The Adventures of Pocahontas and John Rolfe: Book I
Chapter 16: A Narrow Escape
They've caught him. What do we do? Adahy asked. We've got to free ourselves and him so we can capture him for our own purposes. This is getting more and more complicated.
These are not things you should worry about right now. I give you permission to enjoy the show. An opportunity is coming, the blade replied in premonition. Very soon. Be alert.
Adahy blinked. He was seated farther away than most from the scene on a stump in the midst of the dense trees. Another one of the pirates, Muttonchops, was keeping an eye on him while Demon Dave assisted with the 'setup.' The cur stood behind him, holding onto the rope that kept him bound. "Want a better view, Injun?" Muttonchops offered.
No, stay put, the demon instructed.
Adahy glanced up at Muttonchops. "No, I can see just fine from here."
The pirate raised a brow, eyeing Adahy. "You don't seem too enthused about this. Isn't this the very same paleface who severed your hands?" Muttonchops inquired, puzzled.
"Have you ever seen me outwardly 'enthused'?" Adahy countered.
Muttonchops paused a moment and conceded with a nod. "Point taken. You Injuns are so damn stoic," he remarked, shaking his head back and forth. "Glad I'm not one of ye."
"We're glad you're not one of us either," Adahy calmly retorted.
Muttonchops snapped the rope binding him. "Watch your trap!" he barked.
Adahy ignored his captor. He kept his gaze on John Rolfe's soon-to-be-not-so-flawless white back as the bosun swung the whip back, preparing for the first skin-splitting blow. The diplomat had been thrashing violently against his bindings and shouting to be freed but the bosun warned him to quiet down. "Let's hear you beg," mocked the Affrikaan.
At first, Adahy wondered if it was his imagination. He thought he heard the subtlest of swoosh sounds before the switch came down with a much louder swish. John Rolfe had been struggling with all his might, his skin turning bright red from the effort.
CRACK!
The willow whip struck the pine tree where John Rolfe had been not even a fraction of a second before, sending bark debris flying into the bosun's face. He sputtered and raged, "What the hell…?!" Adahy jumped to his feet to see what had happened. When he glanced down, he found Rolfe crumpled on the ground at the bosun's feet. A tomahawk embedded in the side of the pine tree indicated just where the bindings had been severed.
The bosun was so furious about missing his target that his swarthy face turned a deep dark shade of red. He spotted John Rolfe on the ground trying to crawl away and he drew back the whip again, targeting the fallen man before he could hope to escape. A sleek arrow put an end to the bosun's attempt at an assault. It embedded itself right in the spot between the Affrikaan's chest and shoulder, forcing the dark-skinned pirate to release his grip on the cruel implement. The bosun's agonized howl could not even be heard over the thundering war cry which immediately emanated from the obscuring foliage surrounding the area. "HE-LE-LE-LE-LE-LE-LE-LE-LE-LAAUUU!" it echoed over the trees.
"Savages! It's an ambush!" Flame decried. "Find cover and return fire!"
Half of the crew panicked and started shooting into the brush without running for cover first. Two men, Patch Fiddick and Demon Dave, ended up with an arrow straight through the gullet. The latter collapsed immediately, whereas the former stumbled around holding the tail of the embedded projectile as he tried to breathe through the blockage.
An ambush! This is our chance! the blade declared. Adahy did not need to be told twice. He sicked Kelele on Muttonchops, forcing the pirate to drop the leash to defend himself.
"Double-cross! Treachery!" screamed Muttonchops as the dog tore into his bicep.
Adahy ran to find cover behind trees and kicked off a boot, using his toes to reach into the side of his other. He pulled out the demon blade and flicked it at a tree. The sharp tip embedded in the trunk about four feet above ground. Adahy ran to it as the blade began to glow and turned around, allowing the sheer heat of the blade to sever the ropes binding his arms together behind his back. Then he yanked the blade out of the wood by the hilt.
Adahy returned to the scene just as Muttonchops pulled out a dagger with his free hand. The Copichican slit the man's throat before Muttonchops could impale Kelele on the sharp end of his weapon. "Good boy," Adahy uttered, whistling for the panting hound to follow him. Kelele's mouth was dripping with fresh blood. The whole setting was a spectacle of chaos as the pirates scrambled to reload and fire their weapons.
The attackers hid in the foliage, infuriating Spike-Eyes. "Come out and show yourselves, savages! Cowardly barbarians!" Most of the pirates were shooting blindly into the brush, essentially wasting their bullets as they could not hope to spot their target.
"Don't let Ignacio escape!" Flame decreed, pointing to John Rolfe as he tried to untie the ropes around his wrists. Rolfe peered back when he heard Flame's voice, eyes full of fear.
The bosun turned his back to Flame and kneeled. "Captain, break off the head for me! I'll get him!" he beseeched. Flame grabbed the arrowhead as the bosun held the shaft and twisted his wrist to break it off. "Thanks, sir," the bosun said, howling as he yanked out the shaft. When it was over, his eyes darted around to find Rolfe amidst the chaos.
John Rolfe had crawled for cover behind the huge pine tree that he had been tied to, using the thick trunk as a shield against the musket fire. He struggled to loosen the ropes on his wrists. When the bosun reappeared, he had to postpone this endeavor. Rolfe rolled out of the way as the hulking man lunged at him. He used a low-lying limb to pull himself to his feet as the bosun rounded on him again. "Ivory Man!" the cur raged, charging at him.
John Rolfe swung back his arm bearing the longest portion of rope and used it as a whip, nailing the bosun right in the face. The blow split the man's lip and chin in a diagonal slice, evoking a howl of combined pain and fury. "See how you like it, you bully!" Rolfe screamed back at him, striking repeatedly to ward the man off. "Get away from me!"
On the sixth snap, the bosun caught the end of the rope. "Ha!" he spat triumphantly, yanking the rope with great strength. John Rolfe was jerked forward so fast he tripped over the root of a nearby tree and fell flat on his face. He only just managed to roll onto his back before the bosun was on him. "I've got you now, Ivory Man!" he declared.
The bosun reeled back his massive fist in an attempt to knock John Rolfe out cold. But before he could, a very annoying pest started buzzing around the bosun's face. "Flit!" Rolfe cried in relief. The bosun began to swat at the hummingbird, distracted from his assault on the Englishman. It gave Rolfe an opportunity to curl his legs inward and aim his feet at the bosun's abdomen. He kicked with all his might, sending the brute stumbling backward and falling heavily on his backside, but not before Rolfe was able to snatch the machete at the man's waist. He jumped up and used the blade to free his wrists of their bindings, pointing the sharp tip at the bosun just before the man could lunge at him again. "Back it up!" he warned, the fiend skidding to a halt in front of him.
