Wo'itsa’s eyes instantly narrowed with suspicion. He took a step toward her again.
“If you try to run, you will die.” His eyes bore into hers as he stared down at her. Kendra didn’t flinch as she returned the glare with one of her own. If he wasn’t so bent on doing the old man’s bidding, she could almost like this guy. She raised her arms a little higher, and Wo'itsa reached for his knife.
Before he had a chance to slice through her bindings, something whooshed through the air and landed a few inches from the old man’s feet. Wo'itsa sprang back and jumped in front of Mukua. Were more hostile Indians coming to attack them? Kendra ducked and spun around, bracing for more warriors to come charging at her.
Someone called out in a loud and commanding voice. The only word she understood instantly was “Wo'itsa.” The others registered as familiar in her mind, but it took some time to mentally translate them. They’d been spoken in the old language Kunu had taught her, or had tried to teach her, since she was a little girl.
“Step aside, Wo'itsa.”
“What is the meaning of this, Cameahwait?” Wo'itsa called back. Kendra focused on the words in order to make sense of them.
A man stepped into the open, holding a bow ready to fire another arrow. Kendra’s eyes widened. At first glance, he looked Indian, but as he moved closer, it became apparent that he was a white guy. His hair was dark brown, not black, and the skin of his bare torso, although tanned, was a lighter shade. His facial features definitely were white, not native. Otherwise, he looked every bit as fierce and feral as Wo'itsa or any of those other warriors.
“I have searched a long time for you, Mukua,” the newcomer said, his voice laced with hatred as he strode into camp. He seemed to barely notice anyone other than the old man.
Wo'itsa moved forward, holding out his knife. These two clearly knew each other, but the tension in the air was palpable.
“Why are you trying to kill an elder of the Sky People, Cameahwait?”
“He needs to be eliminated, or he will continue to cause harm to everything the Sky People have worked for. Whatever he has told you is nothing but lies.”
Wo'itsa shook his head. “I will not let you harm an elder. You’re the one who has been told lies by the Sky People. Mukua has told me much, and you should listen to him.”
Cameahwait laughed. “You and I can discuss this later, Wo'itsa. Right now, you need to move aside. I will not kill him, but I will take him to his brothers, and they can hold council to decide his fate.” He turned slightly, revealing part of his back. Kendra’s eyes widened.
The scars that ran from the top of his right shoulder down the middle of his back to his spine were clearly visible. Flashes of her conversation with Matt Donovan echoed in her mind.
Years ago, my closest friend, someone I considered a brother, had scars that looked exactly like your tattoo. His were real. They were larger, running down his back, but they came from a grizzly attack.
She didn’t hesitate and ran toward the man with the scars. It was a huge gamble, but what did she have to lose?
“Please, you have to help me,” she called in English. Cameahwait’s head turned to look at her. His eyes assessed her quickly from head to toe, lingering on her clothing, but he didn’t move or say anything. He didn’t show if he understood her or was surprised by her words.
“Please,” she called again, then added the only thing that seemed to make sense at the moment and uttered the name she’d hated all her life, because it had made her different from all the other kids.
“My name is Natukendra’eh weda. Before my grandfather died, he told me about the bear. I found Matt Donovan, and I believe he was your friend, and I think you’re the bear they both wanted me to find.”
Chapter 12
Everything seemed to come to a standstill as all eyes were on the woman. She boldly faced Cameahwait with her plea for help, holding her bound wrists up for him to see that she was being held against her will.
Wo'itsa scoffed. He’d only tied her for her own good. Running away in the middle of the night would have been her death sentence. Twice now, he’d intended to cut her bindings, but both times he’d been interrupted. He gripped the broken bow in one hand, his knife in the other, and gritted his teeth. The name she’d shouted for all to hear sent a shiver of unease down his spine.
Natukendra’eh weda.
His gaze snapped to Cameahwait. His childhood friend had powerful ties to the Bear Clan of the Sky People, but not even he owned such a strong name. Who was this woman? How was it possible that she owned strong spirit medicine?
