WARNING: This fictional story contains sexual accounts between men and
              boys, boys with boys AND IS UNSUITABLE FOR MINORS UNDER THE
              AGE OF TWENTY-ONE. You should know whether you want to be
              reading this or not!
                                                                         5/99
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   WILLOW-BIRD-WARRIOR-5                       "Willow Bird, Warrior, part 5"
   (Part #5)                                   Copyright 1999 by Vince Water
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   *                                                                         *
   *                         "Willow Bird, Warrior"                          *
                                   - part 5 -

      We have walked all day long without reaching an end to the blackened
   plains. The hungry fire spirits missed nothing in their race over the dry
   grass. It's killed the land. No sources of clean water are found. Warm dry
   dirt crumbles with each of my steps and there are the occasional hot spots
   to avoid. It's as if the very soil is still burning down to our Mother.

      The boy sits wearily over Pai-alucia as I lead him. He rarely makes a
   sound. Only when he hungers or wants a drink of water will he make that
   whining sound. The youth is unable to care for himself. I have to place the
   smoked meat stick into his mouth for him to eat or push water from my mouth
   into his so that he can drink. It's as if he hides deep within himself.
   Only rarely have I seen a spark of life in his brown eyes.

      I keep wondering what has happened to the boy. He's not an imbecile.
   I've heard him giggle at times, he can mimic and learn things that I teach
   him. In my arms, he can be drawn out by my acts of love to become a normal
   boy of nine. But only for a short while. His sparkling brown eyes dull
   again when he hides deep within. What does he fear?

      The fire has taken away any chance to backtrack the old woman's steps.
   We won't know which tribe they had come from. Were they near? It's
   dangerous to meet a People unless invited or known to be friendly for
   trading. Returning the squaw with her child would have allowed our peaceful
   entry into their chief's lodge to learn the whereabouts of our own home.

      Where is home? It seems like I've been away from the familiar tipis of
   my tribe for a long time. I'm missing my mother, Song Bird and the other
   boys, big and small who are my friends. Where have the warriors taken them?
   Second Bird says he knows where his People are encamped so we've made a new
   direction to find them. Are they far away?

      We're walking in the right-handed direction from where Father Sun sets
   down His Golden Head to sleep. Second Bird believes that the wide muddy
   river will be found that way. Throughout the long day, my brother has been
   ahead scouting out the land. I have trust in him to find our way out of
   this desolation. That's his ability - to track and make a true path towards
   his destination. It was one of the reasons why Crumobia had my brother
   along on his war party.

      Back in our sick hut at the Painted People's village, my brother told me
   about his capture by Crumobia and that his life was spared so long as he
   served that old warrior. He was used as a slave by him and Heskiawanno. In
   the passing years he grew from boyhood into a young man. They saw how keen
   he was for tracking animals and that his sense of direction was true. Their
   tribe initiated him a brave shortly before we met.

      My capture by those warriors had me assuming the lowly position of boy
   slave. I was forced into sex by them. Second Bird had proven his trust to
   Crumobia so he was given their groin-rubbing, back-slapping rite that
   elevated him from bito-wan-ahee to an equal member of Mah-na-yee, their
   male society that I think is similar to the Mahyee-na Big Horn initiated me
   into. My brother accepted the warriors' lustful honor but his heart sought
   to save me. And he did.

      Second Bird also has the ability to learn languages. That's how he
   befriended Sky Runner of the Painted People. His friendly relations with
   their chiefs allowed me to remain in their tribe until I healed. Otherwise,
   I could have been banished by them or been meted a fate similar to Crumobia
   for having brought violence to their village.

      My brother and I share some traits. We are sensitive to other's needs.
   We really care about people. That may be because we're Mahyee-na that
   places us beyond the competition of men seeking women. We give of ourselves
   freely without fearing a loss to our manhood. No need to boast of our male
   strength or to maintain status amongst the other men. We try to keep the
   peace.

      I also suspect that Second Bird likes boys as I do. He seemed to enjoy
   his embrace with our nine year old when I had put the two of them together.
   It's one thing to accept a needing man into your butt. To discover your
   attraction for a boy another matter. Feelings of guilt are misplaced and
   need to be replaced with self acceptance. I have.

      I enjoy having a boy in my charge. My interest in him keeps me patient
   enough to teach him the skills he's need when becoming a man. Our closeness
   can lead to a more satisfying relationship between us. That's what happened
   with Song Bird and myself. Our long boyhood friendship was the basis for
   trust between us. When I showed my young friend how our bodies could share
   in male pleasuring, it awakened his sexuality. Song Bird becomes a brave
   in a few years. He may have lust for women then or he may not. I only
   showed him how to perform as a man; not made him Mahyee-na.

      As a brave, Second Bird has proven himself Mahyee-na as I. We are
   attracted to those of our sex. He may only be a lover of adult males
   though. If so, I only hope that he understands how my spirit directs me -
   I like them younger!

