Hello again all! Thank you all for all the reviews/views/PM's/discussions that I've had with you; all of your support really gives me the motivation to continue this tale and participate in this fandom. Extra special thanks goes to EmoryRose, BrynnaRaven and MohawkWoman for being willing to discuss and pick their brains on minute movie plot details with me and different aspects of this story! This chapter continues close to where the other one ended and we will see an increase in danger and drama (plus an argument between Nathaniel and Cora). As a "public service announcement" there is something in here involving children that might seem traumatic or harsh but I will explain further in my ending notes. Enjoy.
Song Listing for this Chapter:
All I Ever Wanted by Basshunter
Chapter 32-Running To & Out of the Line of Fire
"Well, there's another family gone." Nathaniel said to his father in Mohican, as the sleigh carrying the Winston family disappeared from sight. George, the husband and father of the family turned around one last time, and lifted his hand in salute which both Mohicans returned. The Winstons were newer acquaintances of theirs, but that didn't matter. Frontier life required mutual help and aid no matter how old or recently known people knew each other. George had been one of Jack's militiamen who had joined him in leaving Fort William Henry. He had been newly married with a baby on the way. Now that baby would soon have a brother or sister by the looks of it. 'If they make it.' The thought flashed through Nathaniel's mind and he prayed that they would.
Chingachgook nodded. "That makes seven families, nearly all of Jack's militia that lives to the northwest." He said, as they turned and began walking back the mile or so back to the cabin. Snowshoes kept them from sinking through the soft snow that lay thick on the ground, normal for mid-January. Nathaniel agreed, and father and son fell silent for a moment while they thought about the events of the last several weeks. Ever since the Campbells' unexpected arrival on Christmas, other families had come by or near the cabin on their way to their rendezvous point at Samuel and Cassandra's farm. Some had stayed overnight while others had only stopped for a meal before continuing on their way. The Winstons, on the other hand, hadn't even known where the cabin was and wouldn't have stopped if Nathaniel and Chingachgook hadn't found them while setting fresh trap lines. Despite their protests, the Mohicans had insisted on bringing them a bag of supplies from the cabin. After making sure they knew the quickest way to the Winthrop farm, the family was on their way again.
"But no one has brought news of Jack so far." Chingachgook said, worrying for his defacto son. None of the militia seemed to know exactly where their captain was. As best they could tell, he was still making his way along the northwestern edges of the frontier, warning families and scouting. Suddenly, he felt Hawkeye's arm around him. "Don't worry Nooch, he knows the land as well as we do. Our cousins have their winter village up that way, and he is well known by them." Chingachook knew that was true. It was very likely that Jack would stop by the Delaware village both to rest and to let them know of the Huron and Ottawa raiding parties. Since there were ancient blood feuds between the Delaware and the Huron and Ottawa, their cousins would need to be watchful as well.
While there had been no sign of the Huron and Ottawa in the nearby vicinity of the cabin, all three adults remained vigilant. In the first few days after the Campbells had left, Chingachgook and Nathaniel had spent time scouting the area, a few miles further each time than the last. There had been no signs of danger then, but they had all known that meant nothing. Chingachgook and Nathaniel continued to trade watches at night, often joined by Cora who would take a third watch for them so they could rest. Supplies had been gathered and bundled together, both to give out as needed to the other families and for their own need if it came down to it. With the news that the Winstons had brought, it looked as though all their preparations could be needed.
"Do you think they'll come back this way, Nooch?" Nathaniel asked his father. It was partly rhetorical, but at the same time he wanted to know how likely he thought it was that the Ottawa war party that George had seen evidence of about seven miles to the west of them would come across their cabin. George had assured them that the tracks he had found were around a day old and were headed southeast of their cabin. They were off the direct course from the settlements which generally provided a substantial level of protection. But they were not invincible. A war party on its return trek north could come across their home. Chingachgook shrugged. "Possibly. Ketanetuwit alone knows." Nathaniel nodded, knowing that Chingachgook hated the uncertainty of their situation as much as he did. There was little they could do except wait. Chingachgook saw the look in his son's eyes and inwardly chuckled to himself, despite the gravity of the situation. Hawkeye's impatience and headstrong streak had matured as he had grown up but they were still there. But there was also another matter that Chingachgook had been considering, something that they had all thought would be done much later. But sometimes these things could not be helped.
