Chief Soaring Hawk had been born again to this tribe ten years before his brother returned to his side. The event of his brother's birth awakened something within him as soon as looked at the child. A longheld protectiveness seized him and the name Lan Zhan entered his mind.
A vision of another small boy turning to smile. Lighter skin, longer eyes dressed in floating white. Yet so familiar, so the same.
"Lan Xi Chen! Is it time for music lessons?"
They had been brothers before. This chance to devote himself to the same brother was priceless to him. Although he kept this knowledge to himself, he began to sort through that past life, adjusting to a belief similar but not exactly the same as one taught him in this lifetime. It kept him focused on providing Cloud Chief with every bit of information that could help him survive if the unforseen occured. Which , as fate would have it, it did.
His heart had shattered when their father had sent Cloud Chief aŵay to their Uncle to follow in his dead cousins' footsteps. They had been inseparable for the six years of since his birth. He had taught him to hunt, fish, shoot the bow, scout, and basic fighting. Their closeness was strong and outlasted their enforced separation. Now, he wondered what step to take next. His instinct was to speak openly to his brother, since this secret was no longer something he felt comfortable hiding, but was it a good instint or one that was based on a selfish need?
Soaring Hawk found himself in front of the teepee belonging to the tribe's Shaman, Fire Walking Woman. She was older, at least 50 and her knowledge was immense. Strong and very wise, she would guide him.
The old Medicine Woman greeted him at the door.
"Soaring Hawk. It is good to see you. I had a feeling you would stop by today. How may I help?"
"I think we must have a gathering. You, me and the 4 others. I feel it is time to speak with them all at once. Rabbit and Cloud Chief, I think, may recognize each other. Your Mother's prophesy is coming true. The other two have recognized one another since long before Cloud Chief's return. We recognized each other as you began training me when I was young Awakenening the 4 now, to the full knowledge if our mutual pasts in Cloud Recesses is urgent.
The Crow are becoming more aggressive with us and the our Lakota allies. The Whites are moving West quickly. Plans must be made for our small group. With 3 Two-Spirits here, they will be in great danger from Crow and Whites alike. We must give all 3 of you protection."
She laughed gently. "I am old, sent earlier this time to guide you others. My time will come before yours. I already know this, and I am completely at ease with my fate. This knowledge, if they have the courage to accept it, will aid them in the conflicts to come."
"I agree. We must have a meeting with them. Prepare a Sweat Lodge in a private spot. Away from camp. We will bring what is necessary to open them to a wider perspective. They will look to you as leader, now, just as they did their first lives together."
"Thank you once again, Fire Walking Woman. Your guidance is grace to me, as usual, when we meet. Have you found who you seek?"
She smiled somewhat sadly, deepening the creases on her worn, but lovely face. "Not yet. Visions tell me his name and that Ghost Warrior seeks us all. He has not stopped in centuries. His companion still accompanies him. I am simply happy he is no longer alone."
"Spirit is singular. They will never leave him. Destiny will decide if we meet those two. I will set up our gathering. The lodge will be ready in one week."
******
"What could Soaring Hawk mean? Asking us to meeting him and follow him in a week? And to keep it secret from anyone else?"
Running Deer was completely astonished. "Such an odd order, to come from their Chief. "
"He will have his reasons. We will attend."
Red Arrows hung her quiver and bow by the door entrance where they could by retrieved quickly. She removed her game bags. The first one was heavy.
"Deer. A buck around two years, The skin is outside."
She followed the first bag with a second, smaller one
"Porqupine. Young, large and tender. The heart was sweet."
Running Deer kissed her swiftly. Her eyes twinkled.
"Quills?"
Red Arrows grinned and handed over a huge bag, stuffed full.
"I left him naked. Enough for fancy shirts and dresses for all of us for next powwow!"
She squealed in delight and pounced on her partner who wrapped her up in a strong bear hug.
"Oh wife! I have missed you. Are the children due home soon?" She arched an eyebrow in her direction and Running Deer felt her loins melt.
She whispered huskily, the sound sending delighted shivers down Red Arrows' spine.
"Oh, my Beauty, my Aunty is watching them tonight. And I took a trip to the river to sweeten up earlier."
"As did I, before I returned." She trembled as Running deer kissed her clavicle, then trailed her tongue up the muscled neck. Only her Warrior's Woman could make the strong Two-Spirit tremble in surrender and she sank to her knees. Running Deer smiled in satisfaction and knelt to remove her lover's shirt , then slipped the leggings free. She stood once more, easily dominating the more powerful figure on the floor. She let her white buckskin dress fall in a soft pool to the ground. She loosened Red Sleeves' long thick braid until it fell in loose waves around the well-muscled shoulders and back, tapering to a deep V to her buttocks. Running Deer moved in for a deep kiss then opened her amber eyes to drink in the molten copper ones of her partner. They sank into tie warm buffalo skins and began to feast, soft whimpers filling the teepee. Life could not possible be more full than at this moment.
******
Cloud Chief and Rabbit broke from one another, both men's chests heaving with frustration. Surely one or the other of them were going to explode with frustration by the time the wedding arrived.
"This is ridiculous," muttered Cloud Chief as he adjusted his suddenly uncomfortable loin cloth, inadvertantly exposing himself to his lover. Rabbit swallowed hard in order not to salivate down his chin, eyes wide in disbelief. He knew how desperate his partner was becoming. And this glimpse of things to come did nothing to quell his own desire. It was driving them both to distraction.
"I know my love. It is so silly. It is not that it is likely either of us will become pregnant!'
Cloud Chief burst out laughing. "You make a very good point."
"But what good is a good point going to do us?" whined Rabbit sulkily.
"Brother wants to meet with us privately in a week. Perhaps I can convince him a little alone time will do us a world of good."
"Our individual visits to the river are cutting into the household time for the women. They are beginning to curse everytime they see me."
"Great Spirit, how often are you down there?"
"That is none if your business, Cloud Chief! None of your business what-so-ever! Just talk to your brother, please!"
