Dokis, whiskey, and gun powder Part 5

	The sound of drums filled the air. Anon was trying his best to come up with a strategy. If the chief noticed his injured leg he would exploit it. The chief was fast for an old man. Anon recalled the last time he had to prove himself. He remembered how the chief seemed to glide on air when he moved.

Suddenly, the war drums stopped.

Anon saw the war chief running towards him. Anon locked himself in place and prepared for impact. Anon was going to attempt a grapple. The chief went for a right hook. Anon side stepped and grabbed his arm, "Gotcha, ya son of a bitch!"

Anon attempted to throw the chief, but before he could complete his move his grab had been reversed. Chief Dakotah now had him in a choke hold. Anon wrapped his leg behind the chief's and pushed back, causing them both to fall to the ground. This caused the chief to loosen his grip. Anon took the opportunity to elbow him in the face. When he did he rolled off of the chief and sprang up, trying to ignore the fire in his leg.

Dakotah wiped the blood from his face, "You've improved, Anon! Or, is it you're trying to impress the women?"

Anon ran towards the chief, ready to give him a left hook. Dakotah dodged it and grabbed his arm. Anon caught a glimpse of the night sky before he fell hard on his back. The chief had now twisted his limb and put Anon in an arm bar. Anon was stuck. He desperately grabbed the snow and threw it at the chief.

"You know, that's cold. If you just give up we can go inside and get warm."

Anon couldn't let it go. He had to beat Dakotah. Something in him said he HAD to defeat him.

"Never! I can get out of this! I'll beat you!"

"You will someday, Anon. But it is not today. Accept that."

Anon calmed down and mumbled, "I give up..."

The chief let him go and brought Anon to his feet. He brushed the snow off of him and patted him on the back, "You've improved, Anon. It's good to see you're getting better and stronger. Follow me to my cabin, we will discuss your needs their."

Anon motioned the girls to follow him. They grabbed some of their things from the wagon and followed the two.

"I had heard from laughing coyote that you would be coming. I was pleased to hear you were still around."

"Yeah. Sorry about not coming around, I've been helping the sheriff back in town."

Anon, Dakotah, and the girls stepped into his cabin. It was rather large for one person. He had a fire waiting, as though he knew they would be arriving tonight.

"I have made the spare beds, the women will have to share, unfortunately."

Monika looked at the chief with a smile, "It's not a problem, chief! We greatly appreciate your hospitality!"

The chief raised his hand, "Any friend of Anon's is a friend to my village. If you girls need anything, please let me know."

Monika gave a nod, and the girls filed into the room with the spare beds.

"What is it you need from me, Anon? Is it regarding the small girl?"

The chief lit a large pipe and took a drag.

Anon nodded, "We were forced into a duel. She had to defend herself, but now she's lost. She fears that she is going to hell. She feels like she had no right to take their life."

Anon grabbed the pipe Dakotah had offered him.

The chief exhaled slowly as the smoke left his lungs, "I see. It seems like not long ago when I helped someone else through this."

"If anyone can help her, it's your wisdom, chief."

He nodded, "I will help her as much as she will let me Anon, there is only so much I can do. The rest is up to her."

Anon passed the pipe back to Dakotah, "Should I speak with her?"

The chief took a drag from the pipe, "Speak with her all you want, her decision is already made."

Anon nodded, as the pipe was passed back to him. He hated to admit it, but he was right. Natsuki was the only one who could help her. Anon and Dakotah could try as much to help, but it will be all up to her.

"I'm going to fix something to eat, Anon. You and the girls must be hungry from your travels. Please retrieve them from the room."

Anon handed the pipe to Dakotah and got up. He limped towards the room where the girls had went. Without thinking, he opened the door,  "Hey girls, the chief is fixing us something for din-"

Anon was cut off by what he realized he had done. All he could do was stare at the girls with a dumb look on his face. He had walked in on the girls halfway through changing clothes. Yuri was blushing so hard Anon thought she was going to pass out from embarrassment. Monika desperately tried to cover herself. Sayori had slid behind one of the beds to hide herself from Anon. Natsuki had picked up one of her boots, "Get out,pervert!"

