Chapter Nine

I had a hard time not laughing at Dan's expression, because he tended to solemnity with Elder Spirits and did not approve of the breezy informality my not-exactly father had adopted when he came out to humans. Nor did he approve when Jesse and I gave Coyote kin-kisses of welcome, she called him Gramps, and offered Gordon a high-five that made him grin.

"Greetings, Jesse. And what's my favourite coyote-girl up to now?"

"All sorts, Gordon. I can promise you won't be bored."

"Boring you're not, but it'd better be good. This was short notice."

"Yeah. Sorry, but things started moving fast. Who else is here?"

Even as I asked Wolf came out of the trees shifting to human form, wearing fancy imported Rohan gear and Timberland Tenmile Chukkas, and a rapidly approaching splashing announced Bear, using Wildcat Creek for ease of passage. Climbing onto the bank he became human, and I was interested that while he'd gone male again he was looking less ancient than when we'd first met, though he still wore the same pale, plain leathers. Raven flew in, and after we'd done greetings Coyote and Gordon started serving steak and sausage sandwiches. They were good, with that zing campfire food has, and once I'd taken the edge off I gave Wolf a look.

"Is that Rohan gear as good as they say?"

"It is, She Doesn't Only Fix Cars. Engineered clothing is one of the few things Anglos have seriously got right. Boots are good too."

"And the cooking kit?"

"Certainly." He gave a predatory grin. "Traditional is fine, but why ignore superior design when available? Especially as young Calvin packed it in for us, and will clean it and pack it out again."

"Calvin's here?"

Wolf nodded sideways, and I turned to see Calvin Seeker, Gordon's sort-of grandson, emerging from trees on the far side of the creek with deadwood and a sack of pinecones. With a 'shame on you' that amused them I went to help him get his load across without soaking boots and trousers., and made sure he was seated with food before reclaiming my own. Jim gave me a wry look.

"Fetching and carrying is what apprentices traditionally do, Mercy."

"And growing men need their food, Jim. Any of this lot could have packed in cooking kit."

Gordon gave me a look too. "It's good for him, Mercy. Elder Spirits are not porters. Anyway, why are we here?"

I let the joshing go. "Because I have a big question with a lot of ramifications. But there's a thing I'd better deal with first, or Dan will sulk, and in any case decisions about it have some relevance to the other."

All Elder Spirits gave Dan a look he wasn't so keen on, and Bear narrowed his eyes.

"Something about Celilo Falls, then."

"Yup. They should re-appear in another two or three months, so the foot-dragging has to stop."

I laid out my thinking about a ruling on re-emergent land, and Celilo Falls as a place where wider preternatural meeting could support a sacred-space exclusion. There was I84, the rail bridge, and on the Washington side Wishram, which had a non-Amerindian minority, but Celilo Village could be included They thought about it, and Raven cocked his head.

"That sounds better than not, She Doesn't Only Fix Cars. It's another good deal. What is Dan Strongbear's problem?"

"Dan?"

"Public access, Elder One. How can it be a sacred space with Anglo tourists using cameras and wandering in anyway?"

Raven shook his head and Coyote shrugged.

"And how should we stop them? We're getting the Falls back. Tourists are a small price. We might be able to get some children with teeth in to scare off sign-ignorers, though, if there's a hunting ban."

Bear nodded. "That might be good. But though I cannot see it as a deal-breaker, I understand why Dan is unhappy. She Doesn't Only Fix Cars, when we all met at your house to talk that time, I remember you asking Gray Lords who could fog photographs not to do so. Is there any chance we could get some of that magic so Celilo Falls cannot be stolen in image?"

I blinked. "Well, there's an idea. I don't know, Bear. Many fae can do that, so I've always thought it's an optional effect of their glamour — whatever the illusion to human eyes the camera doesn't catch, but it prevents whatever's behind the glamour being seen. Walla Walla is utterly glamoured, and nothing within shows up on satellite imagery. But I have no idea if the effect can be given, and if it can, you asked, and they did, the Gray Lords would count it as a debt, so you need to be very clear on what you could do to discharge it."

