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 46

Previously: 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 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.

He watched as White Feather walked towards him. He kept his eyes open as the knife was placed against his cheek.

White Feather, "I should blind you for this.", he said as he wiped the blood away from his nose and mouth. "How dare you attack me." Black Wolf flinched as the knife began to draw blood, as it moved upwards across his cheek. It's point getting ever closer to his eye, but in his heart, he could not feel guilty for attacking his master, for he did not feel sorry for it. He felt he was justified to strike out at White Feather, for the injustice he had endured. He realized now, he was going to die for it, but he still could not regret his actions. He had been loyal. It was not right for his master to have made him endure this. Black Wolf looked deep into White Feather's eyes as the knife left a trail of blood down his cheek, heading ever closer to his eyes. He almost did not hear the voice that called for White Feather to stop, so deep in thought and anger was he.

White Stag, "Father" At that the knife stopped, and withdrew from his face. Even though Black Wolf thought that it would return to finish what it had started, taking his sight with it. Leaving him blind to stumble around the village, to the joy of all, until his master placed the knife in his heart.

White Stag, "Father, stop. This is not right or just."

White Feather turned to face his son, who he saw pale at the sight of blood running down Black Wolf's cheek and chest, where the wounds left by Dark Eagle, had reopened. "He attacked me. No Termiqui is allowed to attack his master, and I am his master. He will endure whatever punishment I choose for him to bear."

White Stag realized that the situation was very delicate. Yes it was true that as a Termiqui, Black Wolf had to endure and accept, but he also knew that no Termiqui had been ordered to build his own funeral pyre and then ordered to walk to it, ever. So he choose his next words very carefully. "Father, I know that Black Wolf was wrong to attack, but surely you must show mercy, for what he has endured. You ordered that he build his own funeral pyre. You ordered that he walk to it and await his death. No master should do that, and then say it was to prove his loyalty. For you know, Black Wolf endured the trial of loyalty many seasons ago and all know that he has shown his loyalty to you, again and again. He has endured punishment after punishment, even when that punishment has not been deserved. Father, even a Termiqui can be pushed too far. Show mercy to one that is loyal and has always been loyal."

White Feather, "If he is so loyal. Then why did he attack me. He drew my blood, and should be punished"

White Stag, stepped closer to his father. "Father, did you not say to my mother, that you hoped the medicine man had told him, because you knew his anger would be less towards him, for he is the one he trusts most."

White Feather was shaken, "She told you that."

White Stag, "Yes, and before I came here, I spoke to Broken Eagle. I have learned why Black Wolf is so angry, and has, some would say, good reason to attack you."

White Feather, "He is Termiqui. He cannot be angry, and there can be no good reason to draw my blood. He must endured all that is done to him. It is the law to which he is subject." This was in law true, but sounded a pretty weak defense to the Indians around, and White Feather knew this. The problem was that it sounded weak to him too.

White Stag, "Father, have mercy. You must have known he would feel angry. He would feel betrayed by those whom he trusted most. What you do not know is what Broken Eagle has told me. Black Wolf has got good reason. He was led to believe he was condemned by you. That he would walk the desert. That he had been found disloyal and that all the tribe believed him guilty of running, including Broken Eagle.

White Feather, stepped back. He was shocked. "No. That is not true."

White Stag, "Why. That is what you wished him to believe. Would you not be angry to find all had led you to believe lies, knowing them to be lies. Do you know what he asked of Broken Eagle. He asked for the judgment of his life. He wished one person to tell him, that he was worthy. That he stood a chance to reach the hunting ground. By your order Broken Eagle could not tell him anything. Because of that when Black Wolf walked to the fire, he believed you had condemned him, and he would walk the desert because of it, and you ask why he attacked you. This is why."

