A Quiet Strength
by Anon Allsop

-Part One-

-Thirty One-

The air was growing colder on the mountain, Etu knew they would need to leave very soon, or they wouldn't leave at all. He thought back to their battle with the bear, thinking it was probably doing nothing more than returning to its cave to hibernate.

Aponi and Etu had the last two weeks to practice their speaking, and in those two weeks, they had come a long way. Aponi had almost erased her struggle with speaking, the practice with Etu had exercised her voice better than any other thing she had done.

One evening as Machk was sleeping quietly inside the cave, Etu was sitting outside on a boulder, working on a deer hide. Aponi carried out two green sticks with several pieces of cooked meat skewered through it, she handed one of them to Etu.

"Is good." He nodded as he set aside his work and took one of the skewers from her. "Aponi cook very well."

Aponi flushed with embarrassment, her face growing warm in the cool evening. She looked up as she ate, admiring the vast myriad of stars that spanned the clear night sky.

Etu glanced toward the young mother, he wanted to speak of his love for her, but always there was that nagging little issue of Machk's father. He turned toward Aponi and rest his hand upon his thigh.

She had been looking above, toward the stars when she realized that he was looking at her. Slowly she lowered her eyes until they were locked upon the his, her heart seemed to skip a beat as she allowed them to rest upon the chiseled features of the young warrior.

Etu felt a stirring deep within him, once again the feelings he had for this beautiful creature washed over him. He tried to look away but his eyes were drawn back, as a preverbal moth to a flame. Aponi's haunting beauty created a tension within the warrior, pulling him first one direction and then the next. Always a flux between wanting to be her protector, and wondering where Machk's father was in all of this.

He decided that he must get to the bottom of it, and find out if he need to worry about confronting a spirit that he could never hope to defeat. With hesitation, and a newfound understanding of a common language, he decided that now was the time to ask.

Carefully maneuvering into conversation he cleared his throat and spoke, "Machk sleeping?"

Aponi nodded, "I nursed him and finally got him to sleep."

"Good." He replied, "Did you eat?"

She laughed, "Yes?" Taking a seat beside him she propped a foot up and smiled to herself at his uneasiness. She knew that he liked her, she could tell quite a long time ago.

He sighed deeply, it caused Aponi to laugh. Etu knew he must ask a difficult question of the woman, and prayed that her answer was one that he wanted to hear. He glanced at her, then allowed his eyes to fall toward the vast distance beneath the ledge. Far out in the distance, the thin tendral that was the river reflected back the faint light of the evening. As he looked on, he began to speak.

"Machk's father..." As soon as she heard him start to ask, she let her head drop. Aponi knew some very hard questions were about to be asked, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to tell. Although, she did like Etu and
if she had any hope of him remaining a friend, she must face those difficult questions. But how she could possibly answer him truthfully, was a very big question in itself?

"Is he also among the people?" He looked up at her with sadness in his dark eyes.

She smiled at him reassuringly, it seemed to alleviate some of the pressure he had been under. When she shook her head in the negative, he too smiled. Yet knowing that there was another man out there, still to lay a claim on Aponi, he kept himself guarded.

"Where is the boy's father then?" He asked hesitantly.

She had a look that crossed her face, it confused Etu. As she looked slowly skyward, he realized that his suspicion was confirmed. With a slight bit of trepidation, as she pointed upward.

Etu realized without a shadow of doubt that both she and the father were spirits of the sky, but why send her down when she is carrying his child? He asked as much, then waited for her reply.

Aponi knew that he would never fully understand the truth, so as best as she could, she would answer- giving him truths but not total truths. "A man named 'Parker' trapped and abandoned me on your planet, I was left here to die, as he hoped, a horrible death." She watched him for a change in his expression, she was fearful that he too might abandon her on her mountain.

Etu smiled at her reassuringly, "But you didn't. You survived."

"I almost didn't, but for you defeating the bear that would have surly killed Machek and I." She returned his smile, reaching out and gently touching his arm. "Parker would be very angry if he knew that I was still alive."

"Is this Parker also Machk's father?" Etu asked, a slight bit of contempt was in his voice.

She looked down and laughed, "Honestly, I always thought the Parker I knew was a very good man...up until he trapped me and kidnapped my body." She spoke in vague terms, Etu had no way of knowing what she really meant.

"This man had 'taken you', held you prisoner, abandoned you, left you with a child, and you speak of him as being good?" He shook his head at her incredulously, "If you don't mind, I will not think of him as...good."

His comment caused her to laugh, "I can respect your feelings."

Even in the dark she could see the strong jaw muscles flex in subdued anger, "Aponi, if I had this man here before me, spirit or not, I would do whatever it took to kill him for what he did to you!" His voice was calm, yet she felt as though he would actually do what he said, and almost wish that Parker was here.

"Etu, you will never have to worry. The Parker that is out there is a coward." She included the vast expanse of space with a quick gesture. "I am quite certain that he will die a slow death." She realized as she was talking that the man who sat with her on the side of the mountain, was seemingly more to her than she had once thought.

Etu sat up straighter, looking her directly in her beautiful eyes, "Aponi, you and little Machk never have to worry about anything as long as my heart still beats. I give it to you to do with as you wish, I am yours."

