by Nancy Jackson Colburn and Jo Jackson Storia

A long time ago deep in the mountains lived a small tribe of indians. They wanted nothing more than peace and to live out their life in the serenity they had always known. Their food supply was getting low and most of them were old and sick. Soon they would all be gone, fading into the wilderness like they never existed. Winter was coming and more than likely no one would survive. Their village was near Witacharpe Creek. On one side of the creek was a grassy knoll where the indians would gather for meetings and tribal customs and ceremonies. They were solemn now but there was a time when they would sit around campfires and tell stories. Even the woodland creatures would come to the edge of the knoll to hear their laughter. On the north side of the creek was a thistle patch. As children they had all been warned to keep away from them because they were prickly, and if they stuck your skin you could die from the poison. Therefore, the indians never crossed over to that side and the thistles were feared by everyone.

The chief had a beautiful daughter named White Doe. Her mother, Running Deer, had died a few years ago and White Doe had promised her that she would take care of her father and all the others, only now she did not know how she could keep her promise. Her father was so sick he might not make it through the night. This made her very sad, for tomorrow was to be her wedding day. She could not let her mother down, so she had to find a way to save her people. Later that night, after midnight, she crept into the medicine tent to see her father one last time. She leaned over and whispered, "Do not worry, father. Everything will be good again tomorrow. You and all our people will be well and happy forever and ever." She kissed him and said goodbye.

White Doe was quiet as she put on her wedding dress that the women had so lovingly made for her. She and her young indian brave were to be married in the grassy knoll beside the creek. Only now she knew it could never never happen. She was sad but felt that she had done the right thing. Long Feather was so excited as he and the others came down the path on the way to meet his bride. He loved her so much and he could hardly believe the day had finally come when White Doe would be his wife. As they neared the fork where they would turn and go down the hill a great storm came upon them. The thunder roared like nothing they had ever heard. The lightning was so bright it seemed to light up the whole world as it split huge pine trees right through the middle all the way to their roots. A fierce wind blew so hard the trees were bent to the ground, as if they were praying.