Aveline de Grandpré knew that something was wrong. As soon as Ratonhnhaké:ton learned that Oiá:ner called for him, his demeanor changed so quickly that it frightened her. Although he remained calm as he instructed Okwa:ri' to practice shooting arrows at the target posts, Aveline could tell that something bothered him. She followed Ratonhnhaké:ton as he marched towards the direction of the Clan Mother. She'd never met the Clan Mother and only saw her in passing. The Clan Mother did not look like a friendly woman and she wanted to avoid anyone that did not approach her warmly. Whenever she started to believe that she was starting to assimilate in the village, a nasty look from some of the Natives quickly reminded her that she did not belong here. She only went where she was wanted and only spoke with those greeted her with open arms.

"Ratonhnhaké:ton." He stopped walking and turned to face her. The look in his dark eyes sent a shiver down her spine. She'd never seen him so angry. When she first laid eyes on him, Aveline knew that Ratonhnhaké:ton was a dangerous man. Standing in front of him now, she questioned if she he was same man that held her so tenderly the night before. She hesitated to speak under his cold glare. "Is there something wrong, Ratonhnhaké:ton?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton stared into her green eyes as he approached her. Ratonhnhaké:ton felt a disturbance in his spirit that caused his body to feel weak. He was standing strong, but his legs threatened to cave beneath him. He took her hand. Aveline was surprised at the gesture but followed him as he continued to move forward. She looked down at their clasping hands. His large hand felt rough but incredibly warm. A few people that spotted them whispered as they passed. Ratonhnhaké:ton ignored their curious glances and did not release her hand even when they entered the longhouse.

Oiá:ner sat in front of the fire with her legs crossed and her staff resting in her lap. She eyed them as they walked into the longhouse. The light from fire revealed the wrinkles covering her leathery skin. Her face was fixed into a hardened frown. Her dark, beady eyes glanced down at their intertwined hands. She held up her staff and motioned for them to sit.

When Aveline stepped forward, Ratonhnhaké:ton tightened the grip on her hand, forcing her to stay next to him. Aveline glared at him and wanted to protest. His menacing, dark glare was fixed on the Clan Mother. Looking into his eyes, she knew it would be unwise to go against him now. She didn't attempt to pull away from him.

"What is it Oiá:ner?" Ratonhnhaké:ton called as he kept his distance from the elderly woman. "Are you giving me permission to leave the village?"

"Ówera." The Clan Mother called, ignoring Ratonhnhaké:ton as she kept her focus on Aveline.

Aveline looked at Oiá:ner. She did not understand what the woman said, but her dark eyes were filled with worry. "Ówera, you will need to stay strong."

Ratonhnhaké:ton held on tight to Aveline's hand and moved to stand in front of her. Nothing good ever came from her spiritual premonitions. He didn't want to get Aveline involved in whatever would happen in the future.

"Leave her out of this." His voice was low as he kept his gaze steady on the Clan Mother. He would protect Aveline just as his mother tried to protect him. "She has nothing to do with this."

"You will need to find the strength to guide him and make him whole again." Oiá:ner ignored him as she continued. "You have to find the power to bring him back."

"I said stop."

Aveline did not understand her words but was so entranced that she could not hear Ratonhnhaké:ton. She held on tight to his hand as she stared into the eyes of the elderly woman.

"Without you," Oiá:ner shook her head, "his soul will be lost forever."

"That's enough!" Ratonhnhaké:ton barked as he took a threatening step towards her. His dark eyes flashed to a hue of crystal blue. The atmosphere in the longhouse shifted as the mystical wolf spirits stalked around them. Just as quickly as they appeared, the shadowy spirits were gone in a flash. The spirits were there for only a moment, but Oiá:ner saw them. She still felt the presence of the wolf spirits and knew they were still prowling around their master, ready for his command to attack. As Oiá:ner watched him, she regretted the day she convinced him to seek the strength of the spirits.

