A/N: Am I a lazy piece of shit? Yes I am.

The Huron's wound needed to be tended to daily. Given the delicacy of the situation, sneaking away unnoticed was necessary, but troublesome. The extended absences of Cora and Uncas on the first few days had risen some questions. Cora brushed them off with reasonable lies, not batting an eyelid at doing so. She was a proficient liar when the circumstance called for it. It was obvious that they would have to change tactics.

Therefore on most days, Cora visited the wounded man alone. Once she memorized the way, she promptly told an uneasy Uncas that she could handle her potentially dangerous patient on her own. After all, she had handled wounded, fussy men many times before. Uncas warned her to be careful anyway.

Despite the new arrangement, it wasn't easy. Nathaniel wasn't really all that suspicious, but he was hungering for Cora's attention and was therefore definitely the hardest to shake off. Alexandria sometimes wanted to accompany Cora to her supposed visits to other frontier families in need of medical assistance for a sick child or wounded family member, but was always politely turned down. Usually being one of the few nurses amongst a barely manageable swarm of wounded gave her a habit of working alone, Cora told her. The older Munro sister was at least glad Alice was too preoccupied with helping Alexandria and befriending the children to notice anything.

After the very first visit, the water seemed to have returned some life into Magua. When the next visit came around, they found him with his dagger (which they had forgotten to remove from his vicinity) loosely gripped in his hand and pressed against his chest. His eyes were opened just a slit, unfocusedly and sluggishly darting left and right. When Cora, stubborn and unyielding as always, ignored it and went to check on the wound, the Huron striked in her direction. His fever and weakness slowed down his movement and incoordinated the strike. The blade missed Cora's arm by a good distance.

The woman growled and expertly snatched the offensive weapon from his grasp, like a father that has caught his child playing with his hunting knife. To be able to perform her checkup undisturbed, she promptly sedated the man. With the Huron once again still and pliant, her work was quick and efficient.

But there was one thing Cora was mistaken about. Alice did notice. They were sisters, after all. The older woman was forgetting that although less experienced and observant, Alice knew her just as well as she knew Alice. Despite the masterfully applied cover, Alice sensed a weird uptightness in her sister's countenance. That was the funny thing about siblings. One couldn't always tell what was wrong, but could always sense something wasn't right.

And so, Cora nearly jumped out of her skin one early morning leave, when her sister's sweet voice unexpectedly cut through the quiet morning air right behind her back.

"Where are you going?"

The brunette surpressed her startle and spun around gracefully. "Why, to check on my newly acquired patients." Not exactly a lie.

Alice's light expression, which just moments ago radiated the satisfied look of someone who just caught another person with their hand in the cookie jar, morphed into a solemn one. Her mouth tightened and her eyes shone like those of a child who wasn't let in on a secret. She struggled for a moment to find words. "Yeah, I know. But…what else?"

Cora raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean, what else?"

Again, a struggle for words. "I just…I feel like…you aren't talking to me. Or at least not as much as before. Or something like that." "What are you saying? We talk every day, Alice. While doing chores, during dinner, before bed. I don't understand what you are trying to say."

The younger girl was looking at the ground, furrowing her forehead. "I know. But just…you're being weird. I don't know how else to say it. And I don't like it, it makes me uneasy. You're being very…short with me. Like, you don't tell me the things you usually do. What took you so long, what kind of people did you meet."

Cora let out a short laugh to cover up a wince. So Alice has caught on to something. She wasn't sure what, but even so, her words came uncomfortably close to the heart of the matter. What kind of people did she meet, see. Yeah, she couldn't tell her that. She would protect her sister from the unpleasant truth for as long as she could. "I know I'm being weird, but so is everything else since we came here. Our lives are a little different now. If we plan to stay here, we need to adapt to the new circumstances. Don't worry, you and I are still getting used to it all. I'm sorry if I really was behaving so differently. Just give me some more time and everything will fall right back into place, you'll see." She smiled at her sister, hoping she will be satisfied with her explanation.

Alice searched Cora's eyes with her own, as if trying to weight the truth in her words. Finally, she nodded that she understood. Cora released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. With her sister's worries adequately placated, it was time to proceed with her duties.

"Can I come with you?"

Cora couldn't believe this. She faced her sister again, doing her best to hide her irritation. She knew there was nothing to be irritated about, but she couldn't let Alice unintentionally blow the cover. It was for her own safety, after all. "Mrs. Cameron needs you. You are doing a wonderful job, helping her with the responsibilities like that. You have eased her everyday's burdens tremendously. I think it's best if you stick to your duties and I shall stick to mine."

Despite her best effort, Alice must have picked up on her irritation, because she clenched her fists and ground out her own tenseness. "I don't understand! The night we had stitched Uncas' wounds, you encouraged me to learn about medicine, as I might need it one day. But now you don't want me with you to watch and learn? What…why do you push me away? I don't understand. Why can't I go with you?"

