David went right to the spot where she’d been left, as if she were iron and he was a magnet, with Mooncrow right behind him. He pulled her out, limp and dripping, and began frantic CPR. It would make a lovely dramatic scene in a movie.

She sighed. Too late, love. She knew. She’d been under too long; nothing, not even a miracle, would revive her now. If he’d had her in the light, she’d have been blue.

At first she thought that Mooncrow was simply frozen with shock, but then she realized as she saw his spirit-shape forming over his head that he had gone into a Medicine trance. He stood like a statue, while a misty shape wisped upward, becoming more and more solid, until at last there was a glistening bird hovering just above his head. He was wearing his white crow-self, and when he looked up and saw her in the treetops, he arrowed up toward her.

But something was holding him away; his wings pumped furiously, but he made no progress toward her. He changed to a raven, and the results were no better. His wingbeats slowed; his wings seemed to get heavier, and he dropped back toward the ground, back to his body. …

She shifted from foot to foot, restively, with growing unhappiness. Surely she should be going somewhere! She didn’t want to stay here anymore, watching Mooncrow try to reach her, watching David crying and trying to force life back into a lifeless body—

Huge wings shadowed the moon for a moment. The tree shook as something landed just above her. She turned her head sharply, and Eagle peered down at her, his great beak gaping in greeting. Immediately her unrest settled. This must be what she had been waiting for, a guide to the Summer Country.

Well, little sister, he said.

She thrilled at the sound of his voice in her mind, the first real emotion she had felt since she found herself perching here. She bobbed her head, modestly. Greeting to you, Great One. Do you come to guide me?

He turned his head, to peer at her from his other eye. Do you wish guidance? he replied, watching her closely. You have much still to do, here. Ta-hah-ka-he cannot deal with the tangle of the Evil One, nor can your grandfather, not alone.

At first she was confused by the Osage name, Deer-With-Branching-Horns, until she remembered David’s spirit-quest, and what his spirit-animal had proved to be. Of course, Eagle would not use anything but David’s Osage Spirit Name, and David would not know what it was in Osage. It was too bad she could not give it to him, now.