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Ascent to Power	By : Hot4Gerry Category: M through R > The Phantom of the Opera > Het Views: 5436 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Hand of Strength, Hand of Comfort
As she refused to let go of her life holding on tightly to all she knew a lonely man living in solitude a world away was in the process of trying to obtain a little dignity while gaining love and trust. He would risk all in a madness that possessed his mind and heart blinding him to all but the object of his desire. Katherine struggled to hold on to her memories while he fought to forget all his past memories of pain and loneliness, making new ones through love.
The first months had almost taken Katherine's life. In the beginning she was only allowed to eat what scraps were left over when everyone else lay full and sleep overtook them. She was forced to fight the camp dogs for food. If she was going to survive she had to find a way to get food. She had to sleep out in the open. Many nights she huddled against the warm fur of the camp dogs. They smelled horrible which in turn made her smell awful but they did give her much needed warmth.
This yellow haired girl was like no other Lone Wolf had ever encountered. Brave, smart, stubborn, with an incredible will to survive. Shortly after her first few months Lone Wolf asked Raging Bear if he could give Yellow Hair aid. He had been granted his request. Raging Bear cautioned him with words of warning, "I too have seen the little Yellow Hair struggle with no thoughts of giving in. If she does not find a way to live among us it will be hard for her."
Lone Wolf sighed heavily in frustration, "If she were male she would already be learning the ways of the warrior. Let me teach her what she needs to survive."
"Lone Wolf the spirit in this one is strong. She survives all we do then stands and looks us in the eye. If she were of our people she would give us many warriors. She may yet catch the eye of a young brave. Many are still frightened of her. Teach her what you will. Do not let her forget her place. She is still a prisoner. The women would not treat her well if they thought she was getting special treatment, " Raging Bear warned.
"I will keep her under control." Lone Wolf had the confidence of a longtime warrior backing his words.
Raging Bear laughed in disbelief, "More likely she will spit in your eye then slit your throat if you drop your guard."
Lone Wolf did not doubt she would kill him if she got the chance. She showed her hatred and strength in her stiff posture and rebellious attitude. The fire in her eyes would burn them all if she could release it from her eyes. She may not want to harm him but if being free was the result she may have the courage to take his life. She had spit, kicked hissed and scratched at every opportunity. He was not the only one bearing fresh wounds from that she cat Yellow Hair.
Katherine had watched Lone Wolf make a bow and arrow. She tried many times to fashion one like his only to fail time and time again. Her attempts always ended with her throwing the whole mess away angrily. It looked so simple. How hard could it be to stretch horse hair across a bowed stick? Shouldn't any old straight stick work as an arrow?
Watching her many failed attempts Lone Wolf gave into the feelings he had for this girl. He felt responsible for her. He came to think of her as he did his sister Fawn. Fawn was really only his half sister as they had different mothers. Fawn's mother had been killed in a raid when she was just a baby. Their father had been killed in battle six years ago.

Having gained Raging Bears permission Lone Wolf approached Yellow Hair with his offer to teach her the ways of survival. Contrary to what he thought she did not immediately accept his offer. She was more cautious than a doe during rutting season.
Lone Wolf offered again a few weeks later. Katherine's wariness began to fade a little with the possibility of learning how to hunt for food. Soon she became fascinated as he showed her how to choose the finest materials to make the strongest bows and straightest arrows. What she had thought was horse hair was actually the tendons from animals. Usually the buffalo. Not only was this sinewy material used to attach to both ends of the bow but it was also wrapped around the wood to add strength and stability.
Any hard substance could be used as an arrow. He chose several different types to show her how to sharpen each object. He used bones, rock, as well as some hardwoods such as hickory. The wood was not used as much as the other two. Rock and bone were easier to obtain. Lone Wolf showed her how to choose just the right pieces of wood to make the shaft of the bow.
Watching him stretch the sinew across the bow she asked, "Why do you still use the bow and arrow? I have seen tomahawks used as well. Why do you not just use guns? You have plenty. That was the reason you were after the stagecoach."
Lone Wolf hoped she would not be angered when he told her why they wanted the guns. "Yellow Hair guns need ammunition. Where would we have to go to get such a thing? Yes traders sell us some once in a while. We are on the move so much it is not always easy to get ammunition. Arrows are easy to make. They are light to carry into battle. Guns are harder to handle during a battle."
"Your white army has the Henry rifle which can shoot sixteen rounds. They also use the single shot rifle. This is the one they prefer. The cost of bullets is high. If you only have one shot you are more likely to make sure it finds its target. If you have sixteen you may shoot randomly hoping to hit a target. Both are effective if used correctly. I have even heard of a gun that can shoot as many as 300 rounds rapidly. I believe it is called a Gatling gun. It is not widely used, at least not west of the Mississippi yet. Time will change that. When that happens our people will be erased as we had never been."
