THE WOLF SOCIETY

WOLF SOCIETY.

   Thunder Cloud, the old holy man, had made ready the sweat lodge for the arrival of the seven naked young warriors who were being initiated into the Wolf Society. Included in this number were Standing Bear, Grey Wolf and White Feather. As they filed past him to enter the darkened lodge the old man offered up a prayer to the Great Spirit and then brushed each of the young warrior’s upper body with sage. After the last one had passed through the entrance and had settled himself upon the ground the old man pulled a buffalo robe down across the opening throwing the interior into total blackness.
   The seven warriors sat crossed legged and in silence upon the earth floor of the lodge. They could not see a thing in the blackness that had so suddenly descended upon them. The only sound to be heard was the breathing of the two people sitting on either side. The seven were seated in a circle around a small mound of earth positioned in the center of the lodge. Upon this mound would be placed the heated stones upon which cold water would be poured thus producing the steam that was needed to purify their bodies.
   The first of the heated stones were already prepared to take into the lodge. Thunder Cloud moved quickly and his helper, Hawk, a young holy man learning the skills of his elder, held open the buffalo robe so that the old man could carry them inside. Once they had been placed upon the mound Thunder Cloud scooped up a bowl of cold water and poured it slowly upon the stones, this he did several times, before placing the bowl down upon the ground. A loud hissing sound filled the small-enclosed space and a hot cloud of stream rose and spread out engulfing the seven. Just as quickly as he had entered Thunder Cloud made his exit and again the seven were cast into total darkness
   Outside, and to the south of the sweat lodge, sat Yellow Hand and his brother Red Hand two young male wolves that Grey Wolf had rescued as cubs. They sat watching as the old holy man began the process of preparing more heated stones. He moved across to the smoldering fire and with hands that seemed to defy the heat placed several large, well-rounded, stones down upon the red glowing embers. Next he place more wood atop the stones and waited for the fire to do its work.

   The ceremony of the sweat lodge lasted four days and nights. During which time the seven young warriors fasted throughout. They were also deprived of all sleep and rest for the initiation into the Wolf Society demanded that they chant prayers throughout their time in the lodge. Throughout the duration of the days and nights Thunder Cloud made regular visits inside their darkened world to either carry out old stones or place upon the mound freshly heated ones over which he poured cold water to produce more steam and heat. Sometimes, if he thought they needed it, he would start them on a new prayer as he washed their sweating bodies with cold water and sage. This was all done in the total blackness that had become their world. Throughout it all the two young male wolves did not leave the entrance of the lodge unattended. If one needed to answer the call of nature then the other remained.
   After the prescribed number of days, four being deemed a sacred number within their religion, the warriors slowly crawled their way out into the world of light and sound once more. The powerful light from their brother the Sun blinded their eyes and they had to be led to the creek so that they could bathe and prepare themselves for the last final act that would see them as full members of the Wolf Society.
   After they had bathed and before they dressed in their finery to parade before the entire village each warrior now decorated himself in the manner of which their society would be recognized. Across the upper portion of their faces they painted a black band to represent the darkness of the night. Then a large red band was painted across the lower portion to represent blood. Other markings were then painted upon their arms, legs and chest. Then each slipped away to a spot where their clothing had been brought so that they could then dress and, as a band, enter the village once more. When they entered the village they came in single file and the women and children greeted them in song and playful banter. The most impressive sight came at the rear of the column and brought all commotion inside the village to a sudden halt.
Alongside Grey Wolf were his two four footed brothers strolling impressively with their long pointed snouts raised to the sky as they cried out the age old song of the wolf pack. It was a truly wonderful sight to behold. Grey Wolf allowed himself to enjoy the attention from the village.

