Chapter 3
After hiking for so long Dante found a secluded small waterfall with thick mist surrounding it.
He climbed down the rocks over the near. He knelt down on the water's edge cupped his hands and drank two good handfuls of fresh river water. He splashed water in his once and when he was about to do it again … he saw something reflected in the water behind him. It appeared to be the shape of a person looking down at him from high about the path he came down from.
Okay … no sudden moves …
He splashed the water on his face turned to look but there was no one there. Dante sniffed the air and picked up a scent – a human scent! Well, he may not have found the natives camp but he may have found a native. He stood up and with one-more glace above he pulled the hood of his dark grey cloak over his head. He then quickly Flash-Stepped to the space behind the waterfall and waited.
And waited . . .
Then he saw movement from on the other side the waterfall. Whoever it was slow in movement and careful as they step onto the rocks the form a stepping stone path across the water at the base of the waterfall. They took and another step and was now right in front of Dante and some paces apart. Dante took out one of his guns and hunting dagger he keeps in his boot.
He calmly inhales and exhales slowly. And just as the person leaps onto the next stone Dante leaps out from behind the water and points his gun across the arm that gripped his dagger, aiming for the head of his stalker.
After tailing the stranger on his hike for so long Pocahontas followed him a secluded small waterfall with thick mist surrounding it. She knew this area well and found to be one of her best quiet spots with the sound of the cascading water drowning out the sounds of the outside world.
Pocahontas crept down from the small ledge she'd been hiding on, without making a sound and crept out of the bushes to get a better look. The stranger was completely gone.
Meeko and Flit came up but Pocahontas pushes Meeko head down to keep him out of sight. Flit hides with Meeko. Pocahontas was not taking any chances until otherwise. She looked around confused as she stood on the stepping stones.
Where … is he?
She searched . . .
And searched . . .
. . . Nothing
She decided to move on and jumped onto the next stone. Then she heard a splash followed by something heavy landing on the rock she was just on, behind her. She turned around to see who or what it was.
Finally in this misty waterfall two worlds finally meet face-to-face. Dante keep his gun train on Pocahontas as she stood up to her full height. A breeze blew her long black hair gently which cause Dante to lower his gun and sheathed his dagger. The mist finally cleared and Dante and Pocahontas saw each other for the first time.
To Dante, this young native woman has copper skin, long raven-black hair, and dark brown eyes with shine to them. She has a tall, slender, statuesque figure with broad shoulders and narrow hips and is barefoot. She wears a turquoise necklace and also has a burgundy tattoo on upper part of her right arm. Her clothing is made from skin of deer. The woman was indeed stronger than she looks, beautiful and elegant.
To Pocahontas, This young strange man has pale skin like the others in the camp, but has short silver hair with the sides of his head shaved, forming a mohawk out of the hair at the top of his head, tapering off into a point at the nape of his neck, calm blue-grey eyes like a sea after a storm. Still he would have been mistaken for a ghostlike being. He clothing was like the others he came but overall is strange, a loose dark shirt with grey pants. Regardless, he was striking.
Dante want to show he was not a threat and put the gun away and held his hands up to show her so. He then stepped into the water carefully and walked toward her.
Pocahontas observed them man as he began to come toward her. His behavior seems to non-threatening and is genuinely curious in her. But even if he wished to speak to her, she would not understand his language.
Finally Pocahontas darted off the rock and onto the other stone before running off into the woods.
"No, wait! Please!" Dante called but she didn't hear nor understand him.
Dante wasn't surprised. How many times has tried to be friendly or nice only to have the person still be afraid of him? He could help them and still some may not say thank you. The fear and dread of mankind is on the animals, but also on Mankind, ironically. But Dante, like his younger brothers Vergil and V, they aren't human. They are Nephilim – a hybrid of the warring angel and demon races. Those two along with him can make plant and animals react to their presence, if not influence. Where Vergil wants to rule all life; V wants to understand all life; Dante at time wants to meet all life he encounters. And sometimes it starts with a simple hello. That, and due to the fact that if she ran back to her village she would mostly likely alert them all of the settlers (Though they may know they're here given the fact they made a ruckus just to build a simple settlement). Not wanting things to be haste, at least on his part, Dante chased after.
