Snow Eagle (4 page)

The seven men wearing three horizontal lines on their cheeks, ran swiftly through the grassy valley, attempting to make time before they began their slower ascent up the other side. Soon they would reach the ice fields; they knew that the travelers they followed would not make camp until they had crossed the ice. Once the Tlingit reached the rocky outcroppings on the other side of the ice, they would camp for several days. This is when the Caribou Hunters would strike. The quarry would be weak, tired and vulnerable. Above, Snow Eagle was also reaching this conclusion. He knew that he would have to travel quickly and this required taking the more dangerous mountain trail. He could reach the rocky outcropping on the other side of the ice before his people, if he could maneuver the steep cliffs and excessive heights that would take him there. He had taken the trail only once before, when he was a much younger man but now he had no choice. He had to get there before the Caribou Hunters, who would have to stay back in order to be hidden from sight while crossing the ice. This would give him some extra time for the treacherous climb. He chewed the rabbit slowly, letting the food dissolve slowly in his empty stomach. In his head the spirits warned,
the evil grows.

First to rise back at the camp was Waving Pine. He relieved himself near the swaying trees, his tall silhouette blending with the early morning shadows. The dewy mist lay thick over the moss-covered ground, casting an eerie spell over the camp. He wandered towards the place were White Fox was tied. Suddenly he stopped in his tracks, his body going stiff at the sight that greeted him. A piercing screech left his lips as he discovered Moon Man's bloody body slumped against the tree. A few feet away, Waving Pine's nephew, Burning Branch lay face down. There was no sign of White Fox. People began to arrive at the base of the huge tree, where Waving Pine stood holding a sliced rope. “Someone has released White Fox and killed these two warriors. We must hold council before we pack up. One of you go and fetch Gray Wolf.” Waving Pine rolled the blood soaked body of Burning Branch over, a deep sadness in his eyes. A gasp escaped his lips. “This man lives, quickly carry him to the fire.” Two of the men lifted the blood soaked warrior.

The group sat around a roaring fire, the Elders all seated solemnly as the council was called to order. Gray Wolf had been ordered to take some of the warriors and go in search of White Fox, with the explicit instructions to bring him back alive. Dancing Bear had insisted on riding with them, against the better judgment of Gray Wolf. Dancing Bear's size was an asset but his allegiance to White Fox was causing Gray Wolf great concern. However, taking some time to reconsider, he decided that Dancing Bear could be used to his best advantage and allowed him to accompany him.

Around the fire, Frightened Deer sat silently behind Red Hawk. Sunflower stared blankly into the flames. Raging Bull watched his daughter suspiciously from across the circle. One of the younger members of the tribe escorted Buffalo Woman to the fire. The old woman was wrapped in a buffalo robe and shivered in the early morning air. Her breath came in short gasps. The buffalo robe was her trademark. Although buffalo were not common in the higher elevations, Buffalo Woman had once lived in the plains much further south. “Now that Buffalo Woman is here, we shall begin. I do not want to think that one of our own people released White Fox but there is not much doubt. Now if the guilty party will come forward, we can be on our way across the ice field before mid day.” Black Rain's eyes scanned the circle and came to rest on Sunflower before he continued. “If Burning Branch lives, he may be able to tell us who has done this.”

“Why do you look at me like that Black Rain? I didn't set my son free and stab Moon Man and Burning Branch. I would never kill one of our own. I am an Elder of this tribe and my people's safety is my only concern.” Sunflower looked frantically at her people for any sign of support. No one would look at her. In her heart she wondered if White Fox might be Nukw-sati, one seeking evil power to use against others. No, she would not believe it.

Snow Eagle rose early. His pack was light and he felt much stronger than he had the morning before. With silent determination, he started his trek toward the jagged top of the mountain. Nothing would stop him from trying to save the people he loved.

Back in the tiny Tlingit camp, Little Fawn awoke with a start. In her dreams she saw her husband high on a wall of rock, alone and precariously perched. He was in trouble. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she raised her hand to wipe the perspiration that dripped from her forehead. She looked around at the trees and moss that surrounded her, relieved that it was just a dream. Still the terrible feeling of doom would not leave her. Sending up a silent prayer to the Great Spirit, she rose to join the others. Everyone was in turmoil, when she reached the fire pit in the center of the camp.

“We must go over the ice field now. The weather can turn quickly and we could be trapped here for weeks. We will not arrive at the sea until Falling Leaf Moon as it is. I do not think we should wait any longer.” Buffalo Woman strongly made her feelings known to the others. In her own mind, she wondered if she would ever reach the sea again. Every moment was precious to her and she was anxious to be on her way. Some nodded in agreement but Black Rain was not so sure.

“We have just had White Fox escape, not to mention the death of Moon Man. Burning Branch is on the verge of death and Gray Wolf and the warriors have ridden out to find White Fox. Perhaps we should wait for a day or two.” Black Rain looked to Clouds of Thunder and Raging Bull for their opinions. Little Fawn sat beside Frightened Deer listening intently; the strange foreboding that Snow Eagle was in trouble, would not leave her. Frightened Deer was watching Little Fawn's hands with interest. Her fingers straightened the fringe on her sash, one beside the other perfectly aligned. It was an unconscious gesture but still her desire for perfection reigned. Frightened Deer gained great insight into the people around her by observation.

