Copyright © 2005, Sherry Derr-Wille
Published by Whiskey Creek Press LLC

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Wildcat squirmed against the bindings that secured his wrists. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the lodge, he saw that his brother Wading Bird, his sister’s husband, Proud Elk, and his friend, Spotted Pony, were with him.

“What do you think they will do to us?” Wildcat asked.

“Do not fool yourself, brother,” Wading Bird replied. “Before the sun sets this day we will all walk with the ances-tors. We were fools to listen to Buffalo Calf. His loyalty to Hawk will serve no purpose but to cost us our lives.”

Wildcat could hear the anger that tinged his brother’s words and tended to agree with him. Before they left the vil-lage, Buffalo Calf had filled their heads with thoughts of vic-tory. They would travel the distance between Hawk’s village and this one, take the Spirit Woman while she slept and return as heroes.

As young men, their heads were filled with such lofty goals, and they had not asked Serpent’s Wing to bless their mission. If they had, none of this would have happened. The gods would have looked upon them kindly and protected them from the evil that could, at any moment, befall them.

A commotion from outside the lodge caused Wildcat to turn his attention to the door flap. As soon as he did, the early morning light that streamed into the lodge broke the darkness. With it, he easily recognized Snapping Turtle and Buffalo Calf as they too were pushed in to their prison.

“I do not think our lives are in immediate danger,” Buffalo Calf said.

Wildcat knew he was trying to put them at ease. They had known of the danger when they left on this trek. Nothing Buffalo Calf could say at this point could calm the fears that plagued each of them.

“Have any of you been harmed?” Buffalo Calf asked.

“Someone punched me in the jaw,” Proud Elk, declared. “Had I been in his place, I might have done the same thing, if for no other reason than fear of the threat that intruders in our village could mean.”

The others agreed, but their words did nothing to ease Wildcat’s fear over his destiny. If he were to die, he would never have the chance to court one of the maidens in the vil-lage. He certainly would not know the joy of fathering chil-dren, or earning his first eagle feather.

From deep within his belly, Wildcat could hear a grum-bling not unlike that of a bear awakened from his long winter sleep. The sound of it reminded him that he had eaten nothing other than jerky to ease his hunger, since leaving the village before the sun crested the eastern horizon the day before.

They had traveled through the forest until Buffalo Calf as-sured them they were close to the village of the Spirit Woman. Only then had they made a cold camp and rested be-fore going on under the cover of night’s darkness. For Wild-cat, the lack of food was almost more than he could stand. He always ate with great enthusiasm and his heavy frame attested to his appetite for good food.

They continued their discussion, each blaming the other for being foolish enough to accept Buffalo Calf’s suggestion without question, until someone else entered the lodge. Wild-cat looked up at the man who stood before them. In the dim light, the man’s fierce expression was enough to cause Wildcat to tremble. His stomach threatened to rebel, but he forced down the bile, as well as the fear that accompanied it. In the eyes of his friends he had always been the one to make them laugh. In this instance, there was nothing to laugh about. Here he had to be brave. This was the man who had questioned them earlier and brought fear to each of them with his tone and manner.

“I am Atiko, second son of the great shaman Clankor. Since I have questioned each of you separately and heard the same story from all of you, I must believe you.”

Wildcat knew his sigh of relief was an audible expression of what each of his companions were thinking.

Atiko’s demeanor changed as he hunkered down in front of Buffalo Calf. To Wildcat’s dismay the two of them spoke in such hushed tones no one else could hear what they were say-ing. It came as a surprise when Atiko untied their hands before he left the dwelling.

“Where is he going?” Proud Elk inquired.

Wildcat watched as Buffalo Calf rubbed his wrists before answering. “The men are leaving to bring the women and chil-dren back to the village. When that is done, they will bring us food. He also said that if we tell the Spirit Woman of the rea-son for this raid, she might return with us to help Hawk. I do not know if I believe all of what this man says, but he is re-spected among these people and has no need to lie to us. For now, we have no choice but to trust him until he proves him-self unworthy of such trust.”

