Narrative



Quahneah:

“Áahtomónėhéne Quahneah!” (Listen Quahneah!) says my mother Abeque. She is trying to teach me how to do bead work on a dress and I am failing miserably. My work looks messy while my mother’s work is beautiful, neat and straight. Today she is teaching me how to create flowers on the yoke of the deerskin dress. Yesterday it was zigzags on moccasins. Tomorrow it will be braided shawls. The lessons inside the tipi never end.

I share a one room tipi with my entire family; my mother, my father and I. We each have a section of the floor. Mine is covered in grass mats and there is a blanket made from the pelt of a huge gray wolf. There is one small pillow made from rabbit fur that is very soft and warm. I have a small chest that Wohehiv made me where I keep my clothes and other belongings. There is a fire pit in the middle of the tipi that is keep constantly during the winter where we cook or food. My parents share a grass mat and an enormous blanket made from a bear’s pelt. They also have their own chests to store clothes and belongings.

I return to reality and reply, “Héehe’e gaho.” (Yes mother) I should always pay attention, but all I can think about is riding my chestnut gelding to the crystal river where my friend Wohehiv and I can eat our lunch in peace without. It’s almost time for me to leave my lessons. I think about it longer when mother says “áahtomónėhéne” to me again. I get up to leave and mother says “Tósa’e nétao’sėtsėhe’ohtse?” (Where are you going?) “I’m going out” “Tósa’e?” (Where?) “ Down to the river with Wohehiv” “ Why? I don’t like him. Why can you not find other friends? He’s not like us. He is a cripple and will never have the full privileges of a true Cheyenne.”

“He is my friend!” I scream at her and stomp out of the tipi, black braids flying, towards my horse Arjun. Wohehiv, even though he is a cripple, still is my best friend. I have no other friends except for him. Sometimes people make me feel bad that he is a cripple and I want to hide away forever; ashamed to be me. I struggle through though, knowing that I am his only friend. As I am thinking about this, I grab some bread and corn and walk straight into Meoquanee, who sneers and says, “ Where are we going? Going to play with the cripple again? I would think that your parents would forbid you from visiting him.” Meoquanee is one of the meanest girls in the entire village and she is also the chief’s daughter, so I have to be courteous to her. She has hated me ever since I accidentally spilled tree sap on her dress, before I met Wohehiv, and she has never forgiven me. I try to walk around her, but she is quick and blocks my path. Luckily, Mohe, my father is near and tells Meoquanee to leave his hestónaho (daughter) alone. She quickly obeys, leaving me and Arjun alone. I quickly swing my legs up and onto his back, ignoring the fact that I don’t have a saddle or bridle and gallop off towards the river. The tall trees of the forest are a blur as I urge Arjun on faster and faster, leaving the village far behind. I soon reach the river in our favorite spot, passing a bramble bush and a blackberry bush on the way. I tie Arjun up on a tree and let him graze near the slow-flowing river. I begin to climb a oak tree, looking for Wohehiv at the same time.  I quickly spot him under the canopy of green trees, looking for firewood across the river. Wohehiv is tall with long black hair and walks with a limp that he was born with. That is why he is called “dull knife”. His perfect honey colored skin that glistens in the glowing sun. He wear leggings and a breechcloth, that probably hides a water-skin and maybe a pouch of jerky. I slowly climb down the large tree and leap from stone to stone across the river until I meet him face to face. He starts laughing his laugh that sounds like beautiful bells ringing in the moonlight. I immediately begin laughing as well and then I help him, his arm on my shoulder, and stumble along to our little campsite along the crystal river. He begins to create a fire while I lay out our lunch, jerky, bread, and corn.

“How was your beading lesson today?” says Wohehiv, tearing a hunk off from the bread. “Horrible. My dress is so awful. I bet all the other girls my age could do so much better than I can. Then my mother yelled at me for leaving during the middle of it to come out here. She drives me mâsêhave (crazy).” He begins to twirl his braid around his finger and moves closer to me, his fiery blue eyes connecting to mine.

