Both Enapay and Kangee turned

Page 6.

Both Enapay and Kangee turned toward each other and hugged one another as tears ran down both their faces never having experienced a true life threatening event in their young lives. They both hadn’t realized that the White Spirit was now gone and only the bodies of the dead wolves remained. It was then the sound of hoof beats broke the silence as their Indian ponies galloped toward them and stopped. But their ponies weren’t alone and they were followed by a pair of chestnut stallions with two mares and their colts. As Enapay and Kangee rode out of the hidden canyon with their prized herd in tow the White Spirit bid them farewell from a high mountain top never to be seen again.

The End

Enapay and Kangee climbed a sloping hill

 Page 5.

Enapay and Kangee climbed a sloping hill that partially hid them from the watchful eye’s of the White Spirit or so they thought and crawled on their bellies blending into the tall grass that surrounded them. Enapay counted fifty in the herd while several foals chased each other across a flat meadow while their mothers grazed nearby. Suddenly the White Spirit lifted his head pointing his nose in their direction and began to snort and whinny tapping his front hoof as two young chestnut stallions raced toward him. Almost instantly they joined the White Spirit who galloped full speed toward the hidden pair circling their two ponies forcing them into the grazing herd. Enapay and Kangee dare not move as they watched the two chestnut stallions nip at their ponies hindquarters while the rest of the herd ran to inspect the herds two new members. The White Spirit stood motionless almost taunting the two to show themselves and he screamed and flattened his ears and shook his head in disapproval. Kangee suddenly stood up and faced the White Spirit from her hiding place while the mighty white horse didn’t move almost insisting that Enapay show himself also.

Now it was Enapay’s turn so he quickly stood up from the tall green grass and slowly walked toward his sister wondering if these would be their last moments on earth. As if on trial the two stood silent facing a legend they had heard about their entire lives when suddenly from nowhere a pack of grey timber wolves appeared and began to circle the White Spirit. Kangee ran to the bottom of the small hill and quickly picked up Enapay’s spear but as she reached for her brothers bow and arrows she was knocked off her feet by a black colored wolf. The black wolf spun around her it’s hackles glistening in the fading sunlight with it’s white fangs snapping wildly just missing her arms and  legs. Enapay ran to his sisters aid drawing his knife and charging the black wolf now joined by another but before he could reach her the shadow of the White Spirit blocked out the sun momentarily. The white stallion jumped completely over the young Indian brave and landed instantly on the back of one the wolves making a loud crackling sound. Enapay grabbed his sisters hand and helped her up and at the same time drew back his bow and arrow.

One wolf lay dead while the others began to close in on the White Spirit who placed himself between the young Indians and the attacking wolves. Enapay fired his bow striking a gray wolf in the hind leg causing the animal to turn tail and run but there were still four left. The White Spirit again turned and the faced a charging wolf while another buried it’s fangs into the white stallion’s back leg only to receive a kick to the chest killing it instantly. Kangee threw her brothers spear at one of the three remaining wolves but missed her mark causing the largest of the wolves to refocus it’s attention on her. But the White Spirit grabbed the large wolf by the tail and flung it aside like a leaf in a wind storm. The wolves now having lost two of their own and one injured had enough of the fight on this day and just as quickly as they had appeared the ran off into the timber with all three howling in defeat.

The sun was beginning to set

 Page 4.

The sun was beginning to set as Enapay prepared a rabbit he shot with his bow near a stand of dogwood trees while Kangee tied down their ponies who happily grazed on some sweet grass nearby. It was now almost a full day that they had become separated from the hunting party and it appeared that no help from the men would be coming. As the rabbit roasted over a opened fire Kangee told Enapay she believed it wouldn’t be long before they caught up with the White Spirit and his herd. As the two shared dinner a lone wolf howled far off into the distance and it wasn’t much longer before another one answered. The wolves know were here Kangee told her brother and they will kill us if we interfere with their hunt. After the meal Enapay searched for the straightest dogwood limb he could find with just moments of the remaining sunlight and sharpened one end to a needle point. Kangee made her own but it was shorter and looked more like a club then a spear and she swung it over her head and yelled out with the vengeance of a war chief.