Around him his friends agreed. In their position they could only wait and see what these people would do. While the others talked among themselves, Wildcat concentrated on the hunger that gnawed at his belly. As far as he was con-cerned these people could bring him food now. In his entire life, he could never remember being this hungry.

“Can you not quiet that belly of yours?” Wading Bird asked. “It is making so much noise that none of us can concen-trate. If you are not careful, these people will think it is us making those sounds and assume that we are ready to attack them.”

Wildcat could feel the heat of embarrassment creep into his face. In all his life food had been important and his very size attested to the fact that eating was one of his top priorities. Now, not only his own brother, but also the rest of his com-panions were making fun of him because of it.

From outside the dwelling the sound of the returning warriors and hunters silenced the teasing of Wildcat’s com-panions. When at last someone finally came into the dwelling, it was not with platters of food, but with the news of the Spirit Woman’s disappearance from their midst. The mood of the village seemed to have changed from fear over the raid to con-cern over her whereabouts.

Finally several young women brought them food and they were allowed to go, one by one, to relieve themselves.

Once the comfort of relief returned to his body, Wildcat helped himself to the bounty spread before him.

“You had better eat something before Wildcat finishes his portion as well as yours,” Wading Bird said.

Wildcat looked up to see to whom his brother was talk-ing. He did not have to contemplate the situation long to real-ize it was Snapping Turtle who sat looking out the door flap as though entranced. A glance in the same direction told Wildcat his friend was more taken with the woman who brought their meal than he was with the food.

Wildcat had noticed the strikingly beautiful woman, but had paid her little heed. She was an enemy, or at least, that was how she saw them. Even if he did find her attractive, she would never return any such feelings. Snapping Turtle was a fool to stare at her like a buck deer in rut.

“She will one day be my wife,” Snapping Turtle declared.
“You are a fool,” Proud Elk replied. “Do you not see her with the man by the tree? It is evident she is a promised woman. I watched her when she brought us our food. She gave you no more than a passing glance. She, like everyone else in this village, will be relieved when we are finally gone.”

Wildcat tended to agree with his sister’s husband. They had put themselves in a bad situation. The sooner they re-turned to their own people, to begin the trek to the winter campground, the better it would be for all of them.

Once they had all eaten their fill, they were taken out-side. There they enjoyed the warmth of one of the last days before the snow would begin to fall. Above them the wild geese were coming together in order to start their flight south. Wildcat had even noticed that the songbirds had long since left. In his heart, he knew they should be in their own village, preparing for the trek to the winter campgrounds.

From his vantage point, Wildcat could watch the activi-ties of their captors. Women went about their daily chores, giving the six strangers a wide berth. When they did glance in the direction of the men who had disrupted their routine, they were quick to point at them and whisper to their friends.

The children were another matter. To satisfy their child-ish curiosity, they would venture close enough to touch the in-truders before running back to their friends. The coup of touching an enemy would be something they could surely brag on throughout the cold phases of the moon.

Wildcat had no problem putting himself in the same posi-tion as these young boys who formed a semi circle in front of them. When he was their age, the temptation to touch the in-truders would be too great to resist. If the situation were dif-ferent, he would join them in their game.

As he watched the children, he thought of the boys in his own village. As a bachelor, he often sought them out in the evening and played games or helped them practice with their small bows and arrows. More than anything else, he enjoyed the hours spent with the young braves, helping them to hone their skills.

The thought brought a lump of despair to his throat. If he were to lose his life in this enemy camp, he would never know the joy of being a father to many children. If that were the case, his spirit would spend the afterlife in regret. He did not want such a thing to occur. More than anything else in the world, he wanted to hold his children in his arms and teach his sons the skill of hunting that had been taught to him as a young brave. To die without such things happening would not only bring disgrace upon his soul, but also upon his parents.

The shadows of late afternoon brought a change in activi-ties. As it was in his village, the women were busy at the cooking fires. The children had tired of their game and gone off in search of other adventures to occupy their minds.

At last the shadows turned to darkness. Reluctantly, Wildcat and his companions went back inside the lodge where they were being held as captives. As such, they all spent a rest-less night. It was close to dawn when a commotion from out-side woke them.

