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Chapter 2, p16
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FACING SUNRIZE
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She ran across the stream and tried to go into
the forest to look for Lali herself,
but two of the chief's sons held her back.
"Come on Auntie, it's late now.
We'll go out again first thing in the morning
You go home now and get some rest!"
But Gongi didn't want to rest.
"The snow is too deep now," they insisted.
Reluctantly she realized how
futile her going out in the dark was,
so she sobbed all the way back to her teepee.
When Chief Taweya and his boys had gone out
that day, they did not realize how close
Lali and Lokie were. Nor did Lali and Lokie
realize that Taweya's team was just as close.
The two parties never saw each other,
though they crossed paths, because
Lali and Lokie were covered by a "special
atmosphere," making them invisible to everyone.
The giant Thunderheads rumbled and let
lightning fly, They were laughing so hard.
They were have a good time teaching Lali
the lesson of her life. If she didn't change
her attitude soon, they were ready to lose
patience with her. First they decided to give
her a chance to prove her good intentions.
But Lali was in a scowling mood all day just
trying to keep Lokie moving. She was still,
just as determined as ever to have everything
her own way. Compromise was not
part of her vocabulary yet.
The Great Eyes of the Thunderheads followed
her every move.
They shook their heads in dismay, and it
snowed a deluge on Lali and Lokie as they
trudged wearily forward.
The Thunderheads made her very
uncomfortable with their piercing eyes,
but Lali shook off her feelings of dread,
as just her imagination tricking her into
believing her grandmother's fairy tale.
"Some old clouds don't scare me! You'll
be gone soon," she told them pretending
to acknowledge them. "This storm
is just passing thru. Tomorrow there will
be plenty of sun again, and we wont have
to look at you any more!" She laughed
nervously to prove she thought it was just
a joke. But the Thunderheads didn't think
it was a joke, and they poured more snow
on top of her and Lokie, until Lokie could
go no further and lay down in the snow.
****************************
When Gongi got back to her camp, Salanka
was there. "Mom" she said,
"I heard they didn't find Lali yet. How
are you doing" she added, rubbing the old
woman's shoulder. Gongi shook her head
and went into her teepee. Salanka followed.
"Mom," she said gently, "come to my lodge
tonight. I made a rabbit stew and it's still hot.
Ebi and Shiro are worried too. Come stay
with us tonight."
Gongi just shook her head to say no.
"Mom, what did you eat today," Salanka
insisted. "You have to eat. You come with me
now." She had to pull Gongi's arm to get
her out of the teepee. She followed Salanka
sadly to the family lodge.
The children were happy to see Grandma,
and were jumping over her and each other
to get hugs. It sure made Gongi feel better.
She sat down on the thick buffalo hide and
took the bowl of steaming hot stew that Salanka
handed her. She tried eatting it when it cooled
a bit, but everytime she took some to her mouth,
she had to hold back the sobs. So she put
the bowl down and stroked her grand sons
and laid them down to sleep.
She sat staring abstractedly into the fire as
Salanka prepared a place for Gongi to sleep.
"You have to sleep here tonight Mom.
Just rest. The stew is right here when you get
hungry." She kissed her Mom's head tenderly.
"Cover up with this tonight. It'll keep you warm"
she said giving Gongi a nice buffalo blanket.
Then she went to her bed. Soon Red Horse
came in from outside. He'd been clearing snow
away from around the teepee after dinner.
Now he came in and was tired from a full day
of chopping wood and shoveling snow.
He went straight to his bed where Salanka
was already sound asleep.
Gongi heard Red Horse come in, but she
didn't move and pretended to be asleep.
Gongi's eyes were full of tears as she lay in the
dark trying to sleep. She was thinking of so
many things. She wiped the tears away and
dried her cheeks with the back of her hands.
She was thinking of Lali and Lokie alone
in the snowy night. Her spirit went to them
and covered them with her love. Then
she was able to sleep til sunrize.
