This is my first shot at FF. No Beta so forgive any errors.

CHAPTER 1

She climbed the small steps neatly carved into the side of the rock wall. The steps were gentle and curved slightly around with crude wooden hand-holds at intervals. As she rounded the top step, she never failed to take a breath in at the sight. If the view from the mesa where she took her trail riding group was magnificent this view made it pale in comparison. There, on top of the red rock precipice was a small cabin, partially built into the side of the rock face which comprised the back wall of the cabin. This was the south-facing wall, so the house was sheltered from the worst of the sun. There was a flat plain in the front of the cabin with the native plants that had taken root in the eroded red sand there. The edge of the mesa tumbled precipitously on one side, upon which Quinn had placed a rough fence and planted some bushes to fill in the gaps. The other side sloped gently down into another spectacular crimson colored canyon with a natural hollow that collected water from a nearby stream. A small trail led down the slope to the pool. On one side of the pool was a sheer face of rock, but the near side had some wonderful flat rocks to lay upon.

While she lived at the ranch, this place was her heart and soul. It was sparsely but warmly appointed. The walls were rough hewn, each log personally cut down and formed by her hand. The space between them filled with a natural adobe type mixture of sand and creosote she extracted from the native plants. She had learned many skills from her Lakota family members and combined that knowledge with modern ideas to make this place. This included using solar energy in passive means as well as solar panels for power. The fireplace was hand built using smooth round rocks from the nearby river. It stood against the rock face back wall of the cabin. It served two purposes as it made it safer from potential fire damage and as the fire burned the rock face radiated heat through the cabin, making it warmer on the coldest nights. She was able to divert the stream that fed the pool for her water needs. She used a storage tank and pump system run by the solar energy and partially heated by the passive solar means to provide hot water as well as cold.

It had taken 9 years, but bit by bit, Quinn had crafted this cabin wholly with her own hands. Although the cabin was just one great room and a loft, it was naturally divided by its furnishings. The kitchen was to the left of the door when you entered the cabin. The whole front wall was windows with the sink and workspace looking out. To the right of the entry, was a staircase that led to the loft. It was here that Quinn had her bedroom. As in everything else, Quinn made great use of the natural surroundings. The head of the bed was against inner the loft wall, with bookcases on either side and open areas flanking them. On the rock face wall side, a small Mexican clay fire stove stood, to add warmth and ambiance to this area. Directly opposite the bed, was a large round window that looked out to the western sky. A skylight encompassed the area directly over the bed. The rest of the downstairs was taken up with the "living quarters". The furniture was rough hewn as well, matching the logs of the walls. There were cushions that were well stuffed and covered with hide for a natural but comfortable feel. A couch and large chair stood before the fireplace. A beautifully woven native rug covered the wooden floor in front of that area. A large mirror hung above the mantel, reflecting the light from the windows in front of the house. It gave an effect of illumination in spite of the lack of windows on the rock face wall.

A few bits of Quinn's personal life surrounded her in this space. An old pair of spurs hung on one wall. A Native American Mandela with eagle feathers adorned another wall. A brown tinted photo of a Native American woman was framed in birch branches. As Quinn looked at the photo, her mind passed back in time.

Quinn looked very much as beautiful as her mother, but you could definitely see the influence of her Caucasian genes. Sandy hair with blonde streaks from long days in the sun framed her angular face and gentle hazel eyes which had the world in them. Her father was a young white man that had gone against the local custom and courted her mother as a teenager. Her mother loved this man and soon found herself pregnant by him. They were planning what they could do to overcome the tribal as well as white-man's prejudices and be married, but a tragedy occurred and he was killed in a hunting accident. Due to her young age and lack of medical care on the reservation, her mother died giving birth to Quinn. Her dying wish was that she would be named after her father. She was raised by her maternal grandmother on the reservation. As a half breed she was shunned by many and had to fight for everything growing up. Quinn, whose Lakota name was Running Wolf, was not the typical Native girl and she often rebelled which caused her even more problems in her formative years. As such, she found solace in the animals and spent a great deal of time with them on the reservation. She often spent days away from her home, even at a young age, and grew strong and brave beyond her years.

Quinn's grandmother, Standing Elk, was the tribe's Medicine Woman. In that capacity, it was she who performed the ceremony welcoming the young girls of the tribe to womanhood. When she reached the time of her menses, Quinn was to participate in this ceremony. Although she loved her grandmother, she did not want to go through with this. She reluctantly did so, not knowing that the course of her life was to take a great turn as she changed from child to woman.

As the ceremony progressed, the participants, who were the elder women of the tribe, brought the initiated one to the sweat lodge. There, in the midst of the heat and the herbal smoke, Standing Elk invoked the Spirits of the ancestors, the animal totems, the Spirits of all the natural elements and Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit, to give her a vision to help the new woman on her path. With the women chanting and drums beating, the intensity of the moment escalated. What her grandmother saw was unlike anything she had seen before. Standing Elk's eyes grew wide and her chanting came to a fevered pitch as the vision played out before her. She screamed once and then passed out in the Lodge.

