Arshi FF - Dusty Haven - [TH#2 Link on Index Pg 1] - Page 46

Chapter 11 - Cliff Hanger

The sun rose over the flat horizon in the East. The glowing colors spread across the sky announcing the arrival of another hot day in New Mexico. Khushi crawled out of the chuck wagon, surprised at how well she'd slept. She hadn't expected to, but she had - a dreamless, peaceful sleep. 

Arnav on the other hand had lain awake watching the stars move in the heavens, until the faint lightening of the night sky had finally made him close his drowsy eyes. Only to be woken up by the clanging of JP's breakfast 'bell.' He sighed and rolled out of his blanket, pulling on his boots, before reaching for his hat and his guns. His eyes did a quick survey and found Khushi sitting on the steps of the wagon, drinking coffee. He rolled his poncho and blanket up, and went looking for his horse. 

They had to start the cattle rolling soon, he thought, as he tightened the stirrup on Shadow. He saw Malone doing the same for Red and hid a smile. It was amusing, at the very least. None of his cowhands had made one remark at the presence of a woman in their midst. In fact, they'd been on their best behavior around her! 

Heading over to the wagon, he asked JP for breakfast. 

'You late today, ASR,' JP said, as he put the plate in Arnav's hand. 

Khushi heard him and her eyes met Arnav's over her cup. 

'Couldn't sleep, JP,' he answered seriously as he held her eyes. Her eyes widened and he watched with interest as the rosy glow on her cheeks rivaled the ones on the clouds in the sky. 

He was still a little annoyed with her, but the truth was, he needed to fuel that annoyance, to keep it alive. He hadn't meant to kiss her. But once he'd touched her lips, he'd lost himself in the softness, the completely untutored feel of them. She wasn't experienced, he could tell that. He'd wondered if he were the first. That to him, was like a prize he didn't even know he'd won. He'd talked about the men, and protection for her from them. In reality, he needed to protect her from himself. He couldn't deny that every time he'd touched her, it had felt like the most natural thing in the world. Like his hands were made to touch her, there was an ease, a familiarity about it. As if he knew the feel of her skin under his. And when he'd kissed her, it was like he'd come home. That she was the missing piece of the puzzle that was his life. There was a rightness to the kiss! He wasn't inexperienced, yet with her, every little thing was a brand new, fresh experience. 

He'd never felt like that with any woman before. This worried him - a lot! So he took refuge in sarcasm to stop from making a fool of himself. 

Arnav Singh Raizada shook off those thoughts. These were nothing but a distraction on the range. He had work to do, and cattle to find and bring home. So he leapt on his horse and started his day.

The men had started moving the cattle already, and the air was filled with the lowing of the cows, the neighing of horses, the earth-moving rumble of a thousand hooves. A red cloud of dust rose from the beasts as they moved - almost like a single body. Arnav sat on his horse, and watched as his men worked to keep the cows bunched together. He felt, rather than saw Khushi come up to him, seated on Red, as she took in the awesome sight in front of her. He turned his head to look at her, noting the wide-eyed expression on her face. 

'Never seen one of these before?' he asked her, raising his voice to make himself heard. 

She shook her head, her lips parting to reveal her pearl-like teeth, her eyes entranced on the moving ocean of animals. 'I've never. Not so many together,' she yelled back, still not looking at him. 

They waited till the cows had moved away and then he said, 'Come on, I'll take you to the trail and you can follow it home.' 

Her eyes still followed the cows heading away, as she nodded. 'Right. Let's go,' she sighed. 'I know you want this liability out of your sight.'

'Khushi,' he rolled his eyes. 'I didn't mean it quite like that.'

'It doesn't matter, Arnav,' she said, lightly slapping Red on the butt, moving the horse to a canter. 

He caught up with her, and they rode in silence towards the trail. He slowed down as they came to it, the silence around them broken only by the sound of horses' hooves striking the dusty earth below them. 

'That's it,' he pointed to a tree about a mile away. 'Follow that trail. You should be fine.' 

