The six wolves test our defenses. A brown male who had shied away before
makes a move for my legs. I kick out at his head and get bit. Pain! His tan
companion lunges at my vulnerable underbelly but I manage to slap her away.
Swift Scout groans behind me. He returns to standing at my back as the
wolves become bolder.

A furry blur comes at me from my left side, forcing me to turn. Gleaming
teeth sink into my hip and hold. I cry out in pain! My hands grab the beast
but I can't push it off. Swift Scout hears my plea for help. He manages to
get hold of her tail and pulls. I pound my fist into the wolf's head. Again
and again! With a yelp of pain, the animal finally lets go. I'm frightened
by their strength and ferocity.

Another attacks me! I feel a sharp pain to my right arm. I try flinging
the wolf off. His sharp teeth are clamped down not wanting to let me go! I
hear the warrior's own cry of pain. He can't help me this time. As I
struggle to free my bleeding right arm, another wolf lunges for my belly.
She's barely kicked away.

Swift Scout falls. I feel the chill to my backside and dread its
significance. Angry snarls erupt behind me. I can't even turn to look since
I'm fighting the wolf clinging to my right arm. My feet kick out to prevent
another attack. I need to help the fallen warrior!

I cannot. I'm not even going to be able to help myself! I stand alone
before the encircling wolves that have tasted my blood. Soon, they will be
eating of my flesh. A snarling wolf bites at my leg and I don't even try to
kick him away... In his bright eyes, I see his victory over me. His prey.

NO!

Anger at our hopeless plight has been building in me. Pain from my bites
brings me to great fury! I become a mad beast. Wild thoughts rush through
my head as my limbs strike out with hatred. I roar like a bear! My body
takes on a new form: taller and broad of shoulders with thick black hair.
My fists knock the wolf out. The others snarl in defiance but keep their
places just beyond my pounding feet. I ROOOOAAAAR!

My head is sluggish to remember something. Ah. My mate has fallen behind
me. Needs protection! I turn around to stand over his bloody body. The
wolves biting at him are driven away by my fierce claw strikes and loud
warning bellows. "Get back!" I roar. There's a sharp pain to the back of
my leg. I'm falling backwards to crush the puny thing under my weight.

There's a satisfying yelp from the wolf. He savagely bites my shoulder
to free itself of my body. I find his unguarded belly and maul through his
coarse fur. Blood squirts to my face. My victory roar scares the other
wolves back a few paces. They are no match to my raw strength!

The dead wolf is tossed away when I turn for my mate. There's red
everywhere... A bad sign. I kneel over his body to sniff for life. None.
A wolf dares to advance onto me but my warning roar sends it back to the
pack. I grin with defiance at their frustrated snarls and show of white
fangs. "Get back!" I shout.

My mate is unmoving. I can't find breath coming from his hairless face.
Red pools from many bites to his puny limbs and his back. My heart sinks.
I turn my angry eyes on the circling wolves that had done this. My life
doesn't matter. I will kill and eat all of them!

"AAAAHHH!" I roar. When I amble towards the lead male, he leaps out of
reach from my claws. Another wolf bites down on my left arm. I draw the
animal into an embrace with my teeth finding its head. I bite down hard!
My arms hold the frantic animal to me in a death struggle. It yelps out in
pain. My heart sings with victory that helps push the throbbing pains of
my body away. Something snaps. It's with a roar of glee that I fling the
broken body at the other wolves. They scatter in fright.

It's with disappointment that I watch the remaining wolves running away.
Only three paid for my fallen companion. I stagger back to his side. In the
distance are tall shapes speeding towards me. Sadly, my body is feeling too
weak to answer their challenge... I fall over my mate.

I'm barely able to lift myself out of this mud puddle. It's as if the
soft wet dirt sucks at my shaggy body to keep it trapped. I will my
freedom! When I stand, the darkness soaks back into my skin. My hands
returns to five fingers. No more fur.

The sun is hot on my back. It fills me with some needed energy so I turn
to give Him thanks. Not Father Sun?

A radiant man faces me. I feel the joy of his spirit that touches mine.
Such strength! A beauty that's hard for me to look upon. His sunbeam hand
grips my shoulder and he speaks words that fill my head. Thoughts, really.
I know that he's the warrior Swift Scout on his way to the Above.

My head swirls with a multitude of the man's thoughts: sorrow for what
happened, a thanks for sharing his heart/pain over that boy; our bodily
joining of sex but mostly, he feels a release from fleshy trappings. Joy!
Such total happiness! I want to embrace that wonderful Light as he has.

There's the wind swirling of eagle wings. I no longer feel the warrior's
hand upon my shoulder. He has flown! When I try jumping from our Mother to
join him, silvery cords keep me down like a fly caught in a spider's web.
It makes me sad.

I awaken with a start. Strong hands hold me down and I cry out in bitter
pain coming from many parts of my body. Mostly, I'm thirsted. My eyes open
to the worried frowns of feathered warriors. Above them is a raised canopy
against the sun. Water fills my mouth. I remember where I am.

"Swift Scout," I mutter. "Where is he?" I feel a strong hand restraining
my left arm. It hurts bad when I struggle. I'm left exhausted. Stands Tall
peers down at my face. I read the truth in his sad eyes.

