“When did I lie to you?” An absentminded Running Wolf replied.
“How can you act so stupid? You never told me that she had already had her baby! That child looks over a day old, so it certainly had to happen a day or so ago,” Chito glared at Running Wolf.
Running Wolf shrugged as he said, “I did not lie. You never asked if she had delivered the baby. Now if you had asked and I said no, that would have been a lie. Not supplying information that was not sought is not a lie, my friend.”
“Oh, don’t you dare try to wiggle your way out of this. I will not let you. You lied! You could have easily told me that she had had her baby and you didn’t! I mean, she talks now, and you hid that information too. I cannot help but wonder why,” Chito eyed Running Wolf.
Running Wolf shook his head, “Like I said, I did not give the information because it was not asked for. Can you not realize how weak your claim is? It does not hold water, my friend. So, what if I didn’t tell you a few things about my guest that you do not like? Frankly, there is nothing wrong with that. She is my guest after all, is she not?”
Chito gaped and he stuttered, “We… eak…. claim…. Weak claim?! You have to be joking! How on earth is her talking and her having her baby weak claim? You my friend are crazy. And since when did she become your guest?”
“She is staying in my shack, is she not?” Running Wolf said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Chito frowned and he looked like he was thinking hard. He grabbed Running Wolf’s arm, pulling him to a stop, “She talks now and she has had her baby. Do you not think that it is time to send her away as well as time for you to go on your vision quest?”
“What does one have to do with the other?” Running Wolf frowned.
“I think I should be asking you that question and not the other way round. Ever since this woman literally drifted into your life, you have refused to think about your vision quest, your purpose in life. So yes, I have every reason to believe that it is all connected. That I have no doubt about.”
Running Wolf shook his head. He ran a hand through his hair as he said, “What on earth are you thinking, Chito? Why would I choose not to go on my vision quest because of her? Have you ever thought of the ‘why’ while you were making up thoughts in your head?”
“Well, let’s see… could it be the fact that she was heavy with child and reminded you of someone? Perhaps you are trying to apologize for something that you are not responsible for, yet you feel you are?”
Running Wolf glared at his friend and said, “Drop it, Chito.”
“Why? Did I hit a nerve? Come on man, she is not Fala. You do not have to let her story bring up your past ghosts. And you need to put to rest the thought that you are responsible for Fala’s death and your child’s. You are not, Running Wolf. You must finally let go of the past and move ahead with a bright future in mind. Meet a woman, get married, have a couple of kids, grow old together and of course, defend the village. That goes without saying.”
“Are you done planning out my life?” Running Wolf rolled his eyes as he resumed walking.
“I am just saying, brother. You are still living in the past, blaming yourself for all the misfortunes that you have encountered and that is why you are helping this woman and you don’t want to go on your vision quest.”
“I simply have a lot of things to do but I will go on my vision quest soon.” Running Wolf said in a tone that was very final, urging his friend to drop the issue.
“Fine, fine, I will let it go for now, but for now. You have been saying soon for a while now and that soon is still nowhere in sight.” Chito saw the glare that Running Wolf threw his way and he sighed, “But I will let it go for now, like I said.”
They walked in silence for a few more seconds, heading to Running Wolf’s tepee. Suddenly, Chito let out a gasp and froze mid-step. Running Wolf sighed and crossed his arms as he turned around,
“What is it this time, Chito?”
“You didn’t… no, you didn’t… did you?”
Running Wolf rolled his eyes, “Do you have something to say or not? You keep stuttering.”
“The childbirth, you didn’t help her, did you? You know we men are not supposed to help and...”
Running Wolf interrupted his friend as he said, “I never said I did, Chito. You are the one who is assuming I did.”
Chito nodded his head slowly, “Yes, you know the laws. Sure, you have bent them a few times, like what you are doing now with your vision quest, but you would not actually flat out ignore the rule about childbirth. I know you wouldn’t, right?”
Chito looked closely at Running Wolf. Running Wolf covered his mouth as he tried his hardest not to laugh. The sight of Chito stretching on his toes to peer up at him and search his face was a hilarious picture.
Chito frowned, “You aren’t answering my question, Running Wolf.”
“I have heard you,” Running Wolf said as he tried to walk around his friend.
“No, no. Hearing me is one thing but you still haven’t replied in the positive that you did not assist her when she gave birth,” Chito frowned.
Running Wolf nodded, “I know the laws, Chito, and I know how to obey them.”
