Golden Fox’s mother slept.

Stands His Ground’s sister faced the other side of the lodge, snoring enough to make a mother bear worry over her young.

The men slept outside and took turns guarding the small camp.

Golden Fox lowered the black pup, cuddled in her arms, next to Blue Spirit Dog, and slipped out under the bottom edge of the lodge. She cocked her head to the only sounds, those of crickets singing their mating song. The smell of rain clouds grew thicker and made it hard to see.

Blue Spirit Dog whined, and she turned back and whispered to her that all was well. Once again, she scooted out before anyone could realize the lump in her robe was not her.

She tiptoed backward to be as quiet as possible, and took eight steps before she slipped. “Ouch. What—”

“Me, Granddaughter. That ouch happens to be my legs. I heard you trying to be sneaky, but you are not so good at sneaky. Until eyes in the back of your head grow, you must learn to use the ones in front. You know which ones—the ones that are above your little short nose and below your thin brows.”

“Grandfather, please say nothing. I did not mean to wake you. Wait. I do not have a little short nose. Ahh... you were awake. So all is well. I... I only need a walk. Am leaving now.”

Eagle Thunder grabbed her leg and she fell squealing. “Ha! I bet that squeal will alert every night animal a meal is to be had right here if they swoop down fast enough.”

She righted herself and squatted. “You tease, right?”

“Oh, no. Never. Why would a grandfather stop his granddaughter from wandering into the unknown darkness?”

“Please whisper before everyone hears us, Grandfather!”

“Those who did not hear your squeal have no ears, Golden Fox.” Her mother stood over the pair, her brows lowered and her thin lips pressed tight enough to look as one. “Have you a place you need to go?”

“Um, yes, Mother. You understand. Sometimes when we sleep, our bodies wake us in need of release.” She untangled herself from her grandfather and leaned forward on her knees to stand.

Sky Bird grinned. “Oh, I do. I have that same need. We can walk together, keep each other company.” She took Golden Fox’s hand and urged her toward the trees.

“Mother, I do know where to go! I am no longer your child.”

“Little one, you will always be my child. Even when you have a child, I will call you little one. Never think I do not hear with the ears of a mother. Even when you and White Elk share a lodge, I will hear you.”

“Mother!”

***

Dances In Storms chuckled. “I am happy I slept outside so close to the lodge. I would have been sad to know I missed this. Rain comes, and we have need to share the lodge. Gather your robe.”

Eagle Thunder rolled over and sat up. “She had hoped to be sneaky and go find that male wolf. I know her mind.”

“She is gifted, Eagle Thunder. She feels much, and I trust her to know about the wolf. Someday, people will depend on her to call the animals when none can be found.”

***

Golden Fox had no choice but to lie next to her mother. She fumed until sunrise. “Animal Caller? Call them to die for us? Am I strong enough?”

Dances In Storms rolled over. “You will have no choice, if you wish the band to live through what comes our way. You must learn to think with your mouth closed.”

Her mind kept busy with scattered thoughts. Sleep came for her mother, but not so much for her. Fully alert, she heard a distant herd of humpbacks.

Thunder came as a low rumble, building louder, and broke the calm of the darkness with a noise loud enough to make everyone in the lodge jump out of their sleeping robes. Yellow-orange fire lit up the land, and the lodge soon filled with the smell of wet leather.

White Elk, Long Sun, and Stands His Ground hurried to get wet clothes off and dash under sleeping robes.

“Good thing you did not sneak off into the darkness after that wolf, woman.” White Elk shivered and scooted closer to the small fire.

The rain deafened Golden Fox’s remark. Mostly. “I thought scouts, Holy People, and elders knew when a storm approached!”

“We did, Granddaughter. The mustangs raced away, and we smart ones stayed inside.”

Deer Woman chuckled until a wet tunic hit her face.

Blazing Storm rushed in and over the top of everyone. “I must have not been one of the smart ones!”

Golden Fox grumbled and rolled over, pulling the sleeping robe with her.

Sky Bird pulled it back.

“Mother, the pups may chill!”

“How can they chill when your dog sleeps inside my part of the robe with them?”

Everyone else had already settled in... mostly.

Dances In Storms did not try to share a space inside. Everyone heard her outside, laughing and singing as the rain fell.

The lodge’s bottom had been pulled tight enough that the rain made small rivers away from the people.

In time, Dances In Storms slopped her way inside, and met protests and yells.

“Hush! I am a Holy Woman to be respected. Give me a robe, or I will take one.”

From somewhere a robe slapped her in the face.

***

Campfires in the sky faded and Deer Woman’s cooking fire smelled wet and musty. She plodded through the mud in hopes of finding dry wood.

Too soaked to start a good fire, she woke Sky Bird. “We eat dried meat this sunrise, as we wait for the outside of the lodge to dry. The men are gone, maybe hunting the mustangs who ran away again.”

Golden Fox jumped up and out of the lodge, forgetting her footwear. “Augh! Mud suck at my ankles.”

