"I don't know. All I can see now is my husband is entrapped in it. It seems as if by saving the Crow woman, Little Dove, from the trap, I have, instead, ensnared my own husband inside it. But, you could get him out!"
"I...I can't." Suddenly, he was crying. "I can't move."
It appeared he wished to say more, but couldn't. Was it shock? Laylah didn't know quite what to say or do. She had never seen her father in this state. He literally shook from head to foot.
Without saying a word, she bent in toward her father and took him into her arms, placing a kiss against his forehead. After a moment, she said, "I must go. I love him, Father. Don't stand in the way."
Rising up to her feet, she stepped quickly toward the terrible sphere of light. Gray Falcon followed her.
Part of Eagle Heart's fingers were free of the orb entrapping him and she touched them. How was she to free him?
If she were to run back into the circle, would she have enough strength to get them both out? If she couldn't do it, he would never let her remain in there.
As Gray Falcon stepped forward and placed his hands, palms up, against the light, Laylah suddenly heard the words, "Get them out!" in mind speak.
She looked around. The words came from the woods to her left, and, gazing there, she was surprised to see Eagle Heart's sister, the she-wolf, addressing someone who stood within the shadows. Who was she talking to?
"This is your fault!" the she-wolf continued. "Get them out now! We know what you did. The babe is not yours to take. Now, get them out!" She growled at some unknown entity.
Suddenly, and without explanation, a large and hairy beast—an obviously female beast—burst out of the woods and ran into the bright circle. There, the large person picked up Eagle Heart in one arm and Chases-the-enemy in the other.
Then, without pausing a moment, the large and hairy female shot out of the circle, and Laylah was surprised to see the ring of light had not entrapped the beast within it.
Laylah ran forward, following the gigantic person. If she had to, she would fight the beast for her husband. And, she would win. She swore to herself she would win.
****
STILL CARRYING EAGLEHeart and Chases-the-enemy, the huge beast flashed back into the woods. Once within the sheltered environment, the she-beast carefully and delicately set Eagle Heart on his feet and laid Chases-the-enemy on the ground.
Calmly, Eagle Heart stared up into the beast's eyes. Silent understanding passed between the big female and him and, when at last Eagle Heart smiled at the beast, he had a good idea of what had happened to his brother and why he had run away with Little Dove.
The large she-beast suddenly turned around and sped away and was gone so quickly, her disappearance reminded Eagle Heart of another kind of people who could appear or disappear seemingly at will.
"Go with the Creator, Big One, and thank you," said Eagle Heart in Blackfeet. As he bent down to pick up his brother, he was suddenly besieged by feminine arms coming around him from behind.
Turning, he found himself embracing Steals-my-breath, this precious and courageous woman. Tears filled his eyes as he thought of her heroism.
"Didn't I tell you to hide?" he asked in perfect English. Then, in Blackfeet and sign, he said, "And, before I knew what you were doing, you were saving Little Dove and her child. Oh, my precious, precious wife. Has anyone ever been so proud of his woman?"
She laughed. "And, who saved me?"
"There is a difference. It was my duty. What you did was because your heart is big. I am so proud of you."
"We must go to your sister, the she-wolf," said Laylah. "It is she who saved you. It was she who spoke to the Big Person and demanded she get you and your brother out. What a wild land this is, where wolves and humans live in love and peace, side by side. Let us help your brother to stand and then go to the wolves."
"Indeed, we will," he said, again in perfect English. "But, first..." Picking her up, he twirled her round and round, and, when at last he let her feet come to rest again on the ground, he kissed her once, then again and again.
He said, "I will never tire of loving you. I promise."
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
––––––––
"AND, WHAT WAS I TOdo?" asked Chases-the-enemy, using sign language, so he was understood by all. "I saw the Giant Person take her baby, and Little Dove asked for my help. As a man and a human being, I was called to aid them. It was my duty to answer her plea regardless from what tribe she hails. But, the Giant took us on a long and dangerous journey through one mountain range after another. We have been many places over this land, and several times I have rescued the baby, only to have the Big Person steal him again.
"You ask how we came to be entrapped within the sacred circle. It happened in this way: Little Dove and I stumbled into the trap during a thunderstorm. We were wet and cold and were running to escape the Giant Person. And, suddenly we saw the light of the circle and beheld that all was dry within. Who would not have stepped inside?
"This is how we became trapped. I know not how long we were there, for the time passes by so very differently within that circle. All outside the ring of light is in fast motion as you have seen. And, this, now, is the story of what happened to us."
