Disclaimers: Please see Part I for disclaimers to this story.
Author’s Note: I use the term ‘buried man’ in this chapter and have been asked what it means. Basically, when a man and woman ‘join’ they are not considered a family until they have their own lodge. Should a young couple join without said accoutrements, they would live with one or the other’s parents. A woman living with her mother-in-law would be considered a ‘buried woman’, unable to make decisions for the running of the household, yet still present. The same would go for a man living with his father-in-law.
Part 7: Wakan Waste
(wah-kahn wash-teh)
Good Energy
1778
The warrior sat at the fire, quietly smoking a pipe. She had a buffalo robe wrapped about her to keep out the chill of the late winter evening. Before her was a fire that crackled and popped. She was not alone.
Her sister was bustling around the fire to one side. As the wikoskalaka finished preparing the evening meal, she filled a clay bowl of stew and handed it to the warrior. “Here, mitankala. Eat.”
Wi Ile Anpo looked up from the fire. “Ohan, cuwekala,” she said with worried face. “Thank you.” Setting the bowl to one side, the warrior finished smoking her pipe in silent contemplation, steam from her breath mingling with the tobacco smoke.
Before her lay the winter camp of Wagmiza Wagna. About thirty ti ikceyas lay around a large cleared area in a near circle. The only open space among them was on the eastern side where the entrance would face the rising sun. At the exact opposite of the communal space was a larger ti ikceya that was used as a meeting place for the elders and chiefs.
Finishing her tobacco, the warrior emptied the ashes into the fire so that the spirits could have the sacred smoke. Hca Wanahca was watching carefully as she stirred the stew.
Behind the warrior was her winuhca’s ti ikceya. In the flickering firelight, designs could be seen painted on the buffalo hide. The doorway was closed, a separate leather skin covering it. But it didn’t close off the noises coming from within. A man’s voice, the medicine man, was singing. Another’s, the shaman, was chanting a spell of protection. Beneath them could be heard the sounds of a woman moaning in pain.
The warrior ate her meal quietly. Around the clearing, other families were gathered around their own lodges, all minding their own business but also out and about in silent support of her. At a fire nearby, her father and best friend were doing the same. The elders were gathered at the main fire by the council ti ikceya, smoking their pipes and discussing where to set up the summer camp in the following months.
In the lodge behind her, a sudden howling rent the air. The camp seemed to freeze, all appearing to hold their collective breath in trepidation. And then a wail from an indignant newborn christened the night sky and the camp returned to its activities in relief. A few more moments passed as the men inside finished their prayers and incantations. The babe’s voice eventually died down.
When the shaman and medicine man stepped out of the ti ikceya, Hca left the fire and headed inside. This seemed to break the tableau around the camp. As the two men sat at the warrior’s fire, the women from the other lodges began trailing closer, intent on offering assistance to the new mother.
The two men sat in silence for a few moments. The shaman pulled out a bundle of fur and carefully unwrapped a pipe. It was made of an antelope antler and intricately carved and decorated. The others watched as he carefully loaded the bowl with tobacco. He crouched forward and, with aged fingers, used two twigs to lift a burning ember, lighting the pipe.
The shaman spoke a prayer as he offered the smoke to the four directions. And then he took a puff of the pipe, using his free hand to guide the smoke towards his head and behind.
The shaman handed the pipe, stem first, to the warrior who repeated the process of smoking and guiding the cloud closer. And it was passed to the medicine man who did the same. The trio sat in silence, finishing this ritual. When the bowl held nothing but ashes, the shaman tapped it into the fire, releasing the last of it for the great spirits that ruled their world.
The warrior waited patiently, although her worries were growing by leaps and bounds the longer the wise men remained silent. She breathed a faint sigh of relief when the medicine man cleared his throat in preparation of speaking, unaware that her father had gone through this same arduous process seventeen winters earlier.
“You have a strong cinksi, wikoskalaka,” He Osni rasped, his voice almost a whisper from the extended use and the cold of winter.
“And Ketlin? How is my winuhca?” Anpo asked, leaning forward with intensity.
Inyan Ceye chuckled as he wrapped the pipe. “She is well, wikoskalaka. The labor was long, but the birth was quick.” He slipped the bundle into a pouch.
“Hau,” the older medicine man agreed with a snort. “The wakanyeja was stubborn until he made the decision to leave his ina’s san.”
Anpo’s face was a mix of concern and confusion. She had seen babies before but had never seen a newborn display obstinance. “Stubborn...?” Her dark head shook.
The shaman laughed outright at her consternation and clapped a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Hau, Anpo! Your cinksi will be stubborn, just like you and his ina! He will take a long time to set his path, but he will follow that path to the end when he finds it!”
Still not sure if this was a good character trait or not, the warrior’s answering laugh was a bit weak. Sitting still at her fire, Anpo fought with her natural inclination to dash into the ti ikceya and check on her winuhca herself.
Seeing the whites of the young warrior’s eyes, He Osni smiled and waved her away. “Go, wikoskalaka. Go see your family before you shake apart from within.”
A quick look at Inyan, who also nodded and urged her with a wave of a hand, and Anpo was up and into her woman’s lodge, scattering the other winyan and wikoskalaka like quail in the tall grass.
Inside, the ti ikceya was warm from the fire. Waniyetu Gi and Hca were both chattering and cooing at the blonde woman and the warrior found that puzzling. They have never treated Ketlin like that before.... There were other women in the lodge, some gathered around Kathleen and others tending the fire or tidying up. All stood aside with smiles on their faces when they saw Anpo approaching.