“Daughter, I worry that you think too much with your emotions and not enough with your mind. There has to be a balance.” Sky Bird tossed her a wet deerskin to clean her feet. “I have been overprotective and never allowed you to fully become a woman. You should have gone with the hunters before you became a woman, learned discipline, how to treat a man... and White Elk needs to learn as well how to treat a woman. And you must learn to put on footwear!”

Sky Bird chuckled. “I know your heart. I know you wish to go to Wolf, and you will, or he will come to you. Allow the Spirits to guide you, show you the right way.” She hugged her daughter. “Let us make a drag for the pups.”

Golden Fox cleaned her feet and put on the footwear she should have before. She then placed her hands to her mouth and made a sound like a mustang searching for the herd. “Soon they will be here, with our men running behind them.”

Dances In Storms climbed out, her hair a tangled mess. When the women started to laugh at her, she reminded them of how she protected them by dancing in the rain to scare away more lightning. The other women’s laughter grew.

***

Father Sun burst over the horizon as Golden Fox raised her arms high. Her song rang out over the land as gold spilled along the edge of the Mother. From the corner of her eye, a black shadow slipped along the trees.

Her mother had already made a drag with a nest of sleeping robes for Blue Spirit Dog and her mixed family. The drag was hooked behind her mother’s mustang, an older mare that nothing startled. Sky Bird tied her sleeping robe to one of White Elk’s stolen mustangs, the ones he brought back without the drunken half-bloods.

Eagle Thunder nodded toward White Elk and Dances In Storms, who played with the pups while Blue Spirit Dog watched. “He is a good man. A woman could do worse than to take him to her lodge, even if she would share that lodge and White Elk with another woman.”

Golden Fox glared at her grandfather, filled her bowl, and walked over to where Blazing Fire ate. She sat cross-legged next to the warrior woman, feeling grateful that at least this one person did not prod her about White Elk.

Still, her eyes drifted the albino warrior’s way.

“Long Sun was the one who heard you ride hard from camp,” Blazing Fire said. “He came to me, and I sent your mother to find Eagle Thunder while the men rode to see if they could catch up to you.” With her empty bowl set aside, she turned hard eyes on Golden Fox. “A warrior woman does not bring danger to her people by acting foolish, as a child would.”

Head ducked low, she ate. There was no excuse for her actions, except that she had feared any delay would cause her to arrive too late. As it was, she had still been too late to save Mother Wolf.

“Have you no words to speak?”

“I... I had a dream. I knew I would be safe. I had to... to hurry. Even then I was... too late.”

“Are you so unskilled that you cannot ride and tie the belt for your knife around your waist, or sling your bow and arrows over your shoulder?”

Mouth dry, she could not speak.

Blazing Fire pushed to her feet. “This day, you will ride alone and consider my words. If you wish to be a warrior woman, you must always put your people first. Always.”

Golden Fox nodded. She could not help her yawn, and covered her mouth.

***

The howl of the wolf in her dream echoed in her mind. Restlessness poked her until she got to her feet and stared out into the darkness. If she left again, Blazing Fire might not teach her, yet how could she convince the others she had to go? The black wolf needed her. His sorrow reached inside her and clamped around her heart, making it hurt more than it did when she saw Dances In Storms laughing with White Elk.

She paced to the edge of their camp and, chewing her lower lip, fought against the call of the wolf.

“The wolf is close.”

Long Sun startled her, and she jumped. “I did not hear you approach. Blazing Fire will be angry that I allowed another to walk up without me knowing it.”

“Blazing Fire is hard on you because she wishes to keep you alive. Never see her actions as anger. She cares, as does Dances In Storms.” The young man, who would one day be a Holy Man, crossed his arms over his thin chest. Have you not yet understood who you really are, woman?”

She shrugged. “You know?”

“I cannot speak of it. Dances In Storms told me never to speak of another’s future, but... I can say you will have many children and guide them well. You are Mother Of The People.”

She stared at her feet, and finally spoke in a whisper. “I love White Elk .” Her head snapped up. “I... I am very tired, as sleep did not find me.”

Before she could say anything else, Long Sun walked forward, acting as if he did not hear anything, and jumped on his mustang. "Come, hunt with me before we must all leave.”

***

They had not ridden far when Wolf’s amber-gold eyes flashed from the edge of the trees. Golden Fox slipped from Splash and handed her nose rope to Long Sun. With slow steps, she eased toward Wolf, hand out, crooning as she had crooned to the pups, as the sky flashed its anger in the darkness.

“Wolf, I am your sister. We are one. Your pups do well.”

Behind her, Splash snorted and pawed the ground.

Long Sun soothed her with a clicking sound and moved the animals away.

Golden Fox fell into the depths of Wolf’s amber gaze. She blinked as Long Sun shook her shoulder.

When he saw her eyes open, he leaned back on his heels. “Where did you go, Golden Fox?”

She stared forward, then at Long Sun. “Where is Wolf?”

