I have great love for you, If you leave me, my heart will be laid upon the ground. But it is time that you fulfill the last part of the prophecy."
Hunter's mouth went dry. He fixed his attention on the stars. "Someone must preserve the ways of the People," Warrior rasped, "someone who will sing our songs and teach our ways. Unless you do that, all that we are will be lost. You must go get your woman and take her far away into the west lands where this war does not reach." Warrior's voice shook with emotion. "To a new place, Hunter. You know the words of the song." "Warrior, you make it sound so simple. You saw what happened near her home today. She will spit upon me when she sees me." Hunter angled an arm over his eyes. "I left her and rode into battle against her people. How many have we killed since the attack on our village?"
"She won't turn from you."
"How can you know? You say I should fulfill the last part of the song? How? Where is the high place the Great Ones spoke of? Where is the canyon filled with blood? And how will I ever reach across so great a distance to take Loh-rhett-ah's hand?"
"You must have faith. The high place will be there, as will the great canyon." Leaning forward, Warrior clasped his brother's shoulder. "Courage, Have courage."
Hunter clenched his teeth. "I feel so alone. I can't see into myself and find my face, Warrior. I lifted my ax to kill that man today, and I couldn't do it. Our father lies dead. Your woman lies dead. Where is my hatred? When I search for it, it isn't there. Just emptiness and sorrow that runs so deep it aches in my bones."
Warrior's grip on Hunter's shoulder tightened until the bite of his fingers was almost painful. "The hate has gone from you to a faraway place you cannot find, as it was spoken in the prophecy. That's why it is time for you to walk your own way. You must fight the last great fight for the People, yes? And you must fight it alone. I have to stay here. For our mother, my children. You're our hope, our only hope.
Hunter's mouth went dry. He fixed his attention on the stars. "Someone must preserve the ways of the People," Warrior rasped, "someone who will sing our songs and teach our ways. Unless you do that, all that we are will be lost. You must go get your woman and take her far away into the west lands where this war does not reach." Warrior's voice shook with emotion. "To a new place, Hunter. You know the words of the song." "Warrior, you make it sound so simple. You saw what happened near her home today. She will spit upon me when she sees me." Hunter angled an arm over his eyes. "I left her and rode into battle against her people. How many have we killed since the attack on our village?"
"She won't turn from you."
"How can you know? You say I should fulfill the last part of the song? How? Where is the high place the Great Ones spoke of? Where is the canyon filled with blood? And how will I ever reach across so great a distance to take Loh-rhett-ah's hand?"
"You must have faith. The high place will be there, as will the great canyon." Leaning forward, Warrior clasped his brother's shoulder. "Courage, Have courage."
Hunter clenched his teeth. "I feel so alone. I can't see into myself and find my face, Warrior. I lifted my ax to kill that man today, and I couldn't do it. Our father lies dead. Your woman lies dead. Where is my hatred? When I search for it, it isn't there. Just emptiness and sorrow that runs so deep it aches in my bones."
Warrior's grip on Hunter's shoulder tightened until the bite of his fingers was almost painful. "The hate has gone from you to a faraway place you cannot find, as it was spoken in the prophecy. That's why it is time for you to walk your own way. You must fight the last great fight for the People, yes? And you must fight it alone. I have to stay here. For our mother, my children. You're our hope, our only hope.
( Catherine Anderson )
[ Comanche Moon ]
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