She moved her horse forward and he said, 'Khushi, do you want me to come with you?'

She turned around, and looked at him, eyes narrowed. She pulled the rifle out of the saddle holster and said, 'I can take care of myself, Arnav. This time, I'm riding with guns drawn.'

'Stay on the trail, and if anything happens, just stay on it. Don't go off the trail, okay? This stays inside the Circle-R and you should be at Boxed-Lightning by afternoon.'

She nodded, and turned around. He watched her go and then turned Shadow around. Kicking the horse into a gallop, he followed the trail of the cattle. 

Khushi twisted around in her seat and watched him go, before kicking Red herself and the horse broke into a canter. She'd barely gone any distance when suddenly, she heard it, the sound of wind in dry leaves, like the shaking of a rattle. Red reared up, the whites of his eyes showing at the rattle sat in the middle of the trail. He neighed wildly, his lips drawn back over his teeth, while Khushi tried to bring him under control, and he bucked again. 'Down, boy!' she yelled, clinging on to the reins, the horse dancing wildly under her, panicking in the face of this natural enemy. The rattler shook its rattles again, as it raised it head, and Red bolted!

She screamed once, and then hung on for dear life. For the second time in two days, Red galloped like the wind. She tried to pull the reins and slow him down, but the horse was running for its life now. He paid no heed to his mistress. 'Calm down, boy!' she cried, trying to stay in the saddle as he headed straight towards the mountains, slipping along the boulders, putting distance between himself and that snake.

Arnav heard Red neigh and then he heard her scream. He turned Shadow around and saw Red already galloping away. 'Git!' he cried and Shadow obeyed. Running after the runaway horse. 'Khushi!' he whispered, as his mind screamed her name. She couldn't control the horse, he could see. Thankfully, the appaloosa was a bigger, more powerful horse and he drew closer to her. He could hear her screaming at the horse. 'Calm down, Khushi,' he murmured, his heartbeat drumming along with his horse's hooves. 

He followed the red horse, knowing what lay ahead, his heart in his throat. 'Stop, Red! Stop!' he cried. And then he saw it. The red horse came to the edge of a cliff and stopped short, its rear legs skidding under it, lowering his back, twisting around to avoid death. He watched horrified as Khushi was tossed over the horse's head, screaming as she hit the ground and rolled over the lip of the cliff. 

'Khushiii!' he screamed as Shadow brought him closer to the edge. He pulled on the reins, slowing the horse to a stop. Red stood tossing his head, shaking and snorting at the edge of the cliff, foam on his haunches. He ran to the edge and looked down. Khushi lay unmoving on a narrow ledge about twenty feet below him. Her arm was caught at the edge on a tree, one leg dangling off the ledge. Her eyes were closed and he could see blood on her forehead.

He ran to Shadow and grabbed the lasso hanging off the saddle. Quickly tying a knot around the pommel, he put his arms through the noose at the other end, and tightened it under his arm pits. Holding onto the rope, he led Shadow to the edge of the cliff, patting him to stop. He walked to the edge and with the rope playing out through his fingers, he lowered himself carefully over it. Finding a foothold was difficult, the cliff face was almost smooth. He found one and then another, taking care to keep Khushi in sight all the time. She didn't move or make a sound. He jumped the last few feet, landing on the ledge close to her legs. There was barely any place for both of them. He loosened the noose around himself and crouched down next to her, bringing down the arm stuck in the tree, and then her other arm. Lifting her, he worked the noose around both of them. He touched her left shoulder and his heart almost stopped. He could feel something wasn't right. The arm hung loose. But he had to get her up there first, and then get her to the Doc. He worked the noose under her arms too, one arm around her, twisting the rope around his other arm. He tugged on it, and then felt the slack being taken up, as Shadow slowly backed away.

