chapter 23

Black Wolf awoke with a start to the sounds of voices nearby. It took him a moment to get his bearings and to realize where he was. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, he stared up at the sky, sucking in a sharp breath. Lifting his head, he looked down to see White Swan curled up against his side with her head on his chest while one of her arms was thrown over his waist.

Her light, steady breathing indicated that she was still asleep, unlike him. Then again, he had been trained from a young age to be a warrior, which meant he didn’t sleep through many sounds that were loud enough to invade his dreams. Sighing with regret as the sounds of the village continued to reach his ears, he reached down to run his fingers through the silky strands of her hair.

When she sighed, then snuggled closer to his body in her sleep, he couldn’t help the tender smile that spread over his face. Wishing they could stay like that for a little while longer, he knew the sounds he was hearing was the village preparing to send the warriors off to raid the Danasga tribe.

Leaning over to press his lips close to her temple, he spoke in a soft, but firm voice. “Bells? Wake up,ko‘nali.”

She mumbled something before opening her eyes to blink sleepily at him. “Mm, hi Jake.”

He smiled. “Good morning, hi'tam.”

She was about to reply when realization set in. She sat up with a gasp as she looked around in horror. “Oh no! We slept through the night out here!”

Black Wolf couldn’t help but grin at her disbelief. “Yes we did. We were fortunate that it was a rather warm night for the middle of the winter season.”

She cocked her head to the side as if listening to the sounds in the distance. “Fortunate? But Jake, that sounds like the entire village is awake! Someone is surely looking for us right now! I’m sure everyone is preparing for the raid!”

“I doubt anyone is too worried yet, but we should get dressed and return soon.”

White Swan nodded her agreement as she started to gather her clothes, but before she could get too far, Black Wolf stopped her.

“Jake wha…”

Cupping her face in his hands, he leaned closer, taking her lips in for a gentle kiss. He could feel her smile against his lips before she wrapped her arms around his shoulders as her body leaned into his.

When breathing became necessary, Black Wolf pulled away from her lips to smile at her. “I love you.”

Her face lit up as she replied, “I love you too.”

They stared at each other for a few moments until the sounds interfered again.

White Swan shook her head as she stood up and began to get dressed. “I have to hurry! I’m sure Crow Flies needs me to help him prepare his son for the raid.”

Black Wolf nodded as he got to his feet to get dressed also. “Emmett and I prepared last night, so there shouldn’t be too much for us to do this morning.”

“Do you think they will figure out where we were? I mean, will there be any punishment?” she asked as she nibbled on her bottom lip.

Black Wolf reached out to take her hands in his. Looking into her eyes, he made sure she would understood what he was saying.

“Crow Flies knows of my intentions with you, even if he doesn’t know that you have accepted. He will not say or do anything to you. As for me, I intend to ask the council for your rights as soon as I return from this raid. At least for the time being you are safe with Crow Flies until I can take you into my home.”

Her eyes widened with hope. “Do you mean that? As soon as you return?”

He nodded as he beamed at her. “Yes. I can’t wait to begin a life with you at my side. As soon as I return, I want to marry you.”

She threw her arms around him. “Me too, Jake!”

He chuckled as he hugged her close. They held on to each other for a few moments before helping each other to finish dressing. When they were ready, they shared one last kiss before slowly pulling apart. They knew time was running short, but neither of them was ready to let go of the other just yet.

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Black Wolf had just finished tying the last weapon to his horse when he spied Mountain Lion Guides approaching him with Mouse Daydreams not to far behind him.

Mountain Lion Guides came to a stop besides him with a hint of a smile on his face. “Ready now?”

Black Wolf chuckled at the jibe. Fighting Dog and Mountain Lion Guides had been nearly relentless in their teasing when they saw the usually punctual Black Wolf come tearing into the group of warriors, loaded down with all the things he was taking with him to the raid.

White Coyote had already brought Black Wolf’s horse, the packhorse and his own horse when he had arrived at the gathering place earlier. But it had been clear to everyone that Black Wolf was running late. Of course, no one knew that it wasn’t simply a case of oversleeping that had made him late.

Still, his friends teased him as he loaded the packhorse, then began to prepare himself and his stallion for the raid. Now it was nearly time for the raiding party to mount their horses to begin their journey to the Danasga tribe which meant Black Wolf had to manage to get everything ready in record time.

“I’m ready,” he answered.

Mountain Lion Guides nodded, then continued to talk to Black Wolf as Mouse Daydreams walked over to where White Coyote was double checking his own horse.

“Any idea what time Black Wolf went to sleep last night?” She asked in a whisper so that the others couldn’t hear her.

“No idea,” replied White Coyote just as quietly. “I was fast asleep by the time he must have come home. And when I ventured outside this morning, he was sitting outside talking to his mother.”

