Chapter 2: A New Day's Dawn

Prudence woke up feeling groggy. The sedative Sampson had given her just before laying down in the common room having worked beautifully at helping her fall asleep, while now awake, was still making her senses feel heavy with fatigue. She knew he had doubled the amount, wanting to ensure this time she was able to sleep comfortably through the night. Though she was quite certain that their rather unique sleeping arrangements was truly how she was able to stay asleep without any further nightmares plaguing her dreams. A soft smile creeping across her face as she remembered all the boys plopping down in their respective spots and settling in all around her for the night. Just as they had done the previous nights in the forest.

Prudence sighed at the thought and began rubbing the corners of her eyes with her knuckles, trying her best to wipe away the weighted sleepiness she still felt in her droopy eyelids. As her eyes came into better focus she could see that all of the blankets that had been placed along the floor as makeshift beds had been removed, with exception of her own. She glanced around the room, searching for any sign of the boys. But there was none, she was completely alone. Where were they all she thought. Prudence had no idea what time it was. Though, one quick look around the room told her that she had slept much later than the boys. Not only had the room been put back into its natural order, but breakfast been served and cleared by the looks of the state of the kitchen. Washed bowls and pewter spoons laid neatly atop an old linen rag, long dried after their washing. Left alone on the long wooden table however, was a singular plate. Its bumpy contents covered by yet another patch of cloth. Leaving her to assume it had been left out for her.

Prudence took another deep breath and turned her head over towards the wide open cabin door. The sun's soft yellow rays shining brightly through it, electrifying the dark brown of the cabin's well worn wooden floor. She smiled as she watched the dust articles in the air dance and twirl in the sun's golden streaks. If she were just a little bit closer, she would have reached her palm out and let the sun's rich warmth hold her hand in its embrace. Though not close enough to do so, instead she breathed in the fresh smelling pine laced air once more and whispered to herself, "Welcome to a new day." Then began slowly making her way to her feet. The small effort causing her to wince slightly. "Ugh." She said as she bent back down to retrieve her blankets. The sting of her wounds briefly radiating throughout all of limbs. Prudence rested her hands on her knees as she steadied herself. It's only pain she thought...and I can handle pain. Taking a quick moment to rest, she then bent further down gripping the blankets and pulling them all up with her at once. After folding them up and placing them neatly atop the sofa, Prudence swiveled her body to make sure the room was completely back in its original form and discovered that there was a navy blue dress with tiny white flowers laying just atop the small wooden table now back in its original position. She sighed to herself at the sight of it and began lowering herself into the soft chair closest to her. Prudence lifted the dress lightly into her palms and began gently caressing the fabric between her thumb and forefinger. The material was so soft and so beautifully adorned with a delicate white lace trim around the collar and quarter length sleeves. She had never worn a dress as pretty as this one and suddenly found herself overcome with emotion.

She could feel a well of tears begin to pool in her eyes and a slight tickle begin to assault her nose, as she stared down at the intricately stitched garment. Her breaths became shaky and Prudence bit down on her lower lip. Trying her best to keep her sentimental emotions at bay. Only a mere few days ago, she could have never imagined that she would be sitting in a warm cabin, with a beautiful dress in her lap and full belly. All while being completely surrounded by a bunch of males. Males that seemed to want nothing from her, other than to know that she was alright. As she trailed her fingers atop the fabric, Prudence found herself glancing once more towards the open cabin door and wondering how long this dream could possibly last.


Nathaniel lifted another log from the top of the large pile still in need of chopping and after placing it on the round wooden stump, drew back his ax and swiftly struck the log in two. It split evenly in half, both pieces falling over opposite sides of the stump. He tilted his head back, letting the October sun bathe his face in its warmth. It was already mid day and the air was beginning shift slightly. A strange combination of warm and cool both filtering together. Mother Nature still unsure if she wanted to hold tightly to the summer heat or embrace the coolness of autumn and Nathaniel found himself thoroughly enjoying her indecisiveness.

His ears perked up as he heard the soft sound of footfalls coming from the cabin's old wooden porch. He turned his head to see Prudence standing at the top step and peering out into the wide open glade. She was wearing the dark blue dress that Sampson had left out for her and even at this distance Nathaniel could see the way it made her, their bright blue eyes pop out even more than they already did.

"They are all in he cornfield preparing for the harvest, but I am here." He called out to her, once he saw the forlorn expression on her face at the thought of being left alone.

Prudence turned her head in Nathaniel's direction and began making her way down the steps and over to where he was standing, ax in hand by a rather large pile of unspilt wood. "Good morning." Prudence said, taking a seat atop the uncut lumber pile.

