Here's the third chapter. Sorry if this is taking long. There's so much
to do. No babble this time. On to the story. Note from here on things
get a little jumpy. We mean from present to past. We'll put titles to
help.
Facing the Past chapter three: Practice Round
The Blackbird had sat down a mile from the reservation in a small clearing that would had the large jet. Charles and Logan said their goodbyes while getting dates and times to pick up the girls. Morgana and Alex sealed their farewells with a kiss, both hoping everything would work out. Hunter escorted Saber out of the jet, hugging her goodbye.
"Goodbye, Illya..." she stopped him.
"There are no goodbyes, Sean. Only see you later's."
"Fine. See you later, carid." and he kissed her paw.
Dodger and Shadow finished cleaning up the cards before she got up and walked out. She wanted to say goodbye to Dodger, but for some reason couldn't. She joined the ladies on the ground, then heard a shout.
"Shadow, wait?" Dodger ran out to her. "Don't forget these." He handed her her sword and daggers.
"Thanks." she seemed genuine. "You didn't call me 'pet'." She in shook of the change.
"Out of breathe." he joked. Then he got serious. "Come back to me, pet."
"I'm not going to die huntin', Dodger. Here..." she fumbled about her belt, "watch her for me. My lucky lady."
"The Queen of Hearts."
"Yeah."
"Later, pet." and he walked back into the B-bird, as Shadow so fondly called it. The girls waved as the group took off.
When the jet had disappeared from sight, Morgana got into her carrisack, tossed a bundle to Illya and the two walked off leaving Shadow to watch the rest. Shadow of course hadn't realized this. She was too busy collecting her things. Lifting the sword over her head, something fell to the ground. She picked it up. The King of Hearts, and written on the back it said, "Watch him for me, pet." She laughed, then turned around to notice the other two ladies gone. "Sabe! Morgana! Where are you?!"
"Right here." she heard Nature call from behind her. "Okay, I'm going to go change." Shadow screamed heading off into the bush. When she reappeared Illya and Morgana were stunned.
"What on Mother Earth are you wearing, Shadow?!" Nature screamed.
"What? It's hunting camo. We are going hunting, aren't we?" Shadow asked.
"Not like that." Saber stated laughing. Shadow noticed the other women's attire.
"Here." Moragan stated naturally. "We wear little unless it's winter. Easier to move and hide." She handed Shadow the bundle of leather. "Behind those bushes." she pointed.
"What?!" Shadow screamed.
"It will help you blend into the culture. Besides, it's respectful for my tribe. Shows you appreciate them letting you into their home."
"Fine." Shadow obeyed, screaming, "Bring it on." She returned a couple minutes later wearing the buckskin outfit. She picked up her sword and daggers, re-arming herself. The three picked up what gear they had, and began their walk.
About half an hour later they arrived at the edge of the reservation. Morgana led the way, and was warmly greeted in her native tongue. From a tipi near the center an older woman in her late forties stepped out, arms wide. Morgana ran and embraced her. As they were hugging, Saber commented to Shadow. "Her mother. Spotted Fawn." The two ladies stood and watched.
"Morgana, my deerling. I've missed you so." Her mother cried. Then a tall man, with dark kindly eyes, stepped out. Morgana ran to him as well. About that time, after warm greetings, Nature signaled for her two friends to come forth.
"Mother, father, these are Illya Polav and Shadow." She introduced. "They are my friends from New York."
'Uh, so Morgana's mother re-married or whatever. She's always had a father. Logan must have known that. Dodger was right. It did turn out okay.' Shadow's thoughts were interrupted when she heard they were going to meet the chief.
They came to the brightly decorated tipi and were ushered in. Spotted Fawn said something to Morgana that caught Shadow's ear. When they were seated, she wanted to ask but was given no time before the chief, Chief Whispering Wind, named for his soft spoken yet firm voice, began discussions with Morgana.
It was late when they left the chief's tipi, near lunch time. Spotted Fawn and Grey Wolf invited the girls to eat with them before showing their guests around. The hunting would begin tomorrow. During their lunch of venison cooked on the spit with fresh picked berries and honey, Morgana explained to her mother and father how she had become one of the Pack.
