Raining Thunder helped him stand up.
The tracers were attached to the collar, but he didn’t tie them to the ring.
“Lean against this for a minute.” Raining Thunder left him by the post and walked toward the front of the stable with the blanket.
Mike was too shocked to move.
“Come on.”
Raining Thunder put his shoulder under Mike’s arm.
“Take it slow.”
He’d laid the blanket on some hay in one of the empty stalls.
“Yellow Hawk won’t come back until sunrise.
We’ll have to get you rigged up again before he sees you, so I’ll wake you up before then.”
He helped Mike down and rose.
On his way out of the stall he said, “You’re a good horse.
You’ve helped four warriors of the tribe, and we don’t forget things like that.
You’ll be a good man and a good husband for Gentle Wave.
Think those thoughts when you close your eyes.”
Mike was lying down for the first time in weeks.
Tears and shudders still wracked through him, but the young warrior’s words kept going through his mind.
Everything he was going through, Yellow Hawk experienced.
Mike thought of the Indian.
He had a beautiful family and pride.
To Mike, he was a fearsomely strong man.
He couldn’t picture him going through what had transpired tonight.
A small nagging part of Raining Thunder’s speech reminded him, Yellow Hawk had fainted.
One of his warriors didn’t get a feather.
His throat was sore and he felt like a baseball bat had been driven up his ass, but all his warriors would get feathers.
Mike almost laughed at the absurdity, yet in a weird way he was proud.
He could hold his head up when he faced Yellow Hawk in the morning, and know he survived something on this
journey
the Indian had not.
Mike wondered anxiously if Gentle Wave knew about this particular detour on the road to becoming a man.
It bothered him that she would know and think less of him.
Raining Thunder thought the beautiful Indian girl liked him. He fell asleep thinking about her soft curves.
Raining Thunder shook his shoulder to wake him.
“It’s time to get up.
Try to walk a little.
You gotta’ be standing when he gets here or he’s going to know I let you lie down.”
It was the first time Mike had seen the Indian nervous, and he realized he‘d taken a chance by offering him the kindness. Mike walked around the stall until his legs steadied.
His entire body was aching.
Raining Thunder reattached the tracers and tied his reigns to the post Yellow Hawk had secured him to the night before.
They waited in silence for a few minutes then the Indian entered the stable.
“Misting Waters is already bragging to the tribe about your two feathers. The other boys have been waiting in front of Wind Seeker’s cabin for half an hour.
You know he won’t give them out until you’re there.”
“Yes, Yellow Hawk.
Am I done watching the horse?”
“Yes, you did a good job.
Now, go collect your reward”
“Thanks for trusting me with the care of the horse.”
Raining Thunder ran off.
Yellow Hawk glanced at the stall, saw the blanket and smiled.
Raining Thunder would be a good, kind husband for his daughter.
“You’ve done well, horse.
You’ve made four sets of Indian parents proud. The new warriors will all receive a feather and high regard from the women.” Yellow Hawk shuffled his feet.
“I failed with one.”
Mike studied him. It was an awkward conversation under any circumstances.
“Wind Seeker still makes me pay for that damn feather.
I think that’s why he chose me to train you as a horse.”
Mike’s eyes widened.
It was the chief’s son who didn’t get a feather because of Yellow Hawk?
Mike couldn’t imagine the humiliation he must have gone through.
All four of his warriors will be getting feathers from the only Indian who didn’t earn this one.
Mike straightened his cramped legs and followed Yellow Hawk out of the stables.
The village was already bustling with people.
Yellow Hawk stopped him in front of Wind Seeker’s cabin and let him turn to see the young warrior’s collect their reward.
Wind Seeker looked up and smiled at the horse.
“He’s a fine stallion, Yellow Hawk.”
“That he is, Wind Seeker.”
They continued to the teepee.
“I’m proud of you.
Wind Seeker just furthered your journey.
Now, you are a stallion.”
The months of conditioning had worn Mike down.
Stallion, I’m a stallion,
he thought proudly, and Lightening Strikes’ image flashed through his mind.
Whispering Wheat smiled to greet them and serve them breakfast.
Mike groaned as he knelt.
He noticed Yellow Hawk didn’t sweep out his legs for his slowness.
After he’d finished, he remained kneeling.
Whispering Wheat pulled something from her pocket.
It was a short strip of leather dyed in four different colors.
