Chapter 17: When The Dust Settles

"I hurt myself today

To see if I still feel

I focus on the pain

The only thing that's real

The needle tears a hole

The old familiar sting

Try to kill it all away

But I remember in the end

What have I become

My sweetest friend?

Everyone I know

Goes away in the end

And you could have it all

My empire of dirt

I will let you down

I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of thorns

Upon my liar's chair

Full of broken thoughts

I cannot repair

Beneath the stains of time

The feelings disappear

You are someone else

I am still right here

What have I become

My sweetest friend?

Everyone I know

Goes away in the end

And you could have it all

My empire of dirt

I will let you down

I will make you hurt

If I could start again

A million miles away

I would keep myself

I would find a way"

"Hurt" - Johnny Cash

(For Nathaniel)


Nathaniel rolled off Pru's back, wincing as his injured leg pressed into the snow. "Ahhhh," he hissed through gritted teeth. His palms instinctively hovering above the gash in his thigh. The electrifying heat from his wound radiating up into his freezing palms. He turned his head to the side, staring at the back of Pru's head. Her long dark locks tangled in several clumps along her neck and shoulders. This can't be happening, he thought as he struggled to pull his weak body into a seated position. Then quickly, and using only his right uninjured arm, grabbed Pru's left shoulder and turned her over into his lap. "Damnit Pru...wake up!" He demanded as he stroked her face with his fingers, tears falling freely from his red rimmed eyes.

He angled his head backwards, his face tilted up to the dreary grey sky and searched for any signs of hope that could see him through the decision he knew he now faced. He hugged Pru closer to his chest and called out to The Great Spirit, "Great Spirit...please...please don't force me to do this. I can't leave her here like this. Completely vulnerable like this." He could feel his tears gliding along his skin and seeping into ears. It was only a half mile further to the farm, how could she collapse this close to salvation. This close, to possibly, her favorite place on earth. He looked back down at her, brushing away the fallen snow from her ice cold cheeks. His decision was made. "I promise I will get help. I will be back for you. I promise," He breathed into her motionless face. Then quickly bit down on his lip, stifling another onslaught of tears and reaching out for Killdeer gently laid his long rifle down atop the length of her body. "Killdeer is loaded. I'm leaving it with you." He hunched his body forward and touched his forehead to hers. "I'll be back...I promise Pru...I promise," he whispered into her face, then gently placed a kiss atop her ice cold nose. He slid his body out from underneath hers, pain emanating throughout all of his limbs as he did so. He gulped hard as he turned away from her, desperate to swallow back the bile that rose in his throat at the excruciatingly dire decision he had made. He slithered across the snow to a nearby tree, using it as a crutch to get back up onto his feet. His weak legs wobbled as he pushed himself away from the barren Oak tree and slowly he began stumbling away from her. All the while fighting the urge to look back, knowing if he did that it would be the absolute ruin of them both.

It had taken more than an hour to trek the relatively short distance to the farm. He had gone from painfully limping through to the snow, to crawling using only his good arm and bad leg to help inch him further along. Each drag of his injured leg causes an all encompassing stinging pain to radiate through him. He had just passed the tree line into the glade when he finally felt it was safe to scream and began wailing at the top of his lungs, "Sampson! Martin! Help!" While he continued to crawl, like a wounded animal, across the snow covered glade. Only making it another few feet before his entire body toppled sideways into the snow.

"Nathaniel!"

Nathaniel pushed his head backward into the snow, angling it as far as he could to the familiar voice behind him and the accompanying crunch of powder that followed with it. His eyes widened with joy at the sight of his little brother rushing towards him. "Uncas!" Nathaniel shouted over the howl of the wind. His hoarse voice cracking as he bellowed his brother's name.

"Nathaniel!" Uncas hollered back just before falling to his knees beside him. He wrapped his arms around his brother's neck, squeezing him tightly despite the low moan that slipped from Nathaniel's lips. An overwhelming sense of relief flooding his veins as he held him in his arms. "Are you alright?"

Nathaniel did not realize that he was weeping. Did not realize that even with the throbbing pain in his limbs, he was desperately clutching onto Uncas. "No. No I am not," He breathed into his little brother's ear.

"Where's Pru?" Martin cut through their muffled conversation, his eyes shifting this way and that as he scanned the farm for her. Him and his father dropping to their knees beside him. "Nathaniel!" Martin demanded, his inner panic spreading rapidly throughout his body. "Where's Pru?"

Nathaniel turned his head away from the comfort of Uncas's shoulder. His eyes clashing against his oldest friend's. His own trepidation reflected within the green and brown of Martin's eyes. His springtime eyes, as Pru would always refer to them. "She collapsed. About half a mile past the lake. I…," His words hitching in his throat as he watched Martin leap to his feet and sprint, rifle in hand, towards his sister. Towards the half of his best friend's heart. Uncas too, suddenly leapt to his feet, his intention clearly to go with Martin. Though was quickly yanked back down to the ground, by a swift thrust of his shirt coiled in Sampson's tight grasp.

"Don't you even think about it. Chingachgook left you in my care and that is exactly where you are going to remain until he returns," Sampson said as he took a quick assessment of Nathaniel's wounds. "Martin will bring Pru back. Now son...," He said, facing Nathaniel once more. "...let's get you back into the cabin so I can better address these wounds."

