Sister Moon hid her face behind a bank of thick clouds, casting the night into such darkness that Dances In Storms would not have been able to see her own hand, if not for the fire she had built. The dancing red, orange, and blue flames threw a happy light on those closest to the fire circle. Her own people mixed with Eagle Thunder’s band, blending the two Peoples together into one whole.

Children crowded close to the fire, and she smiled. “Sit back, so you do not wind up with burned noses.”

Giggles poured from them, but they obeyed.

Children... for so long I have denied myself any hope to have them. A Holy Woman’s life belongs to all of her people. She cannot be so selfish as to take a man. Yet, some Holy Men take women and are surrounded by young ones in their old age. Would a Holy Woman be able to carry a child and still take care of the People? If I had only one child, would I still think in ways that are best for the People and not just for my little one?

With a grim shake of her head, she shoved the thoughts aside.

I must wait for the Spirits to tell me what to do. One dream is not enough to be sure of my path.

With a cough, she cleared her throat. When quiet spread over the people, she began. “My people know some of the stories of Shining Light, one of my long-ago ancestors. The story I share this night is one that I have not yet told to my own people, for each story must be told in its own time.”

An expectant hush filled the night. Dances In Storms let it build until the tension thrummed like the soft beat of a drum. “Long, long ago, a band of People lived who called themselves the Fish People. They lived as any other Peoples did. The men fished, hunted, and sometimes went to war. The women cared for the camp and the family, and carried the stories given to them by their grandmothers.

“In such a time lived a boy called Feather Floating In Water. He had no desire to learn the ways of a hunter or the ways of a warrior. He was different. Even at nine-winters-old, dreams visited the boy during his sleeping time. Not knowing if he would sound crazy, he told no one of these dreams, not even his beloved grandmother. Often, after such a dream, he would go to a mesa—a flat-topped hill with steep sides—and open his Spirit to the Spirit Land. He thought no one knew his secret.”

A peace wrapped around her, as it always did when she spoke of Shining Light. “One knew of Feather’s dreams—his grandmother, Bright Sun Flower. When he went to his special place, without him knowing, she followed to keep him safe. Many sunrises passed before he spoke to his elder. He told of his visions and dreams, of his fears, and of things that no nine-winters-old boy could understand. He spoke to her of strange monsters with shiny heads, riding strange deer larger than any he had seen.” Her eyes roamed over the people. “We now know that what Shining Light dreamed was the coming of the hairy-faces and their mustangs.”

She gazed sharply at each person, and even the little ones who fidgeted on their mothers’ laps settled. “All of my People have heard these words about Shining Light and his grandmother, Bright Sun Flower. The story I tell this night is one I have told no one. Last night, Shining Light told me that the time had come to tell this story.”

Skipping over the faces in front of her, Dances In Storms pulled the memory of her vision close. “When the Fish People had to leave their beautiful land, they did not always walk a smooth path. The stories do not tell how, at first, the People walked a broken path. Disagreements and fear—that they followed a boy who did not know where he led—caused a crack in their path, and it grew. Their path became so broken that it was difficult to walk upon it. People can become sick in Spirit, in mind, and in body when this happens. Jealousy, greed, lust, wanting what another has—these things can cause a path to become broken, or they can create more cracks in a path that is weakened. So it happened with the Peoples who followed Shining Light.”

Whispers from the men and the women who sat in the circle drowned out the sound of the crackling fire.

Golden Fox wrapped her arms around herself and leaned against her father.

At last, the whispers died away, and Dances In Storms continued. “Shining Light, as a young Holy Man and the leader of the Peoples, called upon Blue Night Sky, the greatest Holy Woman ever to walk upon our Mother. She sent Shining Light out alone to ask his Spirit Guides for help.

“With no food and only a few sips of water, Shining Light went out with only his wolves, White Paws and Moon Face, following him. On the fourth night, Mouse appeared on Shining Light’s shoulder and nibbled the lobe of his ear.

‘‘So, Human, you seek what you cannot see? I see plainly what your eyes do not. Close your eyes. They are useless. No one can truly see with their eyes. What good do they do in the darkness that covers the Spirit? Heed me, Brother. Your eyes will deceive you. See with your mind. Let the knowing inside of you be your guide. Build your nest well, so that all of your people feel safe and warm.”

