The Adventures of Cherokee (2 page)

J.D. had been awake for hours watching the herd and mentally selecting what he thought to be the best animals. Before the sun came up, just as
the sky was beginning to get light, he woke the cowboys.

“Saddle up, boys. Time to rise and shine. Got to get these horses back to the ranch as soon as we can.”

Although it was just breaking daylight, the wild horses were awake and fearful. They had never been this far west and could not imagine what was happening to them. They could hear the men stirring and smell the smoke from the fires and the acrid odor of the coffee the men drank.

Soon one man and horse rode in front of them, trotting slowly. The rest of the men circled them again, gently moving their lariats to and fro at the side of their horses, forcing the horses to move in the direction the men wanted them to go. One black colt made a dash for freedom, but was soon chased back by two men on fast horses.

The sun was especially warm and bright on the day the herd was captured. Cherokee and
Sunee had gone for a run up the Sequatchie Valley, near the Cumberland Plateau in middle Tennessee. The herd had chosen this place as their new home a year before when the terrible winter snows had come, causing hardship for them all and the loss of one of their own.

They loved to run side by side, sometimes racing, sometimesjust enjoying the wind blowing their manes and tails and the exhilaration of a beautiful day. They stopped to catch their breath and take a drink in the river.

Sunee’s mane and tail flowed long and black. All four of her legs from the knees down were sooty black. There was a wide white blaze on her face spaced evenly between two beautiful brown eyes. Only weeks older than Cherokee, she felt responsible for guiding him in the way of
Asga ya galun Latí.
They had many disagreements while growing up, but Sunee was able to maintain a friendship with him that would last a lifetime.

Although very beautiful, Cherokee had a
scar on his right shoulder the image of three raven feathers. Two of the feathers represented a danger or problem overcome; times that represented the beginning of growing up for the colt. The first was earned when he fell into a fast moving stream, trying to get a drink of water and was struck in the shoulder by a big log. This experience led him to
Tsa tsi,
a 5 year old Cherokee Indian boy, his first human contact. He received the second while with his father, Flying Hawk. They were in a cave trying to get back to the wild horse herd when Cherokee slipped on ice and fell onto a ledge. The third appeared miraculously without incident or cause, actually splitting from the second. Why a raven feather?

Everyone knows that before Grandmother Moon and Stars, the raven represented a decree of change.

The raven has patience in his heart

It will not always stay but sometimes depart.

When sharing his feathers with one in need

That one will grow as the Spirit leads.

Cherokee and Sunee had been foaled two summers ago, making this fall and winter their third. They had played games together, listened to Grandfather’s stories together and were best friends; although when younger, Cherokee seemed to be in trouble all the time, while Sunee had wisdom beyond her years. Even so, they gained
a u no ligo so,
a partnership, early in life.

Grandfather was the patriarch of the herd to which these horses belonged. He loved being a storyteller to the young colts for these many, many years, but recently traveled to the land of his ancestors, the stars in the night sky. In one of his stories, Grandfather taught them that when the Earth began,
Asga ya galun Latí
made all of the animals and then he made Man. He asked that the horse make a promise to Man to carry him where he needed to go and be kind to him. So the horse did.
Asga ya galun Latí
meant well, but He forgot to ask Man to make a promise to be kind to the horse. He meant for Man to be the supporter of the horse, and horse, the transporter of Man. So, as you know, some men are kind and some men are not so kind to animals.

The Great Spirit gave Horse direction

To help all humans in need,

To be strong, brave and friendly,

And always remain a devoted steed.

Cherokee and Sunee were adults now, free and wild, but responsibilities came with growing up. Sunee enjoyed staying with the herd, helping to care for the younger colts; Cherokee guarded and protected the herd from a distance and explored the world of the Great Spirit. Cherokee had been taken by his father at an early age so he could learn the things he would need to know to become the leader of the herd. His father told him he would soon be ready for that responsibility.

“Sunee? I have something to ask you,” said Cherokee.

“Yes, Cherokee, what is it?”

“I need to follow the sun as far as I can go and... “

“But we do not know how far that is, or what
danger is there!” interrupted Sunee.

“I cannot let that stop me. I am strong and fast. I have learned well from Father and Grandfather.”

