Chapter 2

Civilization was not a creation of God, but a creation of man for the hopes of control of the people and the prophecy that we fulfill by allowing a like minded dictatorship to control the States; to allow like minded people to socialize with the outside world, would lead to destruction…

The sky was streaked with colors of pinks and blues, virgo and green. The heavens [angels] mimicked a beautiful pasture, with [wild] flowers and the footprints of the creatures that are the brethren of the tribes. Yanina and his men, drained-famished, carefully cantered across the plains of Southwest Colorado, mimicking the shadows that the tall grass created.

Yanisa and his men, with the twins by their side, have been gone from the tribe for fourteen days. Yanisa’s father, Gvnigeyona (Translation: Black Bear) sent his son on a hunting trip, for as fall draws near-the buffalo migrate to the North, the water draws a drought, the fish swim upstream, as the bears begin the process of hibernation. The tribe bares hunger, the elderly reduce to sickness and begin withering, the children begin the battle for survival of the fittest, as the woman try to shorn their unborn child's birth.

Life, a cycle of birth, growth, and death. This was a fact that no living soul could camouflage themselves from. The greetings of Nizonyee’s presence was a blessing, and the sacrifice the old mule endured for her, created more hope for the Cherokee tribe, as their trip was reduced by eight days. These people were eager to return, feed their loved ones, and begin preparations for winter.

Stomachs growled, eyes become heavy, and the canter slowly decreased into a casual walk. Nizonyee, in the arms of the twins, grew paler, weaker, and somewhat lifeless. Her small tummy demanded food, she was malnourished and severely dehydrated. Yanisa glared down onto the ground and he gritted his teeth, and began to make a request,

“Agisi, you are my sisters, and previous mothers. As I am aware it may be disrespectful to request such an act, as neither of you are her mothers, not her full blood sisters, I beg of you on me knees,” Yanisa pauses as he faces the twins and bows onto his knees, “Please, will you allow Nizonyee to feed from your breast, as you produce milk from the herbs of Gulahi (Translation: Water Cress). I, as the son of Gvnigeyona, and your future leader, as this not as a leaders son nor a leader myself, but as a brother.”

Agisi looked at each other, as they admired Nizonyee’s strength and noticed her weakness. Agisi took a moment to take in the breath of the fresh air and prayed silently in their head,

“Spirits of our ancestors, and spirits of our cousins, please forgive us as we must help this child. She has much strength, so allow us a safe, restful night, and allow rest of our bodies.” Agisi studied Yanisa, and remarked his pleas.

“Yanisa, you are our brother none the less, and royalty in our tribe. Nizonyee may not be our full blood, but she is our sister. As is the Blackfoot, Navajo, Fox, Lakhota, and many others. Blood maybe thicker than water, but we all descend from the same Mother-the same Father, and are scattered among the states for survival. Our enemies are those who walk on two feet with an iron arm, our enemies who kill mercilessly and take what is not rightfully theirs. Yanisa, our brother-we ask of you only one favor: Please allow us all to rest quietly, somewhere safe, so we may nourish Nizonyee.”

Yanisa, with tears that flooded his hazel eyes, smiled as he thanked the twins. He began to inspect the land for a cave, a tree, or perhaps a dam by the water. The men and twins force their weakened bodies into a canter to pursue a place of rest. After tirelessly searching, and for what felt like one long sprint to hunt the buffalo-Galagina, Yanisa’s brother-collapsed from exhaustion. Agisi, with concern on their faces, tried to shun Nizonyee’s eyes away from the site. Wesa and Yanisa attempted to persuade Galagina to get back up on his feet. Galagina glanced into Wesa’s eyes, then spoke to Yanisa,

“Brother, please-I can not go on. My body has been wounded from the war of Mother Nature, and it is my time, please.” Yanisa refused to take this answer, as he picked up his brother, he asked Wesa for help.

“Wesa, please-my friend and brother, please help.” Wesa grabbed the other arm as they began to slowly drag Galagina to try to find a place of rest. Yanisa’s tears began to be contaminated with sadness and vain, as he stopped walking, only to look at Wesa for the slightest moment.

“Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Swan from the lake, Yak from the himalayas, buffalo from the plains, cougar from the mountains, please, with your guidance, lead us to safety, as my men are growing weak. As my daughter is getting sick. We beg of you, please…” Yanisa’s tears became a flood of emotion, as the lights in the sky danced their way out. Yanisa felt angered the spirits wouldn’t help, felt disrespected and hurt that his daughter was growing more ill, and his brother was growing weaker.

Agisi comforted the men as they held Nizonyee. The night air was cold, too cold for a single man to be alone-and no light guided their way. These people were targets for those who were hungry, and ready for a take down. Fear grew for the Cherokee’s, as a few minutes pass by. When they lost all hope, a slight glimpse of red came from the sky. The lights...the spirits...they were back!

Yanisa begged with mercy, “Please! Lead us! Guide us!” The [Northern] lights were a group of spirits, and as Yanisa held his brother, the red light was the strongest-the most vivid. The light was straight, similar to that of a path. Yanisa smiled with hope and began to follow. Agisi was next as they walked behind the men. The men walked endlessly, not knowing where they were going. Unsure of how long they were walking, even Yanisa was growing weak.

“Brothers! There! A rock engraved in the hill!” Agisi smiled and yelled for joy. The men observed for a moment as their sight became more and more clear, Wesa was the first to take sight, Yanisa was the second. The red light was at the end of its trail, as this is where the spirit was attempting to lead the group.

Yanisa and Wesa lay Galagina gently down onto the ground. Agisi asked Yanisa and Wesa for their pelts. Neither one of them hesitated as Agisi received them. They cradled Nizonyee in these pelts. The twins talked among themselves as they debated on who takes the first turn.