"He is dead."

I close my eyes to deny the man's words. No! How can such a strong
warrior who endured such tortures at the hands of his enemies die when I
remain alive? It can't be so!

"Keep still, Willow Bird!" warns Elk Tail. "You'll bleed unto your own
death if you struggle."

I feel the many pains that my body endures. Some burn like fire! My eyes
remain closed so that I can bear against my terrible hurting. So much that
I want to die...

"My brother. Stay with us or I will cry like a woman over you!" warns
Second Bird.

I hear his words. My eyes slowly open to look at my brother lying next
to me over the ground mat. He tries giving me a brave face. I swallow in
my dry throat and do as he's asked. I'll try to live.

My head feels faint from the effort. I lose sight of my brother when the
pain of my body overwhelms me. I can't seem to gain my breath. My limbs
feel chilled as if it were the winter season. My eyes close to accept the
inevitable... I must be dying. My spirit loosens from its fleshy bonds to
take me away from pain and worry. It's a strange joy.

"He's fallen unconscious," says Stands Tall.

"Will my brother survive his wounds?" asks Second Bird.

There's silence after the faint echo of their voices. Though I can't see
the war leader's face, I'm able to feel his emotions as he kneels over my
wounded body. He's very sad. I know that he doubts I'll live through the
night because of my blood loss. My heart goes out to the warrior's concern.
He's not responsible for our folly! Swift Scout has already gone on ahead
to the Above. I'll soon be joining him.

I feel a pleasant floating sensation under the canopy. It's crowded with
men kneeling around my torn body. Such concern! They're all expecting me to
die and so am I. Where are my eagle's wings to carry me from our Mother?
How long must I wait?

Someone clasps my hand. I'm returned to great pain that forces my eyes
to open. Darkness. I've lost my Sight. My feeble eyes can't see in the
night! Tears run down my face from my sense of loss.

"Don't cry, Willow Bird..."

I sense my brother close at my side. His hand firmly grips mine but the
pain from my wounds and the terrible cold of my body is hard to endure.
"I'm scared..." I cry out.

"Hold on! I promise not to let go of your hand, my brother."

My tears end. I feel the warmth of Second Bird's hand and sense his
strength just within my reach. A decision must be made... Risk to us both!
My eyes close so that I can center my being. 'Get beyond the pain.' Love
for my brother helps me to focus my inner Sight. My eyes fill with twin
suns that are us. Beautiful spirit balls! I realize that mine is fading.

My plea is upon my brother asking for his help. Not in clumsy words
but sun beams from my spirit to his. He's startled; surprise, suspecting
then understanding my plea. The bond risks his own life's energy...

Acceptance. I focus my inner Eyes to join the twin suns into one. He
warms me. Fills me with love that comes from a second self. Filling me. My
loosened spirit falls back into my body to dwell there for a while longer.
There are things yet to be done! Big Horn smiles. I feel my connection
through him that comes from another warrior; his mate. Feeling their love
gives me tremendous joy and strength.

I awaken to someone filling my mouth with water. Swallow. My belly feels
great hunger. I open my eyes to the rising of Father Sun. My head nods with
thanks and in respect to Him.

"You managed to remain with us," says Stands Tall. "That is good! Will
you bring the food pouch here, Makes Bows?"

I feel a meat stick between my teeth so I clamp down on it. Ah... good
food! I'm chewing down its length like a hungry bear. I have to make slow
bites least the pain from my wounds overwhelm me.

Makes Bows tries awakening my brother. With much pain, I turn my head to
see what's the matter. He sleeps very deep as if unconscious. The warrior's
eyes reveal much concern.

My hand tightens around Second Bird's. In a flash like lightning, I
remember the joining of our suns. Did he give me too much of his life's
energy?! I call out to my brother. He still sleeps. Stands Tall has to
restrain my arms to prevent me from moving.

"No Willow Bird! Your wounds have only just closed," he warns. "Rest!"

Pain throbs in my shoulder, my arms and both of my legs. I'm left
exhausted from my struggling. "Don't go!" I rasp to Second Bird. I'm
feeling too distraught to attempt a connection to his spirit. My eyes
flutter from great weariness. Sleep claims me.

It's midsummer's eve. High above is the moon watching down on my proud
ceremony. My whole tribe attends my initiation as a man. There's our tribal
chief, He-who-walks-beyond-all-others standing with his son, Song Bird. The
boy smiles at me with pride. I do love him so! At their side is the shaman
wearing his magnificent elk robe. The warriors of my tribe stand around
the fire with crossed arms; witnesses. Big Horn stands at my side in his
role of monedo. He wears a bear skin.

I'm kneeling before a fire in the center of our tipi camp. Wood hisses
and pops, sending up showers of sparks to become night's stars. My heart is
soaring from this moment in my life that I've been waiting for! I'm to be
named a brave of the Kalinlepi.

'No, Willow Bird.'

I turn my head to find who spoke those voiceless words. The People of my
tribe disappear from around the fire. Like smoke, their tipis also fade
into the night. I try standing. Yet my legs feel weak and are unable to
bear my weight. Why doesn't Big Horn try to help me?

