Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 17:15:06 -0700 (PDT) From: Daniel Running-water Subject: The Heart of a Warrior/ Chapter Ten/ Interracial The Heart of a Warrior By Daniel Running Water Chapter Ten List of characters: Strong Bear 69 Chief Yellow Hawk 50s Strong Bear's husband Hawk aka Thomas Hawk 42 Strong Bear's son Shadow aka Trevor Spenser 42 Twin brothers to Hawk Flaming Arrow aka Clark 40 Married to Hawk Moon Shadow aka Jason 25 son of Shadow and Moon Dancing Captain Bradley Anderson 47 Army doctor Eric Williamson 24 Married to Jason Gary Thompson 39 Head of a movie studio Previously in chapter nine: Suddenly the office door flew open and a photographer started snapping pictures of Eric and Gary. Eric held Gary to his groin so that the photographer could get a clear shot. Gary shoved Eric from him and got up from the sofa, but stumbled over Eric's foot as he tried to run after the photographer. "You are sick Gary... fucking sick," an enraged Eric said. "Isn't it bad enough that you blackmailed me into having sex with you, but now you wanted photos of us doing it," he yelled. "Photos of us having sex... are you insane? I had nothing to do with that man or with him being here," Gary shouted as he grabbed for his pants. "Then who else would knew that you and I would be here doing this?" "I haven't a clue, I thought that you had something to do with it," Gary said, looking closely at Eric, to see if he were lying. "Also, where is Linda today, huh... she is always at her desk and today of all days she's not," Eric asked, fully dressed, his hands fisted and resting on his hips. "I gave her the afternoon off, besides, she is too dumb to think of something like this," he shouted, worried now what would become of the photos. "I am done here Gary, not only with your blackmailing schemes, but also with doing a film with your studio," Eric said, pausing at the door and then slamming the door behind him and smiling as he left. "Don't be so fast there sweetie, for you and I had an agreement," Gary said angrily. "I still can destroy Jason and your career, now get that sweet ass of yours back in here," he demanded. Eric knew that Gary still held the cards that could destroy him and also Jason, so he reluctantly closed the door. Eric was about to strip when a knock on Gary's door caused him to stop and Gary to hurriedly dress. "You just stay right where you are and let me take care of whoever is knocking," Gary ordered as he walked to his office door. When Gary opened the door his mouth dropped in surprise... Now chapter ten: "Gary... what are you doing here?" Gary asked, stepping aside when Gary stepped into the office and locked eyes with Eric. "I've come to get Eric, Gary," Jason said and walked over to Eric, took him into his arms and boldly kissed him, causing Gary gasp. "I'm sure that you can keep a secret Gary, after all, its not just our careers that are on the line, now is it?" "What are you talking... you, it was you that was behind that photographer showing up earlier," Gary shouted and moved hurriedly across the room to where Jason was standing. "I have no idea as to what you are talking about Gary," Jason said smiling. "Don't go playing coy with me Spencer, I'll bury you and your studio if you ever let those pictures leak out," he threatened. "How so Gary, and how would you keep your own career and reputation safe? Yes I was behind those pictures, and I won't hesitate to have them leaked out to the press," he promised, not threatened. "If I hear one word of gossip about Eric and I being in a covert relationship, I'll not only destroy you and your studio, but I'll kill you with my bare hands, Gary." "You release those pictures and you'll be destroying Eric's career also, or have your forgotten that he was the one sucking my cock?" "No Gary, I haven't forgotten, but I made sure that Eric had his face hidden and told the photographer not to catch Eric's face in the photos. You see, the photographer works for me and he got quite a pay increase for taking those photos. I also told him how you were blackmailing him into having illicit sex with you." Gary suddenly sank down in a chair, for he knew that he'd been defeated. His eyes looked up at Jason's and Gary could see the determination that was in them to carry out every word that he had said. "You win Spencer, so when do I get the pictures that you took?" "Now you are playing me for a fool, Thompson. I'll keep the pictures in a safe place and no one but Eric and I shall ever see them." Gary