Wolf Hawk felt a terrible ache in his heart at the loss of two such promising braves, who would have one day become proud warriors to help protect their clan. He drew rein where Dancing Fire now stood, her face wet with tears that would not stop until she could cry no longer.
“Why?” Dancing Fire cried as she pleaded with Wolf Hawk with her bloodshot eyes. “Where…did…you find them?” She shuddered as she gazed from one son to the other. “There is so much blood.”
“I will explain, but first let us get your sons laid out for all to mourn over,” Wolf Hawk said.
He truly hated having to spread the word of exactly how these brave young men had so needlessly died.
All knew of such traps, which could capture more than animals. But none of his people had ever been hurt by one before. Whit
e trappers had never ventured so near their village in the past.
But now Wolf Hawk realized his intuition had been right. He had felt an uneasiness that he’d shared with his grandfather, a fear that white people would begin to intrude on Winnebago territory. He was beginning to understand why those feelings had come to him on this day.
He wished only that he had paid more heed to what his heart had told him and searched the forest. If so, he might have found the white trappers. He might even have stopped their evil before the two braves’ lives had been snuffed out.
Well, he would find the culprits now. They would pay for their crimes! He would not rest until it was so.
Lovingly, the fallen youths were taken from the horses and placed upon pelts near the central fire. Their eyes were peacefully closed as though their spirits hovered near.
Their mother knelt between the two boys, a hand on each as Wolf Hawk stood tall over them. He slowly turned and gazed at his people before speaking.
Tears shone in all of their eyes. A look of horror was captured on their faces. Fear as well as the pain of having lost two of their young ones had captured their souls.
They all stood quiet as they awaited their chief’s words.
“Wolf Hawk, how…?” Dancing Fire asked, her voice filled with emotion. “Please…tell…me. Tell me now.”
“Your sons died in the white man’s steel traps,” he said as he gazed down directly into her eyes.
He saw the horror of his words register in them, and knew that she understood too well how her children had died.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Striped Arrow, a warrior with much honor among Wolf Hawk’s people, who had been standing solemnly beside his wife, his own son on his other side, stepped up before Wolf Hawk.
“White trappers are in our forest?” he demanded. “We must find the evil ones and stop them,” he said. He slid his hand down, to rest upon the knife sheathed at his right side. “Now, my chief. Now!”
“It will be done,” Wolf Hawk said. He turned again to gaze lovingly, yet sorrowfully, into Dancing Fire’s eyes. “Their deaths will be avenged.”
“We are a peaceful people,” Dancing Fire said as she returned his gaze steadily even though her heart was breaking at today’s losses.
“Our peace has been disturbed, two lives have been taken. We must make certain it does not happen again,” Wolf Hawk said. He gently placed a hand on Dancing Fire’s shoulder. “While you mourn your sons, a search will begin for the evil white men.”
He stepped away from her and turned to look from one warrior to the other. “Before night falls completely upon us with its darkness, we must go and search for those who have brought grief into our people’s hearts today,” he said tightly. “Separate into three groups. Each ride in a different direction. Carry your rifles. I want to bring the culprits in alive if we find them. We will decide the way they will die, later.”
They all nodded, then ran to their horses and rode from the village.
Those who rode with Wolf Hawk fanned out through the forest to begin their search. Their eyes scanned in all directions for movement or any signs of the trappers.
After riding for a while, Wolf Hawk saw something a short distance from his horse that filled his heart with keen, passionate anger. He had found several traps filled with dead animals.
When he saw movement in one of the traps, his anger escalated, for this animal had not died yet, although its fur was matted against its body with blood. It was evident the creature was suffering terribly.
The animal, a beautiful red fox, sensed the nearness of the warriors and turned its head to look directly into Wolf Hawk’s dark eyes. For a moment, Wolf Hawk and the fox became as one, and Wolf Hawk could feel all its pain.
Wolf Hawk did not hesitate.