Songs of Life

It was late of the great summer of good hunting in the forest and when there was plenty from the Great River that an illness came over Big Rock, the father of Eagle Feather.  Before the next moon turned, this great, strong man became very weak.  Eagle Feather spent all of his time caring for his father and prayed to the great spirits of Mother Earth to make his father well again, but Big Rock became weaker and weaker.  Then, on the day of his passing, Big Rock held his young and strong Eagle Feather close to his breath.  He whispered in Eagle Feather’s ear, “You must go to my friend, Tall Trees, and tell him of the passing of my body and the journey of my heart to the spirits.  You must tell him that he is in my heart. And you must tell him that I will wait for him to hunt again together.”

Big Rock grew soft with the feel of death.  A great pain came to Eagle Feather’s heart as he looked toward the heavens and wished his father a good and safe journey. All the people of the village gathered around the lodge of Big Rock and chanted farewell and safe journey for their great leader and loving friend.  They were very saddened by their loss.

It took many weeks for Eagle Feather to gain the strength, courage, and spirit to make the three-day journey westerly to the village of Tall Trees, his father’s most beloved friend.  He followed the Great River on his saddened journey, and his heart was stone-heavy and hard with the loss of his missed father.  Along the way, he supplemented the dried deer meat he carried with fish from the Great River, fallen nuts, and bright berries from the abundant forest. His days were hard and filled with the memories and loneliness of his departed father, Big Rock.

Then, early on the morning of the fourth day of travel, Eagle Feather came upon the village of Tall Trees.  The lodges were neatly kept as in his own village, and the voice of the children playing echoed through the forest above the sound of the river. He came to the edge of the village and met an old woman who was stooped over, washing some clothing in the river.  He placed his hand gently on her shoulder and asked her for the place of Tall Trees.  She looked up and smiled, as if knowing who he might be, and pointed to a dwelling near the edge of the river.  As he moved closer toward the entrance of the lodge, he called loudly for Tall Trees.

Very unexpectedly, Little Stream, the beloved and beautiful daughter of Tall Trees, showed herself shyly in the doorway.  The sun blessed her smooth face with more beauty than usual, and Eagle Feather was overtaken with a great surge in his heart.  Her beauty beckoned his senses, and with her head slightly bowed in bashfulness, she smiled shyly at his presence.  With the sun at his back shining on her face, she could only imagine who this great image could be.  It was moments that passed before Eagle Feather gained the composure to speak his voice to Little Stream’s ears.  “I am Eagle Feather, son of Big Rock.  I have journeyed far to see Tall Trees.”  His heart pounded as if he had run many miles.  He was taken by her deep brown eyes contrasted against her golden skin and the strands of her hair that glistened with the energy of the morning sun.

Little Stream’s heart was also strong with beat.  His presence filled much of the emptiness in her heart, and her loneliness began to melt.  She replied in a soft, shy, and loving voice, “I am Little Stream, daughter of Tall Trees.  My father is by the Great Tree with the council. I will bring you to him.”  She could hardly make the words.  She asked to be followed, and they proceeded to the Great Tree where the council was meeting.  As they were walking, Little Stream’s lower body swayed slightly with the soft motion of gracefulness, and Eagle Feather was taken by the flowing motion of her body over the clean, rich river gravel that bedded the village.  Some of her black hair took gentle flight as they walked through the morning breeze. He was so taken by her beauty that the thoughts of his passed father left his heart and mind for this moment.

As they closed to the council, Tall Trees looked up toward the approaching couple.  When he saw Eagle Feather, the vision of his great and longtime friend filled his heart.  He had never seen Eagle Feather but could feel the presence of Big Rock’s spirit in this young man.  Tall Trees extended his hand to quiet the council and called, “Who is this young man that approaches with Little Stream?  I seem to know you but have no recollection of ever seeing you.”

“I am Eagle Feather, son of Big Rock.  I have come a distance to bring you news of my great father!” responded Eagle Feather standing stron