The big horse pulled them up, steadily. Arnav put his feet against the wall of the cliff, his right arm screaming as it took both their weights, her one arm around his neck, the other hanging limply. He held her dead weight on his left arm, gripping her waist. His head was tilted upwards, and he was five feet away from the top, now. Just a little more to go, he gritted his teeth, feeling the bite of the rope through his shirt and his arm. 

'Piishii, my brother' he heard a guttural, gravely voice. He looked up, blinking through the sweat in his eyes. A red face peered over the edge. 

'Shining Cloud,' he murmured, looking thankfully at the Chief's son. 

The man held out his hand as Arnav was pulled smoothly towards the top, helping hands pulling on the rope, aiding Shadow. Arnav put his hand in Shining Cloud's hand and he finally made it over the ledge. 

There were five of them. Apache braves. Young, like Arnav, in the prime of their youth. Their burnished bodies glistening in the sun, muscles rippling and gliding under the skin. They were not painted for war, but were obviously out for hunting, the carcass of a deer slung across the back of one man's horse. One of them was soothing Red, while another held Shadow's reins. Shining Cloud and Arnav had been friends for a long time. Their paths crossing over time, their relationship solidifying with their mutual respect for each other as honorable men.

The braves looked curiously at Khushi as Shining cloud spoke to Arnav in Apache. 'Who is the woman?'

Arnav sat gulping in deep breaths of air. The adrenaline was fading away, and the reaction of relief was beginning to set in. He looked down at her. Khushi still was in his arms, the one good hand clinging to his shirt. 'Khushi,' he gasped in reply.

The brave frowned, 'Khushi?'

Arnav looked at her pale face and said softly, surprising himself, 'shi'aad.'

Shining Cloud nodded impassively as he helped Arnav out of the rope. 'She is hurt,' he said. 

Arnav felt along her legs and her hands. Everything seemed all right. Except for that left shoulder. He could see the lump where there should have been smooth curves. She would be in pain, better to let her stay unconscious. 'Her shoulder, the bones are out,' he told Shining Cloud.

'Bring her to the diyi, the medicine man,' said Shining Cloud. 'He has good medicine.'

Arnav would rather have taken Khushi back to Yerba and Akash. However, he knew it would be disrespectful to deny the diyi for the sake of the white man's medicine that Akash practiced. Then again, the Apache village was closer, and Khushi would get relief faster. So he nodded his head and said, 'let us go.'

They waited till he got in the saddle, and then handed Khushi over to him. He'd used his bandana as a sling to immobilize her hand. One of the braves took Red's reins and the small party made their way to the Apache village. 

*****

Khushi groaned as she felt the sun on her face. Her head hurt, her whole body hurt, but the biggest source of pain was her shoulder. It was hurting, hammering pain slicing through it, with each bounce and jostle. She opened her eyes carefully, looking up at a stubbled jaw, as the owner looked down at her. 

'Arnav?' she barely said it aloud. 

He glanced down at her, his eyes quickly looking over her face. He held a little closer and said, 'Shh. I've got you,' he said softly. 'You're okay now'

'I hurt,' she murmured.

'I know,' he said, looking down, meeting her eyes, her pain reflected in his. 'Just hold on, okay?' 

She tried to nod, wincing her head at the fresh pain the movement started, and thankfully blacked out again.

It was almost mid-afternoon by the time they reached the village. People came running out of their wigwams. Chief Still Water watched his son lead Arnav's horse, as he used both his hands to hold Khushi. 

Two women ran forward, taking her from his arms. He let go reluctantly, but the grueling climb had stiffened his muscles considerably, and he was glad to let the burden go.

'Welcome, Piishii,' said the Chief, his wise eyes taking in Arnav's appearance. 'It has been a while. What happened?'

'I need medicine for her,' Arnav said, bowing to him, respectfully. 

The Chief nodded once. He turned his head and looked towards an elderly man, whose hair was grey, but his body had the tightness of a young man. The women took khushi into one of the wigwams, while the chief beckoned Arnav to follow him. Shining Cloud joined them, and they sat down near a fire in the center of the village. Still Water looked at Arnav, who haltingly explained what had happened to Khushi, when Shining Cloud found them. 

