars was more than worthy of his destiny. Now she knew she was on her lover’s mind, as he was on hers. He was praising her to his people and family; that made her happy. But how could she refuse his brother’s invitation without offending Five Stars, Big Hump, and their tribe? They wanted the chance to thank her, to honor her. She must speak with her parents, chief, and council to receive an acceptable and harmless reason; for they were the ones who made the tiva law and should deal with the repercussions.
With the herd racing away from the south where the joint camp was situated, it was safe for the women to arrive with the travois to begin their tasks. When Kionee sighted them, she ceased hunting to find her mother and sisters to guide them to her first kill. They first gave thanks to Atah for His gifts and Kionee’s success. She stood guard against a sudden turn of the enormous herd as the women collected any un
damaged arrows and handed them to her to be sharpened and used again. Broken shafts, mangled feathers, and ruined points were discarded; but good tips were knifed out and saved. She watched for perils and stole brief observations of tasks she hoped to do one day as they skinned the beast, carved out the meat, removed the horns, and cut out the sinews and other parts for which they had uses. Everything collected was loaded onto the travois and wrapped in the hide, which was spread out on the wooden frame.
That process was repeated many times as they moved from carcass to carcass. When the three travois were full, Kionee removed the arrows from her remaining kills to let others know they could claim them. Hunters who had been less fortunate than she was today, or those who had larger families to feed and clothe, thanked her and placed their marks upon the beasts.
Kionee knew she would hunt several more times this season, but the amount they were hauling back to camp on this trip was as much as could be preserved, eaten, and cured before spoilage would occur. After this supply was handled, the task would be repeated until enough hides and food for winter were gathered. Martay, Blue Bird, and Moon Child mounted the horses, and the travois were dragged to their tipi, with Kionee guarding them. The weary group arrived with just enough daylight left to remove their loads, tend the horses, wash off the blood and sweat, and cook.
Strong Rock greeted them upon their return. “It is a good day, my son; success was yours. My pride and joy are large. We thank you.”
Kionee noticed the look in his eyes and heard the wistfulness in his voice which revealed how much he missed the stimulating hunt and the thrill of victory. She knew he tried to accept his fate without becoming bitter, but it was hard for a man to be almost helpless in a normal male role without feeling that way at times. She was glad and proud he did the best he could; she loved and respected him for doing so. She embraced him and said, “I thank you, Father, for good training. The tivas taught me many things, but I learned more from you when we hunted together.”
Kionee watched Strong Rock smile and his gaze mist with deep emotion, so touched by her words and hug he could not respond. His was a condition which could never be altered, but was it the same for her? Could she be denied her dreams and desires and not become resentful and distant? In all honesty, she did not know, and that admission troubled her.
Martay smiled and said, “No family has a more skilled hunter and brave guardian than Strong Rock’s. Our love, respect, and joy are as big as a mountain on this day, our son.”
“Thank you, Mother” was all she could reply at that tormenting moment to the woman who had everything she herself craved and could not have.
“I thank you, Brother,” Blue Bird said, “for the hides you helped gather. Now I can make a tipi for me and Runs Fast. Your heart is good and kind.”
Kionee forced out a merry laugh. “We must both work hard and long, for a tipi takes many buffalo skins.”
“I will tan all you can bring to me, even if I must work at night and my fingers become raw and bleed.”
Kionee wished she could recover the words that escaped her lips and heart before she could halt them. “Love should not hurt and punish, my sister; you must enjoy your task, for it is a special one.”
“That is true, my brother; you are as wise as you are skilled.”
“We must eat and sleep,” Kionee said, “for much work awaits us.”
Martay and the girls hurried to prepare the meal while Kionee tended their horses and visited with Maja.
But as she cooked, Martay worried over the unfamiliar and suspicious tone of her son’s voice and the expression in his eyes when responding to Blue Bird’s jest. Could it be, she fretted, that female emotions and urges were chewing upon Kionee this season? If that were true, who was the man who sparked them to life? Was it Night Walker, a good and acceptable choice? Or was it another man, a forbidden and bad choice? Surely, the anxious mother reasoned, that could never happen.
15
KIONEE JOINED HER MOTHER and sisters outside to construct meat-drying racks for them, ones tall enough that disobedient camp dogs could not reach them and strong enough to resist being toppled by winds. She dug four holes in the shape of a square, put a forkedtopped stake in each, and secured sticks across their tops with pieces of thong. She repeated the task many times in front of their tipi in the area assigned to them.
While she worked, Martay pegged the buffalo hides to the ground with the fur side down. Kionee knew her mother and siblings would scrape off all flesh and fat, rub the hides with brains and grease to soften and condition them, then tan them with sumac berries and other things from nature. After the skins dried, they would be twisted, pulled, and rubbed until they were pliant.
