Jordan's eyes widened, and he fought to control the redness speading on his cheeks. "W-what do they say about...me and Kiyiya, then?" He asked nervously, unable to meet the elder's eyes.

He got his answer, as his hand was lifted and placed in the other male's. He was silent for a moment, staring at their intertwined hands. How could the man know about them? About Jordan's own feelings concerning Kiyiya? A moment later, Kiyiya's hand left his, and Jordan blinked, accepting the plate of food. He settled down a bit more comfortably, eating quietly.

Loud sounds from outside made him jerk and stare at the teepee door. "Hullo?" A voice called out, in English. The man was speaking slowly, as if it would help the Indians understand him. "Whoo isss innn chaarge herree?"

Kiyiya’s head shot up and he stood quickly. He could recognize a white man’s voice and was worried that his new comer might start something. His mother and sister sat at the back of the tent, both of there eyes wide with here. He gesture’s silently with his hand for them to stay in the teepee. He exit slowly and looks out to see about ten white men on horse back entering the village. The leader speaks slowly as if the tribe members are ignorant fools. Frowning he makes his way near the center of the village where the soldier has stopped.

Kiyiya’s uncle and a few of the other braves have gathered around, standing in front of the horses. Kiyiya stands beside his uncle and translates. The chief nods. “Tell them who I am and that they are welcome here. Ask them what they want.”

“Welcome to the village soldiers. I am Kiyiya and this is our chief . I will translate for you as I speak your language. What do you seek?”

The men had dismounted and a few had gone off, entering teepees and coming out seconds later. The first nodded to Kiyiya, "We are looking for-Jordan!" He started to ignore the Indian, pushing past him to the white male, who'd followed Kiyiya out.

"Jordan, Sal made it back, he said you were attacked by Indians. Don't worry, we're here to bring you back. These savages took you as a hostage, didn't they? Don't worry, we brought some things they'll want."

Jordan was quiet as he was hugged, and his hair was touseled. "Nic!" He laughed, and shook his head, "I'm...not quite a hostage. I mean, I...can't leave, but they've treated me good." His eyes lite up at the next part. Home! Nic was here to take him home! The light left then, and he glanced at his hand, then looked past Nic to Kiyiya. "I..."

Kiyiya started to grind his teeth as the man hugged his – no Jordan…The brave knew that it was over. No matter what happened now he knew that the white man would be leaving. His eyes get dark with despair and he turns to leave heading to his teepee gathering up Deeheeya’s clothing. He placed it in a leather satchel. Standing in his cold and empty home a fresh wave of despair fills his chest as he thinks about being alone once again. He looks at the bag in his hand and drops it in the middle of the teepee. If the kachada wants Deeheeya he will have to fight me for him.

He stormed over and stood before Jordan. The brave did not want the man before him to leave...

Jordan had started to follow the Indian, but Nic slipped an arm over his shoulder, and guided him to the cheif. "WE TAKE HOME NOW!" He spoke loudly, pointing to Jordan, then the horses. "WE GIVE YOU POTS AND SKINS!" He motioned, and more white men stepped forward, taking some items off the horses, and bringing them forward.

Kiyiya was back a moment later, standing in front of Jordan. The male lowered his head, staring at the ground. "Ah, good, the translator. Here, let your king know we have furs and some jewels, and tin pots for you, and Jordan will be coming back with us in return for them." He spoke slowly, as if Kiyiya's head worked slow.

“I am not a fool kachada...” Kiyiya growls turning to his uncle and translating the white man’s statement.

The chief shakes his head. “No it is best if the kachada stays here with the people.” The brave discusses it with the older Indian for a few moments. His uncle finally comes to a decision…”You, Kiyiya will go with the white men and teach their people…you must keep our people safe.”

Kiyiya’s eyes widen at the statement…he would go with Deeheeya. He turned to Jordan and quietly tells him what the old man has deemed. “I am to go with you…I am to help keep peace between our peoples. Without me Jordan will not be aloud to leave.” All the braves around the soldiers held bows and watched the white men warily for their reaction.

Nic clearly wasn't pleased with this, and the men around placed hand on holsters. "S-stop!" Jordan stated, looking back and forth between the two groups. "I-it's fine. He'll come. As my guest." He turned back to his Indian. "After you experiance my world, we'll decide what to do, alright?"