There's an old warrior standing behind my monedo. His arms reach out to
Big Horn's shoulders to prevent his initiation of me. It's Coyote Thief?

'That is not your path,' his thoughts explain. 'Remain as Willow Bird.
All the greatness that you are to become is already within you!'

'What greatness... What are you talking about?' I ask from my thoughts.

The warrior smiles. 'You have already felt its Power. Someone comes to
show you its proper use. First, forget your hatred and open your heart...'

I'm awakened by something frightening and strong. The man utters that
Word again! I don't comprehend its meaning but a part of me knows the Power
of it. There's an easing to the burning of my pain. I feel the man's hands
rubbing a healing paste into all my bite wounds. They turn icy numb.

"Who are you?" I ask. In the darkness, I can barely make out his shape
against the night. My hand finds one of his knees. I shudder in fear when
making a connection to his spirit. He is like me!

"Don't be afraid," says Stands Tall. "This warrior is trying to heal
you, Willow Bird. He claims to have known your father..."

I'm harkened by the war leader's words. My fingers grip my healer's knee
in thanks. He attends to all my wounds - they are many! My weary body feels
at ease and wants to rest but my head is in a turmoil. This man knows my
father? I ask him.

After waiting a moment, I'm given no reply. Elk Tail explains why.

"He doesn't speak our tongue, Willow Bird... I think this is the Spear-
bearing Warrior you spoke to me about who had visited with your chief."

My head tries to grasp Elk Tail's words. My healer is Snarling Bear?!
The enemy warrior gets to his knees so that he can go examine my brother. I
clasp Second Bird's hand more tightly so as to never let him go!

"Do not be afraid," asks Stands Tall. "He came to us in peace. We hold
his mother as an honorable hostage while he attends to you."

I hear a low grunt from Snarling Bear. It makes me worry for my brother.
Is he not well? The healer begins low chanting with his voice that sings to
my very spirit. I'm familiar with the beat of his song. That Power Word is
spoken again!

My eyes close of their own accord. Though my head is filled with worry
and much concern, I feel like I'm falling through a peaceful darkness. I'm
unable to gain a foot hold. My weary body forces me to sleep.

I begin dreaming. It's strange because when I dream, I don't know that I
am. I'm being shown things by an unseen Guide. There's a double two-handful
of summers being turned back. I come upon a boy of eleven. His hair is cut
and from his facial features, I know that he's of the Spear-bearing People.
A young man stands before him. There are no feathers in his hair to mark
rank but I feel his Power. My Guide drops me into the boy's body.

I know that my name is Shy Coyote and that I'm without parents. The
shaman has been raising me but not as an adopted son. There's shame that
mars my standing in the tribe. It keeps me at distance from my People and
the proud man facing me on this special day.

"Much have you learned in my care," announces Snarling Bear. "Your path
has been a difficult one but know that it is special! I have Seen that
you'll be following in my footsteps on the sacred path. A man will follow
in yours. A boy in his."

I'm puzzled by the shaman's words. "What man?" I ask. "Snarling Bear,
I want to grow up like you as if I really were your son... Is this man you
See my son?"

"No. He will be an enemy brave that you'll meet in battle," explains
Snarling Bear. "The circle of hatred must break like a bent twig! You may
love him, Shy Coyote. In turn, he will pass on your teachings to another
fatherless boy that he raises into manhood as I've done for you."

"I don't understand, shaman..."

"Ah. You will."

My dreaming becomes blurred. I try remaining inside the boy so that I
can learn more about Snarling Bear. My Guide allows me to hover like a
humming bird within the shaman's tipi instead. I look down upon the man
initiating his boy. They have uncovered their bodies. Snarling Bear reveals
much love for Shy Coyote. He explores the youth's soft shape in his hands
and kisses many of his sensitive places. I hear the boy moan when his
erection is sucked.

Snarling Bear is on his knees before the youth. His strong hands are
wrapped around the boy's flexing butt, trapping his boyhood to the man's
face. A first release is being coaxed. That's the initiation!

Shy Coyote tries pushing the man away. His thin arms are no match for
the shaman's strength. I wonder why he's struggling; is the act too intense
for a boy of his age? No. My thoughts return to Song Bird. After our naked
embrace in the river, I took his erection into my mouth and sucked it. He
felt very intense from the act but rewarded me with a sweet drink from his
loins. In turn, I stuck into his butt. My seed was forced in him...

Snarling Bear is crouched behind the boy over his sleeping mat. He has
tasted Shy Coyote's clear seed and desires to gift the youth all his Power
from proven loins that will bring him to maturity. I smile knowingly when
the shaman kisses his way between the boy's rounded cheeks. Its entrance is
being made slick by his spit.

I dart closer to the tipi floor. From the light of their ritual fire, I
view Snarling Bear's manhood: a mighty brown shaft of thickly skinned cock;
its rosy knob oozes precum. His hand directs its swollen length into the
boy's virgin ass. I see the signs of their male connection when Shy Coyote
flinches in pain. He makes no outcry though. The shaman presses his knees
around the boy's and grips the small hips. Their touching balls are cupped
within the youth's hand. He peeks upside-down through his legs at the man
about to fuck him.

