This Story is 20 pages Long

by Sweet Fawn

Tasheena stood on the wooded hill, looking West. She could see the majestic Olympic Mountain Range with it's snow capped tops in the distance. She knew it was only a couple of hours by car to her Grandparents Log Cabin in the Mountains. Tasheena was finally out of school for the summer. She started at the University the next fall. But her heart and thought's were already at the cabin. Her brother, who was eighteen months older then her, had started going up there for the summer first. Her grandfather would come and pick him up in his Jeep Cherokee Four Wheel Drive. She wouldn't see either of them again for two months. But the third summer something happened. Her brother wouldn't talk about it. He did say it wasn't anything his grandparents did. He just wanted to get a summer job, so he could save up and get him a car. He was sixteen now and had his drivers license. But she knew it was something else. The next summer, her grandfather asked her if she wanted to come up. Tasheena knew her grandmother, who was of The People, was there. She missed her grandmother, and loved the wood's and Mountains, and the small animals that lived there. It was so peaceful. It was a different world, where the comfort's of civilization didn't exist. A hand dug well, not far from the large log cabin, supplied their water. They had a generator for electricity, which was used sparingly, except for the refrigerator. When she was there, she didn't miss civilization. She looked down at her watch. It was almost time. She took one last look at the Mountain's in the distance. Something was pulling her back up there, and it wasn't her grandparents. She felt a singing in her Soul. Her heart rate quickened in excitement. She would see Wolf again! As she started for home, where she knew her grandfather would soon be picking her up, her thought's drifted back to the summer before!

The summer started just like the others. Her grandfather picked her up, and they started the two hour drive to his cabin in the Mountain's.

Her grandmother dusted her hands on her apron, and greeted her with a warm hug. She had biscuits in the oven of the wood burning stove, and a Pot of Stew simmering on the top. The aroma drifted around her. She took a deep breath of the clean mountain air, and the Biscuits and stew, and let her grandmother lead her into the house.

Tasheena spent her days roaming the Mountain with her Grandfather, as he hunted the meat that kept them alive, never taking more then what the two of them could eat, or fishing in the clear mountain streams. The summer was half over when her grandfather told her he wanted to check out this Cave he found. She knew he had been all over these Mountains, and she couldn't imagine anything he didn't know about. Besides, his mysterious manner had her curious? There was a secretive air about him, as if he had made up his mind about something and was looking forward to it. She wondered what it was? Tasheena had a feeling she was going to find out. The thought crossed her mind, it had something to do with why her brother had stopped coming up here. Now she was really curious.

Tasheena was raised in the way of The People. They lived close to the land, and it's beauty. Although she was forced to wear the white man's clothes for school, she got a shower and put on a buckskin dress, and short moccasins as soon as she got home. When she went to her grandparents cabin, all she brought were her buckskins. She admitted to owning a couple of pair of women's buckskin pant's with a matching shirt. Each outfit had a buckskin pouch, a waist belt, and a matching headband to hold her long black hair out of her eyes. She couldn't picture herself traveling thru the woods in a dress.

So it was on this day that she happened to be wearing them. They started out at daybreak. The sun was just coming over the Mountains in the East. Her grandfather led the way. They didn't talk. Her grandfather wasn't that old. His long black braids were just now starting to streak with grey. She had no trouble keeping up with him. She rested her hand on the handle of the knife in it's sheath, on the right side of her waist belt. Tasheena knew she had nothing to fear up here, but she felt safer with it.

They had been traveling for almost two hour's when they stopped by a little stream, and ate some sandwiches her grandmother made for them. She looked up to find her grandfather looking at her with a worried look on his face. "What is it?" she asked. Her grandfather looked away for a moment, then back at her searchingly?

"Do you remember all the thing's I have taught you?" he asked.

Tasheena knew he was talking about how he taught her Sign, and tracking. He taught her how to skin a small animal, and how to cure and tan the hide. He also taught her the Old Way's, and how The People used to live before civilization moved in, robbing them of their oneness with nature. "I remember everything;" Tasheena told him, wondering where he was coming from. She smiled at him. Her grandfather smiled back.

"Suppose I told you there was a Village of The People, that was completely secluded from civilization, and lived up here in a Valley in the Mountain's;" he said. "And suppose, I said I've known about them for year's, and never told anyone until I showed your brother. That's why he wouldn't come back up here. I made him take an oath never to tell anyone."

Tasheena sat there watching her grandfather, and trying to make sense out of what he was telling her. She wondered if he might be losing his mind? But something happened to make her brother not want to come back up here, and that definitely could have done it. Although he loved the woods and Mountains, she knew they weren't his life.

"That's not possible in this day and age;" Tasheena told him. "Is it?" She searched his eyes. They were clear, and full of love. He knew what he was saying. Maybe they were just a group of people who decided to live as the old one's. "Where are they?" she asked, sure that's who they were. "We have to go through this cave I was telling you about;" her grandfather replied. "The other end comes out facing a Valley deeper in the Mountain's."

Tasheena was watching three playful squirrels who were scampering to close to a mother Blue Jay's nest where she had some young. The father Blue Jay was dive bombing the young squirrels to warn them away. "Did you hear what I was saying?" her grandfather asked.

Tasheena's attention snapped back. "Sure," she said, "Let's go check it out!" Her grandfather looked at her curiously, and started gathering up there supplies. The canopy of tree's shielded them from the hot sun, as they made their way deeper into the mountain's. It was about three hour's later when her grandfather stopped. "This is it;" he said, going over to some tall bushes, against the hillside. He removed a large flashlight from his backpack, and parted the bushes, giving her a searching look over his shoulder. "Are you coming?" he asked. "I wouldn't miss it;" she replied grinning. Tasheena followed him through the narrow opening. From what she could see by the light of his flashlight, they were entering a tunnel carved through the rock. The walls were cool, and smooth. She stayed close behind her grandfather.

Tasheena was filled with excitement. She loved a good adventure. She wondered who these people were? She didn't doubt they existed. If her grandfather said they did, that settled it. They followed the winding curve of the tunnel for a long time. Her eyes had long since gotten used to the dark. She felt a curious tingling deep within her. She could hear water flowing from somewhere. It was coming from ahead of them. They rounded the last curve in the tunnel and she saw the waterfall. It was cascading down the rock facing above, forming a natural doorway to the outside. She could see the sunshine through the waterfall.

"How beautiful;" Tasheena gasped. Her grandfather stopped, and looked back at her. "Wait until you see the other side;" he said, grinning at her. Tasheena thought he looked like a kid at Christmas, wanting to show her his favorite present, and she laughed. Her grandfather slid sideway's along the rock facing, trying to avoid the rush of water, getting hit with the spray instead. He laughed like a kid. She shouldered her backpack, and followed him. They came out facing a Valley below. Her breath caught in her throat. Even from this distance, she could see a few log cabins, and a lot of Buckskin lodges, their lodge poles reaching for the sky. She knew they were to far away for them to see her.

