Running Wolf ignored him, still staring. Chito’s eyes followed Running Wolf’s to the forest and then, he turned back to his friend.
“Is it time for your vision quest? I believe you should go on it in seven months. Why do you stare so deeply into the forest? Is it calling out to you? I do not think it is the right given your condition. I…”
“Why are you here?” Running Wolf finally said. His voice was hoarse and lacking emotion. He had not used it in days as he had chosen to mourn his loss in his solitude.
Chito sighed and he shook his head, “The Chief and the rest of the elders want to see you. You are the head warrior. They want to extend their condolences to you.”
“I do not want to go to the village,” Running Wolf told him.
Chito gasped. He cleared his throat nervously, “Uh… I really do not think that is right, my friend. We are talking about a summons from the Chief here. It is only right that you obey and do as he instructs, don’t you think? I understand that you are in mourning and...”
“Good. If you all understand that I am in mourning, you will realize that I want to be alone. I want to see no one, Chito.” Not waiting for his friend’s response, Chito turned around and headed toward a tent close to the mouth of the woods.
Chito sighed as he watched his friend back away. His friend had not returned to the home he shared with Fala eversince her death. How long was he going to survive like this? He had been excited to find out that Fala was expecting. Not only because Running Wolf was the head warrior but because he was finally continuing his bloodline, but also because his friend was finally having a family. After the death of his mother at a young age, his father had never remarried and it had just been the both of them. His father had died some years ago, leaving Running Wolf with the village as his only family. Still, as his friend, Chito knew how much Running Wolf longed to have a family even though he never voiced out this desire. His friend had not been in love with Fala but he had cared about her enough to have a child with her. He had respected and protected her. This was a hard blow, to him and to all of them.
Running Wolf settled on a slab of stone in front of the tent and held his head in his hands. He was exhausted and had lost his will to do anything. All he wanted to do was be still. That was certainly not too much to ask for. He was in no frame of mind to see the elders. As long as there was no threat to their village, he had no business going back in there. He would be fine being where he was. Going back to the tepee he had shared with Fala, he could not do it. The only other option was his family supply shack a short distance from where he was. His plan had been to work on the supply shack and prepare it for them to move into when his child was strong enough. He shook his head. Everywhere he looked they all had one thing in common, they reminded him of his losses and his pain: his father, his mother, his wife, and his son.
He was truly exhausted by all of it. While he was not needed by the village as a warrior, he would stay out here and nurse his wounds. He would stay here and deal with his losses. He did not have a choice. This was the only way he knew to deal with the pain. His solitude, it was the only comfort he had. Nothing comforted him better than it.
Running Wolf lowered his head and took in deep breaths, trying to calm himself. This was his new reality. His losses werenow a part of his life that he had to accept.
*
Elaina tied up the last bag and stepped back to look around the little cabin that she had called home with James. It was time to say goodbye to it and move on. It was the only choice they had. She hurried to the door and looked out. James was supposed to be back by now. Why was he taking so long? She wondered.
She ran a hand through her hair in a nervous gesture. There was a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. What if something happened to him? He was supposed to resign today but what if they had not let him leave? She closed her eyes as she tried to calm herself. If only he had listened to her. She had told him that they should leave without notifying anyone but he had insisted that he owed it to his supervisor to let him know. She had a bad feeling then and she still had it now.
Her hand flew to her stomach and she whispered. “Your father is fine, little one. He will be here soon. He has to be.”
The sound of an approaching carriage led Elaina to the window. She groaned when she saw Leila. Elaina hurried out of the house and shut the door behind her. She met Leila halfway up the front walk.
“Hello, Elaina,” Leila greeted her brightly.
“What are you doing here? Did I not make it clear enough that I want nothing to do with you?”
“Really? Are you still holding on to that grudge? Oh come on, dear friend. All that is in the past. Now that James is no longer in the picture, you are going to need someone to take care of you. I will advise you to accept...”
“What do you mean by James is no longer in the picture? James is very much okay. He went to the mine and...” a panicked Elaina gasped.
“Oh...” Leila nodded slowly, “I see that you are not yet aware of the current situation. Well, that is just too bad. I guessI came here to give you the update ahead of time. Isn’t it lovely? You should consider me a great friend, you know, right? Without me, you will not know a lot of things.”
“Talk to me, Leila! What on earth happened to my husband?”
Leila chuckled, “Remember that time I told you that the mine’s output was reducing? Well, it turns out that your dear husband has been skimping some of the ore. Isn’t it a shame? The man you trusted so much, turns out he is also a thief. Well, he has been handed over to the sheriff. Soon, he will be in the custody of the army.”
“That is a lie. James would never steal. Even when we were down in the dumps, when we had nothing, he did not steal, he never set aside anything for himself. I refuse to believe that lie!” Elaina said compassionately.
“It does not matter what you think or do. What matters is what Grimsson thinks, and frankly, he is convinced James is a thief, so he is not getting out of this.”
“Oh, come on, you and I both know that Grimsson is biased. He won’t be fair about this. Please help me, Leila. Help me get James out of this mess. You might not like him but you know that he will never steal. This is all just a misunderstanding.
“I am sorry but I cannot help you this time, my friend. Here is my advice to you. Forget about James. When Grimsson comes, accept his advances. Do not be bullheaded. And that way, I will be seeing you every day on the other side of town. You got that?”
“Leila please!” Elaina called to her friend who wished her farewell as she left in the carriage. It retreated, taking her along.
Elaina fell to her knees, her hand over her mouth as she stifled her sobs,
“James… James… what will we do without you?”