The small crowd parted and the warrior could see the yellow of her woman’s hair. “Ketlin?” she asked, her voice tentative as the flushed face and tired eyes met hers.
“Winuhcala,” Kathleen responded. “Come see your son.” She watched her warrior and partner kneel down beside her, dark blue eyes searching the handsome face for any sign. Now we’ll see, lass. Will she accept a child that isn’t hers? She chewed her lower lip in anxiety, despite Gi’s promising response.
As Anpo settled down beside her woman, she could see the reason for her family’s strange behavior. Something wrapped in a skin squirmed on Kathleen’s chest; small suckling noises and a tuft of black hair were all that could be heard or seen. She reached out but pulled her hand back at a sudden movement, startled.
Despite her worries and exhaustion, the blonde woman chuckled. She took her warrior’s hand. “It is fine, winuhcala.” Bringing their hands to the wriggling bundle, she brushed aside the skin, revealing the newborn. “You can touch him, Anpo.”
He is so.... His skin is so wrinkled! And then the warrior’s fingers brushed against the baby’s back. And soft! she thought, her face showing wonder. Growing a bit bolder, she placed her hand on his head, nearly covering it completely, the hair tickling her palm. As Gi and Hca hustled the remaining women out of the lodge, a smile grew on Anpo’s face.
Kathleen felt her worries trickle away at her warrior’s response. When the dark eyes met hers, she could see tears within them and felt her own eyes filling.
“Oh, Ketlin! He is beautiful!” Anpo finally breathed. She stroked the blonde’s cheek. “As are you, mahasanni ki.”
The tears spilled over and Kathleen sobbed in relief even as she laughed. “I am so happy you think so, winuhcala,” she offered by way of explanation.
“But, how could I not, Ketlin?” Anpo wondered. “You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. And this child is from you.”
Kathleen cried a little harder at the sentiment, a mixture of love and relief and astonishment filling her. She felt the dark woman settle down beside her and gather them into her arms, gently helping to adjust the babe still feeding at her breast. The sleeping robes were brought up to cover the three of them and a song was crooned to her as she cried herself out.
When her woman’s tears had subsided, Anpo leaned back to look at her. “Are you all right, winuhcala?” Her long fingers brushed the tears from her face.
“I am more than all right, Anpo,” Kathleen responded with a smile. “I am very, very happy now.” And then on a whim, she did something she hadn’t done before.
Dark eyes widened as soft lips met hers. They were there for just a moment and then gone. Anpo felt a fluttering in her chest and she peered down at the blonde in her arms. She kissed me!
Having seen the startled look in her warrior’s eyes, Kathleen had broken the kiss but couldn’t resist a shy smile.
It was answered by a silly grin on Anpo’s face. Ketlin kissed me! With no thought, she hugged her woman tightly until a squirming newborn showed his displeasure by grumbling.
The dark woman backed off so quickly, that Kathleen had to laugh. She readjusted their son to the other breast and covered him again. “What will we call him, winuhcala?” The blonde took her warrior’s hand and pulled her close again.
Anpo resettled herself, keeping the new arrival in mind. “I have thought long and hard on this, Ketlin,” she said, watching their son with fond eyes. “Inyan told me he would be stubborn. And it was tatanka ska that brought you and he to me.” She used a finger to brush the dark tuft of hair. “I would like to call him Tatanka Teca.”
Feeling warm and relaxed, Kathleen’s eyes drifted closed. “Tatanka Teca it is then, winuhcala.”
As the blonde fell asleep, their son drowsing as he fed, Anpo held them both close and sang a song of joy to them. Soon her voice faded and the small family slumbered together.
The infant picked up a small stone and stuffed it into his mouth.
“Teca!” Kathleen scooped him up, fingers delving into the small orifice to fish out the offending rock. She tossed it away, settling her son in her lap.
The boy immediately began fussing, wriggling in an attempt to get away from his mother and explore further.
“Give him to me, winuhcala,” Anpo offered with a smile. She set her empty bowl aside and held out her hands. “I am full. You eat now.”
Relieved, the blonde woman handed over their bundle of joy and picked up her half eaten food. She watched with wonder as Teca stopped his cranky behavior, giggling at the faces her warrior made for him. I can’t believe how lucky I’ve been, finding her. Would Adam have made as good a father?
The warrior played with their son as her woman finished eating. He was settled on one bare leg which was moving lightly and causing him to bounce. The baby was still a bit unstable as he sat and Anpo held onto his small hands to keep him upright. “You will be a great pony rider, cinksi,” she informed him.
Teca gurgled his agreement, two bottom teeth shining brightly in the late afternoon sun.
“He will take after his inanup,” Kathleen said with some authority. “He will be a strong warrior and hunter.” Leaning close, she caught the baby’s eye. “Am I right, Teca?”
Dark brown eyes focused on the blonde and the child’s smile widened. He answered with a string of syllables that made no sense, though he was quite adamant in his view.
Laughing, Anpo picked him up and held him high overhead as he squealed with pleasure. “And he will speak many words like his ina. Both Lakota and English.”
There was a sparkle in the blue eyes that looked at the warrior. “Are you saying I talk too much, winuhcala?”
The dark woman brought the baby back down and tucked him into the crook of her arm. “Hiya, Ketlin!” was the mock sincere response. “I would never say that!” Anpo looked down at the child and, in a loud whisper, said, “Remember, Teca. They are winyan and do not make sense.”
A yellow eyebrow raised. “I believe that you are winyan, too,” she suggested.
