The village was quiet except for the rain that pounded relentlessly upon the earth. The wolves, who had been so vociferous the previous two nights, had slunk away into hiding, happy to be dry. They, too, were quiet.
The rain came down harder as The Great Spirit was crying for their loss. That is what they believed. Most of the village had been repaired, but their hearts would mend only with the passing of time. They had come out of the north in the dead of night to deliver their blow. The Pawnee, the hated Pawnee. The destruction they left in their wake was devastating. One hour after their cowardly attack started, twenty-four Shawnee, including two children and one woman lay dead. Countless others were injured, some more severely than others.
No one knew why the Pawnee came. They never seemed to need a reason. Except for furs, skins, and hunting equipment, the Shawnee had nothing to offer from pillaging. It was senseless and stupid, but the Pawnee didn't let that stand in their way from wreaking havoc whenever they showed their faces. As soon as it was clear they would not win the battle, they turned tail and ran.
They wept, mourned, and buried their dead. Within their hearts burned the taste for revenge, but their Chief, Blue River, wanted to wait. He knew they would be expecting a counter attack, but he would wait. The discussion in the meeting lodge was long and sometimes heated. Many of the younger males, hot tempered and impetuous, sought to track the Pawnee war party immediately, but Blue River stood his ground.
"We must heal before considering war," he said. "I wish to punish them as you do, but we will wait, and then they will cry as we do." There were murmurs of grumbles and acceptance, but Blue River had quelled most of their fears. There would be revenge and they would pay for their despicable act.
Now, weeks later, the war party had left and Snow Bird lay in her wigwam weeping. Her beloved Red Sky was gone to fight. He had been appointed by Blue River to lead a band of fifty warriors to avenge their loss. Her grief and her loss was real. She had lost a brother in the attack and now her husband was gone, gone to face the Pawnee once again. He had fought bravely and killed four or five during the last struggle, protecting Snow Bird and countless others. Would he come back to her and if he did, would he be alive?
Red Sky shivered as he tried to sleep in the relentless downpour. Fear shook him to his bones, fear of the attack they would start the next day and fear he would never see Snow Bird again. His thoughts turned to the night before the war party left. Snow Bird lay crying in his arms under the blankets and deer skin, her naked body pressed against him. Begging him to love her one last time before he left, Red Sky settled between her legs and pressed into her. Their eyes locked and neither said a word as he started to rock and began to love her. Snow Bird wrapped her lags around his torso and clung to him, opening herself to him and accepting him as she had done so many times over the past three years.
Red Sky brushed the rain from his eyes, or was it the sadness that escaped them? He had seen the river of tears flow from her eyes when they finished. Was he weak to be doing the same? He didn't think so. He had fought with the strength of many men and gained respect from Blue River and the other Shawnee in the village. To be given a war party was quite an honor for one so young, considering he was only twenty.
Sleep continued to escape him as the rain never stopped pelting him. He looked to the north and thought of the scouting party he had sent ahead. He expected them to return soon and he expected good news. Sentries were posted around the camp they had set up and he would have to replace them soon. Two hours was all the time he wanted them to be out in the rain. There were others who would replace them. They would rest and go out at another time.
Snow Bird refused to release him when it was time to go. She cried and grabbed at his blouse when he rose from their bed. He let her continue until he had enough of her immaturity. Didn't she know he was scared too? Didn't she know he hated battles and did not enjoy killing other men? He fought because he had to. He killed because he had to. It was the Shawnee way. They were basically a peace loving people, but they fought when it was necessary. It was now necessary. They simply could not let the Pawnee continue to attack them without retaliation.
"Snow Bird," he said as gently as possible, "you must let go now. It's time." His brown eyes were sad as he stared into hers. Her hand left his sleeve and touched his face. For one so young, his face showed the lines of a warrior much older. She knew he would go far in their village, perhaps even become chief one day...if he lived.
She leaned forward and kissed him before she let him go. She followed him outside to where the families of the other men had gathered. Snow Bird put up a brave front and smiled as she watched her husband disappear into the forest on horseback. As the other women would do upon returning to their homes, Snow Bird fell to her knees and cried.
A few hours later, Red Sky awoke to the sounds of his men returning. The rain had lightened, but a fine mist had taken it's place. He met them at the edge of their camp, three sturdy, experienced men who knew the area as well as their own village.
"What did you see?" he asked the first.
"It is good, Red Sky," Running Deer replied. "All is quiet. They are not expecting us. We did not have any difficulty getting near."
