Little Dove, First Rider's Crow birth mother, approached her soon after First Rider had left, and signed, "Welcome to ourfamily, Daughter-in-law! We are all happy to see again my son's little shadow, and we are glad to know his shadow finally caught up to him and brought him home. You and he belong together. I have thought so for many winters."
Liliann shared a smile with her mother-in-law, then signed, "I thank thee for the compliment, and I would like thee to know that I, too, am very happy to be back home."
Little Dove smiled at her, then asked with sign, "Have you seen inside your new lodge?"
Liliann shook her head, signing, "I have not."
"It is good, then, that I should be the first to welcome you into your new home!"
And, no sooner had Little Dove signed the words than she threw back the tepee flap and Liliann stepped inside. Liliann gasped.
Why, the lodge was completely furnished with all the trappings of a Blackfoot home. A richly decorated white-blue-and-red-hide tepee lining, coming up to about five feet from the floor, extended around the inside of the lodge. Symbols of circles and triangular shapes had been painted onto the white lining, the circles in blue and the triangles in red.
A ring of large stones had been placed in the center of the lodge for the family fire, complete with flint and steel for starting the blaze, and a branch of a tree that had been cut and shaped like tongs was set there beside the fire,. Two couches of softly tanned hide with the fur side up had been set upon the floor for both herself and First Rider. There were items, too, most dear to a woman's heart which sat around the fire: pots of steel, bowls made from buffalo horns, knives, sticks for roasting meat and a large steel trader's pot for cooking boiled meat.
"Oh my!" sighed Liliann. She continued in the language of gestures, saying and signing, "Thou hast done all this for us! 'Tisbeautiful, and no lie. Simply beautiful. I thank thee with all me own heart."
Little Dove smiled, then signed, "I will get you some water for your bath. I fear you might have a long night of visiting."
"I would be honored," signed Liliann. "Honored, indeed."