Wolf nodded. "Surely. But we might at least find out. Ask ap Lugh about it?"

"Can do. We're due to meet tomorrow, about the other thing. Any idea what you might be able to offer in trade?"

He shrugged. "What would Gray Lords want of us?"

"How should I know?" I turned ideas. "But flipping it might work. Suppose Elder Spirits are collectively enforcing an exclusion zone around the Falls. Sacred space, so trespassers will be eaten, and all that." Coyote grinned. "Four-legged and winged children, of each kind, in a small but oddly biodiverse area? It would make the point forcefully, and play well with humans. So you say to the Gray Lords, hey, we're setting this up for ourselves, and we've done a deal with wolves, who'll be welcome, so we wondered if you'd like in, as a safe zone for preternatural meetings of use to all. You'd be welcome, and some of that camera-fogging magic of yours would be sufficiently useful to us there'd be no debts either way."

Elder Spirits laughed, and Coyote wagged an admiring finger.

"Now that's my exactly daughter. Animals always came to the Falls, because spray made for lusher vegetation, so having some in residence shouldn't be hard. And if there were rattlers as well as cougars and a grizzly or two, everything on two legs would need to step carefully. What's our deal with wolves, though?"

"Mmm." My brain was turning faster. "Security? Adam could do, at cost plus a fraction, fencing with CCTV. But remember what Medicine Wolf did with Earth Fae Falls? I bet it could arrange irrigation around Celilo Falls, so we could go for a genuinely lush environment, which would pull animals in anyway. And remembering those oaks that turned up on Adam's and my land, I could relay to ap Lugh that if other Underhill trees would like some space to grow and fruit, they'd be welcome around the Falls. and if they brought enough glamour to be unphotographable, so much the better."

Bear nodded sharply. "Yes, that sounds good. And we would far rather owe you a debt than Gray Lords. We owe you already. Dan Strongbear, are you content with this? I cannot see She Doesn't Only Fix Cars could do more, and she has already won us back the Falls and a promise they belong to the Yakama, even if we are still waiting on details."

"I will try to be, Elder One."

"Succeed. Being a curmudgeon is unhelpful. So what's the other thing?"

"Big." I took a breath. "And no offence, anyone, but this remains strictly confidential until it isn't. You know Jesse set up that joke hashtag #MercyForPresident, and it's stayed popular? Well, it turns out some powerful beings really do want me to run, including the Man, who offers his endorsement, Medicine Wolf, the Marrok, and the Gray Lords."

Coyote whistled. "The Man would endorse you? We could have a coyote president?"

I gave him a daughterly glare. "Maybe, and won't that be fun all round? But I have not decided, yet, not least because a major reason the Marrok and Gray Lords are on board is that they're under high-level human pressure to come clean about any other major preternatural that might be lurking. Bran at least also worked out that if I were to run I could not ignore that question, and would have to do something about vamps."

This time Raven whistled, and they all had narrowed eyes.

"Doing things about vampires hasn't worked out so well before."

"No. But if this time happens, and it's probably unstoppable, those already in include wolves, Fae, and Feds. The basic idea is a deadline for vamps to out themselves and agree to a Code of Conduct about feeding, mind-games, and Turning, or face concerted action, meaning daylight SWAT raids on seethes with wolf and Fae support. Underhill has offered to grow wooden bullets we hope would work, and with all but translocators and wizards or witches we can restrain and confine — maybe those bars Cantrip used, however distasteful, or high-tensile plastic ties or coffins. Medicine Wolf is only relevant in the Basin, and doesn't seem offended by undeath as fae and First People are, but really disapproves of vamps' mind-games and is all for enforced reform. In a nutshell, humans supply numbers, restraints, and where appropriate deportations, preternaturals supply intel and advice, plus magical support and weapons, and it happens soon because it has to be dealt with and public before campaigning gets too far along. But there is, surprise, a complication, besides my conflicted feelings about Stefan Uccello and even Thomas Hao, which is Wulfe the Sorcerer, because unless I'm hallucinating he's sort-of onboard himself."