Anpo’s smile widened and she scooted about to lie down, her head in her woman’s lap and the baby straddling her belly. “But I am a warrior and I make very good sense.” At Kathleen’s look of askance, the dark woman insisted, “It is true! My ate told me so!”
Kathleen shook her head, knowing that there was no winning this ‘argument’. With a smile, she bent closer and brushed her lips across her warrior’s forehead. Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention.
The baby rocked, keeping the dark woman’s interest. His movement was a little spasmodic, however, as he was fighting sleep. Anpo began humming softly and pulled the boy forward until he was lying down, his stomach against hers. The song rattled deep in her chest and Teca’s ear, pressed against her sternum, picked it up. He began to relax against her.
“What is Nupa doing?”
With idle strokes along the baby’s back, the warrior turned her head to see what was going on.
Nupa Olowan was pacing in front of Waniyetu Gi’s ti ikceya. Despite the heat of summer, he was fully dressed in decorated moccasins, leggings and shirt, a large buffalo robe wrapped about his shoulders. A quilled breastplate hung down his front, various designs painted along the leather edges in blues and reds. His hair had been neatly combed and braided, three small quills dangling and two larger ones with red tips standing upright. The garish colors on his face seemed to glow in the evening sun, reds and yellows and greens appearing to leap away.
A slow smile crept across Anpo’s face. At last! “He is going to woo my sister.”
“What?” Kathleen looked down in puzzlement. “What was that word again?”
“To woo. He is going to see if she will join with him in the future.”
The blonde repeated the word. Peering back at Gi’s lodge, she could see movement at the tiopa. Nupa continued to pace back and forth. He’s courtin’ her! How wonderful!
Wanbli Zi had been sitting in front of his fire when the koskalaka had approached. He watched with half an eye as the young warrior paced back and forth, moving closer and closer to the entrance of the ti ikceya. The word spread with some speed and soon, others were in front of their lodges, offering their silent support.
Kathleen watched with interest as her friend and stepan, Hca, stepped from the lodge.
The wikoskalaka had a shy smile and she stood demurely just out of reach. Nupa’s pacing continued, inching closer with each pass. And then he pounced. A small scuffle ensued, though it didn’t appear that Hca was making any real attempt at freeing herself. And then it stopped and the warrior wrapped the large robe around the two of them and began speaking softly to her.
“Do not look at them now, Ketlin,” Anpo said, glancing away, herself.
Having gotten quite good at watching without watching, the blonde looked off to one side, seeing the couple out of the corner of her eye. “Do you know what he is telling her?” she asked.
“An old story. I do not know what it is. I think all wicasa decide which story to tell their winyan when the time comes.” Anpo peered down the length of her body and smiled. The baby was sleeping peacefully on her belly, a thumb planted firmly in his mouth.
Kathleen leaned back a little, using her left hand to support herself. The other idly brushed hair from her winuhca’s forehead. “What happens now? Do they join like we did?”
“Hiya. First he will visit a few more times, woo my cuwekala in a manner fitting to a Lakota maiden. Then a price will be settled between Wanbli and Nupa’s family. When that is paid, a feast will be had and then they will join as we did.”
After considering this, the pale woman peered down at Anpo. “But you did not do this with me because I had been given to you, a slave?”
“Ohan, winuhcala. You were not a Lakota maiden. There were no family members to negotiate a price or have a feast.” She looked up and lost herself in dark blue pools. “I would have wooed you, Ketlin, had I been able. I would have let you see how much I love you.”
“I love you, too, Anpo,” was the soft reply. “Very, very much.”
And then they engaged in the same thing that a newly betrothed couple nearby were involved in. Lips met in a long kiss, tongues exploring familiar ground gently.
When the couple broke off, it was with two breathless sighs. Kathleen kept her eyes closed and leaned her forehead against her warrior’s. “I do so enjoy kissing you, winuhcala.” Now if I could just figure out what to do next.... A flash of sensation, Anpo’s lips teasing her throat and shoulders, caused the blonde to shiver.
An impish grin crossed Anpo’s face. “Not as much as I enjoy kissing you, winuhcala.” Her heart fluttered at the thought of tasting her woman’s skin. I do not know how to proceed. “I will ask Inyan for his counsel in this matter.”
Teca chose this moment to shift his position, putting him precariously close to sliding off his inanup’s stomach.
The warrior caught the baby and eased him back into place.
“Let me take him,” Kathleen said, seeing the problem. “I will put him in his sleeping robes. He should sleep for the night.”
Anpo leaned her head forward to allow the blonde to rise. When Teca was removed, she felt a chill where he’d been lying. Now that she was unburdened, she sat up and stretched, reaching for her pipe and tobacco.
The pale woman, having put their cinksi to bed, returned with a smile and scooped up their dirty bowls. “I will wash these now.”
Watching Kathleen walk away, the warrior considered the draw she felt from the swaying of her woman’s hips. Ohan. I will talk to Inyan about this. She pulled a glowing ember from the fire and lit her pipe, studiously ignoring her friend and sister seated at her father’s fire.
“That is an interesting question, wikoskalaka.” Inyan Ceye’s face was serious and his dark eyes scanned the horizon. He and Anpo were on their ponies, riding with the rest of their people towards the summer camp.
The warrior nodded in return. “I feel that there is more, wicahcala. I do not know how to explain it.”
“It is true that there is more with a wicasa and winyan, Anpo. You know this as well as I.” The shaman looked closely at her. “Have you been with any of the koskalaka?”
Anpo shrugged. “Hiya. I was never interested. I have never felt this way towards them, not even Nupa!” She pursed her lips in consternation. “If Ketlin or I were a wicasa, I would know how to proceed. But we are not.”
