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                                                     The Great Bear Story

There was a Bear on the Land, that was know as the Great Bear.. For he had all the Earth Mother to rain on.. And he slept where ever he wanted and when ever he wanted...He walked the Sacred Circle of the Creator.. As all do.. But his closeness was vast...

One day, the Great bear walked towards a Village...as he did, some of the Women and children saw him and cried out saying, "The Great Bear is coming".. And the Warriors gathered there Bows, Spears and knives.. They went towards the Great Bear to stop him

As the Bear entered the Village, the Eldest of the Elders came out of his lodge and he was where the bear came to stop.. The Elder turned and stood in front of the Great Bear.. And when the Bear saw him.. He stopped as well...The Bear roared out to the Elder and everyone stopped some way behind him.. They all Listened...And it was then that they all could hear the Bear and the Elder..

They could not hear every word the elder was speaking, but they could hear the bear every once and a while grunt or growl...Then, The Elder motioned to the Village and all around and then they could hear the Elder say.. "And that is all I have to say".. The Bear roared and moaned and then licked the elders hand then rubbed him and turned and walked away...

Everyone was astonished to what they just witnessed.. And in that moment, the elder turned and walked back to his lodge and sat outside by his fire...And Smiled...

All of the people(Human Beings)..Went to his lodge and when they all gathered around the elder, one warrior spoke and said...

Why didn’t the Bear harm you...?...The Elder said...It was his time to talk with me.. and it was mine to talk with him.. And the elder stopped and smiled...Then The head(so to speak) Warrior asked..."What did you talk to the Bear about..?...The Elder again smiled and said.. "We talked of Life and Death"...The Warrior was puzzled by that answer and said...What was the Bear saying..?.. Again.. The Elder said.. It was something simple.. Didn’t you hear him?..

The warrior again said.. How did you understand him..?...The Elder again said. How is it that you didn't understand him.. And smiled again... Everyone was chattering and a young brave came up to the front of the people and asked.. If you can hear and understand the great Bear.. Can you teach me..??.. The Elder said...I can not teach you this.. for you already know how to speak to the creatures of the Creator....then Smiled again.. knowing there would be another question...and there was..

The warrior spoke again saying...You are but an Old man.. You could not have understood the Bear...with that everyone left the Lodge but the young brave...And now, the Story gets to this as well.. The Elder looked up and said...I see you stayed, I knew you would.. It was told to me when I was young.. The brave looked at the elder with amazement..

The elder then said.....4Come into my Lodge.. We must talk.. And Learn.. It is time Now.. The brave went in after the elder and sat down where the Old one motioned..

Directly across from the elder with a small fire.......The elder was busy moving things around and picked up his Pipe and said...We need to smoke for a while.. This is how it needs to be now.. The young one said have never smoked the pipe yet.. The elder said know.. It is now the right time.. You are a teacher..

The brave thought.. Teacher.. then said to the elder.. I am but a boy, and not proven in battle.. How can I teach...The elder smiled and said...You have been a teacher since time began...All you need to do now...Is listen...The brave was puzzled, but gave the respect to the elder and Listened..

As time and many pipes were smoked, the Elder spoke and said...It is time now, for you to walk the Earth Mother, and Get to know all of the Creatures that walk the Earth and in the Sky as well.. All that is.. and perhaps.. What will be...The Brave knew this day would come.. But he said.. Are you sure I am ready.. I don't know all the Warring ways or most of what I need to know to Live.. I am a boy... The Elder smiled, and said...You are ready...? The young Brave said, Yes.. I am ready..

So the Elder spoke to the Young Boy Brave and prepared him for his Journey...And as the two walked out of the elders lodge, the Elder said...You must understand.. This is your Destiny.. You must make the way.. He gave the brave a knife and said.. this is all that you need...

The Brave was almost tear eyed and held them back, and thanked the elder and left the village to his Journey....And what a Journey it is to be.. As he was almost out of the range of the Village, he could hear the Elder say...Seek the Light of the Forest.. It will teach you ...And the young one turned and went into the forest...He walked many ridges.. He slept many different places.. But he could not find the Light of the Forest...He looked everywhere.. He was becoming sad from not finding it...

One night, after he ate what he caught, he cleaned up and laid on the Ground and used a thin log for his head.. He went to sleep and dreamed......

While he was asleep, he began to dream.. His Journey was beautiful and in his Dream, something woke him up.. He woke up startled and drew his knife out and the was nothing there...Even the insects were quite.. It scared him.. Really bad...He was breathing fast and his eyes wide opened... Still nothing he could hear but his breathing and his heart that felt like it was in his head..... Then.. He could hear in the Distance, a cricket, then other insects and then in front of him from a distance, the Forest began so softly become lightened...It was below the tops of the trees...No fire made it.. It was just there...Then Peace came to him, and he smiled...I have found it.. And slowly began to walk to the Light of the Forest ...Each step becoming easier and easier.. As he got to the beginning of the lightened forest.. He could hear all the insects.. Then he could see Deer.. They were laying around and some were feeding he walked into the Light further...He cam up along a Rabbit...And to his astonishment, the rabbit said.. Hi Young Brave.. How are you this Night.. And the young one was very surprised and then said.. Fine and you..? Then the rabbit said.. Lots of food and they talked for a while.. Then the young one walked further into the Light of the Forest..

