Chapter 9

Reminders: The parts in ITALICS is the characters speaking in the fictional Quedeyona language. Remember to refer to the "Cast of Characters" discussion page if you can't remember who is who since I have updated some of the names!


Disclaimer: I do not own the books of the Twilight series. I also do not own anything from the FICTIONAL Quedeyona nation. Nor do I claim to know exactly what life was like for any Native American tribes in the past. This story is purely from my imagination and is in NO WAY meant to reflect the real Native American tribes that once existed or still exist today.



Chapter 9

Mouse Daydreams frowned as she watched the group of slaves that were being escorted into the village by members of the Alastigi tribe. The Alastigi were one of the neighboring tribes which occasionally traded goods with the Quedeyona. From what she could see, today the Alastigi were going to trade slaves for goods.

As she continued to stare at the group, White Swan walked up to her. “Rose, shouldn’t you be attending to your chores?”

Mouse Daydreams tsked. “Look at that Bella, as if the savages don’t have enough of us to do their dirty work for them.”

White Swan looked over to where Mouse Daydreams was staring to see what she was talking about. She watched as several of the leaders of the Quedeyona greeted the Alastigi people. With a sigh, she looked back at Mouse Daydreams.

“It’s not our concern for the moment Rose, you know there’s not much we can do in our situation.” White Swan knew that what she said wasn’t exactly true. There were things that could be done, but the slaves had to earn that right first.

Then there were those in Mouse Daydreams’ predicament, those who couldn’t or wouldn’t do anything to help themselves. They wouldn’t even listen to anyone who tried to help them or believe that their lives could get better if they would just work for it.

White Swan knew there was a way for her to earn the right to leave Crow Flies and his family, but she wasn’t in that position yet. Then again, she also wasn’t that upset about being their slave since they didn’t mistreat her or put her down in any way. Only Badger Snaps had done that, but he’d been put in his place.

Plus, despite what Mouse Daydreams said most tribe members who owned slaves only had them to help with the burden of caring for their families and the like. In truth, White Swan often felt like a maid more than a slave since her family treated her with respect and often worked alongside her.

Though she knew what Mouse Daydreams was feeling and knew she would probably carry hate for the tribes in her heart if she had been treated like Mouse Daydreams, White Swan couldn’t do that. She had realized long ago that no matter what the color of their skin was, there could be good or bad in anyone.

Mouse Daydreams scoffed as she finally turned to look at White Swan. “Our situation? Oh please, I think situation isn’t the right word to use.”

With a toss of her hair, she walked off still wearing a frown on her face. White Swan continued to watch as the Alastigi traded with the Quedeyona for a few more moments before continuing on her own way.

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Bright Wolf looked at the two slaves he had just purchased from the Alastigi before he motioned to his wife. When Gentle Otter walked over to him he spoke to her in Quedeyona.

“I think it might be a good idea to ask our eldest son for his help in translating for you and the two new additions to our family. I have a feeling his patience and calm manners will help when dealing with one of them.”

As she looked the two girls over, she could tell which one he was talking about. “Yes, I think I have to agree with you. Let me go get him now.”

Bright Wolf nodded to her before she walked away to find their son, then his attention returned to the two girls whom the Alastigi brave was escorting towards him. The blonde one seemed rather quiet and didn’t say much to the brave as she walked alongside him. However, the brave had a firm hand on the brown-haired girl’s arm, trying to make her walk along with them.

She seemed to be resisting him as she tried to yank her arm out of his grip every so often while yelling at him in English. Bright Wolf frowned as he watched their interaction, something told him she wasn’t acting that way just for spite.

That was why he had decided to ask his son for help since he was better at speaking the English language. Hopefully that would help the girl ease into her new life better than she had with the Alastigi. At least he hoped it would work since he and his wife really needed help with their everyday lives.

Both of his sons were grown now, but while Black Wolf still lived with them only because he hadn’t had the time to find his own home yet, Fighting Dog was already living on his own. Then there was the fact that they no longer had the two slaves that had last worked for them.

One had been lost to freedom and another to marriage, so his wife was really in need of help now. Especially since neither one of them were getting any younger and their sons would more than likely have lives and families of their own soon. Bright Wolf had hoped to acquire a male and a female slave like he had last time, but there had been no sturdy young males in the group this time around. Still, he was hale enough to do what a male would do within the family’s daily life, so he would worry about acquiring a male slave later.

