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Leotie spied Keme’s camp again, her tongue pulsing larger than ever, almost touching the ground as she panted hard. The sun shone in a clear sky, but the thick forest made it as dark as before sunset. Only a scattered ray of sun here and there made it to the ground. She dreaded letting them see her as a wolf and resolved to force herself.
As she cooled down and spied, nobody noticed her. She weaved around trees, working her way closer to the camp. Ahead, in an opening between two trees, an unusual amount of brush lay over the ground. She pawed it carefully. A small trap gave way to reveal a hole filled with spears pointing upright. Leotie admired their planning. Chapa’s men were probably too confident to think this simple tribe would set up traps. The dim light made it harder to notice them too.
The people worked about their hidden camp, collecting wood and cooking some meat. She overheard that they’d named the place White Wolf Forest. Leotie liked the name and tried to plan what she would say to them. No doubt Keme hadn’t told anyone about their conversion, especially not her mother.
Enola and some girls beat on a deer hide stretched between two trees. Leotie continued to search and search, but couldn't find Keme. Some of the boys were gone too. Perhaps they’d gone hunting.
A couple of girls came closer, carrying large sticks over to a big tree. There were already some small logs tied to some of the thick branches to make a floor. She overheard the word ‘tree-home.’ It looked like a great idea. Leotie overheard them say Keme’s name and strained her ears to hear them.
“What if Keme can’t steal the muskets or what if he doesn’t return at all? What are we going to do then?”
“All we can do is hope our traps work.”
Keme had to be desperate to try and steal muskets from soldiers. She pictured him getting shot. Wait, why am I worried about him?
Her mother came out of the woods and walked down into the shelter. It was the perfect place and time to talk to her. Leotie slunk through the brush and down to the main shelter, working her way to the back of it. Her mother and four other women were talking.
“I’m tired of making arrows,” complained Nina, Tala’s sister.
“Stop complaining or we’ll end up back with Chapa,” Mother said.
The women continued to talk. Leotie figured this was her only chance to meet her mother gradually. She crouched in the brush as close as she could get and focused her voice.
Mother, it’s me. Leotie. Don't be afraid.
“Great Spirit, what was that?” Nina asked.
All the woman talked at once, creating a blur of noise.
It's Leotie. I’m alive.
“It’s really her,” Mother said. “Where are you?”
The four other women all started asking her to show herself.
I must explain first. Leotie thought hard of how to phrase things. You don’t know what I’ve become.
“What are you saying?” Mother asked.
Leotie hesitated, hating to say it, yet she felt about to explode if she kept it inside much longer.
“Leotie?” Mother asked frantically. “Are you still there?”
Yes, but I died in the battle and was brought back to life by a powerful being. I’m what our people call a skin walker.
The women gasped. No matter how much she longed to see her mother face to face, she was glad to not see her reaction.
Mother spoke after a long pause, “Leotie, you’re still my daughter. Tell me where you are and I’ll come to you.”
Leotie tensed up, anticipating her mother's reaction, not knowing if she could handle the rejection and wishing she could come to her true self. Yet, there was no choice.
“Come outside.” Leotie made her way around to the front and stood above the shelter.
Mother led the way out, the others following. Leotie sat down in wolf form and waited. The women stopped, staring at her.
“It’s me,” Leotie said with her wolf lips.
They all flinched. Some of them clung to each other.
Mother stared as if in a trance. Her teeth dug into her lower lip. Finally she blinked.
“Noooo!” Her face twisted in pain, sobs escaped as she dropped to her knees. The others huddled around her, patting her on the back and saying how sorry they were.
Leotie wanted to cry too, but held it back, not wanting her mother to be sorry for her. “Please, Mom, I’m alright, and crying isn’t going to help.”
Mother wiped her face and got to her feet. She hurried over and knelt in front of Leotie with tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’ve missed you and if only I could help you.” Mother leaned over and hugged her.
Leotie cried on the inside. Her mother’s acceptance was a relief, but she felt like such a let down. Her poor mother had a wolf for a daughter. It took several minutes before she could speak again.