Although Wildcat could not fully understand the words the men spoke, he knew their situation had suddenly changed. It was evident the men had been searching for the Spirit Woman. If they had found her she was not with them. She could easily be dead. If she was, their lives could be once again in jeopardy.

“The Spirit Woman has been captured by our hunters,” Snapping Turtle said, his voice so low that only those sitting close to him could hear what he was saying.

“How do you know that?” Buffalo Calf asked.

“I have been listening to them carefully. Their language is not so different from ours. I find I can easily understand them.”

“If what you say is true,” Proud Elk declared, “it is possi-ble they will ask for an exchange of her for our freedom.”

“You are being foolish,” Buffalo Calf admonished. “The only one of us who might be worthy of such a trade is Snap-ping Turtle. The rest of us could go to our deaths without anyone from this village caring. I tend to agree with Wading Bird, we are condemned men. It is best if we tell this Atiko of Snapping Turtle’s identity. In that way they will know that we have a man among us that is of a high status. It is entirely pos-sible that they would agree to an exchange.”

“I do not want my status among our people known by these men. We all know what happened to my uncle when his status became known. I have no desire to relinquish my life so easily.”

Wildcat agreed with his friend. The story of Sly Coyote’s death at the hands of their enemies was one the storytellers repeated at almost every celebration. The man was far more famous in death than he had ever been in life. The very thought of Snapping Turtle gaining the same fame was un-thinkable. Wildcat would rather give up his own life than to see the same thing happen to his best friend.

By mid-day Snapping Turtle’s prediction had been con-firmed. The Spirit Woman was, indeed, Hawk’s captive. Wildcat could feel the anger that seemed to be building against them. Men looked at them as though they had suddenly be-come a hated enemy, women refused to look in their direc-tion, and the children cowered in fear and ran in the opposite direction as though they had become monsters.

“In the morning we will leave for your village,” Atiko an-nounced while they ate their evening meal. “Once we are there we will make council with your chief. Since he undoubt-edly has the Spirit Woman as his captive, we will talk of ex-changing the six of you for her safe return.”

“Six for one hardly seems right,” Wading Bird said once Buffalo Calf agreed to Atiko’s terms and the man left them alone. “This is but a woman we are speaking of. Even a Spirit Woman cannot be worth six proven hunters and warriors.”

“I never said it was right,” Buffalo Calk retorted. “It does not have to be right. It only had to gain us our freedom and get us back to our families.”

Wildcat nodded his agreement. He knew the past few days had been hard on Buffalo Calf, Proud Elk and Wading Bird. They all had wives and children. For Snapping Turtle, Spotted Pony and himself, it was different. They had no fami-lies who were dependent upon them. Spotted Pony’s parents, like his own, would grieve his loss if he were not to return. Only Snapping Turtle’s loss would be an excuse for Hawk to retaliate against these people. Buffalo Calf’s plan would be the best for all of them.

* * * *
By mid morning they set off to meet with Hawk and the people they had left behind. Wildcat could feel a difference in the attitude of his friends. Days earlier, they had been filled with excitement over the raid. Now, they were returning as captives. To add to the humiliation, the warriors with whom they traveled outnumbered them two to one.

His companions set a brisk pace, forcing Wildcat into a fast trot in order to keep up. It wasn’t like he couldn’t with-stand such a pace, but he did prefer traveling more leisurely, as they did on the trek to the winter campgrounds. Being heavier than most of his companions put him at a disadvantage under conditions like these.

When the shadows of evening overtook them, they finally stopped for the night. There was much grumbling among the warriors who accompanied them as guards. Buffalo Calf pa-tiently explained about the distance they had traveled to reach the village, and how they had begun before the sun crested the eastern horizon and continued until well past darkness. Al-though their captors were unhappy about it, they agreed it was best if they were to make camp and begin their journey when the sun was again showing its face in the heavens.

Wildcat wished he had a warm blanket to ward off the chill of the night air. He did not like this changing weather. It was no wonder he preferred to spend the winters far to the south where the temperatures were more to his liking. In an attempt to forget his discomfort, he fell into a troubled sleep. It was one that was filled with dreams that predicted disaster.