Nathaniel grabbed Sampson's shoulder, fisting the wool fabric between his fingers. His young heart, heavy with despair and defeat. "I left her Sampson. I left her alone and freezing in the snow. I left her…"

Sampson's forehead creased in concern, Nathaniel's sorrowful confession forcing his eyes to drift off to where Martin had disappeared through the trees. He had only briefly been told by Chingachgook, before he set out in search of Nathaniel and Pru, what had transpired at the Delaware village. Hearing the violence, pain and death that had occurred there had turned his blood cold. The very thought of a seventeen year old Nathaniel, twelve year old Uncas and most of all sixteen year old Pru, all fighting for their young lives had made him nauseous. And even worse than how he felt, was feeling his son's anxiety over their whereabouts waft off him, spilling into every living thing nearby. Sampson saw in Martin's eyes that night something he hoped never to see again, complete and utter heartache. Nathaniel and Uncas were like brothers to him but Pru, she was something entirely different. He shifted his eyes back towards Nathaniel, cupping the boy's chin in his palm, he said, "You did everything right son. Everything. You did everything you could possibly do and because of it…I have no doubt that Martin will find Pru alive. Do you hear me, Nathaniel? Alive."

Nathaniel parted his lips to speak but was silenced when Sampson began carefully shifting him into his embrace and then up into the air. His legs dangling loosely overtop Sampson's sturdy arms. His mind and body exhausted and weak, softly wincing when Sampson shifted him slightly in his arms and along with Uncas, the three hastily made their way into the cabin. Nathaniel's gaze fell just over Sampson's left shoulder as he desperately searched against the dimming light of day for any sign of his little sister's silhouette.


Martin's heart raced as he effortlessly weaved between the forest's barren trees. His long familiarity with the area allowed him to cover the distance in half the time it would normally take. Deep throaty breaths filtered their way in and out of his body, partly due to exertion and party in anticipation of how he might find Pru. His legs had nearly buckled beneath him when after running out of the cabin to the sound of Nathaniel's cries, he saw his dear friend alone in the glade. A shooting pain had tore through his chest and he thought for a moment that he might actually be suffering a heart attack. He knew Nathaniel would never leave her, never abandon her, not unless it was imperative to their survival that he do so and as soon as Nathaniel spoke of where he left her, Martin had taken flight in that direction. He could not wait, not even for one breath more. He was not simply just searching for Nathaniel and Uncas's sister or Chingachgook's daughter, he was searching for the other half of himself. He was searching for his love. And it was imperative that he find her as quickly as possible, for her safety and his own fragile sanity.

Martin skidded to halt. His boots sinking deep into the snow as his heart plummeted inside his chest. There she was laying as though death had taken her. Her dark hair was skewed along snow, wind slightly ruffling it closer towards her stiff body. He could see that Killdeer had been laid carefully atop her, one arm placed over the rifle and one laying limply beside her. A grey wolf, gaunt and with scraggly fur, was vigorously sniffing around her body. His snout inching ever closer to her motionless hand. While another wolf cautiously approached her other side. Their eyes glistening in anticipation and their tongues licking wildly across their teeth and mouths. They were starving and she was their intended prey.

Martin sucked in a deep breath and swung his rifle up into a firing position. Both wolves lifted their heads in his direction. "I am so sorry for this, but she is far more important to me," his words mixing with the sound of his rifle blast. The wolf closest to her toppled into the snow. It's emaciated body lifeless beside her. While he thought the blast would have frightened the other wolf off, the urgency for sustenance in its body only made it more vicious and the wolf bared its fangs wickedly at him. Martin had no time and means to reload his rifle. His eyes shifted quickly between the wolf and Killdeer atop Pru's chest. He only needed to make it twenty feet to where she lay helplessly in the snow cradling the rifle. Martin gulped, he had just the one option to keep them both safe from harm and without hesitation charged at the wolf head on. Smacking the animal across its face with the rifle's thick wooden handle. The wolf stumbled backwards, a sharp whimper escaping its jaw before it regained control of itself and snarled back a Martin. Who had lunged himself on top of Pru, hastily snatching Killdeer from her chest and swiveling around to take aim. Though Killdeer was too long and too heavy to move agilely, Martin swiftly found himself face to face with the recovered wolf.

He reeled his legs back into his chest as the wild animal violently scratched and bit his boots. The force shoves his back into Pru's chest. The struggle between man and beast seems endless. Martin shifted Killdeer in front of him, using the weapon as a makeshift shield against attack. He grunted as the wolf aggressively pounced on him, over and over again. Then the wolf's paw missed striking him, instead its sharp claws scratched ominously against Pru's buckskin coat. The sight dispatching Martin into a state of near hysterics. "NO!" He screamed and using all of his remaining strength, shifted both of his legs up, his feet flush against the wolf's body and kicked at him with all his might. The wolf barreled backwards, gracelessly flipping on its side. Martin swiftly sat up, swung Killdeer around, aimed and fired. A thick swirl of smoke blocked his vision. He lowered Killdeer and peered through the smog. The wolf laid dead not two feet from the tip of Killdeer's barrel.

Martin steadied his breathing and turned back to Pru. She had not moved, not one hair during the entire attack and quickly he placed his fingers against her neck, desperate to feel her pulse thump against his flesh. He lowered his head and sighed in relief as he felt the faintest vibration against his skin. "I've got you now. You'll be alright...I promise," he breathed into her face as he slung both rifles across his chest and pulled her up into his arms. "I will take care of you always," he whispered as he climbed to his feet. "Always," he reiterated and hoisted her higher in his grasp. Then without wasting any more time, dashed as fast as he could back to the cabin.


The sound of the second rifle blast echoed through the cabin, much like the first, and forced all three of their weary heads in the direction of the doorway. Sampson had sat Nathaniel down in front of the blazing hearth. It's delightfully scorching flames warming his body even as Sampson stripped him almost completely bare to better ascertain his wounds. "That's two shots," Nathaniel grimly murmured. Then added, "The second was Killdeer. I'd have to be deaf to not know."

"Which means Martin reached Pru, dealt with whatever it was he needed to and is on his way back with her now," Sampson said reassuringly and turned his head back towards Nathaniel and Uncas.

