"Listen!" Nupa interrupted, holding his hand up.

The party quieted, eyes becoming alert as they scanned around the canyon. Across the entrance, their comrades were obviously hearing the same as they. A low rumble echoed off the canyon walls, growing louder as the cause moved closer.

Heads turned this way and that as they scanned the distance. First one, then another found a cloud of dust that was nearing them. Fingers pointed, words called to warn the remainder of the warriors.

"There!" Anpo called, pointing at the brown haze in the blue sky. "They are almost here!" She picked up a length of rope that was coiled at her feet, throwing it across her shoulder.

Around the wikoskalaka the other warriors were doing the same. Most of the boys were holding their shirts firmly in their hands, grim looks on their young faces as they prepared to help the warriors with their task.

Their preparations were halted with the appearance of nearly a hundred horses, rounding the bend and heading right for them. The wild herd raced past the people, eyes wide in terror. Behind them, making an awful racket of howling and hooting and banging on drums, rode the rest of the camp's wicasa.

Once the last of the animals and riders were in the box canyon, the two groups of warriors and hoksila raced together. They stretched into a line across the opening, waving their shirts and keeping the animals penned inside. While the boys continued their distractions, the warriors dropped the clothing and pelted into the canyon, pulling free their ropes. Many of the mounted warriors had jumped from their own steeds, tying them near the hoksila. They, too, had ropes out and began taking possession of the wild horses.

It was a loud and dusty chaos in the small canyon. Anpo almost felt alone within it, despite the obvious calls of her friends around her. A fine looking spotted mare cantered nervously past, her dark eyes rolling in anxiety, and the wikoskalaka threw her rope over its neck.

The animal reared and whinnied in fear, trying to pull away but unable. The dark woman increased the pressure on the rope, pulling the large head down and not allowing the mare an opportunity to pull up again. Once Anpo was sure of her capture she pulled the pony to a small boulder, wrapping the rope around the base with one quick turn and tying it off. A quick slice with a knife and she had enough rope for another attempt.

The second horse she took was a stallion, a deep reddish brown in color. He was a bit tougher to hold, however, and threw her to the ground once in his desire to be free. The warrior held on for dear life and managed to bring the animal under control. With a bit of tugging, she pulled him to the spotted mare to tie him off.

Again the knife came out and cut the rope, but there wasn't enough remaining for her to seek another. Looking out over the canyon, she could see that there were few animals left anyway. I will give the mare to my mahasanni ki, she thought, turning back to her horses.

As the dust began to settle, Anpo could see a shadowy form on the other side of the spotted mare. Frowning, she moved closer, mindful of the stallion's hooves and trying to get a clearer view. When she saw what was there, a smile crossed her face. With slow, measured movements, the warrior took the remaining rope and made it into a loop.

"And I will give you to my cinksi ," she told the grey colt as she eased closer.

The smaller animal was skittish, his tail swishing in agitation. He sidestepped the wikoskalaka twice, not wanting her near but not wanting to be away from his mother. Anpo was persistent, though, and finally was able to collar him, holding a bit of the leftover rope as a leash.

Looking over the colt, she grinned. "Teca will be very happy to see you," she told it.

The colt eyed her nervously before stepping forward with caution to nudge his mother's teat. Still skittish, the mare allowed his feeding, one rear leg slightly lifted and ready to strike out to protect her young.

Smug, Anpo looked over her new ponies. "Ohan . One for Teca, one for Ketlin and one for me."

The camp meandered along its path, stretching for nearly half a mile. Behind them lay the past two winters, one of famine and one of feast. And before them was summer camp, stretched out in a distant valley between two river forks.

Kathleen led a pony, her lodge suspended between two large logs and dragging along after. Beside her was another pony, this one with a pregnant woman upon it.

"Oh, I am so happy the sickness is gone, stepan ," Hca Wanahca said with a relieved sigh. She smiled down at her friend. "I do not know how you survived it!"

Grinning, the blonde woman scratched a tan shoulder. "I do not think my sickness was as hard as yours, Hca. And I was frightened much of the time - I believe that I did not pay as much attention to it as you."

The dark woman shrugged a little and shook her head dismissively. "Still, Ketlin. Your sickness was hard enough to call the medicine man."

Kathleen nodded, her mind casting back to her own pregnancy. She sent a silent prayer for the old man, He Osni, who had died that following terrible winter. "As was yours, stepan."

Hca patted her large belly with a chuckle. "As was mine," she agreed. There was a sudden, breathless pause and her smile turned adoring. "Stepan!" she said, waving the blonde closer. "Feel! The baby is kicking!"

Having gone through this many times in the last few months, Kathleen nonetheless put up her hand and let it be guided to the area in question. Feeling the spasms beneath her palm, she rubbed it gently and said, "It is moving very much. I think you will have a strong boy."

"Oh, I hope so!" Hca answered, her eyes showing her excitement. "Nupa would be so happy to have a cinksi!" She thought for a moment. "He would be happy with a cunksi , too," she allowed.

