Though I had entered the test with confidence, each one of the trials had worn me down to the point of exhaustion. I stood in the clearing facing Copperfoot and wondering what else he would have in store for me. My arms were sore, my hands raw, my legs quivering like jelly; I tried focusing on some part of my body that didn’t hurt, but nothing came to mind.
If the test did not end soon, I felt there was no way I would pass and become an official warrior for the tribe. I didn’t know if I could live with that shame. This is why every moment seemed to pass so slowly and why I felt I might collapse as I waited for Copperfoot to give me further instruction.
“You have only one last test for you to pass,” Copperfoot stated firmly.
I remember in that moment feeling as if those words were more significant than the air I was breathing.
“This will truly test your mental fortitude and ensure that you are ready to handle yourself as a warrior. In this test, I will act as an invader approaching the city. You are commanded by your Chieftain to stop me using nonlethal force. Your test begins n-“
Copperfoot stopped midsentence, throwing swift punch that landed squarely in my stomach.
If not for the fact that my entire body was already in pain, it probably would have affected me significantly. Still, my vision blurred for a moment and I doubled over in pain, turning my neck slowly to watch as he took off towards the village.
Despite having the wind knocked out of me, something inside pushed me forward, a primal force that made my entire body tingle. I would not fail.
Taking off like a lion pouncing its prey, I bolted after my elder.
I’m pretty sure I moved faster than I ever had before.
Within mere meters, I caught up to Copperfoot and pushed forward with an extra nudge of strength. Wrapping my arms around his torso, I wrenched him violently to the side. His rear hooves hit me in my front legs, causing me to buckle and fall to the side. I held on tightly though, pulling him as close as I could and squeezing.
I could feel myself being pushed into the ground, scratching against rocks, sticks and roots, but I would not let go. His body pushed against my violently, my torso having to stretch to keep hold of him. With another burst of energy, I maneuvered my right arm under his armpit and placed him in a half nelson. He attempted to elbow me with his left, but I grabbed the opportunity to slip my left under that arm as well.
We struggled for a few minutes, but finally, as I help him in that full nelson, he stopped struggling and tapped the back of my right hand.
“Enough Irontail,” he exclaimed.
“You have proven yourself. Release me.”
I held on for only a moment more, the adrenaline pushing me to do so. As I let him go, he pushed away and rose to all four, wiping off his chest. I slowly did the same, struggling to get enough momentum to push myself off the ground and return to my hooves.
I had done it.
I was to become a Dumner Warrior.
