Post by Lucilius Solo on Sept 22, 2008 20:38:03 GMT -5
PLEASE GIVE ME COMMENTS. GOOD OR BAD.
Prolouge:
There was the pitter-patter of numerous horse hooves as a Lakota war party made it's way into The Badlands. They were hunting a raiding party of Crows who had snuck away with a dozen of the tribes horses. The Lakota war party, was led by War Chief Spotted Elk. Chief Spotted Elk, was the wisest man and the most respected of the Hunkpapa Lakota, and was naturally chosen to lead the party. Flanking Spotted Elk were his two sons, the oldest of the two, Stands Alone, was walking beside Spotted Elk and was constantly scanning the area for their Crow enemies.
The youngest of Spotted Elk's sons, was Growling Bear, who was atop a jet-black war horse. Growling Bear was equipped with a quiver of arrows and a bow, a tomahawk, and a war club. Growling Bear's mahogany skin was covered with war paint, which consisted of a yellow lightning strike down the left side of his face and white hail stones. Unlike his father and brother, Growling Bear wore a war bonnet that consisted of over three hundred eagle feathers, the most of any Lakota warrior in the tribe, save for his father. Suddenly, Stands Alone let out a yell of warning and the war party stopped dead in their tracks.
Spotted Elk raised his hand, which meant for the tribe to remain silent. Looking back at them he hissed "The white men trample around these parts. With no respect for the land." All around them, there were war cries, and the Crows emerged from behind a bluff, brandishing their tomahawks and riding the very same horses they had stolen from the Lakotas. Letting a war cry escape his lips, Growling Bear charged the Crows and using his war club, killed one of the Crows. All around him, Growling Bear saw mounted Lakotas and unmounted Lakotas hacking at any part of the rival Crows that they could reach.
The leader of the Crows, a menacing figure named Silent Thunder, was aiming an arrow at Spotted Elk's chest. Silent Thunder released the arrow, which struck Spotted Elk in the chest, and forced off his horse. Growling Bear released an arrow which struck a Crow in the back. With a howl of pain, the Crow collapsed in the now crimson dirt. By now many of the Crow raiders lay dead in the dirt, and the Lakotas had suffered just as bad.
Growling Bear gripped the wooden handle of his tomahawk firmly, and then threw it with all his might at Silent Thunder. With dull thump, the tomahawk connected and Silent Thunder slid off of his horse and landed in the dirt. With a single cry, the remaining Crows galloped off. The Lakotas let out a yell of victory, as Growling Bear dismounted and went to check on Spotted Elk. Spotted Elk was laying in the dirt, and breathing in ragged gasps, with the shaft of the bow sticking out in the middle of his chest. Growling Bear saw Stands Alone limping towards them, a huge gash from a tomahawk on his thigh, staining his buckskin pants crimson. "Re....remeber my sons. Your father.....your father never sold his land. Close.....close your ears when someone wishes you to sell the land the Great Spirit Chief gave us" and with that final word, Spotted Elk closed his eyes and died.
Unfinished Chapter One (A work in Progress):
The Hunkpapas had a nice camp nestled on the shores of a river that ran through the sacred Black Hills. Since the death of Spotted Elk, the camp had come under the command of Black Buffalo, a fierce Lakota warrior and friend of the sons of Spotted Elk, Stands Alone and Growling Bear. Growling Bear sat crossed legged in his tipi with one of his wives, She-Speaks-For-Her-Nation, who had their son Lone Wolf, strapped to her back. "Black Buffalo has promised me revenge on the Crows." said Growling Bear fiercely, looking down at his father's tomahawk lying on the floor in front of him. She-Speaks-For-Her-Nation looked at Growling Bear with great concern and said "I thought you got the one who brought down Spotted Elk?" Growling Bear looked up at her and replied "I did. But some of those Crows escaped. I may not get them this year or even in this lifetime, but the Great Spirit Chief will get them in the next life if I cannot."
The entrance flap to the tipi opened, and Growling Bear's brother Stands Alone walked in. Growling Bear stood up as Stands Alone had his dark eyes transfixed on Spotted Elk's tomahawk. "Growling Bear" began Stands Alone "Black Buffalo requires all the leaders of the camp to assemble around the river. That includes us." Growling Bear nodded, and then added almost as an after thought "Did he say why?" Stands Alone shook his head and walked out of the tipi. Growling Bear picked up Spotted Elk's tomahawk and held it firmly in his hand, before handing it to She-Speaks-For-Her-Nation, and walking out of the tipi.
Growling Bear followed Stands Alone to the very edge of the river, where Black Buffalo sat with the rest of the camp leaders. Black Buffalo motioned for Stands Alone and Growling Bear to sit on either side of him. Stands Alone sat on the left, and Growling Bear on the right. No sooner had Growling Bear and Stands Alone joined the group, there was the distinctive sound of horses pattering up the trail. Eventually, the riders of the horses came into view. They were members of the US Army. At the head of the soldiers, was a General well known to that particular band of Lakotas, he was General Nathaniel Franklin. Franklin's men stopped their horses a few feet from where Growling Bear and the group sat, and the soldiers dismounted.