Lali loved her grandma, but she didn't appreciate
her sterness. She fought against it tooth
and nail. On the other hand, Gongi too
had forgotten her youthful self that once
fountained spontaneously. Gongi
crumbled when Chin Honaw and then
Flying Eagle left her in this world.
She no longer wanted to be spontaneous
and happy, and this created a huge chasm
between her and Lali whose very youth
demanded she explore possibilities and
discover the meaning of it all.
Gongi couldn't work as hard as she had before
and needed Lali's help. To Gongi, to live
meant to work. But Lali was not concerned
with all that.
When Sittingjing-gongala was young and
she and Chin Honaw lived together
even the coldest nights were warm and cheery
when their love filled the lodge.
Those were such wonderful years to remember.
She remembered the sound of his voice, and
could still hear it in the wind,
in the stream, in her heart, letting her know
he was still with her, looking out for her
as always. He'd been such a good friend
all their years together. She missed him so.
In dreams they still journeyed together.
Chin Honaw had been a powerful man.
A man like a bear. His will was like a
mountain. His mind was strong. He always
used his power wisely and was gentle in
a sensitive way, and yet, discipled their children
with an authority they all trembled before.
"Bring her home safely Papa," was the last
thought she would remember in the morning,
for that is when she tumbled into a warm
hopeful sleep, and happy dreams let her
forget the anxiety of the day past, and of
that to come.
*************************************
Now in the forest there was a great stillness, for the
soft blanket of snow had covered the whole landscape
and the world slept. All the little rabbits and squirrels,
all the great bears and mountain lions in their dens,
all the birds in their nests and bugs in their peep holes
beneath ground were still, were dreaming....of the Sun;
hoping it would be morning soon.
At last morning came and the clouds let the Sun
shine through in brilliant sheets. The forest
began to awaken. Birds flew in flocks across the sky,
round and round, calling to each other in
bright little riffs, announcing the new day.
Everything in the forest was moving now,
everything except Lali and Lokie.
The snow covered them completely.
They could hear the birds but wanted to keep on
dreaming.
The sun beat down upon the snow pile that covered
the secret of their existance,
giving up it's crystals to run in rivulets, merging
with other waters that flowed nearby. They were
converging and flowing towards the great river
downstream. Still the two didnot move.
They did not move, though the merging waters
gained momentum musically, creating a great
synphony of sounds and rainbow lights; rushed
carelessly about them, effortlessly about them...
but they did not stir.
It was still early morning when a famiiar figure
came up the trail on his pack horse.
They were loaded down with household goods
to be traded for furs and rugs in the village.
Vasques came by at this time every year
and returned again in the summer.
His horse Cisco knew the route well, and he knew
Lokie. As they were coming up the trail,
Cisco reared in front of the snow pile
under which Lali and Lokie lay hidden.
Cisco whinnied and pawed the ground.
There was something different about this snow pile.
When Lokie heard Cisco whinny, he flipped his tail
and the snow fell off of it, and Vasques saw it.
"That's strange" he thought dismounting Cisco.
He went over and touched Lokie's tail.
This startled Lokie. He woke up fearfully,
jumping to his hooves in terror.
This woke Lali up. She began shivering
as soon as Lokie got up. Cisco called to Lokie
and then Lokie regained his bearings and
went over to sniff noses with Cisco.
Vasques bent down and asked Lali if she was hurt.
Lali was very pale and her hands and nose
needed warming up.
"What are you and Lokie doing out here Lali?"
He could hardly believe his eyes. "Where is Gongi,"
he continued. Lali looked at him ashamedly.
"You ran away again didn't you" he scolded her.
She nodded affirmatively. "And got lost" he
said judgingly. She agreed.
"We'd better get you home. Have you eatten?"
he asked her. "No" she replied.
He went over to Cisco and openned his pack.
pulling out some dried fish
and bread. He broke some off and began feeding
them to her in little bites.
Lokie came looking around curiously, and
Vasques broke off pieces of bread for him,
which he devoured instantly and wanted more.
After they had eatten and felt warmed up they were
ready to head back to the village.
Lali mounted Lokie and they followed Vasques and
Cisco down the trail that was mostly hidden
by the new fallen snow.