'It is good my son found you,' the Chief said. 

'I thank him for that,' Armav replied. 

'Who is she?'

'Khushi, shi'aad,' Arnav answered looking him straight in the eye. 

For a moment, the Chief's impenetrable mask slipped, a brief twist of his lips, almost like a smile, ghosted across his face, before the mask was back in place.

The diyi came forward, his face painted with the colors of his magic, and bowed. They followed him to the wigwam where Khushi had been taken. 

Arnav wasn't prepared to see how pale she looked lying there. The women had cleaned her face, and her hair was open, loose to allow access to the cut on her forehead, fanning out on the rug behind her. Her long lashes were crescents of darkness on her white cheeks. He knelt down beside her on the buffalo skins ,that were piled to make a comfortable bed. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around, panicking when she realized there wasn't a known face! She opened her mouth to scream. 

He saw her expression, and held her hand, her head twisting towards him at the touch. 'Arnav?' fear was written large on her face, as she struggled to get up. 

'Hush,' he murmured. 'We're among friends. You need help, I brought you here.'

She looked into his eyes, the panic fading a little, until another thought struck her. 'Red?'

'He's fine. He's here, being looked after. Don't worry,' he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and gently kissed her forehead, not knowing what prompted him to do so. He raised his eyes as he heard the tittering of the women in the room. 

The diyi turned and said something to the Chief, who asked everybody except two older women and Arnav to leave. He followed them out. 

The diyi held out a bowl for Khushi. She looked at it and then looked at Arnav. 

He nodded at her. 'Go on, drink it.' He took the bowl and held it to her lips. She sipped it, finding the concoction neither delicious nor unpalatable. He put the bowl down and sat down with an arm around her waist, leaving her injured shoulder free. She leaned back against him feeling light headed. 

The diyi sat down next to her, and gently touched her shoulder. Surprisingly, all she felt was a dull throb. His fingers lightly ran over the cloth of her shirt, probing, feeling, a frown of concentration on his face. He turned to the women and spoke to them. 

Arnav got up as they spoke and told Khushi, 'he needs to have your shirt off. The women will help you, okay?'

She nodded, not wanting to let go of him, but knowing he needed to step aside. The women wrapped her in a shawl and gently took off her shirt, tying the shawl under her injured shoulder. He turned around and saw the shoulder for the first time. It was ugly, the bones sticking just under the skin, a large purple bruise marring the ivory whiteness, swollen obscenely. Her eyes were half-closed, drooping with sedative that the diyi had given her. 

'Hold her. It will hurt,' the diyi told him. 

'Khushi?' he softly called her. Her long thick eyelashes fluttered. 'I'm right here. It'll hurt a bit.' She nodded drowsily. One of the women handed him a wooden spoon. 'What's this for?' he asked her.

'Put in her mouth. To bite on,' she replied. 

He nodded, and gently placed the spoon in Khushi's mouth. She looked at him perplexed. The diyi lit a small fire and slowly began chanting something rhythmically, as his hands moved over her shoulder. Even through her haze she could feel the heat from his hands, warming her, taking away the pain. He took a deep breath, and yanked the arm with all his strength, one hand holding her down, the other pulling.

She tried to scream, a hoarse guttural sound ripping through her as Arnav hung on to her, her body convulsing with the sudden incredible pain that flashed through her, tearing through her consciousness as she went limp again in his arms. 

Arnav had closed his eyes as soon as she'd screamed. Feeling her dead weight, his eyes snapped open. The diyi's face was soft as he looked at her shoulder. The curves all fit into the places that they should have. He looked up at him, his eyes thanking him for putting Khushi out of pain. 'Thank you,' he said in relief.

'Her bones have not broken. She is lucky,' the diyi said. Arnav nodded, feeling exhausted all of a sudden.