"I.. I don't know what to say." Aponi stammered. "You have been very kind to us."

"I am not like this 'Parker'." He said the name with contempt, "I would treat Machk as my own son, and you as my wife if you would have me."

Aponi was in shock. Etu was a good man, never once trying to push himself onto her, always treating her with kindness and giving them the privacy they needed. Yet, could she allow herself to be treated as a wife?

He could see her struggling with what he had just offered, speaking softly he wanted to reassure this beautiful woman that his love for her was real. "Ever since I first lay eyes upon you, I have lost my heart to you. I began my quest to find you, and almost lose you on the side of this mountain. I would do anything for you, Aponi- anything."

Perhaps it was a feminine reaction, perhaps it was purely out of a natural response; Aponi reached out and touched Etu's strong hand. The warrior lifted his head and searched her eyes for the answer he coveted.

She smiled, and gave his hand a tender squeeze. "I could not ask for a better man, Etu." She paused, before continuing. "You are young, you will need a wife who would welcome you in her bed on those cold nights...I am not sure I could be that wife."

He glanced upward with contempt at the stars, "It is because he has blackened your heart to the love of another." He looked toward her hand as it lay upon his, "I am not Parker." Returning his gaze back to her captivating blue eyes he continued, "When you are ready Aponi, I will be there for you."

"That is fair, Etu." She replied, pulling her long blonde hair away from her eyes. "When I am ready, you will know."

He stood and offered her his hand, she took it and he pulled her to her feet. "That is all I ask, Aponi."

As they headed into the cave, Etu began to stoke their fire to remove the chill. They had been lucky, a sudden warm spell had kept them company for almost a full moon. Etu knew that it would not hold out long and they would soon have to leave the mountain, or be trapped there throughout the cold season.

"I know your comfort is here in this cave on this mountain, the cold season will be on us very soon. If we are to survive, we must seek shelter with my people, the Oneida." He unrolled his deer hide and placed a pelt blanket aside as he helped Aponi straighten the black bear's fur she and Machk were using as their bedding.

He waited for her to get comfortable, spooning around her son. Once she had settled, he gently covered her with the soft blanket of furs. "Would you be willing to live among my people?"

She watched him stretch out on the deer hide, he was laying on his side facing her. "Etu, as long as you will be there, I know we will be happy." Aponi grew silent for a few moments, "If you are willing to act as my protector, my husband..." She held aside the blanket she was laying under, "I will invite you to our bed... but I can't allow you to take me as a wife, At least not yet."

Etu hesitantly got up and lay down beside her, between them was Machk. "I will sleep beside you and Machk, I will
protect you as your husband. When you are ready to lay 'with me' as my wife, it will be on your terms."

Her eyes were so beautiful, as she closed them in rest, he would take his time. 'Someday Aponi would become his in total, for now though, it would be one step at a time.' He thought to himself as he also closed his eyes and let sleep overtake him.

-Thirty Two-

Etu woke long before the sun rose, got up and sought out the pack he had carried prior to his battle with the bear. A dream that he had, reminded him that he held something that his mother had given to him... a gift for the Aponi Spirit.

In the bottom, still neatly folded and wrapped was the gift. He pulled it out and gently lay it at his love's feet while she still slept. As quietly as possible, he headed out of the cave where he could stretch, and clean himself in the river.

After washing in the river, Etu noticed several fish swimming nearby. Taking up his bow, he carefully shot two of the larger ones, and cleaned them on the bank. After washing for a second time, he began the long climb back up to the cave.

Aponi had woken up not long after Etu slipped out, she nursed Machk and was able to get him to lay down again. As she was covering him from the morning chill, she noticed the package that Etu had left.

Carefully opening it, she realized at once that it was some sort of garment. That it was meant for her she had no doubt, looking down she compared what she held to what she wore.

The article Aponi had on was well worn and crudely made, what she held was created by an expert... and just about as feminine as could be imagined. It was a very pale leather and heavily beaded dress, matching leggings with beaded fringe on their side.

Stepping out onto the ledge where she could see it better in the sunlight, she debated whether to put it on or not. Although it had been given to her, laid at her feet when she woke up, she was still unsure. Movement however, along the trail below, caused her to look up. Etu was returning, and that was enough to prod her into action.

She quickly returned inside, at best she had only about fifteen minutes to change. As she disrobed, she couldn't help but realize that donning on a Oneida woman's dress, was a final straw at accepting that she was no longer male. It was as though by removing the old pelt dress that she had made so long ago, and placing the new, expertly made dress on... she was somehow accepting the fact that she was a female, and would remain that for the rest of her days.

Aponi had tied the leggings up on her smooth upper thigh, and had pulled the long dress over her naked breasts, allowing it to settle just as Etu entered.

He walked straight to the fire, the fish suspended on a long green stick. "I was able to get a couple of fish, we can eat that before we our journey to my village." He spoke as he was turning back toward Aponi, all thoughts vanished from his mind as he took in a vision of loveliness.

"Is it good?" She asked, slowly holding out the bottom of the dress so it would hang correctly. "Was I not supposed to wear it?"

