Disclaimer: Found in part one.
Authors Note: Sorry this is taking so long, my muse doesn't want to continue functioning, burnt out like the rest of me I guess. What can I say? My teachers left three months worth of work for the last two weeks of school. Anyway back to the point, this part is a little shorter then I might have liked but like I said, getting words from my muse has been like trying to squeeze water out of rocks (good analogy, huh?). Anyway, also this part of the story has taken something of a different direction so I'd love your opinions on how you like this part!! In fact, I'm going to need them if I'm ever going to be able to finish this story. Anyway, I guess the story can finally begin.
~*~
Shots. Yes, she definitely heard shots. She sat up from her resting-place and listened silently. Faintly, off in the distance she heard men shouting and bullets exploding violently from guns. In fear, she got up and began running. It was damp and cold outside. There was a chilling mist falling from the sky and as she quickened her pace, her flowing black hair started getting wet. With every step her beautiful wet locks came forward and slapped her in the face. She ran quickly. It wasn't long ago that she had considered giving up on life. She was getting older and years on the run had caused her to feel tired beyond her years. However one thought of her precious little girl had put an end to any thoughts of that kind. Her main goal now, was to try to find a way to escape these monsters, who called themselves men and get back to her daughter and hopefully the soul mate she had lost. She could vaguely remember thinking that she could live without him. But could she really call this life? The only thing akin to real life she'd experienced in the five years without him was her daughter, a life created from them both. She quickened her pace as a bullet hitting far to close for comfort snapped her out of her reverie. She gracefully jumped into the thick brush hoping she hadn't lost her touch…hoping she could still hide in the cover without being caught…
~*~
Star had gone to bed happy with the way things were because while she wished her mama was with her she had done what mama had asked and that made her very proud. Except that when Star had gone to bed she'd had a bad dream. It wasn't clear in her mind but she knew without doubt that her mother was in trouble. She could no longer sleep. Only stay awake and feel sad. "I miss mama," Star said to the stars in the sky as she watched them. Mama had always told her that there was always someone in the heavens who would listen and although Star was far to young to fully comprehend anything religious, she liked the idea and talked often towards the heavens when she needed to speak what was on her heart. "I'm 'fraid she will not come back. She has been gone so long. She promised she would try to come back to me. But what if she could not? What if I never see mama again, what will I do?"
Vin listened silently to his little girl. He had been surprised when he had peaked in on Star just before he was preparing to leave Mary's and found his daughter awake and speaking. He had wondered whom she had been speaking to before sneaking silently, further into the room. He had been watching her ever since. Speaking to the sky, confiding in it her fears. As he listened to the desperation and despair in the little girl's voice he felt compelled to do something to allay her fears, but he could thing of no good words, no perfect phrases to ease her pain. However, as he watched Star further, as he saw that tears were now eminent, he racked his brain to think of something to say to her. But he could think of absolutely nothing to say to the little girl that he hardly knew, but already within the span of fifteen short hours, had fallen utterly in love with.
A tiny, painfilled sob racked the room and without thinking any further on it, Vin spoke, "It's okay Darlin'," He said this as soothingly as he could.
"No it's not!" Star cried, not feeling at all surprised to see him, also finding herself glad, although she wasn't sure why. "Mama is in trouble!"
"How do you know?" Vin asked trying to be comforting while also trying to fight off the worry he felt when he thought of Kaiyana in trouble.
Star felt a sudden swell of anger. It was beyond her years and came from maturity; she by all rights shouldn't have, but possessed none the less. However, it came in the form of something akin to a tantrum and quickly turned into nothing less. No matter how mature she was still a child and it fueled a very adult like anger. "You said you love her!" Star yelled while crying hysterically.
"I do!" Vin cried defensively.
"Then why are you here, why aren't you helping my mama!?!" With those yelled words Star seated herself on the floor and pulled her knees to her chest and started rocking herself back and forth.
"Darlin' I don't know where your mama is! And even if I did you and me both know she'd skin me alive if I went after her. She wants me to take care of you." Vin ended this soothingly and softly hoping to get through to the little girl.
