The Search for Soaring Hawk

Chapter 2: The Vision Quest-2

“Rides the Wind wishes to see you,” Sky Eyes said to her son as he rounded the corner of the lodge, carrying a load of wood for the cooking fire. “Your father left word as he was leaving this morning for the hunt.”

A thrill shot through his body. His disappointment at not being invited to join the men on their hunt was erased. “When?” he asked excitedly, dropping the sticks next to the pit.

“When you have stacked the wood as it should be done,” his mother said with a smile.

“I’m sorry,” said Small Hawk. He set to the task of stacking the kindling. “But does he really want to see me today?”

“Yes, today.” She smiled, but the smile had a hint of sadness in it. She walked to her son. He stood. He was now much taller than she. Sky Eyes reached up and stroked his cheek. Small Hawk understood. Her son was on the threshold of manhood. He knew this must be both a happy and sad day for her.

As if not wanting to dwell on those thoughts, she said, “Now finish this job. Do not keep the shaman waiting.”

The boy quickly stacked the wood next to the fire pit, hugged his mother and made off for the shaman’s lodge at a lope. He passed Young Otter. “I’m going to meet with Rides the Wind,” he called to his friend. “My vision quest!”

Young Otter smiled and waved.

Small Hawk slowed to a walk. He did not want to come to the lodge of the shaman out of breath and acting like a child. He was about to take his first formal steps into manhood. He would approach it like a man. He paused and waited until his breathing was more normal, then proceeded to Rides the Wind’s dwelling.

When he arrived at the lodge, he was not sure what to do or how he should announce his presence. For the first time since his mother told him Rides the Wind wanted to see him, Small Hawk was anxious. He stood awkwardly outside the entrance to the lodge. Before he could decide what he should do, the robe at the entry was pushed back and Fox Cub emerged.

The two friends stood for a moment smiling. Then they threw their arms around each other and thumped each other on the back.

“When do you go on your vision quest?” asked Small Hawk, assuming that was why Fox Cub was there.

“Anytime during the month of the green corn moon.”

“That’s a long way off,” Small Hawk said, hoping his appointed time would be sooner.

“I know. But at least I have a time. Young Otter has not even been called yet.”

At that moment, Rides the Wind came out of the lodge. Although his braids were grey, the skin of his face was smooth and his eyes bright. He stood straight and tall, not appearing to be an old man. Small Hawk knew the shaman and his grandfather, the chief, had been boyhood friends. Yet this man did not show his age as his grandfather did.

The boys turned to the shaman.

“Ah, Small Hawk,” he said in greeting. “I’m glad you’re here. I see Fox Cub is sharing the news of his vision quest.”

The two young men nodded.

“Well, come in, my son, and we will talk of your quest.”

Fox Cub said goodbye and went on his way. Small Hawk and Rides the Wind entered the lodge. The shaman indicated the boy should sit near the fire pit. There the coals burned low, and Small Hawk caught the aroma of a sweet smelling herb. It was a pleasant scent and, in a few moments, he felt a wave of relaxation sweep over him.

For some time, the two sat in silence. The effects of the herb seemed to abate Small Hawk’s anxiousness to find out the details of what was to come. While he still wanted to know what the quest entailed, he felt he could easily wait until the shaman was ready to tell him. He felt very calm and at ease.

After a while, Rides the Wind spoke. Small Hawk stared into the glowing coals as he did.

“You are about to go on your vision quest. It is the first step to your coming to manhood. The more seriously you approach it, the more you will learn about yourself and your destiny in the world.”

Small Hawk looked up from the fire pit and into the deep, dark eyes of the shaman. He felt something stir within him. Rides the Wind held his gaze and continued.

“You may begin your quest at anytime during the month of the Thunder Moon. The quest will last for two to four days. For two days before the quest, you will eat nothing. You will not eat again until the quest is finished. You may bring only water to drink. When you reach the place of the quest, you will trace a circle that is two times your height. You will stay within that circle for the entire time you are on the quest.”

“When you are ready to enter the circle, you will discard your garments. They, and all things from this world, must remain outside the circle. You must not leave the circle for any reason. Once you do, the quest has ended.”

Rides the Wind paused, waiting to see if Small Hawk had anything to say.

“What will I do inside the circle?” the boy asked.

“You will look into your soul.” Still holding his gaze, the shaman narrowed his eyes, as if trying to penetrate into Small Hawk’s mind.

“How do I do that?” he asked.

“It is different for each of us. You’ll know how you are to proceed as the quest unfolds. One word of warning.”

“Yes?”

“Often a strong urge to leave the quest area will come to the seeker and a feeling of losing one’s mind may set in. You overcome this by remembering the purpose of the quest and the good that will come of it. These feelings will pass.”

Once more the shaman paused as if to let this wisdom settle in the young man’s mind.

After some time had passed, he continued.

“If you are serious and endure, you may be granted the special privilege of meeting your spirit guide. Not everyone who goes on a vision quest has the good fortune of meeting his guide. When your guide appears, listen to it. It has great power to show you who you are. Once it has revealed itself, and you have received its wisdom, ask for some token that you may carry to remind you of its presence in your life.”

“Where will I go?” Small Hawk asked.

“Anywhere away from the village to a place that has significant meaning for you. It is up to you.”

The first location that came to mind was the clearing; the clearing he had visited so many times over the years, the clearing he associated with Lean Bear. The thought disturbed him.

It must have shown on his face because Rides the Wind asked, “Is something troubling you?”

Small Hawk quickly responded, “No, I just…ah…just don’t know where I’ll go.”

“Is there no place where you’ve shared a special time with someone: your father, some of your friends?”

Again, the clearing came to Small Hawk’s mind. He pushed it aside once more. “I’ll find a place,” he said finally.

The shaman looked at him with his wise eyes. Small Hawk almost felt the man knew the conflict within him.

“I know you will,” Rides the Wind said, placing his hand on the boy’s shoulder.