"How can you be so sure?" Uncas asked, his youthful face heavily creased with concern.

Sampson widened his eyes dramatically, making a knowing Nathaniel stifle a laugh. "Call it fatherly intuition," Sampson said and went back to addressing the multitude of wounds that littered Nathaniel's body. There was a small scratch across his neck. Nothing to do with that but clean and dress it. Moving lower on his body, Sampson saw the gash along his chest just above his right pectoral muscle. He could see that Pru had cleaned it and swab it with some type of salve. "What's this Nathaniel?"

Nathaniel looked down at his chest. "Pru had been collecting herbs from the nentpike just before we were attacked. Herbs to alleviate pain for a slight ailment father has been suffering. It was all she had with her to help with pain and healing."

Sampson sighed, "You're lucky she's a quick thinker." He shifted his attention to Nathaniel's left shoulder. "She set this?" He questioned, where he could clearly see a purplish blue bruise had formed across his shoulder.

"Yes. She fingered the area around the bone and believed it to be dislocated. She popped it back into place, ripped a strip from the hem of her shirt and bound my arm to my chest so it wasn't just dangling loose. It was quite painful."

Sampson nodded his head, it would have been extremely painful. Then smirked to himself at the knowledge that so far Pru had done everything she could have with practically no means at all. Finally he shifted his eyes to his leg. The skin around the wound in his upper thigh was a dark purple almost a blueish black in some spots. The wound itself a deep red. Sampson tenderly felt around the area, pausing when Nathaniel groaned in pain.

"It's bad...isn't it?"

Sampson lifted his eyes up to Nathaniel, "Well son...it's not good."

Just then Martin came rushing through the open doorway, straight past the three of them and into his bedroom, Pru's immobile body dangling from his arms.

"Pru!" Nathaniel shouted as he tried his best to get to his feet. His efforts short lived when Sampson took a hold of his good shoulder and gently thrusted him back down to the ground.

Sampson picked his pistol up off the sofa, where he had discarded it earlier, and tossed it into Uncas's lap. "If he tries to move...shoot him in the other leg."

"What?" Uncas stammered out.

"You heard me." And quickly Sampson shuffled down the hall, disappearing into Martin's bedroom.

Martin carefully laid Pru down on top of his bed. Tenderly brushing her dark locks from her face and neatly arranging them around her neck and shoulders. His eyes roaming along every feature of her face. Even like this, hair knotted in disarray, skin rough and chapped, she was remarkably beautiful. He turned his head towards the door as his father entered, crossing the room and sitting down beside her on the bed.

Sampson checked her pulse, the feel of her frozen skin stinging his fingers and quickly he began removing her clothes. "She's freezing," he uttered, more to himself than to Martin.

Martin stared wide eyed as his father stripped piece after piece of her clothing from her body. When suddenly the sight of her bare breasts forced him to spin on his heel and face the opposite wall, "Father...what are you doing?" He frantically questioned.

"She's freezing Martin."

"Then why are you taking her clothes off of her?"

"She needs to be warmed and quickly. Take off your clothes and press your body against hers."

Once more Martin twirled in a quick circle, his eyes gapping at his father's words. "What? I can't."

"You can and you will," Sampson affirmed.

"Father?" Martin pleaded.

Sampson rolled Pru onto her right side and pulled yet another blanket up over her body. Then lifted his eyes up to his sons'. "Martin...she does not have time for your polite sensibilities. She is suffering with hypothermia and if her body does not warm soon, it is very likely she could die...," Sampson's voice trailed off into nothingness. His chosen words had the desired effect and Martin began hastily undressing.

"And Chingachgook?" Martin asked when all that was left to be removed were his trousers.

"Let me worry about him," And he hurried out of the bedroom, closing the door tightly behind him.

Martin watched the door press shut and quickly yanked his trousers from his legs, tossing them onto the floor. He gulped hard as he lifted the multiple quilts from the bed and nervously slid between them. His slow movements halted as the dim light in the room cast a flicker of shadows across her body momentarily emphasizing the lashings on her bare back and he could not help but gaze morbidly upon them. Four thick discolored lashes weaved haphazardly across her. Four lines of different lengths and thicknesses met just to the right of the middle of her back, causing a slightly raised portion of flesh to have blossomed there. She had been whipped. Someone in this world had whipped her four times and at only thirteen years old. He had always known this to be true, they all had, based on the injuries she had incurred. Though knowing it and seeing it head on were two completely different things. He reached out his hand and with only his finger tips, began lightly caressing the brutal marks. He softly dragged his fingers up and down the longest scar, wishing that with each gentle stroke he could take on her pain, forever vanishing it from her own mind and body. "One day…I promise you…I will kill whoever hurt you this way," he softly whispered. Then shifted his arm, sliding it through the small space between her shoulder and head. He bent his arm at the elbow, resting his forearm across her chest and gently gripped her left shoulder in his palm. Then scooted his body closer towards her until his figure was curled up flush against her. The initial contact sent a series of chills to rock his core. She was indeed freezing and with his left hand began rubbing her ice cold skin. His palm made its way from her shoulder down along her side, over her hip to as much of her leg as he was able and then back up again, occasionally pausing this rhythm to rub her belly. All In a desperate hope that the friction from his touch would help warm her ice cold skin.