General Franklin walked over to Black Buffalo, and said "The United States Government would like to make an offer for you to allow settlers to pass through the land you are on." with that Growling Bear stifled a scoff, but decided to listen to what General Franklin had to say. General Franklin walked over to his saddle bag and pulled out one Winchester rifle and placed it in the middle of where Growling Bear and the other leaders sat. "We are willing to supply you with two dozen of these rifles as well as this-" and General Franklin pulled out a flask from his pocket and unstoppering it, passed it around. Each of the leaders took a sip of this white man drink, but when it came to Growling Bear he spat on the ground and passed it on, without tasting even a drop. Once the flask had been emptied, it was handed back to General Franklin who placed it back in his pocket. "So?" General Franklin asked "what do you say?"
Black Buffalo stood up and looking at all the Indians around him, said "My people are in no condition to deny your Great White Chief. I will touch the pen for this." with Black Buffalo's statement, Growling Bear stood up angrily and rounding on Black Buffalo said "How can you allow white men to trample these sacred lands? I will not touch the pen." turning to Stands Alone, Growling Bear said "What of you my brother?"
Stands Alone scratched his chin, and then said "I agree with Growling Bear. Before our father died, he told us never to sell our land, and to close our ears when someone was asking us too. I will not touch the pen." Black Buffalo opened his mouth to speak again but Growling Bear cut him off and said fiercely "You lost all right to speak in these matters when you agreed to sell our land. Look at me," challenged Growling Bear to the listening men. "See if I am poor. The whites may get me at last, as you say, but I will have good times until then. I will not let the white men trample around these sacred hills for anything. Black Buffalo, you are a fool to make yourself a slave to the white men, and for what? A few rifles they do not need or want anymore? And some of the white man's drink?"
Growling Bear took a quick breath and sat down. He had said his piece. This time, a Lakota chief Soaring Eagle, stood up and said "We must follow Black Buffalo. Growling Bear's pride blinds him to the true needs of our people. The need to advance, and if we must allow white men to come across these lands then so be it. We must not start a war beween our people and the white man." Soaring Eagle sat down and remained silent for the rest of the meeting. Though Soaring Eagle supported Black Buffalo, none of the other leaders did.
Prolouge:
Prologue:
Hunting The Crow
Badlands, Lakota Territory
1873
Hunting The Crow
Badlands, Lakota Territory
1873
There was the pitter-patter of numerous horse hooves as a Lakota war party made it's way into The Badlands. They were hunting a raiding party of Crows who had snuck away with a dozen of the tribes horses. The Lakota war party, was led by War Chief Spotted Elk. Chief Spotted Elk, was the wisest man and the most respected of the Hunkpapa Lakota, and was naturally chosen to lead the party. Flanking Spotted Elk were his two sons, the oldest of the two, Stands Alone, was walking beside Spotted Elk and was constantly scanning the area for their Crow enemies.
The youngest of Spotted Elk's sons, was Growling Bear, who was atop a jet-black war horse. Growling Bear was equipped with a quiver of arrows and a bow, a tomahawk, and a war club. Growling Bear's mahogany skin was covered with war paint, which consisted of a yellow lightning strike down the left side of his face and white hail stones. Unlike his father and brother, Growling Bear wore a war bonnet that consisted of over three hundred eagle feathers, the most of any Lakota warrior in the tribe, save for his father. Suddenly, Stands Alone let out a yell of warning and the war party stopped dead in their tracks.
Spotted Elk raised his hand, which meant for the tribe to remain silent. Looking back at them he hissed "The white men trample around these parts. With no respect for the land." All around them, there were war cries, and the Crows emerged from behind a bluff, brandishing their tomahawks and riding the very same horses they had stolen from the Lakotas. Letting a war cry escape his lips, Growling Bear charged the Crows and using his war club, killed one of the Crows. All around him, Growling Bear saw mounted Lakotas and unmounted Lakotas hacking at any part of the rival Crows that they could reach.
The leader of the Crows, a menacing figure named Silent Thunder, was aiming an arrow at Spotted Elk's chest. Silent Thunder released the arrow, which struck Spotted Elk in the chest, and forced off his horse. Growling Bear released an arrow which struck a Crow in the back. With a howl of pain, the Crow collapsed in the now crimson dirt. By now many of the Crow raiders lay dead in the dirt, and the Lakotas had suffered just as bad.