“Flying Hawk trained you to be our next leader, Cherokee. What about your responsibilities here?”

“Flying Hawk will be here for many years. My experiences could help to improve my ability to lead the herd.”

“You would be alone, away from the protection of the herd.”

“Stallions live alone, protecting their herds from danger, never seen except for brief times when they come to visit their families.”

“Then you have made up your mind?” Sunee asked sadly.

“Yes, Sunee, I have.”

“I will miss you,” she sighed.

“There is something else, Sunee,” said Cherokee.

“What is that?” she asked.

“I want you to go with me. We have
a u no ligo so,
a partnership. Will you be my partner and go with me?”

“I don’t know,” she answered. “I need to think about it and talk with e tsi, my mother, Unaca. Will you wait for me to decide?”

“For a while,” answered Cherokee. “But we must be leaving soon before the snows come. We will follow unfamiliar trails and cannot be sure of grazing and water.”

“Alright,” said Sunee. “I will think about it, and with my mother’s help I will decide what is best for me to do.”

Together they galloped back toward the herd, comfortable in each other’s company, but more thoughtful than when they had started out.

They were still a mile from the horses when they heard shouts and yells of Man and many horses running. The two young horses looked at each other and galloped up the last rise. Looking down they saw many men racing toward their herd, running on three sides, driving the horses and
colts at a dead run down the valley.

Sunee leaped into action, ready to rescue their families.

“Stop!” shouted Cherokee. “If we go down there, we will be captured, too. We must be careful!”

Sunee stopped. “Cherokee! I need to help protect the young ones!”

“Later!” said Cherokee. “Right now we must stay out of sight. We can do them no good if we are captured, too!”

Sadly they watched the horses being driven away from their home, out of the valley into the unknown.

-2-
No Escape
 

Cherokee and Sunee waited anxiously. They paced back and forth, tossing their heads and pawing the ground with their hooves. As soon as the men rode out of sight with the herd, the two young horses galloped down to the meadow.

They heard a loud whinny. Turning, they saw Flying Hawk racing toward them. The stallion slid to a stop in front of the young horses.

“Where were you when Man appeared? Why did you not see or hear him coming?” he asked angrily.

Sunee lowered her head.

Cherokee said, “We are sorry, Father. It was such a beautiful and peaceful day, we went for a gallop. When we returned we heard many men and could do nothing to prevent them from stealing our family. We are truly sorry.”

“What’s done is done. Now we must try and make it right. You and Sunee follow at a safe distance. I am going up on the mountain where I will not be seen and watch the men from there.”

“Yes, Father,” said Cherokee.

He and Sunee took off at a steady trot, following the way the men had gone. When darkness fell, they still had not reached the men or the herd. Although they were tired and hungry they refused to stop and rest. Hours later they heard the wild horses milling around and smelled the men and their campfire.

“Sunee?” whispered Cherokee. “Let’s go up on that hill and watch to see what the men are doing with our mothers and sisters and the others. Maybe they will let them go soon.”

“We will watch, Cherokee. But Man will not let them go. They must have a reason for taking our families away.”

“I wonder where Father is. Do you think he has found the herd, too?”

“There is no way for us to know, Cherokee. Be patient. We will know what to do when the time comes.”

When the sun began to lighten the eastern sky, the men were already stirring, making plans to move again. Coffee and breakfast over, they saddled their horses, circled the wild ones, and drove them westward.

One of the cowboys looked up at the ridge behind them and announced quietly, “Hey, Boss! There’s two young ones up there!” Cherokee and Sunee had not been as careful as they thought while they waited for the men to begin their day.

J.D. glanced up at the two young horses, but ignored them.

“Come on, boys, let’s get a move on. Marty and Johnnie, you hang back of the herd. Keep an eye on those two. If you get a real good chance, circle behind ‘em and bring ‘em in. Got it?”

“Sure, Boss,” said Marty, acknowledging the order with a tip of his hat. And the two men pulled their horses in line at the rear of the herd as directed.

The cowboys started out at a slow, steady
trot, stopping midmorning to let the horses graze and drink from an inland lake. Their mounts rested, they again started moving the herd forward, but at a slower pace. Cherokee and Sunee had made no attempt to move closer to the herd, staying at least a half mile back from them. Marty and Johnnie had no chance to try and capture the young colts that day.

