Passion's Series

by Adair, Mary

  “An unwelcome guest might bring bad luck to a hunt, for such a person is not included in the ceremony that all others attend.” Climbing Bear spoke gruffly, seemingly addressing the fire without looking at the intruder.

  Dawn’s heart felt like it was breaking as her Little Buffalo begun ignoring her as well, going as far as refusing to look at her while speaking to Bear, “This one will return to the village early, perhaps so as to lead any stray creatures away from the remaining hunters. In such a way, it is hoped that the party might remain longer without worry of disturbance.”

  Golden Dawn stood away from the fire, away from everyone else, staring out into the woods. She was furious with herself. Her attempt had been going well, and it was so close to succeeding.

  Bear nodded to Raven, “This is a wise action you will take, and I approve of it. Go, tell the village of our success, and let them know that any lingering presence has been dispelled. It must be so for the safety of all involved.”

  The sun was already getting low, well past midday. Raven gave one last nod to the hunt's new leader, and then gave a wave toward Antelope. Without another moment's delay, he tapped Dawn on the shoulder and gestured for her to follow him. They took off at a run.

  As they sped through the woods, Dawn spoke defensively, “I was taking care of myself, you know. You could have let me leave without the others being any wiser of my presence.”

  Raven glanced at the smaller figure, frowning lightly, “You would have me leave New Moon worried for her husband and her daughter? Are you so cruel?”

  Dawn stumbled at that, caught by the truth of his words. Raven’s hand shot out to give her support. She recovered, jerked her arm from his grasp, and then sped up, forcing Raven to do so as well. Dawn was fast, but she knew Buffalo had the advantage of size and more experience with long-distance running. She could not outpace him, no matter how she tried. Her anger spurred her on, however, and she sped up again.

  “Your silence speaks volumes.” Raven shook his head, and concentrated on their route. “I believe we will make it back before night has long fallen if we hurry.”

  Dawn did not respond, but as she ran, unwanted tears formed in her eyes. She intended to impress Buffalo with her determination and endurance. Hastily, she wiped at the dampness, refusing to show weakness. Unfortunately, the roots of a sprawling tree caught her foot and twisted the ankle, and suddenly she tumbled with a soft cry.

  Raven Cloud jerked to a stop, “Funny Face.”

  Chapter Six

  Sitting around a small fire, Raven mixed leaves and mud in a small bowl-shaped hole he dug into the ground. Packing the dirt until it was hard, it made a suitable container for making a quick compress. His water skin was nearly empty, so he made the fire and settled Golden Dawn next to it as he ran to the nearest stream. On the way back, he gathered leaves, realizing that his near-sister would need help with the swelling that her injury would cause.

  As always, Raven analyzed the recent development and tried to sort out what it all meant. All the anger he felt vanished when he heard her gasp and saw her tumble hard to the ground. He knew Funny Face wanted to impress him, but why in such a way?

  What is she thinking? Was there no thought of her mother? Did she not know that such actions would not speak well of her in the village. Why did she seem to have little care of how others perceived her yet took pride in how she held herself up?

  As he approached the campsite he squatted low and watched his little Funny Face. She sat stiff upon the stone where he had left her. His heart ached for her when she angrily wiped her tears. She took a deep breath and then surprised him when she looked up and looked directly in his direction. He knew she could not see him, yet it seemed she could.

  “I know you are there, Raven Who Flies To Meet The Clouds. Stop stalking me!”

  “I am impressed,” Raven said as he stood and stepped from his hiding place. “I have never been able to hide from you, yet you remained invisible to a hunting party.”

  “Now you say this, when I sit here with a swollen ankle and bruised pride.”

  “Maybe now is when you needed to hear it,” Raven responded softly.

  He reached down to retrieve the ingredients he had gathered to treat Dawn’s ankle. Once he finished the compress, he took her ankle in hand gently, “We will have to stay here through the night. Carrying you in the twilight would be dangerous, and I will not make you limp along in the dimness either,” he said, considering how it got dark faster in the woods, where leaves and branches already filtered sunlight heavily.

