The Eyes of Dream Catcher

Chapter 1

It was a cold, dreary November day and the tribe, Tashunke Chante, felt the same way. A week before, they had been pushed out of their homeland by white men, who slaughtered many natives and their families. As the natives trudged on looking for hope, the native families mourned and cried over their lost family members. One young girl, at the age of sixteen, had lost her family in a fire the English men had set to her home. A young warrior had grabbed her before the flames engulfed her. However, she had been severely burned to the point of amputation, and it was hard for her to walk long periods of time. The young warrior, who had saved her, had often pulled her on his horse. The young warrior's name was Heecha, which meant owl, and the young girl's was Hehaka, which meant elk. They had been childhood friends and were named after the first animals they had ever killed. They both had wonderful families but had been murdered in the recent battle. Heecha's parents had been killed by guns, which the native's didn't posses. Heecha couldn't speak, but he was a wonderful warrior for the tribe. Hehaka was known for her love for horses, and she was responsible for caring for the tribe's many paint horses. However, Hehaka was never allowed to keep a horse of her own. The horses were only meant for the men warriors. Hehaka had always wished for a horse of her own, but she was happy with being the caretaker of the horses. Heecha knew of Hehaka's love for horses, and they would often ride together in the woods on his horse. They waited till everyone was asleep, and they would canter away, stealing the night on Heecha's horse. Now, however, Hehaka felt completely worthless and had no more hope. She felt limp on Heecha's horse as they traveled to a new clearing in the woods. The pain made her heart ache as she watched her tribe set up the bleak and slightly burnt tepees, knowing that her family would no longer live in a tepee with her. She would be placed in a tepee full of wounded natives. As Heecha got off his horse, Hehaka fell forward and clutched Heecha's horse with one arm, Heecha grabbed her, fearing she would fall and carried her to a tepee that was already set up. He placed her in a bed, gently. He softly placed a bear skin over her burnt body and left to help the rest of the warriors. Hehaka's eyes filled with tears, and she buried her head in her knees, which were red and scarred. She felt as though she would never recover from the trauma that continually haunted her. She fell asleep, as taunting memories flooded her head.