Mike trembled.
He’d not had the best experiences with strips of leather since he was brought to the tribe.
“I made this for you last night, stallion.
I’m happy I don’t have to cut one of the colors off.”
She eyed her husband mischievously.
She removed the strip binding the stallion’s hair, brushed it with her fingers and wound the colored cord, tucking in the end to secure the tail.
“I’ve heard whispers that Turning Leaves has been eyeing the stallion,” she said to her husband.
“Hmmph, the celebration begins tomorrow.
Are you still convinced with our decision?” Yellow Hawk asked.
“I think it’s the only option we have.
The whispers I heard were from Soaring Crow and Fleet Cougar.
She tried to convince them they would look like strong warriors if they could make the stallion fail.
The feathers have lost meaning to her.”
Yellow Hawk’s shoulders slumped as he realized his own daughter had lost her journey with the people.
Whispering Wheat got behind Yellow Hawk and started a slow massage. “This is not your fault, husband.
No one believes that.
You’ve helped a soul from dog to horse to proud stallion.
You’re giving the tribe a man who will one day be as responsible for his own journey, as Turning Leaves is for hers. She’s well past her nineteenth year, and yet none of the warriors will claim her. They sense she’s lost her way.”
The rest of the day, Mike was pretty much left alone, hitched to the side of the teepee by the fire pit while preparations were made for the celebration. Indians stopped by to congratulate Yellow Hawk on his stallion.
Mike found himself trying to kneel straighter when they’d arrive.
A few women stopped by.
Late in the afternoon, it was Gentle Wave and her friends.
Mike felt color rise to his cheeks and quickly pinched the skin under his cock to keep it from twitching.
“The tail binding is beautiful, Whispering Wheat.”
“Thank you, Gentle Wave.
We’re very proud of this stallion.”
“Four warriors are proud today, as well.”
Mike was getting uncomfortable under her scrutiny.
She bent down and looked at him closely.
She didn’t seem to give notice to his gaping mouth or what might have filled it last night.
It was obvious she knew what happened. Their eyes met, and she smiled.
“His eyes are the color of a clear cloudless sky.”
This seemed to please her.
She swiped her thumb down his cheek in a quick, gentle caress and walked off with her friends leaving Mike’s heart hammering in his chest.
“I think she’s giving serious thought to the stallion.” Yellow Hawk sounded pleased.
“She is,” Whispering Wheat agreed.
“Shining Star says they talked.
Gentle Wave is going to encourage Straight Arrow and Grazing Fawn, even though she knows she’ll have a long wait until the stallion is a man.”
She noticed the stallion glance at her.
“You have a fine, young Indian woman waiting for you when you complete your journey.”
Mike wasn’t sure how much of what Raining Thunder had told him was true.
Part of his mind tried to attribute the warrior’s kindness to his responsibility of caring for the horse.
When Gentle Wave looked into his eyes, he now realized it was the first time she, at least, was looking at him as a man. If he made it through the journey, he’d be respected if he was with the dominant woman, even if he was once only a flatlander.
At dawn the next morning, the entire tribe was bustling with excitement.
The Indians always hosted the celebration because they were midpoint between the two settlements.
It also reinforced their friendship with their Protectors.
CHAPTER 4
THE PROUD STALLION
Mike was tethered to an outside post by the stable.
“These will be long days for you.
You’ll be standing as a proud stallion.
Remember that as the hours go by.
It will be a test of patience and strength.”
Yellow Hawk checked the tracers one more time.
“You’ll be watered and fed.
Other than that, we‘ll see very little of each other for the next three days.
You‘ll be stalled at night.”
That was all the explanation Mike got.
He heard war hoops of cheer as Patrick’s Clan arrived.
An hour later, he was aware Wind Seeker had approached with some other people.
Mike, eyes staring straight ahead, had been lost in thoughts of what a life with the Indians and Gentle Wave would be like.
Wind Seeker walked to his side.
“This is our stallion, Patrick.”
Mike caught a glimpse of a tall, blonde man who reminded him a little of Nathan.
He could also see the tall blonde woman by his side.
“Lucien may have made a mistake letting this one go,” Patrick said.
“He’s got a proud bearing.
I think I would have kept him.
The settlements need leaders.”
Mike stood even straighter.
At least this Vampire realized his qualities and agreed the almighty Lucien was a fool.
