Savage Warrior, Native Lands

((closed for papillon24))

Where the forests grow wild, as the sun father moves across the great sky, past the ridges of the wolf and faun, within the white sand stone cliffs, live the proud tribe of the Shkode Kno (Fire Eagle). Down over the blue-green rocks, dusted with brown sandy shores, they make their home living amongst the open space rich with gopher and mink, across where cool springs feed the waters and creeks. For generations the Shkode Kno tribe had made this their home, in a small valley that protects them from the rages of angry storm makers, where the Earth Mother herself show the way, in the form of a mother bear leading her peoples where they would be safe. Safe from the worlds weeping that is far worse than these great people would ever understand.

Ahote Honaw (Restless Bear) was the second son of the chief, and like his brother had grown into a warrior with the bravery of his father. Only a few times have the people of the Shkode Kno tribe seen war, from the dangerous Honani or the treacherous Tocho. Yet in each, they were defeated by the Shkode Kno tribe, and in each Ahote Honaw was witnessed as one to show bravery that made the peoples proud. With his bravery, Ahote Honaw ventured further from the village to find his own way. Many times he would hunt alone, finding rabbits and other small animals fit for food or pelts. On the warmest of days, he would bathe alone in the cool springs that fed streams. There he would allow the forest spirits to speak to him, laying bare in the clear water.

Yet there comes a great cloud over the lands. It was predicted generations ago when the mother cheif first told the story of the eastern threat, more dangerous than the Honani, and more treacherous than the Tocho. When the people of the firesticks started to arrive, the proud tribe of the Shkode Kno knew this was the coming danger. Seasons ago they first came from the east, wearing blue skins shiney with stones across their chest and that covered their whole. This tribe brought no women, only warriors, riding horses pale and weak. They did not stay, nor were they hospitable. Only the chief spoke to them, but neither could understand. Ahote, watching from a hill left them to their ways.

In seasons to come, they brought more, yet they did not breach on the village of the Shkode Kno. Nor did they breach on Ahote Honaw’s hunting grounds. Nor had they breached on the quiet spring he stole himself from.

On this warm day, removed his skins stepped slowly in the wide pond formed at the edge of the spring, and laid back … and let the spirits once more speak to him.

Cora Baker had begun her great adventure. It was going to be her time to shine, and make something of the world. For the past year she had taught in a small school outside of a small town in Virginia. There were few men of the marrying age, and Cora really had no interest in them. She was more interested in the children. Most were poor, with very little on their backs. Most came to school hungry and tired from early mornings working the fields with their parents. Many came straight from the fields, still covered in the dirt the worked in.

She had always knew there was more out there. One day her older brother James came running into their small cabin. He was not much older than her. Only a year older than her nineteen years. He announced that he wanted to head west. There was land for the taking out there and not much was being claimed yet. If they hurried they could start a farm and live free. Cora jumped at the thought. A new start.

A few short weeks later, all was said and done. The Wagon was packed and they headed off. It took a 3 month of travel. Long hard days with little food. She dreamed of the start they would have. Something of their own. Maybe a place to start a small school of her own for the native children.

Along the way, she had run into a few fur traders. The men were too interested in her for James' liking. They spoke about how her hair was the color of the golden grass on the plains and how her eyes were as gray as the thunderstorms that rolled across the mountains. In the end she was able to trade a few jars of preserves for a book of native phrases. She practiced what she could in the down time she had in the wagon. Each phrase began to roll off her tongue. The idea of meeting one thrilled and scared her at the same time.

The book made the time pass easily. Her love of learning and her anticipation guided her. James planted the stake on their new plot. It was a beautiful piece of land. It was on a small roll of a hill. Not far away from their vantage point, there was forest that promised water and good hunting. She smiled of the beauty of it. The land spoke to her and she felt as if this was home.

“James. I'll go gather some water while you set up the camp.” she managed to grab a few buckets from the back of the wagon before James collapse the canopy on everything not thinking about unloading first. “And don't crush everything while setting up that tent. We only have a few months of preserves and dried meat left and I don't want any of it going to waste in case.”

Cora made her way down the hill and thought the cusp of the woods. She could hear the sound of running water as she smiled to herself. The sounds was heaven. This land was perfect for the two of them. She wandered up along the waters edge and lowed the bucket in, filling it with the cool life giving liquid before pulling it back up to the shore. It was beautiful water, a natural spring.