Pocahontas, with flint and Meeko behind her, ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Though she wasn't sure why she was running; the stranger had not attacked her nor had he given her any reason not to trust him. He was hiding in the waterfall and jumped out to ambush her, but that was because she was stalking him … (Lull).
To be honest he hadn't done much of anything except stand there staring at her as if had never seen anyone like her before. Maybe he truly didn't.
She reached the oak tree by the river quickly climbed into her canoe intending to paddle away with all haste.
"Please!"
His voice caught her attention and she quickly turned around to see her there. She basically out ran him and he still caught up with her.
"Don't run off." Dante said with his hands out at his side showing there was nothing to fear.
Pocahontas clearly did not trust this stranger at all and yet something was preventing her from just simply rowing away.
Dante careful stepped closer. "It's all right, I'm not gonna hurt you." He extended his hand to her. "Here, let me help you out of there."
"Mat-ta-que na-to-rath." Pocahontas frowned, confused as she spoke to him in Algonquin.
"I don't understand a word you saying. Great Dante, of all the free time to learn a new language again you had to spend it snowboarding … and she LOOKING me because I'm talking to myself."
Pocahontas looked at his extended hand. His hand were rough liking but had smoothness to them.
"It's all right."
If there is one thing that is as universal as music, math and … Universal Studios, it is one's body language and tone of voice. He may not understand her and she may not understand him, but he understands that she didn't trust him. So he had to show her he was opposite. Dante smiled at her which, if she was being honest, did catch off guard. She smiled taking his hand as she stepped out of the boat the wind whistled around them, a song shifting on the winds.
Que que na-to-ra
You will understand
Listen with your heart
You will understand
She stepped out of the canoe as Meeko looked on curiously. Flint was about charge in to break it up but Meeko grabbed his tail feather. Not this time, Flint. Something new is happened.
The wind swirled a storm of leaves around them as the wind echoed around them. There was energy in the air - hers and his - when they touched a synergy were made.
Let it break upon you
Like a wave upon the sand
Listen with your heart.
You will understand.
(You will understand)
Magical symbols and energy swirled about them. Dante's branded tattoo on his back and his ruby necklace under shirt began to glow softly.
She can understand the words he said before!
He can understand the words he said before!
"Who are you?" Dante asked in Algonquin.
"Pocahontas." she replied in English.
Dante blinked in confusion. "What? What did you say?" he asked in English.
"My name is Pocahontas." she introduced herself.
Meeko and Flint's mouths were agape. She spoke his language and he spoke hers. They understand each other. Meeko was happy, but Flint was not.
"I'm Dante Sparda." he introduced himself.
They stared at each other for a moment until Dante heard something from the forest. A faint happy … giggle. He knew it all too well. He knew Aisling was hidden, watching them, most likely with a smile on her face.
Just then Dante realized something and began to back away.
"What is it?" Pocahontas asked with concern.
"I'm sorry. I just realized something – I'm late." Dante said turn to leave.
"What do you mean by late?" Pocahontas asked.
"I'm just late, is all. Oh, wow would you look at the time. I'm late." Dante point to his nonexistent watch on his wrist and ran off.
"Wait!" Pocahontas called out to him.
But Dante was long gone now. Flint squeaked with satisfaction while Meeko cooed in confusion. However Pocahontas was more confused than ever. Though she became a bit sad that he ran off.
Why did he leave so suddenly? What has happened? What did I do?
Dante sprint through the woods until Aisling hanged upside in front of him, making him stop in his tracks.
"Hello Dante, what's new?"Aisling asked happily.
"You they spy you tell ME?" Dante said.
Aisling laughed a little before stopping herself upon seeing Dante was visible bothered about something.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I'll tell you when we get back to Jamestown. Valen would certainly love to hear this." He says.
Dante took off running with Aisling running beside him with his long while hair flying behind her.
Finally they reached the Jamestown and found Valen. Dante explained that the three need to talk right, now. So they went out on the beach and once they were sure they were far enough away and no one is around they began to talk.
"Alright Dante, what is going on?" V asked.
"Okay, brace yourself."
"I am braced." Aisling said.
"I met Pocahontas."
