Poetry n Prose 7

White Wolf looked up at them and said: “Make no war, this is my own doing, have peace my brothers, everything is going to be fine.  This will be a good winter.” The two brothers look across the meadow at all the Thunder Beings. They turn to their back and see a very large bull walking up to them. They step back away from White Wolf in fear of this giant bull.  The bull stops right next to White Wolf and gets down on his knees, as close as he can get to the ground. White Wolf says to his brothers; “This is Hard Head, wrap me in my robe and put me on his back.”  Amazed by his words they say; “Your words are making our ears hurt, what are you saying.” White Wolf with a gentle weak voice says; “Please brothers, do as I say.” His brothers comply with caution and fear of the bull. White Wolf says; “Hold me on his back my brothers, he needs to stand up.” Without any further question they follow his instructions and Hard Head slowly stands up, and very slowly starts walking towards the village with White Wolf’s brothers on each side holding him in place. Hard Head gives a loud SNORT, and the men jump, but stay close holding White Wolf to be safe for this amazing ride. Hard Head feels wetness on his skin and looks down at the ground back under him to see blood dripping on Earth Mother. Still walking forward Hard Head looks into White Wolfs eyes and sees the strong wolf eyes staring back at him. He hears White Wolfs mental voice; “Pilamaya my new brother we are as one, my lodge is the one with pictures of Thunder Beings walking all the way around in a circle, in honor of your people.” Hard Head already knew, and was indeed walking directly towards it with blood dripping down his sides. White Wolf was speaking softly and his brother holding him in place leaned close to hear his words; “Tell this story of our new brothers to our people, take only what is needed to live through this winter, it’s OK to be hungry, it builds good spirit and strong will.”  Hard Head spoke to White Wolf’s mind and said; “Indeed, we are as one my brother.” 

Part IV

White Wolf is dreaming of the surreal events of the time before this moment. He is aroused by words of his family bringing him to semi-awake but unable to open his eyes. His whole body is screaming from pain but he cannot say a word. He feels a warm liquid soup being slowly and gently poured into his mouth as he’s trying to swallow. It’s not working very well, and the soup is trickling down his throat into his stomach. He knows this is needed for strength in healing but he really doesn’t want it. No touch is felt and sleep is wanted; to run away from the pain all over. He hears the medicine man chanting and a rattle shaking. Smelling the sweet grass and sage burning, he wonders if he’s still dreaming or is this real. He’s drifting in and out of consciousness, until finally he’s back to the deep peace of a dream state. This is a good place for him to be right now as there is no pain. 

White Wolf is with the pack. They are laying around and relaxing in the sun as they rub against each other rolling over, pawing and light biting; all playful expressions of  the deep, loving feeling they have as if all members of the pack are one like minded and physical entity flowing together in movement. This is a special privileged moment for it comes not from memory; there is none, as no time in shifting has there been one second during sunlight. He’s wondering if this is a sign of what it would be like for him if he lets go of his grasp on this thing that has brought so much anguish and pain to live life as a human being. He’s now drifting in dark space and time, floating through bright red and gold canyons with steep walls parting and glowing in sun light with parts dark in shadow. He is drifting on the notes of flute music, floating him slowly within the canyon walls, feeling protected and receiving healing powers. As he flows through the sun he feels the strength and love, then continues to move into the dark, feeling the cold and unknown. This is much like human life, wherein there are equal moments of good things with happiness, joy and love, as well as moments when the dark, unknown things bring unsure disturbed feelings with fear overtaking hope.

White Wolf drifts, deeply floating, as a vision is changing form right before his eyes. He’s in the valley with his family making Tutanka soup and fry bread. It’s been raining hard for so many days. The people do this, make comfort food at times like this. He hears a faint distant sound like a deep bass pounding. It pauses and then sounds again, yet different. His senses are up and danger is in the air. He moves away from the people to out in the open, turning up all his senses. Again he hears the deep changing noise and in the pauses he now hears a rushing sound, like big waters. He turns and runs to the people yelling for everyone to run for the top of the surrounding mountains, ‘get up as high and as fast as you can.’ The people drop everything and start running to the mountain closest to them.  White Wolf looks back at the small river where it enters the valley meadow. To his amazement he sees a wave the size of the mountain top crashing into the valley. He turns to the mountain and to the people who are all running, he makes loud voice to ‘hurry faster there is not much time.’ The people have seen what’s coming and are scrambling over the rocks at the mountain base, clawing their way up the mountain. But it’s strange, seems like everything is happening in slow motion and even he can’t hear his own voice. White Wolf has grabbed his kids and pulls his wife faster than ever, slipping a few times but the rate of speed is increasing. White Wolf calls back to the people, “Follow me.” He’s running up a valley between two mountains, with many people following. The grade is less steep and they can run faster but they must run farther. The sound is getting louder and it’s crashing and thundering in their ears. They hear the Tutanka running and calling out death screams. They are lifted in spirit by the brighter sky at the top of the mountain through this valley. It’s colorful with bright silver and yellow showing at the top of the path. White Wolf knows the Creator’s ways so he calls out, “Run as fast as you can to the bright light.” They are all set to the task yet some are slow and father back down the valley, when it comes crashing around the corner of the hill on the side of the valley they run in. The water is filled with mud and sand, big pieces of trees, even small rocks rolling across the land like it is alive and reaching out to grab the people and pull them into the dark depths of no life. Screams are heard and everybody is running away from them, wondering ‘Is this right or should I give my life to show an impossible attempt to save another life?’ Surely, it would be but the blink of an eye and 2 lives would be gone.  White Wolf yells out, “Save our people! Get to the top of the mountain.”

