The Gathering of Warriors

The Gathering of Warriors
Dark Moon

Let me tell you a Story

This Story, words of the Grandfather. A Story told to him by his Grandfather. This would be five generations back, the late sixteen hundreds or early seventeen hundreds by the way we measure time today.

The Grandfather Speaks -

Asking my Grandfather, when I was about your age, "Why is your friend, Dark Moon so different from us?" My Grandfather said he would tell me a Story.
"Young Brother," the Grandfather said to me, "this is my Grandfather's Story of how he became the Brother/Friend of Dark Moon of the Susquehannock People."

****

When I was a young man, a Mother of the Eel Clan came to me with a request. "Go to the People of the Susquehannock, they have killed my son, bring to me one of their young Warriors."
I had been away to the North, hunting Elk with a few friends, when I returned to my Village I heard the Stories of the encounter with the Susquehannock. Other Warriors from my Village had been in the South patrolling, when they came upon a few Susquehannock Warriors within our boundaries. There was a short encounter. The Susquehannock Warriors' arrow was not the cause of the death of the Eal Clan Mothers' son. The arrow pierced the flesh of his shoulder, he fell back and over an embankment striking his head hard on a rock. The cracking open of his head, this was the cause of his death. But her request could not be ignored.
I place my War Axe onto the War Pole and some Warriors of my Village came to talk of the Gathering of Warriors. I was a young Warrior at this time, with little experience, I spoke with my Uncle, I felt I was to young to be the leader of this Gathering. My Uncle agreed to be the leader and placed his War Axe next to mine on the War Pole.
As the Warriors of the Village gathered, my Uncle informed all. As many who choose my go, but only seven will cross into the Lands of the Susquehannock. Seven War Axes were placed upon the War Pole. My Uncle, five Warriors and myself choose to go to the Land of the Susquehannock to bring back a young Warrior of these People, as requested by the Eel Clan Mother.
Our hair tied back as not to hinder us as we ran through the forest. Moccasins and loin cloth, a belt secures our War Axe, Knife and a pouch of food about our waist. A quiver of Arrows, an unstrung Bow slung across our backs, and a War Club held in the hand.
At the first light of dawn, the air was cold. But we knew, putting on more clothing would only hinder us later in the day, with the heat of the afternoon Sun. We quietly slip away from our Village at a steady run. Quickly we pass along many well used trails without disturbing our surroundings. Through the coolness of the morning, into the heat of the afternoon, we ran at a steady pace and reached the Southern boundaries of the Lands of the Confederacy.
Here we pause. Stringing our Bows, speaking in hushed voices, resting, waiting for the Sun to near the Western horizon. Securing moss from the North side of a Great Oak Tree, moving aside the dry leaf litter to reach the damp decaying mulch beneath. A mixture of this moss, mulch, a little earth and Bear grease. This was rubbed over our entire bodies as to mask any Human scent, thus foiling the village Dogs' ability to betray our presence.
Before us lie the Lands of the Susquehannock. Now traveling on unknown trails, staying away from well used ones, seeking out the trails of animals, our progress is slowed. All communication between the seven Warriors is by hand signs, as not to give away our presence by speaking. We now seek higher ground. Moving in the twilight to reach a high hill top as darkness comes over the land. Spread out before us is the vastness of the Shenandoah Valley.
As the darkness of night comes upon the land, our eyes search for signs of the glow from Village fires. Our ears alert for any signs of Human activity, and our noses alert for the aroma of cooking food.
Selecting a Village in the near distance, by unaminous agreement, we set out in the darkness. The going is slow due to unfimiliar terrain. Unhurried, passing silently, we need to be near the Village before dawn.
Upon arriving near the Village, another Warrior and myself, the two selected to capture the Susquehannock Warrior, move ahead of the othe five Warriors who remain secluded, yet close enough to assist should the need arise. We creep closer to the Village to observe the morning activities, which reminds me of our own Village far to the North.
Unlike the Hodenosaunee, the Susquehannock, do not have a stockade surrounding their Villages, this would have hindered our observing. Children playing, the Grandfathers set in a circle smoking, the Grandmothers overseeing the younger woman cooking the morning meal, while the young Warriors gather in small groups talking.
While we are observing these activities, our attention is drawn to one young Warrior stringing his hunting Bow as he talks with is brother Warriors. The one to be captured has been selected, this we agree on between us. As the young Warrior moves about the Village we scrutinize his every move. Speaking briefly with the Grandfathers, interacting with the children and squatting with his family around the cooking fire to eat the morning meal before his hunt.
