Chapter 1

"Sam wake your brother up, it's time to eat breakfast," said Susan Lodge.

"Oh Shane, wake up mom has breakfast ready," said Sam Lodge.

When Sam opened the door to his brothers room Shane was not there.

"He's not here mom! Yelled Sam Lodge?

"Well never mind then, he might be on the Reservation somewhere, probably getting into trouble," said Susan Lodge.

So his mother put fry bread on the table and something to drink. They started eating; as they were eating there was a knock at the door. So Sam got up from the table and answered the door. It was a reservation police man.

"Ai (Yes) may I help you officer?" asked Sam Lodge in the Sioux Language.

"Is your mother here Sam," Asked Billy Fox?

"Ai (yes) she is in the kitchen," said Sam Lodge pointing towards the kitchen.

So Sam invited him inside.

"Ma'am we need to talk about Shane?" asked Billy Fox.

"Cinks" (my son) why? What did he do?" asked Susan Lodge in the Sioux Language.

"He is in jail for stealing a pistol, and threatening to kill people with it, the White Americans here on the reservation," said Billy Fox.

"Sounds like Shane," said Sam Lodge.

"Sam, go to your room please, how long will he be in there," asked Susan Lodge?

"Well until tomorrow, he is going to spend the night in jail until somebody bails him out or he gets out on good behavior," said Billy Fox.

"I don't have the money to bail him out, he will have to stay in there until he thinks about what he did, maybe it will change is thinking and attitude," said Susan Lodge.

"Ohan" (okay) said Billy Fox walking towards the door.

"Amba" (good bye)," said Susan Lodge.

"Amba winyan" (good bye woman)," Billy Fox walking out the door.

Meanwhile back at the station they put him in a cell with other Natives.

"Hey kid what are you in here for?" asked Frog Legs.

"I stole a gun and was planning on using it on pale faces," said Shane Lodge crossing his arms.

"Your one of those Natives," asked Frog Legs?

"What do you mean, those Natives?" asked Shane Lodge.

"The wild kind, you got off the red road, you blame everything on Custer and not even try to make it right. You're an angry Indian," said Frog Legs.

Shane got up real quick and said,

"Yeah, you think you got me all figured out don't you old man?" asked Shane Lodge.

"Didn't anyone tell you to respect your elders," said Frog Legs.

"I know, my grandfather always tells me, like he says quote on quote.

"Who will tell the stories, when the old ones are gone, the younger generation is getting off the red road, walking the red road is very hard these days," He always tells me that when he tells me his stupid stories." said Shane Lodge.

"He is right, in this time of day, the red road is hard to walk," said Frog Legs.

"No, not for my brother Sam, he's the good Indian, he walks the red road," said Shane Lodge.

"Oh I see, he keeps the traditions, he keeps the stories and language intact, "said Frog Legs.

"Yeah that's him, they don't mean anything them POW WOWs, it's just Indians dancing for the white man, and telling their stupid stories, fry bread and bologna," Shane Lodge getting angry.

"Your wrong Shane, every story has a power, a gift, we dance because we are sad or mad, we dance for our children, we dance for our creator, we dance for our loved ones, we dance for the old ones who can no longer walk, we dance for those who went up to see the creator, we dance for those who are serving for our country," Frog Legs standing up tall.

"Whatever man," said Shane Lodge.

"You hide behind your fears, if you want to hide behind your ignorance go ahead, nobody is stopping you Shane," said Frog Legs.

"I am an angry Indian, I don't trust any skin that's not Indian, now leave me alone," Shane Lodge asked in a rude voice.

Then Shane went to sleep. Back at Shane's house, Susan Lodge was sitting on the couch smoking a cigarette and crying her eyes out. Sam came into the living room and looked out the door; Susan quit crying and looked at the back of Sam's head.

"I feel like my head is in the bathroom, and my belly is in the kitchen, and my legs are in the bedroom," Susan Lodge said while smoking.

"It's going to be alright mother, I promise," said Sam looking at her.

"He ay hee" (a call to the Great Spirit) will help us get through this mess," said Sam Lodge in the Sioux Language.

As he was walking out the door he went across the street to his Grandfathers house and sat down with him outside on a chair.

"Something is troubling you grandson, I can see it in your eyes?" asked Running Bear.

"It's about Shane grandpa, he's getting bad, he is moving away from our traditions, he thinks too much of the past, he make's mom cry all the time. She can't sleep, she's worried about him. He thinks he can do whatever he wants with people, like trying to kill them or control them ," said Sam Lodge.

