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Authors: Janelle Taylor
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doubleback. He played his flute for her enjoyment and to show his selection of her to others. Kionee concluded they would join after the buffalo hunt and ceremonial visit to Medicine Mountain. She told herself she must hunt extra hard and long this season to help Runs Fast obtain enough buffalo hides for their tipi. After Moon Child came of age next summer and joined, that would leave only herself and her parents to provide for and defend. After they were gone, she would be alone, alone with the elders in the tiva tipi, unless…
No, Kionee, you cannot join to Night Walker. You cannot lie upon his mat, in his arms, your bodies united into one. His lips — his children—are not those you desire.
“Come, Kionee, we go to hunt. Red Bull and Tall Eagle say a herd of antelope and deer feed near the river where it bends toward the rising sun.”
“I will get my weapons and horse, Sumba. Maja, stay and guard.” She ordered the wolf to watch over her family during her absence. Others did not care for hunting with a predator whose scent might spook their prey. Maja lay down quietly near the tipi entrance; though eager to accompany her, he was obedient.
Taysinga, a tiva two years older than Kionee and Sumba, and Goes Ahead joined the group as they rode from camp. The six traveled northward along the Big Horn River for two hours to the location where scouts had reported sighting the herd. The animals had not left the area. Even if the hunters had not descented theirbodies, there was no wind for a time to carry their smell to the grazing creatures. The three men and three women planned their approach from several angles. After leaving their extra horses secured by reins in a copse of trees until needed to carry home the meat and hides, they carried it out with skill and speed.
As the hunters neared their targets, the herd realized their peril and bolted in many directions. The band separated and pursued their goals. Arrows were fired and hit their marks, but the game raced valiantly onward. Finally, strength depleted, each deer and antelope struck stumbled and collapsed to the ground.
Kionee dismounted and retrieved a knife to give a merciful and swift end to one animal’s futile struggle for life. She lifted her brown eyes skyward and said, “Thank you, Atah, for this gift of meat and skin for my family.” She stroked Tuka’s neck and forehead, pleased with the pinto’s performance. Kneeling beside the deer with her marked arrow embedded in its chest, she eyed the quality of its hide as she skinned the creature without damaging it. She removed and placed antlers, choice teeth, and furry tail in a large parfleche for various uses later. After gutting the animal, Sumba joined her and helped load it onto an extra horse. Kionee secured it there with its legs roped beneath the horse’s belly. Kionee did the same task to assist her friend, then both went to aid Taysinga who was slower at the deed and—as always—crinkling her nose in displeasure at the smell and feel of death.
Afterward, Sumba and Kionee tracked and prepared the antelope they had slain for older tivas. Almost at the moment the two females finished that task and stood washing their hands, Red Bull shouted that Crow warriors were galloping toward them with weapons brandished. The warning was unnecessary for Kionee, who had already heard them. She squinted at the threeHanueva men separated from them by the river and hurrying to come to their defense.
“Taysinga, get the horses and game into the trees for protection while Sumba and I guard our backs!” Kionee ordered the frozen eldest tiva, who stared in fear at the peril riding toward them: eight armed Bird warriors. Kionee seized the immobile girl’s arm, shook her, and commanded, “Sharpen your wits and move fast or we die!”
Taysinga glared at Kionee for a moment, but obeyed. She scurried into the trees, secured reins to the horses and quickly grabbed her weapons, all as she observed the unfolding
No, Kionee, you cannot join to Night Walker. You cannot lie upon his mat, in his arms, your bodies united into one. His lips — his children—are not those you desire.
“Come, Kionee, we go to hunt. Red Bull and Tall Eagle say a herd of antelope and deer feed near the river where it bends toward the rising sun.”
“I will get my weapons and horse, Sumba. Maja, stay and guard.” She ordered the wolf to watch over her family during her absence. Others did not care for hunting with a predator whose scent might spook their prey. Maja lay down quietly near the tipi entrance; though eager to accompany her, he was obedient.
Taysinga, a tiva two years older than Kionee and Sumba, and Goes Ahead joined the group as they rode from camp. The six traveled northward along the Big Horn River for two hours to the location where scouts had reported sighting the herd. The animals had not left the area. Even if the hunters had not descented theirbodies, there was no wind for a time to carry their smell to the grazing creatures. The three men and three women planned their approach from several angles. After leaving their extra horses secured by reins in a copse of trees until needed to carry home the meat and hides, they carried it out with skill and speed.
As the hunters neared their targets, the herd realized their peril and bolted in many directions. The band separated and pursued their goals. Arrows were fired and hit their marks, but the game raced valiantly onward. Finally, strength depleted, each deer and antelope struck stumbled and collapsed to the ground.
Kionee dismounted and retrieved a knife to give a merciful and swift end to one animal’s futile struggle for life. She lifted her brown eyes skyward and said, “Thank you, Atah, for this gift of meat and skin for my family.” She stroked Tuka’s neck and forehead, pleased with the pinto’s performance. Kneeling beside the deer with her marked arrow embedded in its chest, she eyed the quality of its hide as she skinned the creature without damaging it. She removed and placed antlers, choice teeth, and furry tail in a large parfleche for various uses later. After gutting the animal, Sumba joined her and helped load it onto an extra horse. Kionee secured it there with its legs roped beneath the horse’s belly. Kionee did the same task to assist her friend, then both went to aid Taysinga who was slower at the deed and—as always—crinkling her nose in displeasure at the smell and feel of death.
Afterward, Sumba and Kionee tracked and prepared the antelope they had slain for older tivas. Almost at the moment the two females finished that task and stood washing their hands, Red Bull shouted that Crow warriors were galloping toward them with weapons brandished. The warning was unnecessary for Kionee, who had already heard them. She squinted at the threeHanueva men separated from them by the river and hurrying to come to their defense.
“Taysinga, get the horses and game into the trees for protection while Sumba and I guard our backs!” Kionee ordered the frozen eldest tiva, who stared in fear at the peril riding toward them: eight armed Bird warriors. Kionee seized the immobile girl’s arm, shook her, and commanded, “Sharpen your wits and move fast or we die!”
Taysinga glared at Kionee for a moment, but obeyed. She scurried into the trees, secured reins to the horses and quickly grabbed her weapons, all as she observed the unfolding
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