Greyfeather

It was late in a cold afternoon. The familiar, welcoming smells of wood burning drifted quietly from the neighbouring teepees, while Greyfeather sat and waited for the old chief to speak. The old man kept his eyes lowered as he gazed into the fire, spoke clearly and softly without moving.

'In the beginning, the Great White Spirit, Wankan-Tanka, sent his favourite animals to teach man many lessons. First, he sent the Cougar, the mighty mountain-lion, and the Deer. You know these ones?' he asked.

'Yes, I do,' said Greyfeather.

'The Mountain lion had searched for many days for food without success and he was becoming very weak. He was worried about his mate and her cubs. They had not eaten either. When at last, he saw the Deer, he chased her all the way down the mountain, along the canyon and across the plain. Although the Deer ran very fast the Lion somehow found the strength he needed to catch the her. He knew that perhaps his very life and the lives of his family depended on this kill. Finally, with a last desperate effort, he brought the Deer struggling to the ground and held he in his large paws.'

'He whispered. “I am sorry, little sister, that I should take your life, but I am hungry and I must feed my family.”

'The Mountain Lion then swiftly dispatched his kill. Although he slew the Deer, the Lion behaved with humility in his moment of triumph.'

'Yes, I understand,' said Greyfeather.

The old chief continued with his story.

'Then Wankan-Tanka sent the Grizzly Bear and the Wolf. Do you know these ones?' asked the old chief.

'Yes, I do.'

'It had been said that where the Bears walks, there is power. This is surely true. The Bear is very mighty, but can be very bad tempered, and there lies his weakness.
When the Wolf first met the Bear, the Wolf snarled and growled loudly. The hairs on his back raised to make him look bigger as he slowly stalked around the Bear. The Bear growled back and lashed out with his razor-sharp claws, but the Wolf was too quick. Each time the Bear missed with his claws the Wolf dived in and snapped at his feet. The Bear grew more and more angry as he lashed out in his frustrated efforts to catch the agile Wolf. Again, the Bear lunged forward and chased the Wolf around the woods, while the Wolf, in turn, managed to move in close enough to nip the Bear's rear. The more the Wolf teased the Bear the more angry he became until, in a violent rage, he rushed headlong into the Wolf. The Wolf managed to leap aside while the Bear crashed into the bushes, tripped over and rolled down the mountain slope, bumping into rocks and trees until he rolled completely over the cliff top and plunged to his death below. The Bear had lost control as a result of his temper, while the Wolf remained cool and cunning. The Wolf, in his wisdom, used temperance in anger.'

The old chief looked up at Greyfeather.

'Yes, I understand,' said Greyfeather.

The old man continued.

'Wankan-Tanka had also sent the Seal to the North, to live amongst the cold seas and the snows. Do you know this one?'

Greyfeather nodded.

'A mother Seal had left her baby cub on the snow away from the water's edge while she hunted for fish. She always made sure the great Polar Bear was not around to eat her baby. However, she never looked up to see the mighty White Eagle, circling above. Suddenly, he saw his chance and swooped down and flew off with her cub.

'“Eeeeeeeeeeoooow!”, she howled. There was nothing she could do. She just howled and howled. For days she lay on the snow, not eating or sleeping, just crying and howling for her lost cub. As she grew weaker and weaker, Wankan-Tanka felt sorry for her.
She was given a vision and her baby cub called to her. He was healthy and happy, and the mother knew her baby was back home where all seals must eventually return. She was overjoyed to know he was safe, although she still missed him terribly.'

'That is a very sad story', said Greyfeather.

'Yes, it is, but then, she had found the beauty of joy in sorrow.'

The old chief slowly lifted his head, while the fire crackled and sent hot stars into the evening sky.

'You know, my son, one day perhaps, you will know “humility in triumph, temperance in anger, and joy in sorrow”. Then you might, one day, walk across the Plain of the Ancients at home.'

The old chief lowered his head once more and closed his eyes for the last time, while a lone Wolf howled somewhere in the night.

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