"Yes, he is an angry Indian, blaming his troubles on other people," said Grandfather.

"Grandpa, maybe if dad came back into our lives, maybe Shane would change, mom said he quit drinking since he moved to Arizona to break horses for money," said Sam.

"Maybe grandson, I may lead him down the POW WOW trail, I need to go to Albuquerque and tell our stories, he's old enough to drive now," said Grandfather.

"What's the POW WOW trail?" asked Sam.

Grandpa smiled. They both got up and Grandpa went to Sam's house and talked with Sam's mom about Shane taking him to the POW WOW when he gets out.

Chapter 2

So finally, the police let Shane out today. So Shane was walking home, as he was walking home his buddies saw him and picked him up. As his friends dropped him off at his house, he saw his Grandfather sitting outside with a hand drum and all the little kids were sitting in front of him, listening to his stories.

"I am going to tell you a story that was told to me long ago," said Grandfather beating on his hand drum.

All the children started smiling and their eyes were filled with excitement.

"This story was told to me by my Grandfather who herd it from his Grandfather. It's about a young boy named Black Hawk on a vision quest. He was trying so hard to seek a vision from the spirits. He wanted so bad to be a man, and to come back to his village with power and wisdom. When a young person was seeking his way, looking for answers to guide him along the Good Red Road of life, the elders took him up to the mountain, and put him up four days and four nights. No food, no water, he just had his buffalo robe and the "canunpa" (the sacred pipe) and his self.

So he started singing his song, then all of a sudden a voice yelled out,

"Be quiet!"

This was called the hanbleceya to seek for a vision, a dream to show him the way. Black Hawk continued to sing his song.

"Is your name No Ears?"

"I am Black Hawk, who speaks to me, the Spirits?"

"There are other mountains you could have picked, why here? All night long we have to hear your singing, crying, talking to yourself, what are you, crazy?"

"I come seeking a vision."

"I come seeking a vision, you're not worthy of a vision Black Hawk."

Black Hawk went back and sat down on the mountain. He was wet and cold, and furious about the mountain.

"You will not give up this quest, you are a strong warrior."

Then the mountain spit out smoke, and it started moving, and when it rose up, it looked like a bear, so Bear Butte, rocks were tumbling down, and Black Hawk was hanging from the bears nose on a tree limb. As Grandfather was about to finish the rest, Shane stopped and saw him from his house and went inside.

"What happened, Grandpa?" asked the little boy.

"Did he get eaten?" asked another little boy.

"Did he get eaten?" repeated Grandfather.

"Black Hawk," said the little girl.

"I don't remember now," said Grandfather.

"Grandpa!" said all the children.

"It was told to me long ago," said Grandfather.

"Bear Butte must have ate him, I know it," said the little boy.

Chapter 3

"Hey mom, I am home," said Shane walking in the house.

"Hey brother," smiled Sam.

"Hi sweetheart," said Susan Lodge.

She was cooking fry bread and a pot of beans. Shane walked in and Sam was watching a western on T.V.

"Hey can I borrow some cash?" asked Shane.

"Oh yeah, there's a million dollars in casino money under my dresser, just leave me a few thousand," said Susan.

"Whatever," said Shane looking through her purse?

"Hey listen, I need to talk to you Shane?" asked Susan.

"What," asked Shane?

"It's about grandpa, he's getting old, he's been talking about, you know, taking the journey," said Susan.

"Ah, he's been talking about taking that journey for a long time now," said Shane.

"He's almost eighty seven," said Susan.

"Yeah he told Eddie Two Balls that he was one hundred and two," Smiled Shane.

"Yeah he told this white lady looking for an Indian name last week that he was forty nine," laughed Sam.

They all laughed.

"I'll be home later."

"I know Grandpa Shane, this is going to be his last POW wow, he wants to go to New Mexico to the all nations," said Susan.

"Why?" asked Shane.

"He's a story teller, one of the last old ones," said Susan.

"Cant' he send a he-man, he's too old to go six hundred miles, " said Shane.

"Yeah, but your old enough to drive," said Susan.

"Oh no," said Shane.

"Oh yeah," said Susan crossing her arms.

"Why me!" shouted Shane.

"Because he don't want nobody else, he wants you Shane, he wants you to get him to the pow wow," said Susan.

Sam is trying not to listen to the yelling and arguing while watching T.V.

"Can't," said Shane in a firm voice.

"Can't," said Susan.

"I got things to do," yelled Shane.

"Like what, somewhere on the reservation, what are you going to do, get in trouble," said Susan.

