The forest grew denser, the light from above disappearing as the canopies above clustered together. His men were far behind, sensing his mood and staying away. It was just him, on the prowl this morning.
Suddenly, a large shadow pounced on him. It was a big one. The mountain lion. He yelped as he fell off the horse, reaching for his spear. The lion went into the darkness, making the most of it.
He turned around, tracking the scent and footprints. A growl came from behind him. Slowly, he turned around, staring at the eyes which glistened yellow in the dark. Its teeth were bared and it flicked its tongue out. His fingers tightened around the spear at the same time the mountain lion pounced on him.
A wild growl filled the forest, with birds above fluttering away in fear for the destruction beneath.
Bear Claw grunted as he ran the spear through the mountain lion. But the lion was unwillingly. Its fierce teeth dug into his arm. Bear Claw groaned in pain, his arms weakening as he thrust his dagger into the eye of the beast.
The animal screeched wildly, and Bear Claw ran the spear through it again, right through the heart.
The heavy animal dropped to the ground with a thud. His eyes were blurry as he stared at the animal. He felt something wet. He looked to his arm and saw blood gushing. The mountain lion had dug deep.
“Hannah...” he whispered as his legs gave way, his body hitting the ground.
*
Something bad had happened. Hannah could feel it. All day she had this lingering feeling that she could not shake off. It had gotten worse as the morning grew. Suddenly, she was hit with a powerful feeling.
“Bear Claw,” she whispered. She could tell that something bad had happened to him.
“Hannah?”
She turned to her mother. It was only when her mother embraced her that she realized she was shaking.
“What’s wrong?” her mother asked worriedly.
“Bear Claw,” she repeated.
Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “The chief who kidnapped you?”
Hannah nodded. For days she had kept to herself. She knew her mother wanted her to share her experience, especially with Samuel throwing cruel words at her which she ignored.
“What happened out there? Did he... Hurt you?” her mother asked with concern.
“No... I love him mama,” she said as tears pooled in her eyes.
Her mother’s eyes widened at her admission. It had taken her some time to realize the truth. But it was true. She loved Bear Claw. Since she was brought here she was in a state of sadness. She could barely function. Laughter was far from her. She missed him, his touch, his scent... She missed all of him. She missed the village and its slow and primitive life. Here, she didn’t fit in. She could feel something missing out in her life. Her mother and siblings were here, but this was no longer home. Her home, her place of bliss was with Bear Claw.
Her mother led her to a chair and for the next hour, she poured out her emotions to the woman. As she spoke she realized it was true, she did love the savage. She had never thought it would happen, but it had. Being away from him was excruciating and she felt like she was falling sick, physically and emotionally.
“I knew something had happened. I just didn’t think this happened,” her mother said when she was done.
“You are disappointed? You think this is wrong? That his people are savages?” she asked.
“I thought that all these while you have been away. So many tales. So many stories many said about them. But then you returned, there was a spark in your eyes. Something I saw a long time ago in myself when your father died. A loss so great it ripped me into two. A spark associated with true love.”
Now Hannah was crying, the tears rolling down her face.
“I trust you Hannah. You have always been intelligent. And independent. You were always there for me. I was supposed to be your mother but you cared for me. I couldn’t give you the life you deserved—”
“No mama, you have done right by me,” Hannah said. Her mother may have been emotionally absent, but she had cared for her.
Regina shook her head. “I allowed my grief consume me. I wish I was a better mother. And that I listened to you about Samuel...”
Well, that she agreed with. Most of the problems they had had began with her mother’s marriage to Samuel.
“I want you to be happy, and if that means you be with him, then let it be so.”
