Okay this one is a bit longer. I will get some fluf in here soon but not just yet (;. I'm trying to make Hinata a little stronger, but not too strong. Tell me what you guys think.

Chapter 2: Never

Tenten's pov

By the time I walk back to our camp sight i'm exhausted. As the final hours of the night fade, and morning draws near I wake Hinata and we saddle up the horses. We wash our faces in a small stream running through the woods. Hinata is quiet as usual, but something is different. This time she's smiling. She seems content and happy. It's almost as if she is enjoying being hunted down by Indians.

"Umm..Hinata?"

"Yes, Tenten?"

She was still smiling. It was like she feared me but felt happy and safe at the same time. I had never in my life had multiple emotions like that. Not even in this moment. Right now I was just confused.

"Never mind"

I was going to ask her why she was smiling. I was going to ask how she could act so happy, but for the first time, I didn't. I never listened to adults. I said what I wanted when I wanted, no matter what the punishment was. So why now? Why didn't I want to just go ahead and ask her? I guess that for that moment I just was different. For the first time since yesterday afternoon, everything was peaceful.

Neji's pov

We've spotted them. At night we could not, but now dawn is upon us and the suns rays have revealed them. The men are still far away so we can only make out their outline. But within the hour, they will be dead.

Nakota tells us to slowly follow behind. He says we need patience. I trust what Nakota says even though I don't understand it. Nakota has been like a second father to me since my parents died, especially since he is my blood uncle. I have heard that Nakota had a daughter, but she was captured by white soldiers when she was young. Many times younger members of the tribe ask me how I can trust a man shrouded in such mystery. It is true that he's mysterious. Only the Chief of our tribe even knows his real name, but I ignore them. I trust Nakota and if he says they'll be dead, they most certainly will be dead.

Tenten's pov

We're riding again. Onward and not stopping was our plan. I want to get as far as possible, maybe even get to the town before twilight. It's almost guaranteed that we'll be there within two hours, but I still feel shaken. The sooner we get to town the better. I feel bad for these horses. They've had to deal with the same stressful situations that we do, but the saddest part is that they have no idea what's going on. I will certainly never sell or trade this horse, because in all reality, I owe this horse my life.

"Tenten?"

"Yes?"

"I wanted…to…to thank you."

"Umm…why?"

"Because if you hadn't thought of running away with the horses, if you hadn't drawn your own map, if you hadn't led me away from danger…I would be dead. You…You've been looking out for me this whole time and all I've been is a bother."

She stopped her horse and hopped down to the ground. She then folded her hands together and bowed her head as if she were praying.

"Hinata what are you…"

"Please! Forgive me for being a burden!"

Is this girl serious? This is the longest conversation we've ever had and its like she thinks i'm going to beat her. AND just to add to all of this, she's crying?!

"Hinata get up we have to go. Wipe your eyes and get back on your horse."

"But?"

"Hinata it's not like i'm your father; I'm just your traveling companion. We watch each others backs. That's what were supposed to do."

"Tenten?"

"What is it?" Now i'm slightly annoyed. What more is there?

"Thank you for treating me like an equal. You are the first person who has ever been this kind."

"Oh…well, just get on your horse. We have to go."

"RIght, I will not interrupt again." She was still smiling, but now I understood why.

Neji's pov

We're so close that I can taste victory. The men stopped for a moment. It appeared that one of them had fallen of his horse. Some horsemen they must be. Knocking them of the horse will be easy. I seem to already be doing it for us. Nakota gave us the signal. This is it. We're going to attack. Now.

Tenten's pov

I hear them. Dammit I thought we were far enough. How in the world did they catch up? They must have traveled during the night.

"Hinata! Faster! Let's get to the woods and split up. I'll meet you at the other end. Go as fast as you can and no matter what keep going!"

"But Tenten what if!"

"No, Hinata no matter what happens I want you to ride as fast as you can and tell the townsfolk when you arrive."

