He is my soldier. She is my Indian.

Chapter 13- Jackson

Chapter 13

*Jackson's POV*

I stepped back from Luana feeling ashamed that I could have ever threatened her in any way.

She was right. There was no way I could ever hurt her. I would die before I let any harm come to her.

"I-I'm..so..so-"

"Save it."

Her words cut through my heart like a knife. I had lost her because I couldn't control my stupid mouth and temper.

She slipped out of my arms and swayed those perfect hips towards the sunlight peeking through the end of the cave.

"Luana..."

"These are my people.

You can go back to your own, and we will kill you just the same in battle that we would if you remained tied to that stake in the middle of our camp."

I knew I could have left.

She wouldn't have stopped me. However, she was right. I couldn't leave. I loved her.

****-----*****----

We walked back to the tribe in silence.

Neither of us had any words to say.

I sat on the ground and put my arms behind my back so Luana could tie me back to the stake.

She tied my wrists together loosely and brushed her fingertips across my palm.

I was forgiven.

She left me and walked into one of the homes behind me. I wished I could have seen one more glimpse of her before she disappeared.

I needed to know that the forgiveness showed in her eyes not just in her tender touches.

I looked up at the sun as it set behind the hill.

I closed my eyes leaning my head back on the post and drifted in and out of sleep until the darkness covered the sky and the stars twinkled down on me.

Voices started to fill the darkness, and I opened my eyes to see what was happening.

Four of the men were starting a fire and the rest began to sit around it. The women began to walk out. Some were carrying young children and other children were running around the fire.

One woman grabbed a little boy's arm pulling him away from the flickering flames.

The flames started to get higher and Luana and her father entered the circle from their tent.

Even though the chief walked with his head held high I could tell that the has leaning heavily on his daughter. All the people fell quiet and watched as they took their seats around the fire.

Luana looked at her father then nodded slightly in my direction. He seemed hesitant but looked at a pair of men that sat near him and pointed to me.

They walked over with the giant leading them.

The giant man hovered over me and the other man stood behind me. The binds were roughly pulled the from around my wrists. The two men yanked me to my feet causing my to stumble slightly.

They pushed me to the fire, and Luana gingerly wrapped her fingers around my wrist and tugged at my arm. I sat down beside her and the women began to sing. The men quickly joined in after.

Many of the members gave us sneaking glances, but the chief's daughter could do as she pleased unless the chief said otherwise.

They sang in a language I couldn't understand. Some of the songs were sad and some of them were very encouraging and up lifting. Or so I assumed from the tempo.

Some men danced around the fire while women painted on other men. The younger girls that were in search of a husband stood closer to the drums as they danced. The young men banged on the drums as they raised their voices to the heavens.

The man that looked to be far beyond anyone else's years stepped up to the fire and all the sounds faded away besides the soft crackle of the fire.

He began to talk passionately making each Indian yelp in excitement, but some of the older women stood up from the fire and walked away.

A younger man who looked similar to his father sat closest to the fire. His eyes were closed and his arms raised up as if trying to grab one of the stars and pull it back to earth for himself.

All of the people lifted their voices once again in song, but this song was slow and calculated. Even the men who sang had silent tears dancing across their cheeks.

I looked over to Luana for translation.

She whispered into my ear.

"War songs.

The men and women are leaving in the morning."

****----*****-----

A/N- check out my newest short story. Home for a day. I really enjoyed writing it and actually cried while writing it lol. So check it out and tell me what you think :)

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