Savage Ecstasy

by Janelle Taylor

  Each was aware of the strangeness which filed their bodies, minds and the very air in the teepee. To each came the thought,

  “here is the one I love and want.” There were no thoughts of past or future, only of here and now.

  He was both happy and shocked by the effect of only a smile on her. Why had he not tried this way before? His present actions held far more power over her than any force or threat. He had her totaly under his power with only tenderness. It was a sad pity he would soon disregard and reject this new discovery. He had found the knowledge and key to conquer her love and defiance, but he was unable to admit or accept it.

  His lips found hers and kissed her long and deep. He soon found her hands held him there for another and another. Her fiery response answered his cal. She returned every kiss and offered others. She yielded to the hunger and warmth he offered. He began to whisper soft words in Oglala to her as he caressed her and rained hot kisses over her face and throat. Even though she did not understand his meaning, his tone had the desired effect.

  “E-cana, ni-ye mitawa. Kokipa ikopa, Cinstinna. Kte lo Wanmdi Hota, Lese. Waste cedake… waste cedake .. .”For the first time, he alowed his emotions to run free. This time, there would be total giving and taking from both sides. Completely forgotten were her former intentions of giving in to avoid the teepee sa. She clung to him passionately. This was the avoid the teepee sa. She clung to him passionately. This was the joining she had long awaited. When he came to her, she met each thrust with a desire unbridled and out of control. She responded to him with instinctive moves. Lost in the heat of love and passion, she obeyed every command his mouth gave her. Al reason fled in the face of consuming love.

  Her senses were spinning. He was everywhere—his smel filed her nostrils; his voice sounded deep and husky in her ears; his touch burned like fire on her flesh. Her body ached for fulfilment and ecstasy. For these few, precious hours, there was no Indian or White; nor hate and cruelty; nor slave and master. There existed only man and woman; only Alisha and Gray Eagle; only love and desire, joined together in the act of giving al to each other, physicaly and emotionaly.

  Caught in the spiral of climbing passion, she wondered how she would ever want to escape him now. How could she bear to live without him after this night? How could she bear never to see him again? She had never known or possessed him this way, nor had he ever come to her with such tenderness before. How could she ever stop wanting or loving him now? She did not understand this change in him, but she hoped it would last forever. She had been wrong, for he was capable of love and tenderness. As the final thrust was given and accepted, both were lost in the throes of love, consummated to the fulest. He laid his head down beside hers as their breathing slowed to normal and a calm, relaxed serenity came. He was the first to realize how deep he had been lost in her love. He had been caught unprepared for both his or her response. He was alarmed to recal how nothing had mattered for those hours except Alisha and his need for her. He had been completely unaware of everything but her. Perhaps she had been completely unaware of everything but her. Perhaps she had been the one with the power over him. I cannot alow her this power or knowledge, he thought. It is too soon…

  Her passion ebbed and reality returned. She recaled her wanton, fierce surrender to him. Had she only imagined his response to her? She must know the truth now. “Wanmdi Hota…”

  Forcing his expression under control, he lifted a blank face and fathomless eyes to her. She waited for some sign or word. He offered nothing more than an expressionless glare. He knew what she asked him without words, but he could not bring himself to reply. She realized her love and desire had been so great she had let herself pretend he felt the same way to offset her shame. Humiliated by her discovery, she tried to pul out of his embrace. She was frightened by her emotions and behavior.

  What is the matter with me? she raged against herself. How could I have responded to him like that? I had no wil or desire to stop him or myself. I have lost al control over my body and mind. He rules them just like he rules my life.

  He raised his head and peered into her face as she struggled to pul free. She reddened in guilt and hurriedly looked away. He knew her fear and uneasiness at this sudden unleashing of hidden emotions, for he, too, felt the same panic and alarm he sensed in her. He also understood her loss of pride. She sees now she is mine of her own choice, he thought, and it confuses and frightens her. To aleviate the tension in the air, she said defensively, “Ya Wanmdi Hota, sha … hiya ya teepee sa… hiya teepee sa!”

  Nodding understanding, he guessed the purpose of the statement. He would let her believe she was only choosing him over the wokasketipi. She was aware of the ful truth about him and herself. He would give her time to accept these new facts about her herself. He would give her time to accept these new facts about her feelings.

  His thoughts were also in turmoil. He would soon be forced to face and deal with these same facts and emotions in himself. Could he ever accept the fact that he loved a white girl who was his slave and enemy? Could she ever become more a part of his life than being just his kaskapi? The Great Spirit would reveal the answers to these questions very soon.

  He roled over and covered them both with blankets, then went to sleep. She lay a long time contemplating her actions. Recaling the passion and ecstasy she had experienced, she trembled with renewed desire and fear.

  If he gains this new hold on my heart and body, I wil never be free of him, she reflected. It’s horrifying enough to be his slave, but to love him would be damning. I can’t alow that to ever happen. Tomorrow I must escape and be free of him and his spel forever. She vowed, tonight wil be the last time my body wil ever betray what my heart feels. He wil always believe I acted out of fear of him and the teepee sa. I wil not give him the weapon of love to use against me.