There's an almost singing moan coming from Snarling Bear. No sung words.
The shaman takes deep breaths between his rhythmic moaning. His mighty body
slams into the smaller body within his hands. I feel the passing of Power
from the man into his initiated boy. Love makes it flow. Their hearts were
already bound so what they're accomplishing is a transfer of something
special; my Guide points this out to me. At the moment of ritual climax, I
See something go into the boy.

My eyes fill with night's stars as if stunned. When I'm able to recover,
I look down from the tipi's smoke hole to see Shy Coyote standing shakily
before his shaman. The boy holds his aching butt with a hand. On his face
is an understanding for what the man has filled him with. It's more than
sperm. Snarling Bear guards over his young charge so that his planted seed
will grow up strong. The shy youth does become a warrior. He makes ritual
love to an enemy brave before his death to pass on the legacy. Yet there's
Darkness chasing after them!

I'm blown through the tipi's smoke hole into the rising sun. I'm flying
way up high to look down on our Mother. I see a vast army of pale termites
crawling over the land; possessing it! Taking without asking. Greed brings
them west. The Darkness is like an invisible hand that pushes them here to
eat us. Signs of its evil influence can be seen in the cleverness of better
weapons like Big Horn's metal Wa-ha knife and their advanced means of
travel. The termites turn into a People that will ignore their spiritual
selves to seek material gain. Such beautiful pale monsters.

My Guide rushes me away through the night that turns forward many years
to the Now. I lay asleep over our Mother. In my butt, I feel the connection
to that long-ago day when an eleven-year-old boy was initiated into the
sacred society of the Na-mayee.

I feel the warmth of sunshine on my face. My lungs take in the freshness
of the morning that smells of burned grass. I open my eyes. I stare up at
the wind fluttering of the low canopy with a sense of peace. My limbs ache
only a little bit. With a start, I remember that Spear-bearing Warrior! I
quickly turn to Second Bird.

He is gone! I look around for him in a frantic panic. No! He cannot be
dead?! When I cry out, a man rushes to my side to hold me down to the
ground mat. It's my brother.

"I'm here, Willow Bird."

"I thought you had gone..." Second Bird's restraining hands lower from
my arms so that he can reach around my back in an embrace. I welcome the
feel of his warm chest on mine. Our heads touch.

"Oh, I understand!" he whispers. "I have Seen your inner self in my
dreams and felt your spirit."

My short hair rubs against the hair of my brother. I'm filled with joy
that we are alive and still together. He is my love, but not in the way I
express my heart with sweet boys are other Mahyee-na men. He's my brother.

After a long embrace, Second Bird rises onto his knees over me. He grips
my right hand in his. Our eyes touch.

"I thought that I was going to lose you."

"Me too... I mean, that I was going to lose you!"

I'm struck again by how close we are to each other. Like twins, but our
births were almost a year apart. I grin when seeing the shortness to Second
Bird's hair. It seems that Brings Word has cut the burned tangles away like
what he'd done for my hair. My brother appears as a boy.

"What's so amusing?" asks Second Bird.

I point up at my brother's short hair. This gets the brave to smile. A
warrior approaches who silently sits at our side. It's Elk Tail.

"How are you, Willow Bird?" he asks.

I gesture down at the ugly-looking bites to my arms and legs pasted with
healing herbs that smell. The warrior laughs. Yet in his eyes I see
something troubling. I wonder what's wrong.

"Who are you to this Spear-bearing Warrior?" asks Elk Tail. "He risked
his life and that of his aged mother to approach us. Even his two boys laid
down their weapons to prove their peaceful intention. Our war leader was
tempted to take the lives of our enemies! I think that he made the right
decision... Snarling Bear was able to save you from death."

I turn to look into my brother's eyes. He too was saved by that strange
warrior. A man like myself! I can't explain it but to say that our spirits
are the same but still I fear him. What is that man's interest in me?

"Snarling Bear was bringing his mother to visit with your chief's wife,"
explains Second Bird. "Did you know that he is a brother-in-law to him?"

I nod my head in reply. "Our mother told me about that warrior's visit
to my tribe. He gifted a white boy to my chief and in return was reunited
with his lost sister. His peaceful visit was expected by my People."

"It's lucky that you mentioned him to me," explains Elk Tail. "When the
warrior approached our camp, we wanted to kill him! Much have we to hate
the Spear-bearing People. Yet when I took the gesturing of his name and saw
his mother, I remembered what you told me about Snarling Bear; that he was
in peace talks with the Kalinlepi. My words helped to convince Stands Tall
to accept him into our camp in peace."

"Why did he come here?" I ask. "My People were encamped on the river..."

"Yes. He mentioned that your tipis had been moved," explains Elk Tail.
"What swayed our war leader was his offer to heal your grave wounds. He
seemed to know about you, Willow Bird and was the reason he risked himself
and his party unto us."

"I don't know him."

"Hmm. Snarling Bear claims to know your father."

I feel an alertness in Second Bird. When my eyes turn to him in question,
my brother drops his gaze. Does he know something about it?

"Elk Tail. Could you go tell Stands Tall that Willow Bird has awakened?"

