Dark Journey [Ariel's Desire 2]

by Candace Smith

  He heard them approach through the grass. Hands pulled him to his feet and wet cloths wiped his face, hands, groin and thighs. “You have one sense left to test, stallion. It’s the sense of sight.”

  He was so tired he didn’t care if they poked his eyes out of his head. He sighed wearily. Gray Dove panicked, but asked the question required. “Do you wish to continue your journey?”

  Hell yes. I haven’t journeyed through stallion to quit on cougar. He stood straight and lifted his jaw. All the women had been holding their breaths when it looked like they had beaten him. The stallion heard their relieved exhales.

  Gray Dove pulled down on his collar and he bent his head. She removed the blindfold and he was relieved to see the buckskins back on them. One by one the women approached him. “I am Shining Star. Know me by sight as the wife of Wind Seeker. You will never look on me with the passion due your wife.” She walked away. Each woman said the same thing and wandered toward home, until he was left standing with Gray Dove.

  All the women knew the stallion was cougar. He worked hard to pass their test and she was proud. She would tell Fierce Bear what a cunning proud man the cougar would be. “I know you hold my daughter’s heart. She asked me to tell you she misses your blue eyes. She dreams of you.” Gray Dove saw the flicker of desire in his weary eyes. She wanted to make sure the cougar Gentle Wave wanted would be hers. He would be a great addition to their family. They needed another man. Not someone as weak as Straight Arrow, but a proud strong man.

  Gray Dove straightened. “I am Gray Dove. Know me by sight as the wife of Fierce Bear. You will never look on me with the passion due your wife.” She started to wander off and he was bewildered. He wasn’t leashed or reined and didn’t know what to do. Gray Dove turned around and pointed to the ground two feet behind her. He followed her back to the teepee with no lead tied to him.

  Fierce Bear had spent the past three hours nervously stirring the ashes in the fire pit. He watched the wives as they returned, but couldn’t discern from their expressions the outcome of the test. Finally, it was Grey Dove who came into view. Gentle Wave heard him whisper, “I know you’re awake, daughter. They’ve returned and he’s not reined. I think that’s a good sign.”

  Gentle Wave peeked out of the flap. Her mother and her stallion weren’t smiling, but they looked exhausted. It took her a minute to realize his traces were gone. And the reins! Her eyes narrowed while she studied his full lips. She hadn’t noticed them before he’d gotten the bit. Surely, if the reins and traces were off, he was a cougar.

  They wouldn’t know until Wind Seeker declared it in the morning. She’d never get to sleep tonight. She listened while her mother talked about how he’d passed the tests. Of course, the women didn’t describe their tests, only that they were passed.

  She pointed to a spot on the ground for the tired stallion to sleep and his eyes closed almost immediately. Gentle Wave hurried to lie down before Fierce Bear and Gray Dove came into the teepee. Her mother caught her eyes before she rolled over to sleep and smiled.

  The next morning the women from the training showed up while they finished breakfast. “You were wonderful, Gray Dove,” Wild Flower said. As each woman complimented his wife, Fierce Bear sat straighter, his usual scowl replaced with a broadening proud smile.

  “You have such sensitivity, Gray Dove. My husband was right in choosing you for this part of his journey,” Shining Star agreed.

  Fierce Bear glanced around to make sure other villagers saw them praising his wife. For a warrior like Fierce Bear not to have a son, it was hard. After Gentle Wave’s difficult birth, Gray Dove never conceived again. Depressed, they resigned themselves that it was not to be part of their journey together.

  Fierce Bear studied the stallion as he knelt with his back straight and proud jaw. If he was a man, he would still need to be taught the skills of the warrior. He would still need to learn how to hunt and provide. Perhaps, he was to be Fierce Bear’s son. Perhaps, I was not ready in my own journey to teach a proud warrior son until now.

  Yes, this stallion would be a man. A man a father would be proud of. Fierce Bear was determined that no other warrior would try to have their daughter steal the stallion away to strengthen their family.

  Gray Dove rose and waved her hand for the stallion to stand. She set her jaw and reached for his wrists. Her eyes rose to his, “Keep your hands by your sides, stallion.”

