A wi-a, spits blood her wheezing is deep within her chest, her breathing is more a panting as a cat in labor.
I am feeling sorry for myself as I look at this forsaken prairie with grass up to my waist.
Wanting someone from our family to be here as A wi-a, readies for her journey to the land of Spirits.
I offer her tea brewed from wild mint found before we left the hills.
I must hold her head up her eyes are those of a wild bird held captive, bright but full of fear.
I cannot refuse to hear or see this, She the one who bore me, she and I share my cord I was coupled as one with her.
A wi-a, only speaks in our language now (ga-wo-ni-his-s-di).
She speaks in a whisper gu-na (liquid ) Si-wu-gu-na (more liquid).
She now is in her mind of memory, speaking softly to spirits that have been gone from Mother Earth long ago.
I would have hot rocks with water near were we on Black Mountain sending steam skyward cleansing her skin and hair for her journey.
There is no more I can do but wait and think..
Now is the season of planting.Some groups have departed to help in the planting and building that has begun at Tahlequah.
They are so weak it is doubtful much will be accomplished they must try before the celebration of the "Green Corn".
A harvest must be brought from this flat hard hot land.
Because A wi-a, is so weak and thought to be contagious we are to be sent to Ft.Sill, west of where we entered this land
Those at Ft.Sill are guarded by the warrior tribe of Apache.
Those considered risk to others safety or risk to the Federal troops are sent to this stockade.
Our wagon slowly moves A wi-a, makes little noise, except for her breathing.
I see a large painted wooden sign TSA-LA-GI-YI A-YE-Li, (Indian Nation) in both Cherokee and English.
It is already hot tall Buffalo grass has animal droppings through it biting flies swarm in masses around our wagons attracted by the smell of death.
I am told by members of the Muskogee they will accept both Lark and I as there own.
I am grateful but their way's are not like our own.
The elders tell me at Ft. Sill, there are some members of A wi-a’s Clan, "a-ni-ka-wi" (Deer clan)
At Fort Sill, called the place of hell.
We are but two young females (a-yv-wi-ya-a-ge-yv) soon to be alone in this new Nation of the Walking Dead.
There will be seals of five civilized tribes within this Nation, Choctaw, Seminole, Muskogee and Chickasaw. All around the great seal of the Cherokee Nation.
The sun is high in the sky. It is humid and hot. Thunder can be heard far west as we approach the Fort.
We are situated on a slight incline near the Fort not inside until an Army Doctor can see we have no contagion.
We place A wi-a, under the wagon on what cloth we have left her head is limp like that of a doll, yet she breathes.
The few animals left have been used as beast of burden, are removed from out wagons.
They are to be used as breeding stock. Mules Oxen and Horses.
The only good thing the white man has ever given the Indian is the Horse.
As the Night Sun rises which we call Mother Moon. Clouds from the west drift in.
It blocks the soft light from high.
Then lightening in sheets comes down to earth thunder rolls and shakes the ground we seldom have seen such anger from Mother Moon.
Perhaps her anger is as hot as the Sun.
Lark places her ear to the ground, she says it sounds like Buffalo stampede.
As the rain begins to pelt the wagon we are laying on either side of A wi-a.
I hear A wi-a whisper.. I must lay my head on her chest to hear her words.
U-de-nu (birth) A-s-ga-ya-gi-ga-ge-i..(in lightening) U-hu-tsi (my captive heart) knows (u) I-ne-na (I leave now). Lark begins to wail I can only hold her near.
With the May Pops (ch-wa-ga-hi) in bloom we prepare the first in my family to be at rest in This Indian Nation...
I clean her body and wrap her in my tattered quilt placing the combs my Father gave her as his bride in her thin hair, her prized Amber beads around her neck.
Her hands look like the claws of a small bird. The death mask has started to set.
The elders come to remove this woman who in pain brought me forth she and I alone in a mountain cabin on Black Mountain by light of a bear oil lantern..
My Mothers Spirit is now set free..
May her Spirit always abide near me..
Ladybirdã
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