Contact us at: whispernthunder1@gmail.comWolf and The Desert Rose
~Taina Amayi
Greetings. I am Wolf. I have a strange
story to tell, but tell it I must, for the
sake of my two-legged Indé sister,
who died that others could live.
I am a Wolf. I strike fear in the hearts
of many, not because I am evil, but
because the two-legged's perceptions
and misconceptions. I am a
four-legged, and I am fast. I am strong,
fierce, and wise. I am not as strong as
other relatives like Bear and Panther,
yet you do not see me performing in
circuses, but two-legged with dark
hearts want me and my kind dead...
as it is with my Red brothers and sisters.
I protect the Wolf pups that yet cannot fight. Sometimes I win, but when the two-legged cheat, the outcome is tragic and brutal.
When I was a pup, my father and mother were the Alphas of our pack. The two-legged had this thing called, "The Endangered Species Act," and for awhile Wolves were on the list, and we were supposedly safe... but not really. There were those who hunted us despite the "law," so our safety depended on the discretion of "officials," and their kind living on stolen lands taken so long ago.
We were removed from the list, and once that happened, the two-legged hunted us with greater fervor, and with a hatred virtually unknown among my people. My father and mother were killed by these large objects that looked like scorpions, but flew like dragonflies and whirred like locusts swarming the prairies and deserts, consuming everything in their path. A woman named Pale-In, led the massacre, using what they called a "Judas wolf" to find and murder us, and she was the worst of them all! My tribe was all but wiped out.
I barely escaped the massacre - my sisters, brother, and most of my tribe... did not.
I became the Alpha of my own pack, taking as many of my people as possible to safety in a new land. It was an arid land; brutally hot by day, biting cold at night, with little food to eat.
In our new home I made many friends among the red two legged. One was a woman of the Indé people named Desert Rose, who was able to speak with the Wolf people as a sister with her siblings. We traveled together, finding food, and sharing our stories. She spoke of many red two-legged - including her own Indé people - which had suffered the same fates as our own. Oh, how she cried as we shared our stories. Her cries were like our own when our own die, even miles away. The entirety of our tribe came to love her as one of our own, and we defended each other against two-legged who attacked us, often at night. She healed many of the wounded, and gave us Sacred Medicines to help us after these terrible battles.
Desert Rose quickly became our sister.
One day Desert Rose did not come to our village, and a howl rose throughout the pack. Something was wrong. After many days had passed, we went to our sister's village to see if she was there. The Chief greeted us, and welcomed us. We brought Tobacco and sage, and a council was held.
We asked about our sister, and the Chief spoke:
"My Brother Wolf Chief, my words will be few, for bad events travel like fire through dried forests, and I must be brief. There is news to tell, but it is not mine to tell. Desert Rose was an orphan among our people. She grew strong in the Power within her. That is why she was able to speak with our relatives of nature. She teaches us many things, and we all love her. She will be here in a moment, but she was wounded in battle a time ago with cruel White Eyes that attacked our people at night. Desert Rose walks slowly now, but is strong in mind and in spirit... but her wounds are grave. She has been waiting for you, for she could not travel to see you. In a vision, she saw you, and with tears she waited for this very moment.
The Indé Chief grew quiet, and our tribe all turned at the sound of slow steps, and a familiar voice approaching from behind the council. Low growls and whines of sadness sounded throughout my people. The council of Indé elders cried silently as Desert Rose approached.
"Dáágóótéé, my relatives," said Desert Rose. She lifted my face, and kissed my head; tears falling upon my fur.
I could smell the evil that had touched her, but could feel the warrior spirit that kept this warrior woman alive long enough to tell us what she had had to say.
Desert Rose then spoke; all eyes fixed on what looked to be a diminished yet still beautiful flower:
"My relatives, for many years the White Eyes have tried to kill us. For as many years we have fought so that we might live. There are tribes long gone now, their voices still crying out from their homes stolen so long ago."
"A'ho," we replied.
Desert Rose swayed, her strength diminished by the effort of her talk. My wife steadied her, and nudged her Two-Legged sister lovingly. My Wolf heart broke as Desert Rose continued:
"Oh, Wolf, your people have suffered the same as we have! Since their arrival they have not changed. No, they have changed - for the worst since the time of Pedro Madrugaz Sotomayor, known as Christopher Columbus.
"A new Chief has taken over, and his ways are more evil than the other Chiefs before him.
"Wolf tribe, Indé, hear me! He is called 'The Orange One,' a man filled with poisons, which he pours down on us through his silver eagles; killing all living beings upon the Earth!"
The council made no reply. I, Wolf, knew what Desert Rose was going to say. I, too, had had visions of what she was saying. The fear and sorrow that I felt when my family and pack were massacred returned to me as when I was a pup.
"Tell us, sister. Tell us what will be, Rose of the desert," I said, already knowing. She looked directly into my eyes, two fires knowing what will burn. She then looked around, and said:
"The Orange One is after all of us. He has removed assistance to the tribes. He is angry in his hatred, and calls the Earth his slave. He attacks her by warring on all the nations of the Earth. He wants our peoples dead, and wages brutal war upon Mother and all Her children."
She paused, her tears now falling like rain on a dark and stormy night. The Indé lowered their eyes. They had been warned before. Many had not believed her, and some still don't, but the words of a dying Holy Woman could no longer be ignored or dismissed as rantings in the wind.
"He has passed new laws. His council is afraid of The Orange One. No one will stop him. No one is safe. Even the Wolves have much to fear. The two-legged are allowed to violate the laws of Nature. The Orange One will kill us, and his people are now allowed to murder the Wolf pups in your dens. So I have learned, I have spoken, and it is so."
A murmur of sadness swelled among the Wolves and our Red Two-legged relatives. I stood and asked Desert Rose to walk with me. We spoke.
"What can we do?" I asked my fierce and wild sister whom I loved.
She replied, "It is too late for me now, my brother Wolf. Your people and mine must join together to fight. Fight until the fight is over, or you can fight no more. Spread the word. Tell as many as you can. You are brave, and wise; you are strong. We may lose, yet we will win."
I cocked my head, hearing the contradiction, yet somehow, while understanding wanted to hear what she meant.
"How could we lose yet win?"
The Desert Rose replied with defiance, familiar words from long ago.
"The dead are not powerless, my brother."
A howl rose up behind me, and a war cry joined in. I turned to see my peoples, Wolves and Indé, rise up as one. When I turned to thank her one last time, the Desert Rose was gone...
Author's Note: There are actual "laws" and "executive orders" in place that are mentioned here. This is NOT a traditional Indigenous story, even if presented as one. There is absolutely no obligation to read it, but I had the obligation to write it. If anyone wants to read "Wolf and The Desert Rose," I recommend that it be read in parts/pieces.
Article Photo Artwork © 2026 by Taina Amayi (AI-generated, unfortunately, but it is my design. ~ Taina)