After lunch and a quick nap, Morgana, Illya and Shadow went for a walk. Nature showed them some of her favorite places as a child and the tree that had spawned from the sapling she had accidently caused to grow. After spearing a few fish, they returned to the tipi prepared for them. There Morgana cleaned the fish while Saber rubbed spices on and Shadow put them on the spit. While the fish were cooking, Shadow found opportunity to find out a few things.
"Morgana?" she questioned.
"Yes."
"What did your parents say when we entered the chief's tent?"
"Tipi." she corrected. "They were very pleases that my guests humbled themselves by wearing out traditional garb."
"Oh." Shadow cocked her head. "One more thing. Your father's name in 'Grey Wolf'. I thought you never knew you father."
"I never knew my birth father. When I was thirteen, Grey Wolf married my mother. As for the name thing. We don't usually have last names. When I started my studies," she said handing each a piece of leather, "I took the name Greywolf to honor my father, the Chief's son, for taking me into his family."
"Did you know this, Sabe?" Shadow asked. Saber shook her head yes. "Why wasn't I told this stuff?"
"It's not public knowledge, Shadow. Morgana told me one day when we were talking."
"Oh." and she took a bite of her fish. They spent the rest of the night peacefully.
Back at the mansion. After the girls were dropped off.
Dodger, Quinn, Hunter and Logan were sitting in one of the lounges. "I don't know about you guys, but I am bored." Dodger blurted out loud.
"I know what you mean. It's kind of dull around here with out the girls." Quinn commented.
"And way to quiet with Shadow gone. At least she always kept things interesting." Hunter said.
"Speak for yourself, bub. I can finally turn a corner and not run into one of her traps." Logan stated.
"That was what was so entertaining. You never knew what that girl was going to do. She doesn't always have the best judgment, but she always lands on her feet. True thief through and through." Quinn said.
"She's a sly little devil, isn't she." Dodger stated with admiration. The others locked at him.
"You admire her, don't you?" Scott said, entering the room.
Dodger just blinked. "To a point. Yes." he stated firmly. "She's spent the first fifteen years of her life with a madman. God knows what she's been through! I mean, Lord, she's taken care of herself this long and she's only eighteen!"
"Whoa." Logan breathed.
"She's had to be tough. She had to be...to survive." Dodger seemed sad. Shadow never talked to any one about the very deep things of her short past. Not even to him.
"Cool your jets, Dodger." Logan stepped in. "No one's sayin' she ain't. We're just sayin' that with her, you've got to keep on your toes. No one's dissin' her or anything."
"I know. It just...it just seems like..." Dodger tried.
"Like what?"
"Like...maybe..you go too hard on her sometimes, is all."
"That's because," Logan admitted, "I know that if she isn't challenged or pushed, she'll lose her patience and concentration. That'll cause her to make stupid mistakes." Dodger sat back down at this. "Which could get her killed."
"But you never push Morgana. And like Shadow said, Morgana's more your daughter anyway."
"She said that? When?" The two had obviously forgotten the others in the room.
"A while back."
"For one thing, Morgana has a father. Shadow didn't. A kid shouldn't grow up with out parents."
"I did." Dodger mumbled real low.
"Uh?" "Nothing." Dodger shrugged off. "Let's do something." He wanted to change the subject, and did.
"Like what?" Alex asked, coming back into the conversation.
"Any one up for Black Jack?" Dodger asked.
"Black Jack?" Logan teased. "Let's play a man's game, bub."
"Like what?" The male Pack members asked.
"Poker." Logan grunted. "Cyc, go get the Cajun. He'll want in on this." He laughed. "You boys are gonna learn something now."
"Oh dear." Hunter sighed.
Back at the reservation the next morning.
Shadow woke that morning feeling somewhat more rested from sleeping on the ground than in her bed. "Must be the deer hides." she said to herself. The morning was crisp, and as she turned to find something to throw over her shoulders, Shadow noticed she was alone. "Not again." and she left the tipi, grabbing a hide as she went. "Morgana! Illya!" she hollered.
