Ok, heres chapter 2 of the story. thanks for the review to the first chapter, whoever you are. Yes, i realize that my stories have these repeating elements (damsel in distress if you will). It's the way i've always written, it's what I like in stories. Thank you for being nice about it though, and not leaving an unkind review. Anyway, I think this is the most dialogue i've put in one section in all three stories. seemed appropriate I guess. Hope you enjoy!

A Dark Ghost

Uncas looked around him and tried to decide how to handle the situation. Though she was covered in blood, she didn't seem to actually be hurt. She was scared, that much was apparent. He fired a shot into the air and the noise seemed to frighten her. Her hands flew over her ears and she recoiled from the noise.

"Sorry," he said quietly and extended a hand to her. "I was sending up a signal for my brother."

She looked at the offered hand warily and didn't extend her own to take it.

"You should come out of there," he said gently, not lowering his hand. She stared at it a moment longer then slowly extended her own. Her fingers were long and slender, their grip surprisingly tight on his hand. He helped move the brush aside and pulled her to her feet. She was a little unsteady at first but managed to right herself with little help from him. She looked at him with haunted eyes and started to say something when Nathaniel stepped onto the path.

"So ya found it-" He trailed off when he caught sight of the girl, who moved a little behind Uncas when she saw him.

"Apparently you found something else," He finished taking in her bloody clothes and scared expression. He took a few steps closer to them and the girl panicked, backing away from him.

"Don't touch me," She hissed, nearly tripping as she backed into a tree. Uncas, grabbed his brother's arm to halt him and shook his head.

"Leave her be a moment, she's a bit skittish." He explained, keeping his eyes on her.

"That much I can see," He answered, then turned to look at his brother.

"Did she say what happened?" He asked, now keeping his voice as quiet as his brothers.

"She says she doesn't remember."

Nathaniel look back at her and lowered his riffle to the ground. She watched his every move like a cornered animal.

"You got a name, miss?" he asked, trying to keep the questions simple until they figured out what to do with her.

She pulled her left hand tight to her chest again and held it there. Her eyes darted back and forth between the two men as if she were sizing them up. For a long moment she was silent and Uncas began to wonder if she had forgotten her name too. She swallowed audibly before speaking.

"Shiloh," She answered quietly, her voice shaking a little. It was not an Indian name, It didn't sound like any of the names they often heard in town either. Where had she come from, this girl that looked Indian? Why the odd name, who was she?

"Shiloh," Nathaniel repeated, and took a step forward. "What happened to your arm?"

She shook her head and looked down at it.

"I don't know," She replied. Nathaniel stopped a little short of her, still giving her space but was close enough to touch her just the same.

"Let me look at it," He asked, not reaching for her but waiting for her to offer her arm. She looked over to Uncas for confirmation, trusting for some reason that he wouldn't let her be hurt. He nodded his head at her and she slowly extended her arm to his brother. There was a large gash below the wrist, closer to the forearm. It was nasty looking, and needed stitches, but the bleeding had stopped. Other than the wound on her arm she seemed unhurt. Nathaniel walked back to Uncas and talked to him in low tones.

"She seems traumatized but she ain't badly injured. That arm needs tending to though."

"What do we do," Uncas asked, glancing back at her. She was studying her fingers intently, lost in her own thoughts for the moment.

"Well, we can't leave her here," Nathaniel said, following his brothers gaze. "She'll have ta come back with us. Maybe father will have some better idea."

Then he grasped his brother by the shoulder and grinned.

"But you get ta be the one ta tell her"

"Why me?"

Nathaniel gave him a small push in her direction.

"Because she ain't afraid of you and I have to keeping looking for that buck. So explain things to her and I'll see you back at camp."

He didn't give his brother time to argue, he shouldered his riffle, nodded his head to Shiloh and walked back up the path. Uncas found himself alone with her and suddenly didn't know what to say. She was looking off after Nathaniel with confused eyes. Uncas cleared his throat to get her attention.

"We need to dress that arm," He said. "Would you...you can.." He stopped because he was tripping over his own tongue. He wasn't very good with women under normal circumstances and these were less than normal. He took a deep breath and tried again.

"Will you come back to camp with me so we can dress that wound."

She tilted her head to one side and studied him. Not suspiciously, just vaguely surprised.

"You don't know me, why would you want to help" she asked.

"Because I don't think you have anywhere else to go," he answered truthfully.

They were silent then, studying each other. She studied his face, searching for some sign of his intentions then walked past him toward the path. When she got to it, she looked at him over her shoulder.

"Where's your camp?"

He sighed then walked up next to her and took her hand. With a gentle pull, he guided her up the uneven trail. She followed him silently, a dark ghost in all that hair. They didn't speak at all on the way back to camp, there was nothing to say.