CHAPTER 28

"But I have just returned," Kiowa says, squeezing his uncle's shoulder.

Kiowa's voice springs Paw to his feet. Excitement quivers in his heart.

"My prayer was heard. I'm am so happy!" He hugs his nephew. "Is your would-be brother with you?"

"His body is with me, but his mind is not the same. Whatever seed was planted between his ears has ripened him from a weasel to an owl. I do not even know if he makes trouble anymore."

"What happened?"

"If it were not for his quick words and cunning strategy, the Navajo would have caught us both."

Paw looks down and feels the final grains of sand slip through his fingers. "Thank you," are all the words he can muster for his god.

"Maybe it's time he gets a new name," Paw asserts.

Two Moons rejoins them.

"Maybe…" Kiowa looks away, then back at Paw before moving on to the next point of interest. "I want to bring her back to the tribe."

"They will not accept Anoki," Two Moons firmly argues.

"Surely they will accept her!" Kiowa shouts, catching Anoki's attention.

"Father, what do you think they are discussing?" Anoki asks Kikmongwi.

"Probably whether they should sell us to the Mexicans. Let me rest, Daughter. I am in much pain." He gently pats her hand as her face droops with fright.

Oh, I cannot worry about such matters. What can a little woman do against such men anyway? I am more interested in this man who saved me. She can't help but stare at him. And though she's not sure how his black war paint wiped clean from his bronze skin, she's glad that it has. His muscles have shed any trace of childhood. He is a man with a well-defined build. His abdomen ripples until it comes to a V at his waistline. His handsome face makes her feel like the intense summer heat is burning in her chest. Only when he looks at her does the heat gather in her blushing cheeks and force her to look away.

"I do not believe they will. I believe they will purge her by fire from the tribe if you take her back with you," Two Moons says with a conviction that forces Kiowa to pause and think on his words. "You will be sorry."

"I have always trusted you with all things, older brother. My heart wants to betray you, but my mind knows better. However, for my mind's curiosity, I must know why you believe this to be so." Kiowa won't back down.

"You are the greatest warrior our tribe has had since our father was slain. You alone did what the tribe could not. You challenged Black Bear in open combat and won! The tribe will expect you to marry a Kiowa woman and have Kiowa children so that we may have more great Kiowa warriors. Your job is to replace the warriors we have lost. That is the way it is. I would not be surprised if the tribe offers you every squaw of age. Wait another few years until you look on the faces of many beautiful women before you decide on this one. You will forget this woman's face soon enough." He waves Kiowa off.

Kiowa's face puckers with a sour expression. Would I do that to her?

"What do I do with her?" Kiowa shakes his head. More importantly…what do I do with my vision?

"We leave them food, a bow, and a horse. When the time is right, their men will come out of the cliff dwelling, and they can reunite with them."

Kiowa clenches his jaw and swallows the most painful truth he has heard in a long time. The roughness feels like bark scraping his throat. "What if the Navajo return?"

"They will return, and so will we. But with our tribe this time, and we will leave strong impressions on their minds that to harm the Hopi is to harm the Kiowa. If these scalps and stolen horses aren't enough to scare them, then we will do what we do best—go to war!"

"I see the wisdom of your plan. I just don't like the heavy price I must pay." His voice trails off as he grumbles, "I've already paid a heavy price. Am I to keep paying?"

Anoki scoots closer so she can listen.

"We are warriors, Kiowa. We will always pay the heaviest price for the benefit of our tribe. What has happened here must be a secret from the tribe. You have feelings for Anoki?"

Kiowa signs, Yes.

Anoki gasps when she sees it.

"They must be your own. Share them with no one. For sure not Makes Trouble. Even if he is now an owl, he will still hoot."

"Let us go! Weasel Tail will send warriors for us soon because we have not returned. I pray that they will bigger numbers than the Navajo," Paw says, wondering how many prayers the Sun God will answer in one day.

Kiowa walks over to Anoki, not a proud hero but with sunken shoulders and a frowning face. Her father greets them with signs and soft words.

"It has been decided that we must reunite with our tribe. I would very much like for you both to come with us."

"We would like that also!" Anoki tilts her head, smiles gently, and flutters her lashes.

Her father smiles and says, "Let this man speak. Can you not see he has much to say?"

She shakes her head and tightens her face. Sparrows feed worms to their chicks. Fathers feed shame.

"Tell me everything he says," Kikmongwi demands.

Anoki nods and obediently obliges. She folds her arms before she begins. With a swift motion, she signs that she is ready.

Kiowa sighs and shrugs as well. "Our tribes make us different people, and we must honor our traditions. So I must go."

Anoki translates to her father, then signs in Hopi and says in the Kiowa language, "Thank you for all that you have done for us."

Kiowa holds up two fingers. He extends them out in front of his face and then draws them behind his ear.

"I hope we will meet again."

Anoki looks away bashfully. She holds her two fingers up and makes the same sign. "Me too."

Two Moons, Makes Trouble, and Paw maneuver their glorious horse bounty into a straight line.

Kikmongwi lets a slew of Hopi slip out of his mouth. "This night has been an awful one for my daughter. She hasn't the patience to let you speak, so I will cut to the marrow of what is in my heart. You are brave warriors! I must know your names. Daughter, translate."

Anoki signs in Hopi and translates in Kiowa.

"Kiowa." Kiowa points to himself, then to his rebel band. "Paw, Makes Trouble, Two Moons."

Anoki grabs on to his name like her ears have hands and sews it to her heart.

"You are named after your people?" Kikmongwi asks.

Anoki translates. Kiowa answers with a nod.

"You have a good name. Bring me six horses, one of which must be Night Wind, and you can marry my daughter. Let her take your name, and when I die you will get more than six horses back. They will have children and so will Anoki. You would get a better deal!" Kikmongwi proudly proclaims, lifting his hands over his head.

Chat with author: Have you loved someone your tribe didn't love? I must admit, my tribe/family didn't love the person I loved. Talk about heart break. Like Kiowa, I experienced the tug of the tribe string. Funny thing, no matter how hard the tribe pulls you closer to them, love will pull you tighter. My tribe pulled so tight, they decided to snap the string with me. I wonder if they will do that with Kiowa?