Chapter 3: Goodbyes Are Never Easy

Nathaniel and Uncas ran side by side through the thick greenery of the forest, stripping off the majority of their clothes as they went. Weeks had passed since they first arrived at the farm and though the weather had been relatively cool, today an unexpected warmth had saturated the air. Weighing it heavily with a thick moisture that made them sweat in unflattering places and crave a much more exciting venture than the household chores that they had all been shackled with. Making the foursome work twice as fast as usual so they might take off towards the lake as soon as their work load was non existent. Some sooner than others, as Pru and Martin had made their way there much earlier in the day then Nathaniel and Uncas. The pair combining their efforts, both picking up the slack of the others load when needed. A concept that had both Nathaniel and Uncas shaking their heads that they had not thought of it themselves.

The mid day light peeked down at them through the the gaps in the forest's multi colored canopy, showering the forest floor in its thick golden streams. The atmosphere a clash of seasons with the richly colored leaves swaying high above them as the sweltering sun beat down its stinging rays upon their skin and Mother Nature seemingly watching with amusement as the brother's continued to sprint competitively side by side towards the lake. Even though Nathaniel was older, he was not faster and after taking several hurried breaths, Uncas quickly overtook him on the long winding path that led to their salvation from the day's heat.

Uncas laughed heartily as he began kicking up grainy clouds of dust into his brother's face. His feet taking on a life of their own, as he swiftly rushed past Nathaniel. Nathaniel coughed sporadically from his brother's snide and after swallowing several mouthfuls of dirt, ran the rest of the distance with his mouth and eyes tightly closed. Only splitting his jaw to yell out to his little brother, "I'll get you for this Uncas!"

Uncas peered over his shoulder, seeing that Nathaniel was far behind him and hollered, "You will have to catch me first!"


Martin squatted at the top of the slow flowing waterfall, dunking his palms deep in the water and retrieving differently shaped stones that he would repeatedly hurl over the edge. He watched through the sides of his eyes as Pru bent down and glided her fingertips through the flowing water. Her hands had since healed and the bandages had been removed. All that was left to see were a few yellowish green circles still lingering atop her knuckles. Her back too had healed. No longer did she wince in pain every time she bent forward or swiveled her hips. The once bloody and raw skin scabbed over now in some places and in others where the scabs had already fallen off, new scar tissue had taken its place. In the weeks that followed since her first night on the farm, not one of the boys had asked her about what had truly happened that night. Each of them having already silently envisioned many different scenarios in their heads. They were all too terrified to have any of them confirmed, leaving the truth of what happened that night to linger in the air between them.

Martin swiveled his crouched body slightly, wanting to peer at her a little better. She was wearing only a white linen shift, that she had knotted in the front up to her knee. Her long dark hair was braided and fell lightly over her shoulder as she leaned down. The tips almost brushing against the top of the glistening water. Her cheeks a rosy pink from the surprising heat of the day. The vibrant color having somehow seeped its way through her sun kissed skin. As Martin subtly glanced over at her, he could feel something shift inside him. An unknown sensation began to slowly creep into his chest. The longer he gazed at her, the further it spread within him. Martin dipped his head lower, trying his best to be as subtle as possible. Glancing up at her from under his thick eyelashes, as he tried to determine what this new sensitivity that was advancing inside of him was. Up until this moment he had thought that his desire to be near her had come from a place of humanity inside him. A place where he felt he needed to protect her from further harm of the outside world. Though right now, in this moment, something felt different. It was a strange sort of feeling, that he had never encountered before. Something foreign, like an illness that caused his breathing to suffer and his heart to quicken. Martin was unsure what exactly it was that was coming over him and without even realizing suddenly blurted out, "My hands are tingling."

Pru lifted her head from its downcast position, instantly catching his eyes with her own. Her youthful features quickly shifting from serene to troubled as she scanned his crouched form. Taking in the dazed and far away look in his eyes, Pru immediately rose and began moving towards him. She trudged slowly through the soft current, careful not to lose her footing on the slick rocks that she padded atop of with her bare feet. Mirroring his position, she crouched down in front him and dipped her hands into the cool water. Wrapping her fingers around his wrists, she lifted his hands from the water and placed them both flat between her own palms. Pru shifted her eyes back up to his, as she gently rubbed her thumbs atop his skin trying to warm them with her touch and asked, "Is that better?"

