CAPTIVE

CHAPTER THREE

As I walked back from the stream the next morning I could hear the villagers, hear the commotion, the vibrations pulsing through the earth, something was happening. I quickened my pace. The causeway was congested with people, with men. My heart stopped and leapt at the same time. The hunting party had returned. I pushed myself through the throngs of people until the round house was in sight. I could feel the sparkle in my eyes, the broad smile across my face as I pushed away the door. I froze. The room was empty though my eyes combed its innards several times over before I was willing to concede the fact. Depositing the water jug I flew out and back down the causeway towards Bird Song's house, my eyes scanning each body I passed. I found her in animated conversation with a woman outside her house, the children clambering over their father in ecstasy. I tugged her arm rudely and she jerked away before seeing the terror on my face. Seneca could kiss my ass, I spoke quickly and in English, "Where is Red Horse!" She grabbed me by the elbow and steered me to the corner of her house as I pulled and tugged against her. "Stop fighting me! He's ok." I stopped instantly and glared at her. She sighed, "He's at the stream, cleaning an elk." I looked around at the bits and pieces of elk that were distributed openly in front of each long house. Seeing my confusion she continued, "It's usually...woman's work to clean the meat." She patted my arm in sympathy. My back stiffened, anger shooting through my eyes as I jerked my arm from her, turned on my heel and stormed down the causeway.

How dare he! How dare he think I couldn't even butcher an animal! He didn't know what I could and couldn't do! My step paused momentarily as the thought came into my mind. He doesn't think I can do anything. He thinks me completely helpless! Ignorant! I snorted loudly and quickened my pace.

I found him kneeling over the elk beside the large stream, a boning knife in his hand. At the sound of my approach he looked up and began to smile until he saw my face. "How dare you!" I began to yell berserk style at him. "You of all people! I'm not helpless!" I stomped my foot. "I can clean a damn elk! I may not be able to forage or...or..." I lost my train of thought as I saw a smile crossing his lips, then flailed my arms around wildly and snorted as loudly as I could, "...but I can clean a fucking elk! Give me the damn knife!" I held out my hand towards the knife. He looked from my hand to the knife and then into my face, "Give...me...the...fucking...knife!" The hint of a smile left his face, he rose slowly to his full height and I thought for a second that maybe I should be afraid but I clinched my jaw, raised my chin in defiance and pushed my arm out further. He deposited the hilt of the knife slowly into the palm of my hand then took a few steps back and crouched down. I was breathing hard and stood to collect myself for a moment staring down at the large carcass before I knelt and began removing the hide.

It was a very large bull elk. It took me several hours to butcher properly. When I was finally done I was sweating profusely and covered in blood. He had sat, crouched, a few feet away watching me the entire time. I hadn't looked up, I was fully engrossed in my macabre task but as I sank back on my buttocks exhausted I caught motion out of the corner of my eye as he rose. I looked up seeing him for the first time. He was covered in dirt and blood. His hair was tangled and hanging in dreads behind his shoulders and he looked exhausted. He pulled the buckskin shirt he wore over his head letting it fall to the forest floor then pulled the knot that held his belt and stepped out of his breechcloth and leggings so that he stood completely naked.

This time I didn't hesitate as I openly appreciated his body. He looked like a young buck just coming into himself, the dappling sun falling on his bronze skin did nothing but support this vision. He was hairless and smooth as his muscles bulged from long thick thighs to tight abdominals, hard square pecs, to broad, rounded shoulders down to convex biceps still pulsing from exertion. Only two spots on him had hair, both were thick and black, my eyes were fixed on the one between his thighs. His cock was flaccid but perfectly shaped and impressive even in its inert state. His testicles, hairless and smooth, sat neatly to either side. Suddenly I felt his stare and pulled my eyes upward to find him smiling appreciatively down at me. The hairs stood on the back of my neck as blood flushed my face and I dropped my eyes instantly to the remnants of elk that lay on the ground before me.