“I’ve come to offer everyone my protection, except Keme and Enola. Leave with me and you’ll be safe.”
Several exchanged glances nervously.
Nina stepped forward. “Why not Keme and Enola?”
As Leotie was about to answer, Enola came through the crowd carrying a pile of wood.
She dropped it at seeing everyone talking to a wolf. “So you have the nerve to come back here?”
Leotie paused at Enola’s tone. “I’m not here for you. Did Keme tell you I know what you did?”
Enola picked up the wood. “Yes, but it’s not our fault. We thought you were dead.”
“What are you saying?” Mother asked.
“I saw Enola and Keme sleeping in each other’s arms.” Leotie nudged her nose toward the small shelter. “She was in there all night with him."
Mother gasped and pointed at Enola. “I knew it! I could see the way you were looking at Keme. You hid it from me!”
Enola dumped the pile of fire wood next to the pit. “It’s your fault! I couldn’t sleep because of your snoring. Keme let me stay in his shelter for one night and we just couldn’t resist each other.” She strutted about, gloating. “He loves me Leotie, get over it.”
Leotie raised her lip along with the hair on her back. Enola was surprisingly nasty when she was fighting over a man. She fought down an urge to go for her throat, not wanting to scare anyone further.
“You can have him,” Leotie quipped and turned to the others. “This hidden camp is a clever idea, but it’s not good enough. Only I can keep you safe from Chapa. I’ll get you all to a new tribe and back to a normal life, but not Enola and Keme.” Leotie waited for them to burst out with excitement – to drop everything and come with her in a hurry.
Instead, everyone started whispering to each other.
“Look.” Enola motioned toward the river. “Keme left to help us. We just can’t abandon him. I wouldn’t go with you anyway.”
Leotie growled. “If you had any sense, you’ll tell them to go with me.”
Enola turned to the crowd. “Keme and I got you this far. Don’t leave us now. Besides, I know many a story about skin walkers. They might act friendly, but they're more powerful than us and can play all kinds of tricks on people. We can't even be sure this is Leotie. It could be a stranger.”
“What!” Leotie blurted out. “I certainly am Leotie.”
“Then prove it. Change and become your true self.”
“But, but...I can't. I don't know how yet.” Leotie said. “Besides, that doesn't prove anything.”
“We must talk.” Nina motioned for everyone to step a few feet away.
Everyone except Enola, gathered into a large huddle and whispered, not knowing Leotie could hear most of it.
Leotie has a right to be mad at Keme and Enola. She’s probably right about us getting killed out here too.
I know. I don’t like what they did either, but how can we just go with Leotie and leave Enola here alone. Not after she's helped us so much.
Keme led us to safety even when he was sick. I’m not going to abandon him.
Leotie didn’t hear anyone in favor of going and couldn’t keep her mouth shut any longer. “Sorry, but I’m not helping those who betray me. Don’t be stupid. You have no chance out here.”
“Besides,” Mother said. “Keme is just going to get into trouble trying to get those muskets.”
“Keme and Enola have helped us make it this far,” Nina said. “Perhaps they did wrong, but we can't consider coming with you unless Enola and Keme can come too."
“If it isn’t Chapa, it’s going to the outlanders or some other tribe that kills you." Leotie waited for anyone to say they agreed, but no one came forward.
Instead, they frowned at her.
Leotie couldn’t resist letting them feel a little of her pain. “Very well, but I must tell you that Tala, is also like me – a shifter.”
A gasp went through the crowd.
“My sister!” Nina blurted out.
“She’s alive, but different,” Leotie said, “and since you stand with Keme and Enola, I’m not going to help you ever see her again.”
Tears rolled down Nina’s face. “I understand why you’re angry, but for the good of everyone you need to let it go.”
“Yes, Leotie, let it go,” Enola said. “How could you even be with Keme looking like that anyway?”
“What have you become, Enola? I don’t even know you anymore, and if you ever tell me what to do again, I’ll rip out your throat.” Leotie turned to her mother. “C’mon, it’s time to go.”
Mother grabbed a bag and quickly followed Leotie away from the camp.
