A Quiet Strength - Chapter 22 - 32 free porn video

With her world suddenly altered beyond belief, nature no longer can stall the birth of her child. Meanwhile, Etu, again sets out to find his Aponi Spirit, vowing not to return until he has found her. On her mountain, something sinister and dangerous lurks! This is Chapter Twenty Two to Thirty Two. (This story will be released in chapters because of its length. It could easily be a book - and yes, it is complete.) A Quiet Strength By Anon Allsop -Twenty Two- After half of a day, including a bit of trial and error, the beautiful young 'mother to be' discovered if she put feathers upon the opposite end of her arrow shaft, she would have much more control. It took several tries before she realized that there was only one way that they could be positioned to prevent them from being shredded off each time they were shot. Attaching the feathers was simple enough. She went only as far as a nearby pine tree and utilized the sap as her glue of choice. Satisfied that it would work, she began to create over two dozen of the straight little wooden sticks. First by notching out one end allowed it to rest on the string, then she began the tedious task of gluing the feathers to the shaft. She took a walk to her favorite location to find little shards of slate. She carefully placed the sharp stone into a leather pouch she had and carried it back to the cave. With a rounded stone, she would break off pieces to create a definite point at one end and a relative square on the other to attach it to her arrow shaft. Her only problem from this point forward, aside from working around her distended stomach, seemed to be coming up with the correct weight of the actual arrow-tips. Too heavy and it would impede the accuracy, to light and it had no knock down power. It was a fine line between success and total failure; her very life depended upon the ability to provide food for her and her yet unborn child. Setting cross-legged on the floor she diligently finished with the attaching the sharp points upon the shafts of the arrows. Only by using a successful test point as a visual reference could she decide which of the little pieces would work and which would not. She paused during her work and stretched out her legs. She needed to stand, the cramping she was feeling had become quite uncomfortable. Rolling to her knees she crawled to a rock and slowly stood. A severe pain arched across her body from stomach to back. Using the wall of the cave to move toward the little doorway, she attempted to gradually stand upright, but could not. Again a sharp pain raced throughout her body, centered upon her stomach, coursing to her back and then returned. She cried out in pain as the feeling almost made her knees buckle. Fear began to percolate into her mind, even though she had not been a lifelong female, she knew something must be terribly wrong. Mentally she again counted off the time since she arrived, as best as she could figure, she was still about a month and a half from being due. To her, this was not supposed to happen, at least not yet! She gently eased herself outside, hoping the cool mountain air could clear her mind. Yet another sharp stab of pain caused her to grasp her middle. As the pain slowly passed, she was able to straighten up slightly. Thinking back to her military training as Parker, she remembered taking a first-aid course where they briefly touched upon childbirth. She began one of the breathing techniques that they taught to help cope through the pain, it allowed her to momentarily fight her way through the latest bout with cramping. She had no real way of knowing how soon her time was before she would be forced to give birth, but a sudden urge to prepare came to the forefront. She placed a piece of long, thin hide into her mouth and each time the pain returned, she would bite down. Again and again they would recur, steadily growing more stronger than the last. Tears from the pain that she endured began to stream down her face, forcing her to make little audible gasps. She was slowly getting to a point where the breathing technique no longer helped. Her mind screamed to her, the unnatural desire to push began to work against her. She returned into the cave and pushed closed her little door made of sticks. As she was walking toward her bedding, she felt a strange silky water rush from between her thighs. The unintelligible words that left her mouth were only elevated to a piercing shriek. A great surge of pain brought her to the floor; she caught herself and supported her weight by her arms. All of her limbs began to shake and the desire to push grew so strong, she felt her muscles involuntarily complying. Her legs began to shake uncontrollably, almost to the point of being unable to bear her own weight. Again grew the desire to push. Again her body complied. Looking back between her thighs, she witnessed a strange sight to behold from this angle. Her child was entering the world. Easing her rear lower, she reached back and gently guided the slippery child to the floor. She began to earnistly despair for it as yet was unable to breathe. Unimaginable goo was covering the small flailing infant, its mouth agape in a silent scream. Quickly she turned and began to clear the infant's face and airways, the grayish blue cast caused her to hurry. It was almost as though the child was waiting for one grand moment to make itself known, as for up to now it only held its mouth open and shook. The scream that came was long and ear piercing. As if it had been building and drawing in air for this one announcement into the world. The cry of the child caused the young mother to smile; to her it was the grandest sound on this godforsaken planet. She sat back and quickly cleaned the infant with a rabbit pelt, the soft side doing all of the work. The young mother gathered the child up in her arms and held her close. She smiled and looked upon the rosy face of her young son. She had tended to the necessary duties of cleaning both herself and her child up, severing the cord which attached the two of them. She slowly began the delicate process of feeding her young charge. Anyone who might flippantly says that nursing a child was a divine and beautiful experience, would have been sternly chastised by this young mother. It was a painful but necessary chore, and she knew that all mothers in this odd land would have to go through it without the benefit of artificial means. It did not take long for the child to discover what to do; in practically no time at all she could hear it swallow. Amazed that there was anything within the womanly globes, she realized that all the while her body had been preparing her for this very moment. The thought did cross her mind that she seemed slightly enlarged from what she had been directly after her change. Between the wincing pain