"We'll never get back before dark;" Tasheena said, suddenly feeling nervous. How could they kill enough animals to make that many lodge covers, she wondered. You can't kill animals anymore! She looked at her Grandfather. He was watching her closely. "We're spending the night in the Village;" he told her. "Are you all right?" Tasheena nodded, unable to say anything!

"This is as far as your brother got;" he told her. "Are you going on with me?" Tasheena found her voice worked after all. "Let's go;" she said, starting down the rocky hillside. She looked at her grandfather and laughed at the expression on his face. She had a good feeling inside. A peaceful feeling. Her trust was in the Great Spirit, and His Son. Nothing could happen to her! It took almost another two hour's to get to the Village. They were spotted by the Sentries long before they got there. Three warrior's stepped into their path. All three were grinning! They spoke in the language of The People. Tasheena understood them perfectly. "It's good to see you again;" a tall, well built warrior said, speaking to her grandfather, but looking at her. Tasheena blushed, and lowered her eyes modestly, like she knew she was suppose to. Her heart was doing a triple somersault in her chest. She found it hard to breath. This warrior was the most handsome man she had ever seen. She glanced at his two companions, then back at him. He was looking at the pant's she was wearing a little too closely. She felt herself blushing. "Shall we go?" her grandfather asked, clearing his throat. The warrior's turned, and started for the Village a short distance away. Tasheena noticed they only wore buckskin pant's, with a breechcloth over them, and short moccasins. Their chests were bare. Their skin was a deep honey color from the sun. Each carried a Bow and quiver of arrow's over their left shoulder. An Eagle feather rested in the back of their headband, that held their long black braids in place. This couldn't be real! But, she knew she was wide awake.

As they entered the outskirts of the Village, she saw a group of children running toward them. The women gathered in front of the Council House, near a large central fire pit, that was kept low, due to the heat of the day. She knew without asking, that the Regal Warrior who stood there grinning at them was the Chief of the Village. He was about her Grandfathers age. "This is Chief Buffalo Man;" her grandfather said, clasping forearms with him. Tasheena managed to tell him she was glad to meet him. Her grandfather evidently knew these people quite well. She had a couple of dozen questions?

"And this is Wolf, his son, and next in line for Chief;" he told her. The warrior who was checking her out so closely before, grinned at her, and nodded. His gaze held hers for a long time. She had a feeling she wasn't going to get over this! She told Wolf she was glad to meet him, unable to pull her gaze from his. Chief Buffalo Man motioned for her grandfather to have a seat on the ground in front of his lodge, and motioned for a young woman who was walking their way. "This is Little Doe;" her grandfather said, introducing them. She is Wolf's sister." Tasheena liked her immediately. Little Doe was about her age.

"Let me get you something to change into while the men talk;" Little Doe told her, leading Tasheena into the lodge behind them. The inside of the lodge was bigger then it looked from the outside. She noticed sleeping mat's placed against the wall of the lodge. Everything was neat and orderly. Parflakes hung from lodge poles. A small fire pit in the center of the lodge was ready to be lit. Tasheena followed her to the left, around the fire pit, to the other side of the lodge, where Little Doe rummaged around in a large parflake near her sleeping area. She kept stealing glances at Tasheena's buckskin pants, that were a little to tight, and hiding shy giggles behind her hand. She handed Tasheena a buckskin dress that looked like it would fit her. They were about the same size. Tasheena thanked her, and started changing. She had seen the look's from the other women in the Village.

When they came out of the lodge, they saw Chief Buffalo Man, and several other's sitting to one side of the fire pit smoking a long Pipe, and talking. "Do you want to meet your grandfather's sister?" Little Doe asked Tasheena. "My what?" she asked, not sure she heard her correctly. "Your grandfather came to this Village when he was a young man. We do not know where he came from, or where he goes, but he always return's. His sister is still here, Hawk brought her with him a few year's after he started coming here, and she has been here since She never left again." Tasheena glanced at her grandfather but he was busy with the warrior's. She glanced around. She didn't see Wolf anywhere.

"We're having a Feast and Dance tonight;" Little Doe told her, as they walked through the Village to a small log cabin near the outskirt's. The women of the Village nodded at them politely, and went about their chores. Tasheena felt the excitement building within her. She wondered if Little Doe would answer some questions. They walked up to a woman who was tending a large iron kettle of stew, over a fire pit in front of her log cabin. The woman looked over at them, and smiled. Tasheena saw the family resemblance. The woman reached out and hugged Tasheena to her. "I was wondering when I would get to meet you;" she said.

"Hawk has told me all about you. I am called Rose Petal." Tasheena knew that Hawk was her grandfather. She looked at Little Doe, who nodded at Rose petal. "I'll be back for you later;" Little Doe told her. "Rose Petal will explain everything." Tasheena watched her hurry off. Rose Petal asked if she were hungry, and motioned to a fur spread out on the ground nearby. Tasheena sat down willingly. She didn't think her leg's would hold her up any longer. She wanted to know what was going on? Rose petal bustled around, putting some stew in a wooden bowl. She handed her the bowl and a wooden spoon. The stew smelled good. She wondered what was in it? She didn't care. She was hungry. Rose Petal sat down next to her.

"When your father was a young warrior, he came to this Village for the first time. Your Grandfather is a Shaman. I'll bet he never told you that. He stayed for two whole years one time. The Village got used to having him around. Then one day he left again. He was gone so long a Scouting party was sent out to look for him. They lost his trail up the Mountain somewhere, and traveled for day's in all directions looking for some sign of him. They never found any! Three moon's later he returned with a wife. They only stayed a few sun's, and left again. There are no other Villages anywhere around here.  The Village never found out where his wife came from, but she was the sweetest girl, and quite shy."

"Since then, he comes back every few moon's. Sometimes, she comes with him. I remember when your mother was born. She was only two winters when they brought her to visit. Since that time she has only returned a few times." Tasheena handed her the empty bowl and spoon. "Where are we?" she asked. "This is the Valley of the Old One's," Rose Petal told her. "We have been here for as long as anyone know's. The closest Village is many day's to the North." Tasheena was beginning to wonder if she had walked into a time warp or something, but she felt strangely at ease. She knew the town she was from was on the other side of the Mountain, and wondered why the Warrior's of the Village never saw it?

Rose Petal washed the bowl and spoon with some water from a waterskin hanging just inside the lodge, and them asked Tasheena if she could do her hair. Tasheena told her it was all right. Rose Petal produced a quill comb, and started combing the tangles out of it as they talked. Then she braided her long hair, getting it off her neck. It felt so good to relax, and have her hair combed.

Later that night, at the Feast and Dance, she found herself in steady company with Wolf. Every time she turned around, he was right there. She couldn't stop the fluttering of her heart, as he looked at her, or the tingles that raced through her body as he held her hand, and led her to the dance circle.

They stayed almost a week in the Village. Her grandfather left with some warrior's, but was back later that night. She wasn't worried. She felt right at home. She wondered why her mother never mentioned the Village. She couldn't wait to talk to her about it. She still wondered why no one knew about it? They returned three more times before she had to go back home, staying a couple of day's each time. She and Wolf were falling in Love! The last goodby was a tearful one. Wolf was sure he would never see her again. She would disappear like her grandfather did so long ago. He had heard the stories.