Movement caught her eye as she reached for the second bucket. She almost let out a gasp as she realized it was a man, and not a man of her people. His dark skin shone In the sun breaks of the forest. His long hair was like coal, shiny and dark. She could see him from the back as he lounged in one of the pools, leaning his head back with his eyes closed. He was stunning

The winds pulled the tops of the trees in a gentle sway that left the leaves rustle and dance in the summer air. Laying back in the cool water, Ahote could hear the wind steady song mold into the gentle ripple of water from the spring. Only there within the gentle calling of this quiet spot could he truly listen to the spirits of the land speak to him, to calm him, to allow him to be free of the troubles of his ways.

Then at once, it was like those same spirits called for him to be aware … not fearful, just aware. Other sounds seem to reach his ears as he lay calmly in the flow of the pool. It didn’t speak to him that he should feel scared, or ready for protection, but something is not like it normally was. Something has brought change.

From high above the canopy, the leaves pulled back from it’s normal sway, and turned towards the opposite. That wind that had cascaded up his chest over his face and beyond his floating dark hair now returned in opposite, and now different. Not colder like a storm is coming, but as a message to be aware of what could come from such a change. In the wind, he smelt something different. It was like that of flowers, old wood, dulled by the smells of open plains. Not unnatural, but not of this place. In curiosity,he turned to look upwind, crouching low in the water so only his head remained emerged..

He had never seen one like her before. Her skin was pale as snow. She was covered in cloths surely too heavy to let one breathe. Yet her hair was the color as one could hide amongst the high grasses. She was one like the men with the firesticks. Yet never had they brought their women before.

To gather a better look, he turned, staying low in the water. She was aware of him already, her eyes watching him as the young deer would when they see a hunter. She seemed not the one that he should worry for, but where he crouched in the water he was not in a position to suggest his strength either.

She had brought a curiosity in him. Yes, she was one that the people had been warned about, but this creature didn’t seem to be a threat. He also felt the need to make no question of his bravery. Instinct told him to stand, see more of her yet make himself larger for strength. Slowly he stood up taller in the water. Water rolled off his shoulders and across his strong bare chest as he rose. His wet dark hair pooled down his back. Full standing, the water still came up to his hips but it suggested that beneath the waterline there were no skins to cover him. Still, he stood strong half out of the water in view of the pale woman.

He watched her, curious, if not excited, to see what this pale creature would do. Feelings that his face could not hide, as a playful smile found his lips.

Cora felt her heart stop as she watched him. The water making his dark skin glisten in the afternoon sunshine. He was like a sculpture sitting there in the water, at peace with the world. In tune with all that surrounded him. She could not take her eyes off of him.

He them moved, as if something in the world alerted him to her presence. First his head moved, turning an ear in her direction. Then his head as he focused in on her. He stood, as if studying her. She could old gape at his bare chest, and the hint of his nakedness below the line of the water. She felt a slight gasp escape her lips as he caught notice of her, letting his eyes fall to her and where she sat crouched.

She could feel her face flush. She had never seen a man in such a state of undress. Even when her brother worked outside, he kept his trousers on, even if it were a hot day.

Quickly she moved to leave, embarrassed in her modern modesty. The heat in her cheeks warming her far more than the heat of the day. She turned to grab her buckets of water. First picking up one and then the others. As she filled them she had not realized how heavy they here. Far more than she could lift on her own with ease. Cora made her way to leave, only to lose her balance and losing one of the buckets and rolling her ankle under her lithe frame. She watched as the clear water sank back into the earth.

Again, she tried to move, putting pressure on her now swelling ankle. She winced, but tried not to cry out. She had to make it back to her brother, He was counting on the water.

The survival instinct was strong in him. She was just a woman, but one must trust the stories of the coming dangers. When she moved to leave, his instinct took over. He rushed from the water, quickly grabbing his leathers and ax from a rock along the spring side. It was nothing to spin the leathers around his waist and cover himself, so mindlessly he did so before crouching in the brush.

Athoe was ready to run from this place, when a cry rang out.

The survival instinct was strong in him, but so was the curiosity.

Crouched low, he crawled to the edge of the brush, his ax at the ready. Peering through the green, he saw now she struggled. She had become lame. If she was a threat before, she was less so now. Yet there was something in the way she moved that suggested she had some strength. Far from a fragile faun, yet still far from strength of the bison.