Mouse Daydreams shrugged. “Must have had a lot to do before today then. Anyway, I wanted to give you this before you left. I-I mean, I know we can’t have a public goodbye, so I made this for you.”

She held out her hand, then when White Coyote reached out his own hand, she dropped her creation into it. Sitting in the middle of his palm was a thin leather strip with colored beads etched from rocks found around the area. The beads surrounded a small bag that was in the middle of the strip. When White Coyote held the strip up from both ends, Mouse Daydreams explained what it was.

“I put a few locks of my hair in the bag f-for good luck. There’s still room for you to put anything small in there. I-I think it’s long enough to wear as a necklace, b-but I can make it smaller when you come back so you can wear it around your wrist or s-something.”

White Coyote fingered the rocks and bag. “You made these?”

She nodded hesitantly. “I w-wanted you to have something to t-take with you. S-so you wouldn’t feel so alone.”

He looked up at her with a genuine smile. “Thank you, Rose,” he said as he tied it around his neck.

The leather strip was long enough for him to tuck the small bag beneath his shirt for safe keeping.

“It’s perfect,” he added as he leaned in to give her a hug.

Mouse Daydreams returned his hug before stepping back, looking nervously at anything else but him. Even though it was known that women did not physically say goodbye to their warriors in public, White Coyote didn’t seem to mind not following that particular etiquette.

Owl Sees Truth had said her goodbyes to Mountain Lion Guides in private, so she was now standing with the rest of his family away from the raiding party. Porcupine Smiles was with Gentle Otter while White Swan was with Crow Flies’ family since they too had said their private goodbyes to their loved ones.

Mouse Daydreams nodded to White Coyote before moving back to where Mountain Lion Guides was. He finished his conversation with Black Wolf before escorting Mouse Daydreams back to the family she now lived with. Incidentally, they stood right next to Owl Sees Truth and Mountain Lion Guides’ family. Porcupine Smiles, Gentle Otter, White Swan and Crow Flies’ family stood on the other side of Mountain Lion Guides’ family.

As Mountain Lion Guides walked back to his horse, he thought of the amazing parting he and his raven-haired beauty had shared earlier that morning. He had woken up to the smell of cooked salmon and fresh fruit. Upon opening his eyes, his gaze alighted on Owl Sees Truth who was lying next to him with a smile on her face. She wore absolutely nothing at all while her loose hair fell down her back and shoulder as she propped herself up on her elbow.

The plate of food was on the bedding between them. With a grin, she leaned over to kiss his forehead before saying, “Eat up, you’re going to need all of your energy for your journey.”

He couldn’t believe how good of a mood she had been in as they shared the breakfast she had made for them. She even told him that she was surprised he had slept through all of the preparations, but when he was still asleep when she had finished, she quickly gotten undressed to slide back into bed with him. She had only been gazing at him for a few moments when the smell of the food had finally woken him up.

After their breakfast in bed, they had made love before hurrying to bathe, then gathered the things he was going to load onto his pack horse. It was while he was preparing to leave that she had become more somber. Still, she had refused to cry or carry on like several of the women in the village were prone to do.

Instead, she had bravely helped him prepare, told him to be careful, then had given him one last thorough kiss. Then right before he walked out of their home, she looked him in the eyes and told him that she loved him, so he had to make sure that he returned to her.

The look of love in her eyes had not only made him feel like the luckiest man alive, but it had also made him silently pray to the Great Spirit that he would be able to return so he could keep seeing that look of love she had for him. Outwardly, he had nodded his affirmation as he cupped her cheek affectionately, then schooled himself to walk away from her.

He knew she had left right after him to go to meet with his parents while he joined the gathering raiding party. Then she had shown up with his parents not too long after that with Mouse Daydreams and her new family right behind them.

Mountain Lion Guides glanced over at Black Wolf who was currently checking his stallion over once more as Fighting Dog walked up to them.

“Wow! You are actually ready to go on time!” exclaimed Fighting Dog in Quedeyona, prompting Mountain Lion Guides to snicker in response.

Black Wolf gave Mountain Lion Guides a rude Quedeyona gesture before glaring at his younger brother. “Don’t you have something better to do rather than pick on me?”

He had purposely answered in English knowing Fighting Dog still had some trouble understanding it. Yet Fighting Dog answered him with a smug grin.

"No, I am ready, unlike you. All I have to do now is mount my horse.''

Black Wolf tried not to roll his eyes at Fighting Dog’s sarcastic remark as he pretended to ignore him while busying himself with his stallion. Both Fighting Dog and Mountain Lion Guides chuckled as they returned to their own mounts. Fighting Dog smoothed the mane of his horse before glancing in the direction of the crowd where Porcupine Smiles stood.

