His momentum separated the boys long enough for him to first grab and tie up one of the Cherokee braves, and then the other in short order. He wrist bound trussed their ankles and then put Skunk and Crow back to back against each other with strong strips of rawhide that he always wore bound to his waist to contain captives or live game. "Be silent, young trackers! For now, you are in MY People's territory." Nakomah hissed to them in passable Cherokee when they started to yell and writhe against their snug bindings.
Crow was stunned. "How do you know my Mother's tongue?! You are speaking to us against all belief, Sioux!" he bellowed in affront.

"I am a man who listens, boy, and so have grown wise beyond my years. Why do you not know mine? We are neighbor clans. We both have Wisewomen who know each other's, and they teach all of our warriors. Did you have trouble with the lessons?"

Crow broke off eye contact with Nakomah, mocking him with the gesture, trying to irritate, as a stab of fear filled him.

Nakomah remained nonplussed, regarding them mildly without moving."Talk."

Skunk grew calm and still when he suddenly saw the red stains on the ends of their captor's braids. "We are your hostages, Truth Seeker. I see you, and your right to seek us. We will not fight you, on our oath."

Crow stopped struggling to free his wrists and ankles, eyes widening at Skunk's formal term of respect to a stranger Elder. Then he saw the same thing. "You have blooded your hair, Forest Brave. Why?"

"I am fighting a battle of honor for one who cannot."

Skunk's nostrils flared. "Oh, Father Sky. That is the blood of my sister!" he sobbed, recognizing the scent. "Did you find and eat her shell?"

Crow panicked, remembering the tales the older boys had told him about Sioux deviousness and evil ways. "We were only doing our D-Duty."

"A Duty does not condone the murder of an immature being!" Nakomah spat. "You are disgusting in my sight!" he roared.

"Then kill us now!" Crow challenged. "For we cannot go home without the proof!"

Skunk began crying as his fear grew under the fiercesome gaze of one of his enemies. Tears filled his eyes silently. ::I will not shame myself. I will face my Death like a man.:: he mentally quailed, failing to contain his weaker emotions in the proper manner. ::But I feel so small.::

Nakomah rocked back on his heels from where he crouched over Skunk and Crow with his axe, and leaped away, with an inarticulate cry of rage. "Killing stupid boys is a coward's path! I will not take it for a crime that has not been committed!" Then his infuriated expression twisted into a sudden smile at the boys solely for their benefit.

Skunk immediately understood. "You mean, Dragonfly is.. still alive?" He began weeping openly and unashamed.

But Crow's eyes narrowed after his utter surprise at that declaration. "You have defied my chief's wishes, taker of boys." he snarled.

"Dark Cloud is not my Chief! And I have not captured you as prizes. This is a discipline act that any adult may give a child, such as you." Nakomah stated sharply. "Scouting outside of home turf when you are not old enough to be warriors, is a Universal offense that any Plains People in the world have agreed to recognize and correct. Sa-i-qua-yi, like you, was also rescued from herself, by an adult. A Paleskin, Adams, who properly respects all life, and a Great Bear,.. took her back from Mother River fairly."

"The Great Spirit saved my sister?" whispered Skunk, cowed and awed.

"Your sister?" Nakomah startled.

"Yes, Truth Seeker. Dragonfly and I are two-babies. Crow chose me to Witness the Law when I did not wish to." Skunk said adamantly.

"You felt you had to obey because you were the younger." Nakomah guessed, reading his face.

"Skunk! We are in the right about Dragonfly through your father. Forget the Trespass Rule. It is not important." Crow insisted.

"Crow! This day was sour in your mouth, too. Just as bitter, as it was in mine. My heart does not wish it, but my eyes see it. Our chief has been growing old and he is losing his wisdom. Our hearts were telling us so. Do you not remember?" Skunk asked.

"He is your father! War Chief of the entire Nation!" Crow admonished.

"Yes, he is. And it is the son of a chief's Duty to tell him when he becomes old, so he does not hurt the People. I was a coward in not telling him, about what we all have seen, to his face last night, before we took my sister away to die." Skunk sighed, his tender age and heart, showing strongly. "I am not brave enough to face the truth."

"You are facing it now." said Nakomah. "And that is something to be said, by all."
The Forest Brave drew out his knife and freed Skunk and Crow. "I am Nakomah and I return you to your freedom." he officially declared, cutting off the hide ropes which bound them. "You must decide what you will do next. Take this home." he said, dropping the wolf torn sacrificial tunic at their feet from a bundle he had tied at his back. "You may not have the girl. Your People have cast her away to the wolves. She will be mine, in kin, like a daughter, to my tribe. Go tell Dark Cloud about MY act and Adams' feat. She will have her new family by rite. So say we four, to your Chief."

Crow immediately shot to his feet and mounted his horse. "Let us leave this matter, Skunk. We have what we need." he said, holding up Sa-i-qua-yi's gore soaked leather clothes.

Skunk made no move to regain his feet. "I am going to see Dragonfly, Crow. Return alone."

"It is forbidden!"

"I do not care. I am her brother. My heart says I must be with her. I owe it to my mother who is not yet old. You are now my honor watcher. Guard it well and share my choice to remain."

Crow was still self defensive and half fearful of Nakomah's strength which stood out in his body's pose and confidence. "Our warriors will come! There will be a trial held, Skunk, against the pale man who interfered with her passing!"

Nakoma bent low and washed the blood free of his braids methodically in the water at Crow's horse's feet deliberately.
"So let them come. We will defend any being's life that we see in danger. No non-Warrior blood will be shed by my People, Crow. Tell him this. But caution any male adults, to beware. The Bear is very fond of her. And so, are we. This land and anything still on it by dawn tommorrow, will remain his."

Wheeling, the older teen Cherokee lashed his horse with the bloody rags he now held and galloped off.

"Sa.." Nakoma muttered in a curse, as he turned away to walk back to Adam's cabin to tell him and Mad Jack about what may be a future turn of events. He glanced back when Skunk did not rise from his place on the ground by the river. "Come, I will lead you to Sa-i-qua-yi. Her ordeal has made her weak, but she is most definitely not sleeping."

"Her name is Dragonfly." said the angry almost man, worried about his sister. "Father gave it to her because of her green eyes."

"Her name is Bear Grass." Nakoma corrected again, this time in full Sioux. "Adam's Bear chose it for her because she survived the Knotted Waters in spite of you, and your careless friend. Are you coming with me, or do you want Brother Wolf to find you after dark?"

Skunk made haste to follow Nakoma, so close that he was almost in his same footsteps.