      The trait that sets me apart from Second Bird is that I See things. Our
   Father has blessed me with this shaman's ability that I'm just coming to
   grips with. It's a difficult gift to possess. And dangerous.

      I think back to my brother's accusation. He claimed that we didn't talk
   about what was needing to be said during our time in the sick hut. Yet much
   was shared between us. He described his life when raised apart from me in
   the Split Muddy River Tribe. In return, I told him about mother and of my
   People, the Kalinlepi. I couldn't bring myself to tell him about Big Horn
   or that I'm a lover of boys. The pain of losing Song Bird because of his
   father's discovery of our love and forbidding it was a shameful thing. My
   chief doesn't understand our closeness or how it couldn't threaten the
   boy's manhood path! Even my Big Horn didn't accept it. That's why I
   couldn't share that part of my life with my newly-found brother. He sensed
   that I was holding something back.

      Pai-alucia's angry snort brings me out of my thoughts. I have to keep
   tugging on his reins to keep the horse walking. The boy sleeps over his
   back. Head down. Does he realize that there's little hope of rejoining his
   father?

      I'm coming to realize that I will be caring for this boy. A son I never
   expected to have; it brings much joy to my heart! Yet I cannot bring myself
   to believe that he will be mine... Not yet. I'll wait until Second Bird and
   I reach the safety of our tribes before naming the boy as my son.

      Father Sun slowly drops down from His sky. I've endured His Heated Hand
   upon my back and the thirst that he brings to my mouth. Most of the
   remaining water is being kept for Pai-alucia. A horse can drink a lot! I
   hope that Second Bird has found a stream or pond that we can refill our
   leather skin. My dusty body is also in need of a cool bath.

      My weary pace has slowed. I'm tired of having to tug on my horse's reins
   to keep up the pace. By walking on foot, we're making very slow progress. I
   wish that Pai-alucia was well enough to ride. A quick gallop would get us
   past these blackened plains in no time! Step after step... I resign myself
   to not seeing the shoulder-height golden plains grass until tomorrow.

      I hear whining behind me. The boy has awakened and he is thirsty. Pai-
   alucia stops the moment I release my forward pulling of his thongs. The
   water skin is untied from my horse's sweaty back. I'm greeted by shy brown
   eyes. When I offer the boy to take a drink from the skin, he only makes
   that whining sound. I lift the spout to my lips and drink a mouthful before
   holding some water to pour into the boy's mouth.

      Pai-alucia whinnies for his drink. I turn from the youth and cup my
   hands to hold the precious water for my horse to drink. His long pink
   tongue laps down into my locked fingers. It's a tickly sensation. I'm about
   to pour out another handful of water for my horse to drink but stop myself.
   The leather skin is too light in my hands. It must be made to last.

      I lower my head in sadness. 'Please! Help us find our way out of this
   desolation and find our People.' I pray. The slight wind blows past my
   ears. Voiceless. I'm momentarily startled by Pai-alucia's wet muzzle
   pressing against my chest. He wants another drink of water. I look into his
   wide eye and shake my head. My arms go around his neck to beg my good horse
   his forgiveness. He had saved the three of us. I don't know if I'll be
   able to save him in return.

      When I turn to tie the nearly empty water skin to my horse's back, I
   find the boy standing at my side. His two thin arms are raised up to me. He
   wants me to carry him. The water skin is secured. My arms scoop the youth
   up. I grab Pai-alucia's reins hanging down from his mouth and walk forward.

      The boy's weight is taken on my right hip. He grips my shoulder with his
   left hand while his legs wrap around my waist. A happy burden for me to
   carry. His eyes are looking ahead. I wish that we could talk so that I can
   learn everything about him. But alas, his gentle spirit is hidden somewhere
   deep within himself. How I wish to coax him out!

      I don't need to be pulling so hard on Pai-alucia's reins to get him to
   walk. My horse seems eager to leave these blackened lands behind. I keep
   my eyes out for any unburned grass for him to eat. Nothing so far.

      Father Sun is soon to fall from His sky. No longer do we have to endure
   His Heated Hand upon our backs. The wind has picked up. It cools the sweat
   from our bodies. Unfortunately, this also brings up dirt from the dead
   earth. At its worse, the boy buries his face into my breast to escape the
   blowing dust and grass ash. I press forward, blowing out the dark phlegm
   from my nose.

      At sunset, the wind spirits take their rest. I'm able to breathe easier.
   My boy grows restless in my arm. I think he wants me to put him down but
   his legs keep a tight grip around my waist and his arm flexes along my
   back. He presses his face into my chest. Hot breaths blow on me. There's a
   rhythmic flexing to his little butt in my hand. I feel the stirring of his
   boyish loins against my hip. He makes quick stabs to my body.

