Chapter 5

Uncas' fingers traced lightly over the bloodied hand print on the entrance to the Cameron's cabin. It was man sized, John's perhaps as he tried to fight the invaders. The door was cracked open. A couple of chairs lay strewn around the room, one completely broken and a feathered arrow pierced the frame that encased a woven scene of a cottage. It had to be the same war party that had attacked the party of soldiers by the river. They were moving fast, killing anyone in their path. His stomach knotted and he swallowed the bile that rose in his throat as he knew his friends were most likely dead. The Cameron's cabin had been a reminder of a loving home, simple & warm. The glow of the hearth was a symbol of togetherness and sharing a meal. The children sitting on his lap as Alexandria Cameron cracked a joke when it was his turn to find a wife and have his own boys. The laughter was gone. The hearth was out and the cabin was filled with coldness. Uncas' stepped over the children's wooden toys and heard a floorboard creak. He turned around fast, his knuckles tense as he gripped onto his rifle only to lock eyes with Alice. She tensed, eyes wide open like a doe in the forest after hearing a branch break. She was standing just inside the entrance with one arm supporting Lara.

"I told you not to come after me" Uncas' threw his words at Alice, peeved she had ignored what he asked and trying to conceal his own emotions, not wanting to add to the situation and scare the young woman even more of the situation.

"I'm sorry but you don't understand - there was a flock of birds that flew from the trees and I thought someone has disturbed them and I couldn't see you in the field anymore" Alice tried to explain, her words running away from her as she became more frantic and Uncas' realized the young woman was just frightened.

"Come inside and sit over there with Lara" he said, his tone much softer as she nodded and he bolted the door shut.

"Kwiamwis nali kànchihëla" Nathaniel called as he noted the broken stems of grass that veered off the gravel path. Someone had been dragged through here. Very recently. He watched as his father bent down to retrieve a piece of pale yellow fabric with blue flowers embroidered on it from a low branch.

"This belonged to a white woman" Chingackgook nodded.

"Let me see" Duncan snatched the fabric from the older mans grasp, setting Nathaniel's teeth on edge watching as the Major studied it.

"Well?" Nathaniel pressed as Chingackgook stepped further into the overgrown brush.

"It's not Cora's."

"If it ain't hers, then - " Nathaniel's voice trailed off as Chingackgook shouted suddenly and both men exchanged a worried look. As they got nearer, the body of a woman could be seen. Duncan turned away immediantley repulsed in horror as he saw the torn skirts and fresh blood that stained the victims exposed thighs. Nathaniel froze, nearly dropping his rifle as his eyes rested on the bloodied and bashed face of Alexandria Cameron. Both father and son looked at one another then, a shared pain passing between them. Chingackgook crouched over her torso, his hands pressed to her pulse, searching for any signs of life but there was none. He bowed his head in sorrow as a pained low cry left Nathaniel's lips and he gripped onto a nearby tree for support as his stomach churned.

"We have to go back" Nathaniel said eventually wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "We don't know if this happened before or after Uncas got to the farm."

The sky had turned a shade of night blue and the moon was starting to peek from behind the clouds. Uncas was perched by one of the windows, his rifle resting by his knee as he kept watch for any unwelcome visitors. Alice had settled by the hearth and had rested her head against the spoon back chair that Lara was seated in. No one had spoken in a long while as they were too tired and too unsettled. Just as the silence had brought about a sense of calm, the sudden movement of a figure darting across the field shattered the peace in a moment and brought them crashing back into the terrifying reality their lives could be taken in an instant. Uncas' ducked down and propped his rifle between the slats of the shutters, his fingers trembling a little as he tried to steady his breath. Alice's heart jumped into her throat as she reached her hand around the arm of the chair and found Lara's fingers, squeezing them tightly. Lara was fully conscious now though her head hadn't stopped pounding since she came around and she chewed on her bottom lip as they all heard a distinct loud bird call from the surrounding trees. Uncas hesitated, a sudden burst of hope stirring in him as he recognized the call but waited til the sound was repeated to lower his rifle. He rose, signalling with one hand to the frightened women that was it was alright, a relieved smile breaking across his face as he pulled the door open a crack. Alice rose to her feet, still uncertain as she watched Uncas clasp his two hands around his mouth and he mimicked the sound back into the approaching darkness. She gripped onto the back of the chair in a moment of fear as a tall figure suddenly ran forward only to relax when she recognized Nathaniel as he embraced Uncas' with a tight grip.