He crept further, now emerging from brush, standing once more to make himself look bigger to draw out strength. His ax still ready in his hand. His instinct was strong to ensure this wasn’t a deceit by the white woman, yet as he watched her the curiosity was stronger.

“Darn it all.” she cursed to herself as she watched the bucket roll away and fall into the river. She took a moment to check on the other one to see that is was still full. “Well at least I still have one. Something is better than nothing.”

She took a moment to gain her composure back as she brushed the leaves and dirt from her dress. She thought back to the day she had bought it. It was so pretty, bright blue. A luxury on her meager salary to buy a dress instead of making one. Now is was faded, and covered in the dust of the trail.

Cora made her way to push herself up, balancing first on her good leg before testing out the one she had just hurt. She winced as she began to put pressure on it. “Well cora, you really did a number on yourself.” She picked up the bucket. She was gonna make it back somehow, come hell or high water.

Something in the air caught her attention. She felt as if she were being watched. With a quick look around, she saw a man watching her. The same man she had been watching. She stood tall and strong. His features were impressive, and he stood as if he were ready to attack if she made the wrong move.

She set the bucket down. She could feel a sense of both excitement and fear. Her heart started to pound in her chest as the man stared her down. She raised her hands to show there was nothing in them. No weapon or anything that could harm him.

“I'm unarmed.” but realizing he probably did not speak any english. She decided to try some of the words she had learned. She had learned a few words from a book on the Cheyanne language and hoped that that was his tribe or it was close enopugh he would understand. She pointed to her ankle “háama'tov' she used the word for hurt hoping he he could help her

There was much that confused him that surrounded her. Those tree trunks that appeared to be heavy sticks held with a hoop of … something. The water was in it, but now she poured the water across the ground. Up close now, she was in cloths like a thin blanket but somehow captured the color of the sky. She even tried to speak, words that sounded like the bleats of a young faun.

Yet there were things about her that were not confusing. She had no weapon. She was injured. So she was no threat.

The injury, that was what her words were meant to tell him about. She pointed to the ankle, The source of her injury, and she tried to speak something that was less like bleats and more formed. Yet he still knew not what she said.

His curiosity, and maybe some concern for the fallen girl, made him act. He stepped forward from the edge of the brush, and crouched to the ground; sliding his ax into a leather loop that hung along a belt at his hips. His empty hands reached forward, palms open and turned to each other as if ready to capture an animal. A few steps forward low on the ground and he was near her feet, his eyes locked on the injured ankle. Just short of her, he turned his eyes up to her.

“Aketsiin.” His voice was young, but strong. He pushed his hands towards her foot, still open palmed, still opened to each other as if wishing to hold something.

“Aketsiin,” he repeated. “Aketsiin, qa lolma.”

With that, he reached for her ankle.

The look on his face changed. It went from defensive to concern. She could feel her body shake in fear as he crouched lower and held his hand out.
She felt as if she were going to scream, but it would not come out. All she could muster was a small gasp in surprise

"I don't understand. Please don't hurt me. My brother is waiting for me." she motioned for the edge of the forest in the direction of the wagon. Her brother would be lost if she did not make it back and was probably on his way to come and find her.

He reached out for her ankle. Even without his weapon he was impressive. His stature strong, but there was something soft in his features as he looked towards her injury. She had never had a man except her brother look at her with such concern as what was on his face at the moment. for some reason it put her at ease. She made her way to the ground, piling her skirt under her as she let him come near.

Cora pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear as she watched him closely.

Whens he found the ground, he reached for the foot. It was covered in the strangest of scandals, surrounding the whole of her foot. The strangeness of it causing him to pause. It was as if she wrapped her foot in leather, but didn’t need leather straps to encircle her foot like he had to with furs during the winter.

With a quick glance up to her face he gave a smirk. “Aniid,” he seemed to quip then turned his attention to the ankle.

His thumbs felt to her joints, checking as if to see if things were in their right place. He was careful to watch for any of his touches causing her pain. “Diniih?” he asked. Then seemed to stop remembering the language barrier. He pointed at her ankle, and then pushed his finger as if he was going to touch the side. But then tightened his fists, his shoulders, his upper body, and pinched his eyes closed in an animated way. It was almost like he was exaggerating some great pain. Then he repeated these steps, pointing to the ankle, pushing his finger at it, then animating the the pain. When finished he looked at her and asked, “Diniih?

