Chapter Ten

 

Doc woke slowly, still feeling tired. That wasn’t too surprising, considering the marathon he’d had with the dryads and Lia the night before. They’d been able to keep the noise down this time, but weren’t silent. Sitting up, he found himself alone. He grunted as he summoned his healing to banish the tiredness and soreness leftover from sleeping wrong.

 

With no one else present, he pulled his clothing to him, getting dressed in a different outfit than he’d worn the day before; he’d brought a couple of outfits just to make sure he made a good impression. He saw one of Rosa’s sundresses off to the side, but didn’t see the blue one she’d brought, so she’d obviously changed, too.

 

Standing up, he stretched. It was more reflex than necessary, but it still felt good. After stepping out of the tent, he found Rosa and Yucca speaking to Wildflower in soft enough voices that he hadn’t heard them from inside.

 

“You won’t mind?” Wildflower asked.

 

“It will be fine,” Rosa beamed before turning to Doc. “Good morning, Voice.”

 

“Good morning, Rosa,” Doc chuckled. “I have a definite idea on what your conversation was about since you have glowing eyes.”

 

Yucca snickered. She looked his way, her eyes glowing, too. “It is our nature.”

 

Wildflower smiled at Doc. “I was asking them questions. Nothing bad; just making sure that I understand things. An elder needs to know their shaman.”

 

“Breakfast,” Lia said, coming their way. “Hmm? Good morning, Wildflower. Did we keep things down enough for you?”

 

“I got enough sleep, Lia,” Wildflower smirked. “Thank you for asking. Are you sure you’ll be up to the test today?”

 

“Doc healed me before I went to sleep. I’ll be fine.”

 

Doc accepted the fry bread and pemmican. “Thank you for letting me sleep and bringing breakfast.”

 

“Have to keep the shaman happy and fed,” Lia smirked. “Are you going to the grounds, Wildflower?”

 

“I am waiting for my group, but I will be there before too long. Good day to you all.”

 

Saying their goodbyes, Doc started walking with Lia beside him and both dryads trailing them. “Is it just me, or does she seem… eager?” Doc murmured between bites.

 

“Oh, she’s eager,” Lia chuckled, “as are some others. Out of those I’ve been approached by, only Dancing Squirrel isn’t as eager. Well… eager for you as a man. She is very excited to have a shaman for the tribe again.”

 

“I need to explain more about my plans and when I’ll be leaving. Maybe that will settle them all down.”

 

“It won’t, Doc,” Rosa said, “especially if you take the gifts you’ve been considering. It will leave them with someone to slowly step into the role with you gone.”

 

“I want that part… I’m just not really sold on them needing me to go through the rite.”

 

Lia kissed his cheek. “I will be there with you for each moment. It’ll be no different than when we visited the Iniquitous Den.”

 

“More children…” Doc said softly.

 

“The tribe will revere them, raise them as a tribe, and pray they are blessed by the gods,” Yucca said. “It won’t be as you fear, Voice.”

 

“He knows, but it is a fear for him,” Rosa said. “His past was one without parents. The idea of leaving a child to experience that is what makes him afraid. Fears don’t need to be rational, as he’s told his wives.”

 

“I did, and yeah, you’re right, Rosa,” Doc sighed. “Are you two ready to help me today?” he asked, wanting to change the topic.

 

“Of course, Voice,” the pair said in unison.

 

Doc rolled his eyes when they started to giggle. “Very ‘children of the corn.’ If it was anyone other than you brats, I would be concerned.”

 

“You love it, even when they tease you,” Lia said softly, taking his hand once he’d finished his food. “Just like when you wake up to glowing green eyes watching you.”

 

“True… Did you kick them out this morning?”

 

“I suggested they wait outside so you could sleep a little longer,” Lia smiled. “When we stepped out, Wildflower was there to speak with them.”

 

Doc shook his head, as he didn’t see himself the way others did. “Will they rally behind my plan?” he asked, again wanting to change the topic.

 

“Once you are their shaman, yes. Without that step, probably, but their tribes might not be as accepting. What you are asking will change a lot for them. Yucca being here to support you makes it more likely. A few might cause a fuss, but if it’s just a few, it’ll be fine. The few won’t pull the tribe apart.”

 

Doc felt better about what he was planning with her words. The last thing he wanted was for a tribe to break apart because of him. As they got close to where they were going to sit, Doc slowed down. Dozens of people, most of them women or the elderly, stood near the spot, waiting.

 

“You did say you would help people this morning,” Lia smiled, “and the man you turned away is the first one in line.”

 

“Let’s do this,” Doc said as he picked his pace back up.

 

~*~*~

 

He’d helped over thirty people before the first event was called to order. Lia gave him a kiss, then left to join the competitors. Doc apologized to the people still in line, promising to help more of them later. After checking over Rosa and Yucca, he found them both to be lighter green, but not yet white.

