Chapter Eight
Ike rode straight through and was back in the village as the sun began to disappear behind the horizon. He let the young boys who tended the horse take his mount and made his way to the teepee where Buck was staying. He entered slowly and glanced to where he’d last seen Buck resting. No one was there.

Panic set in as Ike set the package he had brought containing Buck’s clothing and book inside the dwelling before going in search of White Buffalo, Red Bear, Sky Chaser, any one who could tell him where Buck was. He spied a group of women near Red Bear’s teepee and made his way there.

He waited until the one he’d often seen talking to Sky Chaser looked at him. *I hate to interrupt,* he said, *but I was…*

The girl didn’t let him finish. *He was taken by White Buffalo and Red Bear to the sweat lodge to aide his healing; he has need of a spiritual cleansing as well as a physical one.*

Ike sighed as he felt the panic lessen. *He is alright?* he asked hastily.

Little Fawn nodded. “Running Buck is most definitely alright,” she said in Kiowa to the girls beside her. They giggled and quickly dropped their gaze as Ike looked at them.

*Can you take me to him?* Ike asked. *I don’t want to cause any trouble, but I wish…*

Little Fawn nodded once more. *I can take you to where he is,* she said, *but you will have to wait outside for him to exit.*

Ike nodded his understanding. *Thank you,* he said.

As they walked, Ike began to relax. He realize that he’d seen this girl many times visiting with Sky Chaser, as well as one of the men he and Buck had encountered on the way to the fort. Just as they reached their destination, he asked, *How are you called?*

*Little Fawn,* she replied. *I am sister to Little Fox, the tracker.*

Ike smiled as he saw Sky Chaser sitting outside the sweat lodge. *It is nice to meet you,* he said to Little Fawn. *Thank you for bringing me to Running Buck.*

Little Fawn smiled at Ike. She spoke quietly to Sky Chaser making small talk as she stalled hoping Running Buck would exit the lodge. She was hoping that if she kept herself in his awareness then perhaps…

Her thoughts were interrupted when Red Bear stepped out of the lodge. He looked at her in such a manner that she knew it was time to leave. She hurriedly turned to go back to the main village. In her haste, she stumbled and fell into Ike.

He caught her. He noticed the fear in her eyes and turned to face Red Bear. *Little Fawn was nice enough to bring me to you. She could sense that I was concerned at Running Buck’s absence. Please do not be angry with her.*

Red Bear nodded curtly. He spoke harshly to the girl, but allowed her to leave without further reprimand. He then spoke to his daughter before turning to face Ike. *I am glad you are back,* he said. *Please join us, Silent Wolf.*

Ike looked at Sky Chaser. *That is your Kiowa name,* she explained as Red Bear vanished back into the lodge. *Father decided you needed a name that was fitting a Kiowa warrior; Running Buck helped me to pick it for you.* She blushed as she told him this and hoped he would approve.

Ike smiled his appreciation. *Why wolf?* he asked. ‘Silent’ he understood, but he had no idea why she would compare him to such a noble animal.

*Wolves are loyal animals,* she said, *as you are a loyal friend to my uncle.*

She moved to where Ike stood and reached to help him take off his vest and shirt. *You will be more comfortable without these,* she said. She felt a strange stirring in her stomach as her fingers brushed against his bare chest. She dropped her gaze and stepped away from him to pull open the lodge door.

The movement of the skin door caused Ike to come out of the trance like state Sky Chaser’s touch had put him in. It had been so long since he’d felt the emotions that were starting to stir in his breast. As he stepped into the darkness of the lodge, he was thankful that the men already in there wouldn’t be able to see the blush on his cheeks or the tightness of his pants.