Savage Abandon

And Wolf Hawk did cherish everything about his grandfather. The old Shaman, whose life had been devoted to the supernatural, had given Wolf Hawk the power to fly as a hawk, and to walk on all fours as a wolf.

Wolf Hawk’s people had learned from the death of Wolf Hawk’s father that their Winnebago people must depend on things that others did not. They needed mystic power to keep whites away.

Wolf Hawk knew that in his grandfather’s younger years, he could also fly as a bird and talk with wolves in his own wolf form, but age had gradually stolen those powers from him.

When Wolf Hawk became chief of their Bird Clan after the death of his father, Talking Bird saw that it was time to share his mystic knowledge with his grandson. He had never done so with his own son, who had disagreed with him over so many things.

Talking Bird had given his grandson the same understanding of the supernatural as Talking Bird had been given by his own grandfather, oh, so long ago.

Wolf Hawk had learned from his grandfather that the spirits, both good and bad, were always at work. Indeed, they controlled the destiny of man.

As Wolf Hawk continued to think deeply, his grandfather was lost in his own thoughts. He was again admiring this young man whom Talking Bird had successfully shaped into a chief who was honest, just and wise. There was no man, woman or child, who ever doubted his grandson’s wisdom.

Ho, his grandson was a man of charisma, and with his rippling muscles and aquiline nose, all women found him handsome.

His grandson would find a woman, and soon. Then his restlessness would disappear and Talking Bird would be happy for his grandson.

“My duties await me, Grandfather,” Wolf Hawk said, slowly rising. “Wa-do, thank you, for your time and shared wisdom today. I will return again soon to sit and talk with you.”

Talking Bird moved slowly to his feet, a bony old hand still holding the blanket in place around his shoulders. He walked outside with Wolf Hawk. They embraced, then Talking Bird smiled as Wolf Hawk transformed himself into a hawk and flew toward his home.

As Wolf Hawk soared over the river, his eyes scanned the land closest to his village.

When he saw nothing awry, he landed some yards from his lodge, where no one could observe him, then transformed himself quickly into his human form.

His long hair fluttered over the straightness of his bare back, and his breechclout flapped with each step he took as he walked into the village.

He stopped and watched his people as they went about their daily activities. He could see peace and happiness in their eyes, and laughed softly when several little girls ran up to him, their dark eyes gazing up into his.

“My chief, we found many violets in the forest today for our mothers,” one little girl said, her tiny face flushed with excitement. “They now stand in water in our lodges.”

“It is good that you show your mothers your love by taking them flowers to fill your homes with sunshine,” Wolf Hawk said. He patted the child who’d spoken to him gently on the top of her head.

Then he suddenly remembered the uneasiness that had been with him of late.

He dropped to his haunches and gathered the children around him. “But always remember that it is not best to wander far from your homes,” he cautioned. “Although we have not seen any reason for concern, we must never take our safety for granted. Play amid the circle of our lodges unless you have an adult with you.”

He hated seeing the children’s smiles turn into wondering frowns, for he did not enjoy bringing doubt into their hearts. But he did know that their world was a dangerous place. He knew that one must never take whites for granted.

They had too often tricked the red man!

“Your fathers and your chief will keep you safe always,” he reassured them with a smile. “Now go. Enjoy your games. Soon it will be time to return to your lodges for the noon meal. I smell food cooking even now over your mothers’ lodge fires.”

Squealing, the girls ran from him, and soon young braves joined them.

Wolf Hawk watched, glad that they seemed to have heeded his warnings, as they all joined together and began playing a game of tag, for none of the children ventured outside the lodge circle.

He stood and gazed with the eyes of a hawk past the tepees, still seeing nothing out of place. Nonetheless, he knew that he must have a meeting with his warriors to warn them of his intuition. Perhaps if there were problems awaiting him and his people, they could still be avoided.

Chapter Two

When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st;

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

—William Shakespeare