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!
                                                                         4/99
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   WILLOW-BIRD-WARRIOR-4                       "Willow Bird, Warrior, part 4"
   (Part #4)                                   Copyright 1999 by Vince Water
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   Author's Note: This marks the transition from publishing my stories in
   printed booklets sold in stores to only-Internet releases. This allows me
   the freedom to write expanding accounts without worrying about a printed
   booklet's page limitations, illustration alignment or explicit content -
   (i.e.: bookstore management yielding to public pressure to act as a censor
   towards my boy/love stories and consider ending its sale.) If you haven't
   noticed, there's an increasingly hostile environment in these United States
   towards depictions of a man's full love for a boy. Be careful!

   I welcome comments on my Indian boy love stories. Please e-mail at:

                             Vince_Water@HotMail.Com


   I salute David's continuing efforts to post all our stories on his Nifty
   Archive. Be sure to give him a hug.


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   *                                                                         *
   *                         "Willow Bird, Warrior"                          *
                                   - part 4 -

      I run at Song Bird's side and together we leap into the muddy river.
   The cold water assaults my nude body but I was expecting that. When
   surfacing for breath, I glance back at shore for my father. He's standing
   on its grassy bank with his fingers fumbling with the knot to his thong
   belt. A sly smile fills my face in expectation. The man's breechclout drops
   down at his feet and naked, he leaps into the river. But not before I gazed
   upon his manhood with awe.

      A warmth brushes against my butt. It's Song Bird. My little friend is
   struggling for a foothold in the water's depths which only reaches to my
   waist. I grab his left arm to steady him. His smile of thanks turns to a
   frown when he hears me giggle. "You are only a small boy, Song Bird. This
   river is big!"

      "It almost swallowed you up too," he answers smartly.

      I lower my head in remembrance. It was only a few moons ago when my
   young friend and I had nearly drowned. Song Bird had gotten caught in the
   river's current. Without any care for myself, I swam into the deeper water
   to save him. The current swept us far from camp before we managed to reach
   shore. Song Bird had sucked some water into his lungs. Yet by the time we
   made the long walk back to our tipis, he was breathing normally. We both
   agreed to put that harrowing experience behind us and to tell no one.

      "You've not said anything to your father about that day..." asks Song
   Bird in a whisper.

      I look deep into my friend's brown eyes, shaking my head. "No. I keep my
   spoken vows and promises." Song Bird nods. I know that it wouldn't go well
   for him if his father, our tribal chief were to learn how close to death
   his only son had come. Pride swells in my breast for having saved him.

      A man's head bursts up from the muddy water. When noticing our fright,
   he bellows like a scared river otter and shakes out water from his long
   hair. My friend and I splash water at him. The naked warrior raises both
   his hands to signal defeat.

      Song Bird giggles. He turns to me with bright eyes and I'm glad that
   father has brought him along on our outing. My father is an important
   warrior of the tribe; the chief's advisor yet he finds time from his duties
   to play with us. It fills me with much pride for him.

      I laugh when noticing how cold my little friend is. He has his thin arms
   wrapped around his chest for warmth and his teeth chatter. Father also
   notices. He lifts the boy onto his side to rescue him from the chilly
   water. I notice the expression on my father's face for the little boy: a
   deep happiness. He turns to me with that same endearing emotion that a
   father has for his son. I'm lifted onto his other side by the strong pull
   of his arm under my slippery backside.

      Song Bird and I clutch my father's shoulders to hang on. The man makes a
   bouncing game of it when holding us both out of the water. My small body is
   lifted over the man's hips and lowered with a drum's rhythm. The slippery
   act brings warmth to my front, especially to my pole. I feel it pushing out
   from my groin and filling with thrills. Song Bird is given this same
   exciting ride over my father's body and it makes him giggle a lot.

      "How are my two little birds?" the man asks.

      I'm struck by my father's words. Song Bird isn't his... He's the chief's
   son. I peer up at my father's face questioningly but his eyes are only for
   Song Bird. With anger in my belly, I kick against my father to free myself
   into the river. Song Bird thinks it's a game I'm playing. He too breaks
   from the man's hold to join me.

      "Bright Singer, you can't catch us!" shouts Song Bird.

      I join into my friend's taunting. My father rises up fully in the river
   before making a dive in our direction. For a moment, I spied on his loins
   again. A man's proud size when compared to the brown twig between my legs.

      "Bright Singer, youuu caaaan't caaaatch us!" Song Bird taunts again.

      I'm bothered by the boy's use of my father's name for some reason...
   like going against a taboo. The muddy waters of the river begin to swell in
   anger. Above us, the sky darkens from a storm gathering. When I look for
   Song Bird, the little boy is gone - is he drowning?! I shout out to my
   father for help. He turns away from me in his march towards the bank. I
   watch the rhythmic flexing of his butt cheeks. When the man reaches shore,
   he dons his lengthy breechclout and puts moccasins over his feet. I walk
   through the water in my attempt to reach him. He mustn't go away!

      My legs seem weighed down by rocks. I struggle against the current to
   reach my father. He bends down to pick up something from the dirt. It's a
   long spear. When I reach the bank, he turns to me with an angry face
   painted up with war colors. Now, I'm really frightened. I don't recognize
   the man that I've been calling 'father' these nine years of my life!


      I awaken in darkness. There's the tightness of someone's hand grasping
   my right shoulder that holds me down against my sleeping mat. When I
   struggle, a soft voice shoos me to be still. Is that Second Bird?

      "It's alright, Willow Bird. You've had a bad dream!"

      I try swallowing in my dry throat. A bad dream? I try collecting what
   remains of it inside my sleepy head. No. It wasn't all bad... Tears sting
   my eyes when I remember my father in it. Song Bird, too. My dream was
   reliving that long-ago day when he had taken the two of us fishing in the
   muddy river. Afterwards, we swam together. My father remarked how few
   stones there were to cut our feet on and that explained why no fish were
   taken with our hooked lines.

      I'm in awe of how detailed my dream was. It has me recalling things that
   had been forgotten. My father had often taken Song Bird with us on fun
   outings from camp. We fished, swam in the river and hiked along the forest
   trails. He taught us things a father shows his son. All the while, I
   thought my father had brought Song Bird along because he was my closest
   friend in the tribe. I didn't discover that we were half-brothers until
   this summer. My father had known and kept that secret close to his breast
   to protect his chief's honor.

      "What are you thinking?" asks Second Bird.

      My brother's words slowly lifts me from the depths of my thoughts. I
   hear crickets singing their night song. A horse whinnies nearby. My breaths
   seem loud in my ears and there's a frantic beating of my heart inside my
   chest. Was I struggling against Second Bird because of my dreaming?

      "It wasn't a bad dream..." I slowly begin. My brother remains silent so
   I continue. "I was dreaming of our father. He had taken Song Bird and I to
   fish and swim in the muddy river. It was a sweet memory of him when I was
   only nine."

      "Who is Song Bird?" asks Second Bird.

      "A boyhood friend of mine." It pains my heart that I'm under oath to
   keep people from learning how Song Bird is my half-brother. I try calming
   my trembling breaths. Second Bird loosens his hand from my shoulder but he
   remains squatting over my belly. I feel the warmth of his backside over my
   loins. Quick thrills shoot through my erection but I'm shamed by my lust.

      "I have many fond memories of our father," Second Bird whispers.
   "Whenever he came to my tribe with messages from your chief, he would visit
   me. We also went fishing and swimming in the muddy river. Did fun things.
   And he often spoke about you and our mother. He said that one day we would
   all be united. One family. One great tribe again..."

      I've heard the bitterness in my brother's last words. They bring a
   painful clutching of my heart for him. For the both of us. I reach out
   with my right hand to find Second Bird's chest. I lay my palm flat against
   his heart. He brings his hand up to lay over mine.

      "We are finally together, my brother."

      I nod my head in the darkness. "Let's go bring everyone else together."
   Our hands press together in silence for a long while into the night.


      The next morning, Second Bird prepares our horses for traveling.
   Blankets are thrown over their backs and stomping legs are unhobbled. I'm
   slow to mount Pai-alucia. My brother notices and aids me by pushing me over
   my stallion. My sluggishness comes not from my shoulder wound. That has
   mostly healed. No. I'm feeling unsure of our direction through these lands.
   We are two lone warriors against the multitude of Peoples, friend and foe
   that await us out here. And where have our tribes gone?

      Second Bird kicks his horse into a trot. He scouts on ahead while I
   follow. A grim smile comes to my face. It's been a handful of days since we
   left the Painted People. They were relieved to see me go! My shoulder wound
   and Second Bird's broken arm had taken two moons to heal. All the while we
   feared that Crumobia's tribesmen would come seeking revenge. Luckily, none
   came. There was no one left alive from his war party to warn his People of
   me; only Second Bird who is my brother. My eyes widen in sweet realization.
   My vow unto Tree Snake, my slain fasting guardian has been fulfilled!