He took a deep breath and nuzzled his head into her hair. Thankful that while his body was tingling at their closeness, his mind understood this was not an appropriate moment for him to enjoy and had effectively muzzled any physical reaction he might have had. "One day we will lay like this again…together with our bodies snuggled up as one. And it will be the most beautiful moment. But right now…right now you have to come back to me. Come back to me Pru…come back…," He whispered over and over again into her. "…please come back. You have penetrated my heart, my whole world and I don't think I could face that world if you were not here to face it with me," Martin paused. His next words had never been uttered from his lips, always they just swirled around in his mind as fluid as water. He swallowed down his fear, knowing full well that she was not even conscious and would not hear nor remember that this moment ever existed and whispered into her ear, "I love you Prudence Poe…I love you…"


Uncas quickly tossed the pistol to the ground laughing to himself, despite the situation, at Sampson's no nonsense approach to things. Only Sampson would tell him to shoot his brother if he disobeyed him and most likely mean it. Free of the pistol, Uncas shifted his eyes to the side of Nathaniel's face, his brother's stare locked on Martin's bedroom door. Where only the faint wisp of candlelight filtered out from beneath the firmly closed door. Pru was alive. Alive and safe. Now, just like Nathaniel, it was only a matter of time until she got well again. He had been so frightened when he and their father had arrived at the farm, to absolutely no sign of Nathaniel and Pru at all. What should have been a happy moment was instead filled with an ominous dread that had spread its way into each of their souls. Their father had barely sat down to catch his breath before he headed again out to search for them. And despite Uncas's vehement protests, he remained behind with Sampson and Martin. While he was more than a little annoyed at being left behind, Uncas knew under the circumstances that their father would be more efficient in his search knowing that at least one of his children was within the safety of the farm. And so had begrudgingly stayed behind.

"Uncas?" Nathaniel questioned.

"Hmmm?" Uncas answered, his brother's voice knocking him from his reverie.

"What happened to you? Why didn't you meet us a the alcove?"

Uncas's eyes shifted past Nathaniel and into the flickering yellow and orange flames of the fire. He could feel the heat radiating out. The fires long wicked fingers reaching out and caressing his flesh. His eyes transfixed on the wildly dancing blaze within the hearth and without warning, Uncas found himself propelled back to the village. Back to the fiery nightmare of violence that besieged his dreams…

Uncas weaved his way between burning wigwams. The homes of people he knew and cared for collapsing to the ground in piles of blackened ash. All around him the tormented screams of friends filled his ears. The horrific sounds forcing his fingers tighter around the wooden handle of his tomahawk. His heart was pounding in his chest, beat after painful beat. He felt as though his ribs were beginning to crack under the pressure and so began yanking at the fabric of his shirt, desperate for some relief. His loose raven hair whipped violently against his cheeks. Repeatedly he shook his head, knocking the frozen hairs that were plastered against his skin free. All the while the brutality around him absorbed into his onyx eyes. He was encased by a morbidly dark prism of death and destruction. Why this was happening, he had no idea, no idea at all.

He sped his way through the village, desperately yelling his father and siblings names. He had not seen any of them since he parted with Pru, not twenty minutes ago. Pru, he thought. Pru was on her way to the nenpike's wigwam and quickly he altered his course, running as fast as he could, hoping and praying that his sister was still there, hiding and waiting to be found by someone she loved.

Hastily he trudged through the carnage, doing his best to stay focused on his path and not the violence ensuing around him. His eyes remained narrowed and alert while he zigzagged down blood stained paths, jumping over fallen bodies. Pained faces forever frozen in time. A piercing blast assaulted his ears just to his left. The wicked noise forcing his eyes tightly shut and suddenly he felt himself falling through the air. His body striking hard against the ice crusted snow. "Ugh!" He yelped, shaking free the dizziness that had temporarily overwhelmed his senses. Quickly he wiggled his foot free of the dead man he had distractedly tripped over. The man's long silken hair skewing his face from Uncas's vision. He was a Delaware warrior gone to join The Great Spirit now. Uncas shifted his eyes down the man's back and arms, gazing upon the tattoos on his biceps and firearms. "No!" Uncas shouted, suddenly lunging forward and yanking the man by his shoulders onto his side, desperate to see the warriors face. With trembling hands, gently he pushed the man's hair aside. Uncas's eye pinched tightly shut as he did it, too frightened to have his fears confirmed. Slowly he cracked open his right eye and peered down. He gulped hard and swiftly flung open his left eye as well, a mixture of relief and sadness flooding him all at once. The warrior in his lap was not his dear friend Chaska and Uncas was happy for it. Though not for the horrific violence the man endured before his death. He could see holes where two lead balls had pierced the man's chest, but also multiple stab wounds along his arms and perhaps the one that took his life on his neck. This Delaware warrior fought and fought hard. Uncas's body sagged into the man, his heartbreak only pained him more when he lifted his head and saw two little girls whimpering beside a burning wigwam, both calling out for their fallen father that now laid lifeless on his lap. And then it all made sense to him. Why this warrior would bravely tolerate such brutality. He was protecting people he loved. Uncas was completely unaware that he was crying, until the tears slipped from his chin, splashing lightly upon the backs of his hands. His sadness mingling along with the two little girls.

Another blast ricocheted through his ears, all three of them lowering their heads, steeling themselves in their own way for more. Finally Uncas lifted his head, scanning the violence around him. And without another thought, hopped to his feet and ran towards the girls. Then squatting before them, smiled. His wide toothy grin soft and sweet against the cruelty of the world spinning around them. He leaned in and took a hold of each of the girl's little hands. "Come with me little ones. I will keep you safe until we can find you Mother." The terrified girl's wide gaping eyes looking at him, silently pleading with him and quickly the younger one climbed into his embrace. The other following suit and scaling up on Uncas's back. With both girls secured, he stood up and ran once more, desperately seeking safety. Wherever safety could be sought. And he continued to run, through the fiery destruction of their village until the wicked sounds of screams and war whoops disappeared into silence. When finally he made it to the alcove, he was affronted by three dead Huron bodies and a slew of sporadic footprints. His father's easily defined and those lead back to the village. The others Nathaniel and Pru's leading away. He clutched tighter to the little girl in his arms, knowing he could not follow them so long as cared for the girls, squatted down and carefully placed the children into the snow. A sigh of relief slipping from his lips at whatever had ensued here, his family had been victorious. He shifted his weight and turned towards the girls, a soft, reassuring smile splayed across his face and said, "Don't worry. My father will come back for us and when he does we will find your mother. I promise." Then he slipped his body between them, wrapping his arms around each weeping girl pulling them closer against him and waited patiently for his fathers return.

