John and Pocahontas looked at each other. What was wrong?
"Nakoma," Pocahontas said. "Please, just calm down. Tell us what's wrong."
"Pocahontas, you're father is sick!" Nakoma managed between short breaths of air. "Kekata sent me to find you, but you weren't at Jamestown. I knew this was a shortcut home, so I took it. I heard the you talking, and I figured you were here."
"Father is sick?" Pocahontas's voice, face, and eyes filled with a worry John had only seen once in his life. Pocahontas jumped to her feet, John right behind her. She began to sprint towards her home. John and Nakoma caught up with her.
The three neared the village after about five minutes. Pocahontas ran straight for a hut in the center of the village. John and Nakoma followed her close behind.
Pocahontas pushed back the flap of the hut and entered. Her father lay on a mat at the back of the hut, Kekata and two of the village elders around him.
"Ah, good, you're here. I see Nakoma found you." Kekata said. "I knew if anyone could find you, it would be her." He said. The elders turned around as well.
Pocahontas walked towards her father slowly. What had happened? He was fine a couple hours ago!
"Father?" She asked, kneeling next to him. "I'm here, Father. And Nakoma and John are here as well."
"He can't hear you, Pocahontas." Kekata said. Pocahontas looked at him, tears beginning to form. Nakoma came and joined her, kneeling next to Powhatan. John watched uncomfortably from the dark corner. He wasn't sure what to do. Finally, he walked to where she knelt beside her father.
"Is there anything I can do?" He asked. Pocahontas shook her head and was about to say something when one of the village elders said,
"Yes. You can get out of our village, and never come back."
Pocahontas wheeled around on her knees, tears already covering her cheeks. "What are you saying? John is welcomed by my Father, your chief, into our village. You have no right to shun him!" she snapped at the elder.
"You are in grief right now and know not of what you speak," the elder told her calmly, "He has had a bad effect on you and our entire village already."
"You can't send him away! I love him and my Father accepted him. Surly you would not throw out the judgment of your Chief so quickly the moment he falls ill!" Rage filled Pocahontas's eyes as she stood and faced the elder. His face was calm as she stood before him.
"There is only one way a savage like him would be accepted in our village," he said in reply, "and that is if he proved himself as a loyal warrior."
John looked surprised. A loyal warrior? That's what he had to do to be with Pocahontas again?
"What do you mean?" Pocahontas demanded of the elder.
"He must prove that he has the heart of a warrior. He must prove his bravery, trust, and loyalty."
"He's proven himself already! He proved himself when he saved my father's life!" Pocahontas pointed out.
"That was very brave." The elder said. "And we shall see if he has the heart of a true warrior."
"But-" Pocahontas started, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her and so did the elder cutting her off.
"There is nothing left to say here." The elder said and Pocahontas just looked at the ground. The elders exited the hut, along with Kekata and Nakoma. Pocahontas looked next to her. It was John who had placed his hand on her shoulder. Pocahontas's hand went up to his.
"I didn't know they'd do this." She whispered.
"I didn't either." John said. "If I had known my presence would cause such a stir…" He said, but Pocahontas stopped him.
"Don't say you wouldn't have come back." She commanded. "I didn't know if I'd ever see you again."
"Personally, I didn't know, either." John said.
"John, what are you going to do?" Pocahontas asked.
"Whatever it takes." John said.
"John, you do realize that they mean that if you do become one of my father's warriors, if there is ever a battle between our people, they will expect you to fight on our side." Pocahontas said. "Would you be able to do that?"
John thought a moment. Would he be able to do that if the moment arose to where he had to choose? He looked at Pocahontas. If it came to that, for her he would.
"I understand that, and if it came to that, then yes, I'm sure I would be able to." John said. But am I?
"Then I would go and speak to the elders." Pocahontas said. "I'll stay here with my father." John nodded, and gently kissed her forehead.
"It's going to be alright, you'll see." He said. He quietly left and Pocahontas knelt back down next to Powhatan.
"Father, I don't know if you can hear me or not. The elders don't want John to join our tribe. Please, you have to wake up and get better soon. I need you." She whispered and took his hand. She sat there for what seemed like hours until she heard soft footsteps behind her. She turned, expecting to find Nakoma, but instead she found John.
John was dressed in the traditional fringed winter outfit of a warrior. He had on a fringed long-sleeved shirt, and fringed leggings. He also wore the traditional winter moccasins. Pocahontas was surprised. She had never known John to wear anything but what she had met him in.
Suddenly, she realized what John being dressed as a warrior of her village meant – the elders were going to allow him to train as a warrior.
Hola, people! Here's this chapter! Please review! By the way, me and Sophie add a little to each chapter, and instead of making each thing we add a seperate chapter, we're doing it like this. So...yeah.
Anyway, review, please!
-Robi