People of the Wolf(162)

"Right for us," Crow Foot mocked. "Is it right that I clutch to my bosom the beast who killed my sister?"

Singing Wolf blinked and lowered his gaze. "I know it's hard, but we all have to—"

"I saw him in Ice Fire's lodge!" Crow Foot shouted, the echo running through the camp and down the valley.

' 'What's more important? Your dead sister? Or the survival of the People?"

Crow Foot took a step forward, nose inches from Singing Wolf's as he stared into his eyes. "How can leading these animals to our women and children save us?"

"I believe the Dreamer."

"You believe." Crow Foot sneered, spitting his disgust.

By sheer force of will, Singing Wolf stifled the rage that exploded in his heart. "I'll wait," he managed to say, biting off the words. "I think, boy, that more than you or I can know is at stake here. I think this is a matter for Dreamers and Elders."

Crow Foot tensed as if stung. "And I think we should kill

them all." With the speed of a mouse, he darted away into the darkness.

Singing Wolf glared after him, seeing the youth's shadow flicker across the ice.

"Raven Hunter would know what to do," Eagle Cries defended. "He'd never have made a pact with the butchers."

I've changed so much, thought Singing Wolf. Once, it would have been me clamoring for the blood of the Others. Now, I can't afford my temper. A childish outburst would kill the hopes of the People. Is this constant futility what leadership means? Singing Wolf studied the angry youth beside him. How much smarter is One Who Cries, who avoids such dangers.

In a neutral voice, he murmured, "You promised on the spirits of the Long Dark to wait, to see if some way could be found to make peace. Is your word good?"

Eagle Cries turned, the glow of the fire, reflected from the snow, shone on his strained face. "Yes, man with no courage, I'll wait. But once we're there—once we're at the camp of the People—my word will be done."

A soft scritching of boots on gravel came from around the boulder, as though someone stood listening. Singing Wolf and Eagle Cries halted, tensing a moment. When no more sounds came, Singing Wolf continued tiredly, "And the rest of your warriors?''

"They'll keep their word. Unlike you, we place a value on honor. Raven Hunter taught us that."

"And what else did he teach you?" Dancing Fox asked as she came around the side of the huge dark boulder. She was dressed in a worn caribou parka, her black hair glistening against the background of white fox fur in her hood.

Eagle Cries jerked, asking maliciously, "Has Ice Fire tired of you already? Go back to his—"

"Answer my question, warrior!" Dancing Fox's voice cut as coldly as the crystals of snow blowing in Wind Woman's breath. ' 'Is hatred all that Raven Hunter taught? Did he forget that wisdom and the ability to think are important too? Did he teach you all to disregard the ways of our elders? To forget that the People have struggled for hundreds of Long Darks to live in peace as Father Sun wished?"

"Raven Hunter is the son of the Father Sun!" Eagle Cries shouted. "He was born to lead us to a new way."

"Then why didn't you follow him after the Dreaming?"

Eagle Cries clamped his jaw and crossed his arms brusquely over his chest.

As the silence stretched, Singing Wolf repeated, "Why didn't you?"

"That may have been a mistake."

"I don't think so."

"Look, don't you see? What if there is peace? Eh? What then? How do we keep who we are separate from the Others? Does Father Sun get replaced by the Great Mystery? Does Dreaming get replaced by their visions in high places?"

Dancing Fox asked, "Isn't that what Raven Hunter wanted? To destroy Wolf Dreamer? Kill him with a dart in the middle of a Dreaming—during the Renewal, of all things'?"

Eagle Cries sputtered a sigh. "That was wrong. It was a crazy thing done in anger. He'd just seen his friend killed by witchery. He—"

"It's witchery now?" Singing Wolf lifted a brow. "Not Dreaming?"

"I ... I don't know anymore. Maybe it is."

"Fine children of Father Sun we are." Dancing Fox exhaled gruffly. "In our camp, the warriors can't wait to drive darts through the Others, watch their blood run out, and laugh while they die. In Ice Fire's camp, they can't wait to get their White Hide back and drive darts into our bodies." She shook her head. "And we'll all die if we don't change."

"What do you mean? Die?"

"You've heard the Dreamer. The world's changing. The ice is melting and the seas are rising. Perhaps the doom callers are right. Perhaps everyone in the world is crazy."