The boot hit Anon square in the nose. He shut the door as he tumbled back and fell on the ground.

"You should have knocked. I did not think I would have to tell you that. You should know better."

Anon rubbed his face as he blushed at what he just saw.

*****

The girls had come out in their pajamas and sat with Anon and Dakota.

"Dinner is almost ready, please make yourselves comfortable." Dakotah said, still smoking his pipe.

He took a drag and passed it to Anon. Anon took a a long drag of the pipe. The tobacco was much sweeter than the stuff Anon rolled in his cigarettes. Anon looked to Monika, who had sat next to him. He passed her the pipe to her.

"Oh Anon, I-"

Anon gave her a sharp look and moved the pipe closer to her. It's not about smoking, the pipe symbolized the friendship and unity of all those who shared it. Anon did not want to insult the chief.

"Thank you, Anon." Monika said, taking the pipe. She took a drag of it and began to cough. She hurriedly passed it to Sayori, who took a very small, quick puff. Yuri reached for it as Sayori passed it. She took a long drag of it and gave it a minute to sit in her lungs. She slowly let the smoke roll from her nostrils and mouth. She gave Natsuki the pipe. Natsuki simply grabbed the pipe and inhaled sharply. She coughed heavily as she wasn't prepared for the richness of the smoke.

The chief collected the pipe and sat it on a shelf.

"It is ready. Please, eat as much as you can. Your travels must have left you hungry."

Anon waited for the girls to grab their food. Natsuki however, stayed where she had sat. Anon got up and collected something to eat for her. He walked to her and knelt down, "Please eat something, Natsuki. For me?"

She turned her head and looked away from him.

"Well, if you're not gonna eat, then neither am I."

Anon sat the food in front of her and sat himself to her side. He hated to be manipulative, but he had to get her to eat. Especially for what the chief had in store for her tomorrow.

She reached for the food and began eating. Slowly, but at least she was eating. Anon now got up to get his own food.

After some time, everyone had their fill. When Natsuki had finished her food, she simply got up, thanked the chief, and walked to the bedroom.

Anon looked at the other girls and the chief.

"Okay, so Chief Dakotah has agreed to try and help Natsuki."

Monika gave a look of slight fear, "Try? I thought you said he could help her?"

Anon put a hand on her shoulder, "I'll let the chief explain it."

The chief looked at the group of travelers, "The girl is in a dark place. She is unsure of herself and this world. She has seen the world for, as she sees it, the darkest it can be. When she took the life of another, she lost hope for herself as a person. I can bring her out of this dark place, but only if she is willing to come out."

Monika had tears welling up in her eyes,"So, there's a chance we can't help her?"

Anon began rubbing her back, "I have a lot of faith in the chief and Natsuki. You should to, Monika."

The chief looked at Anon, "I remember helping a young man who was in a dark place similar to the girls."

Monika lay her head on Anon's shoulder. A lone tear fell from her cheek and onto Anon's hand.

"I just want our Natsuki back." She said, her voice quivering.

Anon pulled her in for a hug, "We'll get her back, Monika."

*****

	Anon woke up before sunrise to help Dakotah with his preparations. Dakotah and Natsuki had a full day ahead of them. Anon helped set up the teepee the two would be spending some of the day.

"Chief, I couldn't help but notice your tribe looking smaller than before."

Dakotah nodded, "We had our differences. When you helped us I proposed we should have a more welcoming nature to the white man. Some did not take that well. I eventually gave them an ultimatum, leave the tribe or accept the white man's help. They left. They are now on the other side of the mountain, near the valley. Word has come to me that they attack any white man that comes near their domain."

Anon felt a pang in his stomach. The route proposed went through a valley, though there were several valleys, so it may not be the one the new tribe resided.

Soon the birds were singing their chorus for the morning sun's arrival. Anon and Dakotah had set up the days events and were just waiting on the girls. No breakfast was fixed, not yet anyways.

