20 in 5 -- Vol II -- The Silence of Pain

The Lapente Indians lack a word for “disappointment.” Instead, they make reference to “the silence of pain.” Here’s the story they tell--or told--from long ago.

Some pains have facets.

Sky of Thunder was a tribal chief along the high plains leading to the lakes of the east. His tribe was small, having broken off from the larger tribe led by Tree Wind and her mate, known behind his back as Frightened Coyote. Sky of Thunder brought his tribe to a riverbank and set up camp. For eleven summers, his tribe hunted, fished and traded to the east, where the Friendly Peoples lived, but never to the west, where Tree Wind held sway over a growing number of tribes.

Sky of Thunder’s first-born was a strong boy, who was given the name Cloud Wolf. By his tenth summer, Cloud Wolf was the tribe’s Little Chief, the boy even elders nodded their head to when he passed. His mother, Sky of Thunder’s first mate, died in the long Winter of the Gray Snow and from that point on, Cloud Wolf and Sky of Thunder were united in grief and actions.

The following summer, Tree Wind led her tribes in a surprise attack on Sky of Thunder’s camp, forcing the smaller tribe to fight its way to a hasty escape. Riding and running north, then east, Sky of Thunder led his tribe to safety, his chest swelling with pride as Cloud Wolf, small in stature and age, fought alongside bloodied warriors as an equal. Once the escape was complete, Sky of Thunder and the elders bestowed manhood on Cloud Wolf, three summers early, but in the words of the Elder Woman, Rain Flower, a day past Cloud Wolf’s sunrise.

Six summers flowed past, with Sky of Thunder’s tribe growing quickly as Tree Wind’s grasp gave way to Frightened Coyote’s cruelty and entire families crossed the high plains to join a more peaceful tribe. Cloud Wolf led hunting parties and even several raiding parties far to the cold north, against the Flat Faces and their vicious dogs. In every act, Cloud Wolf proved himself brave and fierce, but also wise as he refused to separate families amongst the captured, insisting on trading them together when he haggled with the Friendly Peoples.

By now, Cloud Wolf was tall, the tallest warrior in the tribe, with eyes and hair of obsidian black and skin unmarked by enemy steel. Wherever he went in the camp, he was followed by several pairs of soft eyes and wishful hearts. But though his voice was soft and his laughter quick, not one of the wishful hearts was able to hold him for long.

In the Spring of Blue Flowers, Cloud Wolf went off on a solo trek to hunt and scout the south lands. He was gone for nearly two moons, and returned with several dressed deer, new steel knives…and a necklace of jade. The camp was in disarray, nearly destroyed, and Cloud Wolf rushed to his father to discover what had happened.

Sky of Thunder lay on heavy blankets, his face a gray mask of pain as a shaman treated his wounds in leg and chest. Several warriors clustered around their Chief looked at Cloud Wolf with hard eyes, their words barely contained. When Sky of Thunder saw his son, he struggled to rise, fighting against the shaman’s efforts to hold him down. He stared at his son, opened his mouth and then, closed it, his eyes fixed on the jade necklace Cloud Wolf was wearing. His face became a rictus of shock. With a sharp cry, he fell back on the blanket and groaned heavily.

With a sharp slash of his hand, Cloud Wolf ordered the warriors away. They left, with dark scowls. Cloud Wolf knelt at his father’s side, his eyes a blend of confusion and…defiance.

“You knew...of this?” gasped Sky of Thunder. Cloud Wolf nodded. “Eleven dead…your sister…” Sky of Thunder’s voice failed. Then with a tremendous effort, he rolled his head to stare at his son. “You with the daughter…of Tree Wind…”

“We were seen together. If I had warned you, they would have killed her.”

Sky of Thunder tried to speak, but the silence of pain took his words away.



Announcing January 2012 Edition of "20 in 5"


Please buy the next installment of our monthly ebook "20 in 5." "The Silence of Pain" is there along with 19 other flash fiction stories. Brought to you directly by Mis Tribus.