“After Mouse faded, Shining Light felt so alone. He raised his voice and sang to the Spirits, dancing until his legs wobbled and he fell to the ground. It was then that White Bear’s rumbling voice vibrated in the darkness.

“Silence, Human. Go within the silence. Become the quiet and allow it to be your mind’s guide. Remember the gifts I gave you—the gifts of healing and of patience. I am strength in the times of trouble, hardship, and suffering.”

“White Bear stepped backwards into a land covered in snow, and became the snow. Shining Light thought he saw tall trees fade with him.

“Grandfather Wolf then appeared in front of Shining Light.”

“Wolf is protector, young Holy Man. But, more important, Wolf makes all who are his a part of his pack, for he knows that one Wolf cannot kill an elk, not even when the snows are too deep for the elk to run fast. It takes the entire pack to bring food to them all, and to protect them all. Remember this, young Holy Man.”

“Father Sun pried at Shining Light’s eyelids, and he opened them slowly.”

“I thirst. Where is my water bladder?”

“The bladder lay in front of him. He picked it up and lifted it to his lips. Sand poured out, instead of water. He dropped the bladder and stared hard at it.”

“What is this? Why has the water turned to sand? I cannot drink sand.”

“Blue Night Sky sat across a fire circle from Shining Light. All around them stretched a blackness darker than obsidian. He blinked hard.

“Where are we, Great Elder? Why has my water become sand?”

“Ah, young Holy Man, just as your body cannot drink sand, there are other things your body cannot drink and have your Spirit survive. This is the place of Nothing, Shining Light. Here our Spirits are free of all concerns. I have brought you here to remind you of a dream—a dream that haunted you as a child. In this dream, light-skinned Peoples crossed a great mass of water—water so big that no one can see across it. You have dreamed many times about these people. See this vision now.”

“With those words, Blue Night Sky was gone. Shining Light opened his eyes to see lodges built of dead trees stacked upon each other. Around these lodges, many of the Peoples gathered—some sat upon the muddy ground, and some staggered into the paths of mustangs and were trampled. Still others laughed with a crazy laugh, and then attacked their sisters and brothers. They all carried strange containers. A man sat against the dead trees of the wooden lodge, and a woman in torn and filthy clothes of the People sat next to him. This strange container was pressed to her lips as she swallowed. The man grabbed at it, roaring with anger. ‘Give me that bot-tle, Woman!’

“Blue Night Sky again wavered into being next to Shining Light.”

“These hairy-faces from across the water will bring much death to our Peoples, as you have seen in your dreams. But of all the deaths they bring, this one will be the worst.”

“She nodded toward the woman clinging to the bot-tle.”

“The poisoned water the woman drinks will blacken her Spirit. It may become so black that Eagle Woman will not reach a hand to her, when she journeys to be with her relations at the campfires in the sky. Her relations at the campfires in the sky may not allow her a seat at their fire circle. This is the destiny you lead your Peoples away from, Shining Light—this killing of their Spirits. When you tire of the arguments and the petty squabbles of the Peoples, remember this.

“The poisoned water will destroy our People more than the long knives and barking fire sticks that you have seen in your dreams. If the Peoples are to be saved, when this time comes—when the hairy-faces offer them the poisoned water—they must band together and fight this greatest of enemies. Remember this well, Shining Light, and pass this down to the Holy Men and the Holy Women who come after you. Do not let this story die, for the time will come when it must be told. Remember, if the people do not help each other turn away from the poisoned water, all of our Peoples will be destroyed.”

Dances in Storms walked around the outside of the circle of people, letting the firelight and darkness flicker across her face. A short distance away, the mustangs nickered softly to each other. At the place where she had begun her walk, she halted. From the night, Moon, her mustang, ambled up and nuzzled her cheek. With one hand, she scratched his neck.

She nodded and continued. “Shining Light led his People to the Land Of Tall Trees—this is another story for another time—where Animal Speaks Woman and he had a daughter, Dove. As Dove grew, dreams came to her of a boy, Singing Stone, who protected mustangs.