"Good afternoon." Nathaniel retorted with a smirk. "It is well past mid day. We didn't want to wake you, knowing you were so exhausted."

Prudence gingerly grabbed an uncut log, wanting to be helpful while not wanting to further injure her hands, and passed it to him. "Thank you for that. I mean not waking me up. I can not remember the last time I slept so soundly and for the plate of biscuits and jam. They were delicious."

Nathaniel took the log from her hands and placed it on the stump. "Well medicinal tonics will do that to you." He quipped, making her crack a wry smile. "And blackberry jam is my favorite. I took a guess, as we appear to have so much else in common, that you would like that as well." And began awkwardly shifting his weight from side to side before he swiftly added with raised eyebrows, "Are we going to talk about this? I mean really talk about this?" Then he turned his body to face her and finished with, "Don't you think we should?"

Prudence stared up at him, raising her hand to her forehead, effectively blocking the sun from her eyes. She furrowed her brows, as she took in every feature of his face. Even the small ones, like the thumb size scar just below his left eye. "How did you get that scar on your face?" She asked, seemingly out of nowhere.

"What?" Nathaniel questioned, instinctively reaching up and rubbing the scar with his fingertips. The act itself enough to bring the long forgotten memory to the for front of his mind. "We were tracking a buck in the forest. I was following behind Uncas and he pushed a large branch out of the way, not realizing that I didn't see it and well...it snapped back and struck me just below my eye. Father said that I was lucky it didn't hit my eye. I could have gone blind."

Prudence examined the scar in earnest and nodding her head in agreement said, "It wasn't a tree but rather a type of bush right? Only something with thorns would have scared you quite like that."

Nathaniel smiled at her quick observation and nodded his head yes. Prudence nodded her head along with him. Knowing that he was pleased she had come to the right conclusion. "It hurt like hell." He added with a chuckle.

Prudence giggled at his honesty, dropping her hand from her forehead. Her palms were beginning to sweat with nervousness as they had still yet to discuss the topic at hand. She rolled her eyes along his face once more, taking in the shape of his chin and the position of his cheekbones. They were almost exactly the same as her own. Not to mention the point of his nose or the outline of his eyes. They even had the same curve to their lips. Though most uncanny was the color of their eyes. The same vivid cerulean blue. Side by side it would be easy to see how one would think they were twins. If she was not completely certain that they were not, Prudence would have easily assumed it the same as Nathaniel. Prudence gulped hard, just realizing now that her throat had become dry with anticipation and not wanting to prolong it any further blurted out, "What do you feel? Right now…about me?"

"Umm…" Nathaniel began, taken off guard.

"Don't think Nathaniel, just answer."

Nathaniel stared right into her eyes and said, "I think the same now as I did last night. I think that you are my family. My blood born sister. There is no other explanation for how similar our faces look." Nathaniel paused raising his brows slightly, "How similar our demeanor's are." Then holding her stare pointedly added, "But more than that, I feel it. I feel it in my bones and have since that first night in the forest. Don't you?"

Prudence drifted her eyes downward to the green grass and thought back to only last night when she had wept in his arms, having finally excepted that she was no longer alone in this world. It had been the most profound feeling she had ever had. As she could feel it too. All the way down in her bones. As though some strange part of her had memorized him. The way he voiced his words or his eyes. She could not explain it. The feeling itself striking her as strange since she was only a mere baby when they were last together. Though regardless of that fact, she was certain she could feel it. She lifted her eyes to his, nodding her head and repeating his words said, "All the way down in my bones."

Nathaniel smiled widely, suddenly swinging the ax down hard on the log and splitting it in two. "You see this Pru." He said, shortening her name as a way of showing some small camaraderie between them, and pointed to the split log now laying nestled in the grass. "This is us. Two halves to the same whole. Two pieces, forced apart. But we aren't apart anymore. We are together now. You and me." He finished, shifting his pointer finger back and forth between them.

Pru smiled at the little nickname he had just bestowed on her and without saying a word, stood up and crossed the few feet between them. With her back sore and her hands bandaged, after closing the short distance Pru merely laid her forehead gently atop his chest and whispered, "You and me."

Nathaniel smiled to himself over top of her head. As he was quickly becoming less and less shocked with her open mannerisms and lifted his palms up softly gripping her upper arms. He dipped his forehead down, carefully placing it atop her head and whispered, "Me and you." There would be no denying their connection, not now and not ever again. In this moment, Nathaniel gently embraced her as his true born sister. A blood born family member, that he would never deny and that he would always protect. No matter what anyone else believed in this world he, as well as Pru, knew that their fates were now forever intertwined. As he gently rubbed her shoulders with his thumbs, Nathaniel silently hoped that his father would agree.


