Chapter 3


One morning a few months after first arriving in the Homestead, Connor and Okwaho hunted hare's before Achilles awoke and even before the sun rose.

The boy carried the small bundle of hare's and fish inside only a couple of hours later, the old man sat at the table as Connor prepared breakfast. He finally learnt how to use all the utensils in the kitchen after Achilles taught him for a few days.

After breakfast Achilles left, Connor and Okwaho went searching for him and found him climbing up into his carriage. "I am going to repair the house, and you're going to help. Get in." He tapped the door with the end of his cane.

With a nervous gulp, Connor climbed into the carriage while Achilles took the reins of two dark brown horses. Okwaho jumped up behind Connor and sat on the seat across from him, the boy stiffened when they started to move.

Okwaho stared out the window, regretting coming inside as the smells and sounds were barred from her. Maybe it would have been a better idea to sit up with Achilles?

"Okwaho…" She looked to Connor, "Do you miss them… your family?"

After a pause of silence she lowered her head in a nod, Connor licked his lips that were turning dry with his nervousness.

The boy didn't know what to make of the wolf, now that he knew what she was he couldn't help but think of all the times he treated her like a hunting hound, not knowing she had the intelligence of a human soul. Though he did know she was more intelligent than most animals, she always looked him in the eye when he spoke

It was sad to think about what her father had done to her, the Spirit had shown him her death in the forest near her home. She had been so frightened running and climbing the trees barefoot in a long white dress that almost glowed when the full moon hit it through gaps in the tree tops, so scared and beautiful.

Connor could never forget her face, her pale and terrified face.

-AC-

Boston was amazing, both Okwaho and Connor were in awe as they looked around with wide eyes. The streets were very different in the 18th century then it will be in the 21st century. People gave the three curious looks, they were the oddest little group. One old black man with a limp, a young boy dressed and looking like a savage, and their large 'dog' that stood above the waist and wasn't like most smaller breeds seen around town.

As Connor ran off to do his errand, Okwaho kept with the old man as many drunkards looked like they wanted to pick a fight with the dark skinned man. Even though she knew he could handle his own if attacked, she didn't want him harmed if something unexpected happened.

Noticing the men and how they eyed the wolf with caution, Achilles reached down to give her a scratch on the head in appreciation. "Let's wait in the market shall we then?" He chuckled, like he thought it was stupid to talk to an animal like this.

A huff escaped Okwaho and she trotted off in the direction of the market with Achilles following closely with one of his usual frowns. He swore there was something odd about this wolf, maybe being with humans made her different?

The old man leaned on his cane while Okwaho explored each smell without leaving the area around him, some people avoided her while others came over to give her pats. A pair of women with a young boy giggled as the large animal bounded around them with happy yaps.

When Connor returned, she ran over to his side and gave him a sniff to make sure he was fine. "What's going on?" The boy asked while looking around at groups of men and women being held back by Redcoats, many were in front of the hall yelling insults.

"That's what we're going to find out." Achilles started to waddle his way through the crowd with Connor sticking close, Okwaho rounded the crowd to watch from the side between the angry rioters and the soldier's.

And no more then a meter away from Haytham Kenway himself, Okwaho looked at him with ears twitching to listen to what he was saying to his associate.

As if sensing eyes on him, Haytham scanned the crowd. His eyes paused in recognition towards Achilles who tilted his head greeting before hobbling away in the direction of the carriage to await the materials and get a quick getaway with something went down. Connor had already rushed off to tail the rifle man.

Haytham look from Achilles' back to the large hound that was eyeing him, she had inched closer on her stomach so she was almost in arms reach. The tall man cleared his throat and looked through the crowd, trying to ignore the creature while feeling like it was judging him.

Then Charles Lee shot into the air signalling that their original plan failed but the desired effect happened. The Redcoats opened fire on the crowd, Haytham scanned the rooftop for the one that stopped the rifle man from shooting and spotted Connor.

The Templar Grandmaster tapped a soldier's shoulder and pointed up at the boy. The soldier aimed his rifle ready to shoot the boy, thinking he had been the one to originally shoot, but before he could pull the trigger he released a cry of pain as sharp fangs closed around his genital area.

Both the man and rifle fell to the ground while the wolf jumped back and with an almost demonic howl, bowled into another soldiers legs sending them flying.

"Wolf!" Many of the Redcoats leapt back in fear as the massive Grey Wolf snapped its jaws and growled viciously at them before pelting past Haytham and through an alley before anyone could think to pull a pistol out on it.

Through the town Okwaho ran, trying her hardest to catch onto Connor's scent but the strong smell of blood clouded her senses. She stopped in a dark corner to try and sneeze out the smell and try again.

Finding nothing once again, Okwaho decided to circle back around to the market and try to catch a trail to either Connor or Achilles. Her heart was beating fast with nervous fear as she looked out from the shadows.

The Redcoats were busy cleaning up the massacre, there was no sight of Haytham.

Keeping on her stomach, Okwaho crawled past the hall and towards the street Achilles had parked the carriage. Lucky for her he was still there getting the last of his needed things stored into the back.

Slowly, Okwaho made her way on her stomach towards him, past one last alley entrance she went beneath the carriage. She released a small whimper so the old man knew she was there. "Thank you for assisting this old man, here's some extra for your troubles."

The shop assistant nodded as his hand was filled with a couple of coins and walked away, Okwaho climbed out from beneath the carriage and looked up at the old man, he looked down at her with a small smile. "Couldn't find the boy? He will be fine, get up here." She leapt up beside Achilles and he petted her ear as she sat stiffly with nose twitching.

Looking over, Okwaho saw Haytham and Charles watching from the very alley she had passed before, she met eyes with Haytham and didn't turn away. The old man's hand stiffened on her turned head, he saw them too. Taking up the reins, they began to move.

The further they get away the better… Connor will be fine.

-AC-

When Connor returned to the Homestead a few days later, he didn't look very happy. He complained to Achilles in English then began to speak in Native as his anger rose. The older man took it all in patient stride reminding Okwaho of her own father, back before everything suddenly changed.

Connor's bad mood evaporated when Achilles held out a box and opened it to show the hidden blade gauntlet inside. Everything was going to start now. Connor looked to Okwaho as if that thought crossed over to him.

The both of them were going to have to grow stronger.

Thanking the man after trying on the gauntlet, Connor bent and gave Okwaho a hug. "Don't frighten me like that again, even to save my life." She whined in disagreement, "Never again, not when I cant protect you too."

Achilles watched quietly before commenting, "She seems… smarter then most animals."

"She is no animal, she is a spirit. One whose life was taken by betrayal, speak to her as you would a woman, a human, and she will understand." The old man snorted in disbelief causing Connor to give him a sharp look. "Come Okwaho, leave the old man to himself."

The two turned their backs on the man and strode out the room to return to their slept the night as restless as ever, Okwaho stretched out across the floor to avoid his flying kicks.

In the morning they started to assist in rebuilding the Homestead, starting with the Aquila.