"Uh, Volunteer work, community service, help my mother pick choke jury's, anything but that," said Shane walking back to his room and slamming the door.

Shane's window faced Grandpas house, he peeked out the window through the curtains and saw his grandfather sitting and telling his stories.

Back at grandpas house he continued the story.

"Black Hawk could do nothing but hang on for his young life. Then he let go of the branch and rolled down the mountain. He said, "See, I'm a strong hearted warrior, seeking a vision." Then the rocks on the mountain started to roll down a hill, and Black Hawk started running.

"Stay strong; seek your vision, you'll return to camp with wisdom and power. Then he yelled out and heard a noise and turned around, a tree was leaning towards him, about to fall on him, his buffalo robe slipped off of him, and he started walking backwards and he tripped and fell, and started rolling away from the tree and calling for help.

"Help me, "tutanka" (buffalo).

Then his buffalo robe started forming into a buffalo, the buffalo stood under the tree as it fell on the buffalo's back. Black Hawk yelled,

"How'd you like that Spirits, do you see how powerful I am! Now give me a vision?"

When he said this, dark clouds started to roll in, and thundering, Black Hawk saw Thunder Bird in the clouds, he was afraid and ran, as he was running Thunder Bird opened his mouth and swallowed Black Hawk," told Grandfather.

"So what happened?" asked the little boy.

"What," asked Grandfather?

"To Black Hawk, what happened," asked the little boy?

"Thunder Bird, made a great storm, lighting came out of his eyes. Black Hawk tried with all his might to meet the trail of his hanbleceya, could he or could he not?" asked Grandfather.

"I think he could have," said the little girl.

"I'll tell you the rest tomorrow if I am still here," said Grandfather.

So all the children got up and ran home. Shane pulled the curtains back and started shaking his head and he laid on his bed and took a nap. He took a long nap, until the next morning, he was really tired so he slept very well.

Chapter 4

Next morning Shane woke up from his mother's cooking, he heard bacon sizzling in the pan and walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table, his brother Sam was already sitting their drinking coffee. Then Grandfather came inside and sat down and started drinking coffee as well. Sam started to smile.

"What are you smiling about?" asked Shane.

"Nothing," smiled Sam.

"Hello my grandson, can you take me to the pow wow? I'll give you my best pony, 1986 V8 Special, Its name is many miles with no muffler but it runs fine," said Grandfather.

"Really, I can have your pony?" asked Shane.

"Yes, but if you take me to the POW wow you can have it," said Grandfather.

"I guess, whatever," said Shane.

"Good it is settled then," Grandfather walking outside to finish his story, all the kids came running back to grandpas house.

So Black Hawk came down from the mountain to talk to his Grandfather.

"I have begged, I have prayed, I have starved, and they give me nothing? The Spirits don't listen, they ran me off the mountain." said Black Hawk.

"You must go back up then," said Grandfather.

"I have no more knowledge, now then when I first when up, no vision for me," said Black Hawk.

"Then go home," said Grandfather.

So Black Hawk went back up the mountain and sat down once again.

"You see kids, wisdom and power... It comes from within, within the soul of a man, when he realizes his relationship in the great circle, his oneness with the universe and all its powers, when he realizes that at the center of the universe is a power greater than himself this power, cannot be worn like your t-shirt that says "my heroes have always killed cow boys", it cannot be carried like a gun, it is within." said Grandfather... "back to the story."

Then Black Hawk starts singing again on the mountain. Black Hawk now has gone three days and nights without food or water. But he had yet received his vision, hunger he could withstand, but it was water that tested his strength, the only vision that was coming to him was vision of water. 

So he got up and walked from the mountain and saw a stream. He went down to drink, as he was about to drink a snake rose up out of the water, Black Hawk was not afraid, but he thought it was a sign not to drink of the water. So he went back to the mountain and sat down and started singing. Then he fell asleep and he was dreaming now. Then he woke up holding a grey boulder rock.

"It has been four days and four nights," Black Hawk throwing the rock down the mountain.

"And nothing." shouted Black Hawk.

So Black Hawk walked back to his Grandfather. His Grandfather was heating up boulders to put into the sweat lodge, and they both walked into the sweat lodge.

"I am angry Grandfather," said Black Hawk.

"Why?" asked Grandfather.

"I've returned with nothing, I have no more knowledge then when I went up four nights ago," said Black Hawk.

"You were looking so hard for wisdom and power, would you even know it, if it was offered to you. You went looking for a vision, 

the way a hunter chases a buffalo, the way a warrior goes out for scalps, you fought the spirits, you believed they owed you something, that they owed you a vision, suffering by itself brings no vision, nor does bravery, or will power. A vision comes as a gift, from your vision you have learned so much already."