  Raven flinched when Dawn gritted her teeth at his touch, for it was a bad sprain. Raven's touch was incredibly controlled, but he knew even a finger's weight pressed into the bruising caused Dawn pain.

  “If you were to bind it tightly, I am sure I could keep moving.” Dawn offered.

  “I will not have you hurting any more than necessary, Funny Face.” He tried to shrug off the lingering anger he felt at her intrusion into the hunt. It had been such a stupid thing to do…and he thought himself to be impulsive. He had no doubt that Dawn rivaled him in that particular trait. His face tightened as he held off a smirk from reaching his expression. It would not do to make Dawn think lightly of her transgression.

  “You do not really think my face is funny, do you?”

  “No, of course not.” Using his knife, he cut a long strip from his waistcloth, mentally reminding himself to make a new one soon, “I could not imagine your face any other way.” He packed on the mud and leaves carefully, and then wound it with the leather.

  “Then why do you still call me Funny Face?” She breathed in sharply as Raven tightened the strap further around her ankle.

  “It is different. Your eyes are so startling to see. Their blue is like that of the great ocean on a calm day, or like the cloudless sky.” He tied off the leather expertly, “Now carefully, wiggle your toes. Panther always said you must do so to ensure the blood remains good.”

  She did so, toes curling up and loosening, “You look different in a good way too, Buffalo. There is much we have in common.” Dawn's gaze wandered toward a break in the trees where she could see a small patch of the sky, “I am sorry for what I have done.”

  Raven sat back on his heels, peering at Golden Dawn with a creased brow, “You could have been hurt, and none would know where to find you.”

  Her apologetic tone disappeared instantly, replaced with haughty defense, “Yet I was not. I fed myself, and was unseen by experienced trackers.”

  “Too proud to admit that you are at fault, or too blind to see what you risked?”

  Silence settled between them, and they did not say another word. Raven examined the dressing to assure himself that it was not too tight yet wrapped well enough to hold in place. Once completed, he moved to the fire, breaking it down to prevent any unwanted eyes from easily finding them. He continued the process of covering it in dirt and removing as many traces of having been there as possible. By then, the darkness was complete, the night already cooling and alive with the voices of invisible creatures.

  Raven's eyes had gradually adjusted, and once his task was completed, he watched the woods with careful intensity. He listened, wary and worried. The remnants of anger still burned, but Golden Dawn's life was ever precious to him. The girl remained silent, and he could see the outlines of her body on the ground where she had moved herself to be farther away from him.

  Dawn had pulled her knees into her chest, peering out into the forest and no doubt reflecting on her actions. Raven felt he could almost hear her thoughts as her body tensed and twitched as she argued within her own mind. No doubt, she could see the others' reasons for anger, but did not completely understand why they would not acknowledge her ability and success. The coolness of the looming night apparently began sapping her warmth, and it was impossible for her to control a sudden shiver.

  Sitting down beside her, Raven mimicked her pose, knees to his chest, “Are you cold?”

  The girl shoo
k her head, trying to force her body to be strong, “I will be fine...” Yet, her chattering teeth betrayed her. Regardless, Dawn kept her tone firm, “I am as strong as a warrior, as able as any hunter.”

  “I must take care of you. You are my responsibility.”

  “Little Buffalo, I...”

  All further protest silenced as Raven lifted her. He cradled her gently, standing effortlessly under her weight and walking to a nearby tree. There, he crouched, and while still holding her took a seat and leaned back against the tree.

  “I have told you often, I am no longer Little Buffalo. Your willful ways are amusing, but in some things you must learn that there is no altering the outcome.”

  Raven could feel the internal battle Dawn fought. It radiated from her body as she first melted toward the warmth he offered and then tensed as she battled her own weakness.

  Dawn tried to push her legs away from him and get free, “You would not accept such treatment yourself, why expect it from me without complaint?”

