~ I ~ Feather in the Wind ~ I ~

~ Jasper ~

~ Historical (fan) fiction ~

~ Chapter 6 ~

1845. After a forced agreement with Europeans, 15 year old Piper is betrothed to Jason Grace, son of the one who has caused much harm to her people. Yet she doesn't know that and it doesn't help the vast rumors of forced marriages with the lightly-colored she had heard of. But yet she never thought that she would fall for him, despite the knowledge that he might leave.

~ Undeniable Love? ~

~ Leo (Fire Stone) ~

"Poor Fire Stone. Many suns and moons have passed and he only sits by the lake." said one Cherokee.

"He really loved Feather in the Wind, Brother. Yet she never noticed." said another.

"Let's go. This is depressing."

Truth being said, Fire Stone was like this when he found out Piper was to become the mother of a white child from that bastard. They don't deserve a woman like Piper.

Fire Stone had grown up with Piper since his mother was taken from him by whites. His father was killed by whites during a battle over territory. His young aunt was abused and raped then killed by whites. In fewer words, Fire Stone hated whites and Piper knew that. Almost a month had passed since Piper was wed to that white. A month full of sadness and confusion.

After Piper left at sunrise that day, Leo had gone to the chief and asked him why the hell she had gone with those men. His response was:

"The breeze has destined her to go. It's her duty."

Leo narrowed his eyes. He respected his culture but sometimes he believed that the elders blamed everything on the breeze and spirits. Poor breeze and spirits! Leo had stormed away ignoring his guardian's protests.

Since that day, Leo had found shelter at the river bank. Piper and he would come here when they needed to clear their mind. His mind being too clouded, interrupted his usual jittery personality. He remembered his attempt at stopping the event. He carried Piper once she collapsed to silently remind the chief the he had a daughter. He couldn't just give her away. But his trying failed. Then when Piper left, the goodbye was a barely seen. She was leaving, already getting on the wagon, and he in shock doesn't even move to do something. Piper waves and he just blinks. He saw the pain in her eyes of leaving the tribe.

And he got to thinking one day.

What is Piper going through? What pain are they making her live?

He decided to consult the eldest man in the tribe. He would bend the fire to find answers for Fire Stone.

"Ah, my dear boy. I was expecting you. I knew you'd come soon enough." said the old man.

Leo had entered the old hag's asi. The old man had his fire pit lit and smoke was swirling all around. Dancing images danced about. Fire light bent and mingled in the ground.

"How'd you know I'd come?" Leo asked.

"My boy, I sense your mind full. There can only be one explanation. You miss Feather in the Wind and would like to know how she is. You are too easy." The man said. His long white hair was pulled into a ponytail. His animal skin cloak reached his feet. Feathers of recognition hung on his head.

"Okay then. Tell me. I need to know. How is she? Will she ever be back? Will I ever see her again?" Leo asked desperately, sitting next to him.

"Alright! Blank out your mind. Let your memories soar. Let Feather in the Wind breath again in your mind."

Leo did as told and he soon felt in peace; calm, something the old man knows how to do very well.

The man began to chant in Cherokee and soon said, "Feather in the Wind made a rough sacrifice. A sacrifice for love. Undeniable love."

Leo's mind raced at that. Love? For who? The white man?

"A sacrifice that caused pain amongst her loved ones. She put her feelings behind her neck. She made the sacrifice in moving on for her people. Learning to care for the pale-skinned and moving on with him. Sure her mind might know that but the spirit with in her might help her figure that question out."

"Learning to care for him? Why?"

"Oh my boy, understand that we are being forced out of our land once more, discreetly. Feather in the Wind is just one condition in slowing things down. She is royalty amongst our people therefore whites see more interest in her as bargain for land. They get her, we stay with our home. She left for you… And us."

Not much might have been said from the old man's mouth but it is enough to put Leo in a thunder cloud.

"How is she?" Leo asked.

"How else could she be? She is in pain. She needs to feel her family. Yet she is a strong girl. She hides her feelings from herself and her new family."

"No! We are her family!" Leo protested.

"Not anymore, according to the strings of life in the fire." The old man cackled.

"What?" Leo said.

"She has married the white man. Don't worry about him. He is kind hearted among his own. He fights for us. For our voice. I have met him once. Fine quality and not much pain lived in my heart when Feather in the Wind left. He will not harm her. He will protect her and care for her."

"But we are still her family."

"Well, yes, but she has a new family and a new life within her; something that will complete that new family."

Leo blinked. Sure, the man was talking in code but those words rang in Leo's ear loud and clear.

"You mean?"

"Yes my boy. She is with child. A child that will blend with paled ones and our kind."

"So she is to be a mother?"

"Yes. I have spoken to the chief and he said it is to be expected."

Leo angered up inside. He stood up and stormed out of the asi. But before the boy took another step, the old man said, "The chief said that you would have become his son if this would have not happened. You would have become his successor."

Leo breathed that in and ran out. He ran down to river bank and has been there ever since.

With time all to himself, he got to more thinking. No one dared come near him.

Why was this affecting him so much? Was it possible that Leo had felt something for Piper. If so, he knew that chief would have said something. So why hadn't the chief said anything? Why did it have to be the old man?

I'm not going to give up on Feather in the Wind. He can have Piper, but my Feather in the Wind is not going to be taken away… What ever it takes.

Short, but I wanted to include more culture. And more depth into the Piper/Leo aspect of the story.

-To make it clear (without giving out much detail), Piper is trying to adapt to her new life. She doesn't "seem to be doing fine in the situation". She is just trying to do it for her people. Putting as much feeling as she could to make the marriage work. Although Jason has other ideas…

~BeautiWind –heart-

PS – I am surprised no one has noticed the Esperanza part. Hopefully with this chapter of Leo, you guys will get it.