Tsitsi(Translation: Thistle) was the second born of the twins, her older sister (only by a few breaths) was Amayeduhi (Translation: Water Lily.) The tribe refers to them as Agisi, Cherokee for Mare, because the same morning when these girls were born, so was Meemo and Mimi, the mare and stud that currently leads the herd of Wild Horses in Arizona, belonging to the Cherokee tribe, and the only known re incarnated animals from a previous generation (Some believe that this is Agisi’s Grandmother and Grandfather.)

Tsitsi agreed to be the first to feed Nizonyee. Her breast was removed from her pelt robe as her sister requested the men avert their eyes in respect for Tsitsi’s husband. As Yanisa and Wesa politely nod their heads, they turn their attention to Galagina. His body seemed to be fading from this life.

“Yanisa, I apologize for my weakness brother. I wish I could be of more use for you.” Yanisa wouldn’t hear of such insult to himself.

“Wesa, gather wood to create a fire. The air is to frosted for us to sit alone with no heat. Hurry back.” Wesa nodded his head as he gathered the water tote, and bid farewell to his family temporarily.

Tsitsi fed Nizonyee as her sister examined the young girl. For being only a couple months old, she was unusual. She had full length hair, and colored skin. She was not an average newborn. Was this from the mixed genes?

“Agisi, how is my daughter?” Agisi looked at Yanisa and requested another few moments. Yanisa waited patiently for a response from Agisi….

**********************Several Minutes Pass***********************

Wesa returned with a canteen of water, and wood in his hand. Yanisa rose from his knees as he helped Wesa place the wood.

“Yanisa, I found opal rock, please-use this to start the fire.” Wesa sounded shaky, almost frightened. Yanisa took the rocks and scraped them together to create amusing sparks. After a couple more then a few tries, the fire was lit. Galagina was growing terribly weak, and Nizonyee could not draw enough breath to cry.

“Yanisa, your daughter, she’s…..dying…..” Agisi spoke with calmness in their voice as to not startle any lurking ears. “We’re sorry Yanisa, there’s nothing we can do for the child. And your brother, he won’t make it to the next show of lights in the sky.” Yanisa kept a calm face, spoke with no emotion, as he stood from his brother and spoke, “I need a moment, my family.” Just as he went to turn from his brother, Galagina talked softly,

“My brother, please, let me speak with the spirits…” Yanisa looked down onto his brother with little faith in his heart as he replied “As you wish, for your final words.”

Yanisa picked his brother up and carried him to the edge of the rocks where he let Galagina sit by himself. Yanisa walked into the tall grass, requesting for a moment alone. Agisa thought to themselves, “How selfish, a father who refuses to stand by his daughter when she takes her last breath…”

The fire grew strong, releasing warmth into the cold stone and warming the skin of the people. Galagina Looked into the dancing lights and spoke softly, with tears filtering in his eyes:

“You are the great spirits that roam these lands. You are our ancestors, our key to life from a clean [respectful] kill, and the knowledge that we follow. Your grace is what turns winter to spring, and fills the rivers with water and fish. You-the great spirits are the reason for life and death. I come to you with a plea, with a wish. I Beg of you, take my life, and give Nizonyee what little strength I have. I beg of you spirits, take my breath and allow Nizonyee to breathe!” With that cry, the lights danced furiously.

Galagina felt pressure in his heart, replicating a puncture of a spear to his body. A pain-unbearable, but his breath unable to cooperate leaves him without a sound murking from his vocals and mimics death overcoming a person who has met the reaper.

Yanisa took notice to the ever changing lights and trotted back to the rest site. Yanisa observed the lights that consumed his brother. His body was filled with fear and anxiousness, as he grabbed Galagina.

“Brother, please let me pass into the next world. Please allow me to watch over you and the Cherokee tribe as a brother from the lights of heaven. Please, I beg of you with respect of a father with a daughter to save, let me save her life. Brother-I love you. Thank you for teaching me well...you will always be my older brother.” Galagina embraced his brother in a gentle hug as Yanisa bawled in tears. The lights consumed his body, as the lights began to turn a fierce color of red.

“Galagina...thank you….and brother-I love you too. Please-be safe.” Just as the lights dimmed Nizonyee let a deafening cry. Nizonyee’s eyes opened for the first time, and her first sight was Agisi. They called to Yanisa, to come look at his daughter. She had a strong heartbeat, a rowdy cry, and a strong spirit.

“Yanisa, your daughter-Nizonyee, she’s going to make it. She’s filled with your brothers courage and strength, and your intelligence and will to live. She’ll make a strong woman some day.”

The lights entered their camp site, and danced around Nizonyee. Agisi and Yanisa felt the lights touching them conjointly, and felt their bodies becoming heavy and warm. Their stomachs stopped speaking to them as they felt a presence of food, and Yanisa felt the sickness that was overwhelming him disappearing. A small voice, recognizable came from these lights:
“Meat for your tummies, and water for your veins. Sickness destroyed, and restlessness wrecked from your bodies. Rest tonight, return home, and prepare for winter…..my brother….”
Yanisa recognized his brothers voice, as did Agisi. Nizonyee was calming down, closing her eyes, receiving rest. Yanisa and Agisi grew heavier as they lay themselves to a good night's rest, as they thank Galagina for his sacrifice and the help.

The night was to grow colder, but the fire refused to die. Yanisa, Agisi, and Nizonyee were to return home in two days time, with food for their tribe, and preparations to begin for winter. The lights dimmed but not left, the families conscious minds ceased to exist as they all escaped into a world where dreams come true...and where loved ones never leave...

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