A/N: Easter Egg for X-Mass season:

Why did I pick the names Mike Campbell and Bastian Summers? PM me. All who figure it out will be mentioned in the next story (The Good And The Bad Medicine) Notes.

Chapter 14 - Solace and Goodbyes

Cole was woken by the noises of the cattle outside. All the time he was awake his heart ached. He was sure it would kill him one day.

Getting up slowly, he tried to sit first. His headache had lasted for three weeks now. George Harris had been over to check on his Triad and had heard the news. He checked on Cole too. The Triad's Advisor had said the same things as everyone but added that he could be lucky to be alive. Cole shook his head over the irony - alive - he wished he had died that day. He stroked over his backhead and carefully felt for the scar it was about four inches long. They had to cut his hair on the spot. The Absarokee cut their hair anyway if someone they love died.

The teen reached for a knife on his shelf and started cutting the rest to the same length about a hand long. He needed a bath or at least some washing. Stripping down his long shirt he started washing at the wash table. Goosebumps caused by the cold water showed on his entire body but Cole didn't care.

After putting on some fresh cloth he felt a little better. He spread out his blanket on the bed and rolled it up to take it with him. Cole had decided to ride for a visit to the Absarokee.

His family was very gentle to him and tried to make it all better for him, but Cole needed to see Shewa. She would understand and she would want to know what had happened. Usually, Cole and Daniel would have long been there, to help them move to their winter camp. He didn't plan to take Daniel with him this time.

The others were sitting at the dining table, eating breakfast. Cole didn't feel hungry though he would eat something. The ride was long and he still had a bad headache. An empty stomach wouldn't make the ride easier.

Placing his bedroll on the chaise lounge he took a seat at the table. Feeling all eyes on him he didn't dare to look up in anybody's face and concentrated on the empty plate before him.

"Do you want some coffee, Cole?" Mike asked.

Cole shoved his mug over to let Mike fill it with steaming dark liquid. "Thanks," was the only reply he gave.

"Where are you going?" Daniel tried to start a conversation.

"'m riding over to the Crow - alone." He answered, giving the last word more weight to stop his cousin from asking to come along.

He heard him sighing but Daniel didn't say a word to it. Cole knew his cousin wanted to see Shewa but watching the two together beaming in joy at each other, even if they hadn't admitted their love yet, would kill him.

*** The Wild West Triad - prequel ***

Mike came over to the barn to help Cole prepare his horse. No one said anything against the teen's plans to ride to the Absarokee. They all were grateful that Cole seemed to have decided to live again though he was far away from being the person he had been before Carolyn's death. The Knight placed the horse blanket on top of the black stallion while Cole stayed silent, only watching him. They all avoided speaking about the events, to not upset him. He was grateful for it. Cole didn't want to speak with the others about the day his heart had been torn apart.

"Cole, can I have a short talk with you?" Mike asked, carefully watching his reaction.

The dark-haired-teen raised a brow, did Campbell really have to talk to him about it right now? But he nodded briefly.

"Ok, it's this, I have to go to Liberty before the first snowfall to check on the other hunters and I thought I'm gonna take you with me as part of your training. You will also have the opportunity to meet others. Maybe make some new friends, do some hunts and we'll see what else. A while away from here would be good for you, I think." Mike looked at him hopefully.

Wow, that was a heavy piece to swallow, not a short talk. Cole thought for a few minutes while closing the saddle belts around his stallion. Maybe The Knight was right. The opportunity to prove himself to Mike and other hunters would give him a task he could focus on. The silence of Wyoming can be the balm to your soul but it also can crush you under its weight and right now Cole felt pretty much crushed. "Yeah, maybe you are right. When do you want to leave?"

Cole watched Mike's face taking a surprised expression that he agreed to accompany him on the journey. "We should ride at the end of the week. I don't want to get into bad weather."

"I'll be back in three days." Cole fixed his bedroll to the saddle and swung his saddlebags over it. The two exited the barn together in silence, leading Cole's horse outside into the yard.

Cole climbed up in the saddle, turning to Mike. "I know why you're doing this - you all want to help - maybe it will, though I'm not so sure yet. See you in a few days." Spurring his horse to a faster ride, Cole left the Wilmington property for the first time since the day that had changed everything.

*** The Wild West Triad - prequel ***

Cole did not take the direct path to the camp. He had to do something else first.

The low-hanging trees had already turned to a beautiful yellow and red color. Carolyn would have loved to see that. He felt the tears in his eyes as he looked over the plain water of the hidden pond where he had loved Carolyn for the first time.

He didn't stay long at the place of memories. He couldn't bear it. His only reason to come here again was a symbolic funeral.

Laying the Tiger Eye pendant to rest in the earth hole he had dug out, Cole shoved the loosened earth back on top. This would be Carolyn's shrine. A place where he had good memories. It felt right to let it rest here. He placed some even stones around the spot into a ring and filled the middle with more stones, creating a small cone. Then he left the pond quickly.

Riding towards Grey Feather's usual camp place he saw them already preparing the first things to move to their winter camp. The dogs announced his arrival by happily barking. Cole spotted Shewa and was glad about his decision. He longed for something Daniel and Samuel couldn't give him right now. Shewa had a kind of calmness and solace he never felt with anyone else.

*** The Wild West Triad - prequel ***

Shewa looked up by the dog barking and saw Cole riding into the camp. 'Finally,' she thought, already searching for Daniel who usually came with Cole. But he seemed to be alone. Something was different in his appearance. She watched him climbing off his horse much too slowly. Then he turned. His eyes told her something was wrong. The pain in them was hard to ignore. When Cole took off his hat and revealed his cut hair, she knew something terrible had happened. Ice cold shivers of fear ran over her body. "Cole, what happened?"