“You know the Sun Dance is coming soon. Maybe I could partake so ……” he trails off. “You could never! You would die! You are weak as it is! I can’t loose you and you mean way too much to me!” I almost shout in his face. The Sun Dance is a two week celebration where we celebrate life on the Plains. A buffalo skull is hung in the middle that symbolizes life on the Plains. Each dancer must suspend themselves from ropes that are attached to a tree in the center of camp. The ropes are tied on to the young men by piercing a hole in the skin and then tying ropes between the holes. They men dance around the poles until the ropes are ripped out and they loose consciousness, which usually doesn’t happen for three or four days.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“ I cannot believe you would actually think that I would do such a thing, Quahneah. I was only joking.” replies Wohehiv.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“Nêstsevé'eée-tátsetanóme! (Do not make fun!)” I say as I begin to look away from him. He moves closer, reaching out to hold my hand, then laying his head on my shoulder, promising that he will never partake in the Sun Dance. Sadly, I believe him. I say we should be getting back to the village and say “nėstaévahósevóomatse” (I’ll see you again) to him and we part ways.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wohehiv:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">She doesn’t think I will. But I am. I am going to partake in the Sun Dance. She is going to hate me forever, maybe never speak to me ever again, but I want to prove that I am not worthless. I want to have the privileges of a true Cheyenne, even with my crippled leg. I might die and Quahneah might die from a broken heart, but I will. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I reach my empty house. It’s been six years since anyone has seen my parents. They must have run away when they found out about the crippled leg. No one would want a child with a crippled leg, except maybe Quahneah who could love anything. I sit in the tipi, listening to the village chat and then I get up, avoiding pressure on my leg, grab my crutch and begin walking towards the chief’s tipi. I notice people whispering when I appear, just loud enough that I can hear. I am ashamed, but Quahneah’s spirit keeps me going, though she may not know it.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I enter the chief Kartikeya’s tipi, decorated with wolf and bear pelts, and wait for him to speak. He speaks in a rough voice that says “What would you like?” I begin to tell him that I want to take part in the Sun Dance, but then stop, thinking, will he let me? He gives me a quizzical look and I explain to him about me wanting to prove myself. He nods and then I remember, and tell him not to tell anyone, not even Quahneah and he nods again. I turn and walk slowly out of the the chief’s tipi, wanting to avoid any suspicion from anyone in the village. It is now sundown as I limp back to my own tipi, decorated with a few sparse things. I undress and crawl under the deer hide blanket were the first thing that I think of is Quahneah. Then I close my eyes and fall asleep.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“To’ėstse! To’ėstse!” (Get up from bed!) My mother yells at me when the sun breaks over the horizon. Today is another day of work. Today I am to practice beading my dance shawl. It looks less horrible than my dress, but, worse than everyone else’s in the village. My thoughts go immediately to the Sun Dance were I am supposed to wear this shawl and then my thoughts wander to Wohehiv. “Did he really want to participate in the Sun Dance? I hope not. I would die myself if he did.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“Pévevóona’o nánôhtsé'e nėše’šėhe’onatse naa nėše’šévoénėstse.” (Good morning and also wash your face an your hands.) says my mother. I quickly dress and begin working on my blue shawl. The time passes so quickly, I can’t complain and then it is now almost time for our lunch. I keep working later than normal to please my mother after my violent outburst yesterday. When I am done with two more rows of red beads, I put my shawl and pony beads aside and get up to go.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“Nápévetano (I’m happy) with your work.” my mother says as I begin to leave. She nods her head and I quickly dart out the entrance. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Meoquanee is waiting for me when I leave the imprisonment of my tipi. “I hear he left you for Rohana. He loves you no longer.” says Meoquanee with a wicked smile on her face. She is lying. I know this can not be true. No one would love Wohehiv but me. Meoquanee walks away with a smug look on her facing, thinking that she accomplished what she wanted to. She didn’t. Wohehiv still loves me.