Tasheena told Wolf she had to finish her last year in school. Wolf didn't know what she was talking about. Tasheena dropped the subject. She told Wolf that she would be back in the Spring. When she arrived back at her parent's house, she found her brother had already left for College. Her mother refused to talk to her about it. She said she didn't know what she was talking about. That left Tasheena more flustered then ever. She missed Wolf. Her senior year crawled by. She tried to keep busy. The few times she saw her grandfather during the year, he didn't mention the Village. He just gave her this look that said, they shared a secret, and smiled at her! When she tried to talk to him about it, he just waved his hand, shook his head, and walked away.

Tasheena often wondered if she imagined the whole thing. But then she remembered Wolf's lip's on hers, and knew it was real. She couldn't wait to see him again. She had her thing's packed. She only brought what she knew would fit in at the Village. Excitement raced through Tasheena when she saw her grandfather's Jeep Cherokee parked in front of her house. He was waiting for her! Tasheena was like a little kid at Christmas, filled with excitement. A few minutes later, they were headed up the Mountain. Tasheena had said goodby to her mother, who had looked at her strangely. She knew in her heart she would never leave Wolf again. She wasn't coming back. She was staying in The Village!

"It wouldn't have anything to do with a certain young warrior named Wolf, would it?" he asked, trying to get her to look at him.

Tasheena's head whipped around, and she stared at her grandfather, her mouth hanging open. She opened the truck door, and jumped out. She heard her grandfather mutter something about women, but he looked at her, and gave her a grin anyway. He knew she wanted to go back there, and why! She was going to have to tell them sooner or later.

"I miss Wolf! "Tasheena told him, coming around the back of the truck. "He may have found someone else. I need to know." Her visit to the Village of The People, in the hidden Valley, the summer before left her with a lot of unanswered questions about the Village and why they didn't seem to know anything about the outside world. She also knew she was falling in love with Wolf, and she just met him! Counting the trips back to the Village before she had to go back home, She had only known Wolf a total of thirteen days. That wasn't very long. Tasheena followed her grandfather to the cabin. Her grandmother was waiting on the porch, and hugged Tasheena to her. "I'm glad you're back," she told Tasheena, leading her into the house. Her grandmother led her to the only spare bedroom, and watched as she unpacked, something she didn't want to do. She wanted to head for the Village, but it was to late to leave now. It took five hour's of walking through the wood's and Mountain's to get there.

Tasheena knew her grandparent's expected her to spend some time with them. She would stay a couple of day's. She had waited this long to see Wolf. A couple of day's more wasn't going to hurt anything. After dinner, they sat on the front porch, watching the sun sink behind the Western Mountain's, drinking tall glasses of Iced Tea, her grandmother's favorite drink, and talking. Tasheena filled them in on any new's about the family, and said she was suppose to start College in the Fall. Her grandfather gave her a questioning look. "What do you mean, supposed to?" he asked.

Tasheena wondered if she should say anything to them about wanting to stay in the Village? They would have to know. But, what if Wolf found another girl friend, or they didn't want her to stay? She would keep silent for now. She looked at her grandfather, and shrugged her shoulders. She couldn't lie to him. So she didn't say anything. Her grandfather was a wise man, and much didn't get past him. She saw the gleam in his eye, and knew he was reading her thought's. It drove her crazy when he did that. She wanted to keep this to herself for awhile longer, at least until she saw and talked to Wolf! "You've met someone, haven't you?" her grandmother asked. Her voice was gentle, her eyes kind, as she looked at Tasheena, searching for the truth. The answer was written in the depths of Tasheena's dark eyes. She couldn't hide it!

"When you visited the Village with your grandfather last summer, didn't you notice anything strange about it?" she asked. Her grandfather cleared his throat. They exchanged look's. He was warning his wife not to say anything else about the Village! "Tasheena's in love;" she said. "She has a right to know!" "Know what?" Tasheena asked. She knew she still had a lot of questions, but she didn't care who they were, or where they came from. They were there, and she was in love with Wolf. "Did Rose Petal tell you who they were?" her grandmother asked, deliberately not looking at her husband. Tasheena tried to think what Rose Petal had said. "She said something about them being a Village of the Old One's," Tasheena replied, "which didn't make much sense. She also said you left the Village when you were a young man, and they couldn't find you. You came back three month's later with my grandmother. You never told me how you two met?" She looked at first one of them, then the other. "It's very simple," her grandmother said. "My parents had a cabin not far from here, and your grandfather saved me from an angry mother Bear. She thought I wanted to steal her cub's." They looked at each other and laughed. Tasheena could see the great love they had for each other mirrored in their eyes. Her grandfather must have loved her grandmother very much to have stayed away from the Village for so long.

"Rose Petal said the nearest Village was several day's to the North, but there are no Villages that live like they do around," she told them. "I don't understand why they don't know about the outside world? And how come the warrior's, when they went looking for you, didn't see the town on the other side of the Mountain?"

"Because it wasn't there!" her grandmother stated. "What do you mean, it wasn't there. Sure it's there." "Not when they went looking for your grandfather;" she said. Tasheena tried to think. She knew the Town was around long before her grandfather was born. There was something she wasn't getting here. She started to get a scared feeling, deep in the pit of her stomach. "Your grandfather was the only one to ever leave the Village!"

Tasheena thought about that. They couldn't keep intermarrying within the Village! "If you're the only one who has ever left the Village, where do they meet other people to marry?" she asked. He glanced at his wife, then back at her. "The Villages meet once a year farther North, in the summer. They stay for a month, then come back." "You mean on the Reservation?" she asked. "There are no Reservation's;" her grandfather said. Tasheena had the feeling they were going in circles. "We'll talk more about this tomorrow," her grandmother said, standing up. "It's late, and I'm tired." Tasheena got the message loud and clear. They didn't want to talk about it any more tonight, which didn't do anything for her unanswered questions. It just added a few more. She hugged her grandparents, and said she thought she would sit on the porch for awhile. It was only a little after nine. She walked outside and stood at the edge of the porch, breathing in the clean Mountain air, and taking in the beauty of her surroundings. The moon was almost full. The star's winked at her in the night sky. She loved it up here. She wondered what Wolf was doing? She sat in one of the porch chair's her grandfather made. In her mind's eye, she saw the Village. Since she had time to think about it more, she knew a lot of things didn't add up. When she was there last summer, some warrior's went on a hunt several times. Each time they brought back several large deer, and assorted wild game. Some she had never seen before. She knew there were very few deer on the Mountain these days. So where did they get them? She also knew the Village was quite large. It would take a lot of meat to feed that many on a regular basis! Then there were the skin's needed for the lodge covers. She noticed most of them were tanned buffalo skin's without the hair. There were no herd's of Buffalo anymore. She knew there were a few large Ranches that Raised Buffalo, but this Village would need a lot more then they raised. She couldn't figure it out, and she was tired of trying.