Aisling, Griffon, Shadow and V looked at Dante confusion.
"Poca-hon-tas?"Aisling repeated the name.
"Pocahontas? You saying you meet THE Pocahontas." V asked with skepticism.
"As Captain Jack Sparrow would say about himself: The Original. THE ONLY!" Dante said.
"How?" V asked.
Dante explained the whole encounter. Everything from where, what he did, what she looked like, what she did and to them understanding each other's languages; needless to say V twirling his silver cane meant he was greatly intrigued.
"Truly fascinating." V intoned.
Aisling began to build a sandcastle. "Wait and minute. Quick question: Who is Pocahontas, again?"Aisling asked being from Ireland she knew little of the history of all the Americas.
V explained who Pocahontas was/is. "According to history, Pocahontas, Born Amonute, later as Matoaka as she grew up, is a Native American woman belonging to the Powhatan people, part of the Algonquian Nation. She is remembered for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, while is now here. She is the daughter of Powhatan, the paramount chief of the network of tributary tribes in the Tsennocommacah, encompassing the Tidewater region of Virginia. In modern times there are numerous places, landmarks, and products in the USA have been named after Pocahontas. Her stories, particularly the ones about her and John Smith, have been romanticized over the years."
"Remember all that from Wikipedia did you?" Dante raised a brow.
"If I'm been honest, yes." V said.
"Yeah well I know those tales too. One thing is contested is her age. Most maintain that was like tween or early teen while some say she was an older teen. But now that I seen her with my own eyes. She is not of that."
"Oh." Aisling as she collected seashells. "How old does she appear?"
"At a guess, 19 or 20. Our age."
"Hmm. So she's around my maturity age." Aisling said.
"Yeah, just not a thousand years old."
Aisling giggled in response.
"So, what will you do, Dante – Or should I say John Smith?" V asked.
"I wait until tomorrow. I'm tired now from all the running around." Dante said.
Griffon and Shadow return into V, and V with Aisling left Dante on the beach alone. Dante looked at the Sandcastle Aisling built with the seashells decorated on it.
This … still needs work to be a magical kingdom. Dante thought before getting up and walking away.
The next morning Dante end out exploring to get the lay of the land and find the native's village – but in reality end out exploring to get the lay of the land and find Pocahontas. He went returned to the large tree by the river where they first I understood each other's native language. Dante stabbed Rebellion into the ground and waited.
Across the water Pocahontas was rowing her canoe toward the tree. She had been thinking about Dante for the rest of yesterday. She swathe tree and hope to find him there waiting for him. But she did not find him there. She parks the canoe and she climbed out with Meek and Flint following after her.
This is the place where two worlds met. And the one ran away from other for an unknown reason. She had a reason to sneak to the stranger's settlement to see if she can find him there but then … the wind began to push her into a different direction. The spirits of the wind told her to return to tree where Dante Sparda left her.
Then she saw something long and shiny sticking out of the ground. She walked over to it and observed it.
The object is a silver-colored in the light, though bluish in the shadow. It's long and double-edged and sharp, with the forward-facing edge curving outward to form the guard below what looks like a handle. To the top of it handguard is heavily designed with rings slanting down it and reversing at the center of the handguard. The pommel carries a round piece that almost resembles a face. Near the pointed out part of the handguard, there's also teeth biting into it. Pocahontas was wondered if it was staff of some kind of weapon.
Dante was in the tree quietly observing Pocahontas. He sensed her coming on the water and decided to hide while leaving his sword Rebellion where it was knew she would find it. She appeared and walked over to examine it with great interest.
"Good morning."
Pocahontas looked up quickly to the tree and scanned around the branches above her.
"Dante Sparda? Are you here?" Pocahontas asked.
"Yes." he replied.
"… but … where are you?"
"I'm in the tree."
"But … where in the tree?"
Dante didn't answer but reclined backwards on the branch he was on.
"Could you please come down?" She asked.
"Why? I like it up here in the branches. If anyone comes by and ask 'what are you doing' just tell them you're talking to the tree." He said.
"But I don't want to talk to the tree. I want to talk to you." she said honestly.
Dante looked down to the ground to see her trying to find him in the tree.
"Are you … shy?" She asked.