Patrick caught the slight move.
Constance spoke up.
“From what you’ve described of this Ariel person, well, I don’t see how such a fragile woman could have hoped to be with this one.
Look at his tall stance.
No, this one needs a woman with strength by his side.
His woman should be a leader in her own way.”
Mike was hoping Wind Seeker would tell them about Gentle Wave.
She was waiting for him.
He was going to be with the dominant female.
It’s what he deserved.
“I suspect when Lucien and Ariel see him, they’ll realize their mistake,” Wind Seeker said, and they wandered off.
When they were out of Mike’s hearing range, Wind Seeker said, “Thank you. Yellow Hawk says he still sees anger in the stallion’s eyes.
He’s come a long way on his journey and will make a good man for the tribe, but he has to let go of his ghosts.”
Patrick chuckled.
“He must have been a real asshole on the trip up the mountain.”
“He was,” Wind Seeker confirmed.
“I’m hoping Lucien has realized Ariel’s his mate by now.
It was obvious to me when I watched how he was with her. She has a gentle way about her.
I could see her distress when the stallion was a dog.
I think it will help her on her own journey with Lucien if she can let go of her ghosts.
When she sees the stallion’s pride, it should help.”
“It might be easier if I bring her over,” Constance offered.
“We can talk for awhile until she’s comfortable with me.
I know she’ll be confused when she sees the stallion, but I think I can explain it to her.
If she knows he’s passing a hard test and will be rewarded and taken into the tribe, she’ll let go.”
They all agreed this would be the best way to help Lucien with his new mate. When they reached Wind Seeker’s cabin, Shining Star was rocking their new son.
“Would you like to hold him, Constance?”
“I’d love to.”
Constance sat and the baby was placed in her arms.
“How great is this one, Wind Seeker?”
“He is your great, great, great, great, great nephew,” Wind Seeker counted on his fingers.
Wind Seeker liked to joke with Constance about how
great
he was.
He imagined his son, and his son’s son, would continue the tradition.
Constance smiled down into the little black eyes.
The baby gurgled and waved his arms with delight as she played peek-a-boo with him … with her fangs.
Every time they burst down or flew up into her gums, he laughed.
She still felt a stab of pain that she would never hold a child of her own.
Black Horse rode over to them.
“Lucien’s Clan is about ten minutes out.” Wind Seeker mounted and rode out to greet them.
Constance handed the baby back to Shining Star.
“He’s a handsome one, Shining Star.
I‘ll bring Ariel over later to meet you.”
“Thank you, Constance.” The proud mother went back to rocking her baby.
Constance and Patrick greeted the other Clan as they arrived.
They were both struck by the look of adoration in Lucien’s eyes when he introduced the little woman who’d been riding with him.
There was no doubt, she was his mate.
As they greeted Nathan, Justin, Nicholas and Damon, they were alarmed to see the same expressions.
“Patrick, I think there’s more going on here than just Lucien and Ariel,” Constance whispered.
“I think you’re right.”
“You don’t think they’ll try to join the Clan’s together again, do you?
We can’t split everyone up.
Six abductions on the flatlands would be noticed, no matter how well planned they are.”
“No, Constance.
I don’t know what Lucien has in mind.
I think out of courtesy he’ll offer to let us rejoin them, but we’ve been apart for two centuries.
It would be an uncomfortable contest for leadership.
He won’t argue when I turn him down.
As far as what’s planned for the rest of the Vampires, I don’t know.
By all rights, they should be allowed to start their own Clans.
Let’s see what he’s come up with.”
Constance took Ariel by the arm and showed her the Indian village.
When she held Shining Star’s baby, Constance stood behind her making the baby laugh with her fangs.
Ariel thought the baby had a delightful manner.
They slowly made their way toward the stable and Ariel saw Mike for the first time.
She stopped and stared in horror.
Her former lover of two years was hitched to a post.
Reigns were tied to some round ring that kept his mouth open and the straps trailed down his back.
In addition to the tracers attached to the back of the collar, he now had two running down his chest through the nipple rings, separating around a slight erection and tied to the ring below his testicles. He was staring straight ahead. “Oh my god, Constance,” Ariel breathed.
Ariel didn’t know when Constance had taken hold of her arm to gently massage her wrist.
“Calm down, Ariel.
He’s okay.
