Deer Woman: The Hooved Judge
The Stranger at the Dance
In the oral histories of the Lakota, Ojibwe, and Cherokee, there exists a persistent warning about the stranger who appears at social gatherings. She arrives at powwows or dances from the edge of the wilderness. She is young, breathtakingly beautiful, and impeccably dressed adjacent to tradition. But she stands apart. She is the Deer Woman.
She is not a ghost. She is a nature spirit (manitou) that walks the boundary between the animal and human worlds. She is quiet, graceful, and alluring. Young men, captivated by her presence, leave the safety of the firelight to follow her into the dark.
The Cloven Flaw
The Deer Woman is a shapeshifter, but the transformation is imperfect. Her physical form always contains a tell-tale flaw that reveals her true nature. While her face and body are human, her feet remain those of a deer. She hides these cloven hooves beneath long buckskin dresses or skirts. By the time a suitor notices the sound of hooves clicking on the hard earth, he is usually too deep in the forest to return.
The Judgment of Men
The Deer Woman functions as a supernatural judge of character. She is a fertility spirit, but her role is to cull the wicked.
- The Faithful: A man who is loyal to his family, respectful of women, and pure of heart may be allowed to leave. She might simply startle him or offer a warning.
- The Transgressor: Men who are abusive, unfaithful, or predatory are targeted. Her punishment is absolute. She may trample them to death with unnatural strength, leaving a body bruised by hoofprints. Alternatively, she may use enchantment to drive them into permanent psychosis, leaving them to wander the woods lovelorn and mute.
The Stomp Dance
Her connection to rhythm is intrinsic. In some encounters, she enters the dance circle. The sound of her hooves striking the earth creates a hypnotic rhythm. Men who join her dance are compelled to match her pace. The tempo increases until the human heart cannot sustain the exertion. They dance until cardiac arrest occurs.
Interaction Protocols
Survival depends on observation.
- Check the Feet: When a stranger appears, look at the hem of the dress.
- Respect: Do not approach women with predatory intent. The Deer Woman is attracted to lust and aggression.
- The Fire: Do not leave the communal circle for the darkness.
The Final Warning
She is beautiful, with eyes large and dark like a doe's, beckoning you away from the safety of the firelight. But listen closely to the rhythm of her walk. Human feet make a soft thud; hers make the sharp, staccato click of bone on stone. She is leading you into the deep woods, so don't follow the sound.
