| Altagol gave the signal to start the festival and picking up her flutes joined the other women to play with the drummers. Terra and Luna led all the children to the circle center and with much laughter and joy started the dancing. Soon they fell to the ground exhausted, but continued their joyous giggles. Suddenly, Deer Hunter leapt into the circle scattering the young ones. Along with the children, the older people now laughed for he could not do the dances. Soon a hush fell over them; he did not do the dance. He posed, pretending to be one of the great antlered deer while shaking his ankle rattles. He was beautiful! Terra quickly realized her father was telling the story of his last hunt with movements instead of words. She crouched down in the scrub in front of him and played his part of the crafty hunter. At the end, when the deer was slain. Terra and Deer Hunter fell in an embrace and rolled together on me ground. All the people cheered and cried with one voice " Deer Hunter, from this night onward, you shall be known to us as Deer Dancer". On his head, they placed the head of a deer. Deer Dancer reached up and placing his hands on the horns of the head, said," I shall treasure this gift and dance the deer dance at each festival for as long as you care to watch". The people cheered once again and then broke into family groups to retire to their private quarters for the few hours left of the night for sleeping. Terranova kissed her mother and father good night and went to her bed. She wondered why Dream Talker had not bothered her sleep for the past three nights. Maybe he had given up on her. How wonderful, she thought, tonight I will sleep. |
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| This night Dream Talker sent visions to her. Once, she saw herself deep inside the hard water but it felt soft and wet. She could move and travel in it. Then large dark shapes moved toward her and other shadows with many arms reached for her and she awoke crying. Her mother and father rushed to her side to comfort her but she pushed them aside and turned her face away. She knew she could not talk to them about wanting to listen to Dream Talker. They would be so disappointed in her. She wished she knew why she had been the one Dream Talker called to. Why couldn't she be like Luna? Luna didn't hear voices, she was happy to live the same life as every one else in the camp. She was not thinking about going against her parents' wishes for her. Oh why, why, Terra thought, do I have to be different? Altagol and Deer Dancer sat together and watched the tears stream down the face of their beloved young heart. Her anguish hurt their hearts as much as hers. Altagol reached for her special triple flute. The flute, created and designed during the months she waited for the birth of her first born, was unique. On it, she had lovingly carved all her wish symbols for the baby. Altagol blew this flute only when she desired the gods to send their queen wisdom. As the notes swayed in time to the movement of her mother's hair, they caressed Terra's eyelids and as the music slowed and stopped, they closed. Altagol smiled up at her mate. " The notes from the magic flute always put her to sleep" |
| Deer Dancer rose and paced round the campfire. Altagol did not speak because she understood the basis for his discomfort and heartache. After a time, he knelt in front of her taking both her hands in his, searched her eyes. " I speak to you as beloved mate, not as my Queen. Help me to be aware of what is wrong with our child. I am confused and know not why she is unhappy when I see no explanation for it. I suppply all her needs and would do anything for her. I love her second to you, beloved." Altagol knew now was the time for wisdom and decision. She gathered Deer Dancer to her breast and spoke from her heart. " Do not show anger at my words, my love, as I now speak from my heart and tell you of the problem with Terranova. Our Terra is going to be a Dream Searcher. No, Deer Dancer, do not move away! Hear my words out to the finish! You know that Dream Talker often calls to someone. Sometimes this person goes, following him. We do not know where he leads them, or if they live or die, only that they never return. The hurt and pain we feel is for us because we do not wish to lose our loved ones. We want our children to follow us and keep the camp the same, growing to bear more hunters or, as in Terra's case, to become Queen. Then, others who hear him, stay with the camp and tell Dream Talker they will not follow or listen to him. Instead, they obey the laws of their parents and friends. I want you to think about this. We say the people who refuse to listen to Dream Talker are strong and can beat him and the ones who leave to follow him are weak and do not have the courage to fight back. Deer Dancer, I was one of the people Dream Talker came to, I thought I was brave, strong, and I resisted. My parents had raised me, as I raise Terra, to be Queen of the Earth People and I would not hurt them and leave. The decision to stay made me very unhappy for many years. |
| However, after the time of our mating and birth of our future queen, I again became contented and happy. Nevertheless, always in my heart, I have known I should have gone. I have always felt wonder for what might have been. I might have chosen incorrectly. Who is to know, maybe I would have been the one to return with the dream. I have come to believe it takes more courage to leave than to stay. " Deer Dancer was quiet for a long time and Altagol was wise enough to give him the time necessary to think about her words. When Deer Dancer sighed deeply, Altagol knew Terra would leave to be a Dream Searcher. " Altagol, as Queen, mother and mate, I respect your words of wisdom, but as Chief of all hunters, I have words of wisdom also and I now speak them to you. If Terra is to leave us as a Dream Searcher, she will leave when we decide the time is right. We will teach her all we know and give her the benefit of our years and wisdom. She will leave here equipped as well as possible. We will prepare her for all things she may encounter outside the world. Dog Hunter will teach her to run, track dogs, follow the stars and trek. I will teach her to shoot the arrows in a true line, hunt, and kill the deer. Pelt Hunter can teach her the art of preparing the skins for clothing and storage. You, Altagol, will teach her how to cook the trekking food and play the magic flute for wisdom. Water Hunter can show her all the hidden signs to find the water below the forest floor and Plant Hunter will teach her the different uses for each one, which to use for sleep, pain, or to stop bleeding. She will have every chance to stay alive and return to us. Oh, and in my excitement I almost forgot an important one. Vision Hunter must teach her to read her visions and to accept being alone without the pain of it. Can we do it, Altagol, can we keep her here until she learns the things required? Never before has a dream searcher left camp with the knowledge and support of the elders. Oh, my beloved , can we do this?" |
| page 3 coming soon |