"Uncas?"

Uncas shifted his eyes away from the fire and back to his brother. He blinked several times to shake himself free of the memory and answered, "I found two frightened little girls, their father dead in front of them. I grabbed them and took them to the alcove but you were already gone. So, I waited there with them. Father found us about an hour later after the attack was over."

"And the girls?"

Uncas's weary expression transforming into one of contentment as he said, "We found their mother hysterically searching for them. Watching them be reunited...," he took a deep breath before he continued, "...was truly beautiful."

"You did a noble thing brother," Nathaniel said, reaching his good arm out and placing his palm on Uncas's shoulder.

"No...I did the only thing that could be be done."

Nathaniel smiled and nodded his head. Uncas never did anything to prove he was brave or in the right. He always acted as his conscience dictated and because he trusted himself, all of his decisions ended up being the right ones. Pru often says that he was blessed by angels at birth, and it was getting harder and harder the older he became to laugh off that particular comment. Uncas had a beauty about his soul that Nathaniel rarely saw in others. And it was that beauty that tethered him to Uncas. When all Nathaniel saw in this world was darkness, all he needed to do was stare at his beloved little brother and his hope and faith were instantly restored in the world. He was thankful right now at this moment to have him beside him. When his body and mind felt so broken. Then as if silently understanding the pain behind Nathaniel's eyes, Uncas scooted closer towards him and wrapped his arm around his waist, holding him in a delicate embrace. Nathaniel tilted his head, laying it atop Uncas's as the two sat in a knowing silence until the click of Martin's bedroom door shifted their attention upwards and they watched as Sampson came back into the room.

"Pru?" Nathaniel asked.

"Martin is taking care of her. Now...let's see to you," Sampson said and began administering the necessary medical care beginning with Nathaniel's thigh.

Uncas released his grip on Nathaniel's back and rose to his feet. "I'll get you some food," he calmly smiled down at his brother before crossing into the kitchen.

Nathaniel winced at the pain as Sampson treated his leg. Though his worn and weary eyes stayed with Uncas as he moved about the kitchen. Hoping the light would once more lead him out of the darkness that ragged against his soul.


Pru slowly fluttered her eyelashes open, the orange flame from the candle mixing with the dull stream of grey morning light that filtered in from the slightly cracked window. She wiggled her toes and fingers, remembering how just before she collapsed she had lost almost all sensation in them, and found herself relieved when all ten fingers and all ten toes swiftly moved up and down. She shifted her hands atop her belly, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath her fingers. Warmth. She was warm. Pru sighed in relief and peered over the high pile of several blankets that had been placed atop her. A wide smile instantly taking over her face at the sweet sight of her little brother dozing in the rocking chair, feet extended and ankles crossed at the edge of the bed. "Uncas!" She breathed, her voice hoarse and unfamiliar. Her tone was so low he did not hear her. Then instead of struggling again with her voice, slid her leg over to his under the blanket and shoved his feet off the bed. The movement immediately woke him from his slumber.

"Pru!" Uncas yelped and quickly he scurried to his feet and over to the side of the bed. "How do you feel?"

Pru giggled, yanking her arm from beneath the blankets, exposing her bare shoulders and gripping tightly to his left hand. "Cold," she said with a laugh as Uncas pretended to freeze up from her touch. Then added, "Better now that I can see your sweet face."

Uncas laughed, twined his fingers in hers and lifted their clenched palms to his mouth, placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles. This was it, the moment he knew he had both of his siblings back and he relished it. Smiling widely at her he asked, "Hungry?"

"Starved."

"Alright then. Do you think you can get up or would you like me to bring you food?"

"I can get up. How's Nathaniel?"

"Sleeping on the sofa."

"His wounds?"

"Sampson said you did a good job with the resources you had. He's going to be a bit wobbly for a while but eventually he'll be good as new."

"Thank God and The Great Spirit for that," her relief clear in her voice. "Can you rummage through the trunk and pull out some clothes? I'd like to give you a proper hug but should probably wait till I'm dressed!"

Quickly Uncas pulled from the trunk at the end of the bed, a pair of high woolen stockings, a long sleeved linen nightgown and thick knitted shawl. He passed it to her and exited the room, pulling the door tightly shut behind him, and made his way to the kitchen. Taking a seat at the long wooden table while he patiently waited for her to dress and join the rest of the family.

Pru slowly wiggled her way out from beneath the blankets. Her muscles are still stiff from cold and non use. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, rotating her ankles a bit to get her blood flowing and carefully placed both feet on the floor. Finding her balance, she bent forward stretching her legs and back. A slight burn scorched up her left leg. It was a good burn, a burn that reassured her she was still alive and that no matter what Mother Nature had tested her with, she remained strong. Sighing in relief, she unfolded the nightgown and threw it over head. Then the wool stockings were carefully pulled all the way up her calf past her knees and finally she wrapped the shawl tightly around her, securing it with a tight knot in the center of her chest. She nuzzled her face against the soft wool fabric, knowing that it had once belonged to Martin's beautiful mother. No doubt one of several angels her family had watching over them during the vicious attack. She breathed in Martin's familiar. It must have been laying on top of his clothes, she thought. Then just as his scent lingered in her nose and his name resonated in her mind, she recalled the tiniest wisp of a memory. A memory that could not possibly be true. Or could it? She thought and swiveled her head around staring wide eyed at the bed.