   The three Shoshone warriors sat huddled around the last embers of the fire that they had built to keep themselves warm throughout the darkness of the long cold night. Now, as a new day began to dawn they were conscious of the fact that any smoke seen hanging in the still morning air would surely be seen by their enemies. This, they knew, would be enough to warrant sending out a party to investigate the cause of the smoke. Reluctantly one of the Shoshone threw earth upon the glowing embers. The fire was immediately extinguished. Only a thin grey wisp of smoke escaped into the grey dawn.
   Next they began to clear the area that they had used. This was to prevent anyone who might pass the area, in which they had camped over night, from discovering their presence upon the lands of their hated enemy, the Lakota. For these three young Shoshone warriors were in fact a raiding party on the lookout for ponies and counting coup upon any Lakota they might happen find. They had passed from their own lands but two suns ago and as yet had been disappointed not to have encountered any of the Lakota warriors whom they, the Shoshone, considered to be women.
   When they were satisfied that they had hidden all traces of their short stay they mounted their ponies which where tethered close by. In close single file they moved away from the thick brush that had concealed them and headed out across the flat lands of the plains that stretched far ahead.
   As the sun rose ever higher into the sky, and the heat of the day began to sap at the strength of the ponies, the three Shoshone continued onwards without pause. They did not speak. Their eyes were alert to any movement on the distant horizon. Once or twice the one at the rear would pause and look behind him checking that they had not allowed an enemy to circle them and attack them from behind.
   When the sun was at its highest and brightest they dismount from their ponies and walked bare footed across the short yellowing grassland in order to allow their ponies some respite. It was only as they walked did they exchange a word or two amongst themselves.

   The deer moved carefully from out of the cover of the thick foliage of the forest. Each step forward was accomplished with both stealth and deliberation. As the animal moved further and further away from the edge of the forest, and hence its safe harbour and security, its eyes moved rapidly across the ground before it as the large brown ears on either side of its head moved back and forth continuously searching for any sudden movement or slight sound that might alert it to a hidden predator hiding nearby.
   The day was hot and the need to drink drove the deer ever nearer to the edge of the creek. A sudden gush of wind caressed a nearby bush and the sound carried to the deer and prompted it to stand perfectly still until satisfied about the source of the noise. Every muscle was primed to thrust the deer back towards the sanctuary of the woods in an instant if the need arose.
   Now standing at the waters edge the deer had one last glance around before it allowed itself the pleasure of lowering its head and then splashing its tongue into the cool refreshing waters. As the deer quenched its thirst it did not see the sudden movement of the tall grass to the left of where it stood drinking. When the deer did raise its head again to look around the movement was over and all seemed as it was before. The deer grew bolder and allowed itself the luxury to drink long and deeply from the creek. This careless indulgence would now cost the deer its life.
   When the deer next raised its head and looked about it was shocked to see three figures standing a short distance to its rear. Three pair of eyes were now watching intensely every move that the deer made. The deer had been oblivious to this danger, for it had not detected their approach. Neither had it detected their scent upon the breeze. Suddenly an overwhelming feeling of utter fear swept into the heart of the deer as the three figures moved slowly towards where it now stood frozen in terror. The fear was such that it was unable to make even a token movement to save itself. Even if the deer had tried to bolt in an attempt to out run them to the woods the three predators had made good their ambush and there was in fact nowhere for the deer to escape.
   They closed in and the deer now knew that its fate had been sealed. The last thought that the deer had before one of the wolves pounced and its steel jaws closed around its throat was... ‘Why is a two footer leading the hunt of two fully grown male wolves?’

   Yellow Hand had made the first move towards the throat of the deer and as his teeth sank deep into the tender skin, sending hot blood gushing into his mouth, his brother, Red Hand, attacked the exposed under belly. The deer managed a stifled cry before death overcame him. When the body lay still upon the ground, the pool of red blood being washed away by the lapping waters of the creek, the two wolves moved away from the body and watched as Grey Wolf moved across and knelt down beside the deer. They waited while their two-footed brother chanted and prayed for the spirit of the dead deer. When he had finished, marking this by bending down and tasting the fresh blood that was still spilling from the torn throat, he then cut the hide from the deer before moving away from the carcass so that his two brothers could then move in and consume their kill.
   Grey Wolf sat down a short distance from them. He watched as they began to tear the body apart as they ate hungrily of the still warm body. He was proud of the fact that they had become such accomplished hunters.
   After they had eaten their fill, and only the blood stained bones remained, the two wolves next drank from the creek before moving across to where Grey Wolf now lay dozing beneath the shade of a large bush. It was the perfect place to hide away from the heat of the powerful midday sun. Red Hand sat to the right of Grey Wolf while his brother sat on the left. As it became apparent to them that they were not about to continue with their journey straight away they lowered themselves down onto their now full bellies. It would be good to sleep awhile. Slowly they rested their long pointed, and still heavily blood stained, snouts down upon their large front paws and closed their eyes.
    The large yellow disc of the sun now hung directly overhead. The expanse of sky above them was both clear and blue. Nothing seemed to move across the hard baked earth. The only sound to be heard was that of the deep rhythmic breathing of the three bodies now asleep beneath the bush.