The warrior reads my brother's intent for wanting us to be alone. I
watch the man get to his feet and walk away. I'm struck by the slim beauty
to the man's body. His lengthy breechclout prevents my lustful eyes from
looking upon his butt though.

I notice Second Bird's concern. His face is grim. I feel the tightening
of his fingers around mine and wait for what he needs to tell me.

"Snarling Bear has spoken with me."

"Spoken?" I ask. "How? What did he tell you?"

Second Bird takes in a deep breath. His eyes are down-cast when he
speaks. "His Spear-bearing People are kin to the Shew-owa and share the
same language that I understand. He wanted to tell me something without the
other men seeing our words if we were to hand gesture."

"What did he tell you?" I ask. The tiny hairs at the back of my neck
raise up when my brother peers deep into my eyes.

"Snarling Bear is a shaman of the Spear-bearing People," Second Bird
begins. "He has been searching for you. To share something with you..."

"What?" I ask. My head feels weary but I force myself to remain awake.

"He wouldn't tell me that. I was asked if you had a man for a lover and
I told him what he wanted to know as if I were entranced. Forgive me, my
brother! I fear this man's Power... He wants you."

I feel the assurance from my dreams stirring in me. My eyes soften under
the glare of Second Bird's. "It's alright. Snarling Bear is a good man who
has risked much to meet me. Let him come."

Second Bird turns to look out from the canopy. At his gesture, a man
enters to kneel at my side. He is old. No eagle feathers adorn his shortly
cut hair but the weathered cracks in his face shows his worth. I weakly
raise my hand from the mat to offer him a respectful greeting.

The old man studies my face for many heartbeats. My mind flashes back to
Coyote Thief. That old warrior shares similar features to Snarling Bear. Ah!
They passed Power unto Big Horn!

Strange words are uttered. Second Bird nods his head and translates.
"He says, 'You were expecting me?'"

I nod my head in understanding. "Tell Snarling Bear that the Darkness
has been closely following my path. My lover and his lover was slain along
with any companion who've come to aid me. Warn him of this, my brother!"

Second Bird pauses to consider my strong words. I know that he doesn't
understand them but he turns to the old warrior and speaks. In Snarling
Bear's eyes comes fear. I know that he understands.

After an awkward pause, Snarling Bear speaks softly to my brother. I'm
given his words.

"The shaman says that he's too old to offer you protection from That,"
translates Second Bird. "He can heal. He offers you what guidance he can
against that nameless evil coming."

"Tell him that I welcome his help." After Second Bird translates, the
old warrior takes up my hand. He grips it hard. A Power Word is uttered!

I'm diving into a pool of Light. My arms melt into the radiant water
along with both my legs. I am losing my body! When I try surfacing for
breath, I discover that there's no need for air. It's very restful here.

I come to understand everything. The circles of All combine into the
harmonious swirling of the connected stars of night. No beginnings and no
ending. Only the Now.

A silver ring appears. When I concentrate on it, my finger forms within
its brilliant band. Then my hand. My spirit forms a fleshy shell around
itself so that I can return to the earth. Yesterday... Something needs to
be done that I've been put to the task of.

I awaken in a small familiar tipi. My limbs stretch lazily towards the
growing light of Father Sun. I'm home! A part of me is glad to be a boy
since that keeps me from the dangerous path my feet will be walking. I
glance at my mother's sleeping mat. It's empty. She must already be out
doing chores, I realize with some sadness. Ever since my father died,
she's had to labor for others of our tribe to gain their support of food
and hides for us. If my father were still here he'd have provided us those
necessary things of life.

When I sit up, it feels like I'm forgetting something. I try shaking the
sleepiness from my head. Ah. There were interesting dreams given me from
last night... I try to remember them! It's with disappointment that I can't
focus on any images. I'm only left with foreboding feelings.

I rise up from the ground and stretch my arms. My fingers can almost
touch the smoke hole in this small tipi. At my feet is the depression where
I've lain my body in during the night. I kick dirt in to fill it. There's
no need for my mother to trip when she returns.

I push open the door flap and step out into sunlight. What has our
Father provided us this day? I see mostly blue sky with a few clouds up
near Him. The wind is calm. It looks to be yet another fine summer day.

I head for the river to wash. Big Horn and I had crossed over its
shallows in the evening so I couldn't get a proper washing then. Everyone
knows that you cannot fully enter the river at night least risk having the
water spirits pull you down. Hands-on-his-head, a warrior from our tribe
had suffered that fate two winters ago. His body had never been found.

My feet stop at the river's edge. This is the favored place for girls to
wash clothes from the river bank. It must still be too early for them to
be here. I eagerly shed my breechclout and dive into the river. Its spirit
embraces me with a cold grip over my body. My hands hit upon the sandy
bottom that I push off to surface for breath. I'm standing in water up to
my chest. The bank is many swimming strides away.

I prevent the river's slow current from carrying me down. My feet are
planted in the sandy bottom. It's a wonderful feeling to swim naked and
carefree! A part of me wonders why I'm able to... as if there's burdens on
my shoulders that have been forsaken. No. I only have my mother's chores to
perform once I've cleaned my body.