Chingachgook watched from a distance as Nathaniel and Prudence lightly embraced. His white son making certain to be gentle with her fragile body, holding her only in the places he was certain would not cause her further pain. He watched from a distance until finally the two broke apart. Nathaniel resuming chopping wood and Prudence passing him log after log, as the two continued to converse amongst themselves. Seeing them like this, so natural and without hindrance. The way they both seemed to move their hands animatedly in conversation. The way they both pushed their unruly strands of hair from their faces. Chingachgook knew without any question that they were indeed siblings. Had there been even the smallest hint of any lingering doubt, this moment would have made it vanish. For he had never seen two people so similar in all of his life, then he did now in Nathaniel and Prudence. Chingachgook smiled too himself at the sight of them and silently reaffirmed to do his part to keep them together. Though whether Prudence would agree to his offer, was still yet to be seen.


With the completion of supper, everyone had gathered around in the common room listening as Martin read from from Thomas Moore's Utopia. Pru was seated next to him on the sofa, with her eyes closed and her head tilted back against the soft cushions. Listening as his unevenly warm voice filtered into her ears. There was something about the way his voice sounded, somehow caught in a tug of war between adolescents and manhood. The way some words sounded higher pitched then others with their deep resonating baritone. Prudence became silently fascinated by the sound of his voice and began committing every syllable to memory. As she was still uncertain of how long this dream she now found herself in would last.

When Martin had finally reached a break in the words, he paused leaning forward and gripping his pewter mug filled with water. Taking serial long gulps to sooth his hoarse throat before he made to return to his reading. Pru rolled her head sideways on the sofa, her focus on the side of Martin's face and said, "You read very well, and translating from Latin no less."

Martin laughed turning to face her and said, "I am the son of a doctor. That made Latin a bit of a prerequisite." Pru giggled at his answer, making him smile wider and he continued with, "Do speak any other languages?"

"Yes actually. I also speak Dutch. The woman who cared for me as a very young girl was Dutch."

"You speak Dutch?" Nathaniel interjected into their conversation.

Pru lifted her head from the sofa, slowly nodding it yes. "Do not seem so shocked brother. You speak English and Mohican."

Nathaniel's mouth curved into a slight smile at her openly referring to him as her brother and he found himself unconsciously drifting his eyes over towards his father. Who was seated just beside him in the soft chair closest to the fire. Nathaniel peeked up at him from under his lashes, trying to read his stoic expression and remembering their conversation from earlier in the day. When his father had taken Uncas and himself on a short walk through the forest to discuss, in privacy, the possibility of bringing Pru into their family.

"I intend to speak with Prudence this evening about staying with us and joining our family." Chingachgook said, after several minutes of walking out of ear shot from the homestead. The brothers had been shocked by their father's bluntness, as Chingachgook had wasted no time on preamble. He turned to Uncas first, placing a palm atop his shoulder and continued with, "But before I do, I would like to know your feelings about this possible change in your life? Having Prudence as your sister?"

Uncas paused mid step at his father's touch and began focusing his attention down to the forest floor as he reflected on the idea of having Pru as his sister. It had not even been a week since their father brought her into their lives and already Uncas knew that he had grown attached to her. She had all the same qualities that he adored in Nathaniel. Both being just as quick witted and sassy, along with honest. Honesty...the quality Uncas had always valued the most in Nathaniel. Though below her sharp exterior, Uncas knew she was also soft and understanding. It shone through in all of her mannerisms. The way she smiled or how he knew whenever he spoke to her she was listening, really listening to every word that he said. All the while not making him feel like he was a little boy or a little brother. But rather just a boy, an equal. Feelings he sometimes struggled with where his father and brother were concerned. Uncas raised his eyes up to meet his fathers' and with a wide grin pushing out his chubby cheeks said, "Very much so father!"

Chingachgook smiled down at his blood son. He rarely asked a question that he did not already know the answer to, especially where his children were concerned. After gently caressing Uncas's head, he then turned his attention to Nathaniel.

Nathaniel, though pleased with his father's decision to keep Pru with them, suddenly felt a pang in his heart. Without question, he wanted Pru to stay with them. He knew she was his sister and could not imagine ever leaving her behind. Though he also knew that welcoming Pru into their family meant that their lifestyle would have to change. As she was a girl and it would not be right to expect her to hunt and trap with them through the forest all seasons of the year. Nathaniel knew what his father would be relinquishing by bringing her into the family. A lifestyle that he loved. A lifestyle that he had raised him and Uncas to cherish and greatly respect. It was a sacrifice he would be making and Nathaniel felt suddenly paralyzed by it. "Father…" Nathaniel had begun, then quickly became speechless as the true weight of his father's decision overwhelmed him. "You are doing this for me." He simply stated.