I explained the remark he'd dropped in ap Lugh's and Nemane's ears, with what I knew about She of Livorno, Wulfe's improving treatment of sheep, and the opportunity I thought Gray Lords and Wulfe, in different ways, had seen. They all became intent, Jim's and the elders' eyes almost as wide as Calvin's.

"When I know the wolf–Fae–manitou–human anti-vamp alliance is set to go, which will be this coming week, I'll talk very privately to Stefan, and see if I can get a bead on Wulfe. Given vamp politics I'd usually bet he'd stay very shadowy until it was all over, but as the whole point is outing them, who knows? So, besides Adam and me ramping up security, there are two intersecting questions for Elder Spirits and Yakama, broadening to all First People. One is my putative candidacy, which would not only make for a first coyote president, but a first woman and Native American — except I'm only half-Blackfeet and coyote, the other half being Anglo. And I'm Christian. But I couldn't not be a self-identified Native American as a candidate, so how many noses would that put out of joint, and what if anything can I do about it? More generally, what does a presidentially campaigning First Person do differently? Stump speeches on this or that res don't seem likely to cut it, and no offence, Dan, Ed, Riva, but neither do Tribal Council races offer a model I'd care to follow."

As a fair amount of mud was slung and any amount of sorrowful tactical denunciation par for the course, I got weak grins.

"And the vamp thing. I can't see SWAT teams need avatars, but Gordon, Raven, and for Owl and Hawk, aerial searching for vamp houses might be critical in making it all stick, and if that's on we'll need to let it be known when we issue the ultimatum to the Master of the Night. Put your house in order, and out yourselves soon, or you will be outed and face an alliance of everyone. What happens in other countries will be their business, but they'll all get high-level warnings and intel, and I'll press for Canadian and Mexican involvement so US vamps have no easy way out — which is another way First People could help, reaching across national borders. But that means increased risk for everyone, because there will be vamps who decide to go down fighting. Reactions, anyone?"

Gordon grunted. "You were right we wouldn't be bored. And I doubt your Anglo half matters much to most First People. They grumble about you but don't disrespect what you're achieving, quite the opposite, and were as impressed as everyone last year. Being Charles Cornick's brother doesn't hurt. They also know we and Medicine Wolf back you. As to campaigning, ask your pesky father — that's more his line of work. But vampires, now, when we're already busy …"

"Not too busy to get rid of them if we can."

Wolf's voice was sharp, and I jumped back in.

"Not get rid of, Wolf. Force to reform. I will not back ethnic cleansing, nor should any First Person. The only good vampire is a dead vampire makes no sense, the allusion is obscene, and I've already backed Nemane down on this one."

His eyebrows rose, and Coyote gave another grin, but Bear, Dan, and Riva all nodded sharply.

"She is right, Wolf." Bear's voice deepened. "Shape up or leave is one thing, aiming to eradicate another. We are not Anglos to kill whole kinds."

Wolf nodded, a little reluctantly. "Yes, alright, however they are all dead already. But if wolves, Fae, and humans are going to do this, surely we and avatars can search for vampire houses? My children and Bear's and Coyote's can do rural if the fliers can do urban."

Raven nodded. "Maybe. It sounds sensible. Owl and Hawk will be interested and making the Undead behave better is a good thought." He shook his head. "You were right about her full name, Coyote, but I think I do not mind being dropped in this one, taken all together. An avatar president could get a lot done that we want."

"Yes, if it happens, I could and would. But there will be any number of things any number of First People decide they want that will not be possible. Some sitting on wilder or woollier demands will be needed."

"I'll say, Mercy. You running for president would be electrifying news."

"Enough for an army of disciplined campaign volunteers, Riva?"

"Huh. For some value of disciplined, maybe."