 

One thing he noticed.. Was that the Light was not bright as to hurting his eyes

And all the animals there were not frightened by him.. He thought this strange, but still, it felt right for some reason...And he walked further.. He came upon a tree that had no branches...And on the top of the Tree...Was the Grand Eagle.. The master of the Sky...And when he saw the eagle.. He looked and smiled and the eagle came down and sat in front of the young one on a limb that was on the ground and said...Young Brave.. Please sit and we shall talk..

Then the Eagle said to the boy.. Come, fly with me....The boy said, I don't have wings. I can not.. The Eagle giggled and said...Come.. You can fly on the wind of my Wing... So the young one stood up and the Eagle broke into flight and the boy walked upon the wing and was propelled into the Sky above the Eagle...He thought.. So this is what the Eagle feels... And it was wonderful.. The boy was very much at peace

During the Flight.. The Eagle told him...Look into the Past behind us.. Look deeply.. And see it...As the young one did.. All things since time began.. He could see...And it was wonderful and yet sad.. As he looked towards the front of the Eagle, the Eagle said, Now look into the Future.. And see the Wonders...The Brave looked.... And..

He saw so much.. So many things he thought was not possible and when he was getting into it deep the eagle said.. Stop seeing the future now and see the Present...

So the Boy looked down and could see his village and many other villages and tribes.. all over Mother Earth.. So many people... He saw this and asked the Eagle...May I look into the future now...The Eagle said.. You have seen much.. But there too is great sadness ...And said then.. Look, look into the future.. Remember.. It is important..

So the young one did look...And sad was it to be....So sad.. So much death...He could feel the Tears on his cheek and the Eagle said.. We will return you to the Light of the Forest.. You have learned all you need to for now...The boy said.. OK.. I am tired...

So the Eagle returned him to the Light of the Forest.. And now it was bigger.. He could see his bedroll and fire.. He went to it and drank some water from the creek next to his camp and laid down and thought as he fell asleep...

It was in this deep sleep that he flew with the Eagle again.. Many Journeys...So many there was...The next day.. He awoke and gathered his things and walked back towards his village...For some strange reason.. He was walking faster, but as normal as he thought he was...He saw his Village and was happy to return....

As he walked up towards the Elders lodge, there was something different about it...Strange... But the same.. And an Old man was sitting with his back towards him and the young one said.. I did learn Old One.. That was then that the old one turned and saw him and asked...Who are you..?.. The boy realized that it was someone else.. He knew him, but it was not the Elder that sent him onto this Journey.. He asked.. What happened to the Elder that spoke to the Great Bear a little while back..

The Elder then looked scared and said.. That was many winters ago...Many.. I was but a young Warrior.. The young one said.. Where is my family...And with that, the elder smiled know you...I know who you are.. Come with me, I will take you to your family...SO he and the elder walked..

 

As they came upon a lodge, the boy recognized it and said, this is my home...Thanked the elder and went into the lodge saying.. mother!!.. Father!!.. And as his eyes became accustomed to the light.. He saw an Old Woman and Old Man.. Both Proud... He Looked deeply into there faces, and it was his mother and father and before he could say a word.. The woman spoke and said...I knew you would come back to us.. The Elder told us this when you were born...The father said.. It is good to know you have learned and grown...By this time the boy was worried.. and said.. I know you are my parents, but why have you grown so old.. I haven’t..!!.. The Warrior father said...Come with me to the River.. I have something for you to see...

So they walked and the boy reached down and gathered some water and drank.. And as he saw the water in the river begin to smooth.. He saw himself...He was much Older.. So much older.. His face was strong and yet smooth...He sat up and looked to his father and said...How long have I been Gone..??.. The Father spoke and said.. You have been gone 20 winters.. We knew you would be back, for the Great Elder and the Great Bear told us...

The young man that he is now.. was sort of puzzled and said.. Great Elder??.. Great Bear..??.. I remember the Bear, but the Elder was the eldest in the tribe.. Where is he..? His father said.. He passed that very winter you left.. He said you would be OK and will return to us in 20 Winters.. We had nothing else but to trust what he said.. For he had much Wisdom...And see.. You did return...The Young one Smiled and hugged his father and Mother and it was all good, but....:)

As he walked back with his father, his father said.. This Lodge next to ours is yours.. The Elder had us move his Lodge here and left some things for you...The young one Smile and entered the Lodge alone.. As he looked around, he could see some things that he saw in his Journey.. He found a bunch of hides rolled up and opened the first one, and it showed of a young one on a Journey.. Then the young man with Tears on his face.. He said softly.. Yes Great Elder, It is as you Said.. A good Journey.. And yes.. I have Learned...

This is but the Long Version in short form.. The Story is Richer than it appears.

 

Retold by

Walking Wolf

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