The conversation continued as the three of them talked of this and that until, at last, both Liliann and First Rider were too cold to continue speaking without a great deal of shaking and shivering.
It was time to say goodbye. But, before she left, their Big-Person mother took them both into her arms and said, "You two belong together. You, my almost-daughter, are a part of his world, and you, my almost-son, are part of hers. The Creator could not go against your own wishes and desires in the past, my almost-son, but He sometimes works in ways we do not understand, bringing people together who truly love each other."
And, then their Big-Person mother stood up and took a few steps away from them, walking in a steady gait until, suddenly, she disappeared.
As though stunned into inaction, Liliann and First Rider still sat arm in arm, shivering in the cold, until, at last, First Rider looked at her and said, "I have always known you have great medicine, but when we were younger, I did not heed it. You saw what I did not see. Also, without you insisting to go where I go, I fear I would have perished this day."
"Do not thou even speak of it."
"Come, let us take these goats to our winter home and prepare their hides so we can make ourselves very much comfortable."
"Aye," said Liliann. "Aye."
****
As the days became longer and warmer and the snow began to melt, First Rider declared it was time to leave their happy winter home and venture farther west toward the Flathead encampment.
Liliann was more than a little reluctant to leave this grove of the friendly cottonwoods trees. The situation of these giant cottonwoods and pines had become a home for both herself and First Rider, one filled with love. No enemies ventured to come to this part of the world while there remained eight feet of snow covering the hills and valleys, and even deeper snow on the tops of the mountains.
Yet, she and First Rider had not traveled through the rough terrain of the Backbone Mountains in order to set up a household in a glade, regardless of how peaceful and happy it was. Their task, indeed, was to discover the truth, or lies, of the life of Tsistsaki. And, from this discovery would come either great despair or tremendous relief and happiness for her, and for her husband.
They were to leave soon, and Liliann went about their tiny abode, collecting what they were to take with them. But, when she went to strap on certain supplies and blankets to their mounts, First Rider bid her to not do it, saying simply, "We walk…rest of way."
"Walk?" She rounded on him at once. "But…but why?"
"Ponies too easy to track. From now until we reach Flathead camp, we must make the rest of the journey as true scouts."
"But…but…"
First Rider stepped toward her and took her into his arms before he said, "I do not know what we…find there. Tsistsaki might have married…again. Might be happy. But…might be slave. If we take horses, Flathead or enemy tribes will see tracks, our camps, our moccasin prints. Will know we Pikuni.
"Now, hear me: Creator has spoken…to me. If Tsistsaki is…slave, her captor will…hide her. If she is a man's woman, he will…hide her…too. So, we go there as scouts…ghosts. This will…let me learn more. Will then decide what to do. Will leave ponies here; there…much bark for food here, much water, shelter. Here, ponies will remain in this good place. And, since cottonwood glade is well away from enemy trail, ponies might be here when…return."
"Oh, I see" was all she said.
She and First Rider then took only what they might need for hunting, for defense or for making needed repairs, and left the rest to be claimed once again by the forest. And, though Liliann wished she and First Rider could remain here alone and delay their return to the people, she knew it was not possible.
And so, in the month When-the-geese-come-back, they set off on foot, staying off the main paths.
The snow hadn't melted yet, and Liliann soon discovered that in the early morning they were able to trod on the ice atop the snow. Because the warm sun melted the snow during the day, when night came and the temperature dropped once again, it created a thick layer of ice on top of the snow, making their way easier.
In the main, they traveled by night and slept by day, making their evening camp in scrub brush or a strand of willows where the snow was not deep. They started no fires for cooking and ate only their store of dried meat. And, every day before retiring, First Rider prayed to the Creator. Because he would notleave her alone, she became accustomed to his manner of prayer, and, in truth, many were the times when she prayed alongside of him.
For many days, they followed a mountain river flowing west, and at one point a deep canyon opened up beside their trail. With the light of the moon shining brightly above them, she looked down into the canyon, discouraged by its gloomy depth, which was so great, she could not see how far it was to the canyon's floor.
Deep, dark forests shot up on both sides of the trail, and the sounds of elk and deer—even moose—were loud in an otherwise silent environment. Now and again, the light of the moon would shine upon some big-horned sheep high up in the cliffs, along with many wolves hiding in the shadows.
Liliann shivered. Once they turned a corner in the trail, only to be confronted by a grizzly. He was huge, and having caught the sound of their passing, he stood to his feet and growled. Instantly, Liliann froze.
Not so First Rider. Grabbing his bow and arrows from the quiver on his back, he put an arrow to his bow. Waiting…
But, because the direction of the wind was from the grizzly to her and First Rider, the bear could not determine whom he was confronting, and he stood before them—huge, threatening and growling—and Liliann was certain she and her husband might perish before First Rider could kill the bear.
She would be no help in the matter; only First Rider was carrying weapons, and in the darkening shadows of evening, his aim would have to be sure and true.
As it turned out, however, because the bear could not determine exactly who it was in the path before him, the huge animal simply came down onto his feet and ambled away. Although First Rider said not a word, she heard him let out his breath in a loud sigh.
They waited for a moment to ensure the bear was really gone, and, at last, they continued on forward. Then, in the early morning when the sun was just beginning to find its way into the eastern sky, Liliann glanced down again into the canyon beside the trail and found she was looking upon a valley adorned in green as well as the white of the melting snow.
