Uncas had not yet returned by nightfall, so they chose to forgo a fire for safety's sake since there was nothing to cook. Instead, they had deer jerky again, along with a paltry serving of berries that Cora had located on the trek. Alice was wearing a much modified version of her pink dress—the sleeves and collar had been cut off, as well as the under skirts. She wore no bustle or stays, and her legs were bare save her small gray boots. She felt naked indeed, especially as her breasts were now very exposed. Cora assured her it was not improper and not uncommon in places such as Paris, but Alice felt like a strumpet indeed. Yet after what she had revealed today…her face burned at the memory. Still, she knew that Uncas had saved her life, and that is was her own foolish fault for exerting herself overmuch and refusing to eat or drink all because of her sore mood.

When dinner was over and Uncas had still not returned, the group settled down to sleep, with Chingachgook taking first watch. Though Alice was exhausted, she merely tossed and turned on the hard dirt, her thoughts turning black as she wondered if something had happened to Uncas. What if the Huron had…? She could not bear to finish the thought. She rued the way she had acted in the morning, refusing to meet his eye or acknowledge his kind presence. Though she knew her feelings to be very wrong, she could not help but admit to herself that she could think of nothing else but him. She remembered laying against his bare chest in her thin shift, knowing he must have been able to see—and feel—everything. But for once, instead of feeling shame, that only made her heart beat faster and a queer ache form in her belly.

Looking over at Chingachgook, who was now dozing, she slowly raised herself up without making a sound. She could not sleep until Uncas was back, and what if he was hurt or lost or…

Just as she was a yard deep into the woods, a firm brown hand grasped around her now bare arms.

"Where are you going, little one?" asked a familiar voice.

Her face broke out in joy. "Oh, Uncas!" she cried quietly. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his torso in a tight embrace. He stood still for a moment, clearly taken aback, but then he raised one warm hand to stroke her silky hair.

"You're back, you're back," she whispered in glee.

"Of course," he said, holding her away from him to look down at her face. "But where were you going? Did something happen to the others?"

She fell silent and began twisting her hands. "I—I wanted to try to find you," she confessed shakily.

If she thought he would have been flattered by such an admission, she was wrong. Instead, he shook her. "You what? You left camp on your own to find me in the night?"

She looked confused. "I—I'm sorry—I—

His grip around her became like a vice. She wanted to cry out in pain but her voice disappeared.

"Never, ever, ever, ever let me hear you of doing something so stupid and selfish again!" He shook her again, and this time she could not help but whimper as she felt his grasp was nearly breaking her arms.

As she sobbed, he suddenly realized what he was doing. He let go of her and she sank to the ground, tears racking her frame. Uncas raised his large hands to his face, feeling awful as he remembered himself and how tiny she was in his arms. He threw himself down onto the ground beside her and tried to pull her into his lap.

"No—no—no—" Her small white hands pushed against his broad chest, "No. Please don't. I'm sorry, please don't. Let me go away. I am sorry."

"What are you sorry for? I am the one who should be sorry! I deserve to be lashed for being so rough with you," he said, cursing himself, as he tried once to reach for the crying girl.

She pushed him away again.

"I am crowding you…I am always weighing you down…I got you in trouble today. And now I follow you when you want to be alone," she choked, her hands twisting once again.

That was enough for him. "No more," he said, once again forcefully grabbing her but this time with caution and tenderness. He pulled her body until his lap and held her tightly until she tired herself out with twisting and turning to no avail.

When she quieted a bit, he reached down and tipped her chin up to meet his. "I am glad for you to follow me," he said lowly, his thumb stroking her plump bottom lip. "Gladder than reason ought to dictate."

She looked bewildered. "But then why did you get so angry?"

In exasperation, he unleashed the reasons why: That it was dark, there were killers hunting for her, she did not know the terrain, she had no protection, she wasn't dressed properly, she was still suffering from ill health, she was—

Then he realized her face was still shrouded in confusion. He realized with a jolt he had not been speaking English.

He laughed. "Ah, mouse," he said, "I don't why it is natural for me to speak to you in my language."

"I like it," she whispered, reaching up to intertwine his hand in hers. "But I have no idea what you said."

He considered repeating it all, but then settled for one word: "Dangerous."

"Dangerous," she repeated, slowly, as if trying to understand why this had thrown him into a rage.

He began to trace that tempting lower lip again. "If something were to happen to you…while you were looking for me, no less…" Words failed him.

She nodded slowly.

"You must be more careful," he admonished, seriousness returning to his voice. "You must promise me that."

"Yes," she said quickly, eager for his playful mood to return.

"You must, Silver One," he said, using his father's name for her. "Do you understand? Truly? You must do as I say. You must believe it is for the best, whether it is staying in camp, or drinking water—

"Or removing my clothing?" she asked, a smile playing on her lips, emboldened by the darkness and the pure sensual pleasure of being wrapped in Uncas's big arms.

Now it was his turn to blush. "I saw nothing," he assured her, "I remembered your honor every moment."

Alice stilled at the word 'honor' and the smile disappeared.

"Something amiss?" he asked, worriedly, tugging slightly on her wavy locks.

"I'm tired," she said, and as she said the words, she realized it was not a lie.

"Of course!" he clucked his tongue. "How foolish of me. After such a day, you must need rest."

She nodded, but made no move to leave his lap.

He grinned. "Shall I carry you back?"

"Nayyy," she intoned, her body feeling like liquid in his arms. "I would stay here."

Now he knew she was out of her head with exhaustion. "Your sister almost had me hung once today," he chuckled, rising carefully without disturbing her in his arms. "I will carry you back."

He wondered how it was that she so trusted him that she fell asleep in his arms in the short minute it took to return to the others. He hated to relinquish her body on the ground, and the bereft moan she made in her sleep let him know she felt the same. Though it didn't feel adequate, he offered the only comfort he could instead of his body—he tucked his blanket around her and gently kissed her fingertips before walking away.

He collapsed onto the ground as well, but not before meeting his father's half-open eyes. Uncas opened his mouth to speak but found words failed him. Chingachgook looked into the distance.