Chapter 32: A Year and A Day

October 1750

Uncas sat cross legged in the dewy grass around the blazing bonfire. The heat from the flames gently caressed his skin, forcing away autumn's chilly fingers. He sighed with contentment as he quietly sat and watched while Nathaniel and Pru danced in drunken circles around Martin. Whose nimble fingers effortlessly glided along his violin for their, or rather Pru's enjoyment. Uncas leaned his body back, resting his palms in the dirt behind him and watched as Nathaniel and Pru spun and leapt into the air. Their wild movements made them either crash forcefully into the ground or bump haphazardly into Martin, knocking him off his well balanced rhythm. Though always with a smile and a hearty laugh as they did so. He loved seeing them this way. Filled to the brim with joy and drink acting as though there was not a care to be had in the world. Especially on the eve of yet another separation. Tomorrow they would leave again as they usually did after the harvest and begin their trek back to the Delaware camp.

A year and a day had passed since the attack on the farm. Their previously scheduled October departure was delayed when Nathaniel absolutely refused to leave. His brother was angry, weary and had declared on more than one occasion that the safety of his family was paramount. Absolutely refusing to leave when he could not predict whether or not there would be another attack as a form of retaliation. And while Kasa and Aegel had been disappointed not to return to the camp, Chingachgook had made it perfectly clear that he wholeheartedly agreed with Nathaniel and as a result they would all be staying on through the winter. Though even after the ground thawed and spring sprung, still Nathaniel refused to leave. Uncas knew it was hard for Nathaniel, having been imprinted now with the idea of Pru and their nephew's deaths. His father too he imagined. Though Chingachgook never openly discussed it. Still, that fear was always lingering just below the surface, utterly and completely inescapable.

Thankfully nothing ever did happen. No attack. No retaliation. Only a blissful year of time he was able to spend alone with Aegel. An unlimited amount of seconds, minutes, hours, just the two of them. Time they eagerly snapped up. It had been the best year of Uncas's life. Even with the daily, sometimes too often, dealings of the farm. They still always managed to sneak away. And not just from their duties on the farm, but also Kasa's curious gaze. Just him and her. Free to run in the forest or swim in the lake. Free to hide out in the brush snuggled up in each other's arms. Uncas and Aegel, childhood friends, reunited. And for the first time in his life he felt like he could completely let his guard down with another person. At least to someone who was not a member of his family. It was liberating being able to confide in her about himself. Conversing, unabashedly, about his feelings and insecurities. Especially where his family was concerned. Thoughts and feelings he felt he could never utter aloud to them for fear of hurting them. It had been a truly precious gift from her, the listening. And as the year went by, Uncas grew more and more attached to Aegel. Though that attachment was not simply a connection of kindred spirits. As time went on, strange things started happening to his body. Private things that his body, in an attempt to mock him, decided to make public. On more than one occasion he found himself hastily excusing himself from situations that had the warmth of Aegel's body radiating into him. Once he was even caught by Martin, escaping out of a room after Aegel merely brushed up against him. Mortification had scorched through him and as casually as possible tried to hide his physical excitement. Until he was out of the cabin at least. Where he breathed a sigh of relief, only to accidentally bump into Martin as he hastily made his way off the porch and around the side of the cabin. Thankfully Martin was not Nathaniel and simply raised his eyebrows and winked, never mentioning it to anyone else. Uncas chuckled just thinking about it.

"What's so funny?" Aegel asked, nudging him with her shoulder.

Uncas turned his head and smiled. "Nope…this one is just for me!" He teased her.

Aegel narrowed her eyes playfully at him, then giggled and rested her head on his broad shoulder. Her eyes drifted back towards the joyful scene before her. "I think it's incredibly romantic that he only plays if she desires it."

"She is his everything and since nearly the moment she stepped foot on the farm," Uncas said, smiling as he watched Pru come up from behind Martin, wrap her arms around his waist and nestle her head against his spine all while he continued to play her favorite song. "They are all I've ever known of what love should be. I no memory of my parents together. My mother died before I was old enough to understand what love was between a man and a woman. Nathaniel was with Tanda, but they kept their love mostly private. And you already know she died," he solemnly said, briefly casting his gaze towards Nathaniel. "If not for Pru and Martin, I would be utterly mystified in the realm of love."