  “Gray Dove, are your sure this is a good move? Wind Seeker should free his hands if he decides he’s passed the test.” Fierce Bear was astounded that his timid wife would make such a decision.

  “He will be a cougar, Fierce Bear. All the women know it. Wind Seeker needs to know we’re committed in our agreement,” she said calmly. She pointed behind her and the stallion walked two steps behind Gray Dove as they headed toward Wind Seeker’s cabin, hands unbound for the first time in three months.

  Fierce Bear and Gentle Wave followed closely behind them. Fierce Bear noticed with satisfaction that several villagers just happened to be gathered and talking near Wind Seeker’s cabin. He knew they were now paying attention to the stallion because he might be a man soon and part of the tribe.

  He looked around. Grazing Fawn’s father was there, but his daughter was standing with Straight Arrow. Surely, the warrior would know that little Grazing Fawn would not be strong enough for a man like the stallion would be.

  Soaring Crow and Peaceful Prairie were together as they had been for three years. He was sure they would not separate no matter what Rising Sun said.

  Little Moon and her father could be a problem. Fierce Bear watched Night Wind’s face as the cougar proudly walked by and saw his eyes widen when he noticed his hands by his sides. Little Moon’s eyes lit up as her eyes traveled up and down his form.

  Fierce Bear slammed a fist into his open palm in frustration. He should have told the stallion to slouch, to look at the ground instead of holding his head up, daring the villagers to say he wasn’t a cougar. Fierce Bear’s eyes narrowed as he studied the warrior. Yes, Night Wind is thinking of the possibilities. He was sure of it. He was already preparing Little Moon to seduce the stallion away from Gentle Wave. Fierce Bear was shaking with anger.

  Gentle Wave tugged his sleeve. “Father, what’s wrong?” She could feel her father’s happiness changing and worried he may have seen a sign her stallion could not be a cougar.

  Fierce Bear tried to calm his voice, but his predictable scowl came through. “Night Wind wants the stallion for his son. Little Moon is already scheming,” he fumed.

  Gentle Wave almost sighed with relief. “The stallion knows she has interest. She studied him by the stable. His eyes smiled at me, Father. Trust that I’m the one for his journey.”

  Her words calmed him, but he glared at Night Wind in defiance. Gentle Wave looked up at her father, challenging the warrior with his scowl. She realized the wisdom of Shining Star’s words and Wind Seeker’s wisdom in choosing her mother for the stallion’s journey to cougar. Now, her father could see the stallion would be a strong enough man for her.

  All conversation stopped as Wind Seeker, Black Horse and Yellow Hawk came out of the cabin. “Fierce Bear looks like he’s going to explode if his face gets any redder. Night Wind better wipe that amused look off his face,” Black Horse whispered.

  “I wanted him to consider the stallion’s worth, not attack the other warriors over him,” Wind Seeker replied.

  “Little Moon isn’t helping with that ogling. Fleet Cougar looks like he’s ready to tear into the stallion,” Black Horse chuckled. “You better get this over with before there’s a war.”

  “Have you noticed the stallion’s hands have been freed?” Yellow Hawk asked.

  Wind Seeker chuckled. “I’ll be damned. I didn’t think Gray Dove had it in her. She’s openly challenging me to refute their decision.”

  Black Horse and Yellow Hawk stayed on the porch while Wind Seeker walked out to the street. The six women stood straight, but their eyes glance
d at the stallion’s unbound hands. There were very few opportunities for a woman to earn a feather for her family. They were shocked with Gray Dove’s open defiance to Wind Seeker’s judgment and it made them all nervous.

  “Gray Dove, you presume to present me a cougar.”

  Gray Dove thought she would faint again. She felt all the eyes of the village were on her, gossiping that she couldn’t possibly train a stallion to be a cougar. She glanced at Shining Star, standing proud and trying to encourage her unexpected challenge.

  “Yes, Wind Seeker. The stallion has found his senses. He is a cougar,” she declared in a slightly trembling voice.

  “You all agree he is a cougar?” Wind Seeker’s eyes traveled down the line of women.

  Dances on the Wind managed to find her voice. “The stallion is a cougar, Wind Seeker. We are all in agreement. His senses and cunning are strong.” She glanced again at the stallion’s hands. Rising Sun’s going to kill me if this costs us our feather.

