The old woman had to stop to rest. She had traveled some distance up the mountain, but the walk was difficult. Her legs hurt, and her heart was pounding so loud, it sounded to her ears, like the fast beat of the drum.

She was not well. No longer strong, no longer young, but old now. She found an old tree, a fallen brother, which once stood tall and proud and strong. Its roots held strong to the earth, its branches many; filled with beautiful leaves. The tree gave shelter to the birds and animals. Filled with the life of youth, as the old woman had been winters before, the tree gave strength and purpose to all that surrounded it.

But the once strong tree had fallen old and sick and now it lay on the earth, parts of it gone forever, but a part remained where an old woman could rest. She sat down, her body aching with pain. Her once youthful body, slender and beautiful, now heavy and aged.

She was tired and sad.

Although her spirit felt young - and her heart sang with the joys of life, she had reached a crossroad on her path and she felt that she had no choice now. The sadness in her heart from the betrayal of her husband, she could no longer bear.

Dark Elk was a good man. She loved him. He was a good hunter and provider. He worked hard and she always believed their life to be happy. She believed the contentment and happiness she felt, was shared by Dark Elk. But he was a quiet man and feelings were not spoken of often, between them. She loved him. She believed he loved her.

She had no reason to doubt his loyalty or trust. She would lay down her life for him. She knew he would do the same. It was a Sacred vow they had taken, before Great Spirit, their Chief and Elders, their family and their friends in the village where they lived.

Life was good but not easy. There was much hard work. There was the never-ending push by the whites who came and said the land belonged to them. There was hunger at times, and sometimes war. The whites brought sickness to the people. Many died.

But there was laughter and joy in the village, the sound of babies crying and children shouting as they played their children's games. The sound of the drum, the voices of the people singing, watching the sunrise as morning prayers were said. The gatherings - where the people feasted and laughed and told stories of days gone by, or funny things of life or of great hunts and victories in games and yes, in war.

The old woman, who was known as She Who Talks With the Animals, remembered all the good days of past winters, and smiled, despite her sadness, and pain. Remembering. A beautiful young woman, who caught the eye of a strong young warrior, of their love, new and growing. The passion they felt. Remembering the day they became one - one skin.

She Who Talks with Animals shifted her weight on the old tree and clutched her bundle close to her heart. She had all she needed. Her prayer pipe. Tobacco. Sweetgrass and flat cedar and some white sage acquired in a trade Dark Elk had made, four moons ago with a Pima.

There was a rustling sound in the dark woods that surrounded the old woman and a doe appeared, stopping and standing so still, until the old woman spoke to the doe, greeting her quietly. The doe's ears twitched and then she moved forward, closer to the old woman. She Who Talks with the Animals, did indeed talk to them - the four-leggeds, the winged ones, those that crawled or swam. The doe nuzzled the old woman as she sat on the tree and old woman smiled, the doe's gentle beauty bringing peace and comfort to her heart. The old woman reached out and touched the doe, the softness of its fur a gentle caress to the old woman's tired spirit.

"It is time for me to go." She Who Talks with Animals said in the quiet of the night to the doe. The old woman struggled to get up and the doe leaned toward her, offering its body to help the old woman stand up. The old woman stood up slowly and the doe made its special sound and looked at the old woman, a question in its eyes. "Yes, my friend, it is time." The old woman said.

The moon was full this night and now it had risen above the thick, tall trees on the mountain and the golden light illuminated the place in which the old woman and the doe stood. She Who Talks with Animals stared into the night sky and upon seeing the beauty of the moon, hot tears began to fall from her eyes. A full circle, as is life and the old woman cried at the sorrow she felt that her life had come full circle. It was time.

She continued her walk up the mountain. She knew where she was going.

She walked all night, the doe following close behind. She would stop to rest from time to time, but she knew she could not stop for too long.

The moonlight made it easier to walk along the rugged mountain trail. At least she could see well enough so that she would not fall as she walked over rock and fallen branches. She stumbled a few times now and then, but her determination was great. Sorrow her ally, as she struggled up the mountain.

Suddenly the doe was gone. Disappearing as silently and as quickly as when she had first appeared. The old woman found a flat rock, and she sat down and closed her eyes. Remembering.