The sun was melting it fast now and they were able
to move quickly towards the village.
Lali was feeling better now and not as contrite
as the night before. Lali had promiced the night
she spent alone under the fir tree, that she would
behave if the Great Spirit saved her life.
Now that her life was saved, she reverted to her
old way of thinking.
"I'm still going to run away again if that old woman
pushes me too hard," she thought carelessly.
"But I'll need provisions next time.
Next time I'll have a plan and make my own camp
in the forest where I wont have to be
my grandmother's slave ever again."
The huge Thunderheads were all but passed now,
but on the way home, Lali had the strane feeling
that someone somewhere was watching her.
It made her feel uneasy. She looked all around
but didn't see anyone.
Soon they came to a familiar ridge and Vasques
wanted to stop to adjust his load and give the horses
a little rest. Then she saw them. They were looking
back at her now, watching her from the far horizon
as They speeded on their way towards the
Southern skyline. She flinched and was
startled when she saw them. Her heart speeded up.
She shrugged it off as fatique, but ocntinued
to watch them warrily.
All the way down the windy trail, the huge
Thunderheads saw right into her eyes,
into her heart, and they shook their heads
disappointedly. They observed her closely
for the last time, and then moved on leaving
the sky blue as a wild flower in Spring.
But it was not Spring yet, and only sparse
blades of grass peaked in places
where the snow was melting down.
She could hear the thundering voices of the
Thunder clouds saying things to her.
Counseling her to learn her lesson this time.
She viewed them skeptically. Maybe they
were real, and maybe they weren't.
She was grateful to be rescued, but
what business was it of Theirs? They
were just clouds, and very soon They'd
disappate and be no more. Ever again.
Just clouds. That's all!
Her attitude angered the Ancestral Grandmothers
and they decided at last to teach Lali a lesson
from which she would surely learn
to correct her behavior and attitude.
Lali and Lokie strolled over to the ridge
where they could look down and see the smoking
teepees of the village in the valley below.
It would only be a short walk now to get to the
warmth of Grandma's teepee.
Vasques was adjusting his load and not
paying attention to Lali and Lokie,
so when the whirling wind picked up
Lokie's tail and twisted it hard,
snapping it on top of his rump.
Lokie bolted instinctually, up onto his hind legs
and pitched sharply toward the precipice.
He was trying to regain his balance
so they both wouldn't go over the edge.
Lali was pulling hard on his rein as she
looked down in terror at the possibility of
such a long hard fall to the valley below.
"No one could survive such a fall," she thought.
Just before closing her eyes in fear, Lali caught
a glimpse of the faces of the Ancestors still watching
her from the clouds above her head. The whirling
wind brought new snow, and Lali, scaird to her bones
cried out aloud. Lokie balanced unsurely on the
ledge, was trying to land his front hooves somewhere.
They pawed the wind frantically.
"I didn't mean it! I'll be good!" shouted Lali
at the top of her lungs. "Please, I promice!
I promice," she sobbed. "I believe. I do. I believe!"
"Hmmmph" thought the Ancestral Grandmothers.
"We'll see!" they agreed.
Just then, Lali felt like the whole world was moving
backwards, and she thought she and Lokie were falling. But when she openned
her eyes, to her surprize, she saw that Vasques had pulled them to safety by grabbing Lokie's tail and pulling him backwards.
They were safe....and just in time.
Lokie was stunned, but Jalisco, Vasques' steed,
gave a whinny, bringing Lokie back to his senses.
He was fine when he saw what had happened.
********************************
Quickly they set off again for the village. Lali looked
for the Thunderclouds, but they were gone now.
They knew she would behave for a while now, probably.
They hoped they would not have to teach her any
big lessons again, any time soon.
Lali was quiet on the way down into the valley.
She was thinking deeply about all that had happened.
She was really sorry. She'd been so selfish and lazy and...
not very nice to her Grandmother, even though she knew
how much Gongi needed her help.
She would have to change, she knew that.
She even promiced herself right then to do better.