she felt as he nursed, she displayed a gratifying expression as she watched her son. A passerby might be unsure on how to read this young mother. -Twenty Three- It was a cool morning as Etu bid goodbye to his new friend, Kutkutuk and his family, before beginning his trek back to where he had been chased and injured by the Algonquin. Brilliant orange, yellows and reds of the trees went as far as he could see. He quickened his pace; it would not be long before the crisp air of fall turned to the vicious bite of winter. Once outside of the village, Etu broke into a jog. His pace was quickly putting distance between himself and the Mohawk village, ever narrowing that of he and the Aponi female he desperately wanted for his own. Throughout the next two days he retraced the steps to where Kutkutuk saved him from certain death. As he began to near the area where he lost track of the female, he became wary for this is where he had been jumped by the Algonquin warriors. Keeping to the shadows he began to skirt the meadow, watchful for danger. As he disappeared among the tangled forest, he cautiously edged along a great towering waterfall. Hesitating at the bottom of the falls, he reached out and took a moment to take a drink. Etu scanned with his eyes, searching for a path up the mountain, deliberately moving as quietly as possible. After a few moments of searching, he discovered an ancient trail. Cautiously he began his ascent, slowly at first, but as it widened out, he began to eagerly get to a high point where he might look for sign of the pale female. There just ahead, two of the tiny white sky dancers were flitting and fluttering on the trail. Instantly, buoyed by a sense of certainty, he knew the little dancing aponi were showing him the way. Climbing up the last few steps, Etu stood atop a boulder and scanned the horizon. He wasn't sure what exactly he was looking for, but anything out of the ordinary might be important. As the aponi swirled about his head, he followed them with his eyes. Slowly, as he rotated his head, dark eyes focused upon the horizon. A cool breeze gently caressed his face, carried to him like a kiss from the beautiful Aponi female he still sought. It was as though he was being pulled along. He inhaled deeply, the breeze carried with it too, the scent of wood smoke. Though far from his home, he knew of few who actually lived in these rugged mountains. His trained eyes kept returning to one spot in particular, it was about half way up a mountain on perhaps a half day's walk from where he stood right now. While he could not be positive, there was a faint haze which hung in the air. It could easily have been missed, and was probably nothing; he thought it might be wise to see if that was the smoke he might have smelled. One last time he gazed across the land of his fathers. He longed for the day that he would show his sons this land, instilling in them the great pride he held for this hallowed ground. As he began climbing down, he thought to himself that more than anything, he would cherish the stories he'd tell his children about the pursuit of their mother - his desirable Aponi. -Twenty Four- It was just a flickering shadow that broke the sunlight which pierced through the separation between the tied stick door. Her crystalline blue eyes quickly glanced up toward the opening. Nothing was there; she again returned her attention to the infant nursing at her breast. Once more the sunlight was briefly blocked; startled she glanced toward it, her focus on it much longer this time. After quite some time passed, she let her eyes drift down to this young one suckling at her breast. Never before in her life had she ever held something so precious, so perfect. She leaned forward and kissed the rosy cheek of her son. Again her attention was diverted from her charge, she quickly darted her eyes to the opening. The late afternoon sun was creating a pattern from the sticks upon the cave flooring. She carefully brought her son up and began patting his back until she was rewarded with an audible burp. She smiled and brushed her own soft cheek against that of her sons. The loving caress she gave him was beyond her, because one year ago this would have been unfathomable, and now here she was holding her own offspring, a strange combination of her old and new self. Suddenly, the room grew entirely dark. Her eyes quickly raced toward the opening - something was out there, its shadow preventing the sunlight from entering. She drew back in fear, slightly turning her back to whatever was outside the door in an attempt to protect her young infant son. Through what little light there was, she could see something large just outside the door. It was working diligently at attempting to figure a way past the strange item that blocked its path. A low growl emitted from the creature outside, and it began to pull at the wooden stick barrier. The young mother stifled a scream as she saw long black claws testing the door. She quickly laid her son on the furry pelt, and struggled to her feet and put herself between the lurking menace and her newborn son. She lunged for her spear and arrived at the door just as the beast tore it from the opening. The terrified mother began to thrust the tip into the hairy beast as it tried to enter. The black bear backed from the doorway in rage and pain, taking swipes at the hurtful object which inflicted torment. She advanced toward the doorway as the bear backed away, often sweeping its great paw at her, trying to dislodge the weapon from her grasp. Several times she thrust forward, the spear tip drawing blood each time she struck. As she stabbed at the bear, it briefly knocked the spear away, its great raking claws nearly catching the young woman as it passed. The sound of the two combatants was deafening, the woman screaming and crying as she fought the bear, desperately preventing it from entering the cave; and the bear growling in rage from the wounds she inflected with her spear. -Twenty Five- Trekking from one mountain to the next one over is no easy task, even if they are nearby each other. It took Etu almost a full day to pick his way down into the valley between and then slowly begin crossing the great expanse between. A small stream ran between them, several large boulders lay where ancient glaciers had deposited them eons ago. Etu's pace was brisk; always keeping a trained eye upon the faint haze that he felt was smoke. From time to time, a downward breeze would carry the hint of a campfire to him. As Etu moved toward the farther mountain, he thought about his reason for being on this quest. Whether it was a fool's errand or not, he knew that he may be chasing a ghost, like a wisp of smoke from the great fire of life. But deep down he felt that this Aponi Spirit had taken on flesh and blood for some reason, she had been put before him as part of a great plan. He realized that he must keep his wits about him; to not pay attention to his surroundings could mean death. With powerful muscles carrying him onward, it would seem by afternoon he began to climb upward, toward the smoke. He had no doubt now that this was a campfire, and whoever was tending it, was quite knowledgeable in masking their location. He smiled to himself as he crawled over a particularly difficult boulder. 