Sun Boy had hardly climbed above earth’s rim to begin his daily run when the first of the lodges came down. Of the young warriors who considered themselves part of the Blood Society, perhaps half had their own lodges. Of these, nearly every wife had elected to follow her husband into exile. In addition, there were two couples on the verge of marriage who also chose the way of the outcast Bloods.
There was one girl, a warrior sister, who would accompany the Blood Society. She would live in her brother’s lodge. Her father, now well past his prime, simply threw up his hands in helpless resignation.
A scattered handful of discontents from the other bands joined them. The young single warriors among the Bloods would live as guests in the lodges of their fellow warriors until they established their own. In effect, the Bloods were becoming a sixth band of the People. Except, Heads Off thought with regret, they would never be of the People. They would remain outcasts forever, a tiny tribe of their own, with allegiance to no one. Their chances of survival were slim to none. There would be none to help or support them against the certain onslaught of the Head Splitters. They could field not many more than a score of warriors, certainly not enough for defense.
This seemed to make little difference to the defiant Bloods. They systematically assisted each other with preparations for travel, and soon Badger, astride his big black stallion, led them
through the camp and out onto the prairie. It would have been easier and more logical, Heads Off noticed, to enter the prairie directly and circle the campsite. Badger chose instead to use his departure for one last irritating gesture. Dust, kicked up by the horses, drifted among the lodges and over the cooking areas. Angry women called threats after the horsemen.
The final insult was that a handful of young Bloods, bringing up the rear, drove the loose animals of the group through the camp, causing even more havoc.
A young man reined over to stop before his chief for a moment. Heads Off recognized Red Dog. He had been a promising student in the Rabbit Society, and had become an expert horseman. The band would sorely miss such a warrior.
“I am sorry, Heads Off. You have been good to me. I have learned much from you!”
The young chief sensed some indecision here, and started to speak, but then changed his mind. What use would it be? He smiled and nodded, feeling a bit foolish.
Red Dog whirled his mare and trotted after the departing Bloods.
Dust began to settle as the little band filed out onto the prairie. Here and there a wail of grief told of a bereaved parent. Heads Off had seen tears in the eyes of several of the departing Bloods’ young wives, too. It was a sad parting. It was unlikely that any of the young people filing over the hill would ever be seen again. He turned to find Coyote standing beside him.
“It is an evil day,” the other said simply.
The two turned to look at the campsite of the Elk-dog band. Here and there were scarred circles where the lodges of the defectors had stood. The remaining lodges looked pitifully few. With a sudden start, Heads Off realized the reason for the depressed attitude of Coyote.
The Elk-dog band had become smaller by some ten lodges, and perhaps twice as many warriors. He had been concerned about the inability of the Bloods to defend themselves. Now the gravity of the situation sank home to him for the first time. Would his own Elk-dog band be able to mount a defense? Their fighting strength had just been reduced by over one third.
Apparently this fact had not been overlooked by the other bands. Small Ears stopped by and generously offered to allow the Elk-dogs to join his Eastern band. Heads Off politely refused. He had had enough problems, he reflected, because of people with poor judgment. He did not need the added stigma of association with the Eastern band, traditionally a foolish group.
More welcome was the invitation by the Red Rocks to camp together for a season. These two had spent a winter in the same camp before, in fact, the year his son Eagle was born.
The suggestion of the Red Rocks was taken more seriously, then, but at length rejected.
Heads Off talked long with both Coyote and White Buffalo before making the decision. Coyote was initially in favor of joining the other band. The old run-and-hide philosophy, held by the People before the coming of the elk-dog, was still strong.
Oddly, the old medicine man favored striking out boldly on their own. The lifting of his burden by the banishment of the Bloods had taken years from his age. He now appeared vigorous, even eager. The Red Rocks, he pointed out, winter in an area with little game. It would be difficult to obtain food for the combined bands.
In addition, there was the matter of prestige. The Elk-dogs, most respected of the bands of the People, could not appear to be merely the poor relatives of another group.
“Perhaps next year,” White Buffalo conceded, “but not now.”
In the end, Coyote agreed. For this season, they would be on their own.
Heads Off was uneasy about it, but concurred. He was thinking of his family. Their son Eagle was at a vulnerable age. Tall One would soon give birth again. Finally he conceded that the threat of short food supply with the Red Rocks was a greater threat to him than that of a chance encounter with Head Splitters. Word was spread that the Elk-dogs would move on the following day.
He would lead the band southeast into the southern end of the Tall Grass Hills. The rolling, broken country there would allow for more defensible positions.
When the Elk-dog band filed over the hill next morning, he was shocked to see how pitifully small the group looked. A quick count revealed that they were missing more lodges than expected.
“Aiee, they scatter in the wind,” commented Coyote philosophically.
Again, Heads Off suffered shock and now the pain of rejection. The People could change loyalties and join another band very simply. It required merely to follow whichever group they chose after the Sun Dance.
There were some who switched loyalties readily, spending each season with the band which appeared to have the greatest prestige. The Elk-dog band had grown in this manner each season since Heads Off had been among them.
But now, in addition to the Bloods, three more lodges had switched allegiance, and the Elk-dogs’ strength was dangerously reduced again. Heads Off experienced a momentary surge of anger at the desertion.
Then he began to think more calmly. Warriors with such Inconstant allegiance would hardly be worth their presence in
battle anyway, he told himself glumly. He was probably better off without such undependable followers.
He felt somewhat better after this period of rationalization, but deep in his heart, he did not believe it at all.