Soon, the girls were coming from the room and gathering around the fireplace. Natsuki was the last out of the room. She looked like she hadn't slept very well.

Anon and Dakotah gave each other a nod. It was time to start.

"Girls, Natsuki will be going with Dakotah for the day. We'll be waitin' here at camp for her."

The girls all walked to Natsuki and had a group hug. It was uncomfortably silent for a minute until Dakotah broke it, "Come girl, follow me and we will begin. Anon," Anon looked up at the chief, "Please see the medicine man regarding that would in your leg."

Anon nodded as the two walked out of the cabin.

***

	Anon made his way to the medicine man. He wondered how the chief figured out. He knew Dakotah was sharp but to know about his wound was like he was on another plane.

"Girls, I'm gonna probably be kept in the hut with the medicine man for most of the day, so don't wait for me. Find something to keep yourselves busy."

Sayori and Yuri took off to look around the village to see what it had to offer. Monika continued to walk with Anon.

"Monika, I'm gonna be sittin' in a bed all day. You're gonna get bored."

"Well, I guess we'll be bored together then."

She gave him a big grin.

"Why would this girls want to spend all day cooped up with me?" He thought, as the made their way towards the door of the cabin. Anon gave it three knocks.

An incredibly old man answered the door, "Anon!" He grabbed Anon and lifted him off of the ground. He had way too much strength for a man his age.

"You didn't miss me, did you Stalking Deer?"

Stalking Deer sat Anon down, "Come in! Let me take care of your wounds." He had noticed Monika standing a foot behind them, "Who is the pretty pale face, Anon"

Monika couldn't help but blush, "I-I'm Monika. Nice to meet you."

"Greetings Monika. How did Anon managed to beguile such a beauty as yourself?"

"It's not like that, ya old codger!" Anon and Monika had both began blushing.

"Well, it's not like such a pretty girl would have anything to do with you anyway, Anon. Come in and we'll get started."

Anon held the door for Monika, who hurried past him trying to hide her blushing face.

Anon sat upon the bed. Stalking Deer went to gather some supplies. Monika sat next to him, still avoiding eye contact.

"Well Anon, you certainly have made some interesting friends on your travels."

"Yeah, Can you believe he's 81 years old."

"Really? I wonder how he does it."

"I have no idea, but I hope to be in at least half as good of shape if I make it to that age."

Anon turned to Monika, "I'm sorry about Natsuki."

Monika turned with a confusing look, "What do you mean? It wasn't anything you did?"

"I got you all involved in that duel. I should have just taken care of them. I should've never got you girls involved."

Monika grabbed his hand and squeezed it hard, "You idiot, do you think you could have taken them all? There were five of them. How on earth could you have hit all of them? Don't be stupid, Anon."

Tears began to roll down her cheek, "You've done more than enough for us. You've guided us this far. You saved Sayori. You got Yuri to open up. And...well...you've been a friend to me. And now you've gotten Natsuki help. There is no way we would have let you take care of them all on your own."

Anon wiped away the tears on her face, "You know, a pretty girl such as yourself shouldn't be cryin' over a man like me."

They were now locked in each others gaze. Their faces began to come closer.

Anon quickly broke away when he noticed Stalking deer come through the doorway from the other room.

Stalking Deer stopped and looked at them, "Do not stop on my account."

****

	Natsuki and Dakotah sat in silence for what seemed like forever before Dakotah began to speak, "Young girl, you are lost in this world. This world is a big place, and easy to become lost in, and there is no shame in that."

Dakotah threw some sand onto the fire, extinguishing it.

"Sometimes, we need help being found when we are lost. Unfortunately, the world does not always provide the help that we need to be found. Our ears are deaf to those who call to us when we are lost. Our eyes blind to those who beckon us."

Natsuki was confused at the chief. What did he mean by she couldn't hear or see those who wanted to help her? Natsuki was so wrapped up in her thought she barely noticed the lack of sound and light. She could not hear the sounds outside, nor see anything inside the teepee. She couldn't even hear the breathing of the chief, or even her own.