"There's something else, nkwis." Chingachgook paused and looked at Hawkeye. "The girls. If the worst happens and they are taken from us-" "No Nooch!" Nathaniel shook his head firmly just as he realized the words came out with far more force than he'd intended. Lowering both his head and voice out of respect, he continued. "They are so young still and Margaret is not our daughter. I don't know that it's our choice to make for her." He raised his head and looked in his father's eyes. Chingachgook nodded, placing his hand on his son's shoulder. "They are not much younger than you and your brother were when you were marked. Margaret may not be your daughter, but she is your responsibility. As elder and chief, I will assume all responsibility when we explain it to Katherine and Thomas." Nathaniel knew that his father was right, but he still didn't like it. He could tell from the look on Chingachgook's face that his father didn't like it anymore than he did. But it was true. If the worst happened, and the girls were separated from them, the tattoos would be some protection and a form of identification if nothing else. Slowly, he nodded his assent. His father acknowledged it with his own nod. "Tonight." Chingachgook said as they continued to make their way back to the cabin. Nathaniel nodded, unable to resist raking a hand through his hair as he thought about the night ahead. It would not be easy for any of them.
"Lapi." Briefly glancing up at Chingachgook, whose face remained neutral, Nathaniel adjusted his grip on the bone needle and pricked his father's bicep with it once more. He winced as he realized that instead of a prick it was more of a stab. His father gave no sign of pain but took the needle from his fingers. "Like this." He flipped Nathaniel's hand over and lightly poked his palm with it several times. "Soft pokes. Gentle pricks. You don't need to stab; the needle will go in easily." He handed the needle back to Nathaniel. "Now try again." Narrowing his eyes as he focused, Nathaniel pricked Chingachgook's bicep again. "Lahelapi. You will find a rhythm. But keep as light a touch as possible." Nathaniel realized his father was right. "Every few pricks, you will rub in the soot." Nathaniel nodded, hoping he could remember the technique properly. For a moment, he felt like a child again when his father was teaching him and Uncas something. His heart ached as he thought about Uncas. He would have been so good with the girls, and gentle during the process. He could almost hear his teasing tone and the giggles.
"I think you're ready." Nathaniel stopped poking his father's arm and gently wiped away the little bit of blood that had welled to the surface with the rag he had set aside. He appreciated Chingachgook's confidence in him but he had his doubts that he could perform the actual tattooing well. Chingachgook saw the skeptical look on his son's face. "Don't worry, nkwis. I will make sure you don't mess up. I'll be right here by your side." He said as he dropped his hand onto Hawkeye's head as he had done so often when he was growing up. "You need to know how to do this. Someday, you will do this for your grandchildren." Nathaniel nodded, the achey feeling in his heart returning at the thought of his father not being with him someday. But there were more immediate concerns at the moment. "Nooch, will you do Juliet while I do Margaret? I don't know if I could do hers." Chingachgook nodded. "Ahitka. Kpentul." He said, knowing exactly what his son meant. Just then, Cora's voice came from the spare room. "Are you ready?" "Temike." Father and son answered. As Cora entered the room, followed by Juliet and Margaret, her refusal to meet Nathaniel's eyes told him everything he needed to know. She hadn't forgotten their argument. 'We'll have to deal with that later.' Nathaniel thought, knowing he had no choice right now but to focus.
"Turn around, little one." Cora said to Margaret as she wrapped the towel tightly around her chest. Pinning it in the back, she checked to make sure it was secure before folding both of the girls' tunics and putting them aside on top of a chest in the cabin's spare room. She sighed a little, fighting her own internal battle. ' We shouldn't do this. I should go and try to talk to Nathaniel again.' "What's going to happen Kaheteta Cora?" Margaret's voice interrupted her thoughts. Looking at her niece and her daughter, she wondered what she should tell them. She had agreed to not tell them until they all sat down with them to explain what was going to happen. Of course, it was possible that Juliet could guess what was going to happen and blurt it out before that could happen. She hoped her daughter wouldn't.
