Olivia goes West

Chapter 16

Olivia and Fievel had been cuddling together in their sleep under a warm blanket in one of the teepees when Running Coyote opened the flap, causing sunlight to warm their faces as they opened their eyes.

"Alright children, let us eat and go soon, before the sun becomes too hot."

Upon realizing how closely they'd been cuddling in their sleep, both reacted with bashful embarrassment, for the second morning in a row.

"You're a nice pillow, Fievel," Olivia said with a giggle, before getting up.

"Maybe you should be the pillow next time," Fievel said, rubbing his back.

As they emerged, only some of the tribe members were awake. Remains from dinner were being cooked up for breakfast at the camp fire. They spotted Running Coyote sitting beside a pregnant woman, as she roasted the meat on a stick over the fire.

"There they are now," said Running Coyote to her.

"Is she your wife?" Olivia asked with a smile.

"I suppose you could call her that, though we have different customs. Her name is Shining Star. She is due to give birth with our child very soon."

"And...and you're still gonna leave her to help us?" Olivia asked.

"It is the chief's orders," he said, "Besides, I know the terrain of that part of the desert well."

"You're very brave and kind," Olivia said.

"Why thank you little one,' he said, patting her head.

Fievel and Olivia were seated, as they watched others preparing their food supply, wrapping meat and berries in animal skins and tying them to a prairie dog. Olivia couldn't stop watching the happy couple as they spoke in their native tongue and roasted their food. They seemed so content with one another. Could she and Fievel be like that one day? Maybe...it was finally time for them to say how they felt, she thought. Was it more normal for the boy to confess first? She thought so, her daddy had given her a long talk about the way love works a long time ago. Olivia was pretty sure Fievel felt the same way she did, after having spied on him and Tiger talking. It would be so much easier if they weren't so afraid.

But Olivia still felt bad for making Running Coyote help them when his mate probably needed him more. He could still be a good help, since even though Fievel had been lost in the wilderness before he wasn't very skilled at survival, even if he liked to pretend he was. It was a good thing this tribe was here or else they could have gone hungry, and it could have taken several days to get to where they wanted to go, if a predator didn't get them.

The Mousehican tribe members passed the meat over to Fievel and Olivia, who ate their fill, along with some berries.

"Okay, let us leave then. The journey should take no more than two moons at most."

Running Coyote led them to the prairie dogs. They were fitted with saddles that had supplies tied to either side.

"Could ye give me a boost up, Fievel?" Olivia asked.

"So you get to go in front?"

"Oh come on Fievel, ya always got to be in front when we rode Tiger."

Fievel rolled his eyes and laced his fingers together, squatting so Olivia could step into his hands and climb aboard. She then helped pull Fievel up. Running Coyote easily hopped onto his steed, saying his goodbyes to his mate.

"Okay, go Mr. Prairie Dog," Olivia said, patting its head with a smile. It began to run ahead, alongside the other. She used the reigns to steer it, rather expertly.