      The sweetness in my mouth turns bitter and I lower my head. Not from
   shame; I have done what a warrior must to protect himself and his People.
   Those moccasined warriors had killed my guardian. Even raped him! By my
   spoken vow, my hand has brought down each one of them. A necessary thing...
   I don't have to like it though.

      I have a path to walk that differs from most men. I'm given visions from
   our Father to guide the People. I hope to learn how to become a shaman, a
   healer instead of a taker of life. That is my spiritual path. My heart's
   path seeks for boys. I readily offer myself to needing men because I'm
   Mahyee-na but with boys is my heart truly given to. I've come to accept
   this thing in myself.

      My thoughts turn back to Sky Runner. He is a very sweet youth. He came
   to our sick hut often with his offer to comfort me. I learned some of his
   People's words and telling stories helped pass the long hot days. At night,
   his soft yielding body gave relief to my hard loins. I had hoped to make
   him mine! But in time I learned to respect his specialness that prevented
   him from becoming my boy lover. Sky Runner is not truly male... but not a
   girl either. He possesses a soft spirit that is unique. It comes from his
   caring for others that goes beyond love. He's special.

      I sigh from my deep heart pain. Sky Runner is too precious to his People
   for me to possess him for only love. The boy is important to their elder's
   rituals, I've been told. When the day came for Second Bird and I to leave
   their tribe, I raised my hand in farewell to the boy. Our paths separated.
   There's still hope in me to that I'll return and see him again.

      I kick Pai-alucia into a swifter trot to catch up with Second Bird. His
   horse soon comes into sight. My eyes go to the brave's soft cheeks bouncing
   over the horse's sweaty back. I recall how my dick fit between them for a
   lusty release of my sperm... but no more. We are brothers. It is considered
   taboo for siblings to come together for love in that way.

      I feel the upwards pressure of my dick within the front of my deerskin
   breechclout. It's been six fingers of days since last I've come out from my
   loins. With each day's passing comes a greater need for male relief. I
   could use my hand at need but I've kept myself from that simple boy's
   pleasure. Second Bird has ever been at my side during our travels. Why do I
   feel embarrassment to reveal to my brother that I'm in need?

      I do lust for him. My eyes are forced away from Second Bird's butt in
   anger. I can no longer look upon that brave for mating - he is my brother!
   What we had done with each other's bodies was from ignorance. The truth of
   our relationship wasn't revealed until after we mated. Now, I must keep
   myself from seeking him for that. I think that Second Bird also burns for
   me but he has kept himself away. It's a source of growing tension between
   us that could compromise our safety in these dangerous lands.

      The morning passes slowly. I take notice of the changing landscape with
   the rolling hills becoming flatter with wide valley grasslands. Second Bird
   seems to know his way around the steep drops. Does he remember where his
   tribe has settled though? We continue to ride in the direction of where
   Father Sun falls in His sky. How many more days is our journeying?

      I'm glad to see that there are many opportunities to fill our water
   skins from the ponds and clear streams that we often cross. Much sign of
   the buffalo are here. I find that these open plains are beautiful. A stark
   contrast to the sheltering woods of my home.

      My stomach tightens with the realization that I don't know where my home
   is. My People had gone when I returned from my fasting ritual. Only
   depressions in the dirt marked where tipis once stood. The raised
   platforms of our dead remained. Unguarded. Standing apart from them was my
   warrior lover... I still don't know how he died or why his tipi was burned.

      I no longer have a deep heart pain when thinking of my Big Horn. Though
   only a few moons have passed since our parting, it seems like years. He is
   dead. I know that he's joined his first lover in the Above and that
   sometimes, I have felt his hand guiding me down my path towards manhood.
   Ever performing as my monedo. Now, I have a brother at my side.

      I follow Second Bird through the grasslands until Father Sun reaches the
   height of His sky. My body is much sweated by the time we pause to rest our
   horses. I eagerly drop down from Pai-alucia. There's a large pond nearby
   that I'll use to clean away the dust from my body.

      My brother grins in anticipation when we half-run to the pond. His
   fingers are already loosening the thong belt around his waist. I have only
   a front flap to my breechclout so instead of untying its belt, I simply
   pull the deerskin cloth away. Second Bird's flaps are dropped to his feet.

      I jump into the pond instead of diving in. I was unsure of its depths
   but discover that its muddy bottom is nearly two men's heights down.
   There's a cold flow of water that must come from a spring. I surface for
   breath. Second Bird treads the water at my side. His face is a grin.

      "Isn't this a great pleasure, Willow Bird!"

      "Ah, yes. I'm glad to cool my body and to clean it from all the dust
   your horse has brought up!" A splash of water comes to my face. I quickly
   avenge the attack and like two boys, we make for a great contest. It ends
   when my brother sputters for air. He must have sucked in one of my
   splashes. My arm around his shoulder pulls the brave back towards shore.

      On the bank, Second Bird coughs the water out while I pound over his
   back to clear his lungs. I'm feeling sorry that my brother is in such
   distress. He keeps his body slumped over with the length of his black hair
   falling to the mud at his feet. His body wracks with coughs. My gaze drops
   down to his brown butt. I get the temptation to take advantage of the
   brave's vulnerable state by sticking into him. My intense feelings of lust
   are quickly cast away by shame.

      After a while, Second Bird regains an easy breath. He slowly straightens
   up to face me with a sigh. I grasp his shoulder in uneasy silence. There's
   forgiveness in his dark eyes that offer me some comfort.

      "You play that game well," comments Second Bird. A small cough erupts
   from his mouth. Pain fills his eyes that he tries to hide.

      "Too well, my brother. I am sorry that you were hurt!" Second Bird
   feigns a grin to put me at ease. I know that he's trying to hide the pain
   from his lungs. He brings up his right hand to cover mine over his left
   shoulder. Unspoken words flow between us. There's no need to say anything.
   We are brothers.

      Second Bird silently studies my face. I'm reminded of when we first met.
   He seemed to recognize me by the similar features of my face to his and
   must have suspected that I was his lost brother. Too, I felt something
   familiar about him and had sought his protection from his companions. That
   makes me wonder about something though. If he suspected that I was his
   brother, why did he allow my dick to stick up his butt as we rode behind
   the two warriors?

      I feel uneasy to ask about it. My brother continues to study my body's
   features, comparing them to his own body. We stand at the same height with
   nearly the same length of hair. I was the first born to our mother. Second
   Bird must have come within the next year, parted from her at birth and
   gifted to the Split Muddy River Tribe's Chief's sister. At least he'd been
   told about my existence. I was raised without knowing that I had a brother
   living in an enemy camp. Too, our father had kept us from learning about
   Song Bird.

      "Father never mentioned that he sired another child," asks Second Bird.

      I'm stunned that my brother was thinking this same thing. As I open my
   mouth to answer him, I remember my oath unto Song Bird. My mouth shuts.
   It's with lowered eyes that I gesture to Second Bird that I'm under a vow
   to keep silent about it. He seems to accept that restriction upon me but
   turns our conversation in an unexpected direction.

      "It must have been a very difficult path for our father to walk," says
   Second Bird.

      "What do you mean?" I ask. I was expecting anger from Second Bird.

      "Father owed his allegiance to your Kalinlepi Chief but left me, his
   second son in the hands of an enemy chief's sister to raise. That proved a
   measure of trust he had for the Split Muddy River tribe to what he hoped
   would bring about the rejoining of our two Peoples. A difficult path since
   he risked losing me if the chiefs' peace messages had soured."

      "We ended up losing our father instead."

      "Yes. It wasn't for many years until I learned that he had been taken
   by the Spear-bearing Warriors in their surprise attack on your tribe. We
   may have lost our father but our Peoples lost that chance he had brought
   them to come together as one tribe again."

      I slowly nod my head to Second Bird's words while my head fills with the
   ending images from my morning's dream. In it, my father had turned away
   from his sons swimming in the river to don his breechclout and moccasins on
   the bank. A strange thing since none of our men cover their feet. Also, he
   had taken up a feathered spear from the ground. That's a weapon used by our
   enemies, the Spear-bearing Warriors.

      "Your have a nice 'spear,'" remarks Second Bird. He notices his
   brother's troubled thoughts and hopes to lift him out of them.

      I gasp when feeling the brave's hand over my dick. It has become partly
   erected from standing so close to my naked brother. Shame forces me to step
   back, out of his hand's reach. My downcast eyes search the ground for our
   breechclouts.

      "No, Willow Bird. I want to stand a while longer to dry in the sun."