  The tribe stood in silence, waiting for his decision. Wind Seeker walked over to the stallion and their eyes met. He could tell the man’s balls were probably shriveling under his gaze, but he stood tall. There was almost a pleading anticipation in his blue eyes and Wind Seeker was pleased at how badly the stallion wanted to succeed and further his journey. It was the look he’d been waiting to see.

  Wind Seeker drew out the moment as he again studied the women and moved in front of Grey Dove. Her hands were clenched into white knuckled fists. Finally, he lifted his head and proclaimed loudly, “The stallion has furthered his journey. He is a cougar.”

  The stallion clamped his jaw to keep from smiling. A cougar, I’m not a horse, I’m a cunning strong cougar.

  Gentle Wave jumped up and wrapped her arms around her father’s neck. “I told you, Father. I told you.” Fierce Bear’s eyes reflected his shock. For a moment, when Wind Seeker walked back to his wife, he was afraid the stallion had failed.

  Gray Dove almost cried when she was handed the feather. She waited while her friends were handed theirs. They gathered around her. “I’m sorry. I know I should have warned you, but it just came to me. I was so nervous Wind Seeker wouldn’t agree with us. I figured there was no way he would risk upsetting six warriors by not awarding us our feathers.”

  “That was brilliant, Gray Dove. I thought I was going to wet myself right in the street when I saw the stallion walking up with his hands at his sides,” Wild Flower laughed.

  “Cougar,” Wind Seeker began. Again, the people fell silent, wondering who would be chosen. “Black Horse will train you to be a man.”

  The village erupted in loud voices. Fierce Bear slammed his fist into his hand and added his bellowing yell to the tribe’s. The chief’s second son would be training the cougar. This was the highest honor the cougar could have received. Fierce Bear couldn’t remember ever hearing of a chief’s son furthering a journey. He now knew the cougar would be a man. He would be Gentle Wave’s man.

  CHAPTER 6

  THE MAN

  Black Horse walked down to the street, stunned. Yellow Hawk smiled, pleased with the decision. The two men had been trying for the past hour to pry the information from Wind Seeker. All Wind Seeker would say is that he discussed it with his father, the ailing chief, and they agreed it was meant to be a part of both souls’ journey. Black Horse and Yellow Hawk were afraid they’d chosen Fierce Bear.

  “Cougar, this is the warrior, Black Horse. He is the chief’s second son. He will teach you to be a man.”

  The cougar realized this was an honor. He could see the expression on Black Horse’s face and knew this decision was made without his knowledge. The second chief’s son would be training him to be a man. The cougar thought the training would be hard, but he couldn’t fail. Black Horse nodded. “I’ll teach the cougar to be a man,” he said.

  The women ran back to their families, waving their feathers. Fierce Bear lifted Gray Dove off her feet. “You have honored our family. I’m so proud of you.” Gray Dove was still shaking at being the center of so much attention.

  “Thank you, Mother,” Gentle Wave hugged her.

  Her mother whispered, “I gave the cougar your message.” Gentle Wave squeezed her harder.

  Black Horse led the cougar to his cabin two doors down. He stopped at the bottom of the steps. Black Horse didn’t realize he wasn’t following until he opened the door and turned around.

  “Come, cougar,” he smiled.

  He walked up the steps, still feeling he might be doing something wrong. He looked around and saw a cooking area by the stone fireplace, a long table with chairs and two sleeping areas of furs on the dirt floor.

  Wild Flower came bounding by him and threw herself into her husband’s arms waving her feather. “Oh, my god. I told Gray Dove I almost wet myself when I saw his wrists unbound.”

  “That wasn’t something you all decided on?” It never occurred to him Gray Dove would take that kind of initiative.

  “No, none of us knew she was going to do it. We were scared to death Wind Seeker would fail him for her defiance. She said she took a chance he didn’t want six warriors angry with him.” She kissed her feather. “That’s two feathers so far and you’ll get a third for training him to be a man. That will tie us with Yellow Hawk if he includes Raining Thunder.”