Aegel tilted her head up to him and gently caressed his cheek. "No you wouldn't. Your heart is bigger than anyone I have ever met. It would have guided you in all the right ways. Of that I have no doubt," she affirmed with a head nod.

Uncas dipped his head down to better look into her eyes. "Want to go for a walk? These drunkards will never miss us," he said with a wide mischievous smile and a wink.

Aegel giggled and swept her eyes over towards the now empty porch. Her mother, Chingachgook and Sampson had been sitting in the rocking chairs talking and, no doubt, watching them for hours. Though clearly they had given up monitoring them and gone inside. "Do you think my mother will notice we're gone?" She said, nibbling nervously at her lower lip.

Uncas leaned further down, touching his forehead to hers and said, "I don't think anyone will notice." And shifted his twinkling eyes to his drunken siblings.

Aegel smiled and gripped onto his hand, "Then let's go."


Chingachgook sat relaxed in his usual soft chair beside the fire, listening as Martin's music mingled with the crackle and pop of the cabin's blazing hearth. His head was tilted back snuggled into the cushions and his eyes were slowly drooping shut. The only thing keeping him away from slumber was the soft clank of dishes as Sampson and Kasa placed several perfect pieces of Pru's strawberry cake atop them.

"Chingachgook?" Kasa asked, softly rocking his shoulder.

"Hmmm? I'm awake," he said in Delaware.

"Would you like cake?" She asked, offering him a plate.

"Thank you," he smiled and took the smooth tin plate from her.

Kasa nodded her head and took a seat opposite him on the long sofa. She pursed her lips and stared off into the fire, deep in thought. They were leaving tomorrow to return to their people, to their home. To a world they had not been a part of since Aegel was a little girl. And while she herself was looking forward to it, she worried for her daughter. Aegel had grown up in a much smaller community. One where all the youths lived harmoniously amongst each other. Girls and boys alike. The Delaware camp would be a different story altogether. She remembered herself living there at a young age, surrounded by the pettiness and jealousy of others and wished to avoid that for her daughter. Which is why she and her husband had chosen to leave while Aegel was still young and now going back, it would certainly be a shock to Aegel's system. Especially as she was going back on the arm of an Indian prince. The son of the mighty Mohican Indian chief, Chingachgook. Kasa nibbled on her lip and shifted her eyes back to Chingachgook, she swallowed uneasily and said, "Old friend, there is something we must discuss."

Chingachgook met her eyes and immediately knew where their conversation was treading. He put down his plate on the table and sat up straighter in his seat. "What is that?" He calmly inquired.

"Don't play coy. You already know what this is about...your son, my daughter and the affection that they both clearly share."

Chingachgook folded his hands in his lap and quietly waited for her to continue.

Kasa swallowed again and boldly continued with, "I would like to know when you plan to have them married?"

Chingachgook cracked the slightest of amused smiles. More of an intrigued lips twitch than anything else and leaned slightly forward in his seat. "I have not yet spoken to Uncas on this issue. And no matter what you believe of me, I will not make you a promise of marriage without speaking to him first. He is a man now at his age and deserves the respect of being treated like one. That being said, I will not deny that it has always been my hope that my son will marry a Delaware girl and continue through their children, our culture and diminishing way of life. When the time is right I will speak on this to Uncas. Though for now, take some comfort knowing what my own personal thoughts are on this subject," he finished finality.

Kasa sat quietly for a moment. As much as she wanted to push the issue, this past year spent with Chingachgook served to remind her that he still was very much a force to be reckoned with and would not take kindly to her edging the conversation further. And so silently conceded to his will. While his words were not what she had hoped to get from their talk, they did not leave her completely without comfort. It was clear that Chingachgook desired the match and from what she had witnessed over the past year, it appeared that Uncas did as well. All she could hope for now was that by the time they returned to the Delaware camp, that Uncas would indeed express his interest to marry Aegel and the hordes of young girls that would certainly be after him would be left to their own disappointment. Kasa closed her eyes and leaned back against the sofa as she said a silent prayer to The Great Spirit to bless her daughter's union with Uncas. Then slowly nodded her head in response to Chingachgook's words.