Nic sighed and shook his head, "This is never gonna work, Jordan, and your father won't be happy."

"He usually isn't." Jordan replied, and glanced to Kiyiya before lowering his voice. "And it could." He didn't sound as if he believed himself, however.

Kiyiya stands up straighter and nods. “Alright…” He goes to his tent and gather’s his things. He only has a few leathers, his bow, a knife and his skins. He bundles every thing up quickly and exits the teepee. “Deeheeya, here are your clothes.” He hands them to the kachada as he returns with his things.

It is then that he spots his father making his way over slowly to him and the white men. The old man is carrying something in his hand… He pushes past the soldiers and stands in front of Jordan smiling. He shows him a necklace of carved bone. It is a small horse carved from a elk horn. Kiyiya marvels…his father must have for seen his months ago.

“This is for you Deeheeya…it will give you strength as you travel and protect what is so young.” The old man opens the necklace and places it over Jordan’s head setting it on his shoulder’s. He pats the kachada’s cheek and turns to his son.

He hands him one of the few steel blades that had been traded for many years ago. The handle had been replaced with one of a wolf’s head carved of elk bone. He spoke quietly in Ute, “Protect what is yours…there will be much danger my boy.” The old man nods and turns to stand by his brother the chief.

Kiyiya looks at the knife and attaches it to his belt. He looks at Jordan and asks, “Should I bring my own horse?”

"If you'd like." Jordan responded, looking up from admiring the necklace. He glanced backwards, "No, leave it, if they want them." He told Nic, who'd been having the items loaded up. "Thank you." He managed to tell Kiyiya's father, before following after the male. "Kiyiya...a-are you sure you are alright with this?" He questioned, once they were alone."

The brave gets his gray mare and throws his blanket and other provisions on its back lashing it to the horse. He follows Jordan and the man…Nic…out of the camp. At Jordan’s question he turns to look the white man in the eyes. “Yes Deeheeya, I am very sure.” He wishes he could reach for Jordan’s hand and pull him in for a kiss, but he remembers what the soldier had said the night before about the rules. He frowns at the thought then looks at the man who has been glaring at him. He shows his teeth and growls at the man stunning him...He turns to ask Jordan about him. "Who is this man we follow?"

Nic almost fell off his horse as the Indian he was watching growled at him. Jordan shook his head, "Kiyiya...you can't growl at other people. In the white community, even if you don't like someone, you...pretend you do." He offered the male a smile.

This is Sergeant Nicolas. He is the second in command of Fort Darla. My father is first in command. Apparently, the scout I was with when we were looking for a location made it back to Darla, and told them I'd been kidnapped, so my father sent the men on horseback to find me."

Kiyiya smiled at the actions of the sergeant -Nic- Jordan called him. He sits as astride Wanee and listens as his friend lectures him. “I know I will not growl at the others, that man worries me though.” The man had hardly taken his eyes off Deeheeya since they had started riding east.

The brave was surprised to discover that the man he was following into enemy territory was the son of a leader. “So your father is a chief of your people? What is this Dar-la?” The word sounded foreign to his ears and the brave stumbled over the pronunciation.

"Worries you?" Jordan looked puzzled, "Kiyiya, I'd trust Nic with my life. He's a veteran soldier, and a honored family friend."

He chuckled then, smiling at the Indian. "No, he's no chief. Our chief is called our presidant. He lives far away. Since..." He hesitated. Kiyiya wasn't slow, as a matter of fact, the male was intelligent, but Jordan was having trouble explaining. "Since our lands are so big, instead of having seperate tribes, like the Indians, we became one huge tribe. To keep order, though, we've kind of have to make smaller chiefs. Our president is the top chief, and then more people, who rule over more rulers. My father is a small chief. Dar-la." Jordan pronounced it slowly, giving the boy a smile. "Fort Darla is the name of a military fort, about a day and a half's ride east. There may be a lot of people there who don't like you, Kiyiya..." He warned softly.

Nic turned. "That's an understatment. With how often you Injuns make trouble, and how many men you've killed, everyone in the Fort will want a piece of you!"