Seeing the shoulders slump in dejection, Inyan reached out to pat her arm. “When we reach summer camp, I will seek a vision on this matter, Anpo. Do not worry yourself.”
“I will try, wicahcala,” the warrior said, though she didn’t sound convinced.
“And how is Teca?” the shaman asked, purposely changing the subject.
Anpo’s face lit up. “He is growing fast, wicahcala! His teeth are coming in so he is not happy, but I gave him some rawhide to chew on and he likes that.”
“I have seen him in passing. Except for his coloring, he looks very much like his ina.”
“Ohan!” the warrior agreed, warming to another of her favorite subjects. “I think so, too. Ketlin says he looks like me, though.”
Inyan smiled. “It is fitting that a child should look like both his parents.” His smile widened at the emphatic nod. “It is also fitting that a child should have such love from both his parents.”
Anpo colored slightly though she grinned in response.
Teca was enjoying the complete attention of his unci as she shook a rattle at him. He laughed and rocked, his arms flailing in his excitement. Nearby, Ketlin and Hca served the evening meal to the three warriors at Wanbli Zi’s fire.
“Your cinksi grows strong, tanksi,” Nupa commented, watching the proceedings. He accepted a piece of frybread from his betrothed with a smile.
As her friend wrapped boiled meat into his bread, Anpo grinned with pride. “Teca will be a fine warrior when he is a wicasa.” Taking a bite of her food, she saw her ate nod in agreement.
“He is much like you at that age, Anpo. Very alert and curious.”
“We will have strong children, too, Hca,” the young warrior said to his betrothed who blushed and smiled, casting a sidelong look at him. “Many strong cinksi and beautiful cunksi!”
Blowing on a piece of meat to cool it, Kathleen considered the young couple at the fire. She had heard the stories, the beliefs that Nupa and Anpo would eventually join. Popping the meat into her mouth, the blonde chewed in thought. Is Nupa wanting Hca because she looks so much like her sister? Dark blue eyes noted the strong resemblance between the siblings. It would make sense. She poured some of the broth into a bowl for Teca. Once the grease had been skimmed off the top, she would soak some bread in it for him to eat.
Gi smashed a berry between her fingers and brushed the pulp onto the baby’s tongue. With great pleasure, Teca gummed the treat. He shook his rattle, demanding more.
“Ah, you like berries,” the old woman said with a smile. Another bit of fruit found its way to the waiting child. “Teca has a liking for sweet things,” Gi announced to the others.
“Just as his inanup,” the blonde woman offered with a grin at her warrior.
Anpo reached with lightning speed and pulled her winuhca into her arms. Falling backwards and tickling her unmercifully, she called, “Ohan, Ketlin! And you are the sweetest!”
While the pair roughhoused, Kathleen blushing furiously but tickling back for all she was worth, Gi shook her head and clucked. “Your parents are both crazy, takoja.”
Teca decided to forego the berries as he watched his parents play. Gurgling happily, he began crawling towards them, his gait still unsteady, intent on joining the fun. He was intercepted by Hca, however, and showed his displeasure by trying to get down.
It was his voice that halted the tickle free-for-all. Both parents stopped to check on their cinksi, verifying that he was all right.
Kathleen held out her arms. “Give him to me, stepan. He is probably hungry.” As expected, when the baby was in his ina’s arms, he began tugging on the front of her cuwignaka. The blonde bared one breast and helped her son begin to suckle.
Watching her winuhca scoot closer to her meal and return to eating, Anpo sat up and dusted herself off. She picked up a meaty bone and began to chew on it. “The Sun Dance begins tomorrow. After it is done, I will hunt for more food.”
Wanbli Zi nodded solemnly. “That would be good, cunksi. The tatanka have been few this season. It has been too hot. I am afraid we will not have enough food for winter.”
“Do you think it will be that bad, wicahcala?” Nupa asked, his own face turning serious.
“It has been many, many winters since the last lean one. But it has happened before,” the elder said. “I fear it will happen again.”
“Nupa and I will go hunting after the dance,” Anpo announced, seeing her friend nod in response. “All that we can collect for our people will be needed.”
The thought of attending the Sun Dance chilled Kathleen. Memories of her warrior falling to her knees in the dust, blood pouring from her chest and back, still plagued her sleep. As the conversation washed over her, the blonde looked down to her son. Will you dance for the sun when you are older, Teca? Will you hurt yourself to show your thanks for a favor from the spirits? Will it be worth it?
Teca drowsed as he suckled, his eyelids drooping.
Despite her misgivings, the four days of the festival were good ones. Kathleen found that it was far more enjoyable this time around now that she knew the language better and her warrior was beside her. The dark woman spent their time at the celebrations, teaching her the many songs required by the spirits and trying to explain the reasonings behind their practices.
All children who had been born over the last year were gathered together at one point. Teca found himself surrounded by babies and he eyed them all with avid curiosity. When Inyan Ceye picked him up, the baby frowned a little but didn’t fuss. Not until the awl was pushed through his earlobe and a small piece of sinew inserted to keep it from growing back. And then he was placed in his inanup’s hands, tears of anger and pain coursing down his tiny face.
Anpo comforted her cinksi, jostling him and distracting him with berries. As he snuffled and gummed the fruit, still cross, she said, “You will be a strong and proud warrior, Teca.”
“Like his inanup,” Kathleen added softly. The blonde gently wiped the tears from the baby’s face.
