Chapter 11: The Flow Of Time
June 1746
"Why are will still here?" Pru whined for the thousandth time that day.
"You already know…why do you keep asking?" Nathaniel said turning around from the small lake he was skipping stones to face her. His mouth curled up in a smirk as he knew exactly why she was frustrated.
Pru uncrossed her feet and began kicking at the dirt and loose pebbles that were skewed around the ground beneath her. She stood with her back leaning up against an oak tree, arms crossed in annoyance as she stuck out her tongue at Nathaniel and his very valid point. She did know why they were still there. Upon the shift in season, Chingachgook had decided to help the camp move to their summer location. Something that they had not done before, at least not while Pru was with them, and found that the new location was an excellent hunting area. Then wanting to take full advantage of the new location, decided to stay seeking to take as much fur as was possible. Which had prolonged their stay at the Delaware camp by several months, and while Pru knew Nathaniel was happy about it, she was not.
"Ugh! Don't look at me like that, Nathaniel!" She said, kicking up a cloud of dirt towards him.
"Frustrated little sister?" He snickered.
Pru glared over at him. She was frustrated, frustrated and moody. On top of her general annoyance over the situation, the day's sun was sweltering. Making her sweat all over body and if that was not bad enough, she could feel the beginnings of what would become her monthly courses as her now heightened emotion began to twist and scratch at her usually pleasant demeanor. The combination making her feel like she might snatch Uncas's knife from his belt and slice that stupid smile right off her beloved Nathaniel's smirking face.
Uncas, who had remained silent throughout his brother and sister's heated exchange, had finally had enough. He popped up onto his feet from his squat and went over to Pru, wrapping his long arm around her shoulders. He knew why she was disgruntle, having watched her sulk more and more as the weeks drew on and they still remained at the Delaware camp. While there was no question that she enjoyed being at the camp. He knew she missed the farm and Sampson and the life she lived while they were all there. He also knew that buried deep in her heart, she longed to see Martin. This was the longest separation they had had since they first met and it was driving his sister completely mad. Uncas leaned his head into the side of her face and whispered into her ear. His words instantly bringing a mischevious smile to Pru anger laden features. He gave her a small peek on the check and strode over to Nathaniel and asked, "May I see Killdeer brother? I'm still fascinated by this magnificent weapon, especially knowing that it never fired before. It's like destiny, that now in your hands she fires as though she always had!" Uncas happily declared, as Nathaniel unslung the rifle from his back and carefully placed it in Uncas's hands.
"She really is something," Nathaniel began as he took step back to admire his little brother holding Killdeer.
"She really is brother, which is why I didn't want it to get wet."
"Wha..." Nathaniel had begun, though before he was able to pass the singular word fully out from his lips, he found himself soaring through the air and landing with a giant splash in the water. Quickly coming up for air, he ran palm across his face and hair wiping away the excess water and even before focusing his eyes promptly demand, "What was that for?"
Uncas squatted by the edge of the lake and peered over his shoulder as Pru stormed off towards the village. "You shouldn't have teased her. She's feeling very sad and girly right now. And your not so oblivious that you don't know that."
Nathaniel stared at Uncas dumbfound. His little brother was right, at least somewhat right, he may have acted like a wee bit of an ass. He knew Pru had been sad for weeks now and while it had been to his fortune to linger at the camp, Pru was suffering from the prolonged separation of a certain blonde best friend of his. And now with Uncas's mention of their sister feeling all girl, Nathaniel completely understood exactly why she was irate. "Alright...I concede, Uncas. I shouldn't have teased her. Especially while she's all girly."
Uncas nodded his head in agreement and satisfied that Nathaniel was now of the correct mindset, reached out his long slender arm to help him climb out of the lake. Nathaniel grabbed ahold of his hand and clambered out from the water. "Thanks for saving Killdeer from the lake," Nathaniel said as he violently shook out his entire body, freeing himself from the excess water that saturated his skin and clothes.
