Night Wolf Ch. 02

Ione squirmed about, hoping to catch a glimpse of where Samantha had been taken. She also had to know if Tessa and Chloe were all right.

The horse, not accustomed to a novice rider, shied away from her as it sensed her fear as the sickly sweet smell of blood flared its nostrils. Black Tail Eagle grabbed the horse's mane and held it still while boosting Ione onto its back. She sobbed and flailed about, screaming for her sister. He leveled a hard slap to her posterior and groused at her in his native tongue. She fought the sudden urge to wretch as the horse bucked cantankerously. The warrior calmed it by stroking its neck before nudging it into motion with the tap of his heels. As he circled the campsite, Ione witnessed the carnage. She cringed, burying her face into her hands, while sobbing erratically.

Then Tessa came into view, sprawled unladylike across the lap of the warrior who'd claimed her. As the two men spoke, Ione made eye contact with Tessa. Sheer fright froze Tessa's face into a mask of terror. The silvery blonde haired teenager squirmed around, kicking and flailing. Her captor cuffed her sharply, ceasing the struggles.

Ione wondered what they were saying as the made hand signals and spoke in that same harsh sounding language. She watched his lips and listened carefully.

O.O

"Black Sun has already taken the yellow haired one. He is a fool to offer her to his mother as a slave. If I were he, I'd have her upon my furs nightly. And Bull Hump took the little dark haired one to gift to his wife to replace the one who died from the white man's coughing sickness." Black Tail Eagle related. "Let us go, Whirling Cloud, and take our spoils of war away while our brothers finish here."

Whirling Cloud grinned widely and shifted Tessa up to sit in front of him. He snaked an arm around her middle possessively. "Yes, my brother, we ride. We can meet up with our comrades in three suns time at the place of jagged rocks and continue on with them until we reach our village. We'll have much to show for this raid."

Black Tail Eagle let out a hair raising whoop, setting off a continuous echo of voices through the ravaged camp. Ione cringed, feeling a shiver race down her spine. She glanced over up at Tessa, noticing her friend now had her hands bound behind her and was crying silent tears. Then Ione caught a glance of why. She blushed furiously, the color of her face matching her vivid red hair. Tessa's captor had her skirts yanked up to her waist. He had torn her pantalets and was delving into the juncture between her thighs.

Ione quickly turned her head and began flailing her legs. She wondered if she was next. Would her captor touch her like that? She cringed, letting out a scream. Black Tail Eagle delivered another harsh slap to her backside before spurring the horse to quicken its pace.

Ione squawked in protest, "Stop that and let me go!" Yet a part of her thanked her lucky stars that fate hadn't befallen her yet. She glanced up into the blackest eyes she'd ever seen and shuddered at the sight of the hideously painted warrior who'd claimed her as his prisoner. God above, please help me.

O.O

Hours passed as they slowly traveled into the foothills. The two warriors had been joined by a third. His leering gaze raked over Ione every chance he got. Exhaustion and thirst plagued over her, her head lolling to and fro against the upper swell of his chest. She reached back and touched his leg while wetting her dry lips.

"Thirsty," she said and pantomimed drinking something. With a sneer, he handed her his waterskin and allowed her to drink her fill. Then she rested against his body and closed her eyes, hoping oblivion would take her.

O.O

As Ione woke from her nap, she noticed twilight had set and they'd traveled deeper into the foothills. She glanced all around, looking for landmarks or for some clue where she might be? Black Tail Eagle noticed and leveled a sharp slap to her thigh and shook his head. She lowered her eyes. What would happen to them? How would anyone know Indians had taken her and Tessa? What would become of Chloe and Samantha? Would she ever see her sister again and most of all, who would give her family a Christian burial? The many questions puzzled Ione. So lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize the warriors had reined the horses to a stop amidst a small clearing.

Coming to a stop, Black Tail Eagle dismounted his horse and pulled Ione down along with him. She let out a startled squeak before he flung her to the ground and barked a command in his native language to stay put. Tessa then joined her with a shamed look on her face, righting her clothing as she curled up beside her friend.

"Ione, I'm so scared. What's going to happen to us?" Tessa blurted out frantically, clutching her friend.

"I don't know. It all depends on them," Ione replied, embracing her friend.

"Aren't you scared?"

"Frightfully so. We mustn't give up hope, though. We'll be okay. They didn't kill us, like everyone else. So they must have some other plan for us." She straightened her back and squared her shoulders, watching as the warrior's stripped their horses of gear, brushed them down before hobbling them for the night. The third warrior who'd joined them set off into the stand of trees to gather firewood. When he returned, he built a smokeless fire. "We have to be brave, Tessa. I've heard that they admire that. Courage is a big thing for them."

"Who are they, though? And where'd they take Chloe? She must be terrified." Tessa leaned against Ione.

"I don't know who they are. They're dreadfully frightful. They must be evil men to kill our families and take us captive." Ione wrapped her arms more firmly around her friend. She watched as their captors stalked toward them.

Black Tail Eagle snatched Ione up and marched her to the tree line. She pushed her behind a bush before motioning for her to relieve herself. She blushed indignantly, tapping her foot. She motioned for him to turn around. He cocked an eyebrow and slapped her soundly, knocking her to the ground. She rubbed her jaw and grabbed hold of a tree in order to right herself. She glared at him furiously before hesitantly hiking her skirts and squatting behind a bush, knowing he was watching.

Once she'd finished he led her back, not knowing the horror that befallen her friend. Ione gasped at the sight of Tessa beneath the copper skinned warrior who'd stolen her. She turned away, her face becoming beet red. Tessa screamed and struggled while the long haired man worked himself between her legs, raping her violently.

Poor Tessa, Ione cringed as she realized she would be next. These foul men planned to rape and use their prone bodies. Ione dug her feet into the soft earth, resisting as Black Tail Eagle tried to drag her back to the fire. She screamed and kicked, flailing her free arm about. She'd rather die than be violated by any of these heathens. Tired of her fractious behavior, he cuffed her again and threw her over his shoulder. He carried her to the fire. She watched in horror as one warrior finished and the other one waiting took his place.

Tossing Ione down to his bedroll, Black Tail Eagle removed the buckskin shirt he'd worn and pulled his leggings off, kicking aside his moccasins. With the flick of his wrist, he pulled the ties that held his breechcloth on. Ione screamed and tried to scramble away from him, but he stopped her with a vicious slap.

The warrior ripped her bodice wide open and threw himself upon her struggling form, hoping to subdue her thrashing with his superior weight. Ione knew she'd have to fight him. She screamed and kicked, flailing her legs wildly. A triumphant grin crossed her face, as she was able to wedge up knee up enough to slam it into his groin. He howled in pain, clutching his tender manhood. Anger filled him. He slapped her hard before tearing her dress from her struggling form. Then he tore her chemise, petticoat and pantalets to shreds and flipped her over onto her stomach. She lay naked before him, her bottom in the air. Ione sobbed, knowing what was next. She'd seen enough animals mating on her father's farm and she knew what had become of Tessa.

"Help me!" Ione shrieked as he gripped her hips and settled in behind her. "Get off me."

He grunted something low in his throat that she couldn't understand. Throwing her leg back, her foot connecting with his lower abdomen. He howled once more, leveling a crashing blow to her head while he cursed in his native language. Ione screamed out, her voice echoing through the night.