Hearing his mother’s voice, Teca immediately demanded to be taken into her arms, leaning his body precariously out towards her. He cried and babbled in Kathleen’s arms while his inanup wrapped them both in her long arms and held them.
When Teca had cried himself out and was nursing in emotional exhaustion, Anpo led her woman towards the largest lodge in the camp. “It is time for the Sun Dance, winuhcala.”
With great reluctance, Kathleen followed.
Watching the Sun Dance itself still gave her shivers. The blonde wished that she were anywhere but in that huge ti ikceya watching those men mutilate themselves in the name of their wakan tanka. She was glad that Teca was asleep in her arms and not witnessing the carnage.
It was decidedly easier to watch than the first one. Her warrior was behind her, hands on her shoulders and whispering in her ear the belief behind many of their actions. But with the first cut on the first dancer, Kathleen shivered and dropped her eyes.
Feeling her woman stiffen, Anpo looked down. “Ketlin?”
The blonde head shook. “It is nothing, winuhcala. I will speak of it later.”
Concerned, Anpo could only nod in agreement. “Ohan, winuhcala.” And then a cheer from the gathered people gained her attention and her dark eyes returned to the dancing field.
Later that evening, as stars filled the night sky and the regular dancing continued on with the younger people at the council fire, the small family settled at their own. Teca was curled up on a robe beside the warrior, sleeping soundly. Smoking her pipe, Anpo watched her winuhca sew a pair of small moccasins for their son.
“Why did you not watch the Sun Dance, Ketlin?” she finally asked.
Ah, here it comes. Kathleen braced herself, not looking at the dark woman before her. “I.... I do not think it is... needed. To hurt yourself for the spirits.”
Dark brows rose in surprise. “Not needed?”
The blonde head shook and she kept her eyes focused on the small pieces of leather before her. “Ohan, Anpo. Not needed.”
Frowning, Anpo puffed on her pipe in thought. Not needed. “If the spirits give me a gift, a favor, how else would I repay them?”
“I do not know, winuhcala.”
There was further silence as the warrior digested this strange idea and her woman fervently wished the discussion had never come up. The baby, sensing the tension from his ina in his sleep, fussed a bit on the edge of wakefulness. He calmed after Anpo rubbed his belly with her fingers and soon he was slumbering once again.
“What do your people believe in, Ketlin? Do they believe in wakan tanka?”
Kathleen chewed her upper lip. Well, now ye’ve gone and put yer foot in it, lass! Nothin’ like a bit of religious differences to complicate things! “My people believe in God, Anpo. He is very powerful and mysterious, like your wakan tanka. He knows everything and is in everything.”
“It is a man?” The dark woman shook her head at that. “How can your God be a man? How can he know everything and be everything if he is only of one sex?”
“I do not know, winuhcala. But that is what my people believe in.” The blonde thought a moment. “He is not a man. He just... is.” A Bible verse came into her head. “He is the beginning and the end. He is in all things.”
Anpo tapped the bowl of her spent pipe into the fire. This is very confusing. “Is this God in me, then?”
“He is in all things, Anpo. Even you.”
Leaning forward and peering intently at her woman, the warrior asked, “Then why has he not spoken to me? Why has he never given me a vision?”
The blonde shrugged, discomfited with the conversation. “I do not know, winuhcala. He does not talk to everyone. He only speaks to those special wicasa who are shamans.”
Anpo sat back. “He only speaks to shamans? To special wicasa? Not winyan?”
“There have been women He has spoken to. There was a woman once who led many warriors in a war party. Her name was Joan of Arc and it is said that she heard His voice.”
Always interested in other women warriors, Anpo leaned forward. “Really?” The warrior nodded in grudging respect. “She must have been very sacred. Did she win the war?”
“Ohan, she did.”
“Your people must have been very proud of her.”
A miserable look crossed Kathleen’s face. “Hiya, Anpo. The people killed her a year later.”
“But... but, why? She was a shamaness and a warrior! The spirits - your God - had shown her much honor, helped her win the war!”
“Because most did not believe she heard God’s voice.”
Silence reigned around the fire once again as the warrior considered this. Kathleen diligently focused on the small moccasins, refusing to look at her winuhca.
Anpo’s low voice drifted across the fire. “Do your people ask favors of your God?”
“Ohan, we do.” Dark blue eyes peered up, caught by dark brown.
“And are these favors granted?”
Kathleen shrugged slightly with one shoulder. “Sometimes. Only if He deems it so.”
The dark brow furrowed. “Then how do you repay your God for his help?”
How do we? the blonde thought. Her eyes drifted to the fire, trying to find an answer in the flames. Finally, she said, “I do not know, winuhcala. We serve Him and pray to Him and be good for Him.”
Anpo nodded slowly. “When we ask the spirits for their aid, they give it to us. But, that is because we are willing to give back anything we can for their help. For very special reasons, a few do the Sun Dance to show their thanks to wakan tanka.” There was a pause as the warrior mused, staring into the fire. “Perhaps your God does not answer your prayers because you do not show him thanks.”
Sighing, Kathleen responded, “Perhaps, Anpo. I do not know. It is not my place.”
“I love you, winuhcala. But I do not like your God.”
A ghost of a smile crossed the blonde’s lips. “I love you, also, winuhcala. Let us not talk of God or spirits any more.”
The warrior nodded. “No more talk of God or spirits.”
Very close by, the sound of flute music could be heard and Kathleen turned towards it. “That is not at the council fire. Who could it be?”
Thankful for the change of topic, Anpo smiled. “That is Nupa. He is wooing my cuwe.”
