The Legend of Black Wolf - Sully's Journey Home

Chapter Thirty Five

In our previous chapter, Sully had a fateful encounter with the young brave, Bright Spears, after Wolf had been shot.  We now return to the cold Colorado winter to find out Sully's fate, as he and Wolf are still lost in the snow covered woods...

     When Cloud Dancing had spoken to his Chief about the sign the Spirits had sent him regarding Black Wolf, it was decided that some young braves would be sent out in a search party. Black Kettle would not allow his medicine man to leave the camp and risk harm when the weather was so bad. Cloud Dancing did not approve of the decision, but he respected his Chief and instructed the braves on where to go and check for Sully.

     It was right that Black Kettle had kept the medicine man close to the tribe, for, that day, one of the newly married women came down with a very severe case of morning sickness. Cloud Dancing was quite occupied with helping the family tend to her, as this was to be her first baby. He asked his son to be sure and bring him word of Black Wolf if any of the braves returned with news on the search.

     As it was, two groups of three braves were sent out in opposite directions in the hopes of locating Sully’s tracks from the day before. The trio of young men who went out into the forest were lucky to soon see Sully’s signal fire. They eagerly headed off towards the smoke when a shot rang out through the trees. It stopped all of them for a moment, and they armed themselves with bows and arrows before continuing any further. Taking their time through the slick snow so as not to fall with a drawn weapon in hand, they continued on, but the signal fire started to die out. They questioned amongst themselves if they could hear anything else, when Sully’s voice came to them.

      “Listen!” One said. Although they couldn’t understand Sully, who was using the English word ‘help’ in his moment of exhaustion, they knew it had to be related to the rifle shot.

      “We will circle around when we get closer.” The second one said.

      “Do not get too close until we know it safe for each other.” The third whispered.

      And so it was that the three, who had not had the chance to sit and hear Hook Nose and Sully talk back and forth in learning Cheyenne and English, came upon Sully holding a bleeding Wolf in the clearing where he had killed Bright Spears. His words meant nothing to them, and they were wary of the strange white man that ventured to live among them. The youngest, who circled around behind Sully, saw Bright Spears lying in the snow and became frightened. In his first sight of a murder, he couldn’t be sure of how the death had happened. Rooted to the spot in fear, he waited on trembling legs to listen for his friends to give a signal bird call and let him know it was alright.

      The other two braves came upon Sully, one on each side of him. He was crumpled in the snow, unable to hold Wolf up any longer. His lips were starting to turn blue, and his teeth chattered in between shouts. The animal’s head lolled to the side of Sully’s arm, and it was wrapped up in his coat that the braves instantly recognized.

      ‘It is Black Wolf.’ The first thought to himself. ‘Won’t our medicine man be glad we have found him!’ But no sooner was the thought formed in his mind than he saw the blood on Sully’s hands, and the trail of blood that led back to where a form lay prostate in the snow. Sully looked up, and, as their eyes met, the young man wasn’t so sure now if he should lower his weapon or not. He looked over to his two friends, and they held tight to their bows, arrows still drawn, so he did the same.

      “Cloud Dancing.” Sully croaked to the braves in Cheyenne. “I need Cloud Dancing.” He had obviously been out in the cold too long, but the braves were loath to get near him. The first one called out to the third who stood by Bright Spears body.