"We will explain everything to you soon." She said, trying her best to give them a reassuring smile. It wasn't easy. Cora had argued with Nathaniel about this earlier. She recalled their conversation.
"They're so young. Only seven years old. Margaret isn't even our daughter, Nathaniel! How will we explain this to her parents?!" Gently gripping her upper arms, Nathaniel had stopped her pacing mid step and drawn her closer to him. "I know, niu. I have the same thoughts. But I believe my father is right. If they were taken or became separated from us, we will be able to identify them. There will be no questions that they are one of ours." Cora shook her head. "There must be another way." She broke away from Nathaniel and started pacing again. "When I was tattooed, I knew what I was doing and what I had committed to. The girls don't. I don't want their lives to be harder than they have to be." "You think I haven't thought about this too, Cora?" Nathaniel said, looking frustrated at her. "You think I haven't experienced judgement from people who know nothing about me but how I look or who my family is?" He stepped towards her again, his eyes pleading with her even while his expression remained frustrated. "I know what they will face-what all of us face. But this can't be helped. We are a family and we protect one another. Their safety should be our biggest concern." For a moment, Cora felt in her heart that he was right but she still didn't like it and told him as much. "I don't like this anymore than you do. I thought Juliet would be older and never even considered it with Margaret. But it is what it is." Looking at Nathaniel, Cora realized that nothing she said would convince him otherwise. Letting out a strangled sigh, she turned away from her husband as he made his way to the door. "Just get them ready." Nathaniel had said before he left to help Chingachgook. "We will explain it to them together." Staring angrily at the door, Cora contemplated rushing out and demanding that they finish their conversation but at the same time, she knew it wouldn't change Nathaniel or Chingachgook's minds. "Well," she said to herself, "That still doesn't mean I have to like it."
Now Cora looked over both girls carefully. She had removed their tunics and wrapped the towels around each of their chests to make it as easy as possible to access their arms. Their hair was braided and she had added extra wood to the fire in the main room to make it extra warm and comfortable. They were ready. 'Well, physically ready at least.' She thought as she stood up. "Come girls." She said, as she went to the door of the spare room and called out to the men. Hearing their affirmative, she opened the door and led the girls out to the main room.
"What do you thinks going to happen?" Margaret whispered to Juliet as they followed Nkek Cora out into the main room where Nooch Nathaniel and Machom Chingachgook were sitting at the table. They were holding some things in their laps. "Taktani." Juliet whispered back. Now that Margaret had learned to speak Mohican, they used it when talking to each other along with English often at the same time. She had a funny feeling in her belly though. Nkek Cora wasn't happy about something. Nooch Nathaniel and Machom Chingachgook didn't look very happy either even though they were trying to smile. But it was a smile grown-ups used when they weren't happy.
Juliet sat down on one side of the bench by Nkek Cora while Margaret sat on her other side. Machom Chingachgook sat across from her. He wasn't wearing a shirt but his blue blanket was wrapped across his chest. A little bit of blood was trickling down his arm. "Your arm is bleeding Machom Chingachgook!" Juliet pointed to it, tugging on her mother's arm. Nkek Cora would know what to do. Her mother got up and quickly took care of Machom Chingachgook's arm even while he smiled at her and told her he was fine. Once that was taken care of, Nkek Cora sat down between them again.
"I was bleeding because I was showing your father and uncle how to do something very important, nuxwisak." Machom Chingachgook said soothingly. "Tonight you will receive your tattoos that mark you as daughters of the Mohican people." "But Nooch Nathaniel said I would be older!" Juliet burst out right as Margaret asked "Will it hurt?"