She watched him in awe as he examined her ankle. For one so strong his touch was gentle and mindful. It made her forget about her pain for a moment. his fingers graced along the joint, pressing here and there. She could feel a tenderness in places but did not want to scare him with any movement such as a wince or gasp. She was tough for a woman, or at least that is what her brother had always told her. She knew she was tough. She ventured from their home in the city to a place in the wild.

His voice caught her off guard from her thoughts

“Diniih?” He spoke, as if asking her something.

The look of confusion in her eyes must have reminded him of the barrier. Obviously what she had read and learned about the native languages were not the right ones. He made motions, clenching his arm and fist tightly. He looked as if wincing in pain. He would point at her ankle, and repeat the gesture.

At that she understood, or though she did.

“Diniih?" He asked again

Cora nodded, then pointed to the lateral aspect of her ankle. "Here, it hurts here." With that she pressed on and felt a sharp pain flood though the ankle. She could feel her face clenched as she winced in pain, but managed to hold back tears and a scream

With a little crack of a smile, he nodded, realizing they found some understanding. “Diinih.” he repeated his fingers close to the place where it was painful. He watched her eyes, seeing the tears form. In return, his eyes softened lifting with his smile. “Qa Diinih.” he said softer.

He turned and looked around the area. Seeming to not see what he was looking for he got up. Stepped away from her, and search purposefully. Coming across something along the edge of the grasses, he knelt and pulled at a plant. Scratching at the dirt, up came a root with a small tumor underground. He shook as much dirt off the root as he could, snapping the leafs from the top to remove them. Once it was clean, he put the tumor in his mouth and bit down. He seemed careful with his bites, like he was avoiding touching the root with his lips or tounge.

He returned to her side, kneeling down once more at her ankle. Taking the tumor out of his mouth, he unraveled the now grassy remains of it. He pressed the root to the part of the ankle, pressing the oils from the plant into her skin. He pulled a piece of leather strand from his belt and wrapped the root to her ankle to hold it in place.

He gave her another reassuring smile. He knew the root had a way of numbing the pain, she didn’t seem lame so this would surely just keep her from feeling such sharpness. “Diinih. Qa Diinnih.”

She watched him as he worked the plant in his mouth. She flinched as he brought it close to her ankle. It had just been in his mouth. she wanted to trust him. There was such a concern in his eyes as he worked. she relaxed as he held her ankle and placed the chewed up plant on her ankle. It began to tingle as he worked the paste onto her skin. It then began to cool and then become numb. The pain began to subside. With a swiftness he wrapped it so it would stay in place, using a piece of his won leather to do so.

“Diinih. Qa Diinnih.” He spoke gently. And his smile let her relax into the moment. it was bright and honest.

"Thank you." She reached out and placed a hand on his. Her face began to relax from the pain as a smile came to the corner of her lips. she could not take her eyes off of him. The way the wind picked up small strands of his hair. His dark skin and how it contrasted with hers. There was also the light in his dark eyes. She was drawn to them. It was like nature flowed though him and it was rooted in his eyes.

"How can I ever thank you." She spoke under her breath, hoping he would understand her tone, for she knew he would not understand her words

The touch of her hand on did not go unnoticed. In fact, he looked to her hand with great surprise. With his other he touched the back of her palm, stroking it gently. “Ohhhhhh,” he sighed seemingly entranced by it’s softness. “Waapa itsu. Waapa wuuti na taavo.”

He took her hand off of his and pulled it to his face. He pressed the back of the palm against it. “Itsu na taavo.” It was like innocent touches, attempts made to feel her hand against his cheek. With a smile in his eyes he reached a palm to her face, and attempted to stroke her cheek. “Wuuti na taavo? Me Waapa Taavo?” His hand was nearing her face, closer, before things changed.

Suddenly he stopped, looking up past her into the brush behind her. “Enesta, qa Noohooto.”

In an instance, he turned and ran towards the sound. He ducked, turned, and as quick as the noise came, he disappeared over the ledge.

His touch became more forward as he stoked her hand, exploring her in a way she had never been touched. The manner in which he moved was so different from that of the men back home. They were uptight and rigid and any touch was only an offer of an arm or a gentle peck on the back of the hand if they felt bold enough.

Slight shock crossed her eyes as he reached a hand out to her, reaching for her face. Cora did not attempt to move, but felt no fear in the movement. His eyes were kind and happy as he reached out.

She started to close her eyes in anticipation. The idea of it thrilled her as she inhaled.

With a flash he was gone. A noise from behind her had caught his attention far sooner than it had caught hers.