I sit down in the muddy water while drawing up handfuls of sand. Its
coarseness is brought over my oily skin, cleaning it. After holding my
breath, I push off the bottom with my feet to surface. A deep breath of air
is taken.

My feet plant into the river's bottom to stop my down drifting. During
my bath underwater, I've been pulled towards the opposite bank. The tipis
of my tribe are far away and with them, my safety! I startle when seeing
someone watching me from the bank. It's a boy. He waves for me to join him.

I'm prepared to launch myself back to my side of the river. A strong
swim could get me back to my tribe if needed. I study the boy. From his
shortly cut hair and facial features, I can see that he's not of my People.
Not even from those who had split from our tribe in the time of my
grandfathers. Who is he?

The boy is almost my height and seems to be a year younger than myself.
He waves at me again. I keep my place in the cold river. He may not be
alone and is trying to draw me into a trap.

I look along the river bank. There's doesn't appear to be anyone else
about. The boy pulls on his thong belt to drop his two deerskin flaps at
his feet. Naked, he walks into the river towards me. I prepare myself to
swim away.

My eyes act funny. They're drawn to the boy's loins to check his size.
He walks in the deepening water that reaches to his waist yet I saw his
dark groin hair and the thickness to his penis. A handful of reddish balls.
He wades closer to me with the water now up to his chest. His hands form a
peace sign.

I return his gesture. The boy plants his feet to keep from drifting in
the slow current. He's an arms length away. A long moment is taken to study
each other. His face proves that he's of another People; my enemy? His
short hair makes him appear younger than he is. He could already be named a
brave! I notice the muscled strength to his arms and in his chest. A most
attractive thing in a male. I'm almost half wishing that he'd attack me so
that we could wrestle our nude bodies in the water. I'd want to test my
strength against his.

'I have something to give you,' the boy gestures.

'Who are you?' I ask.

'Someone not going to harm you,' he replies. 'We are of the same spirit
that is in danger from the Darkness. Please. Follow me back to the bank.'

When I'm about to gesture more questions, the strange boy turns his back
on me to wade towards the bank. I follow him. I'm remembering Big Horn's
training that's meant to keep me from danger but this boy draws me to him.
A kindredship that's hard to explain.

We step onto the bank. I welcome the warm Hand of Father Sun over my
body to dry me. My eyes fall to the boy's rear end. It's nicely shaped and
wiggles when he walks to fetch his breechclout. I recall that my two flaps
are on the other side of the river.

I'm surprised that the boy doesn't cover his body. Instead, he circles
around his golden flaps to face me with a grin. I notice that he's becoming
excited in the loins. His brown pole sticks out towards me. I can't keep my
eyes from it! There's a familiar blood filling in my dick. I'm being drawn
into this boy's offer for sex.

It was only yesterday that Big Horn had shown me how two males could
embrace to make love. I permitted it since that man is my monedo and a
trusted friend. Who is this boy?

'I am Mahyee-na,' he gestures while pronouncing that strange word.

I gasp with surprise. Can this strange boy read my thoughts?! He stands
over his breechclout with a hard dick. I see it standing against his belly
in the expectation of sex. So is mine. Yet I try calming my trembling
breaths and prepare myself to run. This is too strange!

'I want to give you my ring.'

My eyes go to his left hand, to his pointing finger that he shows me is
bearing a silver ring. It would be a fine gift! I swallow nervously in my
throat to hide my suspicion.

'Why?' I ask.

'You will be in need of its Power. Come, we have little time to perform
the ritual that will protect you!'

'Protect me?' I gesture. 'From what?'

'The Darkness that follows the footsteps of Mahyee-na men.'

My heart squeezes with fear at what the boy suggests. Big Horn is
Mahyee-na and I recall that his lover who'd initiated him was killed. Am I
being hunted by this Darkness he warns me of?

'We must swim back to your side of the river,' the boy explains, 'and
stand in the place of your dead. There the ritual be performed. I pass on
my shaman's protection over you, gift his ring along with our love.'

'We should seek out my shaman!'

'No. This is a concern of our secret brotherhood,' he explains. 'I
cannot be seen my your People. No one must learn of what we'll do...'

I face the boy with strong eyes. 'How can I trust a person not from my
tribe that I've just met? Is what you say true?' The boy nods with
understanding. After pausing a moment to think, he kneels at my legs while
reaching for my hands that he brings around his neck.

'My life is in your hands.'

I feel the warmth of his skin against my fingers. It's true. I would
only have to squeeze my hands around his neck to strangle him. My hands
fall to my sides instead. I'm startled when the boy leans his face to my
groin and kisses my erection. Sharp thrills there make me gasp.

'You are also Mahyee-na,' he gestures. 'My ring will pass to you along
with my seed. Come, we must hurry before the sun rises too high in His sky!'

I'm left standing as if rooted to the ground. The boy leaps into the
muddy river and waves for me to join him. I look down at the deerskin flaps
that he's left on the bank. I'm struck by his desire to remain naked. I
turn for the river and reluctantly dive in.

We swim against the current to make our way across the wide river. When
it shallows, our feet make slow strides along the sandy bottom. Often, the
boy look back at me with a sparkle in his eyes. I get the impression that
he knows a lot about me. There's wisdom in his face and much sincerity. I
truly believe that he's come to help me.