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> I saddle Arjun quickly, and gallop away towards the river to meet Wohehiv. I race through the tall trees, rose bushes and brambles again, wanting to be with Wohehiv even more with each passing moment. He is waiting for me at the fire when I get there. I tie up Arjun and walk over, sitting down next to him. He looks so deep in thought, I almost don’t want to disturb him. Almost. I lightly touch his arm and he looks startled. He relaxes when he sees me and offers me some fish that was roasting over the fire. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“Énêsétovoésta.” (Afternoon) says Wohehiv. Something is bothering him. I can tell by his face. It is not his beautiful, usual face.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“Is something wrong?” I ask. He shakes his head. I’ve seen him like this only once before, when his parents disappeared. I can think of one thing that will make him happy again, so I ask, “néto’sėho’sóehe vé'šemi?” (Are you going to dance with me?) He looks up and smiles. I begin to pull him up as he says “Nómonėhe’še!” (Alright, let’s do it!) We begin to clap our hands together in time as I begin to twirl around, my deerskin dress swirling around me in waves of tan and cream. He begins to hobble around as well, his smile brightening every moment that we are dancing together. Finally, we both collapse on the ground, tired and dizzy. Then, Wohehiv, out of breath, begins to say, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“That was out best dance ever! We should do that more often!” I smile and catch my breath, my hair is sticking to the back of my neck, hot from dancing. I motion towards the river and shove Wohehiv in, attempting to take him by surprise, but he pulls me in with him. Now, we are both standing in the river, soaking wet and laughing as the current swirls around us gently. We dunk our heads again and I feel alive as the cold water bites my skin and I burst to the surface with Wohehiv not far behind me. I clamber out onto the muddy bank were I sit in the sun and begin to dry off. Wohehiv stays in a moment longer and then climbs out after me. I lay down against an oak tree in the warm sun and I suddenly close my eyes, and sleep slowly encircles me.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wohehiv:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">It should not be this easy. Most people do not fall in love immediately. But I did. I lean against an oak tree and watch Quahneah sleep. She looks so happy, her wet skin reflecting the warm sunlight. Her beautiful deer skin dress is soaked with water, and I feel bad about getting it wet, but it will dry. When she sleeps, she smiles, her raven black hair that I love is in two messy braids that are on either side of her head. With each breath, she looks perfect and beautiful. “ What am I saying?! I’m going to partake in the Sun Dance and I could never see her again! I can’t get my mind off her, so perfect, lying in the sun. I know I’m going to die and I should not get to attached, but I am, entwined with her, in love with her, ever since the day we met.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">It was a cool Heše'évenéheéše'he (Dirt Face Moon - March/April) day and I was walking by a stream near the village. I went to get a drink of water and notice a small girl across the stream. She looked like she was leaning over the water, hand stretched out across the surface, ready to grab some unknown object floating by. With one final stretch, she fell head first into the freezing water. I remember hobbling over as fast as I could, and when I reached her, looked like she had drowned. I quickly grabbed her thin arm and pulled as hard as I could, and slowly pulled her to the surface and up onto the bank. She lay motionless for a few moments and then her ragged coughing broke the silence.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">She began spitting up water and looked up at me with large amber eyes. I walked her back to my tent where I helped her dry off. She never said one word until she was ready to leave, “Pévevóona’o. Nétónêše - véhe? Nánéehove - véhé Quahneah.” (Good morning. What is your name? My name is Quahneah.) I was dumbfounded. Anyways, I answered, “Nánéehove - véhé Wohehiv.” (My name is Wohehiv.) She nodded and left, but came back with a beautiful spotted eagle feather that she gave to me and said “ Néá’eše - vo'êstanéveha. Háahpe'e másetanó'tá.” (Thank you for saving me. Much thanks.) I smiled and took the feather that still has hung in my tipi that marks our long-lasting friendship.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I look over at her again and she seems to be waking up. She blinks a few times and then gets up and walks over to Arjun and simply says “Time to go.” and Arjun breaks into a gallop and disappears between the trees. What am I going to do?