"Wait, please don't go" she pleaded into the wind

"Cora, who are you talking to?" James passed though the bushes rushing up beside her. A look of concern set deep in his eyes. "You were gone a long time. I got worried so I came to find you."

"I'm fine James."She tried to push herself back up expecting pain to rush though her ankle. She stumbled a bit only to be caught by her brother but her ankle was holing up fine. "I just tripped and hurt my ankle. You know me. I'm kind of clumsy like that. And I lost one of the bucked in the river."

"You need to be careful sis, out here it's a lot farther to get help." He held her arm as she balanced. "Can you walk on your own? I'll grab the bucked and fill it so we can boil up some soup. I'll bring the horses down later to drink."

She nodded and smiled to reassure her brother as he filled the bucked and started out of the woods, staying close enough within earshot but out of sight in case she needed help. she was not sure if she wanted to tell him about the man that had helped her. She took a look back towards the ledge where he had disappeared.

At the camp of the tribe Shkode Kno, the people grew restless and concerned. Rather than bind himself with falsehoods and worries of old mothers, Ahote Honaw sought his brother to learn what worries the people. His brother had sent that a hunting party returned with little. They had said they tracked an elk to the hills, but then they heard the shock of thunder before the elf fell dead. Afraid for what had caused the elk to fall, the hunters waited, and soon saw white men come for the carcass. They had scavenged the meat like the coyote, leaving parts of the fallen elk to rot on the ground where it was slayed. The people were concerned if the earth mother provides enough to live alongside the white people, if they continue to waste some of the creature behind. Yet the hunters spread word of the thunder, surely the work of the fire stick. To see that the white man carried the magic to fall an elk with one blast of thunder meant they held power over the good people of Shkode Kno.

Ahote’s father was there, the chief, who was wise in such ways to calm the tribe in times of trouble. He advised his sons on the words to give to the rest of the people. They were to go out among the people and tell them that all is well. The white man have not found their camp, and the Shkode Kno will know they are coming well before any trouble arrives. To be sure, the sons were to explore the lands, find the white people, and track them like they were game until the intentions of the white men are known. The people will protect themselves from any threat. Besides, the earth mother loves the Shkode Kno more than any other, and will provide for them for all the days and all the nights.

So, out amongst the people the sons of the chief spread the word. There were those that questioned, and there were those that worried. But the chief’s words were wise, and accepted by the people.

Sikya Momo, the daughter of a hunter, and a friend to Ahote for many years, stopped Ahote of her own fears. She knew Ahote would hunt alone, she knew Ahote was gone for a long time today, and she was worried Ahote was in danger. She asked if Ahote would be one that tracks the white people.

Ahote said he would.

Sikya worried what he would do if he saw the white people.

Ahote said he was curious about them. Would want to know more, would want to know if they are dangerous, and if they aren’t to see if they can live together in peace.

Sikya asked if that was where he was today. Searching for these white people.

Ahote said no.

She asked where he was. She was gravely concerned, and she seemed to worry if he was letting his bravery bring him to danger.

Ahote said he saw no danger when he was out. He said, he hunted, grew hot, and bathed in the spring until he was cool.

Sikya Momo asked if Ahote saw anything.

Ahote smiled. Ahote thought of the white woman. Thought of how her skin felt on his, how the soft fabrics hid her milky flesh. No, Ahote told his friend. All he had seen that day was a white rabbit. His white rabbit.

“Me Waapa Taavo”

Cora took her time making it back to camp. Her mind wandered thinking of the man she had seen in the woods. She could not shake the look in his eyes. The stories of the people of this land called them savages. He certainly was not even a close resemblance of the word savage. His eyes were kind and thoughtful. His words, though foreign to her, were kind and full of honesty and concern. His touch was curious and childlike.

She smiled to herself as she thought about the simple touch they had shared as he explored the skin on the back of her hand. She could feel the heat rise to her cheeks as she let the thought linger a second too

“Come on Cora” James beckoned from up ahead. “there is still a lot to do before nightfall.

“I'm coming, hold your gosh darn horses.” she pressed as much annoyance at her brother as possible. She was enjoying the time in her thoughts.

They emerged from the woods and the temperature rose a few degrees in the heat of the direct sunlight. She could see the white canvas of the wagon haphazardly laid over a few sticks in an attempted formation of a tent.

“What is this James?” she placed her hands on her hips as she looked a the disaster in from of her.

