Firelight danced on tired faces, some of the fugitives simply staring into the flames, the weariness and despair of their souls reflected in the slack expressions. Some fumbled with uneasy fingers, legs crossed, looking around at the camp, at the overhanging rock wall that caught the light or out into the darkness, minds disengaged. Throughout the assemblage, worry and defeat seemed the constant thread. He saw a people undone, lost, unable to understand.
Two Smokes cast a quick look at Little Dancer. The Dreamer sat, half listening, eyes focused on a point out beyond the fire, as if wonderful forms wove themselves from the very night. The big black wolf sat at his side, ears pricked as he watched the dogs snuffling around the perimeter of the camp. Even the dogs seemed cowed, unwilling to challenge the wolf, their canine natures as baffled as the human natures of their masters.
Elk Charm looked miserable where she cradled the youngest baby to her breast. Her stare slipped to the refugees, to Cricket who'd been her friend, and to the others with whom she'd lived, and inevitably back to her husband. Through the atmosphere of gloom, Two Smokes could sense her preoccupation and frustration.
Rattling Hooves saw to distributing the stew among the hungry visitors. Hungry Bull continued to listen, waiting politely while his guests ate, a pensive look on his lean face. Preoccupied, he stroked his chin.
Finally, Cricket laid her bowl to the side and belched loud and long to demonstrate her appreciation for the food. She clasped her hands in her lap, looking at Rattling Hooves and then, with some suspicion, at Hungry Bull. "We have come here. Tanager suggested it. What do we do?"
Hungry Bull stood, taking the center of attention. "I've heard your words. I've also read the suspicion in your eyes. I would tell you that you are welcome with us. I think we can feed most of you for as long as you stay. Two Smokes has found the secret of the grass, which will give us a new food. The grass is everywhere."
"And what about your ties with the Short Buffalo People?" One Cast rose from where he sat at the edge of the camp. His old eyes glittered in the firelight; grief still marked his face.
Hungry Bull gestured resignation. "We are no longer Short Buffalo. We are something else, a different band . . . neither Short Buffalo nor Red Hand. We, too, have fled Heavy Beaver and his Dreams."
"He is no Dreamer," Little Dancer whispered from the side. "He isn't of the One. He has perverted the Spiral."
People glanced at him, curiosity mixed with wariness.
"As I was saying, One Cast, we are different. We have no ties with those who were once our relatives. You are all welcome with us. Our camp is yours for as long as you wish. Already your children and ours are playing, enjoying each other's company. I think there is a lesson to be learned from our children."
One Cast bowed his head, steely eyes on Hungry Bull's. "And if the Short Buffalo come down the mountain?"
Hungry Bull gestured to the west. "We'll leave. The Fish Eaters live across the basin and only—"
"Short Buffalo have been known to hunt in the basin."
"But the buffalo have left," Hungry Bull countered. "Only one or two small herds live down there now. With the drought, they've moved down along the Mountain Sheep River. I hunted out there once as a young boy. I know that the grass Two Smokes has made food from is thick out there. And to the south lies the Warm Wind Basin. More mountains are beyond those. Somewhere we will find a place for our people."
"My grandfather's bones are here," One Cast added. "You ask me to leave this place?"
Hungry Bull shook his head. "No. I only tell you what our people will do if Heavy Beaver brings his war here. We're not warriors. We're hunters and collectors of plants. That's all."
Little Dancer stood. "You will not leave the mountains. Tomorrow I go to reclaim the Wolf Bundle. The time of Fire has come. The Spiral has come full. I go to Dance the One, to restore the Circles. To do so will set the Spiral back. Heavy Beaver must be faced by a more powerful Dream. Fire must have its way. The time has come."
He smiled at something inside his head and walked through the firelit center of the camp, raising his hands to the night sky.
People watched silently, eyes wide. Wolf rose and followed Little Dancer into the darkness, taking the path to the rim-rock.
"Ah!" One Cast exhaled with amazement. "Then it's true. He is a Dreamer?"
Elk Charm wilted, biting her lower lip. She fled from her spot, ducking through the hangings and into her shelter. Cricket got quickly to her feet, parting the hangings and stepping inside.
Two Smokes sighed and stood. "He is a Dreamer. He's a Dreamer like the Red Hand haven't seen for many years." He filled his lungs, then told the story of Clear Water and the Wolf Bundle. With great deliberation, he recited the whole story of Little Dancer's life, of the Curse of Heavy Beaver, of White Calf's attempts to train him, of the Dreams and frustrations. Finally he told of the vision.