Martin's mouth fell agape at her kneading his palms and though he had parted his lips to speak, no words came out. His jaw just hanging limp from his face, as though he was a frog trying to catch its mid day meal. Pru giggled at his nervous reaction, removing one of her palms from his and gently tapping his chin upwards with her fingertips. "Are you alright?" She asked through a wide smile.

"Uh, yea. Sorry." Martin rambled out.

As her pointer finger lingered on the bottom of his chin, Pru narrowed her eyes at him, tilting her head to the side as she began analyzing the bewildered expression on his face. As Pru rolled her eyes along his face, she felt her breathing suddenly still. She rocked her body slightly forward, deepening her stare into Martin's eyes. Suddenly desperate to know what secrets he was hiding behind his forest colored eyes and wondering if perhaps they was similar to her own.

In the weeks that had passed, she and he had become increasingly close. So much so, that when Chingachgook announced a few days ago that they would be traveling back to the Delaware camp for winter, Pru had a violent pang of regret seep into her chest. After a rather awkward conversation with Sampson, she knew with the return of her of monthly courses that their departure would now be eminent. Pru furrowed her brows and breaking their stare, lowered her eyes back to his palms that lay nestled within her own. She took a deep breath, while she searched for the courage to speak and slowly lifted hers eyes back up to his. Her lower lip dropping open as she began, "Mar..." Though her words were immediately interrupted when she heard the distant sound of playful hollering coming from below and quickly released Martin's hands and chin. She clapped her lips tightly shut and shuffled backwards in the water. As though she had suddenly be caught doing something she not ought to have done. Pru flashed Martin a nervous smile before turning around and peering out over the waterfall just as Nathaniel and Uncas breached the tree line towards the lake.

Martin felt a strange urge as she let go of his hands, suddenly feeling the desire to grip tighter to her and rub his thumbs along the silky smooth skin of her wrists. To beg her to finish what she was about to say, now silently frantic to know what it was. Though instead rested his loose palms atop his trouser clad thighs and followed her once more with his eyes. What was happening…he thought. Then hearing what she had heard, slowly made his way to his feet and towards the side of the waterfall. Where he peered over to see Nathaniel and Uncas both scaling the rocky wall to the top of the waterfall. Martin glanced once more towards the side of her face knowing that whatever it was that was happening, whatever words were going to said, the moment had been broken.

Only seconds later both boys had reached the top of the waterfall. Nathaniel first then Uncas, who he quickly put in a head lock and started yelling, "You can't beat me little brother! You might be faster, but I am the better climber!"

"I am ten years old...give me time...I'll beat you one day!" Uncas spit out between harsh breaths brought on by his head being locked in the crook of Nathaniel's arm.

Uncas tried swatting away his brothers arm to no avail. Finally deciding to switch tactics, reached up and tickled him in his armpit. Having been taken off guard by Uncas's new strategy, Nathaniel stumbled backwards and landed with a splash on his bottom in the cool water. When next he looked up he saw three laughing faces peering down at him and quickly ran his hand along the top of the water, sending a large spray towards them. "Ha Ha Ha!" He said as they all easily diverted his attempt at retaliation.

Nathaniel climbed easily to his feet, trudging over to where the water spilled over into the lake below and peered down. He glanced several times between the lake and his sister's face. He did not think it was too far of a jump, but he had also been jumping it for years. He turned away from the edge and stared into Pru's eyes. He could see that she was nervous, the way she nibbled on the corner of her lower lip as though at any moment she would bite it right off. Nathaniel took a few steps towards her and asked, "Will you be alright? We will understand if you don't want to jump it." Suddenly feeling like she was only standing up about to jump more for their benefit than for her own curiosity.

Pru narrowed her eyes, shifting them from Nathaniel, to Uncas, to Martin then back to Nathaniel. She took a long deep breath, holding it tight in her lungs and began sloshing through the shallow water over to the edge, positioning herself between Nathaniel and Uncas. Placing a palm on both of their shoulders, Pru steadied herself and leaned as far over as she could. Gazing over the edge, she watched as the misty spray of the water collided with the peaceful basin below. Pru thought about the feeling of falling. How freeing it must truly be to let the air cradle you in its grasp, while it gently guides your listless body down. Down to a pillowy pool of waiting water. Gulping hard in her throat, she exhaled her deeply held breath and after giving Uncas and Nathaniel a slight squeeze on their shoulders, shifted her eyes to Martin. Who she gave the tiniest wink too before she, without so much as a word, leapt over the edge.

