SCENE TWO Los Miraboles Canyon area northern Colorado territory,

" Mi jefe, dos jinetes estan viniendo esta manera!" one of the lookouts, posted at the nearest point east of their defenses called out.

"Solamente dos?" the leader of the band asked, his attention still on the fire damage to the compound."Only two riders, Emmanuelo?"

"Si, jefe, Dario saw them just a moment ago. " The lookout answered.

"And Dario has the longest eyes in the compania." the man addressed as chief nodded. Among his mother's people from Sonora province in Mexico and before that, from San Antonio de Bejar in old Texas, he was known as Joaquin Her Nell Eliseo Aguilar. Tall, broad shouldered, but wiry and graceful as a cougar, he was in his prime now at the ripe old age of 27. His wide dark eyes took in every detail around him, and had always been the key to his survival thus far in a harsh world that kept growing harsher and more bitter.

His aquiline features handsomely displayed his Mejicano origins, knife sharp and full of his native intelligence, his coloring and way

of living and beliefs spoke more to his father's people, the Comanche bands of north eastern Colorado and western Kansas, descendants and near cousins of the Shoshoni. Among them he was known as Tzsensa-Kwihnai-Bavi, Brother to Coyote and Eagle, because of the strong medicine he seemed to carry with him like a good luck charm, and the wit and boldness with which he led and protected his own.

"Go out to Dario's post and send him back to me immediatamente, Manuelo." The leader ordered now. "I want to hear from him all that he saw. And keep your head down, por favor, mi compadre. These two may be only the vanguard for another attack by the white-eyes."

"Si, mi jefe." Manuelo answered, touching the brim of his sombrero.

"Bavi," a woman's deep, clear, tremulous voice called out from the shelter of the stables they'd been able to save from the fire. "Bavi,"

"I'm coming, mi querida." Aguilar/Tzsensa answered, and turned back, sorrow filling his wide eyes as she continued to call out, over and over again.