"And what about other First People running for something?" I briskly laid out what I hoped to do about generating finance and independent candidates from all over. "I know it'll be an insane mess, but there would be a core manifesto they'd have to pledge to support." I counted on my fingers. "Constitutional amendments to change oaths of office to include upholding the Medicine Wolf Accords, guarantee rights of preternatural citizens, and gender equality. Green policies everywhere. Better representation of First People — which means more First People standing up to do some representing. A drugs policy that actually makes sense and stands a chance of working, meaning some federal legalisation to push states who haven't yet shifted policy. And, though I'm still thinking details through, and it's risky, acceptance of the need for better gun control, meaning in the first place no automatic weapons and more stringent licensing checks. And to go with that, more serious holding of gun-users to account, including law enforcement. Probably something on education too. But beyond that, if a bunch of independents are elected to Congress and state legislatures, what is it they want doing, and can they persuade enough other people it's a good idea?"

Human eyes were wide again, but Coyote was just grinning.

"This is going to be so much fun, rapidly converging daughter. I told you you knew what to do with a lot of spotlight." He looked at his peers. "And really, whatever the details, isn't the whole thing a no-brainer? Just think of who else is standing, and what a really spectacular inauguration we could have. Reforming bloodsuckers is a reach, I grant, even for She Doesn't Only Fix Cars, but they've never faced the kind of unified threat she's proposing, so even without the rest we should do it just to see if it works. Sure, there'll be casualties, but we're taking those anyway and we'd be saving lives in the long run. Lots of them. Does anyone really disagree?"

They didn't seem to, but were all still thinking. I had eyes elsewhere.

"Calvin? As the youngest voter here, anything to say?"

He blinked. "I'm not registered, Mercy. Never liked anyone standing enough to bother. But I will be."

"Because?"

He shrugged. "You. You get things done, and any fool knows you're as brave as people come, and as sneaky. Jim said it — you pushed the world, and it moved. And you've been looking out for us all ever since, with the Columbia and Cascadia projects, tourism, and the Freed. Sounds to me like you still are, and how."

"Huh. Thanks. If this happens, get people registering? If you're good with that, Jim? I'll be talking to the governor soon, and Oregon, about land and Falls, and I'll push a major registration drive for First People."

"For all people, Mom." Jesse had been quiet, but sounded very clear. "Remember your Hunter Thompson lesson? I can and will kick the school about pushing pre-registration, but Mary Oliver was talking about a statewide drive, and that's something kiddos could help with."

Adam looked proud, and nodded.

"Sounds good, Jesse. Dan, Ed, Riva?"

Dan shrugged. "I may be a curmudgeon, Mercy, and very wary of vampires, but what's not to like? On what you have said you will have my vote, and pretty much every Yakama's. Other tribes' too, if they have the least sense. Putting a coyote in the White House is asking for any amount of trouble, but it would be much more interesting trouble than anyone else would cause. And if you can truly find a way to make Celilo Falls a sacred space Anglos respect, you will be due our lasting gratitude."

"Yup." Riva had a strange smile. "And I am already thinking of ways we can use this to push things most know will help but some stymie."

"I agree." Ed was also smiling. "It's not at all what I was expecting, and vamps are a big concern, but I'm all for it. The risk for you, though, Mercy, and for Adam and Jesse, will be the highest."

"So they will. What are you doing about that, electable daughter? Having you killed by vamps half-way through would not be at all helpful."

"Tell me. And it's in hand, though a high risk remains. Nothing I can do about that. Then again, any defences or warning systems any of you can put in place around the house or me and Jesse would be welcome. Medicine Wolf and the earth fae are on alert." I took another breath. "But that brings up something I've tried to ask several times, and I'll need to be honest about if I'm campaigning. Vamps and accidents aside, how long should Adam, Jesse, and I expect me to live?"

Coyote shrugged. "As long as you stay alive. Avatars tend to run into things, and you more than most."

"Yeah, sure, but in a safe environment, when would I die of old age?"

"Who knows? The oldest living avatar is" — he cocked his head at Gordon — "two thousand and … "

"Twenty-three-hundred-and-forty- … four, I believe." Gordon also shrugged. "She's been very lucky more times than I can count. In your own way, Mercy, you walk in both worlds. Avatars do. It is why you can change so fast. You will age, as werewolves do not, though more slowly than humans — Gary Laughingdog is a hundred and fifty plus — but you will not die until someone or something kills you. You will say this in public?"