Barely a moment later, a heavily camouflaged brave materialized out of the trees as if by magic and yanked John Rolfe behind him, instantly nocking an arrow at the bosun. "Hokun! Sivileka to mité Djahn!" Siwili roared angrily. "Hokun delito, alkuné vikun!"
John Rolfe smirked impishly at the bosun over his friend's shoulder. "What was that silly little thing you were saying about nobody coming to my aid?" came his saucy reply.
Suddenly, a shrieking Spike-Eyes ran between Siwili and the bosun with a growling pug attached to his rear end and a rascally raccoon on his head trying to scratch his eyes out. "Get them off! For the love of Satan, get them off!" he cried, trying to use the butt of his musket to pry the dog's teeth off. The tiny canine maintained a vice-like grip. Spike-Eyes bent down and pulled a dagger out of his right boot, intending to kill the animals.
"Meeko! Percy!" John Rolfe exclaimed in a panic. Siwili shot Spike-Eyes right in the foot with an arrow, pinning said extremity to the littered forest floor. The cur shrieked at the top of his lungs and dropped his dagger as the Englishman bent sideways to reel his right arm back at a carefully chosen angle. Rolfe threw the machete with great force, impaling the first mate right in the middle of his back. The warrior's eyes snapped open in astonishment as the pirate dropped dead on the ground with a severed spinal cord. Siwili peered back at Rolfe with his mouth hanging open. Rolfe pointed past him. "Look out!" he cried just as the bosun lunged at the warrior with a dagger drawn.
The bosun was too close for Siwili to nock an arrow in time, but that by no means stopped the warrior. Hand-to-hand combat was one of his fortes. Siwili dropped his bow to the ground just as the bosun reached him, catching the dagger-wielding hand in the air. The warrior redirected his enemy's arm down past his own body and drove a knee full-force into the Affrikaan's solar plexus. The bosun doubled over and dropped his weapon. Siwili seized his head, kneeing him in the face and breaking his nose. The swarthy pirate shrieked in pain as the brave twisted his arm behind his back and yanked hard, flipping the brute in the air. He landed flat on his back just as the Englishman deftly tossed the longbow back to Siwili. The victorious warrior caught it in one hand and nocked another arrow to point at the bosun, all in one smooth motion.
Not far from the scene, Adahy and the demon blade had ambushed Bloodlet Bernard just behind a tree. The former had sicked his dog on Silent Simon, Bloodlet's partner in battle, to distract him. Adahy severed the arms of the pirate before he started torturing him, sending blood-curdling shrieks echoing over the canopy. The living dagger hungrily consumed Bloodlet's agony, rapidly growing all the more powerful. Flame had been taking cover behind a large oak with one henchman, Sick Phillip, to aid him in reloading his weapons. The sound of tortured screams attracted Flame's attention. He rolled through the brush to find Adahy tormenting Bloodlet while his dog Kelele was busy mauling Silent Simon. "Treachery! Men, Adahy be in league with the local savages!" he loudly announced, aiming a loaded musket right at the ruthless Copichican fighter.
Adahy slit Bloodlet's throat and leapt behind a tree, narrowly avoiding the bullet that grazed the rough bark. Sick Phillip handed the captain a freshly loaded musket. Flame took aim at Kelele this time but the Copichican pulled his pup behind the tree right on cue to dodge the projectile. Meanwhile, a bleeding Silent Simon crawled along the pine needle-laden ground over to the captain. Flame yanked the fallen one through the brush to safety, handing him a loaded musket. "Kill the savage traitor if you can. I need to go check on the other men. Sick, you stay here and help him!" he firmly decreed.
Captain Flame came upon the bosun up against the pine tree from earlier, struggling to stop the bleeding from a fresh wound. When Finley Flame looked up, he spotted John Rolfe relieving a dead Spike-Eyes of his weaponry. "Spike-Eyes!" Flame howled, furious about the death of his loyal minion. He aimed his musket at the Englishman as Flit began to buzz around the captain's head, immediately throwing off his aim. "What the hell…? Begone, you bloody pest!" he roared, trying to slap the little buzzing thing out of the air. Captain Flame then howled when Percy bit him hard on the leg from behind.
Siwili was nearby retrieving his arrows when he spotted Finley Flame, curling a lip in disgust at the Irishman's revolting physical appearance. The warrior returned to find John Rolfe, whose otherwise bare chest and shoulders were draped with bizarre items. The brave could only assume they were somehow associated with the large musket he had strapped to his back. Siwili took Rolfe by the hand and whistled for the animals to come, turning to flee. The English diplomat jumped in surprise when another pirate, Ironclad, appeared behind them and aimed his loaded musket directly at Siwili's chest.
In a dire panic, John Rolfe shoved Siwili away from him with all his might. The trunk of a tree behind them exploded as the musket ball narrowly missed its target. The warrior stumbled but remained standing, turning a flaring gaze on the cur. Ironclad teetered on his feet. What had once been his face had become a gory cavern with copious amounts of blood cascading out of it and spurting off at odd angles. The lead ball had ricocheted and nailed him right square in the nose, literally obliterating his whole visage. The warrior was awestruck at witnessing the incredible power of the fire-spitting weapons at such close range. The faceless corpse collapsed with a thump as Siwili shook off the horror. He grabbed Rolfe to make a break for it, keeping amongst the trees and hillocks to avoid fire or being spotted. Meeko and Percy pursued their human companions. Meanwhile, Flit the bird distracted Captain Flame just long enough for his friends to make a getaway.
Not long after, Siwili, John Rolfe, Meeko, Percy, and Flit raced through the stretch of forest where the initial abduction had occurred. The English diplomat made it there on a fast limp. His shoeless foot was a pain to walk on with the occasional stone or pebble jabbing him in his tender sole. He did not have tough callused heels like Pocahontas or Siwili had. The brave recovered Rolfe's boot for him and helped him shove it on. Then Siwili tried to drag Rolfe onward but the Englishman suddenly resisted.
"Wait! I need to get something," John Rolfe blurted, holding up a finger. He bolted to the hollow log where the fawn was still tucked inside. The moment she saw him, she hopped up and crawled out to greet him. "There you are, little one," he cooed, scooping her up. Siwili had a hurriedly inquisitive look on his face when he spotted the baby deer.