The diyi put out the fire. He handed over a paste to the women, and told them to apply it to the large bruise that still looked as ugly as it had been, and the cuts on her head and scratches on her arms. He wrapped a strip of cloth around her shoulder tightly, holding it in place. 

'She will need to keep that cloth there for the next two days. She will be fine. You need not fear, Piishii,' he said. Arnav nodded. 'Let her sleep. But wake her later and give her some food,' the diyi continued his instructions. The two women nodded as Arnav followed the diyi out of the wigwam. 

He breathed in deeply of the clean, fresh air, the smell of cooking around him, suddenly making him realize how hungry he was. 

Shining Cloud came up to him, 'come, brother. Mother has asked you to eat with us.'

He nodded gratefully, casting one glance at the opening of the wigwam where Khushi lay. 

'She will be fine,' Shining Cloud assured him. 

****

Chapter 12 - Suena (Dream)

Khushi woke up, her head feeling thick and dull. The last rays of the sun had gone behind the mountains, leaving only a shadowless light. She looked around and saw the two older women, who sat there, talking quietly. Her throat felt dry and her shoulder throbbed, but it wasn't as painful as it had been the day before. 

'Water.' Her voice came out cracked. They turned to her and one of them got up and poured water into a bowl. She helped Khushi up and held the bowl to her lips. Khushi drank thirstily, finding the water sweet and cool, quenching her thirst.

'Where's Arnav?' she asked in English. They looked at her blankly. 

Khushi blinked. They didn't understand a word so she tried again, pointing to herself, 'Khushi,' pointing outwards, 'Arnav,' shaking her hand in the universal where sign, 'Where?'

They looked like they understood her this time, and one of them put up her hand, palm out, the sign for 'wait.' She went out of the wigwam and Khushi lay back again, waiting for him.

Arnav sat beside Shining Cloud, gazing into the fire. They had been talking for a while now, and he's told him about what was happening with Box-Lightning. They talked about the messages that they got from the other tribes, what new things were happening with the railroad. The drought that was always a danger here in the South-West. Arnav's acquisition of the Box-Lightning had lightened some of the Apache's worry, as they got a lot of their water from there. He was their friend and would ensure that they continued to get water from there. They didn't know the new owners and he told them that Khushi was the daughter of the house. 

The old woman interrupted their conversation. Khushi had woken up, and was looking for Arnav, she thought. She would go and get something for Khushi to eat. The two men walked over to the wigwam and entered. Khushi was sitting up, the shawl still draped modestly across her, her shoulder still in the cloth bandage. 

'Khushi,' Arnav said as they sat on cross-legged on the ground, in front of her. It was only then that she noticed how Arnav was dressed. His jeans and shirt were gone. In its stead, he wore a soft buckskin shirt, with fringes along the side and the chest, with silver work along the hem, the buttonless neckline open in a vee to reveal a small sliver of his chest. The boots had been replaced by moccasins and a pair of soft buckskin trousers, similar to Shining Cloud's, encased his long legs. He wore no hat and no guns. 

'This is my friend, Shining Cloud,' he introduced her. The Apache nodded at her. 'He helped save us today.' 

Khushi smiled at him shyly and said, 'please tell him, I thank him.'

Arnav translated. They talked for a while, Khushi and Shining Cloud did, with Arnav as interpreter, until the lady brought a flat bowl with bread and beans for Khushi. She had only one hand free, so Arnav held the bowl while she ate. Her hair blew onto her face, and he tucked it back gently behind her ear. 

When she'd finished, he helped her drink water and then told her to lie down. 

'Arnav,' she complained. 'I'm not sleepy.'

Shining Cloud said something, to which the older woman smiled and Arnav glared at Shining Cloud. Khushi looked from one face to the other, not understanding what was going on. Shining Cloud pointed a finger at Arnav and said, 'Shikaa,'

She frowned at him, pointed at Arnav as well, and said, 'shikaa?' 

Shining Cloud nodded gravely. 

'Oh!' she looked at Arnav, who had an exasperated look on his face. 'I'll call you shikaa from now on,' she muttered. 