“Its a tent"

“That, dear brother, is not a tent. I will not sleep in that. You should have just left it on the wagon and we could have slept in there

“Well, how am I supposed to know?”

She huffed as she made her way over to the mess

“Get a fire started and I'll fix this.” As she started working with the thick canvas to make a better temporary shelter for the night

Ahote rose with the sun, and left the village before many had left their homes. There was little need to be private as he headed out, through the skin structures they slept in one only need to breathe and be heard. Ahote’s early rise was meant to head forth and do this duties as quickly as possible, as this day was sure to be one that had much for him to do.

As is father commanded, Ahote was to track the white people. Because his brother was unaware of Ahote’s encounter with ‘the white rabbit’, Ahote led his brother to track the white people in a direction opposite to the spring. While Ahote was not sure where the white people were, at the very least it would make sense to send them an opposite route, and as well keep the secret of the spring from his brother too.

So at the early morning, Ahote moved out from the land that he knows and ‘hunted’ for the white people.

The camp was very easy to find. The white people knew not to set fires so the smoke would disperse and hide the people. As he approached, he could see this was not the only think they were not wise about. Their home seemed an odd animal skin, but it was no better built than that of a child’s. The animals they kept seemed secured with leathers, but could easily be released, and surely not the kind that would know what to do when released. Yet from the edge of the woods, he saw one of the first sticks, it’s magical end pointed to the heavens but still left on the ground next to a wagon. How a people would know so little about the ways of the land yet be granted such magic is utterly strange.

As he took in the camp, the curiosity of the place was tempered by an anxiousness, one that Ahote was not used to. He kept in hiding, not daring to enter the camp, not wishing to alert them - yet it was like he hoped to see these people as well, or maybe not all of them. There was movement about the place, though he saw no white person emerge from their home as yet, and the more that it seemed a person shifted about the tent, the more anxious he became.

Finally one emerged. She emerged.

In a whisper like the wind he breathed: “Me Waapa Taavo”

He stared at her, awed by each of her movements. As much as she did things that made her clearly not like his people, what should have made him confused made him curious. The way she would go about her duties, or the way she touched her hair or face or arms. He examined her from his distance. Again wearing clothing unlike any that his people did, he was amazing she could move in such heavy ‘coats & skirts’. Yet the mere presence of them made him wonder if white women were much like those of his people underneath, if they were as white.

The more he watched her, the more his mind made him curious, the more he felt a stirring under his own skins. It was natural, it was the arousal a hunter would have for a mate, but she was a white woman. A thought that equality challenge his nature and grow his curiosity.

Frustrated by this mix, he turned away from the white men’s camp. He returned to the spring. The cool waters there were sure to calm his blood, center his thoughts, and tame his arousal. He removed his skins, stepped into the water, and submerged. He drifted in the cool water, trying to move his mind to the dangers those people bring, but her flower white face and her soft skin kept playing through his mind.

As he laid back in the water, another natural action took him. His hand lowered to his naked member, and he stroked it slowly as the vision of the white rabbit entered his consciousness. He spoke now, letting the voice enter the air of the spring.

“Me Waapa Taavo”

Cora emerged from the makeshift encampment after a long night of tossing and turning. The combination of being cold and that hard ground were not doing her justice. This life was going to be harder than she ever imagined. How was she going to be able to get through it all.

She horses whinnies in frustration of being tethered. There was nothing she could do about that untill they were able to build a small paddock for them. She felt bad for them. Horses were being that needed to roam and run. Not be tied up to a rope to graze.

She took a deep breath as she raised her arms in the air, stretching out the soreness that resided in her limbs. Quickly she shook out her mane of thick blond hair, letting the dust and dirt fall from it. She rubber her face, trying to wake herself from the fuzziness of the morning. She went to the only water bucked and found it to be empty. She so desired to wash her face and wake herself with the refreshing splash of cold water upon her face.

"James." She called back to her still sleeping brother. She was glad he was able to sleep in this environment.

"mmmph" The muffled groaning from inside the tent

"I am going to take the horses to the river to water them."

"Alright, be careful" Another muffled answer escaped.

She huffed in annoyance of her brother and his laziness this morning. As she made her way to where the horses were tethered.

"Come one girls. Lets go get you some water."

She led the two beasts to the edges of the woods and into where she had fond the stream from before. Its was warm but not as muggy as the previous day. The trees gave a nice cover from the direct sunlight. The stream trickled and laughed as it played along its path. She felt the horses pulls and the ropes and whinny as they saw the cool waters. She let go of their tethers and let them freely make their way to the water and begin drinking.