John Rolfe had figured the Gunalo word for mother was 'mabua' after hearing Aquela use the term repeatedly with Awenasa. "Pozito mabua," Rolfe spoke, running a finger across his own gullet in a cutthroat gesture. He pointed a thumb back to where they had left the pirates. Siwili raised his brows in surprise but nodded his understanding. They were off again, heading east to the north lake where they would meet Pocahontas.
…
Pocahontas was skipping stones by the lake at sunset when she heard the far-off battle. She jumped to her feet and stared in the direction the gunshots were coming from, gritting her teeth in fear. Please, spirits, let them both be alright. Please, please, please.
Being all alone made it worse as she had nobody to share her anxieties with. She started to regret her decision to send both Meeko and Percy along. Was Flit alright? Was John Rolfe okay? Maybe the village men had gotten together and gone on the offensive against the pirates. Pocahontas could only hope against hope that there would be no casualties on their side. But given the number of gunshots she was hearing, she had her doubts.
Pocahontas started to pace by the water's edge, listening to the skirmish until it ceased. Silence reigned again with the exception of chirping birds, falling leaves, and dripping water. The air was calm, the wind non-existent. Pocahontas sighed and plopped down on the boulder that the travel packs were leaned up against. She daydreamed, losing track of time until nightfall. The sounds of crickets came alive and an owl hooted in the distance.
Pocahontas heard a soft crunch of leaves in nearby shrubbery and she jumped up, taking her machete in hand. Her heart beat faster than usual as she pointed the blade at the bushes. Could it be a pirate come to capture her or just a peaceful forest animal? No more noises ensued and she soon calmed down, putting the weapon beside her. She allowed herself to rest against the boulder once more as she waited for her companions to return.
…
Six men were dead, the captives had escaped, and Flame was out of his mind with fury. "What the hell happened?!" he raged at the demoralized survivors. Only twelve members of the crew remained aside from the captain and four were wounded, including the bosun.
"Adahy betrayed us during the battle," Cole Hughes defended. "We were attacked on all sides! By Adahy and his mutt, the savages, Ignacio, and Ignacio's pets. Plus, there was even them giant insects come to pester me while I was trying to load me musket!"
Other members of the crew muttered their agreement with Cole Hughes.
"How many savages were there?" Sick Phillip asked as he tended to Jim Stain's wound. The latter had gotten an arrow in the rear end and he howled as Sick tried to pull it out.
Yoba Saul had gotten an arrow stuck right in the middle of his thigh. He had removed it himself and dressed his own wound before scooting over to help Silent Simon dress the many wounds he had received from Adahy's vicious dog. Silent Simon had a few tears and gashes on his legs and one big bite wound on his shoulder. In addition, some of the facial skin over his chin and right cheek had been torn back by Kelele's fangs. The crew, unfortunately, had no means to apply stitches without the ship's supplies. Simon moaned in pain, terrified that his wounds would fester in the absence of alcohol—which the crew had long since run out of. They needed desperately to get back to the ship.
Blank Samuel inquired, "Who was supposed to be watching Adahy?"
"Doesn't matter, he's dead," replied Mick Sane. "His throat was cut."
"We never should've trusted Adahy!" decried Guy Rush. "He was in league with the local savages this whole time! I'll bet that's why they attacked us, to free the bastard!"
"We didn't trust him!" Flame countered, a bit enraged at the suggestion. "If we'd trusted him, we wouldn't have tied him up. But I'm guessin' you're right about the savages. That must be how he escaped. Did anyone see what happened when the Injuns first attacked?"
Sick Phillip seethed, "I never saw an Injun, the cowards! Real men fight in the open!"
"Did anyone actually see a savage?" Bandit Lee inquired in a serious tone. "I heard them but I never saw one with me own eyes. The forest-bred bastards are like chameleons!"
Flame shook his head, plopping against a tree. "I didn't but I did see Ignacio rob Spike-Eyes's corpse. The bastard is armed now, so we've got to be even more careful."
"When we first caught Adahy, he said he'd been tracking the fugitives," Mick Sane recalled. "If he's still after the Spaniard, it's possible for us to catch the lot of 'em if we follow their tracks! But we've got to hurry. If Ignacio makes it back to the ship first…"
Flame's eyes widened. "And it seems he found his pets during the skirmish. The damn dog bit me before I could wound Ignacio. He must be headed straight for the ship now!"
"He said it was a long way," Cole Hughes chimed. "Maybe if we hurry, we can catch up."
Bandit Lee glanced around. "Where's Françoise? We need her to track." He whistled for the animal. Half a minute later Françoise appeared out of a thicket, having hidden during the battle. "Well she may be a bit of a coward, but at least she's got a good nose on her."
"I, for one, couldn't be more grateful she's a coward," Flame countered, waving the hound over. He gave her a pat. "If she'd gotten herself killed, we'd be even worse off."
Sick Phillip chuckled. "A valid point if there ever was one, cap'n."
"Who wants to be her caretaker now that Spike-Eyes is dead?" Flame asked of the crew.
Sick Phillip held up his hands in protest as the captain peered at him. "I ain't so good with the likes of beasts, sir," he proclaimed, pointing elsewhere. "How about Lee?"
"I'll do it."
Every head in the crew turned to the bosun as he reemerged from the forest after dressing his own wounds in private. It had included the agonizing task of resetting the bone in the bridge of his broken nose. "You want to take care of Françoise, bosun?" Flame asked.
The bosun nodded. "Though we have the occasional disagreement, overall we seem to get along just fine," he said, whistling for the French hound. She plodded over and sat in front of him, gazing up in expectation. He turned attention to the crew. "I must set some things straight," he began, eyeing everyone. "There is misinformation going around here. Men, raise your hand if you actually saw a native warrior with your own two eyes."
Nobody raised a hand save the bosun. The crew gasped. "You caught sight of one?" Captain Flame interrogated, sitting forward in anticipation of what the bosun would say.
"Aye," replied the bosun, "and I've reason to believe they aren't in league with Adahy."
Several members of the crew exchanged glances. "Go on," Flame encouraged.
