"The dead-" Rabbit frowns and trots a little to keep up with the taller folk, settling to a rapid walk and reflecting that Christians were very confusing. Hadn't their prophet been killed anyway? Or was it the god?

Trying to untangle this and watching through the deepening twilight for rocks that might offer a hazard to bare feet, Rabbit flinches just a little at the contact and looks up, wide-eyed. "I will speak to him later, if...he will listen. Not when many look for us coming to them."

Self-reminded, the little stray adjusts gait very slightly to the stride of a man, hiding any movements caused by the curve of hip and angles of bones that might catch an eye as strange long before the mind asked why. Seeking in the satchel, Rabbit flourishes the closed 'lazor' to Thunder Walker to show all is well.

Little Bear greets the returning trio. [Language unknown: "K whewi Adevse presanome san ratveneve?"] He asks.

Talks to the Trees smiles at Xiaohan from her position a few steps behind Little Bear. [Language unknown: "Cksein acec, Hefi'chpe Omwali, sa mehis cemiil."] She says.

"Moses will always listen, Screaming Rabbit", the negro says reassuringly.
He nods in reply to Little Bear's question.
[Language unknown: "Iv urestaica. Hatnt urthu urent latwh ol she Lohiil Astwhiand ie it herpreeen vorhisatisti. Be us icareasan k Astillout stastaest. Ess, eau dinastard iouiveyin allhatare e se leis, Areughhis All. Alitce io Ioenus romst Hisestand olect erhihi, itla Peaiic Yinorttedith t p ersawe a pe ngure poosre."]

Another lie, camouflaged as flattery. The prophet knew that this would not sway the Nakota. But, a seed might have been planted.

OOC: Not sure if Speak Language is still in effect... so just in case.
19:15, Today: Moses rolled 13,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13,4. Faith for Speak Language.

Moses' reassurance just gets a wary look from the little stray, who bows a little to Talks' compliment, addressing her husband a bit more than her for form's sake, eyes low. [Language unknown: "Ticithher me li menbe lohoan k Derstiame, To p tho i prolou one, hedin neaime. Plthe Ersath U Eion Problewer heni nte ur wit plla tace a?"]

He nodded in response to Chief Little Bear's words, indeed feeling fortunate to have come upon companions worthy of trust and respect so unexpectedly and at such a difficult time. Raising a hand in greeting, he gave a wave as the three returned from their talks with the Pawnee. Judging from their still being alive, at least the talks had not gone badly. When Moses and Rabbit spoke, it was clear that they had seen success.

[Language unknown: "Vor icenai ive n a verstaous waloth,"] he said, pointing to the razor that Rabbit carried. [Language unknown: "Nesent thethiour ette. Plcawa wh ncith t pr stndei evwe re ekient ha thiie walias, waserssta ai hermansom m ion k i os te conni nterating ek. Thuoretho eiich a e in Unllng ilman toec lin Redastlat, strticyin amethapre ho."]

He turned to Chief Little Bear, and gestured to the others as they spoke. [Language unknown: "Yin tic lewesi ll elre ureortwiltio, er prpros ethosi t wenot conessain butli utess Ruteveard, m nesta ni evna nd ch et The Thehisica."]

Little Bear nods at the group.

Talks to the Trees nods at Rabbit's question. She embraces her husband who returns the hug, and then she fades from view.

The Nakota take their mounts, and all of the trio are offered rides on the horses.

The ride back to the village takes half as long as the run to it.

They are greeted with the sight of scaffolds of wood rising to the heavens. Bodies lie wrapped in blanket on platforms high in the sky, with offerings of food left in baskets beside them.

"What have they done?" Sister Belinda gasps. "Shouldn't those poor folks be under the ground?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:16, Fri 04 Jan 2013.

"Different people, different ways," he said, hoping that was all he would need say to the woman on the subject. He somewhat feared she would be insistent on the subject.

"But what about the Resurrection?" She says, "When the Trumpets sound on the Day of Judgement, those poor folks won't have a body to return to! They'll be et by crows and their ghosts forced to wander!"

"When the Ghost Dance is performed and the dead return," says a familiar voice, "The dead will not need their former earthly bodies. They will be given new forms of holy light." Wovoka steps forward, eyes on Sister Belinda. "When the body dies, the soul is cast out, and is not always aware that it is dead. When the carrion birds feed and sever their connections with their earthly life, they are freed to walk the road to their rest. When the Ghost Dance is performed, and they return, they will have new forms. This I have seen."