The growth in the woods was thick. There weren't many forests on the plains, of coarse, but when there were, we decided to stick close to them for this exact reason. Small twigs were pricking me in the face. I tried to duck but everything was moving so fast. I saw they Hinata was ahead of me. That's good. If anything I want to assure that she is safe. We're so close. I won't let us be stopped now. I hear their battle cries growing even closer. They sound like a bunch of wolves hunting their pray. No, I wouldn't even call them wolves. I'd call them filthy dogs.

I didn't have any weapons accept for the crummy pocket knife tucked into my dress. I swear to God someday I will burn this dress to ashes and dance on them for all the times it has gotten in the way. We still have a chance. If we could only avert them somehow.

Hinata stopped.

"Hinata! What are you doing?"

"Tenten we can't go any further." Tears were welling up in her eyes.

"What are you talking about?" I'd finally caught only to see my doom. A river outstretched and deep stood between me and the parallel shore line.

"No! Why now? I can practically hear the townsfolk!" Hinata was crying silently as i cursed to myself. This was it. We were going to die. If we tried to cross the river we would drown. If we back tracked we'd run into the indians. I'd gotten lucky my whole life. At last minute, or even last second, I'd always found a way out. Why not now? I would exchange all those other times in my life just for this moment now.

"Tenten?"

I sniffled a little before responding. Was I actually crying?

"Don't cry Tenten. Maybe they're nice indians. Maybe they'll let us go."

I felt a wave of frustration overwhelm me. Nice? Savages were not nice. Hinata was still a stupid, ignorant girl with false hope. She sounded like a five year old. I didn't care what happened now. I dried my eyes as they drew closer. I could see them stampeding down the hill like a bunch of animals. There had to be at least fifteen of them. I wouldn't let them see me cry though. Not now and not ever will I let them kill my pride.

I grabbed Hinata's hand and turned towards them. They saw us now. They definitely could see us even with all the branches in the way. They entered the woods and began to slow. This was it. I was ready for them. Hinata's hand was trembling but she turned her head towards me and smiled. It was a faint smile. You could see the sadness in her eyes as she looked at me. It was like she was trying to comfort me. I grasped her hand tighter. Just like a little girl would grasp her doll.

Neji's pov

I had my bow at hand. We could see them more clearly now, and to my surprise, they were women. Nakota told us not to attack until he gave the word. So we rode up to them. We surrounded them, but they didn't flinch, they didn't even try to move. They obviously had no weapons with them. As we began to close in on them I could see just how frightened they were. Their hands were interlocked tightly and one of them was shaking. The other one stood with an angry expression on her face and starred directly at Nakota. He spoke to them in a kind yet firm voice.

"You are from the wagon train, are you not?" The angry one responded to him with great disrespect.

"What does it matter? Just let us leave. We're going to the town right across the river."

"You speak with great defiance. Why did you run away if you talk with such bravery?"

"Because unlike some people, I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" Even at this comment Nakota's expression didn't change. He did not look angry nor upset. But he was certainly far from happy.

"Grab their horses. We're taking them back to the tribe."

A great eruption of cheers and cries came from my brothers as they jumped off their horses and grabbed the women. I did not move. I was disappointed. Women or not I still wanted to kill them. Why would Nakota want to capture them anyway? They mean nothing to us and they never will.

Tenten's pov

May God strike down these idiotic savages and curse their whole family for a million years! They jumped of their horses and tied our hands together. They then proceeded to yell and throw us on the backs of their own steeds and then we rode off. If you have ever considered riding on a horse stomach down with your hands tied behind your back with an red skin boy glaring at you, don't. With every single leap, step, jolt and gallop the horse took, pain shot through my stomach. I couldn't imagine how Hinata was holding out. She probably fainted already. Sure I was freaking out and dying of pain but i wouldn't let him know that.

"Hey kid! Where are we going?" There was no response.

"I asked you a question." Still no response.

"Hey you stupid savage answer my question!" This kid was good. He flinched out of anger with the last comment, but he still wouldn't respond.

Neji's pov

I swear it! I'm going to throw this cursed white woman off the horse just to watch her die slowly. She's loud and obnoxious. I don't understand Nakota at all. Why would he want us to bring these monsters? They're crazy.