Stories : Tell Your Own
There was, one day, long ago, a young warrior with a wandering disposition. He had thought to endear himself to a young maiden in his village. And thereby went on gathering trips to bring her father many things that would bring honor, and respect to him, as well as honor her father, and thusly gain the daughter's hand.
He went first to the east and came upon a sandy beach at the lake side many a day travel from the village, and found the shell that was used to make the wampum belts, the deep blue was so bright and powerful. He took as many as he could load upon his pack dog's frame. And he proceeded to go back and approached this maidens' father only to find her father already with too many baskets loaded with this beautiful shell.
He went south this next time, and came upon a trail of rocky and hard climbing cliffs and mountains. And once near the top came upon a cave, and there within was a great bear. He called to the bear and said Here great brother You must give your skin to me that I might give the warmth to the father of the one I love, and gain her hand in marriage. And for the honor you bestow I thank You my brother for your offering. And with a three sun and high standing moon battle the bear gave up his reward to the warrior which then traveled back to the village. Yet to find again the father had a pile that could load down 8 horses to near buckling knees.
This time the young warrior went west. And as he traveled he came to a great forest, and traveled within for many days to be sure he would find something no one had seen Or gathered before and beheld a great tall tree. It grew further up than even an arrow would travel from a strong taut bow. His thought was to use his tomahawk to chop a few branches to take to this maiden's father because he could see seeds like no other it contained, and dripping sap that had a pungent smell. The freshness from it would make any home desirable. Once he got back to the village and presented these bows to the father, he noticed a stack of wood that had he same bark and knew he was not so original in his gift or thinking. And yet again thought to go and find something that would bring the greatest honor to himself, and the father.
So again he traveled. This time to the great unknown north. Sure to find something that no other had found to pledge love to the maiden and bring honor to the father of her, he loved so. Forgetting about his honor and in humbleness going out alone to find something to prove his love.
He came to the high flat land known as tundra, and found a great herd of a cattle he had never seen. With great horns and a hunched back. A bellow of a cry that could split the sky, and running on hooves that thundered loud enough to crack the ground and made him cover his ears.
He told this beast, the brother of man, he needed to find a way to bring this maiden's father a trophy to be rewarded the young maidens' hand. And the answer he received from the great buffalo. Take one, and only one of my brothers and show this father the meat, and all we have to offer. For it is life we can bring to those with honor and being selfless he yielded up his flesh.
Once coming back to the village the young warrior was received with rejoicing. As his village had been unable to find any food or hides, and had been hungry and cold for some while. And the people decided to make a dance in honor of the great beast that had saved them in the cold.
The dance has been held for many seasons and is called The Buffalo Dance, and is held in honor of a brave young warrior and his humble attempt in finding something suitable to give to the father of a maiden, for the love he had, and the blessings of the great beast for saving the village.
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