He just hoped these two new slaves would be enough to help out Gentle Otter once Black Wolf was gone from their home.

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“Hello, Bells.”

White Swan turned to see Black Wolf striding up to her with that familiar sunny smile on his face. “Hello Jake,” she replied as he moved to stand besides her.

They both watched the group that was still milling around not too far from them. Several Alastigi braves were already loading up the supplies they’d gotten from the trade of the slaves.

“I’m sorry I have not seen you these last few days, I have been helping my father with a few things,” Black Wolf said, as he turned to look at White Swan’s profile.

“It’s okay, Jake. I’ve been rather busy too,” she gave him a smile that said she completely understood.

Before Black Wolf had a chance to say anything else, his mother called his name. “Black Wolf, there you are! I have been looking for you!”

Black Wolf nodded to his mother and indicated White Swan with his hand. “Mother, you remember White Swan.”

Gentle Otter turned to look at White Swan with a genuine smile. “Oh yes! White Swan, you look well! And so grown up! How have you been, honey?”

White Swan returned her smile. “I am doing well, Gentle Otter. How about you?”


"Fine, just fine. I hope you don’t mind, but my husband and I need our son’s help for a while.”

As White Swan shook her head Black Wolf asked his mother, “What is it that you need me for?”


“Your father just purchased two slaves for us and he believes your calm demeanor may be the best thing to talk to one of them.”

Black Wolf arched an eyebrow. “Is there something wrong with her?”


“Well, from what we saw, we think she may have had authority issues with her last owner. So, we’re hoping that when you speak to her in English she won’t feel so threatened.”

Black Wolf nodded before looking over to White Swan longingly for a moment. Suddenly getting an idea, he looked back at his mother. “Father brought two slaves right?”


“That’s right.”


“What if we take White Swan along to help too? I’m sure Crow Flies won’t mind letting White Swan help us out for an hour or two.”

Gentle Otter smiled as she looked at White Swan. “Why that’s a great idea, Black Wolf! Would you mind helping us out for a while, White Swan?”


“I wouldn’t mind at all. I’d love to help,” replied White Swan.

“Great! Black Wolf, why don’t you take White Swan with you to meet your father at our house while I go ask Crow Flies if it is fine to borrow her for a while.”

Black Wolf nodded as he motioned for White Swan to follow him. “Okay, we are on our way.”

As the two of them walked towards Black Wolf’s family home, White Swan spoke up in a teasing manner. “What’s the matter, Jake? Don’t think you can handle a willful female?”

She grinned to herself when she saw the blush spread over Black Wolf’s face. “It is not that, I just thought if she met you she would see that it isn’t such a bad thing being here.”

“Oh,” White Swan replied, trying to hide her grin as they continued walking on.

A few moments later, she heard Black Wolf mumble. “And I get to spend a little more time with you too.”

Her smile was blinding when she turned it on Black Wolf. “I’m glad I get to spend a little more time with you too.”

Black Wolf returned her smile with one of his own as he reached out to give her hand a squeeze. They held hands for a few more moments before letting go, just before they reached his home. They could see Bright Wolf outside of his home talking with the Alastigi brave while two girls stood besides them.

Even from the distance they could clearly see how one girl seemed to be arguing with the Alastigi brave. The brave held her arm in a firm grip even as she continued to snap at him. He appeared to be trying to ignore her while he conversed with Bright Wolf.

As they neared, Black Wolf could hear Bright Wolf trying to negotiate with the Alastigi Brave in the Alastigi language. He was trying to convince the brave to let the girl go, believing she wouldn’t run like the brave insisted she would.

Bright Wolf stopped in mid-sentence when he noticed Black Wolf and White Swan approaching and switched to Quedeyona. “Ah! Black Wolf, I’m glad you are here! Would you do me a favor and talk to the two new slaves while I talk to this brave?”


“Of course father. I have brought White Swan along to help in welcoming them to their new home while mother is making sure Crow Flies knows where she is.”

Bright Wolf winked at White Swan. “That is a great idea! My thanks, White Swan.”


“It is an honor Bright Wolf,” replied White Swan with a smile. “It’s the least I can do after everything you and your wife have done for me through the years.”