“Gray Wolf and the others will catch up with us. Hopefully he will find White Fox. We will handle that situation when we reach the rocky outcroppings on the other side.” Clouds of Thunder looked around the circle slowly, his eyes rested on the old woman. “We must move now. Buffalo Woman is right and she has made this journey more times than any of us. The ice field will take all of one day and one night to cross. We must move out.” Clouds of Thunder raised his walking stick as a sign of his conviction. Buffalo Woman's head bobbed up and down.

“We must consider the safety of the tribe and the weather could turn for the worse. I agree with Clouds of Thunder, we go now. We have already lost several hours of daylight.” Raging Bull rose from his seated position. Waving Pine agreed, instructing some of the young men to load his nephew, Burning Branch onto one of the travois. Sunflower rose to stand beside her father showing her agreement. She needed her people to believe she was trustworthy. Her son had escaped and in her heart she was glad but now she had to concern herself with the welfare of the tribe.

“It is so. We move now.” Black Rain and Red Hawk nodded and everyone moved at once. The fire was extinguished, packs and bedding were loaded and everyone pulled their fur boots over their moccasins. Little Fawn helped Frightened Deer pull on a pair of boots and again, without a word, the two women joined the others. Little Fawn looked back over her shoulder towards the mountains beyond. She could not shake this feeling that Snow Eagle was in trouble. The Tlingit tribe moved out onto the ice field and began the long cold crossing.

Snow Eagle pushed himself across the miles. He reached the rock wall at high noon and stared at the towering precipice with trepidation. He would have to climb the almost vertical cliff in order to reach the trail above. Once he reached the summit, the trail was swift across the top of the mountain. After a few words to the Great Spirit, he started up the rock face.

Charging Elk and his band reached the Tlingits camp by nightfall. “They have not been gone long. We must stay back in order to avoid being seen.” His men settled in for the night, fire pits recently extinguished were brought back to life. “A few more days and we shall have Songbird back where she belongs. The rest of the Tlingits are to be disposed of, my friends. Enjoy yourselves.” Charging Elk laughed as he watched the faces of his warriors. He knew that finding young women to couple with would be first and foremost, after all of the others were killed. He himself was looking forward to Songbird's gratitude. The Tagish were not normally a violent tribe but the act of kidnapping the daughter of the chief had enraged them. Charging Elk's orders were to recover the woman and kill those that dared to take her. He had been eyeing Songbird for some time and this would give him great prestige. He would ask that she be his squaw and he was sure the chief would agree. His only hope was that Gray Wolf had not tainted her. He settled in his blankets for the night, dreaming of his future. High in the night sky, the silhouette of an eagle crossed in front of the round, brilliant glow of the moon.

Snow Eagle tried to slow his breathing. He tightened his grip on his knife now deeply imbedded in the crack in the rock. Earlier in the afternoon he had increased his speed, wanting to make the summit before dark. He now chastised himself for his foolishness. He had lost his footing and started to slide down the rock face. Terrified, but quick thinking, he struck out with his blade and the knife lodged in a crevice in the rock stopping his descent. Now he was precariously perched on the side of the cliff with chances of continuing looking very slim. Eyes scanning the face, he tried to study the hand and foot holds but the light was gone and even in the bright light of the full moon, his visibility was limited. His left foot was secure on a ten- inch ledge; his right foot was about a foot higher and wedged in a crevice barely wide enough for the toe of his moccasin. His muscles were beginning to ache after the treacherous climb. He had to stay calm. His chest expanded in an effort to take a few slow deep breaths. If he lost his footing now, he would plunge over two hundred feet to the base of the wall and certain death. He would have to stay here until daylight, when he could find a safe route to the top. Thankfully the slope at this particular section was allowing him to lean into the cliff but how long would his aching hands and feet be able to hold on. The evening air was growing cold; his legs began to tremble involuntarily. A sudden movement above his head startled him. A large shadow approached from behind and landed about ten feet above him. He squinted in the dim light as small pebbles fell onto his shoulders and the top of his head. The loud, piercing screech of the eagle filled the air, echoing through the night. The huge bird spread its wings to a span longer than Snow Eagle himself, its large, golden eyes stared down at his upturned face. Again it screeched, never moving its eyes from his. “Brother Eagle, welcome to my perch. You are much better equipped to be here than I.” Snow Eagle forgot his problems as he was filled with the spirit of the majestic bird. He could not help but admire this beautiful, powerful creature. The eagle flew lower and to the left, landing on a large ledge, screeching loudly. The screech drew Snow Eagle's attention in that direction. Suddenly, he realized that he might be able to reach that ledge with just a few movements. How had he missed it? The moonlight reflected on the white feathers of the eagle's head, its eyes glowed like golden fire. The sound of the eagle's wings beat in rhythm with his heart. He waited as Brother Eagle returned to his original perch. The man inhaled deeply, taking strength from his totem animal. Snow Eagle reached, muscles straining, his body stretching to its utmost length. Fingers outstretched, knuckles lengthened, as he strained to maintain his balance. He reached the ledge and gripped tightly with his left hand. His right hand was forced to relinquish the safety of the knife; it would have to remain in its rocky grave. He pulled himself up, left foot reaching for a second foothold. Inch by inch he made his body move towards the ledge. Finally reaching it, his biceps cried out as he lifted his body onto the ledge. He found it to be more than two feet wide. Just a few feet above, a small cave was a welcome sight. The opening was only about four feet deep and three feet high but big enough for him to climb into and take a much needed break. As he crawled into his small refuge, the eagle flew past, turning its head towards him in farewell. “Thank you Brother Eagle.” Snow Eagle thanked Kah-shu-gon-yah for taking the form of Brother Eagle to help him, realizing that without divine intervention, he may not have been able to reach his people in time, if at all. He leaned back against the hard rock and every muscle in his body cried out in pain. Taking a small piece of dried fish from the pack tied to his waist, he relaxed and chewed slowly still not believing how close he had come to falling to his death. He stretched and flexed his muscles one at a time. Little Fawn filled his thoughts. “I am coming back to you. Good night my love,” he whispered into the night air. With that he fell into an exhausted sleep.