She always wanted to be a good girl, but it was hard
to do her chores. She had a feeling, she'd better
straighten up now though, before she really messed up.
Maybe there really was such a thing as Guardians Ancestors in the Thunderclouds watching what
we do.
She thought of Gongi alone, with no one to help her,
and tears came to her eyes. She would have to keep
her promice so Gongi would never have to be alone
in her old old days.
*******************************
Lali's Uncle, Omwanaku saw them coming
and rode out to meet them. He was very happy
to see Lali was alive and well, and thanked
Vasques for bringing her home safely.
When they got to Gongi's teepee, Lali tethered Lokie
to the hitching post, and went straight inside to see
her Grandmother. The men stayed outside for a while
talking as they tethered their horses near Lokie.
Then they went inside Gongi's teepee to get warmed up.
Tumby-Gumby was sitting sadly with Gongi by the
fire inside the teepee. Gongi was weeping as she made
her tortillas. They heard the horses come up, but they
were both too sad to go outside and talk to anyone. They
were very sad that Lali was gone, and they didn't know
if she would ever come back.
"We'll have to go out and find her ourselves Tumby!"
exclaimed Gongi. She wiped the tears the tears away
from her eyes, and turned the tortilla.
"If only she'd come home, I would be so mean to her
anymore," she assured Tumby.
"I'm so scaird for her Tumby. Maybe I was
too hard on her." Tumby just listened and looked up
at Gongi with her big brown loving eyes.
Tumby was sad too and unable to console Gongi.
Lali heard what Gongi was saying as she stood
just outside the teepee. She stopped to listen.
"Hmmm" she thought. "Gongi is sorry she treats
me rough. I might have some leverage here afterall."
But then she remembered how glad she was to be home
again after all she and Lokie had been through.
She realized how ungrateful she had been for all that
her Grandma had done for her in her life, and
she was ashamed for trying to over power Gongi.
Lali realized she had been very mean to Gongi too, but not anymore. She had decided to
change.
She had changed already.
She wanted to hug her Grandma so much now
and started into the teepee.
Tumby thought she heard something, and her ears
perked up as she gave a low frightened growl.
"Grandma! Grandma!" shouted Lali
as she entered the teepee. "It's me Grandma!
I'm home! I'm home!" she shouted happily.
She went straight to Gongi and hugged her hard.
"I'm sorry Grandma. Really. I'm really sorry..."
They both began sobbing as they held onto each other tightly
in the light of the little fire. Tumby jumped everywhere
wildly, barking and licking them both at the same time.
Tumby was so excited she even gave Lali a little love bite.
Gongi was so overjoyed to see Lali she forgot to be mad.
She forgot everything. "Grandma, the tortilla's burning!"
cried Lali finally. Gongi was hugging her so tight, she
couldn't turn the tortilla herself. So Lali turned it.
"You're home baby. You're home" cried Gongi
hysterically. Big tears fell from Gongi's eyes
and fell onto Lali's face as she kissed her little
grand-daughter again and again and again.
"Don't cry Grandma" pleaded Lali. "I'll be good
from now on. You'll see. I'm gona help you now!"
she assured Gongi as she stroked the hair from
the old woman's face. She kissed the wrinkled skin
tenderly and dried Gongi's eyes.
Then Lali started crying again, and this made Gongi cry.
Lokie stopped jumping and licking, and looked at them
shaking her head. She thought they would cry all night.
"I'm really sorry I worried you Grandma" Lali said sincerely comforting, when they stopped
sobbing long enough to catch their breath.
She smoothed the old woman's braids and gave
her a big smile. Gongi couldn't say anything.
She just nodded her head and held Lali close again,
rocking gently. Tumby was jealous and pawed Gongi's
leg to get in the middle. So they let Tumby get
in the middle. They all just huddled together by the fire
rocking gently as they watched the flames make
shadows dance on the great buffalo hide walls of the teepee.
When the men came in, they let the cold air in
and made the fire jump around. That made Gongi
open her eyes. The men sat by the fire quietly
warming their hands and feet.