Uncas and Aegel walked hand in hand around the perimeter of the farm, just past the tree line. Conveniently out of sight of peering eyes, though still within the general safety of the cabin and their families. The temperature was cooler now without the warmth of the bonfire licking at their skin. And while the autumn chill was all around them, they remained blissfully warm as their bodies' ever growing closeness kept the biting air at bay. They strolled in silence, listening to the distant sound of Martin's violin as the breeze carried it out from the glade and into the forest. The slow soulful tune seemingly brought the woodland to a stand still as the elegant rhyme quieted even the noisiest of the forest's shadow dwellers. It was the kind of song which made you reminisce about the past. Days, weeks, months and years all began swarming through his mind. He closed his eyes and let the music steer his thoughts. It weaved and swirled like the multicolored autumn leaves caught in Mother Nature's cool breeze. Though always his mind brought him back to the same spot. Him and Aegel. He thought of the time he had splattered her head to toe with mud, soaking her clothes completely through when she did not want to play a game he liked. And in turn, when he had fallen asleep outside the safety of his wigwam and she had placed glops of honey in his hair, sculpting it in every way possible to make him look like an insane person as her retribution for the mud. Though alongside the dozens of childhood memories were also ones from the past year. Memories of her nestled between his thighs while they kissed and caressed each other for what seemed like hours. Or the night they snuck out and sat at the top of the waterfall, confiding in each other about their hopes and dreams. Uncas corked a small smile as he thought of the very next time they were at the waterfall. When he accidentally saw her completely naked before she dove into the lake for relief from the summer heat and how the image of her like that had forced him deeper into the privacy of the woods, desperate to release his tension filled body. And just then he became all too aware of how the heat from her palm radiated into his own hand, filtering up his arm and into his chest. He pinched his eyes tightly shut, hoping to gain some composure. Though was failing as his once steady breaths faltered and slowly became more and more erratic as they left his lungs. It was happening again. That strange sensation of excitement had once more begun coursing through his veins, making his head spin and his body firm. He could feel his hands begin to sweat and a slight wave of nausea hit his belly just as his foot hit a rock and he went flying towards the ground, with Aegel tumbling after him.

"Uncas! Are you alright?" She asked as she steadied herself on her knees and cupped his face in her palms, tilting his head up from its downcast position.

Uncas's face flushed with embarrassment. He knew exactly what had overtaken him and it had been powerful enough to knock him off his feet. He shifted his legs and pulled himself up onto his knees, mirroring Aegel's position and raised his eyes to hers. Then nearly keeled over again as he took in her youthful beauty. Her usually braided hair was loose and parted down the middle, framing her slender face. Her usually soft features are slightly askew with concern. The brown of eyes glistened with silent alarm, while her full lips pouted downward in worry. Even with her troubled expression Uncas was completely enamored as he helplessly stared down at her, for a minute or an hour he was not sure. Until his heart quickened and his body hurt. Then without any warning he gripped onto her body and pulled her flush against him. Their mouths instantly meet in a wild kiss filled with want and desire. Aegel gasped as Uncas hastily parted her lips with his tongue, desperately needing to taste more of her. Startled at first by his urgency, Aegel recovered quickly and opened her mouth to him, guiding him inward with her own tongue's sweet dance.

Kissing was not something new to them. They had done that often and with just as much passion, it was what happened next that startled both of them. Aegel slipped her hands up under Uncas's shirt. Her fingers slowly crept along his bare chest, gliding gingerly across every single inch of him. Until his shirt became a hindrance to her progress and she promptly tore it from his body.

Uncas yanked his limbs free and tossed the balled up fabric aside into the dirt. His own hands craving his share of her and hesitantly he reached for her tucked in blouse, casually clutching it in his fists.

"Yes," Aegel breathed into his face. "Do it!"

And without another word, Uncas gently tugged off her blouse revealing her golden brown skin. He paused as he stared at her, giving her body the attention it deserved. She was slender all around. Her waist was so petite he thought he could easily grab fully onto her with both hands. Her breasts were small and perky with beautiful golden nipples right in the center. Then before Uncas could stop himself, reached out and caressed her left breast, lightly squeezing it as he explored her nipple with his thumb. He shifted his eyes back up to hers when his touch forced a moan from her lips. Uncas smiled to himself at her reaction and began touching her with both his hands, trailing them up down from her head to her waist.

Aegel dropped her head backwards as his fingers roamed her body. His touch was gentle yet eager. She gripped onto his shoulders to keep from falling backwards and moaned again when she felt his wet mouth kiss and suckle at her neck. "Uncas…," she breathed.

