Grey Fox stopped and pointed his curved right index finger at a group of large boulders that had been washed down from the mountain so many years before. “There are my friends. These are the Ancestors; these are the Rock People of this Mountain!”
Standing Deer looked across the way to the boulders and then at his teacher. “I see...” his voice trailed off into silence. His voice lacked...faith.
The words of Grey Fox came out strong, thrusted like a spear; “Do you trust me, Standing Deer?”
“Of course I do!”
“Then show it! Get up on the biggest boulder there. Do it now!”
Standing Deer had never experienced such forcefulness from his Teacher. He felt ashamed. However, he wanted to please Grey Fox, so he hurried to the boulders; they were further away than he thought and they were far bigger too.
He looked back at his Teacher. Grey Fox waved him onward.
Standing Deer surveyed the situation and saw he would need to climb a number of rocks and then boulders until he found a way to get to the biggest boulder.
He found the going tough; often his footing failed him and he fell hard against some of the stones a few times, but he never gave up!
Up and up he climbed; he was turned back twice and had to re-route himself; sweat ran down his back and stung his eyes, yet onward he went until he found himself standing on the crown of the biggest boulder—The Chief!