By: K.Fox & B. Sun

"Do you and Five Falls have any new clothes for the Sun Dance?" asked Laughing Sunshine. "We only have what we're wearing now and our war outfits." replied Wolf Dreamer. "Hmmm, okay," she responded thoughtfully. The rest of the ride went smoothly, they only stopped once to hunt.

When they finally reach the camp, they prepared with the usual festivities, choosing a sacred tree to be the centre of the ceremony, building the Sun Dance lodge around it and other activities. The meat and plants they had collected were prepared, new clothing was made from the new hides the hunters had brought back. Silver Fox and Laughing Sunshine received new clothing as well, Silver Fox, since having her first vision, had a new design added to her buckskin dress, a red sun representing that she was to be a future Spirit Woman.

Wolf Dreamer approached Silver Fox as she helped pound some berries and buffalo fat into pemmican and gave her a necklace he had hand-crafted himself. The smooth hide for the cord of the necklace was concealed in black beads which lead to a perfectly smooth and round rock with a red sun painted on it. Silver Fox stared at it in awe and disbelief for a few moments before hugging him and giving him a kiss on the cheek.. "Thank you, it's the most beautiful thing anyone has ever given me," she whispered in his ear.

Meanwhile, after Laughing Sunshine had dressed, Five Falls came in and shyly handed her a small object wrapped in a piece of hide. He smiled, kissed her on the cheek and ducked out of the tipi humming to himself. She followed him with her eyes for a few seconds before unwrapping the parcel. It was an attractive green bracelet with a triangular pattern that matched the beading of her dress.

A short time later, Silver Fox and Laughing Sunshine were showing each other the gifts they had received and those they had made in return for the men. Silver Fox held up a new vest she had made for Wolf Dreamer. She held it preciously, indicating that she had put her soul into making it. It was made of finely tanned fawn hide that was sewn and stitched preciously. Sewn into the hide with purple, blue and green beads was a large wolf paw print. "It's wonderful, he'll love it," said Laughing Sunshine as she inspected the material. "I made Five Falls a shirt," she said, holding up the item. It was made of white buckskin with a thick line of purple and black beads across the back. "What do you think?" she asked. "He'll adore it, maybe enough to ask you to marry him," replied Silver Fox with a wink. Laughing Sunshine sighed and rolled her eyes. She glanced down at the bracelet Five Falls had given her and rubbed it lovingly before calling Lily and Otter to go and get the men. "Don't tell them a thing!" yelled Silver Fox after them.

A few moments later, Wolf Dreamer and Five Falls burst into the then wondering what was wrong, for one Otter had told them nothing. "What's wrong?" "What happened? Are you alright?" asked the worried brothers. The girls laughed and shook their heads. "Nothing's the matter," they chuckled. "We just wanted to give you your gifts." Wolf Dreamer and Five Falls sighed with relief. The women handed the vest and shirt to them. The men looked at the gifts in admiration. "You didn't have to do this for us." they said in impressed tones. They all hugged happily and walked to the main lodge to join the Sun Dance arm-in-arm.

Just as they reached the lodge door flap, Broken Shaft appeared from the shadows. He turned to Laughing Sunshine with a grin. "You will marry Two Smokes tomorrow." he declared. "Don't be so sure of that." remarked Five Falls. Broken Shaft turned on him with anger. "What was that boy?" Five Falls looked at the ground. "Um...uh...well..." Silver Fox poked him in the back. "Come on, tell the old maggot off!" she said through clenched teeth. "Or I will." Five Falls nodded and swallowed with difficulty. He attempted to face Broken Branch. "Just...leave her alone," he stammered. "Oh aren't we the brave one," muttered Silver Fox. "You can kill people in battle but you can't stand up to an old man." She snorted disapprovingly. "Leave him alone, he tried," Laughing Sunshine said quietly through tears. Broken Shaft nodded to her and walked away.

They walked into the Sun Dance lodge in silence. As they passed by the wealthy area, they saw Broken Shaft talking with Two Smokes. Two Smokes glared at Laughing Sunshine when they passed by. Everyone began chanting and dancing merrily. Silver Fox gave Laughing Sunshine a worried glance, remembering her vision, and lightly clasped her friend's hand in reassurance before going to dance with Wolf Dreamer. Five Falls went to dance with Lily for fun, leaving Laughing Sunshine sitting alone. Two Smokes pushed through the crowd and stopped in front of her. "Come with me," he growled.

He thrust her up by the arm and dragged her through the door flap. He pulled her a short distance and threw her on the ground. He kneeled beside her and ripped her dress open, exposing her completely to the night air. Laughing Sunshine screamed in horror as he began to crawl on her. He undid his leggings and pulled them off. Before he could do anything more, he was knocked off her and sent sprawling by a blaze of white. Five Falls wrestled with Two Smokes and pinned him to the ground. Two Smokes flailed his arms wildly and grasped a rock that lay beside him, and using all his strength he smashed it into Five Falls' elbow. Five Falls clutched at his arm, and then with lightning agility, drove his bone knife into Two Smokes' chest. With a final twist, Two Smokes stopped breathing. The rock rolled from his lifeless fingers.

"Just like Silver Fox's vision," breathed Laughing Sunshine. Panting, Five Falls got to his feet and extended a hand to Laughing Sunshine. He took off his new shirt and slipped it over her head, it fit perfectly over her ripped dress. Silver Fox ran out and looked at them. She then ran to Two Smokes' dead body and kicked it several times. "Thank you!!!" yelled Laughing Sunshine, wrapping her arms around Five Falls neck and kissing him warmly. Five Falls' eyes widened, Silver Fox cracked up and patted him on the back.

Wolf Dreamer and Broken Shaft ran from the lodge, having heard Laughing Sunshine's yell. "What happened here? Why is he dead Laughing Sunshine?" asked Broken Shaft sternly. "He tried to rape me father," she explained, fingering her torn dress and gazing at his dead body. Five Falls kissed her lightly on the head before pulling his knife from Two Smokes' chest. "Five Falls saved me." "I should have come sooner! My vision was right!" yelled Silver Fox in frustration. "I would have ripped his man hood from his body...." she muttered bitterly. "Hush daughter," said Red Star who came from behind. She smiled at each of them with satisfaction. "I had a vision of four souls being intertwined. Silver Fox and Wolf Dreamer, yours were bound strongly from the beginning. And Laughing Sunshine and Five Falls, your souls were destined to cross from the moment you were born, you only needed to realize it." she turned to Broken Shaft. "'Do you agree with them marrying?" Broken Shaft sighed before smiling. "You have my blessing."

The next day, there was another great celebration. The marriage between Silver Fox and Wolf Dreamer as well as Laughing Sunshine to Five Falls was almost as important as the Sun Dance. It was a beautiful marriage, even Chokecherry could admit it. Now the Pawnee and Sioux tribes were joined together in peace forever because of the bonds between Laughing Sunshine, Five Falls, Silver Fox and Wolf Dreamer.

The tribes remained in harmony with one another for a great period of time. Five Falls was a great warrior who earned the respect of everyone in the village through his braveness. He and Laughing Sunshine were blessed with many children who grew up to be proud hunters and mothers who made their own legacies. Silver Fox was the most powerful Spirit Woman of her time, having healed many and saved numerous from death. Wolf Dreamer became Chief Hunter (with the permission of Otter who married to Lily and became Chief of the village ). They lived happy, long and peaceful lives as was intended for them when their souls intertwined.

The End

Click Me to Return to the Main Page