Uncas pulled her tighter against his chest, needing to feel her bare skin against his own and then it happened. It happened and this time he did not even care. His body reflected his heart and mind, growing impossibly stiff behind his loincloth. He moaned and pressed his firmness into her smooth belly. He needed relief and right now he would take it anyway he could.

Aegel tilted her head back, gazed into his hazy eyes and slowly slid her hands down his chest, her fingers lingering just above his loincloth. She fluttered her eyes up to him and slowly fiddled with the neatly tied knot on the side. Her fingers shook with nervousness as she attempted to pull at the knot. Then sighed with frustration when she could not undo it and promptly slipped her hand behind the cloth and gently gripped onto his hardened flesh.

Uncas moaned louder and pressed his cheek against the top of her head as she awkwardly fidgeted with his body. They had never done anything like this before. All of their physical interactions had been reserved to kissing and innocently petting at each other's bodies, nothing anywhere near as bold as this. "Aegel…," he trailed off and began rocking his hips into her hand until she found her own blissful rhythm.

Aegel held him in her palm savoring the husky grunt that rippled out from his lips. Each new sound triggers a tiny spasm inside her. And before she knew it, she too was rocking her hips in search of some relief. "Touch me…please Uncas. I feel like I will burst into flames if you don't," she whispered into his neck.

Uncas's body flushed with the heat as each stroke of her hand drove him further and further into euphoria. A dizzy sensation was beginning to overwhelm him and he bit into his cheek to force the feeling away. He could not believe this was happening. He could not believe how good it all felt. Every touch of her finger or curve of her body was magnified and he savored all of it as he ran his shaky hands down her body until he was at the hem of her skirt. Delicately he fingered the material, before nervously lifting up the hem of her skirt up and sliding his right hand under it. "I…I…I don't know what to do…," he stammered as his fingers inched further up her thigh.

Aegel took his hand in hers and guided to the pulsing spot between her legs. "Here…here is where I need you," she said, rubbing herself up and down along his knuckles. Her head fell backwards and her pace intensified. She had never really touched herself before and had no idea how powerful that sensation was. "Uncas…more…," she begged as she slipped one of his fingers inside her. Suddenly gasping as he moved inside her.

Uncas clutched tighter to her. His left arm ran along the length of her back and his palm cradling her head. He leaned forward and pressed his cheek against hers, listening as she moaned with pleasure from his touch. The sweet sound forced him to tremble even harder then he already was. "Aegel…Aegel…," he tried to speak, to form more words but when he heard her raspy moans mix with the sound of his name, he felt a rush of tingles shoot through his entire body. And with them the elation of orgasm. Aegel gasped and clutched onto his hand, thrusting his finger deeper inside her. Until her vision became hazy and her body went limp in Uncas's long study arm as the feeling of complete bliss slowly left her body.

"Uncas?" She whispered as she lifted her head up from his palm.

"Hmmm?" Uncas murmured. His face still dipped downward and rested against her hot skin.

"I have never felt anything like that before. I mean…I know what purpose these pieces of our bodies serve. I just didn't know that it was meant to feel like that," she wistfully said, finally releasing him and whipping her soiled hand on her skirt.

Uncas too, removed himself from her body and wrapped both of his arms around her bare back. "I did. I've slept in the same house as Pru and Martin for years and while they learned to be quiet that wasn't always the case," he said with a chuckle as he trailed tiny kisses along her neck and shoulder. Then sat back against the tree behind him, gently pulling Aegel into his lap.

"What else did you learn from Pru and Martin?" Aegel asked, snuggling up against Uncas's bare chest.

"I know if we keep going on like this…," he said, trailing his thumb down the center of her chest. "…we'll end up with a child."

Aegel furrowed her brows at his strange tone and lightly said, "Would that be so terrible?"

