Once a long time ago there lived an orphan girl. Her family had been killed when she was very young. The little girl was adopted into a Snake indian tribe (pre-descendents of the now Shoshoni), by loving parents and raised as their own. She grew to love this tribe and felt like she had always belonged there.
She wore belts of many colors and hence was know to all as "Many Colors". Many Colors had no brothers or sisters but played with all the other children and thought of them as her "family".
When Many Colors was around 15, she was preparing for her iniation into the RAINBOW WOMEN. This was a society of women healers. Many Colors was also to be married to a chief soon after. Many Colors was so excited. This was a great honor to have been chosen to become a RAINBOW WOMAN. She felt truly blessed.
Many Colors spent many months preparing for her initation ceremony and her upcoming wedding. With the help of her mother Many Colors got her white deerskin dress to fit just just right and adorned it with belts of many colored beads.
The day of the ceremony was happening during one of the summer gatherings. This was when several tribes were gathering to talk about a peace treaty among other things. Many Colors was so excited because there were so many great Shamen and Chiefs gathered here at a most sacred spot on the plains..
The men had gone to hunt for wild game. Most of the women were out gathering berries or preparing for the nights festivites. After Many Colors cleaned her tee-pee, gathered wood, gathered berries for her Aunt Na-Mee-Ka, she went down to the little creek and bathed and washed her hair so it smelled great. Then she dressed in her deerskin dress that she had so carefully made for just his day. She did her hair in braids and attatched fox fur around them. Many Colors saw Little Bug as she came out out of the tee-pee. Little Bug begged her mother , Na-Mee-ka , to go with her Aunt Many Colors.
Many Colors took Little Bug with her as she walked around the village. Many Colors saw the Shamen and the Chiefs in the sacred springs cleansing themselves for this special occasion. Many Colors took the energetic 3 year old, Little Bug back to the village and left her with another girl. She just had to go to the ridge and peek at the Shamen. Hoping to see some of their magic, all the while knowing it was forbidden.
The Shaman of her village, Na-when-deko-nah-haa-naa-ha, Little Bug's father, was among them as was her beloved husband to be, Fast Fox. Many Colors crept up the side of the ridge ever so slowly as not to be seen. Such things were not permitted and still knowing this she had to go, had to see the magic no matter what the price. On the side of the ridge were some bushes were she could watch the Shamen and Chiefs getting out of the spring, carrying their robes as they started up the trail towards the top of the ridge. They were getting ready for the ceremony, surely she would see something magical now. Many Colors was so fascinated with feeling this great power she had never felt before. Yes, these Shamen were truly powerful and magical. She was so fascinated with this feeling of such great energy that she didn't hear the men approaching from the other side of the ridge. It all happened so quick. Many Colors blinked her eyes to be sure she really saw what her heart already knew.
She had heard a long bang and when the cloud of blue smoke had lifted she saw something she could not understand. These men were killing all of these Shamen and Chiefs. They were slicing their throats to silence the protests at these intruders who dared to come to this sacred spot. Many Colors froze as one of the killers walked by where she was hiding. Surely he would find her and kill her too. Who would dare do this to the Shamen and Chiefs on this day of peace? She saw from from his nose to his chin that he wore the paint of the enemy but the clothes of her people.
She dared not moved. Not even when they left this ridge and went down below. Not even when she heard the screams of the women, children and babies as they were killed one by one. Then these killers slipped back into the hills as quietly as they had come. They left behind only a trail saying the enemy was here and killed your holiest.
Only when she heard the shouts of the men returning from their hunt to find this unbelievable site, did she run down from her hiding place. One of the men grabbed her as she was running towards her mothers tee-pee. The site was too gruesome for a child to see. Then came the news her mother, Little Bug, her friends were all dead. There were but a few women who had been out gathering berries that were not dead. At this moment Many Colors wished that she was joining her friends and family on their journey to the Spirit World. When they told her that fast Fox was dead also she thought about killing herself. But no she could not, would not bring that shame to her family, even though they would never know now.
