He studied Ethan for a long moment.
"You are not here for Ayana."
Ethan shook his head.
"No."
Whitehawk raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
Ethan looked toward the gathering beneath the trees.
"Because I don't know her."
The chief stared at him.
Then, unexpectedly, he smiled.
"At least you speak honestly."
Ethan nodded.
"I try."
Chief Whitehawk pointed toward the fire.
"Eat."
Ethan accepted.
He did not know that within hours, more than a hundred people would watch as Ayana walked toward the gathering.
He did not know that every man who had come for her believed he had a chance.
And he certainly did not know that the one person nobody expected to be chosen was about to become the center of the entire village.
Ayana Walks Among Them
The choosing began at sunset.
The village grew quiet.
Families gathered around the main clearing.
The young warriors stood in a long line.
Chief Whitehawk sat beneath the largest cottonwood.
Ayana stood beside him.
She wore a simple blue dress decorated with small beads.
Her dark hair was braided with narrow strips of leather.
She carried no weapon.
That mattered.
Her father had told everyone that this would not be a contest of strength.
It would be a decision of the heart.
One by one, the young men stepped forward.
Red Hawk spoke first.
He told Ayana about the mountain lion.
He described how he had followed its tracks for two days.
He showed her the scar on his arm.
The crowd admired him.
Ayana thanked him.
But she did not choose him.
Little Bear came next.
He spoke about the children he had rescued.
Ayana listened carefully.
Then she asked,
"Why did you save them?"
Little Bear looked surprised.
"Because they were children."
Ayana nodded.
"Thank you."
But she did not choose him either.
Another man offered horses.
Another offered blankets.
Another promised that she would never want for food.
Another spoke proudly about his family.
Ayana listened to all of them.
She asked questions.
She watched their faces.
And one by one, they stepped away.
Then there was a pause.
Chief Whitehawk looked toward his daughter.
"You may choose."
Ayana did not move.
Instead, she looked beyond the gathered warriors.
Her eyes traveled across the fire.
Across the families.
Across the horses.
Then they stopped.
On Ethan Walker.
He was sitting near the edge of the village.
He had not even been watching the ceremony.
He was repairing the strap on his saddle.
When he finally noticed Ayana staring at him, he looked behind himself.
There was nobody there.
He pointed at his own chest.
"Me?"
Ayana nodded.
Ethan stood.
The entire village became silent.
He walked toward her.
Chief Whitehawk watched.
Ayana took one step forward.
Then another.
She stopped in front of Ethan.
"I choose him."
The words fell into the clearing like a stone dropped into still water.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Ethan stared at her.
"You don't know me."
Ayana answered,
"I know enough."
Chief Whitehawk's expression changed.
He stood slowly.
"Ayana."
She turned.