Winchester West
Disclaimer: I have no claims to the show Supernatural, the characters or themes. I also mean no insult to any and all Indian tribes, people etc. I just like to play with the characters, tease, torture, caress and the rest!!
CHAPTER 45Previously: Dark Eagle understood well the motions Black Wolf made, and with a sneer unbefitting a chief of tribe, he left the tent with these last words. "Then I hope you burn slowly and walk the desert as you deserve." It seemed mere moments later that two warriors came for him. He looked at them and saw that they did not like this nor want to do this. He walked out of the tent, one either side of him. He was ready and he prayed that the Spirit had heard him.
Yes, he was ready but on seeing the scaffold with the wood piled high beneath it, he stopped walking and his mind was suddenly numbed with fear. It was only when one of the guards quietly called his name and placed his jacket on his shoulders, that he looked up at him, and continued walking. He lowered his head as he walked and to all who watched, his shoulders seemed to slump as if the weight of the world was upon them. A tremor shook his body when he reached the ladder, and he took a moment and breathed deeply trying to settle nerves and feelings, that would not settle. He wanted to run. He wanted to wake up from this nightmare, but he knew that there would be no awakening, there would be no mercy from his master. For when Black Wolf looked at him, his face was set as stone, and his eyes spoke of determination to see this done. Black Wolf turned his head and looked around the camp at the people, who had gathered to watch this. There seemed more then the number in both the Sioux and the Black Foot tribes. Did so many hate him so much, to have traveled to witness his death. He closed his eyes as one of the warriors nudged him to start climbing. He did not want to do this. He did not want to die. He wanted to beg for mercy, but upon looking again at his master, Black Wolf saw that no mercy would be given, so he did the only thing left to him. He started to climb and with every step he prayed that the Spirit would grant his prayers, and that he would again see the hunting ground. His only worry as he reached the top of the scaffold and was tied kneeling, to the pole standing in it's center, was the unanswered question. Had he lived long enough to gain again the hunting ground or would he walk the desert. If not either place then where would his spirit fly. He closed his eyes. He did not want to see his master light the fire. He did not want to see the flames that would destroy him. He did not want to see the desert!
He kept his eyes closed and waited for the sound of coming fire, but none came. Then he heard his master call his name, "Black Wolf", and his eyes opened in shock and suddenly fear overwhelmed him at what he heard next.
White Feather, "You will remain there all night. I will light the fire as the sun rises tomorrow." All night, he had to stay there all night. Black Wolf shook his head, "NO". I will be cold in the morning, the fire will take a long time to warm me and end my life. His master could not be so cruel, but as he watched, the Indians went to their tents to sleep, leaving him alone, tied and awaiting his death in the morning. Tears flowed down his face, how could his master be so cruel. What had he done to displease him so much. The only answer he got, was the sound of tears coming from his master's tent. He lowered his head. Among all the tribe, there seemed one that cared and shed tears for him, and he hoped as he tried to settle for the night, that Dark Flower's heart would not be troubled for long by his passing. Tomorrow he would be brave, as the flames rose to take him. He would be brave and smile at her if she watched. With that thought he tried to close his eyes and hoped to dream of happier times.
He did not know how long it was that he slept, when he was suddenly awoken by strange smelling water being poured over him. It stung his eyes as he opened them, and saw a figure standing before him. Shaking the foul smelling water off, he recognized Dark Eagle, smiling cruelly and holding a knife. He straightened his back and eased his aching shoulders, for his hands where tied above his head, and his back was stiff from leaning against the pole.
Dark Eagle, "Finally you awaken." Black Wolf looked at him and his brows furrowed with thought. "Why, would Dark Eagle come to him now."
Dark Eagle, "Agree to tell me where the knife is and I will untie you and speak to your master for you." So that was why thought Black Wolf. The knife. Black Wolf shook his head, he would not betray his family, and he hoped his answer would make Dark Eagle leave. Unfortunately he was not to be so lucky.
Dark Eagle straitened and raised his hunting knife to Black Wolf's face. "Unless you agree to show me or tell me what I wish to know. You will not make it till the morning." With that he moved the knife quickly down his chest leaving a trail of blood behind and causing Black Wolf to gasp in pain. "Say Yes. Say you will tell me." But to Dark Eagle's mounting anger, Black Wolf again shook his head "NO". Not only that but the cries from the chieftains tent still sounded round the camp, and Dark Eagle knew his time grew short to find out what he wanted to know, and of course, to kill Black Wolf. What he did not know was that time was running faster then he thought, for White Feather had not managed to rest and now he grew tired of listening to Dark Flower's weeping, and had risen to check how things where around the camp, and to see if Black Wolf was still tied upon the scaffold.