The tipis of my tribe come into view. I lead the boy in a direction that
will take us to our dead. With dread, I look for the two girls who are
often washing clothes on the bank. No. It's too early yet for them to come.
We are lucky! It wouldn't go well for them to look upon our male nakedness.

We climb onto the bank. At a run, I lead the boy up river to the place
he's asked to perform his ritual. A part of me begs that I run into camp to
find Big Horn. He is Mahyee-na and could help me understand why the boy has
come. Yet a stronger part of myself believes that I should do what this boy
asks. I'm attracted to his male body. Will a part of his rite include sex
between us?

My camp is left behind. We enter the clearing in the woods where our
dead are raised on wooden platforms. There's the smell of decay. Rarely
have I come here. My father was taken by Spear-bearing Warriors in a raid
when I was ten but they didn't leave his body for us to find. Otherwise, he
would be here with the others of my tribe to have their spirits released
from their lifeless bodies unto the Above.

I feel that my nakedness is very blatant. Without wearing a breechclout,
I'm not honoring the dead and our faces aren't painted in white fire ash as
expected of visitors here. I'm startled by a clanking sound. It's from a
hanging clay bowl that's striking against a woman's wooden platform from
the wind. I remember her death two winters ago. Taboo prevents me from
forming the sound of her name even in my mind. My head lowers.

The boy firmly grasps my arm. He leads me a short distance from the
raised platforms to a grassy patch of earth. His eyes are closed in
concentration. After a moment, he moves a few steps towards the distant
trees. I silently walk at his side.

'Here is the center,' he gestures. 'A wall can be set to trap the
Darkness-that-comes within.'

The boy's eyes open to look around. His arms pull me to stand where he
was and to remain there while he circles around. I watch his feet kick at
the ground to mark a boundary. He chants while making four passes around
me. I look over his lean body with interest. He is much tanned by the sun.
Only the skin of his butt and his hairy groin show lighter skin that's
come from wearing a breechclout. My body reveals this same thing. I become
shamed for looking at the boy with lust. He is conducting a sacred rite
for me that I should be concentrating on.

The chanting ends. He comes to face me with wild looking eyes that
frighten me. My eyes drop down the boy's sweating body to his loins. I see
his rising erection. This causes me to grow excited. I'm feeling confused
by his mixture of sacred ritual and sex. Again, I ask myself why I've come
here. Who is this boy? What is this Darkness he wants to protect me from?

'This is my ring,' the boy gestures while pulling it from his finger. 'I
pass it to you along with the Power. Do you accept?'

I slowly open my left hand for it. The boy releases his silver band
while making a firm grip of his hand around mine. A Word is spoken! It
makes me tremble for some reason. Our sweaty bodies come together, breast
to breast and our hard dicks touch. I feel my butt being held. Still, our
left hands press firmly together between our chests. With my free hand, I
reach around his body to hold his butt. It's soft and moist under my palm.

I gasp when our dicks rub. As in Big Horn's loving embrace yesterday,
this boy is coaxing my body to perform with his. Yet there's no love in my
heart for him. My loins build with sweet lust to his offering. Mostly, I am
afraid by what we do. What is this sacred rite involving his ring? Why does
he want to pass it to me?

My body feels chilled when the boy steps from my arms. I hold his ring
in my left hand. When I look down at our bellies, there's no sign of his
male release. Why did he end our sexual embrace?

'You have accepted my ring,' the boy explains. 'Take my love as well. I
know that you don't understand this ritual but know that I'm doing it to
protect you from the coming Darkness.'

"What is this Darkness!" I shout in frustration.

"Ah. Evil hunts you in man's love," he speaks.

I'm startled by the boy's broken sentence. He can speak some of my
People's tongue! That he tries to speak words I can understand lends his
cause the sincerity that I've been feeling from him from the start. It
makes me trust him a little more.

'There's evil following Big Horn?' I gesture. From the boy's words, I've
gathered that he refers to a man's love for me who could be Big Horn. Only
yesterday, my monedo revealed his heart to me.

'He is your lover?'

I nod my head. 'Will the ring protect him from this Darkness?'

The boy lowers his head. 'I come to help you,' he sadly gestures. 'To
protect you and those who follow in your footsteps.'

My heart aches me for Big Horn! Is the Darkness trying to eat of his
life?! I remember how that man felt weakened after our first mating when I
held the full weight of his body in my arms. There had been a sign of pain
in his tightly closed eyes...

'Complete my rite,' the boy asks. 'Kneel at my legs and perform what
will bring my seed in you. This is the passing of Mahyee-na strength from
the grandmother's side. Your lover will fill you from the grandfather, his
lover.'

I shake my head from not understanding what he's gestured. Before I can
ask, the boy grips my shoulders to pull me down to my knees over the soft
grass. I face his hard loins. His hands relax over my body so that I'm free
to do as he's asked. The idea of taking his seed into me is both alarming
and exciting.

The boy's long brown pole has a thick skin around it. Tucked within is
his glans. I smell the sweetness of his sexual oozing. My lips slowly part
so that I can kiss over its length. My hands grip his upper legs for
support. I'm surprised that I'm mouthing his erection. This is an act I've
not considered before or have been shown by Big Horn!