      I'm reminded of my dream. Father had lifted Song Bird and me onto the
   sides of his nude body to rescue us from the cold river water. His strong
   hands under our butts made for a rubbing game between our slippery bodies.
   I remember the sweet thrills my erection had given me. Song Bird too. I had
   forgotten about my father's naked game until the memory of that day
   revisited me in a dream. I wonder if there are other things from my early
   boyhood that were also forgotten...

      The frantic boy in my arm is making a good show of male pleasuring. It
   has stirred my loins with excitement. I release Pai-alucia's reins. My
   front flap is hurriedly pulled from my thong belt. The youth allows me to
   turn his small body until we're facing each other for a sweet embrace.

      I feel the boy's stabs against my hard dick. My hands around his butt
   make it a harsh meeting of our male loins. Thrills are building up between
   us. When I look down into his face, his brown eyes peer into mine with such
   power. His is a fierce spirit!

      "That's it. Fight, little one!" I whisper. "Come out and play... No one
   is going to hurt you." I think the boy mutters something in reply. When I
   look into his face, his eyes widen and flutter. I realize that he's
   enjoying his greatest thrills. I pause the beat of my hands around his
   butt. The building thrills in my loins ebb. We both take urgent breaths.

      After a moment, the youth's legs flex around my butt. I resume pulling
   on his soft cheeks to mash our dicks together. It's an unmatched contest.
   His skinny pole stabs into the thickness of my dick. Our sweaty balls rub.
   We stare into each other's eyes to reveal the joy of our love making.

      Another outcry! The boy makes a few more frantic stabs against my dick
   before his body becomes limp in my arms. I feel his racing heart beat
   through his erection pressed against mine. His heated breaths blow out
   against my breast. I was close to my release but the thrills in my
   throbbing dick are ebbing away as I keep my body in check. I'm allow this
   young boy to control the beat of our male loving.

      I'm startled by a whiskered poke into my butt. The boy is dropped to the
   ground so that I can turn to face the intruder. Oh. It's Pai-alucia. My
   horse releases an impatient snort that gets me laughing. The boy giggles.

      "Now you want to keep walking?" I ask. "Father Sun has set. It's time to
   rest and wait for Second Bird to rejoin us," I explain. The boy turns to
   look around for someone as if understanding my words. My lustful eyes are
   drawn down to the boy's cute butt.

      I drop to my knees and hold the small boy shapes in my hands. The youth
   turns his head questioningly at me. I answer his plea by kissing over his
   sweaty cheeks. They smell of horse. My mouth drinks it all in. I'm feeling
   so hard from my dick and needing to fulfill myself with this boy! I tongue
   deep within the soft half-moons to find an entrance. It's bitter.

      My strong hands pull the boy down onto my knees. His wiggly butt moves
   closer to my aching dick that wants so much to have him! I reach around for
   his pole to pull over it. My fingers play over his stiff boyhood.

      I masturbate the boy yet my intention is to fuck his little butt. My
   dick stabs between his cheeks until finding his wet hole. When I try
   fitting inside, the boy notices my intrusion. He tries standing up.

      I continue handling his erection while my right hand keeps a firm grip
   of his waist. My seeking stabs are gentle so that I won't spook the boy. I
   spit to my left hand so my fingers can be slippery around his dick. As a
   young boy, he doesn't precum and that can make for a dry handling.

      My aching dick is oozing a lot. It makes my stabs slippery through the
   boy's tight cheeks. I'm trying to join our male bodies. When my knob pokes
   into the boy's hole, I feel my greatest thrills yet I keep myself from
   trying to make a savage thrust inside. That would be rape. I'm barely
   preventing it but my love for this boy keeps me in control.

      I hear the boy's outcry. My fingers loosen around his hard dick so that
   he can rest for a moment. This gives me the opportunity to position my dick
   onto his hole. He feels my intrusion but allows it. Gently, I pull on his
   hips to stick more inside. His soft body trembles... In pain or fear? I
   stop my advance to allow him to get used to my size in his little butt.

      I spit to my fingers before resuming to masturbate the youth. When he
   feels his male thrills building, I'm able to stick further up his tight
   asshole to achieve mine. It's a difficult fitting of our unmatched bodies.
   He is the youngest boy that I've ever tried fucking.

      My knees surge over the soft dirt. I pull over the boy's right hip in
   beat to my forward thrusts inside him. My left hand around his stiff pole
   keeps the youth in sex's powerful spell. No escape! I look down at our
   connecting bodies. It's amazing to see my thick dick half-stuck through his
   tiny butt cheeks. My swollen knob feels the boy's tight insides. I'm not in
   him very far.

      The boy seems used to my big size. He arches his back and holds my knee
   caps to allow our struggling bodies to join. I feel the heat from his
   slippery hole swallowing more of my shaft. My groin hair tickles against
   his cute flexing ass. Our bodies slam together. His whole back is covered
   by the front of my body as I try to make us one.

