There will be art to go with the story for every chapter. .com/art/DLIBL-Ch1-Stranger-ART-190206093?q=&qo=

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

~Stranger~

As the warm sun started to rise on a new summer day, drying the morning dew, the families of the tribe started their daily routine. Men prepared for the work that the day would bring them, young women started to prepare the morning meal, and mothers woke their sleepy children. An ever-familiar peace permeated the tribe. There had been little to no conflicts with the neighbouring tribes and no wars for many seasons. The abundance of the woods and rivers and the fruitful harvests of the Three Sisters: corn, bean and squash, kept them well fed. The tribe was grateful to have this time of peace and prosperity and prayed for it to remain.

At the far edge of the village was a tan longhouse. Paintings of many animals and spirits decorated it: two suns high on the side with a noticeably larger painting of an eagle and a buck flanking each other, and below a large brown bear with lavender markings across the face. Inside the longhouse, a mother cooed softly to her still sleeping children to wake up. One child, the younger, slowly arose, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

A sliver of sunlight reflected off the child's long, golden hair that reached the child's lower back. His mother loved to play with his golden locks, and he enjoyed the attention. Bringing his hands away from his eyes, the child opened them to look softly at the women, his mother. Between the bright blue eyes, the adorable face and the long hair, to the uninitiated, he would appear to be a young girl. But, he was indeed a boy. Smiling at his mother, he mumbled a sleepily greeting to her.

His mother smiled back sweetly, and then turned to the child still hidden under the fur blanket. Letting out a soft giggle, she pulled the covers of the child; she spoke in a gentle tone as two beautiful spheres of cornflower blue looked up at her sleepily. She gently ruffled the second small boy's gold hair; it was short and a mess from the boy's constant tossing in his sleep. He did not have trouble sleeping nor did he often have nightmares; he just was a squirmier while he slept, which sometimes made it difficult for the boy's brother to get some sleep.

Now with both boys mostly awake, she helped her children get dressed. It was still fairly chilly in the morning, so she clad them in heavier clothes. As the smell of a fresh cooked meal of the morning slipped into the longhouse, her shorthaired son started to bounce up and down slightly as his mother adjusted his clothing.

Growing again, what a big boy you are becoming, my little Migisi, She smiled to herself.

"Mama, hurry!" The boy was always in a rush to get a bite to eat; sometimes it was the only way to get him up in the morning. She giggled and nodded, giving Migisi a light pat on the head just before the boy darted out of their home, cheering with the thought of stuffing his face. She laughed at the boy's sudden energy when it came to food, but he was a growing boy. She then turned to her other son who was fiddling with something off at the other end of the house.

"Awentia." Her soft, beautiful voice caught the child's attention, making him jump slightly. Though a perfect voice for singing, she was a person of few words. Awentia quickly hid in a small bag what he had previously held in his tiny hands. He turned his head toward her shyly; she beckoned him over, holding a comb. Awentia slowly smiled, walked over, and sat down in front of his mother. She gently combed the long, slightly wavy hair. As she continued to groom her child, she started to softly sing. Awentia closed his eyes and happily listened to the familiar, comforting song. Soon, he found himself singing along to the lullaby for him and his older brother.

The song ended and his mother was finished with his now nicely braided hair. She then pulled the child's tunic over his head, and adjusted it. He pulled on his moccasins and was about to leave when he noticed his brother's moccasins were still there. Scoping them up in his small arms, he ran off to find Migisi. His mother smiled after her thoughtful son.

Awentia is going to be a kind man when his grows up, She thought happily.

Outside, Awentia looked around for his older brother, quickly spotting him sitting on the ground in front of one of his friend's houses. He made his way through the small crowd of people and some hunting dogs, and walked up to his brother. Migisi did not notice his brother as he continued to chat quickly and loudly to his friends. Obviously he was already done eating or otherwise he'd be like a chipmunk, cheeks puffy and still trying to talk.

"M-Migisi . . ." There was no response. "Migisi," Still no response.