"See now kids, for true power in wisdom comes from within, when a man realizes his oneness with all creation, when he realizes the center of the universe dwells upon power greater than himself, this center is everywhere it is within each of us, go now, and walk the good red road "Mitakue oyasin" (All my relations)." finished Grandfather.

Then all the children smiled and went home, Grandfather went inside and got a glass of water, and it was getting late so he went to bed.

"Mom I hope Shane gets something out of this road trip," said Sam.

"Me too sweetheart, goodnight," said Susan Lodge.

So they all went to sleep.

Chapter 5

The next day Grandfather went out and backed his pony up to the horse trailer and hooked it up. Shane was helping his mother load the pony up with supplies.

"You're making your Grandfather happy Shane," said Susan Lodge.

"He said when we get back this truck is mine, how much do you think I'll get for it over in Rapid," said Shane.

"You want to sell it?" asked Susan.

"Yeah, I owe some guys money, for some smoke," said Shane.

Then Grandfather was walking towards the trailer with a really old horse.

"You got to be kidding me, he's bringing his horse." angered Shane.

"It's for the giveaway ceremony, three moons his is last pony, he wants to give it away at the POW wow," said Susan.

"We've tried giving that horse away before, but nobody will take it," angered Shane.

"Hey, it will be fun," said Susan.

"It's going to be the trail of tears...." said Shane

"Shhh," said Susan.

"That's what it's going to be," said Shane angry.

"It's what your father would have wanted," said Susan.

"Hoka hey, let's ride," said Grandfather getting into the truck.

"Get him there Shane," said Susan hugging him.

Then they started to drive off the reservation and on the road to the POW wow. They turned the radio on and a song came on as they were driving.

~ Wind the life... are blowing, across the reservation, and I can hear the voice of a

New generation, oh Great Spirit won't you hear their prayers, oh grandmother earth,

We know you care, and its time... yes it's time to live, oh its time, yes it's time to give our love, And dreams, yes your dreams can come true just for you~

"It is a fine pony," said Grandfather.

"What," said Shane?

"It is a fine pony," said Grandfather.

"How many miles to Alberqueqe," asked Shane?

"Many," smiled Grandfather.

"Many," said Shane.

Grandfather looked at Shane's T-Shirt "My heroes have always killed cowboys" I see, is that your war shirt, a man wears that shirt does that make him an Indian?" asked Grandfather.

"I am an Indian," angered Shane.

"You're an angry Indian, "said Grandfather.

"I don't trust any skin that's not Indian," said Shane.

"Right, white man stole all our land, for the rest of your life you wake up every morning and blame all your troubles on Custer and not even try to make it right," said Grandfather.

Then they finished driving, they came to a rest area to eat when a White American saw them he was headed to the all nations POW wow as well.

"My father told me the story about the bear becoming a mosquito." said Shane.

"He told you that story," said Grandfather.

"Yeah," said Shane.

"He was a good boy, but like many, wander off the red road," said Grandfather.

"He was drunk," angered Shane.

"Do not speak like that of your own father," said Grandfather.

"He's not my father no more, his choice not mine," angered Shane.

"The red road is hard to travel in these times grandson," said Grandfather.

"Hey brothers are you guys headed to the all nations," said the young man.

"Yeah," said Grandfather.

"Great, that's great, me to, what tribe?" asked the young man.

"Were Sioux, Pine Ridge South Dakota," said Grandfather.

"Hey alright, my great grandmothers grandmother, well her aunt was one third Kiowa," said the young man.

"Aw, Kiowa strong nation," said Grandfather.

"Yeah, can I hitch a ride with you brothers," said the young man.

"No, no room man, were towing a horse," angered Shane.

"That's cool, no problem, hey maybe I'll catch you at the POW wow," said the young man leaving.

"Wanna be," angered Shane.

"Maybe he's trying to be connected," said Grandfather.

"Cause they stole our lands, and now they want our sweat lodges," angered Shane.

"There father's stole our lands, long ago, it was said that the white man would look on disbelief, has his sons and daughters began to adapt the Indian way, to learn what their fathers didn't understand. Yeah, he's a wanna be, he wants to be connected.

Shane saw the young man standing outside. So Shane got up and went out.

"Alright, you can ride with us, but I don't like you, I don't like any skin that's not Indian," said Shane going back inside.

The young man walked back inside, and waited for them to finish eating. So they finished and got up and left.

Chapter 6

They were driving on the road again. Grandfather was going to tell a story again.