"They are in league with John Ro…" the bosun coughed, correcting himself, "I mean Ignacio." He did not believe Rolfe to be a Spaniard but he did not care to argue with the captain about it. The bosun pointed past the pine tree to which Rolfe had been bound. "I saw a camouflaged man there. He jumped in front of Ignacio to protect the white bastard from me. I even heard him say Ignacio's English name, 'John.' Adahy and Ignacio are enemies, that much we know. This is why I've reason to believe Adahy acted alone."
A dozen stunned faces stared at the bosun as he finished his explanation. "But why would he kill more men and run off?" Sick Phillip protested after a momentary silence, jumping to his feet. "Cap'n swore that he would release Adahy after Ignacio was caught, he did!"
"I suppose he don't trust the captain," Buckle Bree chimed. "He must've been a loyalist of Bleud's. Devil knows the old chap was half-savage, after all. The two of 'em did seem to have somewhat of an unspoken bond at times—if me intuition ain't mistaken."
"Either that or he's just a traitor. Once a traitor, always a traitor s'far as I'm concerned," Flame offered, grinding his teeth in agitation. "When I get me hands on that no-good…"
"Captain," the bosun interrupted, "what's the plan going forward?"
Captain Flame jumped to his feet and flipped out his sword. "I'm glad you asked, bosun. We've been dawdling long enough. Yoba!" he proclaimed, gaining the aforementioned pirate's attention as he pointed the tip of his blade straight at him. "You seem well enough to tend to the other injured parties. The able-bodied portion of the crew will go after Ignacio and Adahy straightaway. You three," he added, pointing to Yoba Saul, Jim Stain, and Silent Simon. "You catch up with us when you can. We'll need you to sail the ship, so you need not worry of us leaving you behind. The men'll be sure to leave an obvious trail for you to follow. Meanwhile, the rest of us will catch the bastard Ignacio and teach him a lesson he'll never forget as long as he lives… which won't be long, as I see it. Once we've got our revenge and our ship back, it is off to Hispaniola to replace the lost portion of the crew. Then onward to rob the Spanish!" Flame professed.
The remaining crew cheered loudly. "Aye, cap'n!"
Captain Flame turned his attention to the Affrikaan. "Bosun, you're injured too. Will you be comin' with us straightaway or catching up later with the others?" he inquired.
"Nothing could stop me from wreaking my vengeance," the bosun hissed back at him, tightening his massive hand into a fist in a show of barely-contained rage.
…
It was past nightfall. Adahy and Kelele trailed John Rolfe and his companions from a distance. The only thing that kept Adahy from attacking was the local warrior who was with Rolfe. Who was he and how did they know each other? he wondered. Ambushing Rolfe would be infinitely more feasible if only the Englishman was all by himself.
But they were not yet far enough away from the crew. Adahy was sure that an angered Irishman was pursuing them. If only Adahy had thought to snatch their French hound away when he had the chance but he had not been able to find the dog during the battle. Without a guiding animal, the pirates would find tracking the escapees far more difficult.
Adahy pushed himself harder when he sensed the runaways had picked up the pace. As exhausted as he was, he had to keep up no matter what. He held the demon blade in his one hand, holding on tightly in case the warrior detected his presence and decided to turn back and attack. What should we do about the brave? Adahy inquired of the demon.
You should have stolen a gun from the crew when you had the chance, the demon chided.
Adahy blinked in surprise. But they were shooting at me. I had to make a break for it!
The soul you're tracking is now armed and you only have me. You must keep after him and wait for him and his companions to eventually stop and fall asleep. Then you can slit the brave's throat and the others will be yours for the taking, the blade said wrathfully.
Adahy could not believe his ears. Killing a brave in his sleep? Is that not among the worst acts of cowardice? he fervently objected, cringing at the callous proposal.
He's too dangerous. His soul is pure too but a one-handed twit like you will not be able to fight an able-bodied warrior. We cannot harvest his pain, so we must destroy him.
Adahy frowned. But…
No buts! commanded the blade. You will do as I say.
Adahy gritted his teeth as the demon knife turned dormant again. Despite how long they had been together, he was starting to dislike his hellish companion more and more as of late. But the fact of the matter was that Adahy was helpless without his demon blade and the wicked spirit knew it. The Copichican ex-warrior had to get the demon what it wanted so it would regenerate his other missing hand, the one which the copper-skinned woman had severed. Then he would get his revenge on her and his soul would be saved.
Adahy dashed through some tall brush but he failed to notice a looping root that was hidden in the grasses. It caught his foot and made him fall forward, hitting his head hard on a big rock. He was knocked out and the blade quickly tumbled out of his grasp.
When he finally came to, Kelele was whining loudly and licking his face. The blade was screaming at him as a gunshot sounded not far off from their present location. The men are coming, you clumsy fool! Get up! it shouted at him. Adahy stumbled up from the ground, his head spinning and brow bleeding. He found the glowing blade in the grass and snatched it, darting off with his dog before the crew appeared. While he had lost sight of John Rolfe and the others, at least he knew which direction they were traveling in.
…
It was well past nightfall by the time Siwili, John Rolfe, Meeko, Percy, Flit, and the fawn met up with Pocahontas. The moment she spotted them, she cried in relief and jumped right up to her feet. She bolted past Siwili to her gentleman friend. "John!" she cried, throwing her arms around him as she began to smother his face in kisses. She held his head firmly in place as she poured affection upon him. "Oh, thank goodness!" she cried, kissing him again. "I heard gunshots," and again, "I thought the worst…" and then on the lips. "Are you okay? I…" she exclaimed, lightly shaking her befuddled beau. Siwili's lip curled upward in amusement as he watched them. Pocahontas drew back and took in his appearance. "What happened to your shirt? And why are you carrying a fawn?"
John Rolfe's already-reddened face flushed in embarrassment. He opened his mouth to reply as a rustling near the party turned their attention very suddenly to the tall shrubbery nearby. Nicole, of all people, stumbled out clumsily. "John Rolfe, I know you are leaving! I saw Pocahontas packing with another Indian woman. Are you heading to Jamestown? Please, don't leave me here! I want to go with you!" she pleaded, running up to him. She stopped short and blushed fiercely when she saw him clearly. "Um, wh-wh-why are you half-naked?" she peeped, abashed at the sight of him—and a little flustered too.
Everyone's mouth hung open at Nicole's unexpected appearance. Siwili got over his shock first, noticing John Rolfe was shivering in the night chill. He turned his attention to the travel packs, shuffling through the supplies for clothing. "Nicole! What in the…? I told you to stay away from Pocahontas!" Rolfe yelled, stepping in front of said woman. "Have you been hiding there spying on her this whole time? How dare you…!"