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">He was acting strange today, almost not himself. Something is on his mind. I can’t tell what, but I know something’s wrong. I should be happy. Tomorrow is the beginning of the Sun Dance and I know for a fact that Wohehiv can not and will not participate in it. As Arjun’s mane whips against my face, I enter camp and see the post being set up in the center for tomorrow. The buffalo skull is hanging on the post and the ropes are being tied on now. My shawl is done and I should be proud, but I’m not. Someone is going to most likely die in the next few days. I can not think of that now. I tether Arjun and walk into our tipi. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">As I enter, I can see the figure of my father sitting next to my mother discussing plans for tomorrow’s ceremony. At least I think. They are whispering so low that I can not hear, but I’m pretty sure that the name Wohehiv was mentioned. When my parents see me, my father, motions to me and says “ Hámėstoo’ėstse hestónaho!” (Sit down daughter!) He passes me some bread and jerky and says “ Méseestse! Méseestse!” (Eat! Eat!) After dinner and a light chat, I get ready for bed.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wohehiv:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I am scared for tomorrow. Quahneah is going to be very upset, but there is nothing she can do about it. I want to and I’m going to dance in the Sun Dance. I undress and crawl under the deer skin blanket and fall asleep, imagining all the horrors that might befall me over the next few days.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“Éxanenėstse!” (Get ready!) says my mother and father as náno'ee'ėha'onȯtse vóóhe (I put my shoes on with the morning star {Get up really early}) Today is the Sun Dance! I hope that no one faints or dies today. As I put on my new shawl, my father stops me and gives me a dreamcatcher for good luck. I walk to Wohehiv’s tipi, but I can not find him anywhere. We usually watch the dances together. I think nothing of it when I reach the circle of people sitting around the pole in the center. This year there are five boys participating. Chief Kartikeya begins calling out the names; Harshul, Indraneel, Jaidev, Saphala, and before he can read the last name, I see the bent leg and immediately know it’s Wohehiv. I stifle a scream and jump up from my seat, and begin to sprint away when I notice Meoquanee trying hard not to cry as well. Jaidev is her lover and I am sure that we both know that he is not very strong compared because of his sickness a few months ago. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">As I leave the circle, I toss my shawl into our tipi, fling myself onto Arjun, and head for the edge of the woods when I hear Chief Kartikeya yell “Ho’sóó’ėstse!” (Dance!). I dismount and tie up Arjun when I’m aware of another presence behind me. I spin around and notice Meoquanee and her horse behind us. Her beautiful face is blotchy and her eyes red from crying. I step towards her and she throws her arm up in the air and I think she is going to hit me, but instead she throws them around me. I don’t try to stop her, I fully embrace her presence, knowing now I now longer am alone. We stand together like that for at least five minutes, crying and hugging, hot tears running down our faces and down our dresses. Finally, she sniffles to a stop and breaks the silence.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“Náháševátamâhtsétanó. (I’m sorry.) I should have never treated you the way I did. I wish I could make it up to you. I realize that I was wrong in making fun of you and Wohehiv. Any girl should be lucky and proud to be his. I will never make fun of anyone again, look where it has got me. Jaidev should not be doing this after he got over that horrible sickness. Once I felt hate, now I feel only sadness. My lover is going to die, I know it. We are going to be hotôxaa'é'e (widows) forever. I will never love another again. What can we do about it? <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“I agree with you. I will never love again if Wohehiv dies. All we can do is hope. There is a small chance that they will live and we should grab that chance and hold onto it for dear life.” We cry for another five minutes and then walked slowly to the stream to wash away our tears. We then take our horses and slowly walk back towards the village where we can hear the shouts and drums from the dance. We tie our horses to our tipis and walk back to the circle where we can see everything. I am so glad I left before the cut the holes in Wohehiv and tied the ropes onto him. I would have fainted myself. We sit back down, next to each other, while we watch until sundown.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wohehiv:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The sun is burning my skin. The ropes are burning my skin more so than the sun. Dried blood covers the ends of the ropes imbedded in me. I feel I going to faint, but I must keep going for Quahneah and the ropes are not out yet. Mouth so dry and so thirsty. The pounding drums hurt my head. I dance around and around, my leg threatening to give out at any moment.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This is day two. Wohehiv and Jaidev have lasted through the night. As for Meoquanee and I, we cried all night. Jaidev looks ready to faint any moment now, So far, only one, Harshul, has fainted without pulling out the ropes. I get more frightened as the day grows hotter and the dancers are still dancing, ready to faint at any moment.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wohehiv:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The burning in my chest is worse. My bad leg is almost useless. My lips are cracked and bleeding. Everything is blurry. I see Quahneah in the circle, her eyes close to tears every time I pass by. Meoquanee is sitting next to her. Why? Suddenly, I’m jerked back into line when another drops unconscious. This time, it’s Saphala. As soon as he is down, a group of villagers sneak in, breaking the ropes that are still attached as they pull him away. I smell rotting flesh all around me. I am ready to die.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This is now the third day. Wohehiv is still dancing, but Jaidev is not. He fainted last night at about sétôhtaa'eve (midnight). Meoquanee is with him, but I fear he is going to die. Then a piercing scream that filters through the camp and then silence. Jaidev is dead. I bend my head and murmur a prayer to Meoquanee, wishing her lover a safe passage to the afterlife. I leave the circle and retire to my bed, crying for everything along the way. As I stop when I’m in my bed, I think of one thing, my world is being brought down around me. I break into a fresh set of tears and cry myself to sleep.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wohehiv:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Three are gone. Two are left. My breathing comes in short, jagged rasps. My mouth is parched and my throat screams for water, cold or warm. I think of the after life, but I can’t. It is too painful and my mind is not working correctly. Suddenly, the fourth boy, Indraneel, slumps to the ground with a thump. I am the last one. I twist and the first rope comes free, splattering my hot blood all over the ground. I begin to become dizzy from the lack of blood. My crippled leg is numb and it is not working anymore. I jerk back by accident, trying to switch feet and the last rope is ripped out of me, leaving a huge gash down my chest. More of my sticky blood covers the ground. I think of Quahneah and whisper “Nemehotatse” (I love you). I try to struggle to stay up a little longer, but my eyes close and surrender to the ground below my feet, soaked with blood.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">He was the last one. Now he is almost dead. How could I not predict that he would do this. He lies in his tipi, unmoving, while I try to fix what he did to himself. Meoquanee comes and helps, but then leaves because she can’t stand the sight of my lover alive and hers not. I do not blame her. He doesn’t seem to be getting better. Each day is nothing. I pray every night, asking for a miracle to heal him. I am at my breaking point. I never sleep and I barely eat. I think I am causing more pain that I should be.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">No change. I hold his hand and whisper my thoughts to him at every possible moment. I have abandoned learning beadwork for now, waiting for him to get better.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Today he is worse. I think that luck is not on my side.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">He looks better, but still no movement.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I hold his hand each day and whisper “Nemehotatse” in his ear. I sit him up and I force his cracked lips open so I can pour water in.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> I fear he is not going to get better. My parents say leave him and let him die, but I can’t. He means too much.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The days go by in a blur. I am awake constantly, hoping for some slight movement. Wohehiv still does not move.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Today his eye lids fluttered open, revealing his wonderful sapphire eyes! Finally! I have missed his eyes so much! He now has a slight chance to recover!