Uncas merely shrugged and said, "It was the brotherly thing to do since it was my idea for her to shove you in the lake!"
"What!" Nathaniel stammered out as he tried and failed to grab ahold of Uncas. His little brother being much too fast for him and he watched as Uncas took off running back to the Delaware camp, leaving Nathaniel to quickly scamper after him as he bellowed at the top of his lungs, "You can run little brother but you can't hide!"
Pru stomped her way through the Delaware camp until she finally came to her wigwam and forcibly pushing the flap aside practically threw herself into it. Instantly startled when she saw Chingachgook in hushed conversation with Chaska. "Oh! I'm sorry...I didn't mean to disturb you Nooch. I thought no one was here," she quickly and rather nervously stammered out. Which, as soon as the words left her lips, she felt strange about since these were two of the closest people to her.
Chingachgook took one look at his daughter's disheveled appearance and could clearly see that she was in no good mood whatsoever. Her hair was sweat drenched and tangled, falling loosely in thick clumpy waves down her back. Her legs were bare from the knee down, as she wore a shorter skirt in an effort to accommodate the searing temperatures. And it did not go on blind eyes that instead of a traditional sleeveless buckskin top, she was wearing a deep blue linen shirt with sleeves rolled up all the way past her elbows. Chingachgook knew the shirt well and sighed as it was now the fourth time in the span of a week that she had donned it, even despite the grueling June heat.
Chingachgook turned to a now silent Chaska peering into the side of his face as he stared wide eyed at his daughter and said, "Perhaps we can finish our conversation at another time. I'd like to speak with my daughter now."
Chaska immediately turned his face back to Chingacgook and nodding his head in understanding began moving out of his cross legged position and towards the wigwam opening. Pru stepped aside making room for him to exit, though found herself surprised when his bare left arm brushed up against her own. The little bumps that had spread out along his skin tickling her as he passed. While the slight physical interaction was seeming simple, something about it sent chills down her spine and she found herself following him out of the wigwam with her eyes. Pru took a deep breath, swiveled her body around and collapsed on the ground in front of her father as she threw her left arm over face with a loud exaggerated sigh.
So theatrical, Chingachgook thought to himself. Are all girls this way or just his, he wondered. He glanced down at her agitated state and with the slightest tinge of jest in his voice asked, "Is something troubling you daughter?"
Pru raised her arm a fraction of an inch higher, exposing her bright blue eyes and furrowed brows seemingly completely unaware of her dramatic state and asked, "Why would you ask that?"
Chingachgook could not stop the smile that spread across his lips at her questioning response and said, "Because you seem a bit out of sorts my dear girl."
At this, Pru rolled from her back to her belly, then quickly shifted herself up into a seated position and staring directly into her father's dark, almond shaped eyes very pointedly asked, "When will we go back to the farm?"
And there it was, his blued eyed boy complete with snarky attitude, furrowed brows and narrowed accusatory stare looking back at a him through the form of a young girl. And once more Chingachgook found himself grinning widely at her, even chuckling a bit before he could stop himself and much to the displeasure of his daughter, who quickly and only semi laced with annoyance said, "Why is that funny?"
Chingachgook cleared his throat, normally not one to entertain even the slightest bit of attitude from his children, let her miserable mood tumble off his shoulders having already figured out days ago why her demeanor had shifted. As he had learned long from his beloved wife to pay attention to the signs of womanhood when they presented themselves. Something Chingachgook was certain his sons had picked up on as well. "No my dear, it's not funny. And I was actually going to discuss our departure with you and your brothers this evening after supper."
"You were!" Pru flung herself into her father's arms and nestled her face against his neck. "It just feels like it's been so long since we've been back and I miss the farm and Sampson and Martin."
Chingachgook wrapped his arms around her, gently squeezing her against his chest and as stroked her hair and said, "Me too, my girl. Me too. Now I will ask you very simply...would you like us to wait until you are feeling at your best?"