A few moments later Pru opened the door and made her way to the living area of the cabin. Uncas and Sampson lifted their heads to her footfalls and immediately Sampson went over to, wrapping his long arms tightly around her back. "It's good to see you up and moving my dear. I made some hot stew. Come sit down and eat," he said releasing her from his embrace and ushering her towards the table.

"Just a moment." She said, turning her head to where Nathaniel lay sleeping on the sofa said, "I just need to see him with my own eyes." Sampson smiled and stretched his arm out palm up towards Nathaniel. Pru walked around the sofa seeing how Sampson had meticulously cared for her brother. He donned cleaned bandages across the wound on his chest and thigh and his left arm was more efficiently secured along his torso. He was sleeping soundly, almost peacefully. No doubt the result of something Sampson had given him. Not wanting to disturb him with her presence, Pru quietly leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss atop his forehead. Then silently moved away from him back towards the kitchen, where, once more, she buried herself in Sampson's embrace. "Thank you," she breathed, smiling back up at him.

"You are all my family dear girl. You don't ever need to thank me," Sampson replied, holding her tightly to his chest for a moment before ushering her into a seat and placing a steaming bowl of hot stew in front of her.

"Where's father?" Pru asked as she gulped down a spoonful.

"He went out to search for you and Nathaniel. He'll be back soon I'm sure, worried and empty handed since you little devils made it here on your own."

Pru smiled at his teasing her and continued with, "And Martin?"

"He's chopping wood," Sampson replied, passing her a warm biscuit.

Pru quickly devoured the remainder of her stew and not one but two biscuits before rising from her seat and saying she'll be right back. She pulled her shawl tighter across her shoulders and stuffed her feet into Uncas's moccasins, pushed open the cabin door and headed outside in search of Martin.


The air was still, quiet as she made her way off the porch. The snow had ceased falling though the sky remained a dismal grey, dark clouds determined to keep the beauty of the day hidden from sight. Pru followed the sound of Martin's ax around to the side of the cabin, pausing just before she turned the bend to watch as he split a piece in two, then fours. She followed his every movement with her eyes, took in the way his fingers flexed against the handle of the ax just before impact. How his shaggy blonde hair tickled his cheeks as he arched his arms behind him in preparation for his strike. The way he stuck his tongue out the corner of his mouth as he concentrated. It was adorable. Then giggled to herself at how he always seemed to be chopping wood. Perhaps his way of clearing his mind, she thought and taking a deep breath to steady herself, began crossing over towards him.

Martin heard the soft sound of snow crunching and lifted his head to see her walking towards him, not nearly dressed warm enough to be outside. Quickly he discarded his ax, embedding it into the chopping block and tore off his coat as he met her halfway. "Pru...what are you doing out here? It's too cold," he said, wrapping her up in his wool coat.

Pru craned her head partially back, staring up into his springtime eyes, silently wondering if what she thought had happened had actually happened. They stood there a moment, no words passing between them. His hands still clenching the woolen lapels of his coat between his fingers as he slowly pulled it snugger across her, each slight tug inching her closer and closer towards him. Pru's breath hitched at their evolving closeness, to which the sound made Martin dip his head to the side and softly smile. The intensity of his gaze combined with the lovely expression on his face brought back that wild sensation deep within her belly and barely able to breathe, Pru whispered, "Martin..."

Martin gulped hard and pulled her into his full embrace. Hearing his name on her lips like that was too much for him to stand by and do nothing. He could feel her snake her arms around his back, her palms fisting the fabric of his shirt tightly within them. Her head laid gently against his chest. He could feel the warmth from her breath radiating up his neck and intoxicating his senses, compelling the fierceness in which he gripped her to him. Tell her, he thought, tell her you love her. Tell her you are hers, always. Martin parted his lips, breathing in the scent of her hair. Hair that even unwashed seemed to smell of freshly fallen pine needles and summer mornings. Then titled his head further down, his lips just barely brushing against her nose and whispered, "Pru...I..."

"Pru!"

Suddenly startled, Pru instantly turned her head away from Martin's embrace. Her father's normally soft voice booming across the glade as he ran towards them. "Nooch!" She hollered back, her hands shifting from Martin's back up to his shoulders as if holding herself steady in case the image of her father was somehow a mirage and watched for a moment as Chingachgook drew closer and closer towards them.

"Go," Martin whispered as he took a step away from her, not wanting stand between father and daughter's much needed reunion.

Pru swiveled her head to face Martin, his eyes filled with compassion. One day they would finish what they began, but for now, she leaned up on her tip toes and gently kissed him on the cheek before she began releasing him completely. Her left hand gliding down from his shoulder and along his arm until finally the tips of their fingers separated and she went running to meet her father. "Nooch!" She exclaimed, leaping into his arms the moment she was close enough to.

The strain of the impact reeling Chingachgook backwards, forcing him to dig his heels deep into the snow so as not to topple over. Quickly steadying himself, he arched his back and lifted Pru up off her feet as he squeezed her tightly to him. She was here, she was safe. Reluctantly he placed her back down on her feet, taking a quick note of how she was wearing Uncas's moccasins and cupping her cheeks between both of his palms asked, "Nathaniel?"

Pru covered his hands with her own, a wide smile dancing across her face and said, "He's safe. He's inside sleeping."

Chingachgook's body instantly sagged in relief, days of worry and fear leaving him as easily as the smoke from his pipe left his lungs. When he first arrived with Uncas at the farm to find Nathaniel and Pru absent, his heart had sunk inside him. Plummeted with fear and desperation. He had not waited even an hour to leave again in search of them. His anxiety over his children's health and safety prevented him from even taking the time to have a small meal. He had no idea if his children were eating or if they were warm and if they were not then neither would he until they were found.