"They went to pick fresh berries when the sun rose." Grey Wolf informed pulling the hide off of her.
"Hey." she cried. "I'm cold."
"Try this." He wrapped a larger looking hide around her, fur side in.
"That's a big deer."
"No. Not a deer. A buffalo. Warmer hides."
"Thanks. I'm going to go find the girls." She walked off.
"That strange little shadow."
Shadow had caught up with Morgana and Illya at a berry bush near the entrance of the reservation. "Hey, gals, did you forget someone this morning?"
"You were sleeping peacefully. We didn't want to disturb you." Saber said handing her a basket half full of wild berries. "You needed your rest." "Oh, and you ladies don't?" Shadow asked eating a few of the berries.
"Don't forget, dear Shadow, I am use to this life. Though I may be gone from it a lot, doesn't mean I've changed. And Saber,...well, Sabe's a cat. They rest differently than humans."
"Okay. So when's the hunt? Does a big group of people get together and go after the deer?" she had obviously forgotten the conversation before.
"This isn't like a fox hunt, Shadow. Most hunt on their own. I usually do, or did. Right now," Morgana went on, "we need to finish picking out breakfast, then you two can practice with the bows."
"What about guns?"
"No guns, Shadow. Not in this tribe."
"Oh." Shadow breathed.
"All done here." Saber stated. The girls headed back to their tipi and ate breakfast.
About eight o'clock in the morning, Nature led them to a makeshift practice range. On the way, she stopped and talked to old friends she had grown up with. When they reached the range, there were others, young children, already practicing.
"First hunt." Morgana said to Sabe and Shadow as they looked on. "If they do well, they will be greatly respected." Then she said something to the young boys and girls in her native tongue. "In the old days, even my days, girls were not allowed to hunt. Much has changed. Some of the best hunters in this tribe are women, young," she pointed to a girl in her teens who bowed respectfully, "and old." She cast a glance to an older woman had lost most of the dark hair of her youth.
"Yeah, go girl power!" Shadow cried. "So, were you a great hunter growing up?"
"When I was sixteen the elders of the tribe decided that with changing times we would need to adapt. Meaning women could hunt."
"So your sweet sixteen was a hunting party." Saber commented more than asked.
"What's a 'sweet sixteen'?" Shadow asked.
"We'll explain later." They laughed. "Rippling Water taught me how to hunt, both with bow and knife."
"Rippling Water?" Illya and Shadow questioned.
"An elder lady who, when she was but seventeen, disguised herself to help fight against settlers taking our land."
"Wow. She must be very old or very dead by now." Shadow said dryly.
"She has seen many moons pass and will see many more to come." Nature said proudly.
"And she taught you to hunt and fight."
"Not to fight. I thought myself. I needed something to do other than studies. I had no friends, so I had the time. All the children called me the half-breed. That is until the chief gave me the name Nature and claimed me as his heir." She smiled. When the good chief went, she would rule her tribe. When Alex's parents went, he would take over the family wealth. Think of the possibilities they could accomplish for the Cherokee Nation together. This was, of course, one of the many thoughts she had of him. "Ah, Illya, Shadow, I would be honored to introduce you to Rippling Water. Rippling Water, these are my friends from the city. They wish to hunt with us this year."
"Very good, young Earth. It is a pleasure to meet you, ladies. I have no doubt Earth here has been talking about me. She tends to do that."
"All good things, ma'am." Saber praised.
"Water, they require bows and arrows to use. Do you have any to spare?" Nature asked. Rippling Water turned into a lean-to hut and reappeared with two bows and quivers of arrows. "Thank you." The three said in unison.
"Teach them well, Earth. Make you tribe proud."
"As is my life's wish." Nature answered back. The Pack girls went back to the practice range.
"Why did she call you 'Earth'?" Shadow asked.
"Water and my mother were best friends. When I was born, Water was midwife for my mother. Without help, both of us might have died. My mom named me 'Earth' because she said without Water's help, I wouldn't have come into the world."
"So where did you get 'Morgana'?" Shadow asked.