"Bruder." Awentia gently placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. His brother quickly looked up at him, and then smiled happily. Awentia holds out the other's moccasins. "Here . . . you forgot 'em." Migisi looked at the footwear and giggled as he took them and slipped them on instantly

"Thank you, bruder!" Awentia merely nodded and walked off to find his mother. He wandered outside the village entrance and down a dirt path to the nearby lake, the Erielhonan. As he approached the lake, he took notice of a great brown bear watching over her two cubs as they ran through the shallow water, splashing, jumping, wrestling, and being typical little rascals.

He smiled and ran over to the cubs. The roughhousing cubs look up to see the little boy as did mother bear. Now, normally if a person, or anything for that matter came running in the direction of her cubs, mama bear would waste no time tearing their weak fragile body apart, and exposing their soft innards. But, oddly, she did nothing to stop the small child from pouncing onto one of her cubs. With a playful reply, the three of them rolled around on the shoreline.

"Your boy has grown quite a bit has he not, Iroquois?" The she bear turned to look at the mother of Awentia. She had appeared without a sound like as if she had been there the whole time. Iroquois smiled with pride at the mother bear. Mother bear turned back in the direction of her cubs. "I remember the first time you showed your sons to me. At first, I was surprised that they were born with hair like sunshine, eyes like water and skin like ripe baneberries." Looking up at the beautiful native woman. "But, they have your gentle face."

"My sons are my sons, and I would never change a thing about them." Smiling happily at the she-bear, Iroquois thought back to how her sons came into her life. When she had first found them, she too was astonished by their appearance. Migisi was found first, just a tiny bundle sleeping away in the hollow of a tree. She probably would not have found him if it were not for the birds chatting about a peculiar human in a tree. Most animals could sense that they were different than the other mortals.

Iroquois had looked after Migisi for ten years before finding Awentia. At the time, Migisi's appearance was that of a three year old. Spirits aged differently, how fast they grew depended on their people. Awentia was found when Migisi wanted to explore a northern cave on a whim. It just so happened to be the resting place for a male polar bear and a small child. She returned her attention back to her son and the cubs that were now chasing leaping grasshoppers in the green grass around the shore.

" Iroquois," Mother bear began, "I have heard that there are more that look like your sons except mortal." She looked at the bear with a confused and concerned countenance. "From what I know, they came from lands beyond the great eastern waters and have been increasing their numbers for the past generation."

That is about the same length of time that Awentia and Migisi have been with me, she thought, if new people have arrived and enough of them, a Spirit can be born. But, why are there two of them?

"How many tribes are there?" She asked.

"It is said that there are two large tribes of these great water people. One tribe has settled to the south of the other and they do not get along. Both are coming farther inland." Two Spirit children and two new tribes mean that there are two other Spirits. It was a situation that could go badly very easily. She was deeply worried for her children. It could be good for them to meet the other half of their people, but they could be taken away from her by these two other Spirits.

She did not want that; she would not allow that. They were her sons and she raised them. She would continue to raise them. But, that might mean she would have to fight for them. Iroquois would rather not have to fight. But if she had too, these two foreign spirits would quickly learn why it was unwise to get between a mother and her children.

"Thank you," She finally spoke, hiding her worry. "I should have known that something was going on, with all the strange feelings I have been having." It came to her attention that this matter could not be ignored or avoided any longer. She took her son into her arms.

"Iroquois, keep your cubs close. You do not want a boar to take them from you forever." And with that the mother bear turned and headed into the lush forest, her young following her trail.

~~O~~

"Wwwwhhhhhhhyyyyyy?" Migisi complained for what must have been the hundredth time that day.

"I have to," Is all that their mother would say with the occasional, "You need to," towards the eldest of her sons. Pouting from the consistent response, he swung his legs back and forth in a scissoring motion as his mother packed. Awentia just watched quietly. Following her conversation with mother bear, it was decided; she was going away for a full cycle of the moon in order to find out about her new visitors. She did not have the heart to tell her sons. They were to stay in the village and not leave until she returned. She did not want to take the chance of one or both of them being taken away from her.