“Her father remembered it had been foretold that his time among the Land of Tall Trees would only be for a while. Animal Speaks Woman and Shining Light followed Dove from the forest. They found Singing Stone’s people and, after a certain time, Dove mated with him. The blood that flows in my body comes from that mating. Dove is an ancestor of mine. It is through our connection that Shining Light speaks to me. It is from them that my Power as a Holy Woman comes.”

She pressed her cheek against Moon’s cheek, patted the animal’s neck, and then gently pushed it away. “But even Holy Women and Holy Men do not have all of the answers.” Across the fire circle, she caught and held Golden Fox’s eyes. “At times, what the Spirits tell us we must do is at odds with what our hearts demand. We cannot know where the Spirits lead us, only that they will never lead us on a broken path. No matter how difficult the path, we must walk tall, be strong, and heed the guidance of the Spirits. Never question them, for the Spirits see what our human eyes cannot see.”

She pulled her gaze from Golden Fox and waved a hand in dismissal. “My story is finished, for now. I have spoken my words.”

***

Before the others could climb to their feet, Golden Fox leapt up and dashed from the circle. White Elk followed, and from the corner of her eye, Golden Fox noticed her mother start to get up, but Eagle Thunder placed a firm hand on Sky Bird’s arm and she could not rise.

Away from the sight of the others, White Elk grabbed her arm. “Wait, Golden Fox! Speak to me.”

With a hard jerk, she pulled free. “It is my life she speaks of, Pale Man!” Heat burned through her words and lashed at him.

Hurt flashed across his face as he dropped his hand. “Your words hurt me, Golden Fox. I do not call you by the color of your hair or the color of your eyes.”

Shame swamped her, but the hurt inside kept her from apologizing. She whirled away and stomped farther from the camp. Though the night was as dark as being beneath a heavy robe, she had studied the land around the camp before Father Sun ducked behind the horizon. That memory led her to the biggest tree near the camp.

Perhaps, I should be as Blazing Fire, and become the warrior woman she wishes to teach me to become.

“Sweet One, speak to me.” White Elk stopped close enough that she could see his pale face.

The rough bark greeted her hands. She leaned against it, glad for something solid to help her shaky legs hold her up.

Why does it hurt so much? From when they first came to our camp, I have seen the looks Dances In Storms gives White Elk. Is he so blind to her beauty that he does not see? It does not matter. I will not share a man! Not even with a Holy Woman. It would be best if White Elk walked away.

She popped her knuckles. “Do not call me Sweet One! You know nothing of me. I... I have drunk the poisoned water and have come close to letting it blacken my Spirit. I walked away only because Shining Light came to me.”

Chin squared and tilted up defiantly, she crossed her arms.

I have not known him for long. Why do I feel so strongly, as if my heart is shattering?

“I am to become a warrior woman. I have no time for a man. Dances In Storms has eyes for you, White Elk. Go to her.”

Dances In Storms’ voice carried from behind White Elk. “The Spirits do not show the whole future, not even to the greatest of the Holy People. They give us different possible paths, and it is up to us to choose which one we take, for each path holds a lesson.”

Hands thrown up in frustration, Golden Fox snapped, “How then do we know which path is the right path for us to follow?”

Not answering her question, Dances In Storms walked closer and laid a hand upon Golden Fox’s arm. “Young one, you have never been on a Vision Quest. It is time for you to seek the guidance of the Spirits.”

“I am to go on a Vision Quest? When?” She stepped away from the tree and from them.

“Now, Golden Fox. You must go this night.” Dances In Storms’ body said there was no denying her demand.

White Elk removed four strands of sky beads from his neck, then stepped forward and carefully placed them around her neck. The carved beads of many shapes fell to her knees. “Visions are full of knowledge. Listen to Dances In Storms.”

He lifted his hand as if he might caress her cheek, but Dances In Storms commanded, “Leave us, White Elk.”

He left without another word.

“It is so dark.” Golden Fox stared at the spot where the night had swallowed White Elk. “How will he find his way?”

A snort of laughter recalled her to Dances In Storms’ presence. “Do you think that you are the only one who can remember the way to camp? White Elk is no boy, Golden Fox. One of his gifts is to see as a night bird in the darkness.” With a stiff finger, she pointed to the ground at the base of the tree. “Sit, girl. We will wait here.”

