Yet, the tiva could not decide if this was a sign from Atah that she had His permission to leave, now that her family had Regim and a son to care for them. The fact remained that Stalking Wolf was not Hanueva. Another reality flooded her mind: she had shared forbidden passion and committed betrayal with the Cheyenne and she was carrying a baby.
Away from camp and the tribe’s ears, Regim was taking that choice out of Kionee’s hands as the Tiva-Chu spoke with the shaman…
Spotted Owl called a council meeting the following night. It was held in a large clearing so the tivas and men could hear every word. The shaman revealed the destruction of the kims and his belief for the reason. “Tivas wear dried ovaries of she-bears, and a bear was sent to destroy the spirit vessels. It is a sign from Atah to release our daughters from enforced ranks. Taysinga has joined to Night Walker, our next chief. Kionee’s mother has born a son to free her. I say, the Creator wants all mask-wearers freed to become mates and mothers so our tribe can grow larger and stronger to defeat our enemy. What do you think and say, my people?”
The stunned crowd glanced at one another in confusion as to what they thought and felt and should say.
At last, Bear’s Head asked, “Is this a message to you from Atah?”
“He has revealed it to me in many ways, my chief and people. The tiva rank was made by the Ancient Ones long ago when females born outnumbered males, and families without sons went in want and lived in peril. The Ancient Ones, those who came before our Hanueva band, painted their daughters’ faces and dressed them as men so others would view them as males when they hunted and battled. As seasons passed, more laws were made to bind tivas tighter to their ranks, laws used to guard that secret to prevent enemies from knowing they were females, fighters who could be easily defeated. Such laws made it hard for tivas to leave their ranks. By the moon the custom came to us, we no longer needed those laws as the Ancient Ones did, but we kept them in place, for no one spoke to end the custom. If we keep it alive, we deny our daughters their instincts to become mothers; we place them in danger on the hunt and in battle. They sacrifice much to honor their ranks, for they are taught and trained to do so when they are too young to think for themselves. It is time to reward them with freedom, to let them live as they were born, to make no new mask-wearers of our daughters.”
“Who will hunt for us and protect us when we are old and cannot do so?” one sonless father asked.
Regim caught the shaman’s signal for her to respond. “The men who join to freed tivas will become your sons while you remain on Mother Earth. If those men also have a duty to their parents, tivas can help hunt for their parents, and fight for them if trouble comes. Sisters, mothers, and friends of tivas and their mates can help with a tiva’s children and chores if she is needed on the hunt and in battle. Those tivas who wish to remain as hunters and defenders can do so, but as females, as it is with other tribes. If there is no secret to guard, it cannot harm us. With the Crow frightened away, our tivas can give us needed sons to fight in days when their courage or daring returns, for it is certain to do so. They can give us daughters to bear more sons to increase our number and strength. Hanuevas are people with many wits, so we will find ways to care for our families and people. Few tivas have left their ranks to join, for men viewed them as brothers, as other men. Night Walker had the courage to do so when he claimed Taysinga as his mate, and she is worthy of him.”
The chiefs son spoke up. “My vote is with Regim and freedom. If we are to survive, Hanuevas, we must cast aside this law and custom.”
Little Weasel agreed, knowing that change would remove Kionee as a hunter, as fierce competition in their bloodline. “Night Walker and Regim speak wise and true; my vote is for freedom of the tivas.”
Many others spoke for release. Only a few spoke against it, those who feared change and how it might affect their lives.
“We vote,” Spotted Owl announced when there was silence.
Kionee’s heart was elated when that unfair law was discarded by a near-unanimous vote. Yet, that did not remove the remaining obstacle between her and Stalking Wolf. Nor did it change the fact she had broken the law while it existed. Would she still be punished, she wondered, in the old way?
“Tivas, when the new sun rises, you are women again,” Spotted Owl said. “Remove the paints from your faces and seek mates among our men.” He turned to Regim. “Speak now of what we talked about in the forest.”
