****
"Were you able to see her?" asked Red Fox in mind-speak as he reached down to touch his pet wolf.
"Yes," answered the wolf in same form of communication.
"Did she look well?" asked Red Fox as he picked a burr off of his pet's gray fur.
"Yes," answered the wolf. "She asked about you."
"Truly?" Red Fox inquired as he bent down to squat next to his friend and pet. He and his wolf were crouching down upon the lower edge of a grassy cliff, one of the many bluffs jutting up grandly and surrounding the wide valley where the Pikuni were encamped. White leather tepees, colorfully decorated in rainbow-like shades of green, red, blue, orange and even the black hue used to paint the figures of animals, formed a gigantic circle that spread out wide in the flats of the valley. Off to the side of the camp were herds of ponies grazing leisurely upon the spring-green grasses. In the far distance, the Backbone-of-the-world Mountains could be seen, although they appeared to be gray and small. But, their size was only an illusion because of their great distance from this camp.
Something snapped in a patch of pines growing east of them on the lower edge of the cliffs, causing Hunts-with-the-wind to look away and raise his nose into the air, perhaps to catch a scent of what had caused the sound. As though deciding it was nothing, Hunts-with-the-wind turned around and sat down on his haunches next to his master.
In mind-speak, the pet said, "She wanted to know if you have married."
"Oh? What did you tell her?"
"I said I was not instructed to say more."
A welcoming warm breeze brought the scent of smoke and sage to his nostrils as Red Fox breathed in and out. Then,speaking aloud, Red Fox said, "You did well, my friend. Very well. Come, let us return to my lodge down there in the valley. I have there a fat piece of meat for you."
Red Fox stood up, and Hunts-with-the-wind came up with him, raising his ears, a sign of his consent.
Descending the short distance down the bluff, Red Fox retraced his steps back to camp, going directly to his white-tanned buffalo-hide tepee, which was decorated with blue and red stripes, and its top was painted a solid blue. It was a lodge his sister and mother had helped him to put together and to raise up, although Red Fox had painted the tepee, as was a man's duty. And, though almost all unmarried men lived in the lodge of their fathers, Red Fox was determined to live alone, this being his decision after an argument with his father.
It had concerned Poka'aki and marriage. His father, Weasel Plume, disapproved of a union between himself and Poka'aki. Instead, Weasel Plume wished his son to marry a woman from another band of the tribe.
But, Red Fox loved no one else but Poka'aki. And so, although he visited with his father daily, Red Fox lived elsewhere.
Red Fox raised up the soft hide flap of his lodge, stepping inside. Hunts-with-the-wind followed him, the wolf trotting immediately to his place on the right side of the lodge. As promised, Red Fox gave his wolf friend two fat juicy ribs to chew on.
Watching his pet and speaking aloud, Red Fox said, "I want to see her. Do you wish to accompany me?"
Hunts-with-the-wind answered with a loud howl, causing Red Fox to grin as he glanced at the young wolf sitting at his side. Thinking back a little, Red Fox realized it was only one winter ago when he had discovered the pup in a flooding stream that had been littered with ice from the great spring melt. Theyoungster was male and had been near to death when Red Fox had found him. When Red Fox had pulled the pup from the stream, he had wrapped the animal in his warm shirt, and this had started their friendship. Red Fox remembered how he had looked out toward the river littered with big, sharp floating ice; there he had seen the poor animal's parents; they had not survived the river's flood.
Since bringing him back to camp, the young wolf rarely left Red Fox's side, especially because the dogs in camp would fight with him. But, the dogs left Hunts-with-the-wind alone now, ever since he had fought with one of their pack and had won the battle. The pup also accompanied Red Fox whenever he went hunting, often spotting game long before Red Fox or George—Red Fox's hunting partner and almost-brother—even became aware there was game nearby.
Although Red Fox knew there would come a time when Hunts-with-the-wind would prefer the company of his own kind, for now Red Fox enjoyed his time with the animal.
"I want to see her," mumbled Red Fox to himself.
"I will take you there," answered Hunts-with-the-wind. "I know the way."
"Good," acknowledged Red Fox aloud. "Let us go there at once."
Taking up his rifle, encased in its beaded and beautifully made parfleche case, he set it across his lap while he reached up to grab hold of his quiver of arrows and bow where the weapons were hung from a string attached to one of the lodge poles of his home. Positioning the quiver, complete with arrows and bow, around his shoulder, he arose and said aloud, "We will go now."
Red Fox opened the tepee flap and stepped out over the entrance, Hunts-with-the-wind following him and then running to take his position in front, looking back once, presumably toensure his master followed. Walking quickly to catch up to his pet, Red Fox paced swiftly out of camp.
****
Hidden by bushes atop a bluff overlooking the Big (Missouri) River, Red Fox and Hunts-with-the-wind patiently awaited the steamboat to round a bend in the river. They hid themselves in this way since no one in this country who valued his life ever stood up on a high rise of a cliff. War parties roamed this land, continually making it necessary to use cover whenever one was traveling upon the prairie. Bushes, pines and gullies were often used by those afoot to give protection from being seen.
In this case, it would provide cover from anyone aboard the boat who had eyes to see while Red Fox could clearly watch the steamship and the passengers aboard her. Wouldshebe at the rails of the steamship, allowing him to catch a glimpse of his beloved's countenance?
"When you were here before, how long did you have to wait before you could see her clearly?" Red Fox asked his friend silently.
"One passage of the sun," answered Hunts-with-the-wind.
