Flutter
Title: Flutter
Fandom: Last of the Mohicans
Claim: None
Status: In Progress
Rating: PG-13 (may progress to R in later chapters)
Summary: A retelling of the movie from Alice's perspective
Warnings: Mild war violence.
Alice thought it odd that she was not hungry after the tiring journey the day before. She had had nothing to eat since the morning before, and yet, she felt no hunger pangs. Still groggy from her fitful sleep, she looked out the mouth of the cave and watched the sky brighten. It was wondrous.
Cora had never had any patience when they were young for art, but it was something Alice treasured. Beautiful paintings and books full of illustrations had decorated her room in London. She hadn’t seen anything like it since they had come to America, not until now. For all the horrors it concealed, the forest itself was a thing of beauty.
Looking up at Uncas, she noted that he, too, was admiring the sky. Once more, she wondered at the term ‘savage.’ For if Uncas could rescue them, and admire the beauty of the sky, what made him different than any other man?
Alice’s thoughts were interrupted by Chingachgook’s return to the mouth of the cave. She hadn’t seen nor heard him leave. Again, he spoke with his sons in another language, and Alice noted Duncan’s frustration. Though he should be indebted to the three men, he seemed to grow even more hostile. She had known Duncan since they were all children, but now he seemed so changed. It was unsettling.
They made motion to leave, dampening the embers from the fire, and trying to hide the evidence of their stay. Alice was surprised by her sister’s silence, but made no move to speak to Cora. What would she say? Perhaps the horrors of yesterday were still fresh in her mind. Alice had no comfort for that. She, too, could not stop thinking of the bloodshed they had witnessed.
Though, perhaps, Cora was not so horrified. She had helped in the surgery before, had seen what war would do to a man. Alice could not stomach it, though her father would never ask her to. It was unspoken in their family, but both Cora and Alice knew that their father favored the younger. Perhaps that was why Cora was so strong, Alice mused as they left the caves. Perhaps she had found her strength because she had not been coddled.
The silence stretched on, punctuated only by the sound of wind through leaves. Duncan had, once again, taken up guard around Cora, much to her sister’s frustration. Chingachgook was in the lead, with Uncas not too far behind, leaving Alice to the rear with a reticent Nathaniel. Not that she minded the silence. The quiet was welcome after the chaos of yesterday.
Even though their walk was still steep, Alice felt more confident. She was not as fatigued, and managed to stay with the party as best she could. Nathaniel, too, was as observant as his brother, guiding her by the arm over difficult areas. Murmuring her thanks each time, she studied the man next to her.
Uncas seemed to take after his father. His silences were placid and undisturbing. Chingachgook and Uncas blended with the quiet around them, as if they were meant to be a part of it. Nathaniel was different. His silence was full of energy. Looking at him, Alice could almost see how hard he was thinking, how his every move was calculated. How often he looked to Cora. Nathaniel’s silences were passionate.
He must have noticed her studying him, for the next glance she took found her staring into amused eyes. One side of his mouth was quirked, and Alice blushed.
“Something I can help you with, Miss Munro?” he asked.
“Oh, no. I was just thinking. We really cannot thank you enough for the help you have given us,” she murmured.
His sardonic smile stayed in place, though Alice thought she could detect some warmth in his eyes. “You are welcome, Miss Munro.”
They lapsed into silence once again, and Nathaniel offered her an arm over the steeper portion of rock. Alice was not certain, but she thought there was a change in his silence as he looked to the front of their column. He and Uncas shared an imperceptible nod, though Alice noted that his gaze slid over to her face after a moment. Giving a slight nod of recognition, Alice dropped her gaze to the ground once more. It wouldn’t do to lose her footing, and moreso, she was being frightfully bold.
She did not notice the silent communication that passed between Nathaniel and Uncas after that.
Fandom: Last of the Mohicans
Claim: None
Status: In Progress
Rating: PG-13 (may progress to R in later chapters)
Summary: A retelling of the movie from Alice's perspective
Warnings: Mild war violence.
Alice thought it odd that she was not hungry after the tiring journey the day before. She had had nothing to eat since the morning before, and yet, she felt no hunger pangs. Still groggy from her fitful sleep, she looked out the mouth of the cave and watched the sky brighten. It was wondrous.
Cora had never had any patience when they were young for art, but it was something Alice treasured. Beautiful paintings and books full of illustrations had decorated her room in London. She hadn’t seen anything like it since they had come to America, not until now. For all the horrors it concealed, the forest itself was a thing of beauty.
Looking up at Uncas, she noted that he, too, was admiring the sky. Once more, she wondered at the term ‘savage.’ For if Uncas could rescue them, and admire the beauty of the sky, what made him different than any other man?
Alice’s thoughts were interrupted by Chingachgook’s return to the mouth of the cave. She hadn’t seen nor heard him leave. Again, he spoke with his sons in another language, and Alice noted Duncan’s frustration. Though he should be indebted to the three men, he seemed to grow even more hostile. She had known Duncan since they were all children, but now he seemed so changed. It was unsettling.
They made motion to leave, dampening the embers from the fire, and trying to hide the evidence of their stay. Alice was surprised by her sister’s silence, but made no move to speak to Cora. What would she say? Perhaps the horrors of yesterday were still fresh in her mind. Alice had no comfort for that. She, too, could not stop thinking of the bloodshed they had witnessed.
Though, perhaps, Cora was not so horrified. She had helped in the surgery before, had seen what war would do to a man. Alice could not stomach it, though her father would never ask her to. It was unspoken in their family, but both Cora and Alice knew that their father favored the younger. Perhaps that was why Cora was so strong, Alice mused as they left the caves. Perhaps she had found her strength because she had not been coddled.
The silence stretched on, punctuated only by the sound of wind through leaves. Duncan had, once again, taken up guard around Cora, much to her sister’s frustration. Chingachgook was in the lead, with Uncas not too far behind, leaving Alice to the rear with a reticent Nathaniel. Not that she minded the silence. The quiet was welcome after the chaos of yesterday.
Even though their walk was still steep, Alice felt more confident. She was not as fatigued, and managed to stay with the party as best she could. Nathaniel, too, was as observant as his brother, guiding her by the arm over difficult areas. Murmuring her thanks each time, she studied the man next to her.
Uncas seemed to take after his father. His silences were placid and undisturbing. Chingachgook and Uncas blended with the quiet around them, as if they were meant to be a part of it. Nathaniel was different. His silence was full of energy. Looking at him, Alice could almost see how hard he was thinking, how his every move was calculated. How often he looked to Cora. Nathaniel’s silences were passionate.
He must have noticed her studying him, for the next glance she took found her staring into amused eyes. One side of his mouth was quirked, and Alice blushed.
“Something I can help you with, Miss Munro?” he asked.
“Oh, no. I was just thinking. We really cannot thank you enough for the help you have given us,” she murmured.
His sardonic smile stayed in place, though Alice thought she could detect some warmth in his eyes. “You are welcome, Miss Munro.”
They lapsed into silence once again, and Nathaniel offered her an arm over the steeper portion of rock. Alice was not certain, but she thought there was a change in his silence as he looked to the front of their column. He and Uncas shared an imperceptible nod, though Alice noted that his gaze slid over to her face after a moment. Giving a slight nod of recognition, Alice dropped her gaze to the ground once more. It wouldn’t do to lose her footing, and moreso, she was being frightfully bold.
She did not notice the silent communication that passed between Nathaniel and Uncas after that.