did not like the idea of pictures showing him in a sexual act with another man, just floating around, but he also knew that he had no other choice in the matter. "Get out...get the fuck out of my office," Gary shouted. "Have a good day, Gary," Eric and Jason said in unison as they walked arm in arm from the office. *** Strong Bear stood looking down at the grave of Yellow Hawk and cried. He stood beside his two sons who were also crying. "Twice in my life I have buried my heart," Strong Bear said looking at the grave. "Maybe you shall find another someday," Hawk said, hoping to comfort his father, but Strong Bear only shook his head. "My heart can no longer love again as it did," he resolutely said. "I have known the love of two men that loved me with all that they had in them, and I too loved them as much. No my son, my heart has seen enough love to last it until I too meet them in the hereafter," he added, turning to first Hawk and then Shadow. "Now go back to your husbands and let your father have his last moment with Yellow Hawk." Hawk and Shadow both hugged and kissed Strong Bear before leaving, leaving him to mourn Yellow Hawk in his own way. "I don't like how father is taking this, Hawk," Shadow said as he worried about Strong Bear's mental health. "He's still strong in spirit my brother, father will weather this as he does everything else that life tossed his way. "Look at what Walking Tall said to us about father after he lost White Deer, he almost wasted away from the loss." "And this time shall probably be no different Shadow," Hawk reluctantly admitted. "Only time will tell how he does," he added. "How is Strong Bear doing," Abe asked when he met them coming back to the village. "You know him better than I do, Walking Tall," Hawk said sadly, looking at Abe as if he had lost his best friend. "That bad eh?" he said. "And if I know him at all, he'll just let himself waste away as he did years ago when he lost White Deer." "What can we do Walking Tall, its not like he needs someone to sit with him," Shadow asked. "Even if you were to sit and watch him, he's going to do what he damn well pleases, and besides, he nearly seventy winters old, so I would say that he's lived a very full life." "Ay-uh he has, but still, he's our father and I for one am not ready to bury another father," Hawk said bitterly. "I am going to move him in with Flaming Arrow and me, that way he'll have someone to talk to." "You can try Hawk, but I am telling you that Strong Bear will die first before he lives with you and for that matter you too Shadow." The three men grew quiet when they saw Strong Bear entering the village. Strong Bear walked along and only stopped when a young boy came up to him and gave him a hug. They spoke for a few moments and after Strong Bear ruffled the brave's hair, he walked on smiling toward his cabin. "I wouldn't worry to much about your father, boys, he'll be just fine once he gets past his mourning," Abe advised watching Strong Bear who turned and waved at Abe, before entering his cabin. "Ay-uh, he'll be just fine," he added again. *** The weeks past and Jason and Eric decided that they had waited long enough to take a vacation. They sat quietly in their living room and were discussing their options when Jason saw something move quickly past a window. "Stay here Eric and be prepared to call the police," Jason warned as he hurried to the French door. He pulled it open and stepped out, gliding his eyes over the large expanse of land that made up his back yard. As his gaze moved about, so did whoever he had seen, hurrying from a bush, a boy fled. Jason took off after him and just as the boy tried to crawl over the fence, Jason grabbed him by the waist and pulled him back into the yard and down onto the ground. "What is the idea of trespassing on my property," Jason asked, gazing down into the boy's eyes. The boy had to be around five or six Jason surmised. He had dirty, stringy black hair and from the light that was shining in the boy's eyes, they were as black as midnight. But what got Jason the most, was not how skinny and dirty the boy was, but that he appeared to be Indian. "What is your name son," Jason asked softly, his anger now quieting. "What the fuck does it matter to you mister?" the boy asked bitterly, struggling to get out from under Jason, who was straddling him. "Then let me put it another way boy, do you tell me your name and why you were trespassing, or do you tell it to the police?" The boy looked into the black eyes of Jason