  His hands clamped down on one ankle, arm wrapped around the other leg like a vise, “Shh, sleep now. We still have far to go in the morning, and I do not wish to worry your mother any more than needed.” He hated to treat her so, but it was necessary to protect her.

  Raven stroked Dawn's golden hair, unable to prevent himself from giving a soft smile. He felt her breathing beginning to even.

  As consciousness left her, Golden Dawn felt the remembered flashes of dreams stream through her memory. They spoke of a future that seemed promised. Being protected by Raven Who Flies To Meet The Clouds seemed right. With a sense of belonging comforting her mind, she drifted into further dreams.

  Raven felt Dawn relax within his arms. He also felt a growing sense of peace, though he could not identify its source or reason. It was a welcome relief from his usual nature of questioning and seeking answers. Enjoying the sense of calm, his gaze steadied on the darkness before him, and the night passed with his mind in less turbulence than usual.

  ***

  As light filtered through the trees, Raven rose with muscles aching and body tired. Golden Dawn still slept in his arms, and at first, he maintained a slow but steady pace to prevent her from waking. She was light, and it surprised him how much life and energy such a small figure could contain.

  They were over halfway back to the village when Dawn woke up, blinking back a sleep heavy with dreams, “Are we already moving? Why did you not wake me?”

  Raven picked up the pace, breaking out into a jog, “You needed your rest, and it would not be good for you to walk on your hurt leg.” He kept his gaze on the woods ahead of him, carefully picking out their route.

  “We only gain strength through what we overcome, even mother said so.”

  “Yet strength will do little good if you do not grow older to use it.”

  Dawn scowled and Raven was glad he had an answer she could not argue with. “You have an answer for everything, Little Buffalo.”

  He jerked to a halt, grabbing her good ankle and hanging her upside down, “I grow tired of little minds that cannot grasp new changes. Perhaps I will change those minds myself, allow them to see the wisdom of recognizing improvements in life.”

  The girl squirmed, but was cautious of hurting her sprained ankle and unable to escape the iron grip, “Raven Cloud! Raven Who Flies To Meet The Clouds!”

  “Now promise, you will use my proper name, and cease this silly game of yours.”

  As out of sorts as she was, and unable to control her current predicament, Dawn grinned, “I promise, yet have won all the same. I have forced your hand, and have the more power for it.”

  Raven rolled his eyes, pulling his squirming burden back against his chest with an exaggerated sigh, “If you were not hurt, I would drop you on your head and let you roll down this hill.”

  “If I were not hurt, I would drop you on your head!”

  He laughed, “Oh, were that to ever happen, you could call me anything you wished.” Without another moment's hesitation, he took off at a run down the slope. Despite their bandied words, he felt lighthearted and happy. The worry was leaving him. Soon enough, their home would be in view and all would be back to normal.

  Yet when Chota Town did peer out from behind a wooded hill, the sense of well-being began to seep away. As they so often did, questions began swirling in Raven's mind. Was this really his home? Why was he back in the Colonies? Where was Panther? Where was his true father? These continued to be unanswered long after the young half-breed walked back into the village.

  Chapter Seven

  Raven heard the wolf alert the village of their return. When he walked through the gate with Dawn in his arms, the village fell silent. New Moon walked and reached out to take her daughter.

  “I am able to walk, Mother. If you will just give me your arm.”

  Moon nodded and waited for Raven to release Dawn’s legs to lower to the ground. “Come now. We have much to talk about.” She looked to Raven, “Thank you for returning my daughter. You should go to the visitor’s lodge now. The chief will call you to the council house when he is ready.

  As New Moon walked with her daughter toward their lodge she leaned down and whispered at Dawn, “I see your ankle is tightly bandaged. Raven did well in caring for you. I think it no longer pains you.”

  Dawn grinned as she looked sideways at her mother, “Raven was quick to find herbs and binding my ankle. You are right, Mother, it does not pain me.”

  ***

  “Mother,” Dawn spoke hesitantly as New Moon pulled back the blanket that covered the doorway to their lodge. The Chief and her mother had spent a long time questioning her. She worried she may not have defended Raven as well as she had hoped.

