She dreamed of the tall one again. The color of his coat remained with her when she awoke. Blue as the sky before the night has eyes. She wondered if he was the one who would free her from her terrible bondage. Gray Cloud had made her his creature on the day of her naming. He had seen her two color hair and known what she could become. The leather strap on her wrist made her a spirit between worlds. In the air she felt such glorious freedom, and yet she must always return to her master and the boundaries of Mother Earth. As such a creature, she would never know the touch of a man or the joy of her own child.

She was to find the camp of the soldiers, watch them and bring back what she has seen to the shaman. He had always used her thus. It was through her eyes he was able to foretell the unknown. Fire Crow was a great and wise chief, but he was respectful of his shaman’s visions. Though Wind Dancer was kept secluded from the daily life in her village, she was aware of the unrest among the elders. There had been much talk over many lit pipes. The chief wanted peace. She knew the shaman did not.

She gathered her spirit coat and slipped into the forest. The change was never easy and a safe and quiet place was needed, for she would return exhausted. The soldiers were camped in the valley below. She soared high above and let the wind carry her toward a lone figure standing on the hill. She swooped low on the current and called out. He saw her, smiled and reached out to her. It was as if....

The shaman roughly shook her and demanded her vision. Wind Dancer swayed and opened her eyes. Again, she was bound to the earth, and in Gray Cloud’s touch, she now sensed evil.

She was at her master’s side when the tall one, known as Captain Wilde, led his small troop into her village. He was respectful of her chief and she saw kindness as well as courage in him. She felt his gaze upon her often when they were near. Once, in her tongue, he asked her name. Her reply was cut off when Gray Cloud angrily pulled her away.

As the soldiers were departing, she quickly made her way through the trees to the Captain. Beckoning him near, she reached into her medicine bag and removed a crystal pendant on a narrow cord. He stepped close and she felt a strange warmth in her skin and could barely draw breath. He started to speak but she placed a silencing hand on his face and hung the crystal about his neck. When she closed her hand over his, the laces on her wrist were a piercing reminder of what she really was. All she could manage were the words, “devil wind.” Then she slipped away.

That evening, she again circled the soldier’s camp. As the wind carried her away with the last rays of the sun, her lonely cry echoed across the valley.

When, on the following morning, Gray Cloud departed the village alone, she knew with certainty her master’s intentions. She knew she must act quickly. Searching the valley below, she spied the Captain and his men on the trail into the forest. Suddenly they halted. Knowing in her heart what would follow, she streaked from the sky. The arrow was loose and in a heartbeat, Wind Dancer flew into its path. At the last moment a breath of wind lifted her and she felt the arrow slice across the binding spirit strap and cut it free before it struck the Captain in the chest. With an anguished cry of failure, she fell from the sky. With her remaining strength, she managed to reach him as he fell from his horse. In a daze, she realized what had happened. The arrow had struck the crystal and lay broken on the ground. She soothed and stroked his face as he struggled to sit up.

As he reached for her bloody wrist, Grey Cloud was dragged from the forest. The shaman appeared unharmed. But the soldiers had not handled him gently. The Captain instructed his men to release Gray Cloud and let him return to his people in shame.

The shaman snarled at Wind Dancer and beckoned her to him. She stood, shook her head and held out her wrist. She was finally free from his power. Gray Cloud winced when he saw the broken leather straps and seemed a much smaller man as he departed.

Wind Dancer melted against the Captain as he gathered her in his arms and placed her behind him in the saddle. As she rested her head against his back, she knew would find a way to answer his questions. The journey would be long. There would be all the time in the world.

As she looked back, toward her past, the wind was dancing on the trail.

The Costume - was crafted entirely of soft natural suede. The skirt, top, boots and spirit coat were self fringed and fasten with suede lacing. The boots lace up the sides. All fringe was cut from the suede, not added. All un-fringed leather edges were blanket stitched. The coat is removable and closes in the back with suede laces.

The Accessories - her beaded medicine bag contains two small leather drawstring bags, one for herbs and one for beads, a small leather handled knife, rawhide laces and a natural crystal. A wooden arrow with hand carved arrow head attached with wrapped thread to simulate sinew and natural trimmed flight feathers. All beading on the costume, accessories, hair and jewelry was done by the artist using handcrafted silver metal conch ornaments, twisted silver wire ornaments, tiny turquoise, black and burgundy glass beads, delicate little feathers and teeny silver bugle beads. Authentic porcupine quills were used to simulate bone.

Wind Dancer - has been completely repainted. She has golden flecked brown eyes, shadowed in soft charcoal, feathered dark brows, beautifully shaded russet lips and a natural manicure. I have added rooted black hair around her hairline and in the crown area, then braided the front and top layer in the back.

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