He had seen the dead Huron by the alcove when he found Uncas and the little girls hiding there. Scanning the deathly scene, he knew they had escaped by their haphazard footprints in the snow, a sloppy trail he was certain had been caused by injuries that one or both had suffered in his absence. And while he had intended to follow them once they found the little girls family, Mother Nature had different ideas in mind. The snow had picked up and in hardly any time at all, had completely covered their tracks and forced him to take his own path back to the farm. A path that did not intersect with his other two children. A path that with each step filled him with apprehension as to where his children were. Though seeing Pru now and knowing that Nathaniel was just inside safely resting, brought him a peace he had not felt since he first stepped out of Chaska's wigwam that fateful day. Chingachgook tilted his head up to the heavens and whispered, "Thank you Great Spirit...thank you for watching over my precious children."

"Father?"

Chingachgook lowered his head to face her, pulling her tighter into his embrace and murmured, "Hmmm?"

"What of Chaska?" Pru softly asked, her voice just above a whisper as she silently braced herself for whatever his response might be.

Chingachgook looked down into her worried gaze and answered, "Alive. Chaska is alive."

Pru slumped into his embrace, expelling the breath she had been holding as relief flooded her insides. Chaska was alive. It would have been too cruel to bear had The Great Spirit taken them both. She pinched her eyes shut, picturing his face for a moment when her thoughts were suddenly invaded by one of her favorite sounds.

"Nooch!"

"Uncas!" Chingachgook exclaimed, opening up his other arm for his youngest child to climb into, nuzzling his face in Uncas's hair for a moment before he raised his head to see Sampson helping Nathaniel out onto the porch. "Nathaniel!" He bellowed and with Pru under his left arm and Uncas under his right, made his way quickly up onto the porch. He reached arms around his younger children's shoulders, the act squishing his two young children closer to his chest and cupped Nathaniel's cheeks in his palms. Father and son staring into each other's knowing eyes. A powerful and unique understanding passing between them. Gone was the reckless child who leapt without judging the distance of his flight or spoke without weighing his words in his mind. Before him now stood a warrior. A man with true balance and true understanding inside himself. A man who accepted, but understood the darkness as well as light. Chingachgook dragged his fingers along Nathaniel's dark bushy eyebrows and slowly he bent his head forward until their skin touched. And then a wave of tranquility washed over him as each one of his babies were safe in his embrace.

The profound happiness of the moment was acutely felt by all, Mohicans and Blackwoods alike. Their unique family once more complete just as they should be together as one. Sampson smiled widely, placing his palm on Chingachgook's forearm and saying, "Come my family...supper awaits!" Then slowly they broke apart, shuffling two at a time into the warmth and comfort of the cabin. The cabin, their home, perhaps forever.


Nathaniel sat lightly swaying back and forth in Sampson's favorite rocking chair. His right leg extended out with his ankle resting on the porch rail. The dreary day had given way to a cloudless clear night. Thousands of tiny silvery twinkling stars shining down upon him, bathing him in their magnificence. He tilted his head back, streaks of moisture lining his young face as he silently wept. His right fist squeezing tightly to his blood stained shirt. Six days had passed since he last felt her in his arms, last touched his lips on her own. Six days since she last smiled at him. Nathaniel pinched his eyes shut, blocking the beauty of the night from his vision and replacing it with the image of her in his mind. He could still see her face so clearly there. Her long raven hair, parted at the center of her scalp. Her full lips, pink from her nibbling on them as she often did. Her golden brown eyes, the yellow in them flickering brightly when she laughed. He flung his eyes open, too pained to keep envisioning her, and whispered, "How will I do this? Life...without you in it?" Nathaniel flinched, suddenly startled as he was being covered with a blanket.

Chingachgook draped a heavy wool blanket across Nathaniel's body. His eyes not missing his son's blood stained shirt as he did so. Then calmly took a seat in the rocking chair beside him and reached over and held Nathaniel's right hand in his left. "Emotion does not make you less of a man," Chingachgook quietly stated after several long minutes passed of the two swaying in silence to the muffled sound of Nathaniel trying his best not to openly weep.

Nathaniel turned his head to his father, their hands still clenched together and whispered through his tears, "How? How do I go on after this?" He asked, tears rushing past his swollen and red eyelids, finally setting his anguish free. "How do I go on living in a world where she does not exist anymore?" He pleaded.

Chingachgook shifted his chair to better face him and cupped Nathaniel's cheek with his free hand. "Look up," he whispered. Nathaniel immediately tilted his head backwards, the sparkling stars reflecting in his bright blue eyes. Chingachgook stared into his son's sorrowful face and breathed, "Our people say that at the birth of the sun and his brother the moon, their mother died. So the sun gave to the earth her body, from which was to spring all life. And he drew from her breasts the stars, and the stars he threw into the night sky to remind him of her soul." He paused watching as his words settled into Nathaniel's broken spirit. "This my son…this is where you will always be able to find her. It is where we find all of those we have lost. Where they bid us goodnight and welcome us to a new day." And he too turned his head upwards to the stars. A singular tear falling gracefully down his own cheek as he envisioned his beautiful wife dancing wildly across the dazzling winter sky. "She will always be with you. Always be watching you, guiding you. She was a great love and you will honor her by living a great life. One filled with happiness. Just as she always wanted you to have," Chingachgook whispered up into the stars, wondering for a moment if he was speaking Tanda or his own beloved wife. His eyes broke away from the stars, back to his son's forlorn features and watched the quiet decent of Nathaniel's crown.

Nathaniel bit down on his lower lip and curled his damaged body forward, resting his head in his father's lap and wept. A thousand tears for a thousand memories. Not knowing and not caring for how long. Just simply wept, with his head laid nestled along his father's thigh. Chingachgook's palm softly stroking his hair as Nathaniel finally allowed his mind and body to slowly come to terms with her loss. Tanda.