      I feel wonderful sensations in my dick from being in the tight boy hole.
   My larger body is mounting the small body of a boy in the greatest sexual
   act two males can share. My heart bursts for his willingness to be taken. I
   remember to move my hand over his erection for his own pleasure. Quick hand
   beats to join the savage beat of my long tom-tom within his brown drum.

      Ah! There's a tightening around my dick when the boy cries out. My
   fingers have brought the youth to his dry climax. The joy of it! I stab
   through his clenched butthole to achieve my manly climax. A very wet one
   with gushes of my cum filling the boy up.

      My cries join with the boy's. Together, we've reached that ultimate male
   height that brings pleasure and relief to our aching bodies. I fondly kiss
   his neck. My thrills are long and tremendous! Yet my body slows when all my
   seed has been given. This is my gift of love to a boy who is going to be my
   son. I will gladly bring him up into manhood.

      When my hands loosen around the boy's body, he pushes on my legs to
   stand up. There's a thrilling pull of my swollen dick from his butt. I look
   down at my fulfilled manhood. Not much butt stain over its shaft; a white
   pearl of cum oozes from my piss hole. Proof that I've seeded inside the boy.

      There's a grimace on the youth's face. He slowly straightens up his back
   while holding his butt as if in pain. I know what the boy is feeling. A
   first penetration can hurt. Even Song Bird's boy size felt like a knife in
   my innards when he first fucked me. I had endured it. Just as this young
   boy has but with my manly dick stuck far up his asshole. That must have
   really hurt!

      I open my arms to him with much understanding. The boy slowly steps up
   to me with his eyes peering down at my groin. Wide eyed. He goes down onto
   his knees, pointing his skinny pole at my thick dick. I move forward until
   they touch. My wet knob presses against the boy's to gift him my manly
   essence. The boy rubs over his red war-painted erection.

      "Accept my strength, beloved one," I announce. "Your small body will
   grow up into a man's!" I reach down to my swollen dick and pull its thick
   skin forward to bring out all my remaining cum. My foreskin swallows the
   boy's red knob like a mouth. I pinch my tapered skin to keep him inside me.
   It's my hope that my seed will trickle down his piss hole into his immature
   loins to get them to grow.

      I peer into the boy's soft brown eyes. He's curious of my 'Growing-up'
   rite. To let the youth know what I've done, I lift my balls with my finger
   tips, trace the path of my cum up through my dick into his pole and down to
   his smaller balls. I gently cup them in my fingers. The boy's eyes widen. I
   think that he understands.

      More of the boy's pole is taken through my foreskin when my dick gets
   limp. I begin a gentle handling of his knob within my wrinkled skin. His
   eyes shine with building pleasure. With some shyness, his small hands reach
   out to loins. I nod my head in approval to his exploration of my manliness.
   He cups my swollen balls and his fingers pull over my black groin hair. In
   his brown eyes, I see amazement.

      With my free hand, I cup his small balls. My very manhood is trying to
   empower this small boy! I make up a ritual song to teach him:

             "This is the way it has been since the time of
              my father's father's father...

              A young son is shown how his body can perform.
              For pleasure and male relief...

              I've gifted my seed to your body so that it can
              grow up big and strong...

              The young son will become the father. He will
              stand before his son to repeat this sacred
              circle of life!"

      My singing voice lowers to a whisper. In the boy's eyes, I see a measure
   of understanding. Does he know my People's language? My fingers pinch
   around my thick skin to pour what remains of my seed into his pole. It's
   very stiff with excitement. Accepting my manly gift. I smile when hearing
   his boyish high-pitched cry.

      I trace my fingers once again from my swollen balls up my dick to his
   erection and down to his small balls. Some of my manly strength has settled
   there. The boy looks down at his loins. He sees my power there.

      I end our sacred rite by pulling from the boy's dick. His rosy knob is
   freed from my foreskin with a popping sound. I hold both his arms to lift
   him from the ground. We stand facing each other: the father and his son.

      "I love you..." my mouth utters of its own accord. The boy peers into
   my eyes for a moment before lowering them to the ground. His shyness
   reminds me of Song Bird, my first boy lover. Expressing full love between
   two males can be hard for the young one to accept.

      Darkness has fallen. As we've agreed upon, Second Bird returns from his
   scouting to make a night camp. I raise my hand in greeting to his approach.
   The brave shakes his head at my unspoken question. No water was found.

      I grab the water skin from Pai-alucia's back and offer it to Second
   Bird. He eagerly unties its spout for a drink. Sparingly. The boy points at
   the skin in a gesture for his desire for water. I'm glad that he's so
   attentive. My love has brought him out.

      After the boy has taken his drink, I cup my hands to hold water for my
   horse. Pai-alucia is eager to refresh himself. Second Bird helps with the
   pouring to prevent spilling any water to the ground. When the horse is
   satisfied, the leather flask is secured to his back. I've noticed my
   brother's frown to the lightness of the water skin.

