Footsteps of a Stranger
Arthur was excited beyond belief. However, he didn't let that show, he didn't want that rotten Frenchman to take notice and announce it to the whole crew.
Arthur grunted as he dropped yet another bag of grain on top of the ones he had just brought into the ship. Francis appeared beside him and dropped his bag also. Francis was the rotten Frenchman, and, though Arthur shuddered to himself at the thought of it, hi's only friend. Arthur hung around Francis for the sheer reason that everyone else hated them and thought they had bought their way onto the boat. Which they had, as they are nobles. But the castouts half to stick together right?
"Who would have thought that the two of us would be going to the New World together!" Francis exclaimed, throwing his arm around Arthur.
"Get off of me, you idiot." Arthur shoved Francis off of his back and went to the deck of the ship.
"But it's so exciting! " Francis spread his arms and stood at the railing. "A whole New World! A dazzling place we never knew-"
"Even existed." Arthur finished for Francis. "I know."
"Aren't you ever happy about anything?" Francis sighed.
Arthur stood by Francis his arms folded. "I am." With a soft smile and as glance at his friend, Arthur said, "It is exciting. I'm finally leaving England."
Francis glanced over his shoulder at the rest of the crew sneering at them. "Agreed."
"I wonder what we'll see." Arthur mumbled.
"Or who. These lands were going to are supposed to be filled with savages."
Arthur lifted a shoulder. "We'll know in a few days."
Alfred leaned over the edge of the cliff. His long braids fell over his shoulder and dangled above the steep drop.
"I really wish you wouldn't stand that close to the edge, Alfred." his twin brother, Matthew said. His identical braids were twisted between his fingers in worry.
"If I do fall, I'll land in the water." Alfred said. He stepped back anyway. "It's nothing to worry about."
His brother rolled his eyes. "Come on, the chief will be back soon."
Alfred groaned but followed Matthew down an almost invisible path. "He doesn't even like us, why should we go greet him?"
"Because it is part of our people's tradition." Matthew called over his shoulder. He slid down a rock smoothly.
"You know they don't consider us part of them." Alfred said, leaping off the same rock.
The twin boys were half-breeds. Their native mother was impregnated by a white settler. They grew up with their father to the age of eight and after his death, the boys had been living with their mother for the past ten years. Though they retained their English names and language, they were accepted by the majority of the tribe and quickly learned the native tongue. However, as the years had gone on and more and more white men were taking their land, the boys were soon seen as one of the white men. Even though their skin was a shade lighter than the natives and a shade darker than the white men.
To keep the peace, Alfred and Matthew secluded themselves from the tribe and attempted to be as perfect as they could. They participated in all of the traditions, coming to call them their own. Although Alfred would complain at times and not everyday was easy for the boys, they have lived peacefully and happily for the last ten years.
They arrived at their village and stood in the back as the chief told of how he and his warriors had succeeded in their fight against the oncoming white men. Their village was safe. For now.
Alfred huffed and folded his arms. Then in English, told Matthew: "We could have helped them fight if they weren't so stubborn."
"Shh. Don't be disrespectful." Matthew hissed, nudging Alfred's ribs.
With a grunt, Alfred quieted down. Though when he joined the others for a victory cheer, his wasn't as loud.
"Come on, let's find Mother." Matthew said once the crowd dispersed.
The twin boys walked close together as they meandered through the village. A few glares from the elders were shot their way. Years had toughened the boys's outer shell, but they still felt the hate of the others.
They found their mother near the chief. Everyone knew they had a thing going on, but no one dared mention it. The tall tan man glared as the twins approached.
"Welcome back, Chief." Matthew greeted.
The man grunted.
"What is it boys? I'm very busy." Kiatana said. She pushed her braid over her shoulder.
"We just wanted to greet the chief." Matthew said nervously.
Alfred huffed and his brother jabbed an elbow into his ribs. The other sighed before offering a weak smile at the couple-that's-not-a-couple. "Yeah. We're glad you came home safe."
The chief grunted and turned his back to them. Kiatana twisted her hands together before addressing her sons. "The river is safe again." she took their arms and dragged them to the edge of the river. Away from the chief, she hissed "Can you two attempt to act like the others? You stand out like donkey among horses."