After Ratonhnhaké:ton returned to the village after being gone for so many years, she sent him to go and consume the bark of the Great Red Willow tree. She wanted to test the boundaries of his loyalty and see if his spirit was as strong as she'd believed it to be. She was relieved when Ratonhnhaké:ton returned to her unscathed. Not only did he receive the power of one the most formidable spirits, but he also inherited his own pack as well. Although the spirits accepted him and allowed him to borrow their powers, she knew that his soul was lost. Looking at him now, she knew she made a grave mistake.

"What will happen?"

"I do not know, Ratonhnhaké:ton." Oiá:ner frowned as she look at him. She did not know what would happen. She could only tell him what the spirits warned her. "Look to Ówera."

"I will look to no one."

"Your spirits are bound." Oiá:ner shook her head as she looked at Aveline. She hoped that her words would reach her. "You cannot change your fate, Ratonhnhaké:ton."

Ratonhnhaké:ton held on so tightly to Aveline's hand that he was beginning to hurt her. With Aveline helplessly dragging behind him, he left the longhouse. Aveline had no clue about what the Clan Mother said, but she didn't like how he treated her with such disrespect and contempt. She held on his wrist and tried to keep up with his pace as he marched forward.

"Ratonhnhaké:ton!" Aveline finally managed to snatch her hand from his deadly grip. She massaged her aching hand as Ratonhnhaké:ton turned around to face her. "What did she say?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton clinched his jaw as the Clan Mother's words echoed through his mind. Whenever she summoned him, a calamity would occur in his future. He didn't want to get Aveline involved. Hearing her premonition only angered him. How could he be bound to woman he did not know. Aveline de Grandpré was an assassin and a possible enemy. He regretted his decision to bring her back to the village.

"Forget what she said."

"How can I forget something I do now know?" Aveline protested. Something was going on and she wanted to get to the bottom of it. "What is Ówera?" She questioned as she searched his dark eyes. As she looked into his eyes, she swore they flashed to a radiant color of icy blue. "Ratonhnhaké:ton…?"

Before she could say another word, the massive warrior leaned against her. Aveline embraced him and exerted every bit of her strength so she wouldn't collapse under his weight. As soon as Aveline felt the last of her strength giving away, Ratonhnhaké:ton recovered and held her in his arms. He found the strength to stand and made sure that Aveline was stable. Ratonhnhaké:ton backed away from her and fell to one knee. Aveline went to his side and held his face in her hands. She forced him to look up at her as she gazed into his eyes. They were dark again. Did her eyes deceive her?

Ratonhnhaké:ton pushed her aside and turned away from her. He moved away from her when she grabbed his arm to help him stand. Using his own strength, Ratonhnhaké:ton stood on shaking legs. His chest moved up and down as he breathed. He leaned against the wood wall of the longhouse for support as he regained his strength.

"I don't need your help."

Aveline watched his back as he continued to walk. Afraid that he would collapse again, Aveline followed him. She'd never seen him look so weak and she'd never seen him get so angry. She didn't like the feeling of being pushed aside by him. Her chest felt tight and her eyes began to water. She didn't know what was going on but something inside of her told her to help him. Blinking back the tears in her eyes, she reached out her hand to touch him.

Ratonhnhaké:ton froze when he felt something against his back. He glanced behind and saw that Aveline was still standing behind him. Her hand was pressed against his back. He didn't turn around as he took her outstretched hand. His expression softened. He didn't want to hurt her. He turned to face her. As he gazed into her green eyes, he could only wish they would meet in another life. He had a duty to protect his village and his people. He could not allow himself to be lead astray.

"Our paths in life lead in opposite directions."

Aveline did not understand the words that came from his mouth. She felt in her spirit that what he was saying was wrong. She could only shake her head as she did not understand Mohawk.

"Ratonhnhaké:ton…"

"What she said does not matter." Ratonhnhaké:ton continued in English. He released her hand and slowly stepped away from her. He did not want to get her involved with whatever would happen in the future. He made a sacrifice to protect his village and he would just that, no matter the cost. "You will leave one day, Aveline. Accept that and move on."