      A stick of smoked meat is shared between myself and the boy. Second Bird
   silently chews down on his jerky. We have enough food to last through
   tomorrow. Nothing for Pai-alucia though. I've been keeping my eyes out for
   unburned grass but the fire spirits had missed nothing in their path.

      My eyes look to Father Sun. He's about to lay down for sleep. My head
   nods in thanks for giving me that warning about my brother. In His burning
   Head, I had been Shown that we must join. The terrible choice was made that
   saved him. I wonder if that old squaw is looking down on us from the Above?

      Second Bird is watching me with strange eyes. Does he realize my special
   connection to our Father? No. I can't bring myself to telling him about
   that or the other things I keep close to my heart. One day, I will.

      I return Second Bird's stare. His is nearly a river's reflection to my
   own face that proves we are brothers. Strangers still in some ways though.
   He has been raised to manhood in an enemy tribe these past three years -
   even named a brave by them. Yet he turned away from that life to save me,
   proving that family is stronger than a chosen companionship or societies.

      I'm reminded about something and voice it. "Second Bird, you were
   initiated by Crumobia and Heskiawanno into a male society that they called
   Mah-na-yee. I saw their back-slapping rite that initiated you. What can you
   tell me about it?"

      Second Bird is surprised by the question. "They honored me by elevating
   my position amongst them from bito-wan-ahee to an equal member. I had been
   enduring years of serving their sexual needs. As Mah-na-yee, I could choose
   who I mated with."

      "Do you know if there were other warriors of Crumobia's People who were
   Mah-na-yee?" I ask.

      "Yes. There were a few who preferred sex with men," says Second Bird.
   "I was prevented from seeking them out since I was bito-wan-ahee, a boy
   owned by Crumobia and his lover for their sexual use. They remained true
   to each other and wouldn't mate with any other men."

      "You allowed yourself to be named a brave of their People?" I ask.

      "Yes. That changed many things for me. It led Crumobia to trust me in
   his war party and to be initiated Mah-na-yee as you saw. My heart longed to
   rejoin my People but they were far, far away... not even my true birth
   tribe. I accepted that my spirit desired other males. That could be freely
   expressed by remaining with the Shew-owa."

      I notice my brother's sadness when mentioning the name of Crumobia's
   People. Because of his actions to save me, he can't ever return to them.
   "You can be who you are amongst our People."

      "No. The Split Muddy River Tribe doesn't allow that," says Second Bird.

      "You were born Kalinlepi!" I remind him. "Amongst our People, a man
   who's Mahyee-na can express his male sexuality without fear." I gesture the
   male-male joining sign by touching my extended middle fingers together.

      "Mahyee-na?" asks Second Bird.

      "It sounds similar to your word," I explain. "It's a male society that's
   practiced amongst my People. Haven't you noticed that I keep my butt
   uncovered? That shows any needing man that I'm Mahyee-na."

      "Ah, yes. But I thought you seek for boys..."

      "I was told that men of the Mahyee-na only initiate boys who are of age
   to be named braves," my voice but a whisper. "I allow men to satisfy their
   needs with my body but it's with boys that my heart is given. There's no
   harm to offering youths 'Growing-up' rites and if our hearts join then to
   embrace love..."

      I notice Second Bird's downwards glance at the boy sitting on my thigh.
   His frowning reveals that he doesn't approve of it. Nor had Big Horn... I
   release a weary sigh. I've embraced boys with my love and only good has
   come from it. Usually...

      "I am tired, Willow Bird. Keep guard over our camp if you want but I
   doubt anyone will be traveling through these dead lands to accost us."

      I watch Second Bird lay over the ground blanket. I'm glad that he's not
   a witness to the tears that I'm trying to keep from falling. My own brother
   doesn't accept my spirit!

      My arms wrap lovingly around the boy. His soft bottom rubs against my
   right thigh attesting to his youthful energy. I press my face down into his
   hair that smells of smoke. My teary eyes close. He is going to be my son!
   I hug him for a long while as I contemplate my life's path with this boy.

      We join Second Bird by laying over the ground blanket. I hear Pai-
   alucia's hungry snort and remember happy times with Song Bird. He and I
   had often gathered the tall river grass for our tribe's horses. It was a
   simpler time of boyhood friendship with few responsibilities. Now, I feel
   many burdens on my shoulders. The boy sleeping in my arms is one of them.
   A happy one, though.

      After a few adjustments, my body relaxes for sleep. I hold the naked boy
   in my arms to share warmth. Second Bird makes soft breathing noises through
   his nose as he sleeps on the other side of the boy. My eyes finally close.

      Late into the night when the moon has risen, I hear the howling of
   wolves. It brings fear to my heart! They are coming closer. Closer for
   their cub... I can't find my son in my arms. He is gone.


      I open my eyes in the early morning light to see the boy's soft brown
   eyes looking into mine. On his face is a nice smile. I look past him to
   find my sleeping brother clutching the youth in his arms for warmth. My
   eyes return to the boy's. I wonder what he sees in me and if he loves me?