She’d called herself Kendra the day before. Wo'itsa mentally shook his head. He should have recognized at least part of the meaning when she’d uttered her name the first time. Now it was clear that she’d shortened it from her true name. Why would she want to conceal her identity?
Unless, perhaps, she was lying. She was as far removed from the spirits and her ancestors as a fish would be if it soared through the sky with the eagles. Nothing about her revealed that she respected the ways of the Sky People, or even knew much about them. Her disrespectful treatment of Mukua was proof of that.
Wo'itsa’s gaze dropped to her arm where her clothing concealed her tattoo. The meaning of the bear marks above the likeness of the wolf became clear all of a sudden, along with her babbling the night before that she needed to be wary of him. The tattoo implied that the bear was set to destroy the wolf. If she was of the bear spirit as her name implied, Mukua had good cause to be watchful of her.
Before him, Cameahwait scrunched his forehead, and a look of disbelief had flashed in his eyes as well after Kendra had revealed her name. There was no recognition on his face, even though it would appear the two of them had something in common.
The woman stared at Cameahwait. By her rigid stance, she was apprehensive about his response to her plea. For a brief second, she allowed her eyes to dart to Wo'itsa.
His own eyes narrowed as she looked at him. Was she truly a powerful puhangand from the future, as her name would imply? Confusion warred with indecision. Wo'itsa broke eye contact with her and glanced over his shoulder at the old man he was protecting.
There was no reaction from the elder. Mukua seemed to be the only one who wasn’t surprised. He must have known all along who she was. It seemed important to him that the woman return to the future. Perhaps she was safer there.
Now was not the time to ask the elder for an explanation, even though a thousand questions raced through Woit’sa’s mind. The old man simply stood there, silently, with a knowing gleam in his eyes.
Cam finally moved. He took a step toward the woman, his gaze now lingering on her tied hands, which she still held out for him to see. He didn’t relax the tension on the strung arrow he directed at Mukua.
Wo'itsa shifted his stance to shield the elder. Would Cam truly kill the old man? He’d made peace with the Sky People several seasons ago. What had changed that he would potentially harm one of them?
Mukua wasn’t like the two other remaining elders, however. He was of the Wolf Clan. Cam was loyal to the Bear Clan. Was that enough of a reason for him to see the elder as his enemy?
Cameahwait shifted his gaze to Wo'itsa, then slowly, like a lithe panther, stepped closer to the woman until he stood directly in front of her, protecting her with his body in the same manner Wo'itsa was shielding the elder.
His childhood friend still hadn’t said a word, but he’d clearly decided to offer the woman protection, not that she needed it. Her life wasn’t in danger the way Cam was threatening to take Mukua’s life.
“Put away your knife, Wo'itsa. You and I are brothers, and I mean you no harm, but I will take the old man.” Cam shifted his head slightly, staring past Wo'itsa at the elder with hate-filled eyes.
Cam’s words resonated in a commanding tone. The subtle warning he spoke didn’t go unnoticed. Wo'itsa stood his ground, staring at his boyhood friend.
“I have told you already, I will not allow yo
u to harm an elder of the Sky People.”
There was a slight shift in Cam’s stance before he replied. “It has been many months since we last saw each other, Wo'itsa. What has happened that you would trust this elder over your friend? He is deceiving you.”
Wo'itsa hesitated, then slowly raised his hand and held out the broken bow. He tossed it at the other man’s feet.
Painful memories of past seasons entered his mind, and his heart filled with annoyance. The Sky People elders of the Bear Clan had never answered his pleas for help. Only Mukua, elder of the Wolf Clan, had chosen to offer him guidance.
“All my life, I’ve sought counsel from the Sky People,” Wo'itsa snarled. “You know I asked for their wisdom when the woman who owned my heart chose another over me.”
For years there had been a familiar ache in his chest whenever he’d thought about the girl he thought he’d loved. Over time, the pain had lessened, as had his feelings for her. Right now, all those memories came flooding back, hardening his heart to shield himself from more anguish.