"When I started home school, I needed an...acceptable name. I choose 'Morgana' from the books that I read." She stopped, raising her bow. "Now, shall we?"
The day before.
Logan, Remy, Scott, Dodger, Sean and Alex all sat quietly at the card table. Logan smoking a cigar, filling the air with smoke, discarded two cards, and drew two more. They went around the table until each gentlemen changed cards. After a long thought process Logan, Scott, Dodger and Sean all folded to Quinn's raise of 500 dollars.
"It be down t'the two thieves, mon ami." Gambit said cruelly. "Let us see who be bluffin'."
"Now, Remy, I don't think this would be bluffin'." Quinn said laying down his hand.
"Royal Flush!" Gambit cried.
"Beat ya good, Cajun." Logan barked. Quinn gathered the chips. "Now I expect all to pay up eventually." He laughed as he left the table. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some training to do in the weight room."
* * * * *
It was Shadow's turn to shoot. Saber had went after Nature showed them the proper way to hold the bow, arrow and correct stance. Turned out, Illya had a great shot. Almost as good as Morgana when she first started out. Shadow was up and having a minor difficulty.
"I can't keep it steady. I wish I had my sword."
One of the men, about Shadow's age, standing near, made a comment that sent both Morgana and Illya into hysterics.
"Wait," Shadow questioned, "you know what he said?" She directed to Saber, "How?"
"Morgana's been teaching me," she answered.
"And why not me? I want to learn."
"When would you have time between sessions, training, sleep, being chased by Logan and playing Black Jack with Dodger?"
"Hey, playing Black Jack with Dodger keeps me safe from being chased by Wolverine."
"Whatever, keep practicing."
* * * * *
"Guys, I swear dat man is cheating," Remy said, still stunned by Alex's win.
"Chill my Cajun friend." Hunter said.
"Besides, we don't know if he cheated or not. There's only one of us here that carries cards with him," Wolverine pointed out.
"Fine. Lady Luck be cheating on Gambit then."
"No more poker for tonight I think would be the safest," Dodger added. The other men agreed. And as an after thought, Dodger said, "I wonder how the girls are doing?"
End chapter 3
Facing the Past chapter three: Practice Round
The Blackbird had sat down a mile from the reservation in a small clearing that would had the large jet. Charles and Logan said their goodbyes while getting dates and times to pick up the girls. Morgana and Alex sealed their farewells with a kiss, both hoping everything would work out. Hunter escorted Saber out of the jet, hugging her goodbye.
"Goodbye, Illya..." she stopped him.
"There are no goodbyes, Sean. Only see you later's."
"Fine. See you later, carid." and he kissed her paw.
Dodger and Shadow finished cleaning up the cards before she got up and walked out. She wanted to say goodbye to Dodger, but for some reason couldn't. She joined the ladies on the ground, then heard a shout.
"Shadow, wait?" Dodger ran out to her. "Don't forget these." He handed her her sword and daggers.
"Thanks." she seemed genuine. "You didn't call me 'pet'." She in shook of the change.
"Out of breathe." he joked. Then he got serious. "Come back to me, pet."
"I'm not going to die huntin', Dodger. Here..." she fumbled about her belt, "watch her for me. My lucky lady."
"The Queen of Hearts."
"Yeah."
"Later, pet." and he walked back into the B-bird, as Shadow so fondly called it. The girls waved as the group took off.
When the jet had disappeared from sight, Morgana got into her carrisack, tossed a bundle to Illya and the two walked off leaving Shadow to watch the rest. Shadow of course hadn't realized this. She was too busy collecting her things. Lifting the sword over her head, something fell to the ground. She picked it up. The King of Hearts, and written on the back it said, "Watch him for me, pet." She laughed, then turned around to notice the other two ladies gone. "Sabe! Morgana! Where are you?!"
"Right here." she heard Nature call from behind her. "Okay, I'm going to go change." Shadow screamed heading off into the bush. When she reappeared Illya and Morgana were stunned.
"What on Mother Earth are you wearing, Shadow?!" Nature screamed.
"What? It's hunting camo. We are going hunting, aren't we?" Shadow asked.