'They were indeed good - yet he knew he was better.' At one point during his climb, he thought he heard a low growl far off in the distance. He instantly recognized it for what it was, and began to put distance between himself and the bear as quickly as he could. The sound though seemed to be coming from all around, echoing against the rock wall and boulders, making pinpointing the exact location very difficult, and dangerous. He began to climb higher; he wanted to have a position above the angry bear if he were to come face to face with it. Being below such a creature would be taking your life in your own hands. Etu climbed until he found a smooth path that must have been an ancient game trail. He feared the bear would be using this same trail, so he began to scale the rock even higher. Though he could still hear it, it now seemed as if it were slightly below his position and seemed to be full of rage. Crawling out on a overhang Etu could see a smoky haze seep from a small hole just below him, sticks and brush were diffusing the smoke that filtered through. He smiled at the ingenuity, and scrambled across so he could discern why the bear was sounding so angry. He crouched quickly down and worked his way toward the edge, peering over until he could see the large black bear angrily shaking his head from side to side. It was raking its powerful claws at the opening, trying to get at something or someone inside. From his vantage, he watched a spear being thrust out, obviously preventing the bear from gaining entry. The warrior inside the cave was putting up a valiant fight, yet the angry and visibly injured bear was persistent. He could see blood from several wounds on its front paws, chest and face. With the realization of what was happening just below him, Etu began to investigate an access to climb downward to assist this warrior defend himself from the bear. Slightly over the height of two men upon each other?s shoulders, Etu gathered himself for battle, positioning to drop between the cave entrance and the bear. -Twenty Six- In mid leap, he heard a very feminine scream just as the bear was redoubling its effort to gain entry. As the spear again jabbed outward, the bear backed up and Etu dropped suddenly to the side of the thrust spear. He quickly grasped the spear with his right hand and yanked it from the beleaguered warrior inside the cave. Without turning, Etu began to thrust the spear into the angry beast that lunged at this new foe. Quickly ducking below the claws like sharpened stone, he penetrated the bear with the spear. Caught in bone, the bear backed up and took the spear with it. Etu unsheathed his knife and prepared to die, only if he were going, he would not sell his life lightly. Etu clutched at the shaft of the spear as it swung wildly, nearly getting raked by the long claws in the attempt. He tried to wrest it from the angry beast, but the huge bear tossed him and almost caused him to lose grip on the weapon. Throwing itself toward Etu, pinning him against the rock wall it gnashed its teeth so close to the warrior's neck that he thought he would be killed. He could feel its hot breath as he snapped at his shoulder, only missing by a fraction. The warrior rolled under the outstretched claw, and drove his blade into the beast several times. Turning to face this agile attacker, it came close to pushing Etu over the edge by the spear that protruded from its chest. The startled brave clutched at the spear, then spun himself around until his feet were once again firmly upon the cave ledge. The great black bear was slowing down, bleeding from several deep wounds that both he and the unseen warrior had dealt. With almost a herculean effort, Etu held onto the spear. The great bear's leg collapsed under its own weight and then he knew, the beast was growing weaker. Redoubling his efforts, Etu began to push against the spear as the bear started backing away. The greater he pushed, the more the beast fought back, even it too knew its demise was near. As the two combatants fought, they closed the distance to the edge of the cliff, where suddenly the bear stepped off the edge. The stumble caused Etu to falter enough that the bear raked his long claws along the brave's chest and shoulder. Etu fell backward and for a split second the bear reared up to finish the young man. As Etu scrambled to his feet, narrowly missing being gnashed by the bite of the powerful jaws, the bear's other back leg slipped from the ledge. As if being pulled over the beast fought hard to keep from falling, digging his huge front claws into the earth in a desperate attempt to stay his fall. Scrambling to his feet, Etu clutched onto the spear and pushed against it, driving the beast from the ledge. At the point it left his sight, the warrior limped to the edge and peered over. The bear was a short distance away, the spear being pushed entirely through and the point was protruding out its back. It lay lifeless, killed in the fall. Etu sighed, nodding in quiet admiration at the great black bear's final battle. Turning back toward the cave he listened, no sound was coming from inside. Slowly walking toward the entrance he hesitantly glanced inside. Cowering in the corner was the Aponi Spirit. -Twenty Seven- Her hair was in disarray, she had blood on her arm. Etu was unsure whether the blood was from an injury or the bears. He slowly entered; her terror filled blue eyes followed his every move. "Are you injured?" She said nothing, only tipping her head slightly as he spoke. He glanced around the cave; Etu could tell that she had been living here for quite some time. He saw a pelt lying on the ground and started toward it to ease the bleeding from his wound. Having only taken one step, the female threw herself between him and the small pile of pelts. The sudden move caused the warrior to pull up; it was evident that the female did not want him any nearer. Like the wild animal he just fought, she showed her teeth at him and brandished a sharpened piece of thin stone. He backed away slowly, at the same time she held it menacingly toward him. Confused, Etu moved back and crouched upon his haunches. Under furrowed brow, he studied the woman he had spent so much time searching for. She glanced over her shoulder quickly and then backed toward the pile, still holding the stone knife toward the man. Etu rubbed his jaw in confusion, blood slowly running down his arm and chest from