The forest was silent, save for the soft noises of small animals going about their business, and the occasional bird song. Two sets of eyes peered from the underbrush near the small settlement, waiting for the one person they had come to see, although she had no idea that anyone was watching her. They had been watching her for several months now, ever since they had first caught a glimpse of her by the river. She was the loveliest thing they had ever seen, and they had watched for her every day since that time. Their quiet patience was finally rewarded, as she stepped out of her small log home, closing the door behind her. She looked about, smiling in pleasure at the beauty of the day, completely unaware of what that smile did to the two silent watchers. Walking lightly down the path that led to the forest, her basket on her arm, she greeted her neighbors, then stepped into the cool green depths waiting for her, never knowing she was silently shadowed as she moved along.
She moved through the forest almost as lightly as they did themselves, very sure of herself in the rich environment. They knew she loved nature and the outdoors as much as they themselves did, for she never missed an opportunity to be out of the house. They knew that she lived alone, and that she had lost her family the year before to influenza. They even knew her name was Charity, for they had heard her neighbors call to her at times as she passed. They knew that she had just passed her nineteenth birthday, for they seen the other settlers gather at her home with well-wishes on that day. That night, they had left a bouquet on her doorstep, the blond one keeping watch as the dark one laid it gently on her doorstep and knocked, then slipped away to join his companion. They would never forget the sweet smile that had lit her face when she had opened the door and spied the flowers there.
That had been two weeks ago, and now, life went on as usual for the young woman. Today she was going into the forest to gather some herbs for medicinal purposes as well as for cooking. Her mother had taught her the properties of many of the plants that grew in the woods, and the knowledge had been very useful on a number of occasions. She would have to go a bit further today to find the sorrel and thyme that she was seeking, but she had no fear. There had been no raids or attacks in months on any settlements, and Charity felt safe beneath the tall trees. She paused sometimes, just to take in her surroundings, stopping to peek at a hidden wildflower, or taste a berry on a bush. Although she was lonely sometimes, for the most part, she felt quite content. Beside a small tributary of the river, she paused to rest, seating herself beside a fallen log, and leaning back against it, watching the water ripple by.
Her two unseen shadows paused as well, their eyes riveted on the beauty beside the river. They meant her no harm whatsoever; they only wished to watch her and protect her, should she need it. They looked at one another and smiled. Two better friends and companions could be found nowhere. The two young men had been together all their lives, practically. They had lived in one of the settlements further upriver when they were only small boys of four and five. The dark one was the elder of the two, and the blond one followed him willingly, and always had. Their settlement had been attacked by a hostile raiding party, and almost all had been killed. The children and younger women had been taken, but these two boys had been playing in a cave they'd found by the river, and when all the commotion started, they had been frightened, and had stayed there, until all was quiet. When they went back to the village, they found it burning, and many dead bodies lying about. After they had finished weeping, they set off into the forest, after packing some provisions, to try to find help. They had not gone far, when they were found by some friendly Indians, who took them in, and adopted them. Since that time, they had lived with the tribe learning their ways and language, and practically forgetting the life they had come from. Their names from before were long forgotten as well, and the dark one had become Raven's Call, while the blond was known as Hawk's Flight.
They were handsome young men. Both wore their long hair in a single braid down their bare, tanned backs. Raven had eyes that matched his ebony hair, and he was slender yet muscular, his skin sporting a few tribal tattoos. Hawk had hazel eyes that sparkled with fun, and he wore hoops in his ears. His build was quite similar to his friend's, but he was a bit shorter. Both were slightly older than Charity, Raven being twenty-one, and the younger a year behind. They were clad only in deerskin loincloths and moccasins, and they looked magnificent. As always, the dark one carried his bow and arrows, and the blond his hunting knife. They were never without their weapons, just in case. The two were not only the best of friends, and blood brothers in fact, but also occasionally lovers. They enjoyed female flesh as well as the next man, but had discovered the joys of experiencing male flesh as well. To them, it was simply another way of expressing the deep love that they felt. Many men in their tribe were of the same opinion, and it was not frowned upon in the least.