   The three Shoshone braves had remounted their ponies and were once again, again in single file, moving across the flat open land that stretched out before them. Their eyes constantly alert for any movement upon the horizon. Although they could see far ahead in the direction they were traveling, which meant that it would be almost impossible for their enemies to ambush them, they knew that if they could see their foe long before an attack could be launched against them then it also meant that their enemies could also spot them easily as they moved across the lands of the Lakota.
   Once the sun dipped below the horizon and the land was shrouded in darkness the Shoshone once again dismounted their ponies and made their camp for the night. As one took charge of the ponies another went in search of fuel for the fire that they would build to keep them warm against the cold night air. The third began the preparation of food for their hungry bellies.
   It took a long time in the darkness to find anything with which to build a fire. But the persistent searching brought results and soon the flames of a fire were finally licking their way up into the night sky as the three Shoshone huddled on their haunches around the glowing flames. They knew that the light of the fire would be almost impossible to see from a great distance, and as no one had come into sight before the onset of night, they could rest assured that they were indeed alone. This security allowed them to let the fire have the freedom to burn throughout the night. Once they had warmed themselves they then settled down to eat their evening meal.
   On such a raid as this they had brought little food with them. They had hoped to hunt and kill fresh meat along the way. However because of the flat open land that they had so far encountered the opportunity to hunt had not presented itself. So they had had to rely upon the prepared meats and uncooked vegetables that they had brought along with them.
   It was not long before their food was eaten and their buffalo robes were being spread out upon the ground ready for them to wrap themselves in them for the night. As they settled themselves around the fire upon the cold ground flashing high above them the light of a shooting star shot across the blackness of the sky above them.
   “Look my brothers.” One of them said as he pointed out the spectacle being displayed above them. “I think the Great Spirit is giving us a sign.”
   “It is a good sign.” One of the others murmured as he lay down and closed his eyes.
   The other two braves lay awake for a long time looking up into the great expanse of twinkling sky above them. But only one shooting star was seen that night and each of them wondered if that was a sign in itself? In the middle of the night a sound reached them that was as old as time itself. It was the cry of the grey wolf. The sound seemed a long way off and as the two remaining braves slipped into sleep the one voice crying out in the night was joined by another and then finally a third.

   When he awoke Grey Wolf smiled as he felt the warm furry bodies of both Yellow Hand and Red Hand pressed tightly against his own. This was how the pack would sleep when they were in the wild and it pleased the Lakota warrior that his two brothers had accepted him as part of their pack. His two brothers still slept soundly beside him. Carefully he managed to extricate himself from the huddle and so begin the journey to the creek. He had only taken but a few steps when he halted. Slowly he turned his head back to the spot where he had laid throughout the night. He was not surprised to see the two male wolves now sitting up watching his every move.
   Turning his face away from the two pairs of grey eyes Grey Wolf again smiled and then prepared himself for what was about to come. He knew that the second he began the race both of his brothers would be hot on his heels to beat him to the edge of the creek. In one swift movement he was sprinting towards the water. Just when he thought he would win the race two speeding bodies swept passed him.
   By the time he reached the creek they were already there. Grey Wolf threw down his loincloth and, now that he was naked, continued onward until he was waist deep in the cooling waters. As he washed his upper torso he spied both wolves now drinking at the waters edge. With one swift movement of his hand he splashed a spray of water across at Yellow Hand, the nearest one to him, and laughed when the wolf tucked its tail between its hind legs and sulked away. The young Lakota could see the disapproval for his actions upon his brother’s face. This brought even more laughter.