Cole pulled her in an embrace and the contact broke his silence. Her usually happy and open-hearted friend broke crying down in her arms. "She is dead, Shewa. Carolyn is dead."

Together they went to the ground. Shewa felt the pain taking over her own heart. It was so much she started crying too.

When they found the strength to get up again they headed to Grey Feather's teepee. Shewa guided her friend inside, telling her father the little she knew. Cole didn't add something to it but fell completely silent. Her father seemed to know what Cole needed now and took Little Crow outside with him to help him finish Shewa's work.

The girl brought an arm around Cole and pulled him closer. He laid his head to rest in her lap, staring into the embers of the fireplace in the center of the tent while she stroked carefully through his now short hair. She hadn't missed the big fresh scar on the back of his head. He would tell her. She waited. Slowly Cole started telling everything that happened since he had asked his love to marry him. Shewa listened silently, her heart getting more heavy with every sentence. The tragedy of the events that followed let her understand Cole's heartache.

*** The Wild West Triad - prequel ***

Telling Shewa the whole story took a load off Cole's heart, he hadn't been aware of carrying it. It hadn't been his intention to tell her everything. But the words came easily out of his mouth once he had started speaking.

He had fallen asleep, crying his soul out, snuggled on Shewa's lap like a toddler. Now he woke with burning eyes in the early morning hours. Shewa was still asleep with a hand on his shoulder in a sitting position that didn't look comfortable. Cole carefully laid her on the fur they had been sitting on and tucked the blanket around his friend. Little Crow was asleep at the far corner too. Only Grey Feather seemed to be up early.

Cole climbed out of the teepee tugging his blanket around him to shield his body from the fresh morning air where he found the older man looking to the horizon.

Claiming the place next to him, Tanner started the conversation. "I'm sorry."

"For what, my friend?"

"That I load off my problems at your doorstep and cry the whole night in your teepee."

"You know crying is nothing to be ashamed of. A soldier who can not cry can not love and never will gain his highest strength. Crying is no sign of weakness but of being a man who honors life. Do you feel better today?" Grey Feather asked curiously, smiling at him.

Cole thought for a moment before he answered. "Yes. It's weird but yes - a bit."

"You chose the right person in your search for comfort and solace. Maybe you don't know, but my daughter has a gift. She will be Bahena's successor once. She is not only skilled in curing disease and injuries, but also ease the pain of heart and soul."

"I didn't know but it explains a lot." Cole fell silent again.

"Are you going to help us dismantle the tents today?" Grey Feather gave him a warm smile.

The task at hand helped Cole to think about something different. It had been an act of love from his family to take over his duties at home but it hadn't made things better with nothing to do than brooding over his loss. Working physically again felt good, though he had to rest from time to time. His headache was still bothering him.

*** The Wild West Triad - prequel ***

The trek left before noon and reached its destination in the early evening hours. A valley further west surrounded by rocks would shelter the camp in the strong winter months. Cole helped rebuild the teepees. When the new camp had been rebuilt, Grey Feather and his kids sat together with Cole around the campfire in the evening, preparing the meal.

"I will leave home for a while with Mike. He wants to take me to Liberty to get to know other hunters and stuff."

"I see. Mike means good. He wants to help. Try to play along. Maybe you'll like it and find something else to think about." Shewa defended Mike's decision.

"I'm not so sure if I will like it. I know Mike wants to help me. We'll see."

"Are you planning to come back?"

"For sure. Mike said we're heading back here in spring."

Shewa seemed relieved. "Then we're gonna see next spring. Can you say Daniel to come over soon? We missed you all really badly?" Shewa hopefully asked but tried not to show her longing for Daniel.

"I'll tell him. And I will be there in spring. I promise, except if I'm gonna die in the field 'til then."

"Your family needs you, don't forget that while you are on a hunt," Grey Feather added.

*** The Wild West Triad - prequel ***

Cole left the Absarokee the next morning. Taking Shewa in a firm embrace, he asked, "Can you look after my family for me? Daniel and Sam will feel pretty lonely with nobody kicking their asses."

The girl smiled at him. "I will. Don't worry. The world will keep on turning here without you."

After telling everyone his goodbyes he rode home, thinking about Shewa's and Grey Feather's words of solace and wisdom.

He finally had found the strength to accept his position as a hunter. He swore to himself to protect his family with everything he had. He didn't want to lose another family member. But if he wanted to be able, next time something would threaten them, he had to learn until then to be a protector.

*** The Wild West Triad - prequel ***

The day the two left was both - heartbreaking and relieving. Cole found the strength to leave in the promise that he would come back. Leaving the others behind felt like letting them down. He hated to lose control and turning his back from his home felt exactly like this. But Mike was right. Staying was also no option. Just everything here in the area reminded him about Carolyn and it hurt so damn bad it felt like it would kill him.

Carolyn would not have wanted him to waste his life in sorrow. She had been a person who enjoyed living, always laughed, and was helpful to others. He would try to honor this. Being a hunter would allow him to help people, save them and keep others from the pain of losing someone.

Cole Tanner would not break under the torture of loss but find a way to heal. It would need some time but he wanted to be the next Knight. He would learn to be sharper, stronger, and deadlier.

The End

A/N: This will not be the end for long. I will continue to post Prequels until it fits into 'The Wild West Triad'. The ideas are already in my head. The Good And The Bad Medicine will be the sequel. I'm already about to write it.

Who was your favourite character?

Do you want to know more about a special one?

I already got the request for Wade's Triad and its beginning (Have already some ideas). Anything else? Let me know.

So stay tuned and please leave a review to let me know if the story was worth the effort.