He’s much too valuable for them to ruin him.
He is being trained in obedience and patience.”
“Constance, he doesn’t deserve this brutality.
I don’t understand.” Ariel was crying quietly.
She realized she didn’t want Mike to know she had seen him so humiliated.
“Walk with me Ariel.
I knew you needed to see him, but now I want you to listen to what I say to you.”
Constance led Ariel back to the trees in a secluded area close to the Clans.
“Many years ago, it was my older brother the Indians received from the Clan.
He started out as a dog and worked himself up to stallion just as Mike has done.
He was actually rewarded for some task to have achieved this.”
Constance explained the captives go through several stages to become a man and join the tribe.
Each stage stripped them of bad habits and thoughts they brought with them from the flatlands, and taught them strength and pride.
She told her how her brother ended up with a pretty Indian wife and something they couldn’t have, children.
He’d been happy.
She assured her Wind Seeker was guiding Mike so he could fit in.
“He has a goal and a purpose. The Indians reward and punish just as our Clansmen do.
It’s only their methods that are different.
Within a few years you’ll see he’s a proud Indian with a family to care for.
I promise you, Ariel.”
Mike had noticed Ariel when he glanced sideways.
She stopped a distance away with the woman, Constance.
Mike smiled as much as he could manage knowing Ariel could see his proud bearing.
He was sure Constance would let her know what she’d lost when she threw herself at Lucien.
He hoped Lucien would pass by and notice how he’d screwed up when he let the Indians take him.
He couldn’t wait until they saw him next year as a man, with Gentle Wave standing by his side.
You fucked up, Lucien,
the stallion chuckled.
The ghost was gone.
Gentle Wave moved through the village and the settlement campsites.
She’d heard through gossip about Ariel.
She wanted to get a look at her and see how she compared to the stallion’s former choice.
She hid behind a tree when she saw Patrick and Lucien following Constance and another smaller woman.
As they approached, Gentle Wave’s eyes filled with tears. Ariel was beautiful.
She was petite as compared to Gentle Wave’s taller, fuller figure. She had reddish hair with a blonde stripe around her face that fell to her waist in waves, instead of the stupid straight black shroud hanging down her own back.
As they got closer, she groaned at the gray-blue eyes.
All Gentle Wave had were the Indian’s black marbles.
She hid behind buildings and watched them walk through the village. Shining Star’s baby wrapped his fist in Ariel’s hair and laughed.
Even the baby adored her.
Gentle Wave was getting more depressed by the minute. When the women neared the stables, she prayed Mike wouldn’t look over and be reminded of his former love.
She saw Mike straighten.
He’d seen Ariel and was showing her what a proud stallion he’d become.
Gentle Wave swiped at the tear that had spilled. Ariel was so shocked by his proud transformation, she was staring at him with her mouth hanging open.
Please, please don’t want him back.
Gentle Wave watched the two women walking away, conspiring to steal her stallion.
Gentle Wave couldn’t take it.
She would beg the stallion to choose her even if she had to remind him how his other love had disgraced him by choosing the Protector for awhile.
He might forgive Ariel for that just to get her back.
Gentle Wave snuck in through the back of the stable and approached the stallion, standing where she could quickly hide behind the wall if he sent her away.
She’d be too humiliated to join the celebration if that happened.
Now that she was near him, her courage faltered.
All she could think of was him choosing Ariel.
“Stallion,” Mike heard a whisper from behind the stall wall.
He couldn’t tell who it was, and couldn’t move to see.
“I’m not supposed to talk to you until you’re a man,” the voice continued.
Gentle Wave slowly came around the corner.
Mike could see she was upset and had been crying.
Had someone hurt her?
He gripped his hands into fists behind his back at the thought.
The Indian looked down.
“I’ve seen Ariel.
I know you have too.
I saw how proud you stood for her.”
Mike thought he heard her sniffle.
“She’s beautiful, with all her colors.” She cleared her throat.
“I know I only have the colors of the Indian.”
Gentle Wave was quiet, trying to figure out how to continue.
So far, she’d managed to remind the stallion that Ariel was proud of him and was adorned with beautiful colors, where as she was all Indian black.
Darn, what could she say to make herself sound like she had some worth?
“I’ve been told I might be Shining Star’s replacement as dominant woman, if Turning Leaves goes with the flatlander.”
Great, now he knows I’m the second choice.