With a nod, Bright Wolf turned to the Alastigi Brave and told him that his son would be taking the girls into their new home. The brave glanced at Black Wolf before looking at the girl who was still trying to jerk her arm out of his hold.

Black Wolf walked up to the girl and smiled at her when she turned her attention to him. “Hello, I am Black Wolf, son of Bright Wolf and Gentle Otter. If you will come with me, I will show you to your new home.”

The moment he had started talking to her, she had stopped struggling and stared at him with wide eyes. “You…you speak English!”

He nodded. “Yes, and while my father does not speak it so well, he understands most of it. But my mother does not know it like he does, so it will be up to me to help you and my parents understand each other for now, yes?”

She nodded. “O-okay.”

His smile widened. “Okay. May I ask what your name is?”

“A-Angela.”

“It is nice to meet you Angela. This is White Swan, who will also be helping to translate.”

White Swan moved to stand next to Black Wolf and held out her hand to the girl. “Hi Angela, I’m Isabella Swan, but you can also call me Bella. That’s the name I was born with.”

Angela shook her hand and leaned in closer so that only White Swan could hear her next question. “Are you their slave?”

White Swan shook her head. “Crow Flies and his family are the ones I belong to, but I help out others from time to time since I can speak both English and Quedeyona fluently.”

“Quedeyona?” asked Angela.

White Swan nodded. “It’s the language and the name of this tribe.”

“And you speak it?”

White Swan answered her in Quedeyona. “Yes, I speak it very well.”

Angela’s eyes widened once more. “Wow, um, what did you say?”

“She said, yes, I speak it very well,” replied Black Wolf.

“Oh, right.”

“If you will follow me, I will show you our home,” said Black Wolf as he indicated the house they stood in front of.

As White Swan talked to the other girl, who said her name was Iris, Black Wolf led them all into the house while Bright Wolf remained outside talking to the brave.

*************************************************

Angela listened as White Swan explained some of the chores they generally did for their owners as well as the proper etiquette that everyone in the tribe tended to follow. She was amazed that someone like White Swan seemed to fit in so well and that the tribe wasn’t as uncivilized as the last one she had been in.

Here they seemed to be as polite as the one named Black Wolf had proved. And even though she hadn’t talked to him directly, she knew Bright Wolf was just as civilized as his son was. As she continued to talk to White Swan and Black Wolf, she began to realize that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad living with the Quedeyona tribe after all.

As White Swan helped both her and Iris get settled into their new room, Angela leaned in to ask her another question. “So, Bella how is it that they know English?”

White Swan shrugged as she smoothed out the furs to be used for the girl’s bedding. “Bright Wolf doesn’t know it was well as Jake does.”

“Jake?”

White Swan looked up as she realized her slip-up. “Um, oh! I mean Black Wolf.”

When Angela gave her a puzzled look, White Swan sighed. “Okay, the short version is this. Bright Wolf was once a great warrior and he’s a keen negotiator as well as the chief of the tribe. He learned the little English he knows from a trapper who lives not too far from here. Thinking it would be wise for someone else to know English to be able to communicate and negotiate with the whites, he asked the council to send some braves to be schooled by them. Since he is a well respected elder of the council and the chief, they agreed. His son, Black Wolf was one of the braves chosen to go. And that’s why he knows it better than Bright Wolf.”

“So, how’d he get the name, Jake?”

“It’s the name that those at the school gave him while he was there, they named him Jacob actually. The other braves that went also have English names. But here, they use their Quedeyona names. I’m the only one who calls him Jake and he’s the only Quedeyona that calls me Bells.”

Angela gave her a knowing look. “I see.”

White Swan didn’t reply to the unspoken innuendo as she finished helping the girls fix up their room.

After a few minutes Angela asked, “So Bella, how old were you when you came to live with this tribe?”

“Ten.”

“And now you’re…”

“Sixteen.”

Angela’s eyes widened. “Really? I’m sixteen too.”

White Swan gave her a smile. “How long have you been with the tribes?”

“I was with that other tribe for about two years. They caught me when I was trying to run away from my home.”

White Swan frowned. “You were trying to run away?”

Angela shrugged. “What can I say? My mother worked in a saloon and I was tired of keeping the drunks she kept welcoming into our home from slobbering all over me, not that she cared one way or the other.”

White Swan grimaced. “Oh.”