The Tiva-Chu stood and said, “It is the law for our women to join only to those men with Hanueva blood. There is one among us who must be freed of that law. Kionee must join to the Cheyenne warrior called Stalking Wolf; that will bind the alliance between our tribes tighter. Atah crossed their paths so they could do many great deeds; He also seeks to join them as mates. This I believe with all my heart, as does Kionee and Spotted Owl.”
“I dreamed of two wolves mating, wolves who protect our people from harm,” the shaman said. “I did not understand until Regim spoke of the love which has come to be between Stalking Wolf and Kionee, both who wear and carry the wolf’s sign. We must free her of our law to join him.”
Kionee stared at the two speakers in astonishment, as Regim had not warned her of this plan. She felt many gazes on her.
The shaman continued, “Strong Rock and Martay were given a son as a sign to release her from our law; I say, to go to him. Atah called Fire Woman to him so Regim could be the Hunter-Protector of them until the boy is grown and trained. Maja was given a mate and has left Kionee’s side to be free with his kind. I say these are sacred signs, messages from Atah.”
The chief looked at Kionee and asked, “Do you love this Cheyenne friend who helped us, son of the man whose life and Sacred Arrows you saved? Does he know you are a female? Does he wish to join to you?”
“His skills and instincts are great,” Regim responded for her. “He guessed she was a female. She did not betray the tiva secret to him. He loves Kionee and waits for her freedom to become his mate. She has proven her loyalty and love for us by sacrificing him for her rank and people. This union was in the sacred visions of Stalking Wolf and Medicine Eyes; though Hanuevas do not use visions to guide us, we know they have mystical powers. We know that all the warrior and shaman saw in their visions has come to pass. Even so, Stalking Wolf is a man of honor and a true friend to us; he respects our laws and customs and did not lure her away from them. Their love and union are destined by Atah. He they call Maheoo. We must release Kionee to join to him in honor and in reward for their great deeds together.”
“Is this true?” the chief asked Kionee, who answered for herself this time.
“Upon my life and honor, Bear’s Head, Regim speaks the truth. I do not know why Atah put such love in my heart, but it lives there for him. I could not put aside my rank and vow to stay with him as he asked. He is a man of honor, so he keeps my secret from all others. He does nothing to sway or to force me to come to him if I must hurt my family and people to do so.”
“Who votes to allow Kionee to leave our tribe in honor to join with the mate chosen for her by Atah?” the shaman asked.
Red Bull, father of the girl named after her, said, “I vote yes, for she saved my mate and child from the grizzly and has done other good deeds.”
Runs Fast, mate of Blue Bird, said, “I vote yes; she saved my love from the Crow, as she did with those of others.”
Goes Ahead, one of those mentioned, agreed for the same reason.
The father of Sumba said, “I vote yes, for she saved my child’s face and hand from adorning the shield of our enemy.”
Older tivas agreed, for Kionee had helped them many times.
Others consented because she had helped save their people and had helped strengthen the Cheyenne alliance, which she refused to threaten even at a great sacrifice to herself.
Strong Rock smiled at his daughter and said, “This is why Atah gave me a son. I vote yes. Kionee has done her duty to us with skill. She has earned the right to seek love an
d happiness with Atah’s choice for her.”
Kionee smiled at her father in love, respect, and gratitude.
Little Weasel concurred, eager to have Kionee gone.
“If she loves the Cheyenne, let her go to him,” Night Walker said. “Let her find the happiness I have found with Taysinga. She has done much for her people and we must reward her with freedom.”
Kionee smiled at him in gratitude, for he sounded sincere. During these last few days, he had seemed like a different, better, man; she assumed that was because of Taysinga, who pleased him greatly.
Soon, all who wished to speak had done so and the vote was taken.
Kionee could hardly believe her good fortune. Her heart leapt with joy. Victory sent her spirit and wits soaring. She was moved by her people’s love and esteem for her, by Spotted Owl’s and Regim’s words and actions. She thanked them, and she silently thanked Atah for this blessing. She was now free in all ways to go to her cherished lover. She could leave without exposing her condition.