      My body feels chilled. I scoot closer to the boy until my chest presses
   against his face. My left arm reaches around his small body to hold him. My
   brother and I keep this youth safe between us. We are becoming a family.
   That's a good feeling to have. I drift back to sleep.

      Full morning comes. I'm slow to rise from the ground blanket. Second
   Bird has already tended to Pai-alucia and he has the boy sitting over him.
   To draw me out of bed, my brother offers me a stick of smoked meat. I
   eagerly get to my feet for breakfast.

      "Our water is almost gone," says Second Bird. "What's left must be saved
   for your horse. These scorched lands must end soon! I'll find water today
   that we can drink and bathe in!"

      "That would be good, my brother." I slap his chest and laugh. I turn to
   the boy sitting over Pai-alucia with a sad feeling in my heart. Not from
   fear of our dire situation but something else that leaves me feeling
   uneasy. Why can't I bring myself to accept this boy as my own?

      Second Bird runs ahead to scout out the land. I hope that he'll find
   the water that he's promised. Pai-alucia is in need of grass to eat. He
   often snorts with hunger and tugs against the reins in my hands.

      Father Sun makes His slow climb in the sky. It looks to be another hot
   summer day on the Plains. Nothing remains to soak up His life-giving light.
   The grass has all burned. No creatures stir, not even grass jumpers. I
   angrily tug on my horse to get him walking faster. My eyes have tired of
   these blackened dead lands.

      I shake sweat from my itchy head with a grimace. The beautiful lengths
   of my long black hair that has grown from boyhood were mostly burned away.
   My brother and I must appear as old men because of its ill care. If a blade
   were used to trim down the bad parts, we'd look like boys. Pai-alucia fared
   worse. He lost his proud tail and most of his hide was badly singed.

      I try swallowing in my dry throat. My tongue tastes of dust and grass
   ash. My entire body has been coated black down to the soles of my feet
   from the scorched earth. Sweat has cemented it to my skin.

      What I hate are the wind gales. When they blow, I have to kneel close
   to the ground and cover my face against the swirling ash and stinging dust.
   It makes it hard to breathe! My lungs ache me.

      I pause from walking when my coughing causes my head to feel faint. My
   lungs burn. I've fallen to my knees because of the pain. How dry my mouth
   is without water! What little we have left must be saved for my horse. His
   shaggy hide was much burned when passing through the fire so he'll have a
   greater need of it. Second Bird and I must go without until next morning.
   We'll take a mouthful of water at sunrise that'll give us the strength to
   continue traveling. With luck, we'll find an untainted water source.

      A hand on my shoulder gets me to open my eyes. I see the boy standing at
   my side, his dark eyes filled with concern for me. It takes some effort but
   I manage to stand up. A smile is forced onto my face to assure the youth
   that I can keep walking.

      I'm filled with much happiness for having this youth. Without knowing
   where to return him, I will keep this boy. A son not from my loins. That
   permits me to fully love him as I have without fear of taboo. I'm eager to
   show him the lusty path of the Mahyee-na that pleasures his small body
   while bringing mine satisfaction. I'm also coming to love him for who he
   is. There's a great injury to his spirit that needs my healing. Love will
   show us the way.

      A violent cough comes up through my lungs. It pains my dry throat so
   much that I cry out! Something hard hits my head. I think that I've
   fallen...

      My brother is struck! He falls to the ground without my arms being there
   to catch him. The angry wolves surround me. I stand in their way to protect
   the boy morsel they hunger for. His sharp words stop their advance?

      "Water," I mutter. "I need to drink water..." Someone cradles my head.
   I feel the heat of our Mother through my back and legs. I can't speak any
   more words - my throat is too parched. My arm reaches through the air for
   Pai-alucia but I slowly lower it in shame. That water must be saved. I see
   the boy kneeling at my side with a frightened face. His eyes search in the
   distance for Second Bird's help but I know that my brother is far ahead to
   scout. The boy begins whining.

      When I try comforting the youth, a few coughs wrack my weakened body. He
   continues whining and I join him. I'm not ashamed by my weakness in front
   of him. The boy endured what we faced with the fire and its aftermath. He
   knows that I'm really hurting so I whine like a frightened little boy...

      To my amazement, the boy becomes still. His mouth comes to mine for a
   kiss. No. He mimics what his grandmother had done to give him water by
   passing it to him from her mouth. A bold idea comes to me.

      I point into my mouth and reach down for the boy's penis. His eyes widen
   when understanding what I ask of him. My head lowers to his lap. I clutch
   his thighs and put my mouth over his small pole. A painful cough is kept in
   my throat. To coax the boy's flow, I reach around for his little butt and
   slap it. My mouth sucks on his warm dick suggestingly.

      I'm rewarded with a drink. Only a small mouthful but I swallow the boy's
   urine gladly. My throat starts feeling better. My hand over the boy's ass
   urges him to keep peeing. I feel his flow getting stronger until I'm having
   to swallow again and again.

