River Guide: Pawprints on the Riverbank

Restoration and Revelation

Star Joy was less than halfway home when she was found. She was exhausted, and her feet were sore with coming blisters, but she was still moving. She was well past the campsite area where she had almost made love to her husband. Her memories of that night saddened her but strengthened her as well. And then she heard their call coming to her from across the sky. It was the hunter's call, and she rejoiced as she called back. A large hunting party rode out of the trees shortly and up to her along the river bank. They dismounted at seeing her burden and condition and put her on the best pony with its rider. Her blood-stained load of horse meat was left behind. She no longer needed it.

She explained what had happened with the storm and the lightning striking the pony and then of her return trip. She spoke of the sparkling wolf in her dreams. She knew Wolf Heart was alive but needed help finding him. The party leader quieted her then, telling her to listen. They already knew. The chief dreamed of a great wall of death that swept over the lands. Many wolves survived, wolves that were not taken by the storm. One he did not know, but it was pure white. They all knew that meant a healer. The other was Wolf Heart's spirit animal. The third was Star Joy. They called him to come, and he sent his best warriors. Those who knew Wolf Heart best came to find him. A powerful spirit sign was given by the water there. That was how they learned to find Star Joy. A bright star had shown down, and the chief saw its light in his dream. Then he was shown a pillar of smoke, where they had to go next. The men were told this, and they raced to ready their ponies and took off with the wind to find both Star Joy, Wolf Heart, and the unknown white wolf.

"I made a camp when I took the skin and meat from my dead pony. I made a fire there to cook some meat. That may be the pillar of smoke we need to find!" she said then, and the party rode off toward the cliffs Star Joy led them to. The pillar of smoke was found quickly. It was huge, and it was the only smoke in the sky. They rode on to its source with Star Joy looking desperately through the trees and brush to find her mate. The search party came into camp led by an overjoyed Star Joy at Adam's call. She leaped from her pony and ran to Adam's side, calling his name repeatedly, falling into his arms, and kissing him roughly. Cherish was still sitting beside him and tending him. The hunters all dismounted and came over beside the smoky fire laughing and exchanging a few goods with complaints about fate. A few of them had lost bets about whether Wolf Heart was dead. They looked then at Cherish and wondered who and what she was all about.

Adam spoke up then after pushing Star Joy aside for a moment. He recounted how Cherish had rescued him, how the wolves led her to water and got her back in time to help save him. The white wolf blessed her with power. Adam said all this in their language, and Cherish was concerned entirely over the whole conversation. Adam looked at her and said, "I explained who you are." The hunters came over and went to their knees before her. It had been a long age since they had a blessed medicine woman, and this was all gushing massive spirit sign all over the place. They put their faces to the ground and stayed there, calling her name and praising the spirits for the one before them now. They praised the white wolf and all its power, and they thanked it for Wolf Heart being made whole again through this spirit walker.

Star Joy went to Cherish, smiling at her, and told her husband to look away. She stood behind Cherish with her knife drawn and cut deeply. She cut away every strip of the ragged clothing from Cherish. Cherish stood there ashamed and terrified but unmoving. Star Joy took off her dress and put it over Cherish carefully, helping her fit it onto the new form it covered. A naked Star Joy bowed low to the ground before Cherish and spoke to her husband. Adam translated it into English for her. "My wife thanks you for saving me and healing me, her husband. She says that all she has is yours, and you are now like her mother to her. You are a beloved member of her family and the tribe. She begs that you come home with us now." Cherish looked down at Star Joy and took her hands. Naked or not, she was going to be hugged. Cherish didn't let go for a while. Here was another person, another woman. Cherish was not alone, and she was more than just safe. She had a family again!