The next two day's crawled by. Her grandmother cornered her the evening of the third day. "I know you want to go to the Village," she told her. "Your grandfather will take you in the morning."Tasheena threw her arms around her, and hugged her. "Oh thank you," she said. "I know you had something to do with this!" There is something you should know before you go. If you go there, and decide to stay, you may not be able to leave! Your grandfather is the only one who has ever been able to enter the Village and then leave again." Tasheena looked at her grandmother. "Why not?" she asked.

"I don't have the answer to that," she said. "I was allowed to enter because I was with your grandfather." "Why don't they just go thru the cave?" Tasheena asked. "Because for them, the Cave doesn't exist;" she told her. That's ridiculous, Tasheena thought. The Cave just can't disappear. They had horses. Why didn't she ever see any of them around town? She wanted Wolf to take her around the Mountain, so he could see where she lived before she came to the Village to live with him. They could ride horses, and it wouldn't take that long. "Everything is going to be all right;" she assured her grandmother, giving her a hug before heading off to her room. She wanted to pack her things.

The next morning they started out at first light. Her grandmother remained behind, watching them from the back yard until she couldn't see them anymore. Tasheena had braided her long hair, and was wearing a buckskin dress, with moccasins that came to just below her knee's. The outfit came with a matching waist belt, a pouch, and a headband. She had purchased it special to wear when she went back to the Village.

Tasheena loved the smell of the conifer forest. It was like nothing she could describe. The floor of the forest was soft, with years of tree's shedding there needles, along with the many kind's of vegetation. Underbrush grew all around. The forest was alive with Bird's, and all kind of small animals. The sun filtered down thru the canopy of trees above, sending ray's of soft light to the forest floor below. She tried to relax, and enjoy the beauty all around her, but by the time they reached the waterfall, she was a nervous wreck. The sun shining through the water that cascaded down the rock facing, covering the entrance to the long tunnel cave they were in, did nothing to calm her anxiety. Suppose Wolf wasn't there, or he found someone else?

When she slid along the rock facing, and emerged from behind the waterfall, she saw the Village off in the distance, in the Valley below. Her heart raced within her chest, and she got goose bump's. She would be there in less then two hour's! Her grandfather looked back at her, and grinned. His whole personality seemed to change once he saw the Village! Tasheena knew they would stay with Rose Petal. Two warrior's, she hadn't seen before, met them on the Trail. Hawk greeted them, and they continued on. They entered the Village from the East side, avoiding the women's bathing area. They made their way through the Village to Chief Buffalo Man's Lodge, near the Council House. The first order of business was to meet him, and let him know they were there. She didn't see Wolf around anywhere! She did spot Little Doe, who was Wolf's sister, hurrying her way. She greeted Chief Buffalo Man politely, and went off with Little Doe toward the wide stream not far away, while her grandfather sat with the Chief, the Village Shaman, and some other warrior's. She saw Hawk hand the Chief a large pouch of loose tobacco. She knew he bought it in town, and emptied all the small packages of tobacco into a larger buckskin bag. She had seen him do it.

Boy's ran and played war games, while the little girl's looked shyly at her from behind their mother's skirt's. Tasheena recognized some of the women. They called out to her, welcoming her back. She smiled at them, and waved. She noticed warrior's were stationed around the outside of the Village, and she wondered why? She asked Little Doe! "We were attacked by an enemy Village the other day," Little Doe told her. "We had to station extra guards. There are other's scattered in the hill's and Mountain." Tasheena got a startled look on her face. She was trying to deal with two thing's at once. "Is Wolf all right?" she asked, worry etching her voice. "Wolf is fine," she replied. "There were no lives lost. The Sentries in the Hill's spotted them before they got to the Village. There chasing them now. Wolf is with them."

Once Tasheena was sure Wolf was all right, she asked the next thing that was bothering her. "What enemies?" she asked. "There are law's. You just can't go around killing people!" Little Doe looked at Tasheena strangely. "What is a Law?" she asked. Tasheena remembered, Little Doe had never been outside the Village, so she wouldn't know about civilization, and law's. She had a feeling that whoever attacked them didn't know about the law either, or care about it. Someone must have found out the Village was here. They turned left, and headed upstream to Rose Petal's Cabin. They found her in front of her cabin working on a skin she had stretched out on the ground. When she saw them coming, she stood and walked over to greet them, hugging Tasheena to her. "Can you stay for awhile this time?" Rose Petal asked. Tasheena nodded. "I would love to," she said, "I was hoping you would ask me. Rose Petal explained she lived alone, and would welcome the company. Noticing Tasheena was wearing a Buckskin backpack, she took them into the log cabin so Tasheena could put her pack down. Rose Petal asked her if she would like to bathe in the women's bathing area at the stream. Tasheena quickly agreed, and Rose Petal went back into the cabin to get the bathing supplies, while Little Doe said she would meet them there, and left for her lodge. They headed upstream to a secluded cove. Several women were already there. The men didn't come in this area. Sentries were stationed a safe distance away, to make sure no one wandered in on them. Tasheena undressed, laid her clothes on a slab of nearby rock, and ran into the stream, completely unconcerned with the fact that she didn't have a stitch on. None of the other women did either. Rose Petal and Little Doe laughed at her as Tasheena splashed in the stream, and then dove under the water. Tasheena broke the surface to find the women laughing. They called out their names to her, smiling in welcome. They knew she was Hawk's granddaughter, and Rose Petal's niece. A few remembered her from her first visit. They liked her enthusiasm, and her friendly manner. When they finished bathing, Little Doe said she would see her later, and Rose petal and Tasheena headed for Rose Petal's Cabin.

The cabin was one large room. As you entered, the first thing you saw was the three and a half foot square fire pit in the center of the room. The pit was lined with large flat rocks, that covered the ground under it. Round rocks formed a ring around it. Outside the ring of stones the split log floor started, keeping them off the ground. Sleeping area's were made from thick fur's, with a covering of a soft Doe skin, or a rush plaited mat, because of the heat. Another soft Doe skin was used as a covering.

Everything was neat and orderly, with Parflakes hanging from peg's around the wall's. A window at each end of the room, let in the sunlight. The opening could be secured by lowering a covering of split log's, tied together with rawhide, and held in place by a log that slid into place. Different herb's and plant's hung from the ceiling to dry. Tasheena could smell the Sage above all the other's. It was used for purification, and they always had plenty of it. She noticed a Bow and quiver of Arrow's hanging from the wall over a sleeping area. Rose Petal saw her looking at them. "Those are Hawk's," she told Tasheena. "That's his sleeping area when he's here. No one may touch his weapons." Tasheena nodded.

Rose petal scurried around making a sleeping area for Tasheena near one of the window's. She spread two fur's, then asked her if she would rather have a Rush plaited mat, or a Doe Skin to cover the fur's. Tasheena chose the Doe Skin. When everything was ready and a spot made for Tasheena to store her clothes that she brought with her, they went back outside.