"We're sorry, we can't-"
"I know you can't help who you are," their mother said with forced calmness. "But can you be less…" she waved her hands, looking for the words.
"Us?" Alfred piped up, a glare in his usually gentle blue eyes.
"Yes!" their mother exclaimed. "That's exactly it!" she looked over her shoulder and the growingly impatient chief. "I have to go. Be good."
Once she left, Alfred turned on his heel and stormed away. Matthew followed silently, knowing that his brother was on the brink of exploding. And doing that in the village was not the place to do it.
Alfred ended up leading Matthew to the river. Matthew watched patiently as Alfred threw rocks and other stones into the water as he ranted.
"She acts like it's our fault for being half breeds! Did she forget that it was her that chose to have us! I know we were dumped on her, and we weren't born in the best of ways, but she can at least acknowledge that we have feelings!" Alfred finished by trying to throw a rock the size of his torso. He only succeeded in falling on his face, rock barley away from his fingers.
Matthew chuckled at his brother and helped him up. "Let's go for a ride."
"Where?" Alfred sniffed, wiping his nose. Though he tried to be tough, he was really a big baby.
"Down the river." Matthew said softly.
Alfred nodded and the brothers walked in silence to the canoes. Claiming they were going fishing, the two managed to get a canoe and started their way down the river.
"She is just so...ugh!" Alfred slapped his paddle against the water.
"I know, Al." Matthew said. Though they were the same age, Matthew felt he was more mature than Alfred by years.
Suddenly, Alfred stood. The gentle breeze lifted his golden locks, making them dance around his cheeks. His braids that sat behind his ear waved down how back. "We're close."
Matthew nodded. "I feel something different today, though."
Alfred sat back down and picked up his paddle. "I feel it too."
They shared an uneasy look and maneuvered their way to the hidden grove. Alfred stepped into the water and pulled Matthew on to the bank. With their canoe safely stored on the sand, they walked the short distance to the heart of the grove. A large tree loomed over them, even with three others, they would not be able to touch hands around the base. In a nest of roots sat their father's memorial.
Matthew kneeled beside the simple stone and brushed away dead grass and leaves. Though their father's body was not buried there, they had set up the memorial so they would have a place to feel close to their dad.
Alfred furrowed his brow and walked around the base of the tree. "Matt, it's quiet."
"It is." He stood and came to his brothers side, looking over the river. "Something is very wrong."
There was usually birds chirping and small animals rustling through the trees. Fish would splash around and the wind would whistle and shake the branches of the tall trees. However, everything was silent and still.
Suddenly, a giant gush of wind about knocked the brothers off their feet. Their hands instantly found each other as they steadied themselves.
They turned so their backs were against the flow, their hair flapped wildly around their faces. At that time, Alfred had a thought. It was crazy and far-fetched but he spoke it anyway.
"We should climb the tree."
"I think so too, Al." Matthew breathed.
They shared a look and walked to the trunk. Alfred gave Matthew a boost to the first branch and his brother pulled him up. Together they navigated the limbs of the ancient tree until they reached the top. Their view spanned all the way to the ocean. And what was floating along the coast.
With another look at each other, they left their father's memorial and sprinted to the beach.
Arthur was the first on the shore. He breathed deeply and grinned at the dense vegetation in front of him. He couldn't wait to go exploring. But he had to wait for a certain idiot to catch up.
"Arthur! I got water in my shoe!" Francis whined from the edge of the ocean.
"Well, if you would have put your boots on like you were supposed to, you wouldn't have that problem." Arthur snapped, glaring at the Frenchman.
"But they are so ugly!" Francis whined.
Arthur sighed and folded his arms as he waited for Francis to catch up with him. When they were side by side, Arthur raised a large eyebrow. "May we enter the forest of this undiscovered land, or would you like to cry some more?"
"Stuff it."
Rolling his eyes at the weak comeback, Arthur took to the forest. He found an animal trail and followed it, Francis on his heels.
"I heard that there are savages in this part of the world." Francis said.
"Did you not bring a gun?"
"That's why I have you."
Arthur thew Francis a glare and let a tree whap him in the face.
Francis yelped and held his nose as he ducked under a tree. "That was rude!"
"Shut up." Arthur was standing still as Francis came to stand beside him.
"Why are you so-"
"Shut up!" Arthur hissed. "There's something over there!"