      Strength slowly fills my limbs. The boy has saved me! While I rest in
   his lap, I feel the stiffening of his pole. My mouth offers him this
   pleasure in trade for giving me a drink. I tongue over his swollen knob. My
   lips tighten around his skinny shaft while my head bobs up and down over
   his smooth groin. I smell his sweaty boy scent. It enflames my own loins!

      When the boy gasps, I pause from sucking him. His rapid heartbeat is
   felt through his erection against my tongue. When I count to a few handfuls
   of beats, I resume to suck his stiff pole. My hands pull over his soft ass.
   He's quickly brought to climax again. I smile when hearing his joyful
   outcry.

      I lower my head fully into the boy's lap to rest. My mouth swallows both
   his small balls and throbbing pole. I'm glad to have given this sweet youth
   his thrills. It's too bad that his loins can't spill in me - I'd like to
   sip his boy-honey.

      I'm pleasantly startled when my mouth fills again with liquid. The boy
   has managed to pee a little more for me. I swish the strong 'tea' around
   before swallowing it. The youth's pole is soft when pulling from my lips.

      With renewed strength, I get to my knees with a proud raising of my
   head. The boy's eyes are filled with awe and something else that I can't
   readily identify. He looks down at the bulge in my front breechclout. I
   think he's amazed by my man's size and probably hasn't seen an excited
   adult male before meeting me. If I had the strength, I'd beat off in front
   of him so that he'd have something else to be in awe of. My cum has already
   anointed his small body. I hope to do so again with a sharing of love
   between us in the days ahead.

      The boy reaches a hand to my thigh. He points into his mouth with his
   other hand before grasping my hard dick under my front flap. I nod to his
   request and roll the deerskin cloth over my belly. With careful approach,
   the youth buries his face into my groin when he swallows up my erection. I
   don't make thrusts. He wants to drink my urine as I had done from his dick.

      I have to concentrate. Peeing with someone watching has always made me
   shy. That was true for my close friend, Song Bird. Releasing my urine also
   seems harder because I'm excited. I think my dick is confused that I'm
   wanting to empty my bladder instead of my balls. A small trickle begins.
   The boy swallows as I pee more strongly. It's an amazing sight to watch a
   young boy with his head in my lap drinking from my dick. I feel some nice
   thrills when his lips tighten around my thick shaft but I prevent myself
   from stabbing too much.

      My flow ebbs. After the boy senses that I have no more to give, he pulls
   his face away. There's a shy look to his eyes. Such a cute expression! I
   bring my mouth to his as if to offer him water but kiss him instead. The
   boy giggles when my tongue pushes inside to wiggle against his tongue.

      "That silly!" the boy utters.

      I'm surprised that the youth has spoken. His eyes widen with his whole
   face brightening into a smile. I feel that something has broken inside him
   that allows his hidden self to come out. I bring the boy into my arms to
   give him a victory hug.

      "What is your name?" I ask. The boy remains silent as I embrace him so I
   push on his chest so that our eyes can meet. Nothing. There's a dullness
   filling his brown eyes that I've often seen from him. I try shaking the
   youth awake. He peers into my eyes but his mouth doesn't open.

      "I'm called Willow Bird... Can you tell me your name?" I ask again. The
   boy slowly opens his mouth but no words spring forth. I think that
   something about his name prevents him from speaking. To reach his innermost
   self, I try again what had gotten him to talk earlier. My mouth covers his
   in a kiss. When my tongue darts inside his mouth, he breaks away to giggle.

      "Yes. I'm being silly again!" I giggle with him. Something in my being
   warns me not to press the boy about it. Speaking will come about naturally
   and a good start has already been made.

      I slowly rise to my feet with the boy in my arms. He's still giggling
   when I place him over Pai-alucia's back. A cough erupts from my mouth. It
   was a small one but it causes the boy's happy face to turn gloomy.

      "I'm alright," I assure the youth. "Let me know when I can drink from
   you again." The boy giggles. I point down at my front flap, lifting it to
   show him that he can drink from me when I have more to give.

      I turn away to lead Pai-alucia by his reins. A hard tug has to be made
   before the stallion will walk. He's a terrible sight. Burnt hair covers his
   forelegs, his chest all the way up his long neck. If it weren't for
   covering his eyes with that sack, his handsome brow would have been marred.
   The rest of his hide is burned down to the skin in places. Most sad is the
   blackened stump that is all that remains of his tail.

      My feet press into the dry silent ground when I walk forward. The wind
   spirits are following Father Sun's example by resting. For that I am glad!
   I swallow more easily in my throat. It was a clever thing that I tried
   with the boy. Drinking our urine has given us another day of life.

      My lips form a happy grin in remembrance. I kissed my boy! A proud
   swelling fills my chest and I even got him to talk a little. He spoke with
   words I could understand. That surprises me. The few he spoke weren't
   enough to hear an accent or not. I know that this boy is not from my
   tribe... Perhaps he's from my brother's!

