Dream Weaver.

Anouk shivered in the dew-soaked grass, as she dreamt beneath the stars for yet another night.  Each night in her dreams, he greeted her with a smile, as he promised.  They were star-crossed lovers during the day, but the night belonged to them and they belonged to each other.  It had been this way since childhood...1

Her tribe had been in a feud with the tribe across the river since her early years.  Every time she asked for peace, her Father had told her "there cannot be peace between good and evil", leaving it at that.  She had begun to think that there was no logical reason behind this war, and at the tender age of 6, she rebelled & ran from the camp to prove her point.2

While at the river's edge, she stopped for a drink.  Then as she began to wade in deeper, to cross, a boy's voice called to her in her mother tongue: "Be careful squawnee, the current is very strong today.  Wait and I will help you."3

She watched, almost entranced, as the young boy put away his small bow and pushed a canoe away from shore, towards her.  Then reaching out, he took her hand and helped her climb in.  He smiled and introduced himself.  "I am Koda Wolfmane."4

She only told him her first name.  That was all he needed to know for now.  All he could know if she was to succeed in creating peace between tribes.  Once across the river, he helped her out of the canoe and built a small fire at the edge of his village so they could eat the fish he caught earlier.  Afterwards, he taught her how to shoot a bow and they chased each other up and down the hillside.  Then, with a smile, he led her to his village to meet the Elders.  Though she knew this could end in pain, she was not afraid. Her young mind could not comprehend why, but she felt at ease with Koda and his smile caused a happiness she did not experience at home.5

As they approached the Wigwam, Koda explained that he will greet the Elders alone first, then he will be back for her.  A few moments passed, and Anouk noticed that a few women began to gather and whisper as they watched her.  Soon Koda returned and took her hand, speaking words of comfort as together they stepped behind the drapes.  The Elders smiled gently and the Chief asked her name, and again she only spoke Anouk.  He asked her to come closer and she obeyed.  "You are quite young to venture out alone, but you are welcome here little one.  Koda is quite taken with you."6

She blushed, and reached out her hand in greeting.  At sight of the small tattoo on her palm, the chief's eyes darkened and he spoke in low tones, spiting on the ground in front of her.  "Your kind is NOT allowed in these borders.  Leave and never curse this land with your presence again." Outside the tent, Koda could hear the warriors whooping in excitement.  He grabbed Anouk's hand and they bolted from the tent.  As they ran to the river, Anouk's legs turned to rubber and her small lungs burned for oxygen.  Koda forced her to duck between the canoes as warriors ran past, spears in the air.  He spoke between ragged breaths:7

"The Chief acted as if threatened... As if you were from Eaglewing's band.  That is so strange."  Anouk hung her head as she answered.  "Not so strange.  I am.  My full name is Anouk Eaglewing.  I'm his Daughter."8

Koda looked heartbroken.  "Why did you not tell me?"9

"Because I wanted to end this stupid feud.  Our nations deserve peace and I wanted to be the one to start it."10

As the warriors got closer to their canoe, Koda tore a bracelet from his wrist: a braided leather band with a simple arrows-head attached.  He tied it to her wrist as he spoke.  "I have found my other half in you young one.  Keep this with you, and do not forget me.  The Shaman has been schooling me in the art of dream-sliding.  As often as I can, I will meet you in your dreams.  We can be together there.  Now come, we must get you home safe."  Ducked as low as possible, the two climbed into the canoe and floated across the river undetected.  He placed a kiss on her cheek and she ran for the smoke at the top of the embankment.11

Koda kept true to his word.  That very night, he appeared in her dreams and together they swam & played until dawn, when Koda bid her farewell.  So it has been for several years.  On the eve of her 16th birthday, however, things changed.  As Anouk stood at the top of the hill watching the moon, dressed in her finest clothes and jewelry, she heard rustling in the brush behind her.  She spun on her heels, bent low, dagger in hand (a gift from her Father).12

The deep laugh that followed lit her face brighter than any moon.  Out of the darkness walked Koda, a strapping young man of 18 years.  He had filled out quite a bit, with a tattoo of a pawprint on his chest.  His hair hung wild over his eyes as it always had, and his smile still made her weak in the knees.  She ran to him and the two clung to each other below the stars.  When their lips parted, her voice filled with fear.13

"My love, you cannot stay.  Tomorrow I am paraded before Father's best warriors in hopes of a match, and so tonight I am well shadowed.  I cannot flee."14

"Well then we must get you out without suspicion." With that, he whistled a single high note and soon a great black wolf appeared, his grey eyes soaking in the starlight.  Koda bent down to eye level and whispered in the beast's ear.  It started growling and barking ferociously at nothing in particular, then when some warriors appeared, it turned its focus on Anouk and Koda, who to them appeared to be defending her by jabbing his spear at the animal, so they didn't chase him off as a threat.  When the warriors stepped forward, the Wolf lunged at the pair, and they took off running.  Then the wolf turned to battle the guards.15

Anouk was too busy fretting to notice the sparkle in Koda's eyes as they ran.  "I hope the wolf's OK.  My guards might kill him."16

"I have raised Hetai from a pup.  He's an excellent fighter and will be just fine."  The howl they heard in the distance confirmed that fact. Soon he was running alongside them.17

"So this was planned?"18

"How else was I supposed to get you alone in the forest?"  With that they stopped running.  He had led her to a reflective pool in the middle of the clearing, the group of trees creating a perfect frame for stargazing.  Koda led her to the water's edge and picked a wildflower that he placed in her hair.  They spent the rest of the night in each others arms, laughing and talking of the future.  Hetai guarded them as they slept.19

As the sun peaked over the treetops, the couple was pulled out of sleep by the sound of drums and Hetai's warning howl.  Koda woke first and saw the shape of men moving through the forest with lit torches.  He hastily shook Anouk and urged her to her feet.  "Your Father has found us out.  We must run.  Quickly."  Off they shot, cutting through the brush as if it was nothing.  They knew that just ahead of them lay the cliffs of Manitoulin, but that did not matter now.  As they cleared the forest, Koda heard his own tribes drum, and he knew they would soon be cornered.20

Soon both tribes merged together, Anouk's Father and Koda's chief leading them, side by side.  They are a sad picture of peace, Anouk thought.  They began backing up the cliff, hugging each other close, and Hetai kept the distance between the tribes &and the lovers.  A single arrow shot out from an unknown source and knocked the great wolf aside, killing it.21

The Chiefs stepped forward, each speaking to their loved one in their own tongue.  Pleas to come home and stop the love that should never have been.  Talk of separation, exile, death to the traitorous other half.  The talk stopped there.  Anouk stepped forward, away from Koda:22

"That is our point.  I have been trying to stop this war from childhood.  I tried entering Koda's camp as child to talk to the Elders and finally make peace.  We met and fell in love at that moment though we were too young to know it.  We will be together with or without your blessings and now can let our love live on and end your feuding with one great action."23

She walked over to Hetai's lifeless body, pet him and whispered something in his ear.  Koda walked over and repeated this action, but he did not whisper, he spoke loud and clear: "Dear friend, we will meet you soon."24

With that he took Anouk's hand, looked into her eyes, then they both looked back to the Elders, and together they ran up the cliff and off the edge, kissing each other as they fell.  As the Chiefs ran to the edge after their Children, they saw their bodies floating in the river, still clutching to each other.  On the other side of the river, near the shore, they saw the figures of an Eagle and a great silver Wolf running into the cover of the forest.25

The two men wept together on the cliff, for their loss was greater then their hatred.  From that day forward, an Eagle can be seen perched next to a Wolf at times when tensions are highest, reminding the tribes of their promise of peace.26