Silent Owl

BY: Wolfa Moon

SUMMARY: Little Ezra finds a family in least expected area. And also gains a brother in the process.

DISCLAIMER: Own Nothing. I apologize to the Comanche people for any mistakes or assumptions I made. This is a work of fiction and all facts untrue.

SILENT OWL

Little Ezra, about the age of 6, didn't know what to expect when he heard the hooting and hollering. The men on top of the stagecoach firing at the approaching Indian raid. Alone like on all of his travels to meet up with his mother. He looks to the other occupants. One a businessman who had a very large briefcase held firmly in his grasp. Another man beside him who had drawn his weapon. On his way to meet up with his brother at the next town. And then the lady who was meeting her husband. A lady who didn't really have a knack for children. But was kind enough. Kinder than any uncle he had to stay with. Arrows shot through the wagon. One hitting and silencing the brother. The hooting came closer. Gravity shifted as the wagon was flipped over. Screams rang from inside the small traversing vehicle. The businessman had had enough. Frightened eyes looked into Ezra's. The man made a leap for the roof which had become a sides door but plummeted back in with a thud. And arrow through his skull. Eyes wide he expected to hear a womanly scream. Looking to the lady she could not scream. From the flipping of the wagon, it had broken her neck. Ezra stares at the carnage around him. Unsure of what to do. He wanted to cry, but little gentleman do not do that. He wanted to scream for help, but as in the past it never came when he called. Standing up he looks up.

The Comanche warrior looks down at the small child. A child who held no tears in his eyes. No voice to call out. Strange to him. For he remembers another child just like that. Extending his arm down he opens his palm for the child. The child takes one last look around before taking the hand. There is nothing left here for the child here.

The child comes quietly. No words spoken the whole way back to the village.

There he dismounts pulling the child with him. A child no older than his other adopted. For his wife could bear him no sons. Since she could not provide. Nature and the winds did. Now he has two. Coming upon his home Ekapitu kwihnai, smiles as his other white son comes out to great him. Tosaabitu pia wa'óo, a year older than Ezra and formally know as Vin Tanner. The boy's eyes the color of sky. Looking appraising at the newest addition.

"Who's he?" Speaking to his father in Comanche.

"He is your new brother. Be true to him."

"I will." Ezra looks at the other white boy. A boy dressed just like the Indians. Wearing buckskin and tan from his time in the sun. Hair flowed down his back past his shoulder. Mother would never approve of such an image. But he likes it.

He had heard of Indians taking children as their own. But never believed it. Once he had dreamed if a tribe would take him since no one else seems to. The man set him down. The other boy gasped at the blood on the child's clothes.

"Come on," speaking Indian. For English is not allowed. And the child would have to learn that. Reaching out a hand. The boy looks to the Indian who rescued him then to the boy. "Come on." He said insistently again in the Indian tongue. Not understanding he went. The boy tugging him along. They make it to a stream where he gets the boy out of his pale face cloths. The kid remaining silent under his administration.

Ezra had no clue what to make of what is going on. One second he is in a stage coach heading to meet his mother. The next he is in an Indian village with welcome arms. What a turn of events. The boy tries to get his shirt of but he fights him.

"I won't hurt you." Still speaking the savage tongue. But the emotion and body language telling him, no harm. Slowly he began to remove his garments. The boy smiling. For he quickly exposed of his and jumps into the water. Unsure of this dream he looks around. There are some women a little ways down washing and cleaning. Not seeming to care that the boy is in the water. Why not? It's not like he can't have some fun before they got rid of him. He gets into the water. The other boy swims close to him, smiling. Then splashes the latest addition.

Ekapitukwihnai escorted his wife to the stream where her new son is getting clean. She holds cloths close to her chest. She is unsure if another child will welcome her to be his mother. It took a while for her other son to warm up to that idea. And now another. Her husband smiling at her. Assuring her it would be alright. She watches them to play. The new one hesitant at first. Then joined in slowly. Never making a sound. She looks to her husband.

"Is he hurt?"

"He sustained no injury to my knowledge." He goes down collecting the former cloths. His new son would no longer be wearing such things. But we do not waste. "Go be with them. Tosaabitu pia wa'óo, will introduce you." She moves to sit on the shore to watch he children play. Her arms holding the clothes tight to her. Observering her new son. The paleness would fade with time in the sun just like it did to her other. But the new one's hair is red like the color of her husband's name. But with dark as amber wood.