She glanced in his direction and smiled. He returned the smile while he gave her a little wave. Her smile widened as she nodded to him, but that was all. It made him proud that she could restrain herself from showing too much emotion in public this time around.

From the moment he had told her that he was going with the raiding party, she had tried to be on her best behavior. He knew she was trying not to be overly emotional, instead she tried to be more like the traditional women of the village. Despite her willingness to conform to the ways of the tribe, he knew that just wasn’t the way she was made.

Of course, he loved that she was anything but restrained in private. In fact, he was certain that it was her ability to be so animated that helped them both to communicate and understand each other when the language failed them. He had been learning a lot from Porcupine Smiles now that they were married.

When it was just the two of them, Porcupine Smiles became a patient and gentle teacher. Granted, she still liked to tease him from time to time, but he could tell when she was being playful now. She never teased to be hurtful. Instead, it was her way of being flirtatious with him or a way to lighten the mood.

Still, it had only been a few hours after he had told her that he was going on the raid when the tears appeared in her eyes while her movements became full of anxiety. Even then, she had refused to let go of her emotions until the night before his departure. He wholeheartedly blamed himself for her emotional state at that point since he had been the one to instigate it.

It had started right after their evening meal. He had waited until the fire had been banked and everything else had been done for the night. Then he had taken her hand to lead her to their bed.

Lying down besides her, he looked into her light hazel eyes while running his fingers through her hair. When she smiled up at him, he returned her smile with one of his own.

“You are so beautiful,” he had whispered in her language.

The tears began to leak out of her eyes as she placed a trembling hand against his cheek. “Don’t go,” came her barely there reply.

Fighting Dog closed his eyes with a soft sigh which she misinterpreted as his way of being disappointed with her ability to hold her feelings in.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted out through trembling lips, “I thought I could do this, but…I can’t.”

He opened his eyes at her words to see the apologetic look in her eyes. Leaning down, he took her lips into his, kissing her like a starving man. Then he slowly pulled away to look into her eyes again.

Wiping her tears away with his thumbs he said, “Do not apologize. You do nothing wrong. I want you to be just the way you are. The way you always have been.”

“Oh Fighting Dog,” she cried as she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him so tightly.

He hugged her back for a few moments until one thing had led to another until they were soon making love. The fact that she had clung to him, urging him on as if she was trying to bury him deep enough inside of her so that he could stay there forever, had only added to the love he felt for her.

Afterwards, they laid there, wrapped up in each others arms waiting for their breathing to return to normal. Then after a few moments of silence Porcupine Smiles had begun to sob harder, prompting him to hold her tighter to his body. His hands spread soothing circles over her back as he whispered endearments to her until she had finally fallen asleep.

He remained awake for a little while longer, simply cherishing the feeling of holding her in his arms and marveled over the fact that he couldn’t imagine sharing his life, his home and his love with anyone else but her. Who would’ve thought a shy Quedeyona brave like him would be attracted to someone so completely opposite like her.

Now, he was certain that not only was he attracted to her, but she had swiftly become his entire world. There was nothing she did now that seemed offensive or strange to him. Now he was able to welcome the differences between them as if he had been doing so his entire life.

When they had woken up that morning, he had spent more time saying goodbye to her, letting her know that he never wanted her to change the way she was. She had still given him a tearful goodbye, telling him to be careful, but she wasn’t as upset as she had been the night before.

By the time they had left their home, he knew she had made herself strong again for his sake. She refused to embarrass him in any way, especially if none of the other women had ever done such a thing to their loved ones. Silently he was proud of her will to be strong, but he still held her hand until they had met up with his mother.

Once there, he gently squeezed her hand before letting go to say goodbye to his mother. Then he walked to his horse, leaving his wife and mother to comfort each other. He had never thought it would be one of the hardest things he would ever have to do in his lifetime.

Even now, watching Black Wolf look over his horse and belongings one last time, he could feel the heavy weight in his chest, yet resisted the urge to look in Porcupine Smiles’ direction one more time. The lighthearted banter he and Mountain Lion Guides had with Black Wolf did nothing to lighten the weight, so he was glad when the call came for all of the warriors to mount their horses so that they could be on their way.

As the raiding party began to make their way out of the village, those who were staying behind continued to watch the group until they were just a shadow on the horizon. Once they were gone, little by little, the crowd began to disperse as daily life went on in the village.

Owl Sees Truth told Mountain Lion Guides’ parents that she would be joining them once she said hello to Porcupine Smiles and Gentle Otter. As she joined them, Mouse Daydreams’ owners came to talk to Gentle Otter too. When White Swan came over to talk to them also, the four young women moved off a little further from the others, yet continued to talk in Quedeyona.

“So how have things been going, Porcupine Smiles?” asked Owl Sees Truth.

Porcupine Smiles grinned. “They’ve been going well.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Really? You haven’t had any problems?”

