When last we left Sully, he had sent Wolf on a journey back to the Cheyenne people to let Cloud Dancing know that he and Bright Spears had crossed paths and that he needed help. Wolf had indeed made the journey in only two days time, but the message was disputed among the Indians. Did Bright Spears control the wolf now, or had Sully overpowered the young brave? Without being able to stop the animal, Cloud Dancing is forced to follow Wolf back to the campsite to discover the truth...

Medicine man, I do not feel travel right now is wise. The moons feelings for his new friend.

"I will travel with him, my Chief." Hook Nose said, still holding the torch that illuminated this dark corner behind Bright Spears tent. " I would see this young warrior with his control of such a powerful animal. Cloud Dancing will have nothing to fear." The soldiers with Hook Nose clapped him on the back and murmured their approval among themselves. They knew his patience had worn thin over the past few days and that he was anxious to see the proof from the boasts of the young brave's friends. If true, Bright Spears would be their newest warrior and would ride with them, bringing the mighty creature along to attack the soldiers of the great army. No-one disputed Hook Nose's wish. Black Kettle and Cloud Dancing exchanged a shadowed look that spoke volumes between them.

"What the spirits tell Cloud Dancing, that is to be followed." Chief Black Kettle stressed to the dog soldier. He nodded solemnly to his chief, and the other dog soldiers gave him a large pack, obviously full of all sorts of food and weapons. Cloud Dancing gave a sigh as he turned to his wife. Her eyes searched his in the dim torchlight. They said nothing to each other, but understood the love for each other, and knew that both were nervous as to what would be found out in the woods. With a strong hand on her delicate arm, Cloud Dancing conveyed his love for Snow Bird and gave a wordless promise that he would find his way safely back to her. With a very small nod, she went back to her teepee for the night.

Seeing that the men were finally ready, Wolf jumped up and barked, taking off into the woods without waiting further. Cloud Dancing and Hook Nose followed very slowly, picking their way to a deer trail where the footing was smoother. As the hours passed, Wolf understood their pace and did not run out of their sight. With no way to communicate with the animal, Cloud Dancing simply marched on, hoping not to twist his ankle before sunrise.

At daybreak, the two men agreed to stop at a clearing to sit and eat something. The dog protested awhile until Cloud Dancing tossed some of the bread that Little Flower had packed, which Wolf happily ate.

"This brave will be a great addition to my soldiers. He has controlled the mighty power of the wolf." Hook Nose said to his medicine man. "Why did you call him Black Wolf earlier?" At this, Cloud Dancing hesitated in answering, picking his words carefully.

"Black Wolf was the one who found the cub, taught it. Bright Spear's jealous heart has forced him to chase Black Wolf. He wanted to steal Wolf away to prove to you that he is a greater warrior." Cloud Dancing made sure not to mention that Sully was a white man. There was no way of knowing if Hook Nose would honor Black Kettle's request that no harm come to anyone on this journey if he knew that Black Wolf was really a white man.

"Any man controlling this creature is powerful." Hook Nose said.

"And if it is Black Wolf?" Cloud Dancing asked.

"Then I will ask him to ride with us." Hook Nose drank long and deep, passing the water to Cloud Dancing.

"If he refuses?" Cloud Dancing dared.

"Spirits guide all differently. Not all are meant to protect the way dog soldiers do." Hook Nose's voice was full of arrogant confidence. Cloud Dancing let the matter drop. He couldn't bring himself to explain that Sully was a white man. He feared the warrior's temper at this information, and kept it to himself. Asking the spirits for guidance on this matter only brought silence as they continued on that day, so Cloud Dancing was very much caught up in his own thoughts while he watched Wolf lead them to Sully. Once the sun set that evening, the animal bedded down for the night and they rested around a small fire. Wolf took more bread, but refused any meat, and slept soundly. Cloud Dancing only fell asleep after Hook Nose was done sharpening his knife, for the sound attacked his nerves.

