chapter 21

A/N: Let the fun begin! :D

Badger Snaps tugged the furs tighter over his shoulders, trying to balance the spears he carried at the same time. With the tension in the village while the council deliberated, he needed to get away for a while to be alone with his thoughts.

Ever since he had returned from the war with the Taganila, he had become a changed man. While his older brother, Blue Raven, had been in raids and skirmishes before, Badger Snaps had not. So, being thrown into a war had been quite the eye-opener for him. In fact, he still woke up sweating from the brutal dreams he had about the war.

He could still hear the war cries and pounding hooves of the horses all around him as he fought his faceless enemies. Those sounds would soon be drowned out by the pounding of his heart while the images became blurry from the sweat pouring into his eyes. It wasn’t until he woke up with a start, gasping and clutching at invisible wounds, that he would realize he was home, safe and sound in his bed.

Those dreams served as a reminder of how precious life was to him now. He had left for war a foolish, invincible boy and returned a sensible, grateful man. Things that he had once deemed important to him had turned out to be the silly desires of a narrow-minded youth. He knew better now. He knew what was important to him, what he needed to value the most during his time on earth.

Now with the senseless violence that the Danasga had recently wrought on members of his village, Badger Snaps was once more reminded of the importance of his family and of his need to think things through. This was why he was now on his way to the shores of the Pacific, not only to hunt for food for his family, but to gain some time to think on his own.

He made his way through the village, passing the border until he reached what little forest there was between the village and the ocean. Just before he stepped into the forest, he heard his name being called by a high, feminine voice.

Glancing back over his shoulder, he noticed Brown Skunk hurrying after him with an urgent look on her face. Thinking she might have news of the council meeting, he came to a stop, waiting for her to reach his side. It wasn’t until she sidled up to him and batted her eyelashes that he knew she was up to something.

“Hello Badger Snaps, I see that you are well today!”

He gave her a quick nod as he answered her. “I am well enough.”

She gave him a demure smile. “You look like you are going hunting. Is there anything in particular that you are looking for?”

He arched an eyebrow at her veiled words. “Brown Skunk, I know you are not interested in my hunting skills. So, why don’t you tell me what you really want from me.”

Brown Skunk pouted prettily before she answered him. “Fine, you don’t have to be so rude, you know! I was merely trying to be a considerate neighbor.”

Badger Snaps threw back his head and laughed. “Considerate neighbor? That is definitely a new one. Well, neighbor, what is it that you are considering.”


“How to help you get what you want,” she stated coyly.

This time Badger Snaps remained silent, his eyes raking her over as if he were trying to find the answers somewhere on her clothing. Finally, he spoke. “Just what is it that you think I want, woman?”

Her smile was at once demure and conniving. “White Swan.”

Badger Snaps almost gaped at her. “White Swan?”


“Yes, your father’s slave. There have been rumors that you want to make her yours.”

He scowled at her. “Why would I want to make her my slave when she is already my father’s? I do live in the same home, you know.”


“No silly,” she tsked. “You want to make her your woman.”

Now Badger Snaps was looking at her as if she had lost her mind. “Where did you ever hear something like that?”


“Oh please! It’s common knowledge, Badger Snaps! There have been plenty of people who have seen the way you treat that slave. How you always tease her and try to find ways to catch her alone. I know you want her.”

A muscle twitched in Badger Snaps’ jaw, the only sign that this conversation bothered him.

Brown Skunk continued on, completely oblivious to his inner turmoil. “So, here I am…I’m going to help you win her over.”

Badger Snaps held up a hand to silence her. Looking her dead in the eyes, he bit out his answer. “I do not want White Swan as my woman. Even if I did, she already belongs to Black Wolf.”

Brown Skunk rolled her eyes. “No she doesn’t. You and I both know the future chief of the tribe will not take a lowly slave as his woman. The council would never allow it since they believe he must keep the bloodlines strong.”

Badger Snaps gave her a condescending look. “Are you sure about that? My father has been allowing Black Wolf to court White Swan, that to me means the council is well aware of it. If they really had a problem with it, I’m sure they would have put a stop to it long before now.”


“They are not aware of the courtship at all. Not even Black Wolf’s parents really know if it. Believe me, he is just playing with her. But now that his father has passed, Black Wolf will have to stop his childish antics, set her aside then hand-fast himself to someone who will help strengthen the bloodlines.”