The young Warrior moves unaccompanied to the edge of his Village, we cautiously move to become closer to him. My Uncle and the other four Warriors move parrallel to us as we move. As the young Warrior puts distance between himself and his Village we look for a place along his trail to cause the encounter and capture without alerting his Village.
From behind and ether side, we spring from cover to overwhelm him. Quickly putting the young Warrior to the ground, there was a brief struggle, his hands are tied, a strip of buckskin across his mouth to prevent him from crying out and alerting the Village. We lead him back to meet up with my Uncle and the other four Warriors.
A rope tied around the young Susquehannock Warrior to secure his arms to his side. Now at a hurried pace, my Uncle in the lead and one other Warrior leads the way. I hold the rope in front of the captured Warrior, the other Warrior who helped in his capture holds the rope from the rear. The remaining three Warriors follow a short distance to the rear, acting as rear guard, should intentionally or by accident there be an encounter with the People of the captured Warrior.
Should an encounter with the People of his Village take place, the two lead Warriors would turn back to assist the three rear guard Warriors. The two Warriors securing the captured Warrior would hasten their pace to cross out of the Lands of the Susquehannock into the Lands of the Confederacy. Once in the Land of the Confederacy they would hold up and assist their Brother Warriors if required.
No encounter occurred with the People from his Village. Once within the Lands of the Confederacy, our pace relaxed. By mid-day we were well into the Lands of the Confederacy and all could rest.
We all bathed, removing the mixture of moss, mulch, earth and Bear grease. Someone went to hunt for small game and a fire was prepared to cook the catch. The captured Susquehannock Warrior was unbound, knowing he would not betray us nor betray his Honor as a Warrior. Nor did we or would we have mistreated him in any way.He was a Susquehannock and our captive, he was also a Human Being, this had to be respected and Honored. Food and drink were shared equally.
Communicating with the Suaquehannock Warrior was possible. Our two Peoples had traded with each other for generations, thus knowing a few words of each others language, also using hand signs.
We rested for a short time, then press on to reach our Village before darkness. Upon reaching the Village I knew there would be much excitement, everyone wishing to see the captrued Warrior. This was curiosity, not hostility. After all, he was another Human Being, regardless of his fate at the hands of the Mother requesting his capture, the respect for all Beings would be Honored.
The fate of the captured Susquehannock Warrior now was totally within the discretion of the Eel Clan Mother. She may choose to adopt him as her son. Should her heart be hardened from the loss of her son, she could ask for his immediate death upon his arrival. This would have been carried out by her or a Warrior of her choice. Or she could request a slow death. Whatever her choice it would have been carried out, without question.
I was proud to see this young Warrior stand with pride in who he was. I am sure there was much fear within him, yet outwardly it was not noticeable. We never spoke of these things. Surrounded by the entire Village of the People, looking him over and not knowing of his fate, I know there would be fear within me if I were in his place. I knew at that time, I would be Honored to be his Brother/Friend should the Eel Clan Mother choose to adopt him as her son.
The Eel Clan Mother stood before the young Warrior, a tear slid down her cheek as she looked at him. I could see in her eyes, sadness, not hate. I could also see the young Susquehannocks' body relax as he looked into her eyes. She turned from him, not deciding immediately. She took a few days to observe the interactions of the young Warrior with the People, then announced, "He is now my son." No formal ceremonies were required nor performed.
He requested to keep his name, Dark Moon, so named by his Grandmother, when he was born on a night of a lunar eclipse. He could have requested the People of my Village give him a new name. His choice was Honored. Dark Moon, the young Susquehannock Warrior accepted his new family, learned the new language and traditions.
Because Honor is the most important part of a Warriors' Being, there were no restrictions placed upon Dark Moon. He was accepted into his new community as one of the People, respected and Honored, a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, a protector, a provider, a hunter, a Warrior. No longer Susquehannock, a Hodenosaunee Warrior.
Grandson, this is why Dark Moon looks different. His birth was of the People of the Susquehannock, but he IS a Hodenosaunee. The Creator does not see us Humans as Susquehannock nor Hodenosaunee or any other People we choose to call ourselves, the Creator sees us all as Human Beings, equal, no better, no worse. Dark Moons' blood is that of the Susquehannock People, his heart and spirit is that of a Hodenosaunee.
Grandson, ALWAYS HONOR DIFFERENCES IN ALL HUMAN BEINGS.

White Crow December 1942