      I slowly turn around to face Second Bird. His arms reach out to me in a
   manner that brings a deep pang to my heart. There's a slow growth to his
   penis that matches my own. My feet step up to him of their own accord. His
   hands find mine and clasp.

      Second Bird grins. While holding my hands, he rubs the front of his
   slippery body against mine. Our dicks touch. I'm in such need to embrace my
   brother for love but sexual pleasure must be denied us. I step back.

      "What is troubling you, Willow Bird?"

      I look down at my brother's growing erection. Like the other parts of
   our bodies, his dick is exactly the same as mine in shape and length. The
   brown knob of his pops out from its thick skin and oozes from an
   expectation of sex. I lift my eyes in a rush to explain that we can't...
   "You are my brother!"

      Second Bird laughs. "That is what's troubling you?"

      I glare at the brave for his contempt. He keeps the happy expression on
   his face that gets me even angrier. I have to turn away from lust's
   temptation. Conflicting emotions tug at my heart and my head is in great
   turmoil. I walk over to the horses.

      Pai-alucia greets me with his soft nickering and nose rub against my
   chest. My fingers task themselves to straightening the long hair over his
   withers. This stallion is all that I have left of Big Horn. That warrior's
   tipi is gone. The sacred bundle he crafted and filled with objects from my
   childhood have been smashed into the dirt by Crumobia. I am left without a
   lover. Alone with an empty hand.

      I feel the presence of my brother behind me. He's ignored while I tend
   to pulling out the many burs from Pai-alucia's shaggy hide. There's a
   leather-rubbing sound coming from Second Bird. When I glance back at him,
   I notice that he's donned his breechclout and offers my flap to me.

      "We should be going," whispers Second Bird.

      I'm feeling very angry with myself - at the bad way I've been acting
   towards my brother. I turn to him sheepishly while dropping my front flap
   over my thong belt. "Please, let's sit and rest for a while..."

      Second Bird nods. He brings down a horse blanket to cover the thick
   grass so that we may lie down. We both rest over our backs to stare up at
   the blue sky. The wind races past our bodies. I'm enjoying the silence.

      Thoughts drop into my head. I keep wondering what's happened to my tribe
   to make them leave their place on the river. Is Song Bird well? Though
   we're forbidden to be lovers, I feel the strong pull of my heart to his.
   Big Horn's death has intensified it. Even if Song Bird's father would
   permit our love, my young friend has taken to another boy. A white youth
   with sun hair and sky blue eyes. I wonder if their love has grown strong?

      I turn my eyes to Father Sun, allow His brilliance to chase away my dark
   thoughts. Nothing seems to get resolved. I only become unhappy by keeping
   inside myself. It's like my friend has often said, I do think too much.

      Pai-alucia stomps his foot with impatience. He knows that we should be
   leaving. Second Bird seems content to lay at my side for an afternoon nap.
   I don't feel tired. Troubles prevent me from feeling content. So many
   unanswered questions! Where has my tribe gone?

      When my eyes become too filled with the sun, I look away. His bright
   Face forms yellow twins against the blue sky. Blink. They slowly fade from
   sight...

      Fire! A terrible choice must be made that saves only one. Twins must
   remain together. Join!

      My legs jerk me awake as if I were falling from a great height. The roar
   in my ears is replaced by the soft blowing of the wind through the grass.
   It's peaceful here. Why then is my heart beating like a war drum?

      I toss and turn over the ground blanket. Something has happened. When I
   try to think if I've dreamed, only the brilliant Face of Father Sun fills
   my eyes. His image seems to be a warning.

      My troubling thoughts return. They drop into my head like unwelcomed
   guests. How did Big Horn die? I saw his platform kept apart from the other
   dead. Why?!

      To find my tribe is to find answers. I really miss Song Bird! Even if he
   can no longer be mine in all things, I need to see him. To know that he is
   well. My head shakes with anger so that I can chase away my troubling
   thoughts. Why can't my heart give me some peace?

      I force my eyes to close. The twin images of Father Sun shimmers before
   my eyelids. They burn. My eyes focus so that the yellow globes become one.
   It makes me think of Sings-to-the-birds. He's on his way down from Moy
   Mountain to attend my initiation into manhood.

      My tribe has moved! It will be a difficult thing for that brave to find
   me. Too late to catch him at the Moss-bowl Tribe. Will he be taking Night's
   Star with him?

      I feel my connection to that handsome brave. Big Horn initiated him into
   our society of the Mahyee-na. In time, I think that he'll initiate his boy.
   They are probably lovers already.

      My eyes fill with tears. Those that I have loved are paired with a
   companion. Song Bird to his newly adopted white brother and Sings-to-the-
   birds to Night's Star. Even Big Horn has rejoined his first lover in the
   Above. I am left alone. My fingers clench in anger.

      Second Bird stirs at my side. There's a look of deep concern on his
   face when his eyes look deeply into mine.

      "I feel that your heart is greatly troubled," whispers Second Bird. "Are
   you missing someone?"

      I swallow nervously in my throat. Yes. My brother can read me well. His
   mannerisms are similar to my own but I feel that we are still strangers. We
   don't share a past together like I do with Song Bird. How can I confide my
   deepest secrets and heart pains to him?

      "You do not yet trust me, Willow Bird. I have seen your heart and know
   its worth. Yours is a gentle spirit that has been harmed by my traveling
   companions. A hard turtle's shell has grown around your inner wound. Allow
   me to heal it."

      "How... if that is so?" I ask.

      "Just talk to me, my brother. I thought we'd have plenty of time
   together to talk when we shared a sick hut back at the Painted People's
   Tribe yet you kept yourself away from me."

      "We talked!"

      "Yes... some. But not what needed to be said."

      "Like what?" I'm uncomfortable with my brother's unspoken accusations.
   I've accepted that he's my brother and that we have come together to unite
   our Peoples as our father tried to do.

      "Sky Runner told me something about you."

      A deep pang of fear stabs my heart. What does Second Bird think he knows
   about me?

      "The boy said that Willow Bird is searching..." whispers Second Bird.

      "What does he mean by that?" I ask. "Who am I searching for?" My mouth
   closes when realizing what words escaped from me. I didn't realize it
   myself until this moment.

      A hand comes into my own and gentle squeezes my fingers. My brother's
   simple gesture of caring brings me to tears. I bear them down my cheeks
   without shame. What did Big Horn tell me? 'There's no shame to cry when it
   is done alone or with a lover.'

      Sobs come from my mouth. I turn onto my side away from Second Bird so
   that he won't be a witness to my weakness. I'm held from behind. My arms
   flail against my brother's hold so that I can try being alone. Ours becomes
   a fierce battle with my cries of anguish against the young man who is
   trying to care for me.

      "Fight against this darkness!"

      I pause a moment from sobbing when hearing Big Horn's words. Or had
   they come from Second Bird? My body ends its violent struggle. No more
   sobs come from my mouth. I turn onto my back so that my eyes can look into
   the sky for Him. 'Oh Big Horn. Who can I turn to for love?'

      My hand is taken again and held. This time, I grasp it firmly.


      The hot afternoon passes slowly. Second Bird searches the ground more
   often in the hopes of finding the passage of a People. I'm beginning to
   suspect that the young brave is lost. I thought that his tribe was settled
   on the wide muddy river as mine so what are we doing on the plains? I kick
   Pai-alucia into a trot when my brother has mounted. He leads us onwards.

      My body becomes heated under the Hand of Father Sun. The occasional wind
   blows my sweat away. I wish we could find a pond to swim in. The cool water
   would feel wonderful to my prickly skin and clean away the trail dust. My
   dick throbs with lust. I'm reminded of the temptation I faced when being
   naked with my brother the last time.

      My head lowers in shame. The taboos of my People are strong and must be
   kept. I pine for Second Bird but he is my brother. What would our father
   think if he were alive and knew that his two sons had sex together?

      A raised arm gesture of warning is given me by Second Bird. He must have
   spotted something... or someone. He dismounts. I slowly drop from my horse
   while my right hand feels along my thong belt for Big Horn's knife. I'm
   momentarily alarmed by its absence. No. I had left that evil thing back
   with the Painted People for ritual disposal. The only weapons remaining me
   are Big Horn's spear tied to Pai-alucia's back, a bow case and quiver of
   arrows. No hand-to-hand weapon.

      My brother has disappeared from sight. His horse has been stake tied so
   I slowly bring my horse forward. The bow case is fetched along with the
   quiver of arrows. I quickly catch the twined loop over the bow's curved end
   to set it. An arrow is fit. I open my ears to the sounds of danger.

      Second Bird returns. In his arm he supports an old woman. A young boy
   grasps her hand. Quick hand signals are exchanged between my brother and I.
   He leaves to scout out the area more thoroughly on foot while I'm to
   remain here to guard over the horses and our 'guests'.

