Harvest Flower

The Blood Fight

Gray Eagle and Strong Moon slowly moved in a circle watching each other for the first lunge. Strong Moon tossed his knife from one hand to the other to keep his palms dry. His painted tan skin glistening with a layer of perspiration, and dark chocolate hair fell wild down his back. Strong Moon looked every bit, the wild Apache Chief. He stepped slowly watching Gray Eagle's every move.

Both looked like wolves ready to pounce and tear into flesh. The people surrounding them blurred into the background, their attention only on each other. Gray Eagle stood just a little taller with a darker color skin, more copper than tan. His hair a darker shade of black. Gray Eagle gripped his knife arms spread leaving his painted chest open, inviting a lunge from his opponent. His dark brown eyes following every movement.

They both yelled and lunged at the same time. Blade met blade as their bodies clashed together. They pushed at each other's arms fighting to push their blades into the flesh of the other. They broke apart and lunged at each other again, this time Gray Eagle's blade left a thin red streak on Strong Moon's smooth jaw. They tripped rolling over each other blades dangerously close to each other's necks. Their well defined muscles bulging with power and strength.

Strong Moon sat up pushing his weight down on his blade. He gritted his teeth and yelled once more before bouncing slightly into his strained arms. His light brown eyes glowing with determination.

Gray Eagle took his chance and flipped them over, now he pushed down with his blade. Suddenly Strong Moon swapped hands on the knife he held quickly bringing it down on Gray Eagle's shoulder.  It hit bone and Gray Eagle rolled away causing the knife to rip down his arm through the muscles. His vision blurred, but he quickly gained his control. He dodged to the left when Strong Moon lunged at him. Gray Eagle turned on his heal  catching Strong Moon in the leg with a deep cut of his own.

The warriors around them cheered and yelled with the excitement caused by the sight of blood. Strong Moon whipped the blood from his cut jaw, and looked down at his leg. Gray Eagle holding his arm to his side glared back at Strong Moon. They lunged at each other again, this time Strong Moon slashed low catching Gray Eagle's thigh, leaving a jagged line of blood behind. Gray Eagle's knife buried to the hilt in Strong Moon's shoulder saved him a deeper cut.

Gray Eagle pulled his knife free pushing away from Strong Moon's next swing. Gray Eagle felt Strong Moon's foot hook his ankle causing him to hit the ground hard. Strong Moon jumped on him cutting his exposed side. Gray Eagle jerked to the side slashing at Strong Moon neck, catching his chest instead. Gray Eagle twisted flipping Strong Moon over backwards onto the ground he sat up quickly kicking Strong Moon back down before he could fully sit up.

Gray Eagle quickly straddled him, taking another blow to his side. The bite of the blade now starting to make him lose his vision in bursts. He caught Strong Moon's wrist and twisted it. The knife fell from his hand by Gray Eagle's leg. He quickly snapped Strong Moon's wrist, feeling the bones give under the pressure.

Strong Moon cried out in pain and bucked his hips to unseat Gray Eagle. His attempt failed and Gray Eagle soon had both knives in each hand he reacted quickly bringing one down to bury, hilt deep, into his other shoulder. The other he brought to Strong Moon's neck. The weakness in his injured arm to great to even push the knife forward into Strong Moon skin.  He was about to hit the knife sharply with his good hand when Chief Running Wolf touched his shoulder.

Gray Eagle rolled off Strong Moon and landed on his back. His breathing labored with pain and exhaustion. Running Wolf's voice sounded far away and he could barely stay awake.

Chief Running Wolf held both knives in his hands and walked around the circle of silent people watching him. "The elders have spoken. Gray Eagle is the victor, they have spoken and feel it is just right to leave chief Strong Moon alive." He stood in the center between the two men laying on the ground. "Let it be known Gray Eagle has won the maid Singing Fox by right of blood. I ask the Apache to move on this day."

A warrior from Strong Moon's tribe stepped forward, "We accept this and will honor the blood right. We leave." The warrior stepped forward to take Strong Moon's horse from a brave who led it forward. With the help of two others they placed Strong Moon on his horse and led him dow the path to the canyon below, the whole of the Apache tribe following close behind.

Running Wolf knelt beside Gray Eagle and held out a hand for him, "Good fight my brother. Your victory will be celebrated this night."

Gray Eagle grunted and clasped hands with Running Wolf. Blood flowed freely from his wounds as Running Wolf helped him to stand. Gray Eagle still needed to claim his prize. The walk to Running Wolf's lodge was slow, but Gray Eagle managed to walk on his own. His arm now hung lifeless at his side.

Gray Eagle waited just outside the lodge for Singing Fox. He held his stance almost falling over with weakness when she appeared in the door. He straightened and with her smile he felt all the pain fade away. Her brightness stole his breath and made his heart beat wildly.

Singing Fox's doe brown, eyes met Gray Eagle's and her smile instantly grew into a wide grin. She ran from the lodge to Gray Eagle, throwing her arms around his neck in a fierce hug. She kissed his lips when one arm wrapped around her waist to hold her to him.

Singing Fox's joy only lasted a moment when the warm blood seeping from the long gash down his limp arm soaked the front and side of her dress. She pulled back and a gasp left her full lips. His arm hung limply at his side, the cut running from shoulder to elbow was deep, the skin laying open. She looked him over finding three more wounds. One small jagged cut across his thigh and two deeper cuts along his side. Her eyes shot back up to met his. His eyes showed no pain, only love. She kissed his lips gently and led him away to his lodge at the far side of the village. Her small frame holding his larger one with surprising strength.

His weight slowly increased on her as his energy started to drain. Singing Fox hurried her steps. They reached his lodge and she just managed to push him inside, when his world went black. Blue Wing caught him when he fell through the door, Singing Fox on his heels.

The Shaman already waiting along with Blue Wing inside eased Singing Fox's fears. She sat by the wall while Blue Wing lay Gray Eagle down on his sleeping mat. The Shaman already chanting and waving his smoking herbs in all directions, and over Gray Eagle's wounds. Blue Wing waved Singing Fox over to sit beside him, taking a cloth from a wooden bowl filled with crushed herbs and water.

She followed his lead and took up the other cloth silently washing Gray Eagle's body, taking care to clean out each wound. The Shaman chanted and threw his herbs in the fire. His hands now finding a green paste that smelled strongly of healing herbs. He passed this to Singing Fox, who in turn started packing each wound with the thick paste. The Shaman picked up a turtle shell rattle and raised the volume of his chanting. He shook the rattle over his head that was now tilted toward the sky. His old voice now almost yelling over the loud rattle in his hand.

Blue Wing started wrapping the wounds with long strips of rawhide, lined with moss. Gray Eagle groaned in his sleep when Blue Wing pulled the wrap around his arm tight. The skin had to be pulled back together to heal, and tightness of the bandage would do just that.

His job complete Blue Wing nodded at the work. He patted Singing Fox's shoulder and quietly left her alone with Gray Eagle and the Shaman. The rattle was now being shook in a lighter pace as the Shaman let his voice fade. Soon all was quiet.

Singing Fox looked at the Shaman the questions forming on her lips. He raised his hand to stop her, "The Great Spirit will make his choice. Do not rush the answer. Gray Eagle will need time to heal. Care for him Singing Fox, he will need you by his side." Not giving her time to answer he picked up his bag of medicines and slowly made his way out of the lodge. His old voice rang in air behind him.

Singing Fox with no other thoughts sat by Gray Eagle's side. Her hand touching his cheek lightly. "I just got you, I can't lose you now."