Tiopa Ki Lakota Part 15

The hoksila blinked at her for just a moment before pelting away towards the river, waterskin flopping against his ribs.

Hca's eyes turned to the suddenly clear area and she let out a joyous laugh. "They will talk of this through the summer camp, stepan ! If you put any to work, they will be sure to avoid you!" She shared another laugh with the blonde. "You and I will collect more wood and stones for the firepits."

Nodding, dark blue eyes sparkling, the pale woman joined her friend as they walked away. Two more winyan of Wagna's camp also came with them, followed by three from the summer camp. Introductions were made and they continued on their way, chatting and giggling and getting to know one another.

Thus, Kathleen found herself with a number of new friends. They worked quickly and well together, laughing at stories regarding their men and brothers and uncles, comparing the young warriors good looks and abilities, and pa.s.sing news of the other bands of their people.

It seemed like no time had pa.s.sed before the blonde found herself back at her lodge, the firepit built, wood stacked neatly nearby, and a stew simmering over the flames. Hca had wandered off to her mother's ti ikceya to help with dinner.

Kathleen stood with her hands on her hips, inhaling deeply of the aroma from the food. "Well, la.s.s, time ta get some projects done. That basket isn't goin' ta wait forever." She settled down in her place by the fire, close enough to stir the clay pot to keep the stew from sticking, and scooped up the mess of reeds.

As she worked, she hummed a tune that her grandmother had taught her on the tin whistle. Nearby could be heard some drums and rattles as some shaman or other worked his magic. The children of her camp raced by, hollering as they eluded capture from another band's hoksila. Strangers wandered nearby, most intent on seeing old friends for the first time in a winter, but some to catch a glimpse of the rumored white woman.

Anpo, who had disappeared with the other koskalaka and wicasa as soon as she knew that her woman would be safe, returned. She stopped to study Kathleen, a loving look in her dark eyes.

The sun had lowered in the sky and it's reddish rays glanced across the small clearing in front of the pale woman's lodge. As Kathleen worked on her weaving, her yellow hair would get caught up in the light and flash brilliantly. Seeming to sense something, she stopped her work and looked about, her face aglow almost as brightly when she saw her warrior.

She is so wondrous.... She hurts my eyes with her beauty! Smiling, Anpo approached the ti ikceya. "Han, winuhca ."

Kathleen and risen to her feet as her warrior approached. "Han , winuhca," she repeated. "There is stew if you are hungry."

Unable to help herself, Anpo refused to answer and closed the distance between them, pulling the blonde into an embrace. Her body ached with their closeness and a realization came to her. I am hungry! My skin is hungry for her touch!

Pleasantly surprised with the hug, Kathleen relaxed into it, feeling strong arms squeeze her close. I want ta do somethin', she mused, feeling a flutter in her heart, but I don't know what 'tis.

They remained that way for some time. Others of their camp ignored them politely as they went about their own evening meals. The few strangers who gawked were badgered into going away and leaving the young couple alone.

Reluctantly, Anpo broke the hug, pulling away. She peered into the dark blue eyes, recognizing the softness she felt in her own heart. "You mean so much to me, winuhca." A small, shy smile answered her and the warrior embraced her woman for a moment longer.

"Thank you, Anpo." Kathleen felt a vague sense of loss when the dark woman pulled back to settle down in her place in front of the ti ikceya . With a curl of her lips, she scooped some of the stew into a clay bowl and handed it to Anpo.

A comfortable silence enveloped the pair. The dark woman ate her meal while Kathleen returned to her weaving, only stopping to refill the bowl that was returned to her.

"You are not eating, winuhca ?"

The blonde blushed a bit. "Hiya, winuhca. My stomach is hurting."

Anpo set the bowl down in concern and leaned closer. "You must eat, Ketlin. You must keep up your strength for our child."

"Ohan, Anpo. I know." Kathleen dropped her gaze and shrugged a little.

"I will go to He and ask for something to settle your stomach, winuhca."

As Anpo rose, setting her bowl to one side, the pale woman looked up in startlement. "But you have not finished eating!"

The dark woman grinned down at her, reaching out a hand to caress the smooth cheek. "I can always eat, Ketlin."

Despite herself, the blonde chuckled. The amount of food her warrior took in was amazing at times. Aye, la.s.s! Even bratty Stewart couldn't eat so much!

Happy to see the humor in the dark blue eyes, Anpo nodded. "I will return with the medicine man." And then she trotted off with a purpose.