'No!' he exclaimed.

'Why not?' she giggled at him. 

'You won't call me shikaa. Arnav is just fine,' he growled. 

She had no idea what the word meant, but if it annoyed Arnav, then that's what she would call him, she thought. She yawned suddenly, and they all laughed at her. 

'Get some sleep,' he said, getting up. 'I'll be back later.' She nodded, struggling to keep her eyes open. 

**** 

Arnav came back later into the wigwam. Much later, when darkness had settled over the land, and the stars had begun their journey across the skies, the Milky Way clearly visible on this cloudless night. It was cold outside and he was glad of the fire left burning in the wigwam. It was cosy in here. 

Khushi slept on the rugs, favoring her shoulder. She didn't move as he took off his shirt, his chest muscles glinting in the light from the fire. He pulled out a clean shirt from his saddle bag and tugged it on. He looked around, wondering where to sleep. The only place was the pile of blankets in which Khushi slept.

He crawled into one corner of the blankets, and tugged one over himself, closing his eyes and dropping into sleep. He tossed and turned for a while, his sleep light, uncomfortable. 

He finally sat up and pulled the blanket over both of them, putting his arm around her, feeling her soft curves fit into his, as he finally fell asleep with her in his arms.

*****

The eagle soared above the high mountains, gazing down on the pine forests below. The red hues of the sandstone mountains, blazed in the early morning light, towering above the pines. The wide open spaces far away to the East lay like a golden blanket on the ground. To the West the sky was still dark, the last remnants of night fading away quickly. The clouds ran across the blue of the turquoise sky, like the silver the Navajo made jewelry out of. The eagle flew in circles, lower and lower drifting down. The Pueblo river meandered along the bottom of the ravine, it's water as blue as the sky above, as green as the trees below.

He looked down through the eagle's eyes, as it flew now as straight as the arrow from a warrior's bow, and gently sat on a high branch. He could smell the pine and hear the rustling sound of the needles in the breeze. Here below the mountains, it was darker, darker than it had been above. He looked around. There were no animals, no birds, nothing moved. All waited still as life. 

'Why are we here again?' he asked.

The eagle shook its head, frowning. He stayed quiet, unwilling to break the silence then. 

'Look!' said the eagle. 

He gazed down on the forest floor. The deer made it's way, daintily walking through the green shade. It was white and it glowed with a light. A light that gave shone on everything around it. It's antlers stood tall, as high as the deer itself, even as it bent its head to eat the grass.

'There lies your answer,' the eagle whispered.

He ran across the clearing, towards the deer. It lifted up its head. It's eyes looked at him and he stopped, unable to move. 

She stood next to the deer. Her pretty white dress floating in the breeze. Her eyes big and gray-green, looking at him in amaze recognition. He stopped and smiled at her. 

'It is you!' he said. 

'Shikaa?' she asked. 

'Yes, shi'aad,' he replied. 

*****

Arnav blinked his eyes open. He felt the warm and comfortable, cocooned from the cold air of the night. Something lay heavy on his arm. He looked down. Khushi was snuggled into him, a soft smile on her lips. 'Shi'aad,' he whispered to himself. 

****

She ran across the meadow, her hair flying in the wind. Pretty yellow flowers dotted the dark green of the tall grass around her. So tall that she was almost lost in them.

She walked to the edge of the meadow, and saw the brook gurgling by. Sunlight sparkled on the surface, like a hazy mirror, flashing light into her eyes. She closed her eyes at the brilliance of the rays. 

Slowly she opened them again and saw it. 

It was white and it glowed with a light like the sunlight came from within it. A light that shone on everything around it. It's antlers stood tall, as high as the deer itself, 

'You called?' the deer asked. 

'Yes,' she said. 'Why did he do that?' Her eyes were wide, the wondrous feeling still captured in them. 

'It is for you to find the answer,' the deer replied, tossing its head, daintily picking its way through the stones. 