The women immediately became silent and Quinn looked around for someone to do something. No one moved, so she went to her Grandmother's side and picked her up and carried her out of the Sweat Lodge and brought her to their home. She got some cool water and wiped her grandmother's face with a wet cloth and finally Standing Elk responded. Her eyes fluttered and slowly she recognized where she was. She reached out her hand and caressed Quinn's cheek.

"My child, do not fear, for you are blessed."

"Grandmother, are you alright?"

"My child, I have been honored tonight with a vision from Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit.

"What is it you saw Grandmother?" The young Quinn questioned.

Standing Elk motioned to Quinn to help her sit up. "We must call the tribal council."

News of the strange event rolled through the reservation like thunder, and soon, not only the elders of the council were gathered, but most of the rest of the tribe loitered around outside the council building waiting to hear what had transpired. Standing Elk stood before the Council, her eyes meeting the Chief of the tribe.

"My sister," began Iron Hawk, " We heard that a great vision was given to you by Wakan Tanka."

"That is true." Standing Elk replied and looked heavenward. "One amongst us who has been persecuted for her differences has been exulted by the Great Spirit. My granddaughter, Running Wolf is blessed this day by Wakan Tanka. My vision started in a haze of smoke. Thunder and Lightning pierced through this smoke and walking out of this cloud was my granddaughter, grown, tall and strong. She was dressed as a warrior, her presence, commanding. The animals of the hills and forests formed a corridor and bowed their heads as she walked by. Men and women also lined up, of every race, and bowed their heads in respect of her. At the end of the column, one woman waited. A Waisichu….a white woman with chestnut hair…her hand outstretched…her eyes looking directly at my granddaughter. She was the only one to look at her. The only one to tame her Spirit. As my granddaughter came to her…their hands met…and a blinding Light radiated around them. A voice like thunder spoke and said. 'Beloved children….you travel a long and hard road. But your hearts are pure. You will find each other….and in this Love, your strengths will be illuminated. You will take each other from the darkness into the Light. Go now….and you will understand this in its time.'"

As Standing Elk stopped talking, murmurs drew up from the council members. Quinn looked around, amazed at the vision her grandmother just described and not quite knowing what to make of it.

"Silence" shouted Iron Hawk, and with that everyone stopped talking. "Standing Elk, take your granddaughter outside while the council members speak of this vision.

Quinn took her grandmother around the shoulders and led her out. As they moved through the door, the throng milling about came over and surrounded them, wanting to know what happened.

"Leave us be. The Council is discussing the situation. Nothing will be revealed until their words are spoken." And with that Standing Elk pointed to Quinn. "Child, let's sit over there and wait." They found a place on a log near a water trough opposite the building.

"Grandmother, do you know what it means?"

"Child….I am given the vision but it is for the Tribal Council to interpret the signs. The meaning remains in my heart without a voice to speak it." And with that Standing Elk just looked into the crystal blue sky, framing the land which stretched widely around them, and began murmuring prayers. Quinn saw her grandmother strike this pose before and knew she should say no more.

After what seemed an eternity, a commotion came forth from the building. A messenger stood before them and summoned them back into the Council. Standing Elk, stood up and pulled Quinn before her.

"Running Wolf, my child, this day you will belong to no one, not even me. Your destiny is sealed", and with that she turned and walked towards the building. Quinn followed behind her grandmother, wondering what would happen. They stepped into the Council and stood before them once again.

"Running Wolf", he commanded. "Come here to me".

Although frightened, Quinn would never show it and she walked bravely to stand in front of the Chief, eyes looking to the ground, as was the custom.

"Child, look at me". The Iron Hawk proclaimed.

Slowly, Quinn lifted her face until her eyes pierced his with their gaze. The Chief, taken back by the power behind those eyes, startled for a moment, and then quickly regained composure. Smiling, the Chief stood up and walked over to Quinn.

"This day, a vision has been revealed to us. Through no fault of her own, Running Wolf has withstood the consequences of her birth situation. This is clear in the vision, by the clouds of smoke, and the thunder and Lightning. But through her will and bravery, and by being a warrior of her own design, she has overcome these difficulties. Walking proudly from the smoke, she has the respect of all living things. It is time she has it here from her people. She is clearly blessed by the Spirits with a destiny to fulfill. Therefore, from now on, she is to be accepted into the ranks of the warriors, and will be trained as such even though she is a female. She will be her own person, beholden to no one. She will no longer be shunned by any one of our people, and if she is, they will answer to the Council for their actions. In addition, it is clear that Running Wolf has a purpose that lies outside of this reservation. As such, she will be offered the opportunity to be educated in the White Man's world. When she is of age, the tribe will support the schooling of her choice. The Council has spoken."

And with that, the Chief filed out of the door, followed by the rest of the Council elders. Quinn looked at her grandmother, who averted her eyes. She ran over to her and said "Grandmother, why do you not look at me?"

"Running Wolf, you are a warrior now, and it is not my place to look into your eyes. There is only one now, whose eyes you seek, and who will be the mirror you need. I will see that your things are moved into your new quarters."

Quinn returned from the memories that played through her mind as she looked at her things. Thinking of the thunder and smoke, she mused "I wonder if I'll ever understand what it all means?"

She finished the things she had to do around the cabin and happy with the results, she headed back down to the ranch.