“Someone like you, you mean.” stated Badger Snaps.

She lifted her chin haughtily. “Of course! My father has already been in negotiations with Black Wolf’s family, long before we lost Bright Wolf.”

Badger Snaps shook his head with a grin. “If there was a chance for you to be hand-fasted to Black Wolf, that time is long gone. And if you think you can use your feminine wiles to convince me to help you with whatever devious plan you have running around in that head of yours, you are dead wrong.”

Brown Skunk’s head jerked as if she had just been slapped. She sputtered, “How dare you…”


“Oh believe me, I do dare you!” muttered Badger Snaps before he stepped closer to Brown Skunk. Leaning down, close enough to intimidate her and to make his point clear, he spoke in a low, menacing voice. “If I were you, I’d set my sights on someone else. You would be a fool to mess with Black Wolf or White Swan. There is no way I would challenge a warrior like Black Wolf, I know better. There are things that mean too much to me to risk losing them if I messed with someone like him. Mark my words, little girl, if you mess with him or anyone that he cares about, you will regret it.”

As she continued to gape at him, he waved his hand in the direction of the village and said, “Go find someone else to pester with your silly schemes. I have better things to do with my life than play childish games with the likes of you!”

With that, he turned on his heel and marched into the forest, leaving a stunned, yet angry Brown Skunk behind.

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Fighting Dog stood over his father’s body, silently thinking of what the future now held. He knew that the council would soon approach Black Wolf to ask that he take his father’s place as the chief of the Quedeyona tribe. Black Wolf was more than ready for it, especially with the grace he’d shown at the earlier meeting.

Fighting Dog knew he wouldn’t have been able to stand there as calm as Black Wolf had appeared while he reminded the council that they still had to worry about the Danasga. No, he would have been shouting and cursing just like the rest of the furious Quedeyona villagers were. He wanted blood just as much as the rest of them did.

He knew Black Wolf probably wanted the same, but he was much better at hiding his anger and fury than Fighting Dog could ever hope to be. Still, Fighting Dog didn’t ever want to hide his emotions. He didn’t want to be a negotiator who had to be fair to everyone.

That was why Fighting Dog told his father that he wanted Black Wolf not only to take over the role of negotiator, but also to take over the role as head of the family since he was the one that was going to be chief one day. Fighting Dog had not wanted any of the responsibility or decision-making power Bright Wolf would have. He didn’t envy his older brother one bit even though he knew Black Wolf would be good at it.

Still, he knew he had a decision to make. Looking down at his father’s cold, still body, he realized just how short their lives could be. His best friend, Mountain Lion Guides, had the right of it. There was no time to waste.

With a silent good-bye to his father and a silent prayer to the Great Spirit for safe passage of his father’s spirit, Fighting Dog turned away, then walked out of the healer’s building. Standing outside, he took a deep breath of fresh air, steeling himself for what he was about to do.

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White Swan glanced at Black Wolf as they sat side by side on a fallen tree trunk in the secluded area they had chosen. It was now several hours after the council had removed everyone from the council building so that they could discuss what the village should do about the Danasga. Black Wolf had sunk into a silent sulk after he had grabbed her hand, then literally dragged her to the area once he had gotten Crow Flie’s permission to walk with her.

He had informed her that the council was still trying to figure out what to do next, but in the meantime the rest of the village had to find ways to pass the time regardless of how they felt. As they had made their way to the area, Black Wolf had told her how he had tried to get the council to make a quicker decision by reminding them of the women and slaves that were still with the Danasga. He recanted every word that had been said in the meeting even as they had reached the area and gotten comfortable.

Once he finished his story, he had fallen into silence in which White Swan knew his thoughts had to be filled with his father or with the things he wished he was doing about his father’s death. He wasn’t showing it, but she knew his father’s death had left him both sad and angry. She had gotten a glimpse of his sadness when they had first seen his father’s body, but it had quickly disappeared as Black Wolf went into disciplined negotiator mode.

Still, they were alone now which, to her, meant he didn’t have to hide it anymore. Reaching out, she took his hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. When he didn’t seem to respond to it, she moved closer to his side where she slipped her arm around his waist.

Leaning in, she spoke in a hushed voice. “Jake? Do you want to talk about it?”