I was still absorbing it, feeling hollow, and holding Adam's and Jesse's hands almost as hard as they were holding mine.

"I'll have to, Gordon. Someone will ask, and I cannot lie when I answer."

Coyote shrugged. "So you'll be the first immortal president as well as the first coyote, woman, and Native American. So what?"

"So quite a lot. It's a wolf problem, mostly, because we're going to have to come clean about wolves not dying unless they're killed, and when we do what will lots of humans decide they want to become? It's only a side-benefit, not a motive, but when vamps are outed their endless undeadness will be outed with them. And now I need to think about where I and other avatars will fit with that, because if I'm out as qualified immortal, so are they. Warren will be doing something on the Wild West and putting Buffalo Calf Road Woman back in collective memory, but if there are avatars who met famous people or were part of historic events having them talking would certainly be helpful and might be necessary."

"Spreading the load makes sense." Coyote was actually frowning. "And you're right many humans will want to become wolves or bloodsuckers for longevity." He brightened. "You should set them three impossible tasks before they can ask. Maybe the Fae could help with that."

Adam half-laughed. "If only. We will be putting people off asking to be Changed every way we can, but there will be those who resent our refusal. And as Mercy is right she will have to be honest about this, there will be idiots who think they can somehow be made into avatars, and come asking." He raised my hand to kiss it. "It's another downside, though I can't say I have the least regret."

Bear rolled eyes. "We are warned. But there have always been idiots, and they'll have to find us before they can ask. I'm not so sure about avatars speaking out, though. They don't like remembering the far past for the same reason old wolves don't — they've lost too much."

I'd expected that, but shrugged. "Even so, Bear. I doubt the oldest wolves will be speaking, but bicentenarians and below will have to. After initial publicity, we're hoping to make it more historians than journalists, and if I am elected, God help me, one good thing would be rewriting history books to restore the Native American perspective."

I was surprised when Wolf emphatically agreed, and others were thoughtful enough I asked them if they could, please, discuss it with avatars, ask their peers to do the same, and try to believe I was dropping them in it again productively. Then I went on to timing, the proposed council in the coming week, ultimatum to follow, with my steps to see if I was going to run. Elder Spirits didn't do diaries, but agreed they could come collectively to Kennewick when asked, and we were mostly done.

"So that leaves one more thing, daddy dearest."

"Which is, dangerous-sounding daughter?"

I grinned. "Campaigning. Gordon said it was more your line of work, and as I'm looking to change the rules on everyone, he's right. One wrong move could blow it, and they'll be plenty of chaos, but good jokes could play very well. And as I'm going to be insanely busy, there is also wrangling First People, while you're in almost every tribe's stories …"

"True." He looked more interested than offended. "Maybe I should run for something — I must have paid some tax somewhere sometime."

"That seems unlikely, and not being born in the USA is a bar. I dunno if being reborn here would count, though the legal arguments would be entertaining." He looked even more interested and I went on swiftly. "Anyway, what job could you run for that wouldn't bore you silly in five minutes? Spokescoyote at large will be much more useful. But you and Jim might sit down and do some hard thinking about what would be good — you to propose stuff, and Jim to judge human reactions."

Coyote and Jim were both giving me fish-eyes, but Gordon was grinning and others were amused, eyes glinting.

"Just like during the negotiations, when you promised Jesse you wouldn't mess with them, just lighten the tone now and again with a salt of laughter. If it all gets so far, there'll be national TV debates, and any number of reporters wanting to interview the pretty-much father of the person stirring things up. I can't offer it as a bribe, because I'd do it anyway, but bison will be a priority, and if there is anything that can practically be done to reduce that figure of 90,000 coyotes shot each year, I'll do it. So think sideways, please. Do we want an Elder Spirits' version of Mount Rushmore, with you all in animal-headed forms?" That sat him up, Jesse's eyes widening. "Commemorative coins or stamps? A Thunderbird ten-dollar coin would sell, I'm pretty sure, and be interesting publicity. You should be on a three-dollar coin."

