The day dawned with the rising of the Mother, the Sun. Crying Wolf always felt grateful when the days started like that and gave thanks to the Mother for her benevolence on his people for yet another day. He woke his children then, who knew too that they should be grateful for being given another day so after they washed the sleep out of their eyes they went out into the open and gave thanks as did the other families in the village. Dancing Bear went to help his father then, to get ready for the day's hunt that was going to take place.

"I really wish I was old enough to go with you father," he told him.

"I know, I know. You must wait until you have gone through the coming of age ceremony, then you will be a man and only then will you be allowed to come on hunting parties with the other men. I am sorry son, ten may seem like a long way off to you but believe me this next year will go by before you know it." Dancing Bear thought about it and knew his father made sense, but he still thought his tenth birthday was a long, long time in the future. There would be many moons between now and then. He had to resign himself to helping his father get his horse and hunting equipment ready. His father was right, his turn would come soon enough.

When all was ready, Crying Wolf mounted his horse, waved to his family and joined the other men who were already gathered in a group, waiting for the laggards. Once all were present they urged their horses off into a gallop, speeding in a northward direction where a large herd of buffalo had been spied earlier. Each warrior was egged on by the scent of the animals as they drew near and the archers got their weapons ready, carefully choosing the appropriate animals they were after. Theirs the first line of attack, they could not afford to miss a shot or there would be a lot of problems with bringing down any of the majestic beasts. Only the best archers of the tribe were given this privilege because of it. Crying Wolf, proud to be one of the minority, let his first arrow go when he thought he had a good shot. As usual, his judgement had not failed him and the animal fell thunderously to the ground. His friends cheered and he knew they would be telling of his expertise yet again, round the campfires that night.

One by one the great animals fell and the women of the tribe, who had also ridden out, but well after the men had left the village, now came riding forward carrying bags and other utensils in which they would be carrying home the meat. It was their job to carve off what meat they could easily carry while some of the men removed the hides, which would be later tanned into skins for clothing and other uses. When they were done, not one dead carcass would have much remaining on it; the Natives made use of all they could and gave thanks to their Spirits for once again filling their bellies.

Once they had all they needed, the men rode off bearing their prizes of freshly acquired skins and the women packed the meat on their horses and followed them. They would repeat the process the following day in order to get enough meat to store and pickle for the Winter Moons this time, as they would not be venturing far from the village when the blizzards blew as they often did in this part of the country.

Dancing Bear greeted his parents with joy when he saw they were fully laden.

"It has been a good day for hunting I see. Mother can I help you unload the meat?" he asked with respect. His mother shook her head.

"No son, I can manage, I must wash it and then start preparing dinner. I think your father would appreciate some help though, why don't you offer to help him?" She winked at the boy, knowing full well if the lad were willing to help his father without the latter asking, it would make Crying Wolf very proud for he would feel that he had done a good job in bringing up his son. Dancing Bear understood and went over to his father. He also thought that if he proved to be a good son now, later when it mattered more, his father would treat him with respect once he went through the rites of passage into manhood and might even give him more than just one pony to own, which was usually the custom among his people.

"Father can I help you please?" he asked showing respect by asking for permission to help the other, rather than offering it and thereby implying his father was too old to cope on his own. Crying Wolf looked seriously at his son before answering. He would not let his pride in the boy show because it would give the lad a big head, he mused.

"Don't you want to go and be with your friends Dancing Bear?" he asked, showing respect in return by using the boy's full name instead of just calling him son.

"No father, I would like to help you if you will let me."

"Well there are a lot of skins here to be dealt with, it was a good hunt and my share was extremely generous this time. We will have to invite some of the other families round to eat as when and we can. They all had a hand in helping to get these skins and the Spirits say we must share with those less fortunate than ourselves. Now if I hand you a pile of skins do you think you could carry them over to the clearing there?" his father asked indicating the clearing in question.

"Oh yes father I can do that," came the eager reply. "Then what?"

His father laughed at the youngster's enthusiasm.

"Patience! Patience Dancing Bear, let's just unload the horses first shall we? Then I must return the two pack horses to Dark Cloud who loaned me the use of them. I will tell you this though, if you can sort the skins out and flatten them by the time I come back there may be a treat in it for you? How does that sound?"