"It was told among the Kiowa's, that there lived a brother and sister, who loved each other, as any brother and sister, though they looked different, and were different, the boys' name was Tejan, and he had been captured from the whites many years before. His sisters' name was Talks A Lot, because she talked a lot, but he loved her as she loved Tejan has her own brother. Then a young warrior named Broken Arrow rode up and hit Tejan with a stick.

"Hello Tejan, your head, it is on fire," laughed Broken Arrow.

"Do not insult my brother," yelled Talks A Lot!

"Sister, please go," said Tejan.

"When will someone see, that he is one of us," said Talks A Lot.

"When will a woman see that her brother has skin like a belly of a frog," laughed Broken Arrow, "You stole our lands, now you wish to steal our ways, Go!" shouted Broken Arrow hitting Tejan again.

"The Chief took me for his son, you insult his honor, by insulting me, for this I will fight you." said Tejan.

"Your father is Kiowa; you are a Tejan a Texan captured from the whites. I have dreams a few red scalps hanging in my tipi." said Broken Arrow.

"I remember the white man's way, but do not wish them for my own," said Tejan.

"Your blood is not our blood." said Broken Arrow.

Then Broken Arrow jumped off his horse, and they started fighting. Broken Arrow pinned Tejan down to the ground and held his knife to his throat.

"You must leave the Kiowa's, for I see you when the sun returns tomorrow, my knife won't stop where it has today." Broken Arrow got up and walked away.

"Tejan, do not hate Broken Arrow, he's only angry because he let his father's pony's run away, many colts lost in the canyon, and now he's afraid to chase them, because the white men are everywhere, do not hate Broken Arrow, it's hard to trust any white man," said the warrior.

Chapter 7

Then they pulled up to a gas station and got out. They went and used the restrooms and they were going to stay at a hotel. So they got back inside the truck and started the truck, but the truck would not start, then it started smoking.

"No water pump man," said the white American.

Then a van rolled up, and a young girl opened the door.

"Hey, headed to all nations?" asked the girl.

"We were," said Shane.

"Well hop in," said the girl.

"No, three moons, I can't leave, we'll get there," said Grandfather.

"Are you alright, Grandfather?" asked the young girl.

"We are Lakota, we'll find our way," said Grandfather.

"Well see you brothers," said the white American getting into the van and driving off.

"I can't believe you just did that," angered Shane.

"Would you have left this pony to die," said Grandfather.

"No, I would have put the white American on it and wished him good luck," said Shane.

"Come on, let's go," said Grandfather.

So they started their journey, Grandfather rode the horse and Shane helped walked the horse and Grandfather was finishing up the story of the red headed Kiowa.

"Tejan went in his tipi and gathered his stuff, sister, I am leaving," said Tejan.

"You must not," said Talks A Lot.

"I will return, but only with the runaway colts, to prove that I am a true Kiowa, if I do not return, remember me always, as your brother." So Tejan left to go look for the runaway colts, as he was deep in the canyon he herd people and then saw blue coats.

"Easy there savage."

"Hold on there."

"That's no savage, that's a white Indian."

"What's your name boy?"

"Name," said Tejan.

"Yeah, you still remember that word, name?"

"My name is Tejan."

"That's him, that's the red headed Kiowa that they talk about at Fort Sill, he is one of us, it will be alright now, let me take that bow." So they took Tejan's belongings, Tejan quickly dragged his foot and his moccasin came off, so he could leave a trail.

Then a scout was looking for the colts also, and he came across Tejan's moccasin, he picked it up and brought it back to the village to show to Talks A Lot, his sister.

She took the moccasin and was furious, she got up and walked towards Broken Arrow and threw the moccasin at him and walked away.

"Tejan had found himself far away from the Kiowa world he wants knew, the officers told him he was free now, rescued from captivity, but Tejan knew what freedom was, and where he belonged, and it was not there among the long knives. Then Tejan was called to the officer's cabin.

"You know them better than any one red. If we push them to the river will they cross, or go up to the crusade."

"I can't remember much of how it was," said Tejan.

"They are going to surrender to Fort Sill, I'll be pushing them north and off their lands, I need you Red, I saved your life from the savages, I need you now."

"They will never go north, they are not cowards, like some, I will ride alone to their camp, I will convince....." paused Tejan.

"You leave this fort alone, you are one dead red headed injun, am I understood. Come on son, show us your rabbit dance, I'll give you Conair," laughed the officer.

Tejan just looked at the officer and left. Back at the Kiowa camp the warriors were getting ready to make war.