the wound. Behind the female, he saw the pelts move. He adjusted his position so he could see around the pale spirit, raising his blood streaked arm, pointing toward the movement he just witnessed. Etu took a step to the side which she mirrored. Her crystalline blue eyes, though beautiful, seemed to bore through him to his very soul. He sat back on a ledge within the cave and noticed a bladder full of water. Bending low, he lifted it back up and allowed the cool liquid to wash across his wounds, before taking a drink. He carefully sat it down where he had found it, all the while she watched intently. Never taking his own eyes from her, he treated the female as though she was an angry lioness, capable of striking at any moment. "I won't harm you," he spoke to her calmly in his own tongue, hoping she could understand him. She responded by slightly tipping her head, making it evident to him that she had no idea what he was saying. He glanced down at her fire. A pitiful meal of squirrel had been ruined during her battle with the bear, and it now lay blackened like coal among the embers. Etu examined the wounds across his arm and chest. They hurt but he had been hurt worse before. He sighed and slowly strode out of the cave and peered over the ledge. The bear lay where it had fallen, her spear still protruding all the way through the black fur. Etu studied the path down, looking for the easiest access to harvest what he could of the meat and fur. As he turned to pick his way down, the girl left her child inside sleeping and cautiously emerged from the cave. "I will return." He spoke as he lowered himself over the edge, gaining foothold just below. She said nothing, but ventured close to the edge to watch and see what he was doing. Etu climbed down to the bear's carcass, and gripping the long spear's shaft, pulled it on through the wide chest of the bear. He raised his brows in surprise, as this had to be one of the biggest black bears he had ever seen. He knew he was being watched. He could feel her intently staring down upon him... yet, he acted as though he was alone on that mountain and set about to remove as much good meat as was possible. Bending over the kill, he began to cut open the bear, its entrails were the first to be removed. He set aside much of what he knew they could eat; the remainder was tossed over the side. Without looking, he wondered what the Aponi Spirit thought of him cutting up a brother animal. He hoped that she would still look upon him with a miniscule amount of favor, but he had no room to ask. Though beautiful beyond compare, the young female was not above the gruesome task of 'field dressing' an animal. It was not a task that she relished, but one that was necessary considering the circumstances of the situation. She rose from where she had been kneeling and went back into the cave; she was on a mission, a mission to help the powerful stranger. She padded across the cave floor and peered in on the infant, still sleeping soundly after being nursed just prior to the bear's attack. She quietly gathered up a coil of leather strapping and a large pouch. Tying the strap to the pouch she carried it back to the edge and slowly lowered it over the side. The young brave was concentrating intently on his task, oblivious to the young girl lowering the pouch down to him. It spun a slow circle as it lowered, eventually touching the bronze warrior on his back, startling him in the process. He wheeled around, the knife held in the ready. His eyes locked onto the culprit, a bag suspended from above. His dark eyes followed it up until they came to rest in the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. He could feel his face grow warm; she was smiling, giggling at his response. He too smiled, and laughed at what had happened, shaking his head only to hear her giggle again. Bending low, he began to fill her bag with the meat, and waited until she pulled it back up the ledge. She disappeared for a moment and then returned, only to lower the emptied bag down once again. Again and again he filled it until all that was left was the thick hide of the bear, and her spear. A few of the bones he saved, most were deposited over the edge with the entrails. Etu began to cut some of the tallow away from the hide, as he did; he realized that once again he was alone. -Twenty Eight- The sun was lowering in the sky when he rolled the great hide up and carried it back to the ledge. Sitting it down, he returned for her spear. Hefting the weight, he studied the crude shaft. The tip was Algonquin, yet the shaft was of poor construction. Etu decided that she must have found the tip and made use of it for her purpose. It was much too light for a man, but would probably be suitable for a female. Carrying it with him to the ledge he hesitantly walked to the cave entrance, he did not want the female to become fearful. Peering inside, he could see the fire reflecting off of her beautiful face as she set, her hair was almost as white as the clouds that floated across the sky during the day. Covered partially by a blanket made of small pelts, her hauntingly beautiful eyes locked on him as he slowly entered. He held his hands outward and slowly laid her spear on the ground, the point toward him as a gesture of contrition. She slowly reached out from under the blanket that covered her, and drew it back closer to her leg, where it was in reach should she feel the need for it. Etu knelt beside her fire and placed the great black bear's pelt in front of the beautiful woman; to him it was more as an offering to a great spirit. The woman allowed her beautiful eyes to drop to the thick fur hide, she replied to his kindness with a nod of approval. He glanced toward the fire, there what was left of the charred squirrel remained partially in the hot coals. It was apparent to him that her meal had been a casualty of her battle with the bear. On the other side of her fire cooked three hearty portions of meat which Etu assumed, he had just cut. From the look of the meat, it was, or would be ready to eat soon. She followed his eyes to the food cooking over the fire; with a nod of her head she offered him a piece. Etu carefully removed his knife and cut a portion off for himself; the heat from it burned his fingers and caused him to drop it into the coals. He cursed under his breath and glanced up quickly, she was still watching him. On her face she wore a playful smirk. After skewering the meat with his knife-tip, he dusted the ash from it and carefully blew away the heat. Popping a chunk into his mouth, he began a strange 'reverse blow' to keep from burning the inside of his mouth. This reaction caused the young female to softly chuckle to herself. Quickly spitting the meat back into his hand, he fanned the air and mouth. "Tuhkwal!" "Hot?" she mused, and then realized that for the first time in