Gordon had looked dyspeptic, but that made him hoot a laugh.

"Make it a two-dollars-and-ninety-nine-cents coin, Mercy, and call it the Shortchanger."

That made everyone laugh, even Coyote. "Why you old flatterer." Gordon grinned. "But I take the point, delegating daughter. And it sounds more fun than I first thought. I'll be along soon, He Sees Spirits."

Jim nodded. "I'll look forward to it, Elder One. And unless I've lost it completely listening to She Doesn't Only Fix Cars drop herself and everyone right in it, again, the spirits are dancing about all this."

Bear nodded. "They lack our caution, but we should heed them. For all his usual nonsense, Coyote really hit the mark with you, She Doesn't Only Fix Cars, and you carry the luck very strongly. You remember my daughter Jill Widepaw?" I did, from the night Elder Spirits came out. "She is among the oldest avatars, with deep knowledge, and between husbands for a while now, so also bored. Perhaps there might be a place with your security for a bear avatar?"

We agreed there might, so she'd call us. Yet another full Yakama Nation pow-wow would be held, with delegates from other tribal federations. We were back to Celilo Falls when Bear's head turned.

"Wolves are coming."

Wolf nodded. "It is the Freed Pack coming to say hello. And we are done here for now, Adam Hauptman and She Doesn't Only Fix Cars, so I will greet them unless you object."

Adam shrugged. "Not my place to agree or object, Wolf. We're on their land, so I'd say they come and go as they will."

A brindled wolf loped out of trees on the far side of Wild Cat Creek, and gave me an enquiring look. I waved a hand.

"Come on over, Carla — we're done. But if you get wet in the creek, don't spray us shaking it off, hey?"

Carla turned, giving a yip over her shoulder as Ben and Hec emerged from trees, then trotted down to the creek. Clearing it cleanly, she stopped, lowered the last inch of her tail into the water, and flicked it at me as she headed for Wolf, making everyone laugh. He squatted to welcome her, strong hands running over muzzle and flanks, and by then Ramona, Warren, and Darryl with the rest of the Freed were crowding down to leap the creek and swirl around us. Seeing Calvin was freaked I made a point of introducing him first, noting colours and markings so Dan, Ed, and Riva could memorise them, and Elder Spirits if they wanted.

"Freed, Coyote and Wolf you've met, and this is Thunderbird … Bear … and Raven."

They all got co-ordinated nods from the wolves, but when I named Raven Ramona gave me a sharp look before they shifted to face him and gave the nearest wolves can manage to a bow. Ramona looked at Adam for a moment, then Wolf with a whine, and he came forward, frowning, before stooping his head to hers.

"They offer Raven heartfelt thanks for the part he and his children played in finding them in Wyoming, acknowledging debt, and Ramona says your children will always be welcome at their kills."

I thought Raven was moved, as I was, and he looked hard at Ramona.

"There is no debt between us, Ramona Velasquez. She Doesn't Only Fix Cars asked us for aid, rightly, for we would leave none in such torment as you suffered, but I and my children will be glad to share your kills."

He extended an arm, squatting, and from somewhere a raven I thought old and female, without knowing why, flew down to perch at wolf eye-level. What might be being said or exchanged I didn't know, but Ramona and all of the Freed Pack took patient turns meeting the raven's gaze, and there was a smell of spirit magic. I met Coyote's gaze, and he smiled.

"Flying down to a kill while the killers are still eating is to ravens innately ill-advised, so some protocols are advisable. And the spirits like co-operation between kinds — it's a big part of why they like you so much."

"Huh." I glanced at Adam. "Should we offer the same? A few beakfuls won't make much odds."

Coyote grinned. "Careful, now. There are plenty of ravens everywhere, and most are greedy guts. But if you want to let them fly down a little earlier than they would, I can facilitate that."

"And keep off the wild coyotes that trail us when we hunt?"