Would that be so horrible? Uncas knew this conversation needed to be had before they got back to the Delaware camp. He had spent months thinking of what would be the best way to talk about it but he always came up short and so avoided it altogether. However there was no avoiding it now. A whole year spent on the farm together and this had been the first time they had been overtly sexual in any way. It was not a coincidence. Nevertheless, tonight they shared something together that they had never shared before with anyone and that closeness deserved respect. The respect of complete honesty. He tilted her chin up and looked into her dark brown eyes. "I need you to know that I am not ready to be a father yet. I'm only sixteen summers old. Just barely a man. I know you've watched Pru and Martin this past year. How they are together and with their sons. And while they were ready for a family at such a young age…I'm sorry, truly...but I'm not," he said almost in a rush of words. It was hard enough admitting it to himself, let alone another person. He is supposed to want to be intimate, supposed to want a wife and family. Nathaniel had with Tanda and so had Pru and Martin. But he was still finding out who he was and what he desired from life. And before he was certain of himself, he knew he would not be able to make that full commitment to another person. It would not be fair to either of them. Of course, that did not stop him from adoring her with every fiber of his being. All he wanted to do was spend time with her. Laugh with her. Talk with her. He would walk in random circles all day so long as she was beside him. "Aegel?" Uncas asked when he saw her eyes stare absently off into the distance. "Aegel?" He pressed. Then finally as she glanced back at him and glimpsed the hurt in her eyes added, "How I feel about sex and fatherhood doesn't change how I feel about you. You are everything." He finished reassuringly and cupped her cheek in his large palm. "Everything," he enunciated before tenderly pressing his lips against hers.

"Your everything?" She whispered through their kiss.

"My everything," Uncas softly you repeated.

Aegel sighed and reluctantly allowed him to break away from their kiss. Uncas gently caressed her cheek again and leaned his head back against the tree's rough bark, shutting his eyes as he quietly listened to Martin's continued serenade of Pru. Aegel smiled half heartedly back at his closed eyelids and slowly curled herself further into his chest. Though she snuggled calmly and still against his body, her mind was spinning in circles. Circles that kept coming back to the same exact point. His beautiful, well intentioned words of my everything. What was everything to him? Is everything a wife? Is everything a lover? Aegel bit down hard on her lower lip, hoping the pain would distract her from the worst thought of all. Why my everything and not my love?


The next morning Uncas was up in the loft packing his travel bag and reliving the night before. It had been the best thing that had ever happened to him. The way her body felt. The way she made his body feel. It was all magic. At least right up until he told her that he was not ready to have a family when something immediately shifted in the air around them. Almost as if Mother Nature took in a deep breath, sucking into her lungs the burning smell of wood, Martin's music, the last few lingering fire flies and beautiful moment they had just experienced. And while he wanted to appear as though he was casually resting. He was not. Uncas could feel her limbs tremble. At first he thought it was a shiver. They were, after all, still partially naked, but then he felt the tiniest bit of moisture on his chest and knew. He knew she was silently crying. Why? He had wanted to say something, anything, though shamefully he did not know what that something or anything was. So he did nothing. Nothing at all but think. A million thoughts zigzagged across his mind. One being why he didn't tell her he loved her? He did. He was certain he did. Was that why she was upset? The past year has been wonderful, like two people trapped in their own utopia. It had been almost perfect, save Nathaniel. But Uncas was confident that he would come around eventually. Especially when he saw what Aegel meant to him. So why did he not say it? He continued to ponder when he heard the thump of footsteps climbing the stairs two at a time. He swiveled his head to the soft knock on the wall and watched as Martin walked in with Ash resting on his hip.

"You almost ready?" Martin asked, taking a seat on one of the empty beds.

"Just about," Uncas said, crossing his eyes and grinning all goofy like at the baby.

"Here," Martin said, passing Ash into Uncas's arms. "Hold him while you can. I know you'll miss it while you're away."

Uncas gripped onto Ash and began slowly swaying his hips back and forth as though the two were doing a grand dance of sorts. Ash reached up and placed his little palm on Uncas's cheek, lightly petting at his honied skin. Uncas chuckled and shifted him higher up in his arms. He would miss this. He had after their first departure from the farm and figured he always would. It was hard not being here for every moment. Not seeing the wonder in their eyes when they discovered something new in the world. As if hearing his inner thoughts, Ash cooed and buried his face in Uncas's chest. "I will miss this," he said as his smile faded. "I don't like being away from them or you all. Every time we go back to the Delaware camp, the less it feels like home." Uncas sat down beside Martin and continued, "And this time even more so. I know we're going back because of Aegel and Kasa. They can't stay here forever. But it's more complicated than just that now."

"More complicated than what?" Martin asked with furrowed brows, leaning back against the wall.

"How did you know?" Uncas asked, raising his eyes towards Martin's.