"Not like that." Saber stated laughing. Shadow noticed the other women's attire.
"Here." Moragan stated naturally. "We wear little unless it's winter. Easier to move and hide." She handed Shadow the bundle of leather. "Behind those bushes." she pointed.
"What?!" Shadow screamed.
"It will help you blend into the culture. Besides, it's respectful for my tribe. Shows you appreciate them letting you into their home."
"Fine." Shadow obeyed, screaming, "Bring it on." She returned a couple minutes later wearing the buckskin outfit. She picked up her sword and daggers, re-arming herself. The three picked up what gear they had, and began their walk.
About half an hour later they arrived at the edge of the reservation. Morgana led the way, and was warmly greeted in her native tongue. From a tipi near the center an older woman in her late forties stepped out, arms wide. Morgana ran and embraced her. As they were hugging, Saber commented to Shadow. "Her mother. Spotted Fawn." The two ladies stood and watched.
"Morgana, my deerling. I've missed you so." Her mother cried. Then a tall man, with dark kindly eyes, stepped out. Morgana ran to him as well. About that time, after warm greetings, Nature signaled for her two friends to come forth.
"Mother, father, these are Illya Polav and Shadow." She introduced. "They are my friends from New York."
'Uh, so Morgana's mother re-married or whatever. She's always had a father. Logan must have known that. Dodger was right. It did turn out okay.' Shadow's thoughts were interrupted when she heard they were going to meet the chief.
They came to the brightly decorated tipi and were ushered in. Spotted Fawn said something to Morgana that caught Shadow's ear. When they were seated, she wanted to ask but was given no time before the chief, Chief Whispering Wind, named for his soft spoken yet firm voice, began discussions with Morgana.
It was late when they left the chief's tipi, near lunch time. Spotted Fawn and Grey Wolf invited the girls to eat with them before showing their guests around. The hunting would begin tomorrow. During their lunch of venison cooked on the spit with fresh picked berries and honey, Morgana explained to her mother and father how she had become one of the Pack.
After lunch and a quick nap, Morgana, Illya and Shadow went for a walk. Nature showed them some of her favorite places as a child and the tree that had spawned from the sapling she had accidently caused to grow. After spearing a few fish, they returned to the tipi prepared for them. There Morgana cleaned the fish while Saber rubbed spices on and Shadow put them on the spit. While the fish were cooking, Shadow found opportunity to find out a few things.
"Morgana?" she questioned.
"Yes."
"What did your parents say when we entered the chief's tent?"
"Tipi." she corrected. "They were very pleases that my guests humbled themselves by wearing out traditional garb."
"Oh." Shadow cocked her head. "One more thing. Your father's name in 'Grey Wolf'. I thought you never knew you father."
"I never knew my birth father. When I was thirteen, Grey Wolf married my mother. As for the name thing. We don't usually have last names. When I started my studies," she said handing each a piece of leather, "I took the name Greywolf to honor my father, the Chief's son, for taking me into his family."
"Did you know this, Sabe?" Shadow asked. Saber shook her head yes. "Why wasn't I told this stuff?"
"It's not public knowledge, Shadow. Morgana told me one day when we were talking."
"Oh." and she took a bite of her fish. They spent the rest of the night peacefully.
Back at the mansion. After the girls were dropped off.
Dodger, Quinn, Hunter and Logan were sitting in one of the lounges. "I don't know about you guys, but I am bored." Dodger blurted out loud.
"I know what you mean. It's kind of dull around here with out the girls." Quinn commented.
"And way to quiet with Shadow gone. At least she always kept things interesting." Hunter said.
"Speak for yourself, bub. I can finally turn a corner and not run into one of her traps." Logan stated.
"That was what was so entertaining. You never knew what that girl was going to do. She doesn't always have the best judgment, but she always lands on her feet. True thief through and through." Quinn said.
"She's a sly little devil, isn't she." Dodger stated with admiration. The others locked at him.
"You admire her, don't you?" Scott said, entering the room.
