Two Brothers

Two Brothers

At one time there were two brothers one being several years older than the other. The elder was called Two Elk and the younger Shining Star and they were as different as any two brothers could be.

Two Elk was an exceptional hunter and had fought many times going against whatever enemy might come against the Oglala. There was no doubt that his medicine was strong and while bragging about ones exploits was highly discouraged among the people there were no shortage of others who would constantly retell about all that Two Elk had done.

Shining Star on the other hand was quiet and certainly many wondered if he would be as great as his brother was. He was invited on hunts and escapades against enemy camps but he would always decline preferring to hunt on his own. He would often share meat with those who needed it and take the time to help them out. Many started to call him “stays in camp” but the name never really took hold.

One day in particular Two Elk returned after having been gone to find his brother sitting in front of their lodge braiding a halter.

“you should have been with us. The crow have come closer to our people than before and we lost men trying to drive them away. You care nothing for anyone but yourself”

“I care for everyone here” Shining Star answered

“you cannot care for anyone that you will not help defend” Two Elk Shouted he was angry and close to hurting his brother.

“I do not need others to notice me before I become a man” Shining Star said then stood and walked away.

Two Elk wanted to tackle his brother and beat some sense into him but it would be frowned upon by many, especially the older ones so he contained himself.

The day came not long after that Crow came again. The first wave of men days earlier had been to test the strength and resources of the Lakota. The Crow, it seemed had sent every single one of their fighting men and were set on attacking the Lakota encampment for all their winter stores and perhaps whatever women they could steal.

Scouts had spotted the initial group of riders but others later reported that there were more waiting further away. The Oglala gathered all able men and told the women and older ones to run to safety.

Two Elk ran to find his brother and demand he help defend the people now but Shining Star was nowhere to be found. Two Elk gave up and jumped upon his horse to join the others who had gathered with all their weapons ready to fight. They were lined up in front of their encampment ready to serve as a barrier when crow men and ponies descended on them. Before anyone could comprehend what was going on a sort of thundering and rumbling of the ground came from behind all the Lakota men. Everyone watched in disbelief as Shining Star rode up from behind them. He carried a buffalo shield that no one had ever seen before and a quiver of arrows with a bow slung across his back. His horse was like thunder causing the ground underneath all of them to rumble and he continued riding towards the crow. Many at this point were convinced that he intended to give up his life and Two Elk felt a moment of panic wanting to stop his brother.

A mist begain to form as Shining Star continued riding and then no one could see him at all. A buffalo bigger than anyone had ever seen was now riding towards the Crow. They shot at him but he was not hit once and continued on until he clashed with the men and ponies ramming them and goring them with his horns. He had done so much damage in so little time that the Crow were now focused on either trying to go around him or to get away from him. The Lakota men took this opportunity and attacked until the Crow began to run away.

When everything settled the Oglala men stood in awe. Few of their own had been killed but bodies of Crow men, some still alive but seriously wounded littered the ground.

The men could not believe what they had seen and began to look for the buffalo that had saved them or even Shining Star but neither could be found. Only the buffalo shield and the arrows with the bow that Shining Star had been carrying. Two Elk knew what had happened immediatley and began shouting for his brother begging him to come back but such was not to be. Shining Star had given his life for the people and had left the shield as a sign and a means to call on the buffalo nation if they were ever needed again.

Two Elk was never the same after that. While he continued to hunt and help defend his people he had never forgotten the singular lesson that Shining Star had taught them all. And, he never stopped crying for his brother.

History

That promise I left to write kind of faded off and here it is January already. seems like I don't take the time to write much any more.

There are a lot of stories to be told and I will not post all of them on here but hope you enjoy reading and can get a small glimpse into the past.

Bird Woman

There was an older woman once called Bird Woman who was revered by her people. She told stories that intrigued both chidren and adults alike, she was a very good cook and always shared what she had, she made anyone feel welcome in her home, she liked to share her knowlege and would listen with an open ear. It was not uncommon during the day to find her entertaining a group of children somehow weaving important lessons into what seemed a simple tale and it wasn’t uncommon to find her helping wherever she was needed.

During this time there was a Crow man who kept watch on the village of people somehow unnoticed and discovered what kind of woman she was and how important she was to the people. His own people had come under hard times lately and some had become discouraged. A woman such as this one could possibly make them happy again.

He decided that he would steal her and take her back to his own people. He set out very late one night being very careful not to alert those who stayed up to keep watch on the camp and made it to the back of the old womans lodge. He took his time cutting a hole in the back of her lodge. He didn’t want to make enough noise to alert anyone to what he was doing. After some time he had created a big enough hole to slip in and found the woman asleep. The crow had figured that once he had awaken her and put a knife to her throat that she would be afraid and simply come with him. However the old woman began to shreik loudly, unlike anything he’d heard before and knowing their wouldn’t be time to get the woman out of her lodge and escape undetected he ran. Somehow he was not caught.

Knowing that the encampment was now on alert and that the old woman's lodge would be very well guarded. The crow man stayed away for several months. He returned again when the snows began to melt slipping underneath the lodge hide and gently awoke the old woman. He silenced her before she could make any noise and made it clear that he was not there to harm her. He knew now that taking this woman away to his own people was not going to happen but had also spent the time that he stayed away learning the Lakota lanuguage from a woman among his own people and wanted to speak to her although his vocabulary was not perfect and he was not able to get across to her exactly what he wanted.

Bird Woman, being the gentle soul that she was seemed to understand and took compassion on this man though still did not trust him making it clear that if he intended her any harm all she would have to do was scream, and this time he would not get away.

He began by telling her why he had tried to steal her away. He thought that she would make his people happy again because it was easy to see that she brought joy wherever she went.

The old woman simply smiled knowingly.

“you do not understand” she told him “I would never bring happiness to your people, I am only one old woman”

“but you are loved by everyone here”

“they are content because they have not forgotten the creators teachings, they have listened to their elders and have been obedient. Never take more than what you need, always think of others before yourself even if it is just a simple word of love. Do not forget to laugh, be kind to those around you, treat everything with respect. Give thanks for what you have even if it is only a tree to shade you from the sun or melting snow to give you water, everything has been provided by the creator.”

They talked for a while longer but the man would have to leave soon if he did not want to be captured.

Everything she had told him had been told by the Crow elders as well and he was intrigued at the similarities in their beleifs.

The crow man visited the old woman many more times without being detected and put in to practice what she had told him. It was not that he didn't know these things but along with those around him had simply stopped doing them and needed to be reminded of how important they were.

One morning when the man had stayed much later than usual men from the village had found his tracks in the snow and ran to the old woman's lodge fearing for her safety. Though they announced themselves they did not wait to come in and found the man before she could hide him. They immediatley shouted “Crow” “Crow” but the old woman was quicker wrapping her arms around the man and refusing to let go. She told the increasing number of men gathering around her lodge that if they were to kill this man that they would have to kill her too. Realizing that this was the same man that had tried to take her some time ago they were surprised that she now defended him. She wanted him to be set free to return to his own people but they did not trust him until they learned that he had been among them several times and not once had he brought any of his own people back nor led an attack on the Lakota.

Though a few might have felt that Bird Woman had betrayed her people, they loved and respected her judgement enough that she was allowed to walk the crow man to the edge of the village. He was never to come back.

Though he would miss his talks with the old woman he would never forget her sweet spirit, her ability to make anyone feel loved and her admonitions never to forget what brings true happiness.

Bird woman I believe belonged to the Mnicoujou band of Lakota but I am not certain of the area or dates. Perhaps those will come later.