Natsuki sat there in silence for hours. She began to feel weightless, almost as though she was floating in the water.

Suddenly, Natsuki heard the violent bleating of a deer. She tried to block it out, but it became louder and more violent. She felt as though it was directed at her. As though it were a parent yelling at a child from the other room of a house.

Natsuki got up and ran out of the teepee. The sun had set, but Natsuki didn't see the normal night sky. She saw streamers of purple and blue flowing like a river's current in the stars. Everything had a blue aura coming from it. Natsuki no longer felt the sheer coldness of the wind.

Natsuki was trying her best to locate the noises. She began to run in one direction. She noticed the noise becoming softer. She immediately turned around.

She attempted to call to the voice, but her mouth made no noise when she opened it. She tried to scream for it, but to no avail. She fell to the ground and began to cry. She closed her eyes, hoping to locate the noise. She could still hear the violent bleating, but there was something else. Water. She heard the splashing of water.

"Are you trying to help me find you?" She thought, as she got back up and began running towards the noise. She noticed as she made it through the forest that there was no other animals. No foxes, coyotes, rodents, birds, anything. The forest seemed devoid of all life other than her and the Deer that needed her help. The splashing gradually got louder and the bleating was becoming clearer. It wasn't bleating, but calling. As she ran closer, she could hear her name more and more clear. Suddenly, she came to a river where a deer was bucking and screaming her name.

It stopped and turned towards her. The beast was now calm. It seemed to look on Natsuki with pity.

Natsuki dropped in awe of the wonder she beheld. She had never seen anything so beautiful in all her life. The deer gave a turquoise glow, and the body shone a brilliant white. It's glow illuminated the forest around it.

The deer made it's way to Natsuki. She looked down into the water she had knelt in. The deer rested it's head upon hers, as though to comfort her. She began to pet the deer's neck. Suddenly she felt warmth. It took her by surprise as she hadn't felt anything in a while. Not even the cold river that surrounded her.

She brought her hand closer to see where the warmth was coming from.

"Why is my hand red?" She thought, as she felt the deer remove it's head from hers. She looked up to see the once beautiful creature had now turned into an amalgamation of horrors. The once glowing being was now a rotting, festering mess. It's eyes were missing, and suddenly Natsuki was met with the stench of rot. A hole had replaced where it's heart had been. Exposed flesh and bone was prominent over the beasts body.

Natsuki began to scream in a primal way in between vomiting out of disgust and fear. Despite it's lack of eyes, she could tell it was staring at her, but not just at her, but into her. It seemed as though it could see all of Natsuki's fears, joys, loves, sorrows. It felt like it was seeing her past and her future.

Natsuki attempted to run from the horror that had manifested itself, but it was to no avail. She ran to the shore, and the creature suddenly appeared before her. She instinctively reached for her gun which happened to be missing. She had no way to protect herself. How could she protect herself? Could it be killed?

Natsuki had now noticed the river was no longer making noise. It had stopped flowing altogether. The streams of light in the sky had frozen as well.

The rotting abomination had now began to breath heavily, as though it was angry with her. It began to bleat and grunt violently again.

Natsuki had fallen and was now crawling away from the being, still screaming at it. She was now pinned against a tree, and there was nowhere else to run. She was now face to face with death.

****

	Anon was regaling Stalking Deer of the tales of his travels and how he met the girls. The sun had now set.

Sayori and Yuri spent the day learning from the tribes warriors and their skills. Sayori was practicing with a bow. Yuri had joined in the tomahawk and knife throwing. They even gave them their own weapons and painted their faces like warriors. The two were now joined with the rest of the tribe in a feast.

"Anon, when were you going to tell me there are more pretty girls in my village."

Monika chuckled as Anon scolded the old man, "They're a little young for you, ya old coot."

Suddenly their laughs were interrupted by a screaming in the distance. It sounded primal, almost like an animal that was backed into a corner. Anon knew exactly what it was. Monika gave a concerned look to Anon, "That almost sounded like...."

Anon gave her a nod, "It was."