After an uncomfortable night, they again headed east. A feeling of dread nibbled at the edges of Wildcat’s mind. Some-thing was wrong in the village. Had his dreams not predicted something dire happening? Would he find the Spirit Woman had turned her powers against Hawk? Were all of the stories about her helping people only misguided gossip?

Ahead of them, Wildcat saw the grove of trees that bor-dered the village on the west. He glanced at his companions and knew they, too, were apprehensive.

With each step through the woods the fear grew in Wild-cat’s mind. By now he should be able to smell the smoke of the cooking fires, but he could detect no roasting meat or simmering stew.

“Are you certain this is where your village stood?” Atiko demanded of Buffalo Calf.

“We are too late. The people have left for the winter campgrounds without us,” Buffalo Calf replied.

By the tone of Buffalo Calf’s voice, Wildcat knew their situation was hopeless. Even so, he studied the expressions on the faces of his friends. He knew Wading Bird and Proud Elk were concerned about their families making the trek without their protection. Of course Hawk would see to their welfare, but it wasn’t the same as doing so themselves. Anything could happen to them. They could be attacked by wild animals or be caught in a storm. Without the protection of the men they called husband and father would they be able to take care of themselves, or would they be lost to the people forever?

The very thought of any such thing happening made Wildcat’s stomach roil with uncertainty. He could almost hear his sister, as well as the wife of his brother, wailing in sorrow over their loss. He could even feel his mother’s grief over the loss of two sons and one that she considered a son. How would they ever survive without the men in their lives?

“I have suggested that the five of you stay in place of Atiko, in order to show these people that we know Hawk will return Atiko to them unharmed,” Buffalo Calf announced.

“You did what?” Proud Elk demanded.

“You heard me, I suggested five for one.”

“Who will provide for our families?” Wading Bird pro-tested. “Who will protect them? You will be with your wife and children, but you expect us to spend the winter with our enemies?”

Wildcat ached for his brother, as well as his sister’s hus-band. To them their families were far more important than life itself. To be so far away from them for an entire winter would be a hardship. It would be different for Snapping Turtle, Spot-ted Pony and himself. They had no family dependent upon them. Although not desirable, staying could be viewed as an adventure.

From the corner of his eye, Wildcat saw Atiko returning to their midst. The look on his face was a mixture of frustra-tion and relief.

“My men say they will keep one for one.”

“Which one?” Proud Elk asked. “We have families to con-sider.”

“We will draw lots,” Buffalo Calf suggested.

Wildcat could hear the frustration in the older man’s voice at the way Proud Elk was challenging his position of leadership among them. Buffalo Calf, not Proud Elk, was the leader of not only the hunters but also the warriors. He was the one in charge. Proud Elk had neither the status nor the po-sition within the village to make such a challenge.

“Is there one among you who is not married?” Atiko asked.

“There are three,” Buffalo Calf replied.

“Then let the draw be among them only. I want no hard-ships imposed upon men with families.”

Wildcat’s heart beat wildly at Atiko’s suggestion. When he was one of five his chances of drawing the short stick had been slim. As one of three they had suddenly increased.

Each of the three friends reached out their hands and drew, at the same time, from the sticks Buffalo Calf offered. Spotted Pony’s audible sigh of relief told Wildcat that his chances of staying had just increased.

“I am the one to stay,” Snapping Turtle declared before Wildcat even dared to look at his stick.

“Hawk will not be at all understanding,” Buffalo Calf la-mented.

Wildcat wondered if Buffalo Calf would make them do the draw again to spare Snapping Turtle the hardship of be-coming a hostage.

“The draw was fair,” Snapping Turtle said. “Had I not pulled the short stick, I still would have insisted on being the one to stay.”

“But why?” Atiko asked.

“Because I see it as my duty.”

Wildcat admired his friend. “Will you tell them of your status among our people?” he whispered.

“It is not my intention, but I will not lie. Perhaps I can win the heart of the young woman who has captured mine so completely if I am truthful.”