"Know what?" Martin quickly responded then took in the forlorn expression in his little brother's eyes and suddenly it hit him. "I honestly don't know. Was it the first time she smiled at me in front of the fireplace? Maybe. I remember my whole body went warm and I wanted so badly to touch her hand. Just feel her skin beneath my fingers. I didn't, of course. Though I did think about doing it every remaining second of that night," he said with a chuckle and a wink before continuing on. "Was it when she first jumped from the waterfall? Maybe. We had just had a moment before you two came storming up and put a stop to it." Martin leaned his head back against the wall and with a huff of a laugh added, "Actually, I think I do know it."

"When?" Uncas asked, shifting his weight on the bed to face him.

"She made me want to do something that I had firmly decided I would never do again."

"The violin," Uncas added.

"The violin," Martin concurred. "When my mother died all of my desire to play died with her. I completely cast that part of me aside. And then years later, Pru was here and someone, I can't remember who, but someone asked me to play. Probably my father. And my stomach did flips. Actual flips at the idea of her wanting to hear me play. I still remember the look on her face as she listened to me. Seeing her expression, the way my music made her feel. Well...that was the moment my heart split apart and half of it became hers. I knew right then that I was hopelessly in love with her and that no one on this earth would be able to challenge that love. No one."

Uncas sat mesmerized, intently listening to every single word Martin was saying. They had never spoken like this before about love. Perhaps because Uncas was younger than him or because Pru was his sister and Martin never wanted him or Nathaniel to be uncomfortable. Though he had always assumed Martin's feelings towards Pru to be intense, regardless of them being verbally confirmed. Listening to him now, Uncas felt a world of understanding. "And because you loved her so much you were ready for a family with her at such a young age?"

Martin sat up right and narrowed his stare at Uncas. "Yes, I was ready. I knew exactly what could happen and even silently wished for it to happen. Pru is my forever and the moment I realized it all of those fears of what if disappeared," he said and reached his palm up, gripping onto Uncas's shoulder. "Trust me brother, you will know when you have found yours." Then to lighten the moment, playfully pinched at Uncas's cheek. His affection was promptly greeted with a snack to his wrist. "Ha!" Martin laughed.

Uncas chuckled, smiling back at him. Hearing Martin speak about his adoration for his sister made him love and respect him even more, if that was even possible. "Thank you, brother," he said seriously, holding Ash to his chest a little tighter.

"Why don't you hang onto him for a few minutes and I'll take this bag downstairs for you," he said, gripping onto the bag's strap, slinging it over his shoulder and stepping towards the doorway. "You alright?" Martin asked before rounding the corner and heading down the steps.

Uncas merely nodded his head. Truth be told, his mind was swarming. Dozens and dozens of interactions between him and Aegel shoved their way to the forefront of his brain. And he tried to analyze every single one of them. Searching for that one moment. That one moment that said I love you.


Martin only made it right around the corner when he saw Pru sitting on the steps, her head tilted back against the wooden wall and her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Not tears of pain or sorrow. But tears of love and happiness. He knew she had heard every word of his conversation with Uncas. Martin smiled and reached out his hand to her, helping her to her feet. He dropped the travel bag on the step and pressed himself into Pru's body. Her back against the wall and her arms tangled up around his neck. They stared at each other for a moment. No words needed to be said and slowly Martin leaned down until his lips hovered just above her own. He swept his eyes over her beautiful faces. Perfection. Then lightly pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that silently spoke of his love for her.

Aegel had been about to climb the staircase in search of Uncas when she fell witness to Pru and Martin's tender embrace. The shared comfort with each other was truly a sight to behold and for the first time in her life, Aegel found herself green with envy. Uncas was her oldest and dearest friend. Then in a split second she had become his…his…his…what? She simply did not know. Now with their impending arrival to the Delaware camp, it was all the more imperative that she find out or so her mother implores. Especially after last night's whirlwind of emotion. Thankfully though she had more than a week's journey to make sense of it all and was certain that once they arrived at the camp everything would be exactly as it should be. She confidently reassured herself. Then guiltily shifted her eyes away from Pru and Martin, gathered her graces and walked out of the cabin. Ready for whatever challenges the day would bring her way.


Pru hugged and kissed her father and brother, holding onto Uncas a little tighter for a little longer. She knew going back to the Delaware camp was becoming more and more difficult for him. And that without the added stress of going there with Aegel. Their father made little secret of the fact that Uncas was to take a wife and as a result the situation could be very interesting once he arrives. After releasing him she strutted over to where Nathaniel stood with Martin and promptly grabbed onto the neck of Nathaniel's white linen shirt, tugging him lower until his bright blue eyes were directly across from hers. "Now you listen to me and be nice Natty," Pru said, giving him a stern look. Uncas was going to struggle enough with Aegel and what she imagined would be a parade of young girls fawning all over him. He did not need the added weight of Nathaniel's views on top of it.