After much fussing from her warrior and a thorough quizzing by the elder, a small pouch of herbs was handed to Kathleen with instructions on how much to use in a tea. The medicine man refused to leave until his patient prepared the first bit and drank it down. He then accepted a bowl of stew with a smile.

"I have heard that you will be doing the Sun Dance, Anpo," the man said, his voice raspy with age.

The warrior nodded, a pleased look on her face. "Ohan , wicahcala ! I will dance this summer and show my grat.i.tude to wakan tanka for all the honor shown me this season." She scooped up her own bowl of stew and began to eat.

"It is a great honor for you, wikoskalaka. I am sure that the spirits will be proud." Aged eyes looked to the blonde who had finally made an attempt at eating. "What will happen with your winyan while you are away?"

Kathleen's ears perked up and her heart thumped. Away? Anpo's goin' away!? With an intense curiosity she followed the conversation. It took all her considerable will power to not interrupt them.

"I have asked Nupa to stay near and protect her for me." A tender glance was sent her woman's way, as if to rea.s.sure the suddenly fearful blonde. "He will take care of my winuhca until the ceremony is complete and I can return."

The medicine man nodded, finishing his bowl of food. "It is good to have such friends, wikoskalaka . Nupa Olowan is a fine warrior and very honorable. He will keep your winyan safe."

"Ohan, wicahcala, I have been very fortunate to have him."

Seeing that the elder was finished, Kathleen moved around the fire and reached for the empty bowl. "Would you have more, wicahcala ?.

"Hiya , wikoskalaka," He said, shaking his head. "I must return to my cunksi's lodge, now." As he struggled to his feet, he accepted the help of the blonde with a smile. "You drink that tea whenever you are ill, wikoskalaka," he ordered, waving a finger at her.

Properly deferential, despite an impish grin playing at the corners of her mouth, Kathleen nodded. "Ohan , wicahcala. I will."

And, with a curt nod, he shambled off.

The pale woman set aside the empty container for cleaning later on. Returning to her place, she reached for Anpo's bowl and refilled it before handing it back. Unsure of what was and was not acceptable, she chewed her upper lip in thought for a moment. Go on, Kath. Ye've never stopped questionin' a thing before. Why stop now?

Anpo took the bowl and enjoyed her meal, happy that her woman had eaten some and now had the medicine needed to settle her stomach for future sickness.

"Where are you going, winuhca, that you need Nupa to stay with me?"

The warrior finished chewing her mouthful before speaking. "Not far, winuhca ," she said in an effort to ease the woman's mind. "I will be required to stay in the large ti ikceya at the center of summer camp for a few days."

"Because of the Sun Dance?"

"Ohan. I will stay in the lodge for four days after the ceremony begins." She watched worried blue eyes flicker away from hers. Anpo set down her bowl and waved her woman nearer, pulling her closer in a gentle hug. "It will be all right, mahasanni ki . Nupa will protect you until I return."

Mahasanni ki? What's that? Shaking off the thought, Kathleen nodded. "Will he sleep where you sleep then?" she asked in a low voice, fishing for any information on the cultural differences. It had not been lost on her that her warrior and Nupa seemed to share everything. Does that mean their women, too?

"What?" Anpo sat back to peer down at the blonde in her arms. She is worried that I will give her to Nupa! "Hiya, Ketlin! It is your ti ikceya! He will sleep where you wish him to sleep!"

Dark blue eyes blinked as her fear eased. "If I wish him to sleep out here by the fire, he will?" she ventured, unsure of her status.

The warrior shrugged and nodded, though her face held slight disappointment. "Ohan , winuhca. Though I would like you to open your heart to my tiblo and let him sleep inside your lodge as a true friend."

Seeing that Anpo wasn't happy with her question, the pale woman rushed to comfort her feelings. "I will, winuhca ! Nupa will sleep in my ti ikceya until you return from the Sun Dance."

The warrior bestowed a smile on her woman and held her close. "That is very good, Ketlin. Thank you for showing my tiblo honor."

Her voice m.u.f.fled against the yellow shirt, Kathleen responded, "And thank you for taking such good care of me, winuhca. I am very grateful."

The following days were a bit of a blur to Kathleen. Once her warrior had disappeared into the sweat lodge with nearly a dozen others, she forced herself to remain busy to keep the fears at bay. The blonde spent quite a bit of time at her uncisi's lodge, keeping Hca and Gi company. She tossed and turned her nights away, fighting off her nightmares in silent misery while Nupa slept a few feet away.