Black Wolf lowered his head for a moment before he looked over at White Swan. She didn’t even start at the swirling emotions she saw in his eyes. Sadness mixed with worry, but at the forefront, anger.

She reached up with her free hand to caress his cheek. “Talk to me.”

He closed his eyes and leaned into her caress, remaining that way for a few moments. When he opened his eyes, he spoke in a voice roughened with unshed tears. “It is too hard to be calm when all I want is to tear the Danasga apart.”

White Swan nodded. “I know, Jake, I know.”

She did know. She remembered when her parents had been killed right before she and her siblings had been captured all those years ago. At the time, she had mostly been scared because she hadn’t known what was going to happen. But afterwards, her fear had turned to sadness over the loss of her parents and siblings before it finally turned to anger over her parents deaths.

To this day, she still harbored anger towards the tribe that had ruthlessly killed her parents, then torn her family apart. However, she was one of the few slaves that knew to direct her anger towards the proper people instead of every single tribe there was. If she had, there would have been no way she would have been able to become close to her current family and friends. Most of all, she wouldn’t have met Black Wolf.

When Black Wolf was silent again she asked, “Do you think the council won’t allow a war party to go in and rescue the women and slaves?”

Black Wolf shrugged. “I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I believe they won’t be able to sit by and do nothing.”

White Swan nodded. She was hoping that too. “If they do decide to send a war party, will you be a part of it?”

“I will ask for that right,” he replied.

White Swan looked at him for a moment before looking away with a sigh. Black Wolf heard that sigh, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

He took her hand in his, gently squeezing it. “Bells, you know I can’t just sit by and let them fight without me…”

“But you once told me you would be the one to take your father’s place. You can’t just go and fight…”

His voice rose as he snapped, “They killed my father! I can’t just…”

“And what if this time they kill you?” she interrupted with a cry.

Black Wolf went quiet at her words. He stared at her for a few moments in shock that she would even say that. White Swan was a strong woman so he knew she had to be really upset to let fear take over.

“Ko’nali…” he whispered, as he reached for her.

He saw the realization seep into her eyes as she realized what she’d said. Closing her eyes, she took a step backwards, then breathed deeply to calm herself down.

When she was able to look into Black Wolf’s questioning gaze, her voice sounded much more steady. “Jake, I’m sorry. I got carried away…”

He shook his head as he quickly moved towards her, cupping her face in his hands. “It’s okay. We all slip from time to time.”

When she didn’t reply, he continued on while stroking her skin with his thumbs. “Bells, I know how you feel. And if I were in your place, I would be upset too. But you know me. You know what I must do.”

She slowly nodded as she covered his hands with hers to stop his movements. “I know. I don’t blame you for it. It is your right to go and fight with them.”

Black Wolf gave her a grateful smile as he leaned in to brush his lips over hers. “I promise to be careful. I will return to vex you some more.”

She smiled at his teasing. “You could never vex me, Jake.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I can’t?” When she shook her head he added, “Well then, I shall just have to work harder, huh?”

White Swan’s laugh was cut short when his lips captured hers for a long, delicious kiss.

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Fighting Dog saw Porcupine Smiles the moment his parent’s house came into view. She was sitting outside warming something over the small fire. When she saw him striding purposefully towards her, she rose to her feet.

Giving him a worried frown she asked, “Embry, what…”

He didn’t let her finish as he reached out, sweeping her into his arms while his mouth descended on hers. She didn’t argue with him as her body melted into his, her arms sliding up his chest to wrap around his shoulders. He deepened the kiss as he relaxed his own arms around her waist, enjoying her reaction to him.

When he finally released her for some air, she smiled up at him, then managed to speak in a breathless voice. “Hello to you too.”

He chuckled at her response before his expression turned serious. “There is something I wish to ask you, Angel-a.”

“Oh, what is it, Embry?”

Fighting Dog took her hands in his as looked into her eyes. “I know we do not know each other that…good. And I cannot speak your English that good. But what I…think of you is more than I can speak or show. Angel-a, I want to know if you can… allow the Great Spirit to…bless a hand-fasting?”

“Bless a hand-fasting?” she repeated in question.

He nodded. “Yes. You know? You and…me?” He motioned with his hands, hoping she would understand.