"Your spirits are bound, Ratonhnhaké:ton."

Both Ratonhnhaké:ton and Aveline turned in the direction of the familiar voice. Kanen'tó:kon approached them. Okwa:ri' walked a little behind him. Aveline noticed the look in the boy's dark eyes as his gaze went from Ratonhnhaké:ton to her.

"You'll have to excuse your pupil. I asked him to escort me to you." Kanen'tó:kon said with a grin as he placed his hands on the boy's shoulders. "I heard Oiá:ner asked to speak with you."

"Return to the posts, Okwa:ri'." Ratonhnhaké:ton commanded as he ignored the sadness in the boy's eyes. Okwa:ri' nodded. He gave Aveline one final glance before he trudged off to continue his training. The pain in his hands faded as he walked away from them. The air must have been colder today as his body felt numb. He continued forward without turning around. Kanen'tó:kon watched the boy as he walked away.

"He heard you, Ratonhnhaké:ton." Aveline murmured as she glared at him. She knew she would have to face this issue but she wanted to tell Okwa:ri' on her own terms. "I didn't want him to find out like this."

"I only said what was true." Ratonhnhaké:ton did not feel sorry that Okwa:ri' heard him. The boy would have to find out sooner or later. "Or did you forget that you were engaged?"

Aveline de Grandpré was quiet as she glared at the wolfish Native man standing before her. She could not argue with his words. He broke their gaze as he walked past Kanen'tó:kon to find his pupil. He would not dawdle with preposterous tales any longer. He had a village to protect and pupil to train. She had her own endeavors to attend to once she left the village. The life of an assassin was very arduous and demanding. It was a life he left long ago. He didn't look back as he walked away from them.

"Have you forgetten what the Clan Mother said?" Kanen'tó:kon interjected finally after staring at the pair. Whether he liked it or not, Ratonhnhaké:ton would always have to face Aveline. He looked at Aveline as he continued to speak in Mohawk. "You are bound to Ówera."

Ratonhnhaké:ton heard his friend but continued to walk forward. Aveline felt hurt by his words but knew he was right. She had a life outside this village and she was a danger to the people. She could not allow herself to get comfortable here. She was an assassin that came here to find refuge. If he was out looking for her, she was certain that he was doing anything in his power to bring her. She didn't want to put these people in danger. Her heart felt heavy as she watched the wolfish Native man walking away from her. She'd already asked him to care for Okwa:ri' when she left. As soon as her weapons were returned, she would have to continue on her journey as if none of this ever happened. She was only passing by.

"I keep hearing Ówera." Aveline questioned as she clasped her hand together. Her hand still felt warm from his touch. She tried to ignore the heavy feeling in her heart. "What is Ówera?"

Kanen'tó:kon eyed Aveline and wondered if he should explain what was going on. He was more than certain that Ratonhnhaké:ton did not explain anything to her. Kanen'tó:kon sighed as he looked at the blue skies stretched above them. The sun was bright and warmed the earth. Although the snow was melting, the air was still cold. "Ratonhnhaké:ton has sacrificed more than what any of us could ever imagine..."

Kanen'tó:kon paused as he looked around the village. He watched the smiling faces around him. A group of children ran around the village, fighting with sticks as if they were warriors. A group of women laughed as they tended to their next meal simmering in a large kettle over a fire. From what he could hear, they were complaining about their husbands. In the distance, he could see Teiowi:sonte and Tsi'tenha. They were walking side by side, smiling as they talked. The village was so peaceful that it made him feel uneasy. Things could change for them at any moment. He only wished his friend could find his own happiness before it was too late.

"Ratonhnhaké:ton is Ohkwáho." Kanen'tó:kon nodded towards her, "you are Ówera."

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! What do you think? Please let me know in a review! Hearing from you guys gives me the motivation I need to continue! I'll post the next chapter soon!