 

Forty-eight warriors stood in the middle of the testing grounds, including every elder. Gray Rabbit stood tall with an intricately carved spear in his hand. “We begin today with the spear, testing for accuracy and depth of injury. Doc Holyday, the shaman of the Treeheart tribe, has healed me and many others. I am able to compete again this year and will do so. Dancing Squirrel will be the one to judge the test.”

 

“Thank you, Gray Rabbit. The targets are set; we will now begin,” Dancing Squirrel announced. “Split into equal groups so we can test quickly.”

 

The spear-throwing took over an hour to get down to the final three. Lia had gone out during the last round, along with Wildflower and Bluewing. The last three competing were Gray Rabbit, Sunshine, and Raindrop. Raindrop had managed to stay in because of how accurate her throws were; while she wasn’t sinking them quite as deeply, she hit the center every time.

 

When the next throws were made, Sunshine was eliminated. His throw was just outside the bullseye while the other two were touching in the center. He spoke to the pair, congratulating them and being praised in turn, before leaving the father and daughter on the field.

 

Gray Rabbit stuck his spear in the ground, calling to Dancing Squirrel before she brought him a different spear with a smile. Doc nodded in understanding— the man would set aside the enchanted weapon to compete fairly with his daughter. Raindrop bowed her head to him, and they lined up to throw.

 

Dancing Squirrel had to go inspect the target herself when the warrior standing near it looked puzzled. She called the pair forward to her, but the conversation was too far away for Doc to hear anything. Raindrop stepped back, bowing her head to her father before she lunged forward to hug him.

 

Dancing Squirrel left them by the target as she approached the spectators. “After a debate, it was deemed that Raindrop has bested Gray Rabbit. Gray Rabbit accepts her mastery of the spear. As elder, he has called for the ancestral weapon to pass to her hand.”

 

With bright eyes and tears still visible on her face, Raindrop came forward to stand beside Dancing Squirrel. Gray Rabbit pulled the spear from the ground, then turned to his daughter, holding it out to her. Taking the spear with reverence, Raindrop thrust it into the air, letting out a shout of joy. The tribe echoed the shout, praising her.

 

Doc whistled as others did, but he saw one person who didn’t look as excited as the rest of the gathering. Red Hawk was staring at Raindrop with calculating eyes. “Lia, look at Red Hawk.”

 

Lia grunted, seeing what Doc meant before the warrior turned away from the testing. “He might be doubting his supposed ability to take on the elder position. Gray Rabbit is healthy, and his daughter was just praised by the elder and given a mighty weapon. She just became Red Hawk’s equal of the hunt, if in a different way. Add in that she is his daughter, and Red Hawk has to be worried.”

 

“Will it cause problems?”

 

“Maybe… He isn’t a fan of yours, either. There is the chance he will try to rally support against you.”

 

“He will lose if he does,” Yucca said. “Mother will not allow the Voice to be hindered because of one young warrior. I will keep my eyes on him after you leave; he isn’t without intelligence. If he moves, it will be after Doc is gone when he cannot defend himself from slander.”

 

“Asshole,” Doc grunted. “I’ll thank you later, Yucca.”

 

“Wonderful,” Yucca beamed.

 

Gray Rabbit stayed where he was as the others left the area. The targets were being removed, but other objects were being brought out.

 

“Time for the horse test,” Lia smiled. “I’ll be back.”

 

“Good luck,” Doc murmured, squeezing her hand before she could go.

 

“I believe I’ll have that,” Lia laughed.

 

~*~*~

 

The horse-riding competition took far longer to complete. It was an obstacle course with two targets that had to be hit as the rider went past. The weapons used ranged from guns to bows to spears.

 

With noon fast approaching, the event was drawing to an end. Red Hawk had been in the last group, as had Bluewing and Lia. The drums kept count of their speed while Gray Rabbit judged the hits to the targets. In the end, he made Bluewing and Lia ride once more. Red Hawk stormed away, indignant that he’d been eliminated. Lia dismounted her horse, spoke to Bluewing and Gray Rabbit, then led her stallion off the grounds.

 

“Treeheart has withdrawn from the last ride. Bluewing of the Red Throat Grouse tribe is the winner of the event,” Gray Rabbit announced.

 

“She should ride against me, then,” Red Hawk said from the side where he’d been fuming.

 

Gray Rabbit looked at the young man with a hint of irritation. “You were removed from the last ride, Red Hawk. That is past. Now, we are in the present to celebrate Bluewing.”

 

With a grunt of disagreement, Red Hawk turned away, yanking his horse after him.

 

“How has he not been dealt with by now?” Doc asked Rosa softly.

 

“He is a talented hunter and warrior. Sadly, those accolades have inflated his ego.”

 

“The bow has exacerbated that, too,” Yucca added. “I think he will find the ground soon, as most who try to fly do.”

 

Doc pictured a cartoon coyote at her words and smiled. Any of the crazy ways those shows ended would be appropriate for Red Hawk.

 

Both Rosa and Yucca giggled at the mental images Doc had.