"One at a time." Nathaniel spoke up. The betrayal in Juliet's eyes hurt when he looked at her. 'Seems I've made both of them upset today.' He reached across the table and tried to touch Juliet but she pulled away. He shrugged off the hurt as he sat back down. "You are older by a whole year." He said, giving her a smile that he hoped was funny but judging by her expression was anything but. "You promised!" Juliet had crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. Getting off the bench, and putting the bowl of soot and needles on the table, Nathaniel went to her, dropping a reassuring hand on Margaret's head as he went by since she looked worried and scared. Kneeling down. Juliet stubbornly lowered her head and refused to look at him. Lifting her head with his finger, he gave her what he hoped was a firm but loving expression. "I never promised that, nichan. I told you what I thought it would happen based on what we knew at the time. But things have changed and we have to do this now." They had told the girls only a little about the war parties but with all the families that come by, he knew they had heard more than was probably good for them. He continued, holding out a hand to Margaret who came over and took it. "Your safety is our main concern. It is the most important thing to us. If we were to lose you, these markings would identify you as ours." Neither of the girls said anything but tears welled up in their eyes. "But will it hurt, Wachesa Nathaniel?" Maraget asked, looking hopeful that he would say it didn't. "It will. We will do what we can to help both of you with the pain." He said gently, hating to dash her hopes.
"Here, sweet girls, this will help. Drink up." Cora had gotten up from the table and now brought them each a cup of the herbal tea along with Chingachgook. Both girls drank and after making faces at the first taste, had finished it. Coaxing them to sit back down, Nathaniel and Chingachgook each picked up a needle and started the process of what they had to do. Nathaniel inwardly flinched as the tears started to come from both girls. As he grabbed some soot out of the bowl, he tried to catch Cora's eyes but she was fully focused on comforting both the girls. Turning his attention back to Margaret's wrist, he rubbed in the soot and quickly caught her wrist as she pulled it away. "Stay with me, Welalewes. Relax. The pain is not forever." He spoke as gently as possible. Picking up the needle again, he forced himself to focus on getting the marking done as quickly as possibly.
"You are going to be all right, ntan'tis." Nooch Nathaniel's voice rumbled from somewhere above her head as he stroked her back. "Breathe in and out." He told her. Juliet squirmed a little. Her arms burned and stung like she had burned them in the baking oven. It was all their fault. She wanted to get out of Nooch Nathaniel's arms and off his lap but he wouldn't let her go. "It hurts!" She said angrily, new tears rolling down her cheeks. "Shh…" Her father put a finger on her lips. "I know it does, ntan'tis. I know." 'Why did he and Machom Chingachgook do it if they know how bad it hurts?" Juliet thought crossly. Ready to demand an answer from her father, Juliet moved her head back from his chest and forced her way out of his arms to give him a piece of her mind just as something wet hit her head. Looking up, she saw that Nooch Nathaniel had tears running down his face. "I would've taken the pain for you if I could have." He said, his voice rough with the tears. Juliet knew that was true. Papa had said the same thing to her when she had fallen out of a tree and bruised her arm. He had cried when she had cried too. "Ktaholel nichan." Nooch Nathaniel's words brought more tears to her eyes and he opened his arms to her again. Desperate to have him hold her where she felt safe, she threw herself back into his arms.
Across the room, Cora watched as she stoked the fire while Nathaniel and Chingachgook comforted Juliet and Margaret. Both girls had had their new tattoos smeared with ointment to help them heal and prevent infection and then carefully wrapped. She had done her best to keep them calm during the process, despite her own feelings about it. Nathaniel had looked at her several times during it but of course they had both been focused on the task at hand. It wasn't the time or place to revisit their argument, and frankly Cora didn't know what she would or could have said. Looking at her husband now though, as he held their daughter and joined her with his own tears, she couldn't help but feel a glow in her heart for the obvious love that he had for their family. One thing was for certain: they would talk tonight.
Later that night, Cora stood up from Juliet's sleeping platform that she had tucked both girls into for the night. Checking to make sure that the girls were sound asleep, she made her way over to Nathaniel who knelt by the cabin's left window. He didn't look over at her and ln a way it reminded her of the aftermath of the argument that they had when they had found Juliet at the Cameron's farm the day they'd met, when she had tried to insist that they provide her family with a proper Christian burial. To her, because of the world that she was from, it was a necessity, the least that they could do to provide some dignity for the recently departed and comfort for their remaining child. But to Nathaniel, because of the world he had been raised in, it was a luxury that they could not afford to take no matter how much any of them would have wanted to. She remembered clearly the firm, unrelenting look in his eyes mixed with the tears that had stunned her as she had her first moment of realization that there was more to life in the wilderness than she had thought.