   Red Hand had watched them both. He watched as Yellow Hand went back to the bush and once again laid down licking his huge front paws. Before he continued drinking Red Hand looked across at Grey Wolf and was happy to see him bathing once more. Satisfied the wolf then bent his neck down and began to drink once more. A spray of water suddenly rained down upon his head sending him scurrying away. Once more the air was filled with the sound of laughter from Grey Wolf.
   After he had finished washing Grey Wolf walked back towards the bank. He had not noticed the return of his two brothers. To his surprise he found them both sitting by his loincloth watching him intensely. He thought he could see a smile playing on their long thin black lips. Trying hard not to show the rising impulse to rush across and snatch up his loincloth Grey Wolf pretended to pause and stretch. He tried hard not to make it obvious that he was weighing up his chances of rushing across and snatching up his loincloth before they made off with it.
   Yellow Hand and Red Hand watched every move the young Lakota made. They saw the faint to the left and the pretense of stretching. They remained fully alert to all the little tactics that their brother was attempting to make in order to throw them off the scent of when he would actually make his move against them. When it eventually came they were ready for him. Red Hand instantly moved towards Grey Wolf momentarily throwing him off his stride, which was precisely what was intended by the move, giving Yellow Hand time to snatch up the cloth between his long white teeth and sprint off with it dangling from his jaws. Once again the air was filled with the laughter as Grey Wolf gave chase.

   Once again one of the Shoshone was awake to put out the fire before the light from the rising sun allowed the smoke to be seen. When they had finished the ritual of clearing away the site of all traces of their presence they mounted their ponies and started on their way. From now on they knew that their movements and presence upon the land of the Lakota’s were sure to come to someone’s attention. Their luck of remaining undetected on open flat ground such as this could not last for much longer.
   They traveled in silence each occupied by the thoughts of the coups and the rewards that their raiding would bring them. The Lakota were woman and it would be good to take their scalps and bring them back to their village to show their own people what women the Lakota were.
   As the sun climbed in the sky they watched knowing that soon they would have to dismount to save their ponies from becoming tired. This was also an aid in helping them keep their ponies fresh in case they either needed to launch an attack against their enemy, or if the case warranted it, the means to escape a large band attacking them.
   The once flat horizon soon became broken as the land before them became pitted and rutted with dips and peaks as the landscape changed. They spotted a large forest way off to the North of their position. One of the ponies made a deep snorting sound in its throat. It could mean only one of two things. It had either detected the scent of water on the cool breeze that was blowing towards them, or the scent of their enemies. The small party stop and each surveyed the land before them. They were ready for whatever it was that the animal had detected.
   “I think that there is water ahead my brothers.” One of the Shoshone said after a while without noticing any movement before them. If the animal had detected the scent of their enemy then surely they would have come out to fight them. As this had not happened they relaxed once more and continued onwards.
   As they were now running low of water this opportunity to fill their buffalo bladders could not have come at a better time. The sight of the forest also offered the opportunity of hunting for fresh meat. But they were also aware that if all this offered them the opportunities to do these things then surely the occupants of the lands would also know about them. The chance of an encounter had risen dramatically.

   Grey Wolf was walking by the side of his pony when suddenly Yellow Hand stopped and sniffed the air. Then the long thin ears on either side of his head suddenly pointed straight up into the air. Red Hand moved to his brother’s side and the two wolves stared with intense concentration at the distant horizon. The young Lakota warrior stopped and looked back at them. He had been puzzled as to why they had had stopped. He then moved across to the two wolves. Kneeling down beside them he tried to see what it was they were looking at.
   “What is it my brothers?” He asked them as he failed to spot anything.
   A deep growling sound worked its way up and out of the throat of Yellow Hand followed closely by the same noise from Red Hand. This was different from the actions they would take if they had detected the scent of an animal. Grey Wolf trusted in the actions of his two brothers and now knew that they had detected an enemy upon his lands.
   He walked back to his pony and reached inside his parflache and took out a bundle containing his paints. Next he sat down upon the ground and opened the hide bag. As he took each paint out he offered it to the sky so that the Great Spirit could see the colour. This was done so that the Great Spirit would recognise him once he had painted himself for war. Both Yellow Hand and Red Hand sat and watched him as he applied the paint carefully to his face. Both started to growl softly when they saw the broad black and red bands appear across the face of their Lakota brother.

When Grey Wolf had finished painting his own body he then painted a yellow hand and red hand on the flanks of each of his four footed brothers. Finally he painted his pony in the lightening stripes of yellow and red. Throughout it all he chanted a prayer softly under his breath then he stood and held his arms out wide and looking up at the bright sun above he sung his death song.

