The Legend of Black Wolf - Sully's Journey Home

Chapter Forty One

        As Sully exited Cloud Dancing's tent, his friend right behind him, he couldn't get over what the medicine man had told him.  With a pouch of ceremonial herbs in one hand, Cloud Dancing clapped his friend on the shoulder with his free hand before he went on with the ceremony for Tall Rock.

     "You should take an offering to the Spirits to thank them for the dream."  Cloud Dancing said.  He handed him a small bundle of tied herbs.  "Burn this in a fire away from camp.  Find a quiet place to pray.  It is important to honor the Spirits."  

     "What should I say?  I don't know any of the prayers."  Sully said, looking worriedly at the herbs in his hand.

     "You are not Cheyenne.  Do not try to use our words.  Speak with your heart."  With this, Cloud Dancing walked away, leaving Sully to figure out his prayer on his own.  He turned before leaving and stared again at Snow Bird's new horse, Flash In The Sky.  Without warning, the horse gave a snort and broke Sully out of his reverie, making him jump back just a little.  He quickly walked off towards his teepee to gather things he would need, then set out to find a proper place to pray.

     As Sully felt drawn to where he had first had a vision of the strange mystery woman, he thought of what had led him to that place the first time.  He thought of Wolf keeping him from walking headlong into the lake waters that day, and the terrible snow that followed.  Soon, Sully was where he felt he could pray best, but his mind was preoccupied with remembering Wolf instead of musing about the lady in his dreams.

     When there was finally enough wood to last a while, Sully got the flames going and crouched on the cold ground.  What snow had been was mostly blown off by the recent winds, and now, all that was left clung in pockets among the tufts of winter grasses here and there.  When the fire was bright, Sully took the bundle of herbs he had been given and tossed them in.  Instantly, the fire flared brightly and a pungent smell filled the air.  Closing his eyes, Sully began to pray to whatever Spirits might be nearby.  He thanked them for bringing him back to a safe place within the Cheyenne tribe.  He thanked the Spirits for helping him get through another winter, then, before he could think of anything else to say, he went over the dreams again in his mind.  

     Bringing back every detail, Sully took in the sight in his mind's eye and wondered who she could be.  Cloud Dancing had talked about dreams like this being about the future.  But what kind of future could be in store for a woman such as that and a man such as him?  What could two people ever find in common when he was the kind of man who had essentially given up his former way of life to start over with Indians?  She was so captivating he doubted a woman like that would ever even look at him twice.

     Keeping his eyes closed, Sully slouched closer to the ground, his maudlin thoughts drawing him deeper in thought.  It was such a time that, normally, he would have reached out to run a hand through Wolf's fur.  Knowing his friend was near when he was having those kinds of thoughts always made him feel not so alone.  His heart turned back toward the Spirits and Sully thanked the Great Spirit for allowing him to have saved Wolf.  Running a hand through his ever growing hair, Sully thought about how nice it had been to share his days with Wolf.  Thinking of how awkward he had been as a young pup brought a smile to his face.  Taking in the fragrance of the herbs as he sat in thought, his eyes closed, Sully felt a renewed sense of peace with the prayers.

     As he came back to himself, he slowly opened his eyes.  Watching the fire a while, Sully finally put the flames out and prepared to return to his teepee.  There were chores to be done before the sun set.  Standing abruptly and turning, he came face to face with Wolf!  In Sully's eyes, there was no mistaking that muzzle or the wag of that tail.  Wolf stood next to a bit of an old log, looking up at his old friend with a hesitant look on his face.  The last time that Sully had known Wolf to have been around people, they were trying to get him to leave the camp, and they hadn't been kind.  Sully wondered if Wolf might be a bit afraid of Sully now.