Black Water

Chapter 13

Kyoko notices the danger she put herself into all too late and that saying out of the frying pan and into the fire comes to mind. White Cloud looks at her like she has two heads, they clearly weren't prepared for her to just come riding in full speed and cry for help. Luckily she hadn't been shot by one of the many arrows now pointed at her head. Her hands raised in surrender she sits atop her horse thankful for their control.

White Clouds expression changes from surprise to one of curious astonishment. He gives her face a thorough inspection then seems to have an 'I knew it!' moment. And he begins to laugh. The moment though tense seems to lighten all the warrior's scrutiny of her. He says some words in their tongue and they all lower their weapons. Kyoko gives him a curious yet worried look. He just smiles up a t her and raises a hand to help her down.

"Kuon asks for help."

Kyoko's eyes mist up immediately and she gives him a heartfelt nod and the tears spring forth like a waterfall. White Cloud helps her down and she hides her face in his chest and cries. He pats her heard soothingly and waits for her to calm down.

"What's girl name?" White Cloud asks pulling away from her to look at her face. Kyoko sniffles and takes a deep calming breath.

"Kyoko Mogami."

"Kyoko..." White Cloud seems to test it out and nods smiling again.

"What happened, where Ren?" He asks. Kyoko swallows the lump in her throat.

"The men who stole those horses you warned us about showed up while the men were getting them back. They took me from the ranch." White Clouds jaw tightens and his eyes narrow.

"Did they touch?" He steps back and looks her over and the sudden thought of that man touching her in that way turns her stomach. But she blushes madly and shakes her head no. White Cloud smiles at her innocence and seems satisfied with her answer. Just then an arrow screams as it lands nearby Kyoko jumps but White Cloud explains.

"Scout. Someone comes." Then is quick succession five arrows fly nearby. Kyoko looks to White Cloud.

"Five. Trouble for you. Hide in my tipi." He ushers her into his one man tent and closes the flap just as Vie Ghoul break the treeline into the camp clearing. The men ride in, their hands high, pistols lashed in their holsters and rifles strapped safely in the saddle sheaths. They are greeted in the same fashion, arrows gleaming in the fire light evilly pointed at their faces. Reino's devilish grin never leaves his lips and grows even more vile when he spots Kyoko's horse, sidesaddle and all grazing lazily with some of the Sioux horses. He leads the pack riding up to White Cloud who's standing with his arms crossed in front of his tipi.

"Have you seen my little hell cat?" He asks his voice almost purring, knowing she hides nearby.

Four Miles Out

Ren holds a torn piece of cloth between his fingers and hope daringly rises in his chest.

'What a woman' He thinks for the hundredth time. An hour back they had lost the trail and he had sunk into a panicked state of despair. After a few minutes of searching the surroundings one of the men Seiji calls everyone to attention and they gather around as he untangles a white piece of cloth from a bush. He hands it to Lory who inspects it.

"There is no way of knowing it is hers, but it feels fresh. I want everyone to sweep the surrounding area for another piece. Maybe she left us a trail to follow." The men quickly carry out the order and it's not long until Matsushima finds one north of the first, then Ushio finds the next still north. Now here they were following her cloth trail and the occasional track.

Ren lifts the cloth which is intertwined in his fingers to his lips and gives it a soft kiss.

'We're coming Kyoko.' Sho sends him a surprised look at the forward gesture but Ren ignores him focusing on the next piece of cloth he spots ahead. Suddenly shots thunder loud, the sound bouncing off the trees further ahead. Worry claws at his gut and the men push the horses to the breaking point towards the sound of gunfire.

Sioux Camp Ground

White Cloud makes no comment to Reino's question only silently sizes him up. Reino's smirk remains plastered to his face but his eyes lose their playful glint. When he speaks again it is in the Sioux tongue.

"I know the girl is here her horse grazes with yours. I was bringing the girl to Thunder Bear I heard he had an interest."

White Cloud stays silent for a long moment then replies also using his native language.

"What did you want as trade for the girl?"

Reino shrugs and replies.

"A few Squaw for my men and safe passage through the Sioux territories from here on."

White Cloud gives him a hard look.

"Not much for the risk of the White Man Law."

Here Reino gives him a gruesome smile.

"It's more payback against her man."

White Clouds jaw tightens his decision made.

"We will escort her back to the Colored Man's Land. Thunder Bear has given up on finding the girl. No deal here."

Reino's smile drops instantly and his eyes flash dangerously. Without warning he drops from his horse and in that same instance his men pull their guns and all hell breaks loose. Bullets and arrows ricochet and pierce flesh and men begin to fall on both sides. Through the hail of arrows and gunfire Reino runs for White Cloud and grabs the old Indian fast holding a knife to his throat. He yells a command in Sioux drawing White Cloud's men's attention and everything goes silent. He pulls White Cloud away from his tent and toward his two remaining men.

Reino yells once more speaking English, his voice heavy from the adrenaline.

"I will give you to the count of five Kyoko then I'll kill this old Indian. One... Two... Three..."

Inside White Cloud's Tent

White Cloud closes the flap behind her and the thundering of hooves sound loudly getting closer, or maybe that's her heart hammering away.

"Have you seen my little hell cat?" Her blood runs cold. A few seconds pass in silence then his voice speaks words she doesn't know.

'Is that the Sioux language?' Her thoughts are answered quickly when White Cloud replies and they have some time of back and forth. Then all of a sudden gunfire roars through the air and she screams but it goes unheard over all of the noise. She crouches where she'd been left by the flap and covers her ears against the cries of pain from the injured men outside. All too soon the shooting stops and everything seems much too quiet. Then Reino's voice cuts through the silence.

"I will give you to the count of five Kyoko then I'll kill this old Indian.

One..."

Kyoko's heat beats loudly in her ears but all else seems to fade away. Flashes of White Cloud shaking her hand as Kuon, giving her that knife and laughing and comforting her only moments ago flash before her eyes.

"Two..."

A sob escapes from somewhere in her throat and tears begin to cloud her vision. She pulls Corn out clenching it tightly in her fist.

"Three..."

She takes a calming breath pulls back the flap and steps out into the gray blue morning. She stands as tall as her height allows and stares at Reino with a hateful glare. Now witness to the knife at White Cloud's throat. Hoping her voice doesn't come across as scared or shaky, Kyoko speaks.

"Release him safely or you won't have me." She raises her knife to her own throat and sends him a challenging glare.

Reino looks on surprised at her brash behavior.

'What a woman.'