"I wanna come!" Migisi hopped off the bed and grasped his mother's skirt. She sighed and looked down at the boy.

"No, Ayashe. You must stay and watch over your brother." Iroquois spoke softly, using his nickname in an attempt to sooth him.

"Then why is Dibe in charge?" Migisi pouted. Dibe was one of the elders of the village and the village's medicine-woman. Migisi liked her but, he did not like that she could keep him from using his strength to run off and do as he pleased.

His mother sighed. "Please, this is very important Ayashe."

"But I wanna play in the fields."

"Ayashe." She was becoming frustrated. Migisi pouted and gave up. His mother was not going to let him leave the village until she returned.

It was not fair, why did only he and his brother have to stay in the village? He thought as he sulked, it was not like anyone was after them or their mother.

A greeting came from outside of the longhouse and Awentia hopped off the bed, followed in quick pursuit by his brother, and ran to the front with his arms open and an adorable smile upon his face. His brother caught up to see it was Dibe the medicine-woman.

"Why, hello there child." Dibe knelt down gave the younger boy a gentle hug. Awentia loved her company, and he enjoyed learning anything she would teach him.

"W-we're gonna spend lots of time together!"

"Yes child." She smiled and patted his head. He giggled with joy, but his brother turned away, rather bitter about the whole situation.

~~O~~

"What we gonna do today?" Awentia asked, excited. It had been a week since Haudenosaunee had left. Everyday Awentia was learning something new and was feeling very helpful. He learned how to properly clean and bandage wounds, to make medicine that helps with pain, to recognize herbs by smell, and to care for fevers. He was quite proud of himself and could not wait to show his mother what a good medicine man he was going to be. Dibe was surprised by the boy's accumulation of knowledge, but he was a Spirit like his mother. In reality, both boys should have been young men by now, but they aged much slower. It was just how they were and the people understood this.

"Nothing today child. Why do you not go and find something to do around the village or find your troublemaking brother?" She chuckled softly. Awentia frowned at first then smiled and left the house to find his brother. Since they were not allowed to leave the village, there was always someone near both the front and back entrances of the village and would not let them leave if they tried. The only one to try was Migisi, and he only did it because he could not climb the log fence that went all the way around the village. It had never been built for that purpose; it had been just left over from a war long ago.

He found Migisi around the back of one of the longhouses, looking very shifty as he glanced around to see if anyone was watching. Not noticing his brother's approach, he lifted a large rock that was three times his size, revealing a small exit just big enough for him to crawl through.

"M-Migisi?" His brother jumped and nearly dropped the rock. Holding it above his head with both hands, Migisi sighed when he saw it was just his brother.

"What is it?"

"What are you doing?"

"I am going out to play. I am tired of doin' nothin''" He was annoyed about not being allowed to leave the village. All his friends would bug him to go play in the forest and he would try to join them, but Dibe would catch him and drag him back to the house or where ever else she went. And he could not escape her; she would use some sort of charm on him that would take away his incredible strength.

"B-but Mama . . ."

"Won' know, I will be fine." He then turned his back to his younger brother, setting down the heavy rock as quietly as he could. "You coming?"

Awentia took a step back; he did not like getting in trouble. He shook his head, "I don' wanna get in trouble."

"You big baby! If you are quiet, you don' get caught. I am goin' now. Bye bruder." Migisi crawled through the small exit. He dusted himself off before running off into the woods. Awentia stood there staring at the small exit. He did not want to get into trouble but he did not want to be alone either. He quickly crawled through the hole after his brother.

"B-bruder! W-wait!" Migisi turned around to greet his look alike.

"Good, you are not a baby. Now lets play!" Migisi grinned and Awentia nodded. The two boys ran to their favourite place to play. It was a great meadow where they often found bear cubs and fawns to play tag with. But when they got there, there were no cubs nor fawns just some odd-looking tepees like the ones they had seen while with the plains people that followed the buffalo. The twins were silent as they looked out from the edge of the forest. Curiosity got the better of the oldest and he slowly headed toward the odd-looking tepees. Immediately, Awentia reached out and grabbed hold off Migisi's arm.