“Not once did the elders answer me.” Wo'itsa scoffed. “Yet you, who have shunned the Sky People all your life, are favored by them, even after you left the clan.”
He stopped to toss a quick glance at Kendra before his eyes shifted back to Cam. “Mukua crossed my path, and encouraged me to seek a vision. He has told me much, and it is you who should listen to him. You are the one being deceived.”
Wo'itsa pointed at the splintered weapon on the ground. “This bow, the symbol of our friendship, is broken. Perhaps it is a sign that we are no longer brothers.” He nearly choked on the words, surprised by his thoughts. A new pain formed in his chest, yet he steeled himself, and added, “You will have to kill me before I allow you to harm Mukua.”
Kendra’s eyes volleyed from staring at Wo'itsa to keeping her gaze on Cameahwait’s back. Suddenly, she sprang forward.
“He’s going to get away.”
Wo'itsa frowned, then turned to glance over his shoulder. The woman had barely finished her warning when the old man vanished right before his eyes.
Cam cursed in the language of the future. He too, had lunged forward, but Mukua had been quicker than anyone. Cam lowered his arm holding his bow. His face hardened as their eyes met.
“You will regret this day,” he growled, slipping back into the language of the People. “Mukua has poisoned your mind, and now he’s disappeared like the coward he is.”
Wo'itsa tensed, anger coursing through him that someone he had always considered a friend and brother could be so blind. “You threatened to kill him. Can you blame an old man for trying to save his own life?”
Cameahwait shook his head. With a scoff, he turned slightly to glance at Kendra, his eyes lingering on her tied wrists. She met his brief stare before his attention returned to Wo'itsa.
“Since when do you take women as prisoners?” The contempt in his voice was unmistakable.
Wo'itsa’s own eyes darted to her. Kendra squared her shoulders and stepped beside Cam.
“He and that old man are both crazy.” She glared at Wo'itsa and raised her hands to point at him.
“This wolf is trying to kill me.” Even as she said the words, the tone of her voice held a note of doubt. She had to know that he had no intention of killing her. If he had truly meant to hurt her, he would have done it by now, but he had no reason to need her dead.
Wo'itsa scoffed. “I have told you before, woman, I have no wish to harm you.” Directing his gaze to Cameahwait, he continued in English so she’d understand his words. “This woman comes from a time in the future, like your wife. The vessel that brought her here belongs to Mukua. I only wish to return it to him.”
Cam looked at Kendra with keen interest. “If she holds a vessel that comes from the Sky People, I will return it to Naatoyita and Naatosi. They are the rightful guardians of the vessel.”
He pulled his knife from his belt, and with one swift motion, sliced through the strips of leather that tied Kendra’s hands together.
She let out a sigh the moment she was free, and rubbed her wrists. “Thanks.”
Cameahwait nodded, looking at her with a thousand questions in his eyes. “You asked for my help. If you’re willing, I will take you to someone who can give us both some answers.”
“Gladly.” Kendra nodded.
The relieved smile on her face was so different than the suspicious and wary looks she’d cast at Wo'itsa since the moment they’d met. A twinge of regret nudged at Wo'itsa’s insides, followed by an emotion that he couldn’t name but heated his blood with sudden anger.
“You are putting yourself, your wife, and your son in danger with this woman,” Wo'itsa called. “Mukua tried to send her back to the time from which she came, but she wouldn’t listen. She has tried to harm the elder already. I am warning you in honor of the friendship we once shared.”
Cameahwait’s eyes narrowed. A hint of disbelief and regret flashed there, but that was the only reaction to Wo'itsa’s comment about their friendship. He, too, must have realized that his choice to side with the girl had done irreparable damage to their brotherly relationship.
“I will hear her story myself.” Cam’s features hardened. His eyes fell to the broken bow on the ground. “You need not concern yourself with her any longer.”
Wo'itsa gritted his teeth. He raised his gaze to her. Despite the surge of annoyance she provoked in him whenever they’d sparred or argued, the spark of admiration he’d felt for her already seemed to ignite and grow stronger.