eons, she had actually said something that closely resembled a word. Of course, it wasn't as clear as that, quite labored in fact. She laughed in celebration to herself, although the man thought it was at his expense. Etu loved hearing her giggle; it reminded him of being a youth, so he didn't mind at all. As she was laughing, her blanket slipped down slightly, almost exposing the child at her breast. For a brief moment, Etu saw the pale teardrop of her generous bosom, and the top of a young infant's head. He sat back on his calves, unsure of what he had witnessed. He had seen a child, and that meant that there was a father somewhere. He felt as though his whole world crashed around his head. Quickly she raised the blanket of fur to her shoulder, keeping the young one hidden from his view. The man before her suddenly had his expression change from happy to almost sullen. It confused the girl as to why? Etu finished his meat in anger, then slowly walked out to the ledge and sat upon a boulder. Above him, the night stars were out in full force, the moon was but a sliver of the Great Spirit's nail. After a lengthy time had passed he felt as though he was being watched, a quick glance over his shoulder revealed the woman had hesitantly ventured from the cave. In her hand she held a stick with the meat strung on, she was tearing it with her beautiful white teeth. Etu decided that it was not her fault, and that he had made a mistake believing that she was unattached. It was not up to him to question the spirits; many times they would lead man to ruin. He was determined it would not be him. Thinking of the father, he grew angry... what sort of man would allow his woman to be on her own with a tiny child, a newborn at that? Trying to push his anger aside, he knew he must ask if she was alone, and where her man was that would protect her. But first, he must be able to talk... and the first step on that journey would be to learn her earthly name, and she learns his. He turned to face her. "I am Etu," he said, speaking in his own language. She tipped her head; it was evident that she did not understand the warrior's language. He scrunched his face in deep thought, patting his chest he again repeated, "Etu." She paused in her meal; she formulated the word in her mind prior to saying it. With great effort she finally spoke, "EeeOoo." She smiled to herself, thankful that she once again had a sort of command of her voice, although she realized that it wasn't fully correct. To her, for the time being, it was good enough. Etu smiled and nodded. "Etu." He again patted his chest, and then pointed to her. Her mind scrambled, he wanted to know her name - but what could she say? She remembered back to when she had arrived on this godforsaken planet, she had been calling herself April. Mustering up all of her effort, she slowly spoke. The slurred and partially paralyzed vocal cords did the best they could. "Appri..." The look that crossed the young warrior's face caused her to cease, intently he attempted to repeat what he had heard...or so she thought. "Aponi.. so it is true." He sighed reverently, and looked downward, almost ashamed to look the beautiful female spirit in her eyes. -Twenty Nine- The young mother only heard the beginning of his words, after the name he uttered reverently; the rest of his comment was lost to her. She mulled the name he had use in her mind, to be called Aponi would be acceptable enough to her, the name almost sounded exotic. After mild thought, she decided that she liked it even better than the one she had attempted to give him. As she stood on the ledge, the wind wafting through her pale tresses, Etu was mesmerized by her beauty. Even in the light of the stars, her beauty was beyond compare. As he watched her, she tipped her head, pulling her long hair away from her face and tucking the wayward strands behind her ear, and then looked straight into the cave as if being called; Yet Etu heard no call from within. It was as though Etu had just witnessed that strange link that a woman has with her child, an invisible bond that needed no word. Turning, she disappeared back into the cave; slowly Etu followed her inside, hesitating at the entrance. She had gathered the infant up in her arms, it had been stirring. Picking it up she drew the blanket of fur up so she could nurse it once again. Etu felt a slight twinge of embarrassment of being so near to her as she nursed the baby. Still, standing at the entrance watching this young mother and her baby in such a tender moment, not much was she unlike the women of his own village. She glanced up and saw him loitering at the doorway, with a nod of her head she bid him to enter. Without growing up bestowed with a rudimentary modesty of being female, or what was truly expected of women, she really didn't know how to act around a man. He busied himself with the fire, and tossed a few small logs onto the coals. As they flared up, he could see the meat that he had cut lying out and drying in long rows just behind him. Etu indicated the child suckling at her breast. Realizing that the blanket had fallen, she quickly readjusted it. To try and change the subject, or the guilt he was feeling from admiring her body, he tapped his chest. "Etu...Aponi." He pointed first to himself and then to her, repeating it several times before indicating the child. It was quite obvious to her that he wanted to know the child's name, suckling at her breast. She had no answer, and because of it she felt guilty, for having no name for her son. She pointed to Etu and made her hands close together, and saying 'like you but small'. The words were extremely difficult for her damaged cords to perform, and the effort caused the blanket to fall into her lap, entirely exposing her bare chest to her guest. A look of horror crossed Etu's face; he gently bent down and moved the blanket up to conceal her from his eyes. Aponi shot an embarrassed smile and mumbled, "Thank you." Although the word sounded strained and wasn't without effort. The act did calm her fears somewhat of the stranger; causing her to wonder what 'Parker' would have done were he in the same predicament as this Etu character. She felt that sometimes Parker had the tendency to be a wretch; at least she felt that now. All the farther she had to remember back to when his wild ways with women. Sighing, she somehow had found herself on the opposite side of that same fence now. -Thirty- Etu busied himself with the great black hide; using his knife to scrape away the tallow from its soft inside. He laid it across his lap; he was sitting on the opposite side of the fire from Aponi, able to watch without being too terribly conspicuous. Aponi held the young warrior spellbound, completely immersed with watching her nurse her baby. Often she would look up at Etu and smile, only to return to cooing or humming to