“He is?” By serenading her! How sweet!
“Ohan. She will go to him and they will talk long into the night together.” A smirk crossed the dark face. “Among other things.”
A blush tinted Kathleen’s fair skin. “And what ‘other things’ would there be, warrior?” she asked, setting the leather and rawhide to one side.
Reaching out a hand, Anpo pulled the woman and guided her to sit close. Wrapping long arms around her, she whispered, “Things like this.” And their lips met in a long kiss, their hearts reaching for one another in the evening light.
“Hau, Anpo.”
The warrior looked up from the arrow she was painting to see the shaman moving closer. Setting the weapon down, she rose with a smile and waved him closer. “Han, wicahcala. Come sit by my fire.”
Inyan Ceye nodded and stepped forward to settle down on the warrior’s left. He accepted a waterskin that was handed to him and he looked around the ti ikceya idly. “Where is your winyan, wikoskalaka?”
“She has taken Teca to the river to play. Would you have something to eat?” and she held out some wansi.
“Thank you, Anpo.”
The pair were silent for a moment, as the shaman ate and drank. Anpo pulled out her pipe and prepared it, lighting it with an ember from the fire before them. After she’d taken a puff, she handed it stem first to Inyan.
The shaman accepted the pipe and smoked. Around them the camp continued on its daily routines. It was afternoon and hot. Most of the women and children were at the river nearby, taking the opportunity to cool off. The elders were most likely seated in the shade of the council lodge, discussing the winter camps.
“I have sought a vision for you, wikoskalaka,” Inyan finally said, tapping the pipe into the firepit and handed it back to her.
Anpo nodded, taking her pipe and putting it away. “Did the spirits speak to you?”
“Hau, they did.” He frowned as he considered. “I saw the igmu pacing round and round in a cave. And then she rose on her hind feet and tried to walk like a wicasa, but she was unable. It was awkward and she fell to her paws four times. Then, another igmu came into the cave, one with a lighter coloring and blue eyes. The two animals circled each other for a very long time.” Inyan shook his head. “But soon they relaxed with each other and lay down together.”
There was a pause. When no further words were forthcoming, Anpo asked, “But what does the vision mean, wicahcala? Do you know?”
“You have spent your entire life doing men’s work, you even have your own winyan and wakanyeja. But you are not koskalaka and there are things that you cannot do.” Aged eyes peered into hers. “I believe that the vision means you must find your own path, Anpo.”
The warrior frowned at the elder. “Find my own path?”
“Hau, wikoskalaka. You love Ketlin and she loves you. I cannot tell you how to become more intimate; only the two of you can do this.” Inyan sighed and spread out his hands. “Do what is in your nature, Anpo, not what is in the nature of wicasa.”
The dark woman nodded slowly in thought. Finally, she looked to her guest, a small smile playing across her face. “Thank you, wicahcala, for your wisdom in this matter.”
“My heart is glad to give it, Anpo.”
Kathleen returned from the river with a cheery and very wet baby. She saw the shaman speaking seriously with her warrior. I wonder what that’s about? It was very rare to see Inyan at their fire. Not wishing to disturb them, the blonde tried to duck into the ti ikceya but Teca would have none of it. Upon seeing his favorite warrior, he started babbling and holding out his arms.
Anpo looked over her shoulder to see her family behind her. Her face creased in a smile. “Han, winuhcala! Han, cinksi!” She patted the robe beside her. “Bring Teca to me!”
“He is still very wet,” Kathleen warned with a grin. She stepped forward and settled the squirming baby down.
Teca immediately began working on getting into his inanup’s lap, grunting with the effort. He rolled to his stomach from sitting and crawled unsteadily forward until he was draped across her tanned thigh. Unable to get much further, he started to get angry and squalled.
Laughing, the warrior picked him up and tucked him into the crook of her arm. “You were right, wicahcala, when you said he was stubborn!” she exclaimed. “When Teca decides he wants something, he will do whatever he needs to get it!”
“A very strong young hoksila,” Inyan answered, a smile on his face. He peered down at the baby, solemn dark eyes returning his gaze. The shaman looked to the blonde woman. “He looks very much like his ina.”
Tinting a little, Kathleen returned his smile with a shy one. “And his inanup,” she insisted, kneeling down beside her warrior and touching her shoulder. She was rewarded with a smile from Anpo.
“I must go now.” Inyan gathered himself and rose to his feet, the small family doing the same.
With the baby on one arm, Anpo used the other to reach out and grasp the elder’s forearm. “Thank you again, wicahcala.”
The shaman returned the grasp, using his free hand to pat Anpo’s. “Remember, wikoskalaka. Be happy.”
“I will.” And the warrior glanced over her shoulder to her woman standing curiously behind her. “Ketlin and I both will.”
Nodding in satisfaction, the old man walked away.
Watching him go, Kathleen moved closer and draped her arm about the warrior’s waist. “Why was he here?” she asked.
“I asked Inyan to seek a vision for us, to help us know what to do.”
“What to do...?” The blonde frowned as she mused. Blue eyes suddenly widened when she made the connection. “You mean.... um.... What to do between us?” At the resulting nod, she blushed furiously. Do these people know how to keep a secret!?
A puzzled smile crossed the warrior’s face as she watched the response. “Ohan, Ketlin. I told you I would talk to Inyan on this matter.” The dark brow furrowed despite the smile. “What is wrong?”
“I just.... um....” and Kathleen’s voice trailed off as she looked away. She disengaged herself from the warrior and began tidying up the hearth. “It is just.... Among my people we do not discuss such things.”
