Keeping Up With the Wind: A 'Burban Tale by Suleyma Moon

Epilogue.

            He was an old man.

The oldest and wisest man in any tribe that they knew of.

He was also the most respected, being the great-grandfather of the most exalted warrior chief in all the Land. Even the old man's son and grandson had died in battle years before this day.

Like I said, he was old.

Even so, he was still considered to be one of the greatest warriors of his tribe, having taught his son, grandson and great-grandson all that they knew. These three were great, but still the old man knew more. In fact, he was so powerful and wise that even the warriors of other tribes across the Nations had no choice but to respect him.

            On the day of the Great War, the old man's great-grandson led his tribe out into battle. It seemed to be a hopeless fight. The Younger knew that there was no way that his People could win this war. Weary and downcast, he returned to the Elder for guidance.

            "My son," the great warrior replied, "you will fight a good fight and your legend will live on forever, as will your father's, grandfather's and mine."

            The younger warrior, of course, didn't understand one word of what the old man was talking about that day, but he had far too much respect for his great-grandfather's wisdom and experience to question his reply.

After his time spent with the Elder, the Younger went back to his People, who were still out on the battlefield "fighting a good fight".

He went, of course, because there was nothing left to do but deal with his fate and the fate of his People head on.

            The wise old man then sat on his horse, which was one that had seen many, many years, itself, and watched as the last of his People rode out into the valley and "fought a good fight." This, he knew, was their destiny.

As he watched them travel down into the cold face of death, he stood on the back of that old horse, and his voice could be heard throughout the Land.

            "My People, I have seen many moons and many suns. Many men have gone into the Spirit World before me, and many more shall go after me. But today, my friends," he shouted and held his arms wide, looking towards the sky, "Today is the most perfect day that I have ever seen. Today, my fearless warriors, is a good day to die."  

            Then it was as if his Spirit soared up as his body collapsed to the ground. Seconds later, the horse collapsed, too. For a brief moment across the Land, there was total silence. It seemed as though even the Great War itself had paused, for just a moment, out of respect for the old man's passing.

Then suddenly, a piercing battle cry thundered through the silence, followed by the echo of phantom horse hooves vibrating across the canyon walls.

            Blaze and Faith's grandfather never told us what happened after that.

He would simply say that a truly great story was always best left unfinished.

            We guessed that, like the old man, everyone else eventually died, too. Then again, maybe what they heard was the sound of the old man's spirit fighting with his tribe as he brought them through the battle unharmed.

That was the beauty of the story. None of us ever really knew what the end of it was.

Of course, we had all speculated on the question that if the whole tribe had died that day, then where had Big Bear come from?

None of us were ever brave enough to ask him, though.

Not even Ace.

            Often I've thought about that story and wondered which of my friends the Great Warrior and his horse rode through the gates of heaven that summer, so long ago.

            And then sometimes I wonder if he's been waiting all this time for me.   

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE READS MOONBEAMS! YOU CAN PURCHASE THIS BOOK AT AMAZON.COM!