"We need the guns when a bow is not able to be used. Bows and arrows come from the spirit world. We have used this weapon for thousands of years. An Apache with a bow with a quiver full of arrows is a formidable foe. Our arrows are blessed by the spirits. Guns are the Whiteman’s weapon. The white army with a gun is equal to our arrows, until they run out of bullets. Besides..." Lone Wolf hesitated to continue as he remembered she was only thirteen and was only twelve when she saw an arrow kill the other passengers along with her mother.
"Besides what?" Katherine was silent as she thought over his words. She narrowed her eyes at him. There was something he did not want her to know. That only made her more curious to know what he was hiding. He had not told her why they were after the guns. "Why were you after the guns if you mostly use bows and arrows?"
When he continued to skin his rabbit in silence she asked again, "What? I am not a baby. You do not have to keep things from me Lone Wolf." Lone Wolf looked at her in surprise. She had spoken to him in a mix of English and Apache. She could not pronounce all the words correctly but he could understand her meaning.
Perhaps she was strong enough to hear what he kept from her. "We use the arrows not only because we are used to this but because they are more often deadly. An arrow enters the flesh burrowing in to bone and muscle. Sometimes it shatters. Very few survive an arrow. If our aim is true it is always deadly. We do not aim only to wound. We send our arrows to kill."
"When...when you and the others...when you chased the stage did you know there were women in the coach? That I...that a child was in the coach?"
Lone Wolf sighed heavily before answering as truthfully as he could, "No. We hardly ever know who is to be the passengers. Unless someone of importance is on board we have no interest in who is riding in the coaches we attack."
Lone Wolf and Katherine both shot to their feet as she spat angrily, "My mother was important. The other passengers had families who thought they were important. You are all just stupid savages. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid." She pounded her fist on his chest as tears began so flow down her cheeks. Lone Wolf let her hit him with her fists until she collapsed to her knees as she cried with her head bowed.
He stood over her in silence knowing her well enough by now to leave her be. If he tried to comfort her it would only anger her more. With each months passing she grew stronger in her spirit. She never backed down from anyone no matter if she faced a warrior or one of the women. She faced everyone with equal bravery.
Jerking her head up she looked him straight in the eye. She dried her tears. She was not weak. She would not show weakness again. She squared her shoulders. If she was to be among these people she needed to understand. Lone Wolf and Fawn were not evil people. They were not cruel. Lone Wolf treated her just as he did his sister Fawn.
"Please sit with me. Please, I want to understand." Lone Wolf was again impressed with her strength.
Sitting down crossed legged from him she asked, "Who are these white men who betray their own kind?" Katherine could feel her blood heat in anger. If ever she met one of these men she vowed she would kill him. Painfully. She took a few deep breaths to bring herself back under control.
"We trade with many white men who give us information. You will met them soon enough. They are due to pay us a visit. We do not ask for a passenger list. It would make no difference. Know this Yellow Hair, I have never taken the life of a woman or child. Not knowing it if I did. I pray this is the truth. I do not know if I could live if I knew for certain I had taken the life of anyone who was not a warrior. If I could bring your mother back to you I would. If it were up to me I would send you back to your people. None of this is under my control. I only wield so much power. Raging Bear trusts me. He has allowed me to teach you many things that will help you survive."
"A good warrior with a bow and arrow is more accurate than a man with a rifle in certain battles. Ambushes are easily made confusing. Arrows can be made to arc. Putting enough of them in the air you confuse your enemy is a good tactic. It is hard to tell from which direction an arrow comes. Rifle shots give away a man’s position unless he at some great distance. Then he must be very accurate with his shots. Arrows are quieter during the kill. Many men can be taken out before anyone even knows we have begun our attack. Add a tomahawk and knife and one Indian is worth ten white men with rifles."
"The white man has hunted our land for so many years taking more than can be replaced. The guns can be used at a further distance than the bow. With many less buffalo and elk we must hunt sometimes with a rifle to ensure we make a kill. It is not how we want to hunt it has become necessary to survive."
"Thank you for explaining it to me. I...I don't hate you or Fawn. I don't think I ever did. The others yes I have hated them, but not you or Fawn."
Katherine hesitated only a moment then placed her hand palm up in front of her. Lone Wolf laid his palm on her much smaller hand. He gripped her hand. His hand swallowed hers. He only held her hand for a few seconds then returned to making the bow. No more words were spoken other than instructions for making her bow and arrows.
Katherine remained silent as he continued to show her how to fashion the bow and arrow. She tried so many times with the result ending in disappointment. She would not admit defeat. Many hours of frustration finally paid off when she made a bow that would actually shoot the arrow she made. She made a bow and arrow that was not perfect but she could hunt small game with it, once he taught her how to shoot it.