“Do nothing foolish, my friend. It will be a long winter without you.”
Each man in turn told Snapping Turtle the same thing be-fore they turned south to follow the trail of bent and trampled grass left by the people under Hawk’s leadership.

“Hawk is not going to be happy about this,” Buffalo Calf confided to Proud Elk.

If Wildcat had not been close enough to overhear their conversation, he would not have known of Buffalo Calf’s con-tinued concerns. Through the day Wildcat thought about the comment that had not been meant for his ears. By using his position, Hawk could easily make their lives miserable for the entire winter. If Snapping Turtle did not return to their village in the spring they could all lose their lives.

Hawk was a good man, but he had a blind spot when it came to Snapping Turtle. He set great store in the wisdom of his younger brother. It would have been much better if either himself or Spotted Pony had drawn the short stick.

* * * *
Excitement started to build as soon as the smoke from the encampment by the mounds was visible. Wildcat could smell the river that ran wild and free just beyond the gathering of the bands.

When they reached the outer fringes the enthusiastic cheers of friends from other bands greeted them. They were viewed as heroes returning from the dead. It was evident they had been mourned and consider to be walking with the ances-tors when they did not return from the raid.

As they moved closer to the familiar lodges of their vil-lage, more and more people gathered around them. In the dis-tance, Wildcat saw Hawk hurrying toward them. The expres-sion on his chief’s face was one of joy at the prospect of once again seeing his beloved brother.

The closer Hawk came to them, the more people stepped aside to give him access to the newcomers. When at last Hawk stood toe to toe with Buffalo Calf, Wildcat watched the joy drain from his face as anger clouded his eyes.

“Where is he?” Hawk demanded. “Where is Snapping Turtle?”

Both Buffalo Calf and Atiko tried to explain what had happened, but the words only succeeded in causing Atiko to become Hawk’s captive.

Wildcat wanted to melt into the crowd, to find the secu-rity of his parents’ hearth. Instead, people pressed closer and closer in order to hear every word Hawk spoke, making Wild-cat’s escape impossible.

“You are his best friend,” Hawk accused, turning his anger toward Wildcat. “How could you allow this to happen?”

Wildcat tried to speak, but the words threatened to strangle him.

“Answer me!” Hawk stood so close, Wildcat could feel the heat of his breath.

“The draw was fair,” Wildcat finally managed to say. “Any of us could have drawn the short stick.”

“Then how do you explain the fact that my brother was the one to draw it?”

“It was the will of the gods.”

Everyone turned at the sound of Serpent’s Wing’s voice. As they watched, the old shaman pushed his way through the crowd to stand at Hawk’s side.

“You should know the boy well enough to know he would have insisted on staying behind, even if he had not lost the draw. He would have felt it his duty. You and your father have raised him well. He will bring you no shame.”

“I care not about shame,” Hawk shouted. “My brother’s life is at stake. If any harm befalls him, the captive and the Spirit Woman will forfeit their lives.”

The harshness of Hawk’s words shocked Wildcat and yet they were not unexpected. Six men had left on this fool’s mis-sion and only five had returned. No matter who had stayed behind, the loss would be felt. Because Snapping Turtle was Hawk’s brother, the loss was far worse.

At least Serpent’s Wing had been able to quench the fire of Hawk’s anger. Even so, it was evident that Buffalo Calf had fallen from Hawk’s favor over the events surrounding the ill-fated raid.

It was going to be a long winter. None of them would be in Hawk’s good graces until Snapping Turtle returned to the village when they reached the summer campgrounds.

As soon as it was possible to slip away unnoticed, Wildcat made his way to his parents’ dwelling. By the time he arrived, his brother and Proud Elk were already being welcomed back into the family circle. The wives and children were clamoring for their attention, begging them to tell the story of what had happened while they had been gone.

Wildcat allowed the others to tell the story. For once he was content to be forgotten by his family. It was good not to be the center of attention as he had been with Hawk. All he wanted was to partake of his mother’s cooking and to rest. The days he had been gone had been hard on him. He simply wanted to be left alone to contemplate what had just occurred in his life.

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