      My eyes look the two over. The squaw is at grandmother's age; she has a
   cracked face and wrinkled spotted hands. A fine traveling cloak of elk is
   worn about her shoulders. She wears quilled moccasins and silver earrings
   glint from her ears. From these things I determine that she is of some rank
   in her tribe. Why then does she travel these plains without a warrior's
   escort?

      The boy appears to be seven or eight years of age. He wears tiny
   moccasins and has his small body covered with a blanket. A yawn escapes
   from his mouth. He seems to hang from the squaw's hand as if ready to fall.

      Both keep silent and appear to be exhausted. I point out a bulging skin
   tied to my horse for the squaw to take water from. Her weathered hands take
   hold of the spout and she drinks. The young boy whines at her side. She
   fills her mouth with water before stooping over to fill the boy's mouth
   from hers.

      Second Bird returns. He continues to use hand signals with me and says
   that only the old squaw's foot trail could be found; no signs of warriors
   or any horses. When addressing the old woman, her old eyes reveal no
   comprehension to what my brother asks her. She grips the little boy's hand
   and remains silent.

      'I do not understand what happened to them,' gestures Second Bird to his
   brother. 'Take them with us. I follow her trail back for answers.'

      I nod my head in agreement. The old squaw rides over Second Bird's horse
   while I get to enjoy the youth in my arms. His body blanket is dropped
   beneath him to sit over my horse. Naked, I hold the sleepy youth in my
   lap. It's slow going. My brother walks so that he can backtrack the
   woman's passage in the dirt. I cast my eyes out for danger.

      I'm often glancing down at my traveling companion. A cute little boy.
   He's sleeping in my arm while we ride. His body is unmarked by injury and
   evenly tanned from head to toe. He comes from a tribe that is well-to-do
   since he's been provided with a blanket and moccasins. His butt is nicely
   rounded that comes from having plenty to eat.

      I feel my body's attraction to his. He's young though; Day Rabbit's age
   which means I could only offer him a 'Growing up' rite to teach him about
   his sex. I long for older boys who have sperm in the loins paining them to
   come out. With such youths can I teach the varied Mahyee-na acts to offer
   them pleasurable male relief.

      The hot afternoon passes. Before us is an endless span of golden grass
   that never changes. I miss the trees. Pai-alucia is kept at a walk behind
   Second Bird's horse carrying the squaw. Where did she come from?

      My mind wanders from the lack of change or excitement. Are we embarked
   on a fool's errand? Helping this old woman keeps us from finding our tribes.
   She won't explain what happened to her. We can only follow her footpath
   back to find answers. Ah well, I don't mind since I'm holding a cute boy to
   my breast.

      Cricket's singing announces the onset of evening. No longer does Father
   Sun's fiery Hand touch upon our backs. Second Bird signals that we find a
   night camp. There are no forests and few trees out here for cover on the
   plains so we simply tie our horses to a bush and lay down blankets. The old
   woman quickly lays over one to sleep as if dead.

      Some energy has returned to the little boy since his nap. He watches
   the both of us with keen eyes when we eat but he utters no sound. I play
   with the youth. My hands form animal face shapes that get him to laugh.
   My gestures are mimicked back which shows the boy's intelligence. He is
   very cute. I suppose that all little boys are but this one has a girl's
   beauty: a soft rounded face with brown eyes that smile nicely at me.

      Second Bird notices my interest in the youth. He makes the 'stiff male'
   sign with his middle finger at me. I'm sure that Sky Runner has told him of
   my fondness for boys but I'm not going to prey on this youth for sex. My
   brother's taunting is ignored.

      After our meal, a night watch is agreed upon. Second Bird will sleep
   until the moon's rising while I stand guard. I have Big Horn's spear at the
   ready while wearing his quiver of arrows over my back. My hands grip a
   bow. There could be trouble nearby so I'm prepared.

      I keep turning the mystery of our guests over and over again in my head.
   It's known that the elderly sometimes wander out of camp to die when they
   become a burden to their family but she was not alone. Who is that boy to
   her? A grandson?

      I smile when finding the youth standing guard with me. His small hands
   grip a stick in place of a bow and arrow. When I turn to peer outwards from
   our camp for enemies, he makes the same seeking gesture. We stand a long
   while until full darkness comes.

      Overhead, the stars are brilliant with the absence of the moon. It will
   rise soon and with it, Second Bird to take his turn at guard. My attention
   returns to the boy. He's looking up at the stars but lowers his face to
   peer at me. I walk over to him.

      In the darkness, I can make out the shaggy shape of the boy wearing his
   blanket. Youths of his age in my tribe go about naked in the summer. This
   boy also wears moccasins. Are these fine things a sign of his rank in the
   tribe like that aged squaw?

      My hand reaches out to the youth. I rub over his soft hair and lower my
   hand to brush against his face. A nice boy. Where does he belong? What was
   he doing alone with that squaw on the open plains?

      The moon makes its slow rising in the sky. I cast my eyes about for
   suspicious shadows in the grass but trust more to Pai-alucia's sensitive
   nose. If anything approaches, the stallion will probably sense it first.

      I stretch out my arms and yawn. The time has come to awaken Second Bird.
   The boy is close at my side when my brother is shaken awake. I eagerly take
   his warm place on the blanket to sleep. Snoring is heard from the old
   squaw. She sleeps on the blanket nearest the horses.

      The boy settles down to sleep with me. He removes his blanket and uses
   it for a ground mat to lay upon. His butt presses against my front flap.
   With my arms having nowhere else to go, I wrap them comfortably around his
   small form. My nose presses into his soft hair. A tightness fills my chest.

      Whose son is this? Is this boy's father beside himself with fear and
   frantically searching for him? I know that I'll never have a son. That's a
   sad truth for some of us in the society of the Mahyee-na. Big Horn had said
   that men of the Mahyee-na may take a wife to beget sons and daughters but I
   don't ever see myself becoming a husband.

      No son from my loins... What a sad thought. Do I yearn for boys because
   I want them to be the son I'll never sire? No. I never looked to Song Bird
   as my son to love. That youth is my boyhood friend. We grew up together
   and became very close. A special form of love for two males to embrace.

      The boy in my arms makes soft noises through his nose. I feel my weary
   body settling over the ground as sleep takes me as well.


      I awaken in the early morning. The old squaw snores loudly while the boy
   in my arms makes soft noises through his nose. There's fog in the air. It
   brings up a strong smell of prairie grass from the earth. I'm glad to have
   this warm youth to cuddle with. His back lays against my chest and his
   little butt presses nicely into my front flap. Little legs touch mine. My
   right arm cradles the youth's soft face. My left hand rests over his
   belly.

      I discover such happiness to be holding a boy in my arms. He is
   someone's son that I'm protecting. Where does he belong? The usual
   troubling thoughts that I have are at the edge of my awareness; I shoo them
   away. This precious moment is for the boy and I alone. My eyes close in
   sleepy contentment.

      I'm awakened from my snoozing by the boy's adjustment over his blanket.
   His legs have stretched out. My left hand falls lower over his body so that
   I'm clutching his loins. I gentle explore them with my fingers. The boy's
   maleness is soft and moist. He has a small balls sac. My palm holds his
   thick penis. A good size for a boy of his age, I remark. How big can he
   get when excited? I try to find out.

      My hand beings a rhythmic grasping of his loins. I finger into his balls
   while my sweaty palm rubs against his pole. A simple boy's game that I'm
   trying to perform. I feel the blood rush in my own loins to what I'm doing.

      The youth continues sleeping. My hand is slowly awakening his maleness
   though. I feel the swelling of his pole. It lifts under my palm to stand
   strong and proud against his belly. I bring my fingers up to grasp its
   thick skin. Gentle yet firm pulls are made around it. I'm in marvel that I
   can masturbate the youth while he sleeps.

      Against the boy's ass, my dick has erected and strains to be freed of my
   front breechclout. If I had a free hand, I'd lift the flap to bare my hard
   manhood against soft boy cheeks. Sticking into his little hole would be too
   bold. I'm content to simply handle the youth's stiff boyhood. I wonder if
   my act is gifting him with sweet dreaming?

      I notice the absence of the boy's deep breathing. Has he awakened? My
   hand continues its slow pulling over of his erection. His is a nice size
   against my palm. A small gasp is made. I grin in revelation - the boy in my
   arms is awake. He's experiencing nice male thrills but alas, I won't be
   able to gift him with a sexual release. At least I'm teaching him that his
   little dick can do more than pee.

      The boy gasps again. His thin legs strain over mine as if he's in
   discomfort. Is my hand hurting him? I know that a young boy can achieve a
   dry climax that if prolonged, will cause him to get too anxious. I rest my
   hand around his erection to test the boy. He release a long drawn-out sigh.
   His legs quiet. Yes. My hand had brought him to it.