Porcupine Smiles chuckled at Owl Sees Truth’s amazement. “No problems at all. Why? Someone tell you otherwise?”

Owl Sees Truth quickly shook her head. “No of course not! It’s just with this being your um… and his language… well, you know.”

By this time even White Swan was grinning as she teased, “Why Owl Sees Truth, I thought you knew that the language of love has no language barriers.”


“And trust me, my friend,” announced Porcupine Smiles, “there are absolutely no problems between Fighting Dog and I.”

At Porcupine Smiles’ smug grin Owl Sees Truth gave her an equally smug one. “No problems huh? Well that’s good! I’m glad I’m not the only one enjoying married life.”

The two of them shared a secret giggle until Porcupine Smiles turned to look at White Swan standing there with a smile on her face.

“Oh White Swan! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”


“We didn’t mean to…” corrected Owl Sees Truth.

“No that’s okay. I understand what you both said. Really, I do.”

At her widening grin, Owl Sees Truth and Porcupine Smiles glanced at each other before turning back to look at White Swan again with suspicion in their eyes.

“In fact, I can’t wait to start enjoying married life myself!”

Porcupine Smiles’ mouth fell open as Owl Sees Truth gasped and asked, “You mean?”

White Swan nodded. Her eyes sparkling with mirth. “Yes! Black Wolf intends to ask the council for my rights as soon as he returns!”

Porcupine Smiles squealed in joy as she and Owl Sees Truth hugged White Swan in turn.

“That’s wonderful, White Swan!” cried Owl Sees Truth.

“Yes! I’m so glad!” echoed Porcupine Smiles.

“Thanks, me too,” answered White Swan.

The three of them continued to laugh as they shared their joy with each other. None of them noticed how silent and forlorn Mouse Daydreams was as she stood nearby. Having heard every word, all she could think about was what White Coyote was going to do when he got wind of his sister’s news.

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Another figure stood seething in the shadows of a nearby building. She too had heard the news, making her livid. How dare Black Wolf tell that slave that he would be hand-fasted with her once he returned from the raid! He never should have promised her such a thing! The council would never allow it!

Resisting the urge to march out there to slap that silly grin off of the po’tik face, she spun on her heel instead, deciding to go find her father to put her latest plan into action. Since Badger Snaps wasn’t bending to her wiles, she knew she might be able to still count on White Coyote.

She knew White Coyote had gone on the raid in order to earn more goods so that he could purchase his freedom and that of his sister’s. It was now just a matter of making sure that his collection was more than enough to do so, but if that didn’t help, she would make sure her father used his persuasion skills to swing the council’s favor towards hand-fasting her to their future Chief. Her father would make sure the council could see just how much a union between Black Wolf and Brown Skunk would benefit the village and its future.

With her father’s help, she would make sure that by the time Black Wolf returned home, nothing would stand in the way of getting what she wanted. Not even a measly little slave.

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The raiding party had been riding for the better part of the day, having stopped once to rest the horses as well as a quick meal. Now as they continued on their way, Fighting Dog and Mountain Lion Guides flanked Black Wolf while White Coyote rode a little ways behind with another group.

“What is with you, brother? You have been smiling all day,” came Fighting Dog’s inquiry in English.

Mountain Lion Guides chuckled. “He’s right. You’re smiling as if you heard a really good secret.”

Black Wolf’s smile grew wider. “Oh, it’s not really a secret, at least it won’t be for long.”

Mountain Lion Guides leaned forward to raise an inquisitive eyebrow at Fighting Dog which he answered with one of his own.

“Okay, so are you going to let us in on this secret?” asked Mountain Lion Guides.

Black Wolf looked at Mountain Lion Guides for a moment before looking at his younger brother. Finally, he looked forward as he held his head higher. “I’m going to ask the council for White Swan’s rights as soon as I return to the village.”

Mountain Lion Guides grinned as Fighting Dog punched his brother on the shoulder. “Yes! It is about time brother!”

“Does White Swan know?” asked Mountain Lion Guides.

Black Wolf nodded. “She knows and she’s already accepted.”

“Well then, congratulations are in order!”

“Yes, con-grad-u-la-tion!” added Fighting Dog. “No doubt she is telling the others as we speak.”

“No doubt,” answered Black Wolf as he accepted their well-wishes. Even as the three of them celebrated their happiness, White Coyote silently fumed behind them. He had heard them despite the slight distance between the horses. He couldn’t believe his sister would have agreed to become the wife of a savage.

As the group continued on to their destination, he began to think of ways to keep his sister from marrying Black Wolf. He was absolutely certain that he could find a way to get Isabella away from the savage’s clutches if it was the last thing he’d ever do.

A/N: hi'tam is my Quedeyona word meaning: my heart. ;-)