He was just exiting his tent when he heard Dark Eagle again ask Black Wolf, "Where is the knife. Agree that you will show me and you will be freed, and none will talk of this again." And again he watched as Black Wolf shook his head "NO", and Dark Eagle raise his knife cutting Black Wolf's chest again and again. It was on the forth cut that White Feather found his voice and yelled for Dark Eagle to stop and raced to climb the ladder and reach them.
White Feather, "What are you doing."
Dark Eagle, "This is none of your concern. Black Wolf knows what I need to know and I will make him tell me."
White Feather, "What does he know and how can he tell you, when you know he has no voice to speak with."
Dark Eagle, "He may show me."
White Feather, "Show you what." By now many had been brought out of their tents, by the sound of the argument between the two chiefs. For their raised voices where hard to miss, and all now waited to hear what Dark Eagle would say.
Dark Eagle though on seeing the tribe gather, hoped to use this against Black Wolf. "He knows where the Knife of Justice is."
White Feather scowled, "The Knife of Justice. Surely." Then he stopped, and sudden realization showed on his face, as he turned to face Black Wolf. "You gave the knife to my son."
Dark Eagle, "Yes. For he was to be chief of both the Sioux and the Blackfoot. He was to be known by all tribes for what he had done. He was fitting to be the next guardian. Until that is (he spat) Black Wolf stole it and thus caused his death, when he sort to retrieve it."
White Feather clenched his jaw, "Is that true." Black Wolf raised his head. He was filled with pain and blood ran down his chest and dripped to wood below, but shook his head, "No".
Dark Eagle, "He has admitted it to me. He also knows who carries it now."
White Feather, "Does Dark Eagle speak the truth. Do you know who has the knife." He waved two guards to come and climb up to them.
Black Wolf lowered his head and nodded. Dark Eagle smiled, "You want to prove his loyalty to you. Order him to tell you or show you who carries the knife, and I will admit he is loyal." Dark Eagle figured he had won. Either Black Wolf would not tell and therefore prove his disloyalty and die for it, or he would tell and then Dark Eagle would go and kill the one who wielded the knife..
Black Wolf looked up in panic. Silently begging his master not to give him such a order. White Feather though seemed relaxed when he spoke. "Dark Eagle, You admit Black Wolf is loyal, good. Black Wolf, I order you. (he paused and all looked at him except Black Wolf whose head had lowered and his shoulders slumped.) You are not to tell any what you know of the knife's location or of who carries it."
Dark Eagle turned, "What. Do you know what you have done."
White Feather straightened, "Yes. Now Go and call no more for Black Wolf's death for he has proved his loyalty. I will ask why the knife is now carried by another, and I will ask how it happened, but I or any other, will never ask him to show who has it, or where he thinks they are."
With that he ordered one of the guards to take Dark Eagle back to his camp, and much to Black Wolf's shock, the other guard was ordered to untie him and return him to the medicine man's tent, so that his wounds could be healed.
As the guard cut Black Wolf free, he slumped onto the scaffold. He was cold and stiff from having spent so long on his knees tied to the pole. He forced himself up, back to his knees, to kneel in front of his master, and raised his arms to ask.
White Feather, "Black Wolf what is it." Black Wolf raised his arms, then draw his hand across his throat and then tapped his chest. Shuddering as his movements caused pain to radiated through his body. He lowered his head and waited.
White Feather, "Black Wolf, Go to the medicine man. After that we will talk. I and others will wish to know, how you know of the knife, and why my son had to retrieve it." Black Wolf raised his head, looking worried at his master's words. "Do not worry. None will ask of who has it, and where they are."
Black Wolf felt less worried, but he knew his master was smart and quick witted, and he worried that White Feather would discover from his words, who had the knife and where they where, wither he said it or not. But when the guard nudged him, Black Wolf slowly followed him to the medicine man's tent. He watched from the tent flap as fires where started by some, while others went back to their tents to rest. He worried that after he was healed and his master had spoken to him and learned what he wanted, he himself would be returned to the fire. He did not want to rest. If his master returned and he was asleep, his master would be angry. The medicine man though made sure, even though Black Wolf did not want to, that he soon joined those that headed to rest, by causing him to fall into a deep healing sleep, after he had tended his wounds. The medicine man watched him rest, and made sure that he did not awake all the next day, even though White Feather had come to speak with him, the medicine man told him to leave for Black Wolf needed rest, not questions.
It was half way through the day after that he allowed Black Wolf to raise from his slumbers. When he awoke, he looked round and smiled, for the rest had done he more good then the medicine man had thought. He motioned happily that now he could see clearly again. After the medicine man had made sure he ate, then he allowed his master entry and watched sadly as the smile vanished off Black Wolf's face and his shoulders slumped.
White Feather, "The medicine man says you can see clearly." Black Wolf nodded. "I am glad." At that Black Wolf head raised and he looked at his master, but the look was not one of happiness but of hurt and betrayal, and this confused White Feather greatly. Then he turned to Broken Eagle (the medicine man), "You have not told him".
