Now as our new duo makes their way to Tulip, we are going to take a detour. Some distance between Fort Tuskegee and the town of Tulip was a large, untamed forest that ran parallel to the main road and a mountain range opposite of it, several miles north of the trail. The parallel forest, as it was known, was home to a reservation located deep inside, far away from any Union civilization, and hugging a large cliff that attached to the mountain range. This reservation was where the remnants of the Snake Tribe were quartered off.
Teepees and shacks that were too closely set littered the small deforested plot of land that made up the reservation. The forest ground beneath them was all replaced by uneven cobblestone flooring that made a path that led all the way to mountain face that overlooked them. Carved into the side of the mountain was an obnoxiously large cathedral like castle that towered above the reservation, serving as the
Staring down the castle, as he prepared to make the shameful trek through the stone flooring into the castle, was the Chief of the Snake Tribe, Chief Red Sky. He was a tall and muscular man. His brown-skinned body revealed a torrent of healed scars from a lifetime of warring. His face was old and wise, with a softened look that still revealed the experience of a warrior, and
On the head of Chief Red Sky was a large, ceremonial headdress of feathers. The crown of a chief, worn only by the head of the tribe to differentiate his standing from the others. But today, as it has been for a while, he knew this hat gave him no power. The power belonged to the man in the castle. As Red Sky walked down the stone path, thunder boomed overhead. A streak of lightning struck past the castle with an ominous flash as it began to pour heavy rain soon after. The stone path flooded rather quickly as Red Sky could feel his moccasins begin to fill with water at the rim, as the downpour caused the flooding to reach his ankles. Red Sky had to ignore it and trudge on. He knew that the teepees and shacks were likely to flood with the downpour, but there was nothing he could do. The stone ground that they sat over was constantly flooding and damaging their housing, but everyone in the Snake Tribe knew better than to try and complain, for this negligence was by design.
As Red Sky approached the stone gate of the castle, he was stopped by two soldiers. These soldiers were different from your average Ranger, wearing faded grey and green coats instead of the classic navy blue and gold that the Union was known for. Their hats had the signature crossed sabers that the USA armies adopted as their official symbol, but instead of a large U in the middle, there was a D 0 Chief Red Sky knew meant "Dixie."
"I need to speak with the General." Red Sky said, making sure to mind his tone so he didn't sound too demanding.
The two Dixie Rangers snickered to themselves as they exchanged glances. "Sure. He was expecting you." One of them said as he pulled a lever that made the stone door raise automatically, revealing a dark hallway inside the mountain.
Red Sky was unperturbed by this sight. This was certainly not the first time he had to walk down this hallway and it certainly wouldn't be the last. He gave a sincere thanks to the two Dixies that dismissed him with middle fingers, as he disappeared into the dark tunnel.
Red sky navigated through a maze of stairwells that all ascended and descended randomly to make a chaotic trail to the top. They were designed this way to discourage anyone from actually climbing up them, as the average man would gas out halfway up. Red Sky was no average man, however, as the climb proved to be nothing more than a light exercise for him. By the time he made it to the top, it was as if he had lost no stamina. The deep breaths he was taking, were instead to calm his nerves for the interaction ahead.
As he entered the main office, Red Sky faced a large figure sitting on a stone throne. He was a tall man, covered from head to toe in a stone armor that made him look bulky and massive, even compared to Red Sky, who was an imposing figure himself. He was surrounded by four other soldiers who made up his inner circle. This was General Stonewall Jackson, and the stone armor, cathedral, and reservation were all creations of his using his Tye-Serpent power, for Stonewall Jackson was bitten by the stone serpent.
The company Stonewall kept was equally intimidating. Red Sky knew them all, since they had been overseeing the reservation for years. Standing by their general in order of their ranks was Major Bishop Sharp, a short old man wearing a suit made of leaves. Next were the co-captains Jorgan Bell and Bouregard Hood. Jorgan was a tall man, even taller than Stonewall, with hulking muscles and a large metal pauldron where his right shoulder should be. Instead of an arm hanging down from his shoulder, there was a large chain with a metal hand attached to the end that functioned exactly like an arm. As it moved around it made the metal pauldron ring like a bell. Bouregard, also known as Bo, was less visually intimidating. He was almost as short as Old man Sharp, and sported a long john onesie made entirely of fluffy wool, with a hood that, when over his head, produced two large ram horns that sat at his temples. Despite looking silly, he gave off a powerful energy that Red Sky could immediately identify as a powerful spirit attached to him. Finally, was a soldier that Red Sky knew personally. Standing at the end, with a scornful look was none other than his own son, Ura'oan. He took after his father, both in physical stature and facial features, with a head that was completely shaved, save a single thick braid of hair that fell to his shoulders. He wore nothing but the vest of his Dixie uniform that he kept unbuttoned, and the slacks. No shoes, as Ura'oan always preferred to be barefoot. As Red Sky entered the room, he and his son exchanged a quick glance before Ura looked away shamefully.
"Well, hello. Your Chiefiness." Jackson mocked, causing his men to cackle wildly with him.
Red Sky said nothing as he approached the desk, and then without missing a beat, he prostrated himself onto the ground and bowed before Stonewall and his men. This sign of respect only seemed to amuse the soldiers more as they only laughed more. Red Sky waited for them to finish laughing before he began.
"I humbly ask that you reconsider your ban on our annual Ghost Dance." Red Sky said, not moving from his reverent stance.
"Oh? And why should I?" Stonewall said with a callous smirk. "As far as I'm concerned, my reasoning is pretty cut and dry."
"It's tradition." Red Sky said. "Every year we perform the Ghost Dance when the spirits are at their closest. The dance gives us a chance to reconnect with our loved ones who have since passed on. It would surely raise moral among my tribe."
"Sorry Chief, no can do. Some of those same spirits are of those who have died fighting the Union, or were executed for rebellion. I'd rather not let you savages expose yourselves to that. It could lead to yet another rebellion. You wouldn't want to get wiped out now would you?"
Those words cut into Red Sky like a knife. Stonewall and his men were using that threat for years, and with their hundred men and many different powers among them, they could do it, too. Red Sky knew this, which is why he always tried to keep his tribe in check so they wouldn't do anything to warrant a violent response.
"Fine, then I must appeal to you as a father, for his son." Red Sky begged as he lowered his head even further. "Makoyepuk was waiting eagerly for this all year. It would absolutely crush him."
Ura scoffed at this. His father always tried to appeal to the humanity of these monsters, but it never worked, yet still he insisted on doing it every time.
"Probably wants to see his traitor uncle." Old man Sharp piped up. "That kid is always up to no good."
"I agree." Stonewall Jackson said. "Request denied. And you better tell Mako not to try anything, He can't expect his father to cover for him every time."
"Please, I must insist, General!" Red Sky yelled out.
"That's enough! Leave, Father!" Ura yelled out as he stormed over to Red Sky and tried to get him on his feet.
Red Sky passively resisted, but Ura was unable to move him. The whole ordeal was making Stonewall and his other men laugh maniacally.
While Red Sky and Ura struggled to their feet in the castle, back in the reservation, the other, younger son of the Chief had just read the notice about the Ghost Dance. Makoyepuk was slimmer than his brother and father, mostly taking after his mother's side. He had long black hair that reached all the way to his lower back. He wore a dirty shirt and slacks that were given out to the tribe after they were banned from wearing traditional tribal wear. As his dark brown eyes read through the bulletin, tears welled in his eyes and he fell to his knees, as he was overcome with grief.
By order of Stonewall Jackson, No Ghost Dance shall be performed. All who disobey will be shot.