"I-I was waiting for you to appear," Nicole returned, backing up defensively.
Siwili interrupted when he approached John Rolfe and took the fawn from his arms, handing her to Pocahontas. He started relieving Rolfe of his weaponry. The Englishman went along with it, dropping the musket and other items to the ground. "What is it?" he asked as Siwili pulled a long-sleeved hide shirt over his head. Rolfe raised his hands and pushed them through the armholes in compliance. "Oh! Thanks, Siwili. That's better."
John Rolfe hugged himself and used friction to produce heat, warming up. Siwili hurriedly helped him put his weaponry back on, with the exception of the musket which he tied to Rolfe's pack. Then Siwili lifted the pack onto the Englishman's back and helped him get his arms through the straps. The warrior secured the waist strap around Rolfe's hips, transferring all weight to that area. "Osoto seput, Djahn."
"You did a great job of communicating our needs to them, Pocahontas," John Rolfe lauded, forgetting about Nicole as Siwili helped Pocahontas get her pack on.
Nicole rushed to John Rolfe and grabbed the fringed collar of his top to get his attention. "Please don't leave me here! I don't want to be an Indian! I'm sorry for everything I did! Forgive me!" she cried, burying her weeping face in his shirt. "I promise I won't touch Pocahontas. I won't even look at her if you don't want me to!" she pleaded.
John Rolfe pried Nicole's hand off of his clothing and gently pushed her back. "Mademoiselle, listen to me. Naturally, being a man of Christian faith, I cannot deny you forgiveness if you genuinely request it. But that does not mean I will take you along on this journey. It is going to be very dangerous. The pirates are after us, you see. They could be here any minute! You're in no condition to travel and you know it. You're too scrawny and not strong enough. Plus we've only a finite supply of food and we don't know how long it will take us to reach Jamestown. My personal priority is to keep Pocahontas safe and well-fed along the way, so we will not be sharing our supply with you. You don't even have your own load to bear and that's not fair to the rest of us," he explained. Her lips began to quiver and she clasped her hands together pleadingly.
"What does she want?" Pocahontas murmured, peeking over John Rolfe's shoulder.
John Rolfe glanced back at her. "Hold on a sec, I'll tell you," he uttered to Pocahontas. He turned his attention to Nicole and addressed her in French. "Mademoiselle, do you really want to risk the pirates capturing you again? We've got to go now and I'm guessing we're going to travel all night. You would be safer, warmer, and better-fed back in the village. What's the worst that could happen? You marrying a brave warrior?"
The blonde girl pouted, indignant. "No, no!" she fervently protested. "I could never marry a warrior! How could you even suggest such a thing?" She stomped her foot and squealed in resentment. "They're so indelicate and brutish and, and, and low-bred!"
John Rolfe blinked blankly at her. "Mademoiselle," he began, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. He glanced back at the others. Siwili and Pocahontas were both geared up and ready to go. He turned back and shook his head, sighing deeply. "I've no more time to argue with you. If you know what's best for you, you'll turn right around and head back the way you came. I do not consent to be your guardian this time. If you come with us you will starve, freeze, or fall behind and end up in the clutches of those wicked ones who destroyed your home. This is your last chance, go back now."
Nicole shook her head stubbornly. "You're bluffing! You won't let those things happen to me! You're too good a man to do that!" she countered, crossing her arms in defiance.
John Rolfe narrowed his eyes and tilted his head at the challenge. "Am I? I fear you're going to find I can be a much harder man than you ever imagined." He waved her off and turned his attention back to his companions, pointing north. "Let's be off. I'm done arguing with this child," he said dismissively in English. Suddenly the diplomat felt his stomach growl. He glanced down and placed a hand over his belly. Siwili looked confusedly at Nicole and then he glanced at Rolfe. The warrior immediately forgot about the French girl when he observed the Englishman's body language. He walked over to Rolfe, handing him a small sack. Rolfe opened it and peered inside to find a high-energy trail mix composed of nuts, dried berries, and other dried fruits. "Oh, thank you! I'm starved," he announced, guzzling a whole handful of the sweet offering.
Siwili, John Rolfe, Pocahontas, and the animals all took a long drink from the lake to hydrate themselves. The warrior led the way as they departed. Rolfe, Pocahontas with the fawn in her arms, Meeko, Percy, and Flit followed the brave. Nicole trailed behind them, keeping some distance from the unwelcoming group. Pocahontas did not fail to notice. "John, what in the world? Why is she following us? She's not strong enough to go on this journey," the Powhatan princess said, noting the girl's very frail appearance.
"I know," John Rolfe replied, yawning. "But she won't listen. She's on her own as far as I'm concerned and I told her as much." He shoveled more trail mix into his mouth.
Pocahontas frowned and brought a hand to John Rolfe's forehead, brushing his hair out of the way. "You must be exhausted, John. You've been running from those pirates all day."
John Rolfe sighed and gave her a weak smile, taking her hand to kiss it. "I'll be alright."
…
It was late when Adahy came to a lake rife with croaking frogs and chirping crickets. The ground was littered with golden-brown autumn leaves and Adahy had only moonlight to guide him. Through fatigue and mental confusion, he had lost track of those he was in pursuit of. He could not place which direction they had gone in. Furthermore, his dog Kelele was on the verge of collapse. "We have to keep going, boy. We don't want Flame's crew to catch up to us," Adahy urged. "I'm exhausted too. Now, sniff," he commanded.
Kelele sniffed the ground. He led Adahy to a large boulder near the water's edge. Boot marks were imprinted in the mud. So they were here, hissed the blade. The question is where did they go from here? The forest floor is so littered, we'll have to rely on the mutt.
Adahy nodded his head as he watched Kelele scan the area skillfully with his nose. The French hound sniffed the mud, the boulder, and all areas around it repeatedly. He moved around the site in concentric circles, searching for the right and most recent scent trail. Finally, he pointed his nose north and barked. It seems they went north, Adahy uttered, brushing aside the leaf litter surrounding the boulder. He found numerous prints in the dirt highlighted by the bright full moon. There were at least three people… no, four. They were accompanied by two small animals, the dog and the raccoon. That's all I can gather from what we see here. I saw the brave and the white man. Who could the others be?
Perhaps one of them is the woman that humiliated you, the demon suggested.
