Tiopa Ki Lakota (24 page)

to help with dinner.

Kathleen stood with her hands on her hips, inhaling deeply of the aroma from the food. “Well, lass, time ta get some projects done. That basket isn’t goin’ ta wait forever.” She settled down in her place by the fire, close enough to stir the clay pot to keep the stew from sticking, and scooped up the mess of reeds.

As she worked, she hummed a tune that her grandmother had taught her on the tin whistle. Nearby could be heard some drums and rattles as some shaman or other worked his magic. The children of her camp raced by, hollering as they eluded capture from another band’s
hoksila
. Strangers wandered nearby, most intent on seeing old friends for the first time in a winter, but some to catch a glimpse of the rumored white woman.

Anpo, who had disappeared with the other
koskalaka
and
wicasa

as soon as she knew that her woman would be safe, returned. She stopped to study Kathleen, a loving look in her dark eyes.

The sun had lowered in the sky and it’s reddish rays glanced across the small clearing in front of the pale woman’s lodge. As Kathleen worked on her weaving, her yellow hair would get caught up in the light and flash brilliantly. Seeming to sense something, she stopped her work and looked about, her face aglow almost as brightly when she saw her warrior.

She is so wondrous.... She hurts my eyes with her beauty!
Smiling, Anpo approached the
ti ikceya
. “
Han
,
winuhca

.”

Kathleen and risen to her feet as her warrior approached. “
Han

,
winuhca
,” she repeated. “There is stew if you are hungry.”

Unable to help herself, Anpo refused to answer and closed the distance between them, pulling the blonde into an embrace. Her body ached with their closeness and a realization came to her.
I am hungry! My skin is hungry for her touch!

Pleasantly surprised with the hug, Kathleen relaxed into it, feeling strong arms squeeze her close.
I want ta do somethin’
, she mused, feeling a flutter in her heart,
but I don’t know what ‘tis.

They remained that way for some time. Others of their camp ignored them politely as they went about their own evening meals. The few strangers who gawked were badgered into going away and leaving the young couple alone.

Reluctantly, Anpo broke the hug, pulling away. She peered into the dark blue eyes, recognizing the softness she felt in her own heart. “You mean so much to me,
winuhca
.” A small, shy smile answered her and the warrior embraced her woman for a moment longer.

“Thank you, Anpo.” Kathleen felt a vague sense of loss when the dark woman pulled back to settle down in her place in front of the
ti

ikceya

. With a curl of her lips, she scooped some of the stew into a clay bowl and handed it to Anpo.

A comfortable silence enveloped the pair. The dark woman ate her meal while Kathleen returned to her weaving, only stopping to refill the bowl that was returned to her.

“You are not eating,
winuhca

?”

The blonde blushed a bit. “
Hiya
,
winuhca
. My stomach is hurting.”

Anpo set the bowl down in concern and leaned closer. “You must eat, Ketlin. You must keep up your strength for our child.”

“
Ohan
, Anpo. I know.” Kathleen dropped her gaze and shrugged a little.

“I will go to He and ask for something to settle your stomach,
winuhca
.”

As Anpo rose, setting her bowl to one side, the pale woman looked up in startlement. “But you have not finished eating!”

The dark woman grinned down at her, reaching out a hand to caress the smooth cheek. “I can
always
eat, Ketlin.”

Despite herself, the blonde chuckled. The amount of food her warrior took in was amazing at times.
Aye, lass! Even bratty Stewart couldn’t eat so much!

Happy to see the humor in the dark blue eyes, Anpo nodded. “I will return with the medicine man.” And then she trotted off with a purpose.

After much fussing from her warrior and a thorough quizzing by the elder, a small pouch of herbs was handed to Kathleen with instructions on how much to use in a tea. The medicine man refused to leave until his patient prepared the first bit and drank it down. He then accepted a bowl of stew with a smile.

“I have heard that you will be doing the Sun Dance, Anpo,” the man said, his voice raspy with age.

The warrior nodded, a pleased look on her face. “
Ohan

,
wicahcala

! I will dance this summer and show my gratitude to
wakan tanka
for all the honor shown me this season.” She scooped up her own bowl of stew and began to eat.

“It is a great honor for you,
wikoskalaka
. I am sure that the spirits will be proud.” Aged eyes looked to the blonde who had finally made an attempt at eating. “What will happen with your
winyan
while you are away?”

Kathleen’s ears perked up and her heart thumped.
Away? Anpo’s goin’ away!?
With an intense curiosity she followed the conversation. It took all her considerable will power to not interrupt them.

“I have asked Nupa to stay near and protect her for me.” A tender glance was sent her woman’s way, as if to reassure the suddenly fearful blonde. “He will take care of my
winuhca

until the ceremony is complete and I can return.”

The medicine man nodded, finishing his bowl of food. “It is good to have such friends,
wikoskalaka

. Nupa Olowan is a fine warrior and very honorable. He will keep your
winyan
safe.”

“
Ohan
,
wicahcala
, I have been very fortunate to have him.”

Seeing that the elder was finished, Kathleen moved around the fire and reached for the empty bowl. “Would you have more,
wicahcala

?

“
Hiya

,
wikoskalaka
,” He said, shaking his head. “I must return to my
cunksi’s
lodge, now.” As he struggled to his feet, he accepted the help of the blonde with a smile. “You drink that tea whenever you are ill,
wikoskalaka
,” he ordered, waving a finger at her.

Properly deferential, despite an impish grin playing at the corners of her mouth, Kathleen nodded. “
Ohan

,
wicahcala
. I will.”

And, with a curt nod, he shambled off.