"Is everyone alright?" Duncan was the first to speak as he entered the cabin after Nathaniel, his heart pounding as he laid eyes on both of the women.

"Yes, we're fine- " Alice answered quickly realizing they were without her sister. "- where - where is Cora?"

"We'll find her" Duncan tried to reassure Alice but the young woman's face crumpled and a sob rose from her chest. Without hesitation, Uncas' was there, holding her against his chest as she cried and he buried his mouth into her dark blonde hair soothing her. A silence fell over the room and no one spoke for several moments.

"Why are you back here?" Lara eventually asked pushing herself up from the chair, the blood now dried and broken around her mouth and nose.

"We were tracking 'em and Pa found some fabric - " Nathaniel started to explain the situation but Duncan shushed him loudly noting Alice was now watching them from Uncas' arms. Her crying had turned into wet hiccups and she was clinging onto every word.

"We are going to pick up the search right now. We will find her and this nightmare will be over" Duncan moved forward and cupped Alice's cheek with one hand

"No one's lookin' for anyone until first light" Nathaniel shattered Duncan's little speech of heroism and the Major turned to glare at him, his teeth set hard.

"He's right" Uncas backed his brother's instructions. "It's too dangerous to go now and we need the light to track."

Lara could see the tension pass between the men, Duncan's ice cold stare, the clicking of the muscles in Nathaniel's jaw, Uncas' hand still wrapped around Alice was now balled into a fist. She glanced over at Chingackgook who seemed to be watching their body language closely aswell but he remained silent.

"Please Duncan, let's wait until it's daylight" Alice spoke, her anxiety swelling in her chest at the thought of going back out into the woods in the dark.

"First light" the Colonel said sharply, though every fibre of his being was saying otherwise. Uncas patted Alice on the back and she gave him a small unsure smile as they parted.

"Everyone should get some rest, I'll keep first watch" Chingackgook instructed as he bolted the door shut.

"Come with me, we''ll get you cleaned up" Nathaniel murmured into Lara's ear, taking her forearm before she could answer and led her into the bedroom. He settled her onto the bed and lifted the jug that resting on the window ledge. She watched as he carefully filled it up with some water from his canteen and retrieved a worn looking cloth from his bag, then started gently dabbing the skin around her chin.

"What really happened out there?" she asked, flinching as the water stung her bruised and bloodied face. Nathaniel hesitated, this one was sharp as a needle.

"We found the body of the woman who lived here" his voice hitched as he cleared his throat and he didn't elaborate further, choosing to spare her from the true horror that had been Alexandria's fate.

"That's awful" she lowered her eyes, feeling a horrible pang in her chest reminding her of brutality they faced out here in the wilderness.

"The Major doesn't understand how things are out here. The Huron and Ottawa can run for miles, sometimes they run right through the night - "

"You believe Cora's dead, don't you?" Lara interrupted him in a matter of fact tone.

"Do you think I'm wrong?" Nathaniel challenged her and Lara shifted uncomfortably on the bed. As much as she prayed that Cora was found safe and well, she knew the chances of finding her at all, never mind alive and well, were decreasing as each hour ticked by. But that wasn't a reason to give up, surely.

"I heard Duncan earlier ...when he wished it had been me that had been taken instead of Cora" her chin trembled a little as she tried to contain her emotions. It had stung to have heard such disregard for her life. As friendly as she was with both Munro sisters, she wasn't part of their world and it was a stark reminder that she would always be on the outside. "If I was in Cora's position, I would want someone to at least try to find me, but I know - " her voice broke then and she wrapped her fingers around Nathaniel's wrist to steady herself. " - I know if it had of been me, no one would have cared as much because I feel Nathaniel, I feel like it should have been me - " her sobs cut into her speech at this point making talking difficult. " - and maybe you and your family wouldn't be out here."

"I don't want to hear you talkin' like that" he wrapped his one hand over hers as her shoulders shook and her sobs continued. He pushed her hair back with the other hand and for a mad fleeting moment, Lara thought he was going to kiss her. Her heart pounded in her chest as he cupped her cheek, his calloused palm rough against her skin. "You matter, you understand." No, he was only being kind. The floorboard suddenly creaked loudly in the doorway under Duncan's feet and he stood there awkwardly as Lara immediately broke away from Nathaniel, wondering how much of their conversation he had heard.

"What is it Major?" Nathaniel asked coldly, his dark eyes studying Lara for a few seconds before he rose from the bed.

"I want your - word - that we will indeed set off tomorrow at first light to continue the search for Miss Munro."

"I've already given you my word."