Four Teeth scowled at him, obviously disgusted by his challenge. "You think you know more than I do? Huh? I'm twice your age."
Singing Wolf clamped his jaw a moment, then replied softly, "No, Grandfather. I was just—"
"Crow Caller will tell us the truth of this young Runs In Light," Four Teeth insisted stubbornly.
Singing Wolf leaned his head back, choosing his words carefully. "I have no doubts of the sincerity of your beliefs, Grandfathers. But we've seen them face off before, watched them stand in each other's Power. One Who Cries was there. I was there. Others can verify our words, though I speak with an open heart. Crow Caller cursed Wolf Dreamer, cursed him to have his stomach eat itself. Prophesied death for everyone who followed the trail south. Called down all kinds of trouble from the Long Dark. We all lived but one little girl. And Crow Caller said the Big Ice was death. We live—and our families are on the other side living in a beautiful land of plenty as we speak."
One Who Cries averted his eyes. "I was part of Crow Caller's band for years. But I'd never seen a real Dreamer until I saw Wolf Dreamer, and then Heron. I've watched these Dreamers call game. I've seen the Power in the dead eyes of a Dreamer. Crow Caller had nothing like it."
Four Teeth muttered under his breath. "Always thought Heron was a legend. You both know bad things are said about her. That she could suck a man's soul from his body ... blow it out in the Long Dark."
"She fed us. Kept us warm," One Who Cried added uncomfortably. "For myself, I received nothing but kindness from her." He waved absently. "Sure, she scared me. Anyone with sense is scared around Dreaming like that. But she wasn't bad like the stories make her out."
"Then what was she doing out all alone like she had no relations, no people?" Four Teeth demanded. "You tell me, huh? What? That's not right! Good people don't run off like that."
"The Dreaming was better, she said. I heard her explain. She could keep her mind clear. Uh, uncluttered, she said." Singing Wolf shot a quick glance at One Who Cries. It wasn't going as he'd hoped.
"My mother knew her," Buffalo Back added. "I'll wait. I'll see what happens during Renewal. Maybe Heron gave
Runs In Light bad powers." His voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. "To hurt us."
"Why would—"
"For revenge. You know the stories of how the People scorned her Dreaming. It was strange and people feared it."
"Let's hear Crow Caller's words," Four Teeth interrupted. "Let's see what he Dreams."
In the uneasy silence that followed, Singing Wolf stared emptily at the fire. Would they never listen?
"Besides ..." Four Teeth shook his head. "I can't believe it's right for us to leave the place Father Sun gave us for a hole in the ice. My father's father lived here. I sang my wife's soul to the Blessed Star People here. I know this land. I can feel this land in my soul." He paused, letting his words sink in. "Raven Hunter's right. We have to—"
"The Others are coming." Singing Wolf rubbed the back of his neck. "We have to do a lot of thinking this Renewal. Things are changing. No disrespect, Grandfather, but this isn't really our land. Here? At Heron's? Five days' walk from the Big Ice? How much farther south are we than in the past?"
"We're not that far."
"I remember as many Long Lights ago as I have fingers on one hand." Singing Wolf held them up, wiggling his digits. "Remember that place we had Renewal five Long Lights ago? Out on the flats where the Big River flows into the salt water? It's how far north of the camps of the Others now? We've already had to move because of the Others. We can't hunt clams and shellfish and seals along the salt water anymore. For that matter, the salt water is more than three moons' journey to the north. The Others are there. Let's face it. We can't keep the Others back. There aren't enough of us!"
Four Teeth shook his head. "We'll drive them out, push them back. Father Sun gave us that land. He'll keep us safe. You'll see."
"I did see," Singing Wolf said passionately, keeping his eyes lowered so as not to irritate the elders. "I went to raid with Raven Hunter last Long Light. I saw. I killed a handful of Others in the fighting. I acted with honor. But I watched our young men rape women like they were rutting animals. I watched babies smashed and kicked and gutted. I watched
men left to die of gut-juice poisoning. I fought for the People, and I saw what the chances really are."
"You've lost faith! We'll win by next—"
"I won't wait! I've taken my family beyond the Big Ice. I won't watch my family and people slowly worn away like sandstone on a grinding slab. It's not dishonorable for a man to—"