Adahy raised a brow and glanced at his wrist-stump. It had been the woman once known as 'Tomtom' who had deprived him of that hand. But the paleface said the women were back on the ship, Adahy protested. But two of the prints are narrow enough to be female.
He could've lied to protect them, the blade returned. Despite his cowardly comportment before the crew, you and I know his soul is too pure. He would not give up the innocent women to save his life. He was lying. Perhaps he hoped to buy himself time.
Well, Kelele seems to think the party headed north, Adahy said. The sound of a distant gunshot came from said direction. That can't be the crew. They're west of us.
The pale one must be trying to lead them somewhere, but I know not why.
Perhaps he's trying to lead them to an ambush? Adahy proposed. There was one warrior with him, so there must be more north of here. We've got to steer clear of them somehow.
I advise you to proceed with caution then, the demon spoke. Adahy nodded and headed north with his dog on the escapees' trail. In the back of his mind, he wondered if John Rolfe was really heading to the Blood Draw at all. The coast was east, but Rolfe and the others were traveling north. For what reason could they possibly be going north?
…
Siwili watched in fascination as John Rolfe loaded and fired off his musket high into the sky. "That ought to attract them our way and keep them away from the village," Rolfe spoke proudly to Pocahontas, stowing the firearm away once more when he had finished.
"Why did you do that?!" Nicole bellowed, catching up to the others. "You said the pirates are following us. They'll know just where to look now! You gave away our location!"
John Rolfe rolled his eyes. "That's the point," he spat, shaking his head in exasperation. He offered Nicole no further information and turned to Pocahontas and Siwili. "Come, let's keep going. I may be exhausted but the food has somewhat revived me," he noted, switching back to English. He spurred himself into a jog. The others followed suit.
"What do you mean 'that's the point'? Why would you want them to follow us? Stop ignoring me!" Nicole screeched, running alongside him. He did not even glance at her.
Pocahontas ignored Nicole as well. "So, John, are you going to tell me what happened to that nice white shirt I went to so much trouble to mend for you?" she probed teasingly.
John Rolfe flushed again. "Oh, um. It sort of got destroyed. Sorry, love. But there was a battle if you didn't hear. The pirates caught me and Siwili came and freed me from them. The man has miraculous timing, I tell you," he admitted, abashed by his capture. "I fear I may have underestimated Siwili's skill in the art of warfare. It was just us against over a dozen heavily-armed curs and yet we came out victorious. Plus, I managed to rob them along the way," he said with a laugh, gesturing to the firearm tied to his pack.
Pocahontas gasped. "You got caught? Hey! Wait, stop!" she exclaimed, slowing the whole group to a standstill. Siwili glanced back at her with a look of bewilderment and she waved him over. When he approached, she handed the doe fawn to him. Then Pocahontas turned John Rolfe toward her. Due to his feeble attempts to avert his gaze, she brought her hands up and held his head steady so she could examine him. He started to poke his fingers together, anticipating a scolding. That was when she noticed a darkened area around his left eye. She examined it closely, feeling a spike of rage rise inside her chest. "John, you've got a black eye! Did Flame's crew do this?!"
John Rolfe nodded, placing a hand over the injured area. "It's alright, Pocahontas. It only hurts a little and I managed to get away mostly unscathed," he quickly pointed out.
"Well, do not get caught by them again!" Pocahontas rebuked, taking the baby deer back from Siwili. "That thought terrifies me. Imagine what they could have and would have done to you! Come on, let's keep going." She began to jog again, as did the other runners. Meanwhile, she peered down at the doe fawn who was fast asleep in her arms. "How did you come upon the fawn? She's adorable and I just love her!" Pocahontas cooed.
John Rolfe ran alongside Pocahontas, peering down at the poor orphan ungulate. "Well, I found her when I came upon the pirates. They killed her mummy for food. I couldn't leave her alone, so I brought her with me. We should send her back to the village with Siwili when he turns back," Rolfe suggested. "They can raise her and set her free."
"I'm glad you cared enough to bring her with you, John," Pocahontas remarked as they all rushed up a slight incline. "Have you given her a name by any chance?" she inquired.
John Rolfe shook his head. "I figure it would only be fair to let Siwili's village name her since they're going to be the ones raising her. Unless you want to name her. I suppose it's not that big of a deal either way," the Englishman determined, shrugging his shoulders.
"If I could name her, I would call her Ka-Okee," Pocahontas proudly declared.
John Rolfe grinned. "I don't know what that means, but it sounds adorable."
Pocahontas smiled. "I always thought it was a nice name for a little girl."
Loud panting from behind caught their attention. "Slow down! You are going too fast!" Nicole insisted, huffing and puffing to keep up. Rolfe glanced briefly over his shoulder and rolled his eyes, picking up the pace to catch up with their leader Siwili.
Pocahontas sped up her pace to match John Rolfe's. "What did she say?" she inquired.
"Nothing important," John Rolfe countered. "She's just being annoying."
"Ah," Pocahontas replied.
…
The pirate crew heard the distant gunshot and stopped, turning northeastward. "That's the direction the shot came from!" Guy Rush pointed out. "Didn't Ignacio steal a gun?"
"Aye," replied Flame, stopping. The whole crew stopped behind him. "The fool just gave away his location. Seems he changed direction on us," he noted with a wicked grin.
"What do you figure he was shooting at?" asked Blank Samuel.
Flame shrugged. "A rabbit, a deer, maybe a hostile tribe? Who cares? Point is, we head there now and catch up. No stopping until we get 'im! The fop will tire eventually."
Mick Sane frowned. "But sir, the lot of us have tired already. We've been runnin' all day and we've had nothing to eat since lunch!" he bellyached, wishing he had been injured in the battle with the natives. Then he could have stayed behind with the others and rested.
"Silence, Mick!" Captain Flame charged. "Ignacio has been running just as long as us and I know for a fact we can outlast that pitiful excuse for a Spaniard. He'll collapse and we'll spring on him. No stopping until we catch the fop!" he decreed, speeding up his pace. He turned to the bosun, who was lagging behind. "Bosun, can you take Françoise and run ahead again? You caught him once. I'll bet you could do it again."
The bosun held his wounded shoulder, wincing in pain that was only aggravated by the fast pace of the crew's movements. "I don't think at this point that I can go much faster than you, sir. My shoulder is killing me," he reluctantly admitted, grinding his teeth.
"How does he keep managing to get so far ahead of us?!" Cole Hughes raged.
Bo Copper snorted. "He's fast on his feet, that's why."