Pru felt like for just a moment, that she was bird soaring high above the world. She stretched out her arms, her blue eyes wide, having been forced open by a combination of wind and excitement. She could feel the breeze whipping her braid behind her head and the falls catching it in its soggy grasp. Pru felt her shift raise up to her waist. The spray from the waterfall tickling her bottom as she continued to drift gracefully through the air. Then finally, her feet splitting the clear cool water in two as her body descended into its onyx depths.

"Whoa! Did you see that!" Nathaniel practically yelled as he slapped both Uncas and Martin across their chests with the back of his hands.

"She didn't even flinch!" Uncas said, a broad smile stretched across his chubby cheeks.

"Well, if that doesn't prove she is your sister. I don't know what would!" Martin concurred his wide eyes looking down below as Pru bobbed up and down in the water, waving happily back up at them.

All three boys stared down in amazement at her and how perfect she seemed to meld into their little union. She was every bit as daring as the rest of them. Wild and free like the forest that encased them.

Nathaniel's wicked grin touched both of his ears as he gazed down at her. His pride evident across his fifteen year old face. Without taking his eyes off of his sister Nathaniel loudly declared, "Shall we boys?" Then not waiting for them to answer, he leapt from the edge into the water below. Uncas and Martin following swiftly behind him.


Hours had passed since they had first arrived for their mid day swim and the group found themselves utterly exhausted by their watery jaunt. Nathaniel, Uncas, Martin and Pru all laid, head to head, in the soft mossy greenery that covered the edge of the lakes rocky terrain. The sun warming their waterlogged skin as they all silently peered at the forest around them.

Uncas watched as the leaves swayed back and forth above him. The warm air shaking loose several yellowish orange leaflets, guiding them gracefully down to the earth and gently resting them across his bare chest. Uncas reached up, gripping the thin stem between his fingers and twirled it around. He could not have imagined that his life would ever been changing in the way that it was. They would be leaving tomorrow for the Delaware camp. Him, his father, his brother and his sister. His sister…He was going to have a sister and not just any sister…Nathaniel's birth sister. Uncas thought that even though they had spent hours discussing the different ways in which their lives would change and they would change. He still found himself overcome with a feeling of excitement that he had never known before. An excitement for what the future held for them, held for them as a family. Uncas twirled the leaf faster and faster between his fingers. The spinning making the yellowish orange of the leaf blend into a completely different shade onto itself. Just like he imagined the joining of Pru to their family would change the dynamic of their trio, turning them into their own unique hue. Uncas smiled softly to himself as thought of all the different things he would teach her. How he would hold her hand and teach her things like how to track, to shoot a bow and arrow, to fish. The list beginning to run endless throughout his mind. He breathed a sigh of happiness at the thought and turned his head to the side peering at his brother, wondering if he was thinking similar thoughts.

Nathaniel laid with his arms folded behind his head, watching as a hawk glided in circles around the sun. Its outstretched wings seemingly bridging the clouds together. He thought about what their journey back to the Delaware camp would be like, as they had never traveled with a girl before. He wondered how private they would need to be or if they would have to travel slower to accommodate her pace. The last time they had traveled through the forest together, they had specifically moved at a much slower stride. Though then she was in no physical condition to even remotely match their usual tread, now at least she was stronger, sturdier with her body almost completely healed. Nathaniel shifted his weight, nestling his body deeper into the soft moss that cradled him. His restless frame mirroring his thoughts as he tried to shake what else was troubling him. Try as he might, Nathaniel could not escape the rising anxiety inside him over how Pru would be perceived at the Delaware camp. Would they except her the way they excepted him or would they just see her as a white girl coming to dwell among them. To this day, at least amongst his father's cousins tribe, Nathaniel remained the only white person to live within the camp. White people often traveled through trading, sometimes even staying several nights or even weeks with them, but none ever lived continuously amongst them and all of them had been male. He worried that she would somehow be seen as an intruder of sorts. Perhaps not to the elders, who he knew would embrace her willingly because of Chingachgook. Though to the youths, he worried. Pru had not been raised in their culture and did not know their ways. Will they help her along or watch silently as she stumbles and falls. His concerns did not end there as she was already practically a woman and as a young white woman worried that she would receive unwanted attention from the village boys. Attention he was certain she would not be interested in, at least not yet anyway. Flinging open his eyes to a loud squawk high above him, Nathaniel sharpened his vision as the hawk suddenly dove towards the ground a distance away. Knowing that the hawk had finally closed in on its prey. He took a deep breath resolving that he and Pru were together again for the second time in their lives and nothing and no one was going to ruin or change that for him. Nathaniel smirked thinking to himself that the two of them together would most definitely be a force to be reckoned with, a force that the Delaware camp would certainly not be prepared for. As his smirk reached wide across his face, Nathaniel peered at her through the corners of his eyes, wondering if she too felt the same way.