Katherine followed Lone Wolf when he would leave the camp to hunt. He grew tired of her not so silent footsteps following him. He would either have to tie her to a pole before he left to go hunting or teach her how to stalk game quietly. Lone Wolf did not want to ever have to tie her up again so he began to bring her with him. He taught her how to track without leaving any evidence behind of her own passing. She became one of the best trackers in camp over the years. Not everyone was pleased with her progress. Her hunting skills could match any of the men. It did not come naturally. She had to spend many hours over many months to be anywhere close to even the youngest most inexperienced boy. She put in hour after hour every day until she surpassed many of the best. Lone Wolf or Raging Bear were more than likely the only two who were more skilled than she was after a year or so.
Her first attempts were laughable. This she discovered when she tried to stalk and kill a small deer. Lone Wolf's laughter had angered her so badly she had thrown her guiver of bows to the ground then smashed her bow against a tree. He had only laughed harder as she stalked away. Later she retrieved her quiver of arrows. The bow had not faired as well. She made another. This first try at hunting she had gone after game that was too big. She would start smaller.
Many weeks of failure to not have a reward of even one kill, almost disheartened her into giving in but she persevered. On the day she killed a rabbit she let out a war cry fit for any warrior gaining victory in battle. She spent not one more night in hunger. Lone Wolf taught her how skin her kills. She even learned how to cook them and dry the meat to save for hard times or for taking on trips that lasted many hours or days. Lone Wolf praised that rabbit as if she had taken down the fiercest buffalo. She basked in his praise. This encouraged her to ask for more skills.
He showed her how to make fire using two flint rocks. He also showed her how to use a sharpened stick. The stick was sharpened at one end that he placed in the worn indentation of a rock he always carried in his pouch. He placed dried grass around the stick. Placing the stick between his palms he rubbed his palms together quickly. He worked his hands down the staff of the stick as he rubbed his hands together. The rubbing of the swiftly turning stick against the rock caused heat. Soon a small spiral of smoke could be seen. Lone Wolf blew gently while placing more dried grass on top of the small flame that sprang into life. He began to add small pieces of wood.
He gave her the stick along with the rock in a leather pouch. He told her to always carry these items with her wherever she went, along with a small amount of grass. If wood was not available buffalo chips when dried burned just as well.
Over the years many things went into that pouch. She traded a few rabbit skins for a fish hook and line with one of the white traders who came to camp. Another trade was made for thread and needle. She took this pouch with her everywhere. If she was going to be gone for the day she slipped in some dried meat. No ever thought to stop her from leaving the camp. They knew she would return. Where would she go? If she did run she was not certain she could find her way home.
There were so many renegade bands of Indians running around. The white outlaws were everywhere. The raiders from the war had long since disbanded or been captured and hung. It was not safe for a lone woman even if she knew how to survive in this sometimes desolate land.
Lone Wolf and Fawn had invited her into their teepee. She thought survival was more important just this once. No more huddling with the camp dogs. The smell on her skin was not something she wanted to become accustomed to. The dogs smelled of animal droppings and just plain old dog. Not a smell a woman wants clinging to her skin.
Because of Lone Wolf's regard for her the others treated her a little less cruelly. Most did not show any kindness but did not treat her with the same harshness as before. She accepted these kindnesses while still clinging to her wish to return to her old life. Someday she would return to her old life.
Six months passed with little change in Katherine's resolve. She would one day return home. She just had to hold on to her identity. All efforts to make her leave her life as a white woman were met with disdain and open hostility. She clung to her clothing until the rags no longer covered her. She stubbornly refused Fawn's offers of clothing.

Lone Wolf took matters into his own hands. He threatened to strip the rags from her if she did not do it herself. Winter was coming. She needed to stay warm. When snow began to fall she gave in. She could not bear to discard her one tangible link to her past. She folded the tattered cloth tucking it under her pallet of skins.
She wondered if, when, she was rescued if there would be any of Katherine Montgomery left. Would her father want a girl named Yellow Hair? Perhaps he had remarried and now had a new family. Often when she thought of her father she would wonder if the reason he did not come for her was because he had found another little girl to love. Someone else had taken her place in his heart.
She did not want to admit how much she cared for Lone Wolf. If she had ever had a brother she would have wished for one as kind, honest and loyal as Lone Wolf. He proved his bravery every time they left camp. Everyone regarded him with the same respect they did Raging Bear. Fawn was a shy, quiet girl. She was only a few months younger than Katherine.
If she could love others as her family she supposed it was only right to wish the same for her father. Accepting that did not make her feel any the less hurt or stem the flow of her tears that night as she lay on her pallet of buffalo hide and blankets.

As Lone Wolf heard her he lay in his own bed. He wanted to go to her but knew she would not wish him to know she cried. Looking over at Fawn he saw her awake. She returned his sad look. Lone Wolf nodded his head toward Yellow Hair. Fawn looked over her shoulder. She looked back at her brother. Silently she nodded back at him. Rolling over she faced Yellow Hair. Stretching her hand out she waited for Yellow Hair to either take her hand or reject her gesture. After only a few seconds Yellow Hair took her hand giving it a squeeze which Fawn returned. A lifetime friendship was formed over silent tears and a hand extended in silent comfort.
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Ascent to Power