She is ashamed! Because I spoke with the shaman? Anpo looked down at their son who was blissfully playing with the bone necklace she wore. “Your people seem very strange to me, winuhcala,” the warrior finally said as she settled back down. “How do you get along without the wisdom of your elders?”
Kathleen blew out a breath. How indeed, lass?
Anpo rode into Wagmiza Wagna’s camp, worried about her failure. This had been one of many scouting attempts since they’d left the summer camp nearly a moon past and there was still no sign of tatanka. The food levels hadn’t dropped enough to worry the people yet, which was not necessarily a good thing. The warrior had spread the word to the other koskalaka of the elder’s memories, anyway, memories of a time when there was not enough food, when a harsh winter had killed many. And now a handful of those young warriors who believed her headed out every day, looking for the animal that was their life’s blood.
As she neared her woman’s lodge, the warrior located the other two scouts that had gone out that day with her. Both shook their head in silence and she felt her spirits drop just a little more. We will need at least two more good hunts to make it through the winter.
The sound of Teca’s fussing drifted to her ears as she stopped in front of the ti ikceya. She slid from the wooden saddle with a sigh and untied the two rabbits hanging from it. The warrior dropped the carcasses by the fire and ducked into the lodge.
Kathleen looked up at the change of light and shadow inside. Her face reflected her exhaustion and relief. Their son was in her arms, tears in his eyes and his ina’s finger gently massaging his tortured gums. “Han, winuhcala,” she said softly.
“Han, winuhcala.” Anpo knelt down beside her family, a hand gently rubbing her woman’s shoulder as she peered down at the baby. “His teeth are still hurting him,” she said.
“Ohan, Anpo. And they will for awhile.” The blonde sighed and dipped her fingers into a bowl of water that was slightly cooler than the ti ikceya before returning them to Teca’s mouth.
“Have you spoken with the medicine man? Maybe he has something to help.”
Kathleen nodded. “Ohan, I have. Hca is with him now. He is going to give me something to help numb the pain and ease his stomach and fever.”
Seeing his inanup, Teca mumbled over his mother’s finger and reached out a small, pudgy hand.
Anpo smiled at him, taking his hand and shaking it gently. “Han, cinksi.” She caressed his head and face. “You are a strong young warrior and brave.”
The baby seemed to agree with her, mumbling further and easing up on his whimpering. Kathleen used the opportunity to wipe his face clean of the tears before replacing her finger in his mouth.
As the warrior watched and rubbed their son’s arm, she said, “I have brought two rabbits to eat. I will skin them a little later.”
“And I will fix them for our meal tonight. Maybe roasted with the wagmu ohanpi?”
“That would be good, Ketlin.” The warrior kissed her woman’s temple, returning the gentle smile that was bestowed upon her.
There was a sound of wood on wood as someone knocked against the stick holding the leather covering across the tiopa.
“Ketlin? I have what you needed from He,” Hca’s voice called.
With a final squeeze of Kathleen’s shoulder, the dark woman rose and made her way out of the ti ikceya. She held the covering aside for her cuwe, closing it behind Hca and going to her pony. There, she removed the saddle and halter, sending the horse to the remainder of the herd with a gentle slap on his withers. Anpo then settled down beside the fire to begin skinning the animals.
After a few minutes, Hca and Ketlin both left the lodge, the baby on his ina’s hip. The darker woman smiled and waved at Anpo before turning away towards her own mother’s ti ikceya. As the warrior finished with the butchering, her woman neared the fire and set Teca down. The child promptly crawled closer to his inanup to see what she was doing.
Taking a moment to wipe her hands, the warrior scooped up the baby and held him high as she peered at him with a grin. “You are looking much happier, cinksi,” she said.
Teca responded with a giggle and chattered at her. There was an excess of drool coming from his lips, but he appeared to be over the worst of the pain.
“He had an ointment that numbed Teca’s mouth,” Kathleen informed her as she set water to boil. “And he gave me a tea to make that will help with his stomach and fever.”
Anpo settled the baby in her lap and returned to her work, giving him a fine view of the proceedings. “Does the medicine man know how long this will last?”
The blonde turned to watch her two favorite people. “Hiya. Sometimes it lasts many moons and other times it is over sooner. There is no way to know.” There was silence for a few moments as the animals were skinned. “Did you find tatanka?”
Anpo’s face turned solemn. “Hiya, I did not. And the others did not as well.” Brown eyes looked up to the blonde. “I am afraid we will not have enough for the winter.”
“Teca will have enough,” Kathleen vowed.
Their eyes locked.
“Ohan, winuhcala. I swear it, too.”
From a distance, a voice could be heard. “Anpo!”
The warrior broke their gaze to look for the speaker, finding a young hoksila of about eight running towards the fire. The boy stopped at a respectful distance and waited for Anpo to wave him closer.
“My cousin, Nupa, would like you to go to your father’s fire,” he said, excitement in his voice.
A grin slowly grew across the handsome face and the dark woman nodded. “I will be there soon.”
The hoksila smiled as he turned away. “I will tell him!” And then he pelted off.
An amused look was on Kathleen’s face as she looked back and forth between her winuhca and the disappearing boy. “What is it?”
Anpo finished with the rabbits, wiping her hands quickly. She rose, swinging Teca up into the air and holding him high. “Nupa wants to talk to me about a price for my cuwekala!” she exclaimed to the shrieking baby.
“Oh! That is wonderful!” the blonde responded happily.
“Ohan, it is!” The dark wikoskalaka brought the child back down and looked about. “You and I will go to my ate’s fire. You will help with the feast while I speak with Nupa and his family.”
