Running, a never ending path, and things keep stopping her from proceeding. One male silhouette stood erect before the horizon. A Stanton hat adorned the tall man's head. A rock causes her to stumble. She flails headlong in the dirt road. The man did not move, but watched, as she managed to pull her weary body from the earth. The drums beat in the background. Fire painted the sky orange and black. The need to know who this man was greater than it had been before. The drums grew louder. Chitsa ran faster and stopped before the tall man. She was not afraid. She held out her palm. He lifted his hand and pressed his palm onto hers. Just as a light touched his face, Maska, the chief elder, yelled a shrill war cry and shot the man in the chest with an arrow.

Chitsa bolted upright in her furs. "No" she yelled, but no one was in her wigwam. Perspiration glistened on her brow. She moved to wipe it away. This dream was coming more frequently. It bemused her greatly as well. Why would she help a white man? In her dream, though she had never seen his face, she knew he was a white predator to her people. She was an Anglo woman by birth, but she no longer lived in that world. All ways of the white man were dead in her except their language. What spell had she been under to defy Maska? He was the Chief Elder of the village.

She plopped back down. With all of these questions flaying like war arrows in he head, sleep would not come. It was both a blessing and an omen. The dream of the man would not come. But the war party was to leave tomorrow and she wished to see them off, fore her future husband was to ride out as the head warrior. It would be a long night ahead.

Chitsa sang with the women a song to welcome the upcoming sister sun spirit. The men would need her strength to defeat the enemy tribe of white men. The pale-faced warriors called themselves The Texas Rangers. About five moons ago the tribe scouts spotted their camp fires outside of the oaks that protected our village from the Whiteman.

"Chitsa, we will be leaving when the sun is over the hills." Ahiga said from behind her.

"I hope the Great Spirit protects you from the white devils." Chitsa replied as she rose to her feet.

"When I return Maska wishes to have us join forever as my wife. Would that please Chitsa?" He asked.

Chitsa did not wish to marry Ahiga, but her Indian father would banish her if she tried to dishonor him. Since she first arrived, Angeni, her Indian mother, was very kind to her. She treated her like the daughter she had lost to cholera. Chitsa never wanted to do anything to hurt her. Kuruk on the other hand, was very strict. He hated the Whiteman like an evil spirit. It was a very curious thing why he would allow a white woman to be his daughter. What tenderness he showed her was seldom expressed openly. He cared not for her, but it soothed the grief of his wife from loosing her own baby.

"I will be happy to become your wife Ahiga." She kissed his tan cheek that contrasted greatly from her sunburned cream one. "Return safely." Chitsa pulled the lucky eagle feather from her long sun-bleached brown braid.

He took it and placed it in his hair. Ahiga took her well worked hand in his own. "If the Great Spirit wills it, I will come back to you."

The drums began to beat and broke the stillness of the dawn. He dropped her hand and gave a loud warcry as the Appaloosas were released from the coral. Ahiga ran up behind one with a blue sun on it's rump. With agility he leapt on the horse's back and rode with the other warriors.

Maybe someday I'll learn to love him half as much as he loves me. Chitsa thought, little did she know that marriage to Ahiga was not in her future. He would never see her pale green eyes ever again.

Pleas e Review I know it was short, but this chapter was not very fun to write. Now when

Travis captures Chitsa…that will be fun;-D

Names

Chitsa Fair

AhigaLittle Fighter

AngeniAngelic

KurukBear