Laughing, the lighter woman said, "But a cinksi would be better."

Hca blushed a little, though her smile was still in place as she nodded. "Ohan, it would."

"Well, if you give birth to a girl, you can always make more," Kathleen offered.

"Ohan . And we will!"

The pair giggled as they continued on their way. The sound of hoofbeats garnered their attention and the women looked around to see their warriors returning from the rear of the moving camp.

"Han, winuhcala !" Anpo called as she neared, coming to a halt beside her woman. Beside her, Nupa did the same.

"Hau, ina!" a small voice piped up.

"Han , my two warriors," Kathleen responded, smiling. She pulled her pony to a stop as Hca and Nupa continued on their way. Holding up her arms, she caught their son, Tatanka Teca, as he dived off the back of his inanup's horse. "Did you have a good ride, cinksi?"

"Hau, ina !" the toddler nodded, a huge grin on his dark face. He hugged his mother's neck with one arm, waving the other at the warrior who was dismounting. "inanup pony big!"

"Very big," Anpo agreed. She heard their son repeat her words as she bent down for a welcoming kiss. "And we went very far," she informed Kathleen with mock seriousness.

"Very far," Teca agreed.

Looking from her winuhca to Teca, the blonde tsked gently. "You must be hungry, cinksi." The solemn nod she received in answer caused her to quirk her mouth. "Come then. We will find you something to eat."

As Kathleen turned to approach the household strapped on her pony's back, the boy tugged at her dress. "Want you."

"Hiya , Teca. Later tonight when we make camp. You know I cannot travel with you like that anymore."

Before the toddler could make an issue of it, Anpo scooped him up and tossed him into the air. The child screeched in pleasure. "You are very big, cinksi !" she proclaimed as she caught him in her arms.

He giggled up at the dark woman and tugged on one of her braids. "I very big!"

"Ohan!" the blonde agreed. "You will be a tall and strong warrior, Teca."

"Big warrior!"

"Big warrior!" Anpo repeated, swinging the child around as he laughed.

Thankful for the distraction, Kathleen approached her packed lodge and rummaged about in one of the baskets for something to eat. Pulling out some wansi and leftover frybread from breakfast, she called her family closer.

The warrior settled Teca onto the household, in a spot designed specifically for him to sit in while they moved. The toddler got comfortable and took the pemmican and bread handed to him. Kathleen found a waterskin and set it close. As they ate, the camp continued to move, pa.s.sing around them.

"Nupa and I are going to scout to the west," Anpo stated as she chewed her food. "If there is any game, we will hunt and bring it for tonight's feast."

Kathleen nodded. "May the spirits lead you true."

"Want to go!" the toddler demanded, spilling half the wansi from his mouth as he spoke.

The blonde c.o.c.ked an eye at her woman. It's all yours....

"Hiya, Teca. You will stay with your ina." The warrior braced herself for the child's attack.

"Want to go!" The tiny face began to screw up in anger and frustration, his food forgotten.

The warrior rolled her dark eyes and sighed. "Hiya! You will stay with your ina ." He is more than stubborn. Refusing to show any weariness at fighting with the toddler, Anpo leaned forward. "Do you wish to ride again with me, cinksi?"

Not understanding the relevance, Teca blinked at her, his emotional tempest pausing. "Hau , inanup."

"You stay here with your ina. When I return, I will take you riding again today."

The child considered this option with some seriousness. Riding with his second mother was always fun. And two times!? "I sleep?" he finally asked, eyes flickering back and forth between his parents.

Kathleen found two pairs of eyes regarding her. With a sigh she shook her head. Such negotiations for only two and a half! "Hiya , Teca. You do not have to sleep. Just ride here for awhile while inanup is away."

"And I will take you on another ride, cinksi ," the warrior exclaimed with a smile.

Apparently deciding that it was a good trade off, Teca nodded. "Hau, inanup." And then he scooped up his pemmican and began to eat again as if nothing had occurred.

Kathleen mentally wiped her brow at another temper tantrum averted. Was I ever that mule-headed? She could see the reflection of her relief in her warrior's eyes and they grinned at one another. She's beautiful.

Most of the camp had pa.s.sed by the time they finished their meal. Anpo kissed both of them farewell and mounted her pony. Before she left, she firmly told Teca, "I will return and take you for a ride, cinksi!" And then she sped off in search of Nupa.

The toddler frowned and fussed a bit, still wanting to go with Anpo. But, he was a smart, if obstinate, child and had made his decision. He sat back with an air of impatience as his mother began walking with the horse again. Soon his eyes drifted closed.

Their arrival at summer camp aroused the same interest as every year. A few dozen warriors and elders took the time to ride out and formally great the incoming people. And, as usual, there were a few koskalaka who desired a closer look at the white woman.

Anpo had learned her lesson from that first year, however. She kept herself close to her family, glaring down any young man who got too close. Fortunately, word had spread and no one was willing to challenge.