This was now a full-blown tantrum and could be defined as nothing else. "But I want my mama!"
"She's not here," Vin soothed.
"But I want her, she is in trouble, I want her!"
"How do you know she's in trouble?"
"Because," Star fairly screamed, "I saw it in a dream, she was running and there were men with guns chasing her and she was sad and cold and wet and wanted not to be there but there was no one to help her and she did not know what to do. My mama never does not know what to do. But she did not, and my mama is never scared neither, but she was," Star was now in complete hysterics, while rocking back and forth and talking more and more quietly while crying more and more.
Vin scootched closer to her and pulled her into a tight hug kissing her forehead gently and soothing her. "It's all gonna be okay, Darlin'. Now listen," He took Star by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes hoping his words would sink in, "You and me both know your mama. And we both no that no matter what trouble there is, if anybody can get outa whatever trouble there is, it's you mama. Ain't I right?"
"Yes," Star said, trying to gain some control of her tears, despite herself, his words made her feel better.
~*~
"Where is that Indian bitch?" Kaiyana heard on of the men question.
"I dunno, Hank, but I didn't see the little brat with her," An ugly oaf of a man commented, both he and his compatriot unaware that their prey was only a few feet away in the brush. "Maybe the little brat is 'round here somewhere, maybe iffin' we git the little shit…"
"Oh, if we could git that little bastard, the whore would surely come to save her," Hank said. At his stupid, ignorant, and cruel words Kaiyana felt her anger well up within her. Further, the man, if one could really call him that, had threatened her baby. She may have no longer cared what people did to her or called her, she may no longer be as prideful and stubborn, these monsters may have been able to beat her spirit, almost into submission, but no one messes with her baby. The fighter within her surfaced and she was only slightly aware, through her anger, of the plans her mind was making. She was calculating ways to take the men out and trying to figure out where the rest of the men were, she knew there were more then two. She found herself realizing that it had been a long time since her mind had been so keen. Since, she'd been filled with such adrenaline, and such life. Then again, no one had ever so directly threatened her very soul, her little girl. That was just one line that she would never allow anyone to cross. The more she thought about it the more she decided that she had to get back to her little girl and Vin. That name remained sweet in her mind. After all this time she still loved him as much, if not more, then she ever had. Her mind dwelled on these thoughts, on these few things that could still bring her happiness…that is until Hank decided to speak once more.
"Come on, the longer we set here the further the bitch'll git."
"Nah, hold up, that little brat must be 'round here somewhere…"
"Yeah, I betcha yer right," Hank commented a sudden sadistic glimmer in his eyes.
Kaiyana saw his eyes. She saw that look. That monster wanted to hurt her little girl, her precious angel! Well, she simply wouldn't have it. She felt a swell of rage the likes of which she had never experienced before and likely would never feel again. Without anymore thought on the subject Kaiyana sprinted, literally, into action. She moved quickly and to her soon to be victims, she moved with absolute and utter silence.
Kaiyana reached them within moments. Her first move was to couple her hands and in hammer-like motion hit Hank square in the back of the neck, sending his head jarring, and knocking him from the world of conscious thought almost immediately.
The situation had unfolded so quickly that Hank was never aware of what was happening, because by the time he was remotely aware of Kaiyana's presence, he was knocked unconscious. While his companion had little more time then that. In the time it took for the man to square himself to Kaiyana's shoulders she quickly brought around her left leg high, hitting him squarely on the side of the head, in one smooth and graceful movement. As his, limp, unconscious body hit the ground Kaiyana could only think of one thing; Nobody messed with her baby. With that she stripped the two men down to their birthday suits and tied them to a nearby oak. Then took their clothes to a swamp and dumped them in. They wouldn't be going anywhere soon, and that suited Kaiyana just fine, she thought as she removed most of the heavy equipment from their horses backs and jumped on the healthier looking of the two, guiding the other with a lead-line. She sat still for a moment contemplating what to do next, before calculating the dangerous direction of Four Corners. As she headed in that direction she was only vaguely aware of the perils she knew she would face on the long treck. How could she pay them any attention? When finally she was reenergized and had the chance, heart, and spirit to finally make it back to her family.