Home for the Braves

By Donna and Abs

One by one, they made the transfer from the old world to that of Edan. One by one, they met up in the woods as they wandered in search of their lost homes. There were seven of them now, banded together as they journeyed, with one thing in common. They were all Native American in heritage. Since they actually arrived in Edan far from the Singing Creek Camp, their heritage was the only thing binding them together.  That and the fact that they were all young men. 

Even though they were all Native American, they were an odd mix. One, a warrior by the name of Squanto, was from the days of the Pilgrims! Two of the young men were from modern times.  Ed Chigliak hailed from a small town named Cicely in Alaska, and Nikan was a member of a popular Cheyenne singing and dancing group. Wind Dancer, a handsome Sioux warrior, was from the late 1800's, as was Tahoma, the youngest of the seven. He was an Apache who had been living in the mountains of southern New Mexico. Minco was a Choctaw brave whose father was the chief of his tribe.  Minco had gone on his spirit journey, in preparation for his one day taking over as chief (his name actually meant "chief"), but instead found himself in Edan! 

The seventh young man stood out from the others, not because of the fact he was dressed like a cowboy and carrying a six shooter rather than bow and arrow, but because he was a half breed. His father, a rancher in western Texas had been white, and his mother, a beautiful Kiowa maiden. Pacer's last memories had been of being shot and the flaming star of death claiming his life. The six other young braves had found his body while they were traveling, and to their amazement, he had not only revived, but the bullet wounds he had suffered had healed in front of their eyes. This special magic made Pacer special to them, and they treated him with quiet respect, even though he had white blood in him. 

Somehow these men all understood that they could not fight amongst themselves and had to make a new kind of tribe, banding together if they wanted to survive! As the days turned to weeks, and the weeks to months, they became more than friends, they were brothers, despite the wide variety of their cultural backgrounds. 

Food was plentiful at least, even during the worst of the winter, so that was one less thing they had to worry about. It took them awhile to make it across the mountain range. None of them knew why, but there was something to the south that seemed to draw them. When they came across a band of wild horses grazing in a mountain meadow, they took the time to capture seven of them, and then to gentle them enough to ride. It took time, but being mounted was a lot better than walking. 

By the time they neared the inhabited area of Edan it was spring! 

It was Wind Dancer, who was scouting ahead, that spotted the tracks of unshod Indian ponies on a narrow trail that followed a stream. When the rest of the band of young braves caught up, he pointed them out. 

"Perhaps," said Minco, "our long journey is at end at last?" 

Ed was pleased to hear that!  He was a modern man and was not that comfortable living rough, though he had some experience with severe temperatures, being from Alaska. He was also the least experienced with horses! The little grey mare that the others had trained for him seemed to understand that, and was remarkably patient, considering her rider had no idea what he was doing half the time.  He was, however, a Shaman in training, and considered himself the equal of any man there! 

They hadn't ridden far, before a faint trail of smoke could be seen drifting over the trees. "Not a white man's fire," Tahoma said quietly. The others agreed. 

Just then a woman - clearly of their heritage - ran across the path.  Behind her trailed several half-grown wolves! 

The men exchanged looks, and then with happy whoops on all their parts, they followed after the girl. She was heading straight for the puffs of smoke that they had seen. 

Echo turned when she heard the whoops, gave a little cry, and then ran faster toward camp! 

Hearing all the commotion, the men of the camp came out of their lodges, weapons in hand. They were on the alert, having been informed of the marauders from the other side of the river. The seven riders stopped their horses on the outside of the camp, looking it over.  "We come in peace," called out Wind Dancer, giving the corresponding hand signals to that effect. 

Coltec whispered something to Joseph, who studied them for a moment before he nodded. "Come and join us around our fire," Joseph said with a friendly smile. 

The men then dismounted and entered the camp.  Shiloh had come out of her teepee and was comforting Echo, who had been frightened by the sight of men on horseback coming after her, but the other women were curious and wanted to see the new men.

The newcomers were surprised to find that the members of this camp were from as widely diversified backgrounds as themselves! But they were all made welcome, and as they sat around the fire, eating and drinking their fill from what the eight women who lived in the camp served them, Joseph and the other men explained to them all about the new world they were on. 

Now the men greatly outnumbered the women, but they didn't seem to mind the extra work. Even Echo settled down at last, and though she was not overly friendly to the new men, it was also explained that this was her nature. 

Ed of course was happy to see that the camp had a medicine man, who introduced himself as Coltec. Joseph, who had been chief of his tribe back on the old world, had been *elected* by the others to hold that same position in his new one. "They are all my relatives," Coltec said with a wave of his hand that included the other half breeds, a white trapper, and the two white men that had *gone native* completely. "If you join with us, you will be family as well. All of you." He locked eyes with Pacer, who was hanging back, still unsure of his welcome. 

It was clear from the look that he, and everyone else, was welcome in this camp!