She followed it. 'How can I find the answer?' 

'Come with me,' it replied. 

She ran alongside it, as it leapt over stones, hardly touching its hooves on the grass. They came to a forest clearing. Tall trees surrounded them, the leaves a green canopy that hardly let the sun in. Nothing moved, not the leaves nor any small animal.

'Where are we?' she asked looking fearfully around.

She heard the sound of the wings then, as the eagle swooped into the clearing, sitting on the branch of a tree. It cocked its head and looked at her, its eyes smiling at her.

He came into the clearing, running after the eagle and stopped when he saw her. His honey eyes looked at her across the distance, and a slow smile lifted the corner of his lips. A little boy, in jeans and a shirt. 

'It is you,' he said, his voice husky and deep. 

'Shikaa?' she asked bewildered. 

*****

'Shikaa,' she murmured in her sleep. He smiled at that, knowing full well what it meant. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. 

'Yes, Shi'aad,' he whispered. 

She opened her eyes then, dreamily looking up into his face. Her hand came up and she winced, the pain in her shoulder having been forgotten while she slept. 

'Are you okay?' he asked in the tenderest, softest voice. 'Are you in pain?'

She shook her head, and then slowly took stock of where they were and how they were. She sat up abruptly. 'What're you doing here?' she asked looking down on him, fully awake now.

He put both hands behind his head and smirked at her. 'Sleeping?' he asked. 

'Why here?' she started getting up. 

His arm came around her waist swiftly, holding her still. 'Lie down,' he ordered, still softly. 

'No. I can't sleep with you in the same bed,' she struggled to remove the hand that was clamped on her belly. 

'Relax, Khushi,' he said soothingly. He sat up too, and pulled her back towards him, resting her against his chest. 'We're only sleeping. Besides, its cold outside. Do you want me to go out?' Her hair splayed across his chest and he could smell the faint perfume of wildflowers in it. 

'No, but ... it's not proper,' she exclaimed, her cheeks hot with mortification.

'Yet you had nothing against sleeping in a camp full of men last night,' his voice rumbled in her ears. Her heart was beating fast, as his breath blew across her ears with every word he spoke. 

'That was different,' her voice was breathy. 

'How?' he asked her. 

'Not in the same bed,' she pointed out. 

He leaned back, till he was lying down again, arranging her in his arms so her head was under his chin. 'I know,' he conceded. 'We both need some sleep. So let's make the best of this, all right?'

She snuggled a little closer to him, a cool draft of breeze hitting her back. She shivered. Almost as if he understood, he pulled the blanket a little higher, so they were both covered, fully. They lay there quietly, listening to each other's heart beats, sleep the last thing on their mind. 

'Khushi?' he murmured.

'Mmm?' she replied, tracing a pattern on his shirt, his hand rubbing her back. He put his fingers against her chin and lifted her face up. 

She looked at him in the firelight, seeing the reflection in the honey of his pupils, her gaze drifted down to his lips, the beautiful lips parted slightly, lower to his Adam's apple as he swallowed. Her eyes flicked up to his, trying to read them again. 

'I'm sorry about that kiss,' he said. 

'Why?' she asked him, her eyes dreamy now. 

He smiled then, just a little upturn of the corner of his lips. 'Because that's now how I thought I'd kiss you the first time,' he offered. 

'It wasn't?' she sounded lost, bemused as she watched his mouth form the words.

He shook his head slightly. No. 

'Then ... how?' she asked. 

'Like this,' his lips brushed her, softly tenderly. Just feeling the softness against his, his heart beat racing now as he held himself back. He leaned over her, taking care not to put weight on her shoulder. Her right hand gripped his biceps, as he brushed his lips over hers once again, pulling her upper lip into his mouth. He was not sure why he was dizzy. But the world was shifting, whirling around behind his closed lids as he tasted that softness of hers. Letting go, he sucked on her lower lip, his tongue flicking along the edges, finding the nooks and crannies. Giving him a taste of the nectar that he knew only she had. 

