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American Life

Great Buffalo looked where Crow looked and he saw what Crow saw. Wolf was there watching. Great Buffalo felt the past crash into the present. Oh, how his heart jumped for a joy, he had felt so long ago, when last here with his father.

The first time Young Buck saw the wolf was much farther up the mountain. One was suddenly in front of he and his father, blocking the path, some distance away. The buffalos stopped, staring. A motion here, another there, one-by-one, others of the wolf pack showed themselves.

His father had called out, "I have someone in need of learning. I have searched out the Teacher, the one known as Wolf. My son must take my place and needs to learn what Wolf can teach."

From beside them came a soft voice, "And, what can Wolf teach?"

The Old Buffalo replied, "How to live in a family and yet remain independent. How to lead through leadership. How to teach."

Crow had now gotten on top of Great Buffalo's head and its little feet twisting in his thick fur was tickling. It was fear, of course, and Great Buffalo remembered that day with the wolf pack and the feeling he had felt, which his father later called "fear". Great Buffalo knew what Crow was feeling. But, Great Buffalo was not feeling fear.

From out of the dark came a voice, "That you Young Buck?"

The buffalo called back, "That you Dog?"

Crow and Great Buffalo watched the wolf move closer, out of the shadows, into the moonlight.

"That's Crow. He got scared and hid in my fur. I wish he would get himself out, as he is tickling me big time."

"If you want, Wolf said slyly, "I will rid you of the pest." He continued coming closer and Crow was virtually digging a hole in Great Buffalo's head.

Great Buffalo studied Wolf's eyes, trying to see if Dog was still the kind, loving, friend he had once been. He had been just a pup, still living with four brothers and sisters and both parents. Young Buck and his father had stayed with the wolf pack for most of the summer. The wolf called Dog had become Young Buck's best friend. Dog's father Boss had been a teacher to them both, that long gone summer.

"Crow," said a soft spoken Wolf, "Be still. I will help you both. Buck, put your head down here."

Great Buffalo put his head down with a screeching bird on it. Wolf's large and gentle and wet tongue came out and began pushing down the buffalo's thick fur. Gently, slowly, Wolf freed Crow. By the time the last strand of buffalo fur was gone, and he was free, Crow trusted Wolf. Great Buffalo, like Young Buck before him, had never not trusted Wolf called Dog.