      I count to two handfuls of heartbeats before resuming to masturbate my
   boy. His whole body gets into the beat of my hand playing over him. His
   legs stretch. Against my covered erection, I feel the flexing of his little
   butt. A wonderful sensation! His breathing deepens until he gasps. My
   filled hand rests again.

      I know that a little boy can enjoy multiple thrills because of his dry
   climax. Not having sperm in his balls allows it. He is denied that final
   glorious release that is male fulfillment. My hard dick is straining within
   my front flap to find that in this boy's ass.

      I'm startled when feeling a hand inside my breechclout. The boy has
   reached back to grab what has been poking him in the butt. Is he in awe of
   my manly hugeness? My hand resumes to enjoy his boy size to gift him with
   more thrills. He grips my dick as if holding onto the ride.

      My whole body strains over the ground blanket to fulfill myself. My butt
   makes a humping motion. Our legs surge together as if we're coupled. His
   small hand clutches the skin of my erection which I stab through. Such
   thrills! It's been a long time since I've come out. The sexual pleasure I'm
   feeling with this sweet boy is tremendous.

      A loud gasp. When hearing the boy's dry climax, it brings my loins to
   fruition. Oh, strong squirts are bursting under my front flap. There's a
   sexual explosion inside my head! I think that I've cried out...

      After many breaths, I feel an urgent pulling around my left hand. The
   boy is trying to loosen my strong grip of his pole. I am hurting him. My
   fingers open to give the youth back his fulfilled boyhood. I feel the slow
   running of my cum within my breechclout to the ground. After a few
   adjustments, our heated bodies come to a rest over the ground blankets.

      I kiss the boy's soft hair in gratitude for our body's sharing of male
   pleasure. My feelings of guilt are cast away. I didn't expect sex with this
   youth but it happened. He was a willing part of it. I continue to hold my
   boy against the cool morning air. His loud breaths quiet. We slowly return
   to sleep.


      A horse makes a loud warning snort. I sit up in a rush, carrying what
   my arms were clutching. There's a naked boy in my lap? My groggy head is
   slow to remember things.

      I turn to look for the horses. There's an old woman drawing water from a
   bulging skin over Pai-alucia's back. That must have startled him. I look
   for Second Bird but can't find him. I get to my legs in a rush while
   carrying the boy up in my arms. A quick encirclement of camp is made. I
   discover my brother squatting in the tall grass. He's shows embarrassment.

      I return to camp. To my concern, I notice that Pai-alucia's reins are
   hanging down to the ground; not tied to the bush from last night. The squaw
   turns away from my horse to scold. My boy pulls from my arms to run to her.

      A mouthful of water is given the boy from her mouth. I walk over to her
   with much suspicion showing on my face. The old squaw ignores me though. I
   take hold of Pai-alucia's loose reins so that I can tie them back into the
   bush. Was she trying to get away? I'll let Second Bird know what has
   happened here.

      Breakfast of smoked sheep's meat is eaten as we stand by the horses.
   Second Bird is eager to go. He'll allow the old squaw to ride his horse
   again but only with him leading its reins. I take the boy on my horse. How
   far have these two traveled on foot before we found them? It'll take that
   same amount of time to backtrack their trail. If it weren't for the boy,
   I'd let the old woman go her way alone. She seems to be on a death path. If
   so, why was the boy going with her?

      There's something odd about the youth. Since finding him, not one word
   has he uttered. Some whining, yes. And laughter. But no words to us or to
   the old woman. The both of them are really odd.

      Second Bird leads his horse while keeping his eyes down to the ground. I
   keep a grip of my naked boy while casting my eyes about for danger. The
   morning passes into a hot, dusty afternoon. These plains seem to never end.

      My horse spooks! I'm desperately trying to keep hold of his reins when
   he rises onto his hind legs to avoid some threat. I lose my grip of the
   boy in my lap. He falls! Pai-alucia bolts off through the tall grass at a
   gallop. The boy has managed to take hold of the stallion's neck with his
   arms. He hangs down precariously to the ground. I'm desperately pulling on
   Pai-alucia's reins and shouting for him to stop! Nothing can be done to aid
   the youth though.

      I finally manage to slow Pai-alucia down. He comes to a stop just as the
   boy's strength fails him. He drops to the grass on his butt. I get down
   from the stallion. The boy runs to my side with wide frightened eyes. I
   lift him up to my side and try comforting him.

      I'm very proud of this youth. Throughout, he didn't cry out in fear and
   he held onto Pai-alucia's neck to the end. He could have been trampled
   beneath the stallion's hooves! His clever act shows intelligence. I bring
   my arm around his back and kiss his cheek. The boy becomes shy.

      I make a slow check of my horse. All four legs are lifted and examined
   for injuries. None. His eyes continue rolling so I speak to him in low
   soothing tones. Second Bird comes into sight with his horse and the old
   woman.

      "What happened?" asks Second Bird. "Is he alright?"

      "Yes. Something spooked Pai-alucia into a run," I explain. "The boy had
   nearly fallen off but managed to hang from the stallion's neck. I think we
   lost his blanket back there somewhere..."

      My brother shakes his head with relief. I continue to carry the naked
   boy on my side while leading Pai-alucia by his reins. Second Bird leads his
   horse and together we look for the boy's fallen blanket. The tall grass
   make for a difficult search. It's discovered when we near the squaw's trail
   that we've been following. I can see that my little friend is still scared
   to ride so I put him down so that we can walk ahead of Pai-alucia. I also
   want to give the stallion a rest.

      Second Bird picks up the squaw's trail and follows it. Father Sun
   continues to burn our backs. I cast my eyes out for a pond or stream to
   swim in. None. By tomorrow, our water skins will need filling. Food isn't a
   concern yet. We were given much smoked meat by the Painted People. Their
   chiefs were gifted two of the horses we took from Crumobia as a peace
   offering for bringing trouble to his tribe. I sure wish a flint blade could
   of have been given me in return.

      Father Sun begins his slow fall in His sky. After our long walk, I think
   the boy has calmed and Pai-alucia has rested. We mount up. There's still
   some nervousness in the youth. I show him there's nothing to fear by
   patting my horse's neck. As expected, the youth mimics my actions. A
   smile creeps onto his face when Pai-alucia whinnies in a friendly tone.

      The boy looks down at my hands in his lap gripping the stallion's reins.
   I gesture that he can try holding them. His face beams. A lesson is given
   the youth about how our mount is directed by pulling on the tied thongs.
   Tugging left gets Pai-alucia to walk left. A right tugging turns him to the
   right. A full pull makes him stop.

      The boy is a quick learner so a more advanced lesson is given. I show
   him how releasing our grip on the reins and a few kicks into Pai-alucia's
   side with our feet gets him into a canter. More kicking means faster. We
   race over the plains leaving my brother and the squaw to their slow trail.

      My heart soars to be teaching this boy horsemanship. The wind whips
   through our hair and our bodies roll over the stallion's back as one. If I
   were a father, I'd wish to have this boy as my son. My heart bursts with
   utter happiness for what we're sharing together. I'm feeling very free.

      Second Bird is relieved when we return. I show him that the boy has
   learned how to ride my horse. My hands are raised in the air to prove it.
   Though my brother grins, he gestures that Pai-alucia would be a great prize
   for an eight-year-old horse thief. His concern makes me laugh.

      The afternoon slowly passes into evening with the dropping of Father
   Sun's golden Face. Whenever I peer at Him, I'm reminded of some omen that
   was given me but half-forgotten. Twin suns? I shake my head in anger. I'm
   in need of a shaman's guidance so that I can remember our Father's
   word/images and more importantly, how to interpret them. Second Bird looks
   back at me with a weary expression on his face. For a moment, his eyes
   glowed orange from the setting sun reflecting in them.

      Camp is made. The horse are tied with care so their reins won't 'loosen'
   as before. A blanket for the old woman to sleep on is placed away from our
   horses. No opportunity will be given for her to escape. We honor her as our
   guest and she has mouthed a few words of thanks in return but there is
   something strange about her. The boy too. I have yet to hear him say
   anything.

      Second Bird drops down to his ground blanket to sleep. I take first
   watch like last evening. Big Horn's spear is placed nearby but an arrow
   fitted in his bow is my primary weapon. The boy doesn't stand guard with me
   tonight. He lays over his little blanket, fast asleep.

      Darkness falls. I feel the growing coolness over my sweaty body. How I
   must stink for not having the opportunity to bathe! I shake my head at our
   predicament. Instead of searching for our tribes, we take on strangers to
   an unknown destination. I admit that I'm doing this for the boy; handing
   him over to his father will be a great joy for me. My heart is being taken
   by him. I put down any fantasies of keeping him as my own...