The ceremony for the Sun Dance was a welcome distraction, however, and the blonde found all the singing and dancing and other practices quite interesting. It took almost two full days of feasting, singing and ceremony before the center log needed for their dance was finally cut down and set up inside the large ti ikceya. Kathleen had seen Anpo upon occasion through all of it and, though they couldn't speak to each other, her heart soared when the dark eyes found hers.

"Hanka !" Nupa exclaimed as he trotted towards her lodge. "Today is the day! Anpo will dance the Sun Dance and show her grat.i.tude to the spirits!"

"Will she be able to come home today?" Kathleen asked, standing from her place by the fire.

"Hau , Ketlin. She will come home and we will feast in her honor all night!"

His enthusiasm was contagious and the blonde found herself being pulled excitedly along towards the largest lodge. Most of the summer camp's population was joining them, all crowding happily into the structure and singing a song. She spotted her warrior among the dozen candidates by the center pole that had been put up the previous day.

Anpo looked a bit worn. She was wearing odd clothing - the shirt she wore was painted red and a blue skirt hung from her waist. Her skin was a ruddy color. Nupa had said it was because the shamans had been painting all the dancers with the sacred red color. There were additional adornments of fur and sage around her wrists, ankles and head. The final touches were the cape about her shoulders and the hoop she carried covered with the same material.

The pole in the center had been decorated, as well, since its cutting and placement. It had been a tall, straight cottonwood tree. Now it was stripped of all extraneous branches and leaves. The fork at the top had been painted red and various items could be seen there - sage, fur, and other fetishes. There were also quite a number of braided thongs hanging down to wave gently around the base.

More singing, more drumming and dancing by the shamans and candidates. Hca, who stood beside the blonde smiled as she sang and wrapped an arm around Kathleen's shoulders. They swayed together as the shamans chanted and drummed through yet another song.

"Now the Sun Dance begins!" Nupa murmured into the pale woman's ear as the final song was completed.

The level of antic.i.p.ation seemed to intensify around Kathleen and the candidates circled the pole. There were four shamans there, as well, and they each approached one of the garish dancers pulling on the braided thongs hanging from the log above.

Kathleen's gasp of horror was clearly audible to those around her as she watched the shamans cut into the chests of the candidates and attach the thongs to their skin with sticks.

Concerned, the dark woman beside her peered closely into large blue eyes. "Stepan?" she questioned quietly.

How.... How... barbaric! No other thought could be had. Her mouth moved, no sound issuing.

Realizing that the woman's response was not a good one, Hca squeezed the stiff shoulders. "Be strong, Ketlin!" she urged in a tight whisper. "Anpo needs you to be there for her!"

The words slowly sank in. Anpo needs me. Be strong. Swallowing hard, her eyes bright with unshed tears of fear, she nodded and pulled herself straighter. I will be strong for my winuhca.

Hca nodded in return, seeing a spark of sensibility return to the strange colored eyes. She did not relinquish her grip around the blonde's shoulders, however, hoping to give her some support.

Anpo watched as the first began to dance, pulling back and away from the pole. Their blood flowed where the cuts had been placed and the skin strained from their bodies. She had been four days without food and only a bit of water and was feeling a little lightheaded. The woman warrior shuffled around with the remaining candidates, keeping time with her feet as the singing and music continued.

The shamans picked four more individuals from the group. These were pulled towards the pole, as well, their shirts removed. They were cut but, rather than be attached to the pole to dance, each had four buffalo skulls attached to their backs. These then began to dance around the pole, dragging the skulls along.

Bile rose in Kathleen's throat as she watched the gory proceedings. How can they do this!? This is disgustin'!! Torture, plain and simple! Her heart thudded heavily in her chest as she saw the shaman approach her warrior. Oh, my G.o.d! What will they do ta her!?

Anpo removed her shirt revealing a soft leather band wrapped tightly around her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. The shaman before her, Inyan Ceye, smiled rea.s.suringly through his buffalo mask as he prepared his knife. The obsidian was sharp and the warrior could hardly feel any pain when the skin of her chest was cut open. Two thongs were attached to her.

"Wait, Wi Ile Anpo," the shaman said. "You and I are not finished."

The woman could feel the blood trickling down her chest, staining the leather she wore. She swayed a little from her overall weakness as the shaman circled around her. And then she could feel two more incisions on her shoulder blades and more thongs attached.