Every day for five days the men and horses moved west. It seemed to Cherokee that they would travel forever, although he was indeed moving in the direction he wanted to go on his own journey. Once again, the men set up camp, cared for their mounts, fixed supper and guarded the wild herd. Once again, Cherokee and Sunee stood watch over their mothers and siblings and others in the herd.

“I am going to try to get closer,” whispered Cherokee to Sunee.

“No! It is too dangerous. Wait until we see Flying Hawk. He will tell us what we should do.”

“I cannot wait,” answered Cherokee, tossing his head. “When it gets dark, I will make my way to Dancing Shadow. She has surely thought of a plan of escape.”

“What shall I do while you are gone?” asked Sunee.

“Will you stay up here in the shadows? If Man sees me or hears me, call to him and let him see you. Then run away quickly. Perhaps he will follow you and I can free everyone.”

“Alright, Cherokee. I will do as you say, but I think it is not a very good plan.”

“It is the only one I can think of right now. If Flying Hawk were here, he and I could get Man to chase us while you rescued our families. But we must do what we can. It may already be too late.”

J.D. had selected a campsite in a small meadow nearly surrounded by trees. There was a narrow brook flowing gently southward on the west side. He didn’t like the location, but darkness had caught them and the mares and colts were tired.

“Keep a close eye on the wild ones,” said J.D.

to no one in particular. “This is not the best campsite. If that stallion is going to try rescuing this herd, it may be tonight. It’s a good place for it. Has anyone seen him or the two young ones following us?”

“I saw the two colts a couple miles back,” said Marty. “They haven’t given up!”

“And I’ve seen flashes of a big, dark horse off and on for the last two days,” offered Johnnie. “It may be the herd stallion. I can’t get a good clear look at him.”

“We better set up extra guard tonight. We’re only 15 miles or so from Fort Nashboro, and then it’s only 10 miles home to the ranch. Let’s not lose ‘em now,” warned J.D.

Cherokee was almost ready. The moon was a pale yellow sliver in the sky. Crickets chirrup-chirruped in the night. Owls hooted softly and bats flew aerobatics in the darkness. Cherokee watched as the men fell asleep around the banked campfire. Only four men on watch were awake.

“Be patient,” he said to himself. “Just a little while longer.” Not a breath of air stirred in the night.

“Now,” he whispered to Sunee.

He started down the hill and around the camp, planning to enter the woods from the far side. Suddenly he heard a soft “Whuff” and he stopped, holding his breath.

“It’s me, Cherokee,” whispered Flying Hawk. “What are you doing?”

“Father!” said Cherokee, letting out his breath. “Where did you come from? We have been looking for you! We...”

“Shhh!” warned Flying Hawk. We have much to do this night. Where is Sunee?”

“Sunee is waiting up on the hill, near the pine thicket. If Man sees me, she is going to call to him and run away. We think he will follow her and I can rescue Mother and the rest of the herd.”

“A dangerous plan, my son. But we will try. I will be the one to call to Man. Come.”

They slipped quietly into the forest and walked silently side by side until they reached the clearing. The big stallion whuffed again, more softly this time, alerting Dancing Shadow to his presence.

Dancing Shadow quickly raised her head and looked toward the trees. She snorted and pawed the ground in response. Not only did this let Flying Hawk know that she had heard him, but it alerted the other horses as well. They were excited and began to mill around each other. Dancing Shadow stamped her hoof in anger.

“Quiet!” she ordered. “We do not want to warn Man!”

Dancing Shadow kept her eyes on the trees, watching for movement; she flicked her ears back and forth, listening for sounds. She was soon rewarded for her patience, and saw one shadow move quietly to the west, while a slightly smaller shadow moved softly toward her herd. She walked several steps in that direction, bent her head to the ground as though she were grazing and lifted her head again. The smaller shadow came closer and stopped. Dancing Shadow took a few more steps, bent her head again, took a bite of grass and lifted her head just enough to be able to watch as Cherokee approached. He slipped quietly to her side and became a part of the herd with Man being none the wiser.