and knew he had no options. "Lone Eagle, but most just call me injun," he reluctantly said. "Then why were you trespassing?" Jason asked again. "Someone always sets out a plate of food for me each evening," Lone Eagle said, referring to Jason's cook and housekeeper. "Why would anyone do that," Jason asked as Eric came outside to join them. "Because I cannot stand seeing a child go hungry when we have so much," Eric said as he came up beside Jason. "How are you, Lone Eagle," Eric asked, kneeling down so that he could be eye level with the boy. "Do you know this boy, Eric?" "I really don't know him per say, but I've seen him begging around the studio commissary for food. So I just mentioned within his listening range how someone could find an evening meal on our patio and then said my address." "Lone Eagle thanks you for your kindness, but I shall not trespass anymore," he said turning to leave, but Jason placed his hand softly on the boy's shoulder and stopped him. "I'm sorry Lone Eagle for the way that I treated you earlier," Jason said after he placed a finger under the boy's chin and pulled his head upward. "Why don't you come on in the house and have a bite to eat," Jason asked, holding out his hand to the boy. Lone Eagle stood there for a long moment and then placed his small hand into Jason's and followed him back to the house. Although he knew about Eric's kindness, Lone Eagle still doubted Jason's. "Now please tell me Lone Eagle, why are you alone here in Hollywood, much less in California," Jason asked while Eric went to get the boy something to eat. "My mother's husband, who was not my father, brought us here and then left us," Lone Eagle said, watching Jason's eyes carefully as they spoke. "Then my mother got sick after many long months of looking for food and shelter for us and she never recovered, leaving me alone in this strange city." "How old are you and what tribe do you belong to?" "I am seven winters old and a proud brave of the Choctaw tribe in Mississippi land." He said, puffing is small chest out. "My true father was a proud chief and was killed defending land that a white man left to our tribe." Jason remembered how a white man that had been friends with his father's tribe had left his land to those that stayed behind. He knew that once Walking Tall, their son, learned of this injustice, he'd make it right. "I am Choctaw also, Lone Eagle," he said and the boy's eyes widen with the news. "My father was the chief of my people but stepped down so my uncle could be chief." "Do you think that they would take a young brave into their village?" he asked, looking pleadingly at Jason. "I know that they would, but let's not talk about that now. Eric is back with some food so why don't you eat. We can talk about your options after you finish eating." "Ay-uh," Lone Eagle said and just hearing that Choctaw word caused Jason's heart to yearn for his people. Jason motioned to Eric to join him on the patio, while Lone Eagle ate. "I want to adopt him and raise him as our son," he said softly once they were outside. "Really Jay... you don't know how much that makes me happy. I have been feeding him for almost two weeks now and had wondered how to approach you about taking the boy in." "You were wondering how to approach me... babe, all you had to do was ask me. Have I ever given you a reason to fear asking me anything?" "No, but asking for a new suit or car is nothing compared to asking you to take in a child and raise him as our own," Eric said. "I don't ever want you afraid to ask me anything, darling, now let's go see if our little man is interested." "Yes...oh yes I am interested," Lone Eagle shouted as he burst out onto the patio, rushing into Jason's arms. Jason caught the boy as he leapt into his arms and hugged him tightly to him. Lone Eagle's arms were rapped around Jason's neck as he kissed Jason on the cheek. "Why you little snoop... you were listening to our conversation," Jason said smiling, not wishing to alarm the boy. "Ay-uh," he said, hanging his head in shame. "I needed to know what was going to happen to me," he added in barely a whisper. "Look at me...son," Lone Eagle turned his eyes up to meet those of Jason and had tears in them. "Never lower your head in shame, for you are a mighty Choctaw and always be proud of that. As I know that you heard when I was talking to Eric, I never want you to be afraid to come to us about anything," Jason said, Lone Wolf nodded and then hugged him again. "Then may I ask you why your name is Jason, and