A.N

OKAY! So, I'm gonna change the perspective of this chapter to Lakota's view just to get some added feelings in there. So, without further ado, here's the chapter!

We travelled for a long time. He never gave up, always pushing forward. When a house came into view it was as if the spirits had planted it in front of us themselves! We ran faster than we had the whole journey, and when the old man slammed the door on our faces we were so upset. I could see it in his eyes; he was determined, but upset. However, when the spirits brought the clouds over head and unleashed a downpour of water upon us, we took refuge in the stables by the side of the house. My teeth chattered loud and my whole body vibrated-half with fear and half with the cold. I loved the rain but anything loud that sounded like when the white men shoot fire from their hands and fear runs through my body like startled deer. He placed a hand on my shoulder and I jumped.

"Easy, easy. It's ok, Lakota." He calmed me with his hand firm on my shoulder. I slowed my fast and unsteady breathing and when I was calm again he began to unroll the fabric bed we had been given from Clan Mother. He sat down and studied the ground, obviously in thought. I pushed myself towards him on my shaky legs.

"We must sleep; we've a long day tomorrow." He said. I nodded and began to undo my braids. I braided my hair almost every day to keep it out of the way while hunting, but it was so uncomfortable to sleep on so I un braided it every night before sleep. I was sitting on the bed roll beside Ratonhnhake:ton while I raked my fingers through my braids slowly when I felt another hand join mine and run its fingers through the wavy strands that fallen passed my shoulder blades. Ratonhnhake:ton had always liked my hair, I knew he did, the two braids reminded him of his Mother. He began to untie the second braid and when he was done he continued to run his fingers through my hair. It felt lovely! I never wanted it to stop, but as soon as I wished it never ended; he pulled his hands away and lay down.

"Goodnight, Lakota." He whispered.
"Goodnight, Ratonhnhake:ton." I said with a smile. The storm had passed quickly, and I was not tired so I spent most of the night watching the stars in the sky. Sometimes, I could feel Ratonhnhake:ton's eyes watch me to see what I was doing, but I never turned round. I let him sleep. I watched the stars for what seemed like many moments passed until I slowly slid back over to him, his face comfortably relaxed in his sleep. He lay on his side and the only way for me to be able to get on the sleeping mat was to slide myself under his arm and copy his position so he was behind me with his chest to my back. Being a silent huntress, sneaking in beside him was easy but I got a fright when his arm wrapped around me from behind and pulled me close to his body, I could feel his life beating against my back and his head was nestled in my hair and blowing hot air against my neck. I felt at ease. I felt at home. And with the feeling of comfort in mind, I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

I woke before him, his hand still wrapped around me tightly-securing me to him- and his head still on my neck. His breathing became less steadied and I could feel him begin to wake up. I turned around to face him and when his eyes opened he stared at me. His hand was in the arch of my back and he didn't attempt to move it until he realised where he was and who he was with. Sitting up quickly, his body became straight and as tall as a tree.

"I'm going to talk to the old man again. He is sure to let me in today." And with his statement, he was gone. I Looked around the stable and found the great eyes of a beautiful horse staring at me. Large and strong yet gentle legs held the stallion and he sighed patiently as I climbed into the stall with him. My hands found his spine and I touched his smooth dark brown hide; beautiful. He reminded me of Ratonhnhake:ton; Harsh and brooding to everyone else, but handsome and gentle in my eyes.

"I never imagined that he would find comfort in a native woman. So many white women have tried to tame him, but none successful." Came a weary and tired voice. I turned, shocked. I didn't know anyone was out here. My panicked eyes skimmed an old man, with dark skin and a white beard staring at me whilst leaning on a walking stick, he was the man from the manor. I had no idea what he was saying, Ratonhnhake:ton spoke the white man's language not me! This man was no white skin, but he had the tongue of one, none were to say he did not have the ambition of one either. I bared my teeth in offence to scare him off but he stood his ground, his eyes beginning to soften and show me he meant no harm.

"Lakota, he's not at the mano-" I heard Ratonhnhake:ton call before he changed tongues to speak to the old man.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked the old man,

"She took a liking to my horse; he's not a tamed one yet, look how calm he is with her"

"She does that. She can give an animal the love she would give her family, but can also hunt and kill as quick as an eagle."

I had no idea what Ratonhnhake:ton was saying to the man but whatever he had said certainly had an impact on the elder. His eyes lit up with curiosity. He turned to me,

"Would you like to ride the horse, my dear?" he said with a smile. I looked at Ratonhnhake:ton with panic in my eyes, I have no idea what he was saying! It was as if Ratonhnhake:ton knew what was wrong and he told me what the man had said but in our language. A smile spread across my face. I nodded in response and as quick as that the man showed me where he kept his leather horse equipment. I preferred riding bare back but this man did not seem confident enough in his horse to let me control him without the help of equipment. I pulled myself on to the stallion's back and walked him slowly over to the path leading away from the manor. I connected with the horse as soon as we saw each other and I began to trust him as he trusted me. His legs became my legs. His eyes became my eyes. I kicked him onwards and rode him fast onto a large hill that looked out onto sea. This was a glorious place, I would not mind if I were to live here.

A few hours later:

I had decided upon naming the stallion Spear. He was fast and attacked the ground but he was agile and could jump almost anything he wanted. By the time Spear and I were tired it was growing darker and so I returned to the stables. Slowing Spear down to a trot I came around the corner of the manor and swung my leg over Spear to jump down. As soon as my feet touched the ground a body slammed into me and pushed me against the wall of the manor. S finger pressed to my lips to shush me and I tried to push the hand off of me.

"Lakota! It's me, Ratonhnhake:ton, there are men here and they do not look friendly." A familiar voice said and I began to relax and take in my surroundings to create a plan of how to attack. However, I could not think as the warmth and comforting feeling of Ratonhnhake:ton's body pressed against mine was making me dizzy. His legs stood between mine but our stomachs and chests were pressed together like we were going to die if we were to pull apart. One of his long arms was above my shoulder, his hand spread out across the bricks. His eyes darted between me and the men as if he were deciding on whether or not to stay with me or fight.

"Stay here." He demanded, and then he was gone, I could hear the men grunting in pain as they were being hit but then I ran through a door, upstairs in the manor to find the old man. When I found him he was grabbing his cane and hurrying down the stairs to help Ratonhnhake:ton, he brought his cane up and brought it down upon one of the other men's heads, instantly knocking them to sleep. The sickening noise kept replaying in my head. Sure, I had hunted and killed numerous animals, but to hurt a man, it just felt different. The cracking noise kept thundering through my head, until I heard Ratonhnhake:ton's voice calling my name, then I fell down and everything went black.