Evening faded into night and Singing Fox could not find sleep. Her worry for Gray Eagle grew with every possible outcome. She knew deep down Gray Eagle would use the first blood challenge, but by experience from the fort, she knew Apaches only fought with their lives.

Singing Fox hugged her knees to her chest watching the stars through the smoke hole above. She whispered a silent prayer to the heavens, hoping the Great Spirit would hear her. The sound of a flute filtered into her lodge and her heart fluttered. Afraid it was not Gray Eagle who played the soft music, she dared not move. She lay down and pulled one of her brightly colored blankets over her. She ran a hand over the patterns on her blanket, proud of her finished work.

Her last thought before drifting to sleep with the lullaby of music; Would Gray Eagle like her hobby?

Running Wolf held Harvest Flower to him. Her satisfied smile reminded him of a wild cat he met the past year. Her golden hair flowed on the pelts and over his arm wrapped around her back.

"Do you fear the outcome if Gray Eagle kills the young chief?" Her voice heavy with sleep.

He kissed the top of her head to soothe her fears, "His people will understand and do what is right."

Harvest Flower tilted her head up meeting Running Wolf's eyes, "Is not Cloud Runner from another tribe of Apache? I am from one of the last Navajo tribes. Would this not make other tribes turn against you?"

Running Wolf felt her leg inch between his, "Gray Eagle's mother is from another band of Apache, the boy is as you say. Gray Eagle will always call the apache tribes as a whole his people. No matter the tribe he lives with. You are now apache. No the other tribes will not turn against me or you. We all live by the same rules as do the Navajo you come from."

Harvest Flower slid a hand down Running Wolf's back. Her lips placing small kisses along his chest. Her sleepiness being replaced with excitement. She smiled when Running Wolf grew against her lower belly. His hand now stroking her back.

"Wife," he groaned, "we will not sleep this night if you continue."

She stopped kissing him and stilled her hand on his stomach. "Should I stop?"

He growled low and rand his free hand through her hair holding her head, "Never." He groaned and kissed her lips hungrily rolling her to her back.

He broke the kiss to look down at her, raising his body away from her so he could see all of her.

His eyes stopped on her still flat belly. "You make this man complete." He kissed her forehead softy before landing tender kisses on each of her eyes.

The flutes music set the rhythm of their lovemaking. The slow stead tune of love filled the village and released the stressful tension throughout the village.

Gray Eagle sat with his back against the back wall of Singing Fox's lodge. He played his well crafted flute for her, knowing she would be to full of worry to sleep. The Dawn would bring him one step closer to calling her his wife. He played the sweet loving melody, poring all of his hearts desires into the song. Soon he would go to the land of the dead and pray at the Spirit gate for his victory or death. Both life and death are to be honored with the greatest of respect.

His song ended on a low drawn out tone well into the night. The moon now hovering low in the star fill sky. He stood walking to the burial grounds, his head held high as he walked to the entrance. He stood facing the colored poles looming over him, hands held high in fist he sang his death song.

The death song did not mean he would die or he expected to die. He sang his praise for life and welcomed death if the Great Spirit wished it so. He sang of the earth's kindness and beauty, and of the great life circle connecting all living creatures in the world. His voice followed the tune he just finished playing on his special flute. Mother Earth must have heard and enjoyed the blessings of his music and voice. The grad swayed and animals of all sizes stopped to watch him. The world around him glowed brighter in the moonlight giving him it's blessing as well. The Great Spirit would hear his prayer and answer in kind by handing the card of fate to its master.

Dawn was close when he finished, the sky turning a light shade of dark purple. The grass swayed with a gentle breeze toward the village, like it pushed him back toward his people. He turned walking back to the village head held high. A young brave met him with his horse, the reins held out proudly.

"Thank you young Cloud Runner. Return to your lodge." Gray Eagle said after mounting his horse in one effortless leap.

Cloud Runner nodded and ran off, small puffs of dust rising from his moccasin covered feet. Pink light entered the sky growing in long stripes before turning red. Running Wolf sat his horse just inside the first two lodges of the village. Gray Eagle pulled to a halt beside him, over his shoulder he noticed Singing Fox dashing into Running Wolf's lodge.

Running Wolf shifted his weight from one side to another on the horse's back. "Harvest Flower will keep her busy until the fight ends."

Gray Eagle nodded, his eyes trained on the Chief riding his horse up the path. Two warriors followed leading three ponies one carrying other gifts and blankets.

Running Wolf straightened his shoulders bracing himself for the confrontation with Strong Moon.

Strong Moon pulled to a halt waving for the gifts to brought forward. "I bring gifts as payment for the maiden's hand."

Running Wolf nudged his horse forward to circle the horses held between the two warriors. "I do not accept." He said trotting back to his place beside Gray Eagle.

Strong Moon looked from Running Wolf to Gray Eagle his face showing no signs of anger, "Someone has also claimed her hand?"

Gray Eagle nudged his mount forward two steps, his voice hard and his eyes narrowed on the young chief. "I claim her. Singing Fox is my woman."

Strong Moon narrowed his eyes, "A challenge for her hand." He placed a fist over his chest, "I challenge you for the right to take her as my own."

Gray Eagle nodded and tightened his grip on his reins, causing his horse to dance with the added pressure. "We fight. This warrior offers first blood."

Strong Moon held his horse still when Gray Eagle's mount turned in a circle swiping its tail across the other nose. "No. This chief will fight to the death."

The two warriors holding the horse started whooping quickly turning back to the path and at a canter exiting the village, the horses being pulled behind them keeping pace throwing dust high into the air.

Strong Moon looked at Running Wolf, "This challenge is acceptable, the winner takes the maid to wife."

Running Wolf nodded his answer. Gray Eagle set his heels into his steeds sides riding back to the far side of the village to his lodge. This battle would not go without bloodshed.

Strong Moon yelped loudly before turning his steed to the path that lead down to the canyon below. Drums already starting to beat a rhythm from each camp mixing into a steady pulse across the land. By tradition the fight would take place just outside of the maid's village.

Braves quickly cleared the mesa of grazing sheep from a lower tier along the cliffs. It held room for both villages to watch the hand to hand battle. Each warrior would only be permitted one deadly knife. They could disarm their opponent and use both knives at once if they successfully gained the other's weapon.

Quickly the two villages gathered waiting for the two men to begin their fight. The shaman from Running Wolf's village slowly made his way around the field shaking his rattle and chanting his blessing.

Warriors from the other village hooped and hollered their battle cries when Strong Moon rode onto the field with his painted steed. His chest was bear with paint streaking his skin. His steed was painted with the same markings. Blue streaks and yellow dots covered the horse's shoulders and flanks. The same blue and yellow designs spread from Strong Moon's face to his chest. He leaped from his horse letting it trot away to a safe distance.

Gray Eagle made his appearance next in the same fashion. Warriors from Running Wolf's village also shouting their battle cries at his appearance. He was also shirtless and his paint colors, in shapes of circles and zigzags, were of black and red.

Both horses were quickly caught and lead to the edge of the battle field. Running Wolf walked to the center holding up two knives crossed over his head.

His voice rang out over the canyon hushing all the warriors shouts in an instant. "This fight for the hand of Singing Fox is to the death, unless otherwise called by the elders."

All eyes fell to the two warriors who step forward to take a knife that Running Wolf now lowered to his sides. Once each man held his weapon and backed away Running Wolf walked back the his people to stand and watch.

He raised his hand high and when all were quiet he yelled, "Begin!"