Running Wolf's new bride stepped out into the open. The setting suns glow gave her a golden glow to match and all who watched her thought her to be the child of the sun.

Standing elk grinned and touched his self at the sight of her. She was beautiful for a white woman. Her strange colored hair and sun tanned skin made his blood boil. He would have her before the night was over.

He chuckled low under his breath. A small groan at his feet made him frown. The small body of a young woman lay curled in a ball. He kicked her in the side before walking away in the shadows. The young maidens couldn't satisfy the itch the white woman created. Only she could.

The fire crackled and burned bright long into the night. Food was bountiful and passed around on large grass woven trays. Cups of cider and freshwater also rotated through the group. Running Wolf smiled, as the children each bid them goodnight. Mother's shooing them to their lodges made Harvest Flower giggle.

Men prepared for dancing and young maids giggled with the anticipation of choosing a suitable husband. Courtships would start fresh this night. Singing Fox smiled widely at a young brave. Her black hair braided in two long braids, framed her tan face. She looked around for Gray Eagle her brother's best friend and frowned when he gave her no notice at all.

She smiled at her brother. He was happy with his new wife. The woman seemed nice and only her color gave her away at her bloodline. Her brother Running Wolf made a fine choice in a wife. Soon Harvest Flower would be her best friend and only sister. Having a sister excited Singing Fox, she wanted to run up and hug her. Running Wolf asked her to wait and she promised she would. It burned a little that Running Wolf still didn't treat her like a real sister. Obviously her birth mother didn't sit well with him. Being the half-sister to the chief had its ups and downs. She just wished he felt something more for her. She wanted her brother to be, well, her brother.

Tomorrow though she would meet Harvest Flower. Singing Fox searched the crowd for Little Bird, the young girl had been missing the whole night. Where could she have gone? Singing Fox stood and left the fire circle to look for the young girl. Worry written on her soft face. Unknowingly catching Gray Eagle's eye.
Running Wolf waved Singing Fox over. She hesitated for just a moment before accepting his invitation to join them. She smiled brightly at Harvest Flower. Running Wolf smiled and held out his hand for Singing Fox to sit with them.

“This is Singing Fox my sister, and now yours.” Running wolf introduced. “Singing Fox this is your new sister Harvest Flower.”

Singing Fox giggled. “I've waited so long for a sister! We shall be good friends.”

Harvest Flower smiled brightly. “I hope so. It is good to meet you. Everyone is so welcoming and nice.”

Singing Fox laughed and waved at a young girl holding a tray of fried bread. “We shall eat and talk of many things.”

Trays of meat and roasted vegetables followed along with the fired bread, soon a large pile of food lay between them. Harvest Flower ate slowly watching the people laugh around her. One warrior kept glancing over at them, his serious expression starting to worry her just a little. She leaned over and asked Singing Fox, “who is the serious looking warrior, who looks like his face is made of stone?”

Singing Fox frowned at Gray Eagle. His expression is hard tonight, making him look less friendly. “That is Gray Eagle. Running Wolf’s best friend.”

Harvest Flower watched closely and when Gray Eagle’s eyes met Singing Fox’s they both tensed even more. A small blush from Singing Fox, and way Gray Eagle turned his back confirmed her suspicions. “Tell me of him. Do you like him?”

Singing Fox blushed more deeply and hid her face. “He is handsome, strong, and very sweet once you get to know him. He would never look at me in that way. I am not a suitable bride for one like him.”

Harvest Flower looked at Singing Fox, the sadness in Singing Fox’s eyes almost breaking her heart. “Why are you not a good bride for him? He must feel something for you. He watches you.”

Sing Fox let out a breath when Running Wolf stood. His voice was deep and smooth. “I go to talk with my warriors.”

Harvest Flower and Singing Fox both nodded. Singing Fox whispered, “I am only half sister to Running Wolf, and much younger. I am not close to Running Wolf because of this. All who know me as the Chief’s sister will not ask for my hand.”

Harvest Flower suddenly felt the sting of understanding. “In my village, none would dare ask for my hand. They did not think I would make a good wife. I was spoiled and I never did well at women’s work. I felt more at home doing what the boys did. I still can not cook.”

Harvest Flower and Singing Fox both laughed. “I will teach you. If you will let me.” Singing Fox offered.

“There is many things you will have to teach me. I do not know much more than my brother knows.” Harvest Flower said with a mix of emotion.

Singing Fox brightened her, happy smile playing on her lips. “I will be happy to teach you everything I know. We will be the best of friends, and sisters.”

Harvest Flower smiled and took a bite of the sweet fried bread. Her eyes found Running Wolf and her heart jumped when his eyes met hers. Singing Fox giggled and tugged on Harvest Flowers sleeve.

“Tell me of your family. I wish to know more of your people.” Singing Fox leaned in excited to learn more of Harvest Flower. The beautiful woman her brother married is a mystery, and it excited her to learn new things.

Harvest Flower bit her lip, after a moment she bit her lip and nodded. “I shall tell you of my family if you tell me of yours.”

Singing Fox looked over her shoulder at Running Wolf, who now stood beside Gray Eagle, then back to Harvest Flower. “I will tell you.” They giggled and moved closer together.

Harvest Flower sat close to Singing Fox her hands folded in her lap. “My mother and Father adopted me, when I was a child. My brother Rising Bear, told me, I would scream and cry at night because of bad dreams. I remember the big fire and blood. I just can’t remember the faces of the people laying around me. Their names and everything has vanished from my memory. Now when I have that dream I see my mother, father, and brother around me. It frightens me and I cry out sometimes. Red Feather would bring me dolls he made, so I would have something to hold on to while I slept. It helped until I was to old to have dolls. Rising Bear, my brother would sleep next to me, until he became to old to do so. My mother, Moon Stream, never stopped singing to me and stroking my hair. She would do so every night. She told me it keeps the bad away, like the dream catchers hung around the lodge. Her song calmed me, and brought me peace.” Harvest Flower held her tears back. The pain of missing them, grew with each word. “Rising Bear is very protective of me. He would make sure no one hurt my feelings, or picked on me because of how I acted. How I look and my bloodline meant nothing to anyone. To all of the people in the village, I am Red Feather and Moon Stream’s daughter.”