She had to travel a long distance to find Stalking Wolf. She hoped and prayed the Strong Hearts had not decided to camp elsewhere for the winter. Even if the Cheyenne did not return to their usual site, surely she could track and locate them which would only lengthen her search for a while. Timing was vital in order to conceal the presence of the child. I am coming, my love.
22
KIONEE GAZED AT THE colorful mask on the back of her hand; Regim and Spotted Owl had told her it was unnecessary to burn it off since the tiva custom no longer existed as a secret to safeguard. She was told to wear it in honor of her past deeds and rank. She had been given a new name to go with her new life: Morning Dove—a bird of peace, beauty, lovely song, and messenger to Atah. Since she was going to join a Strong Heart warrior and live with his people, the Cheyenne language was used for the chosen name: Hemene. She loved the sound of it and the reason she had earned it.
A special ritual was held to bury the broken kims and she-bear ovaries, returning them to Mother Earth from whom they had come. Ceremonial masks were suspended from thongs on past-tivas’ tipis-of-power where weapons were hung for safety and display. The group had removed their facial paints, discarded their male garments, and released their braids. In the two days since the council meeting, several men were pursuing eager ex-“brothers” for their mates. New tasks were being learned; old tasks were being assisted by many males. The tribe appeared to have grown closer as men and women worked together in unity, respect, and affection.
Martay watched Kionee as she held her baby brother, played with his tiny fingers, laughed, smiled, and made cooing noises. Martay was elated to have her oldest daughter returned to her birth role, and was thrilled by Kionee’s success. With all her heart, the joyous mother believed that Kionee’s joining with Stalking Wolf was destined by Atah. She thanked their Creator for His many blessings, guidance, and protection. Her other daughters were happily mated to good and brave men; if they gave birth to only females, those girls would not be faced with enduring the tiva rank, for which Martay was grateful and relieved. She was glad to have Regim back as a sister, living with them and taking over Kionee’s place until the son in her child’s arms was old enough to do so. There was none better, she felt, to train him than Regim and Strong Rock. She was awed by the boy’s coming, and amused that she had not guessed his presence within her body. At last, Martay thought with a smile, all was as it should be.
That afternoon, Kionee presented the coup feather from Big Hump to her father, who accepted it with pride and joy and misty eyes. She gave Recu to Regim, for he was a well-trained and skilled buffalo horse. The woman was surprised and pleased, as Regim’s pinto was nearing the season when he would become only a riding mount. Kionee kept Tuka and one burden horse for her use, but left the others for her family’s. She knew that Stalking Wolf had or could get enough animals for their needs.
Kionee gifted her mother with her ceremonial mask to hang in their tipi, for she would never don it again. She handed Martay the browband with buffalo hoofprint to pass to her little brother to wear during his first hunt for good luck. She wished she had other special belongings to give to her two sisters, but providing the skins for their tipis and garments and being their Hunter-Guardian for so long was more than generous, they told her. She hugged Blue Bird and Moon Child before the three laughed and talked for the first time as sisters. Her siblings whispered stimulating advice into Kionee’s ears, unaware those words were unneeded by one who already had experienced wild passion with the man she loved and would soon join. She smiled and pretended to take their words to heart.
As they talked, Kionee fingered the necklace which the Cheyenne chief had given to her without realizing she would become a member of his family and band one day. She had female garments to take with her, generous offerings from her sisters and friends. Her possessions were packed in parfleches and her weapons were readied for self-defense, as she would leave when the next sun arose. She would take with her the wristlet and hairpipe choker from Five Stars, and the buckskin shirt with beaded designs from Stalking Wolf: gifts for saving their grandfather’s life and for preventing the theft of their Sacred Arrows. She did not need to make a talking-feather, as that was not a Cheyenne custom, one she hoped her people would discard one day. It seemed foolish to her for a woman to be compelled to shake a feather in front of men to ask permission to speak to them. Now that Hanuevas had changed a law as significant as the tiva one, Kionee mused, perhaps that ancient custom also would be cast aside.
