Onward the fleet pony ran,
hooves beating upon the ground
with a clamorous thundering sound.
He ran as if chasing his moon shadow across
the undulating night purple sea of grass.
Night Tracker was intent
upon the lay of the land
while off in the distance
an ebony wolf silently ran
keeping an easy pace with the man.
The night wind moaned a lonesome howl
as an Autumn Moon lit the night sky
and an early morning fog wafted in the lowlands
to lend an eerie ghostly glow
to this nightmarish ride.
Without warning, the warrior halted his pony
The black and white paint pawed the air,
shaking his great feathered head with nostrils flared
and his mane flew all a jumble
for he was not prepared
he did not want to lose to his shadow.
Night Tracker pays no heed
swiftly, silently he slips to the ground
with fluid ease to kneel on one knee
his hand reaches out to touch the paw print
then he sees others in the damp earth.
An ebony shadow silently gazes
with wise golden eyes
from a soft grassy rise
all the man creature's movements
with intense focused scrutiny.
He knows the warrior is a friend
the black wolf who watched knew that
he also knew how many nights they had
hunted the great mountain cat.
Night tracker and Black Wolf were spirit kin
The teachings of his tribe, all the sacred rituals
taught Night Tracker the ways of the wolf
and he honored them as brother
and admired their hunting skills.
The black wolf viewed the scene below
noting the man wore the head and skin
of another black wolf, his ancient kin
which marked this night tracker as shaman
A warrior skilled in using the power of
the medicine shield he wore.
The silent ebony shadow watched
from his hill so discreet
for the signal he was patiently waiting
would bring him at once to his feet.
It was given when Night Tracker huffed
a grunting sound and his black wolf brother
slipped silently to his side,
"Black Wolf, my silent brother," Night Tracker whispered,
"The cat is near. Ho. We go."
So onward they raced
the man, the black wolf, and the fleet war pony
whose running hooves beat upon the ground
in a clamorous thundering sound
chasing the moon cat's shadow across
the undulating night purple sea of grass.