The warrior remained in the vicinity of her family as the ti ikceyas were set up, helping to distract the boy as well as keep an eye on her winuhca . Once she was sure that Kathleen and Teca were safely ensconced at her hearth, she grinned and kissed them both before heading off to the council fire at the center of camp.

Anpo's father, Wanbli Zi, was already at the fire, seated to one side. As she settled down just behind him and beside her tiblo , she thought, Ate is getting old. A frown crossed her face as she noticed the new wrinkles and whitening hair. An indistinct uneasiness swept over her. I have never thought of him as old before.

Her musings were broken by words spoken from across the fire.

"Hiya. The wicasa was white."

The wikoskalaka 's eyes found the speaker with sharp intensity, a man a bit older than herself and from another encampment.

"What did he look like?" a second man asked, puffing on his pipe in concentration.

The first pursed his lips in thought. "His hair was like ours but curly like the cana," and he indicated the area between his legs. "It covered his face. He smiled too much and stank."

A few of the men chuckled at the sentiment. Wicasa Waziya Mani spoke up from his place nearer the woman warrior. "And you say this white man is north?" At the answering nod, the chief continued, "What is he doing there? Has he no hearth? No family?"

The first man shrugged. "He does not. He said his people were to the east and he was a trader." A grin crossed his face as he pulled out a knife, holding it up for all to see. "I traded him two wolf skins for this."

The metal blade caught the afternoon sunlight and reflected it back at them all.

Several days pa.s.sed as preparations began in earnest for this season's Sun Dance. As each new band arrived, the camp grew to bursting. The people gossiped and worked together, catching up on the news of a winter and preparing for another long absence from one another.

The most well worked information, of course, was that of the white trader to the north. Others of the camp that had met him had stories to regale their eager audience with - tales of sticks that made loud noises, of a liquid that burnt like fire when drunk, of cloth blankets that were thicker than those of their neighbors to the south. The winyan were abuzz with the strange metal pots and beads of all sizes and colors.

Kathleen received a lot of attention from the other winyan as they asked her about the things they'd heard about. She did her best to inform them of the various items in the white world that were created to make a woman's life easier. And, as she spoke of metal laundry pails, fry pans, scissors and boots, a certain feeling of nostalgia stole over her.

"Hau , Nupa! Hau, Anpo!" a voice called.

The two warriors looked from their game of throwing spears to see Wicasa Waziya Mani approaching them with a wide smile on his handsome face. Tagging along behind were four of his men.

"Hau, wicahcala ," Anpo responded, turning to the chief. She held out her hand and grasped the offered forearm.

Nupa took the opportunity to throw the spear, hitting the targeted tree with a solid thunk. He, too, turned to the others and grasped forearms with Mani. "Hau, wicahcala!" Grinning at his friend, he added, "I beat you, tanksi!"

With a careful eye, the wikoskalaka studied their target. "You did, tiblo. The spear is yours."

Almost chortling in his glee at besting her, the warrior trotted forward to yank the spear from the tree.

Upon Nupa's return, the chief said, "I would ask you and your families to join me at my fire tonight."

A dark brow rose. Anpo looked to her friend who was equally curious. "I . . . would be honored, wicahcala," she finally said.

Nupa echoed her agreement.

The chief's smile broadened and he clapped both of them on the shoulder. "Good! I look forward to seeing that fine young cinksi of yours, Anpo!"

A grin creased the dark woman's face. "My winucha says Teca grows like a weed."

Startled by the unusual comparison, Mani thought for a second before bursting into laughter. "I am sure he does, wikoskalaka!" he exclaimed. In parting, he said, "Until tonight."

The friends nodded. "Until tonight," Nupa agreed.

Once the wicasa were gone, Nupa turned to the woman. "That was strange."

"Ohan ." The warrior shrugged and turned away from the retreating forms. "You and I should tell our winyan to prepare."

"Hau ." As the two warriors walked away from their contest, Nupa hefted the spear, a thoughtful look on his face. "Do you remember our first meeting, tanksi ?".

Memories of a young hoksila who had taken the spear her father had given her filled Anpo's mind. With a rueful smile, she nodded. "I do, tiblo .".

"It looks like I finally got that spear!"

The dark woman laughed and slapped Nupa on the back. "Ohan, tiblo! You did! And I will not fight you to get it back this time!"

Mani's fire turned out to be the council fire of his camp. A fairly large gathering of his people were present and the atmosphere was jovial in nature. A handful of the men were elders, most others being of an age with the chief or younger.

As was customary, the wicasa sat around the fire as they smoked and talked, the women serving them. Hoksila sat as close as they could to hear the words of the warriors they wished to become. Talk revolved around many subjects - hunting, travel, weapons and ponies.

Eventually all had been fed. It was later in the evening as the setting sun cast brilliant oranges and reds across the surrounding ti ikceyas. Kathleen settled down behind her warrior, leaning against the strong back with one shoulder as she nursed Teca. The toddler was far past the need for breast milk, but he still desired it upon occasion.