Miles away, Little Fawn stopped suddenly, looking around the moon lit ice field. The entire area was filled with a bright white light; moonlight reflecting on the white surface of the ice and the backs of the slow moving travelers. A quiet whisper filled her ears in the cool night air.
Coming back to you. Good night my love.
She looked for the source, but no one was there. A smile started at the corner of her lips.
He is alive, thank you Great Spirit
. She walked with renewed energy; a great load had been lifted from her heart.

The people were growing weary by the middle of the second day. The heat from the sun warmed their spirits and kept them moving across the blinding white ice. Gray Wolf and his warriors had returned, reporting that White Fox could not be found. Gray Wolf was seething with hatred. He would kill White Fox when he found him.

Sunflower was relieved but worried. Her son had his chance to live, would he be smart enough to take it or would revenge drive him back? The travelers continued each lost within their own thoughts. There would be no camp until they reached the rock outcropping, hopefully before nightfall. Unbeknownst to them, within a full day's walk, Charging Elk and his band were about to begin their trek across the ice field. But now instead of seven warriors, there were eight.

Snow Eagle managed to reach the summit of the rock wall as the sun appeared like a brilliant orange ball above the mountain peaks. He stood surveying the glory of the landscape; snow capped mountains tinted pale orange from the rising sun and draped in the deep green of the lush forests. A wide river meandered through the valley far below. He could not see the ice field from this point but he knew that they would soon be approaching the other side. After a quick thanks to Great Spirit and Brother Eagle for bringing him safely to the summit, Snow Eagle set out at a brisk pace. He would have to run most of the way across the level summit to reach the cliff that led down to his tribe's destination before nightfall. He prayed that the Caribou Hunters would not reach them first.

Charging Elk and his men stopped to rest. Although they were young and strong, the Caribou Hunters were not accustomed to crossing the ice fields. Unlike the Tlingits, who traveled yearly to the sea, they settled further inland where mountain caves and thick caribou hides provided a safe refuge during the cold hard winters. They had come on this journey unprepared. A small fire was lit from wood that they had carried with them. Icy, leather clad feet were placed near the fire in an effort to bring some circulation and warmth to their near frozen extremities. In their haste and young exuberance, they had failed to properly prepare and now they were paying the price of their folly. The stop would delay their crossing but was necessary if they hoped to continue. Pieces of their caribou coats were torn and tied to the bottom of their leather moccasins.

Charging Elk stared across the fire at the newcomer. He didn't trust this man. There was a look of evil in his eyes. “So you say your people plan to camp once they reach the other side of this frozen wasteland. Are you sure you want to help us rescue Songbird? You would be going against your own people.” The other man stared back with hatred in his eyes.

“My people believed the terrible lies and want me dead. I told you how I escaped near death after trying to save your woman and believe me; I want nothing more than to get my revenge on Gray Wolf. Remember, he is to be mine and mine alone. You can take the girl and do whatever you want to the others, but Gray Wolf is mine.” White Fox glared at Charging Elk defiantly.

“We want Songbird returned and this Gray Wolf and his warriors are the ones that took her. We will deal with him and his men but you will be satisfied when you see him tortured and killed.” Charging Elk sensed danger from this man. He was determined to assert his authority over the newcomer.

“No, Gray Wolf is mine or I will not help you get the woman back. My mother is a powerful Elder of the tribe, she will be very valuable to us.”

“We do not need your help or your mother's. We know where your people are and if we had not saved you from that pack of wolves, you would be dead. Do not forget who is in debt to whom here.” Charging Elk stood over White Fox. “Do not make me sorry I saved your life.” He was at least a foot taller than White Fox and much heavier.