"Still upset with me, Cora?" She shook away her thoughts as she realized that her husband had briefly turned his head towards her with a neutral expression. He looked away again, his focus on the treeline around the cabin's clearing. Cora took a deep breath. "Yes. And no. I'm upset with myself as well." Nathaniel turned towards her again. "Didn't expect to hear that from you tonight." He said, resting Killdeer against the windowsill. "Why?" he asked simply. Cora lifted her shoulders in a restless shrug as she moved into a more comfortable position. "I know that you and your father did what you felt you had to do tonight with the girls. I know you didn't want to, and wouldn't have unless you felt their safety could depend upon it. I can easily see the logic of it all, and yet I still don't like it." Nathaniel remained quiet when she paused, seeming to know that she had more to say. "But I fear that the reason I feel that way is because of my own upbringing and life, where we didn't have to deal with such things." She reached out and wrapped her hand around her husband's. "There are times like tonight where I wonder if I will ever not feel like an outsider in this world, at least a little."
Nathaniel's heart twisted at Cora's last words. But he wasn't surprised at them since he had figured it was something close to that. He had always known that there would be times where their vastly different childhoods and lives before they had met would collide and they would see differently on things. He had accepted it, embraced it. But now it seemed Cora despite her usual confidence needed some assurance of that. "That's to be expected. You had a very different life before this one where you didn't have to deal with practicalities first and foremost. It's natural that you're going to be pulled between the two at times." Cora nodded, her shoulders relaxing a little in the moonlight. "You're not an outsider, niu and you should never feel ashamed for voicing your opinions and feelings to me. There's never one way to feel about these things so long as you do what has to be done." Grateful for Nathaniel's reminder, Cora leaned in and gently kissed him. "Wanishi, wachia." The two of them rested for a moment beside the window, glad that they had cleared the air between them. It would not be the last conversation they would have like this but for now it was enough. Pulling away from Nathaniel, Cora could see that Nathaniel's eyes were slightly puffed and red both from lack of sleep and his tears earlier. "Go lay down, Nathaniel. I will keep watch until your father comes and takes over." "You're sure?" "Ahitka." Nodding, Nathaniel pressed Killdeer into Cora's hands and slowly stood up. Stretching, he looked as Cora moved into position close to the window. Her hand gripped the rifle in the perfect grip for moving it into position quickly and her eyes were focused on the world outside. He remembered her doing similarly with her pistol that night in the burial ground when he had first realized there was more to the dark-haired Miss Munro than met the eye. His heart swelled with love for her and with gratitude for the fact that he was the one who got to spend the rest of his life with her. "Never doubt how much I love you, eholent." He said softly before bending down to press a kiss to her forehead. She smiled up at him before he moved away to their sleeping platform and she focused on her watch.
Dusk was settling over the forest as Nathaniel moved along slowly through the snow. The soft thud-thud from his snow shoes was the only easily audible sound that he could hear. Pausing for a moment to tighten the lacings on one of them, he straightened and readjusting Killdeer in his hands, continued along his chosen path. So far, there was no sign of the Ottawa war party that George had mentioned seeing signs of several days ago.
For the past few days, Nathaniel and Chingachgook had been taking turns at making a trek at least once daily out into the woods that bordered both the western and eastern sides of their cabin. On their first trek, they had gone out the full seven miles to the place where George had told them he had seen signs of the Ottawa. But just as they had been told, the trail was old and the signs were rapidly becoming lost in the winter landscape. Still, they kept up with their patrol, in the hopes of heading off any trouble early. Things were quiet, too quiet. No other families had passed through the woods near the cabin since the Winstons and no news had come from the militia who had already made their way to the Winthrop farm. Years of experience led both Nathaniel and Chingachgook to believe that it was likely that something was going to happen yet and they must remain vigilant.
