Even though Jimmy had learned the way to the tipi camp years ago, it was as if he was looking at the trail, the woods, and surroundings with a completely new set of eyes. Every birdsong, every buzz and click from insects, and even the breeze blowing gently through the trees of the forest felt somehow enhanced and filled with a depth he hadn’t considered before. Was it all a part of the after-effects of the sweatlodge, he wondered?
Looking down at his left hand that had been resting on his thigh, he remembered the vision he had of it appearing scaly and inhuman. It looked completely natural now, of course, but would this vision quest that his family had urged him to go on give him the answers that he needed? Given what Maze, Meryt, his grandparents, and even his own mother had hinted about his somehow being “different”, he vowed he wouldn’t be surprised if it did. Even though Mark had made the journey up to the tipi, with him, he would definitely have to go up to a higher elevation on the mountain alone. He would have nothing more than his pipe, a blanket, and very little else. Whether he would fast and pray for the night into the next day and into another night, he wasn’t certain.
As the horses made their way along the steep rocky trail, Jimmy could make out the lodge poles of where the tipi stood. Glancing back at Mark, Jimmy pointed to the ridge and what would be their home for the next couple of days. “Just a little bit further and we should be able to set up camp pretty quickly,” he grinned.
When the two men finally arrived at the top, the trees and trail opened up to a clearing surrounded by cedars, spruces, and a few fruit trees. Aunt Lily had made it a kind of hobby to make the place as efficient as she had made the family’s cabin. Even if they were up at camp, they would always have something that they could forage from what amounted to an entire food forest that surrounded the tipi. Thankfully, bears, and other wildlife seemed to respect the space, too. Was it the prayers and blessings of Grandfather Takawitha and the others that came to the space that established it as safe? Jimmy couldn’t be too sure.
Jimmy slid from the saddle and immediately began undoing the cinch on Marvin’s saddle. “You earned your oats today, my friend,” Jimmy patted the horse’s neck and began leading him toward a makeshift horse enclosure. Inside the corral, there was a small spring that bubbled up from the ground on its own and into a trough that held water that could be readily accessed by both humans and animals alike. Once the horses were put away and secured, Jimmy and Mark made their way to the tipi. Jimmy unsecured the door and led the way inside the surprisingly spacious dwelling.
There were spaces for beds along the walls of the walls, a central pit where they would build a fire, and along the back wall was a permanent alar. On it was a buffalo skull, a bundle of white sage, and other objects that his aunt and uncle had suspected he and Mark might need.
As Mark got himself settled, Jimmy set about starting the fire. Since they still had a few hours till sundown, Jimmy mentally and physically prepared himself for the night ahead.
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Looking down at his left hand that had been resting on his thigh, he remembered the vision he had of it appearing scaly and inhuman. It looked completely natural now, of course, but would this vision quest that his family had urged him to go on give him the answers that he needed? Given what Maze, Meryt, his grandparents, and even his own mother had hinted about his somehow being “different”, he vowed he wouldn’t be surprised if it did. Even though Mark had made the journey up to the tipi, with him, he would definitely have to go up to a higher elevation on the mountain alone. He would have nothing more than his pipe, a blanket, and very little else. Whether he would fast and pray for the night into the next day and into another night, he wasn’t certain.
As the horses made their way along the steep rocky trail, Jimmy could make out the lodge poles of where the tipi stood. Glancing back at Mark, Jimmy pointed to the ridge and what would be their home for the next couple of days. “Just a little bit further and we should be able to set up camp pretty quickly,” he grinned.
When the two men finally arrived at the top, the trees and trail opened up to a clearing surrounded by cedars, spruces, and a few fruit trees. Aunt Lily had made it a kind of hobby to make the place as efficient as she had made the family’s cabin. Even if they were up at camp, they would always have something that they could forage from what amounted to an entire food forest that surrounded the tipi. Thankfully, bears, and other wildlife seemed to respect the space, too. Was it the prayers and blessings of Grandfather Takawitha and the others that came to the space that established it as safe? Jimmy couldn’t be too sure.
Jimmy slid from the saddle and immediately began undoing the cinch on Marvin’s saddle. “You earned your oats today, my friend,” Jimmy patted the horse’s neck and began leading him toward a makeshift horse enclosure. Inside the corral, there was a small spring that bubbled up from the ground on its own and into a trough that held water that could be readily accessed by both humans and animals alike. Once the horses were put away and secured, Jimmy and Mark made their way to the tipi. Jimmy unsecured the door and led the way inside the surprisingly spacious dwelling.
There were spaces for beds along the walls of the walls, a central pit where they would build a fire, and along the back wall was a permanent alar. On it was a buffalo skull, a bundle of white sage, and other objects that his aunt and uncle had suspected he and Mark might need.
As Mark got himself settled, Jimmy set about starting the fire. Since they still had a few hours till sundown, Jimmy mentally and physically prepared himself for the night ahead.