She herself went a few feet upstream from them and knelt by the waters edge, reaching in and splashing some cool water on her face. She instantly felt refreshed and the harshness of her first sleep in the make shift shelter began to melt away.

He heard her coming well before she arrived at the water’s edge, and he moved to the deeper water and ducked low to stay as hidden as one can. She was not alone this time, companioned with two mares, well fed but dusty. She let them roam into the water which became clear was pleasurable to the horses. While they enjoyed the cool drink, she seemed to take a moment to clean herself as well. She seemed happy by the water too. She would enjoy a full bath in these waters, all peoples do, if it weren’t for the heavy cloths white men wore.

Where he crouched, he surely could stay until she was finished without being seen. Yet that is not what he wanted. Ahote wanted to see her, to try to speak with her once more. For her to see him wouldn’t be a danger, that was proven the day before. He was, of course, without clothing of his own at that time, but as he considered the white woman and what she seemed to bring out of him - he did not care if she saw all of him in any state. The trouble only is how to not frighten off the snowy rabbit.

One of the horses, a smaller grey animal, seemed have spotted him. She lifted her head up and snorted at first, but didn’t seem to startle. It seemed, more curious of him than anything. This gave him the thought.

At the shore line, he pulled some grasses. They were wild mint and featherweed, none to be like the most succulent meal to the horse. He waved the grasses to the grey beast, and it seemed to understand the treat. She stepped cautiously in the water, finding the sandy bottom to be welcome in the coolness. He in turn, slid out away from shore, giving safe distance between he and the woman cleaning herself. Finally as the horse neared him, he rose slowly out of the water and gave the animal it’s reward. It chewed reluctantly at the grasses, but didn’t stop. He patted the creature on it’s large shoulder and stroked the dusty fur along it’s neck.

He stood so the water rose only to his knees. It’s last drops fell from his long black hair and rolled down his bronzed skin. His stance was strong, and confident as he petted his new friend. He was turned just enough that his front, directly his still slightly firm manhood, was still slightly away from the woman on the shore - but the rest of his tall lean body was exposed to her. Ahote stood next to the horse, petted it calmly, and with some time began to glance the woman’s way.

The cool water felt good on her face breaking the fog that had settled during the night. It was going to take some getting used to to be able to sleep in these conditions. Cora dried her face and hands upon the hem of her dress. She longed for a bath the way the ladies back home did and they way she used to, but this was not here reality. She had chosen to come out this way and build her dream on her own. Luxury was not an option.

She looked up and spotted the black mare, Athena, had moved a bit upstream of her. She splashed at the shallow water with one hoof and whinnied as if she were laughing and playing. She looked around for the grey mare, Minerva. Usually the two of them were inseparable so it was unusual to see Athena all alone.

Cora scanned the water and it's edge looking for the animal. Finally her gaze came to the animal but the shock came when she saw the man from the day before, standing naked as the day he was born making friends with the overly curios mare.

A deep blush set upon her cheeks as she turned away. She could feel her heart beat faster as the image of his strong body flashed across her mind. It was not right, not decent.

It was amusing to Ahote. He recognized it may not been as such for the woman, but her reaction was just more to what made her so interesting to him.

His people were not ones to expose oneselves to the other sex. Yet there was no effort to continually cover up, and the site of another’s flesh was not uncommon. Yet this woman turned away, as if pained by what she saw.

And her skin changed color.

It was a strange reaction, but seemingly more like that of a timid creature. More like the white rabbit he had called her. The thought of which made him smile, made him even laugh slightly.

Well, if she is to act like a rabbit, he would have to be more cunning like a hunter to catch her. He took a couple steps back and threw himself backwards into the water. The water was deep enough that he could swim, but standing would have him much out of the water as well. But he laid back in the water and paddled some.

“Ąąʼ haʼíí baa naniná, Me Waapa Taavo?” He called to her with a question.

“No, wadbak me?”

He bent in the water as he lay on his back just enough that the water hid what likely caused her fear, and to swim away from her would surely cause her to not run away. That was his hope at least. Though what else he hoped for, he wasn't sure of himself.

She hear a quite splash from his direction after a moment of avoiding a gaze in his direction. His voice echoed along the water a bit as he called out to her. Cora too a breath to gain her courage and composure and turned back to where he had been standing. Her now drifted a bit away, his lower half now concealed by the surface of the water.

