People of the Fire(113)

Wolf lowered his head, nose coursing over the crusted snow, as if casting for scent, wary eyes on Little Dancer.

"Go!" He pointed toward the timber with the darts.

Wolf turned, head low, tail down, and trotted silently into the trees.

Little Dancer grinned, knocking his dart shafts rhythmically together as he hummed a song. The lightness had returned to his feet and again he practically danced his way down the trail. Images of Elk Charm, along with the vanquishing of the wolf, competed for attention in his mind.

Only then did he notice the few strands of cloud overhead had dulled, losing the enflamed look of the sunrise. Now they seemed to darken. As he topped out on the ridge, he studied the western horizon, slightly unnerved by the bank of black clouds rolling down.

Snaps Horn eased out onto the trail, bracing his feet. The dart—so carefully crafted—rested in the hook of his atlatl. He measured the distance, centering his aim in the middle of Little Dancer's broad back. The oblivious youth walked with eyes only to the front. From this distance, Snaps Horn couldn't miss.

"For Elk Charm," he whispered under his breath. A tingle of victory shot hot through his heart. A grim smile played on his lips.

Arm extended, his powerful muscles rippled—and he almost fell over backward as the atlatl was seized from behind.

A cry stifled in his throat as he caught himself and whirled to face his assailant.

Tanager!

She placed a finger to her lips, gesturing him back. Then she skipped lightly into the thick mat of timber.

He followed, burning rage building. Once in the cover of the firs, he gritted, "I don't believe you! What kind of crazy idiocy—"

"Shhh!" She shot him a reproving look, craning to stare down the trail.

He sat, practically trembling with anger. "This time you've gone too far! This time—"

"Fool!" she hissed. "Come on, we've got to talk."

She led him farther from the trail, winding around through the timber. She slipped lightly over a deadfall he had to clamber over.

Finally satisfied, she stopped and wheeled, hands on trim waist. "Sit down!"

"Don't you go—"

"Sit!" She thrust a straight finger down.

Despite himself he settled to the cushion of the duff and she dropped to face him.

"I just saved you from the worst mistake of your life."

"Worst mistake! I almost—"

"Ruined yourself!" Tanager shook her head, eyes flashing. "What did you think? That you'd kill him and Elk Charm would come running into your arms? You've got less sense than a bull elk in rut!"

Snaps Horn glared at her.

"Listen," she explained, hands wide. "Elk Charm loves him. Yes . . . loves him."

"How do you know?"

"Because I've watched her. You were looking too high. They're way down on the south end. In a shelter in one of the canyons."

"I knew he'd come back to White Calf's."

"And then what? You'd kill him? Elk Charm would hate you for the rest of your life! She loves him. And if you killed the man she loved, then what? You think she'd ever look at you?"

"How would she know who killed him?"

"How would she know?" Tanager laughed, a slim hand to her mouth. "Who else has spent the winter out roaming around the timber like a fool? You're the only one, foolish calf! That's how she'd know. And every camp of the Red Hand is talking about it, speculating."

Through the mist of his anger and confusion, it made sense.

"Yes, you finally understand." She grinned at him. ten, we've been friends for a long time. I couldn't see you ruin two lives because your penis has overloaded your brain."

"How do you know so much, girl!"

An impish look crossed her face. “Because I might be strange. But I watch. I watch everything—animals, people. I know what makes people act the way they do because I've always lived apart. While most people are all wound up in their problems, I'm watching, learning why they do what they do. Like animals."

He tried to figure out what to do next. The dominant urge was to stomp away. Then she grinned at him again and destroyed his line of thought.

"And I haven't been a 'girl' for three months now."

"But . . ."

"No, I haven't been to the menstrual lodge either. I'm Tanager. When the signs first came, I left for the timber. When I'm ready, I'll go let them fawn over me and paint me up. But I'm not ready yet."

He shook his head, baffled. "But that's the most important thing that happens to a woman. It's special!"

"And I'm Tanager. I'm special in my own way."

"You don't want to worry about avoiding Blood Bear?"

"Blood Bear?" She giggled to herself. "He'll have a merry chase catching me. No, I'll vanish when the ceremony is over. And I think most people will expect it. Even Mother's given up on me."