The Spring Of Atonement

by Amber "V" Moonstone

3/29/09

Tumas found Karena in the arms of Powhatan
He was reassuring her that Tumas will not die.
"Karena, He is one of my great warriors,
I cannot lose him now, we will make amends
The Great Spirit will guide us toward atonement"

Just as Karena calmed down, She saw Tumas
It was in an instant that they embraced.
"My Woman, I will hold you near my heart,
never will I leave you again. Please Forgive me"
"Tumas, my soul's mate and love, we will
become better for all of this, you will see."

They both rode back to the Mattaponi reservation to join their children.
The road was quiet and dark,
as they approached the reservation they were ambushed by a band of white men.

One of the men recognized Tumas,
and ordered his men to stop.
"Tumas, why are you traveling alone?
Do you know how dangerous this is?
I will let you go, but do not forget this."

Tumas and Karena, found safety once more
thanks to the connection Tumas still held
with some of the good white men.
He had a brotherhood with a few of them.
It is this bond that confuses him all the time.

Karena prayed to the Great Eagle spirit
to guide her toward understanding this
bond that Tumas carries inside of him.
It will be the death of him yet.

In the hours that followed, the moon rose
and the winds blew in from the east.
It was a balmy night and Karena was restlessly walking along the river edge.
Her Eagle Spirit spoke to her,

"Karena, you must stop this bond that Tumas has developed with the white man,
he is in grave danger and so are your people.  After the next two full moons,
it will be clear what I have just told you,

take this into your wise heart and pray
to the Great Spirit to make you strong
and allow you to guide your people to
safety once more.  Do not trust the white man, he is the enemy of your people".

"Yes, Eagle Spirit guide, I hear you, I will
take your wisdom into my heart and find
guidance from the Great Spirit.  I understand all that you have told me.  I pray that my people will be safe."

With this she was able to find sleep that night in the arms of her beloved warrior.
They awoke upon sunrise and shared
a meal with their beautiful children.
Tumas was to join the Mattaponi warriors
on a spying mission of the white man's fort.

Karena promised to stay at the reservation
until Tumas returned.
She played with her children that day,
as if nothing was going on in the world.
Her only focus was keeping her family safe and happy.

The day ended without any conflicts,
with Tumas returning to his family.
During that night, Glowing Moon became ill.
She was hotter than the summer sun,
and crying endlessly.  Karena did all she could do.  It was in the hands of the Great Spirit now.

The next evening, Glowing Moon’s fever broke.
It was a very close call to death for this baby child. Karena took such good care of her daughter and
nursed her back to health.

The Great Eagle continued to watch vigil
over their dwelling.  He was their guardian angel.
As Glowing Moon emerged from her slumber and into the morning air, she pointed to the Eagle and said “Eagle Spirit”.   He dipped closely and flew onward toward the horizon.  Glowing Moon uttered her first words!

Karena, Eagle Medicine Woman
March 1610