Honestly Dante is a bit shy sometimes. Sometimes he's shy and sometimes it's him being cautious, given his life and dangerous occupation one can understand.
"Please come down." Pocahontas asked again. "I want to know you."
Dante sighs and decides that that was enough fun and games, for now.
When a mystery is too over powering one doesn't dare disobey. Hundreds of years from his time and thousands of miles from England, Dante jump down to the grass below to meet the legendary princess of the American forest.
Pocahontas turned around when she heard him land on the ground and saw rise to his feet. He walked over to her and places his hands on the pummel of his sword.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" Dante asked.
Meanwhile back in Jamestown, Ratcliff had the men working round the clock once again to search for gold in the holes they dug.
"That's it. Keep at it, men. Keep digging. It's got to be here somewhere." Ratcliff said as he munch on chicken leg.
Kocoum and the other warriors observed them from the trees and bushes.
"What are they digging for?" one of the warriors asked.
"I don't know. But whatever it is they haven't found it yet." Kocoum said.
One of the warriors in a different hiding spot signaled to Namontack by whistling as a bird and held up three fingers, each one representing ten.
"There's thirty more of them, down by the ridge." Namontack said to Kocoum.
"That makes more than a hundred." Kocoum said with a bad feeling in his gut.
"Anything yet?" Ratcliffe asked Thomas while he was digging.
"Nothing but rocks and dirt, sir." Thomas answered.
Ratcliffe was now annoyed that there were no results yet. Even his men were starting to pick up on that.
"Um, how long are we gonna keep digging like this, sir?" Lon asked while resting against his shovel.
Ben climbed out of his hole and tossed his shovel to the ground angrily. "Aye, we're slaving away, busting our backs, day and night—"
Ratcliff cuts Ben off. "For king and country, I know, I know, and I share your fatigue."
Ben HIGHLY doubts Ratcliff does.
"Um, Vee, Vee." Ratcliff called.
V came over walking with his silver grey hood cloak. "Yes, Governor."
"Smith tells me you're his little brother and a scholar of sorts."
"Of sorts."
"Tell have you documented much since our arrival."
"Well, considering we arrived only yesterday, I have actually." V takes out a spare book that he's be writing down what has happened. "Let's see, umm …. I hereby claim this land … riches ... King James the first … Jamestown … Bravo sir … Arf! Arf! Arf! … Plundering for the Booty of the Virgin Queen (I think that's what you said)… The Gold of Cortéz … The Jewels of Pizarro … Dig and dig and dig and diggety-dig … Explosions … Explosions … Explosions." V then closes the book. "And that's just yesterday."
"Seems like we are on the right track." Ratcliffe said and walks off munch more on his chicken.
"Uh-huh." V nodded and walks on to see.
"Hey bookworm! Give us a hand once in a while." Ben shouted as he dropped into his hole.
V then smirked which turned to a frown when he sensed multiple presences in the woods.
Aisling came over to V jumped up onto his shoulders.
You sense them, yes? I saw them from high in the trees. We are being watched. Aisling thought to V.
"I figure they show up soon." V said.
"I say we attack them now!" Griffon whispered.
"Provoking them without cause isn't wise. As Dante would say, if he was here: Watch and wait is the name of the game."
"Well that is bullshit-blazing." Griffons whispered.
Wiggins was currently terming the bush into artistic shapes of animals ranging from elephant to giraffe and a unicorn.
"Wiggins! WIGGINS!" Ratcliffe called for him.
With one final snip the hedge was complete Wiggins rushed over to his master.
"Dispose of this." Ratcliffe handed the chicken and plate to Wiggins.
But waste not - want not, when it comes to Wiggins.
Wiggins knelt down to Percy. "Who's a good doggy? Who's a good doggy?
Percy just rolled his eyes. He is a nobleman's dog after all, and he's doesn't play fetch.
"Fetch, boy!" Wiggins tossed the chicken into the bushes.
The chicken landed near a native warrior who paid little attention to it. He peaked his head up through the bushes to see a little more. But then Percy turned to where the chicken was tossed and saw the warrior, his dog blood ran cold. He gave warning yelps that alerted everyone.
"Savages! It's an ambush, arm yourselves!" Ratcliffe shouted.