      I increase my pace so that we'll catch up with Second Bird. I want to
   tell him about what's happened. This boy could be from his tribe! My eyes
   strain into the distance for my brother. The sun has set so it's becoming
   difficult to see far.

      Worry begins to squeeze my heart. Second Bird had agreed to come back to
   set up a night camp at dusk but he's nowhere to be found. I risk shouting
   out his name. There's no reply. I rush onto Pai-alucia's back to try
   finding him with what remaining light we have.

      My horse is slow to respond to my kicks. He gets into a fast walk only
   after much coaxing so I realize he must be really hurting. The naked youth
   is held tightly in my right arm. I shout out my brother's name again and
   again. There's no way to follow his footsteps in the dark but I know the
   direction he had taken ahead of us.

      "Second Bird!" I shout. "Where are you, Second Bird?"

      "Here..."

      I turn Pai-alucia to the direction where I heard the faint response. A
   dark form is seen in the distance with raised hands in greeting. It's my
   brother. I drop down from my horse and embrace him. He seems to be
   suffering as I was to the sooty air and lack of water. There's no strength
   in his voice. He coughs when attempting words. I cover his mouth with my
   hand to silence him.

      "You must drink some water." Second Bird considers my offer before
   shaking his head. I ignore his refusal by fetching him the nearly empty
   water skin. The spout is undone for him. Still, he refuses to drink. A
   clever idea comes to me that reminds me of the boy's grandmother.

      I fill my mouth with water. My brother's eyes widen with anger until he
   sees what I'm doing. I approach with my mouth aiming for his. Our lips
   press together and open so that I can push the precious water into his
   mouth. The brave swallows. His lips give me a sweet kiss of gratitude.

      "You should also take a drink," says Second Bird with a lowered head.
   "The boy, too."

      "We have already taken drinks that should last us to morning," I answer
   with a grin. "Not from this skin, though..."

      "Where from?" Second Bird asks.

      I grin when pointing down at my front flap. The boy giggles. This brings
   a sharp glance from Second Bird who realizes that the youth understands our
   words. I grip my brother's right shoulder when telling him all about it.

      "I don't recognize this boy," says Second Bird. "He could still have
   come from my tribe because I've been away for nearly three summers..."

      I'm surprised that my brother doesn't remark on our urine drinking. He
   goes to the boy sitting over Pai-alucia and studies his face in the growing
   darkness. I can imagine him casting his head back to those years when he
   had lived with the Split Muddy River Tribe to find a younger boy who could
   be this youth.

      "What is your name?" Second Bird asks. The boy remains silent.

      "No! He seems to be unable to say it," I explain. "When I asked, his
   eyes turned dull as if trying to hide in himself."

      "He could tell us important things, Willow Bird!"

      "I know that. My heart warns me not to press him, my brother. Remember
   what you told me about that girl who had witnessed the murder of her
   parents. Something bad like that may have happened to this boy. Be patient.
   His speech will return."

      Second Bird feels the sincerity of my plea but I know that he'd rather
   try questioning the boy further. I lift the boy from Pai-alucia's back. My
   brother stake ties him into the dirt and removes Big Horn's weapons, the
   food and water skins. The blanket remaining us is thrown over the burnt
   ground.

      "I don't think there's a need to guard..." I ask. My brother nods his
   head, falling over the blanket as if dead. I place the boy between us when
   lying down to sleep. My right arm cradles the youth's soft head while my
   left hand reaches for Second Bird's arm. I squeeze it affectionately. The
   brave doesn't react. I think that he's already fallen asleep. The boy makes
   a soft sound through his nose as I hold him. I allow sleep to find me too.


      The sound of laughter awakens me. I slowly rise from the muddy floor
   of Big Horn's tipi into darkness. No stars can be found above. His tipi's
   smoke hole has folded over from the wind storms, blocking my view of them.
   It's an unfit dwelling.

      I'm feeling very alone. Where is my warrior lover? His warm arms around
   me and the safety that I've felt is missing. Gone. Oh, he is gone! I smell
   the acrid smoke of destruction all around me while I try covering my ears
   from the terrible crackling of fire. Big Horn's tipi burns away. I'm left
   sitting in the middle of a circular depression. It wards against the evil
   seeking to consume my fragile spirit.


      A shudder goes through my arms. I hear the loud yelp of a man's victory
   cry over his fallen enemy. My sleepy eyes open to witness a terrible scene.
   Mounted warriors are charging through our camp with my brother falling from
   a tomahawk blow to his head. The painted men advance onto me and the
   frightened boy in my arms. I have no weapon to defend him. Only my body. I
   rise to my feet while keeping the youth protected behind my back. This is
   no dream!

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   {End file: WILLOW-BIRD-WARRIOR-5  Story continues in: WILLOW-BIRD-WARRIOR-6