Take me oh Great Spirit
For I am ready for my death,
Place me back inside my mother’s womb,
Allow my death to be
The beginning of yet another journey
For that is the circle of life,
And then bless me again,
With your gift of life.

With the rituals over Grey Wolf mounted his pony and rode out in pursuit of the unsighted enemy. The two wolves followed hot on the heels of his pony. After they had gone a short distance one broke to the left and the other to the right. The instincts of the hunt had already taken over. They were now sweeping in a large arc in order to circle whatever was ahead. Grey Wolf noticed their departure and continued onwards for he knew the tactics they were deploying.

The three Shoshone braves had stopped in order to shade themselves from the midday heat. They sat beneath their own ponies whose large rounded bodies acted as a shelter for them. As they sat down upon the ground drinking the last of their water one of their ponies suddenly backed away from where it had been standing and started to pound the ground with its hoof. This action unsettled the other two who also started to move around making the three Shoshone jump to their feet to settle them.
The Shoshones looked around them and then saw the image that had spooked their ponies. Coming towards them was a lone rider. It was hard to make out to which tribe he belonged but the three Shoshone knew that he would not be coming in peace. Quickly they mounted their ponies and readied themselves for the coming fight. They were so confident of the outcome that they did not bother to sing their own death songs.

   He saw the ponies and then the three Shoshone men as they jumped up on the back of their mounts. Grey Wolf watched as they moved out to meet him. When they halted their mounts Grey Wolf did likewise. He then saw one of the Shoshone dismount and walk a few paces towards him. The brave then threw his loincloth to the side and began shaking his penis at Grey Wolf who accepted the insult with a wry smile. Then a second Shoshone jumped down and rushed forward to expose his rear at him.
   As they continued hurling insults both in words and in action the young Lakota saw something the three Shoshone had failed to see. This was the arrival of his two brothers. The trap had been set and now all that was needed was for Grey Wolf to spring it.
   Now the two on foot were laughing and taunting the lone Lakota. He seemed unaffected by their actions and this angered them even more. It was then that one of them made the fatal error of charging on foot towards where Grey Wolf calmly sat watching them. He had covered half the distance when a cry from behind gave warning that something was wrong. He half turned to see two grey masses closing in on him. He gave out a cry as one of the grey bodies rose up and with wide-open jaws caught him around the throat. The weight of the animal knocked him sideways and he fell to the ground and was immediately attacked by the second wolf. The air became rent with his screams as the two sets of long pointed teeth went to work on his unprotected body. He managed to rise to his feet once more, his body bloody and torn, to make three stumbled steps towards his two companions, who were watching the attack by the wolves with a mixture of both horror and dread, before they brought him down for the final time.
   The two remaining Shoshone watched in fascination as the two blood stained animals then moved away from their kill, their sky blue eyes fixed firmly upon them. They went and stood either side of the Lakota warrior. Their blood ran cold as they realised the powerful medicine of their opponent.
   The Shoshone on foot quickly realised how vulnerable he was and immediately ran back to his pony and mounted it in one swift movement. Then, as one voice, both cried out their war cry and charged across at the waiting Grey Wolf.