      The moon makes its slow rising. In the sky, the starlight grows shy. I
   look for the familiar star patterns of animals, great hunters and sacred
   places. I also look for Big Horn. Somehow, I know that his eyes shine down
   upon me with concern.

      Soft footsteps are heard in the dark. I pull on my bow in readiness but
   suspect that I know who's approaching. The boy comes into sight. He wears
   his blanket around his small body. I drop to my knees and put my bow down.
   My arms open to give the youth a long hug.

      "You can't sleep?" I whisper in his ear. I'm not surprised by his
   silence. I don't think that he understands but no words come from him. My
   arms make a great bear hug of his body until I force a gasp. I tickle his
   belly to make him giggle.

      The boy tickles my belly. I giggle back with my fingers finding his
   navel and sticking in. This gets him to laugh. I lift my hands to his
   shoulders and grip them under his blanket. Our faces come close together.
   In the moonlight, I peer into his dark eyes for something. He stares back.
   There's the soft rustling of his blanket when it falls behind him. I feel
   his hands reaching down to my front flap. I nod my head. He pulls it from
   my thong belt to bare my excited body to him.

      I wait for the youth's next move. After some reluctance, the boy slowly
   presses himself onto my front. I'm on my knees while he stands. Yet I feel
   the coming together of our dicks; his skinny boypole stiffness against my
   swollen man size. I lower my hands down his back until finding his soft
   rear end. My palms cup both warm cheeks. His small body fits onto mine with
   a meeting of our chests. Thin boy legs press around mine. His face rests
   in my neck. I breathe him in. Ah...

      My hands begin a rhythmic beat over his little butt. That brings his
   erection against mine for a shared male pleasuring. His hands grip my
   lower back. My butt humps in time to my forward thrusts. I'm making gentle
   love to this little boy that makes my heart soar!

      The thrills are intense in my dick. I keep myself in check so that our
   loving won't become fierce and frighten him. His breaths hold. There's a
   cute trembling to his belly. My nose is pressed into his hair to breathe
   him in. The smell of boy.

      There's a small gasp from him. Knowing of his thrills sends an intense
   surge through my dick. I pause my hands a moment so that we may rest. The
   boy's mouth is full of urgent breaths. They blow hot to my neck. I wait
   until he's recovered before playing over his soft 'drum' with my hands
   again. Our dicks press together and rub wonderfully. Breaths are held and
   I release mine as low moans.

      Little hands lower to my butt. I welcome the boy's hold of my body there
   and give him a humping performance. His pair of cheeks are really flexing
   in my hands! He's learned how to drive his erection onto mine for a
   thrilling prolonged rub. My sexual dripping keeps us slippery. I know how
   sensitive a little boy's pole can be if it's dry. Ah, the feelings are
   really getting intense. My right hand rises to grip his back. I can keep
   hold of his tiny flexing butt within my left hand.

      My boy cries out. Hearing his dry climax gets me to cum. Strongly! I try
   keeping my joyful cries in my throat so that we won't alarm the others. My
   wild body is kept subdued. I don't want to frighten my young lover with a
   passionate ending display that I would make when in a man's arms. When my
   loin's flow ends, I open my mouth to take in breaths. My whole body quakes
   with excitement for what we've done. I am really loving this sweet boy.

      The youth gently pushes on my chest to separate our bodies. He stands
   back with his hands examining something on his belly. Ah, he's found my
   cum on him. The boy brings some to his nose while staring at me in
   surprise. I don't think he understands what I've squirted out and why. If
   he could understand my words, I'd explain this 'Growing up' rite we've
   performed as I had done for Day Rabbit.

      I try gesturing. With some cum taken from his belly, I spread it over
   his small pole and balls. A few pleasurable pulls are made over his
   erection. I lead his hand down to my swollen balls for him to feel. Then I
   fill his palm with the sticky oozing coming out my dick. He brings his wet
   hand down to his balls to cover them. I nod in approval.

      "A man gifts his strength unto the boy," I announce. "It makes us one."
   My 'Growing up' rite is completed. With a fond pat to his butt, I send the
   youth back to sleep over the ground. I take up my bow to guard for a while
   longer. My body is feeling weary but very content.

      I awaken Second Bird when it comes time for him to guard. He seems to
   want to talk with me about something but I gesture that I'm too tired. I
   move his blanket so that I can sleep with the boy. My arms welcome his
   small warmth. Sleep finds me with a happy heart.


      In the morning, Second Bird tries questioning the old woman again. He
   tries different languages and the universal hand gesturing that all People
   know. She either feigns ignorance or truly doesn't understand. The few
   words that have come from her mouth were in thanks for offering her food or
   to scold the boy.

      "This old woman has traveled far," remarks Second Bird to his brother.
   "I have no idea her destination with a small boy in hand but I feel that
   this day her trail back will find its beginning."

      "And the answer to what she was doing out on the open plains," I add. My
   head turns to watch the boy catching green grass jumpers. He cups them in
   his hand a moment before releasing them back onto the tall grass. My heart
   feels the pang of our separation that I know is to come. This day? My
   brother thinks that we'll find their tribe. Our paths will separate then.

      My brother's eyes watch me with sadness. I think he suspects my growing
   attachment to the youth though I don't think he knows of our sex. I'm not
   ashamed for our bodily pleasuring. They were simple boy acts. My heart is
   content to share that part of myself with a boy; I feel my pent-up energy
   is released in a good, healthy way. With a man, I give of my body to him
   for being Mahyee-na but my own sex isn't usually satisfied.

      The boy runs to me with his hands filled with a brown jump flier. They
   are difficult to catch. I pat his head with pride and he opens his hands to
   release it. The insect darts to the sky with a buzzing sound. Behind us,
   the old woman scolds him. Fear shows in the boy's eyes before he goes to
   her. My brother watches their exchange. Only the squaw speaks; the boy
   shakes his head and lowers his head as if being punished.

      "A grandmother to the boy for sure," whispers Second Bird.

      I nod my head in agreement. "That's what I thought when first seeing
   them. The youth understands her words but none are given back in reply. Do
   you think he has a problem with speech?"

      "You've spent time with him," answers Second Bird. "What do you think?"

      "Hmm. I know that the boy is intelligent. At eight, he should be able to
   talk so why doesn't he?"

      "Perhaps something bad happened to him. I've heard of a young girl who
   stopped talking after witnessing the murder of her parents in a raid. It
   took two years with her loving grandparents to cure her of the evil that
   blocked her tongue."

      I nod my head. Perhaps when we find their tribe, answers will be given
   us about them. I hope that the boy still has a father. No one knows better
   than I how lonely boyhood can be with his absence.

      Breakfast is quickly eaten. Second Bird is anxious to follow her trail
   back to its beginning. This will be our third day doing so. By this night,
   the boy could be taken from my arms...

      My grip of the youth is a tight one when we ride through the dry plains.
   I am missing him already! My brief time with him has been like a healing
   balm to my inner wound. Yes. My brother was right to say that I've been
   hurt by his traveling companions. Never have I felt such a loss of freedom
   when in the hands of Crumobia and his sex-crazed Heskiawanno. I am glad
   that they are dead.

      The boy's hands grip Pai-alucia's reins next to mine. At times, I allow
   his hands alone to direct our horse. This brings the youth much happiness.
   I wrap my arms around him and find my happiness.

      Father Sun's fiery Hand presses down on my back. My sweat is brought up
   yet there's some wind today. I welcome its cooling grip over my body. As
   the day progresses, the wind increases. It brings up dust from the parched
   ground that sometimes stings my eyes. I wonder if a storm is brewing.

      Second Bird leads his horse bearing the squaw. His eyes are downward, at
   the ground for her footsteps in the dirt from these past days. I know that
   his scouting is becoming more difficult. Especially since her trail wasn't
   in a straight line. It's almost as if she was running from something or
   someone that was needing to be escaped.

      I keep my eyes out for a stream or pond to fill our water skins from.
   Four people and two thirsty horses can drink a lot. Our supply of smoked
   sheep's meat will last for many handfuls of days though I'm already growing
   weary of eating it. Should we spot any elk or the buffalo, my brother and I
   could hunt. The fresh meat would be good.

      I smell smoke in the wind. It could be a sign that we're nearing an
   encampment of People, perhaps even a tribe. I look around until finding a
   line of white smoke. It's strange looking, not made from camp fires. I call
   out to my brother who gazes up from the ground to look. He half mounts his
   horse to get a better view. There's terror showing in his eyes when he
   turns to me to explain it.

      "Willow Bird, a line of grass fires are heading towards us!"

      "Can't we outrun it," I ask. "Gallop away from where it burns?"

      "We could try," says Second Bird. "Yet I've heard of mounted warriors
   getting trapped by walls of flames in all directions and burned. Let's hope
   we can get out of its way!"