"I recalled having it only this morning, in my a dream last night that you wore it." He spoke as though he was frozen, in fact mesmerized by just how beautiful his Aponi really was. "My dream was nothing compared to just how beautiful you are right now, my Aponi."

Her face grew warm at his words, "It's quite lovely, thank you." She gave him a hug and laughed when he suddenly seemed startled at her nearness.

"My mother made it." He said with a smile, "I was supposed to give it to you long ago...but I forgot."

"I could never imagine being in a dress so lovely..." She smiled and slowly turned, realizing that before her transformation, she could never imagine wearing anything remotely like a dress...any dress.

"Mother was afraid you would be naked." Etu smiled as he spoke, "Although I wouldn't be telling the truth if I didn't say I would have been fine with seeing you that way."

"But only in your mind, right?" She said laughing, knowing how the male mind truly worked.

He shifted on his feet and looked down, "I've seen you naked, so beautiful that it has forever been burned into my memory."

She looked at him slyly, "Oh really? When?"

He looked at her beautiful blue eyes, "When you were born from a great cloud of sky dancers." As he spoke, she froze and looked at him.

"That was you in the woods?" She ran a slender hand through her hair, "You were there when I arrived?"

"You were born of the Aponi. Like a sky dancer sent from the heavens, taking on human form." He reached out and took her soft hand, holding it in his own.

"Aponi is your word for a sky dancer..a butterfly?" She spoke in his tongue, but only said 'butterfly' in her language. "You think I'm some sort of great spirit?" She recalled their first meeting, although she had never put the two together before... now it made sense to her.

"I am no great spirit, I am only a... woman." She looked away, out the opening of the cave. "I was transported to this planet as some sort of macabre punishment." She thought back to so long ago, back when the possibility of being held prisoner in this body wasn't possible.

"To you, it may have been a punishment, to me it was a blessing!" He smiled, gently squeezing her hand, leaned forward and kissed her tenderly. "Sometimes, we know not what the great spirits wish, until it is burned in our souls. On that day you ran from me, but the spirits wished me to find you, and brought me here to your mountain right when I was needed the most!"

"When the bear attacked..." Aponi replied softly, almost as though she was finishing his sentence." She grew quiet for several long seconds, "Your great spirits may be in control after all, without this direct path that we all have taken, Machk would never have been possible."

"And he is here, we are here, just as they have planned." Etu slowly turned her to face him, "Often, my dear Aponi, we don't know what path to take when we come to a fork in the trail. The great spirits have brought you here to me, sent me on this quest to find you. Now I am being directed to take you back to my people." He smiled, Aponi just glanced toward her child on the hides.

"And what of him, Etu? What will become of Machk in your tribe?" She gently pulled away from him and picked up her son, slowly stirring him from slumber.

"He is as a son to me, he will become my firstborn." He replied flatly.

"He is white like I am." She held him up to show Etu his pale skin and hair, "Don't you think this may be hard to explain?"

"You are Aponi, he is your son... the spirits have destined you and Machk to be mine."

Aponi laughed, "Oh, it's that simple is it?" sitting Machk into a baby papoose that she had constructed only that morning.

Etu helped her adjust it for Machk, "Yes, very simple."

"I'm glad you think so," she replied back with a laugh, "You sound like you expect us to just blend right in!"

"You are Aponi, he is your son..." He began again as she returned Machk to the pelts once again. The woman shot a sideways glance at Etu, rolling her eyes as he spoke.

"You will see." He cut himself short in response, "Grandfather said that in a vision he saw one of our offspring leading the people into a great battle as their chief."

"Machk?" She ask with surprise. "He is but a baby!"

"He won't always be a baby. Some day he will be a man." Etu replied as he pushed the green stick through the fish he caught. "It may not even be Machk, but another of our children that lead great warriors into battle."

"Your Grandfather's vision is going to have to wait awhile, no son of mine will be leading any armies until I say he his is old enough." Aponi placed her hand upon her generous hips, wagging a finger at Etu as she spoke.

He smiled, "Spoken like a mother." ducking quickly, narrowly avoiding being swiped at by her hand.

Etu stood from the fire, "Aponi, you are a good mother, a good woman to me. I will gladly take you into my lodge as my wife. You have nothing to fear from my people, they will treat you kindly... or answer to me."

"Thank you Etu, I really do appreciate that." She stood near to him and without thinking, gently rubbed his back as a woman who cares for a man would do and gently kissed him on his cheek. He turned to face her, drew her close and returned her kiss for an even greater length of time.

Etu grinned broadly as he slowly released a smiling, albeit flushed Aponi, "We will eat the fish that the spirits have provided. When we are done, we will pack what we need and begin our journey to my village."

Aponi nodded as she watched the man she was deeply growing to love. Inside, she knew that they must leave, and when they were settled, she would take him as his wife in every way. Her heart was happy now, she had everything she could possibly desire.

Behind Aponi, Machk started to cry, signaling that he wanted to eat too. Aponi knelt upon the fur and began to ready herself to nurse, Etu sat beside her cross-legged and occupied himself until they were ready by winding leather strapping around his bow.