She jolted, surprised to see Bear Claw next to her. “What do they mean?”
“The storm came, it takes the bird. To a far away land. The bird survives. It eats. It drinks. But it is not home. One day, there’s another storm. The storm takes the bird back home. To his family. Finally, the bird is home.”
She smiled sadly. In a way, she could connect with the lost bird. Yet, there was a part of her that realized that despite her captivity, things were not all that bad. She would never admit it out loud, but she liked the clan. Back home, things had been difficult, and she barely fitted in. She had always been the odd one out, and at a point, she had stopped trying to fit in. Here, there were no expectations of her. If she wasn’t in captivity. If the people didn’t hate her kind, perhaps living here would not be too bad.
“Do you want to dance?”
She hesitated for a moment. Then she looked at the people dancing, and she gave him her hand. The music overwhelmed her, and so did the emotions that drifted around. He held her closely in his arms, and they danced, their bodies close to each other.
“You dance so well,” she said. There were so many words she wanted to say, but that came out first.
Bear Claw chuckled. “And you are becoming a better dancer,” Bear Claw said.
She lifted a brow, not believing his words. They remained in each other’s arms for some time, until someone called to Bear Claw. He let go of her, and she headed to their teepee. His teepee, she corrected herself. She should not forget that she did not belong here. Never delude herself that she was one of them. For she wasn’t.
She lay on the fur but could not sleep. Laughter drifted from outside to her. She was full of excitement and life tonight, but she was also overwhelmed. She wondered what her mother was doing at the moment. Had they even survived? The last time she had seen her mother, she had ben frail. What about her baby brother? As the people jubilated out there, she wished she was with her family.
Tears blinked in her eyes and she pushed them back. She had not cried since the first day she arrived here. Since, she had tried to be strong, but it seemed she had reached her breaking point.
The tears came out and she could not stop them anymore. Her body rocked as she cried for a home she never had, and yet she missed.
There was a noise, but she did not take note of it. Until she felt a presence before her. Her eyes opened and she looked into Bear Claw’s face. When had he come in?
“You are crying,” Bear Claw said. He had thought she was sleeping, but then he had heard the quiet sobs. It hurt him to see her crying, and he knew he was the reason why. She wanted to go home. It hurt him that he could not give her the only thing she wanted. How much he wanted to see her happy. But if she left, it would destroy him.
“Let me go home,” Hannah pleaded.
“I can’t,” Bear Claw said.
“I promise I won’t tell anybody about here. I won’t tell them about you,” Hannah said. If anyone asked her questions, she would act ignorant. She had never been here.
“I wish I could give you what you ask for, but I can’t,” Bear Claw said sadly.
She glared at him. He said kind words to her, but if indeed he was kind, he would have let her go. Why was he keeping her here? She wondered. It suddenly dawned on her.
Bear Claw was stunned for a moment as she climbed onto him. Quickly, she pulled her dress over her head. Bear Claw gasped as he stared at her nakedness. She had nothing but a jumper. Her breasts were bare, with pink nipples staring invitingly at him.
“Is this what you want? Then take it, and let me go.” Hannah had no idea where the courage came from, but if this was what he wanted, then he could have it, and she would leave. Her heart raced in fear and excitement. His gaze on her was heavy, and she felt liquid pool between her legs. She had never been this naked before any man.
“Take me,” she said hoarsely, in a voice she could not recognize.
He would not take her this way. Not when she offered herself like this. Yet, he could not stop his hand from drifting to her. Her body went still. He could hear his heart beat as he placed a hand over her bare breast. She hissed as he squeezed it gently, his fingers grazing her nipple. His other hand went to her breast, and she moaned as both hands squeezed at her.
A sweet feeling filled her as he rubbed her breasts. It felt so good, the itch in her continued to get worse. She needed it to go. Her eyes widened as his mouth lowered to her. She gasped as he sucked on her greedily, just as her brother suckled on her mother. Her hand flew to his hair, her body writhing as he sucked harder.
“Oh!” she cried. Her body wrecked with a powerful feeling she could not explain. It consumed her, her toes throbbing with statics. It felt like she was flying, and then, she came down, breathing deeply. Her eyes opened slowly and she stared into his dark eyes. She was lost of words. That had been…
“I will not take you this way,” Bear Claw said, gently lifting her from his body. It took all of his will to let her go. He was hard as a rock, and was filled with pain just hearing her cries of pleasure. Ah! Such a divine sight she looked as she exploded. It was her first time. He saw the surprise in her eyes. And the joy. And he felt like a man for being the one to give her such a gift. Yet, he could not be here with her in this state.
Her hands shook as she wore back her dress. By the time she turned around, he was out of the teepee. She took in a deep breath, laying on the bed of furs, as she tried to calm her heart. So that was what she had been missing. And she knew it was just the tip of the iceberg. He hadn’t touched her down there. If he did, would she ever recover? Now she knew why premarital sex was considered a sin by God. That pleasure seemed so addictive. She squeezed her legs tight as she remembered him suckling on her. She hissed, as the ache began to grow again between her moist legs. She wished he had taken her and gotten rid of the ache for good. But he had left her. Why? Was he disappointed in her? Was she not good enough for him? The doubts revolved in her mind until she finally fell asleep.
Bear Claw grunted as he split wood with an axe. He was covered in sweat in the cold night as he smashed the axe into the stump of wood. The pieces were not needed. Neither did he have to split them. But he needed something to take his mind away from the frustration he felt.
“You are troubled.”
He froze at the sound of Anika's voice. Most of the village were asleep, although he could hear the groans and moans of those fucking. It only infuriated him that he was not one of them. He turned around. She barely had anything on but a short dress.
“Did the white devil upset you?” Anija asked, stepping closer to him. She pressed herself against him, her breasts swelling. “Take me. Use me,” she said, caressing his face.