After four days, Sully knew that Bright Spears was incredibly uncomfortable being hog tied while waiting for Wolf to return with help. He had kept the fire warm, covered him at night, and was sure to offer him food him first at mealtimes, but Bright Spears only consented to drink water now and then, never eating. As he retied the knots, he was able to keep the warrior's feet tied, but loosened the connection between hands and feet and helped the young brave to stand awhile. After a minute, Bright Spears had tried to hop away, but only ended up falling once his momentum became too great. Sully let him lay face down in the leaves a few minutes, then helped him up and assisted him in hopping back to the fire. Bright Spears sat quietly after that, content to be upright, but seething that Sully had made the bonds too well to be broken.

Much of Sully's day was consumed with hoping that Wolf had found camp and was leading help back to where they were waiting. He knew Wolf was big enough to take care of himself, but there was no way of knowing if he had come upon an accident. It made him worry considerably to think of Wolf being injured somehow, even caught in a hunter's trap somewhere. But he kept himself busy with hauling in wood for the fire and clearing the stone outcropping in case they needed to take emergency shelter from a sudden storm. The busy work kept him from worrying. One day he was even able to catch a large rabbit in a snare he had set over the ridge. Hoping that some freshly roasted rabbit might tempt Bright Spears to eat, Sully eagerly prepared it for both of them. But it was clear that Bright Spears detested being fed anything by a white man. Sully offered it many times until his own share was cold, but he ate alone that night.

The fourth afternoon, Sully sat and went to work sharpening his tomahawk. He'd used the blade to skin the rabbit the night before. Bright Spears shuffled his feet in the leaves to get Sully's attention, then asked for water, a word that Sully knew well. As he brought a cup over to the brave and held it up so he could drink, Wolf's sudden bark came through the trees. Sully stopped, holding the cup up to the warrior's lips and made out two forms in the shadows of the woods, with Wolf breaking into a run towards him. Looking Bright Spears deep in the eyes, he sat the cup down and slowly rose to greet the rescue party, relieved to see his friend was returning unharmed.

Cloud Dancing was first, followed by a large Indian that Sully did not know. Before he could even say anything, Bright Spears started shouting and, taking his tied feet and kicking at Sully's knee, sent him sprawling forward, just narrowly missing the rocks surrounding the hot fire pit. With the wind knocked out of him, Sully could only lay there, gasping for breath, while the brave carried on in Cheyenne to the other two, who quickly ran forward.

"Help! He tries to poison me when I ask for water! Please, help me!" Bright Spears cries echoed off of the trees as Cloud Dancing and Hook Nose watched the altercation and came running forward. Wolf began barking in an angry fashion, and the two couldn't deny that they heard a difference in the animal's tone. Guarding Sully, Wolf stood at his side and snarled and barked at Bright Spears, almost daring him to come forward and try anything else. It was clear to everyone where the animal's devotion lay.

"What is this?" Hook Nose asked, incredulous. Sully picked up his head, his face red from trying to get his breath back. Cloud Dancing rushed to his side and helped him sit up while Hook Nose began untying Bright Spears bonds.

"Couldn't stop..." Sully wheezed, trying to force the words out before Bright Spears could say anything more. "He attacked..." But there was little he could do until he could get air back into his lungs. Cloud Dancing crouched at Sully's side, watching Hook Nose untie Bright Spears, who looked fine, except for some fading bruises and a growling stomach.

"He tries to destroy me for days with no food!" Bright Spears shouted over Wolf's barks. Sully put his hand gratefully on the animal's back, and Wolf calmed down.

"You spoke of one named Black Wolf!" Hook Nose shouted, feeling betrayed. "This is a white man!" His eyes flashed with anger.

"You must let me explain!" Cloud Dancing stood.

"I must destroy him! He turns our medicine man against us!" Bright Spears continued as he rubbed his now free hands and wrists.

"You brought this white man into our camp?" Hook Nose demanded answers.

"Stop!" Sully shouted in Cheyenne. The three Indians all stopped and looked at him, surprised to hear his voice now so loud and clear. Cloud Dancing took the opportunity to begin explaining to Hook Nose the nature of how Sully came to find them. Bright Spears, thankfully, let his medicine man speak without interruption.