From the look on her face, she did. “Oh my God! Are you saying….I mean, are you asking me to marry you?” she exclaimed.

He nodded with a grin. “Yes, mar-age! That is it!”

Porcupine Smiles couldn’t help but laugh at Fighting Dog’s attempt of proposing to her as she threw her arms around him. When she could speak again, she hugged him tighter even as he returned her hug.

“Yes! Oh yes, I would love to Embry!”

Fighting Dog simply grinned as he continued to hold her close to him, elated that she had agreed to become his other half.

The door flap was suddenly pushed aside as Gentle Otter walked out to see the two of them in an embrace. She couldn’t help the smile that bloomed over her face at the grin her youngest son sported.

“I was wondering what all that noise was out here. I’m glad it was nothing serious.”

At her words, the couple broke apart, but it was easy to see the blush Porcupine Smiles sported on her cheeks even as Fighting Dog continued to grin at his mother. He glanced at Porcupine Smiles for a moment before he took her hand in his, then turned to Gentle Otter.

“Mother, I have come to ask for the rights to Porcupine Smiles as well as her hand, if you would be so kind to grant that.”

Gentle Otter raised her eyebrows as she turned to look at the still blushing Porcupine Smiles. “Is that what you wish, Porcupine Smiles?”

She nodded. “He asked me and I said yes.”

Gentle Otter gave her a warm smile as she reached out to hug her. “Then I welcome you with open arms to our family, my daughter.”

Turning to her son she said, “I grant you her rights and her hand in as much as it is my duty, Fighting Dog. However, you must know that it is now Black Wolf who is the head of our family. You must now ask him for his blessing too.”

Fighting Dog nodded as he gave his mother a grateful hug. “I will do that. Thank you mother.”

She gave him a smile before she gently shooed both of them away. She watched with a smile as Fighting Dog took Porcupine Smiles’ hand as the two of them set off to find Black Wolf. When they were far enough away, she gave a sad sigh before moving back into her empty home.

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A voice intruded into Black Wolf’s mind, interrupting the intimate moment he was having with White Swan. Still it took a while for him to part from White Swan’s warm body and lush mouth to realize that his brother was calling his name.

“Black Wolf? Black Wolf where are you?”

He let out a disappointed sigh as he glanced down at White Swan who wore a slight smile which mirrored his disappointment. He caressed her cheek, enjoying the way her eyes still held a hint of passion from their kiss.

“Black Wolf? Can you hear us?” came Porcupine Smiles’ voice.

White Swan blinked in surprise at her friend’s voice, making Black Wolf groan in annoyance. He knew he had to respond.

“I’m over here, Porcupine Smiles.” He answered in English.

“Where?” came Fighting Dog’s reply.

“Over here,” called Black Wolf.

For a few moments there was the sound of vegetation brushing against flesh and cloth, as well as the sound of footsteps, before Fighting Dog and Porcupine Smiles appeared in the small clearing. Both of them wore smiles while holding hands as they approached Black Wolf and White Swan.

“There you are,” said Porcupine Smiles.

Black Wolf nodded as he stood up, then helped White Swan to her feet. “Yes, here we are,” came his answer. He knew it sounded short, but made no move to apologize.

The smile faltered from Porcupine Smiles’ face. “Sorry about this, but…”

White Swan gave Black Wolf’s arm a squeeze as she chuckled. “It’s okay, Porcupine Smiles. Why were you two looking for Black Wolf?”

“Oh! Fighting Dog has something he needs to ask him.”

Both Black Wolf and White Swan turned inquisitive faces towards Fighting Dog, waiting to hear what he wanted. Fighting Dog appeared flustered for a few moments before Porcupine Smiles nudged him with her arm. He looked down into her eyes for a few moments, seeming to find the courage he needed there before turning to look at his older brother.

“Black Wolf, Porcupine Smiles said yes to mar-age and mother said yes, but you now take our father’s place so you must…” he paused and turned to Porcupine Smiles for help.

She nodded and looked at Black Wolf. “What he means is that he asked me to marry him and I said yes. So he asked your mother for my rights and my hand. She gave that to him, but told him since you are now the head of the family that you must give him those rights too.”

Fighting Dog nodded as she finished. “Yes, that is it.”

White Swan, who had been grinning from the moment Fighting Dog had said the word mar-age, now threw her arms around Porcupine Smiles. “Oh Porcupine Smiles, that is wonderful!”