      I look at the distant smoke and wonder about my brother's fear. We're
   far from the flames; I can't even see them! Second Bird scans the horizon
   for a long moment and checks the wind before deciding on a path of escape.
   He jumps onto his horse and heads in a right-handed direction from where
   the smoke rises. I'm surprised why we don't turn heel and run.

      We gallop over the dry grass with the smoke closing on us. There's an
   angry crackling sound filling my ears and I see flames. So tall and
   consuming they are! Like a forest of bright dancing trees spouting leaves
   of bellowing white smoke. It races over the plains. Faster than horses!
   Fear comes into my heart for us. Will we escape?

      I don't understand why we're not turning away from the flames. Second
   Bird insists on galloping in a right-handed direction to its approach. I
   can smell the thick smoke. Its heat on my skin is greater than the hottest
   summer day! I hear the boy whimpering in my arm. He realizes our danger.

      I give my stallion his head so that he can race at top speed. Its a very
   bouncy ride since the plains are rolling and marked with animal holes and
   uneven places. I hope he won't falter! My hand keeps a tight grip of the
   boy. I don't want him falling from my horse as before.

      Pai-alucia gallops past my brother's horse. I'm momentarily at a loss by
   why I've come into the lead. Has he decided at the last moment to try
   outrunning the flames? I turn to look back. No! My brother's horse has
   stumbled, spilling the old woman and him to the ground. I yank on my
   stallion's reins to turn back for them.

      I can barely hear Second Bird's shouts admits the roaring inferno of the
   grass flames. It will be upon them shortly. I draw Pai-alucia up with my
   hand outstretched for my brother. He ignores my offering to try calming his
   panicked horse. The old woman is urgently pointed to. He wants me to carry
   her away while he recovers his horse and rides it.

      The approaching wall of flames fills my heart with fear. Risen above
   its terrible glory is a burning eye that's Father Sun. I have to painfully
   shut my eyes when smoke fills them. Two yellow globes float behind my
   eyelids... They should become one. Joined! My heat leaps from the
   realization of a vision about to be fulfilled. "Second Bird!" I shout.

      My brother cannot get his horse steady enough to ride. More than
   panicked, I think its left foreleg has been hurt. I rein Pai-alucia closer
   to him and shout. "Your horse cannot be ridden! Leave him. Take my hand so
   that we may escape the flames!"

      A precious moment is spent with my brother considering the situation. He
   looks at the old woman standing silently in the tall grass then looks back
   at my horse. He knows that Pai-alucia can only carry one more. A terrible
   decision must be made. Who must be left behind? I have Seen who!

      "Second Bird. You must ride with me - leave her behind. She has sought
   death in the plains so give it to her!" My brother accepts my words. He
   grabs an empty sack from his horse and quickly ties it around my stallion's
   eyes so that he won't spook. My hand lifts the brave up behind me. I give a
   savage kick into the horse's side and off we go. But not before I look back
   at the old woman. She faces the wall of flames with her hands outstretching
   to embrace them...

      The fire's roar is loud in my ears. Its tremendous heat is burning to my
   skin and eyes. I can't keep them open from all the smoke. I'm barely
   keeping Pai-alucia under control. He keeps trying to bolt away in different
   directions; none of them good. I kick the stallion's side with my feet to
   keep the right-handed direction to the approaching flames. Second Bird
   points out something.

      "Go that way!" he shouts. "Less fire that may allow us through!"

      I see where Second Bird wants me to go. The flames aren't as great so we
   may have a chance of breaking through. I kick Pai-alucia onwards. Thick
   white smoke fills my face, blinding me. I can feel the surging power of the
   stallion between my legs so I know we're moving. My hair singes. A
   tremendous heat burns my skin. I can't breathe!

      When I think that I can't endure any more, we come through. The fire's
   roar is behind us. I wipe my eyes with my arm to clear them but my eyelids
   refuse to open. Pai-alucia is spooking badly. He rears up on his legs and
   snorts at some threat. I'm unable to lead him to a direction of safety. My
   brother and I clutch each other and the stallion to keep from falling.

      A boy's shout gets my stallion running again. I feel his small legs
   kicking over the horse's side. The heat at my back lessens. I can breathe
   in fresh air. With tears in my eyes, I manage to open them to see where we
   are. The youth has taken hold of the reins and he directs Pai-alucia
   through a scorched landscape. Everything has burned black. Behind us, the
   wall of flames seems to be running away to consume more grasslands. We have
   made it through!

      I find the boy's hands to take back my horse's reins. Pai-alucia is
   slowed from his wild galloping. He refuses to stop so I allow him onwards
   at a fast walk. My brother pats my arm to signal his relief that we've made
   it. My heart twists when thinking of that old woman. Has she found what was
   being sought for?

      When Pai-alucia has calmed enough, I pull him to a stop. Second Bird
   drops down from his back and I follow with the boy in my arms. We look at
   each other with frowns. Our long hair has been burned into frizzled masses.
   The stallion fared worse. His shaggy hide has burned with most of his fine
   tail reduced to a stump. It's no wonder he had spooked.

      "You'd better check to see if your horse is hurt," suggest Second Bird.

      I make an inspection of Pai-alucia for injuries. There's mostly burned
   hair that I know can grow back. No serious skin burns. I find that his
   hooves are hot and sensitive to my touch so I pour water over them. That
   leaves only a quarter amount of water for drinking. I pour out some into my
   hands to offer my stallion a drink. He saved us.

      Second Bird pulls out the burned tangles to his long hair. I check on
   the boy and see no harm has come to him. He had the protection of my arms
   when we passed through. I feel my brother's fingers pulling out a length of
   burned hair from behind my right ear. I turn to pull out his burned hair.
   We both keep our pain from being voiced, especially with a boy watching.

      "You saved my life back there," whispers Second Bird. "If you had
   listened to me and taken that squaw onto your horse, I would have been the
   one left to burn. Did you know that my horse was injured?"

      I shake my head but keep silent. There's reluctance in me to explain
   how I was guided by vision. The first time that I was able to act before
   the shown event came to pass. I had Seen many things before that came to
   pass without my being able to effect them. How I wish that I could have
   saved my Big Horn! My heart beats like a war drum inside my chest. At least
   my brother was saved.

      When I gasp out from a particularly painful tug of burned hair, Second
   Bird brings his hand down to rub over my face. I close my eyes from the
   intense feelings his touch brings me. I lower my hands from his ruined hair
   to grasp his chin. We stare into one another's eyes for a long dear moment.
   Having a second chance at life makes me appreciate what I have.

      Tears form in my eyes. I have managed to save my brother. I'm not sure
   why I've been keeping myself away for I do love him. I should trust him;
   he's my flesh and blood and he kept me safe when in the hands of his evil
   companions. I am his brother. Two parts of a whole.

      Through blurred sight, I see tears in Second Bird's eyes. He knows that
   I've come to fully accept him. Our faces come together. When I think he's
   about to kiss me, my brother turns his face to bury himself in my neck. I
   reach around his back to hold him. Tightly. Feelings of guilt tug at my
   heart. I feel that I've been denying my brother's needs.

      The sensual feel of the brave's sweaty chest against mine brings a swift
   rising to my dick. His hands lower to find my uncovered butt. My body
   reacts to his touch there. I surrender to lust. No. It's more than to seek
   pleasure, I realize. I'm holding my brother who's been at my side the day
   we met to protect me. I love him. There's nothing wrong with how we
   express that to each other...

      I feel my front flap being pulled away. Our hairy groins meet with the
   pressing of swollen horny dicks. I lower my hands to the brave's ass and
   pull on it. Our love making is hurried. He gasps for breaths as the tempo
   of male energy rises between our struggling bodies. His kisses blossom over
   my neck. I find my mouth sucking on his sweaty lime-smelling skin. It makes
   me very excited! Our strong bodies hump in a violent meeting of sex. My
   dick thrills from doing battle with an equal. Who will win?

      I feel the painful digging of nails into my sensitive butt cheeks when
   my brother cries out. His cum gushes between our heaving bellies. I give
   his butt a harsh squeeze when my dick answers his wet blow. It's a
   wonderfully harsh pleasure to make love to a man. Lust can express itself
   fully through our flexing muscles and male strength! I come out a few more
   times before blowing out my breath as a low moan. Our hands keep our bodies
   steady while we recover. The downwards flow of our mingled sperm tickles my
   balls.

      I feel a small hand tugging mine. When I turn my head and look
   downwards, I find the naked boy looking up at me with wide eyes. He reveals
   his excitement from watching our love making. Second Bird slowly pushes his
   body from me. A long stream of our cum breaks and falls between our wet
   bodies. I turn to the youth and offer him my hands to bring him up. He
   eagerly mounts the front of my body so that he can share in male love.