Kionee glanced at Blue Bird and Moon Child as they sliced meat into strips to hang on the racks to dry in the sun and wind. Some pieces were cut smaller and thinner for eating as jerky, while others were left thicker and longer for use in pemmican. The larger pieces would be pounded into grainy powder, mixed with fat and dried berries and nuts, rolled tight in cured deerskins, and stored in parfleches for winter food.
Strong Rock sat on a rush mat with a willow back as he braided hair into rope, sharpened Kionee’s arrowheads, and fed wood to the fire that was roasting their meal. Hanueva men helped their women with some chores during this particular season, as they did not have captives or multiple mates to handle so much work. Strong Rock smiled at Martay as she approached the fire to sprinkle crushed sage, thistle, and other herbs on the skewered meat. As his tender gaze roamed her face and body, he was glad his accident had not rendered him useless on the mating mat. He never tired of this woman or of uniting his body with hers. He knew she felt the same about him, so his heart soared with joy at remaining a man for her.
Kionee watched her mother’s actions without being noticed. She had learned which berries, greens, roots, tubers, corms, bulbs, stems, fruits, flowers, nuts, and herbs to gather; and how to smoke them or boil, bake, or roast them in or over coals. She knew how to make soups and how to prepare many foods and cuts of game. She was very familiar with gathering things for preparing paints, dyes, and medicines, which was not considered all woman’s work by her people. She liked collecting earth pigments and plants for those uses, some which were mixed with water and others with grease, and others simply dried. After meeting Stalking Wolf and yearning to become his mate one day, she made it a point to discover all she could about the new rank she craved.
The following morning, as Martay and her two daughters tanned hides and dried meat, Kionee and her father sat nearby to work on her weapons. Maja rested beside her and on occasion lifted his silver head to check out movements or noises. Moon Child was in an elated mood on this her seventeenth birthday, as she was now considered a woman who was available for joining.
A hunter of their tribe had caught Moon Child’s eye during the recent journey. Kionee was relieved her youngest sibling was no longer attracted to Stalking Wolf and asked no questions about him. She reasoned that her second sister would be mated by the cold season which would follow the impending one. Also, another season of buffalo hunting would be needed for gathering the hides for Moon Child’s tipi. Kionee did not mind helping her sisters obtain new homes, but she experienced natural resentment at not being allowed to have one herself. After both girls were gone, that would leave only her parents to protect, feed, and clothe. Yet, she would still be a tiva; she would still be forbidden to join with her love.
As if thoughts about Stalking Wolf summoned him to her, two Cheyenne warriors came to visit, before the sun was high overhead. Kionee saw them approaching and had time to compose herself before she and her family greeted Stalking Wolf and Five Stars.
“We came to offer help if it is needed, and to hear of your hunt. My brother said his wounded buffalo tried to charge you.”
“Five Stars has many skills, as does Recu,” Kionee replied, “They did not allow me to be harmed. My hunt was good. Speak of yours.”
“Maheoo gifted us
with many buffalo for hides and meat. Big Hump’s mates tend them; he has four, but Morning Light is his first and best. She is the mother of my mother and the mother of Five Stars’ father. He took other mates when it was past his season to give seeds for more children, but we are as his sons. We know it is the Hanueva custom to have one mate, so her work is much; that is why we come to offer help to our friends Martay and Strong Rock.”
Kionee was pleased he had not given anything away. “Your heart is good and kind, Stalking Wolf, but Hanueva men help with chores during this busy season. We do not hunt again until this work is done. We thank you.”
“My son speaks words of truth, Stalking Wolf. I thank you.”
As her mother responded to their generosity, Kionee noted the differences between Stalking Wolf and Five Stars. The younger male was shorter and leaner, but well-muscled and solid. His skin was darker than Stalking Wolf’s. He carried himself with the same self-confidence his adopted brother possessed. His looks would please most women, but he was not as handsome as Stalking Wolf. His black hair hung loose and spread around broad shoulders. The only marks she saw on him were scars of the Sun Dance and a red handprint on his chest.
“Sit, speak more about your hunts,” Strong Rock invited. “I can no longer do the chase; it gives me joy to hear of others’ rides and victories.”
Kionee had an odd sensation that her mother was slyly observing her with Stalking Wolf. She thought it best to take her leave for a while. “While you speak, Father, I will take the horses to drink and graze at the water,” she said.
“Keep alert for cunning Crow, my son,” Strong Rock cautioned.
“I will do so, Father. I will return after my task, Mother.”
Stalking Wolf also felt Martay’s eyes upon him, so he said and did nothing to provoke suspicion. He and Five Stars took seats on the sitting mats Blue Bird brought to them. He made certain he did not even glance at Kionee’s departing form as he plunged with seeming enthusiasm into the tale of his successful quest.
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