The boy sees her and stills. His eyes watching her. Eyes the color of meadow grass. One son with eyes of sky. The other with eyes of earth. The spirits are truly blessing them with opposites. She smiles at him. He ducks his head low.

His new friend runs out of the water to give the woman a hug.

"Mother."

"Son." She hugs him. He moves back to shake his wet hair at her. She laughs. "What do you think of your brother?"

"He's quiet." They both see the new boy who is slowly making his way toward them. She puts a smile on her face as he approaches. His hands hiding his delicate areas. She smiles at his modesty. "Come on," the boy urges.

"Shush now. He is new. He has much to learn."

Ezra likes the smile on this woman's face. She hides nothing with her eyes or body language. An open book welcomed to read. Stepping toward her he bows in respect. Her smile widens. Seeing the clothes in her laps she extends them toward him. Looking for his old cloths to find them gone. Understanding a little. This is his life now. If they keep him. For in the books if they didn't keep you they hung you out as bait or worse. Believing that part is just to frighten children to stay by their parent's side in the open west.

"For you." She smiles with her language extending the clothes toward him. Taking the clothes he nod.

"Thank you," he speaks in low tones in English. Always polite. Vin jumps in to correct him.

"Ura." The boy says. Ezra nods repeating the word. The woman smiles. Backing up a little he turns to get dressed. A gasp is heard and he quickly begins to put on the new cloths but is stopped.

Shacking uncontrollably his mind running wild. They will see he is a bad boy. They will use him for bait. Or will do what everyone else has done.

"Stop!" the voices booms. And no matter what language the tone is the same. A well calloused hand grips his chin to look up at his new father. His wife moving around to take in the scarred and healing back. His uncle giving him a whipping before he is sent to see his mother. Get his money out on his hide. His brother grasped but quickly ran home to get things ready. Ezra's eyes begin to tear. The man who saves him picks him up. His wife following behind.

They enter their home. His eldest son preparing the herbs for the newest son. His wife cooing around her new charge. She dries the boy off. Smiling and kissing his forehead. The boy freezing at the warm touches. Not fully understanding. No one ever wanted him or cared enough. But these people seem to. His back is turned to the fire so they can see. His breath is stolen as they tend to his back. The other white boy sits in front of him holding his hands.

"It will be okay," the language new but can hear the meaning. Both leaning forward till their foreheads touch.

Their mother smiling at the interaction. Yes the family had gained another member. One who's past is a nightmare. And she would make up for all of that. For the spirits had blessed her.

SO

Tsaa o'ó, Silent Owl, for he had wisdom beyond his years but still so much to learn. He had grown in his new life. Loving his family and their ways. Loving it more than the past that began to fade into the background. Running hot to his mother with his latest kill in his hand. He holds out the rabbit to her.

"We will eat well tonight." She smiles at her son. His skin had tanned with the sun. The scars on his back fading with time. And his hair growing faster then her elders. Already down to he middle of his back. And with his crawling in the brush is in tangles.

"Good now sit." He sits down obediently while his mother fixes and rebraids his hair. They are getting to the age where males begin to notice girls. And the girls who just walk past smile at him. The tribe accepting their gifts from the spirits.

"Mother?"

"Yes?"

"When will father be back?" Her youngest always worrying on that. For he had been alone so much in his life. Yet he had this constant but still that silent fear.

"Soon," she finishes with his hair. He turns to her and smiles. He rummages through his pack to lift a leather string and a pendant tied to it. It shines in the light.

"For you." Her son always making her gifts. Making sure he is remembered. Making gifts for all of his family members. The bow and arrow that her eldest son uses is a gift. A knife that her husband carries with pride, a gift. The many trinkets that adorn her neck and the ceiling of their home, gifts of love.

"It is beautiful." He smiles bending in to give her a hug and kiss. So emotional and expressive. So different form the little boy. Now her little man.

"Not as beautiful as you." Her heart warms.

Commotion is heard. People screaming.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know." Her eldest comes running toward them. "What's going on?"

"The pale faces are back." They begin to move. Gathering their weapons they make their way out of camp. Helping whomever they can on their way.

Whistling for their horses. They come. Mounting ,they escape.

A/N : Please Review and tell me what you think.