Broken Eagle, "I feel it is for you to tell him. You have caused this and you should have to explain it." With that Broken Eagle left the tent. Leaving master and termiqui alone to speak.
White Feather, "Black Wolf, there is something I must tell you." Black Wolf raised his head, but then raised his arms, cupping his hands together to show that he wanted to ask for something. "What do you want."
Black Wolf drew a hand across his throat and then tapped his chest, just like he had done two nights ago on the scaffold when he was released. Then he waved his hand in the air saying meaning "NO" and then pointed to the fire in the center of the tent. Then he repeated the motions he had started with. Then he lowered his head and waited. White Feather understood. Black Wolf was asking him to end his life. To cut his throat instead of sending him to the fire. White Feather drew in a breath and steadied himself. Laying a hand upon Black Wolf's shoulder, He started to try to explain.
White Feather, "There will be no fire for you." At this Black Wolf raised his head, and smiling. Drawing in a shaky breath himself. But when he went to grasp his master's hand to say thank you, by touching his forehead to it, the hand where withdrawn. So he waited, still convinced that his death was near. White Feather steadied himself. This was proving far more difficult for him, then he thought it would be.
White Feather, "Black Wolf. I am not going to kill you and I do not want you dead." Black Wolf raised his head in surprise. Then he bent it and pointed to the fire, meaning "Why. Fire."
White Feather, "All that you have been ordered to do. Even your return to the camp, was a test of your loyalty. I was not going to light the fire, and even now the wood is being used for warmth and to cook food." White Feather said this with his back to Black Wolf, for really in his heart, he knew Black Wolf would be angry and feel betrayed by him for the trials he had endured. Turning around, at feeling Black Wolf tap him on the shoulder, White Feather realized that Black Wolf had stood up, while he was speaking and now looked beyond angry. His eyes shone with anger, and it was a look that White Feather had only seen once in a dream, many many moons ago.
White Feather, "I know you feel angered and maybe even betrayed, but there was good reason to do this." Black Wolf, shook his arm (medicine man), then he moved his fingers away from his lips (said), and finally he shook his fingers in the air (NO). Unfortunately for White Feather, whose own anger was raising at his Termiqui's attitude, did not fully understand the movements. "I don't understand." So Black Wolf repeated the actions slower, but the his eyes grew ever more angry, and his attitude ever more rebellious.
White Feather, stood to his full height, sensing that Black Wolf was spoiling for a fight, and thus he wanted to re-assert who the master was. Unfortunately this only made Black Wolf feel more angry. Then the movements changed. Black Wolf moved his arm in a circle and pointed outside the tent towards another Indian meaning they, or all of them. Then he tapped his head, (Know), and then he jabbed his finger straight into the middle of White Feather's chest, finally pointing to the fire (This).
White Feather understood, and raising his head, he intended to answer yes, and then to order the termiqui to his knees again. He was tired of this talk and wished to forget the events of the past moons. Unfortunately he only got as far as the "Yes". Then Black Wolf hit him. All he saw was red. Putting all his strength into the blow, it knocked his master straight out the flap of the tent and to the ground. Now to be fair, I cannot tell who was more shocked, White Feather for being hit, or the warriors at seeing Black Wolf walk out of the tent, shaking with anger at his treatment over the past moons. Standing straight and tall, every inch a warrior ready for war, and right now he was just waiting for his master to get up before hitting him again. All Black Wolf could think of, was of how the medicine man had treated him. Of how he had been forced to build his own funeral pyre. Of how none in the camp had told him the truth. Of the pain, and sadness and fear he experienced. All to prove his loyalty. His fists clenched and he move a step towards his master, aiming to hit him again. When he felt hands grab him, and try to force him down. His friends where attacking him, why. Black Wolf did the only thing he could, he fought back. Forcing one or two warriors back, with bruises forming on their bodies and blood flowing. Then he heard White Feather, "Enough."
Black Wolf stopped fighting so savagely. His termiqui training kicking in at the tone of his master's command. White Feather was more then angry and really Black Wolf could not care about it. He felt betrayed by the people he called friends. People he trusted. People like White Stag, who now had a developing black eye, and the medicine man who was looking on in shock after seeing Black Wolf as he thought he would never see him, filled with a uncontrollable rage, or a red mist as the Indians put it.
As these thoughts ran though his head, Black Wolf was still struggling to stay standing, as others of the tribe tried to force him to his knees. He felt his arms and hands being tied strongly behind his back. He would not kneel. "Black Wolf" He heard his master call again, and sneered at it, raising his head to look at him.
It was only then that he saw blood dripping from his master's face. That startled him. He had not thought he had hit that hard. "Termiqui" his master snapped, and it was then that Black Wolf winced and fell to his knees. His arms not bound behind his back. He raised his head. He was not sorry, and when he saw his master draw his knife, his only thought was that, he at least deserved the punishment he was going to get.
Next: - What happens next.