Pru laid with her eyes closed, staring back at the blackness of her eyelids and thinking back to the fateful conversation that would change her life forever…

"Prudence…" Chingachgook began, as he gently tightened his grip on their interlocked arms. "I would like to talk to you about your future." He paused gazing down into bright blue eyes. Eyes that glistened with a rare insightfulness that Chingachgook found unusual in a girl so young. Though this was not just a wee girl, naive to the dealings of the world around her. She was a girl that had experienced life and because of it, Prudence had a type of understanding lurking behind her eyes that spoke to someones soul. She could convey volumes with just a mere glance or the slightest touch. Like she was right now, in the way she gently laid her palm on his wrist as they walked arm in arm around the glade.

She was speaking to him, letting him know that she felt safe with him. Safe enough to relax her posture and calmly breath in the cool October air. Though he knew that in truth she was a young woman, Chingachgook was certain in that moment that in her soul lived the wisdom of a Uma. Pausing mid step, Chingachgook turned to face her. "My boys and I would be honored if you would continued to stay with us. Continue to make a life with us. You are already sister to my white son…I would like you to become a sister to Uncas as well." Chingachgook sucked in a deep breath and added, "And daughter to me." Chingachgook dipped his head down, trying to get a better look into her curious eyes. Eyes that at the moment seemed unreadable.

Prudence, knowing that Chingachgook was awaiting her response, shifted her eyes to the thick grass below. She had had no idea what her future would contain. No idea where she was going to go from this moment in time on or how long this dream of a home would last. Pru focused absently on a small patch of grass that was covered in tiny purple violets. Violets…she thought. A cluster of tiny purple flowers growing wild against the lush green grass. Grass that lead to the tree line of the forest. A forest where she knew that her brother dwelled. Where Uncas and Chingachgook dwelled. A forest where she knew she belonged, just as she knew she belonged with them. In that moment, Prudence knew that she was indeed the tiny purple violets and that she had crept her way into the woodland of all three of the Mohicans hearts. She lifted her head, meeting Chingachgook's eyes and said, "I would like that very much Nooch."

Chingachgook smiled widely at her calling him the Mohican word for father and took both of her cheeks in his hand and said, "You are my Tànkètikila."

"What does that mean?" Pru asked wide eyed.

Chingachgook softened his smile some, laying his forehead against her own and translated, "You are my Little (small) Warrior."

Prudence suddenly felt the coolness of her tears as they began silently slipping from the corners of her eyes. She could not understand why she was weeping. Only that the realization that she would be leaving this majestic place, that she would be leaving Sampson and Martin, had finally set in and she suddenly felt an overwhelming sadness. Pru sucked in her lower lip, trying to quietly fight back the tears. When she suddenly shivered at the feather light touch of fingertips grazing across her cheek, making her flutter open her eyes and turn her head in the direction of the delicate strokes.

Martin had watched as her nose scrunched up, its tip coloring crimson. Witnessing the the first tear as it streamed down her still rosy cheeks and slip into crook of her ear. He laid beside her watching silently, until he saw her inhale her trembling bottom lip into her mouth. It was then that he decided he could not bear the sight of her sorrow any longer and reached out, gently wiping away the now cascading tears.

Prudence turned her face towards him, as she continued to flutter her eyes between open and closed. Hoping her efforts would keep any further tears at bay. Refocussing her eyes on Martins', she felt struck once more by this abrupt feeling of loss. A loss she could hardly explain and did not fully understand. Though as she peered back into his eyes, she thought she saw the same melancholy lingering within his and without realizing what she was doing, reached out and took ahold of his tear stained hand. Tightly lacing her fingers with his.