"Run!" Wiggins shouted and ducked behind his trimmed creations.
The settlement was in uproar and the settle charge to where the muskets are kept.
Kocoum and the other warriors braces themselves for where every the pale white men were doing. The only one who remained at the holes unafraid was V.
Kocoum and the others saw the strange pale man dressed in all black with black hair and dark tattoos on his arms and chest standing there looking at them with a moment before he whistled and a large blue eagle-like bird swoop down and he the man grabbed onto one of the bird's legs and flew him over to the high into the trees.
The settlers grab their muskets. "Arm yourselves! Make sure every man has a musket! Shoot!"
Thomas got one but trips over a log and his rifle goes off accidentally, firing right between Ratcliffe's legs.
"Them, you idiot!" Ratcliffe snapped at Thomas.
The settlers took cover behind a fall tree truck and fired at will.
The warriors were surprised by these wooden explosive shooting sticks the pale men had. But they now a fight was on and they responded with fire at them with arrows. Percy scampered through the crossfire and hid under metal helmet that got dented by an incoming arrow.
Griffon, ever the trouble maker decided to rain bolts of lightning down at on the settlers. The lightning bolts hit around the settlement until one of hit where the gunpowder barrels were stacked. They went off in thunderous explosion that due to the force of it sent some of the barrels airborne and landing around the settlement and in the woods before detonating soon after.
"HA-HA! Fuck yeah!" Griffon shouted with glee.
Ratcliffe and coughed from all the smoke. He fired a shot and handed the empty rifle to the settler behind him who swapped it for a full loaded one.
"WHERE'S THAT BLASTED SMITH WHEN I NEED HIM?" Ratcliffe shouted.
In the trees near Ratcliffe a warrior moves to for a better position. Ratcliffe catches this and takes aim and fires at the warrior who takes it in the leg and falls to the ground in pain.
"Namontack!" Kocoum ran over to his fallen friend.
Ben saw the fallen warrior and ran over to finish him off. But Ben was stopped by Kocoum who jump in and overpowered him and kicked his away.
"Back to the village!" Kocoum ordered the retreat.
Seeing the Natives flee the Englishmen cheer in their victory. They encountered the Indians, and won.
"Shut up, shut up, you fools! They'll be back." Ratcliffe said. "Everyone back to camp. Get the rest of the cannons ashore and finish building the fort!"
Wiggins peaked out of his shot up bush sculptors.
"Aye, Governor!" Ben said in salute.
Ratcliffe was about to pass Thomas until he decided to give him a piece of helpful advice. "And YOU! Learn to use that thing properly. A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot."
Thomas began to feel down in his mistake. But a certain reassuring meow form a silver green-eyed cat made him feel a little better.
Aisling came over to see how Thomas was doing. Thomas then smiles and stroked Aisling who arched her back in delight at feel his touch. V came over and offered Thomas a hand to which he accepted. Once on his feet V decided to give Thomas his own piece of advice.
"Learn to shoot, learn to fight, but the gun and sword isn't everything to a man. He who learns to use their head before the weapon will become greater than the greatest king."
In Powhatan camp the wounded warrior was taken to the medicinal tent. Nokama and the warrior's wife peaked in through the tent flap as the healing practice began with Kekata chanting.
"These beasts invade our shores, and now this." Powhatan sighed as he leaned over the warrior.
Kekata lowered his turtle rattle and stop chanting. "This wound is strange to me."
Powhatan nods as he now knows what he must do, even though they just go back from one war.
"We will fight this enemy, but we cannot do it alone. Kocoum, send messengers to every village in our nation. We will call on our brothers to help us fight."
Powhatan with Kocoum beside him steps outside the tent and issues a decree to the whole of the village. "These White Men are dangerous! No one is to go near them."
Back in the tent Kekata examined the small wound on the warrior's leg. With a steady hand and the warrior gritting his teeth Kekata removed what was lodged within. He washed it off in a bowl of water and examined it closely.
"A small rock ball. Fired out of the woodened stick at great speed that when it hits a man, renders them in great pain and could possibly kill … hmm Impressive."
Kekata wisest of all knew when to give credit when credit is due. Even for those seem to prowl their lands as the beasts of prey do.