“I... I must go and tell my... my mother that I am to go on a Vision Quest.”

“Sit! Your grandfather has already told her.”

Golden Fox folded herself to the ground. “How does he know?”

“Still your tongue, child. It makes you deaf.”

Bristling, Golden Fox propped her hands on her hips, though she felt a bit ridiculous doing it while seated. “I am not a child! I am a woman.”

“If you are a woman, then act as one. Your grandfather comes. He brings your robe and a water bladder.” Dances In Storms pushed to her feet and brushed the loose dirt and grass from the back of her dress. “Your grandfather will walk with you and explain things as best he can. When you return, we will have much to speak about.” On quiet feet, she slipped away.

As her grandfather approached, Sister Moon slipped free of the clouds, but with only half her face showing, only a dim silvery light dripped to the ground. Yet, it would be enough to keep them from stumbling over tree roots and large rocks.

Eagle Thunder waved his hand. “Come, Granddaughter, we have a ways to walk.” His feet crunched on last season’s grass mixed with the new grass as he strode ahead of her.

She hurried to catch up. “Grandfather, where do we go?” She had to trot to keep up. “How can I go on a Vision Quest when I have not gone to a sweat lodge and have not smoked the Pipe?”

“When you find your place to speak with the Spirits, we will smoke the Pipe that Dances In Storms prayed over.”

She planted her feet and her hands fisted on her hips. “How is this, Grandfather, that she has prayed over a Pipe for me? And how is it that you appeared to know what you must bring when you found us in the dark?”

Eagle Thunder swirled around and stomped back to where she stood. “Golden Fox, have you forgotten the manners your mother taught you?”

“No, Grandfather, I have not. I am too angry that others know more of my life than I do to pay heed to my manners.”

Breath blew from between Eagle Thunder’s lips. “Granddaughter, I am sorry that we must do this in a way that feels so rushed and confusing, but even a Holy Woman cannot question the Spirits.”

Hands dropped from her hips, Golden Fox spread her arms wide, then let them slap down to her sides. “How long have you known about this, Grandfather? Who else knows?”

Face tilted toward the sky, Eagle Thunder did not speak for several breaths. “When Dances In Storms came to walk with me the first sunrise after her People arrived at camp, she told me that soon you would have to go on your Vision Quest, but she waited for the Spirits to tell her when. As the sunrises passed, I thought we would have time to arrive at her People’s camp. I hoped this was so. She came to me this past sunrise and told me that the time had come. She instructed me on what to gather before she began the storytelling. As soon as the story was finished, I hurried to pick up the supplies I had lying in the dark outside of the campfire. It was not difficult to follow you and White Elk.” A chuckle spilled from his mouth. “Your feet sounded as a great thundering of humpbacks.”

He moved closer and laid a hand on her shoulder. “Dances In Storms cares about you. Though this Vision Quest seems hurried, she would not have you do this now without a good reason.”

A gentle tug from her grandfather got her feet to move. Golden Fox’s stomach growled. “It is good that I ate no food this day.”

“The Spirits knew what they would ask of you.”

Scuffing her feet along the grass, she chewed her lower lip. The rapid beat of her heart pounded in her ears. “Grandfather, I fear I will do something wrong. How will I know what I am to do? How will I know I have reached the special place where I am to wait for the Spirits?”

“Listen well.” His long strides shortened, so she did not have to trot to keep up. “The Spirits will guide you to your place. When you get there, build a circle of stones large enough to sit inside. No matter what you see, no matter what you hear, do not leave the circle of stones. When fear rises up and chokes you, sing louder. When you tire and feel as if your eyelids are boulders crashing down a steep hillside, dance and stomp your feet harder.”

Eyes wide, she felt moisture gather at the corners. “Where will you be, Grandfather?”

“Do not fear, Golden Fox. Though I will not interfere, I will watch over you.”

She nodded, yet when a night bird called nearby, she jumped. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she nestled against his side as they moved through the night. Not many steps later, she walked from beneath his arm and toward a group of four trees. An animal trail leading sharply up to the top of a mesa glowed silver in Sister Moon’s light. When she got to the trees, she stopped. Fear gripped her and she shuddered.