  The Chief and New Moon turned back to Dawn. New Moon smiled at her daughter who seemed more a woman every day. “Do not worry, child. We may be in your uncle’s tent for a time. Raven is brave and he will hold himself up.”

  “It is my fault he faces this trial. Why am I not called in as well?”

  “You spoke at length with your uncle,” She nodded toward the chief. “You spoke the truth. You were wrong in what you did, but you will learn from it. We all have a path to follow. It is up to each of us to find our path and to follow it.”

  “I know my path, Mother.”

  Chief Dancing Cloud rested his hand on New Moon’s shoulder, “I will go to the counsel. Speak further with your daughter. We will begin when you join us.” Dancing Cloud ducked slightly and passed through the doorway.

  New Moon turned her attention back to Dawn. She saw how her daughter stiffened her back, but she also saw the pain and uncertainty in her eyes. “I understand you have received a glimpse of your path, but you do not understand all. You are young. You still have a lot to learn.”

  New Moon’s heart ached with the lessons she knew her daughter must still endure. “Raven is a full warrior now, but he is young as well. You must allow him to find his own path.” With this New Moon turned and left the lodge.

  Dawn wasted no time in clearing away the remains of their meal.

  Akechee placed her hand on the back of Dawn’s head. Dawn turned to face the old woman who her father called mother. Akechee gently pulled her into her arms. Dawn allowed her Choctaw grandmother to pull her close. She often found comfort in the old woman’s arms. Akechee cooed and cradled her while Dawn allowed herself a rare moment of tears.

  “I am so sorry, Grandmother, for the trouble I caused Raven. Will he ever forgive me?”

  Akechee squeezed the girl she loved as much as she loved Red Panther. “Your mother speaks the truth. You must allow Raven to walk his own path.” She held Dawn back so she could look into her eyes. “Raven will not feel he must forgive you because he will see no fault in you. This I know. Now dry your eyes and go for a walk. You have much to think about.”

  Dawn looked over at little Fox who was playing contentedly with Akechee’s spoon.

  “Do not worry over Fox. I will care for him. Go.”
Dawn kissed the old woman’s weathered cheek and hurried from the lodge. She walked from the village even as the wolf on the gate called out to her. In response, she raised her arm high and waved it back and forth then broke into a run. She knew the watcher would report to her mother, she did not have long to be alone and think. She would run first and then cool her emotions in the cool water of the little cove her mother loved so much.

  As she ran, her thoughts slowed. She was able to gain a feeling of control. Had not her dreams told her she and Raven would walk the path together? Her mother suffered doubt because she did not understand.

  ‘Mother thinks my dream comes from my heart alone. I will not forget my dream. I know it is a promise from the Great Spirit.’ She slowed her pace again and finally stopped as her inner voice scolded her for not telling her mother the entire dream. ‘There are others that will interfere,’ she argued with herself. ‘They will try to lead me away from my path. The testing will be great. I accept this. There is danger on the path. I accept that. I will pay the price. I will know when Raven needs me and I will go.’

  She turned back toward the cove and ran with all her might. Her resolve strengthened as she felt the strength in her legs and her so recently injured ankle. She was strong and she knew it. She wanted to run longer but a lingering feeling that told her to return to the village pulled at her heart. ‘Just one quick dip’, she told herself, would do much to ease her turmoil.

  Coming to the boulders, she slipped between and hurried toward the water. Her hands froze as she reached down to remove her dress. She had heard a twig snap. The sound was light, but it came with a strong sense of danger. The sound was behind her but her vision rose up as if drawn to the brush that grew close to the water. A large wolf, her own totem, was almost invisible where it crouched within the yellow grass and brown cane.

  The wolf’s attention was not on her but on something behind her and to the right. This was conformation that the one tiny sound had originated from that direction. She placed her hand on the knife she wore tied at her waist. She looked back over her shoulder. No fear would show on her face. She remembered the Great Spirit’s promise. She would walk the path. Her chin rose in defiance.