After many weeks of visiting the boy on the valley, I had finally learned the correct pronunciation of his name. While my tongue still managed to slip sometimes while pronouncing his name, I found that the name came much more easier to me than the first time I had been privileged to hear it. Zeke too had mastered it and well before me, it seemed.

I looked up at the snow covered trees and huddled closer to the small fire that Ratonhnhaké:ton had masterfully created. It had surprised me that he was able to do many things that I only ever saw the older, powerful men do. While it perplexed me, sometimes even frightened me, I knew better than to doubt a friend. There were many things that were different about him, but those were the same things that kept me coming back to him.

"What is the matter?" The boy who occupied my thoughts, asked. His hazel eyes shone with genuine concern, the stick he was using to poke at the fire held suspended midair.

I grinned beatifically. "Nothing at all!" I glanced at the feathers that poked out from his clothes and realised that I had never noticed their existence before. "Raton! I never gathered you liked feathers so much! If you had told me, I would have brought you some chicken feathers from home - there are so many lying around!"

He looked miffed. "Chicken feathers will not do justice." With his nimble fingers, he abandoned the twig and plucked a brown feather and held it out to me. "This is a feather of an eagle - a very special eagle per se."

"Oh?" I cocked my head in slight confusion. Chicken feathers, eagle feathers or peacock feathers. They were all feathers in the end and if their purpose were to be ornaments then I was sure that chicken feathers were much more prettier than the ones he wore. I quickly grabbed the feather as he began to retract his hand, his face carrying hints of rejection.

I smiled toothily. "How precious! I will treasure this feather for years and years to come!" I shuffled closer to him shyly, the ruffles on my shoulder brushing with his bare arm. "And, if I see the special eagle I will take all of its feathers for you."

"I do not want the poor animal skinned alive," he snorted, picking up the twig and poking the fire again. My head automatically turned to view his beautiful profile; his eyes that now sparkled with happiness, his cheeks that blossomed red and the hints of smile that peeked in the shadows. I wished then, that this moment would never end.

The smoke that rose from behind the valley reached my nose and I sneezed gently, walking away from the backyard to the stable where Zeke stood. I expected him to be brushing the horses or washing the dishes with the other servants, but he like many other men and women in the courtyard was staring at the valley.

Anxiety set in my heart as I flew towards the familiar boy and stumbled, but landed securely in his arms and it was only then that he turned to look at me. The expression he wore did not calm the growing unease in my heart and I clutched at his tattered and brown shirt for comfort.

"Zeke, what is wrong?" I inquired, looking at the valley. "Why is everyone looking at the valley?"

He looked perplexed at my question and pointed at the smoke. "The smoke, miss. 'Tis the smoke that rises out."

I nodded, taking a whiff of the smoke and ignoring the tears that erupted in my eyes from it. "Yes, I know that, Zeke. Raton's people must be cooking a great feast, I presume." Something about my own words unsettled me and I realise now that I was only protecting myself from the terrible words that Zeke next spoke.

"No, miss! The village - the boy on the valley's village has been set alight!"

The next few moments were a blur. I had ripped myself from the safe embrace of my friend and had rushed up the familiar path that was so well known to me. The smoke had hit me in full force then and I felt painful burns that engulfed me from within, but the agony mattered little. I only saw the figure that stood at the valley, his hand outstretched crying out to me, but a giant fireball came from behind and swept him away, leaving nothing, but a hot gust of air and one feather that fell out from the sky.

I know I haven't updated in a long time and for that I really do apologise. This is a very small update, but I'll try and write longer chapters. The next chapter may or may not be a time skip. Thank you for reading. Have an amazing day!