Kathleen took the water from the fire and rose. “I will make the best rabbit stew,” she proclaimed as she put the newly dressed meat in a basket to carry. They then made their way to the fire of Wanbli Zi.
Nupa’s father, Wi Sape, was already seated in the honored place to the left of Wanbli Zi. Also in attendance was Hca’s only other male relative in the camp, a cousin named Magaju Ahi. Upon their arrival, Kathleen offered to take their son with a questioning look.
The warrior shook her head with a grin. “Teca will stay with me for now.”
The blonde nodded with a smile and approached the cluster of women at the front of Waniyetu Gi’s lodge. A blushing Hca pulled Kathleen into the ti ikceya, followed by the others.
Anpo ignored the giggling from her mother’s lodge and settled down at her ate’s fire with a grin and a nod. “Han,” she said, settling Teca in her lap.
There were murmured greetings all around the fire.
With his youngest daughter now present, Wanbli Zi nodded a greeting before lighting the pipe he held in his hand. Eyes twinkling, he smoked before offering it to Anpo with a wink. The pipe made its slow way around the circle in silence, a ritual of calming and focusing.
Just within earshot several hoksila, to include Nupa’s young cousin, hovered with avid curiosity. Teca ignored the boring proceedings, preferring to play with the necklace hanging from his inanup’s neck. He babbled to himself softly.
Once the smoking was finished and the bowl tapped into the firepit, Sape spoke. “My cinksi, Nupa, would like to offer the ate of his betrothed six fine buffalo hides for her.”
Wanbli nodded and looked to his kin. “My cunksi, Hca, is worth that and far much more,” he said.
“Ohan,” Anpo agreed, nodding with her cousin. “This shirt I wear was made and painted by her. She is a good worker and her fingers are very agile.”
Sape considered this for a moment. “Seven buffalo hides. And a shield of rabbit hide.”
“Does my hankasi have her own lodge?” Ahi asked. “Or will Nupa become a buried man by living at Wanbli’s fire?”
“Nupa would only be buried long enough for my cuwe’s ti ikceya to be completed. It is nearly done now.” Anpo jostled the baby in her lap as he began to get bored and fuss a bit. “My ina and winuhca would both help in this matter.”
“I do not want my cinksi living as a buried man for long,” Sape frowned. “The offer stands.”
Wanbli considered this. His nephew drank from a waterskin and passed it to him. The elder drank deeply before handing it off to his cunksi. Looking to both of his kin, his dark eyes begged the question.
Ahi shrugged and nodded his head in one firm movement.
The dark woman looked to Sape. “The joining could be delayed until the lodge is complete,” she suggested. “I could ask my ina how much longer it will be.”
Nupa’s father thought for a moment, his face clearly showing his acceptance. “If it is good, Nupa will pay the price and wait until Hca’s ti ikceya is done before the joining.”
“It is good,” Wanbli Zi firmly responded.
The two older men rose, smiles on their faces, as they shook each other’s forearms. The nearby hoksila, full of new gossip, whooped and raced off to spread the word of the impending union.
The remainder of the evening consisted of a feast held at Wanbli Zi’s fire. Most of the camp dropped in at one point or another to help the couple celebrate the agreement, but the primary revelers were the immediate families. The hides and shield were delivered by Nupa himself, the rest of his family in tow. The winyan cooked and dealt with the young ones while the wicasa sat at the fire to talk, the hoksila hanging on their every word.
As she had promised, Kathleen produced a magnificent rabbit stew for the meal. The other women were amazed at her use of spices, it being different from their own usual fare. Many times through the cooking process, she was quizzed by elders and wikoskalaka alike.
Teca eventually found his way back to his ina’s side. When he wasn’t suckling, he was held close to her body in a sling like piece of leather. There were a few interruptions because of his teething, but the ointment and the tea seemed to help the worst of it.
The proud woman warrior laughed and joked with the rest of the wicasa, happy with the knowledge that her best friend and her cuwe were going to join. A niggling tiny bit of jealousy was rooted out as she realized that Hca and Nupa both would have less time for her. But then Anpo saw the couple looking at each other with love in their eyes and set the negative feelings aside. They will be very happy together! Her eyes found Kathleen’s. As we are!
Hca Wanahca (hajah wah-nah-hajah) - (Cinksi/Anpo's sister) nicknamed Hca
He Osni (hee oh-shnee) - (medicine man) nicknamed He
Inyan Ceye (een-yahn cheh-yeh) - (shaman) nicknamed Inyan
Kathleen Sarah McGlashan Stevens - the white woman, nicknamed Ketlin
Magaju Ahi (mah-gah-joo ah-hee) - (Anpo/Hca’s cousin) nicknamed Ahi
Nupa Olowan (noo-pah oh-loh-wahn) - (Cinksi/Anpo's childhood friend) nicknamed Nupa
Tatanka Teca (tah-tahn-kah teh-jah) - (Ketlin/Anpo’s child) nicknamed Teca Wanbli Zi (wahn-blee zee) - (Cinksi/Anpo's father) nicknamed Wanbli
Wagmiza Wagna (wah-gamee-zah wah-ganah) - Chief of Cinksi/Anpo's camp
Waniyetu Gi (wah-nee-yeh-too jee) - (Cinksi/Anpo's mother) nicknamed Gi
Wi Ile Anpo (wee ee-leh ahn-poh) - (a.k.a. Cinksi) nicknamed Anpo
Wi Sape (wee sah-peh) - (Nupa’s father) nicknamed Sape