Looking around at the small ravine he was in, Nathaniel decided to climb out of it and walk through the main forest floor again. Gripping part of a boulder that was sticking out of the snow, he pulled himself back up to the top. He took a few steps and then he saw it. Kneeling down, he picked up the leather fringe and studied the faint outline of the moccasin in the snow. Ottawa. They would miss the cabin judging by the direction of the footprint, but they were headed east to continue raiding. A cold chill that didn't come from the cold passed through him as he thought about their possible destination. Then he heard a barely perceptible sound from the evergreens just ahead of him.
Killdeer was against his shoulder, ready to be fired almost before his mind registered it. His eyes remained fixed on the evergreens, waiting for whatever it was to reveal itself. "Hawkeye!" Alunsakw and Shaonaxen emerged from the evergeens, a third man nearly doubled over being supported by both of them in between. "Nathaniel…" The man said weakly, lifting his head to see him. It was Jack. Moving as quickly as he could, Nathaniel dropped to his knees in front of Jack to try and help him get his feet more securely under himself. Looking up at his Delaware friends, he quickly asked what had happened. "We found him while we were out trapping a day ago." Alunsakw said. "Only a short ways from our winter village. He was wounded by the Ottawa. We tried to convince him to come into camp, but he refused. Said he had to get home to warn the others." A sudden loud groan from Jack ended their conversation, and Nathaniel immediately got to his feet. "Come on." He told them. "We can talk more at the cabin." Moving behind Jack to help support him, he saw a thin trickle of blood seeped from Jack's stomach onto the snow. "I've got to get to the farm." He rasped weakly. "Got to warn them." "You're coming to the cabin first." Nathaniel said, forcing himself to push away his churning thoughts for the moment.
"It was a combined war party of French Irregulars, Ottawa and Huron warriors that Jack discovered while he was tracking them. He is fortunate that he survived." Shaonaxen said as he and Alunsakw ate the venison stew that Cora had served them. Nathaniel nodded, listening closely to every word. He had already heard how Jack had ran into one of the war party that was scouting the area, when he spotted Jack and shot him. He had survived by dropping over a high river bank and hiding in a snow drift over the frozen river. The scout hadn't investigated very closely and Jack had been able to crawl out under the cover of night and make his way in the direction of the Delaware winter village when Alunsakw and Shaonaxen had found him.
"After warning his militia, he had been tracking the combined war party to see where they were headed. Unfortunately he discovered that they were aware that many of the settlers and militia had fled towards the settlements further east and were tracking their movements from a distance. He is not certain of their destination, but he believes they could be on their way to his family farm where his militia and their families have gone." Alunsakw finished recounting.
Nathaniel nodded, looking over at his father who sat on one side of him and Cora who sat on the other. Their faces were pensive, obviously thinking as hard as he was about what they had heard. Turning around, Nathaniel looked at Jack who was asleep for the moment on a sleeping platform. When they had arrived back at the cabin, Cora and Chingachgook had jumped immediately into action, stripping Jack of his coat and tattered shirt, cleaning and irrigating the wound, as well as checking to make sure that no traces of the bullet remained from when Shaonaxen had dug it out of him. A thick bandage was now wrapped around his stomach, and after a good deal of coaxing they had managed to get a sedative tea down his throat. But it was only temporary. Nathaniel knew that his friend would do what he had to do to protect his family, even if he was in no condition to do so. 'Just as we all would.'
"They are likely headed to the Winthrop farm." Nathaniel said and all heads turned towards him. "I saw signs of them just before we met in the forest. They were headed in that direction." The others faces turned even grimmer with that news. "I will go." Nathaniel said. "I'll go and warn the Winthrops and the militia. There is a shorter trail that is well-hidden that leads close to their farm." If he was right, he could arrive ahead of the war party and warn everyone of what was coming their way.
"We will go with you." Shaonaxen said and Alunsakw nodded his agreement. Nathaniel shook his head. "Wanishi. But I believe that I should go alone. One is less noticeable." "But two is less noticeable than three." Cora spoke up. She pressed her hand on his arm. "I will go with you." Nathaniel looked at her for a moment, and saw the determination in her eyes. Despite not wanting her to be in the line of fire, he knew that he could not convince her otherwise. These were their friends, their family, and they would take care of their own together. "All right." He said, and she nodded, her eyes not wavering.