"I'm glad you're hear," Rose Petal said, "I'm lonely living by myself. I chose not to take another husband, after the one who was my husband went to the Spirit World. Can you stay for awhile?" "I'd like to stay for a long time," Tasheena told her truthfully, looking around to see if she saw Wolf anywhere. "It depend's on a certain person!" "That certain person wouldn't be Wolf, would it?" Rose petal teased, her face shining with kindness. "Maybe it would please you to know, he has not taken another woman." Tasheena's heart started doing flip-flops. She felt tear's spring to her eyes,. She blinked them away. "When do you think the warrior's will be back?" she asked. "They've been gone three sun's now. There is no way to know." It was late afternoon. The air was humid, but not unbearable. Tasheena listened to the sound's of the Village. She could smell the cooking pot's, and hear the shout's of the children. From where the cabin was located, she could see about half the Village, including the Council House and large clearing in front of it. She saw several elderly warrior's sitting together under some tall Conifer tree's, at a small fire pit in a ring of stones. They were smoking a pipe, and talking. Women and young girl's were doing their daily chores. She could also see Chief Buffalo Man's Lodge. She didn't see Wolf. "We have been invited to a friend's lodge," Rose Petal told her. "Several women want to meet you. We'll have our meal with them." Tasheena said she was looking forward to it. Her grandfather came back to get his weapon's, and said he was leaving with a group of warrior's on a hunt. He told her he wouldn't be back until the next day, and asked if she would be all right? Tasheena nodded, and gave him a hug. "I'm great," she told him, smiling secretively.

She spent the next two day's getting to know those in the Village, especially the children who wanted her to tell them a story. She told them the story of Goldilocks and the three bear's, substituting a little Village girl for Goldilocks. They loved it, clambering for more. Little Doe had to rescue her. "You've started something now," she told her, promising the children they would hear another story the next day. Tasheena figured sooner or later she was going to run out of stories.

It was the morning of the third day when her grandfather said he had to leave. He couldn't leave her grandmother alone any longer. He wanted to know if she was going back with him? Tasheena told him firmly that the warrior's weren't back yet, and she wasn't going anywhere until she talked to Wolf. Hawk said, He was afraid of this. When he couldn't get her to change her mind, he said he would be back in a few day's to check on her. She would be all right with Rose Petal.

Tasheena watched her grandfather until he was out of sight. She felt a tug within her heart as he disappeared. She turned her thoughts inward. She was calm, and where she wanted to be. She was going to be all right. If something happened, she knew her way to the Cave. Her attention was drawn to loud Trilling coming from several women in the Village. People were hurrying to the Council House clearing. "Come on," Rose Petal called from the stream, "Hurry." Tasheena ran after her, as Rose petal cut through the Village to the Clearing where everyone was gathering.

Chief Buffalo Man, and The Village Shaman were talking to a Runner that just came in. The warrior's were back. They were Victorious! No lives were lost! The runner said only a few enemy warrior's would be returning to their Village farther North. Chief Buffalo man told the waiting people what the Runner had told him. A shout of Victory went up, as cheer's and trilling filled the air. Tasheena started crying! Wolf was safe! The warrior's rode in from the North, pushing a herd of horses before them. Junior warrior's ran forward to guide the horses to the rest of the herd, grazing nearby on the tender shoot's of new Spring grass. The trilling got louder as the women spotted the warrior's. Young boy's ran out to meet them, and the dog's chased after the boy's. The crowd of People got larger around the Council House, leaving a wide path for the warriors to enter. Tasheena's heart caught in her throat as she spotted Wolf in front. He was leading the warrior's in. As they got closer, she got nervous. Suppose he didn't want her here? A year was a long time! She would just act friendly, and see what happened. Little Doe grabbed her arm and tugged. "Come on;" she said, making her way back to where her grandfather, Chief Buffalo Man was standing. She was bubbling over with happiness. A large grin was splashed across her face. Tasheena couldn't help grinning with her. "I'll bet there's someone special you're waiting on;" she told Little Doe. "What's his name?" "Red Fox," she replied, trying to see him in the large group of warrior's that were crossing the lower end of the stream. She noticed some of the warrior's had women riding in front of them, with their hand's tied. The first thought that crossed Tasheena's mind was that kidnaping was illegal. But then so was killing people. She knew the enemy warrior's they were chasing didn't just give them the horses. She had a feeling the owner's didn't walk this earth anymore. Her thought's flew back to Wolf, as she saw him scan the sea of faces around him. Wolf was clearly surprised at seeing Tasheena standing with his sister, Little Doe. He thought he would never see her again. She was more beautiful them he remembered. His heart started racing within his chest. He had a couple of offers from young women in the Village, but his heart wasn't in it. All he could think about was a slender beauty, with soft brown eyes, and long flowing black hair. Many night's he lay awake thinking about her, and wondering if he would ever see her again. Now here she was. Wolf turned his thought's back to the task at hand. He was Warrior Chief, and they would have to meet with his grandfather, Chief Buffalo Man, and the Council. His eyes met those of his grandfather and he saw him nod. His grandfather was proud of him. It showed on his face. Wolf held his head a little higher, and smiled at him. As he dismounted from his favorite war horse, a Junior warrior, he had appointed to the task, ran forward to take his horse. He would rub him down with sweet grass, and let him loose in the herd. The guard's around the horse herd rotated with other guard's. The herd was never left unprotected.

Red Fox rode beside him. Wolf saw him grin at his sister. He knew Red Fox was in love with Little Doe. He expected him to approach him with a bride price any day now. Wolf saw how they acted when they were around each other. He liked Red Fox. He would make a fine husband for Little Doe.

Wolf stopped in front of Chief Buffalo Man, and they clasped forearm's. The Shaman was grinning at him. The Great Spirit had blessed them. He brought them home safely. The warrior's were given a moment to speak to their loved one's, and give them the spoil's of war they brought back with them. They had taken large iron cooking pot's, fur's, and anything of value they could find. Those with captives took them to a holding area, where Junior warrior's guarded them. They would be fed and cared for by someone appointed to the task by the owner, usually a sister, or family relation. They were not allowed to take a captive if they were already married. There would be a Feast and Dancing that night in celebration of their victory. The captives would be seen, and claimed before the Village by their owner then.

Wolf looked at Tasheena, who was standing on the other side of Little Doe. He couldn't believe she was here. He wanted to reach out and touch her, to make sure she was real. Their eyes connected, and his heart caught in his throat. Wolf had to look away. He had to keep his thought's on the task at hand. Chief Buffalo Man put his hand on Wolf's arm to get his attention, and motioned for him to have a seat near him at the fire pit.

The warrior's assigned to bring back fresh meat with them divided it between the women who were cooking for the Feast, and then joined the large group of warrior's who sat facing Chief Buffalo Man, the Shaman, and the Council Members of the Village. Everything would be gone over in detail, from the time they left until the time they returned. Eagle feather's would be awarded for act's of bravery. The meeting would last for hour's.