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">His eyes were open for over an hour! When he saw me, I swear I saw tears in his blue eyes. I could not be more happier. Meoquanee seems to look happy too. I told her that Jaidev had tried to fight with all his strength, but to no avail. I am truly sorry for her and I wish her the best luck in the coming days. She smiles and and nods her head then leaves, but before she can, I give her a hug and that seems to erase some of her burdening sorrow.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">He can whisper a few words! His chest still looks awful from where he ripped the ropes out and will always have a scar, but there is so much less blood from where I started.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wohehiv:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I am alive. I cannot believe it, but I am, all because of Quahneah. Love her and I want to tell her, but she tells me to be quiet and to save my strength. I still managed to whisper “Nemehotatse” to her before she tells me to be quiet and lay still. I smile and fall back into a deep sleep.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Two months have passed since the Sun Dance and Wohehiv is so much better. He can walk a short distance by himself. He was walked around the village, on his crude new crutch that I tried to make for him. He walks towards the chief’s tipi now to tell him that he wants to partake in what a true Cheyenne man is supposed to do.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wohehiv:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The chief has rejected me. He says I will never get to do the things a true man can do. I have worked so hard, but have gained nothing. He said that a man is born with these privileges, he does not earn them. He said there is nothing left for me and I might as well be dead. There is only one road left and that is the one I am going to take. No one else would take this road, but I will because I am me. I ponder this conversation as I approach my tipi, getting ready to pack up all my belongings and move on.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“ I am leaving the village. I no longer believe I belong in our society, even after trying to prove myself during the Sun Dance. Nêstaévâhósevóomâtse, naase nomos aanetto.” (Goodbye, I’m leaving forever.) I tell Quahneah. She looks lost and then smiles.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“I’m coming with you of course.” says Quahneah, with her beautiful large amber eyes.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“No you can not because am going alone. I want you to have a normal life without me. Again, I do not belong here and I am going leaving forever.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Her eyes begin to fill to the brim with tears. She begins to cry and I hold her in my arms, hoping that it will make everything better. It doesn’t. We begin to cry even harder and even harder after that. About fifteen minutes later, she looks up and says “Take Arjun with you. I have no real use for him and I want you to remember me with something.” I stare at her and whisper “Néá’eše.” to her. (Thank you) I also want to give her something, but I don’t know what. Suddenly, I run back to my now empty tipi and pull the spotted eagle feather from it’s string and run back out to her. She is now sitting on the ground sobbing uncontrollably. Hot tears are coming to my eyes as well and I try to hold them back again, to no avail. I hold out the eagle feather to her and say, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> “ Remember when we first met? I have saved your life and you have saved mine. For that I thank you. You will move on, but I know in your heart, somewhere deep down, you will always love me and I will always love you, no matter who you or I meet.” I place the eagle feather in her warm hand and she accepts in gingerly. I kiss her and she accepts with all her might. I have to rip away after a few moments, fearing that I won’t want to leave when I have to. I mount her beloved Arjun, promising to take good care of him and begin to gallop away in the sunset on the horizon. I whisper again into the wind, “Nêstaévâhósevóomâtse.” (Goodbye), hoping that my voice carries to Quahneah. I can’t bear to see her cry anymore so I don’t look back.