      I feel thin legs wrapping around my back. The boy's hands reach under my
   armpits to grip my shoulders from behind. I hold his small body close to
   mine. My hands pull over his soft butt. A rhythm of stabs is given my
   slippery belly from the boy. His erection is expressing his need to show
   his love for me. Second Bird watches it with a plain expression on his
   face. I motion for him to come and embrace us. With some reluctance, my
   brother embraces the boy from behind. I find his back with my right hand,
   joining him into our loving. His hands reach around to my shoulders.

      Only the boy makes for a lusty show of sex. His butt humps in my hand
   while his dick makes quick stabs to my belly. My brother and I are too
   weary from having spent ourselves earlier. I look past the youth to catch
   my brother's eyes. He stares back with an opening of his spirit to me. I
   see his reluctant acceptance. Its like a healing balm to my inner wound. I
   needed this from my brother!

      The boy gasps from achieving his thrills but he keeps his dick moving
   against my belly. I smile at his endurance. Second Bird lowers his hands to
   my back to tighten his embrace of the youth trapped between us. Both of my
   hands lower over my brother's soft body to find his butt. I pull his groin
   onto the boy's ass in a suggestive manner. He smiles with embarrassment.

      I become excited when thinking how my brother is positioned behind the
   boy. His dick is pressed into the youth's little ass though I know he
   wouldn't try sticking into it. I've not seen my brother fuck anyone's butt;
   he seems to like getting his filled with a man's need.

      My dick lifts from my groin to press into the boy's balls. He feels my
   intrusion there and loosens his legs around me so that his body can lower a
   little. Our dicks meet. The youth makes a renewed effort of stabs. I feel
   the pleasure of their meeting with building thrills. Second Bird grins. He
   sees what I'm feeling for the boy by my eyes.

      I grin when Second Bird humps his body into the boy. It causes a harsh
   tight rubbing of the boy's erection against my dick. The cum from my belly
   keeps it plenty slippery. I look for the boy's eyes but find them closed.
   His pink tongue sticks out from his mouth when he sucks in air. A loud gasp
   announces his dry climax. His eyelids flutter. There's a deep flush to the
   youth's face from experiencing sex. A new experience for him, I think.
   Seeing these adult signs from the boy brings me much excitement. I've
   lifted him from innocence to experience the joys of male sex. I feel my
   body's reaction to this revelation when I shoot to the boy's belly.

      I allow my cries to be heard. A joyful expression to be holding a sweet
   boy and my dear brother. My thrills are brief. Too quickly over to really
   enjoy and fading already... Second Bird releases my body and steps back.
   This allows me to lower the spent youth to the smoldering ground. He looks
   up at us as if stunned.

      "A bit young to initiate, don't you think?" asks Second Bird.

      I shrug my shoulders with embarrassment but defend it by saying, "Not
   for a 'Growing up' rite." I'm relieved that my brother only shakes his head
   and doesn't challenge my words.

      A smile comes to my lips when seeing my brother's erection. Though he
   wouldn't admit it, he had become excited in our embrace. I wonder what he
   enjoyed more - watching me make love to the boy or feeling his dick pressed
   against the youth's soft ass. I keep silent about my thoughts but an idea
   comes to me.

      I squat over the ground to be at level with the boy when pointing out my
   brother's long dick to him. He looks into my eyes questioningly before a
   smile comes from his understanding. Second Bird gets hugged by the youth in
   the next moment. I help carry his small body onto my brother with his legs
   tightening around his back. I embrace the boy's back and reach out with my
   hands to grip the brave's sides so that he can't escape.

      "Didn't he get enough?!" protests Second Bird. Yet he allows the boy's
   urgent embrace for more sex.

      I feel the boy's soft bottom humping against my groin when he drives his
   erection against my brother's. This is a good thing to share with him so
   that he'll have the chance to fully embrace a boy's need - see if he likes
   it without cause for embarrassment.

      When my eyes seek his, my brother lowers them to peer into the boy's. He
   whispers words to the youth that I can't understand. Our bodies sway as
   one. When I thrust my groin forward and squeeze the boy between us, Second
   Bird stabs forward to meet the youth's quick stabs. Our sweaty bodies are
   mingling with the smell of cum. I've already come out twice so this embrace
   is for my brother. The boy is too young to squirt but I know that he enjoys
   trying again and again.

      My swollen dick presses wonderfully into the boy's humping butt. I
   wonder how it would feel to stick into a boy this young. The front of his
   body is undeveloped for a full exploration of sex but his rear could offer
   me satisfaction. Probably a really tight hole around my big dick.

      I feel shame when considering such a thing. My attempt to fuck this boy
   would likely hurt him because of the differing sizes of our bodies. It's
   enough to embrace him with a boy's simple rubbing game. His body will grow
   and with it the ability to explore male sex.

      My weary body strains to keeping our trio embrace. It's for my brother's
   benefit and for the boy's. My balls are empty. Even pressed against such a
   nice little ass can't get me fully erected. I think my dick is worn out.

      There's a sharp outcry from the youth. I look into my brother's eyes to
   see them widen from experiencing his own thrills. The brave releases his
   breath as a low moan. Their embrace loosens and the boy is dropped to the
   ground. I gaze down my brother's chest. It glistens with a new male
   release. His weary arms offer me a hug.

      I go to my brother eagerly. Our sweaty chests meet. I hold his weight
   onto me when my arms take his back. He seems much affected from making love
   to the boy.

      "I think I understand..." whispers Second Bird. "The boy is nice. A way
   of teaching him something pleasurable that we already know."

      "Yes. You've given him something of yourself, my brother. More than a
   sharing of male thrills."

      Second Bird nods. His long arms grip my back more tightly to mash our
   dripping dicks together. A gentle pleasure. When looking into my brother's
   face, I see myself. I've made love to him. There's no feelings of guilt
   because of it.

      Something tickles against my left foot. I gently push my brother away
   and look down between our wet bodies. The boy is laying under us, pulling
   over his angry-colored pole. He smiles at our attention.

      Cum runs down my balls and falls to the boy at my feet. His quick hand
   finds it on his chest. He uses it to keep his handling slippery. I hear
   Second Bird laugh. He squats to the ground while sliding the edge of his
   hand down his front to release the sperm there. It falls in thick globs to
   the boy's smooth groin. I join into my brother's act.

      The boy gathers up our cum dripping onto him. He coats his erection and
   small balls as if empowering them with our male strength. His eyes shine
   from sexual thrills. After a few more hand pulls, he cries out in a
   high-pitched voice.

      Second Bird shakes his head in wonder. He's no longer looking down at
   the youth's masturbation but at the burned landscape. We are standing in
   utter destruction. Survivors of fire and smoke who celebrated it with
   rites of male sex. Strangely, that doesn't seem crazy.

      My brother shrugs his shoulders before turning from me to look for
   Pai-alucia. I offer my hand down to the boy. He grasps it so that I can
   lift him up to stand at my side. We walk to join the brave.

      "We're in a serious situation," says Second Bird. "I've checked your
   horse and only found one food sack and a quarter-filled skin of water.
   There's only meat for two days."

      I rush to my horse to look for Big Horn's spear. I sigh with relief when
   finding it tied along his back. His bow case and quiver of arrows is also
   there. What's missing is the boy's blanket. It must of fallen off during
   our mad gallop.

      "My horse had carried the larger food sack and two water skins,"
   explains Second Bird. "They are gone."

      I grip my brother's shoulders to express how I share his grief over the
   loss of his horse. "We're alive..."

      Second Bird slowly nods his head. "That old woman's trail that we've
   been following is lost to us. I don't know where to find this boy's home."

      A shameful pang of hope rises in my heart. I had wanted to keep this boy
   for my own! We don't know where he came from. He's separated from his
   People and family...

      I feel pain in my heart when thinking of this boy's father. In my dream,
   I had seen the expression of love my father had felt for Song Bird who he
   knew to be his son. It must have been a difficult pain for him to endure
   by keeping his chief's secret. Only on brief outings from camp could our
   father reveal his true feelings for his 'two little birds'.

      The youth whines at my side. I remember hearing that sound from him
   when the old woman was drinking from a skin. Second Bird nods his head. I
   open the spout and swallow a few mouthfuls before bringing my filled mouth
   down to the boy's so that he can drink water. Second Bird takes his turn.

      "We must find water."

      I nod my head in agreement. Second Bird adjusts the riding blanket over
   Pai-alucia's back before gesturing for me to lift the boy over him. My hand
   brings up the reins from the ground. I lead my horse while the brave
   scouts on ahead.

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   {End file: WILLOW-BIRD-WARRIOR-4  Story continues in: WILLOW-BIRD-WARRIOR-5