The two took turns that night guarding their horses and Kangee already used her new club across Enapay’s backside after she discovered him sleeping on his first watch. But now it was morning and the two set out into the early morning sunrise and followed the tracks of the White Spirits herd. They were nearing the base of the blue mountains and some of the highest peaks where still snow capped. Stands of timber dotted the mountain side but the path of the herd lead deep into a small narrow gorge that almost disappeared into a hillside. The two continued stopping only to rest their horses along the way but the horses began to sense something that made them uneasy and Kangee felt it too. Once again a lone wolf howled far off from a distance mountain and Kangee pointed skyward to her brother at a dozen or some vultures circling just ahead of them. As they made their way deeper into the gorge they came across the body of grey timber wolf. His skull had be crushed and all around his body where large hoof prints made by a single horse.

Enapay knew the wolf pack would take revenge on the killer of one of their pack but there was no turning back now and besides he had a sister to protect. They left the body of the wolf to he vultures and moved on further into the narrow gorge that in some places only allowed them single file. And hour of daylight had passed until the narrow gorge opened up into a magnificent vastness of rolling hills and tree lined meadows. Elk bugled  across the valley as Enapay and Kangee sat motionless atop their horses not expecting  the beauty that lay before them. And then he appeared like a flash of lightning across the sky it was the White Spirit and he bolted across the valley floor with his head held high and his tail ripping in the wind like a royal flag. He hadn’t seen the two young Indians who watched him join his herd bowing his head up and down as if giving orders and commands but it wouldn’t be long before the two would be discovered because they where being watched.

The sun was beginning to set

 Page 4.

The sun was beginning to set as Enapay prepared a rabbit he shot with his bow near a stand of dogwood trees while Kangee tied down their ponies who happily grazed on some sweet grass nearby. It was now almost a full day that they had become separated from the hunting party and it appeared that no help from the men would be coming. As the rabbit roasted over a opened fire Kangee told Enapay she believed it wouldn’t be long before they caught up with the White Spirit and his herd. As the two shared dinner a lone wolf howled far off into the distance and it wasn’t much longer before another one answered. The wolves know were here Kangee told her brother and they will kill us if we interfere with their hunt. After the meal Enapay searched for the straightest dogwood limb he could find with just moments of the remaining sunlight and sharpened one end to a needle point. Kangee made her own but it was shorter and looked more like a club then a spear and she swung it over her head and yelled out with the vengeance of a war chief.

The two took turns that night guarding their horses and Kangee already used her new club across Enapay’s backside after she discovered him sleeping on his first watch. But now it was morning and the two set out into the early morning sunrise and followed the tracks of the White Spirits herd. They were nearing the base of the blue mountains and some of the highest peaks where still snow capped. Stands of timber dotted the mountain side but the path of the herd lead deep into a small narrow gorge that almost disappeared into a hillside. The two continued stopping only to rest their horses along the way but the horses began to sense something that made them uneasy and Kangee felt it too. Once again a lone wolf howled far off from a distance mountain and Kangee pointed skyward to her brother at a dozen or some vultures circling just ahead of them. As they made their way deeper into the gorge they came across the body of grey timber wolf. His skull had be crushed and all around his body where large hoof prints made by a single horse.

Enapay knew the wolf pack would take revenge on the killer of one of their pack but there was no turning back now and besides he had a sister to protect. They left the body of the wolf to he vultures and moved on further into the narrow gorge that in some places only allowed them single file. And hour of daylight had passed until the narrow gorge opened up into a magnificent vastness of rolling hills and tree lined meadows. Elk bugled  across the valley as Enapay and Kangee sat motionless atop their horses not expecting  the beauty that lay before them. And then he appeared like a flash of lightning across the sky it was the White Spirit and he bolted across the valley floor with his head held high and his tail ripping in the wind like a royal flag. He hadn’t seen the two young Indians who watched him join his herd bowing his head up and down as if giving orders and commands but it wouldn’t be long before the two would be discovered because they where being watched.

