SCATTERED FEATHERS AND THE FOOLISH BAT

Apache Knife Fighting & Battle Tactic 2

By Snake Blocker, Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas

Scattered Feathers and the Foolish Bat

After the daring kill of the Thunderbirds, the Apache warrior needed help getting down the large precipice, where the Thunderbird family nested.  The Apache had killed the whole family of Thunderbirds and threw their bodies off the cliff.  There was no way for the Apache to climb down, and any mistake in trying to descend would surely be the death of him, from such heights.  He pondered for awhile, but then he saw the old bat flying above him.  He called out to her, “Old Woman Bat, come down here.”  The old bat came to his call.  “Let’s make a basket from the Thunderbird’s nest and I will climb inside it so you can fly me down to the bottom of this precipice,” said the Apache.  “What would I receive in return for such work?” asked the bat.  “You will get to fill the basket afterwards with as many feathers as you can carry to keep your family warm and add to your thin feathers,” said the Apache.  The old bat agreed and after the Apache constructed a sturdy basket, he climbed inside and the old bat flew him down, below the cliff.  They gathered beautiful large feathers from the dead Thunderbirds and the basket was full.  Then the old bat flew away.  The bat was very tired and sat on a tree branch and took a nap, without covering the basket with her wings.  Cross Wind came along and scattered all the feathers away.  When the old bat woke up, she noticed that she had lost all the beautiful feathers to Cross Wind.  She flew back to the Apache warrior who was giving thanks to The Creator for his success, as he was cutting meat from the Thunderbirds to take back to his tribe.  The old bat said, “I need more feathers, since Cross Wind came by when I was napping and scattered them all away.”   The Apache said, “Okay, I will give you more feathers but do not be so foolish to let Cross Wind scattered them away again.”  After the Apache filled her basket again, the old bat flew away.  Sometime later, she grew tired again and rested in a great tree filled with many birds.  She closed her eyes and took a long nap.  When she awoke, she noticed her basket was empty and the birds had scattered all her feathers.  She flew back to the Apache, who was packing up the Thunderbird meat.  She said, “I need more feathers; for the birds of the great tree had scattered then, while I slept.”   The Apache said, “Alright, once more I will give you more feathers but you must not be so foolish in letting the small birds scattered your feathers.  Go straight home and secure your feathers.”  The old bat agreed.  The Apache unpacked the Thunderbird’s wings and gave old bat more feathers.  The old bat took her feathers and flew away.  Once more the old bat flew away and she rested at a small cave on a cliff, away from trees, birds, and Cross Wind.  She thought, “I will rest a bit before my journey home.” As she rested, Upward Wind came up the canyon and blew into the cave and scattered the feathers out of the cave and up the mountain.  When Old Woman Bat woke up, she saw that her feathers were no more.  She flew back to the Apache, who was traveling back to his tribe, along the Pathfinder’s ridge.  She said, “Give me more feathers for Upward Wind scattered my feathers, when I was resting in the cave.” The Apache said, “No! You have been foolish these three time and you do not deserve any feathers now.”  The Apache took out his knife and cut all of old bat’s thin feathers and kept them.   The Apache warrior said, “Because you are so foolish, you will fly without feathers, and you will no longer rest in nests.  You will remain in caves and have to sleep upside down to keep watch for other birds, Cross Wind and Upward Wind.  You will live in darkness the rest of your days to think about your foolishness and laziness.” That is why bats today have no feathers and live upside down in caves.

When in battle, an Apache warrior uses his open hand and fingers (like feathers) to go across the eyes (Cross Wind) or go up the eyes of their opponent (Upward Wind).  This tactics is used to distract an opponent with the Apache’s finger going to their opponent’s eyes, as the Apache’s other hand attacks with a weapon or empty hand strike.  This action emulates the scattered features that the birds, Cross Wind and Upward Wind took away from Old Woman Bat. The Apaches call this tactic “Scattered Feathers.”