Pru's face went even more crimson than the heat had already colored it and she instantly downcast her eyes to the ground. She knew what her father was asking. She had become increasingly cranky over the past couple of days. Which of course she knew, as well as everyone else in her family by this point, the her monthly courses were looming. Though knowing now that they would be heading back to the farm, Pru had no desire to postpone their journey, despite what she was certain would be an uncomfortable travel experience and so she looked back up at her father and very candidly said, "No father, I don't want to wait. I will collect the necessary herbs to take along with me and so long as you aren't bothered by my mercilessly teasing of my brothers to calm my ornery demeanor, then I will be perfect to travel. I promise not to slow you down at all father." Pru squeezed his hand tightly in hers, trying her best to reassure him so not to postpone his travel plans on her part.
Chingachgook pressed his thumb into her palm and silently nodded his head in acceptance of her words. "Alright daughter. Then I shall tell the boys my plans at supper tonight." Pru smiled widely up at him, then shimmied closer up against his side and curled into his comforting embrace. Chingachgook gently squeezed her to him, holding her lightly with his left arm and stroking her long dark hair with his right palm. His sweet girl. He had no way of knowing just how much having her in his life would have effected him. As the father of two boys, it was not until having a young girl that he realized that he was not an overly affectionate father. While there was no question that he loved his sons, it had been Pru's feminine presence that had brought out his more affectionate side and not just with her but with Uncas and Nathaniel as well. A new reality that seemed to be bettering his family with each hug and kiss that passed between them. Chingachgook tilted his head down, resting his cheek atop her head and sighed softly to himself, once more thankful for The Great Spirit's gift of this sweet girl in all of their lives.
"Oh beautiful, if you were mine
I would write your letters and pour you sweet wine
Oh beautiful, why you so blue?
If you could only see the way I see you
Oh, gravity, weighing on my soul
Keeps bringing you around back to me
Like dirt to a stone
Oh, gravity, don't you ever go to sleep
Might wake up in the mornin'
And she'll be gone from your reach
Oh beautiful, if you were mine
I would write you letters and pour you sweet wine
Oh beautiful, why you so blue?
If you could only see the way I see you"
-Oh Beautiful
Joe Bonamassa
(For Chaska)
Chaksa sat crosslegged in the forest, shrouded by the cover of night. He had made no fire and had had no meal, despite the slight feeling of cramping from hunger creeping up in his stomach. He tilted his head back, taking in the beauty of the night sky. The slate colored canvas splayed with the silvery twinkle of hundreds of stars. Their shimmer reminding him of that of the sun reflecting off the lake water and how it created a thousand tiny sparkles, always reminding him to take a moment and enjoy nature's gifts around him. Though even surrounded by Mother Nature's splendor, Chaska found it difficult to enjoy himself this night as he had been meticulously playing over his earlier conversation with Chingachgook again and again in his mind. His thoughts toying at every word and all that could be meant by it. Sighing deeply, he let his eyelashes sweep once more over top of his eyes, blackening them to the world around him and focused on Chingachgook's words afresh. Though just has he began to analyze the conversation again, he felt a small palm softly grip his shoulder. He fluttered his eyes open and swiveled his head around to see Uncas standing silently behind him.
"Uncas?" Chaska quietly said.
Uncas smiled lightly down at him and without waiting for an invitation, dropped into a cross legged position next to him. He tilted his head back, taking in the starry sky in all its brilliance while he subtly took sneaky peeks of Chaska from the sides of his eyes. Uncas knew that Chaska had spoken to his father earlier in the day when he saw him exiting their wigwam, watching as he headed hastily back to his own. Where he had stayed, alone, for the duration of the day. It was not until night had finally fallen that Chaska had casually, and only momentarily, resurfaced from his wigwam only to disappear into the forest without so much a word to anyone. Not even Pru, which he had found most unusual. Especially after finding the basket filled with fresh meat from the buck that Chaska had killed the other day and draped atop it was a beautiful rusty brown mink pelt, an exquisite piece on its own, let alone combined with the meat of the buck. A gift that, even at his age, he understood the full implications of its presence and making him wonder what his father's reaction had been as they were still leaving tomorrow for the farm as planned. Uncas continued to sit silently beside Chaska, inwardly dwelling on what exactly to say or if there was anything he could say that would help ease his friend's desolate mood. It must be awful he thought, to feel affections for someone that are not reciprocated in the same way. It was a heartache that Uncas truly hoped would never plague him and after much thought, turned to face Chaska and simply asked, "Are you alright?"
