Dawn's Fire, book 2 of the Dawn Fire trilogy

Chapter 2; Friends Again

Chapter 2

Friends Again

   After what seemed an eternity in the near total darkness under the thick forest canopy, the Indians and their white prisoners emerged under the open sky once more. A broad river greeted them with its quieting song of rushing waters. With relief, the fatigued captives gazed upwards at the now clear moonless night sky filled with a multitude of dazzling stars. Though the clear sky had brought along with it a drop in temperature they were still glad to see the bright heavenly orbs of comforting light. All of them took a short break beside the water’s edge and drank deeply of its icy water. Since it was difficult for the prisoners to cup their bound hands to drink from, they discovered it was easier to lay flat on their stomachs and slurp the water directly into their mouths. Washing hands and faces was also a challenge, but that which they could not personally reach was no problem for their friends to take care of.

   “Soon stop. Go little more.” At their interpreter’s announcement, the drained travelers stood once more to their aching feet and continued on their way.  

   True to his word, after walking upstream along the river a few minutes more Lion Claw finally gave the order to halt. With no more energy to spare, the bone weary captives sank to the ground right where they were. When the mounted warriors dismounted and deposited their small bound charges onto the solid ground, the exhausted little children fell down beside their older siblings and soon fell fast asleep nearly as soon as their heads touched the ground. Shortly afterwards Laughing Bear walked among them and distributed a few extra blankets for them all to share. The captives doubled up the blankets and huddled under them in groups of twos, threes and fours to accumulate warmth.

    After giving Julianna a big hug and a goodnight kiss Kristina laid herself down beside her big sister and went directly to sleep, leaving Julianna with the task of tucking an extra woolen blanket snugly around her small body. As Julianna fed Lukas the last of the precious milk she felt her stomach knot with anxiety. When Lukas’ life had been spared by Lion Claw at her quiet plea, Julianna had thought that her little brother was then free from danger. But when she had gone in search of sustenance for him, she had discovered that their milk canister had held only enough milk for two feedings. Soon afterwards she had found their barn in consumed in flames, with all their livestock trapped inside. So soon her little brother would be without any source of nourishment. As despair threatened to overwhelm her, Julianna gave herself a mental shake. No, I will not lose hope. The Lord saved his life and He will provide for him.  To take her mind off Lukas’ desperate situation, Julianna looked over and watched as Anita let little Robert squirm into the center of her bound arms. Everyone spread out their blankets over themselves as best as they could and then shut their eyes in sleep. Soon she and Lukas was the only captives still awake. 

   Lukas fell asleep with his mouth fastened around the skin’s nozzle, sucking instinctively as he slumbered. Gently, Julianna removed the nozzle from his still working mouth and settled him gently to the ground. With a weary sigh Julianna discovered that her little brother had once more wet himself. Wishing to change and clean Lukas in a way that would not awaken him, she gathered enough courage to go and ask a favor of her captors. Finally she stood and walked with bowed head to where the Indians were making their camp. The band’s leader and his interpreter sat speaking companionably to each other upon an old log as the two youngest braves, Hunting Wolf and Deer Pacer, concentrated on feeding the small smoldering start to their camp fire. Their quiet conversation halted as they noticed Julianna approaching them. 

   Cloaking herself with humility once more, Julianna kneeled down before the leader and his aid and bowed her head low. She kept her eyes down cast as she started to speak in a soft voice, “Please, does someone have some warm water in their drinking skin that they do not need. I wish to change and wash my baby brother but if I use the cold river water, he will surely wake up. Also, I hope that it is alright to go afterwards down to the river to wash out his used diapers.”