He couldn’t blame her for the broken bow. Had it not been for her, he would be dead. His stance didn’t waver, and time seemed to stand still while they stared at each other.
She is an adversary. Her name makes it so, and it is clear why Mukua wants her gone.
It was impossible to not respect her for her bravery. She’d come to a time that seemed to be completely foreign to her, yet she hadn’t shown any weakness. She mistrusted him completely, but despite their mutual animosity, they were both alive because of each other.
He tore his gaze away, cursing under his breath for being the first to break eye contact. She was nothing to him. Why did he have such overwhelming and confusing reactions where she was concerned? He should be more wary and angry with Cameahwait.
Keeping any strong feelings under control had been a skill he’d honed most of his life. It always served him well on a hunt, and in his interactions with members of his clan. Even when the woman of his heart had left him for another, he had concealed his emotions, never revealing his true turmoil at the time.
That was all in the past. There was no comparing this woman to the one he’d lost. There was also no longer a reason for him to be here. Cameahwait would see to the woman’s safety now. He sheathed the knife still in his hand and pierced her with his stare.
“Mukua will return for the vessel you keep from him.”
Kendra held her ground. She didn’t turn away from the look in his eyes, and stared back at him without flinching. In her usual confident way, she retorted, “He’s not going to get it until I find out what happened to my grandfather.”
Cameahwait held out his hand in a gesture of friendship. A hint of a smile showed on his face. “Come with us to my cabin, Wo'itsa. Riley would be pleased to see you. We can’t allow Mukua to come between our friendship.”
Next to him, the woman made a sound through her nose. “You two are really friends?” She stared from Cameahwait to Wo'itsa. “Maybe I misjudged you, too.” Her suspicious eyes fell on Cam.
Wo'itsa scoffed. “This one has it in her head that everyone is her enemy. I will leave her with you, since she believes I am trying to kill her.”
It was best to leave the woman in Cam’s care, as he’d said. Time for him to leave this place and sort through all he’d learned in the last few days. His vision haunted him, and so did the woman. Until he could make sense of it all, it was best to be alone.
With a final glance at Kendra, he turned an
d ducked into the trees.
Coward!
He’d walked away without a fight the last time he’d relinquished a woman, too. Wo'itsa shook his head and cursed. That had been many seasons ago, and was an entirely different matter. Over time, he’d come to the conclusion that he would always walk his own path. No one else had caught his eye since, and no one ever would.
There had been times over the years when he’d questioned his purpose, even in his own clan. He fulfilled his role as a hunter like the other young men by providing meat, but something inside him remained hollow and empty.
He’d sought the guidance from the Sky People, but they hadn’t answered, until now. Even his boyhood friends, Cam and Mat, had left him behind.
Was it coincidence that the woman, Kendra, had come to the past shortly after he’d finally received a new vision? She’d already been a distraction. For the first time in years, he’d felt alive with a purpose when he’d battled the Bakianee and when he’d tried to protect her.
He shook his head. She meant nothing to him. His respect for her had grown over the hours he’d known her, but he didn’t need to protect her as if she was his woman, and she could certainly fight for herself. Besides, a man would have to be a fool to favor a woman with her attitude. Then there was the matter that she came from a time in the future.
And she owns the name of a powerful puhagand.
“I own a powerful name, as well.” Voicing his thoughts out loud cut through the stillness of the clearing. He laughed. There was nothing powerful about him. He was merely a hunter, and now he was useless without a bow.
His clan’s shaman must have been wrong all those years ago when he’d given him the name Spirit Wolf after his return from his first vision journey. The shaman had proclaimed that Wo'itsa had earned it after he’d received a powerful vision from the Sky People. The shaman hadn’t been able to answer why the Sky People had shown Wo'itsa the conflict between the Bear Clan and Wolf Clan
Wo'itsa headed further into the woods, taking a different route to return to his former camp. It was time to retrieve the robe he’d left behind. Perhaps Mukua would return and offer some answers.
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