THE RUNNER

THE RUNNER

Our village sits near the head waters of Shooting Creek. My oldest son, George, said, "Father, a runner comes". The runner was an old friend of Red Wolf. Red Wolf said, "Old friend, what brings you to our village in such a run?"

Big Bear said, "My friend, our people are in for a bad time". Red Wolf asked, "What do you mean, Big Bear? He replied, "The white man who cares for mother earth, to the east of here, has a young white girl child, she is very young and she has not come into season yet." Red Wolf asked, "What about this white girl child?" "She was taken from her father's lodge when the spirit of the light was resting", he said. "By who?" said Red Wolf. "The white men think that the Cherokee did this", said Big Bear.

"What more do you know, Big Bear?" I found signs that are moving west and these are very good trail men". How many I am not sure. They covered their back trail as good as we do, my old friend".

"George, come here", said Red Wolf. :Find your brother if so few words and tell him to come here, now. Call the rest of our warriors together at once". The son of few words came and said, "Yes, Father, what is it?" Red Wolf said, I send you to our brother, the Creeks of the west, to tell them of the taking of the white mans girl child. Tell them I am moving with our braves and we are tracking them west towards the lands of our brothers". Red Wolf said, "Son of few words, get your bow and make like the spirit of the wind".

"George", said Red Wolf, "Big Bear will take our young warriors. We will find the ones, send our scouts northwest and tell them that they are no more than a half days run from us. These men are not new to the lands of the forest". "Big Bear, show us where you last seen the trail". Red Wolf, Big Bear and George along with the young warriors raced to the place where Big Bear had last seen the trail. Red Wolf spread out his braves to look for signs of where these men had gone. One of the young braves let out the sound of the wolf to let the rest of the hunting party know where he was. Red Wolf looked at these signs. He put out his forward scouting parties and as they moved to try and catch up with the men that had taken the white mans girl child.

One of the young braves came running back and said, "Come at once, we have found something that you should see". Red Wolf and the others ran along behind the young brave. The ground in the foothills of the Nantahales were very hard and the trails, hard to find. They came to the rest of the scouting party and the young brave showed Red Wolf the spot on the ground. Red Wolf put his hand to the ground and when he picked it up, it was wet and red in color. The young warriors asked, "What is it?" Red Wolf said, "The young white girl child has been taken by force and is hurt very badly. We must find her soon or she will surely die". Red Wolf said, "The Great Spirit that gives us light is going to hide and rest. We will be in the dark before long. The spirit of the moon will not come up till the morning hours. We have less than an hour before the dark is on us; move fast my young braves, we have no time to loose". next