Monika went to run out of the door. Anon made an attempt to stop her. He grabbed her arm but even that couldn't stop her as she inadvertently pulled him out of bed.

"Monika, stop!"

She had dragged him a few feet before she noticed him lying on the floor.

"She has to do this, Monika. Unfortunately it's not all fun and games."

Yuri and Sayori had ran through the door, "Monika! Something's happening with-"

"Stop! There's nothing we can do. I told you guys to trust Chief Dakotah, right?"

They all nodded.

"What is happening out there is her own doing. She is going through something that we cannot help her with."

Anon lifted himself up and limped back to the bed, "Besides, Dakotah wouldn't let anything happen to her."

Monika nodded. The other two girls left to rejoin the feast.

"Anon, did you go through the same thing?" Monika asked, taking her seat next to his bed.

"No." He answered bluntly.

"He screamed almost constantly for three days in those woods. His was worse." Stalking Deer said, applying a remedy to the cauterized wound.

****

Natsuki woke up in a daze. The sky was still dark, and the lights in the sky were still flowing, albeit slower than they were before. The realm still gave off the strange feeling, and all of nature was still giving off the blue aura.

"I must have passed out." She thought, as she lay there feeling a warmth next to her. She realized what the warmth must be. She hopped up and immediately began to shake. The deer had lain itself next to her.

It picked itself up and began walking towards her. She backed away from it with each step it took. Eventually, the deer stopped and just stood there. It looked at her with a piercing gaze. It gave her the same uncomfortable feeling she had before she passed out. That feeling that it saw everything in her soul.

After a few minutes, Natsuki decided to walk towards the deer. She shakily raised a hand to pet it again. It nuzzled her hand as she did. She moved in and hugged the deer. It's warmth was incredibly calming. She held the deer and closed her eyes. Suddenly she felt a tickling sensation all over her.

She let go of the deer to see maggots crawling all over her. She began flailing in an attempt to get them off of her. The deer had transformed into the nightmare again. Natsuki began to scream as it approached her.

It spoke, though its mouth did not move, "Am I not beautiful?"

She was taken back by its words. Why was it speaking? How was it speaking?

"No! why would I? You're rotten and falling apart. Who would find you beautiful?"

"But you found me beautiful before. I saw it. I was the most beautiful thing you had ever seen."

"No! The other deer was. You're an abomination!"

"Such harsh words, especially coming from you. You turned me into this."

That's when Natsuki realized she had seen this deer before. This was not just a deer, but the deer she had shot with Anon. The gunshot was in the same place where Natsuki had shot, and the wound on the neck was the same one Anon had cut.

"I did this to you?"

The deer lightly nodded, "What do you think happens when anything dies? It just disappears?"

"Well, no. I just..."

"You didn't want to accept it. You didn't want to accept what happens to a body when it loses it's soul."

The deer had turned into it's heavenly form, shining and glowing in all it's glory.

"Life is not as simple as it should be, human. Unfortunately this world is filled with hardship and pain. You were forced to see it, and now you're unsure of it." It's voice now seemed to have a pleasant and soothing echo.

Natsuki began to cry. Not out of fear, but out of sadness.

"We killed those men. We took their lives."

"Yet you shed no tear for me and my life when you took it."

Natsuki looked up at the deer, "But, we needed to take yours. We needed to eat."

"And you feel that you didn't have to take the lives of those men? Or was it that their life had more meaning than mine?"

Natsuki looked to the ground. She wasn't sure how to answer him.

"What did those men provide you? Of all the memories I saw in your soul, eating them was not one of them. If their lives were worth more than mine, why did they not provide you with anything?"

"I...don't ge-"

The deers soothing voice had now become harsh and guttural, "Do not be stupid, girl! Your world has come crashing down because you refuse it! You refuse the world for what it is! You refuse the truth of not just the world, but nature! And now you are unsure because the world can no longer be what you want it to be!"

The deer had now changed back into it's decayed form. It's green flesh hanging from it's bones, and those hollow eyes staring into her soul.