"Who are you?" Sister Belinda asks. Her tone walks the edge between curious and somewhat hostile.

"I am Wovoka of the Paiute." He replies. "Servant of The Great Mystery, which the white man calls The Holy Ghost. I bring great news to my people, news which affects your people as well."

Sister Belinda blinks, not quite sure what to make of the man.

"We managed to avoid a fight between the Nakota and the Pawnee," he said after dismounting. "And we fulfilled the promise Moses made to find this woman," he said, gesturing to Sister Belinda.

Rabbit slides off the horse after Thunder Walker with caution and looks up at the bodies some moments before rubbing at a spot mid-chest and edging up nearer Wovoka.

Sister Belinda gets a quiet explanation, Rabbit's hands returning to their sleeves once her attention is got with an almost-touch of the elbow:
"These people already go home with their ghost like the chief-wife go, I know this...and Wovoka is a good man: he is great holy man, make peace in the tribes and with your people." Rabbit's eyes flick to the sister's briefly.

Wovoka nods. "It is good." he says to Thunder Walker. "The friends of the white woman have made camp not far from here, further down the creek, waiting for word of her. I will send her with Amazing Horse to meet up with them."

The brave in question sighs. [Language unknown: "Ti sa lar ad ica o erilul ec pa."] he mutters. [Language unknown: "Loho soman ardeauver, us ere stabutany. Et sondayred io ounti pl hatthothe whe i mafo withisera strounkor oulichure thithiter. Ss bele inghiskor, atpe usla utioee..."]

Wovaka smiles at the grumbling, but says nothing more.

Sister Belinda nods. "I suppose I can't argue. When in Rome, and all that. Until we meet again." She says, nodding at Rabbit. Then she and the brave head away from the camp.

Horn Chips approaches the party.  he says.

 Wovoka sighs.

[Language unknown: "Ch."]

Little bear invites the group to sit with him and take a small meal, then allows them to retire for the night. The tipis and earthen lodges are almost all damaged, but a few escaped the fire. With the Nakota band so diminished, there's easily enough room for everyone.

((OOC: Is there anything you folk want to do privately? If so, let me know. If not, I'm going to move you on to the next day.))

Rabbit and Moses could have that talk. Maybe at night?

[[I'd like a few sentences to Moses, please, so's Rabbit will hopefully stop wanting to curl up in a ball whenever he looks at her too hard...]]

((OOC: Well, it looks like the both of you are on...))

Moses had been quiet ever since they had returned to the camp, muttering to himself a few times.
He had given the dead his last respect, even though he didn't know any of them, of course.

Now he sat there at a small campfire by himself, looking into the flames as if lost in thought.
He felt something stir behind him in the dark and without turning, or moving even, he says with his deep, rumbling voice.
"Have you come to talk to Moses now, Screaming Rabbit?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:27, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

Rabbit settles nearby, knees brought up towards her chest and loosely held. [Language unknown: "Ilck not etlat iveundeve..."] she begins softly in Mandarin, apparently convinced Moses has some fluency in the language.

[Language unknown: "...I antticour tic llth ou p caulla he vendinall t, n melare. Un..."] Rabbit looks over, the fear still there in the tense lines of her back and wide eyes. [Language unknown: "...sti metin ca ie ousiontha as i iou, En...po fi thu te nihech. Tahi ee nowafi tahoos, acear i Ne dince ast, strhasiou Sa anyil omom vir ard ad ugh caleisce o mawh anpail, forearnce ss a e ti nderomvor, be...erewa k t ch fioun enomomen il u. K sonel tio ven ver notrtr all terec pre in to llai ersicarut i wawa, wil. Ur wilsonhis Areeauati u pe nccheencan ted, romthesan Ut nd pr lesearere leshatthureswas som...p e k pro andortpro p thi lestinant, U rat bewi ecro ere sa undingder P ndst comer, ck metr thuresica."]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:55, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

22:00, Today: Moses rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Red chip.
21:59, Today: Moses rolled 3,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2. Faith for Speak Language.

Moses picks up a small branch and stirs the flames, sending little sparks up high. He chuckles at the sight.

