Stevie Rae/Stevie Rae

I woke up with back pain from sleeping on rocks. I sat up using the cave wall for assistance. I sucked in air as I bent my back backwards. Once that was done a yawn escaped as I stretched my arms over my head. The cave wasn't tall so I easily touched the ceiling with my fingers. I sat there in silence for a moment, going over yesterday. I had run away and on sheer luck or damnation I ran into the Black Ravens again which once again saved me twice in the same day. Once again I couldn't think badly of the Ravens for all they have ever done to me was save me, now three times. Despite Amaro and his very unsocial personality, the others are very kind, social, and very close to each other. That was certain. I thought about the Indian that died in Raymer. He was a Black Raven but I wondered who he died. They are supposed to be strong, powerful beings with no signs of weaknesses. Could the Ravens really just be regular people with the born ability to be stronger than the rest of human kind? I began to believe that. The Ravens didn't act like the savages or the demons others call them. They seemed very human-like. Maybe when they were under their old leader - Kalona was it? – they were savages but under Rephiam it was like they are way different people. It accrued to me that if the worse of the worse of the Indian race wasn't actually all bad that the other tribes that white men have been relocating and treating horribly are actually the good guys and we're the bad guys. I nodded to myself. I never really liked the way they treated the Indians. They're people too despite their different race and color and culture. A shadow blocked off the minimal light that was shining in the cave. I looked up to see Chogan looking in. "Good. You are awake. We already have breakfast ready if you are feeling hungry." I couldn't find my words, still too tired, so I just nodded. He gave a short nod back before backing away from the cave. I was anticipating the breakfast. God knows what the Black Ravens eat for breakfast 'cause yesterday for dinner we had deer.

As it turns out breakfast was some stolen food from a town a few miles off. Reid had rode off early and took some bread from a bakery as well as some cheeses and some gallons of fresh water. "I thought Indians didn't eat white man food." I asked.

"Honey," Reid answered after he swallowed a bit of his bread and cheese, "we eat anything we find. We don't care as long as it's edible and doesn't have flies flyin' around it."

"Ew…" I really didn't want a descriptive scene like that so early in the morning.

"Rephiam," Amaro called out towards his brother, "now what?"

I guessed that the 'now what' was referring to me. I was right. "We will think of another plan. I was thinking that we should just take her back to her town and go before commotion starts again but I knew there would be retaliations." He paused, collecting his thoughts. "Since Raymer did not work out the way I had planned I am reluctant to go to another nearby town."

"Maybe we should give her a map, some food and water and let her find her own way." Hotah stated. I disagreed with that plan and shook my head though I know that no one was paying attention to me. All except Chogan.

"Do not worry. Chief will not just drop of a person. He has more morals than that."

Hothlepoya laid back, his hands behind his head. "Well, I think that we are stuck with her. We cannot do anything about her and we are too busy trying to find Kain. It seems to me that despite us not wanting to end up like this, we have no choice but to take her with us until we come back around her home."

Amaro groaned and shook his head. The others sighed in despair while Rephiam just closed his eyes, silently excepting the truth as I was. I suddenly felt bad. If I hadn't run away in the first place I wouldn't have found them and become such a burden. And I wouldn't have saddened my father as well as the rest of the town. I sighed too, but it was more in self defeat. Seems like nothing I do ever goes right, now does it? Then we ate in silence. No one moved except to move the food and liquid to our lips. I was used to the silence. Being an only child in an empty house while father was off working, I started remembering small games I used to play to pass the time when I was a child. I would pretend I was a wild mustang running free in the plains. Climbing hills (which I used the stairs), crossing rivers (continuously running back and forwards in the hallway) and jumping over canyons (jumping on the sofas). There was another game where I would sit cross-legged and I pretended to be in an Indian tribe when they have a huge fire and they're dancin' and singin' around the fire. Now if only little me only knew that one day she'd have to hang around actual Indians. Once we finished eating the horses were all prepped and the ravens took off into the skies, waiting for their masters to get ready to ride. I once again rode with Rephiam. It had seemed he took me as his responsibility. He was the one who saved me in the beginning, he should be the one to continue taking care of me, at least, that's what I thought he thought. We started off and I immediately found myself liking the fact that he had taken responsibility over me. I thought of Zoey's and my conversation before I left about the Black Ravens. Rephiam is certainty handsome and strong. That much is certain. And despite his rough reputation of being leader of the Ravens it's very clear he's different from the others and that he's much kinder, compassionate and he leads much differently than his father had before him. I don't know how long we were riding but when we stopped for rest and for more food (once again deer that Hothlepoya caught) the sun was high in the sky and it was hot. Really hot. They made another fire and once again they ate in silence. I was thinking about starting a conversation but when I tried thinking of a good topic I kept on pushing it away; wasn't really important for them most likely. Rephiam's voice started a topic then, one that I really didn't want to get into.

"Why were you out here anyways?"

"Well… I…" I suddenly felt very hot. All their eyes were on me, curious dark eyes that bore deep into my soul. I really had no great reason, 'Oh I ran away from home,' I'd say, 'Why did you run away?' they'd ask, 'Oh well you see, I just felt like it.' I'd reply then they'd ask 'Just felt like it?' then I'd break down and spill out my whole freakin' life story and then what happens? I'll be sittin' there with this red hot look on my face and I'll freakin' want to die. To die. I took a deep breath in and made something up. "I was with my father and then I somehow lost him. My horse then freaked with a rattler and she ran off and bang! I'm lost and alone in the middle of nowhere." That's really the best thing you could come up with? Great Stevie Rae, just great.

The others looked at me, Amaro with his eyes squinted and the others just plain emotionless. Reid cleared his throat and spoke. "Well maybe while we are riding we will run into your father."

"Do you not remember the way he treated us after saving his daughter?" Amaro inquired his attention momentarily off me. "If he were to see us again with her I am sure we would soon be in trouble once more."

"We can handle it, I suppose. If not we'll just drop her and run like hell."

"What a wonderful plan Reid." Hotah sarcastically stated.

"Got a better idea smart one?"

"Not really."

"That's what I thought."

Rephiam cleared his throat and stood. "Once you are done get ready to move." He turned and walked towards the horses that were busy eating some grass while the ravens searched for worms. I finished quickly and followed him.

"Rephiam! What exactly is goin' to happen? I know that you're lookin' for someone but what—I have no idea what's going on."

"Leave it that way."

"But I'm curious, I can't help it."

"Then learn to not be curious."

"You can't just stop being curious. It's a part of that person's nature."

He stopped and I almost ran into him. Luckily I have some wondrous reflexes. He turned to face me. "A person's nature can change. Take for example the others. They used to be like the 'stereotypical' Black Raven that hurt people and raped women for pleasure. I took command and I changed them and I am still in that process but it is going well and quickly. Let me just warn you Stevie Rae, if you become a problem for them I will leave you in the middle of nowhere, my tribe is more important than some girl that I can assure you." He turned again and continued walking off.

I stood in my place, actually quite stunned to hear him talk so dang much and for what he said. I thought about his words, especially the ending part. I shook my head and silently whispered to myself. "You may say that but if you didn't care at all, you would have never helped me in the first place."