not a Choctaw name?" "My name that was given to me at birth was Moon Shadow. It was a combination of my mother and father's names. My mother was Moon Dancing and my father is Shadow." It was then that something struck his memory, remembering back to the way of life for the Choctaw, especially the way of the chief and he smiled. He knew that as long as Hawk remained childless, this boy could someday become chief. "Tomorrow I shall speak to my lawyer and have him arrange the legal papers necessary to adopt Lone Eagle," Jason told both Eric and the boy. "Then who shall be my father," he asked looking from Jason, to Eric and then back to Jason. "We will both be your father," Jason said, watching the look of bewilderment on Lone Eagles face. Jason sighed, for now it was time for him to explain his and Eric's way of life to the boy. "I need you to listen very carefully to what I am about to tell you, Lone Eagle, and once I am done, you can decide if you still wish to live with us." Jason, Eric and Lone Eagle walked over to the sofa and sat down, with Lone Eagle between Jason and Eric. "Lone Eagle... I... Eric...oh how am I going to do this Eric," Jason said looking over to Eric for help. "What Jason is trying to say, Lone Eagle, is that he and I are in love and we live together as a married couple," Eric said plain and simple to the boy. "Like my mother and true father did?" he asked. "Yes, but the only difference is that we are both men." Jason added. "Then you are what my people say as having two spirits," Lone Eagle said, surprising them with his knowledge. "Exactly, we both have two spirits," Eric said reaching past Lone Eagle to take Jason's hand. "And white people accept this also?" Lone Eagle asked. "No they don't son, but so far only our people have accepted it. Also son, we don't go around announcing that we are married either. We keep our love quiet from others." Jason said, now comfortable about his and Eric's relationship. "So now that you know about how we live, do you still want to be our son?" "Ay-uh... I am happy to be your son, father," he said hugging Jason. "I am also happy to have you for a father," he said to Eric and then hugged him also. "Why don't we go to your family's village and share our new son with your family?" Eric suggested. "Yes, I would like that, what about you son, would you enjoy meeting more of your new family," Jason asked and the boy nodded, because he was fighting back his need to cry. "Did your mother ever teach you about her people, their ways," Jason asked. "No papa, she wished me to grow up as a white so that I could reap the benefits of their society, she had told me." "Then I shall see that you are taught all that being a Choctaw can be," he promised. "I was raised in the ways of the Choctaw, Lone Eagle, and I am much better for it." Jason missed his Choctaw roots, but he knew that he could not... would not ever return to living as poorly as his people do. He no longer wanted to experience the hatred and prejudice that he felt growing up. "My grandfather shall love teaching you the ways of our people," Jason said, gazing down into the wide eyed boy who was hanging on is every word. "But first things first, I need to make you legally ours," he said looking over Lone Eagle at Eric, whose eyes were glossed over with tears of happiness. *** "Father, please, you need to eat or else you'll waste away," Hawk said, sitting beside Strong Bear, who sat stoically staring into the fire. "I do not wish to eat, nor do I wish to live any longer," Strong Bear said. "So you seek the coward's way out," Hawk asked, knowing that his words had to have cut deeply into his father's soul. Strong Bear quickly turned his eyes toward Hawk, grumbled beneath his breath and then turned them back to stare once again into the fire. "You are just being stubborn, father," Hawk angrily said and got up abruptly, leaving Strong Bear alone as he hurried from the cabin. "How is our father today," Shadow asked, seeing the anger in his brother's eyes. "He still refuses to eat and join the land of the living," Hawk told his brother. "There has got to be a way to pull father back to us and the living," Shadow said. "There just has to be," he sighed as he thought about ways to do this. *** Strong Bear sat so quietly in front of the fire that one would have to feel his pulse to see if he were alive. His heart was completely broken, as was his spirit. He missed his Yellow Hawk so much that nothing but Yellow Hawk mattered to him. There was something