Chingachgook stood silently, eyes having fallen soft at Nathaniel's words and answered, "Yes, I am doing this for you my son. So that you might have a piece of your life that you have been missing. A piece that makes you whole. And I am doing this for Uncas, who has never known the love and influence of having a female family member in his life. And I am doing this for yours and Uncas's mother, who had always wanted a daughter to call her own." Then Chingachgook took Nathaniel's chin in his palm, tilting his face upwards to better look into his eyes and continued with, "And for yours and Pru's birth mother. Who I know is watching from the spirit world and perhaps finally feeling at peace in the knowledge that her two surviving children are at last reunited." Nathaniel blinked at his father's statement. He had never once mentioned his birth mother before and before Nathaniel realized what was happening, a lone tear streamed down his cheek, staining his sharp features with sadness. "And Lastly.." Chingachgook continued in a rare moment of openness, "I am doing this for me. I can not live with the idea that when I found you, I may have overlooked her and now fate has brought us all together again. I want nothing more than to bestow upon her a life that she has missed out on. A life filled with laughter, kindness, clean clothes, a full belly and above all...love. A life every child born of this world deserves to have and that I intend to give her." Chingachgook released Nathaniel's face, instead grabbing ahold of his shoulders and pulling him into his embrace. "I am doing this for all of us." He added as he loosened one of his arms from around Nathaniel's shoulders and gently tugged Uncas into their mutual embrace. "We will no longer be three, but rather four."

"Nathaniel?" Pru said, breaking her brother from his reverie.

Nathaniel tore his eyes away from his father and peered back at her. "Huh?"

Pru giggled softly with furrowed brows and asked, "Where did you go?"

Though before Nathaniel had the chance to answer, Chingachgook rose abruptly from his seat and walked over to Pru. "Will you walk with me?" He asked extending his hand out to her.

Pru stared up at him and began uncurling her legs from their crosslegged position on the sofa. She made to reach up towards him and take his hand, though remembering her bandages felt her cheeks suddenly flush with embarrassment. Paying no attention to her oversight, Chingachgook reached down and gently took ahold of her elbow, helping her up to her feet. "Shall we?" He asked, extending his hand towards the open door and began leading Pru out of the cabin. Though not before she glanced over her shoulder looking questioningly back at Nathaniel.


Over an hour had passed and Nathaniel was beginning to get restless. Sampson had excused himself a while ago to go smoke his pipe on the cabin porch, leaving Nathaniel, Uncas and Martin to converse amongst themselves.

"They have been gone too long." Uncas quipped, staring at the open cabin door. "Do think she has refused father's offer?"

"Offer?" Martin asked curiously.

Nathaniel slouched down deeper into the soft chair and said, "Father is going to have her stay with us."

Martin narrowed his eyes at Nathaniel and questioned, "Uncas says offer and you say have, will she be given a choice? Or have you already made that choice for her Nathaniel?"

"What choice is there? I am her brother and so we will all become family." He plainly stated.

"It will be a completely different life than that of what she is used to." Martin said.

Nathaniel hunched forward, resting his elbows on his knees and said, "What she is used to is horrible."

Martin saw the way Nathaniel was beginning to look him and feeling completely irritated by it shot back, "You know exactly what I meant by that. And while we are talking about it, she is welcome to stay here with us too. A warm cabin, food in her belly and pretty dresses to wear. That is a good life too." Martin finished by leaning forward, he too resting his elbows on his knees in challenge.

Uncas turned his head from side to side as he watched his brother and friend continue to take little jabs at one another. It bothered him seeing the two of them like that, as truth be told, Martin seemed almost like a brother to him as well. He knew in his heart that both of them had the best of intentions towards her. Even if right now they looked like they were about to rip each others head off. Uncas rolled his eyes at their masculine display of over protectiveness and having had enough of their glaring contest, rose to his feet and made his way to the back of the cabin. He gingerly opened the door to Martin's bedroom and silently tip toed through it. Uncas crossed the room towards the window, carefully pulling it open. He glanced over his shoulder, wanting to be certain that neither one of them had followed him. Then quickly gripped onto the wooden window frame and rather ungracefully, hurled himself out of it towards the ground below.

Uncas winced as he landed with a thump on his shoulder. "Ow!" He yelped, and instantly began rubbing his fingers tenderly around his right arm.

"Are you alright?" Came a whispered voice from the shadows.

