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In spirit form and invisible, Markus had heard everything. He drifted back to where Jolan and Wayna waited, and materialized near them. They were right about Leotie. It was going to take longer than he wanted to wait. Yet, this was the first time in decades a worthy challenge had come along. He felt more alive than ever and planned to stir things up. Since Chapa wants to find Keme, I’ll help him and Leotie won’t have anyone to long for anymore.
Markus spoke before Wayna and Jolan. “You two stay with Tala and Izrah, but don’t let them see you. I have some things to take care of.”
“As you wish,” Wayna thought.
Markus shifted into electricity and darted off, streaking through the sky. In seconds, he rushed passed Leotie and found Keme’s camp on the other side of the river. He slowed down into spirit form and observed Keme and the others. Mostly women, children and some young men – a vulnerable group.
Keme walked alongside a young woman. She looked at Keme in a way he’d often seen before and even brought him a piece of dried meat. Yet, Keme didn’t even seem to notice and never smiled, clearly not over the loss of Leotie.
It wasn’t going to be enjoyable having Keme killed off, and he didn’t want Leotie to find out he was responsible for the death of a loved one. Having Chapa do it was the best way of keeping the blame off himself. He only had to find out what they were doing heading south in the night with nothing but fish oil torches for light.
One of the men sat in a sled pulled by two boys. A bandage covered his leg. The boys grumbled about having to haul him and thought he should be tied up on a tree somewhere because he was a scout from Chapa. Markus agreed it was a waste of energy to drag a bungling scout around.
He hovered over them and found some of the women speculating as to whether a small group of soldiers would trade with them – deer meat for muskets. Markus doubted that would go well. Wait, Chapa said they’d killed a small group of soldiers for their supplies and horses.
They had to be the same ones. Keme’s idea was already doomed to fail. An idea of how to tell Chapa their location occurred to him. Markus took a long look at the wounded scout and studied his eyes, lips, nose, memorizing every detail. He sped back to the woods near where Chapa’s group camped. As the sun came up, they were around the camp fire eating breakfast.
Markus used his trained memory to change into the form of the scout and headed for Chapa, waving his hands to catch their attention. As Chapa headed over, Markus couldn’t help but hate him for what they thought about skin walkers. Perhaps he’d kill him for Leotie after he served the purpose of killing Keme. It was a brilliant idea because Leotie would be eternally grateful to him.
“What are you doing here?” Chapa asked. “I thought you were captured.”
Markus put his hand over his chest. “No, I’ve been doing what you told me to do, of course. I have been tracking Keme.”
Chapa turned to the other scout in the group. “You told me he was captured.”
A look of fear leaped into the other scout’s face. “I thought he was, but I didn’t actually see it. I just figured when he didn’t come back...”
“Silence!” Chapa snapped. “Don’t you ever tell me anything unless you know for sure.”
The scout ducked his head down. “Sorry.”
Chapa turned to Markus. “What do you know?”
“They’re heading for the cabin of the soldiers.”
“The same one where we stole the horses?” Chapa asked.
“Yes, Keme wants to get the muskets and use them against you, but all you have to do is go there and wait for him.”
Chapa and his men cheered.
“You have done well and will be rewarded.” Chapa motioned to the canoes. “Let’s hurry. When Keme comes, he’ll have a surprise waiting for him.”
Markus got into one of the canoes. The men turned south down the river, heading for the cabin. Markus realized he was going to be stuck with them for a while and held back a grumble.
When they reached the shore, he followed them to the cabin of the white settlers. The bodies had been burned. Chapa and his leaders took the cabin for the night while the other men were assigned to set up some brush shelters. The women cooked and served dinner. After everyone ate and settled in for the night, Markus couldn’t stand lingering about anymore. He had to find out if Leotie had made it to Keme. Markus sneaked off on foot and prepared to shift into electricity. He hoped to be back before they noticed him missing.
****
Keme led his small tribe farther south, looking for yet another new location. Several people asked him to stop, but he wouldn’t let them. Every day it felt as if he moved farther and farther away from Leotie. He pushed back those feelings, trying to dismiss it off as the most stubborn denial that only he could inflict on himself.
Enola walked at his side with her arms folded. She had been too quiet.
“Is something bothering you?” he asked, wondering if Dena had said anything to her.
“I’ve been trying to decide whether or not to tell you this, but yesterday when we were hurrying for the river, I saw a spark of light. It lingered by a tree and flew away with a gust of wind.”
Keme thought back to when he’d returned from hunting with Leotie. “I saw something like that before the battle. My father saw it too and thought it was a sign of victory from the Great Spirit.”
“Then it must be a spirit,” Enola said. “I was taught to call on the spirits to help in healing others. Perhaps it’s one of our ancestors. Maybe even one of the old chiefs, trying to help us. “I must try and talk to him or her.”
Keme held back a smile, not sure what to believe. They came over a slope, only to see a wall of trees ahead. The forest was dense, making the hilly area even more difficult. Everyone started complaining about needing rest and food. Several sat down on the ground and rested against their packs.
An idea came to him. Instead of running, they could set up camp here and blend in with the forest. He looked up at the tangle of branches on a series of large trees. There were many good places to build tree homes and plenty of perches to fire bows from. Chapa could walk into a trap if they were ready.
Enola grimaced. “So what are we going to do now?”
The complaining grew louder and louder.
Keme raised his voice. “We’re going to live here. Our homes will blend into the forest. If Chapa comes, we’ll be ready with arrows and traps.”
The people went silent and stared at him.
“He’s right. This could work.” Nina got up and grabbed her pack.
Dena stood up. “It’s better than walking all night again.”
A new energy went through the group. They went into the woods and searched around for the right spot. After hiking another hour, Keme overlooked a dip tucked at the bottom of three hills. It was about fifty feet wide and surrounded by trees and vines. All they had to do was build a shelter underneath the vines and bushes.
“For now, build two shelters down there,” Keme said. “We can expand more eventually.”
Enola directed the women to begin the shelters. Keme met with the men. Some he sent hunting, others made arrows. Lusio and Sakoya came with him to survey the area. They considered the best places for traps. Tomorrow they would build pits with jagged sticks below. The tribe also needed some good meals, which involved cooking. Lookouts would always have to be posted to make sure it was safe to make smoke. They would never be free until the threat of Chapa was gone.