else... no it was someone else that pulled at his heart, White Deer. Strong Bear lowered his head and drifted off into a trance, as if his body and soul had separated, with his soul drifting aimlessly off into the spirit realm. As he fell deeper into the realm of sleep, he felt his soul leaving his body behind. He gazed down and saw himself sleeping and gasped. "I have died and now I am beginning my walk to the hereafter," he said, no longer feeling afraid, but joyous to see White Deer and Yellow Hawk again. "No my husband, you have not died, but I have been allowed by the Great Spirit to return to you in this realm. We are neither in the land of the living, nor in the land of dead, but between them where all life and time comes to a halt," White Deer said, suddenly beside Strong Bear. "Gah-ween, surely this isn't so," Strong Bear said, shocked to see his first husband standing in front of him, young and handsome again. "Ay-uh, I am here and we have been blessed with a time to share what we once had, for the Great Spirit has seen your pain and felt your loss. White Deer could see many questions in Strong Bear's eyes, the most important being his Yellow Hawk's whereabouts. "Yes my husband, Yellow Hawk is among us and waiting for you, but he is not yet able to come to you. He heard when our Great Spirit told me that I should come to be with you and asked me to tell you that he loves you." "I was blessed with two men that loved me and me, them," Strong Bear said, seeing how handsome White Deer looked. White Deer looked as handsome and young as he did when he and Strong Bear had first met, before life and the hardness of life had aged them. Strong Bear gasped and quickly moved into White Deer's arms when he held them out to Strong Bear, beckoning him to come into his sweet embrace. "I love you White Deer, and even though I was blessed with finding Yellow Hawk for a mate, you never left my heart," Strong Bear said, and then lowered his mouth to White Deer's in a kiss that was not only emotional, but all consuming too. "It was our love for each other that I took with me, my love," White Deer said, resting his head against Strong Bear's chest. "Can I... am... am I allowed to make love to you, my heart?" Strong Bear asked, holding White Deer in his arms. "Ay-uh my husband, come and I shall take us to a place that is familiar to you," White Deer said and when he took Strong Bear by the hand, a mist enveloped them for a moment. When the mist had lifted, Strong Bear and White Deer where standing beside a water fall, the very one that they had made love beside when they were but young men. "This is the place where we made love together for the first time," Strong Bear said, seeing how beautiful it was and when he looked into the mirror like reflection of the water, he too was young. "Ay-uh my dear, sweet husband for you are young also," White Deer said, stepping away from Strong Bear to get a better look at his husband. Strong Bear stepped closer to his White Deer and framed his face with his hands, pulling his mouth to his in a sweet kiss. "I love you and I need you, White Deer," Strong Bear whispered against White Deer's lips. "I love you also, my husband," White Deer whispered back, weaving his fingers through Strong Bear's raven black hair and urging Strong Bear's lips to his in a heated kiss. Ecstasy coursed through Strong Bear and White Deer with such an intensity that both men nearly dropped to their knees, the moment was that intense. While they kissed, White Deer slid his hands down Strong Bear's sides and when he came to the waistband of Strong Bear's loincloth, he eased his fingers beneath it and slowly eased it over his husband's hip, letting it drop to the ground where it puddled around his ankles. When Strong Bear had stepped from them and his manhood free, White Deer wrapped his fingers around Strong Bear's sex and gently moved his hand up and down on the shaft until it had reached its full length. White Deer closed his eyes and reveled at the way Strong Bear moaned and grew rigid in his hand, remembering how it was that first time together. He moved his hand on Strong Bear's engorged member until he felt Strong Bear's moan changing to a climatic groan and he released his grasp and stepped away from Strong Bear, hurriedly undressing and letting Strong Bear look at him. "Let's go to paradise together, my love," White Deer whispered and Strong Bear stepped forward, lifting White Deer into his arms. As he walked over to a thick bed of moss, White Deer tenderly