They were swept over by the wave, and it seems to have floated them right up to the top of the mountain and rolled back into the valley. They are all coughing and gasping for air. White Wolf sits up with his family all around him, breathing and alive. He looks to the rest of the people here in this place that it would seem Creator has sent them. There are but 29 men and women accompanied by only 9 children. None of the Elders can be seen. They all stand and look down into the valley. A great loss is felt. The people’s hearts are on the ground with sorrow. Some go to their knees weeping, others with raised hands screaming out to the sky. White Wolf and his family with 2 brothers and 2 sisters standing close just stare at the valley. They see the big old tall trees floating with so much brush and debris all around in the water. There are Tutanka bodies floating and parts of the village, hides, Teepees, and lodge poles. It is a sad sight but they know, all that they see is returning to Creator. They turn to look at each other and move slowly together in a group hug, his family, brothers and sisters. While they are standing there in silence, it became quiet all around and then the rest of the people moved to join the group hug. They all came together and were hugging tightly, fully against each other as if they were one. The truth of it was, they are one as in, the only ones now.

White Wolf is back to his vision’s beginning, continuing to drift on the flute music of his vision. He feels a split in the path ahead in the direction he floats. He sees the trail fork in his mind. On one side is bright light, a love; the other direction is shadow, but he sees some light up ahead through the dark. This must be the path of human life. He hears the chanting of the medicine man and in his own language he’s repeating; “Come be with us, you have much to do.” Over and over again, he hears the same chant.

He hears his children singing sweet, soft, humming all around him. Little hands are touching his arms. This all brings the will to be in the human world strong and powerful, pulling him up to the prayers, blessings, and ceremonies going on all around him. He’s feeling like he’s being forced to sit up and pay attention to life. Suddenly his eyes slowly open and his wife is holding him up in sitting position with a spoon full of soup close to his mouth.  He opens his mouth to drink the warm fluid and glances up with his eyes.  His children are all around him touching his arms and humming with big smiles. His eyes join with the medicine man’s who says: “Ho, Lili Wast’ey, Aho” (Hey, Very Good, amen.)

Several weeks later White Wolf sits under a tree carving a new flute that will sound like the one he heard in his vision. He is close to being fully healed. The people are saying things are different with the Thunder-beings since the winter has passed. White Wolf is feeling strange that he can’t remember the entire winter season. The spring moon will be full this night. It’s been 4 moons since his last shift and he can’t help but wonder if those times are over. He stands up and walks to the river in the middle of the meadow with trees sprouting new green leaves. He peers through the trees at the Thunder Beings in the other half of the meadow. He hears a deep voice in his mind. “It is good you still walk this same level with us brother.” Turning his head there stands Hard Head. ‘Good to see you my brother, how is the heard?’

‘The heard is healthy but there is something in the air. I feel a need to leave this valley very soon.’

White wolf asks Hard Head to hang around for a while so they can talk and know more of each other’s lives. ‘I’ve missed so much.’

‘This is true,’ says Hard Head. ‘Yet it will not be long, something big, and not so good, is going to happen. Pay close attention my brother and feel the shift in energy.’ Hard Head walks away.

White Wolf is thinking of his last vision but can’t remember all of it; it seems a little mixed and indefinable right now.  He knows of the animal’s wisdom on things that are changing or different as that is a big part of his life. He will follow the words of Hard Head and pay close attention to life for he also feels an energy shift is coming.

It’s been raining all day and the water is making big puddles and small ponds on the ground. He walks up a close hill and stands on a tall rock to look out and down on the valley.  He sees a large bolt of lightning across the valley reach down and split a big tree. There is fire, flying sparks and splintering ripping wood sounds in the background of the Thunder that is low and rumbling as if it was a voice. He hears the words: “LAKE RAINS MANY DAYS.”  Vibrating to his very soul he feels a shiver all over his body and drops to his knees, with his head down and eyes closed. The rain shows no sign of slowing down as it beats like a fast drum on his back. He hears voices and fast movement in the village. Listening closely he understands they are preparing to make soup and fry bread on the next day. Slowly he lifts his head and open his eyes, confused by all the things going on and being said all around. He looks at the valley and it’s filled with water, dark and muddy with big trees and village parts floating all together with several floating bodies of the Tutanka and even his own people. Rubbing his eyes in disbelief he opens them again to see all things are normal, it’s just raining really hard.

His vision comes back to him, all of it, from the time he was between two worlds. He runs back to the village to spread the word of what will be coming. He goes to his lodge and coming in quickly all wet to see, several sisters sitting around gathering things and getting ready for tomorrow’s big feast. They are talking, laughing, and joking around to lighten the storm’s stress. The children are singing the rain away song. White Wolf kneels and they all stop to look at him. He tries to talk but no words came out. No sound from his voice. Then he remembers this too was part of his vision. The women say he’ll be OK; it’s the left over fever finally coming out, he can talk later, it’s OK we kind of like you without voice. Laughing and making light of the situation to create peaceful understanding and humorous compassion.

White Wolf went out and made visit on 4 more lodges with close to the same results. He now knows and everything fits. He must get the people with all the village makings to high ground and move the Thunder Beings out of this valley, and there isn’t much time.

Remembering it might be days before his voice returns, he smiles and swells with pride when it is remembered this night is full moon.  Deep clouds, rain, wind, whatever… the full moon will still be there. A big flash followed with deep rumbling ground vibrating full body sensations. This overwhelms him to his knees and he hears words in the Thunder, “WITH THE PACK.” Directions from Creator could not be more clear. He opens his eyes with a new sparkly in the corners, pushing out his chest as the rain beats down on his bone breast plate, running down his arms and bouncing off in sparkling splashes, with a smile getting bigger by the second. It’s getting darker as the sun moves behind the clouds, and goes below the Big Pine Mountain Ridgeline. This will be a night filled with memories, stories, and perhaps even some legend.

White Wolf