It hurt Cora to be accused of pushing Alice away, but she felt like she needed to end this confrontation. Now. Their quarrel was getting to a point where it could attract attention of someone in the cabin. She couldn't risk anyone seeing her disappear into the forest. She will first have to travel in the direction of the other cabins anyway, for Alice will be following her with her eyes.

"Not today Alice, all right? We will clear this misunderstanding up later when I return. I really have to get going." And with that, she made her way towards the frontier village, leaving the other girl standing in the clearing.

Alice stood there for a while, watching Cora's figure disappear in the distance. Fisting her skirts, she took her time trying to calm her breathing. Fighting with Cora always managed to upset her in the worst ways. But she really, really had this feeling that something was strange. But it didn't really matter now, did it? When she at least felt composed on the outside, she started walking back to the cabin.

It was still early enough to be chilly outside, the warmth of the sunlight not yet strong enough to penetrate the frilly morning mists. Even plagued with dark thoughts, it was hard not to notice the beauty of nature. You could never get a view like this in England. Like its inhabitants, the trees there were prim, proper and controlled. Here they were left to grow big and wild. It made the land look a thousand years England's senior. Mysterious.

Approaching the cabin, she spotted a figure sitting on the porch, basking in the nature's alluring beauty. It was Chingachgook, sitting on the wooden floor and drawing smoke from a long, intricately carved pipe. He looked so peaceful one could have mistaken him for a long forgotten forest spirit, overlooking the quiet wilderness for centuries. She never quite knew how to talk to the old Indian. He didn't seem like someone who could be engaged into light, idle chit chat. It was no different this time around, not that she felt much like talking at the moment. Therefore she decided to wish him a good morning and then leave him to his meditation. She articulated a polite greeting and was slightly taken aback by his invitation to join him.

"I sense you are distressed. Come and sit down, it is a beautiful morning." Not knowing how to refuse, she obliged and sat down next to him, keeping a respectful distance. She couldn't take the same meditative position as him as her skirts wouldn't allow it ( and besides, a lady is not supposed to sit like that).

A comfortable but pregnant silence stretched between them. The silvery smoke from the pipe tickled her nose. Back in England, she avoided the proximity of men smoking cigars, as the putrid smell burned her sensitive airways and automatically made her hold her breath, only releasing it in a coughing fit when she was surrounded by clean air again. But this was actually quite calming. Whatever Chingachgook was smoking, it had a light sweetly smell and the smoke lacked the heavy, irritating properties that were common for cigars.

"You mustn't hold resentment against your sister. She is doing her best to keep the burdens she placed upon her shoulders to herself." So he heard them. They must have gotten quite loud in the end. She hid her face behind the curtain of her hair in embarrasment. Of course she knew she shouldn't have snapped at Cora like that. She was certain her sister had her reasons. She didn't quite understand the part about Cora's burdens though, as the man beside her evidently liked to speak somewhat in riddles. She was never good at those.

"She is very protective of you. Fiercely so. She keeps matters she thinks you couldn't handle away from you. Well, she tries." He drew smoke from his pipe again, allowing Alice to think about his words. The girl was slightly confused. There was still some anger remaining from earlier, subtly boiling in the pit of her stomach. "What? I'm not some…small child. I can handle the serious matters of life well enough. At least I think so." "Mmm…does she know that?" About that Alice wasn't sure. "I don't know."

Chingachgook straightened where he sat, his weathered back voicing a few muted pops at the stretch. "In an Indian tribe, everyone is aware of each individual's strenght. Men and women alike carry a weapon, ready for the time when they will be tested and forced to show just what they are made of. Life is not easy and so, such times come around often enough. From that day on, everyone knows exactly what someone is capable of enduring. Knowing each other's strenghts makes a tribe stronger and more connected." He paused. "But the Yengeese, they prefer ruling over defenseless people. They believe it makes them all the more powerful. That is why only certain Yengeese men can wield weapons and the rest do not know how to defend themselves, as they were never allowed a chance to learn. Tell me…has anyone ever given you the proverbial weapon?"

Alice blinked at him. She wasn't quite certain what he meant. Girls in England were never to even touch something as a weapon. Ever since she and Cora were little girls, they were well sheltered and protected. Even if they did get in greater trouble (that was mostly Cora), their father was the one who sorted it out and fought their troubles for them. As they got older, Cora became bolder than most English ladies and tried out her own weapon of will and words on some poor men who were just a little bit too pushy or friendly. It was true, since her transformation into the fiery woman she was today, everyone knew what Cora was capable of. Alice didn't dare to be as brave. She couldn't really remember a time when she had to stand up for herself. If she was in need of that, Cora was never far away and she took care of it for her. Her sister would have defended her even if Alice wouldn't want her to. Just because she never got to have a say in difficult situations, did that mean Cora thought she was too soft? Was that what Chingachgook wanted her to realize?

"I don't think so?"

