Tailfeather inhaled a breath and let it out slowly. “I believe so. It is not the perfect location. The forest is very dense. It will provide cover for anyone who wishes to sneak up on us. But if we set our village between the pond and the lagoon—” he knelt and drew in the sand “—the ocean curves around like this, and the pond sits here. We will have water on three sides. We should be able to defend ourselves, if we need to.”
“What about deer?” Floating Stick asked. “Did you see any?”
“None, Elder. Though I did see some tracks. But I suspect that what Seedpod told us is true—there aren’t many deer at that location.”
Moonsnail nodded. “We expected as much. The sooner we get packed up, the better.”
“There is one more thing, Elders.” He looked back and forth between Moonsnail and Floating Stick.
“What is it?” Moonsnail asked.
Tailfeather shifted uncomfortably, moving his darts to his right hand. “Dogtooth is there. I spoke with him. He said he plans on living with us, and he also said—”
Kelp let out a yip, at the same time that Floating Stick blurted, “Hallowed Spirits! What for?”
“I didn’t think it appropriate to ask,” Tailfeather answered. “His other news—”
“But Great Muskrat Above!” Floating Stick shouted. “He’ll have us—”
“Hush!” Moonsnail said and gave Floating Stick a disgruntled look. “If Dogtooth wishes to live with us, we should be honored.”
“He’ll have us darting each other in our sleep!” Floating Stick said. “You know how he is. Always wandering around saying bizarre things to people.”
Indeed, Moonsnail did know. Dogtooth had not lived in a community for tens of summers. He’d always been a loner, off Soul Dancing somewhere, and the isolation had seriously affected him. Every time he opened his mouth, he offended someone, and just his demented smile could send people fleeing for their lives.
“What do you want me to do?” Moonsnail asked and scowled at Floating Stick. “Tell him ‘no’?”
Floating Stick grunted. “Angering a Soul Dancer is the best way I know of making sure you don’t suffer a lingering death.”
“No, it’d be quick, all right. But I’m not that anxious to see my relatives in the Village of Wounded Souls. Are you?”
“Not in the form of a sea slug or pond slime, I’m not. None of my relatives would recognize me.”
Moonsnail nodded. “That’s what I thought you’d say.”
She lifted her walking stick and waved it at the crowd to quiet their muttering. People shushed their children and looked up expectantly. “Tailfeather says Manatee Lagoon is a good site! If we begin packing and cutting poles to make travois, we should be ready to leave in a few days. Our new relatives will probably be there when we arrive. Let us not keep them waiting!”
The crowd began to disperse, but Tailfeather kept standing before her.
“What is it?” Moonsnail asked. “Was there something else?”
Tailfeather nodded. “Yes, Elder. Dogtooth told me that he had had a Dream. He said that in the Dream, he saw warriors attacking Windy Cove Village.”
Floating Stick edged closer, his old face gone serious. “Cottonmouth’s warriors?”
“He did not say. I don’t think he knew.”
Moonsnail and Floating Stick exchanged worried glances. “Blessed Sun Mother,” Moonsnail whispered. “Come back to my shelter with me, Tailfeather. And you, too, Floating Stick. We need to speak more of this.”
“I think,” Floating Stick said, “that it might be best for all of us if we sent warriors on ahead while we finish packing up the village. Our new relatives at Windy Cove may need them.”
Moonsnail gripped Kelp’s elbow to steady herself so she could turn and head back to her shelter. Floating Stick and Tailfeather followed behind, talking quietly.
Kelp gave Moonsnail a sidelong look. “Do you think Pondwader was there when the warriors attacked?”
Moonsnail’s wrinkled mouth tightened. “There is no way to know.”
Kelp nodded. She returned her gaze to the sand, and Moonsnail placed her walking stick with great care. Her legs had suddenly grown very unsteady.
Twenty-one
As evening approached, Pondwader shoved back his hood and let his long white hair blow free in the cool wind. Gulls floated in the air in front of him, squawking and circling over his head. He had been skirting the edge of the water, letting Sea Girl wash his feet as he hurried up the curving shore. The sand glittered with a purplish hue as Sun Mother dropped below the western horizon, and the sky changed from bright turquoise to blue-gray. Clams had burrowed into the sand. He could see their blow holes, which reminded him how hungry he was. He had eaten nothing today, preferring to maintain his distance-eating pace. Soon, however, he would have to stop and make camp for the night.