He tilted his head toward the thick shrubs. “He left only a few breaths ago. All of a sudden, he ran off.” He got to his feet and held out a hand.

The offered hand brought on confusion, and weak-legged, standing was not going to happen. He helped her climb on Splash, and they tapped the mustangs into a slow walk.

Long Sun cleared his throat. “If you wish to share where you and Wolf went....”

“Where we went? Did Wolf also leave his body?”

“I have not ever seen an animal go on a Spirit journey like that. Did you travel together?”

“Yes, he took me running in a forest with tall trees, and we raced through the wet leaves on the path. Animals I have never seen flew, ran, and dashed up the trees. We ran and ran and ran. I felt so free. The wind rushed through my hair, and I had no trouble keeping up with Wolf.” A sigh blew from her mouth. “That is all I remember. What did you see, Long Sun?”

“You knelt on the ground. When Wolf approached, the mustangs became restless and pranced sideways. With one eye on you, in case Wolf decided you looked like a meal, I soothed the mustangs. By the time their fear eased, you and Wolf gazed into each other’s eyes. Neither of you blinked or moved, yet I could see you still breathed. That is when I realized a Sacred Happening had come to you.”

He bent his neck backward and stared up at the cloudy sky. When he brought his eyes back down, he shook his head. “I do not know what happened, Golden Fox. Wolf was gone, as you were, traveling, and then he shook his head, cocked an ear as if he listened, and ran away. It was as if he heard something, perhaps some danger I could not hear.” He paused and looked around them. “We must bring rabbit or ground birds so they know we hunted.”

***

Golden Fox helped make the new drag and pull down the lodge. Father Sun had been awake for a good span. She yawned, closed her eyes, and leaned on Splash.

“We go, Daughter!” Sky Bird grinned at her before waving an arm for her to follow.

She stayed back with Splash to keep watch over Blue Spirit Dog and all the pups, making sure none of them bounced off—no riding for her today. Her mustang walked faster than normal, and twisted about as she adjusted to pulling the drag.

Golden Fox’s eyes were half-lidded and her feet dragged. She forced her head up.

I am not a child! I can stay awake. Many of the people stay awake for days, if need be. I will learn to be sneaky. Sneaky Golden Fox, they will call me.

She stopped. “Fox is sneaky. Fox teaches how to hide while people look their way.” She rushed to catch up with her animal. “I do have Fox medicine. I did see her in my vision. She gave me the gift of being able to hide in front of others when I was but a child.”

A spider crawled up from the wood she had used to make part of the drag’s frame. She slowed way down. “Perhaps, Spider, you can teach me how to be wary, as Wolf is.”

Instead, visions of people drinking glazed over her mind. A young girl cried as her young brother called for her. Someone pushed him out of the large wooden entrance that hid the fort from outsiders. The boy begged to be let back in.

“Golden Fox, much goes on you need to prepare for beyond the pups, beyond your own safe world. Heed Wolf’s words. Move away from the band and go with him. The pups will be safe. It is your kind that is not safe.” Spider crawled back under the wooden frame.

Out of the corner of her eye, the black wolf frosted in white showed himself.

“Wolf, you have come back!” She put her hand over her mouth and stilled herself. His dark yellow eyes penetrated her mind. Everything vanished in a fog, until only she, Splash, the pups, and the wolf remained.

As Wolf neared Splash, she snorted and tried to run.

Golden Fox clicked her tongue and moved up by her head to whisper soothing words. The mustang held still, but her eyes went wide as the wolf neared. She snorted again.

“No, girl.” Golden Fox closed her eyes and pressed her head against the mustang.

Feel me. I have no fear. There is no room for fear. Breath slow, easy. We are safe.

The mustang calmed some, but her ears pointed toward the wolf.

Golden Fox pulled away and walked backward to where the drag rested. The wolf sat close, but not near enough to make Blue Spirit Dog growl. She licked each pup rapidly, as she kept an eye on the wolf.

She patted the dog and moved toward the wolf. With each step, she spoke gentle words. She raised her arm halfway, offered the back of her hand, and approached him as she had before.

She spoke to the wolf, but with her mind. You and I are brother and sister. Brother and sister....

As her hand came close enough to touch him, he licked her. He raised his head and sat. The pull of his Energy held Power.

She would never fear him again.

Follow me, Brother, when you are ready. Do not worry. You are safe.

The wolf leaned forward, sniffed Blue Spirit Dog and his pups, but he did not run. As he walked beside Golden Fox, he raised his muzzle, and she rubbed his face and the top of his head.

She rested her arms on her mustang’s rump and stared up into the clouding turquoise sky. “There is Energy in all of life, Power in all Energy. We are the same beings, connected by Spider’s web, from tiny crawling ones, to trees, to us, to our Mother.”

She turned to go back to Blue Spirit Dog, and glanced over her shoulder.

Eagle Thunder nodded her way.

Everyone watched her, but they listened also to her words.