"Is it going to kill us?" Francis asked, his blue eyes darting around a small clearing.
"I don't even know what it is." Arthur snapped. He craned his neck to look into the trees. He saw a slight movement and locked his eyes on the creature. In a flash of blue and tan, the creature was gone. Almost without thought, Arthur sprinted after it.
"Arthur!" Francis's faint call came from behind him, but he kept running.
Trees hit his face, but Arthur kept his eyes on the thing running in front of him. "Wait!"
The thing looked over his shoulder and stared at arthur with shocking blue eyes. It was a man! Arthur stumbled and missed where the man turned. He turned on his heel. Rocks scaled hundreds of meters beside him, a waterfall cascaded down on the the rocks into a clear pool by the toe of his boot. Giant trees took up the rest of the space.
"I know you're out here." Arthur called. "Just come out."
Soft footsteps sounded near Arthur. He spun on his heel and scanned the area.
"You speak English." a voice said with a tilt to the words.
"As do you." Arthur replied. "Who are you?"
"Lay your weapons down and I'll come out." the voice has a slight shake to it. Arthur decided it was male.
"Alright." Arthur crouched down and deposited his gun and knife. He stood with his hands spread. "You don't have any weapons, do you?"
A knife that looked carved from bone dug itself into the ground by Arthur's feet. "Will you come out now?"
A pause then a gentle sliding noise. Arthur turned to the rocks. A young blond man crouched at the bottom of them. His chest was bare and he had a single star on his right shoulder. Though his hair was cut short with bangs and a peculiar cowlick, two long braids dangeled from behind his left ear. Blue eyes bore into Arthur. His skin was dark, but not as dark as the other savages he had seen. This young man was astonishing.
"Who are you?" the boy asked, straightening. He was shorter than Arthur, though not by much. Probably malnourishment from the savage's diet.
Arthur had to clear his throat before answering. "I am Arthur Kirkland. May I ask your name?"
"Alfred." the boy kept a large space between the two. "Alfred Jones."
Matthew watched the tall blond from inside the branches of a tree. He was rather handsome, and Matthew was intrigued with the strange language the man was speaking.
Alfred had told him to stay out of sight as he followed the leader. However, as the man began wandering deeper into the forest, Matthew kept feeling that he should stop him. After all, a few large cats were known to attack anything or anyone who wandered too close to home.
Matthew leaped from tree to tree until he was able to drop down in front of the man. The tall stranger startled and took a few steps back as Matthew stood from his landing.
"Where did you come from?" the man asked, breathing hard.
"The trees." Matthew said calmly. He smiled and held his hands up, showing he meant no harm.
"Have you been following me?" the man questioned, now in control of his breathing.
"Yes." Matthew dropped his hands and moved closer to the man. "You were going into dangerous territory. I had to help."
"Well, thank you. Are you one of those savages? You speak English very well." the man said, taking a step closer to Matthew.
"Savages?" Matthew retreated a step.
"The uncivilized people who live in these parts." the man explained.
"They are not savages." Matthew defended.
"Yet, you did not include yourself with them." the man said.
Matthew narrowed his eyes to a glare. "My mother is one of them. My father was an Englishman. When he died, we were placed with our mother since no one wanted the half breeds."
"Who is 'we?'" the man lowered his hands.
"My brother and I." Matthew relaxed his shoulders as the man did. If he wanted to fight, he would have attacked by now.
"I see."
Matthew looked around the clearing. No one was around. "Why are you here?"
"We've come to help your people."
"There is nothing for you to help with." Matthew said
"You have lived both lives, civilized and savage. Which do you prefer?"
Matthew recoiled and looked at his feet. It was obvious they both knew the answer.
"I have to go." Matthew finally said and began retreating.
"Wait, which village is your home? I do not wish to destroy it."
Matthew shook his head and said nothing. He had already told this man too much, to tell him where the others were was not a good idea.
"Then, when can I see you again?"
"I don't even know your name." Matthew was almost to the tree line, then he would be home free.
"Francis."
Matthew felt a flutter in his chest. It has been ages since he heard a simple name like that. It made him feel like he was back home. "Matthew."
"Meet me here at sundown." Francis said.
Matthew shook his head but smiled as he disappeared into the brush.
