People of the Wolf(130)

And the bitterness possessed him.

Dancing Fox struggled down the rocky path. Below her, the Renewal spread, the final dance lined out. Crow Caller-it had to be him—cavorted in the center near a smoking fire as the People watched, clapping their hands, bodies swaying to the familiar chants that called the souls of the animals.

"Just a little farther," Dancing Fox panted, feeling her breath burning in her lungs.

"Little farther," Three Falls whispered groggily, fighting against the exhaustion and pain and shock. "Just a ... little ..."

"That's right. We're saved. We're here." Dancing Fox collected herself and shouted, "Hey!" It came out as a garbled bark.

Someone turned. Young Moss, a tall straight youth, poked

Crow Foot, and together they raced up the path. Dancing Fox blinked her fatigue away, her smile a grimace as they took Three Falls from her shaking arms, supporting his weight. The bloody binding on his thigh told it all.

"Others," she whispered gruffly.

"How close?" Moss asked, lifting Three Falls' arm over his shoulder, taking the wounded man's weight.

Dancing Fox puffed, pushing her hair back. "Two days north."

Crow Foot grunted. "We'll have to get a war party together quickly."

"Not for those we met," Dancing Fox added hoarsely, coughing. "Dead. Killed them all. But more will come. More will always come."

Moss looked over Three Falls where his head wobbled unsteadily. "Nice work, warrior. I, for one, take back the things I said about your courage."

Glassy eyes met his. "Not . . . me." Three Falls smiled weakly. "First dart . . . got me . . . good. Fox ... Fox killed all five. They didn't take her seriously. Bad . . . mistake."

Crow Foot looked over his shoulder to where Fox followed. "You? You killed five?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Quit gawking and see to this man. Where's Wolf Dreamer?"

Moss's expression soured, his voice derisive. "In the witch's hole."

"Hey?" Crow Foot called. "Looks like you stopped a dart, too. You're limping."

She glared at him. "If Three Falls dies, I'll get you next."

Something in the way she said it—in the hot anger reddening her face—stopped his surly reply. They nodded, bearing Three Falls away.

Dancing Fox stopped at the side of the hot pool, barely aware of the curious eyes as she wove through knots of people. In the center of the ring, she could hear Crow Caller's high-pitched voice exhorting.

False Dreams. She smiled wryly.

Bending to the warm water, she washed her face of grime and stale sweat. Heedless of the whispers hissing behind her,

she shucked off her parkas, bathing her upper body. Sponging the water from her flesh, she flapped her skins over her shoulder and walked toward Heron's shelter. Life seeped into her with the chill of the breeze over her wet skin. The gooseflesh seemed to energize her.

One Who Cries stood there, arms crossed, talking nervously to Singing Wolf. He shot a quick glance her way and nodded as Singing Wolf continued talking. Then he started, head swiveling, mouth falling open.

"So I'm supposed to be on the other side of the ice," she grunted, already in foul humor.

They both rushed at her.

"What're you doing here?" Singing Wolf demanded frantically, trying to keep his voice down.

She glared at him from between slitted eyes, voice a low growl. "Trying to save the People. Something wrong with that?"

"Get her away," Singing Wolf pleaded. "Go, now, we may not have much time."

One Who Cries grabbed her arm, whirling her so fast she , almost fell. "What the ..."

"Hush!" One Who Cries appealed frantically. "He's Dreaming! Don't you understand? You know what that means?''

She snarled and ripped her arm away. "No, I don't."

"Heron," he gritted. "If he sees you . . . breaks the Dream . . . If he or the People mean anything to you, you've got to go. Anyplace. Just so he doesn't see you. You'll kill him!"

Through the haze of exhaustion and anger, it began to penetrate. "Where?" she asked listlessly.

"This way. Hurry." One Who Cries took her by the arm again, steering her through the crowd as the dancers took up the chant, circling.

"I thought my brother would have left his hole by now." Raven Hunter propped hands on his hips as he stopped before Singing Wolf. The man guarded the entrance as though his life depended on it.

"Renewal is almost over." Four Teeth met Raven Hunter's triumphant eyes. "Runs In Light won't leave the darkness? .

He won't show himself to Father Sun? There are whisperings that he's a witch. When will he come out so we can see him?"

Singing Wolf cocked his head, studying Raven Hunter through narrowed eyes. "When he's finished Dreaming."