“Yeah well at first I was almost sorry that I’d run away, but I figure anything’s better than that was.”

“Right.”

Black Wolf walked into the room and nodded to them. “I see White Swan has helped you both to get settled.”

Both Iris and Angela nodded.

“That’s good. I’m sure she will be more than happy to help translate for you two whenever she is free to do so. And since I live here, I will help you two also. Hopefully in time you will be able to learn our language a little bit more.”

Angela glanced at White Swan for a moment before looking at Black Wolf. “You live here too?”

Black Wolf nodded. “I have been away for many years and have not had the chance to find my own place yet.”

“Right, you were at school.”

Black Wolf grinned at White Swan. “I see she has told you of my education.”

White Swan chuckled. “And of Bright Wolf’s too.”

Black Wolf nodded. “That’s fine. Feel free to ask me anything you want Angela, I will answer if I can.”

She nodded.

“That is the same for you, Iris.” Black Wolf added as he looked in Iris’ direction.

Iris stopped what she was doing to give him a nod. “Thank you.”

He turned to look at White Swan. “Have you explained everything to them?”

She nodded. “I think so, but I also told them that Gentle Otter and Bright Wolf will work with them until they are both comfortable with things.”

“That is true. As will I,” replied Black Wolf.

Gentle Otter walked into the room with a smile. “Ah, I see that White Swan has been helping them to get settled.”

White Swan nodded. “I have told them what I can.”


“I thank you, White Swan, for your time.” As White Swan nodded, she turned to look at the two new girls. “Now if they will come with me, I will show them how to cook meals. My youngest son is coming to join us for our evening meal, so I would like to get started on that.”

White Swan turned to Angela to translate. “She wants you to go with her so that she can show you how to cook the meals. Their youngest son, Fighting Dog, is coming to eat with them tonight.”

Angela nodded. “He lives here too?”

“No, Fighting Dog has his own home,” replied Black Wolf.

“Oh, I see. And are there any more members of the family?”

Black Wolf shook his head. “My parents only have my younger brother and I. That is why they need you two to help them. Once I move out, they will need others young enough to care for them.”

Angela nodded. “Well, then I am more than ready to help them out.” She turned to smile at Gentle Otter. “I will help out any way I can.”

White Swan translated Angela’s words to Gentle Otter, who returned Angela’s smile. “Thank you.”

“She said thank you,” replied White Swan.

As Gentle Otter motioned for the two girls to follow her out of the house, Black Wolf turned to White Swan and spoke in Quedeyona. “Well, I think my parents can handle it from here. I will escort you home in a few moments, okay?”

“Okay.”

White Swan followed Black Wolf into the front room, where a bewildered Fighting Dog was looking at the two new girls while Gentle Otter was explaining to him that they were the new slaves his father had just purchased.

Fighting Dog finally turned to his mother, giving her a confused stare. “Father didn’t say he was getting them right away! I thought he was going to get some that had been with our tribe for a while, not new ones.”


“Oh, Fighting Dog who could he have gotten from the tribe? All the good ones are already with a family, but these two will be good with us. And your brother will help us to communicate with them when he can. We have also been blessed to have White Swan here today, to help the girls get settled.”

Angela had been sizing the new guy up, but turned to White Swan when she entered the room. “This must be the younger brother.”

At White Swan’s nod, Angela turned to look at him once more, her curiosity clear on her face.

Gentle Otter turned to the girls and spoke in stilted English. “An-gee-lah an I-is, mai sun, Fie-tin-doog.”

Iris nodded to Fighting Dog, but didn’t say anything. Angela held out her hand to him which made him look at her curiously.

“She is greeting you the way the whites do,” said White Swan.

As Fighting Dog stuck his hand in the air the way Angela had hers, both Black Wolf and White Swan chuckled.

“You clasp her hand and shake it,” instructed Black Wolf, mimicking the movement with his own hands.

Fighting Dog glanced at Black Wolf before turning to look at Angela again. He hesitantly clasped her hand and when he did, she shook it. Instantly, he felt something shock his skin, as if she had rubbed her hands against fur too fast before she touched him.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Angela,” she said, a little softly.

Black Wolf translated as they slowly let go of each others hand.

“I am Fighting Dog,” he replied awkwardly, as he pointed to himself.