   He was ready for them. Taking his tomahawk in his right hand and his shortened lance in his left he kicked his pony hard in the side and was soon speeding across the flat open ground to meet them head on. Hot on his heels came Yellow Hand and his brother Red Hand. The sight of the two charging wolves made the ponies of the Shoshone veer to the left and right as they came within striking distance. This allowed Grey Wolf to swing his tomahawk and thrust his lance at the same time at the head and body of his opponents. The blade of his lance found the rib cage of the Shoshone on his left. The speed of the charge and the sudden jerking to the left snapped the end of the lance embedding the metal tip deep within the chest of the Shoshone. The pony carried the mortally wounded brave away a short distance before it came to a standstill leaving the brave bent forward as blood oozed down his side and leg. Realising that he was done for he began to sing his death song as the remaining Shoshone made the turn for another attack.
   Both combatants now viewed the other as their ponies breathed heavily from the efforts of the first charge. The Shoshone knew that the time had come to prepare himself for death and so began to chant a death song. The words were carried across to Grey Wolf. Alert and ready for any sudden move by this enemy the young Lakota waited for the song to finish for it would not do to see a man die before he had made his final song to the Great Spirit. In gratitude for this show of humanity the Shoshone raised up a hand and called across to the Lakota.
   “Even though you are a Lakota I thank you for this battle, you have fought well, now let us finish what we have started.”
    Although he did not understand the strange tongue Grey Wolf realised what was being implied and acknowledged these words with a nod of his head. He then motioned with his hands to both Yellow and Red Hand, who in turn sensing that he did not need them, quickly moved across to the stricken Shoshone who was slowly bleeding to death. A large pool of blood was now soaking into the ground between the pony’s feet. Then with a final battle cry the two warriors charged towards each other in their final charge that for one would mean life, and for the other death. As the ground thundered with the pounding hoofs of the two galloping ponies the mortally wounded Shoshone warrior managed to slowly raise his head and when he did a terrifying sight met his dying eyes. Circling slowly around his nervous pony were the two grey beasts that had already killed one of his party.
   Grey Wolf swung his tomahawk narrowly missing the head of his opponent. As they passed he then felt a blow across his left shoulder as the Shoshone managed to get a hit with his own. Trying to ignore the pain he swung his pony around and was charging at full flight before the Shoshone brave had half turned to meet him. Leaping high from the back of his mount Grey Wolf sailed through the air and crashed into the body of the brave sending him backwards and both crashing to the ground.
   Spinning and leaping to his feet in a cloud of dust Grey Wolf already had his knife firmly in his hand and was advancing on his enemy. Somewhat dazed the Shoshone rose unsteadily to his feet shaking his head to clear it. Then he saw Grey Wolf and his hand shot to his leather belt and the knife that hung there. The two warriors circled each other as they looked for an opening in which to strike.
   Once again they charged each other and there was a clash of blades as they parried and struck out at each other. In the sunlight the blades flashed out rays of light as the sunlight caught the silver of the metal. They fought without inflicting injury for several minutes. They circled and then circled again. Suddenly the Shoshone launched a bitter attack with both hands swinging in a circular motion.

Grey Wolf met the attack with several quick backward steps, which brought his opponent on. As the arms moved out to the side he thrust his knife into the middle of the circle. The blade found its mark and the knife plunged deep into the chest of his opponent. With eyes that were wide in disbelief the warrior stepped back and looked down at the hilt of the knife poking out of his chest. Then he dropped his own weapon at his feet. His hands came up as if to pluck the knife out but death had already overtaken him. He crumpled at the feet of the Lakota warrior.
The last surviving member of the raiding party breathed his last and fell from the back of his pony to be pounced upon by the waiting wolves. As Grey Wolf kicked the body over and bent to retrieve his knife the air became filled with the howling of his two brothers. Snatching up his knife he looked to the skies and joined in the happy chorus of the successful pack.

   A short distance from the village several riders came out to meet him. Grey Wolf was glad to see his two friends Standing Bear and Whirlwind Dog amongst them. Because of the three new ponies bringing up the rear they knew that at sometime their friend must have encountered a party of their enemies. When they drew alongside him they then noticed the three fresh scalps hanging from his belt.
   “It seems you have encounter more than our four legged brothers on your hunt.” Standing Bear laughed.
“Three Shoshone were making a path across our lands.” Grey Wolf explained, “My two brothers took care of one and I the other two. They are dead and I have their scalps.”
   The group from the village looked down at the two grey wolves that were running alongside Grey Wolf and most noticed the blood still congealed around their long snouts. As he looked at his friend Standing Bear noticed that Grey Wolf had sustained an injury himself. Across his left shoulder the skin was a deep blue revealing that he had received a blow of some kind.
   “And the deer?” Asked White Feather nodding his head at the hide that covered the rump of his friend’s pony.
   “We hunted the deer together and trapped it. My brothers allowed me the pleasure of feeding from the kill.” Smiled Grey Wolf.
   “It seems they have accepted you as one of their own my brother.” Standing Bear said with great pride.
   “If they have,” accepted Grey Wolf, “then I have been truly blessed by the Great Spirit. Come let us ride to the village and then I will tell you all about this great adventure as we sit around a fire and smoke the pipe.”
   With much yelling and laughing they galloped into the village. Men and woman came out of their tipis and watched as Grey Wolf paraded himself and the ponies of the dead Shoshone before them. Yellow Hand and Red Hand moved across to the tipi of their two-footed brother and laid themselves down outside the entrance and waited for him to return to them once more.

THE END