Tasheena tried to control her emotions. She didn't know what she expected but this wasn't it. Wolf seemed glad she was here from what she gathered from the brief look he gave her, but did he still love her. She tried to remember what her grandfather told her about the ceremonies that took place after a successful Raid. If she remembered correctly, they would be talking until they went over everything in triplicate. She swallowed her disappointment, and let Little Doe lead her off with Rose Petal. They had to get the cooking pot's going for the Feast. Tasheena was glad she had cleaned her new dress, and put it aside to wear when Wolf got back. She would wear it tonight. They headed back to Rose Petal's cabin to get thing's started. Tasheena looked back at Wolf, but his attention was with the other warrior's.

Tasheena and Little Doe helped Rose petal carry the meat they were to cook. Some would be roasted on a spit over a fire pit, while the rest would go into a big iron kettle, where it would be cooked slowly. Onion's, herbs, root's that tasted like sweet potatoes, and some kind of vegetable that looked like large green beans would be added.

Little Doe had received permission to help Tasheena and Rose Petal at their fire pit. Warrior's would carry the food to the main fire pit just before the Feast. The sun was just now overhead. Tasheena knew it was going to be a long day. She tried to concentrate on the task's at hand. They would see each other at the Feast and Dance. She would have to wait until then.

It was late afternoon when the women finished cooking, and getting everything ready for that night. They put young girl's in charge of watching the cooking pot's, and the meat, and headed for the women's bathing area where they could relax, and bathe and wash their hair. The warrior's had been dismissed, and after visiting with their families for awhile, headed for their bathing area in the wood's, where the stream flowed West from the Village. A large purification Bower sat a short distance from the stream. The ceiling was low, to keep the steam near the ground where they sat. The Bower itself, made with young saplings, was quite large. Inside, three pit's to hold the hot rocks, were equally spaced. The Purification Bower was used as part of different Ceremonies by the Shaman. It also rid the body of all human smells, that could give away their presence to the enemy, or to the animals they hunted. Rock's were heated in fire pit's outside the Bower, and passed inside, using long forked poles, and dropped into the pit's. Then water skin's were passed inside, and poured over the hot rock's. They popped and hissed, as the Bower filled with steam. The Shaman would start the first prayer's and the Ceremony would begin.

The women also had a steam bower near their bathing area, although not as large, and not used as much as the warrior's. It was used before a maiden married, as well as several other reasons. When a man and woman wanted to swim together, they either went off by themselves, or swam in the deeper part of the stream where it flowed past the Village. The children played at the shallow edges, watched over by sitters, who were girls who were to young to attend the Dances. They also watched the babies in cradle boards and the young children, when the women went to the planting field's. The cradle boards were hung from the low branches of nearby tree's so they could swing in the breeze. That kept the babies content and they could watch what was going on.

Tasheena managed to get some of her question's answered as they were cooking. She also found Rose Petal reluctant to answer the one's she wanted answered the most. She wondered why? If she didn't know better, she would think she had somehow wandered back to a time in the past. She knew that was impossible. There had to be another explanation. She saw Wolf head for the warrior's bathing area earlier. She wondered if they would ever get a chance to talk. When they finished at the stream, Little Doe headed home. She said she would see Tasheena later at the Feast and save her and Rose Petal a place next to her. Tasheena and Rose petal headed for the Cabin to do each other's hair, and get dressed.

The air turned cooler after the sun slipped behind the Western Mountains. The main fire pit sat in front of the Council House, at one end of the large clearing. As The People started to arrive, they spread their fur's on the ground, around the outside of the circle, leaving both end's open for the Dancer's to enter and leave by. The fire pit was lit. Shadow's were already starting to dance at the fringes of the glow from the fire. Small fire pit's, outside the front of the circle, held the cooking pot's, and the Roasted meat. They also had corn cakes, several kind of fruit and berries, as well as water skin's. The aroma of Roasting meat filled the air. Tasheena and Rose petal arrived, each carrying their fur to sit on, and their wooden bowl and spoon. Rose Petal was wearing a light brown buckskin dress with long fringe at the sleeves and hem. Matching moccasins came to just below her knees. Tasheena was wearing her new cream colored one. She also wore her knife in a matching sheath on the right side of her waist belt, and her pouch with a quill comb and some flint, along with assorted thing's she felt she might need. It was placed on the left side of her waist belt. She wore her hair loose, and flowing to her waist. A matching headband, tied on the right side, held her hair in place.

A shy smile was on her face as she looked around. Little Doe saw them coming, and called out, motioning them over to where she held a place for them in the front row. They made their way toward her, and spread their fur's, then headed for the food lines. When they were served what they wanted, they brought their bowl's back to their fur's, and settled down to eat. Tasheena looked around. She noticed there weren't very many warrior's around, and she didn't see Wolf. She asked Little Doe where they were. "They're with the Shaman, and will be here soon," she said.

It was only a few minute's later, when they saw about fifty warrior's coming from the wood's near the stream. They wore breech cloth's, and moccasins that came to their knee's. All wore headband's with Eagle Feather's in the back, or tied in the strip's of buckskin that dangled to their shoulders. Everyone's hair was braided.

Tasheena saw Wolf at the front with the Shaman, and her heart went up in her throat. She set her bowl aside. She was finished anyway. She couldn't take her eyes from Wolf. She noticed the way the muscles in his chest rippled when he walked, and the Regal way he carried himself. She stopped breathing. Her breath caught in her throat. Wolf's eyes found her's. His smile would have melted the coldest heart! It was going to be all right. Tasheena started breathing again! She couldn't help smiling at Wolf as he walked into the circle with the other warrior's. When they were all gathered, the Shaman lifted his hand's in the air and called for attention. He took some powder from one of the many pouches hanging from his waist belt, sprinkled it on the fire, and started a prayer to the Great Spirit. The Shaman thanked Him for bringing their warrior's home safely and for His many blessings. Then he introduced the warrior's one by one and told of any special deed's they had performed. Tasheena learned Wolf had saved two fellow warrior's from certain death by the enemy. He was awarded two Eagle feather's! When the Shaman was finished the warrior's were dismissed to get something to eat and sit with their loved ones until the Dancing when they would be honored by performing the first dance.

The Captives were brought forth, introduced and exclaimed over. Then were claimed by their new owner. Most accepted their fate. Their husbands no longer walked mother earth. Some were resentful. They had to be tied to keep from running.

Red Fox and Wolf filled their bowl's with Roasted meat and corn cakes, then walked over to sit with Little Doe and Tasheena, who had a place for them on their fur. Tasheena's greatest fear had been that Wolf wouldn't sit with her. Wolf grinned at Tasheena and sat down beside her. "I thought you were a vision;" Wolf told her. Red Fox sat on Little Doe's fur with her. The two women sat next to each other, so they could talk when the warrior's were dancing. Rose Petal sat with a friend on the other side of Wolf, talking quietly.

Two large drum's were a discrete distance, and on each side of the Fire pit. The dancers would dance around the fire pit and the drum's in a clockwise motion. Several warrior's sat around each drum. The booming of the drum's echoed across the Valley, bouncing off the Mountain's and becoming one with their soul.