her child. On one such occasion she glanced up and he was watching, a grand smile spread across his face. When he realized that she had noticed, he quickly tried to throw her off by asking the name of her child again, that in itself was a feet worth the ages. He would say a word and then gesture with his fingers until she realized what he wanted. Aponi had no real answer, her child was nameless, and now that she admitted it, she was ashamed. In her own way she asked the warrior what he would name him if he were his own. Again, dear reader, it took much less time to write this paragraph as it did for Aponi to make her thought known to the man. Somehow though she seemed to make him understand that her son, had yet to be named. Etu sat in deep thought, staring into the fire as if searching for inspiration. As he worked, he paused and brushed the scrapings from the hide. It was then that he seemed to suddenly come up with something. He raised the corner of the hide and spoke, "Machk." She glanced up. "Maaachk"? Repeating what he said, he held his hands together with a slight amount of space between them. Aponi knew he expected her to shorten the word. "Ma-chk." Etu nodded, and then pointed to her nursing son. Aponi mulled the word over in her mind as though it was a fine wine. "What does it mean?" Although it took her a great length of time to make herself known. The young warrior held up the hide and repeated, "Machk." Aponi slowly nodded, finally realizing that was his people's name for 'Bear.' Without realizing, she whispered, 'Bear,' aloud. Etu whispered it back several times, realizing that it was her own word that she was repeating. This small step would be a great start, he could teach her the words of his own people and she could do likewise for her words. Perhaps in no time at all, they could make conversation with each other. The warrior smiled, pointing toward the infant. "Machk." She carefully lifted him to her shoulder, careful not to allow the blanket of hides to fall. "Machk." Thinking of how it sounded, so strong, rugged, it would forever remind her of the battle with the bear. She nodded in agreement, her long blonde hair swinging freely, the two of them together had named her son. -Thirty One- The air was growing colder on the mountain. Etu knew they would need to leave very soon, or they wouldn't leave at all. He thought back to their battle with the bear, thinking it was probably doing nothing more than returning to its cave to hibernate. Aponi and Etu had the last two weeks to practice their speaking, and in those two weeks, they had come a long way. Aponi had almost erased her struggle with speaking. The practice with Etu had exercised her voice better than any other thing she had done. One evening as Machk was sleeping quietly inside the cave, Etu was sitting outside on a boulder, working on a deer hide. Aponi carried out two green sticks with several pieces of cooked meat skewered through it, she handed one of them to Etu. "Is good." He nodded as he set aside his work and took one of the skewers from her. "Aponi cook very well." Aponi flushed with embarrassment, her face growing warm in the cool evening. She looked up as she ate, admiring the vast myriad of stars that spanned the clear night sky. Etu glanced toward the young mother, he wanted to speak of his love for her, but always there was that nagging little issue of Machk's father. He turned toward Aponi and rests his hand upon his thigh. She had been looking above, toward the stars when she realized that he was looking at her. Slowly she lowered her eyes until they were locked upon his; her heart seemed to skip a beat as she allowed them to rest upon the chiseled features of the young warrior. Etu felt a stirring deep within him, once again the feelings he had for this beautiful creature washed over him. He tried to look away but his eyes were drawn back, as a preverbal moth to a flame. Aponi's haunting beauty created a tension within the warrior, pulling him first one direction and then the next. Always keeping him in a flux between wanting to be her protector, and wondering where Machk's father was in all of this. He decided that he must get to the bottom of it, and find out if he needs to worry about confronting a spirit that he could never hope to defeat. With hesitation, and a newfound understanding of a common language, he decided that now was the time to ask. Carefully maneuvering into conversation he cleared his throat and spoke. "Machk sleeping?" Aponi nodded. "I nursed him and finally got him to sleep." "Good," he replied. "Did you eat?" She laughed. "Yes?" Taking a seat beside him she propped a foot up and smiled to herself at his uneasiness. She knew that he liked her, she could tell quite a long time ago. He sighed deeply, it caused Aponi to laugh. Etu knew he must ask a difficult question of the woman, and prayed that her answer was one that he wanted to hear. He glanced at her, and then allowed his eyes to fall toward the vast distance beneath the ledge. Far out in the distance, the thin tendral that was the river reflected back the faint light of the evening. As he looked on, he began to speak. "Machk's father..." As soon as she heard him start to ask, she let her head drop. Aponi knew some very hard questions were about to be asked, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to tell. Although, she did like Etu and if she had any hope of him remaining a friend, she must face those difficult questions. But how she could possibly answer him truthfully, was a very big question in itself? "Is he also among the people?" He looked up at her with sadness in his dark eyes. She smiled at him reassuringly; it seemed to alleviate some of the pressure he had been under. When she shook her head in the negative, he too smiled. Yet knowing that there was another man out there, still to lay a claim on Aponi, he kept himself guarded. "Where is the boy's father then?" he asked hesitantly. She had a look that crossed her face, it confused Etu. As she looked slowly skyward, he realized that his suspicion was confirmed. With a slight bit of trepidation, she pointed upward. Etu realized without a shadow of doubt that both she and the father were spirits of the sky, but why send her down when she is carrying his child? He asked as much, and then waited for her reply. Aponi knew that he would never fully understand the truth, so as best as she could; she would answer- giving him truths but not total truths. "A man named 'Parker' trapped and abandoned me on your planet. I was left here to die, as he hoped, a horrible death." She watched him for a change in his expression, she was fearful that he too might abandon her on her mountain. Etu smiled at her reassuringly. "But you didn't. You survived." "I almost didn't, but for you defeating the bear that would have surly killed Machek and I." She returned