The Eyes of Dream Catcher

Chapter 2

She woke hours later with one of the native elders by her side. She had slept for two days and was starving by the time she woke up. She was handed some corn and cooked venison, as if the elder could read her mind. She ate hungrily. Now, with a slight burst of energy, she sat up and then laid back down, remembering she had nothing to live for. A tear trickled down her face as Heecha walked into the tepee. His eyes fell upon Hehaka and asked in sign language if she was ill today. The elder signed back to him, telling him she needed rest. He pointed to Hehaka, asking if  he could visit her., and the elderly woman nodded. Hehaka tried sitting up but winced in pain as her burns tortured her. Heecha smiled weakly at her, but she couldn't smile back. She was miserable and depressed. Why should she smile? Heecha stroked her long, beautiful black hair and then stood to leave. Hehake fell back into a slumber, but was abruptly woken by the sound of a fellow native screaming in pain, as his hand was being amputated due to a bullet hole. Hehaka couldn't look. She felt bad for him.

Eventually, the screams were too much. Hehaka stood and limped out to see the horses, hoping for some relief. The corral, however, wasn't much better. Several horses had been shot with arrows. They had suffered just as harshly as the tribe had. Another tear rolled down Hehaka's face as a beautiful black and white paint collapsed to the ground. She couldn't take it any longer. She didn't care if she lived or died. Hehaka began walking towards the unknown woods and then began running, despite the pain in her legs. Heecha had been watching her and jumped up. He ran into the woods trying to find her. A chill ran down his spine, as Heecha thought of what could get to her before he could. He thought he saw a flash of her black hair and then a flash of grey fur. He ran towards what he thought was her hair. He came upon a fallen tree and saw her sprawled over it. She was softly groaning in pain, and she was trying to get up. Heecha jumped over the tree and grabbed her. He sat her up, and she tried jerking away from him. She fought and yelled at him to let go. He gently shook her, and she hung her head low. She had given up trying to escape his grasp. Heecha tried to look in her eyes. They were filled with tears, and her eyes were as red as blood. He watched her for a moment. He knew what was bothering her. He stood, whistled, and his horse came running. A the animal approached, Heecha watched as Hehaka smiled. She began crying again, but the sight of the beautiful animal gave her the urge to get up. She tried standing, but fell from weakness. Heecha grabbed her and genlty lifted her to his horse's back. She sat for a moment and then hugged the gentle beast's neck. Heecha jumped up on the horse behind her and kicked him to go forward. Hehaka grabbed the horse's mane and looked back at Heecha, who smiled down at her. Nothing could be better to Hehaka then riding a horse, and she dreaded going back to the tepee site. She waas getting weaker and weaker. She needed food and rest.

As they rode in to the camp, depression set in on the two. Many natives began gathering around them. Looks of disgust formed on their faces. They looked up at Hehaka and began yelling at her to get down off the beast, which was only meant for Heecha. They tugged at her deerskin dress, ripping it. They were furious that she had left camp with Heecha and his horse. Heecha jumped off and summoned them to stop. The tribe decided to punish them for leaving without telling the chief, and they were both put in separate tepees without food nor water. Heecha lunged at several of the men, trying to tell them that Hehaka needed nutrition, but they ignored him. It was as if, they didn't care. They were all numb from what had happened.