"Mmm…" Chaska mumbled out, his mind clearly elsewhere. Uncas nodded his head in response, not really sure how he had expected Chaska to answer. Then deciding to remain quiet, merely sat there next to him and stared up at the darkened sky.
Chaska found it a bit strange that of all of the people that might come looking for him, Uncas had been the one to seek him out. He assumed that Nathaniel was with Tanda, as this was the eve of their departure from the Delaware camp. He knew his friend would want to make good on the time he had left to spend with her, but why not Pru. Pru…he thought. Pru had become as close to him as he had ever allowed another person to be, even more so than Nathaniel, who was easily his oldest and most trustworthy friend. Chaska had found himself inexplicably drawn to Pru and almost as of the very moment he met her. The silent battle between darkness and light in her eyes mirroring his own internal struggle. It had pulled them towards each other swift and straight. An unspoken understanding had entangled them to each other, a force that never needed a voice to be heard. Though they did speak and often and at great length. Both confiding in each other their darkest moments. He remembered telling her of how after his father had died, leaving him completely alone in the world, he had almost flung himself off of the promontory just after his seventeenth winter. How the snow was falling all around him as he stood completely naked at the cliffs edge. His conviction to jump so clear, only to change his mind at the last moment when he saw an eagle that had been circling above him suddenly dive through the air towards him and momentarily blocking him from taking his own flight. He told her that his father's name was Adne and that his name meant one who is like an eagle, saying he had seen it as a sign from The Great Spirit and slowly backed away from the edge. A truth that he had never intended to tell anyone, had passed easily from his lips to her ears. His truth quickly reciprocated with Pru tearfully confessing to him every horrid detail about the violence of her rape. Every moment from when she first clapped eyes on her assailant in the ally, to begging Chingachgook to let her die while he cradled her in his arms. Chaska remembered feeling a rush of adrenaline like he had never known before as a wicked rage coursed through his entire body. The way she had cried in his arms as he rubbed his palms up and down her scarred back, trying his hardest to soothe her pained spirit. All the while, begging him not to ever speak a word of it, because she never wanted her family to know the complete truth of that night. He was honored by her trust and honesty and did everything he could to assure her that he would take her words with him to his grave. It was in that moment that Chaska knew that the feelings that he had for her, first bloomed of mutual understanding had now become that of unconditional love and respect. A love and respect that he so wished she could entrust to him, just as she had entrusted him with deepest thoughts.
"Uncas?"
"Yeah?"
"How did you know to find me here?" His stomach twisting, as he believed he already knew the answer to his question and it physically worried him to hear what he believed Uncas would say. Because if he was right, that would mean that the one person in this world that he so longed to see at this moment was deliberately avoiding him and the open knowledge of it would be almost more than he could bear.
Uncas drew his eyes away from the stars and peered into Chaska strained face. A sudden stinging pang assaulted his heart and he whispered, "Pru sent me to check on you."
And just like that...Chaska felt his whole world collapse.
Nathaniel tangled his palms in Tanda's loose hanging raven hair. His sweaty forehead resting gently against her own, as they both tried to control their raspy breathing. Nathaniel blinked his eyes, trying to ground himself back to reality and finding it incredibly difficult since he could still feel her all around him. Her arms were wrapped around his shoulders, her fingers delicately dancing in small circles along his neck. Her legs were interlocked, encompassing his lean waist. Her erect nipples still softly grazing against his chest as she took one calming breath after another as she tried to bring herself back down to their joint reality. Though most poignantly, he could still feel the soft, moist tenderness of her folds all around his penis. His body refusing to surrender the moment and naturally leave her.