Uncas rolled his head across the cool grass towards the almost inaudible sound and smiled widely. His perfectly white teeth glimmering against the moons brightness. "Hello." He answered softly, as he rolled himself up into a seated position beside Pru.

Pru lifted her head from its downcast position and returned his smile with one of her own. The youthful tone of his voice drawing her out of her reverie. "Hello Uncas."

Uncas pulled his knees up to his chest, wrapping his lanky arms around his them and turned his head in Pru's direction. "I thought'd you'd still be with father?" He half asked, half stated.

"I was. Then I asked if I could be alone for a bit," she softly replied.

"Ohhh...I can can go if you like?" And Uncas began shifting his weight as though he was about to get up.

Pru reached over, placing her palm atop his knee and said, "No, please stay. I can use the company." Then furrowed her brows and asked, "Where are Nathaniel and Martin?"

Uncas relaxed his body back into the grass and laughed, "In the cabin, practically yelling at each other. As they both think they know what your future has in store for you."

Pru gawked at him and said, "What?"

"Yea. They seem to have conflicting opinions on what is best for you."

"On what is best for me?" Pru said as she mulled over Uncas's wording. "Really?" Nathaniel and Martin, two of the closest of friends, were arguing over her.

"Really." Uncas respond, nodding his head yes as well. "I could not listen to it any more. So I snuck out Martin's bedroom window."

"That you did!" Pru exclaimed.

"Hurt too!" Uncas answered as he laughed along with her. Though as their mutual laughter began to dwindle, Uncas found the air around them turn heavy with unanswered questions and he turned to her and asked, "What will you do Pru? Will come along and be a part of our Mohican family or will you stay behind and make a life here on the farm, only seeing us when we are able to visit?" He knew his wording seemed unfair, but at that moment it pained him to think of her not coming along with them and his mouth took over before his mind had a chance to stop it.

Pru silently snickered to herself at his choice of words and eyed Uncas's young face through the darkness. His chubby cheeks deceptive as his body was long and lanky. His warm caramel colored eyes that twinkled despite the darkness that enveloped them, staring patiently back at her. She reached across, snaking her arm through his own and rested her head on his small shoulder. Then just as she parted her lips to speak, both her and Uncas turned their heads to the right as the sound of footfalls began closing in on them.

Uncas knew who was approaching them without needing to rely on his near perfect eye sight. As Nathaniel and Martin rounded the cabin, taking a seat directly in front of both of them.

"The window?" Martin asked, lightly kicking Uncas's foot.

"The window." He calmly concurred, though they all saw the wide grin he had splayed across his face, pleased with his sneakiness.

"A little birdie told me you two have taken to arguing about me. Is that still the case?" Pru pointedly asked.

"Nah." Nathaniel answered, reaching over and wrapping his arm around Martin's shoulder.

"We have since kissed and made up." Martin said, making a loud smooching sound in Nathaniel's face.

"Ugh!" Nathaniel quipped, pulling his arm away from Martin and shoving him lightly towards the ground. Then redirecting his attention back towards Pru, he narrowed his eyes through the darkness at her and asked, "So…have you decided?"

"I have." Pru answered, her eyes drifting between all three boys.

"Well…which is it Pru?"


Author's Note: Phew! I cannot wait to get to the hilarious moments! I wanted to focus a bit on just Nathaniel and Pru, giving them both a bit of time alone...which is exactly what the their family intended by just having Nathaniel stay behind with her and it proved to be well worth their efforts! FYI...Pru was picking up those logs with her palms...not her fingers!

Nathaniel's reflection on his and Uncas's conversation with Chingachgook about bringing Pru into the family was a quick addition to the chapter. I had originally written the scene completely different. I should say that Chingachgook had already made his decision to do it, though he was curious about his sons thinking on it. I felt it important to show how Uncas sometimes feels in the shadows of his father and brother. A theme I found consistent with an adult Uncas in the movie and wanted to give a bit of voice to it. Also, I thought Nathaniel, though he DOES want his sister to stay with them, as the older brother would be the one to fully understand how different their lives would be by doing so. Then as Chingachgook gives his reasoning as to why he is doing this...I threw in the added sentence about Nathaniel and Pru's birth mother. She will come up again in ch.4, showing you why Chingachgook thought of her as one of his reasons.

And just for fun, I tossed in a little passing tension between Nathaniel and Martin. As Martin has just begun to have his first encounter with his developing feelings for Pru. Though at this point he has yet to acknowledge them for what they are.

Thank you to those that have viewed, followed, and favorited this new adventure! And a HUGE thank you to AsterLaurel, ELY72, MohawkWoman, BlueSaffire for your reviews and overall incredible support! Happy Friday!

Thanks for reading ;)