She had gone to the river that day. She needed to immerse herself in the cool waters and knew it to be a private place. As she walked along the path leading to the river, she heard voices ahead and one she knew, it was Dark Elk. She stopped and listened. Laughter and the sound of a woman's voice. She Who Talks with Animals could not yet make out what was being said, but she knew the sounds to be happy ones and sounds once shared between her and Dark Elk.

She walked closer to the sounds, quiet. She heard splashing water and then found a place where she could see and not be seen. It was Dark Elk and a young woman in the village, Laughing Dove. They were like young lovers. She Who Talks with Animals felt her heart stop and she felt a rush of hot anger, followed by tremendous pain. She was shocked. How could she be such a fool? How could she not have seen this before?

She spent many hours with Laughing Dove - by the river, doing work in the village, at gatherings and at ceremonies. She had heard gossip by other women in the village. Many of the women did not like Laughing Dove. Some said she was too forward with the men of the village. But She Who Talks with Animals did not believe the women who spoke this way and she told them they were wrong. Laughing Dove was simply a young woman who loved all the people and showed it in a way some did not understand.

She looked at Dark Elk's face. His smile and how his eyes sparkled when he looked at Laughing Dove. Suddenly, Dark Elk reached out and pulled Laughing Dove toward him and kissed her on the lips. It was a long and hard kiss and his arms drew Laughing Dove tightly to his body. They looked as one skin. She Who Talks With Animals could not bear to watch any longer. She turned to run and in doing so, stepped on a branch that echoed its cracking sound to where Dark Elk and Laughing Dove stood together.

They both turned and Dark Elk saw her. The old woman ran as fast as she could, nearly falling in her haste to get away from the river and what she had seen, the pain to her heart giving her strength she thought she no longer had.

She returned to the village and hurried to their lodge, hoping no one would see her, but they did. The women followed behind her and entered the lodge that she and Dark Elk had shared for so many winters.

"I told you about that one!" said Strongwoman. "Do you think this is the first time Dark Elk has been with her?" "Be quiet Strongwoman!" demanded Morning Rain. "Is it true? She Who Talks With Animals asked. "Tell me if this is the truth." All the women nodded and the old woman could not hold back her tears. "How could he betray me this way? How could I be such a fool?" She Who Talks With Animals cried out in anger and hurt.

"It is how the men are." Strongwoman said. "That is not true." Morning Rain said. "Not all the men are this way. It is not right. You are one skin, Sister, she said, putting her arms around She Who Talks With Animals, "put him out of your lodge. He has done wrong and council will deal with him. The council will take care of both, for Laughing Dove will be punished, and Dark Elk will have to answer to the council for his shaming of his wife of many, many winters. A good wife."

"I will not put him out of this lodge." She Who Talks With Animals said. "I will leave. I cannot remain here. I cannot face all who have known about this, for I am too shamed." "Now that is foolish talk." Strongwoman said. The other women huddled around She Who Talks With Animals, not knowing what to say, and knowing it to be wiser to let Strongwoman and Morning Rain do the talking.

The women stayed some time with She Who Talks With Animals, then left the lodge when one of the younger women saw Dark Elk returning to the village. Laughing Dove was no where to be seen.

Dark Elk entered the lodge in which they had shared so many winters together. He said nothing. He was angry - his anger filled the place that had been their home together. She Who Talks With Animals did not want him to see her tears. But she knew that he knew she had been crying. He knew her well. "I saw you." She Who Talks With Animals said. "You saw nothing!" Dark Elk responded angrily. "You are lying Dark Elk. I know what I saw. I may be old and not young and beautiful anymore like Laughing Dove, but I can still see!" "Shut up woman." he said angrily.

She Who Talks with Animals had never seen this Dark Elk before. Not in this way. She had seen his anger over the years, but never had she felt this cold anger that he directed toward her, as if she had done something wrong. "You have shamed me." The old woman said. "You have shamed us both." Dark Elk said nothing. He angrily left the lodge, without saying anymore.

He did not return. So shortly before night fell, She Who Talks With Animals gathered up her bundle and began her journey up the mountain. She could no longer remain in the village. She had been shamed and Dark Elk no longer wanted her. He wanted a young and beautiful woman and Laughing Dove was willing.