"You still could," Star Bulb said. Her wide nostrils flared as she lifted her head to sniff the turkey stew. Steam whirled in silver wreaths over the pots.
"Me, teach Lichen? No. My daughter is akeady a better Dreamer than I am. Bulb. She should be teaching me."
"She's barely ten sunmiers!"
"Yes, ten. Power cares little for a person's age. It's the quality of the soul that matters. She'll be a great Dreamer, if she can stand the pain."
Dusk was deepening into night, rousing the animals of darkness. On the other side of Pumpkin Creek, a skunk wandered the grass, turning over damp pieces of wood in search of grubs. Its black-and-white body waddled behind a bush, only to reappear on the other side. A great homed owl hooted from the dogwood trees on the next bend in the creek, and Vole caught sight of a ghostly form flapping low over the land.
She slapped at the mosquito that probed her wrist. "Come on," she said. "It's time to go sit next to the fire, where the smoke will keep the bugs away."
When she stood, she saw two black dots descending the trail on the top of the outcrop. Against the slate-blue horizon, they moved steadily. Flycatcher's voice affirmed Vole's hope.
"Lichen!" he screamed, "It's Lichen! She's come home!" Flycatcher flew up the trail, leaving a gasping Screechowl far behind as he dodged brush and leaped rocks to welcome Lichen.
Vole knotted a hand in her tan skirt and started up the trail herself, forcing her feet to plod slowly . . . lest Lichen see her desperate happiness.
Lichen let go of Wanderer's hand when she saw Flycatcher racing up the hill, her mother following behind. She flashed down the trail to meet them, her green hem fluttering around her legs. The vista of the village rose before her. People stood up in the plaza to look. Wind Ufted their soft voices upward and bathed her face in the pungent scents of home and night. She could smell the cooking stews, and her empty stomach growled in delight.
"Lichen! Lichen!"
"Flycatcher!"
"I'm glad you're home, Lichen!" He threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly. They tussled for a while, trying to throw each other off balance, laughing. Even though she stood a hand taller than he and usually won this contest. Lichen's pack made her so awkward that she staggered sideways and lost.
"What happened to you up there?" Flycatcher's blue headband had slipped up on his forehead, pushing his hair higher on one side. Grass and twigs protruded from the tangles. "What kind of things did you learn? Are you still human?"
Her mother, panting, came up behind Flycatcher and opened her arms wide. "Lichen, come let me look at you."
Lichen dove to wrap her arms around her mother's neck. It felt so good to be close again. Her mother kissed Lichen's. hair and face, and Lichen's soul ached with happiness. "Oh,, Mother, I missed you."
"I missed you, too," her mother said, and Lichen heard the tremor of tears in her voice.
Lichen patted her mother gently before she pushed back to stare into those dark eyes. "Mother, guess what? I went into the Underworld! Wanderer made a death litter for me, and Bird-Man brought Spirit Wolves to pull it. And on the way back, I fell into the river—"
"You ..." Her mother blinked thoughtfully, then lifted her gaze to Wanderer, who had come to stand behind Lichen like a tall, willowy tree. Lichen saw Wanderer nod. Her mother stroked Lichen's hair in amazement. "I'm so proud of you. Lichen. I've known only one Dreamer in my life who could visit the Underworld." She smiled at Wanderer.
"Yes, well," Lichen blurted happily, "Wolf Slayer told me that not many Dreamers can, but I got my Dreaming Power from Wanderer."
Her mother's smile faded, then hardened into anger as she looked at Wanderer. A dreadful silence fell. Flycatcher stood as rigid as a startled goose, his eyes going back and forth from one to the other.
"I kept my promise, Vole," Wanderer said softly. "I didn't tell her. Wolf Slayer did."
Her mother lowered her eyes disbelievingly before she straightened. "We'll discuss it later, Wanderer. I'm sure Lichen is hungry. I have a fresh pot of rabbit stew waiting for her."
Wanderer patted Lichen's head as he passed her to stride down the hall at Vole's side. He murmured so low that Lichen couldn't make out his words, but she could see that her mother's shoulder muscles had bunched. They marched straight through the plaza without saying a word to anyone.
"I guess I shouldn't have said that," Lichen told Flycatcher.
"What did you say? I didn't understand why your mother got mad."
"Oh . . ." Lichen adjusted her pack and started down the outcrop. "When I was in the Underworld, Wolf Slayer talked to me about my family, that's all. He told me some things I didn't know before."