his smile, reaching out and gently touching his arm. "Parker would be very angry if he knew that I was still alive." "Is this Parker also Machk's father?" Etu asked, a slight bit of contempt was in his voice. She looked down and laughed. "Honestly, I always thought the Parker I knew was a very good man...up until he trapped me and kidnapped my body." She spoke in vague terms; Etu had no way of knowing what she really meant. "This man had 'taken you,' held you prisoner, abandoned you, left you with a child, and you speak of him as being good?" He shook his head at her incredulously. "If you don't mind, I will not think of him as... good." His comment caused her to laugh. "I can respect your feelings." Even in the dark she could see the strong jaw muscles flex in subdued anger. "Aponi, if I had this man here before me, spirit or not, I would do whatever it took to kill him for what he did to you!" His voice was calm, yet she felt as though he would actually do what he said, and almost wish that Parker was here. "Etu, you will never have to worry. The Parker that is out there is a coward." She included the vast expanse of space with a quick gesture. "I am quite certain that he will die a slow death." She realized as she was talking that the man who sat with her on the side of the mountain, was seemingly more to her than she had once thought. Etu sat up straighter, looking her directly in her beautiful eyes. "Aponi, you and little Machk never have to worry about anything as long as my heart still beats. I give it to you to do with as you wish, I am yours." "I.. I don't know what to say," Aponi stammered. "You have been very kind to us." "I am not like this 'Parker'," he said the name with contempt. "I would treat Machk as my own son, and you as my wife if you would have me." Aponi was in shock. Etu was a good man, never once trying to push himself onto her, always treating her with kindness and giving them the privacy they needed. Yet, could she allow herself to be treated as a wife? He could see her struggling with what he had just offered, speaking softly he wanted to reassure this beautiful woman that his love for her was real. "Ever since I first lay eyes upon you, I have lost my heart to you. I began my quest to find you, and almost lose you on the side of this mountain. I would do anything for you, Aponi - anything." Perhaps it was a feminine reaction, perhaps it was purely out of a natural response; Aponi reached out and touched Etu's strong hand. The warrior lifted his head and searched her eyes for the answer he coveted. She smiled and gave his hand a tender squeeze. "I could not ask for a better man, Etu." She paused, before continuing, "You are young; you will need a wife who would welcome you in her bed on those cold nights... I am not sure I could be that wife." He glanced upward with contempt at the stars. "It is because he has blackened your heart to the love of another." He looked toward her hand as it lay upon his. "I am not Parker." Returning his gaze back to her captivating blue eyes he continued, "When you are ready Aponi, I will be there for you." "That is fair, Etu," she replied, pulling her long blonde hair away from her eyes. "When I am ready, you will know." He stood and offered her his hand, she took it and he pulled her to her feet. "That is all I ask, Aponi." As they headed into the cave, Etu began to stoke their fire to remove the chill. They had been lucky; a sudden warm spell had kept them company for almost a full moon. Etu knew that it would not hold out long and they would soon have to leave the mountain, or be trapped there throughout the cold season. "I know your comfort is here in this cave on this mountain, the cold season will be on us very soon. If we are to survive, we must seek shelter with my people, the Oneida." He unrolled his deer hide and placed a pelt blanket aside as he helped Aponi straighten the black bear's fur she and Machk were using as their bedding. He waited for her to get comfortable, spooning around her son. Once she had settled, he gently covered her with the soft blanket of furs. "Would you be willing to live among my people?" She watched him stretch out on the deer hide; he was lying on his side facing her. "Etu, as long as you will be there, I know we will be happy." Aponi grew silent for a few moments. "If you are willing to act as my protector, my husband..." She held aside the blanket she was laying under. "I will invite you to our bed... but I can't allow you to take me as a wife. At least not yet." Etu hesitantly got up and lay down beside her, between them was Machk. "I will sleep beside you and Machk, I will protect you as your husband. When you are ready to lay 'with me' as my wife, it will be on your terms." Her eyes were so beautiful, as she closed them in rest, he would take his time. 'Someday Aponi would become his in total, for now though, it would be one step at a time,' he thought to himself as he also closed his eyes and let sleep overtake him. -Thirty Two- Etu woke long before the sun rose, got up and sought out the pack he had carried prior to his battle with the bear. A dream that he had reminded him that he held something that his mother had given to him... a gift for the Aponi Spirit. In the bottom, still neatly folded and wrapped was the gift. He pulled it out and gently laid it at his love's feet while she still slept. As quietly as possible, he headed out of the cave where he could stretch, and clean himself in the river. After washing in the river, Etu noticed several fish swimming nearby. Taking up his bow, he carefully shot two of the larger ones and cleaned them on the bank. After washing for a second time, he began the long climb back up to the cave. Aponi had woken up not long after Etu slipped out; she nursed Machk and was able to get him to lie down again. As she was covering him from the morning chill, she noticed the package that Etu had left. Carefully opening it, she realized at once that it was some sort of garment. That it was meant for her she had no doubt. Looking down she compared what she held to what she wore. The article Aponi had on was well worn and crudely made, what she held was created by an expert... and just about as feminine as could be imagined. It was a very pale leather and heavily beaded dress, matching leggings with beaded fringe on their side. Stepping out onto the ledge where she could see it better in the sunlight, she debated whether to put it on or not. Although it had been given to her, laid at her feet when she woke up, she was still unsure. Movement however, along the trail below, caused her to look up. Etu was returning, and that was enough to prod her into action. She quickly returned inside, at best she had only about fifteen minutes to change. As she disrobed, she couldn't help but realize that donning on a Oneida woman's dress, was a final straw