Nathaniel stood in front of the cabin, his long wavy hair falling loosely down his back. The dark blue linen shirt he wore made his already translucent blue eyes appear even more luminous. Just the way she liked. A light wisp of a smile gracing his face as he thought it. He held his head high, eyes raised to the glittering sun. Its warm rays gently caressing his cheeks, softly stroking his shed tears away. He sucked in a small shallow breath, nibbling slightly on his lower lip. A habit he learned from watching her do it countless times in his presence. Then huffed out a tiny laugh, suddenly acknowledging all the different ways she had influenced his life. "I promise, you will never be forgotten. I promise to keep you safe inside of me. Always," he voice delicate and smooth, cracking only slightly against his sadness. He shifted his eyes to his father, nodding his head for him to continue with the prayer he was delivering in her honor before grief momentarily overtook him, forcing a respectful silence from his family. Uncas reassuringly squeezed his right hand that dangled over his shoulder. He could feel the rhythmic drag of Sampson's thumb just below his neck. He shifted his eyes left to his best friend, silently praying that he would never know this type of pain. Then immediately looked at Pru. Her long slender arm wrapped tight around his waist, while her left hand clutched at his shirt right above his belly. She was weeping, almost uncontrollably. Her face a messy mixture of tears and mucus. Their eyes met. Her lips parting as if to say something, then quickly shut. Her head lowering in sorrow towards the snowy ground. Nathaniel bent forward kissing the top of her head in consolation. Never wishing to see her in this state of sadness.

Nathaniel's tenderness only caused her to further weep. A wicked thundering inside her chest begging to be set free. A fragile secret, desperate be known. Her mind a whirlwind of scenarios and at the center of it a tiny little baby, unknown to its father. A sharp pain in her heart forced her head up. Her face only inches from his own. Then stared imploringly into his eyes. "Nathaniel...," she whispered. Her words suddenly interrupted by the distant howl of a wolf. Pru turned her head towards the sound, pinching her tear filled eyes shut in resignation. "Alright...I promise," her voice just above a whisper.

"I promise?" Nathaniel softly questioned.

Pru shifted her attention back towards him. His mournful expression absolutely heartbreaking and merely shook her head back and forth. Then leaned in and tenderly kissed his cheek. A promise was a promise...even in death.


"All I want is nothing more

To hear you knocking at my door

'Cause if I could see your face once more

I could die a happy man I'm sure

When you said your last goodbye

I died a little bit inside

I lay in tears in bed all night

Alone without you by my side

But if you loved me

Why'd you leave me?

Take my body

Take my body

All I want is

And all I need is

To find somebody

I'll find somebody like you

Oh oh

So you brought out the best in me

A part of me I've never seen

You took my soul and wiped it clean

Our love was made for movie screens

But if you loved me

Why'd you leave me?

Take my body

Take my body

All I want is

And all I need is

To find somebody

I'll find somebody

Oh

If you loved me

Why'd you leave me?

Take my body

Take my body

All I want is

And all I need is

To find somebody

I'll find somebody

oh

"All I want" - Kodaline

(For Nathaniel)


Author's Note: LOTS happening here! This was a very difficult chapter for Nathaniel. He is suffering both physically and emotionally. For six days he refused to allow himself to think about Tanda. His only focus was getting him and Pru safely to the farm. Which he was damn close to achieving when she up and collapsed on him. "Hurt" was the perfect song, in my opinion, to describe what he was feeling and where his head was at at the beginning of the chapter. Just as "All I Want" was perfect for the end. Thank you Hazel222 for the suggestion! Though Nathaniel has come to terms with Tanda's death, as several of you have mentioned, her death will go on to effect many of his choices throughout his life and most notably...when he meets Cora.

The scene with Uncas's flashback, I wanted it to be more of a testament to his character than a scene where he actually fought. He is still only twelve years old and I refused to mark up a young Uncas with battle scars...he's too splendid! And I know some of you wondered what that task was that Uncas wanted to complete that Chingachgook passed off to Nathaniel...and honestly...I have no idea what it was! That moment was more to show how Uncas felt at not being viewed as a capable son then what the task actually was...hopefully that's not too disappointing!

Martin and Pru...well...she had to be warmed up somehow and with Nathaniel hogging the fire...Martin got to see her scars head on and without her awake to feel self conscious about it, though he would never intend to make her feel that way. And then his admittance of love...Which he then decided to actually say but was cut off by the long awaited arrival of Chingackgook. These two are always getting interrupted. Hazel222 actually commented that Martin is always chopping wood. And he is! Definitely how he mentally works through things...and I can assure you this will not be the last time we see him swinging his ax around! Also, Martin had yet to have any type of action scene and I thought it time for him to show off his own badass swagger!

Chaska is alive! ( I always knew he would survive the horrific attack) Though what condition will he be in when next we see him?

Sometimes I wonder just how much I can put these characters through...and somehow I always feel like it's never enough. Pru is in a state of near hysterics during Tanda's prayer service (similar to what Chingackgook performed for Uncas at the end of the film). And we all know why. It's terrible to have to bear the burden of a secret of this magnitude. Especially one so beautiful as the creation of a little baby. (a little baby girl is how I always envisioned their child, hence Tanda referring to the baby as such) And just as Pru is about to spill the beans, that wolf howled. Pru taking it as a sign to remain silent. Which she does, but for how long? As we know...secrets have a way making themselves known, even in ways we did not expect them to.

Thank you to everyone who viewed/reviewed I truly appreciate it! BrynnaRaven, AsterLaurel, ELY72, BlueSaffire, Hazel222, MohawkWoman a special thank you for all the different ways you support me while I write and just in life in general! A thousand thank you's would never be enough!

Thanks for reading ;)