The Roar of the Falls: My Journey with Kaya

Despite Kaya’s instructions, I can’t hold still. I turn and run down the path. The bear growls, drops to all fours, and begins to chase me. I see a small tree ahead. With a running leap, I grab a branch and heave myself up. I pull my legs up higher as the bear swipes at me.

Suddenly I think of Kaya. When I ran, I left her alone. Will the bear turn to attack her? I hear yelling behind me, and I turn to see Kaya waving her arms and shrieking to distract the bear. But won’t it lunge at her instead?

The bear takes one more swipe at me before dropping to all fours. He seems bored. With my heart pounding, I climb down from the tree and make my way back to Kaya. Tears run down my face as I apologize. I only thought of myself, and yet Kaya has rescued me for a second time! Kaya puts her arm around me. We should get back to camp.

Despite her kind words, I can see she is upset by my actions. We find the juniper and hurry back to camp.

When we enter the tepee, Little Branch’s face is still red and flushed with fever. Bear Blanket takes the juniper and dunks it in a basket of hot water. Rushing Brook watches her daughter with fear in her eyes. We wait for the medicine to cool, and it’s agony for us to see Little Branch in pain while we wait. Only Bear Blanket is calm.

After several minutes, Bear Blanket tips small sips of tea into the baby’s mouth. Drop by drop, the baby swallows the tea. She instructs Rushing Brook to take the baby into the wind to cool her down.

When they leave the tepee, I realize how exhausted I am. This day feels like it has gone on forever. I lay down on the deerskin and I close my weary eyes. But I can’t rest because I’m still thinking about what happened with the bear. I wish I hadn’t run and let my friend down. But coming face-to-face with that bear was really scary. We were in serious danger. Maybe it’s time for me to go home.

After an hour of tossing and turning, I climb out of the tepee. When I ask how Little Branch is, Rushing Brook shows me a bundle in her arms. Her tiny face rests peacefully. The medicine we brought has helped her immensely.

I go down to the stream to tell Kaya. When I find her, she notices that I am troubled. I explain that the bear encounter scared me. Kaya says I must remember next time to stay calm. Nodding, I tell her that I am ready to go home.

Kaya reminds me that mistakes are not bad. They teach us to do better next time. And with that, she says goodbye, and that she hopes to see me again. I respond the same, knowing that we won’t. When she is out of sight, I glance around to make sure I’m alone, and trace my finger around the shell. In an instant, I am back in my own world.