The pale woman set aside the empty container for cleaning later on. Returning to her place, she reached for Anpo’s bowl and refilled it before handing it back. Unsure of what was and was not acceptable, she chewed her upper lip in thought for a moment.
Go on, Kath. Ye’ve never stopped questionin’ a thing before. Why stop now?

Anpo took the bowl and enjoyed her meal, happy that her woman had eaten some and now had the medicine needed to settle her stomach for future sickness.

“Where are you going,
winuhca
, that you need Nupa to stay with me?”

The warrior finished chewing her mouthful before speaking. “Not far,
winuhca

,” she said in an effort to ease the woman’s mind. “I will be required to stay in the large
ti ikceya
at the center of summer camp for a few days.”

“Because of the Sun Dance?”

“
Ohan
. I will stay in the lodge for four days after the ceremony begins.” She watched worried blue eyes flicker away from hers. Anpo set down her bowl and waved her woman nearer, pulling her closer in a gentle hug. “It will be all right,
mahasanni ki

. Nupa will protect you until I return.”

Mahasanni ki? What’s that?
Shaking off the thought, Kathleen nodded. “Will he sleep where you sleep then?” she asked in a low voice, fishing for any information on the cultural differences. It had not been lost on her that her warrior and Nupa seemed to share everything.
Does that mean their women, too?

“What?” Anpo sat back to peer down at the blonde in her arms.
She is worried that I will give her to Nupa!
“
Hiya
, Ketlin! It is
your ti ikceya
! He will sleep where you wish him to sleep!”

Dark blue eyes blinked as her fear eased. “If I wish him to sleep out here by the fire, he will?” she ventured, unsure of her status.

The warrior shrugged and nodded, though her face held slight disappointment. “
Ohan

,
winuhca
. Though I would like you to open your heart to my
tiblo
and let him sleep inside your lodge as a true friend.”

Seeing that Anpo wasn’t happy with her question, the pale woman rushed to comfort her feelings. “I will,
winuhca

! Nupa will sleep in my
ti

ikceya

until you return from the Sun Dance.”

The warrior bestowed a smile on her woman and held her close. “That is very good, Ketlin. Thank you for showing my
tiblo

honor.”

Her voice muffled against the yellow shirt, Kathleen responded, “And thank you for taking such good care of me,
winuhca
. I am very grateful.”

The following days were a bit of a blur to Kathleen. Once her warrior had disappeared into the sweat lodge with nearly a dozen others, she forced herself to remain busy to keep the fears at bay. The blonde spent quite a bit of time at her uncisi’s lodge, keeping Hca and Gi company. She tossed and turned her nights away, fighting off her nightmares in silent misery while Nupa slept a few feet away.

The ceremony for the Sun Dance was a welcome distraction, however, and the blonde found all the singing and dancing and other practices quite interesting. It took almost two full days of feasting, singing and ceremony before the center log needed for their dance was finally cut down and set up inside the large
ti ikceya
. Kathleen had seen Anpo upon occasion through all of it and, though they couldn’t speak to each other, her heart soared when the dark eyes found hers.

“
Hanka

!” Nupa exclaimed as he trotted towards her lodge. “Today is the day! Anpo will dance the Sun Dance and show her gratitude to the spirits!”

“Will she be able to come home today?” Kathleen asked, standing from her place by the fire.

“
Hau

, Ketlin. She will come home and we will feast in her honor all night!”

His enthusiasm was contagious and the blonde found herself being pulled excitedly along towards the largest lodge. Most of the summer camp’s population was joining them, all crowding happily into the structure and singing a song. She spotted her warrior among the dozen candidates by the center pole that had been put up the previous day.

Anpo looked a bit worn. She was wearing odd clothing - the shirt she wore was painted red and a blue skirt hung from her waist. Her skin was a ruddy color. Nupa had said it was because the shamans had been painting all the dancers with the sacred red color. There were additional adornments of fur and sage around her wrists, ankles and head. The final touches were the cape about her shoulders and the hoop she carried covered with the same material.

The pole in the center had been decorated, as well, since its cutting and placement. It had been a tall, straight cottonwood tree. Now it was stripped of all extraneous branches and leaves. The fork at the top had been painted red and various items could be seen there - sage, fur, and other fetishes. There were also quite a number of braided thongs hanging down to wave gently around the base.

More singing, more drumming and dancing by the shamans and candidates. Hca, who stood beside the blonde smiled as she sang and wrapped an arm around Kathleen’s shoulders. They swayed together as the shamans chanted and drummed through yet another song.

“Now the Sun Dance begins!” Nupa murmured into the pale woman’s ear as the final song was completed.

The level of anticipation seemed to intensify around Kathleen and the candidates circled the pole. There were four shamans there, as well, and they each approached one of the garish dancers pulling on the braided thongs hanging from the log above.

Kathleen’s gasp of horror was clearly audible to those around her as she watched the shamans cut into the chests of the candidates and attach the thongs to their skin with sticks.

Concerned, the dark woman beside her peered closely into large blue eyes. “
Stepan
?” she questioned quietly.

How.... How... barbaric!
No other thought could be had. Her mouth moved, no sound issuing.

Realizing that the woman’s response was not a good one, Hca squeezed the stiff shoulders. “Be strong, Ketlin!” she urged in a tight whisper. “Anpo needs you to be there for her!”

The words slowly sank in.
Anpo needs me. Be strong.
Swallowing hard, her eyes bright with unshed tears of fear, she nodded and pulled herself straighter.
I will be strong for my winuhca.

Hca nodded in return, seeing a spark of sensibility return to the strange colored eyes. She did not relinquish her grip around the blonde’s shoulders, however, hoping to give her some support.