I'm being drawn into sex's powerful spell. My mouth truly enjoys this
boy's warm dick. My nose takes in its sweet scent. I taste his thick skin
with my tongue while making my up his shaft. A stickiness fills my mouth
from his piss hole. I allow the boy's penetration with his erection fitting
slowly between my lips. I'm actually sucking on his dick!

I hear low chanting. The naked boy is singing strange words in rhythm to
his slow thrusts in my mouth. I keep my tight grip of his legs to hold on.
An image fills my head. I See myself sucking sustenance from mother's milk
that will imbibe me with human compassion, caring for others and a girl's
softness. All this comes from the hard loins of this boy from his mother.

The boy groans in pain when my uncaring teeth scrape under his shaft.
His ritual is momentarily stopped. I lift my body higher to accommodate his
stiff dick and grip his flexing butt when he resumes to stab my mouth.
There's a strong taste over my tongue. It makes a sticky feeling when his
thick shaft sticks further in me. I almost gag!

The chanting grows louder. Our connecting bodies find a good rhythm that
will bring this boy to seed. I realize that I'll be drinking it - a very
strange thought! Are males allowed to do that? I remember Big Horn's words
from yesterday. He told me that I'll be taking his curved dick up my butt
to get it filled with his seed. His lover, Coyote Thief had initiated him
in the Mahyee-na that way. I get a flash of inSight. This boy is his son!

My hands can barely keep their hold over this boy's sweaty ass. His
cheeks are humping like a wild man! I endure the thickness of his dick that
makes we want to gag. Strangely, I'm excited to be allowing this strange
boy his lustful use of my body. I should be used... My tipi is a poor one
and I'm without a father. If he seeks sexual dominance over me, I feel
thrilled that he tries it. Even to rape me if he wants.

My dick really aches me. I can't reach down to pull over it for relief
since I'm keeping my grip of this boy's butt. A stream of my sexual oozing
flows down my struggling erection to my balls. I'm in great need! Will this
boy grant me a release in his arms after he's satisfied?

The singing ends. I hear the boy's low groan followed by a strong gush
at the back of my throat. I'm forced to swallow it! Bad gagging... My hands
rush from around his butt to push against his legs so that I can breathe.
His ending squirts cover my tongue.

Some words are breathed by the boy with his sighs of pleasure. Slowly,
he pulls his wet dick from my mouth. His strong arms pull me up to face
him as an equal. I keep myself from swallowing his ending release.

'The ritual of passing my ring unto you is done,' he gestures wearily.

I look down into both of my hands in a rush. The silver ring... Where is
it? My eyes dart over the ground for where it must have dropped!

'No. It has gone inside you for a while,' he explains. 'Your spirit is
being bound with its Power. Soon, your hand will find it again as if for
the first time. Accept its Power by placing it over your finger.' The boy
indicates his left pointing finger.

My eyes widen with wonder. I can't find the silver ring that I've been
clutching so his words must be true about it. There's a sparkle in the
boy's eyes. I feel that he can read my emotions; Know my inner self. I'm
startled when his face presses my face with his lips touching mine. A kiss.
I'm being drawn into the sweet love that he's offer me. Our arms wrap
around each other's bodies in a tight hug. I allow his tongue in me. He
notices what I've been keeping in my mouth and takes some back to swallow.
Sheepishly, I swallow what remains of his sticky cum.

Between our sweaty bellies I feel my hard dick pressing against his. It
aches me to complete myself in his loving arms. When I begin my lusty
thrusts, the boy loosens his arms from around my back. It's as if he hasn't
noticed my own male need.

'It is good what we done,' he gestures after the embrace.

'Yes. Though I don't understand much of it,' I admit with a lowered head.
The boy's hand grips my right shoulder. I see compassion in his dark eyes
and feel our connection.

'You are special, Bird in the Willows. My shaman has told me about you
and I see the truth of his vision standing before me.'

His hands outline my naked form before him. I look down at my dripping
dick with some sadness. Why won't he embrace my need to release it?

'That expression of love is for another,' the boy explains.

I'm struck again by his ability to read my thoughts! The boy utters a
Word that strikes me like a tomahawk to my head. I'm feeling faint by his
blow. He carries me from the place of our dead back to the river. I hear a
voice inside my head that asks me to forget things... To hide away what
we've done together and to begin again this day from my mother's tipi. My
two flaps are fetched from the river bank and placed over my body. I'm
totally in this boy's control.

I find myself laying over the soft dirt within my mother's tipi. My eyes
snap open as if coming out of a deep dream. Already, its images are fading...
I sit up in alarm to look for that naked boy. Where is he?

'Come to accept yourself, Bird in the Willows,' speaks a voice in my
head. 'All the greatness that you are to become is already within you!'

Snarling Bear releases his tight grip of my left hand. I'm returned to
the Now with an awakened memory. This healer shaman kneeling before me -
he is whom that strange boy had spoken of!

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{End file: WILLOW-BIRD-WARRIOR-7 Story continues in: WILLOW-BIRD-WARRIOR-8