The Story of Cloud Foot, Falling Leaf, and Weeping Creek

Once there lived a tribe in a valley, not far away from a place called HorsePens. This tribe was led by a brave and cunning warrior by the name of Weeping Creek. Weeping Creek was concerned about the well being of his tribe and went to consult the Reader of the Sky to see how successful the next harvest would be in the coming season. The Reader cast her eyes upon the deepest pool in the river and watched the moon's reflection rise and fall. The Reader of the Sky saw great famine in the land and civil war among the elders but there was one solution to the coming crisis. Weeping Creek watched the Reader for many days until the moon returned to the land and the oracle told of the necessity for war. The oracle advised Weeping Creek to gather his warriors and lay siege to the rocks of Horse Pens for the Gods would look upon the act favorably and prevent any harm befalling the tribe. Unfortunately, the rocks of Horse Pens were controlled by a fierce tribe under the leadership of Falling Leaf, a brave and bloodthirsty warrior. Weeping Creek was concerned and being the careful leader he was, he decided to capture a deer and paint himself and his fellow warriors with the blood directly from the deer's heart in order to help the Gods recognize his tribe in the heat of battle. Weeping Creek and his tribe traveled in the dark of night until the sun rose upon rocks of Horse Pens and there the battle began. Both sides fought with valour and on quiet feet but Weeping Creek began to notice that his warriors were beginning to fall and his bravest fighters were showing signs of injury. Before Weeping Creek could begin to doubt the gods he became overwhelmed with an idea. Weeping Creek knew Falling Leaf's tribe kept their horses locked in a wooded pen on the far side of the rocks so he quickly ran to the area with the younger warriors, released the horses and then scared them into the battle. Within this herd of horses was Falling Leaf's favorite horse, Cloud Foot. Cloud Foot was very much like a brother to Falling Leaf and was a gift to him from the Great Father himself. But with the heat of battle burning and the horses running through the lines of fire, Falling Leaf was unable to fight with all of his force because of his love for Cloud Foot and to Falling Leaf's dismay, Cloud Foot was fatally wounded by an arrow before his eyes. Falling Leaf was forced to have mercy on his brother Cloud Foot. Falling Leaf was so emotionally wounded by killing his beloved friend that at that moment, Falling Leaf took his own life by impelling himself on the handle of his own tomahawk. Weeping Creek's campaign was successful and the harvest was one of unknown bounty but few members of his tribe dare enter the Rocks of Horse Pens around the new moon because of the spirits of Falling Leaf and Cloud Foot that still roam there. To this day you can still hear the war call of Falling Leaf and the hoof falls of the great horse Cloud Foot.