Part 10


As soon as Anthony mounted his horse heading in the direction of the tribe – Katherine mounted her own stead and headed towards Chief Shathu's area. The rival Chief was willing to do anything to possess Moonflower – even murder Running Wolf if need be. He agreed to follow Lady Katherine's plan. They would kidnap Lillian and her half breed child in exchange for Moonflower's hand. Once Moonflower was wed to the Chief Anthony would feel betrayed and turn to Katherine. When Moonflower's 'bastard' was born Shathu would kill it and end the last tie that bound Anthony and Moonflower.

Katherine was chuffed at herself for concocting the perfect plan to ensnare Anthony; little did she know greater forces were at work.

The Earth mother and spirit of the wolf carried their grievances on the wings of the wind to Akeela Calypso as she tended to the Goddesses hearth. Her eyes glowed an eerie blue as her male counterparts Diomede and Zeflar watched.

"Yes, I understand Great Mother" Akeela said as the trance faded.

"We need to work fast boys – I need you to travel over the mountain to the tribe neighbouring the Makah's – their Chief - Shathu is a rogue sorcerer. I need to know the type of witchcraft he indulges in. I might need to counteract it. Go now Goddess be with you" She said as she turned back to face the smoke caused by the incense attempting to see into the future.

Running Wolf had a lot to absorb by the time Anthony was finished with his story, His gut feeling was to destroy the man who raped his sister, but Moonflower sat with Anthony proclaiming her love, trust and faith in him – gripping his hand for all her worth.

"I need to think about this but for now I want you all to go on as if nothing has changed. Anthony you need to act as if you're ready to wed Lady Katherine. She shouldn't feel that I'm with you on this. My sources tell me she has already been seen at Shathu's place. Sister I will go see him tomorrow and bring news of your acceptance of his proposal. This should keep them at bay till I find a more … permanent solution"

With that he dismissed his sister and her lover

Katherine couldn't believe how well her plan was falling into place and she didn't even need to kidnap Lillian and her mixed baby as a bargaining tool. Her wedding was 6 months away because Anthony's mother wanted a May wedding. Running Wolf wanted territory from Shathu so their negotiations would be a few months more – apparently the young Chief was being arrogantly greedy asking for half Shathu's land – Shathu determined Moonflower would be his, a month after Katherine wedded Anthony. Of course, Running Wolf told Shathu that his sister was pregnant and widowed to hide her sin.

Running wolf had come up with a plan to make his sister and Anthony happy it would, however, require that Anthony and Moonflower never set foot on Quileute ground again – He would fake their deaths.

Moonflower was heavily swollen with child when Anthony's wedding day dawned. As planned, she and Anthony fled in his carriage minutes before he was to take his vows with Katherine. The plan was to make it seem as it the carriage plummeted down a gorge so the populace would think Anthony and Moonflower had been torn apart in the 'accident'. Unbeknownst to Running Wolf, his former fiancé had heard his plan and sought revenge on him for leaving her for Lillian. She raced to Chief Shathu's village to let him know of Running Wolf's betrayal.

Shathu arrived just as Katherine received word on Anthony's 'death' he told her of Running Wolf's trick and together they journeyed to find the lovers. Shathu had made his mind up to kill Running Wolf and take over his lands and tribe – he would even keep around his little pale face wife as a mistress. Katherine made for a vision from a horror movie. She was in her white wedding dress tinged with crimson from the few Quileute slaves she lashed out at in anger. She would make their people suffer for depriving her of her Anthony. Running Wolf had evacuated his tribe leaving Lillian in charge. He would find his former fiance and kill her with his bare hands for her betrayal. He hoped and prayed his sister was far off enough to escape Shathu and Katherine.

Running wolf was caught moments after beheading his traitor ex.

"I am glad you can join us Chief, I wouldn't want you to miss the culling of your sister's little family before I do away with you and take that precious wife of yours to my bed" He chuckled darkly, Running wolf felt his blood boil, he felt change charge the air around him.

They dragged him tied behind Shathu's horse to a clearing close to the lake near Anthony's cabin. Katherine looked more deranged as she dangled a bloody screaming bundle in the air.

"You missed the birth of your niece young chief too bad now you can witness her death" She hissed as she raised the child over her head.

Anthony was quick; even though his arm was broken at the hands of Shathu he was able to grab his baby girl from Katherine. He tucked her under his arm and crouched defensively; all traces of gentlemanliness gone and pure primal instinct to protect taking over. Moonflower was lying on her back crying profusely; the birth had weakened her immensely. He could sense flying Eagles spirit nearby sure enough his cousin was perched up high in the surrounding trees with some of their more experienced fighters. All attention was diverted from Anthony and the baby when Running Wolf, bloody and torn, cried out his battle call. Shathu's men may have been stronger but Running wolf's tribe had nothing to lose – they were fighting for their existence. Arrows rained down from the heavens taking out a few of Katherine's men, one arrow hit her arm. There were 2 Mediterranean looking men with an exotic woman making their way to Moonflower.

Akeela Calypso had come to try and save the child of Anthony and Moonflower, the mother told her the girl was important and needed to survive.

"Zeflar, Diomede – go help them" She said as she brought out her aids to take care of Moonflower.

"Bring the child to me, I must check her" She called out to Anthony.

The baby seemed fine in her father's arms but the minute Akeela touched the baby she was overcome with so many visions she thought her head would explode – the last vision particularly clung to her, a pale bronze haired man stood in the moonlight with a large silver beast – it looked like a wolf. Akeela came hurdling back to the present when Shathu's knife sunk into her shoulder separating the bone form the socket. She shrieked in pain as Zeflar and Diomede came to her aid. Zeflar was shot dead by Katherine while Diomede was injured with a bullet from one of the mob members. A horrific cry echoed through the air as Moonflower shot up to catch Anthony's flailing body. Anthony looked up at his beloved.

"My love" He whispered as his life began to fade. Akeela was now fighting of Shathu, she didn't become a priestess because of good looks and magic but also for her ability to fight to protect the temple of the Goddess. No one noticed Katherine unsheathe a knife, no one noticed her approach Moonflower from behind, but they all heard Moonflower's cry of pain and surprise as the blade sunk into her flesh piercing her heart.