Singing Fox placed a hand over Harvest Flower’s folded hands. “Do you remember anything of the family taken from you?”

Harvest Flower thought for a while. “I remember rocks being thrown at me and being held under water. The people before were not good people. I do not remember anything good about them. The children I do not remember much of. I do remember one who gave me berries that made me very sick. That is almost all I can remember of them.” She looked up at Singing Fox and smiled. “I really do have a wonderful family now. They spoiled me. Father laughed when they found me in the tops of trees. Mother would try to act mad when I brought wild animals home. Rising Bear taught me how to make small traps, and ride my horse. The elders told my father he should make me learn women work, but he let me be me.”

Singing Fox giggled. “I see I will have a lot to teach you. My past was not so sweet. My mother is different from Running Wolf’s. His mother married our father first, my mother tricked our father into marriage. I was loved , I was just not important. My mother left shortly after I was born, so I was raised by Sun Dove and the elderly women. I did everything for them. I tried to earn my place as Running Wolf’s sister. Father just didn’t know how to accept me. A child born of something other than love. I keep my distance unless invited in. When father died I was treated better. Running Wolf built my lodge, gave me sheep, and let me go to the white man’s fort at times. He treats me as family now, but we are still not close.”

Harvest Flower looked at Running Wolf, his back is turned to her. He couldn’t turn his back on family, he isn’t that kind of man. “He cares for you.” Harvest Flower said, her eyes meeting Singing Fox’s. “He is your brother.”

Singing Fox looked around and a worried expression crossed her face. “I have not seen my friend since sun set. She said she would join me after her bath. I am worried.”

Harvest Flower looked at all the smiling faces. “Do you think she has stayed home?”

Singing Fox shook her head. “No. She was very excited for tonight. She planned to dance with Swift Horse tonight.”

Harvest Flower frowned and watched the women gather in line to greet her, with wedding gifts in hand. “Go find your friend. I will help if I can.”

Singing Fox nodded and stood. “Thank you. I am so happy you are my sister and friend. Tomorrow we will talk more.” Singing Fox said with a smile. She quickly left in search of the missing girl.

Running Wolf watched his sister leave with a worried expression. Tomorrow he would try to make things Right by Singing Fox, she is blood and needs to know she is family. Their past is rocky and he wants to change it so bad. He made his way back to Harvest Flower just in time for the first gift to be passed to her.

Wind-In-Hair gave Harvest Flower a string of dried herbs. Two Birds gave her a brightly painted clay jar. One after the other items piled up beside Harvest Flower. Blankets, necklaces, bracelets, and herbs. She also received jars, cups, hair ties, feathers, and beads. The women of the village each took turns greeting Harvest Flower with big bright smiles. Running Wolf’s heart swelled. His gift’s from the village earlier, already stored and put away.

After each one gave their gift, Harvest Flower was snuggled up to his side, and her small yawn meant she was getting tired. He loved his people and was glad they accepted her so quickly, but he just wanted to hold her. They watched the dancers and laughed at stories from one of the elders.

Without saying a word he stood pulling her up with him. His people all smiled and continued their celebration, as Running Wolf lead Harvest Flower to his lodge. The flap swung shut behind them, as he pulled her into his arms. “Let us sleep. Tomorrow is a new day.”


They lay down snuggled in each others arms. Her smile was peaceful as he kissed the top of her head. Her hand splayed on his chest absently stroking his smooth skin. They were drifting to sleep, when a loud scream pierced the night. Harvest Flower sat up, and looked at Running Wolf wildly. He jumped up quickly pulling on a breech cloth. His ankle high moccasins followed.

"Stay here." He said in a low voice. "Do not leave our lodge." He left the lodge at a quick pace. His knife in hand.

Harvest Flower watched him leave, her hand covering her mouth. She wanted to help, it was her duty to his people. Her legs trembled as she stood to pull on a plain doeskin dress. The fire in the outside room was low, she added wood to it and returned to their room to put on her moccasins.

Suddenly a shadow fell over the small doorway. She turned around quickly, and before she could scream a hand covered her mouth and a strong arm wrapped around her, pinning her arms to her sides.

“Don't fight or scream or I'll kill them all." The ruff voice whispered in her ear, before dragging her to the window. "I'll have my turn soon."

She struggled and kicked out with both feet knocking him off balance. They hit the floor and Harvest Flower rolled away scrambling to get to her feet and away from this man. He kicked her ankle and she fell to her knees. She took a deep breath but before she could scream a strip of rawhide was gagging her and tied in place. The weight of him pushed her to the ground on her stomach. He quickly grabbed her hands and tied them behind her back. She kicked out and bucked under him trying to dislodge him from her back.

"That's how you will move for me later." He ran his hand down her side pulling her dress up high on her thighs. His body keeping him from going higher. He leaned down to whisper roughly in her ear. "Maybe I should get a small taste here and now."

She wiggled and tears gathered in her eyes. His laughter rang in her ears and sent shivers of dread down her spine. He slapped her thigh leaving a red hand print. "Stop moving or I may just slip in and have the whole thing now." She grew still holding her breath trying to calm her self. Her eyes watched the doorway for any signs of anyone who could help her. Her mind automatically praying Running Wolf would come save her. A sharp pain in her head stunned her followed by complete darkness.