Hello again everyone! Thank you to everyone who left a review for this chapter and to all who have read it. Just as a warning for this chapter, a lot of Ethan's thoughts will come across as prejudiced/arrogant but I believe it's accurate to where he is mentally at this point in the story. I hope it doesn't come across as insensitive. As always, please read and enjoy! Character thoughts are in italics.

Chapter 2-The Arrival/Decision Made

Ethan felt his stomach tighten as he looked at the tall palisade that was becoming larger and larger the closer they got to it. Canajoharie. "It's also called the Upper Castle by the English and Palatines." The younger Indian, Anen:taks, had told him at some point on their journey from Schuylerville. Ethan couldn't remember exactly when though. All of the days seemed to blend together as they traveled along the river. He looked down, trying to think.

What will happen to us?

Ethan didn't trust either of the Indians, Mohawks as they called themselves along with some other Indian word he couldn't remember, that he and Olivia were with now. While their new master Ongewasgone had been kind to them, Ethan always kept his eyes on the tomahawk and knife hanging from his belt. Unlike the Abenaki, he had given them food regularly and let them rest in the canoe while they made their way downriver. There were other Indians traveling with them who were also Mohawk, and while they had been surprised at first to see Ethan and Olivia they had treated them kindly as well. For Indians.

Why weren't we traded back to the English?

When Ongewasgone had said that the Mohawks were allies of the English, Ethan had felt hope for the first time since their capture. Surely they would be traded back to their people. He'd been excited to see Albany come into view as they made their way alongside the river's edge around the Cohoes Falls. The Indians had carried their canoes, while Ethan and Olivia had carried some of the items they were bringing back from Schuylerville. But it was different than what the Abenaki had done. There was no shoving or orders. Instead, Ongewasgone had handed him a pack of goods and asked him to carry it. It had been the same with Olivia although she only carried one thing, a little bundle of trade cloth. Still, it was enough for Ethan to know they were slaves. But Albany! He'd almost smiled when he'd seen the English flag flying proudly in the breeze. Father had said that Albany was the British military headquarters. They would soon be safe and free again.

But they hadn't stopped in Albany. After reaching the Mohawk River, they'd been told to get back in the canoe and they'd set off again, going further upriver to the west. Ethan had felt terror and fear rise again and he'd looked behind him at the fading city. Their master had seen him and looked at him. Ethan had quickly turned around, his heart thumping in fear. Did he think he was going to try and escape? He could be killed. A hand lightly touching his shoulder had startled him, and he waited to feel the blow from his master's tomahawk. But there had only been a gentle squeeze of his shoulder. Was the Indian trying to comfort him? But that wasn't possible. Ethan stiffened, not daring to let his guard down and the hand had withdrawn. He could breathe again.

We don't have any family anymore. Where would we go if we were free?

They could go back to Boston maybe, but there was nothing there for them. No family, no home and nowhere to turn for help. None of Father or Mother's friends had offered to help them when Father's business had taken a turn for the worse. He couldn't go back to Boston Latin. But how he wanted to! At night he dreamed of being able to study again, of being at home with Father and Mother. It seemed so real. But then he would wake up and remember that they were dead.

Maybe that's why he didn't take us in to Albany. He knows there's no one to pay a ransom.

Ongewasgone had asked him about their family one night after Olivia was asleep near the fire he and Anen:taks had built. "Do you have any other family?" He'd asked, looking at Ethan with an expression that Ethan didn't feel comfortable seeing on his face. It was almost kind. He hadn't been sure how to answer. He could lie, but his lie would be found out sooner or later. Then he would be beaten and maybe Olivia too. "No. The Indians killed everyone-Mother, Father, Cousin Adelaide and Cousin Henry-and took Olivia and I captive." He finally answered, hating having to relive the memories. Their master had nodded at this, a sad look in his eyes that Ethan dropped his gaze when he saw. It was too much. "And there's no one else?" he asked after a time. "No. Only Olivia and I." It was true, they had no other family that he knew of. Cousin Adelaide and Cousin Henry had been distant cousins of his father who'd lived on the New Hampshire frontier. They'd invited them to live with them when Father had written to them, telling them of their lost fortune. If Father hadn't lost our money, we'd still be in Boston, Ethan had thought bitterly over and over again.