The men saw the tell-tell signs of their enemy and promised revenge to them. But now they were without a Shaman and a Chief. Most of them had lost their family, like Many Colors. The men dug out one massive grave in which to lay all their dead. There were just too many casulaties for the surving women to to clean and dress them properly. They asked for forgiveness as they placed they people, their family here . Na-when-deko-nah-haa-naa-ha was dying a slow agonizing death, they could not stop their Shaman from bleeding to death. His wife, Na-Mee-ka, in all her bravery for her true love, helped to ease Na-when-deko-nah-haa-naa-ha's pain and misery and make his journey to the Spirit World a quicker one. Little did Na-Mee-ka know that her beloved husband was trying to tell her how sorry he was that he let this happen. he should of seen this coming. He was the Shaman, but he had been too wrapped up in his role of the ceremony that he did not know what was going to happen. He wanted to let his people know that he was sorry, he hadn't meant to fail them. He died thinking he should have done more, he should of protected his people, that this was his fault.
Many Colors saw Na-Mee-ka for the first time after the massive burial. She saw such sadness, loneliness, such despair. It looked to her like there was no soul , no life left in Na-Mee-ka's body. Many Colors tried to tell Na-Mee-ka she was sorry, sorry for leaving Little Bug in the village with the others. She hadn't meant for her to die. That she wished she could of traded places with Little Bug. But Na- Mee-ka didn't hear her.
The tribe decided they had to move on in case their "enemy" came back. They started traveling, carrying only what they could on their backs. Well into the night they finally stopped and rested.
The whole time many Colors wanted to tell them what she had seen, what really happened, but she knew she would be banished for life from her tribe for going to the sacred grounds. She thought maybe all this was her fault. Maybe this was the Great Sprits way of punishing her for being where she knew she didn't belong. Yes, she should tell but where would she go? No people, no home , nothing. That was just too much for a child to bear. So she said nothing. She thought living with the guilt of being a coward and a liar would be her punishment. But how wrong she was.
The men who had done the killing had come back into the village with the others carrying a deer and acting so surprised no one could of ever guessed that they had done this to their own people. Many Colors had not seen their faces , she could not identify them except for the clothes of her people. They didn't want peace, they wanted war, only women wanted wanted peace and they were not women they were warriors. Searching, wanting, needing war. No matter what the price. They thought if they got the Snake Magic they would be invinsible to their enemies. When the Snake Magic could not be bought, or stolen they knew that only they had to have have. So they killed for it. They never realized that when they killed, the killed the Snake Magic. Now it was gone. Gone forever.
There was one young warrior, White Feather, who had heard about what these rebels had intended to do. But not believeing that even they would do such a foolish thing, told no one of their plans. Then when he realized that they were going to actually kill the Shamen and Chiefs, he knew not what to do. He tried to stop them, tried to talk them out of this ridicouls plan. But they would not listen to him. What was he, one lone warrior ,to do against all of these? And so he did nothing. The guilt he carried within him began eating him alive. But he thought that this was his punishment, from the Great Spirt for being a coward and not the true warrior to his people . He would endure this , this was the least he deserved for letting his people down.
As the summer turned into fall, Many Colors and her small band had joined into other bands, as a tribe could not survive without their women. Na-Mee-ka left and went back to her people in up North. The people true to their word, took revenge on their enemy, who they believed had done that hideous crime, not knowing it was a branch of their own people who had actually done the killing. Many people were killed in this attack. Many Colors felt so much shame. She knew she should of told what she had seen, but now it was too late. She would have to live the rest of her life knowing all those innocent people were killed because she was too much of a coward to tell her people the truth that it wasn't the enemy but some of their own who had done this unthinkable crime. Yes, she would remember this for the rest of her life.