He slid his hands up her back, drawing them around her shoulders, cupping both of her honeyed cheeks in his palms and whispered into her face, "I love you as much now as I did the very first time you gifted me with your body." Nathaniel peered past his damp eyelashes and into her golden tinted eyes, rubbing his thumbs softly atop her skin just under her eyes and pleaded with her, "Please Tanda, I beg you...reconsider my offer. Come to the farm with us. You will love it there, I know it. The land is beautiful. The glade around the farm is colored with thousands of white and yellow daisies and there is a lake, with water so blue it makes my eyes look green. But most importantly, I will be there." Nathaniel dipped his thumbs under her chin, forcing her downcast eyes up to him and continued with, "Please Tanda, marry me...come away with me and my family. You know I will take care of you. That I will always love you and that I will do everything I can to still make certain that your mother and sisters have a good life, just from afar...please my love...please say you will."
Tanda thought she might burst into tears at the hopeful look she saw splayed across Nathaniel's sweet face. His beauty in that moment unparalleled to anything she had seen before and leaned into him. Her lips gently grazing across his own. Their mutual passion so profound that before she found herself lost inside him again, carefully broke their connection and reached for the buckskin bag that she had brought with her to meet him. Nathaniel's face fell at the loss of her mouth against his, silently protested with his sullen eyes for her to return and began nuzzling his face along her neck. Licking and nibbling along her long greenish veins until she twisted her head towards him, nearly bumping noses and said, "Close your eyes."
"Not until you answer me," He said, as he continued his path down her neck to her collarbone.
"Hawkeye...please," she cooed, fluttering her long thick eyelashes at him and making him melt all over again. Despite being frustrated over her lack of response, Nathaniel knew he could refuse her nothing and let his eyelashes black out the already dark night from his sight entirely.
Tanda smiled widely when he conceded and pulled her gift from the bag. She rolled it over in her palms, giving it another once over before finally whispering, "Open your eyes Hawkeye." Nathaniel lifted his lashes, letting his blues twinkle once more in the half light and as he peered down between their bodies, Tanda slowly rose her hands up, showing off to him her precious gift.
"Is this for me?" Nathaniel stammered out.
"Who else would it be for?" Tanda playfully huffed as she rolled her eyes at him. "Do you like it?"
Nathaniel's eyes widened in shock as he took the knife, still nestled sweetly in its sheath, between his palms. "Tanda..." Was all he could get out before he became overwhelmed by the beauty he held in his hands and eagerly began examining it. The knife's sheath was made of walnut-dyed braintan deer. It was intricately edged all around its outer shape with white glass seed beads. While adorned on its sides and bottom hung decorative tassels made of tin cones and red-dyed deer tail hair. The combination giving the sheath a delicate balance of beauty and beast. Nathaniel shifted his eyes up, meeting Tanda's steady gaze. "Tanda...," he tried to begin once more and once more his tongue forgetting the simple act of speech.
"Draw the knife," she said, tracing the curve of his chin with her fingertips.
Nathaniel shifted his gaze downward and gripped the curved sinew wrapped antler handle in his palm. The slightly sticky grip making him smile widely, knowing she had purposely done that so would have a better chance of not losing the weapon in a fight, and even in the darkness could see the blue and red stripes around the middle section. This was truly a work of art. "This is for me?"
"Who else would it be for?" Tanda said with a giggle.
"Tanda..."
"Tanda...Tanda...are you going to finish your thought or not my love?" She whispered, as she tilted her head towards him. A wide mocking smile dancing across her lips.