"I thought I'd never see you again;" Wolf told Tasheena, in between bites of roasted meat and corn cakes. A small smile lit the corners of his mouth. "I thought you were a vision."

"I didn't know if you wanted me to come back?" Tasheena said shyly. They looked into each other's eyes. Word's weren't necessary. They could feel the bond between them. Together they were one. Both got a silly grin on their face at the same time, then laughed. Each had been worried about how the other would feel. Wolf reached over, and closed his hand around Tasheena's, feeling the electricity shoot between them. Tasheena concentrated on not snatching her hand back, as a sudden warmth rushed through her. She lowered her eyes modestly, afraid of the emotion that filled her. Wolf understood, and withdrew his hand so he could finish eating. He knew she was a maiden. He would have to go slow. He smiled at her and Tasheena felt herself drowning in the depths of his dark eyes.

Their attention was drawn to the Shaman again, as he announced the dancing was about to start, and would the warrior's return to the circle. Wolf handed Tasheena his bowl and reluctantly rose to his feet. "I'll be back;" he said, smiling down at her. Tasheena was still trying to cope with the feeling's surging through her, and couldn't help thinking he had the most gorgeous bedroom eyes she had ever seen on a man. Every time he looked at her, she got lost in them! Wolf walked into the circle with the rest of the warrior's.

The Shaman announced the Warrior's would have the first dance, in Honor of their victory over the enemy, and left the circle. The beat of the drums changed, and the warrior's started dancing. Their heart's and Soul turned to the Great Spirit. Each danced as the Spirit moved them, caught up in a Oneness you had to experience to understand. Tasheena felt herself being pulled into their Spirit, and all else slipped away. Her breath quickened, and she leaned forward a little, her eyes on the dancing warrior's. The Pow Wow's she attended were nothing like this!

It was full dark by the time everyone gathered. The side fires had burned down to a red glow. The flickering light from the central fire pit chased the shadow's at the edge of the circle. As Tasheena looked around at the gathered Village. She estimated there had to be at least three hundred people here, counting the children. The young boy's sat in a group by themselves. They were to young to be Junior Warrior's. They were trained daily by warrior's who were called teacher's. They learned tracking and sign, along with endurance, patience, weapon's, and horse and hunting skill's. The small girl's stayed near their mother, the young girl's watched the babies. The only one's not at the Feast and Dance were the guards around the Village and those sentries stationed in the hills and woods, and they were rotated so they could also attend. The pine needles from the Conifer trees had been cleared from the circle, to make the ground smooth for dancing, and saved.

The warrior's danced in the flickering firelight, their feet slapping the ground, their knees coming up high as they leaned forward, then reached for the sky. Those who watched were caught up in the Power of the Great Spirit! Their Soul was full! As the dance ended, the drum's paused, then changed tempo, as the rest of the warrior's in the Village joined them in the circle. Several dances later a couples dance was called. Wolf and Red Fox walked over to get Little Doe and Tasheena, taking their hand, and leading them into the circle, where other couples were lining up in back of each other. Since Wolf was War Chief, he and Tasheena led them. This dance she knew. As they wound their way around the large circle, with the other's following, Tasheena felt at peace. She felt at home. She grinned over at Wolf, who was watching her, and he grinned back.

It was late when the dancing ended. Mothers and sisters brought the little one's back to the lodge earlier, and settled them down in their furs for the night. Only the Junior Warrior's, who were in their teen years, and the adults were still at the dance. Couples drifted off together into the wood's to be by themselves. Tasheena was wondering if she would get to be alone with Wolf, but it wasn't meant to be. Tasheena could tell by the look on Little Doe's face that she wanted to be alone with Red Fox, but Little Doe had told her earlier, that since they were both maiden's, they couldn't go off alone with them without a chaperone.

Rose Petal saw the looks on the girl's faces as they looked at Wolf and Red Fox. She volunteered to escort them to the stream for awhile. They walked off hand in hand toward the stream, with Rose Petal a discreet distance behind them. She sat against a tree and watched them walk along the streams edge as they talked. They knew to stay within her eye sight.

Wolf asked Tasheena how long she could stay this time? She told him that was up to him. She couldn't see his grin, but she knew it was there by how he squeezed her hand. They would have to go through the period of courtship, where they got to know each other. Things were different in the Village. She had asked Rose Petal all kind's of questions about it, and those she answered freely. When she asked about where the Village came from, she was told it was here when she first came here. Tasheena knew that no Village, even in the old days, stayed in one spot for very long. They moved with the seasons, taking their belongings and lodges with them. So what made this Village so special. She had no answer!

All to soon Tasheena and Wolf had to separate, but not before they stole a few kisses, and held each other close as they whispered to each other. They would see each other tomorrow.

Rose petal watched Red Fox walk Little Doe back to her lodge. When she was safely inside with her father, They walked upstream to where her cabin nestled under the tall tree's. Tasheena glanced back at Wolf, but the dark had swallowed him. She no longer could see him.

The next morning was spent doing chores. Tasheena wondered if Wolf would take her around the Mountain to the Town she knew was there. She knew she wanted to prove to herself that it existed. She was just finishing up a story for the children of the Village, when she saw Wolf walking toward where she and Little Doe sat with the children, near the stream. Wolf sat down not far away, where he could listen to the story. The children begged for just one more. Tasheena looked at their smiling faces, and couldn't resist.

She thought about which one she should tell them. She decided to tell them the story of how the Great Spirit came to earth as a little baby, so He could grow up and tell everyone how much He loved them. She noticed as her story progressed, several women had come forward to listen, sitting with the children. Usually the one who told stories was an elderly warrior, but she was fast getting a reputation in the Village as The Story Teller. Tasheena told of so many strange and wonderful thing's that even the women, and some of the warrior's, had crept close to listen. She took them into a world they could never imagine, and made it sound so real, they felt as if they were there.

Tasheena finished her story. She resisted their pleading for just one more, promised to tell another one tomorrow, and escaped with Little Doe. Wolf caught up with them, and asked if he could speak with Tasheena? Little Doe grinned and told Tasheena she would see her later.

Wolf took Tasheena's hand and led her to a place near the stream, where they could lean back against a tree in the shade, and talk. They were in sight of everyone, yet alone. As they looked at each other, the other's didn't exist. "Wolf, I'd like to ask you something?" Tasheena said, forcing her eyes from his for a few minutes so she could think straight, "Could we take some horses and go riding? I'd like to ride around the Mountain to see what's there?" Wolf looked at her strangely. "Why would you want to do that?" he asked. "There is only more wood's and Mountain's." "There has to be more then that," Tasheena said, "That's where I'm from. Couldn't we go, please?" Wolf looked at her and saw the worried look on her face when he told her there was nothing but wood's, Mountain's, and animal's. Wolf knew all the land around by heart. He had been over it many times. Usually, the enemy didn't bother coming in this area. They lived much farther North and South. Looking down at Tasheena, he had a feeling he better let her see for herself. He wondered where she was really from? "If it's all right with Chief Buffalo Man we will leave in the morning," Wolf said. "We'll take Little Doe and Red Fox with us." Tasheena thru her arm's around Wolf to hug him, then drew back quickly, and laughed. Wolf would see for himself. The town had to be there. "Come on," Wolf said, jumping up and pulling her up, "Let's go find Red Fox and Little Doe and see if they want to go with us, then talk to Chief Buffalo Man. They walked back through the Village to a large lodge not far from the Council House. Red Fox and Little Doe were sitting on the ground on the soft Pine needles, talking earnestly together. Tasheena and Wolf greeted them, and sat down across from them. Wolf explained what he had on his mind, and what Tasheena hoped to find. Red Fox and Little Doe looked at each other, then at Tasheena. "We will go with you if it is all right with my father," Little Doe told her. Tasheena smiled. She knew she could count on Little Doe. They talked for awhile, making plan's, then Wolf and Red Fox went off to find Chief Buffalo Man who was with the Shaman near his lodge.