This man intrigue her. It was like nothing else she had experienced before. She wanted to know more, but she had no idea of how to do so. She took a step forward, and then another one. Slowly closing the distance between her and the water's edge.

Minerva made her way back towards her from where she had stood in the water back towards her. Cora reached out and too the leather lead and coaxed the animal from the water and wrapped her lead around a branch, giving her enough room to graze on a small patch of grass as well as access the water if she so desired.

Athena was still a bit upstream, prodding the water with a hoof. Cora wished she could be that free, but growing up in society had put up a block in her mind of what was acceptable for a young woman of her age to do and not do. She wanted to dive straight into the cool water and let it was the dust of the trail from her. She wanted to run and frolic and play. She wanted to explore this land with a freedom. In all honesty, she was jealous of the animal and how free she was able to be with no judgment.

The sight of such joy brought a small smile to her face. She beamed in the first true happiness she had felt since beginning this journey.

Turning back to the man in the water, she knelt at te edge of the shallow pool and placed her fingers in the water, letting it cool her hands. She brought them back up to her face. The heat in her cheeks subsided a bit.

"I'm Cora," she pointed to herself. "Co-ra" She hoped he would understand she was trying to introduce herself. She wanted to know more about him, but and introduction seemed like the right step

He rolled over in the water and turned towards her. With his head lifted up and back arched, his flank now rose out of the water behind him. Yet it allowed him the ability to look directly at the white woman as his long hair swirled around his shoulders.

Her gestures were understood. They were similar to those of other tribes. To assure her of it, he smiled and pointed at her.

“Cora,” he repeated. “Um Cora.”

He pointed to himself and smiled. “Ahote …. Ahh-Ho-te”

Then a little more playfull he pointed between them both. “Ahote. Cora. Ahote. Cora.” Then laughed a little and pointed her once more. “Waapa Tavo.” He gave her a wide smile. He knew she probably didn't understand, but deep down he did hope - that while he now knew her real name, he still hoped to call her what he wanted to call her.

Then started waving to her to come closer, to come into the water. “Pew, Cora. Pew paahu, Cora.”

He kicked in the water until he started swimming backwards to the deeper part of the spring. Turning over again, he returned to his back. The moved allowed once again his pelvis to crest the water before disappearing under the surface. “No mamqasi, waapa tavo. Lolma pwe paahu.” His hope was one thing, to get the woman to join him in the water. He wave one last time. “Cora.” His wide, friendly smile never stopping to watch her.

The banter between them was fun, just a couple of names being repeated to each other, but still she felt a smile spread across her lips and she practiced his name over again

"Ahh-Ho-te" The sound of the name was strange, but it was strong and fit him.

He pointed once again to her “Waapa Tavo.” The change in this exchange threw her a bit off guard.

"What does that mean.?" Her eyes were curious as he swam off. His dark lean body moving through the water as if her were born there. She knew he was still not wearing any clothing and the very thought of it cased her cheeks to flush once again, but not as much. It seemed she was starting to get used to him a bit.

Again he spoke as he waved her over into the water. His gaze was focused on her. Her focus on him match. He was breathtaking. He was a part of this land, not just living on it as she and her brother was. He truly was one with it.

"Umm." she hesitated for a moment. She pointed at the water and shook her head. "I can't. It would be improper." The water itself look enticing. The sun was rising higher in the sky and she could feel the heat and humidity rising. The cool water looked so inviting. Cora reached down letting her wrist rest in the cool water and cooling her pulse

Ahote noted her curiosity after he called her the white rabbit again, but wasn’t sure what she was saying when she asked the question after. Yet he was still feeling playful, so he rolled backwards into the water submerging himself. Of course, in the process, the whole of his torso and his manhood rolled out of the water and under with it. To him, they had become known enough that even if she remains covered he was confortable with being uncovered around her.

He rolled to his stomach, and swum forward until he grew close to her. With a skilled maneuver, he brought his legs to a crossed sitting position and settled in the water below him, sitting with the spring coming up to his chest. He was not more than the length of a horse from her at this point, his hands still swirling the water around her.

He cupped his hand in the water, like she had done, and let it pour out of his hand.

“Kuuyi” he described he let the water flow through his hands. “Kuuyi.” He repeated. Holding a hand cup of water towards her he smiled confidently. “Kuuyi.” Then playfully threw the water at her.