Nathaniel raised his eyebrows in challenge and scowled at her. "Don't tell me what to do," he softly hissed. Though quickly found himself assaulted when Martin smacked the back of his head. "Ow!" He yelped. "I was just teasing her!" He declared and began rubbing the back of his head.

"That's my woman, brother. And no one speaks to her like that!" Martin said with a wide grin on his face.

Pru keeled over laughing. Her palm holding tightly to Nathaniel's arm to steady her from tumbling over. "Ahhh, my knight in shining armor!" She said, righting herself.

Nathaniel leaned down and in his trademark drawl said, "Explain to me again why they are always hitting me?"

"Because you are a smart ass, big brother!" Pru stood up straighter and once more gripped onto his shirt. "I am serious though," she affirmed. Then switched to a whispered tone. "Be nice."

Nathaniel looked past Pru to where Aegel stood beside Uncas while her mother gave thanks to both Sampson and Chingachgook. He had spent a year practicing restraint where Aegel was concerned. In all the time that had passed, he just could not get past it. He had tried and often. He had thought of Tanda and what he would have wanted her to do in the same situation. He had considered his little brother's feelings for the girl and Pru repeated words to him on the subject. Though no matter how logically he looked at the situation, something always rubbed him the wrong way and as a result he spent the absolute minimum of time around Aegel that he could. Even peering at her now from a distance he felt distaste flood his mouth. But Pru was right. This was not about him and his feelings, this was about Uncas. So, he pursed his lips and sucked in a deep breath through his nose. "I'll do the best I can," he said and pressed his forehead against hers. "Satisfied?"

"Satisfied," Pru whispered back and gave him a tiny kiss on the cheek.


The mid morning sun was just peaking its bright rays over the zigzagging treetops as the Mohicans disappeared past the tree line of the glade. First Chingachgook followed by Kasa. Then Uncas with Aegel at his heels and finally Nathaniel. Who paused just at the tree line, turned and waved one last goodbye before he too became consumed by the vividly colored reds and yellows of the forest's autumn foliage.

Pru smiled widely and continued to wave even long after they had all disappeared. Her heavy heart, not quite ready to accept their absence from her daily life. Especially when she believed they both needed her the most. She sighed, resigned to the day and slowly lowered her arm. Instead, wrapping it around Martin's lean waist and whispering out into the universe, "Please…please Great Spirit…watch over them. Lord knows they will all need it."


Author's Note: So... a year has passed since the farm was attacked. A year that you all as readers have missed. But you will have more insight into in the next chapter as it will contain several flashbacks into a few key moments that did not make their way into this chapter!

Uncas has his first sexual experience with Aegel. I have always viewed Uncas a the most endearing of them all and thought it fitting that his first romance would be more of a slow burn. Which is to say that he would not just push his loincloth aside and get down to business. They are both still very young and searching to make sense of not just their own feelings but each others as well. And while we are well aware that Uncas ends up with Alice...Aegel plays a key role in shaping Uncas into the quiet (reside in the shadows) man Eric Schweig, so beautifully, portrayed in the film.

I added the scene with Chingachgook and Kasa to show that while it is his desire that Uncas marry and soon...he is still very much a loving father and has his son's back by not just promising him off to someone without so much as a discussion about it. He has already lived through two different types of turmoil where his children's love lives were concerned and especially with Pru and Martin, has learned that he is not the boss of anyone else's heart. And most definitely will not make that mistake again.

I really wanted him to have a heart to heart with another man...and Martin was just the man to do it. It was important for Uncas to hear about someone else's experience with first love. And Martin's was perfect...especially how he said that Pru, unknowingly, made him want to do something he swore he would never do again!

And Chaska returns in the next chapter! Now that they are back at the Delaware camp, I can finally delve a little deeper into his storyline as well!

Thank you to everyone who viewed/reviewed especially, BlueSaffire, Hazel222, AsterLuarel, ELY72, MohawkWoman, Evermore22, BrynnaRaven as always your support is amazing and truly does help keep me moving along!

P.S. And the happiest of almost birthday's to a dear friend...you know who you are ;)

Thanks for reading :)