"Tell them that I was leaving, and Bright Spears was hunting me to steal Wolf away. I never wanted to hurt him or anyone. I only kept him tied up so he wouldn't hurt me before I got word to you of what happened. I offered him the first of the food every day, and you can drink the water for yourself out of that cup. I never poisoned it." Sully explained. Cloud Dancing translated the story to the mighty dog soldier, who listened to everything with rapt attention. He studied both men, trying to find the truth in the differing stories. The faces of the two men told of a great struggle, as the bruises were still visible around Sully's neck and on Bright Spears cheek.

"He has only defended himself. Otherwise, he would have taken Bright Spears life with his own tomahawk and never sent us word." Cloud Dancing said.

"A true warrior should fight to the end." Hook Nose insisted.

"He is nothing like you. He is a toad." Bright Spears said, spitting in Sully's direction.

"A true warrior listens to his heart and only chooses the fight that is necessary." Cloud Dancing said to the young brave. "You hunted a peaceful man out of jealousy. You do not embrace what the spirits have already given you." This wisdom brought no smart remark from the warrior. Everyone stood silently for a minute, the crackling flames of the fire between the men was the only sound. Sully kept his gaze locked on the mighty warrior Cloud Dancing called Hook Nose. Surely, he had seen much battle for his chest and arms were cris-crossed with scars. Stepping around Bright Spears, Hook Nose took up the cup and drank the water Sully had been offering to the brave when they had approached. Clearly, it was not poisoned with anything. The leader of the dog soldiers stared down the young brave for a minute, then tossed the cup on the ground, disappointed in the lie that had been told.

"I sent him away until I could tell you of what I have learned from him." Cloud Dancing said in a calmer tone. "He teaches me much of the white man's words." He did not translate what he was saying to Sully.

"And of our words?" Hook Nose asked. The medicine man nodded.

"He works with me to learn our language." He said.

"I ask for peace." Sully said in Cheyenne, giving the hand gesture for peace to both warriors. Cloud Dancing was pleased to hear how good his pronunciation was.

"The more he can teach, the more we will learn of the white man. If we know his words, we can fight smarter. Protect the people." Cloud Dancing felt manipulative in telling this to Hook Nose without Sully understanding the Cheyenne words. But he felt an appeal to the fighting side of the dog soldier was the only way to get him on board with the thought that Sully could peacefully stay near the camp and not be a threat to their people. If Hook Nose saw the advantage of having a white man on their side, he would come around to protecting him and not simply killing him outright. Everyone could see this possibility turning over in Hook Nose's mind as he stared at Sully from across the fire.

Five full days after the night Wolf had appeared, there was still no sign of the men in camp. Black Kettle walked among his people that morning, talking with a few as he passed them in their morning duties. Stopping at the teepee of Cloud Dancing, he greeted the sons who were on their way out to go hunting for dinner. They told him of their destination, and he reminded them to watch out for each other. Snow Bird came out to wish them well, and, seeing her chief there, she greeted him first. Offering him food from their morning meal, he spoke to her.

"Your husband comes back today." He said.

"You have heard?" She asked, surprised.

"I dream they come back safely today." He told her.

"Dog soldiers will not let Black Wolf stay." She said, turning to watch them slowly finish their morning meal around the fires at the far end of the camp. Their presence brought daily drama, whether it was them practicing knife throwing, or setting out in wild cries to go hunting. All her sons spoke of was to be a mighty dog soldier and protect the Cheyenne nation from the greedy white man. She could not see how they could ever come to think of a white man as a friend with such counter influence.

"Spirits protect him. You will see." Black Kettle said. With that, he walked off, continuing towards the far end of camp to stop at the family teepee of Bright Spears. Thinking of how hungry the men would be if they returned soon, Snow Bird took a walk to gather fresh roots for a great dinner that night. The thought of Black Wolf being truly accepted by her people continued to be a strange thought to her, almost like a dream. To imagine not having to fight constantly would be a return to simpler times. To trust that peace for her people was lasting was like imagining lifting her feet off the ground to soar through the air like the eagles. Although the dream came to her at night of such a thing, she never believed it to be true once she had awakened.

Still, peace was a dream worth dreaming.