Nathaniel stared up at her, those golden eyes boring deep into his soul and wondered how The Great Spirit could be so kind and so cruel as to have brought this beautiful woman into his life. She had showered him love, trust and respect and she had done it unconditionally. Nathaniel shook his head back and forth, his smile growing wider with each movement, "I am spellbound by you Tanda. No one that walks this earth will ever replace you in my heart. I love you." He sheathed the knife, momentarily forgetting his unanswered plea, and pulled her flush against him. He pressed his lips gently against hers and with the feeling of arousal coursing through his body once more, swiftly guided them back to the same pleasure of only mere moments ago. A pleasure, Tanda thought, that would have to hold them until the cool fall air would blow him back once more into her warm embrace.
July 1746
Martin stood leaning with arms crossed and one leg bent up against the brick outer wall of Apothecary's shop. The slight lip in the roof keeping him some what dry from the ragging storm that was blowing all around him. He had gone into to town early that morning hoping to beat the dark and looming weather, as his father was insistent that he get a few much needed medical supplies before the Mohicans arrived back at the farm and the harvest would inevitably begin. A loud clap of thunder echoed in the distance, muffling the sound of the shop's door opening and closing as two young girls came sauntering out and quickly sought shelter under the same little overhang as himself.
"Hello Martin," Anna said, clearly thrilled with the happy coincidence of finding Martin Blackwood patiently waiting out the storm. The same as they now intended to do.
"Hello Anna," Martin casually answered, dipping his head slightly in acknowledgement of both girls.
"This is my cousin Marie. She is visiting from Boston," Anna smiled sweetly at him, brushing aside a loose piece of blonde hair that had slipped from her perfectly knotted bun.
"Hello Marie," Martin said, smiling politely in the girl's direction.
"Are waiting for the rain to pass as well?" Anna asked, leaning next to him up against the wall as she suddenly feeling desperate to keep a conversation going with him. Martin Blackwood was easily considered one of the areas most eligible young men. Tall and lean with slightly shaggy sandy blonde hair and perfectly shaped muscles adorning his chest and arms. Which she knew, even though they were hidden beneath his maroon colored linen shirt, having seen him chopping wood along the side of the house when her mother stopped by his family's farm to speak with Sampson just this past spring. She had ogled, from a distance, his curved body glistening with sweat and muscles twitching with each rise and fall of his ax. The sight of him like that nearly causing her hyperventilate right there in her wagon. His obvious beauty combined with the knowledge that as Sampson's only son, he was set to inherit the farm, made Martin quite the sought after husband. And while Anna was certain that each visit to town brought the young ladies flocking towards him, none had ever seemed to catch his interest beyond polite banter. So she was determined to use this happy coincidence to her advantage and engage him in conversation.
Martin laughed at her obvious pointing out of the situation and said, "Yes. Though I will be off soon, as it doesn't appear to be stopping and I have nowhere to stay here in town."
Anna's brown eyes light up with excitement as she happily proclaimed, "Oh! Surely you would not be comfortable riding back to the farm in this! You are most welcome to stay at our home while the weather passes. I know my mother would very glad to see you. You could even stay for supper, if you like."
Martin pursed his lips, realizing that he had just walked right into that offer and knowing that he had absolutely no intention of staying at Anna or anyone else's home felt suddenly desperate to figure out the most polite way of turning her down. He drew his eyes away from her, silently begging Mother Nature to be merciful when he saw her crossing through the tree line. His blue eyed girl. She was dripping wet from her head to her toes. Her long, dark hair hung loose and plastered against head with several small pieces sticking to her neck like a winter scarf. Martin narrowed his eyes, trying to see her better through the vail of rain that separated them. A bright patch of white catching his focus and forcing his eyes downward to her mud covered bare feet. He shook his head, laughing to himself at how even in this wicked weather, she preferred to be shoeless. Then continued his probe of her body as he casually rolled his eyes upwards. Her dark brown trousers were rolled up almost to her knees, shamelessly exposing her legs for all to see. Her shirt, his shirt, was untucked and matted against every soft curve of her body, leaving almost nothing about the shape of her to his imagination. Martin took a deep breath. He could feel his pulse begin to quicken as he could not seem to force his eyes away from the sight of her hardened nipples beneath the saturated blue linen. Another clap of thunder echoed in the distance, ushering from his daydream and back to the present. Martin smiled widely, Pru was back, they were all back.