<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Quahneah:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">He is gone forever. My first and only love. I watched until he rode over the hills of prairie grass and could not been seen anymore. I sat on the ground below and tried to cry away the pain that is going to hang over me for the rest of my life. It is almost dark when Meoquanee comes looking for me to bring me home. I cry all the way back to my tipi. She gives me a empathetic look and tries to calm me. She gives me one last big hug before she turns to leave. I stumble inside the tipi, and luckily, no one is inside. I notice I am still clutching the beautiful eagle feather. I never want to let it go. I crumple in a heap on my blankets, trying to find sleep, but it doesn’t come.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">That night, my heart shatters into thousands of pieces, never to be repaired. I can no longer feel. I have nothing to live for for my love is gone from my life. My heart is truly broken. It feels as if he ripped out my heart and smashed until it was unrepairable. I can not live with this burden that hangs over me. I have cried away all the tears I have. I am no longer able love because I am never to awake again.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The End

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Quahneah - “Morning dew” <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Abeque - “Stays at home” <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Wohehiv - “Dull knife” <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Arjun - “Peacock” <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Meoquanee - “Wears red” <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Mohe - “Elk” <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Kartikeya - “God of war” <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Rohana - “ Sandal wood” <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Harshul - “Deer” <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Indraneel - “Bright green emerald” <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Jaidev - “God of victory” <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Saphala - “Successful”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Cheyenne Dictionaries:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Cheyenne Online Dictionary - [] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Let’s Listen to Cheyenne - [] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Hathi Trust Digital Library - []