The Cry of the Wolf Chapter 65

The sun was beginning to set when the tribe stopped once again to set up camp for the night. Chief Long Knife glanced up at the orange-streaked sky, sighing heavily before turning toward the small campfire.

Hunching down, he stretched his palms toward the crackling flames, his thoughts distant. If he were honest, he wished they were making better time, but it could not be helped. He would not risk any harm coming to the infants or their mothers. Speaking of which…

Chief Long Knife turned his gaze from the flames, looking among the women milling about preparing the evening meal for a glimpse of his wife. She must be taking care of Torris, he surmised before turning to the tall blonde who was seeking to gain his attention.

Not needing an invitation, Kajirowirago lowered his voice. "My wife is concerned that our son who remained in Germany will not be able to write to her. We have been waiting for months for a letter and there has been nothing yet. I would like to assure her that she would still be able to receive word from our son should he write, but I am not even aware of where we are going or how to send word to him that we have moved."

Chief Long Knife didn't say a word. He knew all too well what it felt like to love someone and never hear from them again.

"At the pace that we are moving, it will take longer to reach our destination than I had anticipated."

"I am not questioning your leadership…" Kajirowirago quickly explained.

Again, the chief was silent, lost in his own thoughts. "We must put as much distance between us and the Mohawk Valley as possible before the new moon. That is my greatest concern. I believe there is a fort near where we are headed. We will stop and you can send word to your son. It will be well."

Chief Long Knife's throat tightened even as he said those words. He wasn't certain if they were walking into hostile territory. Perhaps before when he had been Wyandotte, but now as leader of the feared Mohawk tribe, he could only hope things would be different and the white man would be an ally.

He didn't have much time to contemplate the situation when Gretjen ran toward where they were seated, her features ashen.

"Dark Star," she gasped, "Dark Star is gone. I didn't think she would actually do it after…" Gretjen quickly looked away.

****

Chief Long Knife leaped to his feet. "She has gone after her sister…" He muttered before turning away. He stopped, mid-stride. "No, I cannot go after her. I must lead my people."

He looked between Falcon and Kajirowirago, the two men he trusted most - the only two who had never betrayed him, at least not yet.

And yet ...no, he could not ask them to leave their wives when the women were most vulnerable. Chief Long Knife remembered all too well what had happened when he had left his very pregnant bride - a decision that haunted him every single day, and yet, he could not trust his wife and infant son with any of the others. In his eyes, they were either traitors or ruthless savages he had no choice but to lead.

Sometimes, one simply had no choice over their destiny. If they did...he certainly would never have chosen to be the leader of the Mohawk tribe. Almost anything would have been a better fate.

Kajirowirago watched the shadows flicker across their chief's features as he wrestled with his duties as a husband and a leader of a tribe.

"Send word to my scouts. Tell them they must return as quickly as possible and find my wife and son. Jaira is the least of my concerns right now."

Falcon nodded, then retreated to relay the message to the men in question, wondering why he had not been chosen to find Dark Star and bring the chief's family back.

****

Adelaide had lost track of time for hours. Her rumbling stomach along with the sudden bone-numbing chill were the first reminders that it was getting late and she was no farther ahead in her search than she had been when she turned her back on her husband earlier that morning. Sure she had learned many skills over the past few months, yet tracking hadn't been one of them. There hadn't been a need to learn the skills of a scout or warrior - until now, that is. Now, it was painfully obvious that Adelaide was more than a little lost.

Holding back branches with her free hand, Adelaide searched for a way out of the dense forest before it grew any darker. The forest offered seclusion not only to her but to a myriad of other creatures, many of who would consider her a tasty morsel. No, she needed to get out of the woods as soon as possible.

Bushes scratched at her bare legs leaving behind reddened lines along with sticky blood. This wasn't good. If she could make it to the clearing, Adelaide was determined to make a run for it. Run and not look back. Surely, if she could keep running she would make up the distance they had traveled at a snail's pace.

Determined, she picked her way through the clouds of mosquitoes, stubbing her toes on the gnarly tree roots crisscrossing the forest floor.

The retreating sun dipped its golden head one last time behind a rocky cliff just as Adelaide reached the clearing where they had spent the night before last. Luck seemed to be on her side as she ducked her head, stepping into the entrance of their makeshift shelter. Biting her lower lip she tried not to think of the warmth of her husband's arms. She'd made her decision and as alone as she was, there would be no going back.

Miles away the moon was high in the sky and still, the scouts had not returned. The chief was restless, pacing the entrance of the makeshift longhouse. It was clear he had no intention of sleeping until his wife and child were found.