nibbled and sucked on Strong Bear's nipples, causing Strong Bear to sigh with ecstasy. He lowered White Deer down to the moss and covered White Deer's body with his own. "It has been to many moons since I have felt your body joined with mine," Strong Bear whispered and White Deer gasped when he felt Strong Bear's mouth surround his nipple and gently bite it. "Ay-uh my husband... it has been far too many moons," White Deer sighed, as he entwined his fingers through Strong Bear's thick hair and held him to his breast. Strong Bear's mouth moved to White Deer's and his tongue began seeking... searching and probing as their bodies pressed tighter together in love's embrace. Unable to wait for their bodies to join as one, White Deer lifted his legs in surrender and sighed when Strong Bear thrust his manhood deep into White Deer's heat. White Deer became lost in ecstasy, shuddering with each deep, long stroke that Strong Bear gave him and he lifted up to meet them eagerly. Their hunger was mutual and only their love for each other could control it. White Deer's body molded perfectly to Strong Bear's, his head tossing to and fro as Strong Bear's lips found a nipple and suckled it. White Deer found himself moving rapidly closer to the precipice of his climax and pushed Strong Bear away from him, needing to put off their climax. White Deer knew that once they had both found paradise, his time in this realm would come to an end. Strong Bear's eyes widen when he found himself on his back and White Deer now straddling him. White Deer reached behind him, wrapped his fingers around Strong Bear's throbbing sex and gently lowered his warm, velvet sheath down onto it, surrounding Strong Bear's sex with warmth. Leaning back and placing a hand on each of Strong Bear's thighs, White Deer began riding his husband's cock. His hips rose and fell while his muscles tightened around Strong Bear's sex, milking it. Strong Bear reached up, moved his hands to White Deer's chest and began running his thumbs around his taut nipples, hardening them more. He pinched and twisted them; causing White Deer to toss his head back in ecstasy as his ass moved urgently on Strong Bear's sex. "You have me so close darling...oh so close," White Deer moaned, feeling his pleasure rising. Strong Bear quickly turned them over and once again, he was on top and thrusting deeply into White Deer's ass. White Deer clung to Strong Bear and moaned as Strong Bear's thrusts became more urgent... more demanding. Strong Bear's arms held White Deer closer...tighter as his mouth took White Deer's in a savage kiss, their tongues dueling for supremacy until White Deer surrendered and both men felt their ecstasy building, as if a volcano were inside them spreading its fire through them. "I'm cumming darling," White Deer moaned and spewed his seed between their entangled bodies. Strong Bear felt his husband's ecstasy and surrendered to the same wild ecstasy as he thrust harder and deeper into White Deer, releasing his seeds. "Aaaiiiieeee," Strong Bear yelled out in complete bliss as his seeds spewed from his manhood. His hips pounded his cock deeper, faster and with passion as he found total ecstasy in White Deer's body. Both spent and gasping for normalcy in their breathing, Strong Bear refused to pull away, but clung to White Deer as if his very arms could continue to hold him there. "My time is over Strong Bear," White Deer said. "Another is coming that has much to tell you," he added, moving from beneath Strong Bear and suddenly dressed as he stood looking down at his husband. "Remember this love, remember my love and how deep it is for you," he said with a smile. Strong Bear quickly stood, grabbed White Deer into his arms and kissed him heatedly, refusing to relinquish his hold. When he finally broke his kiss, he gasped when he found that he was now holding Yellow Hawk in his arms. "Hello my darling husband," Yellow Hawk whispered. Strong Bear stepped back, surprised to find White Deer gone and Yellow Hawk now standing before him. "I am loosing my mind...truly this cannot be happening," Strong Bear said. "You are not loosing your mind darling, this is all very real," Yellow Hawk said, lunging into Strong Bear's arms and kissing him fervently. "How...how can this be?" he asked. "First I make love to White Deer and while I am kissing him, it is you that I am kissing," Strong Bear asked, running his fingers through his hair. "Your love was so great and strong that you had for us, that it was that love that allowed us