The fire needed more wood and Omwanaku reached
around behind his back and pulled a log out of the stack.
He placed it well and the fire began to brighten
the little room again.
Gongi gave Tumby the burned tortilla, while Lali
started another. Everyone was real hungry.
Gongi pulled the cooking pot closer to the fire.
Gongi had alot of questions to ask Vasques
while they all ate the bison stew with hot tortillas
and chili salsa. Omwanaku and Tumby
listened too for they loved adventure stories.
****************************
Outside the horses listened too. While they listened,
Lokie saw the little mare of his dreams
straining to see what was happening. When she saw
Lokie, she turned away shyly.
"Go on and tell us Lokie," said Omwanaku's horse,
Cisco, in a neighing voice.
"You want me to tell you the story?!"
prodded Jalisco as he pawed the snow covered earth
impatiently. "Okay, okay!" replied Lokie.
"I'll tell the story thank you. Well, the way I see it,"
he began, "it was my love for that pretty little mare
over there that made my heart so warm and happy
even though I lay shivering and covered by snow.
Just thinking of her, made my heart sing,
even though I could not lift another hoof forward."
Cisco was entralled. Jalisco looked sourly.
"I thought you were going to tell us about the cliff,"
he said dryly.
You know, when you almost took a dive
off the edge...with Lali on your back.
And who saved you?"
"I'll tell that later," said Lokie a bit annoyed.
"I was just trying to say, that it was I,
who saved Lali's life the night before you
and your human servant came along...."
"Is that so" chuckled Jalisco.
"Yes," retorted Lokie matter of factly.
"I was dreaming of my little mare over there,
and feeling all warm. Lali laid down beside me
and I kept her warm all night long, dreaming
of my mare. I didn't let Lali freeze to death.
I kept her alive and she was dreaming too!"
Lokie looked at the little mare again. Would he
have the courage to tell her someday how he felt
about her? But she already knew, and returned
his look with a delightful whinny.
He lifted his head proudly knowing that she
thought he was a hero. And he even felt like a hero.
Just then, Lali came out of the teepee with some
hot tortillas for Lokie and the other horses.
The snow had stopped and one could see
a blue sky openning up just beyond the
Pine Tree Forest. As it did,
the Great Sun planet shot a bright ray of warmth
onto the little village. The storm was over,
but the snow still clung to the leaves and branches
like fine new lace. The earth was covered
with a fluffy white blanket.
The birds were singing and flying in circles.
The forest was alive. The villagers began to
come out of their teepees and lodges.
Soon everyone was bustling about doing morning
rituals and chores, on a splendid new day.
Even Lali thought nice thoughts, happy thoughts,
grateful thoughts. The sun kissed her face,
and she thought, maybe she really would be able
to keep her promice.
Lali was about to go back into the teepee when her
Uncle and Vasques came out. "Well, you behave
yourself now Miss Lali," said Vasques kindly
as he untied Jalisco. "Oh I've learned my lesson
alright" she replied assuringly. "Well, you'd
better have!" interjected Omwanaku,
not so kindly. "or someone will be getting
a good spanking! Do you understand me better
now young lady?!" he said bringing his face
down to hers. "It was not good to worry Gongi
like this!" Omwanaku added sternly.
Her Uncle had never spoken to her like that before,
and she was shocked and even scaird.
"Yes Uncle" she mumbled humbly, "I understand"
She was starting back into the teepee, when she
noticed her Uncle leading Lokie away.
"Uncle" she called to him in disbelief.
"What are you doing? Where are you taking Lokie?"
The old man smiled at his good friend Vasques
and they both nodded. Then looking seriously
at Lali, the Uncle said, "This is just an added
precaution! No more horsie for you for a while
my dear!" he added emphatically with conviction.
"What?!" exclaimed Lali broken heartedly.
"But......ohhhhhhhh Uncle" she moaned sadly.
He just stood there looking back at her crossly,
so she shrugged reluctantly accepting her fate,
and went back into the teepee.
The two men talked and joked as they led their
horses and Lokie away. Lokie flipped his tail
flirtatiously when they passed the little mare.