He pulled back and looked at her, the dark hair fanned behind her, her eyes closed, lips slightly swollen, wet with his touch. He put one hand under her neck, angling it, giving him more access to that pristine jawline. Her hand moved up his bicep, curling into his shoulder, as he kissed her chin. She turned her head aside, and he saw that mole again. He tasted it, just a quick taste was all he wanted, but he couldn't help kissing it, pulling it into his mouth, as if, if he didn't give it all the attention it deserved, he'd be starved of it. He nuzzled her cheek with his nose, and she giggled a little as she felt his breath on her neck. He dropped his head, finding the pulse beat there, tasting the pounding of her blood against his tongue.

She sighed, her hips trying to get closer to him, arching her breasts towards him. Wanting his attention everywhere. His hands curled around dip of her waist, his thumb running along the soft silky skin. He held the nape of her neck. Her lips were parted, waiting, for him, her eyes half-closed dark and passion filled. Her tongue came out and licked her lower lip, and he swooped down, his mouth capturing hers, his tongue following hers into the secrets of her mouth. 

He sighed as he felt her tongue touch his, tentatively. He waited, waited, his heart drumming against hers, until she flicked her tongue against his again. With a groan, he sank his tongue into her mouth, kissing her the way he wanted to. Passionately finding every little corner of hers. Burning up in the taste of her lips. Flowing away in the perfume of her breath. She fought with him, dueled with him, to give her everything. Even then, even now. But it was a battle with predestined winners. No one would lose. 

He pulled back, swallowing hard. She followed him, her arm around his neck, reaching for her lips.

'No, Khushi,' he groaned. 'We've got to stop.'

'Why?' she moaned. 

'Because I won't be responsible for what happens next,' he muttered against her neck. She turned still at that, slowly withdrawing from his arms. He pulled her back. 'No going anywhere,' he smiled into her eyes. 'Stay here,' he hugged her close. 

She nodded, for once accepting he was right without argument. 

Soon he heard her breathing turn even. She was asleep. He kissed her on her forehead and closed his eyes. Content to go back to sleep once more. 

*****

The faint markers of dawn were in the sky as he woke up this time. The fire had died out in the little pit. Slowly he unentangled himself from her, piling the rugs up so she wouldn't wake. Pulling on his moccasins and his poncho, he stepped out of the wigwam. No one was stirring yet and he walked out from the village, finding the edge of the cliff he knew so well. Deep below, he could see the waters of the river running by. 

He sat down cross legged on the ground, breathing deeply as he looked out East, waiting for the sun to rise up. Closing his eyes, he let his mind free. Flying with the wings of an eagle. Yet it came back to the wigwam behind him and the woman who lay there sleeping. She was fire and she was ice. She was everything he'd never expected to find, yet here she was, as she'd slept the night in his arms. He examined his feelings carefully. What was she to him? What was it that made her such a force in his life?  Why did the eagle show her to him? Was she the answers to all the questions? Then why did he have so many questions about her?

The soft scrape of leather on a rock alerted him. Shining Cloud sat down next to him, cross legged on the ground. 

'So you have found her,' he said to Arnav, 'your morning star. Shonsee-Array.'

Arnav nodded, a faint smile in his eyes as he looked at Shining Cloud. He turned his gaze up at the star, shining brightest of all, as all the rest faded away slowly. 

'Sonsee-Array,' he repeated. 'Yes, she is that.'

'Don't let her go, Piishiii,' Shining Cloud said. 'She is your woman.'

Arnav smiled mysteriously. Khushi and he still had a lot to work out between them. The first order of the day, though would be to get her back to Box-Lightning. Then he would have to come back and join NK. 

'We should leave,' he said. 'Her parents will worry.' Shining Cloud nodded. They stood up and looked at each other. 

'Good bye, Piishiii,' said Shining Cloud. 'Until we meet again.'

'Good bye, Shining Cloud,' echoed Arnav. 'Until then.'

*****