"A Spanish spy would have to be fast in case he got found out!" Guy Rush pointed out.
"Well, apparently he did get found out. That's why he was in the brig of an English ship," Flame reminded them, waving Guy Rush off. "But he is indeed a fast runner, it seems. Now, stop your chitchat, men, and move faster! There's no excuse for letting Ignacio get any farther away than he already has!" he charged, picking up the pace even more.
Buckle Bree appeared to be very nervous. "What if we run into more of them Injuns? We didn't fair too good against their last attack," he reminded the crew, greatly discouraged.
"That's because they ambushed us! Plus, Adahy took the opportunity to betray us. Next time we see Injuns, it'll be us doing the ambushin' if I have anything to say about it!" Flame growled. "We'll raid their villages and have our way with their maidens!"
Mick Sane hung his shoulders. "I haven't got the energy to be having me way with any maidens. They'd have better luck having their way with me if we ran into each other," he groaned, yawning. His eyes crossed out of exhaustion as he tried to keep up.
"Stop your bellyachin'!" Flame snapped. Internally, he worried about the crewmen's dangerously low morale. He had gotten the hint that only food and rest would do the trick to restore it. "Keep going, men. We'll find us a village to raid soon, be rest assured."
…
OCTOBER 20, 1613
Sunrise came before Siwili thought it safe to rest. John Rolfe was dead on his feet and Nicole had fallen behind. They had not seen her for at least a few hours. True to Rolfe's word, he had not waited up for her or shown any backtracking regarding the things he had said he would do. The brave found a nice spot under a tree. It was by a stream in a decent-sized meadow not far from the forest's edge, an ideal place for the group to relax.
Siwili built a fire pit in a bare spot of earth. He went to start the fire after laying all the bedrolls out. John Rolfe collapsed facedown on his the moment he spotted it. Seconds later, Pocahontas heard him snoring lightly. Meanwhile, Meeko found a nice patch of strawberries, Percy rested by Siwili's side, Flit slept in Pocahontas's hair, and the fawn Ka-Okee was happily snacking on the tasty green grasses and wildflowers nearby.
Pocahontas put Flit on John Rolfe's head and joined Siwili as he used a bow drill to start a fire in the pit. "John is asleep. It is safe for us to talk to each other now," she indicated.
Siwili smiled. "Should we wake him up when the food is ready?"
Pocahontas shook her head. "He needs sleep more than anything right now, plus he was snacking all night. We can feed him when he gets up but, for now, I say we let him rest."
Siwili nodded. "Very well, then. Pocahontas, do you have any idea why the yellow-haired girl has been following us?" he inquired curiously, not having been able to ask before.
"John told me she wanted to go to Jamestown. She's a little too dimwitted to realize that she can't make the journey though," Pocahontas explained, lightly rolling her eyes.
Siwili shook his head in disapproval without making eye contact. A small flame appeared in his tinder. He bent down and blew on it to bring the fire to life. "I sense Nicole will not live many years," he finally remarked. "It is a pity. She looks so very young."
"I'll go gather more firewood. Why don't you go to the stream to make hominy porridge when you get a chance?" Pocahontas proposed. "The big clay pot is in my pack."
"Sure," Siwili replied. They went about their separate tasks and met back at the fire ten minutes later. Pocahontas had a bundle of wood in her arms and Siwili was already seated at the fire. He had a pot of porridge set above the flames and was cutting chunks of fresh fish into it to make fish porridge. Meeko approached and observed the pot, smelling it.
Pocahontas raised a brow in surprise. "How did you catch the fish?" she inquired.
Siwili raised his bow. "The fish are small, but the bones are edible. You'll see, it'll be delicious," the warrior indicated, placing his bow back down on the ground beside him.
"I'll bet," Pocahontas replied, sitting next to him. She dumped the firewood next to the fire pit and added some to the fire to make the food cook faster. She was quite ravenous.
"When we reach the next major river, we must travel west along its route until we reach the divide between the two main tributaries that flow into it. Then we follow the far one north into the mountains. That should keep us safely out of Duchi territory," Siwili said.
Pocahontas nodded. "Good. Thank you so much for acting as our guide. I'm sure that we would have run into serious trouble without you," she expressed gratefully.
"You are welcome," Siwili replied, stirring the pot of porridge. "I really do wish I could accompany you the whole way to make sure you get home safely but my family will need me over the winter. I cannot leave them alone for too long because Awenasa is pregnant."
"I understand. And congratulations! I hope she bears you another happy healthy child." Pocahontas paused. "So, Siwili, tell me exactly what happened during your battle with the pirates? How did John lose his other shirt?" she inquired, gently poking at the fire.
Siwili hunched over and rubbed his forehead, his demeanor going sour. "When I found them, they had tied him to a tree. An enormous man who was the exact opposite color of John was there. I swear, he was as dark as the night itself minus the moon and stars."
Pocahontas gasped. "That was the bosun," she blurted. "What did he do?"
Siwili continued, "It was this 'bosun' who tore John's top off with his bare hands. It was clear from his body language he intended to beat him severely with a bundle of stripped willow branches. So that's what happened to John's shirt. Did he not mention this?"
Pocahontas clapped a hand over her heart. "He was going to do what to John?!"
"Beat him. Judging by this bosun's size, he could have killed him easily. He was not quite Chief Heamalahilo, but neither was he much smaller. John is lucky to be alive."
Pocahontas peered at John Rolfe, still fast asleep on top of his bedroll. His travel pack and stolen musket were at his feet. Pocahontas knitted her brows, eyeing the firearm. "I'm going to have to get John to show me how to use that gun when he wakes up."
"Gun?" Siwili inquired.
Pocahontas nodded. "It's what those fire sticks are called. If I ever see any of those evil men again, I intend to blow their heads off for what they tried to do."
"Ah," Siwili replied, stirring the porridge. He shuddered. "You're not kidding. I saw the power of those weapons with my own eyes. A single shot turned a man's entire face into a gaping hole." Pocahontas nodded. Siwili went silent for a few moments but turned his head to Pocahontas again. "You know, I had not realized John knew how to fight. He killed one of the men himself with a long knife like the one you carry," he said, indicating the machete she had beside her. "I'm willing to bet he would be good with a tomahawk."
"Oh yes, he can fight. He just doesn't have the full range of combat skills a warrior would. Technically, he's a peacemaker and not a fighter," Pocahontas divulged. Then she laughed. "You know what he told me when we met at the north lake? He said that he had underestimated your fighting abilities. I guess you both underestimated each other."