"The past..."
He stops, stiring the fire again.
[Language unknown: "Oling ble ofvor omises ith. Erter aiolil Saceou. Diri ekilul diiehica. I esdi ieolie mi un e iela hatreafor, for ec hi ard n haspr ic. Und i undou eentic. Fi nt... o ac o whhana ha Fievle. Thoic u i er nturan wieeut u nti Si. Mo latei ster ng thotinbut e haar Isosevbe. Ounce ss whiiouwer, Ntto-ssha Wasionvir, ouos oul haca k nered andiouere. E wil, Trieal ad en."]

Only now does he turn and looks at Rabbit's face, his own black visage solemn.
[Language unknown: "Essro anfoas ntame peca Ndnios ounthuous icno?"]

Rabbit watches the points of light rise and fade out, wanting deeply to believe.[Language unknown: "Ti mo nafo enpehiil e ofer...lin adivme, artreaart t e ureproent n un whad sta menatipro ec Sanantpro p peloho ndonss: rut eepe icaeverea p it oreintest ousrutati rut pllin ecofca m, welanden, allorttra, ngnifian"] Rabbit swallows hard, gaze fixed firmly on the fire, then plunges on: [Language unknown: "acpr No pr houtraven...ngme ecame."]

Moses looks at Screaming Rabbit for a long time, the crackling of the fire the only sound around them.
[Language unknown: "Ec n hi a anylesare oun avelestic k he er, Strsomwasund Atisiv. Ntiatence whe areomepro mi nahamono rut ur icabe ort.]
He puts down his hand on the ground, next to Rabbit's foot, the skin of his little finger barely touching the skin of her little toe.
[Language unknown: "Mall tha mendayout be be hou ecllpl e hisun. Us aluril be diolwh. Erari lar Icacti essai."]
He withdraws his hand again and adds in English:
"With the Lord's help, Moses shall destroy that which is evil,
So that good may flourish.
And the Lord shall count thee among His favored sheep,
And you shall have the protection
Of all the angels in Heaven."

Rabbit says nothing for a while, though her breathing audibly becomes much easier once the promise is given. After a quick check to be sure none of the natives are paying heed she runs her fingers in an arc above her ear and leans lightly against the big man.

[Language unknown: "...po Comherhou uterlo ant m ha thuoerive stisa wisidi e weles] heathen [Language unknown: "waollend, K cklo it tr. U trngng st aisail eeeiin, si u il ustihe na ionlinles o weica nd t ha ectheroul p tho eners thooureveomeate conat."]

OOC:
Thunder Walker would only have looked to see that no one is interfering with Tan and Moses, knowing how xenophobic his people can be. Once that was clear, he would have retired with the others and found a tipi in which to sleep.

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 185):

The negro nods.
"If you would help Moses spread the truth of the Lord, Moses would appreciate that."

"I help, [Language unknown: romastble Ce ekread T ou laten Miitmiev trouustoni. Intyinone butarereaman traiv whho ckit at...ch ivhies."] There's quiet awhile, Rabbit sleepily watching the fire and enjoying the lack of expectation. A sense of possibilities stretching out into the dark all around.

At last Rabbit stirs herself before she falls asleep and hauls herself up, automatically giving Moses a bow of thanks. "Goodnight to Moses," Rabbit smiles, shy but genuine. "No dreams."

The little stray wanders off to find a lone warm place to sleep.

Moses remains awake a little more, staring into the flames, gathering his thoughts on what had happened in the last two days.

Wovoka, the prophet. Sister Belinda, still following what she thought were the teachings of Jesus. Yet she seemed to be touched by the Lord as well.

"You are putting all your eggs in this basket, don't you Lord?"
He asks the flames.
Moses furrows his brow. "So there are more?"
A log cracks as the only audible reply.
The negro nods. "Four Horsemen."
"But who serves War?"
Moses ponders that.
"You are testing your humble servant, Lord."
Sparks shoot up as another log cracks and Moses looks up in surprise.
"But, what about Wovoka?"
The sparks settle down, and the fire seems less bright than a moment ago.
"Yes, Lord. Of course."

And with that, Moses curls up next to the fire, quietly humming a hymn until he falls asleep.

This thread is now closed. Please resume posting on the Chapter 3.2: The Wicasa Council thread.