Porcupine Smiles hugged White Swan back as the two of them began jumping up and down in place. Black Wolf looked at the two of them with a grin before turning back to his brother.

Shrugging good-naturedly, he answered Fighting Dog’s request. “It seems you have my blessing….and White Swan’s.”

Fighting Dog chuckled as he clasped forearms with his brother before pulling him into a hug. “Thank you, my brother.”


“You are welcome,” replied Black Wolf.

White Swan and Porcupine Smiles were still giggling and hugging as Fighting Dog and Black Wolf turned to them. Black Wolf reached out to give Porcupine Smiles’ arm a squeeze. “Welcome to the family, little sister.”

Porcupine Smiles laughed as she let go of White Swan to hug Black Wolf. “Thank you, Black Wolf! Thank you so much!”

Suddenly she pulled away from him and exclaimed, “Oh! But we were interrupting, weren’t we?”

Black Wolf grinned at her sudden change in demeanor. “It’s okay.”

She shook her head. “Oh no it’s not.” She grabbed Fighting Dog’s hand and began tugging him away from them. “Come on Fighting Dog, let’s leave these two alone while we go find someplace to celebrate.”

Black Wolf and White Swan laughed at her take charge voice even as Fighting Dog grinned at them, allowing his woman to drag him away.

“Really Porcupine Smiles, it’s okay,” called White Swan.

She shook her head as she looked over her shoulder at them. “No it’s not. I know how hard it is for you two to get a moment alone together. Even Fighting Dog and I have more time together than you two. So, enjoy and thanks again, Black Wolf!”

Fighting Dog waved to the two of them. “Yes, thanks!”

Black Wolf watched them leave with a chuckle. It was a few moments before he realized White Swan wasn’t beside him anymore. Turning around, he saw that she had returned to sit on the fallen tree trunk where she was worrying at her bottom lip while she stared into the distance.

What White Swan was currently mulling over hadn’t occurred to her until after Porcupine Smiles and Fighting Dog began walking off and the excitement of the moment had begun to wear off. When they had first made the announcement, White Swan was thrilled for them, of course. How could she not be? But once they began to leave, realization set in making her began to wonder.

First Mountain Lion Guides and Owl Sees Truth, now Fighting Dog and Porcupine Smiles…

“Ko‘nali? What is it?” asked Black Wolf as he sat down next to her, trying to understand the look on her face.

For a few more moments, she wondered if she should even bring it up to Black Wolf. Would it even matter? But when he prodded again, she knew she had to just say it.

“Bells? What’s on your mind?”

She sighed and turned to look at him, deciding to just blurt it out. “Why haven’t we moved on, Jake?”

He gave her a puzzled look. “What do you mean?”

“First Mountain Lion Guides and Owl Sees Truth and now your brother and Porcupine Smiles? Why not us? Haven’t we known each other longer than any of them have?”

Black Wolf nodded. “Yes, we have.”

“Then why…”

He took her hand in his, unable to look into her eyes. “I just didn’t want to pressure you into doing something that you didn’t want to do. I know how you feel about your freedom.”

White Swan nearly gaped at him. Her freedom! He was worried she’d turn him down because she liked her freedom?

She shook her head as she took both of his hands in hers, making him look at her. “Jake, you have it all wrong! I do value my freedom, but that’s not what I see when I look at you. I want a life with you. I want to share my freedom with you! I love you, Black Wolf.”

She watched as his eyes lit up at her declaration. “You do?”

She nodded as she smiled at him. “Yes, Jake, I do.”

With a soft laugh, he cupped her face in his hands, then kissed her. Before the kiss could get too heated, he pulled back to look into her warm, brown eyes.

“I love you, Isabella Marie Swan.”

She gave him a beautiful smile. “I love you too, Black Wolf.”

He grinned before reclaiming her lips for another thorough kiss. This one was more intense and lingered until the need to come up for air became vital. When Black Wolf finally leaned away, he took a few deep breaths then took her hands in his before looking into her eyes.

“Bells…”

“Black Wolf!” came Fighting Dog’s shout as he pushed through the foliage, stumbling into their view. When they both looked up at him, he dropped the news.

“The elders are calling everyone back to the council building. They’ve made a decision!”