Growling Bear gripped the wooden handle of his tomahawk firmly, and then threw it with all his might at Silent Thunder. With dull thump, the tomahawk connected and Silent Thunder slid off of his horse and landed in the dirt. With a single cry, the remaining Crows galloped off. The Lakotas let out a yell of victory, as Growling Bear dismounted and went to check on Spotted Elk. Spotted Elk was laying in the dirt, and breathing in ragged gasps, with the shaft of the bow sticking out in the middle of his chest. Growling Bear saw Stands Alone limping towards them, a huge gash from a tomahawk on his thigh, staining his buckskin pants crimson. "Re....remeber my sons. Your father.....your father never sold his land. Close.....close your ears when someone wishes you to sell the land the Great Spirit Chief gave us" and with that final word, Spotted Elk closed his eyes and died.
Unfinished Chapter One (A work in Progress):
Chapter One:
The White War Chiefs
Hunkpapa Camp, The Black Hills, Lakota Territory
1873
The White War Chiefs
Hunkpapa Camp, The Black Hills, Lakota Territory
1873
The Hunkpapas had a nice camp nestled on the shores of a river that ran through the sacred Black Hills. Since the death of Spotted Elk, the camp had come under the command of Black Buffalo, a fierce Lakota warrior and friend of the sons of Spotted Elk, Stands Alone and Growling Bear. Growling Bear sat crossed legged in his tipi with one of his wives, She-Speaks-For-Her-Nation, who had their son Lone Wolf, strapped to her back. "Black Buffalo has promised me revenge on the Crows." said Growling Bear fiercely, looking down at his father's tomahawk lying on the floor in front of him. She-Speaks-For-Her-Nation looked at Growling Bear with great concern and said "I thought you got the one who brought down Spotted Elk?" Growling Bear looked up at her and replied "I did. But some of those Crows escaped. I may not get them this year or even in this lifetime, but the Great Spirit Chief will get them in the next life if I cannot."
The entrance flap to the tipi opened, and Growling Bear's brother Stands Alone walked in. Growling Bear stood up as Stands Alone had his dark eyes transfixed on Spotted Elk's tomahawk. "Growling Bear" began Stands Alone "Black Buffalo requires all the leaders of the camp to assemble around the river. That includes us." Growling Bear nodded, and then added almost as an after thought "Did he say why?" Stands Alone shook his head and walked out of the tipi. Growling Bear picked up Spotted Elk's tomahawk and held it firmly in his hand, before handing it to She-Speaks-For-Her-Nation, and walking out of the tipi.
Growling Bear followed Stands Alone to the very edge of the river, where Black Buffalo sat with the rest of the camp leaders. Black Buffalo motioned for Stands Alone and Growling Bear to sit on either side of him. Stands Alone sat on the left, and Growling Bear on the right. No sooner had Growling Bear and Stands Alone joined the group, there was the distinctive sound of horses pattering up the trail. Eventually, the riders of the horses came into view. They were members of the US Army. At the head of the soldiers, was a General well known to that particular band of Lakotas, he was General Nathaniel Franklin. Franklin's men stopped their horses a few feet from where Growling Bear and the group sat, and the soldiers dismounted.
General Franklin walked over to Black Buffalo, and said "The United States Government would like to make an offer for you to allow settlers to pass through the land you are on." with that Growling Bear stifled a scoff, but decided to listen to what General Franklin had to say. General Franklin walked over to his saddle bag and pulled out one Winchester rifle and placed it in the middle of where Growling Bear and the other leaders sat. "We are willing to supply you with two dozen of these rifles as well as this-" and General Franklin pulled out a flask from his pocket and unstoppering it, passed it around. Each of the leaders took a sip of this white man drink, but when it came to Growling Bear he spat on the ground and passed it on, without tasting even a drop. Once the flask had been emptied, it was handed back to General Franklin who placed it back in his pocket. "So?" General Franklin asked "what do you say?"
Black Buffalo stood up and looking at all the Indians around him, said "My people are in no condition to deny your Great White Chief. I will touch the pen for this." with Black Buffalo's statement, Growling Bear stood up angrily and rounding on Black Buffalo said "How can you allow white men to trample these sacred lands? I will not touch the pen." turning to Stands Alone, Growling Bear said "What of you my brother?"
Stands Alone scratched his chin, and then said "I agree with Growling Bear. Before our father died, he told us never to sell our land, and to close our ears when someone was asking us too. I will not touch the pen." Black Buffalo opened his mouth to speak again but Growling Bear cut him off and said fiercely "You lost all right to speak in these matters when you agreed to sell our land. Look at me," challenged Growling Bear to the listening men. "See if I am poor. The whites may get me at last, as you say, but I will have good times until then. I will not let the white men trample around these sacred hills for anything. Black Buffalo, you are a fool to make yourself a slave to the white men, and for what? A few rifles they do not need or want anymore? And some of the white man's drink?"
Growling Bear took a quick breath and sat down. He had said his piece. This time, a Lakota chief Soaring Eagle, stood up and said "We must follow Black Buffalo. Growling Bear's pride blinds him to the true needs of our people. The need to advance, and if we must allow white men to come across these lands then so be it. We must not start a war beween our people and the white man." Soaring Eagle sat down and remained silent for the rest of the meeting. Though Soaring Eagle supported Black Buffalo, none of the other leaders did.