#elsewhere

She glances over at Thistle "Did you manage to find good sources for rare clays and materials that were willing to ship to you?"

"I got greenware."

"Nice" She says "Remind me what that is again?"

"Unfired pottery."

"It's very delicate, but the elder trusts me to do the last step."

"Want me to drive then? I take it it less bumpy"

"I'm a good driver."

"Yes, but I'm a more cautious one" She counters

Snort. "Granny."

"Respect your elders, young lady" Gwen counters by using a warbly old voice

"My disrespect is a superpower."

Okay, Gwen breaks into a snort of her own at that , "Okay, that was a good line...darn it"

GRIN.

"Enjoy your victory and the keys while it lasts"

"Oh, I shall."

"Hear that, Ivan? She was this delilcate wallflower when she fledged, Now, nothing but sass, how sharper than a serpent's tooth" She says to her dog

Ivan snorts!

She chuckles.

"You're right, she always had sass" She pets her dog "I'm glad you guys liked the powwow"

"This was a good adventure."

"For me, if it helps mom, it will be the best" She admits "Fingers crossed"

"Oh, it's gonna."

A smile at that "Yeah, the lady who gave it to us is a straight shooter"

"I... that part is kinda fuzzy?"

"I was there and it still feels wild. It was sacred to me" She admits

"I don't know why I conked out, exactly. Magic?"

"Medicine, yes. Try not to take it personally though" she says "You helped even when you were out"

A single plumed eyebrow arches.

"Hard to explain, but it's true" She assures

"If you say so."

"Well, I don't want you to get a swelled head either" She smiles a bit, then curious "Did you dream while you were out?"

"Nothing I remember."

"mmm" She says then says "I met White Buffalo Calf Woman, or an aspect of her. "

"I don't know that legend. I'd heard of Coyote, and some stories there, but I don't know a lot of native american stories, not really."

"Okay. a real story teller could do it more justice, but before my grandmother's Grandmother's Grandmother's grandmother's time.. a great starvation had befell the Lakota. Desperate, the Chief sent out two promising hunters into the wilds, some say of the sacred lands, to find game. For many moons, the hunters traveled... then they beheld a white cloud in the distance. Then, from the cloud, they saw a woman. She was lovely beyond words, adorned in white buckskin. Her hair was dark and long , her eyes shined like black glass.... "

"So, like, a legit goddess."

"One of the One of the hunters, I do not know the name for it became an unlucky name after this happened, was filled with lust for the woman. He approached her, telling his companion he would attempt to claim her as a wife. His companion warned him that she appeared to be a sacred woman, and to do anything sacrilegious would be dangerous and disrespectful, but his advice was ignored." Gwen nods at the question "Close to it yeah. Beloved by the Universe to say the least"

"Anyway," She speeds the story up, "The first guy, let's call him 'horny idiot' tries to 'embrace' her, which sounds like a grope attempt to me. The second hunter witnessed as the cloud embraced both the sacred woman and H.I. When the cloud parted, the woman had returned, but all that returned to the Earth with them were the bones of the first hunter. Some say as white and clean as if the meat had been boiled off of them. The second hunter freaks, draws his bow, scared and sure he's about to die. But this woman in white buckskin spoke, and told him that she had seen into his heart, and knew he was not as the first hunter. And she had words to pass onto this good man. She spoke Lakota, and he decided to trust her."

"The woman explained that she was wakȟáŋ," Gladiola tries to think what that means , the best translation "Closest word would be Holy... Holy with power. She had lessons for the Lakota, the plight of the Lakota had moved her heart, and he needed to listen and pass on her words to have the tribe ready for her teadchings. The Scout was moved at this kindness, and gave the most sacred Oath to bring the message to his people. We are talking MAJOR Oathage, and you know how that is. They bound even mortals back then. The scout returned, and called the Council... and White Buffalo calf woman was allowed among them. Invited... and while this gave her terrible power over them, or could have, instead she taught them the seven sacred ceremonies that healed the land, cleared the famine, and have served the Lakota ever since."

"In some stories, the second hunter, the GOOD man, became a great chief himself," Gwen smiles "I'd like to think he did. Anyway, to the Lakota, White Buffalo Calf Woman is a savior figure. She didn't have to help, but she did." A tilt of her head to see if her friend fell asleep

"Good thing she was a good guy, yeah."

"Oh yes, inviting spirits into your circle is tricky stuff." Gladiola nods "I hope I got the story right." A beat "Okay, now don't get a swelled head about this? But Coyote helped sway her to help my mom. And here I thought you guys were nuts for picking him."

"Coyote is clever."

"Yeah, but his greatest trick is making other thinks they can be cleverer than he, " Gwen's got a tone of warning

and, yes , concern

"What?"

"Just worried you or Art might learn that lesson the hard way. Just... I know you're brilliant but be careful if he comes into your life again?"

Then she adds "I guess I get nervous around tricksters. Sorry if I'm being a worry wart"

"Well, pretty sure he had his fun."

"I'm not that interesting."