As the sun from the following morning began

 Page 3.

As the sun from the following morning began to rise a group of the tribes finest horsemen assembled near the edge of the village. The women and children gathered and together they gave blessings for a successful hunt and a safe return and they all were silent for it was bad luck to boast or make predications especially when wild horses were concerned. Enapay watched from the entrance of the village lodge as the men rode passed him in single file until the last rider stopped and handed him the reins of a painted pony. Within a instant he was aboard and with a gentle nudge from his heels they joined the party and headed toward the river. Hours passed as the group worked their way through a rocky gorge stopping only to water and rest their horses while others walked the area searching for any tracks that may have been left by the White Spirit and his herd. A lone eagle soared overhead which indicated a good sign in the eyes of the Sioux people making many on the trip less fearful. Enapay lead his pony to opened meadow and watched a dragon fly hover over a bed of yellow wildflowers and then chased away by a angry prairie dog.

All the men mounted their horses and met at the meadow where Enapay and his painted pony stood which was a vast stretch of endless miles of green grass and yellow flowers. By now it was noon and Trinapa the leader of the group told everyone to spread about a mile apart and move north toward a range of  low rolling blue green mountains. It was a cloudless sky overhead as Enapay worked his way across the meadow when he suddenly stopped his pony and looked down at the body of a dead horse. The animal was young and tracks that circled the half eaten carcass where that of wolves. The wolf tracks lead away from the body and Enapay followed them straight to the tracks of the White Spirits herd. Enapay rode as fast as he could to tell the others but they were gone, nowhere to be found and the sun was beginning to shine hotter with each step he and his pony made. Enapay climbed off his pony and walked northward toward the mountains hoping to pick up the groups tracks but he found nothing.

He began to become desperate and wondered if he misunderstood what directions the others had gone when he noticed a mounted figure rapidly moving toward him. As the figure grew nearer Enapay could hardly believe his eyes because it as Kangee his sister and she brought food and water. Enapay hugged his sister and then scolded her for leaving the village and she looked away knowing a woman’s place was not to search for horses with the men. Together they sat and ate while their horses grazed and Enapay told Kangee that he though they were lost. They both knew that the entire village would be out looking for them if they didn’t return but Enapay could never live down the though of becoming lost on his first hunt for wild horses. Enapay told Kangee about the dead horse he found the wolf tracks and most importantly the direction the wild herd was going. Kangee sat and listened and climb on top of her pony and with a swat of the reins she galloped off heading north toward the blue green mountains and the wolf tracks as Enapay rode quickly behind her.

The playful voices of the tribal children page 2

Page 2.

The playful voices of the tribal children playing near the waters edge echoed throughout a narrow canyon that lead to a slow moving river. Enapay watched as some of the woman constructed a drying rack made from long birch branches and then ran to help his sister fill their basket with a very large fish.  A large glistening salmon flopped back and forth and nearly out of the basket until it reached the cleaning station and then Kangee ran for another while Enapay scanned the horizon for any signs of wild horses. The entire day was very successful for the tribe with racks of fresh salmon drying in the sun and Enapay volunteered to guard their prized catch from any predators overnight looking for a quick meal. As the sun began to set the young brave started a fire and listened to the slow moving river while salmon fed on insects that floated passed deep holes of still water. The light of Enapay’s fire danced across the surface of the river making strange faces and shadows changing only when Enapay placed more wood on the fire. Coyote’s began to serenade the night skies as they readied for an evening hunt causing Enapay to count his arrows just in case of trouble.