She did the same. The little mare watched until
she saw them all cross the stream where Omwanaku
had his teepee. She gave a whinny when she
lost sight of him, and he whinnied back assuring
her he was still close by, and they would play
again in the meadow in the Spring.
******************************
It was a lovely day. Gongi and Lali worked together
all day and into the night mending and cooking.
laughing and talking stories. In the evening,
Gongi pulled the great grizzley bearskin
closer to the hearth. Lali laid down on it with Tumby.
The fire was warm. Tumby rolled over onto her back
so Lali could rub her tummy. Grandma threw
the big buffaloskin blanket over Lali and
scooted Tumby off to the side. But Tumby
jumped right back on to the bed and
snuggled up close to Lali for protection
in case Gongi tried to throw her outside for the night.
Gongi pulled off her buckskin dress and put on
her cotton night tunic. Lali got up and began
looking through Gongi's woven reed baskets.
When she found what she was looking for,
she jumped back under the buffalo skin cover.
"What have you got there?" Gongi asked
curious to see what it was Lali was hiding.
"Oh, it's just something..." replied Lali mischieviously.
"Well let's see it!" insisted Gongi.
"Not yet!" answered Lali seriously.
"Just wait. I want to tell you a story....
when you settle down Grandma!"
she giggled nervously. Gongi laughed.
She didn't expect her grand-daughter to tell her
a story. "I always tell you a story" said Gongi
playing the game. "Yes," said Lali, "but tonight,
I'm telling you a story!" And she laughed
like only children laugh, she was so delighted
with herself.
Even Tumby chuckled. Her tongue
hung out of her mouth, as she panted, waiting expectantly for the story to begin.
"Hurry up Grandma, get in bed" urged Lali.
"Okay, I'm ready" said Gongi happily.
She got in bed under the warm
buffalo skin next to Lali, and
started tickling her until Lali showed Gongi
the little beaded purse she'd taken from her
Grandma's basket.
"Hey" scolded Gongi, "what are you doing
with my little beaded purse? This is the purse
your Grandfather Chin-Honaw gave me
when we were young and courting."
Gongi was saying this holding the bag up
while Lali was wreathing in laughter and giggles.
"I thought you were going to tell me a story,"
insisted Gongi. "No!" said Lali, holding out
defiantly. So Gongi kept tickling her until
Lali begged her to stop. Tumby started jumping
on top of both of them, and even snapped
at the little beaded purse, but Gongi
knocked her off the bed with one swoosh of her arm.
Tumby just came back for more.
"Grandma stop! Stop hahahahaha!!! No more,
no more," she laughed between tears.
They were both laughing as hard as they could,
with tears streaming down their faces, while
Tumby was jumping all over them barking.
Finally they'd all had enough and took a break,
settling down under the covers now.
Tumby jumped up on the thick hairy buffalo blanket
so she too could listen to the story that Lali
was going to tell. When all was still, Lali began
snuggling up closer to Gongi.
"I was very cold the first night out, and all alone
because Lokie had run away when I was swimming
at the waterfall," she began. "I thought I was
going to die Grandma. It was so cold. I had
been singing the little song you taught me
about the Bear in the Moon, but then I think
I went to sleep. Someone called my name, and that's
when I woke up to see an old man coming up the
trail. He had your little beaded purse in his hand...
and he gave it to me. It turned out to be a dream
though, cuz when I woke up at Sunrize,
it was gone. I thought for sure he had given it to me!
But it was here all along in your sewing basket.
I dreamed of it all night long Grandma, and
from the moment the old man gave me
your purse, I felt warm again..and I could sleep.
Gongi was listening intently to the story.
"Then what happened" she asked. The fire
sent a burst of sparks up in anticipation.
Lali continued:
"From the very moment the old man gave me
the purse, I felt warm, and I wasn't afraid anymore.
It was so strange."
"What did the old man say to you?" asked Gongi
hopefully.
"He never said a word Grandma," Lali explained.
"He just gave me the purse, and looked me in the eye
and nodded his head lovingly. It was like he knew
me...or I knew him. But I don't know from where."