"I can do that father but I don't want any special treat for doing so. I am only pulling my weight round here as any decent son should. Is that wrong?"

His father could not help laughing again, but when he saw his son's expression he knew he had upset the lad and stopped immediately.

"No, no of course it isn't. I am just delighted that you would rather spend your time with your family than your friends that is all. Just don't feel you have to help, you are free to play. Don't forget I was young once and I know how great it is to be able to play with friends at that age. Are you sure now you can manage until I return?" he finished now that the horses were unloaded of their burden. The boy nodded in response and turned to lug the first of the skins to the space where they would be stretched and bound so that the sun could dry them.

The rest of the day was spent in preparing the meat which Two Moons and Black Raven, Dancing Bear's mother and older sister, worked hard at. They hoped the men would enjoy the evening meal. There had been no break for a midday snack as the work came first. While the women worked the men were equally hard at work, Crying Wolf scraping the skins to rid the of the last vestiges of any flesh and blood that remained and Dancing Bear laid them out to dry in the sun. They were both extremely hungry men at the setting of the sun and looked forward to their meal.

They washed themselves clean and then gathered round the family fire as the women brought out bowls of hot food to them. They did not have much time to start them before some of the men came to their teepee. They congratulated Crying Wolf on his first shot again today and Crying Wolf, by way of thanking them asked them to join his family for something to eat. These men were some of the Elders in the community who had not been able to go on the hunt because of infirmities but they had been told of his expert archery. Crying Wolf knew they would be expecting him to make the offer to share his food, which is why he did so and they gratefully accepted in return. While they ate they asked to hear his version of that morning's events. Crying Wolf took it all in his stride and told them how he remembered what had happened. Dancing Bear sat enrapt, listening to his father's words. It was late though and his mother hushed him off to bed. He wanted to stay up and listen to the adult talk but his mother would brook no disobedience. He entered the teepee, dragging his feet in irritation.

He was still awake when his parents came in the teepee to sleep too but once they were settled, he was soon asleep.

*****************************************

The next day, the men returned to the site where the buffalo herd had been, their intention was to get more meat that could be treated and stored away for the Winter Moons when hunting would be scarce and no-one would stray far from the village environs.

What greeted their gaze when they looked on, saddened their souls. Carcasses, rotting carcasses lay everywhere. They could not believe the decimation that had been done. One thing they had to believe though, was the White man was not far away because only they would kill for the hides and tongues and leave the rest to the carrion vultures and other predators who thrived on buffalo meat.

What a waste of life, Crying Wolf thought. He, along with the others with him, knew though that this could mean only one thing. They would have to pack up their belongings and move the village elsewhere, for as long as they remained where they were, they would be in danger of being attacked by the Wachicun, (white men), and they would not stand a chance with women and old men to protect. They carved off what good meat remained on the skeletons, then returned dejectedly to the camp.

Crying Wolf thought. He, along with the others with him, knew though that this could mean only one thing. They would have to pack up their belongings and move the village elsewhere, for as long as they remained where they were, they would be in danger of being attacked by the Wachicun, (white men), and they would not stand a chance with women and old men to protect. They carved off what good meat remained on the skeletons, then returned dejectedly to the camp.

The Chief called his people together and explained to them that they would all have to pack up and move away. The Whites were in the vicinity he told them and they had elderly and women to protect so they could not afford a skirmish right now. So with saddened hearts, Dancing Bear's people made preparations to leave the place they had been so happy for some time now. It took all that day for everything to be packed and when the last was ready, it was almost dawn of the following day before they were ready to move.

Crying Wolf said to his family, as they joined the others,

"To fly on the wings of the dawn is a good omen."

Let us hope you are right, father, Dancing Bear thought, feeling proud that he was in charge of the family pack horses which had been loaned to them again, they having none of their own. Wherever we go, it seems we always have to move for one reason or another. In his brief nine years of life they had moved three times already, this being the third time. One day we may be able to settle somewhere, he hoped and with that his mind returned to the present and his duties.

Dancing Bear thought, feeling proud that he was in charge of the family pack horses which had been loaned to them again, they having none of their own. Wherever we go, it seems we always have to move for one reason or another. In his brief nine years of life they had moved three times already, this being the third time. One day we may be able to settle somewhere, he hoped and with that his mind returned to the present and his duties.