Anna stared at the side of a Martin's face, seeing how his demeanor turned from pleasant to overjoyed at the sight of the Indian family. It was common knowledge that this family spent time at the farm, helping Sampson with the harvest. Though she had never really cared for the notion, not understanding why Sampson would have Indians stay with him on the farm, when he could easily acquire the labor of young English boys in town. Her brother included. But it was not so much the Indians and the white boy that accompanied them that bothered her in this moment. It was the way that Martin was clearly staring at the girl that was with them that set her mind ablaze. Anna followed Martin's eyes to the girl, soaking wet and covered in mud. She looked absolutely medieval and Anna could not help but scuff in disgust and fueled a bit with jealously said, "That girl is positively wild looking. What is she even wearing? Are those men's clothing!" She mocked at Pru's uncanny appearance, flapping her hands around in exaggerated shock just for good measure.
Martin pushed himself up from the wall, not letting Anna's words take away from his happy mood and pulling his horse closer to him said, "Yes, she is as wild as an unbreakable horse." He slid his left foot into the stirrup and hoisted his body easily up into his saddle continuing with, "And those are my clothes she's wearing!" Then merely nodded his head at the two girls in a polite goodbye and rode off, into the the rain towards the Mohicans.
"Fancy seeing you all here!" Martin hollered loudly over the roar of the clamor if water hitting them from every angle, as he came up from behind them and swiftly dismounted Bishop so he might greet them properly. Almost before his feet touched the ground, Pru had flung herself into his embrace. The force of her advance sending him stumbling backwards into poor Bishop. Martin wrapped his arms tightly around her and lifted her easily up off the ground. Her bare feet wiggling wildly back and forth in the air. He could feel her palms spreading into his shoulders and her hot breath caressing his neck, her lips just barely grazing across his skin. Martin felt like his body would explode and not even the heavy rains would be able to drown the fire. He turned his head into her own. His nose bumping lightly against her sodden cheek and said as casually as he could, "I missed you."
Pru smiled widely, her cheeks pressing into his neck and whispered into his ear, "Nèpe, Keesog." Though before Martin was able to decipher her words from over raging storm around them, Pru broke away from their embrace and stepped a little to the side, making space for her father and brothers to say their hellos.
"How is your father, Martin?" Chingachgook asked as he clasped Martin's forearm with his palm.
"He's well! Itching for one of your philosophical conversations I think. I fear I am an inadequate conversationalist on the subject," Martin said as he released their arms and moved towards Nathaniel and Uncas, all three boys huddling together in a shared embrace.
"I doubt that very much Martin," Chingachgook responded with a slight chuckle, remembering Martin's keen ability to argue a solid and well developed point, philosophical or otherwise.
"Are you all headed over to the farm now?" Martin asked, running his hand along his head in an attempt to push his saturated blonde hair up and away from his eyes.
"We were going to try and sell these furs but Mother Nature will not see it so!" Nathaniel half shouted, raising his hand palm up and watching with elevated eyebrows as the rain quickly began pooling in his hand.
"Well then...I'll walk with you," Martin said, tightening his grip on Bishop's reins and guiding him closer to them as all five of them began moving towards the singular mud ridden road that lead out of town.
A rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance, accompanied quickly by a bright crack of lightning that flashed ominously off to their right. Its silvery blue hue illuminating Nathaniel and Uncas' wide eyes. Pru, seeing the shared look of caution on both of her brothers faces, draped her arms around Uncas and Nathaniel's shoulders and declared, "Don't worry brothers…I will protect you from any harm that may seek you out! Mother Nature or otherwise!" She finished with an exaggerated wink at Nathaniel, who quickly spun around, grabbed Pru by the waist and tossed her over his shoulder swatting her bottom several times before he slipped in the mud and the two went down in a spat. The mud covered road almost completely covering them with its filth.