White Feather, grew pale at his son's words and the knife in his hand fell to the ground. As he moved away, he spoke, "Take him to Broken Eagle. Have his wounds cleaned and dealt with." Then he looked at his son. "Then you and he will go hunting for a few days. This is to be forgotten by the time you return, and none shall speak of it again." White Feather watched from his tent as his son prepared for the hunt and Black Wolf was tended by the medicine man. After they had left Broken Eagle came to him, shaking his head. "He does not talk to me. I have lost his trust and his friendship. You have hurt him deeply. It may take many moons for him to grow again the trust he had of you and the friendship he felt for the tribe."

White Feather, "He will be fine when he returns."

Broken Eagle, "He did not even speak to White Stag. He only spoke to Dark Flower, when she brought them some food for the journey."

White Feather turned to his wife. "He spoke to you." She nodded, her eyes still red from the tears she had shed the previous night. "Why"

Dark Flower looked at him and shook her head, "In some things you are very wise but in this, you do not see. He said I was the only one who shed tears for him." She hiccupped and wiped her now moist eyes.

Broken Eagle, "I do not think he will ever be as he was. The trust he had in you, is gone. He will be loyal, but now I fear he will treat everyday as his last. For he will expect you to turn against him again. I am not saying he will be disloyal, but he will not trust you to punish him fairly."

White Feather, "Do not talk in circles. I do understand."

Broken Eagle, "All know he would give his life to protect you and the tribe, But now he knows that you will give his life away whenever it pleases you. Wither he is punished justly or unjustly, does not matter anymore. He knows that, as the white man says, he lives on borrowed time. He is convinced one day, you will sacrifice him for a treaty with another tribe, or a trade for something you think more usfull. He just does not know when."

White Feather was shocked at the medicine man's words. "I did this for him. So that the calls for his death would cease. He will see that I was right." The medicine man shook his head and left. Leaving behind a quiet tent, among many other quiet tents, filled with warriors who knew that what Broken Eagle said, was true. The tribe had suffered a great loss, and many wondered if they would ever win back Black Wolf's belief in them, as family and friends.

After White Stag and Black Wolf returned from the hunt and during the next few moons, things settled down to a new way of life for Black Wolf, and the tribe and many where unhappy with it. Black Wolf did all he was told, but there was a difference about him. As I have said he did all he was told, from morning to night, but he did not really talk to people has he had before. He did not stay close to the fire as he had before, listening to the stories that where always told at them. He always stayed close to his master, waiting for more orders. He ate when he was told too. Slept when he was told to. But many missed his smile, which now only came when he worked for Dark Flower, carrying water or bringing her firewood. Then between two and three moons later when he was catching fish in the river, White Stag went to him and tried to speak to him again. To try and win back his friendship. For White Stag had missed his friendship, the most.

White Stag, "Black Wolf, please say something." Black Wolf stood wide eyed, and looked around, fearing the punishment that might come, for disobeying the son of his master even though he could not speak. He moved his fingers to his mouth, but White Stag reached out a hand and stopped him.

White Stag, "I did not mean speak. I meant (he drew in a deep breath). You do not speak to me anymore. Or to any of the others. Only to my mother, and I miss trying to understand your movements. It is like I have lost you." He hang his head and sighed, and was about to turn away when Black Wolf grabbed his arm and drew his attention. He raised his fingers behind his head so that they looked like feathers - (chief), then he pointed to the sky and waved his arm from horizon to horizon - (one day). Then he drew his fingers across his throat - (kill me).

White Stag, "Your wrong. He knows you are loyal. There is no reason to kill you. The fire was a mistake in judgment, and I am sorry, as the tribe is sorry for what was done. I believe even my father is sorry. That is why he has ordered it forgotten, and never spoken of again. There is no reason why he would ever want you dead. You must believe this." Black Wolf shook his head, and signaled "chief - kill me - one day", but then he sighed and smiled at White Stag. Black Wolf saw that White Stag truly believed what he said was the truth, so he smiled and pretended that all was as it had been. They worked and fished together again, and talked, and things seemed to settle as they where before, but Black Wolf knew he was right. However much White Stage and the other warriors of the tribe, even the chief himself said, that there where no reasons, he knew one day his master would kill him. Two moons later in high summer, he was proven right when a reason was found.

Next: - Sarah or Little Dove comes to the village