With fall brought the fall festivites. Many Colors was glad for this. One night while dancing, Many Colors saw a young warrior watching her. Then when it was the mens turn to dance it was Many Colors turn to watch him. She smiled as she watched him dance, he was dancing just for her. Later he approached her he said his name was Running Water and what a great dancer she was. Many colors laughed for the first time since the great massacre. For once that wasn't the first thing on her mind.
Running Water and Many Colors spent a lot of time together. Then came the day when Running Water got up the courage to ask for Many Colors in marriage. Running Water left a deer at the entrance of Many Colors "relatives" tee-pee. If the deer was gone in the morning than her "Uncle" would allow Many Colors to marry this man. Many Colors wanted desperately to marry Running Water. For when she looked deep into his eyes she saw kidness, gentliness, and that he was a man who loved her very much. Many Colors "Uncle" wasn't going to let Many Colors marry this poor warrior. He had seen how New Chief's Son was looking at her too. He thought it would benefit him more if he let New Chief's Son have Many Colors. But after his wife had told him how much Many Colors loved Running Water and how much Running Water loved Many Colors and would take good care of her, the "Uncle" decided to think about it. Many Colors tried to sleep but was worried that her "Uncle" would force her to marry New Chief's Son instead. Finally exhausted she fell asleep. The next morning the deer was gone.
Many Colors and Running Water were married a few weeks later. They moved to Running Waters village. Running Water proved to be a great husband. There was always food in Many Colors pot, always hides to tan, always furs to warm themselves. Everyone in Running Waters village was nice to Many Colors. She enjoyed this village almost as much as her own, She wished her mother could see how happy she was now.
And as the years passed . Many Colors and Running Water were still very much in love. Even through the death of their two babies did their love continue to blossom. Many Colors told Running Water to take another wife, perhaps she could give them the sons they both had hoped for. But Running Water loved many Colors too much to do that. They both hoped that Many Colors would be able to carry their son some day soon. To give Running Water the fine warrior son he deserved, one he could pass his many warrior secrets to.
One day as Running Water was out hunting, his horse somehow fell over on him, crushing his chest. Many Colors did all she knew how to for her husband. The Shaman , after days of praying, chanting and giving him healing herbs, told Many Colors there was nothing that could be done for her husband. Running Water lay there suffering for days. Kept alive only by his love of Many Colors. He couldn't bear to bring her more pain now. He didn't think it was fair that his beloved wife lose another loved one. Who would look after her when he died? She had no family, no people to call her own. No he couldn't let her be alone again. He hung on for many days. But as his body finally gave out, Many Colors was there holding his hand, singing to him. The last thing he saw was his beautiful wife looking as lovely as she did on their wedding day. And with a smile on his face and love in his heart, he left Many Colors on his solo journey to the Spirt World. Oh how he wished they were going together.
Many Colors was devestated at the loss of her husband. She thought the Great Spirit was still punishing her for being a coward all those years ago. Her family, her friends, her children and now her husband were all dead because she was a coward, she lied to her people, and the Great Sprit had no mercy for liars and cowards such as herself. She was to blame for so many peoples deaths. So many innocent people had died because of her, one frightened child. How could she ever make this up to the Great Spirit? How could she ever let him know how sorry she was? What could she possibly do now to make up for her lifetime of failures? She wanted desperatly to tell everyone how sorry she was, tell them if she had it to do over again , she wouldn't be a coward, she wouldn't let them down this time.
Many Colors left back to her old village. Hoping to find someone she knew. When she finally arrived there many days later she learned all of her "relatives" had moved on. Now what would she do? She had no horse, no way to follow, no one to take her on such a dangerous journey.
New Chief's Son offered to marry Many Colors and make her his fifth wife. She could not object now. She had no one else to care for her, no where else to go.
New Chief's Son was a evil and cruel man. He beat, raped and gave Many Colors to his friends, or to vivitors that came to his village so many times that she lost count. New Chie'f Son other wives didn't like Many Colors. She was too quiet, she did her work and theirs and never complained. They thought of ways to make her life miserable. They told lies to their husband so she would get beat. They stole her food so she would have none to eat. They laughed at her, smacked her themselves, made her a slave instead of a wife.
