Summary

Kaya, a warrior woman, awakens to find herself saved from a demonic adversary by her friend Dashante and ally Itsa-Chu, and together they destroy the lair of the Bone Eater, a man turned monster, securing the release of captive girls and ensuring their safe return to their village.

Abstract

In the aftermath of a battle within the Bone Eater's lair, Kaya regains consciousness to learn that her friends Dashante and Itsa-Chu have rescued her and the captive girls. They have used explosive sticks, known as Dynamite, to collapse the cave and eliminate the threat. Despite the victory, Kaya grapples with the reality that she has not slain a demon, but a man corrupted by evil. As they journey back to their village, Kaya reflects on the complexities of her mission and the stories that will be told about her deed, knowing that the truth may be less fantastical than the legends that will arise.

Opinions

Dashante believes that Kaya's actions will be celebrated and immortalized in stories, elevating her to a legendary status.
Itsa-Chu's competence with the explosive sticks is questioned, as he barely escapes the blast himself.
Kaya is introspective about the nature of her enemy, recognizing him as a man rather than a demon, which contrasts with the narrative that will be shared.
Dashante holds the view that the stories and their retelling will shape reality, transforming Kaya into the embodiment of the legend she has unwittingly become.
There is an underlying concern about the potential for misinformation or exaggeration in the retelling of Kaya's encounter with the Bone Eater.

Cover design by Kristi Ryder of Kryderdesigns.com for the author

Kaya and the Eater of Bones

Slayer of Monsters

Chapter 6

“Kaya, my sister!” Dashante’s voice came from inside a fog, calling the Woman Warrior awake. “We’ve taken you outside.”

For a moment, Kaya wondered where she was and what had happened. With a start, she remembered the two enemy guards rushing at her as she lapsed into a deep sleep. The mask of the demon/man, the flashing sword in the flickering light, came out of the fog. Quickly, she sat up and looked deeply into the face of her friend.

Dashante smiled. “I rode to Itsa-Chu’s camp and we came to watch at the cave. When the two guards went in, we followed and shot them when we saw you couldn’t fight. It's-Chu killed one and I shot the other.” She shook her head slowly. “Aiee. The demon’s magic made you sleep and two of Itsa-Chu’s men dropped over when they got near the Evil One. They woke up when we poured water on them.”

“My thoughts are confused,” Kaya said. “I breathed the white powder, and know nothing after that.”

“ Itsa-Chu has found the explosive sticks of the White-Eyes. He says he knows how to use them and he will destroy the Bone Eater’s lair.”

Kaya shook her head to clear it. “The girls…”

“We found them deep in the cave inside a large cage. Five of Itsa-Chu’s warriors are taking them in the wagons back to the village. We killed two more guards, but Bipin and Tarak of the Rushing River People were badly injured.”

Dashante helped Kaya stand. “The Rushing River People killed three more White-Eyes in those buildings. We dragged their bodies into the Bone Eater’s cave. All of the buildings will be burned.”

Kaya put her hand on Dashante’s arm. Once again, her friend had saved her life. “You are a great warrior, Sister.”

Dashante shook her head. “I killed a man, but you killed a demon.”

“No, Dashante. He was a man dressed as a demon.”

“That’s not the way Itsa-Chu will tell it, Sister. Your name and this story will be sung around the winter campfires for all time. Come now, we must move further from the Bone Eater’s lair, for I wonder if Itsa-Chu really knows about the explosive sticks the White-Eyes call Dynamite.”

As if in answer, Itsa-Chu charged out of the mouth of the mine, running as fast as he could straight at the two women. Apaches scattered in all directions, either on foot or horseback. Within seconds, a thunderous blast erupted, spewing dirt and stones from the opening of the mine. A powerful shock wave knocked the two women to the ground, covering them in a fine powder.

As she helped Dashante to her feet, Kaya heard a rumbling deep underground and, as she watched the dust cloud pour from the cave, it looked as if the entire mountain was crumbling from the inside. The entrance was now filled with rocks.

Later, after a rinse in the Crimson River, the two women mounted up and rode toward their village, three days away. Kaya knew there was much she didn’t understand about the man Mottoon, or how he had become the monster, but Cochise would tell her.

As they made their first camp, her mind was on the old Chief. Did Cochise know the monster was just a man whose mind had become evil? Had he sent the warrior woman because he feared Itsa-Chu would start another war with the White-Eyes if he had come with a war party?

“Your mind is filled with thoughts, Sister,” Dashante said with a smile. “But your eyes are not filled with joy. As the slayer of the Eater of Bones, they should be.”

Kaya looked at her most beloved friend. “In this world,” she said, “the land is real, the mountains, the river, the beasts we hunt. You, my friend, are real. All else is like the smoke from the campfire, seen but not able to be grasped. I did not kill a demon, and the story Itsa-Chu tells will be untrue. Should a lie bring me joy?”

“All stories become true with the telling,” Dashante said. “You are now Kaya-Te-Nse, the woman who slew the monster Eater of Bones. So you will become that woman, and the children of the Red Paint People will fill their hearts with joy as you walk among them.” She stirred the coals of the campfire with a stick. “Smoke is just smoke, my Sister. It is made to be seen. Stories are made to be heard. That is the way it is.”