Gongi listened closely. A tear formed in her eye.
"He was just smiling at me," Lali went on.
"After that, he just kept going down the trail
until I couldn't see him anymore. Then I was so
tired, I fell asleep and didn't wake up til morning.
That's when Lokie came back. Then we trudged
through the snow all day until night, until
Lokie couldn't go any farther, and laid down.
I thought he was going to die! I had to keep him
alive, so I slept close to him all night."
Lali gave a big yawn and laid her head on Gongi's
breast. "I'm tired Grandma."
Gongi was off into her own thoughts as tears
filled her eyes. She knew Chin-Honaw had heard
her prayers and gone to Lali and saved her life.
"Don't cry Grandma," consoled Lali. "What's
wrong Grandma?" she pleaded.
"Wrong?" answered Gongi distractedly.
"Nothing is wrong dear. Everything is right...
I'm crying for joy dear. For joy!" replied Gongi.
"You see," she went on, "when you were freezing
to death in the cold night, I could feel it.
I called to your Grandfather Chin-Honaw.
It was your Grandfather you saw. It was he
that gave you the little beaded purse in your dream."
She looked at it now. It was tattered and old.
She touched it to her heart. "It's so old now,"
said Gongi wistfully, "but the love we shared
so long ago, is still as fresh and alive as it ever was.
It is his love for us that keeps us warm, and
keeps us going every day dear one. Do you
see that now?" she added hugging Lali tightly.
under the buffaloskin blanket.
Lali kissed the tears that fell from Gongi's face
tenderly. They hugged as the fire cast deep
shadows inside the teepee. Tumby's ears
perked up as she peered into the shadows.
Was someone standing by watching them?
"Oh it's only the old man again," she thought.
and laid her head down on Lali's braids.
Tumby was glad he was there too, cuz she
wasn't scaird when he was around. He
took care of all the bad spirits that stopped by
and tried to linger and cause mischief.
Mischief was her job, and she didn't like competition.
Then Gongi spoke softly. Her voice was sweet
like music. "Chin-Honaw was very good to me
and our children. Your mother Leula was his
favorite. It was he that brought down the great
grizzley bear that we sleep on every night....
and this buffalo too, he brought home.
He was a great hunter....and he's still providing
for us...and protecting us.
That is what love does dear. It never stops or goes
away, even after one returns to the other world
to live with the Great Spirit."
She paused for a moment, as if she was listening
to a voice far away...deep inside herself.
Lali was almost asleep, but wanted to hear
what Gongi was saying...
Gongi continued: "Love keeps all things growing
on the path of Life," sighed Gongi, trying her best
to hide the widow's pain she felt so keenly, still inside her broken lonely heart.
The shadows deepened in the teepee as the fire
burned way down. But Lali didn't hear what
Gongi said now, because she didn't know it,
but she had fallen fast asleep and was
dreaming now of childish things, of games
she and Tumby would play when the sun came up.
Gongi got up and put the last log of the night
on the smoldering fire, and quickly got back in bed,
closing her eyes happily.
The storm had passed now and the Ancestors were
satisfied that Lali was remorseful for her behavior.
They moved on gladly and the sky was crisp and clear.
A million stars twinkled over the happy little village.
Lokie and Jalisco in their little cabana with Cisco observed their beauty.
He was so happy to be home again, and munched a bit of hay Uncle Om had put up under the little
thatch
roof for them.
The moon shone splendidly on the new fallen snow.
Outside the teepees, in the deep night, velvet paws
sprinted heavily across the crunchy snow
on the way back to their lair. Little bunnies
were warm and snug in their mother's den, while
bear cubs were birthed fromtheir mother's womb,
and would cling to her fur and teats, growing
stronger with each approaching day.
Soon it would be Spring and the snow
would melt away again;
fat buds would appear on the branches...
But on that joyful night of reunion,
all the families in the happy little village,
slept comfortably dreaming,
in the arms of the starry starry night.
End of Chapter Two
Please go on to Chapter Three by clicking link below:
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