The group moved through the snowfall as quickly as they could, with Ryu pulling Faust's limping arms around his neck. Perhaps they could find a worn trail that would lead to either a ranger station, or even to a road that passed on the side of the forest. As time passed on, hope started to run thin.

"I think we passed that log four times now." Chocolove said.

"Great. We have a cripple to carry around, some spirit angry at us, and now we've been going in circles. Just great." Ren growled as he planted himself on the log Chocolove mentioned.

"It's not his fault he got hurt!" Ryu snapped as he fixed Faust's position on his shoulders.

"If he hadn't been so weak, you wouldn't have to carry him, would you?"

"Oh, and if you got bitten on the neck by god knows what, you'd still be running in front of everyone!"

"Well at least I'd still be running. I'm in better condition than he'd ever be.

Anna had about enough of their arguing.

"And arguing about that is going to fix it?" Anna growled.

The both of them went silent.

"Better. Anyway, one of my shikigami said it saw a cabin nearby. I suggest we head for it and figure out what to do next."

So the group took her advice and kept moving.

The cabin sat in a small clearing. Although covered in snow, it still looked occupied, designated by the smoke rising from the chimney and the yellow glow from the windows.

"Maybe there's someone who can let us use their phone." Yoh said as he approached the door.

He knocked the door gently and waited. An older looking woman answered it. Her hair, jet black with naturally silver highlights, was up in a tight bun. She wore a brightly colored dress, decorated by the beaded jewelry she wore. She smiled, making her tanned, wrinkled skin wrinkle up even more.

"And who are you?" She asked in a shaky voice.

"Oh, my name's Yoh Asakura." Yoh quickly introduced himself, "One of my friends is badly hurt, and we wanted to know if we could borrow a phone or something."

"Can I see him?" She asked.

"Oh sure."

Yoh motioned to Ryu to come inside. He came in, and sat Faust gently down. The old woman proceeded to scan the wound with her dark eyes. Her face became slightly grave.

"Do you know what did this?" she asked while she was wiping the fresh blood away.

"I...really don't know. At first it was very windy and cold, and then BAM, he fell down screaming bloody murder. Then my other friend over here pointed to this white wolf, who ran away with the wind apparently."

Her face looked even more serious.

"Do you know what that could've been?"

"I think so, but first, I want to treat your friend."

"You can do that?"

"Oh sure! I've been doing it for years!" she laughed, wheezing a little.

She accompanied Ryu to drop Faust off into a room. Ryu walked out by himself after a few minutes.

"She said it would take a while for her to fix him, so in the meantime we can make ourselves at home." Ryu said as he plopped down on a couch.

"How nice of her." Yoh smiled.

Time seemed to drag on before the old woman emerged from the room.

"It took me a while to do it, but with some care, he should be better soon."

"That's great." Yoh said.

"Right now he's asleep, but his nice wife of his is watching him for me."

Everyone's faces dropped. How was this old woman was able to see Eliza, much less not be afraid?

"What?" the old woman asked.

"Umm...his wife's-" Yoh started to explain.

"I know. She's a spirit." the old woman finished, "She's such a nice woman. Pretty too."

"So you're a shaman?" Horo Horo asked.

"You could say that." the old woman answered, "I've always felt more in tune with the spirit world than most."

"Anyway," Yoh said with a little more confidence, "do you know what happened to my friend?"

The old woman's face looked serious again as she sighed.

"From what you told me, and what your friend told me also led me to believe that it might be a particular spirit that has been here for several hundred years now. It is a wolf spirit that belonged to an Native American warrior that died so many years ago."

"Do you mind if you told us about it?"

"I suppose, but I don't want you poor children to be afraid to step outside afterwards."

"We've been through worse, trust me."

"All right then. But first, you all look so hungry. Would you like to eat first?"

Rumored angry spirit or not, their stomachs could not refuse this offer.