A short time later, they were back with the good new's that it was all right with him, but they had to take a Vow to keep them safe from all thing's, including their emotion's! The four of them laughed together, and Wolf and Red Fox sat back down. A group of the warrior's had talked to the drummer's and had decided to have a dance that night, for whoever wanted to come. The Shaman said he would be happy to lead the opening prayer's. Wolf said he would come to get Tasheena at Rose Petal's cabin. They visited awhile longer, then Wolf and Red Fox left, having things to do, and Little Doe walked Tasheena back to the cabin. They needed to eat something, go to the bathing area, and get ready for tonight.

As Tasheena and Little Doe walked to the cabin, Tasheena thought about the ride around the Mountain in the morning. It never crossed her mind, there could be enemy warrior's outside the safety of the Village. This was America. There were no enemy warrior's! All the Tribes got along with each other. When they were almost to the cabin, Little Doe said goodby, and ran off in the direction of her lodge. Tasheena saw Rose Petal at the cooking pot over the fire pit. Rose petal looked up, and smiled at Tasheena as she walked up to her. Tasheena told Rose petal about the dance that night, and about going riding in the morning, and where they were going. Rose Petal got a worried look on her face, but didn't say anything. She just nodded, and stirred the cooking pot. Rose Petal knew there was no Village of any kind in those wood's. She had been that way many time's with her husband traveling to a sister Village farther South. She looked at Tasheena, and wondered if she should tell her the truth, but she knew she couldn't. It was forbidden. Tasheena would find out in due time!

The next morning, they were up with the sun. Rose Petal wanted to make sure Tasheena ate something before she left, and was at the fire pit making some Corn mush in a small iron pot. When Tasheena looked in the pot, she thought it looked like oatmeal, but it had a yellow tint to it. When she was served some in a wooden bowl, she found out it had a sweet and delicious flavor. She had second's!

Wolf, Red Fox and Little Doe showed up a little while later, leading a mare for her to ride. Tasheena loved horses. She had been raised around them. Tasheena held her hand out for the mare to snuffle and get her scent, as she talked softly to her. Then she climbed on, said goodby to Rose Petal, and they headed East, back the way they had come when she arrived with her grandfather. It was after they passed the area they turned off to go to the waterfall where the cave was, that Wolf held up his hand for them to stop, and be silent! Tasheena looked around. She didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Wolf got down from his stallion and held his ear to the ground, then jumped up, mounted quickly, and motioned for them to follow him. Rider's were in the area. They made their way off the trail, and up the side of the mountain enough to hide them from whoever was coming. They had passed their Sentries awhile back. They were on their own.

As they waited, Tasheena wondered why they were hiding? There wasn't anything on the Mountain that could hurt them. She tried to ask Wolf, but he held his hand up cutting her off, and told her to be silent. She gave him a wounded look. Little Doe stifled a giggle behind her hand, and Red Fox quickly looked at Little Doe! Tasheena heard the howl of a Wolf, and got a startled look on her face. Wolf listened closely as the howl was repeated. Then motioned for them to stay put while he checked it out. He silently got down from his horse, dropped the reigns knowing his stallion was trained to stay put, and crept through the wood's toward the trail. A short while later he was back. They were a hunting party from the Village, on their way back. It was safe now! They headed back to the trail and continued on. It was about three hour's later when Tasheena recognized the area leading into the Town where she lived.

She knew it wouldn't be long until Wolf knew she wasn't crazy. A short while later, Tasheena stopped dead in her track's. The Town wasn't there. She knew this area, and it should be, but it wasn't! What was going on? Her heart went up in her throat. They were watching her. She was suddenly scared, and didn't know what to do. Wolf jumped down from his horse, lifted Tasheena, and swung her up on his stallion, then climbed on behind her, pulling her close to him. He reached over and grabbed her horses reigns, motioned for Little Doe and Red Fox to follow him. They started back the way they had come! The trip was made in silence.

As soon as they reached the Village Red Fox and Little Doe went to look for Chief Buffalo Man and let him know they were back. Wolf took Tasheena to Rose Petal's cabin. She wasn't there. Tasheena still hadn't said a word and Wolf was worried about her. She had a strange look on her face, and tear's filled her eyes. Wolf got down and lifted her off the stallion, sitting her down on the soft pine needles not far from the fire pit. He retrieved the water skin just inside the cabin door and made her take a drink. She coughed then looked up at Wolf, a question in her eyes? Wolf sat down beside her, pulling her close to him as he wrapped his arm's around her. "I love you so much," Wolf told her, "I will never let you go again. You will stay here with me now. I will ask the Council for permission for us to marry as soon as possible. Will you marry me?" Tasheena pulled back a little so she could look into his eyes.

"I want that more then anything in the world,"Tasheena told Wolf. "I will never leave you again. You are my life! Wolf pulled her back into his arm's, whispering things only lover's know and promised they would be together forever." Tasheena snuggled closer, content for the first time in her life. She didn't want to go anywhere!

Rose Petal knew when she saw them that Tasheena found out the town wasn't there. Tasheena looked over at Rose petal searchingly. Rose Petal smiled at her. "You're going to be happy here," Rose petal told her. We have a wedding to plan for!" Tasheena looked at Wolf and grinned!

Back in Town, at the only hospital, Tasheena's family were gathered. They had to make a decision! It had been a month now since the accident. Tasheena and her grandfather were almost to the cabin when they were sideswiped by another car. The Jeep Cherokee had been forced over the edge and went tumbling down the Mountain. Her grandfather died instantly. Tasheena somehow survived but had been in a Coma since the accident. She never woke up! The Doctor looked at her parents solemnly. "I'm sorry," he said, "but there is no hope. She is brain dead. Only the machines are keeping her breathing. You must decide what to do!" Her mother went into the arm's of her husband, crying softly. They knew they would have to do what was necessary. They signed the termination paper's!

"It's Just the Beginning"~written by Sweet Fawn~

~Message From Tasheena~

Please do not Weep for me. I am Happy.

Wolf & I are Together.

Enter Part 2 below ~

The Love story of Tasheena & Wolf~Part Two

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Page edited 2/9/02

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