Enapay rested his back against a large rounded rock now heated by his fire and drifted off into sleep dreaming of the White Spirit until he felt someone touch his shoulder. It was Kangee who brought some dried buffalo and cooked salmon and stayed with him until morning. Enapay stretched while he opened his eyes the following day as the woman had begun to set up for that days catch while several men placed their fish traps further down the river. Kangee was already knee deep in the water struggling with another salmon when suddenly the thundering sound of hoof beats roared across the canyon. Enapay looked up just in time to see a flash of brilliant white and then a scream from a white horse who appeared angry with it’s nostrils flared and its ears flattened back. Was it the White Spirit, Enapay thought to himself as the entire group stopped and watched as the white horse lead a herd of fifty horses to the rivers edge for water. A huge cloud of reddish dust drifted across most of the herd but when it settled down out emerged the White Spirit and he whinnied to the herd to drink.

He was more magnificent when Enapay had ever imagined and he stood as a guardian over the herd full aware of the tribes present. It’s as if he knows he’s invincible Enapay said out loud will the others stood spellbound. Some of the younger horses kicked and splashed in the water until the White Spirit snorted no and then they were off just as quickly as they had arrived and everyone present just watched as the herd disappeared deep into a endless canyon with only a line veil of dust trailing behind them. That evening all the elder members of the tribe gathered and the village pulsed with excitement over the sighting of the White Spirit. The men planned to pursue the herd the following morning in hopes of catching much needed horses but they also knew the dangers that they would face and every man prepared himself for that moment. Enapay wondered if he would be chosen to go on the great round up but so far no word had come.

A Wild Horse

 A Wild Horse

By Larry J. Dellinges

Long before the white man brought his wagons across the plains of the Dakota’s and his armies to protect them in search for the yellow gold in the sacred black hills there lived a horse like no other horse that ever lived before. His name was Wanageesha the Lakota Sioux name for White Spirit or the one who gallops to the stars. He stood tall for a stallion with eye’s black as coal and he was the color of the clouds a brilliant white and it was even said he could fly across the skies when he wished to. Many tried to capture this horse who was often seen standing alone overlooking a mountainous mesa or from the skyline of a towering plateau. It seemed those foolish enough to try quickly gave up while others died in their quest but the White Spirit would never be caught or broken. Skirmish’s broke out between neighboring tribes over who was brave enough to capture such a animal and stories of those who did are sometimes told even today but the white horse of the chaparral was a free spirit who feared nothing especially man.

Stories about the white horse were repeated over and over until some facts mixed with myths  became legends and the thought of being the one who captured the White Spirit never left the mind of a young Sioux boy named Enapay meaning The Brave one. Enapay grew up listening to the stories told by the elders about Wanageesha and he dreamed of bringing honor to himself and his people if he were to be the one who rode the White Spirit into battle. As Enapay grew into a young brave the stories of the White Spirit continued and there was always someone from a visiting tribe with new tales about the white stallion. One brave spoke of seeing the white horse kill a grizzly bear with one kick after it attempted to attack a mare and her young foal while a pack of hungry wolves watched from a stand of timber.

Another old woman told a group of young Sioux girls that Wanageesha was the spirit of their ancestors and just to look into his eyes would ensure a good husband and many children. The young girls laughed at these stories told by the old woman who claimed she looked into the eye’s of Wanageesha as a young girl resulting in several husbands over her lifetime but they all secretly believed the stories were true. But now the seasons were changing and with the beginning of spring the Sioux people had moved to the river to fish and hunt. This also meant the men would be out capturing wild horses to sell and to trade something that Enapay wasn’t now old enough until now but that was up to his father. But now armed with his bow and quiver full of arrows he walked with his younger sister Kangee meaning raven named for her cries as an infant that sounded like a angry bird. Kangee carried a large woven basket wedged against her hip and together she and Enapay made their way to the river while the elders were already checking their fish traps.