"You need to return to the winter village; they are likely wondering where you are. With the threat of raids, they will need every warrior." Chingachgook spoke up for the first time since the conversation had begun. "I will take the girls and Jack to Canajoharie. There is safety in numbers there." He motioned to Nathaniel and Cora. "You can meet us there after you have warned the Winthrops and the militia. If the threat of raids is still high, we will stay in Canajoharie as long as we need to." "We will go with you to Canajoharie first." Alunsakw said. "It is only a day or two's journey from our winter village." Nathaniel mouthed his thanks as Alunsakw met his eyes in mutual understanding. While Chingachgook was a strong warrior, he was only one man and with a wounded man and two children to look after, it would be best that he did not go alone. "We should all leave tonight." Chingachgook said then. "Under the cover of darkness, when the war party has likely stopped for the night, is best."
Chingachgook gently placed Jack on the drag sled that he and Hawkeye had created behind Okera. It was a bit rougher than he would have liked but it would do. Bending down so he could lean in closer, he made sure the wound was still properly secure before tucking a buckskin robe tightly around him. He knew that Jack would want to be the one to warn his family and militia but he was in no condition to do so. He needed to recover. Chingachgook's feelings of resolve and protective instincts grew stronger as he straightened and looked around the clearing.
It had been a whirlwind of activity getting ready to leave the cabin and the family splitting up with it. The chickens, cow and gelding had all been given extra feed to hopefully ensure their survival. The supply bundles had been distributed, with Cora having placed extra food and medicinal supplies into the ones that she had given him. Now Hawkeye was bolting the cabin's front door just after putting out the fire in the fireplace. Looking up to the sky, Chingachgook noticed that the usual trail of smoke rising from the chimney was almost gone just as they would soon be.
A tug on his bear fur coat made him look down. "Is Uncle Jack going to be all right, Machom Chingachgook?" Margaret asked. Her face looked worried from around the fur lining of her hood. She and Juliet had been awakened by him in the spare room, and he had helped bundle them into layer after layer of their warmest clothes. When asked what was happening, he had tried to keep it light for them and simply told them that they were going to Canajoharie to visit their Mohawk friends while Hawkeye and Cora went to help Margaret's family. But it had been difficult to keep up the appearance that everything was fine when Margaret had been told that she couldn't go with them. She and Juliet were already worried enough about Jack.
He knelt down in the snow beside her, "With Ketanetuwit's help, he will be." It would have to be enough for now. Margaret hesitated before slowly nodding. He touched her cheek as he stood up and Hawkeye walked over to him. "It is time." His son embraced him tightly which he returned just as tightly. "May Ketanetuwit keep you safe, Nooch, until we see each other again." "You as well, nkwis." Chingachgook drew back and lifted his hands to his son's head before pulling it down and pressing a kiss to the top of it. "Keep yourself and Mahikiasquoh safe and reach our friends in time." Hawkeye said nothing but he didn't need too. One more tight embrace, and his son re-joined Cora who had already said her good-byes and was waiting near the cabin. Both she and Nathaniel quickly made their way to the eastern treeline before turning and making their way into the forest.
"Come." He said to Margaret and Juliet who huddled close to him. "You can ride on Okera for a bit." Just as he had lifted both girls on the horse's back, a sudden groan came from the drag sled. Chingachgook looked over at it to find that Jack had opened his eyes slightly and was looking around desperately. "I have to warn them." He kept saying. "I have to warn them-" "Be quiet, my son." Chingachgook said in a firm but soothing tone as he bent down to him. "Hawkeye is seeing to your family and Cora is with him. They will warn them." Jack gripped his hand weakly while his eyes looked relieved. "The Master of Life will watch over us all. But I will not lose another son." Jack's eyes widened a bit at that before he let out a rough sigh and closed his eyes again. Turning back to his family and Alunsakw and Shaonaxen who stood nearby, he gave a single definitive nod. "Ktahena yukwe." He said, and taking Okera's lead rope in one hand and carrying his rifle in another, began leading them into the moonlit forest.
