It Seems that Daddy's Wagonload of Dreams Had Long since Passed Her by
Sleep, my little papoose;
Thy father hunteth the moose;
For thee and me, he wanders long,
His heart is brave, his hand is strong,
His boy is mighty as the oak,
His arrow is the lightning's stroke,
In vain, the wild fowl shun his noose;
Sleep, my little papoose.
—"The Squaw's Lullaby" by Harry Edward Mills
Wolves circled around him, their teeth glinting in the dark.
Bucky's heart pounded. He groaned as pain sunk its teeth like a wolf intent on death.
It was dark.
But he was lying on something warm and soft. He still hurt, but it was manageable.
Pain blurred his mind for a moment.
He didn't know where he was. He didn't know where Peter was.
Peter!
Panicked, he tried to sit up, but the slightest movement shot jarring pain through his body.
"Easy," a voice distracted him from the pain.
"P-Pet—" Bucky's voice was hoarse.
"Don't worry your papoose is sleeping," the stranger said softly.
"W-Where are we? W-Who are you?" Bucky asked.
"We are in a cave a few miles from your campsite." The stranger, no the Omega, helped Bucky sit up. He handed Bucky a canteen of water.
Bucky forced himself to drink it slowly.
The cool water soothed his throat.
"Your son found me," the man explained. "I tended your wounds as best I could."
Bucky looked at the Omega more closely.
He was dressed strangely. He was small, yet somehow he'd carried Bucky. "I am Hota."
"We owe you our lives," Bucky said. He did not know what would have befallen them if Hota had not interfered.
"You owe me nothing," Hota assured.
Bucky was about to reply when Peter's ecstatic voice exclaimed, "Da!"
The small child threw his arms around him.
Bucky hid his pain as he brought his arm around Peter.
"I was so s-scared!" Peter cried.
"I'm alright," Bucky soothed. "You saved me."
Peter shook his head. "A-All I did was find H-Hota."
"That was more than enough," Bucky said. "If you hadn't found him—"
Peter buried his face in Bucky's chest.
The pup had been through more than enough.
Hota shifted his feet uncomfortably. He hadn't had a family in so long he hadn't remembered how it felt.
Startling the adults, Peter grabbed Hota's hand.
Bucky stared at Hota as he was literally pulled into his family's fold.
Peter had never trusted Omegas easily. He'd never known his mother, but after knowing Hota for only a few days, he considered him pack.
Hota lay awake listening to the heavy breathing of an Alpha and the quiet noises of a pup.
Bucky was a strange Alpha. He was nothing like the Alphas of the tribe nor Hota's father... He was kind, kinder than any Alpha, Hota had met.
Hota didn't like it. He didn't like the strange emotions that the Alpha sent fluttering through him. He didn't like the terrible longing for something, something that he couldn't name.
The Alpha needed him though. He could barely move on his own much less care for himself.
Hota could tell that he hated being vulnerable, that he hated relying so heavily on Hota.
But neither of them had a choice.
Hota preferred caring for Peter.
It was instinctive.
Something that he hadn't even known he possessed.
Eventually, they were forced to find a routine. They slept on the furs together because Peter could not bear to be parted from his father.
But he would not let go of Hota.
It was uncomfortable, to say the least.
At first, Hota had attempted to move to a bedroll once Peter was asleep.
But the nights grew colder.
Bucky was careful to wait until Peter slept. "You should come back to the nest."
"I-I couldn't possibly—"
"It's freezing. It won't do us any good if you catch ill." Bucky held out his hand. He was shaking with effort.
But his pup considered Hota a part of their pack.
Peter's pack was Bucky's pack.
So, it was Bucky's duty to protect the Omega, even from the cold.
Hota hesitated before giving in.
Peter curled into his side.
"He likes you," Bucky whispered.
Hota shook his head. "He can't help it."
It was just his Omega pheromones...
Pups couldn't help it.
"I don't think that's it," Bucky whispered.
Hota didn't say anything more. He pretended to sleep.
Bucky couldn't help himself from watching the Omega a little longer.
The Omega shivered in his sleep.
Bucky wanted to press closer, but he didn't dare.
Hota woke before Bucky and Peter. He'd always enjoyed waking with the sun, but now, he had a family to provide for.
The cave had rations, but Hota did not want to risk using up all of the rations. He set traps and scavenged for berries, roots, and eggs.
Peter insisted on helping with breakfast. He was not much help at all, but Hota found that he enjoyed teaching the pup simple skills that any Oma would teach her pup.
Hota often walked to the river to refill their canteens. Sometimes, if he allowed himself to linger, he washed himself diving into the cold water if only to feel numb once more.
They spent much of their time talking.
Peter was full of endless curiosity and endless questions.
Hearing of civilization was painful.
Hota had become savage.
But the world was growing tame.
Hota was showing Peter how to squish berries so that they could make jam.
Peter giggled as he played with the results.
Bucky chuckled. He was skinning the rabbits that had come across Hota's traps.
"Da, look! My fingers are purple!" Peter held up his hands that were stained from squishing berries.
"You'll be needing a bath," Bucky scolded.
Peter made a face.
Bucky's heart squeezed. He hadn't seen Peter act like a child for so long.
Peter had grown up too fast.
Hota ruffled the pup's curls. His eyes shone with affection.
Bucky's heart twisted almost painfully.
Is this how his wife would have looked on Peter?
Hota frowned. Subtly, he stood in front of Peter.
Bucky froze.
Five savage Alphas entered the cave.
Bucky growled.
"What is the meaning of this, Tala?" Hota asked.
Tala, the chief's son, glared at him. "What is the meaning of this?"
"What do you mean?" Hota asked.
"You left the tribe! You are found with outsiders!" Tala growled.
Hota frowned. "I was collecting supplies for paints, but I found a child—"
"We do not interfere with outsiders!" Tala snapped.
"They would have died without me!" Hota growled.
Peter whimpered.
Hota picked him up. "Please."
But Tala's face was as hard as stone. "Grab them!"
The warriors grabbed Steve's arm roughly.
Bucky tried to fight, but he simply couldn't.
Hota squeezed Peter tightly. He hadn't felt fear like this since he was a boy.
***
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