"Then you cannot fault your sister for not being aware of your strenght and limitations. She is only trying to protect you from what she thinks is too much for you."

Alice shook her head. "I don't know, maybe. It's just that she is being strange as of lately. That is what we were discussing rather heatedly back there. I apologize for disturbing your peace."

A small, strange smile crossed Chingachgook's face. It was gone as fast as it came. Instead, a wondering but also knowing expression replaced it. "Hmmm. Yes, they are being rather secretive, are they not?"

Alice frowned for what felt like the hundredth time today. If she kept doing that so frequently, her forehead would wrinkle in a week. "Who? You mean Cora and…Uncas?" She wasn't really sure until she said it out loud. In the past few days, she did have a slight feeling that the young man was avoiding her, even if just a little bit. He was also a bit distant from the others. Whenever they did talk, his words and smile were just as kind and soft as before. But the conversation itself was a little bit…short and rushed and finished before it really ended. She wrote it off as him not feeling well and needing space for recovering. Was his father implying that he was also in on something with Cora? And he was avoiding her because he didn't want her to know?

Chingachgook's eyes sweeped over the forest and he smiled fondly. "My son is always very considerate to the feelings of others, even if at the cost of his own. Therefore he is reserved and hides them away, but he could never hide them from me. I sense he is conflicted."

"I apologize, but are you implying he is doing something he shouldn't be?"

"No. I'm implying he is doing something he thinks he shouldn't be."

Alice leaned back and looked up at the sky. This was all so confusing. "Do you know what he is doing?"

Chingachgook looked at her with a very neutral face. "Perhaps. I raised him well and so I know his actions are honorable. But I believe he worries they will not be perceived as such. Perhaps he fears they will appear foolish or naive. That more bad will come of it than good. As I said, he places the feeling of others above his own. He possibly fears…we shall not accept his decisions and will resent him for them."

There was a clenching feeling in Alice's gut. Guilt. If Cora was helping Uncas with whatever he was up to and if what the old Mohican said was true, then she has unjustly unleashed her frustrations upon her sister. Of course she didn't know those things at the time, but it just proved she reacted rashly. "I'm sorry. If you believe they are doing the right thing, then it must be so. But still, I believe if they told us, we would all be able to see the the righteousness of their doing. We are very close, after all. Almost a family. And family understands."

Chingachgook smiled. "You still have some naivety left in you, but you speak wise words. The right thing can also be an unpleasant thing at the same time, as I'm sure you will learn soon. But I agree with you. The sooner they decide to come out with the truth, the easier it will be. Perhaps they require some helping along."

He stood up and Alice watched after him as he retreated into the cabin. She herself remained seated there for a while longer. Their conversation was like shining a light in the dark. It didn't reveal everything, but it still revealed a lot. Of course she sensed something was off before, but she didn't think it was something like this. She supposed it wasn't so bad. Honestly, despite the old Mohican claiming that he only suspects the nature of Cora's and Uncas' secrecy, she had a feeling he knew exactly what was going on.

And as she found out at the end of the day, she was right. Cora returned in time for dinner and busied herself with chores after that. Neither of the sisters was ready to yet discuss their quarrel, but every time their gazes met, there was a quiet apology in them. They both knew that when they decided to actually face each other, reconciliation will come along easily.

Uncas spent his whole day working with Nathaniel. It was a while since they had time to really be alone and talk. And so, today was really their day. Productivity and good mood was flowing. Even though Uncas reveled in his brother's company, he chose his words carefully. That was the exhausting price of secrets. Really, Uncas knew Nathaniel would be the hardest to tell about the Huron in the forest. He would have a hard time accepting it, if at all. But anyway, the day ended in high spirits.

And maybe it was because of their tangible good mood and obvious reconnection that the following event chose to happen at the very moment. Both brothers were sitting at the table and having a drink, when Uncas felt two sturdy but gentle arms descend upon his shoulders. He looked up into his father's thoughtful face. Chingachgook squeezed his shoulders.

"Ah, son, you try so hard to do the right thing. You always did." Uncas suddenly felt nervous, almost as if his father was saying this with a distinct purpose. "You have an honest heart and I have raised you well. I am very proud of you."

The old Indian patted his son's back and said nothing else. Uncas was almost relieved. So it was nothing. His father was probably reffering to the battle on the cliffs and expressing his relief to have his child alive still. After all, they never talked about the fateful incident before.

Then like an afterthought: "I do hope you know what you are trying to do with Magua."

Really, he should have known his father would catch on early. Still, he nearly choked on his drink. He wasn't the only one.

"What?" gurgled Nathaniel through a mouthful of ale.

This was not how Uncas imagined this going. But if he was being honest with himself, he suddenly felt surprisingly lighter than he had felt in weeks (even with his brother burning a hole into his head with an intense stare). Explaining everything didn't feel so complicated now.

His father always knew how to ease his unnecessary burdens.