Ongewasgone had nodded at that, looking like was he was thinking about something. Ethan wondered if maybe he would decide to abandon them, knowing they had no money or value to bring him. Or worse… But his master had only told him to go to sleep and he'd quickly obeyed, scared to do anything else. He'd fallen into a fitful sleep only to be partly woken up later when he heard Olivia crying. He struggled to wake up, but couldn't move his arms or legs. His eyelids felt heavy too. Suddenly, he heard shuffling and Olivia whimpering. Was the Indian going to kill her?! He had to do something. Fighting to open his eyes, he turned on his side since his body wasn't letting him move very much. He managed to force his eyes open to slits just as he heard a shushing noise. Across the fire their master was holding Olivia in his arms, rocking her back and forth and making shushing noises. Suddenly, he began singing softly in Indian to her. Ethan had stiffened, wanting to do something but knowing he couldn't. Ongewasgone looked almost kind in the firelight and he didn't like it. He also didn't like how Olivia was calming down as he rocked and sang to her. She was too young to understand the danger she was in if they didn't get away from the Indians. Just then, Ongewasgone had made eye contact with him and he quickly rolled back over. But just as later happened in the canoe, nothing happened.

Ethan looked back up to see that the palisade had gotten even larger since they were almost to it. He felt panicked but tried not to show it. Olivia needed him to be strong. He had to take care of her. Besides the Indians prized courage. Everyone knew that. But fear of the unknown hit him all over again. He still had no idea what would happen to them. Suddenly he remembered something he had heard about in Boston. He tried to push it away but it came back along with all his memories since they had been bought by Ongewasgone. Panic nearly overwhelmed him at the thought of what their fate could be along with a sickening feeling that it could be true.

No. It isn't possible!

Home. No matter how far he traveled, Ongewasgone was always glad to see it again. Once he'd steered their canoe towards the beach near the stone jetty, both he and Anen:taks got out to help beach the canoe with the English children still in it. Olivia was wide-eyed with curiosity but Ethan looked like he was terrified and trying his best not to hide it. He wasn't surprised by that. Throughout their journey, the boy had refused any overture of kindness from him. He hadn't taken it to heart, knowing that he and Olivia had been through too much for children their age. Too much for anyone, really. Besides, after his successful attempt with Ethan at determining if they had any remaining family, an idea had taken root in his mind that would fulfill a dream released long ago for him.

It'll be up to Tsiron:iare, as is our custom.

"They're back! They're back!" Otsha:ta's little voice rang out as she came running up to Tsiron:iare where she sat sewing outside the Wolf longhouse. Tsiron:iare smiled at her. She loved her little niece. Even though they belonged to separate clans, they had an especially close relationship since her mother Gassinontie didn't have any sisters. She and Iaonhawi:non, Ongewasgone and Ka'nikonhri:io's sister, had been an essential part of her upbringing since she was born.

"The runners said they'll be at the beach any time now." Otsha:ta was panting a little from running so fast to tell her. "I can't wait to see Rakenonha'a and Anen:taks!" "Patience, little one." Tsiron:iare said as she folded her sewing slowly and stood up. "They'll still be glad to see us if we are a little late." Otsha:ta skipped beside her into the longhouse where she put away her sewing and then began walking with her down to the main beach of Canajoharie that opened onto the Mohawk River. Already, the area was crowded with multiple canoes and people. The returning men and boys' families had congregated to welcome their returning family members and see what they had brought back. Voices and laughter rang out in every direction. She easily spotted Ongewasgone and Anen:taks near the edges of the crowd and she felt her heart grow warm at the sight of them. Two of the men she loved most in the world were home safe and sound once more.

"Tiakeni:teron, it's good to have you home!" She was glad to feel his arms around her again and have his forehead touch hers. His smile was radiant as he looked at her. Just then, her eyes caught sight of the two white children in the canoe. One was a boy with tangled reddish-brown curls who looked to be on the edge of adolescence while the other was a young girl of maybe four years with stringy light brown hair. The boy looked like he was trying not to panic while the girl looked scared. The boy caught her gaze and narrowed his eyes before dropping them. "Did you bring these children back with you? Where did they come from?" she asked Ongwasgone. He nodded in reply. "Yes, they were with a group of Abenaki warriors in Schuylerville who had come to trade." He looked like he wanted to say more, but privately. Even speaking in Mohawk, it was clear that he didn't want the children to hear what he would tell her. She pressed an arm against his before turning to the children who had gotten out of the canoe, Anen:taks helping the little girl. "Come," she said to them in English, smiling gently. "You can have some food and rest."

