The Brave Capture
(Karena Eagle Medicine Woman series)
by Amber "V" Moonstone

 The smoke is over powering.  I wretch from the stench of human flesh burning, that fills the night air.  I am grateful that my children are safe within the confines of the Mataponi Reservation.  I am searching for Tumas, he has been gone far too many days. Two moons have passed with the outrage of the insatiable war parties.  I cry for all my slaughtered
people and for the innocent white men that do not want this war.

There are many who wish to live in harmony, but they do not make the decisions.  Their White Chief, Dale, who I thought was a friend of my people, now revels in his victories.

He is a two face man, telling my people one thing and then acting another way.  I have a secret document that he desires, but I will never give it to him. If I do, my people will surely perish. I cannot allow that to happen. I have sworn to the Great Spirit to protect and heal all creatures on this earth, including man. 

No time has been safe, I am always on the look out, always sleeping with one eye open, never fully leaving the waking world..  I must be ready to act, just like the boldest warriors of my tribe.  "I am Karena, Eagle Medicine Woman".

The Eagle soars above me; I sense his presence.  I feel protected and able to do what I am about to do.  The full moon is shrouded in smoke filled clouds, allowing me to be shielded from sight.  I approach the white man's settlement.  It is quiet and unassuming.  I crawl along the fence line, like a wild animal in the night.  The Eagle encourages
my mission.  I must accomplish this, other wise my people will not make it to see another moon.

"Can I go through with this?" I ask myself, "Yes, I must, for it is the only solution to this war."

The guards are not aware of my presence, they sleep with their fire sticks at their sides.  I slowly steal one, and quietly replace it with a big stick. I now have my protection.  I will fire it in defense, if the need arises.

Sir Thomas Dale's dwelling is dark and the only noise I hear is the sound of his deep snoring.  I stand above his head with the fire stick aimed at his brain.  I must find the strength to waken him and take him captive, I call to the Eagle spirit guide to help me."
Just as I am about to awaken him, a hand clasps across my mouth.  I look above my  head to see who is there, and to my  surprise it is Tumas.. He drops his hand and grabs the musket from my  hold.  Tumas butts Dale's head to knock him out.  He gathers his limp body over his shoulder and we all leave the settlement.  The white man's village has no idea that we have stolen their chief.

"Tumas, how did you find me? How did you know?"
"Karena, you are my woman, I can see and feel you all the time. The Great Eagle Spirit guided me also."
Karena embraced Tumas and kissed his full lips.  He was unable to touch her back.  He was burdened with carrying the white man's war chief.  They steadily traveled toward their reservation, not knowing what type of reception they were going to receive.

Chief Powhatan will be quite surprised at their boldness and bravery to capture this much hated white man's chief.  Tumas dropped Dale on the floor of their tipi.  He awoke a bit startled, but fell back to being unconsciencous.  They tied his arms behind his back and put leather straps on his ankles.  They stuffed a piece of leather
in his mouth, just in case he awoke during the night.  He was quite the prisoner!

Tumas and Karena fell into each other's arms as they sauntered toward the river.  They wanted to wash off the dirt and stench from their daring deed.  As they stripped Tumas watched Karena with love and lust in his eyes.  He grabbed her and they both went running into the river.  The water was freezing, but their love kept them warm.  They made love to each other there on the riverbed, as if it were the first time.  Karena felt the deepest joy and love that any woman could have for her man. 

Karena was awakened by the cry from the Eagle overhead.  It was just about sunrise.  She gathered her dress and woke Tumas.  "Tumas, we must get back to our tipi, Dale  is surely awake by now."  They bolted back to their village.

There was a crowd of warriors gathered at thier tipi, she knew that they were aware of her prisoner.  Pocahontas emerged from the tipi, "Karena, what have you done?, my father is very angry with you, you must go see him at once!"  Karena looked at Tumas, and they both went off to see the chief.  "Tumas, listen to me, I am to blame for all
of this, please do not say it was you, you must promise me this."
"Karena, the chief will understand, just tell him your plan."

They walked into the chief's dwelling.  He was sitting on his deerskin rug meditating. "Great Spirit, let this not begin a war that will end my people's existence. Let there be an explanation, a good omen, a peace treaty, something for us to hope for."
Karena gently touched Powhatan's shoulder, he saw her and frowned.

"Karena, what have you done? Have you brought shame to my people?"
"Chief Powhatan, my respected leader, I have not brought shame, I have brought a solution.  I have heard of many stories through the white men and our own warriors. Chief Thomas Dale  was planning a major attack on you and his goal was to kill you and kidnap your daughter, Pocahontas.  I could not allow that to happen. That is why I
have kidnapped him.   Surely they will not attack us now, with their Chief here right among us."

"Karena, you are very brave and wise, but now what is your plan? What do we do with him?  I do not want his blood shed on my land."

"Chief, it was not my intention to kill him, I am a healer.  I merely wanted to have him see our way of life; so he could understand that we only want to live in peace and harmony with all people and our Mother Earth."

"Karena, you are living with eyes closed, don't you know?  I have seen visions of our people wiped out by the greed of the white man.  This is only one man, there are many more, way worse than him.   They see us as a threat to their survival and feel we are like wild animals that do not have the right to be here.  They want our land and will do anything to get rid of us!"

Pocahontas tended to Dale's wound on the back of his head.  She sang sweet melodies as she put herbs and potions on his wound.  He was captivated by this young beauty.  He felt safe for the moment.  Karena watched as Pocahontas tended to Dale.  She clapped her hand and motioned for Pocahontas to go outside.  The princess obeyed and left
the tipi.  Karena stood tall and looked Dale straight in the eyes.

"So, you thought that you could kill my chief and kidnap his beautiful child".

"Karena, I wish no harm to you, you are a beautiful woman healer, but you have to move with the times.  It is time for your people to move North and allow my people to make this area prosperous and progressive.  You have seen this coming, I am a leader of the new world, you choose to live in your old ways, so you must either allow progress or go where you can continue to live the way you have been living."

"NO, this is our land, it has been ours for thousands of moons, you have no right here."

"You are being foolish, progress, exploration and developement has found "your world", I am the best you will encounter, trust these words, there are many out there that are far worse than me."

"That is a very sad state of being, somehow we must find a way to live in peace and harmony.  It is against the natural order of Mother Earth, she will be very angry with your people.  I am a healer, I have seen much death and destruction.  It must stop, you will listen to my Chief.  He wants me to bring you to him.  Are you ready?"

Karena Eagle Medicine Woman   September 1611 (c)
Amber "V" Moonstone  (6/29/10--7/29/10)