Dodger just blinked. "To a point. Yes." he stated firmly. "She's spent the first fifteen years of her life with a madman. God knows what she's been through! I mean, Lord, she's taken care of herself this long and she's only eighteen!"
"Whoa." Logan breathed.
"She's had to be tough. She had to be...to survive." Dodger seemed sad. Shadow never talked to any one about the very deep things of her short past. Not even to him.
"Cool your jets, Dodger." Logan stepped in. "No one's sayin' she ain't. We're just sayin' that with her, you've got to keep on your toes. No one's dissin' her or anything."
"I know. It just...it just seems like..." Dodger tried.
"Like what?"
"Like...maybe..you go too hard on her sometimes, is all."
"That's because," Logan admitted, "I know that if she isn't challenged or pushed, she'll lose her patience and concentration. That'll cause her to make stupid mistakes." Dodger sat back down at this. "Which could get her killed."
"But you never push Morgana. And like Shadow said, Morgana's more your daughter anyway."
"She said that? When?" The two had obviously forgotten the others in the room.
"A while back."
"For one thing, Morgana has a father. Shadow didn't. A kid shouldn't grow up with out parents."
"I did." Dodger mumbled real low.
"Uh?" "Nothing." Dodger shrugged off. "Let's do something." He wanted to change the subject, and did.
"Like what?" Alex asked, coming back into the conversation.
"Any one up for Black Jack?" Dodger asked.
"Black Jack?" Logan teased. "Let's play a man's game, bub."
"Like what?" The male Pack members asked.
"Poker." Logan grunted. "Cyc, go get the Cajun. He'll want in on this." He laughed. "You boys are gonna learn something now."
"Oh dear." Hunter sighed.
Back at the reservation the next morning.
Shadow woke that morning feeling somewhat more rested from sleeping on the ground than in her bed. "Must be the deer hides." she said to herself. The morning was crisp, and as she turned to find something to throw over her shoulders, Shadow noticed she was alone. "Not again." and she left the tipi, grabbing a hide as she went. "Morgana! Illya!" she hollered.
"They went to pick fresh berries when the sun rose." Grey Wolf informed pulling the hide off of her.
"Hey." she cried. "I'm cold."
"Try this." He wrapped a larger looking hide around her, fur side in.
"That's a big deer."
"No. Not a deer. A buffalo. Warmer hides."
"Thanks. I'm going to go find the girls." She walked off.
"That strange little shadow."
Shadow had caught up with Morgana and Illya at a berry bush near the entrance of the reservation. "Hey, gals, did you forget someone this morning?"
"You were sleeping peacefully. We didn't want to disturb you." Saber said handing her a basket half full of wild berries. "You needed your rest." "Oh, and you ladies don't?" Shadow asked eating a few of the berries.
"Don't forget, dear Shadow, I am use to this life. Though I may be gone from it a lot, doesn't mean I've changed. And Saber,...well, Sabe's a cat. They rest differently than humans."
"Okay. So when's the hunt? Does a big group of people get together and go after the deer?" she had obviously forgotten the conversation before.
"This isn't like a fox hunt, Shadow. Most hunt on their own. I usually do, or did. Right now," Morgana went on, "we need to finish picking out breakfast, then you two can practice with the bows."
"What about guns?"
"No guns, Shadow. Not in this tribe."
"Oh." Shadow breathed.
"All done here." Saber stated. The girls headed back to their tipi and ate breakfast.
About eight o'clock in the morning, Nature led them to a makeshift practice range. On the way, she stopped and talked to old friends she had grown up with. When they reached the range, there were others, young children, already practicing.
"First hunt." Morgana said to Sabe and Shadow as they looked on. "If they do well, they will be greatly respected." Then she said something to the young boys and girls in her native tongue. "In the old days, even my days, girls were not allowed to hunt. Much has changed. Some of the best hunters in this tribe are women, young," she pointed to a girl in her teens who bowed respectfully, "and old." She cast a glance to an older woman had lost most of the dark hair of her youth.
"Yeah, go girl power!" Shadow cried. "So, were you a great hunter growing up?"
"When I was sixteen the elders of the tribe decided that with changing times we would need to adapt. Meaning women could hunt."
