People of the Wolf(44)

" 'Cause I'm one of the Star People again?"

"Sure."

She cocked her tiny head seriously. ' 'Grandmother, do you believe Wolf really came to Runs In Light and gave him a Dream?"

"There's not a doubt in my whole body, girl. I've seen Dreamers—real Dreamers. ..." Her voice faded as her thoughts drifted to bittersweet days twenty-five years before. "Real Dreamers ..."

Up the slanted tunnel to the opening, a sibilant rustling of furs sounded, dogs barking. Red Star jumped, a short cry of joy erupting from her bluish lips.

"It's him!" she cried shrilly, scrambling up the tunnel. "Runs In Light! Runs In Light!"

Broken Branch closed her eyes, offering a soft prayer of thanks to Wolf before dropping her head to her mittens.

"Hello," she heard Red Star say, as if she didn't know the person she spoke to.

"You hungry, little one?" an unknown woman asked.

"Oh, yes, my stomach's been howling."

"Well, here. You eat some of these and you'll be fine."

"Thank you!" Red Star moaned gratefully and slid back down the tunnel with a long stuffed rope of intestine.

What is it about that voice that stirs . . . With it came tremors of fear and regret, tears welling in Broken Branch's wrinkled old throat. She swallowed with difficulty.

"Broken Branch?" the woman's gravelly voice demanded. "You in there?"

"I'm in here," she answered in shock. "Who—"

"Well, come out before I come in to get you."

"Who are you?"

When no answer came, Broken Branch hesitantly threw off her robes and crawled on hands and knees up through the ice

opening. A haze of white blew around a hooded figure, stabbing at her eyes, forcing her to squeeze them closed = She pushed up to stand on weak tottering legs, trying to make out the ancient face in the caribou hood. The vast expanse of white encircling them seemed to swirl in Wind Woman's grasp.

"I'll be a cursed . . ."the woman grunted. "That pointed nose of yours used to be beautiful. Now it looks as sharp and ugly as somebody's dart point. Makes me feel better."

"Who are you?" she demanded roughly this time. "Do I know you?"

"You old bitch. Of course you do. How could you forget someone whose heart you broke?"

Broken Branch gasped a deep wheezing breath as recognition dawned, her hands fluttering wildly about the woman's shoulders. Touching her to make certain she was real. Getting control of herself, she put a hand to her trembling lips and stared with trepidation. "Blessed Star People . . . it's you."

"Of course it's me," Heron snapped. "How many other people's hearts have you broke?" Then, squinting in thought, she added, " 'Course, I guess I wouldn't know. Maybe you've stacked up quite a few by now.''

Reaching out timidly, Broken Branch grabbed the hide strings of Heron's parka and clumsily pulled her forward before wrapping frail old arms around her and hugging her as though she were a vision that might disappear at any moment. "I thought you'd died long ago."

Heron raised her own arms, patting Broken Branch's back tenderly as she chided, "Couldn't let myself. I always figured I'd see you again."

Broken Branch shoved gently back to stare into the oval face of the Spirit Woman. Heron's graceful features were still finely etched, lips full and nose turned up. "You still want to kill me?"

Heron slowly filled her lungs and held the breath as she scowled for a long moment. "Not as bad as I used to."

"You just come to that conclusion because of my nose."

"Mostly. I still might curse your joints, though."

"You're too late. Somebody else already did. I can barely walk most of the winter.''

"That right?"

Broken Branch nodded, bowing her head as guilt swelled in her breast. "You know, I never meant to hurt you. It was just that I—"

"Oh ..." Heron shook her head sternly. "You did me a favor, really. I didn't have the courage to become a Dreamer by myself. Needed some deep wound to force me to let go of the People."

"I sure gave you that, didn't I?"

"You did."

"I never felt right about it after you left. There was always an empty place inside me."

"After, .sure. But it never occurred to you when it counted!"

Broken Branch's eyes narrowed, jaw clenching. "Of course not. I didn't like you."

"Well, you weren't exactly lovable. That sharp tongue of yours waggled all the blasted time. Why, I—"

"Grandmother?" Red Star's young voice interrupted, a sweet timid face peeking out the opening to the cave. "Come and eat before this is all gone."

"I'll be there in a minute, child," she called over her shoulder.