Peace in the West... For Now

Otowahetaka (Translates to "City" in the Lakota Language, located OTL's Rapid City), Free Sioux Nation

January 1st, 1819

Kitala'mato (Little Bear) looked at his chief in disbelief and struggled to contain his temper, "Why have we made peace with them?"

Wa'sake (Snow Claw) grimaced and walked over to his warriors, who were waiting expectantly while he met with the American president, "It is for our future, Kitala."

"Our future? My brother has no future! He was killed by those white devils three years ago!" The seasoned warrior replied with a growl, "Their leader is here. This is a perfect chance to take revenge and show them that we are still capable of fighting!"

"If we do not make peace now, then how much longer do we have to fight?" The Lakota Chief asked as he looked around the dozens of warriors that were gathered around him, "We have been fighting for hundreds of moon cycles. We have suffered terrible losses and thousands of warriors have died to defeat our enemy. But we can not hold for any longer. The Spayolas are gone. They have sold their lands to Milahaska Tamakoce. The river will no longer protect us from our foes' wrath. We must have peace to protect our future, to protect our children's future."

"What about the other tribes?" One of the warriors asked.

"They will have to accept the American president's terms, or else they will face a terrible fate. We have no choice."

Kitala'mato shook his head, "No, we do have a choice. We can journey west, towards the Sa Glasa. They have been the ones selling us weapons for the past several years, they will gladly take us on and help us. We do not need to give up! If we kill the president of Milahaska Tamakoce, then they will shower us with rewards and honors!"

"I will not allow you to kill him and reignite the war," Wa'sake said sternly, "I am tired, our warriors are tired. My heart is sick, but I will fight no more. As your chief, I ask... No, I demand you to stop fighting."

Most of the other warriors agreed. After the "Special Forces" of their enemy started wreaking havoc within their lands, the tribes united under the Sioux Nation banner became demoralized and unable to resist their foes' onslaught. Their weapons were sabotaged, their leaders were killed, and their will to fight was slowly broken. It didn't help that the wana gi (the ghosts) terrified even the women and children with their actions.

Wa'sake sighed and waved his hand, "I will continue my meeting with the leader of Milahaska Tamakoce. By tomorrow, our tribe will finally have some peace."

"At the cost of bowing our heads and accepting the wasicu (the white people)."

"Silence, Kitala! I will not have you impudently raise your voice and cause a disturbance!"

With that, the Lakota Chief walked into the meeting cabin and left the warriors alone in silence. Many of them decided to obey the words of their elder, but others, like Kitala'mato, had other thoughts. He gathered those that showed defiance against the Chief's words and ushered them away from prying eyes and ears, "The Wicasa Yata Pi wants us to have peace with the wasicu, but we know that there will never be peace with them. They killed my brother in cold blood, my father in battle, and my mother through the sorrow of their deaths. I will not stop until we are free from their grasp."

"But how? The Wicasa Yata Pi is right, our people are tired and even our warriors are unwilling to fight." One of them asked.

"Then we do as I say. We take those that are still willing, those that want vengeance for all the dead of our tribe. We head west and continue our resistance there. And in due time, we will strike back and retake what is ours," Kitala'mato smiled, "This war is not over. It will never be over until every wasicu is removed from our lands. Those traitors in that "Ankigama," who even bastardized the name of their own homeland for the wasicu, will also learn that their "protectors" will only be their oppressors..."