A mixture of joy and sadness, anticipation and tension, filled her as the awesome moment for departure approached. Soon her family and people would be left behind, but she would ride into the arms and life of the man she loved.
* * *
Before dusk, Kionee visited and spoke with her closest friends for a last time before leaving. She knew she would see them again on the plains during the next hot season and joint buffalo hunt and was elated this was not the last time she would be with them.
She talked with Red Bull and Blowing Rain, and held the daughter named after her. She visited her paternal grandparents, Long Elk and Yellowtail. She spoke with Four Deer, Swift Fingers, White Flower, Weasel Boy, Weasel Girl, and Little Weasel. She guessed why her cousin was so exhilarated by her change of fate and why he was being so friendly today; yet, she refused to allow anything or anyone to darken her shiny joy.
Kionee responded to Taysinga’s eager summons to her tipi. She dreaded confronting the chief’s son after the startling turn in events, as he now grasped the reason she had rejected him and could not love him. She smiled and embraced the ex-tiva. For a few moments, their gazes studied each other’s full appearances as women.
“I am happy for you, Hemene; this is the will of Atah.”
“Thank you, Taysinga, for I also believe it is true. I did not seek love and joining, but they found me, as you and Night Walker found each other.”
The chief’s son grinned and said, “Joining Taysinga was the best choice for me. She is a good and skilled mate. Her female spirit was strong; it is good it was released to unite with mine. It is also good you have found a perfect match, one blessed by the Creator. Go, be happy and free, as we are.”
Kionee caught his cleverly wrapped dual meanings. She was cheered by his change of heart and ways. Perhaps, in time and under his influence, he could inspire those same needed changes in her cousin. “You are kind, and your words bring joy to my heart. You will always be my friend and as a brother to me, as Taysinga will be a friend and as a sister.”
“We have a gift for you, Hemene,” the bubbly Taysinga revealed. “It is a dress for your joining ceremony with Stalking Wolf; it was made from the white buffalo hide for good luck and to reward you for all you have done for our people. Night Walker gave it to me and asked me to make it with the help of others. We worked fast to do so.”
Kionee held the soft and lovely garment with fringes and adornments. She lifted a misty gaze to the couple. “
There is much love and respect in my heart for you, my friends. Never have I seen a finer or prettier dress.”
“That is not all,” Night Walker hinted before handing her matching moccasins. “My mother made them for you. Martay gave her your old ones to mark the prints of your feet.”
Kionee accepted the second gift and fingered the beadwork on the moccasins’ tongues. “Such joy fills me that I can hardly speak,” she murmured.
“There is no need, for your glowing eyes thank us,” Taysinga said.
“Ride in safety and alert, Hemene, and be happy,” he added. “I will never forget the great sacrifice you were willing to make for our people’s survival, and other good and brave deeds you did for us and your family.”
“Thank you, Night Walker. You and Taysinga be safe and happy. When that sun rises, you will be a great chief. It is good our people will have one such as you to lead and protect them. It is good Taysinga is at your side.”
Kionee left them to halt by Bear’s Head’s tipi to thank Running Otter for the moccasins before she returned to her family to eat the evening meal. She needed to take to her mat early to get restful sleep before her journey.
* * *
The entire tribe turned out to watch the ex-tiva’s departure. After words of parting and good wishes from many of them, she embraced her parents, sisters, Regim, and grandparents. She kissed her little brother’s forehead and glanced gratefully at Regim and Spotted Owl. She mounted Tuka, took the braided reins of her burden horse from Regim, and walked the animals away from the group. Just before she left their sight, she paused, turned, and took in the view one last time. She smiled as she remembered Stalking Wolf doing the same thing at their first parting. She signaled a farewell, which was returned by family and friends, and took a deep breath.
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