  After tossing restlessly for hours, she began to dream…

  Chapter Ten

  She saw herself running through a field of flowers. She frolicked in the warm sunlight, tossing her silky hair to and fro in the light breeze. She twirled and danced merrily. A soft love balad filed her ears. As she moved along, she plucked daisies until her arms were ful.

  Abruptly the sky darkened. A fierce wind howled around her and in her ears. It whipped her hair into her face and eyes, and tore at her dress. The daisies scattered everywhere. Peals of thunder sounded above and al around. Where had the azure sky, the white, bilowy clouds and bright sun gone?

  A blood-curdling yel rent the air. She whirled around to see five Indians running toward her. They were painted up in gruesome, fiendish detail. They wore only breech-cloths and deerskin moccasins. Their entire bodies were covered in color and strange, bizarre designs. They wore no feathers or headbands in their sooty, loose-flying hair. The malevolent, demoniacal expressions on their faces instiled terror in her.

  She turned and fled in alarm. For some reason, her legs were like two dead weights which moved in very slow motion. Panic gripped her heart and she instinctively knew there was no escape. She tried to scream for help, but not a single sound would come out. The Indians swiftly overtook her. Hands were puling and grabbing at her from al sides. Her clothing was torn from her body and hot, clammy hands were al over her flesh, pinching, touching and squeezing.

  and squeezing.

  She finaly managed to scream and scream and scream, but no help came. She was thrown to the ground and held spread-eagled, each man taking a limb and holding it tightly to the earth. Never had she known or felt such degradation and shame. There were insistent, cruel hands at her breasts and thighs. She struggled with al her might, but realized she could not prevent the assault. The fifth Indian, who was towering over her, removed his breech-cloth. He leered sadisticaly down at her as he stood there fondling his enormous, protruding manhood. She turned her head from the horrible, humiliating sight before her. Rough hands immediately forced her head back to face her first attacker. They laughed and sneered at her fear and useless exertions. The others shout
ed encouragement and teased him in a deep, gutteral language she did not know.

  The man standing above her dropped heavily on top of her, knocking the wind from her. He savagely entered her with a brutal thrust. She screamed at the tearing, burning, excruciating pain which seemed to rip her apart inside.

  Gray Eagle gripped her shoulders painfuly and shook her violently, trying to awaken her. He had pieced most of her nightmare together from her cries and pleas. He knew what she was dreaming and believing to be real. This was probably brought on by her visit to the wokasketipi.

  His voice reached her inner mind, and he, too, joined in the nightmare. He seemed to come from nowhere, swinging his tomahawk and slashing with his knife. She watched, fearful for his life and safety, as he overpowered and kiled them al. Blood was everywhere—on the flowers, the earth, on her and him, and over her attackers.

  her attackers.

  Al the braves lay dead and mutilated. Suddenly she was in his arms and he was holding her tenderly, teling her she was safe. She clung desperately to him in the dream, little knowing she did so in reality. Soon, she came fuly awake. She stared at him through tearsoaked lashes, comprehending it was only a horrible dream. She clutched at him for comfort. She began to kiss him hungrily. She begged him to make love to her and blot out the nightmare. He tightened his embrace on her and puled her wiling body beneath his. They made love with an emotion akin to animal mating. Her fiery capitulation and heated response to him kindled him with a fire which could only be quenched with her total possession. Later, she lay enfolded in the security and warmth of his arms and slept peacefuly the remainder of the night. He held her al night, letting her draw comfort and love from him. For the first time, she had come to him to seek the love and comfort she needed and wanted. She had begged him to make her his, and he had. When morning came, he hesitated to study her sleeping face. She had moved only slightly when he arose. Her hand had gone to the place where he had lain and stil held his body heat. She snuggled to the warmth and odor he left there. Softly she whispered his name in her slumber, and a smile formed upon her lips. Her vision had shown her she is mine and she accepts it, he triumphed. She is truly mine now. The love she has felt wil bring the changes in her which must come. It is time. Sleep, Cinstinna. When I return, we wil speak of these things. It is time for you to understand my feelings for you and for you to know of your place here with me. The Great Spirit has prepared your heart to learn and accept these things. You wil no longer fear me or my love. The time for hate and suffering is past. We wil know of love and happiness, for hate and suffering is past. We wil know of love and happiness, but only here in our teepee. When I tel you of these things, you wil understand why it must be this way for now.

  He smiled, confident of her total commitment to him. He leaned over to gather his bedrol, weapons and supplies, and went to join the others.

  Capa Cistinna had brought the news of a wagon train moving into their lands from the East. He had spotted it yesterday when he was out hunting. He had counted about fifteen wagons which were driven by many people dressed in strange black and white garments. Gray Eagle and some other braves would go and scout this area to learn of the white man’s intentions. Perhaps they only passed through their land on the way to some other land. If not, the braves would attack and force them to move on or be kiled. Gray Eagle left his teepee and walked to his horse. He spoke gently to the powerful appaloosa as he fed and watered him. He stroked Chula’s neck with great affection, smiling to himself in apparent high spirits.