  Black Horse looked over her head as their son came in. “Straight Arrow won a feather, too. This will put us one ahead.”

  The cougar couldn’t remember back to when he thought winning the feathers was ridiculous. The Indians took it so seriously, somewhere along his journey they’d become important to him, too.

  “I couldn’t believe Wind Seeker chose you, Father. I think Night Wind was hoping it would be him. Little Moon is reconsidering Fleet Cougar. I don’t think he knows it yet,” Straight Arrow told them. He looked at the cougar. “He’s had many of us reconsidering our journey. I think if the cougar hadn’t come to the tribe, I never would have closed my eyes to Gentle Wave to see my true path is with Grazing Fawn.” The young Indian grinned at his father. “Besides, Fierce Bear scares the shit out of me.”

  The cougar’s grin trembled around his lips. It surprised him Straight Arrow, with his mild temperament, was Black Horse’s son. He didn’t know it before now.

  “I’m taking the cougar to the stream so we can bathe. We‘ll be back by lunch.” Black Horse kissed his wife and the cougar followed him down to the stream.

  Black Horse picked up a bucket. The cougar had his hands bound since he got to the tribe, so someone else had always washed him. He waited by the washing post for the warrior to return from the water.

  “You’re training to be a man,” Black Horse chuckled. “You can wash yourself.”

  He welcomed the small measure of independence and enthusiastically picked up the pail and filled it with the stream water. It was the beginning of November, and the water was getting colder every day. He followed Black Horse back to the soap and rags and began scrubbing.

  “In the winter, we keep a fire going over there.” The Indian pointed to a circle of ashes with rocks surrounding it. “We heat the water but you still freeze your ass off. The warriors convince themselves we don’t sweat as much and don’t need to wash as often. Our wives convince us otherwise by making us move our sleeping furs.” He laughed.

  The cougar found himself liking Black Horse’s manner. It seemed strange he was talking to him like a person after months of being an animal. He had no idea how long he’d be a cougar, or what was required to further his journey and finally become a man. He realized Black Horse was speaking to him again.

  “I’m happy that Straight Arrow and Grazing Fawn finally learned their journey was together. I think the parents have known it since they were two.” Black Horse shook the rinse water out of his long black hair. “Besides, I wasn’t looking forward to sharing more celebrations than I have to with that scowling old man,” he shivered at the thought and the cougar laughed.

  He winced expecting to be
punished and Black Horse looked at him with mischievous black eyes. “I knew I could make you laugh. I’m training you to be a man. Men speak.”

  His mouth dropped open. Now that he had permission, he had absolutely no idea what to say. Black Horse watched him open and close his mouth. “You may be training to be a man, but you look like a fish.”

  The cougar laughed again. “It’s been a long time,” he said nervously.

  “To be a man, you have to have questions answered. Trust me, I’ll tell you to shut up if I have to,” the Indian grinned.

  He remembered the first time he’d seen Black Horse riding out to meet the Vampires on the grasslands. “I think it’s right for Wind Seeker to have chosen you to teach me to be a man. You were the first Indian I saw.”

  They walked back to the cabin. “I saw in your eyes when you recognized the symbols on your cuffs. I thought you’d piss yourself.”

  “So did I,” he admitted, and laughed again. “When will you know if I’m a man?”

  “It’s not up to me.” Black Horse added, “And that would be a ‘shut up’ discussion.”

  The cougar took the hint. Prying or asking questions to rush to the end of the journey wasn’t going to happen.

  They got back to the cabin and Wild Flower put the bowls on the table, four bowls, and four spoons. She walked over to the corner and dug through some leather. She tossed some breeches to the cougar. “I think those should fit.”

  He was so stunned he almost dropped them. He could bathe himself and talk. Now, it looked like he would be eating with a spoon and finally wearing clothes again. He hadn’t had pants on since August. He bent over to tie the laces and seemed to be fumbling with them. Black Horse nodded at Wild Flower and she turned her back, stirring the stew. Straight Arrow went to his sleeping area and pretended to adjust the furs.

  Black Horse squatted down in front of the cougar and whispered. “The journey to be a man is a hard one. The leap from cougar to man is very quick, just as our minds have to be.” He saw the teardrop hit the floor.