Baji’s throat ached as she bent down to press her lips to his.
Across the fire, Sindak and Towa rose to their feet. Through her hazy vision, they seemed to swim in the firelight. Gonda, Tutelo, and her daughters rose as well. Their gazes remained on the Flint war party, studying it as it wound through the camps. Cord’s litter-bearers carried him through the Bur Oak gates, where he disappeared.
“We’ll meet you there,” Gonda said. He and Tutelo, with children trailing behind them, started down the hill toward the village.
Sindak said, “Towa, why don’t you take the bottom of Sky Messenger’s litter. I’ll grab the top.”
They walked forward, and Baji backed away. They carefully lifted the litter and started to carry it down to the village.
“Wait … wait!” Dekanawida’s hand extended from beneath the hides, blindly reaching for Baji.
Hiyawento came around the fire, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
Sindak and Towa had confused looks on their faces, but they stopped. Baji walked forward, grasped his hand between both of her palms, and squeezed hard. “I’m still here.”
He forced his left eye open a slit to look at her with both eyes. She’d seen that same look the night they’d been rescued outside of Bog Willow Village. Koracoo had told Odion that Wrass would not be meeting them at Fire Cherry Camp, as he’d promised, because he’d been recaptured by Gannajero. Odion’s high-pitched little boy scream of “No!” still rang in Baji’s ears.
He whispered, “I’m sorry … I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. You saved me so many times.”
“… kept you … too long.”
“No, no, you didn’t.”
Hiyawento walked around the litter to stand beside Baji and gaze into her eyes. “What’s he talking about?”
“He’s delirious. That’s all. His fever is very high.”
Sindak shifted the weight of the litter, indicating they were ready to head back to the village.
Baji squeezed Dekanawida’s hand one last time and bent to whisper in his ear, “I’ll see you soon,” then she kissed him and forced herself to back away from the litter.
Hiyawento gave her a strange look. “Coming, Baji?”
“I’ll be along shortly. Tell my father not to worry about me. Tell him I’m all right.”
Hiyawento nodded and followed several paces behind Sindak and Towa as they started down the slope.
In ten heartbeats, Baji was alone. She watched Dekanawida’s litter travel through the middle of the celebration. As he passed, people gently ran their hands down the side-rails, or reverently touched his blankets. Several fell into line behind the litter and followed it through the Bur Oak gates into the village.
She didn’t realize until he nosed her hand that Gitchi had remained at her side. Baji looked down and found the old wolf gazing up at her with hurt yellow eyes. As she scratched his ears, Gitchi sat on his haunches and leaned heavily against her leg, as though he would never leave her.
“Want to run with me for a little way?”
Gitchi stood up, hesitantly turned to look at the village, at the place where Dekanawida had been taken, then whined.
They started out at a slow pace, trotting through the camps until they hit the trail that led westward. In swift silence they wound through the snowy woods, their footsteps barely audible. Shining owl eyes watched them, and wolves yipped when they glimpsed them passing through the striped moon-shadows.
Every step increased the mysterious euphoria that possessed her.
On the opposite side of the valley, the forest grew thicker, the trees taller, and frozen acorns scattered the trail like small rocks. She was wildly happy, running with Gitchi faithfully loping at her side.
When she crested the hill, a herd of four deer, all bucks, came into view idly grazing in the silvered gleam. Their antlers shone when they lifted their heads to look up at Baji and Gitchi.
She studied them, only mildly afraid, then knelt beside Gitchi to stare into his beautiful old face. Rings of white hair encircled his worried eyes. She hugged his big body against her chest, and held him for a long time, stroking his back. “I suspect I’ll see you first. I’ll be waiting for you at the bridge, old friend.”
When she released him and rose, she pointed to Bur Oak Village. “Now. Go find Dekanawida.”
Gitchi cocked his head, as though trying to understand why she didn’t want him.
“You have to guard him for me, Gitchi. He needs you.”
Gitchi whimpered and backed up, but refused to leave her.
“Go on now,” she said gently. “You have to go home. Please, go home.”