  White Arrow walked up with his pinto Aluzza and began to tease his friend. “Your head soars as high as the eagle in the sky, my koda.”

  Gray Eagle had not felt this relieved or lighthearted in a long time. He laughed and replied, “Yours would also, my koda, if you possessed the woman of your heart. She is truly mine now. She wil never resist or defy me again. The council, the Great Spirit and, now, she herself have agreed that she is mine. From this moon on, she wil be my kaskapi only in the eyes of others, not just in our teepee.”

  White Arrow arched his eyebrows in surprise at this sudden White Arrow arched his eyebrows in surprise at this sudden change of heart. Astonished, he asked, “How so, Wanmdi Hota?’

  Grinning with self-confidence, the reply was, “Last night, she came to me and gave of her heart and body completely and wilingly.”

  Perplexed, White Arrow asked skepticaly, “How did this come about so quickly and without warning?”

  Gray Eagle explained the events of the previous night in minor detail, including her feelings and words about White Arrow.

  “In time, we could become kodas once more. It is good to my heart that she does not hate me for what I did to her.”

  “She wil learn and understand al things when we return. It is time for peace and understanding between us. She wil again accept you as her koda. I wil tel her of the things she must know. If she accepts and understands these things, then I wil tel her of my feelings and needs for her. Then, she wil accept her life here with me and our people. We wil know happiness for many moons.”

  “It is good you do this, Wanmdi Hota. She has suffered too much for a long time. It is the time for healing and understanding. She wil be greatly shocked and surprised to learn of your feelings for her as a woman. She does not guess you love her and want her as herself.”

  “It wil be new to her, but it is time for the truth between us. Only you, my koda, wil know she is more than a kaskapi to me. For a time, it must remain this way.”

  They went to join the other warriors who were preparing to go on this raid with them. As they went along, White Arrow casualy asked who was to be left as a guard and protector for Alisha.

  “There is no need for her to be guarded now. She is safe here and the old woman wil see to her needs while we are away. There and the old woman wil see to her needs while we are away. There is food in our teepee and the stream is close by.”

  White Arrow was again astounded by this much trust and assurance in Alisha. He did not tel me al of the things which happened last night, he thought. It takes more than one night of love and submission to earn this honor from a warrior like him. Was it truly love which has brought on this final giving in? Could it be she has grown weary and disheartened from al her resistance and suffering? She does not want to be further punished or sees the futility of defiance. May the Great Spirit protect you, Cinstinna, if you fail to be worthy of his trust.

  A chil touched White Arrow, causing him to tremble with its intensity. He knew what he must do.

  He scanned the group for a sight of Gray Eagle. He must warn him to reconsider a guard for Alisha. He saw him speaking with Matu, giving her orders concerning Alisha. The command was to leave her alone unless she appeared to need help or protection. White Arrow hurried to him. As they walked away from Matu’s teepee, he asked his friend to reconsider his decision on this matter. He told him of his uneasiness at leaving her alone.

  “There is a warning in the air but I do not grasp its meaning. You must leave a warrior to protect and watch over her this time.”

  Gray Eagle scoffed at his friend’s urge for caution and chose to ignore his words. He was too proud and arrogant to think anything could possibly go wrong for them now. Everything had been settled. There was no need for further worry or concern. Gray Eagle rode away with his warriors without realizing the truth to Wanhinkpe Ska’s warning. Excitedly they rode toward the truth to Wanhinkpe Ska’s warning. Excitedly they rode toward the valey where Capa Cistinna had seen the strange wasichus camped. Gray Eagle dismissed al thoughts of Alisha.

  The air was crisp and clear on this bright morning. Fluffy, snow-white clouds drifted lazily in the giant sea of blue sky. The braves struck a pace which would tire neither the men nor the horses. As was their custom, they spoke rarely. Each man concentrated on what was to come. One slight hesitation when action was necessary could cost one brave his life or even the life of his friends. They knew their mental readiness was one of their greatest a
dvantages over their enemies. A wasichu would often give a split-second hesitation before slaying his foe. Many times this resulted in his conquer or death. But the Oglalas fought with ruthless fury, courage and undivided attention.

  At dusk, they reached the deserted camp. Some of the braves dismounted to search the ground and camp for signs of the wasichus. They scattered out in several directions and found the trail the people had taken. The campfires were cold, indicating they had been out for a long time. Their tracks were filed with loose dirt. It was evident the people had risen early and puled out for some curious, unknown reason to return in the same way they had come. The wasichus would be forced to travel slowly with their great load. The Indians saw no need to pursue the departing enemy. It would be a long, tiring journey to catch them. By leaving the Oglala land and forest, the wasichus’ lives would be spared. The Oglala did not seek out wasichus to slay for the love of kiling. The braves voted to camp there for the night and get an early start home in the morning. They made camp in the very same spot the wasichus had used only a day ago. They ate their quick, light dinner of dried meat and bread. Later, they sat around smal dinner of dried meat and bread. Later, they sat around smal campfires, talking and smoking.