at accepting that she was no longer male. It was as though by removing the old pelt dress that she had made so long ago and placing the new, expertly made dress on... she was somehow accepting the fact that she was a female, and would remain that for the rest of her days. Aponi had tied the leggings up on her smooth upper thigh, and had pulled the long dress over her naked breasts, allowing it to settle just as Etu entered. He walked straight to the fire, the fish suspended on a long green stick. "I was able to get a couple of fish, we can eat that before we our journey to my village," he spoke as he was turning back toward Aponi, all thoughts vanished from his mind as he took in a vision of loveliness. "Is it good?" she asked, slowly holding out the bottom of the dress so it would hang correctly. "Was I not supposed to wear it?" "I recalled having it only this morning, in my dream last night that you wore it." He spoke as though he was frozen, in fact mesmerized by just how beautiful his Aponi really was. "My dream was nothing compared to just how beautiful you are right now, my Aponi." Her face grew warm at his words. "It's quite lovely, thank you." She gave him a hug and laughed when he suddenly seemed startled at her nearness. "My mother made it," he said with a smile. "I was supposed to give it to you long ago...but I forgot." "I could never imagine being in a dress so lovely..." She smiled and slowly turned, realizing that before her transformation, she could never imagine wearing anything remotely like a dress...any dress. "Mother was afraid you would be naked." Etu smiled as he spoke. "Although I wouldn't be telling the truth if I didn't say I would have been fine with seeing you that way." "But only in your mind, right?" she said laughing, knowing how the male mind truly worked. He shifted on his feet and looked down. "I've seen you naked, so beautiful that it has forever been burned into my memory." She looked at him slyly. "Oh really? When?" He looked at her beautiful blue eyes. "When you were born from a great cloud of sky dancers." As he spoke, she froze and looked at him. "That was you in the woods?" She ran a slender hand through her hair. "You were there when I arrived?" "You were born of the Aponi. Like a sky dancer sent from the heavens, taking on human form." He reached out and took her soft hand, holding it in his own. "Aponi is your word for a sky dancer..a butterfly?" She spoke in his tongue, but only said 'butterfly' in her language. "You think I'm some sort of - great spirit?" She recalled their first meeting, although she had never put the two together before, now it made sense to her. "I am no great spirit; I am only a... woman." She looked away, out the opening of the cave. "I was transported to this planet as some sort of macabre punishment." She thought back to so long ago; back when the possibility of being held prisoner in this body wasn't possible. "To you, it may have been a punishment; to me it was a blessing!" He smiled, gently squeezing her hand, leaned forward and kissed her tenderly. "Sometimes, we know not what the great spirits wish, until it is burned in our souls. On that day you ran from me, but the spirits wished me to find you, and brought me here to your mountain right when I was needed the most!" "When the bear attacked..." Aponi replied softly, almost as though she was finishing his sentence. She grew quiet for several long seconds. "Your great spirits may be in control after all, without this direct path that we all have taken, Machk would never have been possible." "And he is here; we are here, just as they have planned." Etu slowly turned her to face him. "Often, my dear Aponi, we don't know what path to take when we come to a fork in the trail. The great spirits have brought you here to me, sent me on this quest to find you. Now I am being directed to take you back to my people." He smiled; Aponi just glanced toward her child on the hides. "And what of him - Etu? What will become of Machk in your tribe?" She gently pulled away from him and picked up her son, slowly stirring him from slumber. "He is as a son to me, he will become my firstborn," he replied flatly. "He is white like I am." She held him up to show Etu his pale skin and hair. "Don't you think this may be hard to explain?" "You are Aponi, he is your son... the spirits have destined you and Machk to be mine." Aponi laughed. "Oh, it's that simple is it?" sitting Machk into a baby papoose that she had constructed only that morning. Etu helped her adjust it for Machk. "Yes, very simple." "I'm glad you think so," she replied back with a laugh. "You sound like you expect us to just blend right in!" "You are Aponi, he is your son..." he began again as she returned Machk to the pelts once again. The woman shot a sideways glance at Etu, rolling her eyes as he spoke. "You will see." He cut himself short in response. "Grandfather said that in a vision he saw one of our offspring leading the people into a great battle as their chief." "Machk?" she asked with surprise. "He is but a baby!" "He won't always be a baby. Some day he will be a man," Etu replied as he pushed the green stick through the fish he caught. "It may not even be Machk, but another of our children that lead great warriors into battle." "Your Grandfather's vision is going to have to wait awhile, no son of mine will be leading any armies until I say he his is old enough." Aponi placed her hand upon her generous hips, wagging a finger at Etu as she spoke. He smiled. "Spoken like a mother." Ducking quickly, narrowly avoiding being swiped at by her hand. Etu stood from the fire. "Aponi, you are a good mother, a good woman to me. I will gladly take you into my lodge as my wife. You have nothing to fear from my people, they will treat you kindly... or answer to me." "Thank you Etu, I really do appreciate that." She stood near to him and without thinking, gently rubbed his back as a woman who cares for a man would do and gently kissed him on his cheek. He turned to face her, drew her close and returned her kiss for an even greater length of time. Etu grinned broadly as he slowly released a smiling, albeit flushed Aponi. "We will eat the fish that the spirits have provided. When we are done, we will pack what we need and begin our journey to my village." Aponi nodded as she watched the man she was deeply growing to love. Inside, she knew that they must leave, and when they were settled, she would take him as his wife in every way. Her heart was happy now, she had everything she could possibly desire. Behind Aponi, Machk started to cry, signaling that he wanted to eat too. Aponi knelt upon the fur and began to ready herself to nurse; Etu sat beside her cross-legged and occupied himself until they were ready by winding leather strapping around his bow. To be continued in Part II - A Quiet Strength - Paying The Piper