"So your sweet sixteen was a hunting party." Saber commented more than asked.
"What's a 'sweet sixteen'?" Shadow asked.
"We'll explain later." They laughed. "Rippling Water taught me how to hunt, both with bow and knife."
"Rippling Water?" Illya and Shadow questioned.
"An elder lady who, when she was but seventeen, disguised herself to help fight against settlers taking our land."
"Wow. She must be very old or very dead by now." Shadow said dryly.
"She has seen many moons pass and will see many more to come." Nature said proudly.
"And she taught you to hunt and fight."
"Not to fight. I thought myself. I needed something to do other than studies. I had no friends, so I had the time. All the children called me the half-breed. That is until the chief gave me the name Nature and claimed me as his heir." She smiled. When the good chief went, she would rule her tribe. When Alex's parents went, he would take over the family wealth. Think of the possibilities they could accomplish for the Cherokee Nation together. This was, of course, one of the many thoughts she had of him. "Ah, Illya, Shadow, I would be honored to introduce you to Rippling Water. Rippling Water, these are my friends from the city. They wish to hunt with us this year."
"Very good, young Earth. It is a pleasure to meet you, ladies. I have no doubt Earth here has been talking about me. She tends to do that."
"All good things, ma'am." Saber praised.
"Water, they require bows and arrows to use. Do you have any to spare?" Nature asked. Rippling Water turned into a lean-to hut and reappeared with two bows and quivers of arrows. "Thank you." The three said in unison.
"Teach them well, Earth. Make you tribe proud."
"As is my life's wish." Nature answered back. The Pack girls went back to the practice range.
"Why did she call you 'Earth'?" Shadow asked.
"Water and my mother were best friends. When I was born, Water was midwife for my mother. Without help, both of us might have died. My mom named me 'Earth' because she said without Water's help, I wouldn't have come into the world."
"So where did you get 'Morgana'?" Shadow asked.
"When I started home school, I needed an...acceptable name. I choose 'Morgana' from the books that I read." She stopped, raising her bow. "Now, shall we?"
The day before.
Logan, Remy, Scott, Dodger, Sean and Alex all sat quietly at the card table. Logan smoking a cigar, filling the air with smoke, discarded two cards, and drew two more. They went around the table until each gentlemen changed cards. After a long thought process Logan, Scott, Dodger and Sean all folded to Quinn's raise of 500 dollars.
"It be down t'the two thieves, mon ami." Gambit said cruelly. "Let us see who be bluffin'."
"Now, Remy, I don't think this would be bluffin'." Quinn said laying down his hand.
"Royal Flush!" Gambit cried.
"Beat ya good, Cajun." Logan barked. Quinn gathered the chips. "Now I expect all to pay up eventually." He laughed as he left the table. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some training to do in the weight room."
* * * * *
It was Shadow's turn to shoot. Saber had went after Nature showed them the proper way to hold the bow, arrow and correct stance. Turned out, Illya had a great shot. Almost as good as Morgana when she first started out. Shadow was up and having a minor difficulty.
"I can't keep it steady. I wish I had my sword."
One of the men, about Shadow's age, standing near, made a comment that sent both Morgana and Illya into hysterics.
"Wait," Shadow questioned, "you know what he said?" She directed to Saber, "How?"
"Morgana's been teaching me," she answered.
"And why not me? I want to learn."
"When would you have time between sessions, training, sleep, being chased by Logan and playing Black Jack with Dodger?"
"Hey, playing Black Jack with Dodger keeps me safe from being chased by Wolverine."
"Whatever, keep practicing."
* * * * *
"Guys, I swear dat man is cheating," Remy said, still stunned by Alex's win.
"Chill my Cajun friend." Hunter said.
"Besides, we don't know if he cheated or not. There's only one of us here that carries cards with him," Wolverine pointed out.
"Fine. Lady Luck be cheating on Gambit then."
"No more poker for tonight I think would be the safest," Dodger added. The other men agreed. And as an after thought, Dodger said, "I wonder how the girls are doing?"
End chapter 3