Please dont post here, a feedback thread will be made. Many years ago, so many my great-grandfather does not remember it, there were two tribes who lived and battled one another in the western lands of America. They had warred so long that nobody could remember when they had not warred. Neither could anyone remember why they warred. So deep were their hatred and fear that it was forbidden for members of one tribe to speak to members of the other. One year, on the night of the first full moon after the harvest, a baby was born in each of these tribes. In the tribe to the north it was a girl, daughter of the cheif. He named her Moon Glow, for the first natural beauty he saw after gazing at her face for the first time. In the tribe to the south it was a male child, son of a mighty warrior. His father named him White Eagle, after the great bird which had soared majestically above his home at the moment of his sons birth. When Moon Glow was fifteen, she was betrothed to her farther's bravest warrior. As a wedding gift, she chose to make him a cloak of pure white leather, embroidered whith eagle feathers in the image of a bison-his totem. She traveled from her village to find the most perfect feathers for the cloak. At than time, White Eagle was being prepared for the rigors of war. His elders had sent him out in te mountain with only his clothes, his knife, and a flint to make fire. He had to live alone and survive for half the life of the moon- two weeks - with only those tools. He could not see anybody or tslk to anybody until he had completed his test. While others before hin had died alone in shame, White Eagle was determined to survive. In the wilderness he had made the weapons of survival-a bow and many arrows, even a spear. He had eaten well, he had slept warmly. He was sure he would survive his test. White Eagle had been in the mountains for ten days.
His only companion was a white stalloin who roamed the mountains near his camp. The horse ran whenever White Eagle tried to touch him or capture him, but he seemed to like being near White Eagle. The brave knew that the horse was wild, now and forever, and somehow the horses very wildness was a comfort to him. One day Moon Glow walked in the mountains alone, hunting from an eagle from whom she could pluck feathers for the cloak. She did not see the mountain lion who stalked her, nor did she hear him. But the mountain lion saw her. without warning, he attacked, howling and shreikind in victory as he landed on her back. Moon Glow screamed, knowing it would do no good and hearing only the slow, sad echo of her own voice. White Eagle heard the cry of the mountain lion and leapt up from his fire. Then he heard the cry of Moon Glow and he ran. He was only vaguely aware of the presence of the white stallion-a shadow at his side in his flight toward destiny. When he found Moon Glow and the mountail lion, the girl was strugling bravely against the overpowering force of the wild creature. Without hesitation, White Eagle drew a feather from his quiver, slipped it into his bow, drew it back, and let it fly. But he had drawn to quickly. The first arrow sped right past the girl and the lion and struck the ear of the white horse who watched from beyond. The horse flinched momentarily, but stood his ground as the arrow passed right through his ear and landed harmlessly beside him. Then White Eagle shot again, taking more careful aim. His arrow met his target. The mountain lion fell limp and dead. White Eagle ran to Moon glow and took her up in his arms. She was almost unconscious and blledind badly. White Eagle knew she was near death.
All thoughts of himself fled from his mind. He knew only that he must save this woman and the only way he could save her would be to return her to her people. He did not think of the consequences; he thought only of the woman who needed him. He began the long walk north, carrying the cheiftain's dying daughter in his arms.
As he walked, White Eagle became aware that the wild white stallion walked with him. It suprised him because it was White Eagle's arrow that had wounded the stallion, but the ear showed no blood- just a nick that looked like an old wound, long healed. The stallion matched the brave step for step, never straying more than a few feet. And when a rock in the mountain caused White Eagle to stumble, the horse war there for White Eagle to lean on. It was the first time White Eagle had ever touched the horse. He was certain the horse would flee from his touch, but the stallion did not. He waited. Then White Eagle understood. The horse was offering to carry them to the north.
White Eagle lifted himself and Moon Glow onto the stallion's back. He cradled her in his arms as the sleek stallion made the journey.
It was an arduous journey, for Moon Glow had far to search for feathers. When they arrived at her village, the chief took his daughter, but would not speak to White Eagle. The chief recognized him immediately as son of the tribe of the south. White Eagle knew that his thanks was his life. He returned to the mountains.
Time passed. Moon Glow healed and White Eagle survived in the rest of his test. But neither could forget the other.