Tiopa Ki Lakota Read Free

summer and their naturally dark skin had grown a deeper shade of brown under the sun's ministrations. Less than a mile away a cloud of dust rose from where the hunting party was attacking a herd of buffalo in the last communal hunt of the season. The herd had been sighted three days ago and the entire camp had traveled to this spot.
    In response to all the excitement over the last few days, the pack of children had begun their own hunting party, preparing to swoop down on the buffalo - a mangy bitch and her three puppies. They had split into two groups to outflank their quarry, Nupa leading one and Cinksi the other.
    A drop of sweat trickled down the girl's intense face, but she didn't wipe it away. Her party had closed in on the left flank and she didn't want to move and give her position away to the dogs. It had taken the better part of the morning to gain this spot, a small hillock with a dip in the center that kept the small family beneath her hidden from general view. The inexperienced hunters had flushed the mother and her pups twice already. One more time and Cinksi was going to forget about the elusive bitch and return to her mother's ti
    ikceya
    for something to eat.
    On the other side of the dip, she could see a spear head slowly raise from the ground. It waved gently side to side, two times. In response, the small girl used hand signals to her party, preparing them for the attack. And then she heard Nupa's war whoop and the eight of them surged forward, hollering at the top of their lungs as they 'hunted' the dogs.
    The puppies scattered in clumsy surprise, yelping in fright at the sudden cacophony about them. The boys and Cinksi pretended to thrust spears into them as the trio scampered away. Their mother, a mean spirited animal by most of the camp's definition, got hold of one boy's spear and a tug of war ensued. Eventually, the remainder of the hunting party had forgotten the pups, laughing at the antics of the boy with the spear as the dog growled and gnawed her way on the haft.
    Nupa finally aimed a kick at her, to distract her from her chewing, and she pulled away to snap at his moccasin before trotting back towards her offspring. Once she was sure that all her pups were present and unharmed, she urged them away from the gaggle of attackers, keeping a watchful eye.
    Cinksi threw herself down onto the grass, peering up at the deep blue sky. Most of the other boys followed suit. The only one remaining on his feet was the boy who was studying the damage to his weapon.
    One boy pulled a waterskin from where it hung across his shoulder and took a long drink before passing it along. "I wonder how many buffalo my father took down?" he idled.
    "Your father is a good hunter," another answered. "But my father and brother will kill more than him."
    Nupa had his turn at the waterskin before handing it to Cinksi. "I had a dream last night. A vision."
    That information garnered the attention of the group, several sitting up to peer at the oldest boy closely.
    "What did you see in your vision?" Cinksi asked, intrigued.
    "My father, Sape, killed two bulls. Your father," and he nodded at the girl beside him, "killed a bull and a cow." And then he went around the circle and pointed to each of the boys, informing them how many kills their fathers and brothers had made.
    One boy looked suspicious. "Are you sure it was a vision, Nupa?"
    Indignant, the older boy puffed his chest out. "Want to bet on the outcome of the hunt?" When there were no immediate takers, he said, "Unless you believe my vision was a true one."
    "I bet my spear that you are wrong," the smallest boy said with a stern expression.
    This seemed to be the catalyst and each child began making bets of their personal items and toys. Those who believed in Nupa's vision put up their items to back his. The spear that Cinksi's father had made her two moons ago was bet in support of her friend.
    There was the sound of a horse and Nupa rose to his feet, he being the tallest