“I said stay,“ the hairy man stumbled out of the chair, “you ain’t goin’ nowhere savage!”

I was surrounded!

I heard the familiar click of spurs behind me and a strong stiff hand came down gently on my shoulder.

“Look kid, you know not to come in here. How’s about we let you go back to your tribe alive for exchange of your horse?” This was met with a positive response from the rest of the men in the dusty old saloon. Our horses were fabled to be given to us from the gods themselves, and were held at a VERY high price.

Terrified, I looked up into the dark brown eyes of the town’s sheriff. His gaze was firm. The young sheriff stepped out of the way and positioned with his free hand towards the door.

As was tradition in the Indian tribe Shinokou, a boy earned his horse once he turned ten winters old. I was now twenty-one winters old. I went on the spirit journey to earn my horse, and out of nowhere on the tenth day of my journey a blackfire appeared in the sky. I moved closer. Out of the sky came a brilliant Black Stallion With a fiery red nose, mane and belly. Fire Shadow-my horse-had saved me from death on many occasions, I couldn‘t let him down. I began to create a plan.

“I will accept your offer if you let me see my horse once more - just one more time.” The sheriff nodded his approval and told the men standing in the isle to let me pass through to my tribe without any trouble. Then he looked at me,” but if you ever come back, “He half snarled,” You’ll never see the light of day again.”

I walked out of the saloon, saddened more that I hadn’t found the doctor. What makes these people think that I would come in to their town for no reason? We already had a very shaky treaty with these people, why would I want to disturb that? I needed the Town’s doctor! My chief was very ill. He had caught a white man‘s disease, Our doctor doesn’t know how to treat this new disease, and the town’s doctor was kind to Indians-he would help us. I needed him.

By then I was outside and stroking my horse’s fiery red mane.

“What is a brave without his horse?” I asked at that moment I grabbed a knife from Shadow’s saddle and sliced through the cord of rope that held him. I slapped him on the side. “Run!!!” I commanded. Off he went, Into the horizon.

“WHY YOU!“

POW!!!

A sharp pain pierced my side And I collapsed- suddenly surrounded in a redish haze.