Many Colors didn't care. She looked forward to the day she would join Running Water in the Spirt World. Maybe New Chief's Son would make it happen soon.
When Many Colors became pregnant, she was so happy. Now she would have a child to love. She would once again have family. When Many Colors gave birth to a fine , healthy son, she thought New Chief's Son would be happy. But he was not. Here was another mouth to feed in his already too big family. The wives were jealous of Many Color's baby.They saw she had given birth to a fine, strong warrior. Who was this poor girl to give their New Chief's Son a warrior?
Many Colors came alive again after the birth of her son. She thought maybe the Great Spirit had finally had pity on her and had finally forgiven her. Now the Great Spirt was going to let her be happy once again. The Great Spirit had allowed her to have a fine, healthy son. To show her appreciation to the Great Spirit , she would raise him to be a fine man, a strong warrior, just like Running Water.
But the times were hard, and the winter was especially cruel this year. New Chief's Son was a lazy and selfish man. There was never enough food in New Chief's Son's pot. The wives constanly squabbled over the food. Many Colors was the last to eat, if there was anything left, and a lot of nights there wasn't. Many Colors had to sneak food, and was beaten severly when she was caught. But it was worth it. She had to keep her son healthy, she had to do this for Running Water.
Many Colors milk started drying up and her son started crying a lot. Many Colors cooed to him and gave her some of what little food she could find. But it was not enough. Her baby was starving. And for all she had tried, there was nothing she could do to stop it.
One night when New Chief's Son came home and heard the baby crying. He told Many Colors to keep that baby quiet. Many Colors tried but he was just too hungry. New Chief's Son grabbed the boy away from his mother. He said to Many Colors "This scrawny, noisy thing is what you would have me call son?". Many Colors pleaded with him to give her back her son. Now with the other wives jeering him on. New Chief's Son taunted Many Colors. "I don't think I want THIS as a son, he is not worthy to be a son of mine !". Many Colors was so furious with this evil, disqisting man that she told him it was because he was too lazy to hunt for food like the other men that that was her son was starving. New Chief's Son could not believe his ears. Who was this woman, woman worth nothing, to call him lazy? He ordered his other wives to hold Many Colors. He started swinging the tiny, crying baby by his foot. Many Colors tried to get up, tried to get to her son, but she was just too weak. Then before she could utter a sound, New Chief's Son bashed the crying baby's head against one of the tee-pee poles. At once the crying stopped, and the smiling man threw the lifeless boy back to his mother and left.
Many Colors felt so sick she sould not moved for what seemd like an eternity, just staring at what you to be her precious son. Then slowly and carefully she picked up her son. She walked down to the stream while cooing and singing to him. There she cleaned him up as best she could, straightened his tiny, tattered clothes. She carried him to a beautiful spot under a tree and buried him there. She asked Running Water to come care for their son until she could join them. She stayed hours singing and praying, wishing her son well on his journey. Telling him not to be afraid, she would be joining him and Running Water soon.
Then she went back, back to the man she hated most. She silently thanked him for ending her sons misery. That night Many Colors died inside. She had lost too much. She could bear no more. She promised the Great Spirit he would have to punish her no more. She pleaded with the Great Spirit to help her begin her journey to the Spirit World soon.
Many Colors didn't eat, she couldn't. She just layed there praying, hoping to join her family once again. New Chief's Son and his wives couldn't do anything more to her now. The Shaman came and tried to heal Many Colors but she was just too broken inside. He shook his head sadly and said there was nothing he could do. So they left her there day after day until finally many Colors peace came. She got to go to the Spirit World. She had finally been forgiven by the Great Spirit. She was going home, going back to her family. And so it was on that cold , dark night when Many Colors left this world , all alone, cold and hungry. That she journied home, home to her people in hopes of never being cold and hungry never being alone again. In hopes that the Great Spirit had finally forgiven her and would welcome her to the Spirt World.
