| DREAMSEARCHER It was important she not allow herself to sleep. Evidently, sleep would force itself upon her; it always could. She had only sixteen seasons in her earth life and was not strong enough to fight off the old sleep god for more than a couple of nights. This was the third night. Last night, she had told herself all the old stories of the people and had managed to keep her eyes from closing. Now, tonight, Terranovia lay watching her mother and father sitting by the campfire. Altagol was so beautiful and Terranova never thought of her as being Queen of the Earth People. She was lithe, tall, and muscular, carried heavy loads for hours without tiring. Her hair reached to below her knees and Terranova loved it when Altagol, day's work done, let it hang loose, unbound. Swaying, back and forth, her hair flowed like the black water as she kneaded the maize for the morning meal. Watching Altagol's fingers working the maize, Terranovia was amazed at their long length, so strong when needed for work but so gentle on the air holes of her flutes and gentler still when touching with love Terranova's face. Terra, as her father called her, glanced at him sitting beside Altagol, sharpening his arrowheads. Tall and muscular, Deer Hunter was as lithe as the animals he tracked. Always prepared, Deer Hunter was a good, brave mate for Altagol and father to Terra. He was leader of all hunters for the camp and lionized for his bravery. Never had he gone on a hunt and returned without sufficient meat for all. As much as she loved her parents, she could not talk to them about her sleep problem. They would be distraught knowing the Dream Talker came to her; insisting she leave the camp to become a Dream Searcher and disenchanted with her to know she was listening to him. Being a Dream Searcher was not something they would desire for her. Their goal was for her to grow wise and strong, like her mother, so she could be the chosen queen, serving Mother Earth and the Earth People, when the life spirit departed Ahagol. There was no higher position she could attain. Failing that, she would marry, to bear many strong hunters. Answering the call of the Dream Talker would ruin their plans. Dream Talker, indeed: she would stay awake and foil his plans. She was strong and could ignore him. Why should he demand she leave her home and family to wander the earth? The thought of never seeing her mother again was more than she could bear, and tears came to her eyes. Altagol rested back against Deer Hunter and reached for her flute. Plaintive notes softly filled the darkness, spilling out over each rock and crevice, climbing high into trees reaching toward the sky. The music swirled in circles as thick as smoke, lulling Terra's eyelids closed. Dream Talker came to awaken her, and once more told Terra she must leave the camp to search for the dream. In smoky blurry scenes, visions of an unrecognizable landscape passed before her eyes. She saw extraordinary, stunning trees laden with food, people gathering it, others carrying vessels of sweet water, using it to feed the plants. Many men were working in a clearing of land, green and lush. Men, without fear, worked along side large four legged animals. They spoke to them and the animals responded. " Does this strange place exist? Am I to find this beautiful land? Dream Talker?" Terra mumbled in restless sleep. " I hear your questions. Terra. I have no answers for you. I can only help you understand you must search for your dream." Many people had left camp to become Dream Searchers and none had returned. "Will I become lost too? I am only a young girl and am frightened to be a lone! Why have none ever returned to camp? Are they now without spirits?" Terra questioned the stars above. Hoary beams of moonlight bathed her slim young body as she gazed at the heavens. The stars dropped lower, weighed down by the intensity of the total blackness behind them. However, for all their glory and concentration of light, they contained no answers. 2 Deer Dancer In the morning at first light Terra, her mother and father left camp for the trek to the high rock cliff. The white rain had been melting for two moons and they needed to go to the mountain where Mother Earth held the hard water. It was the Queen's responsibility each season to decide when the time was right for the cutting. Once the water from the melted white rain stopped coming by their camp, the people needed a store of water to draw on between the gifts of rain. Reaching the hard water, Deer Hunter tried his cutting hammer on it and sliced hrough easily. "Hurry, Terra, return to camp and tell the people it's cutting time. The hard water is ready to take to storage. Return with them for the work". Altagol shouted down to her. Terra returned with the people from camp and with her best friend, Luna, worked side by side for three days hauling the heavy blocks of hard white water to camp. Once there, the blocks were wrapped in leaves and then again in clean skins of slain animals. The women had readied a deep pit and lined it with cut trees. The wrapped blocks were lowered into the pit; rows of meat, packages of fruit, greens, and seeds placed between the blocks. This store of hard water would keep all summer and chips from the big blocks would supply drinking water for the camp. Collected rain, should they be favoured with any, would be used for washing and cleaning. They would survive another hot season and then again, Father Air would supply the snow and hard water for the next season. The elders told stories of the Old Ones who lived in a time when water passed by the camp continuously. They did not depend on Father Air for the white water. The gods ruling at the time caused a great war and Mother Earth took away the water and left them to perish. Now the people had learned to save water and use it with respect. Deer Hunter said they were fortunate to have the deer, dogs, and other animals. Nevertheless, even they were becoming scarce and the hunters had to travel further to find the meat and skins so important for the survival of the camp. Exhausted, the people struggled back to the camp. The camp keeper had a large fire burning in the central square and although weary and needing sleep, all gathered around. Trees protected the camp. They formed circles around each family's habitat, muffling their talk and laughter. After all had eaten and rested, Altagol called her people together to sing, play music, dance and tell stones. Dog Hunter, father of Luna, loved telling of his distant hunting treks. He was also a runner and traveled further than any other. Tonight he told of the time he traveled down the backside of high Rock Cliff Mountain. After running the complete length of the hard water and up another mountain he found me land very different. There were no trees and the dirt was not dark and soft, but hard and rocky. All though the people had heard of his treks many times they called, " Tell us again of following the big star to the other direction" " Yes, that was a great trek. For two moons, I followed the big star and came to a terrifying place. A terrible place it truly was, without trees, animals, hard water, or rain. The sun beat down on a windy brown landscape that Mother Earth had deserted. When I picked up some in my hand, it felt burning hot and ran through my fingers back to the ground. I ran most of the way back. I was terrified I would not find my way because I was so frightened. I have not dared go on a long trek since. Here in our camp Mother Earth has blessed us with everything we need to be happy. She provides animals to hunt. Father Air provides the hard water and Grandfather Sun warms our bodies. Why look for anything more? Come, all, it is time to thank our protectors with song and dance!" |