Tokala scoffed, “Your pride indeed. If he comes here for you, I bet you will jump into his arms without a second thought. There is a thin line between love and hate, my sister. Right now, you are still standing on the love side. Keep claiming that you have no feelings for him.”
“Oh will you shut up?” Atola hissed. She turned to her father and said, “How did it go? Has the council agreed to send that pale face out?”
He sighed and settled down next to Tokala, “I wish it was that simple. The Chief is solidly behind him, and you know there is a bigger faction supporting the Chief. Only a couple of elders are on my side and even then, they are too afraid to voice their disapproval and agree with me in public.”
Atola scoffed, “Then what is the use of having such cowards on your side, father? It is safe to say that you have no support there. We cannot recognize those cowards as friends.”
“What I do not understand is how we have not been able to find anything that can discredit Running Wolf. The Chief keeps protecting him. I mean, even bringing the pale face in should have been reason enough but he twisted it to fit Running Wolf’s desire. I have to agree with Atola about killing him, father.”
Tokala’s father threw him a glare and his mouth snapped shut. Atola looked at her father as something occurred to her, “That brat should have had her little brat by now. Surely, she needed help. Did he get the midwife involved? That should be a...”
Kahona waved her idea away, “Don’t bother. I believe she has had the baby but from my inquiries, no one from the village was there with her.”
Atola groaned, “So when will that brat finally leave? She has already had her baby. Why is she still around? Why is she still next to him? I want her gone!”
Tokala shook his head, “You are certainly blowing hot and cold, sister. One minute you want him dead, and the next you are jealous and want no woman around him. You love him, then you hate him. Make up your mind.”
She hissed and resumed pacing. Her brother shook his head and said, “Look, I don’t think it is anything that you need to worry about. She is a pale face and he knows that. The idiot is just helping her. You know how he can be.”
“Well, I want her gone,” Atola turned to her father, “Can’t you do more now, father? She has had her baby.”
Kahona shrugged, “The chief basically let her live on the outskirts as long as she keeps to herself. She has been doing exactly that.”
“No! I refuse to agree with that.” she hissed and stormed out, making a beeline for the outskirts of the village. She needed to see the pale face for herself. What was so special about her that Running Wolf refused to let her go? She was here for him for crying out loud! Everyone else said there was nothing between both of them for her to worry about but she was not convinced. She was a woman and she could sense something was up even though she had never met the woman. Firmly, she marched through the forest.
Atola watched Elaina from afar. She was cradling her baby and smiling. Her frown deepened. So while she was having such a hard time, there was the pale face smiling and having a good time. Atola moved behind a tree so she could get a closer look at who she considered her opponent. Elaina turned in her direction just then and Atola got a full view of her face.She is beautiful, Atola hissed silently.She is the problem.
Elaina went into the shack at that moment and Atola’s eyes darted around as she searched for anything that would serve as a weapon. While she had a knife on her, she did not want to leave any evidence behind. Elaina returned just then and Atola hid behind a tree, holding a slab of wood. She would haveto wait for the perfect time to strike.
She watched impatiently in the shadows as Elaina prepared the fire. Just as she was about to approach her, Atola heard footsteps. She quickly hid in the bushes, and tried to hold her breath. Her eyes went as wide as saucers when she saw Running Wolf. He stopped at the edge of the yard and watched the pale face. Atola’s heart sank when she saw the look in his eyes. Those beautiful brown eyes had never looked at her that way. She had been right.
The pale face, she was her problem. She had been preparing a perfect playing field after Fala’s death, the perfect way to conquer Running Wolf’s heart but the pale face had appeared, and everything had gone south. Running Wolf was no longer giving her the time of day. Back then, she was able to go to his tepee, even though he always sent her away. Still, she could still go there. If she had been persistent enough, surely, he would have considered her someone he could love. But now, she had no chance. He had fallen for this intruder. The pale face had to go!
Atola gulped as Running Wolf slowly approached where she was hiding. How had she been so ignorant to think that Running Wolf, the best warrior in all of the tribe would not sense her? If he caught her, she was finished. She shut her eyes tight and begged that somehow the earth would swallow her up. If he caught her there, he would know without a doubt who hurt his precious pale face when she struck.
“Running Wolf!” Atola heard the pale face’s voice and she let out a sigh of relief as Running Wolf’s footsteps receded.
Immediately she was sure he was gone, she crept out from behind the bushes and darted to another bush. It was the best way she was going to get away without getting detected. A lump formed in the pit of her stomach as she watched them staring at each other, Running Wolf caressing her face. “You will pay for this, pale face! That should be me, not you!” Atola hissed.
Her heart still bubbling with anger and vengeance, she crawled away. An idea was beginning to form in her head. The first step was finding out who this the pale face was. Then, everything would fall into place.
“Where have you been for goodness sake, Atola? This is the time for us to be careful and not make any mistakes! You know that, right? Your brother and I had a very serious talk when you were away!” her father thundered when she returned home.
“I know that, father. There were just a few things I needed to take care of. Don’t worry, I promise that in a few months, I will be Running Wolf’s woman.”
Tokala quirked a brow, “Where is this confidence coming from? Just earlier you were sure that there was a problem between you both.”
“I will get rid of the problem. You both do not need to know more than that.”
Her father and brother exchanged looks and then, Kahona cleared his throat, “I thought you were wanting us to come up with a plan and getting rid of him. Why the sudden change? Why are women so weird?”
“Just trust me, father. I will have him. There will be nothing to stop me. So do not hurt him, all right? Running Wolf is going to be mine. Our plan will continue as planned. Don’t touch a hair on his head. Forget I said anything earlier.”
Tokala nodded, “Sure... we will forget you said anything.”
Tokala looked at Kahona. Kahona gave a slight shake of his head. It was a gesture that flew over Atola’s head.
She turned to her father and said, “you told me you both had a serious talk? What decisions did you reach? About Running Wolf?”