"I couldn't leave them there with the Abenaki. I needed to bring them with me." Ongewasgone finished his sentence and took another sip of the herbal tea that Tsiron:iare had brewed for them. It was nighttime now and the two English children-Ethan and Olivia, Tsiron:aire had learned-were now sleeping together on the sleeping platform across from the one she and Ongewasgone shared in their compartment. They had fallen asleep soon after they'd eaten the venison stew and freshly baked cornbread that she'd given them. Ethan had made it clear that he didn't trust her or anyone else, his eyes showed it plainly. He had thanked her for the food although it sounded forced. He'd put Olivia into the platform first and took the outside portion for himself. His arm was now curled protectively around her. Tsiron:iare couldn't help but give a small smile at the sight. He is a good older brother.

"I thought about bringing them to our English father's headquarters in Albany, but Ethan told me that they don't have any family anymore. He didn't like having to say that, I could tell." Ongewasgone continued with his story. "So I brought them here." He finished and looked at Tsiron:iare who clasped her own cup of tea in her hands on her lap. An expectant silence grew between them before she spoke. "You are certain they don't have any family?" she asked. She knew what her husband was suggesting, it was clear and the thought had begun to grow in her mind as well. But she needed to be sure it could really be. He nodded. "If they had, he would've told me. I feel sure of that. It's clear that he doesn't want to be here. It will be difficult." He placed a hand on hers. "But it's your decision to accept them or not into the clan." Tsiron:iare nodded, her breath catching in her throat at his words. She had known what he was thinking, but to hear it said aloud was different. Her dream of motherhood could come true. But was it the right choice for their potential children?

"Do you think they could adjust?" she asked Ongewasgone, looking over the sleeping forms of the children. He shrugged. "With time and patience, they could. Olivia would, but Ethan is different. It will be a long time before he will ever consider us his family." Tsiron:iare already knew that. The English boy would not easily adjust to being an adopted Mohawk or son of the Wolf clan. But sometimes the best things in life are not the easiest.

She looked at Ongewasgone, cherishing the details of his face. Although there were fine lines now at the corners of his eyes and his once jet-black hair was streaked lightly with grey, she still thought he was as handsome as when he had started courting her. Besides, as she sometimes teased him, those signs of age gave him dignity. Often she had thought that he would've made such a fine father if their son had lived or they had been able to have more children. He was a wonderful uncle to their nephews and nieces. But now was his chance for children of his own.

And for me. She felt the answer rise up inside her and found herself saying, "Yes, I'll accept them in my clan. They will become our son and daughter, of the Wolf clan, of the Kanienkehaka people." Tsiron:iare gripped Ongewasgone's hand, giving him a gentle smile. "You've brought me children," she said, her voice growing a bit thick unexpectedly, "this raises my expectations for your gifts now quite a bit." "And I thought my return would be gift enough." Ongewasgone had a look of mock outrage as he drew her onto his lap. Their cups clattered to the floor as the buckskin drapes closed around their sleeping platform, muffling the sound of their physical reconnection.

Later still that night, Tsiron:iare drew the drapes around their platform back to check on the children once more. Our children. Our son. Our daughter. It was hard to believe, and she didn't feel able to take it in completely. But there was time enough for that. Her mind was a whirl of activity. I need to make them clothes. What color? Ethan would look so handsome in a blue shirt to match his eyes. They'll have to learn to speak Mohawk. Olivia will pick it up quicker. What names should we give them? Her mind swirled and she let out a low, nervous laugh. Dropping the drapes once more, she moved back into her sleeping husband's arms and began to drift back to sleep. One thought came to mind before she drifted off entirely.

We have to tell them tomorrow. Will it go well?

Iaonhawi:non: Misty Rain

Tiakeni:teron: my husband

All native words/phrases used in this story are Mohawk unless otherwise noted.

It looks like Ongewasgone and Tsiron:iare are getting children of their own! I wonder how Ethan will react to the news?! I tried to show at the end of his POV that he has finally guessed what their fate could be and is less than thrilled to say the least. I know it may come across as Tsiron:iare made the decision to adopt them quickly but with this story, I'm trying to move things along a bit more quickly (testing my writing skills) so I wanted to wrap up that plot quickly. But as she and Ongewasgone both know, the result of her decision will be anything but easy in the beginning.

A few quick cultural notes: the Mohawk are matrilineal so children belong to their mother's clan and social position/rank was also traditionally inherited through the mother. That is why it was ultimately Tsiron:iare's decision to adopt Ethan and Olivia since they will be part of her clan and not Ongewasgone's even though he is their adoptive father. In traditional Mohawk culture, women had a strong social/political presence with many more rights than colonial women had at this time period. Houses and land were considered their property and they had the ability to end wars and nominate leaders. I look forward to sharing more of these aspects as the story continues.