Adam sounded sceptical, and I stifled a grin. Coyotes did tend to gather when I was running on four legs, though I'd always thought their gossip was more along the lines of rash coyote who runs with wolves than hey, we could get some free dinner out of this.

"Maybe, maybe not." Coyote waggled a hand. "We're used to sharing what we can get from big predator kills."

"Right. Thanks for the offer, pretty-much father-in-law, and I'll take it under advisement."

"Such caution."

But the colloquy was over, the raven flew off, and Calvin was piling cookware for washing. On principle I gave him help, pulling in Jesse and an amused Brent, but it wasn't long before Bear, Wolf, and Raven made farewells, shifting and leaving, and Gordon spoke to Jim before making his own, jumping the creek, and vanishing into trees. Coyote stuck with us, talking to Jim, Dan, Ed, and Riva while we headed back to the ridgeline, Freed criss-crossing around us, but once we were descending he said he had other business, went coyote, and trotted off, tail waving jauntily.

Before the Freed spread out on the downslope I called out for them to remember the road-safety drill, pulled out my phone, and gave Penny a heads-up. Descending I wished I was on four legs too, parts of the slope being steep enough to jar knees, but humans look up more readily than coyotes and I changed my mind when a bald eagle circled overhead, eyeing Rimrock Lake. Jesse and Brent were pleased, and another surprise met us at the bottom for the Freed had waited on us, and streamed down the last bit beside us to spread out along the verge and look left and right in unison. I saw the camera on us, a smiling Penny saying something into her mike, and our luck was in because there was something coming — a battered pick-up, with more dents than I'd seen for a while but an engine that sounded sweet, heading for Rimrock. The driver, an elderly Yakama in a gaudy work shirt, came to a stop, staring as an improbable line of wolves and people looked back. Freed gave him nods while humans waved thanks, and we jumped down to trot across the road safely. I wasn't surprised when he turned in to the carpark, and mindful of Penny's camera and Dan's sensibilities, which quite a few older Yakama shared in some measure, I spoke to Ramona, and went to give Penny warning, not sorry to put that on air. Then, off camera, I went with Adam and Jim to say hello. Jim introduced us, and I explained what had been happening.

"Thing is, Mr Redbird, PBS are hoping to use that footage in this week's programme and a Public Safety Film, so we were wondering if you minded. If you do, we'll cut that section, but we thought seeing wolves do the look-and-listen drill would be effective with kids, and seeing a driver stop for beings on four legs would be good too."

Old eyes considered me carefully, and he nodded.

"I do not mind that, She Doesn't Only Fix Cars, She Drops People Right In It. I do not believe cameras steal my essence, protecting children and reducing roadkill is always good, and my wife has me hooked on Living Free and Moonbound, so she would not be happy if I refused."

I was surprised by the full name, but his eyes had a glint that said he knew he was being dropped in it for good reasons, so I gave a warm smile.

"Thank you, Mr Redbird. Would you be willing to speak to Ms Ligatt directly, and meet the Freed?"

"I should be honoured, as I am to meet you. That feather of Thunderbird's is truly beautiful, and you have to my mind been using it very well. I am also overjoyed at the news about Celilo Falls."

"So am I, and more to come on that soon. As to the feather, my thanks, though Thunderbird still won't tell me what it does except look good. But if you're willing to be interviewed by Ms Ligatt, come on over."

A pleased Penny was respectful, and I started wolf introductions. He got himself on Ramona's good side by squatting to meet wolves at wolf eye-level, and offering greetings with real warmth in his voice. Then, with the Freed headed for the screen to change, Penny deftly extracted the story of his and his wife's interest in the show, for itself, with deep empathy for the Freed, and in sensible preparation as they were now full-moon neighbours, before widening matters to re-emergent land and Celilo Falls, which drew in a very stone-faced Dan. The delay allowed a second round of food to be ready as hungry wolves re-emerged on two legs, and after I'd explained that they'd made no kill today, while two changes left any wolf ravenous, we all went to eat some more ourselves. We didn't need it, but hey, even walking downhill can work up an appetite.