Medicine Wolf

{Yet another school project. This is the script from my shadow puppet presentation, which, I might add, went exceedingly well. It is adapted from a legend of the Blackfoot people.}

Many, many years ago, before Nature had been terrorized by technology and herds of buffalo still roamed the plains of North America, the Blackfoot tribe were traveling from their summer camp to their winter camp. But, on the way, they were attacked by a fierce band of Crow warriors. Though they fought with courage, several of the Blackfoot were killed that day. A young woman of their tribe, named Sits-by-the-Door, was captured. The Crow warriors tied her to a horse and brought her to their camp on the Yellowstone River.

She was treated as a slave, and the man who had captured her gave her the hardest jobs to do.

“Chop the wood, Sits-by-the-Door.”

“But I’m so tired.”

“Then you shall have no food tonight.”

At night, her captor tied her hands and made her sleep next to his wife. His wife was gentle and had a good heart, and showed what kindness she could to Sits-by-the-Door. One day the wife overheard some terrible news.

“Sits-by-the-Door, you must be brave. My husband says that they are going to kill you tomorrow.”

“What shall I do?”

“You must escape. Tonight. I will help you all I can.”

“Thank you!”

That night, when the camp was sleeping, the wife took her husband’s knife and cut the rawhide thongs from Sits-by-the-Door’s hands.”

“Here is pemmican to eat. You must travel as far and as fast as you can, because my people will surely try to capture you when they find you gone.”

All night long, Sits-by-the-Door ran as fast as she could. When she couldn’t run any more, she walked until she could run again. She ran until the sun’s rays came glinting over the horizon. Weak with exhaustion, Sits-by-the-Door stumbled into a small cave and fell asleep.

The Crow warriors were furious when they found that she was gone and formed a search party. For three days, they scoured the woods, looking for their escaped captive. Sits-by-the-Door stayed hidden in her cave, trembling with fear that they might find her. But they did not. At last, the warriors gave up the search and returned to their homes. Sits-by-the-Door was free!

But now her food and strength were almost gone. Sits-by-the-Door began the long journey home with little more than a strong heart. Even worse, she found that she was being followed by a large grey wolf.

Driven by fear, she walked all night, and the next day, and the next night before her strength finally gave out. She fell to the cold ground, too tired to be scared any longer. The grey wolf had followed her patiently, and now he drew close and sniffed at her hands. She could smell his unwashed fur and his foul breath. Sits-by-the-Door shut her eyes tightly and prayed for a quick death.

Death did not come. Instead of sinking his yellow fangs into her neck, he lay beside her, a guardian keeping his charge warm and safe. When the sun rose and warmed her face, the wolf left and was gone for some time. He returned, dragging a freshly killed buffalo calf. Sits-by-the-Door made a fire and cooked the meat. She and the wolf shared the food, and Sits-by-the-Door began to feel stronger again. She rested for many hours, eating when she was hungry, and watching the wolf warily. Soon, she had enough strength to begin her journey again.

The wolf went with her the whole way, keeping her safe and providing food. Not even the bravest forest animal dared challenge him, and so she went unharmed.

When she finally returned to the Blackfoot camp, her people were very excited to see that she was safe, and awed by her new friend.

“Sits-by-the-Door, it is good to see you!”

“We thought you were dead!”

“What an impressive protector you have found!”

“The wolf saved my life. He provided food for me on my journey and kept me safe. There is strong medicine between us, and we are friends. I call him Medicine Wolf.”

The Council of Elders heard her words. They understood that medicine, or a magic bond, could exist between a human and an animal.

“Medicine Wolf is welcome in our village. He may live with Sits-by-the-Door in peace. None shall harm him.”

Medicine Wolf lived with his human friend in her house, and not even the camp dogs bothered him. He stayed by her side for many, many years, until the day that Sits-by-the-Door died. Medicine Wolf was among the mourners at her burial, and seemed to howl his own funeral dirge. Then he left the village, and was never seen again.