The Roar of the Falls: My Journey with Kaya

Kaya urges our horse forward until we crest the hill and see Kaya’s father. he’s mounted on his big stallion, and he’s slowly leading Little Girl! Kaya shouts for him as she slides off the horse. Toe-ta responds that the whole herd is safe and being led back to camp by the others. Toe-ta found Little Girl in the clearing, and he decided to take her for water. Her wound is doing much better, and we were wise to leave her here. He hopes we will take good care of her back in camp.

Back at camp, we rub the filly with a soft piece of buckskin and pull burrs and twigs from her coat. Kaya croons to her. Kaya will call her Steps High when she gets all better, because that’s what she’ll do again some day. I smile, watching the two of them together. But now that everyone is safe, it’s time to go home. But when I try to tell Kaya, the words get stuck in my throat. But she knows what I am trying to say. I can feel how much I’ll miss her.

Kaya asks me if I’ve found what I was searching for. I think about the way Kaya’s people live so closely with the earth and the animals. I’ve known that connection when I dig in my garden, touching the dirt and seedlings and watching them soak up the water I give them. Now I see I can enjoy the outdoors while trying other adventures, too. It took Kaya’s world for me to realize that.

I nod my head, and tell Kaya that I won’t ever forget her. She says she won’t forget me either. Then I squeeze Kaya’s hand, and turn to walk toward the river, and home.