Nooch: Father (Mohican)
Ketanetuwit: God/Greatest Spirit (Delaware)
Nkwis: my son (Delaware)
Niu: my wife (Mohican)
Nkek: Mother (Mohican)
Machom: Grandfather (Mohican)
Lapi: again (Delaware)
Lahelapi: again and again (Delaware)
Ahitka: yes (Delaware)
Kpentul: I hear you, I understand you (Delaware)
Temike: Come in (Delaware)
Kaheteta: Aunt (Delaware)
Taktani: I do not know. (Delaware)
Nuxwisak: my grandchildren (Delaware)
ntan'tis: my little daughter (Delaware)
Ktaholel nichan: I love you my daughter (Delaware)
Wanishi: thank you (Delaware)
Wachia: husband (Mohican)
Eholent: beloved (Delaware)
Ktahena yukwe: We go now (Delaware)
So our family has split (temporarily) and are going in two different directions for equally important (but dangerous) reasons. In case anyone is wondering who reads BTW, yes, we will eventually see the arrival/stay of the Mohicans and Jack at Canajoharie from the Mohawk prospective in that story too.
I realize that it might seem strange or "too much" for Juliet and Margaret to be tattooed and I agree that it is an unusual thing to do at their age based on what little research there is on the subject (and also from what some of you have shared with me) that I've found about the Delaware or Mohicans in regards to tattoos shows that their children were likely not tattooed until pre-teen age at the earliest (this wasn't the case for all First Nations or other Eastern tribes however-in quite a few cases that I've found children were tattooed at very early ages). I also realize that because Nathaniel told Juliet she would be older it may seem like a betrayal of sorts and also because Margaret is not their daughter that it may come across as completely overstepping their bounds (which is one of the reasons that I tried to address both of those concerns in the chapter). But ultimately I felt it was right when I felt led in that direction by the characters because it's not for decorative or even initiation type reasons but for protection and identification. They are tattooed so that (as the characters say) there will be no question who they belong to if they were to be separated or taken captive by one of the raiding parties. This explanation of tattooing was also given to Olive Oatman (an 1840's American woman who lived with the Mohave for several years) and her younger sister when they were tattooed on their chins and upper arms and was a large part of my inspiration for this section.
With Nathaniel and Cora's argument, I wanted to show that even though they are completely in love with on another and have a successful marriage, they aren't immune from having their share of disagreements and spats (and let's be honest-with the stubborn and smart mouthed personalities that those two have in common, it wouldn't be realistic for them not to!). As it came out here, it ended up harkening back to their argument at the Cameron's farm and later their discussion in the burial ground where they both realized that they were pretty wrong about the other person. I also believe it's realistic that Cora would feel torn between her upbringing and the life that she has chosen as an adult. Despite the fact that she's "all in" with her new life and has been accepted by her husband's culture, it doesn't change the fact that it is very different than the life she had lived all her life before and the culture/environment that she was brought up in. Even if she wrestled against aspects of it, I believe that it would shape her feelings and outlook to a degree which is what I tried to show here. Unlike Nathaniel (and even people like Jack and Katherine), she wasn't raised anywhere near the culture she lives in now. I think it's natural that she would struggle with her feelings of being a perpetual "outsider" sometimes and this is one of those times. But Nathaniel definitely values her opinions and insights (that's one of the things that made him fall in love with her after all) and wouldn't dismiss them (at least not for long lol). As an added note, the line Nathaniel has about dealing with practicalities is taken from part of an interview that Daniel Day-Lewis did as part of the "making of" LOTM sequence.
Finally, a shout-out to EmoryRose for being my sounding board on the moment between Chingachgook and Jack at the end. I was worried that having Chingachgook refer to Jack as his son (and say that he won't lose another one) might seem weird or out of character but she encouraged me to put it in and I'm glad she did. By no means is Chingachgook trying to "take over" Samuel's place as Jack's father but is simply showing the level of affection and care that he has for Jack (and for the Winthrop/Lee family as a whole). He's helped raise Jack so to speak and from his cultural standpoint, I think it's quite possible that he would view Jack as a defacto son.
Our family has some action and danger ahead (and Chingachgook's going to show everyone that you don't mess with grandpa) in the chapter ahead. Stay tuned!