Can I just say, that you guys are awesome? I had completely given up on this story. It wasn't long enough, written well enough, or elaborate enough. However, a certain private message really sparked something inside me to continue with the story. I just want to thank MohawkWoman for being so helpful and positive. I also want to thank everyone who reviewed the story, without you, I would have never written any more. I'm sorry about giving up, and thanks for sticking with the story.
Flashes of green and brown.
Uncas runs so fast while carrying her body, that Alice can't focus on any single tree. This is only made worse by the tears that stream down her face.
Alice fights to stay conscious, but ultimately loses the battle.
Uncas continues to run.
"AHHH!"
Alice awakens with a jump, her own scream scaring her. Uncas rushes to her side, and places a cool hand on the back of her head, leading her to lay back down.
Looking around, she can see that she's still in the god forsaken forest, but now she's laid on a bed of moss and leaves. Her dress has been peeled off of her bleeding skin, and lays damp on a tree limb. All that covers Alice's naked body is a thin cotton shirt.
Uncas looks down at her, and begins to hum quietly. The soothing noise seems foreign coming from such a hardened warrior.
Alice allows herself to close her eyes and fall back into a restless slumber, as Uncas gets up and forages for berries and water.
Uncas stays close to the sleeping girl, for fear that she will awaken alone. Unfortunately, this means that all Uncas can find are a few handfuls of berries and dirty creek water.
When the sun begin to rise, Uncas notices that Alice's dress is now dry, after he had washed it in the nearby creek. He examines the back and sees that the blood has stained the tan dress, and there are long slashes where she was beaten.
Unable to think about her pain anymore, Uncas turns away to forage for firewood when Alice awakens again.
She silently sits up, and looks around at her surroundings. Once her eyes meet Uncas', they stay put.
"What hap" "Shhh" Uncas cuts her off, and thrusts the canteen of water towards her. "Drink, you're dehydrated". Alice obeys quietly, before noticing once again her close-to-naked body.
"Where is my dress?" Uncas motions his head towards the tree limb, and stands before bringing the dress to her. "I need to dress your wounds before you get dressed".
Uncas works quickly and without emotion, taking ointment made from ground leaves and rubbing it onto her wrists, ankles, back, and other miscellaneous wounds. He doesn't dare go far up her legs, for fear of seeing what he knows is there.
Once he has completed his task, he turns and allows her to dress herself. She hands him his shirt back, and Uncas gives her the berries before commanding her to "Eat". As always, Alice obeys.
Once the berries are gone, Uncas helps Alice to stand, and picks her up. "Where are we going?" Asks Alice. Uncas merely grunts before saying "We can't travel during the day. We're going to a better hiding place to stay until the sun sets."
"Oh." is all she replies.
They walk for a few minutes before coming up to a very dense part of the forest. Sliding between trees proves difficult while carrying the woman, but Uncas makes do.
They finally reach an area large enough for Alice to lay down, but surrounded by trees and bushes so they can't be seen.
Alice sits on the grass, and Uncas continues to stand, fiddling with the surrounding trees.
"Uncas, why won't you look at me?"
He looks down and grunts.
"Uncas."
Again, he doesn't reply. He doesn't know how. All his life, he had been by himself. He had never had to protect anyone, his brother and father took care of themselves. He was unsure of his natural protectiveness towards the small woman.
Alice gives up on trying to communicate with him. They stay there in silence for close to an hour before Uncas declares "I'm going to look for food. Stay here. Don't make any noise. If someone comes, run."
Alice nods, and Uncas squeezes through the trees and disappears.
An hour later, Uncas appears with a satchel full of berries, mushrooms, and leaves. He lays the bag down in front of her, and they both eat until the food is gone, but they're still not satisfied.
"Could you not find any game?" She innocently asks. "We can't start a fire to cook anything. It would lead the war party straight to us."
Alice looks down at her feet, feeling stupid for asking the question. She always seemed to ask the wrong thing at the wrong time.
Uncas sits down across from her, and forces himself to meet her gaze. He opens his mouth, but struggles to find the words to say. Alice surprises him by shaking her head, and reaching her hand out towards him.
He takes it, and she slowly pulls him towards her. Uncas lays down beside her and Alice rests her head on his outstretched arm. His other arm wraps around her tiny waist, pulling them together.
Uncas cannot take the silence anymore, and asks the forbidden question. "Did they… did they, hurt, you?"
Alice's eyes shoot up towards his, and then quickly fall down to his chest before she begins to shake and sob.
Uncas' eyes glisten, as he presses the woman against his chest and gently rocks back and forth, trying to make things better.
They both know that nothing can make things better.
Yeah, it's depressing. But… it had to happen sooner or later. I know it's super short but I'm a little lacking on inspiration right now, so be patient please! I also couldn't resist adding in the Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman quote "Did they hurt you". It just seemed to fit so well! Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and please please please review!