Martin rubbed his thumb along the inside of her palm in small soothing circles. Silently wondering to himself why she had to leave. Why they all had to leave, leave him alone once again. No matter how used to it he had grown, it never felt good when they went away and now it felt even worse, as they were taking Pru with them. Martin knew that this is how their time on the farm would end, as this had always been the way. Though this time, the sting of their absence was felt more acutely than ever.

Just as Martin opened his mouth to speak, a loud rustle came echoing through the trees. Making all four of them suddenly alert. Nathaniel hoped to his feet, yanking both Uncas and Pru up with him and by extension Martin as well. As he was still holding Pru's hand in his. Though before anyone had a chance to acknowledge them, Pru gently released their intertwined fingers. Instead clutching onto the back of Nathaniel's shirt.

Nathaniel took a step forward, wanting to be in front of the rest of them. As all four of them slowly turned their attention to the forest, trepidation clear along their youthful faces. Only to see both Chingachgook and Sampson come bursting through the trees at a near break neck pace. Instantly sighing a breath of relief, they watched in awe as their two fathers began scaling the waterfall's rocky wall. Their faces skewed in competition.

"Well, now!" Martin said, in shock of his father's childlike display. "Shall we?" He turned to Pru, Nathaniel and Uncas smiling widely before he raced forward, propelling his body into a flip and entering the water feet first.

"HA!" Pru hollered, smiling widely and clapping her hands together, before taking off in a sprint towards the water. Where she leapt feet first, joining Martin.

Nathaniel smacked Uncas across his chest, a wry smile plastered across his face and the two brothers rushed towards the lake, diving head first into the cool water. Both boys swimming quickly over to where Martin and Pru treaded water, with their heads tilted upwards towards the top of the waterfall.

"Jump Nooch!" Nathaniel called up to his father.

"Jump, Jump, Jump!" All four of them began chanting in unison.

Then suddenly, all four sets of youthful eyes went wide as they sucked in their breath and watched soundlessly as the sight of their fathers sturdy figures gracefully floated down through the air and into onyx colored water below them. The splash's spray sweeping across each of their faces, beckoning them to join in the merriment of this last full day that they would share together.

Though while everyone else swam forth to Chingachgook and Sampson, Martin held back a moment and watched. He wanted the moment to last just a little bit longer. Wanted the laughter to last just a little bit longer. Martin kicked his arms and legs under the water, staying himself in his place and took in the happiness of the moment. Watching as they all splashed, squealed and dunked each others heads into the water. Martin smiled widely at the scene before him, his eyes falling lastly upon Pru. Their eyes meeting as she began gliding through the water towards him. Her right arm extended out, with her palm up and her fingers beckoning for him to join them. As Martin reached for her, he began silently wishing that this was not goodbye.


Author's Note: I wanted to make this chapter almost entirely about the kids. Specifically highlighting the very beginning of what will be Pru and Martin's beautiful romance. And I also wanted to show, how lonely Martin feels when they all go away. That pain even more so now with Pru leaving with them. He loves and has a good relationship with his father but having the Mohicans on the farm, let's him be a kid in a way that he's not when they are gone.

Pru's reflection of her conversation was just a small piece of what they discussed. I did not mention that Chingachgook also put forth Sampson's offer to stay on the farm. And as much as she appreciated Sampson's offer, Pru was always going to go with the Mohicans!

Also, I don't want Uncas to be perceived as less than Nathaniel and Martin. He is still only ten years old so if his reflections sometimes feel "younger" then the other two, that is why. He, like the rest of them, will grow physically and emotionally from this point!

This BTW was Pru's first time jumping from the waterfall...as told in The Ties That Bind ;)

I will be moving through time and locations quite a bit...so hold onto your hats! Chapter 4, though not a time leap will prove to be a VERY important chapter to our Mohican family!

A HUGE shout out to AsterLaurel for finding me the Delaware translation for Small Warrior, Tànkètikila. Chingachgook calls Pru Little Warrior throughout The Ties That Bind ...close enough!

**Uma means grandmother in Lenape.

If anyone is curious about what I envision Martin looking like...google young Charlie Hunnam...then let the age progression continue all the way through to Bound Together...SWOON!

Thank you so much AsterLaurel, ELY72, BlueSaffire, MohawkWoman, your support and encouragement of me and this story is nothing short of AMAZING! And for always being willing to help me along whenever I need it! And thank you to everyone who continues to take time out of their day to read this story!

Thanks for reading ;)