Kiyiya listened patiently as Jordan explained the concept of one big chief and many little chiefs…it made sense every so often neighboring villiages would band together to fight off a single threat, usually a group of invaders. The fort was something he understood quite well. As a child his father had taken him on a trip far to the east to meet with a kachada leader to discuss treaties. He remembered clearly the hulking wooden monstrosity that had jutted out of the land. The gate closed around the people, like they were rabbits hiding from a hunter.

Then the haughty kachada made another comment on this people. He nudged Wanee forward and looked the man in the eye. “My tribe has never killed or made any trouble for the kachada. My men and I saved Deeheeya from the Crow and would do so again. You would not do such a thing for a member of my tribe…”

Having said his piece Kiyiya pulled back and eased into a slow trot beside Jordan.

"Hmphf." Nic snorted, shaking his head and sending a glare backwards. "You redskinned Injuns are all the same. You only saved him to save your own hides."

"Nic! Kiyiya!" Jordan admonished them both with a sigh, facing the Indian once again, "I can't wait to show you my world, Kiyiya. We've go so many things that would help your people...cotton, spices, guns for hunting, tin pots instead of clay ones that break..."

“And you kachada gut my people like a deer to rape and pillage our land.” Kiyiya was pulled from his thoughts at Jordan's sigh. He smiled as his friend spoke of the marvels of the white mans world.

“You know Deeheeya, I have wanted our two peoples to be friends for many years. It would be good for both our peoples to establish a trading.” Kiyiya watched the path before them. Looking around he noticed they were heading into Crow territory again. He turned to Jordan, “Deeheeya…we need to move out of this area. We are on Crow land…they will attack these men for sure.”

"Boy!" Nic threatened, jerking Jordan's attention from Kiyiya. The male sighed, and shook his head, moving up to Nic, thowing a slight glare back towards the Indian. He'd told Kiyiya to stop, why must he continue? This was going to be difficult. "Do you think your men could take on the Indians?" He questioned the soldier. Nic shrugged, "We've got guns, and this is a much bigger group than two me. SHouldn't be a problem. And you Indian pet can let us know if there are other about."


"Don't call him that. Leave him be Nicolaus. You two are bickering like siblings." Turning in the saddle, Jordan addressed Kiyiya, "Nic thinks we'd be fine, and this is the quickest way to the fort." S peaking to both of them now, he added, "Just in case, why don't we speed the horses up?"

Kiyiya glared at the white soldier riding in front of him. His ignorance of the people and area could get not only the soldier’s killed, but the Indians as well. “We could speed up, but I don’t think it matters now…we are surrounded.” The Ute brave had seen the crow men just a moment before.

“It would be best if I try and speak with them…I do not wish for for either of our parties to be killed.” The brave spurred his horse forward and away from the group shouting in crow that they merely wished to pass and wanted no trouble with the natives. He and the others were fully surrounded by the Crow.

Most of the men cursed, and all reached for their weapons, though no one fired a shot, their eyes looking around them for the Indians. The only one who didn't was Jordan, who watched Kiyiya intently, unsure of what to do in this situation. The Crow had captured him before, and they been going to kill him. With a group this large, however, surely they'd survive and avoid capture.

Kiyiya put his hands above his head in a gesture of peace. One of the Crow braves stepped forward, his bow notched with an arrow. He spoke in a low gruff voice. "Ute warrior why have you brought these white men into Crow lands. You know our laws."

"I was not leading and the kachadas know not our laws...please we only wish to pass through this area. The men only with to return to their home." Kiyiya let his hands fall back to his sides as he spoke. He could see in the other native's eyes that the crow wanted to gut the white men in front of him. The brave knew he had to sweeten the deal. "Perhaps we could trade for passage." The crow nodded and gestured for his men to back down. Kiyiya let out a sigh of relief and led the crow back over to the kachada...Nic.

"Nic, the Crow are willing to let us pass. If you will trade with them...Do you have anymore furs or extra guns?" The brave spoke in English so that the other indian couldn't understand him.

"Give the Injuns our guns?" Nic roared, reaching for his gun.

A shake from Jordan's head stilled the man, though. The male looked to Kiyiya, a rather torn look on his face. "We don't have many furs left, and no one here will give the guns up to them..."

Kiyiya nodded in understanding. If his warriors were in the same position they would not give up their weapons either. He turned to the crow leader and explained the situation. The indian leader gave a scoff of indignation and motioned to his warriors. They drew back their bows to attack.