smile, his eyes crinkled in the corners at the very sight of her telling her without words that she was his pride and joy . Skyraven felt a warmth of affection as she returned his smile. Of all the people on the earth her grandfather was the most importan t to her.
Chief Left Hand captured the tribe's attention as he moved forward to say words that would inspire the warriors of the tribe. As he spoke , his eyes touched on each face, resting for longer than usual on Skyraven's visage. For just a moment she feared that somehow he knew about the white man but just as suddenly his eyes drew away. After the chief finished addressing the crowd, her grandfather returned again to the center of the circle saying "we thank Man Above for our brother the buffalo. He supplies us with meat to eat, with skins for robes, with horns and bones for our equipment, weapons and eating utensils and with everything we need for our very existence ........."
T he buffalo they shot in the summer would carry them through the winter months. The summer months were a time of opportunity for fellowship and pursuit of crafts. The men spent their days hunting, repairing weapons or making new ones. Women tanned hides, gathered berries, fashioned containers, cooked, tended babies, and gossiped. Children and youth performed chores such as gathering wood, carrying water or caring for the horses. After that, they were free to play. At night they all gathered to tell stories and dance. It was also a time when young people courted one another. Skyraven sensed that Lone Wolf might seek her out , but that thought did not make her smile. Was it because of Whispering Wind's possessiveness or was she foolishly remembering her dream of the white man? Whatever it was , she felt aversion towards the cocky, self-assured brave.
As if confirming her intuition, however, when Buffalo ’s Brother finished speaking, Lone Wolf did look around for her and spotting Skyraven in her place in the circle , smiled at her. It was as if he had been waiting to show off for her. Now that he knew that she would see his performance, he strutted abo ut lik e a prairie rooster.
"Ayee!" he crowed. He and two other braves crouched low and , with a leap, sprang into the middle of the circle to perform a buffalo hunt dance. Lone Wolf had made sure that Skyraven had seen his face before he placed the make believe rawhide buffalo head mask over his own head. It was an honor to be chosen for the dance and for the scouting which followed , and he made it obvious he wanted her to be aware of his honor. Skyraven took great delight in ignoring him. Let that cool his pride!
Whispering Wind watched from her place on the opposite side of the circle of dancers, giving Skyraven her usual frown. As the dancers moved slowly around in the circle, she had seen an expression of desire for Skyraven reflected in Lone Wolf's eyes. He had not even glanced in Whispering Wind's direction , and this angered her. The Chief's son was making it all too evident that he wanted Skyraven for his wife. Whispering Wind succumbed to her anger and resentment. It would not be! She wanted him. That half-white, blue-eyed girl would not take her brave.
"I must do something to s how Skyraven at a disadvantage, " she said to herself. Somehow she would find a way, she vowed, scuffing the toe of her moccasin in the dirt. She would watch and wait, for surely Skyraven was much too sure of herself and the power she held because of her grandfather's prominence in the tribe. Hopefully it would lead her into some foolishness that could be reported. With that thought in mind , Whispering Wind determined t o watch Skyraven's every move.
Unaware of her rival's intent, Skyraven looked upon Lone Wolf and the other two dancers as they came to an end of their ceremonial movements. The dance ended, the three braves removed their masks and jumped astride
Chief Left Hand captured the tribe's attention as he moved forward to say words that would inspire the warriors of the tribe. As he spoke , his eyes touched on each face, resting for longer than usual on Skyraven's visage. For just a moment she feared that somehow he knew about the white man but just as suddenly his eyes drew away. After the chief finished addressing the crowd, her grandfather returned again to the center of the circle saying "we thank Man Above for our brother the buffalo. He supplies us with meat to eat, with skins for robes, with horns and bones for our equipment, weapons and eating utensils and with everything we need for our very existence ........."
T he buffalo they shot in the summer would carry them through the winter months. The summer months were a time of opportunity for fellowship and pursuit of crafts. The men spent their days hunting, repairing weapons or making new ones. Women tanned hides, gathered berries, fashioned containers, cooked, tended babies, and gossiped. Children and youth performed chores such as gathering wood, carrying water or caring for the horses. After that, they were free to play. At night they all gathered to tell stories and dance. It was also a time when young people courted one another. Skyraven sensed that Lone Wolf might seek her out , but that thought did not make her smile. Was it because of Whispering Wind's possessiveness or was she foolishly remembering her dream of the white man? Whatever it was , she felt aversion towards the cocky, self-assured brave.
As if confirming her intuition, however, when Buffalo ’s Brother finished speaking, Lone Wolf did look around for her and spotting Skyraven in her place in the circle , smiled at her. It was as if he had been waiting to show off for her. Now that he knew that she would see his performance, he strutted abo ut lik e a prairie rooster.
"Ayee!" he crowed. He and two other braves crouched low and , with a leap, sprang into the middle of the circle to perform a buffalo hunt dance. Lone Wolf had made sure that Skyraven had seen his face before he placed the make believe rawhide buffalo head mask over his own head. It was an honor to be chosen for the dance and for the scouting which followed , and he made it obvious he wanted her to be aware of his honor. Skyraven took great delight in ignoring him. Let that cool his pride!
Whispering Wind watched from her place on the opposite side of the circle of dancers, giving Skyraven her usual frown. As the dancers moved slowly around in the circle, she had seen an expression of desire for Skyraven reflected in Lone Wolf's eyes. He had not even glanced in Whispering Wind's direction , and this angered her. The Chief's son was making it all too evident that he wanted Skyraven for his wife. Whispering Wind succumbed to her anger and resentment. It would not be! She wanted him. That half-white, blue-eyed girl would not take her brave.
"I must do something to s how Skyraven at a disadvantage, " she said to herself. Somehow she would find a way, she vowed, scuffing the toe of her moccasin in the dirt. She would watch and wait, for surely Skyraven was much too sure of herself and the power she held because of her grandfather's prominence in the tribe. Hopefully it would lead her into some foolishness that could be reported. With that thought in mind , Whispering Wind determined t o watch Skyraven's every move.
Unaware of her rival's intent, Skyraven looked upon Lone Wolf and the other two dancers as they came to an end of their ceremonial movements. The dance ended, the three braves removed their masks and jumped astride
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