"Geez Natty!" Pru hollered over the rain as she smacked him hard in the shoulder. "I was already soaked, now I'm soaked and grimy!"
"Ow!" Nathaniel yelped and grabbed a large handful of mud, slinging it directly in Pru's face. "You had a clean spot...just wanted you make sure you were properly balanced!"
"Ugh!" Pru moaned as she spat out a bit of mud that had made its way into her mouth. Her ears perking up as they filled with the sound of wicked laughter. She looked up to see Uncas and Martin, arms encircling their stomachs, keeled over and laughing at them. Pru swiveled her head towards Nathaniel, his eyes already narrowed at her as the two silently formed their plan of attack. Then only a moment later. brother and sister both sprang to their feet. Nathaniel wrapping his arm around Uncas's neck, pulling him into a an uncomfortable headlock. While Pru jumped on Martin's back, the impact of her body combined with the slick ground, sending them both sliding into Nathaniel and Uncas, and all four of them toppling over into the mud.
Chingachgook shook his head back and forth, taking ahold of both abandoned sets of horse's reins and began casually moving around the children as they all forcibly slung mud at one another. He gripped Bishop's reins in his right palm and Alo's in his left and slowly guided them down the long twisting road. The sweet sound of his children's voices flooding his ears as they playfully wailed out war cry after playful war cry.
Author's Note: Okay! A lot ended up happening in what was mostly meant to be a transition chapter! For starters, they stayed at the Delaware camp much longer then they had in the past and much to Pru's dismay...and Nathaniel's contentment! And yes poor Pru was suffering a little or more like a lot of PMS in the beginning! But I loved Uncas whispering to her to push their mouthy brother into the lake! Serves Nathaniel right...at least Uncas was considerate and saved Killdeer! The title The Flow Of Time having several different meanings...though the only one I'll really give away is that one on those meanings was to mock Pru a bit having her period and all ;)
Poor sweet Chaska! To be in love with someone who you are not certain loves you back. Even going to her father, bringing him gifts ( Thank you AsterLaurel for your help with that!) to see if he can court her! Then later when he reflects on how he told her he almost committed suicide and how she told him in detail about the rape. A testament to the fact that she does indeed love and trust him, though perhaps not as he wishes she would. Only time will tell what may come of Chaska and his relationship with Pru. And who better to sit with him than Uncas. He is so sweet and intuitive. If it couldn't be Pru ...it had to be Uncas!
I didn't want Nathaniel and Tanda to part with you all thinking that just because she refused to marry him, for his own good mind you, that they were any less in love. Which is why she crafted the knife and sheath for him as a goodbye for now gift. She wanted him to have something of her with him always. And you will see that that is the very same knife that Nathaniel carry's with him in the film. Another testament of lasting love... ( Thank you BrynnaRaven for the description of the knife and sheath...I can't even imagine how I would have described it without you!)
And finally, we see that Martin is quite the eligible bachelor...though and as we all know...that boy only has eyes for Pru! Sorry Anna, but you're out of luck there!
**Nèpe...means me too in Lenape
Oooh...BrynnaRaven...I had to use the song Oh Beautiful, it just seemed perfect in that moment ... and now I am a huge Joe Bonamassa fan :)
Fair warning...I am going away with the fam for Spring Break so there will most likely be a two week hiatus until the next chapter is posted! Thanks for understanding!
A huge thank you to everyone who viewed/reviewed AsterLaurel, Hazel222, ELY72, BrynnaRaven, BlueSaffire, MohawkWoman... You are all fabulous and your friendship and support is amazing and truly what keeps me moving along!
Thanks for reading ;)