Angela frowned. “Well, since I can’t say that, I’m going to call you…” she paused to put a finger against her chin as if thinking. “Oh! I’ll call you Embry!” She finally exclaimed as she clapped her hands together in glee.

Both White Swan and Black Wolf laughed before Black Wolf translated that for his younger brother.

He shook his head and frowned at Angela. “No, I Fie-tin-doog!”

Angela rolled her eyes. “I know, but you look like an Embry, so that’s what I’m gonna call you.”

Once more Black Wolf translated and just as Fighting Dog and Angela were about to get into a tug of war over names, Gentle Otter interrupted and ushered the girls outside to begin the meal. Since White Swan accompanied them outside, Black Wolf was the only one to see the smile that spread over his brother’s face as he watched Angela disappear through the door.

“I think she gave the other tribe a hard time too,” Black Wolf said to his brother.

Fighting Dog turned to him with a twinkle in his eye. “And I can imagine what a little spitfire she’s going to be here.”

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White Swan was still translating for Gentle Otter and the two girls when Bright Wolf returned from seeing the Alastigi braves off.

“Ah, I see my beautiful wife has already managed to win over the new girls.” He leaned over and placed a kiss on her neck when he thought no one was looking.

Gentle Otter swatted his arm. “Oh now, behave! They are very nice girls if I say so myself. I think they will be wonderful to have with us.”


“I am glad.” He turned to the two girls and smiled. “You are welcome to my home. I am Bright Wolf.”

They nodded as Angela answered first, “I’m Angela.”

Iris answered next, a bit hesitantly. “I am Iris.”

He repeated each name in turn, saying them much clearer than his wife had. Then with a nod, he leaned in to kiss his wife on the cheek. As she swatted him again and playfully chastised him for showing affection in public, he chuckled before giving the girls a wink and disappearing inside.

White Swan couldn’t help but grin at the way Black Wolf’s parents were with each other. She could remember her own parents being that affectionate towards each other, even in front of others. It had been something that she had loved to see. Now being able to see that kind of affection alive in the tribe, it gave her hope that someday she would be a part of something like that too.

She was still smiling about that when Black Wolf walked out of the house and told his mother that he was going to escort White Swan home. Gentle Otter thanked White Swan for her help before shooing them away then going back to helping the two girls with the meal.

As the two of them walked through the tribe towards White Swan’s home, Black Wolf glanced at her a few times. Although she seemed to be lost in her thoughts, he knew they had to be pleasant ones since she was smiling.

“Can I ask what you are thinking of?”

White Swan blinked and looked up at him. “Sorry, what was that?”

He chuckled. “I wanted to know what you were thinking of. You have this really nice smile.”

White Swan blushed. “Oh, thanks. Um, I was just thinking of my parents.”

“Oh, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

She shook her head. “It’s okay. I was just remembering how they were with each other. I mean, you could look at them and just know how much they really loved each other. It was in everything they did.”

Black Wolf nodded. “I’m sure they really loved you too.”

White Swan smiled. “Yeah, they loved all of us.”

“All of you?”

“My older brother, my younger sister and me.”

Black Wolf nodded again, but remained silent not wanting to spoil White Swan’s mood.

When he didn’t speak, she added, “I can tell your parents love you and Fighting Dog too.”

Black Wolf gave her a puzzled look. “You can?”

She nodded. “Uh huh. And you can look at them and see just how much they love each other too, just like my parents used to.”

Black Wolf smiled as he realized what had got her thinking of her parents. “You do know that there is no word or definition for love in our language right?”

“I know, but that doesn’t mean you don’t feel it. You can see that your parents feel it, for each other and for their sons. There may not be a word for it, but it’s there.”

“Yes it’s there,” came his soft reply.

As they neared her home, Black Wolf stopped her before they got too close. Making sure they were out of sight of prying eyes, he turned her to face him while cupping her cheek in his hand.

“Thank you for helping us out today, Bells.”

She smiled. “You’re welcome.”

“If I can arrange it, would you like to go visit Jasper again in a few days?”

“Oh yes, I’d love to!”

“Good, I will let you know when we can go, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good night, Bells.” He said softly, as he leaned over and brushed his lips over her cheek, lingering at the corner of her mouth for a few moments.

When he finally pulled away she watched him turn to leave before whispering, “Good night, Jake.”