“We would like the Blackhawks to remove themselves from the reservation if they are not of our people. We need time to see if our relationship is worth it going forward. Everyone else must depart.”
What?
The?
Hell?
Worth it?
Callen was getting pissed.
“We’re feeding the people. We’re getting them medical care. If you remove us…,” he began, but was cut off.
Abe wasn’t having it.
“We have spoken. As council, and with taking over Lance’s duties as reservation chief, we made up our mind. The ties your family has to the oppressor, the FBI, is too much for us. We cut ties now. Your family can no longer roam freely on the reservation if they are not of the land. Period.”
Well, holy shit.
This was a kick in the balls.
Abe wasn’t done.
Clearly.
He delivered the final blow.
“Timothy would be disappointed in his grandsons. He would roll in his grave over this. You have brought blood to our grounds. If you are white, you are not permitted here.”
As he said it, he was staring at Ethan.
So, he went there.
“I’m half-Native. I’m‘of the people’,” he stated.
He didn’t mince words, and instead, he said out loud what Ethan had carried his whole life.
“It’s not good enough, Ethan. You have to choose which world you stand in. Are you here for your people? Or are you here for our forever oppressors? The FBI has never been our friend. Lance and Tom said that from the beginning, and both of their lives were ended.”
Callen stopped that shit right there.
“Hold your horses, Chief,” he stated. “We didn’t kill them. Tom was a murderer. He wasEATINGour people.”
He waved his hand like that was nothing of importance. Oh, but Ethan being half-White was a sin?
What?
“He was one of us, and he was helping maintain balance. He is gone, and now, the Wendigo punishes us. We have lost our chief of police and our chief in a day.”
Holy fuck.
An imaginary punisher was welcome, but they weren’t?
Abe continued.
“We have spoken. You will be welcome to be Shaman as long as you revoke your ties to the oppressor, Ethan. Callen, you just know better. As one of us, you shouldn’t have a difficult decision to make. It is us, your roots, or it is your badge, the enemy.”
Uh, to choose between their heritage and their family was one hell of a difficult decision.