Siwili grinned. "Better to underestimate than to overestimate." Thirty minutes later, the porridge was hot and the fish pieces were falling apart. He poured it into two separate bowls and handed one to Pocahontas. They had both brought the bowls to their lips just as a ruffling in the tall grasses nearby gained their attention. The wary warrior exchanged his bowl for his bow in an instant, nocking an arrow. He pointed it toward the grasses, watching and waiting. A miserable figure crawling on hands and knees emerged from the obscuring meadow, hay sticking every which way out of her frizzled blonde locks.
Pocahontas and Siwili heard Nicole groan and exchanged glances with each other as the girl raised her head and peered at them through weary eyes. "Huh. I'm impressed that she caught up with us that fast," Pocahontas admitted, brows raised. She shrugged. "Then again, maybe I shouldn't be. It's not like she was carrying anything." She started to eat her porridge. "Mm. Siwili, this is good." He set down his weapon, reaching for his bowl of porridge. It was empty. Siwili cast an annoyed glance at a retreating raccoon as Meeko disappeared among the grasses. "Here, let me refill you," Pocahontas offered, taking the bowl. She filled it again. "Sorry about Meeko. He has a weird obsession with food."
"It is alright," Siwili returned. "There is plenty. Thank you." He started to eat as the white girl crawled over. She slowly and very unsteadily pushed herself up to her feet.
Nicole set longing eyes on the aromatic pot of fish porridge heating right over the fire. Pocahontas narrowed her eyes at Nicole and shook her head, pointing to the same strawberry patch Meeko had been raiding. Nicole had been warned not to come along and Pocahontas was not about to let John Rolfe's well-earned portion go to the foolish girl.
Percy smelled the porridge and whined. Pocahontas peered down. "Oh! I'm sorry, Percy. I forgot to give you your share," she noted, reaching into her pack for another bowl. She filled it up and placed it in front of the pug. Percy yipped contentedly and started lapping at his meal. "Meeko stole a portion for himself and he's not getting any more unless we have leftovers later. What do you think, Percy?" Pocahontas teased. The pug yipped.
Nicole peered at the meager berries without enthusiasm and turned her attention to the fish porridge. When she saw the dog being served, she got angry and stomped her foot. She plodded over to Pocahontas, snapping at her in French as she pointed to the pug.
"What's her problem?" Siwili asked. "What did she say?"
Pocahontas shrugged. "I don't know what she said. I don't speak French."
Siwili raised a brow. "Can't you use your gift?"
"Sure I could," Pocahontas admitted. "I just don't want to."
Siwili snorted in laughter. "You really don't like her, do you?"
Pocahontas ate another mouthful of porridge. "As far as I'm concerned, she and I have nothing to talk about. She's the one who gave John his concussion when she broke a bottle over his head. For what reason, I haven't a clue but she's a terrible person overall."
Siwili's eyes widened. "I did not know that. So John has two reasons to hate her then?"
Pocahontas nodded as she finished her bowl. Her eyelids fluttered. "I'm so exhausted. Are you done eating, Siwili?" she inquired, gathering up the empty bowls.
"Yes," Siwili replied, handing his to her. Nicole gazed pleadingly at Siwili. When the warrior noticed her watching him, he did a double-take. He leaned over to Pocahontas and whispered to her in a low voice, "Why is she staring at me? It's freaking me out."
"She wants you to give her John's portion. Don't give in," Pocahontas warned, rising to her feet. "If she's hungry, let her eat berries." She washed the dishes at the stream.
Meanwhile, Siwili put the cover on the pot and tied it down with twine to save it for when John Rolfe woke up hungry later. The tired warrior put the pot by the head of his bedroll and lay back, stretching his arms behind his head with a contented sigh.
Nicole was outraged, certain that the Englishman had convinced his native friends not to give her anything. They were willing to feed a dog but not her. Why was the dog being treated better than a human being? She stomped angrily over to John Rolfe, asleep on his bedroll, and kicked him in the side. "Réveillez-vous, John!" she bellowed furiously.
The kick was not hard enough to wake him up but it did make him grunt. Pocahontas, Siwili, and Percy witnessed the act. Percy ran over and barked angrily at Nicole, whereas Siwili sat up in bed and motioned for her to back away. "Nicole, saté no dota te Djahn!"
"How dare you!" Pocahontas roared, sent into an instant rage by the girl's bratty actions. She put the clean earthenware down by the campfire and stomped over, snatching the girl by the wrist. With a vice-like grip, she dragged Nicole over to the berry patch and threw her down on the ground. Pocahontas pointed to the strawberries. "If you're hungry, you eat this. You are not entitled to anything from us! John warned you not to come and you did anyway. Don't you dare lay your hands on him again!" she spat in English, not caring that Nicole would not understand. She gave the French maiden one last death glare and turned on a heel, heading back to her own bedroll and plopping down.
Pocahontas reached over and picked Flit up from John Rolfe's head, rousing him. "Flit, wake up," she cooed. He flew up into the air, blinked the sleep out of his eyes, and looked around curiously. "We need to rest now. Can you backtrack a few miles and make sure the pirates aren't catching up to us? We need you to keep a lookout. I'll get John to fire his gun when it's time to go so you'll know to come back," she proposed.
Flit dutifully saluted Pocahontas and zipped off south, heading back the way they had come. Meanwhile, Nicole moped around by the berries. Glancing at the fruits, she reluctantly reached for one and found it to be sweet and juicy. She ate as many as she could reach, but found that her stomach was still growling afterward. Then she sighed deeply, glancing back at the others who were comfortably snuggled into their bedrolls, and curled up in the grass herself to sleep. Nicole found herself loathing Pocahontas even more than she had previously, particularly now that her wrist throbbed after the robust woman had manhandled her. Once healed from her ankle injury, it was clear that the Powhatan princess was a force to be reckoned with. How could such a grossly masculine woman appeal to a handsome English gentleman? She deserved a barbaric warrior, as far as Nicole was concerned, and he belonged with a delicate and feminine lady of rank.
The group fell asleep under the warm sun yet remained sheltered from the excessive heat by the partial shade of the tree. Meeko curled up at Pocahontas's side as did Percy at John Rolfe's side. Ka-Okee, after eating her fill of greens, snuffled her way over to John Rolfe and licked his shiny auburn hair before snuggling up to him on the opposite side as Percy.