to come back to you, but for a brief moment." Yellow Hawk told him, smiling warmly at the only man that he had ever given his heart to. "Moment...but it was more than a moment that I spent with White Deer," he reasoned with Yellow Hawk. "To you it was, but to those of us here, it was but a breath of time. I do not have the time to spend in your arms, for I have not yet reached paradise with the Great Spirit yet. I am still on my journey but you love allowed you to walk with me for a while," he told him and when Strong Bear looked around him, he was surprised to see that he and Yellow Hawk were indeed on a road in the clouds. "Am I dead?" he asked, seeing his body far below. "Gah-ween my love, you are not dead," Yellow Hawk said with a chuckle and then sighed, knowing that his time was brief. "I have much that I would like to tell you, my love. But for now I shall tell you this, you shall have many more winters before we stand together in paradise," Strong Bear's eyes grew sad, for he did not want to live but he wanted to be with the two men that he had loved. "Gah-ween Yellow Hawk, I do not wish to return to the land of the living," he argued, knowing that it would not be his will done, but the Great Spirit's will. "You are still needed on earth and have much to teach our grandchildren and yes, even a great grandchild before your time to join White Deer and I is fulfilled," Yellow Hawk told him. "But I have taught our sons everything that they need to know to be proud men for our people," he argued, still hoping to stay. "This is true Strong Bear, but they have forgotten much and it has fallen onto you to teach their children and their children's children our people's ways." "How can this be, for Hawk and Flaming Arrow have no children and as for Shadow, his son Moon Shadow is single and without children also," he stated. "He knows the way of our people, oh please let me go with you," he begged. Strong Bear could feel that his hand was loosing its grip on Yellow Hawk's and he panicked. "Gah-ween... please stay Yellow Hawk, for I cannot bear to lose you again," he pleaded as he felt his spirit being pulled away. "Soon my love...soon we all shall be together is paradise," Yellow Hawk said. "But your time is not done on earth, for you have much to do before you and I can be as one again," he confessed and then he pulled Strong Bear into his arms and kissed him. "Go and purify your body in the river when you awaken," he added and then kissed him again, but more powerfully. Strong Bear closed his eyes and held tightly to Yellow Hawk as they kissed, and when he opened his eyes again, he was sitting in his cabin before the fire that blazed in the fireplace. He smiled. "Thank you Great Spirit for my life and for allowing me one more time with White Deer," he thankfully whispered, casting his eyes to the door of his cabin as it quickly opened. "Father, what is wrong," Hawk asked as he hurried to his father's side, kneeling down beside him as he took the man into his embrace. Strong Bear lifted his tear filled eyes to meet those of his son and smiled. Hawk was confused by this sudden change in his father's demeanor, and after helping the man to his feet, he urged him into a chair. Hawk gasped when he saw a glow about Strong Bear, illuminating his face as if he had seen the very face of the Great Spirit. "Now tell your son what it is that has put this glow on your face," Hawk asked, kneeling at his father's feet. Strong Bear ran his hand softly over Hawk's handsome face and began to tell him of the adventure that he had just had. Hawk listened intently to every word that Strong Bear said and when his father was done speaking, he gasped in wonder. "Surely you have been given a great gift from our Great Spirit, my father," Hawk said to Strong Bear, who was still holding Hawk's face in his hands. "There is still much that I must do before I am allowed to travel the path of the hereafter," Strong Bear said softly and stood quickly to his feet. "I need to go to the river and bathe," he said as he hurried from the cabin, leaving a stunned Hawk behind. To be continued... I know that this was kind of different and I welcome your thoughts and opinions... danielrunningwater@yahoo.com please do take a moment and let me know what you like or dislike about the story. Although I enjoy hearing from those few that have been reading since the first part of my Heart Series, I would love to hear from you others that think I am being bombarded with emails, when in truth I am not. Daniel