"D-don' bruder. L-let's go back; somethin' bad is here." His eyes were tearing up fearfully. Migisi did not like to see his brother so upset but, in his mind, he was being a coward. He did not understand what was his brother was so worried about. Awentia has been right before but . . . if Migisi had to admit it, he was always right about 'somethin' bad'. Nevertheless, Migisi was determined to prove to his little brother that he was wrong about this. Easily freeing his arm from the other's weak grasp, he ran toward the three tepees. He tiptoed as he walked past the first. Glancing from side to side, he observer that the camp was empty.

"Hmm . . . no one. Hey bruder, come an' see this!"

"N-no. Come back!" Awentia called out from his hiding spot in the bushes; he wanted to leave but he could not without his brother. Migisi happily explored the camp finding new and strange things: weird sticks with long arrowheads stuck to them, bright coloured clothes, headdresses that had lost all their feathers, and shiny gray stones, some flat, shaped like small spears, paddles, knives and bowls in all sizes. There was even a big shiny red bowl-like object, which Migisi liked a lot.

Picking it up by its handles, he giggled as he put it over his head. He could only see downward, and he took a few steps before walking into a wooden pole. He laughed as the large stone bowl rang on his head, making him dizzy. Moving backward clumsily, he noticed something bright at his feet. Kneeling, he picked it up and opened it. Migisi stared in awe at the cloth: deep blue with red and white crosses. Smiling, he decided that he would take it to show his brother.

Suddenly, a man shouted at him. Not understanding a word the strange man just said, but sounding angry and a bit surprised, Migisi turns around while lifting the red bowel just above his blue eyes. He was a little frightened but was more interested in what else he might find.

"H-hello . . . my names Migisi." He was trembling, but tried to smile as he greeted the two pale men standing before him. The first man looked around the small camp; it was a mess from Migisi's little adventure. His partner sighed, and then looked at the small child and back to his partner. He spoke in a softer tone and seemed to be on Migisi's side.

The first returned a shouting comment at his comrade and then he glared at Migisi, scaring him further. He pulled out a long, shiny tube and pointed it at him. Migisi remained, as he was unaware of the danger of the object. The angry man stared coldly. Suddenly, the kind man grabbed his comrade's arm, stopping him and speaking quickly. This only made the other man angrier, but he did nothing. The kinder man cautiously moved towards him, and in response Migisi took a step back.

He spoke calmly and softly, trying to get the boy to understand that he meant no harm. Migisi stopped and let the man approach him. The man smiled and gently took the large bowl from his hands and sat it aside. Looking a bit shocked, he then smiled and gently petted the boy's head. Migisi smiled nervously. They were not so bad, spoke a little funny but at least the one seemed friendly.

He grinned at his partner, who turned his head away, seemingly unimpressed, though he put his odd tube away and started to clean the camp. The kind man also began to clean up. As for Migisi, once the men leave him, he ran back to his brother to tell him all about the interesting stuff he found and about the funny talking men.

"H-hey boy! Where are you going?" The kind man called after him but Migisi was already long gone. He sighed, "Well, at lest we know where to find him."

"You are an idiot for not grabbing him!" His sullen colleague spat.

"But I did not want to scare the boy."

"Quiet! Let us go get Sir Kirkland before that French bastard finds out the brat is here."

Thank you

AN: Ok sorry about all this but I got a Beta (WOOO!) and she was nice enough to go over my past chapters and help me fix them. Things of have changed but it still has the basic message being given. I hope you enjoyed it! A big thank you to my new Beta MonEros!

Let us know if we missed something~

Migisi: Cheyenne name meaning "eagle." (Alfred's given name from Iroquois)
Ayashe: Cheyenne name meaning "little one." (Alfred's nickname from Iroquois)
Awentia: "fawn" (Matthews given name from Iroquois)