Kathleen watched as her warrior was pulled from the thongs hanging from the pole as well as the ones attached to stakes pounded into the floor behind. As the shaman moved away from Anpo, she could see her winuhca swaying back and forth, pulling at the rawhide that held her pinned.

Around her the crowd continued their singing, repeating the same song over and over as the dancers danced. As one by one they pulled away from the pole, ripping themselves free, the gathered people cheered for them. The four that were dragging the buffalo skulls were also cheered as they went past and as the weight of the bone pulled the thongs free.

There were three other warriors attached to stakes in the ground as Anpo was, swaying back and forth to the beat and staring upwards, but the blonde's eyes were only for her warrior. She'd stopped trying to keep up with the tune around her, concentrating solely on Anpo's misery. The dark eyes were focused on the peak of the ti ikceya , keeping them on the sun as she weaved and pulled. Ah, my poor love!

Eyes stinging from the tears, Anpo danced back and forth. The sticks that were used to attach the rawhide rubbed against her furiously, irritating the incisions. After several minutes, a euphoria seemed to take over and the pain receded from her mind as she prayed to the spirits and thanked them for the honor of tatanka ska and Ketlin.

One by one, the dancers freed themselves from the wakan tree. Soon, there was only one remaining. Kathleen watched in anguish, her entire body humming with the need to rush out and protect her warrior. The only thing holding her back was Hca's arm firmly wrapped about her shoulders and the apparent acceptance of all the other Lakota who were present.

And then there was a gasp from the spectators as Anpo jerked backwards with a purpose, ripping the thongs from her chest simultaneously. A loud cheer rang out, filling the lodge.

Kathleen grimaced and moaned low in her throat.

"Your winuhca is very powerful and honored, hanka," Nupa murmured into her ear. "Not many are so strong as to do what she has done."

The praise did nothing to ease the blonde's fears. Despite her desire to not see anymore of the savage display, she couldn't keep her eyes from the lone dancer still in the clearing.

Bracing herself, Anpo forced herself to surge forward. She felt her skin ripping, a sickening sensation, and the hot flow of fresh blood coursing down her back. With no further resistance from behind, the warrior stumbled and fell to her knees.

"Anpo!" Kathleen cried, her voice drowned from the cheering of the onlookers. She tried to go to her woman only to be held back by Hca and Nupa.

"Hiya , Ketlin!" the dark woman insisted, blotting out Kathleen's view of her sister. "You must not!"

Regardless of the plea, the blonde continued to fight against her captors until Nupa's face filled her vision.

"Hanka!" he yelled. "Do not dishonor your winuhca !"

The words washed over her, leaving a chillness in their wake. Dishonor?

Seeing uncertainty, Nupa continued. "She is a warrior and she has shown her grat.i.tude for all her honor to wakan tanka ! Do not let all she has done be for nothing! Let her walk out with pride!"

Anpo stumbled to her feet, breathing heavily. She and the other dancers gathered around the pole and sang a final song of thanks to the spirits. There was a hush when it was finished and all of them shuffled out into the summer camp's clearing.

Tears were coursing down Kathleen's face as her warrior shambled by, exhausted and hurting. She started to reach a hand out, to touch her, to a.s.sure her that she was there, but pulled back. Don't dishonor her. Be brave. She needs me ta be brave.

And then the dozen candidates were outside the ti ikceya and the people all began leaving, as well. The blonde looked to Anpo's sister, her face anguished and questioning.

A tender look crossed Hca's face and she nodded. "Go to her, Ketlin. She will need you now." She smiled when her stepan needed no further encouragement, slipping away through the crowd towards the tiopa.

Anpo tried to remain standing tall, but was having some difficulty. Many people pa.s.sed her, offering kind words and smiles. But none had the face of the one she wished to see. A warmth seemed to caress her from one side and the warrior instinctively turned that way. An arm wrapped around her waist and her woman shouldered some of her burden.

"Winuhca!" Kathleen said in a breathless tone. "You and I will go home now." The grin that she received nearly made her heart stop.

"I love you, mahasanni ki," the young warrior said, allowing herself to be led away.

The blonde woman paused for just a second before continuing on her path. That's what 'tis then? Love? Pause. Anpo loves me? With a silly grin plastered on her mouth, Kathleen answered, "I love you, too, winuhca . More than you will ever know."