Natsuki dropped to the ground, staring into the amalgamation of horror that presented itself to her.

"I will ask again, am I not beautiful?" It's voice gurgling and guttural, as though it pained it to speak.

Natsuki stared into the deer's vacant sockets, despite everything in her head telling her not too. She stood there for what felt like forever.

Suddenly she started feeling thoughts that were not her own flow into her mind. Thoughts of rejection and sadness, fear and loneliness.

Natsuki began walking towards the deer. Her legs felt heavy as her mind was yelling for her to do anything but. She began petting the matted and bloody fur on the deer's muzzle, "Do you have a name?"

"I do. You may refer to me as Iiná."

"I never got to properly thank you for your life. Thank you for providing my friends and I with something to eat."

It began to nuzzle her head, "Thank you, girl."

Natsuki wrapped her arms around the deer's neck, "I'm sorry if I made you feel unappreciated. I feel terrible for making you feel sorrow."

"You understand now, do you?"

Natsuki began shaking her head, "Yes, you really are beautiful."

The deer bowed, and began making it's way into the thick of the woods.

"Will I...ever see you again?"

"I will always be there for you, whenever you need me, Natsuki."

The deer walked into the woods. Natsuki lay on the ground and closed her eyes.

****

	Chief Dakota walked into the Stalking Deer's cabin, "Anon, I do believe she has finished. Would you like to help me retrieve her?"

"Of course chief, Let me get ready."

"There's no way you're going, Anon. You're in no shape to be out in the woods. I'll go."

Anon chuckled, "Well, you're more than welcome to come along."

He hobbled to the door and opened it for Monika and the chief.

"Stubborn ass." Monika muttered as she passed the two men.

"Stalking Deer, be ready in case the girl needs treatment."

Anon, Monika, and Dakotah made their way through the woods, trying to track the trail Natsuki left for them.

"She was clearly in a panic. See how they keep doubling back."

"Well, at least she left us a trail, right chief?"

He looked at Anon with a glare, "Yes, unlike the last pale face I helped, who insisted on covering his trail."

After twenty minutes of following the trail Natsuki, the came to a small river. They could faintly see a small person sleeping on the banks of the river.

Monika broke into a run, "There she is!"

Anon and Dakotah trailed behind, trying to keep up with her.

She had propped her up and was looking her over as they made their approach, "She breathing, but she's soaked to the bone. She won't last long in this cold. We have to hurry."

Anon removed his coat and wrapped it around Natsuki. Monika scooped her up and made her way up the hill. Before Anon turned to follow her, he caught the glimpse of an almost blue wolf peering at him from behind a tree. He nodded and tipped his hat to it beofre making his way up the hill. They regrouped on the trail and began sprinting towards the village.

"Chief Dakotah," Monika started, "How did you know she was done with whatever it is you sent her to do?"

Anon laughed, "I wondered that too. Did you know when I was finished, chief?"

"When you get older, you just know these things."

"You're full of shit, old man." Anon said as he opened the door for Monika and Dakotah. They sat Natsuki on the bed and removed her wet clothing.

Immediately, Stalking Deer began looking her over.

"She seems to just be extremely exhausted. That she'll recover from. I'm more worried about how cold she is. We will have to keep an eye on her. tonight."

"I'll stay up with her Stalking Deer. You've done enough for us. I'll wake you if I need you." Anon said, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

"I'll stay up with you, Anon." Monika gave him a smile.

"Chief Dakotah, will you let the other girls know our plans of the evening?"

"Of course. I will beheading off to bed as well. I will see you two in the morning."

Dakotah walked out of the cabin, and Stalking Deer made his way to his bedroom.

When they were alone, Anon lit a cigarette and helped himself to some of the medicine man's whiskey.

Monika grabbed his hand, "So, three days of screaming in the woods?"

Anon nodded, "It's not the same for everyone. You may not make a noise if you were to go out there."

"Anon, what happened to you out there?"

Anon hesitated and took a shot, "Well, it started out like this...."

Anon took a long drag of his cigarette.



END PART 5