“You have found the place that calls to you, Golden Fox.” He walked over and handed her the light robe, and the water bladder made of rabbit skin.

With trembling hands, she gripped the robe and water bladder against her chest and stared up the faint path. Sister Wind prodded her back.

When she continued to hesitate, her grandfather spoke. “Your answers lie up there, Golden Fox. Power—to become who you are meant to be—is yours to find.”

Reluctantly, she shuffled up the trail.

***

Rocks slipped beneath her feet as she neared the top. Behind her, Grandfather’s breath came in short pants. Scrub brush dotted the flat top. A sharp spire of reddish rock thrust up through the hard dirt—a natural shelter from Wind’s strong voice. Without being told, she began picking up stones that called to her, and laid them in a circle. Five of the stones bore shells within.

Circle completed, she laid her robe in the center, settled onto it, and stared out over the tree- and grass-covered land that rolled out toward the purple mountains hidden by the night.

“You were right, Grandfather. The stones did call to me—maybe not in words, but I felt each one in here.” She tapped her chest. “The ones with the tiny shells whispered that once there was much water over this land.” She ran her fingertips lightly across the ridges of the ancient shells.

“Stones are ancient beyond all memory. They carry many stories within.” Eagle Thunder spoke his intentions to the stones before he stepped inside the circle. From the leather carry-all he carried slung across his shoulder, he removed a bowl and a bundle of Sacred Sage. “Face where Father Sun will wake.”

The sweet smoke of the Sage wafted over Golden Fox as her grandfather lit the bundle, and she stood to receive the cleansing smoke.

With an Eagle tail feather, he brushed smoke over himself, and then over Golden Fox—over their heads, down the front and the back of their bodies, and even along the bottoms of their bare feet. Afterwards, they smoked the Pipe together.

When he took the Pipe apart, he carefully wrapped the two parts, and drew an obsidian knife no larger than her small finger. “The only thing we truly own is ourselves. To show the Spirits honor, it is our way to offer small pieces of our flesh. The pain opens us to the Spirits. I want you to start singing as I do some small pricks on your arms. The song will come to you as soon as you open your mind. It will guide you away from the cutting and lead you to the Spirit Land.”

Holding her arms out, she stared up. The clouds had floated away and the campfires in the sky shone brightly. She began to hum, and the humming became a song. With this song, her body vibrated, and she raised her head and closed her eyes.

“Remember to stay in prayer when I leave,” Grandfather said. “Ask the Spirits to come near, to speak of what you need to know. You will see many things—humans, animals, and things only you will understand, and some things you will not understand. Perhaps you will see when the waters flowed through here.” As he spoke, he pricked her skin.

Her song reached a higher pitch, but she held still.

Soft words rumbled from Eagle Thunder. “This is the Circle of Life, of all there is and will ever be. We are born, and live our lives, as part of the never-ending Circle, just as every living being. We all share an equal place within the Circle. No one is better than anyone else. We are all in this life together—humans, trees, and even the smallest spiders. The seeds of the plants are as our unborn. We all have a right to live.

“When new life is born within the Circle, we have a chance to change what is out of balance, what was bad before, what was not for the good of all. We become teachers to those whose path is filled with broken, sharp stones, to help these people step over the sharpness and place their feet where the path is softer. Each Vision Quest is like that—a new beginning—not only for you, but for all living.”

Her sight glazed over as she went inside herself, but some part of her continued to listen.

“Long ago, a wise person noticed that everything tried to be a Circle—trees, stones, plants, even our bodies. Our Mother is round, as is Father Sun and Sister Moon. The campfires in the sky are made in circles, just as we build campfires here. That way, no one person can say they alone lead. No one can sit at the head of a circle.” He continued to cut small pieces from her skin as he talked. “This is your offering to the Great Mystery. Remember to sing for the animals and the plants, too. Thank them for everything they have given you.”

She did not flinch as the knife pierced deeper into her skin than before. Small streams of blood ran down from her raised arms.

“I tell you only about a small part of the Circle. You will learn much more on your journey that is life. Breathe, my dear granddaughter, and take all there is into your body. Make it yours, as everything makes you theirs.”